Sulfated polysaccharide from the leaves of Artemisia Princeps activates heparin cofactor II independently of the Lys173 and Arg189 residues of heparin cofactor II

A sulfated polysaccharide (AFE-HCD) purified from the leaves of Artemisia princeps Pamp selectively accelerated the rate of thrombin inhibition by heparin cofactor II (HCII). By using plasma derived HCII and bacterial expressed recombinant HCII molecules, the interaction between each HCII molecule and AFE-HCD was analyzed. AFE-HCD accelerated thrombin inhibition by plasma derived HCII or bacterial expressed wild type HCII to the same extent (IC50: 0.056 micrograms/ml for plasma derived HCII and 0.066 micrograms/ml for recombinant HCII under the experimental condition). The recombinant HCII (rHCII) molecule with Lys173-->Leu or Arg189-->His substitution, which is defective in interactions with heparin and dermatan sulfate, respectively, is activated by AFE-HCD to inhibit thrombin in a manner similar to wild type rHCII. These results suggested that activation of HCII was independent of its Lys173 or Arg189 residue. Although AFE-HCD is a selective activator of HCII like dermatan sulfate, the amino acid residue required for the activation of HCII was distinct form that of dermatan sulfate as well as heparin.

Evaluation of a trans configuration for the apoptosis-inducing activity of ceramide

The requirement of a trans double bond for the biological action of ceramide was assessed by comparing the apoptosis-inducing activity of various ceramide analogs. The cis isomer and an acetylene type derivative of sphingosine were chemically synthesized, and the 2-amino moiety was acylated with hexanoic acid. These cell-permeable ceramide derivatives were compared with N-hexanoyl sphingosine (C6-Cer) or N-hexanoyl dihydrosphingosine (C6-DH-Cer) in their activity to induce apoptosis of HL60. Either the cis isomer of C6-Cer (C6-cis-Cer) or a triple bond derivative (C6-TRP-Cer) induced apoptosis when assessed by fluorescence microscopy of the morphological changes and electrophoretic analysis of DNA C6-TRP-Cer yielded the highest percentage of apoptotic cells corresponding to three times that was induced by C6-Cer. C6-cis-Cer also showed stronger activity than C6-Cer. The minimum amounts of C6-TRP-Cer and C6-cis derivative required to induce apoptosis were 0.1 and 0.5 microM, respectively, while 1 microM C6-Cer was required to exhibit the activity. C6-DH-Cer showed very low but significant activity above 10 microM. N-acetyl-sphingosine (C2-Cer) induced more apoptotic cells than C6-Cer, and C2-TRP-Cer was much more potent than C2-Cer. These observations suggest that the trans configuration of ceramide is not necessarily essential for the activity to induce apoptosis. In addition, distinctive activity of C6- or C2-TRP-Cer suggests that this ceramide analog might be useful for developing a new type of antitumor drug.

Benefits of trazodone and mianserin for patients with late-life chronic schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia: an add-on, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of mianserin and trazodone as antidepressants with serotonin 2 antagonist properties on negative symptoms and tardive dyskinesia in elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study the dose of each drug was increased gradually, from 20 mg/day mianserin to 60 mg/day, and from 50 mg/day trazodone to 200 mg/day. Symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms and the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale every week for 5 weeks. A total of 38 patients (23 men and 15 women) completed the trial. Mianserin (n = 13) and trazodone (n = 12) did not alter the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale positive symptom factor over the 5 weeks. In the mianserin group, the Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms total score decreased significantly after 5 weeks. Scores of 'affective flattening and blunting' and 'alogia' scores on the Scale for assessment of Negative Symptoms decreased significantly in both treatment groups. In the trazodone group, the decrease in the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale total score was statistically significant at weeks 2 and 3. Results indicate that serotonergic antidepressants, when used in conjunction with neuroleptics, are safe and effective for treating negative symptoms in elderly patients with chronic schizophrenia. Results also indicated a possible beneficial effect of trazodone in treating tardive dyskinesia.

Gastric mucosal injury induced by local ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Role of endogenous endothelin-1 and free radical

We investigated the role of an endogenous vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) and free radicals in local gastric ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Local gastric ischemia was induced by clamping the left gastric artery for 15 min and reperfusion was done for 10-30 min in the presence of 150 mM exogenous HCl intragastrically. Local gastric ischemia and reperfusion resulted in significant macroscopic and microscopic gastric mucosal damage together with elevation of gastric tissue ET-1 concentration. Gastric tissue ET-1 was found to increase after 15 min of ischemia alone and also with 30 min of reperfusion. A novel nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonist, bosentan, or a combination of radical scavengers (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and deferoxamine) both attenuated gastric mucosal injury. However, the greater protection observed with bosentan than with radical scavengers might reflect a preferential role of endothelin-1 in this type of injury.

A Xyloglucan-Specific Endo-1,4-[beta]-Glucanase Isolated from Auxin-Treated Pea Stems

A xyloglucan-specific endo-1,4-[beta]-glucanase was isolated from the apoplast fraction of auxin-treated pea (Pisum sativum) stems, in which both the rate of stem elongation and the amount of xyloglucan solubilized were high. The enzyme was purified to apparent homogeneity by sequential cation-exchange chromatographies, affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme gave a single protein band on sodium dodecyi sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the molecular size was determined to be 77 kD by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 70 kD by gel filtration. The isoelectric point was about 8.1. The enzyme specifically cleaved the 1,4-[beta]-glucosyl linkages of the xyloglucan backbone to yield mainly nona- and heptasaccharides but did not hydrolyze carboxymethylcellulose, swollen cellulose, and (1->3, 1->4)-[beta]-glucan. By hydrolysis, the average molecular size of xyloglucan was decreased from 50 to 20 kD with new reducing chain ends in the lower molecular size fractions. This suggests that the enzyme has endo-1,4-[beta]-glucanase activity against xyloglucan. In conclusion, a xyloglucan-specific endo-1,4-[beta]-glucanase with an activity that differs from the activities of cellulase and xyloglucan endotransglycosylase has been isolated from elongating pea stems.

A translation frameshift mutation induced by a cytosine insertion in the polycystic kidney disease 2 gene (PDK2)

Mutations in the PKD2 gene on the long arm of chromosome 4 are responsible for approximately 15% of cases of polycystic kidney disease. Perhaps the only difference from the more common ADPKD1 cases is the rate of progression of cystic changes, and the age of onset, which is 10-15 years later for the ADPKD2 form. In Cyprus there are at least three large families, documented by molecular linkage analysis, that map to the PKD2 locus. For two of them the defects were recently shown to be nonsense mutations at positions arginine 742 and glutamine 405. In this report, we describe the mutation in the third family, CY1602. For this, the entire coding sequence was systematically screened by single strand conformation analysis and heteroduplex formation. A novel mutation was identified in exon 2 where a new cytosine residue was inserted immediately after codon 231 (231insC). It causes a translation frameshift and is expected to lead to the introduction of 37 novel amino acids before the translation reaches a new STOP codon. It is the most amino terminal mutation reported to date, and based on the protein's modeled structure, is predicted to be within the first transmembrane domain. It is the fourth PKD2 mutation reported thus far, and the first which is not a nonsense mutation.

[Brain stem glioma presenting with contralateral sensory impairment of ascending nature]

A case of brain stem glioma, presenting with impairment of contralateral pain-temperature sense of ascending nature, is reported. A 38-year-old woman with documented neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) was admitted to our hospital for treatment, complaining of diminished pain-temperature sense in the left lower extremity. On admission, the symptom was first evaluated to be due to cervical myelopathy although motor involvement was absent. An MRI, myelography and CT-myelography of the cervical spine were done, demonstrating no abnormality. Shortly after the admission the sensory impairment progressed to the upper chest level and then to the upper extremity on the left. Because of her documented NF-1 a brain CT was checked, revealing a small mass with ring enhancement in the dorsal midbrain on the right. On MRI, the tumor location was at the right dorsolateral tectal region of superficial situation. Under the diagnosis of midbrain glioma the tumor was partially removed by the occipital transtentorial approach. At operation, the tumor has grown intraaxially, having pinkish-gray color and central necrosis. Histologically the tumor was diagnosed as glioblastoma multiforme. Postoperatively she presented a definite improvement of the sensory impairment in the reverse order, that is from upper extremity and then to the lower extremity. Progression and post-treatment improvement of the impaired pain-temperature sense in this case suggested that the topography and lamination of the lateral spinothalamic tract might be present even in the dorsal midbrain, namely the posterior-superficial layer to be sacral segment and the anterior-deep layer to be cervical one.

Chemical structure of lipid A from Helicobacter pylori strain 206-1 lipopolysaccharide

The chemical structure of a novel lipid A, which was obtained as a major component from lipopolysaccharide of Helicobacter pylori strain 206-1, was determined to be a glucosamine beta(1-6) disaccharide 1-(2-aminoethyl)phosphate acylated by (R)-3-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid and (R)-3-(octadecanoyloxy)octadecanoic acid at the 2- and 2'-position, respectively. The absence of a phosphoryl group at the 4'-position and fatty acyl groups at the 3- and 3'-position, and the stoichiometric presence of 2-aminoethyl phosphate at the 1-position are unique features, distinguishing it from the lipid A of enterobacteria.

Antiviral activity of 5,6,7-trimethoxyflavone and its potentiation of the antiherpes activity of acyclovir

A naturally occurring flavone, 5,6,7-trimethoxyflavone (TMF), isolated from the plant Callicarpa japonica, was subjected to antiviral assays. The compound exhibited relatively high inhibitory effects on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), human cytomegalovirus and poliovirus. The anti-HSV-1 action was not due to the inhibition of virus adsorption, entry and viral protein synthesis, but might involve, at least in part, a virucidal activity, which results in a suppression of viral binding to host cells at an early replication stage. TMF and acylovir were synergic in their anti-HSV activities at levels below the 50% inhibitory concentrations for antiviral activity.

[Orbital neurinoma presenting orbital apex syndrome]

A 75-year-old man presented a twelve-day history of double vision and retro-ocular pain with rapid deterioration of visual acuity. Neurological examination on admission demonstrated right oculomotor palsy and abducence palsy, visual loss in the right eye, and hypesthesia and pain in the right supraorbital nerve. CT scan and MRI disclosed a mass in the right orbital apex. An emergency operation via a frontotemporal extradural approach was performed to decompress the optic nerve. The anterior clinoid process and minor wing of the sphenoid were drilled to expose the optic canal and superior orbital fissure. When the periorbita just beside the optic sheath was opened, a grayish colored mass was observed beneath the superior rectus muscle. The mass was dissected from the surrounding intraorbital tissue and was removed completely. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient experienced complete disappearance of the ocular pain and complete restoration of his visual acuity. Orbital neurinoma is a benign tumor accounting for between 2.1 and 6.8% of all orbital tumors in the large series. The salient clinical symptom is exophthalmos followed by mass palpability. However, an orbital neurinoma presenting orbital apex syndrome is quite rare. In the case with orbital apex syndrome, it is sometimes impossible to recover visual acuity even though the optic nerve decompression is promptly performed. In such a case, only an emergency approach to the lesion can rescue the visual acuity.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes derived from bone marrow mononuclear cells of multiple myeloma patients recognize an underglycosylated form of MUC1 mucin

MUC1 is a highly immunogenic epithelial mucin and serves as a tumor-associated antigen in breast, pancreatic and ovarian carcinomas. We previously reported the expression of MUC1 on myeloma cells and the establishment of an HLA-unrestricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) line TN that recognized MUC1 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a multiple myeloma patient. In this study, we attempted to induce such CTL from six other multiple myeloma patients consecutively in order to show that the induction of the CTL line TN had not resulted from some idiosyncrasy of the first patient. Bone marrow mononuclear cells were used to induce CTL, because they contain myeloma cells that might stimulate the autologous lymphocytes. Bulk CTL lines were induced from two out of six patients. The CTL line TS was CD8+ cell dominant and KY was CD4+ cell dominant. Both CTL lines lysed MUC1+ myeloma and breast carcinoma cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the CTL lines was inhibited by anti-CD3, anti-alpha beta TCR and anti-MUC1 mAb. It was also inhibited by a MUC1 transfectant, but not by a mock transfectant in cold target inhibition assays. MUC1 was transfected into a human colonic carcinoma cell line. The reactivity of anti-MUC1 core protein mAb and the cytotoxicity of the CTL against the transfectant was enhanced by the treatment of the cells with an O-glycosylation inhibitor. Thus it is generally accepted that the HLA-unrestricted CTL which directly recognize the underglycosylated from of MUC1 using their TCR could be induced from a certain proportion (approximately 30%) of untreated multiple myeloma patients.

Systematic analysis of post-administrative saiboku-to urine by liquid chromatography to determine pharmacokinetics of traditional Chinese medicine

To disclose the mystery of a traditional Chinese medicine and to identify biologically active components, we analysed post-administrative urine for Saiboku-To, an anti-asthmatic Chinese herbal remedy. Systematic analysis of the components appearing in the urine was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with normal- and reversed-phase modes in combination. beta-D-glucuronidase-treated urine was subjected to rapid-flow fractionation (RFF) to achieve fractional extraction of lipophilic components with exhaustive recovery rates. The extracts were analysed by HPLC equipped with a multi-channel UV-detector. In the first stage of HPLC, we conducted a normal-phase mode run to find magnolol derived from Magnolia officinalis, as the most hydrophobic component showing minimum retention time among the urinary products of Saiboku-To. In the next stage, mobile phase solvent composition for reversed-phase HPLC was optimized so as to retain magnolol up to 60 min. Under these conditions, other Saiboku-To urinary products, which were more polar than magnolol, appeared within 60 min. Our HPLC method used marker compounds like magnolol and could indicate the terminal peak position on the reversed-phase chromatography. We found a total of eight components in the post-administrative Saiboku-To urine. Structure identification of the isolated pure materials was achieved using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-, mass (MS)- and UV-spectra, and HPLC retention profiles. They were magnolol and 8,9-dihydroxydihydromagnolol stemming from M. officinalis, medicarpin and liquiritigenin from Glycyrrhiza glabra, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A from Scutellaria baicalensis, and davidigenin of an unknown origin. The pharmacological mystery of Saiboku-To should be disclosed by resolving the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these urinary products independently and synergistically.

An integrated genetic and physical map of the autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease region

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common hereditary renal cystic diseases in children. Genetic studies have recently assigned the only known locus for this disorder, PKHD1, to chromosome 6p21-p12. We have generated a YAC contig that spans approximately 5 cM of this region, defined by the markers D6S1253-D6S295, and have mapped 43 sequence-tagged sites (STS) within this interval. This set includes 20 novel STSs, which define 12 unique positions in the region, and three ESTs. A minimal set of two YACs spans the segment D6S465-D6S466, which contains PKHD1, and estimates of their sizes based on information in public databases suggest that the size of the critical region is < 3.1 Mb. Twenty-eight STSs map to this interval, giving an average STS density of < 1/150 kb. These resources will be useful for establishing a complete transcription map of the PKHD1 region.

Differential activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by insulin and epidermal growth factor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes: a possible involvement of PI3-kinase in the activation of the MAP kinase by insulin

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase plays crucial roles in cell growth and differentiation. It has recently been shown that the MAP kinase cascade in growth factor signaling diverges and cross-talks with other signaling pathways. In the present study, we examined the effects of wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), on the activation of Ras, Raf-1 kinase, and MAP kinase by insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The effect of LY294002, a structurally distinct PI3-kinase inhibitor, on the activation of Raf-1 kinase by both ligands was also examined. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 25 nmol/l wortmannin inhibited the insulin-induced activation of Raf-1 kinase to the basal level, whereas the same dose of wortmannin had little effect on the EGF-induced activation of Raf-1 kinase. One hundred micromol/l LY294002 blocked insulin-induced activation of Raf-1 kinase without affecting EGF-induced activation of this kinase. Twenty-five nmol/l wortmannin inhibited the insulin-induced activation of MAP kinase to the basal level with no effect on the EGF-induced activation of this kinase. But the same dose of wortmannin did not affect the formation of guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-bound Ras stimulated by either ligand. In KB cells, results similar to those in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were obtained. In contrast, in Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing the human insulin receptor (CHO-HIR cells), neither wortmannin nor LY294002 inhibited the insulin-induced activation of Raf-1 kinase, and wortmannin had little effect on the activation of MAP kinase by insulin. These results indicate that 1) PI3-kinase or wortmannin-sensitive molecules are involved in the interaction between activated Ras and Raf-1 kinase in the insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 2) the involvement of PI3-kinase or wortmannin-sensitive molecules in the insulin-induced activation of MAP kinase appears to be cell-type specific, and 3) differential mechanisms to activate Raf-1 kinase and MAP kinase by insulin and EGF exist.

Dissociative expression of adenoviral-mediated E. coli LacZ gene between ischemic and reperfused rat brains

A replication-defective adenoviral vector containing the E. coli lacZ gene was directly injected into the ischemic or reperfused cerebral cortex of rats. An administration of adenoviral vector showed a slight to moderate expression of the lacZ gene in the cerebral cortex of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) region until 2 days after the MCA occlusion. In contrast, expression of the lacZ gene was not observed, or only minimally so, in the reperfused brain until 2 days after a 90 min of transient MCA occlusion. However, the lacZ expression dramatically increased at 7 days after the reperfusion, then diminished by 21 days. The majority of brain cells that expressed the lacZ gene were neurons and a fraction (5-10%) were astroglial cells. The present study showed that an exogenous gene was transferred and expressed in neural cells of ischemic and reperfused brains in vivo, but the temporal profile of the expression is dissociative.

[A case of Ki-1 lymphoma-associated eosinophilic polymyositis]

We report on a patient of Ki-1 lymphoma-associated hypereosinophilic syndrome and eosinophilic polymyositis. A 22-year-old male was admitted to a hospital because of anterior chest pain, when he had a white cell count of 12,000 with 33% of eosinophils. He first noticed muscle weakness in the right shoulder at age 23 years. At the age of 25, he experienced marked muscle weakness in his arms and neck, which brought him to our hospital. Neurological examination on admission revealed moderate muscle atrophy and weakness in the neck flexors and both upper extremities, and marked muscle hypertrophy in the sternocleidomastoideus and trapezius muscles. Laboratory studies showed a white blood cell count of 17,700 with 56% of eosinophils. His serum creatine kinase (CK) level was elevated to 347 units. A muscle biopsy specimen showing active myositis infiltrated by eosinophils confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic myositis. Although eosinophilia and serum CK activity decreased markedly with corticosteroid treatment, his muscle weakness was unchanged. At the age of 27 years, lymphadenopathy developed. Immunocytochemical examination on a biopsied neck lymph node indicated Ki-1 lymphoma with positive Ki-1, CD45 and epithelial membrane antibodies. In spite of chemotherapy and local irradiation treatment, he died four months after the emergence of Ki-1 lymphoma. We discussed the relationship between hypereosinophilic syndrome, eosinophilic polymyositis and Ki-1 lymphoma on pathogenetic mechanism.

[Symptomatic arteriovenous fistula in a patient with neurofibromatosis type I]

This paper reports the case of a 54-year-old woman who had a history of neurofibromatosis (NF I) presenting progressive quadriplegia and urinary incontinence due to a cervical arteriovenous fistula (AVF). MRI revealed a huge flow void mass in the cervical subcutaneous tissue as well as within the spinal canal. These flow voids originated in the left vertebral artery. A high intensity lesion was observed in the spinal cord adjacent to the flow void. Angiography revealed that the cervical AVF was fed by the third segment of the left vertebral artery with a rich communication with the intraspinal veins. Furthermore, an aneurysmal dilatation of the proximal vertebral artery and occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery with moyamoya vessels were found. Endovascular treatment using a Goldvalve detachable balloon successfully obliterated the AVF. Postoperative MRI and angiography showed evidence of the disappearance of AVF and postoperatively, the patient's neurological signs improved gradually. Sixteen reported AVFs accompanied with NF were reviewed.