[Radioimmunological characterization of anti lithocholic acid antisera elicited by [C-6] carboxylic acid N-succinimidyl esters as haptenic derivatives]

In order to investigate the antigenic effects of the carboxyl group in the side chain and the bridge length on producing anti lithocholic acid antibody, the immunogens in which bile acid is coupled with bovine serum albumin through propionyloxy or butyryloxy amide linkage at the C-6 position were prepared. The antibodies elicited by these conjugates had low titers but showed a high affinity for lithocholic acid with association constants in the range of 0.42-1.04 X 10(8)M-1. The cross-reactivities of both antisera were essentially the same as that of methyl 6 alpha-hemisuccinyloxylithocholate. These results suggested that the side chain hydrolysis product of the methylated antigen worked as a real antigen in the body.

Nasu-Hakola's disease (membranous lipodystrophy)

An autopsy case of Nasu-Hakola's disease (membranous lipodystrophy) is reported. A 43-year-old Japanese man, whose parents were not consanguineous, had been suffering from frequent long bone fractures since the age of 10. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, which were characterized by euphoria, disturbance of attention and dementia, appeared at his thirties and generalized and/or localized seizures and apallial syndrome at the later stage. The neuropathology revealed diffuse leukoencephalopathy of the cerebrum. The peculiar aspects in this case were membranocystic changes in the lungs [Yagishita et al. Virchows Arch [A] 408:211-217 (1985)], diffuse degeneration of the cerebral cortex, chiefly in frontal and temporal lobes, and many axonal spheroids throughout the cerebral cortex. The ultrastructure of spheroids in the cerebral cortex demonstrated aggregations of mitochondria, dense bodies and minute concentric bodies and a small amount of neurofilaments.

Prevalence of positive epicutaneous tests among infants, children, and adolescents

We studied 314 otherwise healthy children younger than 18 years of age with epicutaneous testing, and found that 20% of those tested had at least one positive epicutaneous test result. Neomycin, nickel, and potassium dichromate were the most prevalent allergens detected in our study group. We found that sensitization occurred at less than 5 years of age for all but fragrance allergens. Aluminum chambers and the American Academy of Dermatology Patch Test Kit were found to be safe for use in infants, children, and adolescents.

Structural changes in bovine lens crystallins induced by ascorbate, metal, and oxygen

Ascorbate, Fe3+, or Cu2+ and oxygen induced the oxidation of bovine lens crystallins. The modifications mimicked those that occur in the lens with aging. The modifications included the formation of nondisulfide crosslinks in alpha- and beta H-crystallin and the cleavage of alpha-, beta H-, and the low molecular weight crystallin fractions. In all three fractions, there was a loss of the more basic protein species and an increase in the more acidic species. Nontryptophan fluorescence with emission spectra between 400 and 500 nm was produced in beta H-crystallin. Cu2+ was less effective than Fe3+ in catalyzing the modification of beta H- and gamma-crystallin. Both metal ions were equally effective in catalyzing the modification of alpha-crystallin.

Configuration of the active Mg-ATP complex in protein kinase C reaction

To probe the active site structure of protein kinase C stereochemical studies were carried out by using ATP beta S. The enzyme utilizes either one of the diastereomers (SP and RP) of ATP beta S almost equally well as a substrate. This result contrasts with that for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, suggesting that the topography of the nucleotide-binding site is significantly different between the two kinases.

The fine structure of blood cells in ceroid-lipofuscinosis (Spielmeyer-Vogt's disease)

Peripheral blood and bone marrow in a case of juvenile type of Spielmeyer-Vogt's disease were examined with the light and electron microscope for the occurrence of curvilinear profile (CLP), rectilinear profile (RLP), finger-print profile (FPP) and other inclusions. A large quantity of parallel tubular arrays (PTAs) and a few CLPs, RLPs and FPPs were present in the cytoplasm of the lymphocytes. In addition, many plasma cells in the bone marrow contained FPPs, RLPs and CLPs in the vacuoles of their cytoplasm. The other relevant inclusions were observed in the cytoplasm of the bone marrow cells. Moreover, amorphous or membranous inclusions with rectilinear or curvilinear profiles were seen in some vacuoles in the cytoplasm of many erythrocytes. The incidence of these characteristic inclusions in the plasma cells or the erythrocytes were not described nor the present. The correlation and the diagnostic significance of these characteristic inclusions were discussed.

Clinical and pathological studies in a case of reticulum cell sarcoma

A case of reticulum cell sarcoma associated with involvement of the central nervous system was presented. This seems to be an atypical case of reticulum cell sarcoma for the following reasons. 1. Hepatosplenomegaly and enlarged lymph nodes were not observed through the entire clinical course. The main abnormalities were psycho-neurological. 2. These cells did not form a tumour mass, but infiltrated diffucely into the central nervous system and extraneural sites, and the primary focus could not be determined. Four cases of reticulum cell sarcoma in Japan, in which the initial symptoms were of neurological involvement, are reviewed.