Infantile myofibromatosis: report of two cases

Two cases of solitary type infantile myofibromatosis (IM) were presented. Case 1 was a 6-month-old male infant with a firm, dark red, fixed tumor on his right knee. A computerized tomographic scan revealed that the tumor was attached to the underlying muscle. Case 2 was a 1-month-old male infant with a tumor on his right knee, similar to that in case 1. In neither case was there any clinical evidence of visceral involvement. Histological and immunohistochemical findings were similar. The lesions appeared histologically as non-encapsulated nodules composed of whorled fascicles of spindle-shaped cells and a vascular element with a hemangiopericytoma-like appearance. The tumor cells were positively stained with PTAH. They were positive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and vimentin, but negative for desmin. These findings support the myofibroblastic nature of IM. In case 2, the tumor regressed spontaneously at the age of 12 months. Unlike the multicentric form, spontaneous regression of the solitary form of IM has not previously been reported.

Gas gangrene following sacral pressure sores

We report two cases of gas gangrene developed from sacral pressure sores. The first case was clostridial and the second, non-clostridial gas gangrene. Both patients died within two months. The first patient, a 56-year-old woman suffering from palsy of the lower half of the body for 3 weeks, developed a sacral pressure sore. One month later, crepitus by palpation and gas formation in the X-ray film were detected in the hip and right thigh. A culture of odoriferous pus yielded Clostridium limosum in addition to Staphylococcus intermedius, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacteroides fragilis. Blood culture yielded Bacteroides fragilis. The patient died 50 days after admission in spite of surgical debridement and aggressive therapy with high doses of antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen. The second patient, a 70-year-old man suffering from diabetic nephropathy, arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower limbs, and cerebral infarction, developed a large decubitus ulcer covering the whole sacral area. Crepitus and gas were detected in the soft tissue of the left gluteal region. Almost the entire gluteus maximus muscle was necrotic. Bacteroides fragilis, methicillin-resistant or -sensitive Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were isolated from the muscle. Bacteroides fragilis was also obtained by blood culture. The patient died on the 72nd day after admission.

Purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of procathepsin L from the culture medium of NIH-Sape-4, an embryonic cell line of Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly), and its involvement in the differentiation of imaginal discs

A cysteine proteinase that preferentially hydrolyzes carbobenzyloxy-Phe-Arg-MCA (MCA, methylcoumaryl-7-amide) was purified from the culture medium of NIH-Sape-4 cells. The molecular mass of this enzyme was easily changed from 50 to 35 kDa, without appreciable loss of enzyme activity. From the analysis of its cDNA, this enzyme was concluded to be a procathepsin L of Sarcophaga. Only procathepsin L was found in the medium, while the mature 35-kDa cathepsin L was found exclusively in the cells, indicating that the cells have a mechanism to secrete procathepsin L selectively. An antibody against procathepsin L was found to inhibit the differentiation of imaginal discs cultured in vitro in the presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone. In fact imaginal discs were shown to secrete procathepsin L into the culture medium. These results suggest that procathepsin L is an essential proteinase for differentiation of imaginal discs. Northern blotting analysis revealed that unfertilized eggs contain a significant amount of mRNA for the procathepsin L as a maternal mRNA.

Synthesis and characterization of sapecin and sapecin B

Two insect defencins, sapecin and sapecin B, were chemically synthesized to confirm their structure and antibacterial activity and also to examine the possibility that these peptides bind to the same site on the large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel as charybdotoxin. Both synthetic peptides showed the same antibacterial activity as native sapecins, indicating that the synthetic peptides folded correctly in the chemical synthesis. Synthetic sapecins did not show an inhibitory effect on [125I]charybdotoxin binding to rat brain synaptic membranes, suggesting that sapecin B recognizes a different binding site from that of charybdotoxin despite the similar structural motif.

Cloning and functional expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cDNA from Sarcophaga peregrina

A cDNA spanning the entire coding region for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) of Sarcophaga peregrina was isolated and the nucleotide sequence was determined. The longest open reading frame encodes a polypeptide of 996 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 113,033 Da. The similarities to the human PARP in amino acid sequence were relatively low in the DNA-binding and auto-modification domains, but very high in the C-terminal catalytic domain: identity of amino acids is 34% in the N-terminal DNA-binding domain (residues 1-369), 27% in the auto-modification domain (residues 370-507), and 56% in the C-terminal NAD-binding domain (residues 508-996). Two zinc-fingers (C-X2-C-X28-H-X2-C and C-X2-C-X31-H-X2-C)2 and a basic region in the N-terminal DNA-binding domain recognized in other PARP are conserved. Downstream of the basic region, another cysteine-rich motif (C-X2-C-X13-C-X9-C), a putative zinc-finger, was found to be well conserved in the PARP of Sarcophaga, Drosophila and human. A leucine-zipper motif (L-X6-L-X6-L-X6-L) which was found in the auto-modification domain of Drosophila PARP, is disrupted in the Sarcophaga enzyme: the second leucine is replaced by proline, and the third leucine by valine. Full-length cDNA for Sarcophaga PARP was cloned into an expression plasmid and expressed in Escherichia coli. A lysate of E. coli cells containing expressed protein reacted with antibody against Sarcophaga PARP, and PARP activity was detected. Thus, we conclude that isolated cDNA encodes a functional Sarcophaga PARP cDNA.

A prolyl endopeptidase of Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly): its purification and suggestion for its participation in the differentiation of the imaginal discs

A prolyl endopeptidase that hydrolyses Suc-Gly-Pro-MCA (Suc, succinyl; MCA, methyl-coumaryl-7-amide) was purified to near homogeneity from NIH-Sape-4 cells derived from the flesh fly (Sarcophaga peregrina). The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was 84 kDa, and its activity was inhibited almost completely by 1 mM diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP). Immunoblotting and DFP-labeling experiments revealed that the leg imaginal discs of Sarcophaga contained this enzyme as a major serine proteinase. This prolyl endopeptidase is suggested to be involved in the differentiation of imaginal discs, because 2 mM DFP and 0.1 mM N-benzyloxycarbonyl-thioprolyl-thioprolynal-dimethylaceta l (ZTTA), a specific inhibitor for prolyl endopeptidase, inhibited differentiation of the imaginal discs from the eversion to the elongation stage.

Inhibition of the Ca(2+)-activated K(+)-channel by sapecin B, an insect antibacterial protein

Sapecin is an antibacterial protein of the flesh fly and sapecin B is its homologue structurally similar to charybdotoxin of scorpion venom, which is known to be a K+ channel inhibitor. We found that, like charybdotoxin, sapecin B inhibits part of the voltage pulse-induced K+ currents of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. We suggest that this effect is due to inhibition of the Ca(+)-activated K+ channel. Probably, sapecin B is a naturally occurring K+ channel inhibitor as well as an antibacterial protein.

A case of Goltz syndrome presenting as congenital incomplete alopecia

A 5-year-old Japanese girl had had localized, incomplete hair loss on the scalp, minimal distichia, and a small papillomatous eruption on the right upper eyelid since birth. The diagnosis of Goltz syndrome was made by histological findings such as upward extension of the subcutaneous tissue to the papillary dermis and marked diminution in the thickness of the dermis, although typical linear atrophy-like eruptions and other mesoectodermal dysplasia were absent.

beta-Lactam resistance of motile Aeromonas isolates from clinical and environmental sources

The MICs of various beta-lactams for 182 isolates of Aeromonas species, i.e., A. hydrophila (n = 101), A. sobria (n = 69), and A. caviae (n = 12), from clinical and environmental sources were determined by an agar dilution technique. All strains were resistant to ampicillin and susceptible to aztreonam. A. sobria and A. caviae demonstrated lower resistance rates than A. hydrophila. Penicillin-hydrolyzing beta-lactamases were detected in all strains.

Purification and molecular cloning of cDNA for an inducible antibacterial protein of larvae of a coleopteran insect, Holotrichia diomphalia

Injection of Escherichia coli into larvae of the coleopteran Holotrichia diomphalia results in the appearance of antibacterial activity in the hemolymph. An antibacterial protein, named holotricin 2, was purified from larvae of this insect and characterized. A cDNA clone for holotricin 2 was isolated and its complete sequence was determined. This protein was found to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacteria and to consist of 72-amino acid residues with no cysteine residues. Its amino acid sequence is similar to that of coleoptericine, an antibacterial protein isolated from larvae of the coleopteran Zophobas atratus.

Relationship between the prognosis of conception and the location of pelvic involvement in endometriosis: significance of the TOP (tube, ovary, peritoneum) classification

To determine the main factors that affect the prognosis for conception in endometriosis-associated infertility, 99 infertile patients with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were classified according to the new TOP classification, which we have developed to evaluate the severity of endometriosis by site, i.e., fallopian tubes (T), ovaries (O) and the peritoneum (P). According to the TOP classification, a negative correlation between the pregnancy rate after treatment and the severity of lesions was noted in case of tubal and peritoneal involvement, but not when the ovaries were involved. If there was no tubal involvement or only unilateral tubal involvement, high pregnancy rates were achieved for patients with ovarian endometrioma (87%) and for those with partial or complete posterior cul-de-sac obliteration (83%). The results suggest that for endometriosis-associated infertility, the treatment modality should be selected according to the severity of tubal involvement, which is considered to contribute to infertility more than ovarian or peritoneal lesions.

Effect of silane coupling agents with a bisfunctional hydrolyzable group

Improvement of the siloxane layer on minerals by using a bisfunctional silane, such as 1,6-bis(trichlorosilyl) hexane and 1,8 bis(trichlorosilyl)octane, and the effects on adhesion of methacrylic resin to glass plates treated with the silanes were studied. The tensile bond strength of the resin to the glass plate treated with bisfunctional silane alone was high (about 20MPa) in spite of the fact that the molecule contains no double bonds. Furthermore, a mixture of bisfunctional silane and 3-methacryloxypropyltrichlorosilane showed an excellent effect for tensile bond strength and water-resistance. Based on the results, it is suggested that the better water resistant adhesion of the mixed silane depends on the higher degree of crosslinking in the siloxane phase and on the formation of an interpenetrating polymer network between the siloxane layer and the matrix resin.

Testosterone metabolism by cultured human beard outer root sheath cells in comparison with epidermal keratinocytes

In order to elucidate the mechanism of action of androgen in human hair follicles, we studied testosterone metabolism by cultured beard outer root sheath cells in comparison with that of epidermal keratinocytes. When cells were incubated as a monolayer in serum-free keratinocyte growth medium with physiological concentrations (25 nM) of [3H]testosterone, the major metabolite was androstenedione in either type of cells. Small amounts of androstanedione, dihydrotestosterone and androsterone were also formed. The ratio of apparent 5 alpha-reductase to 17 beta-hydroxy-steroid dehydrogenase activities ranged from 0.11 to 0.81 and did not differ between these two kinds of cells. After these cells were cultured in the presence of 10% fetal calf serum for 10 days, the activities of both metabolic pathways markedly increased without significant changes of the ratio of activities of these two enzymes. Thus, testosterone was rather converted to weak androgens even in beard outer root sheath cells under the experimental conditions.

Molecular cloning of cDNA for the 29 kDa proteinase participating in decomposition of the larval fat body during metamorphosis of Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly)

A cDNA clone for the 29 kDa proteinase participating in tissue disintegration during metamorphosis of Sarcophaga was isolated. This proteinase, named Sarcophaga cathepsin B, consisted of 256 amino acid residues, and contained three putative N-glycosylation sites. By comparison with other cathepsins B, its unique substrate specificity was partly explained by Ala at position 248.

Transcriptional control of the heme oxygenase gene during mouse spermatogenesis

The activation of the heme oxygenase (HO) gene during development of mouse male germ cells was examined by nuclear run-off assay. Results showed that the HO gene was activated in male germ cells, especially in spermatogonia and that the mRNA was stored throughout meiosis. In contrast, Western blotting analysis revealed that HO was expressed during spermatogenesis to spermatocytes. As the mouse HO gene is known to have a 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate(TPA)-responsive element (TRE) in its upstream region and is activated by TPA in mouse M1 cells, we also examined the activation of the nuclear proto-oncogenes fos and jun, which are activators of TRE. Both genes were found to be activated with expression of their protein products only in spermatogonia. Moreover activation of fos, jun and HO genes in spermatogonia was strongly inhibited by a c-kinase inhibitor. These results suggest that the HO gene is activated at the spermatogonia stage by a fos/jun heterodimer complex (AP1) through c-kinase activation.

Haploid specific activations of protamine 1 and hsc70t genes in mouse spermatogenesis

Protamine 1 and heat shock cognate 70 kDa protein (hsc70t) are known to be synthesized in haploid cells during spermatogenesis, and the mRNAs of these proteins have also been shown to accumulate in the haploid cells. However, it is unknown at which stage of spermatogenesis the genes for these proteins are actually activated. To examine this problem, we fractionated mouse adult testes cells at four different developmental stages, extracted their nuclei and carried out run-off assays with hsc70t and protamine 1 DNA probes. Results showed that both genes are mainly activated at the round spermatid stage. As the protein products of these genes accumulate at the later stage, it is interesting that these genes are regulated at the transcriptional and translational levels during spermatogenesis.

Chemical agents and peptides affect hair growth

During the past decade we have examined both the therapeutic and the prophylactic effects of several agents on the macaque model of androgenetic alopecia. Minoxidil and diazoxide, potent hypotensive agents acting as peripheral vasodilators, are known to have a hypertrichotic side effect. Topical use of both agents induced significant hair regrowth in the bald scalps of macaques. The application of a steroid 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor (4MA) in non-bald preadolescent macaques has prevented baldness, whereas controls developed it during 2 years of treatment. The effects of hair growth were determined by 1) phototrichogram, 2) folliculogram (micro-morphometric analysis), and 3) the rate of DNA synthesis in the follicular cells. These effects were essentially a stimulation of the follicular cell proliferation, resulting in an enlargement of the anagen follicles from vellus to terminal type (therapy) or a maintenance of the prebald terminal follicles (prevention). A copper binding peptide (PC1031) had the effect of follicular enlargement on the back skin of fuzzy rats, covering the vellus follicles; the effect was similar to that of topical minoxidil. Analyzing the quantitative sequences of follicular size and cyclic phases, we speculate on the effect of agents on follicular growth. We also discuss the triggering mechanism of androgen in the follicular epithelial-mesenchymal (dermal papilla) interaction.

[Subcutaneous abscess formation in the mice inoculated intragastrically with Bacteroides fragilis]

Bacteroides fragilis when inoculated intragastrically induced abscess formation in the mice of which the intestinal microbial flora had been disturbed by the prior intake of streptomycin and erythromycin in their drinking water. The lesion usually developed at the left axillary lymph node one week after inoculation and persisted for at least two months. Without the antibiotic treatment, B. fragilis did not induce such abscess formation. Although B. fragilis was isolated from blood after inoculation, intravenous administration of B. fragilis into mice did not induce the abscess formation. Therefore, B. fragilis inoculated did not appear to spread from the intestine to the distant locus via the bloodstream. The number of B. fragilis in the mesenteric lymph nodes reached 10(5) colony-forming units per lymph node 6 h after oral administration and remained unchanged over a 24-h period of infection. These results suggest that the lymphatic dissemination of B. fragilis accounts for the abscess formation at the left axillary lymph node.

Purification, characterization, and cDNA cloning of an antifungal protein from the hemolymph of Sarcophaga peregrina (flesh fly) larvae

An antifungal protein (AFP) was purified from the hemolymph of third instar larvae of Sarcophaga peregrina. This protein repressed the growth of Candida albicans in Sabouraud medium in the presence of nitrofurazone. However, in distilled water or saline, AFP alone killed C. albicans. Significant synergism was detected between AFP and sarcotoxin IA, an antibacterial protein of Sarcophaga. The lethal effect of AFP on C. albicans was greatly enhanced by the presence of a small amount of sarcotoxin IA. AFP was shown to bind to C. albicans and cause leakage of a substance(s) with absorbance at 260 nm from the cells. Analysis of its cDNA showed that AFP is a novel histidine-rich protein consisting of 67 amino acid residues.

A basic study of a new adhesive lining cement applied emulsion of hydrophobic polymer

To diminish the effect of water on the adhesive durability of lining cement, an experimental lining cement using a hydrophobic polymer as the cement liquid was studied. The polymers were styrene-butadien-alkyl acrylate copolymer (SBA copolymer) and carboxylated styrene-butadien-alkyl acrylate copolymer (CSBA copolymer) and were used as aqueous emulsions. The cement powder consisted of alkaline silicate and calcium disilicate. The pH values of the immersion water of the cement prepared from emulsion of SBA copolymer (SBA cement) was almost the same as that of calcium hydroxide cement. The compressive and diametral tensile strengths of SBA cement gradually increased over time in water. The bond strengths of cement prepared from the CSBA copolymer emulsion containing five percent carboxyl groups by weight were superior to those of calcium hydroxide cement.

Transcriptional activation of type I collagen genes by ascorbic acid 2-phosphate in human skin fibroblasts and its failure in cells from a patient with alpha 2(I)-chain-defective Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

L-Ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc 2-P), a long-acting vitamin C derivative, stimulated transcription of genes for pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) collagen in normal human skin fibroblasts after 8 h of treatment in the absence or in the presence of cycloheximide, indicating Asc 2-P stimulates transcription of type I collagen genes in the absence of protein synthesis. The transcriptional rate in these cells reached the maximum value after 40 h of treatment, and at that time it was three to four times higher than that of the control cells cultured in the absence of Asc 2-P. Steady-state levels of mRNAs for pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) chains were also increased to be three to four times higher than the control levels by treatment of the cells with Asc 2-P for 72 h. When the fibroblasts obtained from a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome were treated with Asc 2-P, the derivative also stimulated transcription of the gene for pro alpha 1(I) chain and accumulation of mRNA for pro alpha 1(I) chain. On the other hand, Asc 2-P failed to stimulate transcription of the pro alpha 2(I) gene or an increase in mRNA for pro alpha 2(I) chain. Sodium ascorbate showed effects quite similar to those of Asc 2-P, when fibroblasts obtained from a normal control or the patient were cultured for 16 h with it. These results indicate the existence of cis-regulatory elements responsible for transcriptional activation by Asc 2-P or ascorbic acid in pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) genes of normal fibroblasts. These data also suggest some defect(s) of these elements in the pro alpha 2(I) gene of the patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Human neuroblastoma cells produce the NF-kappa B-like HIV-1 transcription activator during differentiation

Human neuroblastoma GOTO and IMR32 cells differentiate into neural cells on treatment with 5-BrdU. Here we report that in association with differentiation induced by 5-BrdU, the transcription of HIV-1 was activated in both neuroblastoma cell lines. An NF-kappa B-like factor was also found to be produced in association with the neural cell differentiation of these cells. These results suggest that, during differentiation of neural cells, an NF-kappa B-like factor was produced, and that when the neural cells are infected with HIV-1 the production of NF-kappa B results in activation of transcription of HIV-1. Thus this NF-kappa B-like factor may be involved in the mechanism causing AIDS dementia.