Characterization of a Ca2+-dependent protein kinase from rice root: differential response to cold and regulation by abscisic acid

The Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and abscisic acid (ABA) are known to be involved in low-temperature stress response. The focus of this study was to characterize the 45 kDa protein kinase identified in the crude extract of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling roots in response to cold (5 degrees C) stress. The activity of the 45 kDa protein kinase decreased at low temperature as evident by an in-gel kinase assay using histone III-S as a substrate. Also, the Ca2+-dependent activity of this protein kinase was suppressed by cold in the membrane fractions of the root. A general protein kinase inhibitor and Ca2+ chelator inhibited the activity of the 45 kDa protein kinase, suggesting that it was a plant CDPK. The 45 kDa CDPK identified was found to be independent of photosynthetic tissues such as the leaf and leaf sheath of rice seedlings, supporting a direct sensing mechanism in the roots of rice seedlings to cold stress. The suppressed activity of the 45 kDa CDPK was reverted by supplementing with 5 microM ABA under cold stress. The 45 kDa CDPK activity was stronger in the cold-tolerant variety of the 4 types tested than it was in the cold-sensitive one. These results suggest the involvement of endogenous ABA in regulating the activity of the 45 kDa CDPK in response to cold stress.

"Ordered" structure in ionic dilute solutions: dendrimers with univalent and bivalent counterions

As an intermediate sample of ionic solutes between colloidal particles (macroions) and simple electrolyte ions, we made small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements for aqueous solutions of poly(amido amine) dendrimers of three generations (G4, G7, and G10). The SAXS curves of univalent acid solutions showed a single scattering peak, as observed for synthetic macroions. The peak position was dependent on the dendrimer concentration but independent not only of the acid concentration (degree of protonation) but also of the counterion species. The effective charge density of the dendrimer determined by conductivity measurements was found to be insensitive to the acid concentration and the counterion species. The nearest neighbor interparticle distance 2D(exp) calculated from the peak position of the structure factor of G7 and G10 was obviously smaller, though slightly, than the average interparticle distance 2D(0) calculated from molecular weights and concentrations of dendrimers, implying that acid solutions of dendrimers formed the two-state structures by the attractive force. The ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering curve for the hydrochloric acid solution did not show an upturn, which indicates the existence of large scale structural inhomogeneities such as localized ordered structures, probably due to the weak attraction and hence less clear distinction of the ordered and disordered regions. For sulfuric acid solutions, clear scattering peaks were not observed. The bivalent counterions were more strongly associated with the dendrimer ions than the univalent ones. The resulting low charge number of the dendrimers with the bivalent counterion was confirmed directly by the conductivity measurements. These observations confirm that the counterion-mediated attraction does exist even with the univalent counterions and point out that the frequently advanced claim that the effective potential is essentially repulsive with univalent counterions while attraction appears with bivalent counterions is not necessarily correct. It is noted that the intensity of the counterion-mediated attraction in dendrimer solutions is dictated by both the effective charge density and the effective charge number, in contrast with macroionic solutions or colloidal dispersions in which only the effective charge density appeared to be important.

[Two siblings with eyelid myoclonia with absences]

We report two siblings with eyelid myoclonia with absences. Patient 1, a 7-year-old boy, visited us because of eyelid blinking resembling a tic. He had experienced the movements since 2 years old. The diagnosis of a simple motor tic was initially made, however, the episodes worsened gradually. Patient 2, a younger brother of patient 1, was a 5-year-old boy. His eyelid blinking also began at age of 2 years. Additionally, the mother's aunt and her cousin had a history of grand mal on awakening, and the patient's cousin has febrile seizures. Their clinical features were as follows; (i) eyelid myoclonia, described as rapid, rhythmic eyelid fluttering with upward jerking of the eyes and head, lasting for 1-2 seconds; (ii) it occurred frequently each day; (iii) when it lasted for more than 2-3 seconds, it was associated with absences; (iv) both hyperventilation and photic stimulation on 18 f/c induced clinical seizures; and (v) ictal EEG revealed 3-4 c/s generalized irregular spike-waves with a duration of 1-3 seconds. Based on these characteristics, a diagnosis of eyelid myoclonia with absences was made. The present cases are the first sibling cases reported in Japan and, according to their family history, a genetic predisposition should be considered.

Immediate remission obtained by minocycline in a patient with histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis

A 29-year-old man was admitted because of fever, arthralgia and swelling of the cervical lymph nodes. A diagnosis of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL) was made based on the findings of a lymph node biopsy. At first, piperacillin sodium (PIPC) was started, but a spiking fever persisted. We therefore changed the PIPC treatment to minocycline. On the following day, his clinical and laboratory findings were dramatically improved. After administering minocycline for 10 days, the HNL symptoms completely disappeared. He has been in good health for 3 years since undergoing treatment. This case strongly indicates that minocycline-sensitive microorganism(s) may be related, at least in part, to the etiology of HNL.

Fundamental functions for ultrafast optical routing by temporal frequency-to-space conversion

We demonstrate fundamental functions for ultrafast optical routing by using an elemental part of an ultrafast optical technique for conversion of time to two-dimensional space. A preliminary experimental result shows that recognition of header signals can be achieved at a rate of more than 600 Gbytes/s.

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hemophagocytic syndrome

Hepatocellular carcinoma may manifest various paraneoplastic syndromes. There are some reports describing hematological change due to hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there have been no reports on hepatocellular carcinoma accompanied by hemophagocytic syndrome. We report here for the first time a 51-year-old man with a liver tumor and pancytopenia. Since the patient had showed a strong hemorrhagic diathesis because of thrombocytopenia, we treated him with blood transfusion, but there was no response. Thereafter, we administered the anticancer agents thinking that the hematological change was due to the liver tumor. Though a slight curative effect was obtained, we had to discontinue the treatment because the patient complained of severe side effects. Finally, the patient died of acute cholangitis. Although we could not determine the cause of the pancytopenia before he died, autopsy findings indicated that hemophagocytic syndrome had occurred. Hemophagocytic syndrome related to a solid tumor very rarely occurs. However, when malignant tumor is accompanied by pancytopenia, hemophagocytic syndrome should be considered.

Requirement of ceramide for adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to glycosphingolipids

Direct adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to immobilized glycosphingolipids (GSLs) was compared to that of their corresponding oligosaccharide-conjugated neoglycoconjugates in order to clarify the roles of the carbohydrate and lipid portions of GSLs in H. pylori adhesion. These bacteria were found to adhere to sulfatide, GM3, GalCer and LacCer, but not to ceramide, sphingomyelin, or polyacrylamides conjugated with beta-galactose, lactose, 3'-sialyllactose or 3'-sulfo-beta-galactose. Furthermore, neoglycolipids or bovine serum albumin derivatives with corresponding oligosaccharides were unable to serve as the ligands. H. pylori adhesion to GalCer with alpha-hydroxyl fatty acid was much stronger than GalCer with the non-hydroxyl fatty acid. These results suggest that H. pylori recognize the conformation of GSL with alpha-hydroxyl fatty acid on solid phase.

Analysis of the CYP2D6 gene polymorphism and enzyme activity in African-Americans in southern California

Despite its importance in drug metabolism and disease susceptibility, CYP2D6 activity and genetic polymorphism have rarely been investigated in African-American populations. In order to bridge this gap, we examined the genotype and phenotype of the enzyme in 154 African-American (AA) and 143 Caucasian (C) normal volunteers. AAs are significantly more likely to possess *17 and *5, but less likely to have *4. Overall, the two groups were similar in their CYP2D6 activity as measured with dextromethorphan as the probe (metabolic ratio 2.21 +/- 0.78 for AAs; 2.11 +/- 0.86 for Cs; t = 1.02, NS). Two of four AAs and six of seven Cs were classified as poor metabolizers and have two nonfunctioning alleles. CYP2D6 activity is determined by *17, *4, *5 and age in AAs (r2 = 0.33, f = 18.8, P < 0.001) and by *4 and *XN in Cs (r2 = 0.14, f = 10.8, P < 0.001). These results support previous findings demonstrating the importance of *17 in determining CYP2D6 activity in AAs.

Prevalence of positive anticardiolipin antibody in benign infantile convulsion

We report six anticardiolipin antibody (aCL)-positive cases among 18 children with epilepsy showing various seizure types in our initial study. These six cases revealed normal coagulation tests. As three of these six cases involved benign infantile convulsion (BIC), we further investigated the high frequency of positive aCL-Immunoglobulin (Ig) G in BIC in our subsequent study of nine cases that included three cases from the previous study and an additional six BIC cases followed and/or diagnosed by co-author (T.K.). As a result, eight of nine BIC cases were positive for aCL-IgG and the values of aCL-IgG decreased over long-term observation in three of these cases. The frequency of positivity for aCL-IgG in BIC was obviously higher than that of controls. Based on these results, we suggest that some immunological responses may be responsible for the pathogenesis of BIC.

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma detected by magnetic resonance imaging but not by computed tomography

A 51-year-old man with a primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium is reported. The angiosarcoma was not detected by transthoracic echocardiography or computed tomography, but magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography did show the tumor of the right atrial free wall. We performed a transvenous endomyocardial biopsy of the tumor under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography and made the pathological diagnosis. This case demonstrates the advantage of magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography for tumor detection over transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography and the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography for guiding the right atrial endomyocardial biopsy procedure.

Antioxidant potential of qizhu tang, a chinese herbal medicine, and the effect on cerebral oxidative damage after ischemia reperfusion in rats

A traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Qizhu Tang (QZT) was studied for its in vitro antioxidant activity and the effect on cerebral oxidative damage after forebrain ischemia followed by reperfusion in rats. The QZT decoction was shown to have strong hydroxyl radical (*OH) scavenging activity (approx. 0.1 mM as Trolox equivalent) when determined by ESR using DMPO as a spin trap reagent and H2O2/UV as the *OH source. When the QZT decoction was injected into rat duodenum 2 h before cerebral ischemia, the oxidative brain damage after 45 min reperfusion was strongly inhibited in terms of two biochemical indications, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance formation and the loss of glutathione peroxidase. Since the QZT formula consists of 4 herbal constituents (Rhizoma atractylodis, Poria, Radix notoginseng and Radix astragali), each of the component herbs and their combinations were also examined for their protective effects on the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and the effects were compared with their in vitro antioxidant potential. Although some of the incomplete formulas showed as strong antioxidant activities as complete QZT in vitro, only the complete QZT formula was effective in preventing cerebral oxidative injury in rats, and other preparations showed limited activity in vivo.

[Platinum compounds in cancer therapy--past, present, and future]

Platinum cytotoxics play an important role globally in the management of solid tumours. Cisplatin sets the standard for efficacy in both regions with careful administration to reduce nephrotoxicity. Carboplatin is associated with neurotoxicity, but has become the leading product in the US due largely to the easier to manage toxicity profile. Both agents have been widely used in both registered and non registered indications and are frequently combined with other cytotoxics. In Japan, cisplatin has been used successfully at low doses in combination with 5-FU based regimens and appears to achieve a synergistic effect, but controlled data are not yet available. More recently oxaliplatin (Europe) and nedaplatin (in Japan) have been introduced, but their clinical roles in therapy have yet to be established. One of the limiting features of the first generation of platinum compounds is that a significant proportion of tumours develop cross resistance to platins due to either changes in uptake or excretion, intracellular detoxification or accelerated DNA repair. The forum discussed the possibility for the development of better new platinum compounds, A new platin agent which had lower toxicity and higher efficacy across a wide range of cancers without the development of resistance would be a significant step forward. If the tolerability profile was suitable, an oral formulation may improve the quality of life for patients but this must not be at the expense of efficacy. Even after the introduction of new target based drugs, platinum cytotoxics are likely to be used to reduce the tumour mass and in some cases can be expected to potentiate the effects of the new agents. In preclinical studies, ZD0473 has been shown to by-pass some major mechanisms of resistance and has the potential to achieve these objectives and is now being evaluated in clinical studies in both Japan and the West.

[Partial sternotomy for off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting]

We performed off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting through a partial sternotomy. The sternum was spit like C-shape configuration from the second intercostal space down to the xiphoid junction. The left internal mammary arteries were mobilized and anastomosed to the left anterior descending arteries. Saphenous veins were grafted between the ascending aorta and the right coronary arteries or diagonal branches. After the surgery, excellent stability of the thorax with minimized incisions enhanced the early recovery. We believe that partial sternotomy approach may be useful in some cases of off-pump CABG.

Age-related volumetric changes of brain gray and white matter in healthy infants and children

To date there is little information about brain development during infancy and childhood, although several quantitative studies have shown volume changes in adult brains. We performed three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D-MRI) in 28 healthy children aged 1 month to 10 years. We examined the volumes of whole brain and frontal and temporal lobes with an advanced method for segmenting images into gray matter (GM), white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartments. Growth spurts of whole brain and frontal and temporal lobes could be seen during the first 2 years after birth. During this period the frontal lobes grew more rapidly than the temporal lobes, the right--left asymmetry was more noticeable in the temporal lobes than in the frontal lobes and the increase in GM was larger than that in WM in the temporal lobes. Subsequently, WM volume increased at a higher rate than GM volume throughout childhood. Quantitative information on normal brain development may play a pivotal role in clarifying brain neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

EXAFS analysis of the zinc-binding domain of boar spermatidal transition protein 2

Boar Spermatidal Transition Protein 2 (TP2; 137 amino acid residues) is supposed to play an important role in initiation of chromatin condensation and cessation of transcriptional activity during mammalian spermniogenesis. Boar TP2 has three potential zinc finger motifs and binds three atoms of zinc per molecule. However the structure of the zinc-binding domain of boar TP2 has not been completely determined. To elucidate the local structure around the zinc atoms of boar TP2, we performed an X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurement on the zinc-binding domain of TP2(TP2Z)(residues 1-103) in the fluorescence mode. By EXAFS analyses we have demonstrated that each of the three zinc atoms is coordinated by approximately two sulfur and two nitrogen atoms on average. The average Zn-S and Zn-N distances were found to be 2.36 and 2.01 A, respectively. The sulfur and nitrogen atoms are attributed to cysteine and histidine residues, respectively, from comparison of the EXAFS spectra with model compounds ZnS and ZnTPP zinc(II) tetraphenylporphyrin).

Iodine L-edge XAFS study of linear polyiodide chains in amylose and alpha-cyclodextrin

We performed iodine L edge XAFS measurements on blue-black amylose-iodine complex to obtain information about the electronic and geometrical structures of polyiodide chain included in amylose helix. Measurements were also carried out on crystalline alpha-cyclodextrin-iodine complex (alpha-cyclodextrin)2 x Cd0.5 x I5 x 27H2O, in which the polyiodide chain is known to consist of I(5)- unit. It was found that the XANES spectra of these complexes have similar line shapes except for some minor differences, indicating that there are close similarities in the nature of polyiodide chains in these complexes. Besides their similarity, difference in the intensity of the peak at the L1 absorption edge was observed. Its implication for the electronic and geometrical structures is also discussed.

[Risk management and clinical path]

In the risk management of medical practice, developing an efficient system to prevent medical accidents and trouble is required. For this purpose it is important to promote a cooperative team practice, to clarify each staff member's role, for each staff member to accurately carry out that role, for each staff member to always try to understand the patient's condition, and for staff members to ask each other whenever in doubt as to a patient's condition or the medical practice itself. These points for risk management share the same goal as the clinical path. The introduction of a clinical path is useful from the viewpoint of risk management. Electronic medical records and computer ordering systems in the medical practice should be developed as tools to decrease medical accidents.

Steroidal saponins from Hemerocallis fulva var. kwanso

Two steroidal saponins, hemeroside A and B, were isolated from the aerial part of Hemerocallis fulva var. kwanso for the first time. The structures of these compounds were established as 24S-hydroxy-neotokorogenin 1-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl 24-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and isorhodeasapogenin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2) through NMR experiments.

[Effect of arytenoid adduction operation for vocal function of laryngeal palsy patients]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the curative efficiency on vocal function of 56 laryngeal palsy patients underwent arytenoid adduction operation.

METHOD

Voice analysis and laryngeal aerodynamical measurement were performed for the 56 laryngeal palsy patients to compare maximum phonation time (MPT), mean flow rate (MFR), voice intensity(SPL), and expiratory pressure(EP) before and after operation. Perceptual evaluation was also performed for comparison by using GRBAS system(G).

RESULT

The postoperative average MPT increased by 3.1 times in males and 2.7 times in females. The average MFR decreased apparently from 827.3 ml/s in males and 477.1 ml/s in females before operation to 340.3 ml/s and 158 ml/s after operation, which was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The average SPL increased and the average EP decreased after operation. After operation the average G decreased from 2.8 to 1.7 (P < 0.01) and the percentage of improvement over one grade was 71%.

CONCLUSION

From these results mentioned above, it can be concluded that the arytenoid adduction operation might be one of the most effective operative methods to improve glottal incompetence caused by laryngeal nerve paralysis.

Simian virus 40 is present in human lymphomas and normal blood

Many independent studies have demonstrated Simian virus 40 (SV40) in normal and neoplastic human tissues. Clonal integration of virus in the DNA of several thyroid and bone tumors suggests a direct role for SV40 in some cancers. However, in most cases the role of SV40 remains unclear. This study determined the presence of SV40, by amplification followed by hybridization, in 266 normal and neoplastic blood and lymphoid samples. Amplification detected SV40 in 14% of non-autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) lymphomas, 28% of AIDS related lymphoma and 16% of peripheral blood lymphocytes from non-cancerous patients. No SV40 was detected in leukemia samples. Direct Southern blotting of SV40+ samples detected no virus, consistent with less than one viral genome in ten cells. Sequence analysis of SV40 in blood and lymphoid samples found sequences distinct from laboratory strains of SV40. The presence of limited quantities of SV40 in a small proportion of both normal and neoplastic tissues is suggestive of an adventitious presence with no apparent direct role in blood and lymphoid cancers.

Effect of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition on Sympathetic Tone in Patients With Mild to Moderate Heart Failure

Sixteen patients with mild to moderate heart failure were examined to investigate whether sympathetic deactivation plays a role in the improvement in the failing heart by chronic angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Measurements, including echocardiography, blood examinations, neurohumoral samplings (atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), norepinephrine), and spectral heart rate variability analysis by Holter electrocardiography, were carried out before and 6 months after the administration of lisinopril (5-10 mg/day). Quality of life assessment was accomplished by the Specific Activity Scale (SAS) questionnaire. Treatment with lisinopril for 6 months resulted in a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure. The left ventricular diastolic dimension significantly decreased and fractional shortening significantly increased on echocardiography. Of the 16 patients, 8 had improvement in their symptoms as measured by the SAS. Lisinopril did not significantly reduce the plasma norepinephrine concentration, but there was a significant reduction in the plasma ANP and BNP concentrations. In the heart rate power spectral analysis, total spectral power, high-frequency components and low/high frequency ratios did not change significantly with lisinopril. The mechanism by which ACE inhibitors improve mild to moderate heart failure is not by suppressing sympathetic activity.

Relationship between papillary muscle size and benefit to cardiac function in mitral valve replacement with chordal preservation

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

Mitral valve replacement (MVR) with chordal preservation in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR) has been reported to maintain systolic function of the left ventricle. However, the benefits of MVR with chordal preservation are not always predictable. The study aim was to ascertain the influence that papillary muscle (PM) size has on cardiac function after MVR with chordal preservation.

METHODS

Postoperative regional shortening and its relationship with PM size were investigated by two-dimensional echocardiography in 18 patients who underwent MVR with chordal preservation, and nine patients without chordal preservation between 1986 and 1998 at Tenri Hospital. The PM cross-sectional area was measured in each patient, as well as postoperative fractional shortening (FS) of the septolateral, anteroposterior and vertical dimensions of the left ventricle. The technique of preserving all chordae tendineae involved reattaching the anterior leaflet chordae to the mitral annulus near each commissure.

RESULTS

Postoperative FS of the septolateral and anteroposterior dimensions was better in patients with chordal preservation than in those without. In the former subgroup, a larger PM was associated with better FS of the left ventricle in the septolateral dimension (anterior PM, p <0.001, r = 0.78; posterior PM, p = 0.0010, r = 0.69), but not in the anteroposterior or vertical dimensions. This discrepancy in the relationship between PM size and functional benefits among the three dimensions may be related to the direction in which the PMs are suspended in our technique, or its effect on regional left ventricular function.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicated that PM size may be used as a factor to better predict the outcome of MVR with chordal preservation.