Contraction rhythm in the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum: dependence of the period on the amplitude, temperature and chemical environment

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum exhibits a characteristic protoplasmic shuttle streaming and generates periodical tension. We determined the factors which govern the period of the contraction rhythm by measuring isometric tension of the plasmodial strand and the motive force of the protoplasmic streaming under a variety of conditions by changing the size of plasmodia, chemical composition of environment and surrounding temperatures. The results are: (1) The period of contraction rhythm, tau, increased linearly with the amplitude of oscillating tension, F, and was expressed by the following empirical equation when F was lower than a certain critical value, Fc, i.e., tau = aF+tau O. Above Fc, tau stayed at a constant level of tau S. There, a tau O and tau S are numerical constants which are independent of F. A similar relationship is valid for the amplitude of the motive force of the protoplasmic streaming, delta P. (2) Values of tau O were 1.0 min in air and 1.6 min in an aqueous medium and they were independent of temperature. (3) The Arrhenius plots of the parameter "a" exhibited different straight lines in air and in aqueous medium, from which the values of Q10 were determined to be 4.0 and 10, respectively. (4) Lowering of temperature decreased Fc, and eventually diminished it at Tc (= 15 degrees C). (5) The presence of glucose, CaCl2, MgCl2 and NaCl gave the identical tau-F relationship. Applications od D2O and ethanol slowed down the contraction rhythm, while that of KCl accelerated the rhythm. However, all these chemicals did not affect the tau O value. All results described above indicate that the contraction rhythm in the plasmodium is influenced by three components: a limit cycle which is independent of tension generation, a component which is strongly linked to the amplitude of the tension, F, and the part which is independent of the value of F. External factors appear to influence separately these three components of the contraction rhythm.

Thymidine phosphorylase. Substrate specificity for 5-substituted 2'-deoxyuridines

A continuous spectrophotometric assay for thymidine phosphorylase has been developed and used to analyze the substrate properties of a number of 5-substituted 2'-deoxyuridines. A QSAR was found which relates the catalytic efficiency for various substrates to a single variable, the inductive field constant F.

Comparative studies on absorption patterns of the drug after intrarectal administration of 5-FU emulsion and 5-FU solution

Intrarectal administration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) emulsion was compared experimentally with that of 5-FU solution as to the degree of absorption and tissue distribution. For the 5-FU levels in the rectal wall, the levels in the emulsion group remained at high levels during the 6 hour period after administration while the levels in the solution group decreased rapidly. For the 5-FU levels in the lymph nodes, those in the emulsion group were significantly higher (more than four times) and remained at relatively high levels for a longer period than those in the solution group. In the thoracic lymph, 5-FU levels in the emulsion group remained more than two times higher throughout the experimental period. The results suggest tha preoperative intrarectal administration of 5-FU emulsion may be effective as an adjunct to surgery for rectal cancer with lymph node metastasis, because of the long duration of high concentration resulting in the rectal lymphatics and rectal wall.

Membrane biophysicsdf chemoreception and taxis in the plasmodium of physarum polycephalum

The threshold phenomena observed in chemoreception and taxis of the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum were analyzed on the basis of physical chemistry. Various physicochemical concepts and rules, e.g. the Schulze-Hardy rule, the lyotropic number and the hydrophobic interactions, were shown to be applicable reasonably well to the physiological functions in Physarum. It was stressed that the structural change of the surface membrane induced by reception of chemical stimuli plays a decisive role in recognition and sensitivity to the external stimuli as well as the appearance of tactic movement in the amoeboid motility of Physarum.

Follow-up studies on the distribution of haemoglobin levels in female farm workers

Haemoglobin concentrations in about 1000 women agricultural workers in Japan were measured every year, except in 1972, during the period 1967-77. Improvements were noted in the course of this investigation, and these were predominantly associated with the fact that those in the study community began to pay attention to the problem of low haemoglobin levels and to improve their diet, with an increase in daily food intake, particularly of animal protein and iron. In addition, a marked decrease in anaemia caused by hookworm also played an important role. In this paper, the change in haemoglobin concentration during the period of study are described and the aetiology is discussed.

Subcellular distribution in cerebral cortex of two proteins phosphorylated by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The subcellular distribution of Proteins Ia and Ib, two proteins which serve as specific substrates for protein kinases present in mammalian brain, was studied in the dog cerebral cortex. Proteins Ia and Ib were found to be most highly enriched in synaptic vesicle fractions; they were also present in postsynaptic density and synaptic membrane fractions in significant amounts. Proteins Ia and Ib present in the synaptic vesicle fraction appear to be similar, if not identical, to those present in the postsynaptic density fraction as judged by several criteria: (a) the ability to serve as substrate for cAMP-dependent protein kinase, (b) electrophoretic mobility in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, (c) extractability with NH4Cl or EGTA, and (d) fragmentation to electrophoretically similar peptides by a purified Staphylococcus aureus protease. In addition, the postsynaptic density fraction has been found to contain cAMP-dependent Protein Ia and Protein Ib kinase activity. The subcellular localization of Proteins Ia and Ib suggests a role for these proteins in the physiology of the synapse.

Inhibitory effects of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine 5'-triphosphate and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate on DNA polymerases from murine cells and oncornavirus

The effects of the newly synthesized compound 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine 5'-triphosphate (ara-GTP) on the activity of DNA polymerases from mouse cells and oncornavirus were compared with those of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate. Ara-GTP did not replace deoxyguanosine 5'- triphosphate as substrate for these DNA polymerases but inhibited the activities of DNA polymerase alpha, beta, and gamma and viral DNA polymerase. DNA polymerase alpha was more sensitive than DNA polymerases beta and gamma and viral DNA polymerase to inhibition by ara-GTP. The inhibitions by ara-GTP and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine 5'-triphosphate were due to competition or partial competition 5'-triphosphate were due to competition or partial competition with deoxynucleoside triphosphate with the same base. The inhibition constant (Ki) and the mode of inhibition of nucleotide incorporation varied depending on the combination of inhibitor, substrate(s), and enzyme species.

Widespread distribution of protein I in the central and peripheral nervous systems

Protein I, a naturally occurring substrate for cyclic AMP-dependent and calcium-dependent protein kinases, previously has been found only in mammalian brain, where it has been demonstrated to be located in neurons. Various tissues and organs outside the brain have now been examined for the possible occurrence of protein I, by using both an immunohistochemical approach and a chemical procedure involving radioimmunolabeling of polyacrylamide gels. Protein I has been found in the inner plexiform layer of the retina, in the posterior pituitary, and in the autonomic nervous system. In tissue composed predominantly of cells other than nerve cells, immunoreactivity was present only where innervation was present. Protein I appeared to be localized in some, but not all, nerve terminals and synapses.

Immunocytochemical localization, in synapses, of protein I, an endogenous substrate for protein kinases in mammalian brain

Protein I is a principal endogenous substrate for cyclic AMP- and Ca2+-dependent protein kinases of mammalian brain. Antibodies raised against purified protein I have been used to localize this protein in the rat central nervous system. At the light microscope level, immunoreactivity was detected in punctate deposits in selected zones of synaptic termination. These deposits varied in density among brain regions. At the electron microscope level, immunoreactivity was observed at some but not all synaptic regions and was restricted to the perimeter of synaptic vesicles and to submembranous material in the postsynaptic neuron.

Equations for the dose distributions of high-energy electrons

Dose distributions of high-energy electrons were calculated using simple equations which were derived from experimental data. Equations are composed of functions of the percent depth dose, the field effect ratio and the off-axis ratio. The electron energy and field size are parameters for the calculation. Dose distributions were compared between experiments and calculations for different field sizes and energies. It is concluded that the equations can be applied clinically to calculate dose distributions for treatment planning.

Simultaneous surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot and coronary artery aneurysm due to mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome in a 4-year-old child

The simultaneous correction of tetralogy of Fallot and an aneurysm of the coronary artery due to mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS) in a 4-year-old boy was successfully performed. Of the four aneurysms found on the coronary angiogram at the age of six months, the smaller three regressed spontaneously leaving slight dilatation and thickening of the arterial wall during the 4-year follow-up period. However, the largest one in the right coronary artery, which remained almost the same size, showed marked stagnation of blood in the aneurysm with the possibility of thrombosis and resultant myocardial infarction. At operation, there was a large aneurysm in the right coronary artery, 9 mm in width and 18 mm in length. The wall of the aneurysm was very thick and tightly adherent to the myocardium. The aneurysm was resected and an aorto-coronary bypass graft was fashioned from a saphenous vein taken from the patient's mother, since an autogenous vein was not available. A ventricular septal defect was closed and pulmonary stenosis was relieved without any difficulty. Postoperative cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography four weeks after the operation revealed satisfactory correction of the tetralogy of Fallot and a patent aorto-coronary vein graft. Several problems regarding surgical treatment of coronary artery aneurysm due to MCLS are discussed.

Effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on the levels of several water-soluble vitamins in tissues of germ-free and conventional rats

The influence of vitamin B6 deficiency on the levels of several water-soluble vitamins and on acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity was investigated using of germ-free and conventional rats. Judging from the vitamin B6 levels in tissues and the percent of decrease, the degree of vitamin B6 deficiency was more severe in the tissues of deficient germ-free rats than in deficient conventional rats. Nicotine acid, pantothenic acid and biotin levels per wet weight significantly decreased in the liver of vitaminB6-deficient germ-free rats, and nicotine acid levels per wet weight significant decreased in the liver of deficient conventional rats. In the kidney of vitamin B6-deficient germ-free rats, a significant decrease in riboflavin and biotin levels was observed, although there was no observable difference in riboflavin, nicotinic acid, biotin and patothenic acid levels in the kidney of deficient conventional rats. From an enzymatic standpoint, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase activity was especially significantly decreased in both germ-free and conventional rats fed a vitamin B6-deficient diet, and the percent od decrease was more in germ-free rats than in conventional ones. These findings suggest that vitamin B6 deficiency had stronger effects on the levels of water-soluble vitamins in germ-free rats compared with conventional rats.

The differences of the metabolism related to vitamin B6-dependent enzymes among vitamin B6-deficient germ-free and conventional rats

The differences of the metabolism related to vitamin B6-dependent enzymes were investigated using germ-free and conventional rats. There was a significant difference in the boyd weight gain between vitamin B6-deficient germ-free and conventional rats after about 30 days of the experiment, and the body weight gain was much less in the deficient germ-free rats than in the deficient conventional ones. Urinary excretion of xanthurenic acid was higher in the deficient germ-free rats than in the deficient conventional ones after 18 days. There was a significant difference in the activities of kynurenine aminotransferase in mitochondrial fractions of germ-free rats, but not in mitochondrial fractions of conventional ones. The activities of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, with or without pyridoxal phosphate, significantly decreased in the deficient germ-free rats, but not in the deficient conventional ones. These findings indicate that the degree of vitamin B6 deficiency was more severe in the deficient germ-free rats than in the deficient conventional ones, and also suggest that intestinal microflora may have some effects on vitamin B6-deficient conventional rats.

Observations of the concentration of zinc and iron in tissues of vitamin B6-deficient germ-free rats

The transition of zinc and iron metabolism in vitamin B6 deficiency was investigated using germ-free and conventional rats. In contrast to previous reports, a decrease in zinc content was not observed in the liver, pancreas, kindney, spleen, lung or testes of vitamin B6-deficient conventional and germ-free rats, but we found an increase in zinc content in the kidney of conventional rats and in the liver and spleen of germ-free rats. Vitamin B6-deficient conventional and germ-free rats retained more iron in their tissues than the control animals did, except for the spleen of germ-free rats. The deposit of iron was more evident in vitamin B6-deficient germ-free rats than in vitamin B6-deficient conventional rats, and is possibly proportional to the degree of vitamin B6 deficiency. It is possible that the deposit of iron in the organs had some influence on metabolic disorders in vitamin B6-deficient rats.

Reaction of the contractile apparatus in Physarum to injected Ca++, ATP, ADP and 5'AMP

After replacement of endoplasm by artificial media, the ectoplasmic tube of the plasmodial veins survives and contraction automaticity continues. Motive force generation for plasmodial locomotion is widely independent of the presence of endoplasm, i.e. force generation is located within the ectoplasmic tube. The replacement of endoplasm offers the possibility to study the effects of physiologically active substances upon the contraction activity of cytoplasmic actomyosin under in vivo conditions. Using different methods for measuring the force output as indicator of the effects of injected substances, the influences of free Ca++-ions and different nucleotides were studied. The injection of Ca++ buffers revealed that force output of the veins increased with ascending Ca++ concentrations between 2 x 10(-7) and 10(-6) M. Half maximal response was found to lie in the range of 4 x 10(-7) M, the saturation value at 6 x 10(-7) M Ca++. The injection of adenosine nucleotides induced optimal contraction responses at 0.2 mM ATP, 0.5 mM ADP and 2.5 mM 5'AMP, respectively. The contraction response induced by 0.2 mM ATP depends strongly on the concentration of the available Ca++. From a threshold concentration of 2 x 10(-7) M Ca++, force output increased up to 10(-5) M Ca++. In presence of 0.2 mM ATP, the value for half maximal contraction response to Ca++ was 10(-6) M Ca++. It is concluded that 0.2 mM ATP and 2 to 4 x 10(-7) M Ca++, are the conditions, under which the cytoplasmic actomyosin system of Physarum performs its function in vivo. The implication of the results and the possibilites of the new method for further investigations of the contraction physiology of Physarum as a model system for cytoplasmic actomyosin are discussed.

The metabolism of [carboxyl-14C]anthranilic acid. I. The incorporation of radioactivity into NAD+ and NADP+

A new pathway of NAD+ synthesis from anthranilic acid was found in the livers of rats. Starting from [carboxyl-14C]anthranilic acid, radioactive NAD+ and NADP+ were produced as judged by Dowex-1 X 8-formate column chromatography followed by radiochromatography. Several intermediate compounds, such as quinolinic acid, nicotinic acid mononucleotide, and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide were also identified with the aid of various chromatographic techniques. In the experiments with liver microsomal hydroxylation systems, anthranilic acid was converted into not only 5-hydroxyanthranilic acid but also 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid.

Psychosomatic aspects of the effect of conjugated estrogens in patients with postoperative ovarian deficiency syndrome

Fifty-three uterine cancer patients who complained of the syndrome dur to vasomotor manifestations or psychosomatic response after ovariectomy were given Premarin tablets, 1.25 mg per day or placebo for 3 weeks and improvement in their complaints was compared from the psychosomatic aspects by the double-blind method. Premarin was significantly more effective than placebo (P less than 0.001) in the psychologically normal patients. On the other hand, no difference in the effectiveness of these drugs were found in the psychologically abnormal patients (P = 0.119). According to the self evaluation by the patients, Premarin was significantly more effective than placebo (P less than 0.05) in the psychologically normal patients. However, there was no difference in the effects of these agents in the psychologically abnormal patients.

Ontogeny of synaptic phosphoproteins in brain

The ontogeny of two endogenous substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (ATP:protein phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.37) has been studied in rat and guinea pig cerebrum. These endogenous substrates, referred to as proteins Ia and Ib, have been shown in other studies to be specific to nervous tissue and to be enriched in the synaptic membrane and synaptic vesicle fractions of adult brain. In the present study, proteins Ia and Ib were shown to increase markedly during the time of major synaptogenesis in rat cerebrum and guinea pig cerebrum, in which the morphological development of synapses is predominantly postnatal and prenatal, respectively. Similar results were obtained either by measuring endogenous phosphorylation of proteins Ia and Ib in the synaptic membrane fraction or by measuring phosphorylation of extracted proteins Ia and Ib with added protein kinase.

Mitral insufficiency secondary to mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. A case report of successful surgical treatment

A three-year-old girl with mitral regurgitation due to mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS) but with normal coronary arteries was treated surgically. Although no definite pathologic lesions causing severe mitral regurgitation except for dilatation of the mitral annulus were found at operation, some minor changes implied focal ischemia of the posterior papillary muscle. A poster-medial annuloplasty was performed without significant residual regurgitation. This is the first patient successfully treated by surgery for mitral valve incompentence due to MCLS. However, additional clinical experiences will be needed to evaluate surgical treatment for this group patients.

Histological evaluation of the effect of 5-FU emulsion on lymph node metastasis of stomach cancer

In order to evaluate the effect of anticancer drugs on the metastatic lesions of the regional lymph nodes from stomach cancers removed after oral administration of 5-FU emulsion, histological examinations of the specimens obtained from 107 surgical cases were carried out. In additional 13 cases with gastric cancer, the active 5-FU concentrations in the regional lymph nodes were determined. The effect of 5-FU emulsion in metastatic lesions as determined was histologically classified into Grades 0 to III according to the severity and extent of damaged cells and cell nests Grades II and III were judged to demonstrate the beneficial effect of the 5-FU emulsion. Such changes were identified in 62.0 per cent of the 242 metastatic lymph nodes, and the effectiveness increased as the total dose of the 5-FU emulsion administered increased (50.9 per cent for 5,000 mg or less, 70.9 per cent for 5,000 to 6,000 mg, and 72.7 per cent for 6,000 mg or more). The rate of effectiveness also varied with the histological type of the primary carcinoma, i.e. the differentiated type being more sensitive. The mean active 5-FU level in the regional lymph nodes was higher after the administration of 5-FU emulsion than of 5-FU solution supporting the earlier animal experiments.

Active enhancement of canine liver allografts with polyspecific antigen

Of 34 canine liver allograft recipients, 17 in the control group survived for 6.9 +/- 1.5 days. Six recipients, group 3, were given 780 milligrams per kilogram of body weight polyspecific semisoluble antigen prepared from 20 spleens together with 10 milligrams per kilogram of body weigth prednisolone on days 15, 8 and 1 before transplantation. The mean survival time of this group was 10.1 +/- 2.0 days, p less than 0.01, compared with the control group. Six other recipients, group 4, were similarly treated with antigen from a pool of 70 spleens. Three survived for more than three weeks, and the other three died on days 1, 7 and 8 postoperatively with signs of accelerated rejection. Donors and recipients were not identical for leukocyte defined determinants. The recipients displaying accelerated rejection had markedly higher lymphocytotoxic and hemagglutinating antibodies. In addition, all recipients undergoing progressive rejection showed an inhibition of leukocyte migration. After three antigen dosages, rosette forming lymphocytes were present in increased numbers in peripheral blood and remained unchanged thereafter.

Color reaction of cholesterol with trichloracetic acid and antimony trichloride. On the reaction mechanism

The color reaction of cholesterol with trichloracetic acid and antimony trichloride was examined to elucidate its reaction mechanism. 3,5-Cholestadiene, 3,3'bis(3,5-cholestadiene), 3,3'bis(2,4-cholestadiene), and cholesteryl trichloroacetate were isolated as the reaction products from the colored reaction mixture of cholesterol, and the first three compounds were found to be responsible for the coloration. It was assumed that cholesterol was dehydrated to 3,5-cholestadiene and 2,4-cholestadiene, which were dimerized to 3,3'-bis(3,5-cholestadiene) and 3,3'-bis(2,4-cholestadiene), respectively, and 3,3'-bis(2,4-cholestadiene) was in part converted to 3,3'-bis(3,5-cholestadiene) in trichloroacetic acid and antimony trichloride. The free radicals were detected in the colored solutions of choelsterol, 3,5-cholestadiene, 3,3'-bis(3,5-cholestadiene), and 3,3'-bis(2,4-cholestadiene), and inferred to be the radical cations of the steroids. The radical cation was postulated to be responsible with respect to the mechanism of the coloration. The relationship between the color reagent and the formation of dimeric steroids was described.

Clinical study on correlation with the 60-min plasma phenolsulfonphthalein concentration and other renal function tests

An analysis of the reliability of the 60-min plasma phenosulfonphthalein concentration (PSP60) as a renal function test has been made in 40 patients with or without urinary dead space. PSP60 correlates with 15-min urinary PSP excretion and 24-hour endogenous creatinine clearance in patients without urinary dead space. 15-min urinary PSP excretion showed unreliability as a renal function test in patients with urinary dead space. However, we confirmed that PSP60 and 24-hour endogenous creatinine clearance were reliable indicators of renal function in these patients.

Ureteral obstruction by endometriosis

The clinicopathological features of 2 cases of ureteral endometriosis are presented. The difficulties in diagnosis and surgical management of ureteral endometriosis are discussed. We emphasized the importance of frozen section during surgery for the lower one third of ureteral obstruction in premenopausal woman. Moreover, it is suggested that the surgical procedure for ureteral endometriosis should be uretero-ureterostomy or ureterocystoneostomy in the early stage.

[Extracorporeal perfusion with baboon liver in the treatment of hepatic coma (author's transl)]

In 11 patients with hepatic coma (stage IV and V according to Abouna) extracorporeal haemoperfusion using the Scribner shunt (radial or profunda femoris artery) was performed over 12 to 27 hours with 22 baboon and one human livers. Eight patients emerged from coma, six of them showed sufficient regeneration of the diseased liver. Four patients were discharged as cured, one patient died of acute pancreatic necrosis, a further one due to bleeding from an old gastric ulcer. In the 2 remaining patients the coma recurred within 48 hours. Tree patients never came round from coma. After perfusion no antibodies against baboon proteins were demonstrable in the patients. Thus there is very little danger of an anaphylactic reaction when perfusion is repeated. The titre of preformed cytotoxic antibodies against baboon cells in patients' serum rises only after 1-2 weeks and decreases again after 4 weeks. In our experience extracorporeal liver perfusion with baboon or human livers is the most promising method for treatment of hepatic coma.