The use of a charge-coupled device for quantitative optical microscopy of biological structures

The properties of a charge-coupled device (CCD) and its application to the high-resolution analysis of biological structures by optical microscopy are described. The CCD, with its high resolution, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, photometric accuracy, and geometric stability, can provide data of such high quality that quantitative analysis on two- and three-dimensional microscopic images is possible. For example, the three-dimensional imaging properties of an epifluorescence microscope have been quantitatively determined with the CCD. This description of the imaging properties of the microscope, and the high-quality image data provided by the CCD, allow sophisticated computational image processing methods to be used that greatly improve the effective resolution obtainable for biological structures. Image processing techniques revealed fine substructures in Drosophila embryonic diploid chromosomes in two and three dimensions. The same approach can be extended to structures as small as yeast chromosomes or to other problems in structural cell biology.

Anatomy of the prostate from fetus to adult--origin of benign prostatic hyperplasia

The anatomy of the prostate was studied in specimens from humans ranging from fetal age to 79 years. At all ages, the prostate can be divided into two zones, inner and outer. The distribution and relative size of the prostatic lobes is similar in the fetus and in the adult. In the fetus, the inner zone can be subdivided into lateral, subcervical, and anterior lobes and mucosal glands. The anterior and subcervical lobes usually disappear in prepuberty but may reappear in advanced age. The outer zone can be subdivided into the middle and posterior lobes. Benign prostatic hyperplasia arises from the lateral, subcervical, and anterior lobes of the inner zone and the middle lobe of the outer zone. It is suggested that previous investigators failed to describe a demarcation line or territory between the lateral and posterior lobes.

DNA amplification of the c-myc and c-erbB-1 genes in a human stomach cancer

High-molecular-weight DNAs from 43 human primary tumor tissues were examined by Southern blot hybridization for possible rearrangement and/or amplification of the following protooncogenes: the c-myc, c-erbB-1, N-myc, c-mos and c-fos genes. In an adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the stomach, the c-myc and c-erbB-1 genes were found to be simultaneously amplified 5- and 30-fold, respectively. Cooperative expression of the amplified c-myc and c-erbB-1 genes might be involved in the genesis or progression of the gastric cancer.

[A case of bilateral renal cell carcinoma]

A 69-year-old man visited our clinic with the chief complaint of macroscopic hematuria. On CT scanning and renal arteriography, a round tumor about 3 cm in diameter on the frontlateral phase of the left kidney and another tumor ranging from the upper pole to the center of the right kidney were recognized. Under the diagnosis of bilateral renal tumor, first in November 1980 left partial nephrectomy was performed to extirpate the tumor. Then, upon recovery from postoperative transient renal hypofunction, right nephrectomy was performed in January 1981. After the operation renal hypofunction was noted again, but in March of the same year he was discharged as his creatinine value was stabilized to 3 approximately 4 mg/dl. Histopathologically the tumor of the left kidney was clear cell subtype and that of the right kidney was granular cell subtype of renal cell carcinoma. He has been followed up under administration of PSK and CQ in the outpatient clinic. As of January, 1985 he is well without recurrence or metastasis.

Equilibrium and kinetic study of sodium- and potassium-induced conformational changes of apo-alpha-lactalbumin

Equilibrium and kinetics of Na+-and K+-induced conformational changes of apo-alpha-lactalbumin were studied by means of circular dichroism. While apo-alpha-lactalbumin was considerably unfolded in the absence of Na+ or K+ in 20 mM Tris at pH 8.0 and 25 degrees, both the monovalent cations restored the tertiary structure of the protein. Apparent binding constants of Na+ and K+ to the apoprotein were estimated from the equilibria of the Na+- and K+-induced conformational changes. Based on kinetic data of the conformational changes induced by the monovalent cations, binding mechanism of the ions to the apo-protein was examined. Bound alkali-metal ions stabilize the native-like state and an activated state in the unfolding-refolding reaction of the apoprotein.

Comparison of the transient folding intermediates in lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin

Refolding kinetics of two homologous proteins, lysozyme and alpha-lactalbumin, were studied by following the time-dependent changes in the circular dichroism spectra in the aromatic and the peptide regions. The refolding was initiated by 20-fold dilution of the protein solutions originally unfolded at 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, at pH 1.5 for lysozyme and pH 7.0 for alpha-lactalbumin at 4.5 degrees C. In the aromatic region, almost full changes in ellipticity that were expected from the equilibrium differences in the spectra between the native and unfolded proteins were observed kinetically. The major fast phase of lysozyme folding has a decay time of 15 s. The decay time of alpha-lactalbumin depends on the presence or absence of bound Ca2+: 10 s for the holoprotein and 100 s for the apoprotein. In the peptide region, however, most of the ellipticity changes of the two proteins occur within the dead time (less than 3 s) of the present measurements. This demonstrates existence of an early folding intermediate which is still unfolded when measured by the aromatic bands but has folded secondary structure as measured by the peptide bands. Extrapolation of the ellipticity changes to zero time at various wavelengths gives a spectrum of the folding intermediate. Curve fitting of the peptide spectra to estimate the secondary structure fractions has shown that the two proteins assume a similar structure at an early stage of folding and that the intermediate has a structure similar to that of partially unfolded species produced by heat and, for alpha-lactalbumin, also by acid and a moderate concentration of guanidine hydrochloride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The NDA3 gene of fission yeast encodes beta-tubulin: a cold-sensitive nda3 mutation reversibly blocks spindle formation and chromosome movement in mitosis

The cells of a cold-sensitive mutant nda3-KM311 of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe were arrested highly synchronously at a step similar to mitotic prophase when incubated at a restrictive temperature. DAPI staining and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy showed three condensed chromosomes but no spindle. Six minutes after the temperature shifted to a permissive one, the spindle appeared and elongated. The chromosomes were separated at a constant speed (relative velocity 1 micron/min), and the spindle disappeared after the chromosomes reached opposite ends of the cell. The NDA3 gene of S. pombe was cloned by transformation. The 2.6 kb Hind III genomic DNA that complemented the nda3 mutations had only one coding frame split with five short introns. The predicted amino acid sequence contained 448 residues, and was 75% homologous to that of chicken beta-tubulin.

[Generation of hydrogen sulfide at excavation sites. I. A survey of job sites in the sewage system construction work]

It has long known that H2S is sometimes encountered during excavation in the Hiroshima delta. In order to secure information necessary to the improvement of working conditions in this area, we investigated the generation of H2S where work was being done on the Hiroshima sewage system. Using the shield method, we measured the concentration of H2S in the air around eight work sites, and we also measured pH, total sulfide, SO4(2-), C1-, Mg2+, and salinity in samples of water collected at the sites and from nearby wells. The ventilation volume was calculated from the measurement value of air movement with reference to ventilator capacity. The past situation of H2S generation at the sites was also investigated. The survey was conducted from August 30 to September 4, 1982, using the shield method. Concentrations of H2S from 0.8 to 7 ppm were detected in the air at four of the eight sites. Total sulfide varying from a trace to 8.5 mg/l was found at six sites, which included the four where H2S was found in the air. SO4(2-), C1-, and Mg2+ were found in high concentration in water in which sulfide was detected, and the same samples tended to have high salinity. At some of the sites, ventilation was implemented up to a maximum of 3,000 m3/h according to the concentration of H2S. At the sewage system construction sites covered in this survey, H2S concentration was kept below the permissible level of 10 ppm, and it may be concluded that adequate safety precautions have been taken.

A tentative assessment of water pollution by the medaka egg stationing method: aerial application of fenitrothion emulsion

To determine how centrum abnormalities in medaka could be used to indicate the degree of water pollution, several rearing experiments were carried out. Medaka eggs were placed at certain points on a stream flowing from an area in which fenitrothion emulsion (organophosphorous pesticide--MEP) was being applied aerially. There was sufficient probability that the eggs were exposed to the MEP. They were brought to the laboratory, and reared in dechlorinated water to adulthood. The external forms and vertebral centra of each adult fish were closely observed. It was found that the incidence of centrum-damaged fish in the exposure experiment groups was significantly higher than in the control and blank experiments, and the influence of the aerial application of MEP was clearly indicated in this manner. Consequently, it was confirmed that centrum abnormalities in medaka may be used as a biological index for indicating the degree of water pollution by agricultural chemicals.

Thermodynamics of thermal unfolding of bovine apo-alpha-lactalbumin

Thermal unfolding of bovine alpha-lactalbumin in 10 mM borate buffer at pH 8.0 in the presence of 0.01-1.0 M NaCl was studied in terms of CD ellipticity. The apoprotein changes the conformation from a native-like (N) to an unfolded (U) form, which has an appreciable amount of the secondary structure but no tertiary structure, in the two-state type. Various thermodynamic parameters of the transition were analyzed. The differences in enthalpy and heat capacity between the N and U states are similar to the corresponding differences of the holoprotein obtained with the calorimetric method by Pfeil. It is shown that one Na+ binds with a binding constant larger than 10(2)-10(3) M-1 to a specific site (probably to the Ca2+-binding site) in the molecule and the bound Na+ stabilizes the N form of the apoprotein.

Identification of the pleiotropic cell division cycle gene NDA2 as one of two different alpha-tubulin genes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Mutations in a cell-cycle gene NDA2 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe have pleiotropic effects on nuclear division, nuclear location, and thiabendazole sensitivity ( Toda et al., 1983). By transformation and nucleotide sequence determination, we identified NDA2 as one of two alpha-tubulin genes present in the genome of S. pombe. Two cloned sequences complemented cold-sensitive and thiabendazole-supersensitive nda2 mutations; one was derived from NDA2 that encodes alpha 1-tubulin, the other from an unidentified locus encoding alpha 2-tubulin. The predicted amino acid sequences showed that the alpha 1- and alpha 2-tubulins had respective residues of 455 and 449 (molecular weights 51,200 and 50,600). The homology to porcine alpha-tubulin was 76% in both cases. Frequent alterations took place in the two restricted regions. The alpha 1-tubulin (NDA2) clone had a 90 bp intervening sequence, the alpha 2-tubulin clone did not. RNA blot hybridization experiments indicated that both genes are transcribed. S. pombe tubulin was isolated by cycles of assembly and disassembly. Presumed alpha- and beta-tubulin polypeptide bands reacted with monoclonal antibodies specific for chicken alpha- and beta-tubulins.

[Evaluation of serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) in patients with urogenital cancer]

The level of serum TPA was determined by radio-immunoassay in 19 healthy subjects and 90 patients with urogenital cancer. The normal level of serum TPA was 86 +/- 24 U/l, and the level of more than 134 U/l was determined positive. The positive rate of TPA was 38.9% in 90 patients, while that of CEA was 25.6%. In 19 patients with bladder tumor and 7 with testicular tumor, the positive rates of TPA were 52.6% and 71.4%, respectively, and the level of serum TPA was high in these positive patients. Considering the low positive rate of CEA, TPA may be a more useful marker than CEA in patients with bladder tumor and testicular tumor. Serial determinations of serum TPA and CEA showed the considerable variation of serum TPA compared with serum CEA and a temporary elevation of serum TPA following radical nephrectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. However, the level of serum TPA fell significantly after the successful treatment in 8 patients (2 with renal cell cancer, 3 with bladder tumor, 1 with prostate cancer, 2 with testicular tumor) and rose sharply with recurrent or metastatic disease in 4 patients (2 with bladder tumor, 2 with testicular tumor). Although there was no correlation between the levels of serum TPA and serum PAP, the level of serum TPA tended to change in parallel with the level of serum AFP or HCG in 3 patients with testicular tumor.

An acute fatal occupational cadmium poisoning by inhalation

A 43-year-old male smelter was admitted to a hospital on account of severe dyspnea about 2 days after exposure to brownish-yellow smoke produced by melting of "copper" scrap. On admission pronounced hypoxemia was revealed, and an oxygen-enriched gas was administered after intubation. Although inspired oxygen concentration was gradually increased, hypoxemia progressed and he died on day 11 in hospital. The principal autopsy finding was chiefly confined to the lungs. Both lungs were heavy (the left weighing 1,470 g; the right 1,710 g) and firm to the touch. Histologically, no normal alveoli were found throughout the entire lung. Some alveolar spaces were occupied by pneumocytes, others by organized exudate with fibrosis. Interstitial fibrosis was present. Patchy areas of inflammatory cell infiltrations as well as intra-alveolar hemorrhages were observed. On the basis of the above findings a diagnosis of diffuse alveolar damage was made. Based on the available evidence (presence of cadmium in the "copper" scrap, feature of the smoke, clinical signs with latent time, and high cadmium concentration of the lung), the diffuse alveolar damage was considered to have been caused by inhaled cadmium. The pulmonary change of the present case was more advanced in pathologic stage in comparison with those reported in the literature.

Evaluation of multidisciplinary treatment of bladder cancer, especially in chemoimmunotherapy (ADM and OK-432) as a consolidation therapy

The relapse rate of bladder cancer (transitional cell Ca) is said to be about 45%-80% even after tumor resection. Multidisciplinary treatment was designed and studied to prevent such recurrence. This treatment was designed to have three steps: induction, consolidation, and maintenance therapy. Following surgical tumor removal, OK-432 and Adriamycin (ADM) were administered as consolidation therapy, followed by administration of PSK and carboquone (CQ) in small amounts as maintenance therapy continuously for about 3 years, and the course was observed. In both consolidation and maintenance groups various non-specific immunoparameters were superior in groups receiving combined immunotherapeutic agents. Thus, the use of immunotherapeutic agents in combination with chemotherapeutic agents was considered to be effective. The 3-year recurrence rate was only 8% in the multidisciplinary treatment group, while that in the non-multidisciplinary treatment group was 61%. This approach, especially with chemoimmunotherapy (ADM and OK-432) as a consolidation therapeutic mode, is therefore considered to be useful for the prevention of recurrence.

[Studies on human prostatic carcinoma cell lines: evaluation of acid phosphatase productivity and effects of sex hormones on the cells]

The established cell lines from human prostatic cancer, such as Duke 145, 8PC93, and 19PC93, were examined in terms of their producing activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and sensitivity to sex hormones. The results obtained are summarized. 1. ACP producing activity ACP was estimated with phenyl phosphate as a substrate. Values of the materials from each of the cells extracted with 5% Triton X-100 were Duke 145 (6.1 u/mg), 8PC93 (40.6 u/mg), and 19PC93 (40.4 u/mg), respectively. Activities of ACP were prohibited by the presence of L-tartrate. Histochemistry of ACP was demonstrated by azo-dye staining procedure, revealing the positive reactions in the cytoplasms of 8PC93 and 19PC93 cells, but weak reaction in duke 145 cells. Disk polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (D-PAGE) was employed for ACP analysis of the cell extracts with 5% Tryton X-100 treatment. Two main bands were observed near original point and at another point proposed as ACP-2. These ACP positive reactions on the gels were also inhibited by the presence of L-tartrate in staining solution. In the case of Duke 145 cell material, the intensity of the reaction was observed weak in those specific two bands. 2. Hormone effects to the cells The prostatic cancer cells were examined in terms of sensitivity to sex steroid hormones such as androsterone, progesterone, estrone, estradiol, and estriol, by a colony formation method. Fifty percent reduction in colony formation of the 8PC93 and 19PC93 cells was found at the concentration of ca. 1.5 micrograms/ml in the case using progesterone or estrone, or estradiol, while 50% reduction of the Duke 145 cells was observed at 5 micrograms/ml only in a case using progesterone.