Yolk sac tumors of the ovary and the human yolk sac

In the present study a comparison was made between human yolk sacs and yolk sac tumors. Tubules surrounded by several to as many as 10 endodermal cells and intracellular tubules in one endodermal cell were frequently observed. The tubules were seen abundantly in the yolk sac of a 4-week pregnancy, and they resembled the reticular pattern of the yolk sac tumor. It was also observed that the papillary endoderm, which contained blood cells in the center and protruded into the endodermal tubules, resembled the Schiller-Duval body of yolk sac tumor. Ultrastructurally the tumor cells were similar to the yolk sac endoderm. alpha-Fetoprotein was positive in the yolk sac endoderm until approximately the seventh week of pregnancy. Yolk sac tumor was also alpha-fetoprotein-positive. In other words, our study of human yolk sacs of 4- to 11-week pregnancies presumes that the yolk sac tumor resembles the endoderm of 4- to 7-week pregnancies.

Studies on glucosyltransferase and endogenous glucosyl acceptor in Bacillus cereus AHU 1030 membranes

A glucosyltransferase, extracted from the membranes of Bacillus cereus AHU 1030 with Tris-HCl buffer containing 0.1% Triton X-100 at pH 9.5, was separated from an endogenous glucosyl acceptor by chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B subsequent to chromatography on Sepharose 6B. Structural analysis data showed that the glucosyl acceptor was a glycerol phosphate polymer linked to beta-gentiobiosyl diglyceride. The enzyme catalyzed the transfer of glucosyl residues from UDP-glucose to C-2 of the glycerol residues of repeating units of the acceptor. On the other hand, a lipoteichoic acid which contained 0.3 D-alanine residue per phosphorus was isolated from the cells by phenol treatment at pH 4.6. Except for the presence of D-alanine, this lipoteichoic acid had the same structure as the glucosyl acceptor. The rate of glucosylation observed with the D-alanine-containing lipoteichoic acid as the substrate was less than 40% of that observed with the D-alanine-free lipoteichoic acid, indicating that the ester-linked D-alanine in the lipoteichoic acid interferes with the action of the glucosyltransferase. The enzyme also catalyzed glucosylation of poly(glycerol phosphate) which was synthesized in the reaction of a separate enzyme fraction with CDP-glycerol. Thus, it is likely that the glucosyltransferase functions in the synthesis of cell wall teichoic acid.

[Correlation of LH and prolactin pulses in normoprolactinemic women with ovulatory disturbances and variation of LH and FSH pulses and secreting capacity by administration of bromocriptine in the same cases]

The difference between prolactin (PRL) basal levels on separate days in the 6 normoprolactinemic women--one case with an anovular cycle and 5 cases with 1 degree amenorrhea--among 14 normoprolactinemic women with ovulatory disturbances, showed significantly variation over 13 ng/ml within the normal range of the PRL basal level. PRL pulse frequencies of the same cases from 0900 h. to 1400 h. increased slightly compared with follicular phase. At the same time, the PRL pulse amplitudes were significantly higher than in the follicular phase but significantly lower than the PRL pulse amplitudes in hyperprolactinemic women. The net increase in PRL to TRH in the 6 cases was over 100 ng/ml. When the PRL net increase to TRH was over 100 ng/ml in normoprolactinemic women with ovulatory disturbances, the case is regarded as latent hyperprolactinemia. And 1 or 2 may be latent hyperprolactinemic syndrome. The LH/FSH basal level and delta LH/delta FSH to LH-RH before administration of bromocriptine increased in these cases compared with the follicular phase. During the administration of bromocriptine, the ratios decreased and approached the ratio in the follicular phase. The effect of clomid was improved by increased E2 in these cases.

Structure and functions of linkage unit intermediates in the biosynthesis of ribitol teichoic acids in Staphylococcus aureus H and Bacillus subtilis W23

The stepwise formation and characterization of linkage unit intermediates and their functions in ribitol teichoic acid biosynthesis were studied with membranes obtained from Staphylococcus aureus H and Bacillus subtilis W23. The formation of labeled polymer from CDP-[14C]ribitol and CDP-glycerol in each membrane system was markedly stimulated by the addition of N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine (ManNAc-GlcNAc) linked to pyrophosphorylyisoprenol. Whereas incubation of S. aureus membranes with CDP-glycerol and ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol led to synthesis of (glycerol phosphate) 1-3-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol, incubation of B. subtilis membranes with the same substrates yielded (glycerol phosphate)1-2-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol. In S. aureus membranes, (glycerol phosphate)2-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol as well as (glycerol phosphate)3-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol served as an acceptor for ribitol phosphate units, but (glycerol phosphate)-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol did not. In B. subtilis W23 membranes, (glycerol phosphate)-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol served as a better acceptor for ribitol phosphate units than (glycerol phosphate)2-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol. In this membrane system (ribitol phosphate)-(glycerol phosphate)-ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol was formed from ManNAc-[14C]GlcNAc-PP-prenol, CDP-glycerol and CDP-ribitol. The results indicate that (glycerol phosphate)1-3-ManNAc-GlcNAc-PP-prenol and (glycerol phosphate)1-2-ManNac-GlcNAc-PP-prenol are involved in the pathway for the synthesis of wall ribitol teichoic acids in S. aureus H and B. subtilis W23 respectively.

Biosynthesis of the wall neutral polysaccharide in Bacillus cereus AHU 1356

The pathway for the biosynthesis of a cell wall polysaccharide, composed of glucosamine, mannosamine, galactosamine and glucose in a molar ratio of 4:1:1:1, was studied with a membrane system from Bacillus cereus AHU 1356. In this system a glycolipid characterized as GalNAc(alpha 1----4)ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc-PP-undecaprenol was formed from GlcNAc-PP-undecaprenol by sequential transfer of N-acetylmannosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine residues from UDP-ManNAc and UDP-GalNAc respectively. An additional N-acetylglucosamine residue and a glucose residue were individually transferred from their UDP derivatives to the trisaccharide-linked lipid with the formation of tetrasaccharide-linked lipids, which seem to serve as intermediates in the polysaccharide synthesis. Incubation of membranes with the trisaccharide-linked lipid even in the absence of sugar-linked nucleotides led to the formation of polysaccharide. These results, together with the data on Smith degradation of the synthesized polysaccharide, indicate that the repeating trisaccharide units of the main chain of the polysaccharide arise from the GalNAc-ManNAc-GlcNAc moiety of the glycolipid intermediates and that the sugar residues in the lateral branches of the polymer are at least partly introduced through oligosaccharide-linked lipid intermediates. In addition, the structure of native polysaccharide was re-examined, and the presence of the disaccharide sequence ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc in the polysaccharide chain was confirmed.

Biosynthetic studies on N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid containing teichuronic acid in Bacillus megaterium

The particulate enzymes obtained from four strains of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1240, AHU 1373, AHU 1375, and T catalyzed the synthesis of a polysaccharide and glycolipids from UDP-N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, and UDP-glucose. Chemical studies involving Smith degradation, acid hydrolysis, and N-acetylation revealed that the polysaccharide product has a backbone made up of trisaccharide repeating units comprising glucose, N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid, and N-acetylglucosamine and that the main oligosaccharide moieties of the glycolipids were identical with N-acetylmannosaminuronosyl-N-acetylglucosamine and glucosyl-N-acetylmannosaminuronosyl-N-acetylglucosamine. Incubation of the disaccharide-linked lipid with each particulate enzyme in the presence of UDP-glucose produced the trisaccharide-linked lipid and a polysaccharide. It is therefore suggested that in this polysaccharide-synthesizing system the repeating unit is formed on a carrier lipid from appropriate nucleotide derivatives first and the polymerization of the units then occurs to synthesize the backbone while the growing chain remains in pyrophosphate linkage to the carrier lipid presumed to be undecaprenol.

Comparative studies of lipoteichoic acids from several Bacillus strains

Structural studies were carried out on lipoteichoic acids obtained from defatted cells of 10 Bacillus strains by phenol-water partition followed by chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and Octyl-Sepharose columns. A group of the tested bacteria (group A), Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus pumilus, was shown to have a diacyl form of lipoteichoic acids which contained D-alanine, D-glucose, D-glucosamine, fatty acids, and glycerol in molar ratios to phosphorus of 0.35 to 0.69, 0.07 to 0.15 to 0.43, 0.06 to 0.11, and 0.95 to 1.18, respectively, whereas the other group (group B), Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus megaterium, had diacyl lipoteichoic acids which contained D-galactose, fatty acids, and glycerol in molar ratios to phosphorus of 0.05 to 0.42, 0.06 to 0.12, and 0.96 to 1.07, respectively. After treatment with 47% hydrogen fluoride, the lipoteichoic acids obtained from group A strains commonly gave a hydrophobic fragment, gentiobiosyl-beta (1----1 or 3)diacylglycerol, in addition to dephosphorylated repeating units, glycerol, 2-D-alanylglycerol, N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-alpha (1----2)glycerol, and D-alanyl-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-alpha (1----2)glycerol, whereas the lipoteichoic acids from group B strains yielded diacylglycerol in addition to glycerol and D-galactosyl-alpha (1----2)glycerol. The results together with data from Smith degradations indicate that in the lipoteichoic acids of group A strains the polymer chains, made up of partially alanylated glycerol phosphate and glycosylglycerol phosphate units, are joined to the acylglycerol anchors through gentiobiose. However, in the lipoteichoic acids of group B strains, the partially galactosylated poly(glycerolphosphate) chains are believed to be directly linked to the acylglycerol anchors.

The structure of the O-specific chain of lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa IID 1008 (ATCC 27584)

Structural studies were carried out on the O-polysaccharide fraction obtained from the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa IID 1008 (ATCC 27584). The O-polysaccharide comprises L-rhamnose, N-acetyl-D-quinovosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosaminuronic acid, and N-formyl-D-galactosaminuronic acid. The characterization of oligosaccharide fragments resulting from acid hydrolysis, Smith degradation and alkaline degradation of the O-polysaccharide, together with 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data of the polysaccharide, led to the following structure for the repeating units: ----3)Rha(alpha 1----4)GalNAcA(alpha 1----4 GalNFoA(alpha 1----3)QuiNAc(alpha 1----. Almost all of the carboxyl groups of the N-acetylgalactosaminuronic acid residues and about half of the same groups of the N-formylgalactosaminuronic acid residues were in an amide form.

Biosynthesis of the wall acidic polysaccharide in Bacillus cereus AHU 1356

Biosynthetic studies on an acidic polysaccharide, comprising galactose, rhamnose, N-acetylglucosamine and sn-glycerol 1-phosphate, were carried out with a membrane system obtained from Bacillus cereus AHU 1356. Incubation of the membranes with UDP-[14C]Gal, TDP-[14C]Rha and UDP-[14C]GlcNAc resulted in the formation of four or more labeled-sugar-linked lipids and a labeled polysaccharide. Data on structural analysis of the sugar moieties released from the glycolipids, together with results of enzymatic conversion of [14C]galactose-linked lipid and [14C]Rha-Gal-linked lipid to higher-oligosaccharide-linked lipids and polysaccharide, led to the conclusion that the acidic polysaccharide is probably synthesized through the following pathway: (sequence in text) The glycerophosphate residues seem to be derived from phosphatidylglycerol.

Structural studies on the minor teichoic acid of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631

The minor teichoic acid linked to glycopeptide was isolated from lysozyme digests of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631 cell walls, and the structure of the teichoic acid moiety and its junction with the peptidoglycan were studied. Hydrolysis of the teichoic-acid--glycopeptide complex with hydrogen fluoride gave a nonreducing oligosaccharide composed of glucose, galactose and glycerol in a molar ratio of 3:1:1 which was presumed to be dephosphorylated repeating units of the polymer chain. From the results of structural analysis involving NaIO4 oxidation, methylation and acetolysis, the above fragment was characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----3)glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactosyl(beta 1----6)glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)glycerol. In addition, the Smith degradation of the complex yielded a phosphorus-containing fragment identified as glycerol-P-6-glucosyl(beta 1----1/3)glycerol. These results led to the most likely structure for the repeating units of the teichoic acid, -6[glucosyl(beta 1----3)]glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactosyl(beta 1----6)glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)glycerol-P-. The minor teichoic acid, just like the major teichoic acid bound to the linkage unit, was released by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5. The mild alkaline hydrolysis of the minor teichoic acid after reduction with NaB3H4 gave labeled saccharides characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactitol and glucosyl(beta 1----3)glucosyl(beta 1----6)galactitol, together with a large amount of the unlabeled repeating units of the teichoic acid chain. Thus, the minor teichoic acid chain is believed to be directly linked to peptidoglycan at the galactose residue of the terminal repeating unit without a special linkage sugar unit.

Structural studies on N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid-containing and glucuronic acid-containing teichuronic acids in the cell wall of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1375

Structural studies were carried out on two kinds of teichuronic acid-glycopeptide complexes (designated as TU-GP-I and TU-GP-II) isolated from lysozyme digest of N-acetylated cell walls of Bacillus megaterium AHU 1375 by ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography. TU-GP-I, accounting for about 25% of the cell walls, contained N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid, N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, galactose, glycerol, and phosphorus in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1:2:1:0.5:0.5, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components. TU-GP-II, accounting for about 9% of the cell walls, contained glucuronic acid, glucose, and fucose in a molar ratio of about 2:1.5:1, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components. The results of analyses involving Smith degradation, chromium oxidation, methylation, acetolysis, and H-NMR measurement led to the conclusion that the polysaccharide chain of TU-GP-I comprised repeating units,----6) Glc(alpha 1----3)-ManNAcUA(beta 1----4)[Gal(alpha 1----3)][Glc(beta 1----6)]GlcNAc(beta 1----. About half of the repeating units were substituted by glycerophosphoryl residues at C-6 of the beta-glucosyl residues linked to the N-acetylglucosamine residues. By means of a similar procedure, the polysaccharide chain of TU-GP-II was shown to comprise repeating units,----4)GlcUA(alpha 1----3)GlcUA(alpha 1----3)Glc(alpha 1----3)Fuc(alpha 1----, of which about half were substituted by alpha-glucosyl residues at C-3 of the 4-substituted glucuronosyl residues.

Chondrosarcoma arising in the nasal septum: a case report

A rare case of chondrosarcoma arising in the nasal septum, which appeared in an eighty-year-old female, was reported. The tumor extended bilaterally in the nasal cavity and to the skull base. Radiation therapy was performed for the patient, considering of her age. Histological findings including electron micrograph were shown, and pertinent literatures were reviewed to discuss clinicopathological features of the tumor.

Histopathological studies on experimental marine toxin poisoning. I. Ultrastructural changes in the small intestine and liver of suckling mice induced by dinophysistoxin-1 and pectenotoxin-1

Sequential ultrastructural changes were studied in mouse digestive organs after i.p. injections of dinophysistoxin-1 and pectenotoxin-1, causative agents of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. Dinophysistoxin-1, a diarrheagenic substance, produced severe mucosal injuries in the small intestine within 1 hr after the administration of the toxin. The injuries were divided into 3 consecutive stages: extravasation of villi vessels, degeneration of absorptive epithelium and desquamation of the degenerated epithelium from the lamina propria. In contrast to dinophysistoxin-1, pectenotoxin-1, a non-diarrheagenic toxin from diarrhetic shellfish poisoning causative mussels, resulted in no abnormalities in the small intestine, but did cause characteristic liver injuries. Within 1 hr after the injection of pectenotoxin-1 numerous non-fatty vacuoles appeared in the hepatocytes around the periportal regions of the hepatic lobules. Electron microscopic observations with colloidal iron demonstrated that these vacuoles originated from invaginated plasma membranes of the hepatocytes.

Biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminuronic acid and UDP-N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronic acid in Micrococcus luteus

The occurrence and formation of UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminuronic acid (UDP-GlcNAcA) and UDP-N-acetyl-D-mannosaminuronic acid (UDP-ManNAcA) were studied in Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698. UDP-N-acetylhexosaminuronic acid separated from D-cycloserine-inhibited cells was shown to be a mixture of UDP-GlcNAcA and UDP-ManNAcA in the ratio of 87:13, whereas that obtained from untreated cells was a 96:4 mixture of these two nucleotides. Crude enzyme preparations obtained from the supernatant fraction of cells catalyzed the NAD+-dependent conversion of UDP-GlcNAc into UDP-GlcNAcA and UDP-ManNAcA. Studies on the partial separation and properties of enzymes revealed that UDP-GlcNAcA is synthesized directly from UDP-GlcNAc by the action of UDP-GlcNAc dehydrogenase and that UDP-ManNAcA is synthesized from UDP-GlcNAc through the successive actions of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase and UDP-ManNAc dehydrogenase. However, enzymatic conversion of UDP-GlcNAcA to UDP-ManNAcA was not detected. Ammonium sulfate protects both dehydrogenases from inactivation during storage and incubation. Partially purified UDP-GlcNAc dehydrogenase required dithiothreitol and the particulate fraction for its full activity. The apparent Km values of UDP-GlcNAc dehydrogenase for UDP-GlcNAc and NAD+ were 0.28 and 1.43 mM, respectively. The optimum pH of this enzyme was higher than 9 in Tris-HCl buffer. p-Chloromercuribenzoate at 27 microM as well as 10 mM ethanol almost completely inhibited the UDP-GlcNAc dehydrogenase reaction.

Structural studies on the linkage unit between poly(N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate) and peptidoglycan in cell walls of Bacillus pumilus AHU 1650

Structural studies were carried out on the polymer chains and their linkage regions in two kinds of teichoic acids, poly(N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate) [poly(GlcNAc-1-P)] and glycerol teichoic acid, bound to peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Bacillus pumilus AHU 1650. The poly(GlcNAc-1-P)-glycan complex isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls contained mannosamine and glycerol as minor components. On the basis of proton NMR spectroscopic data and isolation of N-acetylglucosamine 4-phosphate from acid hydrolysates, the poly(GlcNAc-1-P) was shown to be a polymer in which N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphate units are joined at C-4 of the glucosamine residues. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of the poly(GlcNAc-1-P)-glycan complex gave a mannosamine-linked glycan fragment and the acidic polymer fraction that contained glycerol residues. Mild acid treatment of the mannosamine-linked glycan fragment gave the linkage disaccharide, ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc, whereas the acidic polymer fraction was degraded by this treatment into N-acetylglucosamine 4-phosphate and a glycerol-containing fragment characterized as P-(Gro-P)7 (Gro = glycerol). On the other hand, direct mild acid hydrolysis of the complex gave a fragment characterized as P-(Gro-P)7-ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc. These results lead to a conclusion that in the cell walls the poly(GlcNAc-1-P) chain is attached to peptidoglycan through a linkage unit, (Gro-P)7-ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc. By means of similar procedures, it was shown that the other cell wall polymer, glycerol teichoic acid, is also attached to peptidoglycan through the same disaccharide, ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc.

Structural studies on the acidic polysaccharide of Bacillus cereus AHU 1356 cell walls

Structural studies were carried out on the acidic polymer fraction isolated from lysozyme digests of the N-acetylated cell walls of Bacillus cereus AHU 1356. The acidic polymer fraction contained glucosamine, galactose, rhamnose, glycerol and phosphorus in a molar ratio of 1:1:2:1:1, together with small amounts of glycopeptide components and muramic acid 6-phosphate. The hydrogen fluoride treatment led to removal of glycerol and phosphorus from the polymer without loss of other components. Results of the NaIO4 oxidation, methylation and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the native and dephosphorylated preparations, in combination with data of the analysis of oligosaccharides obtained from partial hydrolysis of polysaccharide, led to the most likely structure of the repeating units of the acidic polysaccharide chain, ----4)N-acetylglucosaminyl-(alpha 1----3)rhamnosyl(alpha 1----3)galactosyl(alpha 1----4)[sn-glycerol 1-phospho-2]rhamnosyl(alpha 1----.

Cytologic diagnosis of primary tubal cancer

A study was made of the 128 cases of primary tubal cancer reported to date in Japan, especially of the 61 cases with a preoperative cytologic examination, which was positive for malignancy in 28 cases (45.9%). A positive cytologic diagnosis was made on the cervicovaginal smear in 37.9% of the 58 cases so examined and on the endometrial smear in 80.0% of the 15 cases so examined. Of the 12 cases with positive endocervical smear cytologies, 11 were without endometrial invasion and 4 had no cancer cells in the cervicovaginal smear. Histologic examination of endometrial curettage specimens was positive for cancer in 8 (23.5%) of 34 cases so examined. Endometrial invasion by cancer cells was seen in 11.1% of the surgically extirpated endometrial specimens. The results of this study suggest that cytologic diagnosis is one of the most reliable methods for detecting primary tubal cancer before a surgical operation is undertaken. Its efficacy might be improved by more careful sampling and study in patients suspected of having primary tubal cancer.

Structural studies on the linkage unit of ribitol teichoic acid of Lactobacillus plantarum

Structural studies were carried out on the linkage unit which joins ribitol teichoic acid to peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Lactobacillus plantarum AHU 1413. The heating of the cell walls at pH 2.5 led to release of only 5% of ribitol teichoic acid components as water-soluble material. In contrast, the same treatment of the cell walls after N-acetylation led to release of about 80% of the teichoic acid moiety, giving a teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation which contained about equimolar amounts of mannosamine, glucosamine and glycerol as minor components. The teichoic-acid-linked sugar was hydrolyzed by mild alkaline treatment into a disaccharide, N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine and ribitol teichoic acid linked to glycerol. The Smith degradation of the N-acetylated cell walls gave a characteristic fragment, 1,2-ethylenediol-phospho-glycerol-phospho-N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4) N-acetylglucosamine. Furthermore, when the intact cell walls were subjected to the NaNO2 treatment followed by NaBH4 reduction, the ribitol teichoic acid moiety was recovered for the most part in the water-soluble polymer fraction, from which a sugar, N-acetylmannosaminyl-2,5-anhydromannitol, was released by mild alkaline treatment. These results lead to the conclusion that the ribitol teichoic acid chain in the intact cell walls of this organism is linked to peptidoglycan through a unique linkage unit, glycerol-phospho-N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)-glucosamine. The anomalous stability of the linkage between the teichoic acid moiety and peptidoglycan against acid hydrolysis seems to be accounted for by the involvement of the N-substituted glucosamine residue in the phosphodiester bridge that joins the two polymers.

A common linkage saccharide unit between teichoic acids and peptidoglycan in cell walls of Bacillus coagulans

Teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes were isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1631, AHU 1634, and AHU 1638, and the structure of the teichoic acid moieties and their linkage regions was studied. On treatment with hydrogen fluoride, each of the complexes gave a hexosamine-containing disaccharide, which was identified to be glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, in addition to dephosphorylated repeating units of the teichoic acids, namely, galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol and either galactosyl(alpha 1----2)[glucosyl(alpha 1----1/3)]glycerol (AHU 1638) or galactosyl(alpha 1----2)[glucosyl(beta 1----1/3)]glycerol (AHU 1631 and AHU 1634). From the results of Smith degradation, methylation analysis, and partial acid hydrolysis, the teichoic acids from these strains seem to have the same backbone chains composed of galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol phosphate units joined by phosphodiester bonds at C-6 of the galactose residues. The presence of the disaccharide, glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, in the linkage regions between teichoic acids and peptidoglycan was confirmed by the isolation of a disaccharide-linked glycopeptide fragment from each complex after treatment with mild alkali and of a teichoic acid-linked saccharide from each cell wall preparation after treatment with mild acid. Thus, it is concluded that despite structural differences in the glycosidic branches, the teichoic acids in the cell walls of the three strains are linked to peptidoglycan through a common linkage saccharide, glucosyl (beta 1----4) N-acetylglucosamine.

Structural studies on the linkage unit between poly(galactosylglycerol phosphate) and peptidoglycan in cell walls of Bacillus coagulans

Structural studies were carried out on the linkage units in the teichoic-acid--glycopeptide complexes isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1366. On treatment with 47% hydrogen fluoride, the complexes gave a disaccharide characterized as glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine together with major fragments, galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol. By means of Smith degradation and partial acid hydrolysis, the teichoic acid chain was shown to be composed of the repeating units, galactosyl(alpha 1----2)glycerol-3(1)-phosphate, which were joined by phosphodiester bonds at C-6 of the galactose residues. The mild alkaline hydrolysis of teichoic-acid-linked glycan fragments yielded teichoic acid chains and disaccharide-linked glycan fragments, from which the disaccharide, glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, was liberated by mild acid hydrolysis, whereas the same disaccharide linked to the teichoic acid chain was obtained by direct heating of the cell walls at pH 2.5. In addition, the presence of specialized glycerol phosphate units in the linkage region was shown by the isolation of tris(glycerol phosphate)3-glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine from the products of the Smith degradation of the teichoic-acid--glycopeptide complexes. Thus, it is concluded that the poly(galactosylglycerol phosphate) chain in the cell walls of B. coagulans AHU 1366 is linked to peptidoglycan through a novel linkage unit, bis(glycerol phosphate)-3-glucosyl(beta 1----4)N-acetylglucosamine.

Characterization of a novel linkage unit between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in Listeria monocytogenes cell walls

The structure of the linkage unit between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Listeria monocytogenes EGD was studied. A teichoic-acid--glycopeptide preparation isolated from lysozyme digests of the cell walls of this strain contained mannosamine, glycerol, glucose and muramic acid 6-phosphate in an approximate molar ratio of 1:1:2:1, together with large amounts of glucosamine and other components of teichoic acid and glycopeptides. A teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation, obtained by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5, also contained glucosamine, mannosamine, glycerol and glucose in an approximate molar ratio of 25:1:1:2. Part of the glucosamine residues were shown to be involved in the linkage unit. Thus, on mild alkaline hydrolysis, the teichoic-acid-linked sugar preparation gave a disaccharide characterized as N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1----4)-N-acetylglucosamine [ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc] in addition to the ribitol teichoic acid moiety, whereas the teichoic-acid - glycopeptide was separated into disaccharide-linked glycopeptide and the ribitol teichoic acid moiety by the same procedure. Furthermore, Smith degradation of the cell walls gave a characteristic fragment, EtO2-P-Glc(beta 1----3)Glc(beta 1----1/3)Gro-P-ManNAc(beta 1----4)GlcNAc (where EtO2 = 1,2-ethylenediol and Gro = glycerol). The results lead to the conclusion that in the cell walls of this organism, the ribitol teichoic acid chain is linked to peptidoglycan through a novel linkage unit, Glc(beta 1----3)Glc(beta 1----1/3)Gro-P-(3/4)ManNAc-(beta 1----4)GlcNAc.

Structure of the linkage units between ribitol teichoic acids and peptidoglycan

The structure of the linkage regions between ribitol teichoic acids and peptidoglycan in the cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus H and 209P and Bacillus subtilis W23 and AHU 1390 was studied. Teichoic acid-linked saccharide preparations obtained from the cell walls by heating at pH 2.5 contained mannosamine and glycerol in small amounts. On mild alkali treatment, each teichoic acid-linked saccharide preparation was split into a disaccharide identified as N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine and the ribitol teichoic acid moiety that contained glycerol residues. The Smith degradation of reduced samples of the teichoic acid-linked saccharide preparations from S. aureus and B. subtilis gave fragments characterized as 1,2-ethylenediol phosphate-(glycerolphosphate)3-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N- -acetylxylosaminitol and 1,2-ethylenediolphosphate-(glycerol phosphate)2-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylxylosaminitol, respectively. The binding of the disaccharide unit to peptidoglycan was confirmed by the analysis of linkage-unit-bound glycopeptides obtained from NaIO4 oxidation of teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes. Mild alkali treatment of the linkage-unit-bound glycopeptides yielded disaccharide-linked glycopeptides, which gave the disaccharide and phosphorylated glycopeptides on mild acid treatment. Thus, it is concluded that the ribitol teichoic acid chains in the cell walls of the strains of S. aureus and B. subtilis are linked to peptidoglycan through linkage units, (glycerol phosphate)3-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine and (glycerol phosphate)2-N-acetylmannosaminyl beta(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, respectively.

Vaginal semiradical hysterectomy: a new operative procedure for microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix

Thirty-five patients with stage Ia epidermoid microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix were treated surgically by vaginal semiradical hysterectomy. The primary features of this new surgical procedure are the removal of an approximately 1-cm portion of vaginal cuff, partial resection of the vesico-uterine ligament for isolation of the ureter, and resection of approximately 2 cm of parametrial tissue. The extent of resection is almost the same as that of the abdominal modified radical hysterectomy. Operation time and blood loss were almost the same as those for simple hysterectomy. No postoperative complications were observed. From these results it is concluded that the method is an adequate, safe, and low-risk operative therapy for patients with microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix.

[Clinical studies on ceftriaxone in the pediatric field]

Clinical studies on ceftriaxone (Ro 13-9904, CTRX) were carried out and the results were as follows: Twelve patients (acute purulent tonsillitis 1, pneumonia 6, urinary tract infection 5) were treated with CTRX, in doses of 21-48 mg/kg divided 2 times per day for 3.5-8 days intravenously. The overall efficacy rate was 100%. No adverse reactions were observed. No abnormal laboratory data were noted.

Biosynthesis of N-acetylmannosaminuronic-acid-containing cell-wall polysaccharide of Bacillus subtilis

The particulate enzyme from Bacillus subtilis AHU 1031 catalyzed the synthesis of a polysaccharide and glycolipids from UDP-N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid (UDP-ManNAcUA), UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), and UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc). The polysaccharide synthesis required UDP-ManNAcUA and UDP-GlcNAc, proceeded optimally at pH 8.5 and in the presence of 5 mM MgCl2 and 2.5 mM dithiothreitol, and was stimulated by the addition of UDP-Glc. The molar ratio of ManNAcUA, GlcNAc, and Glc incorporated into polysaccharide was calculated to be 1:1:1.8 from chemical analysis involving reduction with water soluble carbodiimide; its relative molecular mass was estimated to be 12000. The analysis of Smith degradation products revealed that the polysaccharide backbone is composed of repeating trisaccharide units comprising ManNAcUA, GlcNAc, and Glc. Based on the data regarding the time course of the incorporation of glucose into the polysaccharide, extra glucose seems to be attached to the polysaccharide backbone as lateral branches. The saccharide moieties of the glycolipids were identified as GlcNAc, ManNAcUA-GlcNAc, and Glc-ManNAcUA-GlcNAc from several analytical criteria. The addition of antibiotic 24010, a tunicamycin-like antibiotic, at 10 micrograms/ml resulted in almost complete inhibition of the synthesis of glycolipids and polysaccharide. It is therefore concluded that the glycolipids function as intermediates in polysaccharide formation. Incubation of the ManNAcUA-GlcNAc-linked lipid. (labeled in the ManNAcUA moiety) with the particulate enzyme and UDP-Glc resulted incorporation of radioactivity into a trisaccharide-linked lipid and a polysaccharide. These results suggest that the particulate enzyme utilizes the trisaccharide moiety of the Glc-ManNAcUA-GlcNAc-linked lipid for the elongation of the main polysaccharide chain presumed to be cell wall acidic polysaccharide of this strain.

N-acetylmannosaminyl(1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, a linkage unit between glycerol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in cell walls of several Bacillus strains

The structure of teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes isolated from lysozyme digests of cell walls of Bacillus subtilis (four strains) and Bacillus licheniformis (one strain) was studied to obtain information on the structural relationship between glycerol teichoic acids and their linkage saccharides. Each preparation of the complexes contained equimolar amounts of muramic acid 6-phosphate and mannosamine in addition to glycopeptide components and glycerol teichoic acid components characteristic of the strain. Upon treatment with 47% hydrogen fluoride, these preparations gave, in common, a hexosamine-containing disaccharide, which was identified as N- acetylmannosaminyl (1----4) N-acetylglucosamine, along with large amounts of glycosylglycerols presumed to be the dephosphorylated repeating units of teichoic acid chains. The glycosylglycerol obtained from each bacterial strain was identified as follows: B. subtilis AHU 1392, glucosyl alpha (1----2)glycerol; B. subtilis AHU 1235, glucosyl beta(1----2) glycerol; B. subtilis AHU 1035 and AHU 1037, glucosyl alpha (1----6)galactosyl alpha (1----1 or 3)glycerol; B. licheniformis AHU 1371, galactosyl alpha (1----2)glycerol. By means of Smith degradation, the galactose residues in the teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes from B. subtilis AHU 1035 and AHU 1037 and B. licheniformis AHU 1371 were shown to be involved in the backbone chains of the teichoic acid moieties. Thus, the glycerol teichoic acids in the cell walls of five bacterial strains seem to be joined to peptidoglycan through a common linkage disaccharide, N- acetylmannosaminyl (1----4)N-acetylglucosamine, irrespective of the structural diversity in the glycosidic branches and backbone chains.

The primary structure of teichuronic acid in Bacillus subtilis AHU 1031

Structural studies were carried out on the acidic polysaccharide fraction obtained from lysozyme digest of the cell walls of Bacillus subtilis AHU 1031. The polysaccharide fraction contained N- acetylmannosaminuronic acid ( ManNAcA ), N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), glucose, glycerol and phosphorus in a molar ratio of 2:2:4:1:1, together with glycopeptide components. The results of analyses involving Smith degradation, chromium trioxide oxidation, methylation and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy led to the conclusion that the backbone chain of the polysaccharide has the repeating unit----6)Glc(alpha 1----3/4) ManNAcA (beta 1----4)GlcNAc(beta 1----. About 50% of the N-acetylglucosamine residues in the backbone chain seem to be substituted at C-3 by the glycosidic branches, glycerol phospho-6-glucose, while the other half seem to be substituted by glucose.

Effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol and other metabolic inhibitors on the thermograms of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells registered with a microcalorimeter

The heat produced by Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells was measured microcalorimetrically to investigate the characteristics of the energetics of these cells. 2,4-Dinitrophenol and other inhibitors were used to obtain the standard thermograms. The heat level of starved Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells (endogenous) was almost constant and linear and depended on the cell number used in the experiments (about 1 cal/1 X 10(8) cells/hr). The endogenous heat generation was suppressed strongly by potassium cyanide but not by iodoacetic acid or 2,4-dinitrophenol. On the other hand, heat evolution was directly related to the amount of glucose added to the medium but not to the number of cells (19 cal/mmol of glucose). The addition of iodoacetic acid markedly suppressed heat generation, but potassium cyanide did not. In contrast, glucose with dinitrophenol increased heat production markedly to about 10% higher than that of the control, possibly due to the uncoupled energy from oxidative phosphorylation. Malonic acid (1 mM) suppressed slightly the endogenous heat but caused a 15% reduction in exogenous heat. The amount of heat produced by the addition of glucose (19 cal/mmol) was equivalent to 40% of the theoretical value of energy released through glycolysis (47 cal/mmol). Thus, the heat produced by exogenous glucose appears to be mainly dependent on glycolysis.

Liver injuries induced by cyclochlorotine isolated from Penicillium islandicum

Sequential morphological changes in murine liver induced by cyclochlorotine (CC), a secondary metabolite of Penicillium islandicum were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Within 15 min after the administration of CC there was a marked dilatation of Disse's space around the portal triads, and the exudates then poured out into the space which was formed by the invagination of the hepatocyte plasma membrane. Shortly after the invagination was completed, the connection between Disse's space and the invaginated space was pinched off, so that this space became a membrane-bound vacuole. After dehydration, the vacuoles became granular. The liver injuries induced by CC were influenced by various pretreatments. The results indicate that drug-metabolizing systems mediated by cytochrome p-450 in the hepatocytes may play an important role in the hepatotoxicity of CC.

Quantification of myonecrosis and comparison of necrotic activity of snake venoms by determination of creatine phosphokinase activity in mice sera

Serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) values were measured in venom-injected mice. The increase of CK levels was proportional to both the amount of venom injected and the myonecrotic actions determined microscopically. The CK isoenzymes were regarded as due to the predominant increase of CK-MM, which was considered to be of skeletal muscle origin in the venom-injected area. No CK isozyme variants were found by electrophoretic examination. For a comparative study on necrotic intensity, nine snake venoms were examined. The elapid venoms induced higher values of serum CK with a stronger necrotic effect than the crotalid venoms, and the data agreed with the histological findings. On application of the antivenom, an initially elevated CK value was significantly decreased and no severe damage was observed under light microscopy. Since the changes of serum CK activities paralleled necrotic intensity, the CK value is useful as an indicator of myonecrosis due to snake venom.

Protective effects of juzentaihoto, dried decoctum of 10 Chinese herbs mixture, upon the adverse effects of mitomycin C in mice

In view of the reduction of side effects as well as the enhancement of anti-tumor activities of anticancer drugs, we have been interested in the combined use of Chinese medicines with them. In the present study, we attempted to examine the effects of Chinese prescription, juzentaihoto (JTX), combined with mitomycin C (MMC). JTX is consisted of Astragali radix, Chinnamomi cortex, Rehmanniae radix, Paeonia radix, Cnidii rhizoma, Atractylodis lanceae rhizoma, Angelicae radix, Ginseng radix, Hoelen and Glycyrrhizae radix. In BDF1-mice which were implanted with P-388 leukemic cells, JTX prolonged significantly the average survival days of MMC-treated group. In tumor-free BDF1-mice, JTX improved the leukopenia and the body weight loss which were caused by MMC. Additionally, JTX delayed the appearance of deaths by lethal dosis of MMC. These results indicate that JTX enhances the anti-tumor activity of MMC and lessens the adverse effects of it. JTX may be useful for patients undertaking MMC treatment.

Structure of linkage region between ribitol teichoic acid and peptidoglycan in cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus H

The cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus H were found to contain mannosamine in an amount (28.1 nmol/mg) comparable to the content of muramic acid 6-phosphate. The acidic polymer fraction obtained by heating the cell walls at pH 2.5 was shown to contain mannosamine and glycerol in addition to the components of ribitol teichoic acid. Mild alkali treatment of this polymer fraction followed by gel filtration resulted in separation of a disaccharide N-acetylmannosaminyl(1 leads to 4)N-acetylglucosamine and the ribitol teichoic acid moiety that contained glycerol. Smith degradation of the reduction product from the same polymer fraction gave a fragment characterized as (1,2-ethylene-diol phosphate)-(glycerol phosphate)3-N-acetylmannosaminyl(1 leads to 4)N-acetylxylosaminitol. Thus, the ribitol teichoic acid chain in the cell walls is probably linked to peptidoglycan through a linkage unit, (glycerol phosphate)3-N-acetylmannosaminyl(1 leads to 4)N-acetylglucosamine.

[Studies on the appropriated interval of mass screening for cervical cancer]

In order to study the appropriate interval for cervical cancer screening, we investigated mainly the screening history of 1,086 cervical squamous cancer cases detected by mass screening. 1) The cancer detection rate (CDR) for the 2-year successively screened group who were class I in the first screening was 0.051% and all cases were carcinoma in situ (CIS). In the 2-year interval screened group, detection rates for CIS, microinvasive cancer and stage 1b cancer were 0.053%, 0.035% and 0.018%. But there is no significant difference in CDR between the 2-year successively screened group and 2-year interval screened group (p less than 0.05). 2) In the 2-year successively screened group who were class II in the first screening, the CIS and microinvasive cancer detection rates were 0.044% and 0.022%. There is no significant difference in CDR between class I group and class II group. In the group who were class I in the first screening, we detected most cases in the stage 0 and a few cases in the stage Ia and Ib by mass screening at 2-year intervals. If the detection of a few cases in stage Ib is permitted, we can enforce mass screening for cervical squamous cancer at 2-year interval and it is considered that class II group can be screened at same interval as class I group.

Structure of teichoic-acid--glycopeptide complexes from cell walls of Bacillus cereus AHU 1030

From lysozyme digests of N-acetylated cell walls of Bacillus cereus AHU 1030, two acidic polymer fractions with molecular weights of about 24000 and 45000 were isolated by ion-exchange chromatography and gel chromatography. These polymer fractions, containing glycerol, phosphorus and glucose in a molar ratio of 1.00:1.00:0.85 together with small amounts of glycopeptide components and mannosamine, were characterized as teichoic-acid-glycopeptide complexes with one and two teichoic acid chains made of 60-65 repeating glycerol phosphate units that were mostly glucosylated. Mild alkali treatment of the complexes yielded a disaccharide-linked glycopeptide. The disaccharide was liberated from the glycopeptide by mild acid treatment and identified as N-acetylmannosaminyl(beta 1 leads to 4)N-acetylglucosamine. On the other hand, the same disaccharide linked to the teichoic acid chain was obtained by direct heating of the cell walls at pH 2.5. These results lead to a conclusion that in the cell walls of this strain the glycerol teichoic acid chain is attached to the glycan chain of peptidoglycan through this disaccharide unit. The disaccharide is linked at its reducing and nonreducing ends to the glycan chain and the teichoic acid chain, respectively, through phosphodiester bridges.

Isolation, characterization, and postsynthetic modifications of tetrahymena high mobility group proteins

We have isolated four major high mobility group (HMG) proteins designated A, B, C, and D, together with ubiquitin from the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena. These four HMG proteins are integral structural components of macronuclear nucleosomes. The proteins exhibit solubility properties, chromatographic behavior on carboxymethylcellulose, electrophoretic mobilities on various gel systems, and amino acid compositions similar to those of their mammalian counterparts. HMG-A is the largest, most acidic protein of the group and is phosphorylated in vivo at specific serine residues. HMG-B is both phosphorylated at serine residues and ADP ribosylated. HMG-C is not phosphorylated but is ADP ribosylated. HMG-D, the smallest, most basic protein of the group possesses an unusually high content of serine and threonine residues, and it is highly phosphorylated at both serine and threonine positions in the polypeptide chain.

Structural and biosynthetic studies on linkage region between poly(galactosylglycerol phosphate) and peptidoglycan in Bacillus coagulans

The HF treatment of teichoic acid-glycopeptide complexes isolated from lysozyme digests of Bacillus coagulans AHU 1366 cell walls gave a disaccharide, glucosyl beta (1 leads to 4)N-acetylglucosamine, along with dephosphorylated repeating units of the teichoic acid chain, galactosyl alpha (1 leads to 2) glycerol. Mild alkali treatment of the complexes yielded the disaccharide linked to glycopeptide, whereas direct heating of the cell walls at pH 2.5 yielded the same disaccharide linked to teichoic acid. The Smith degradation of the complexes revealed that the galactose residue is a component of backbone chain. Thus it is concluded that this disaccharide is involved in the linkage region between poly(galactosylglycerol phosphate) and peptidoglycan in cell walls. Membrane-catalyzed synthesis of this disaccharide on a lipid followed by transfer of glycerol phosphate from CDP-glycerol to the disaccharide-linked lipid in the absence or in the presence of UDP-galactose also supports this conclusion.

Elastofibroma in Okinawa. A clinicopathologic study of 170 cases

A clinicopathologic study was made of 170 cases of elastofibroma detected in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. A majority of the cases of elastofibroma were detected in the mainland of Okinawa and its offshore islands Tonaki-jima and Aguni-jima. The 21 cases from Tonaki Island had a familial occurrence. Simultaneously, 55 of the total cases were recognized to have occurred within the same family lines. Besides the growth of elastofibroma in the subcapsular region, there was a high rate of growth in the infraolecranons area. A case of multiple elastofibroma including the lateral thoracic wall as well as the ischial tuberosities, was also studied. In this disease, there was found to be an excessive amount of elastic material produced by fibroblasts as well as obstacles in the course of forming elastic fibers. Therefore, it was considered that this tendency was a sort of reactive hyperplasia taking place with a constitutional predisposition in the background. All cases should undergo biopsy to rule out sarcoma. No other treatment is necessary in asymptomatic patients. Local excision is all that is necessary in those with pain.

Scanning electron microscopy of normal cells, dyskaryotic cells and malignant cells exfoliated from the uterine cervix

The same exfoliated benign, dyskaryotic and malignant cervical cells were observed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in order to investigate the reflection of the course of malignancy in the surface ultrastructure. The surface ultrastructural features (microridges and microvilli) of normal squamous cells and metaplastic cells showed regularities, with an approximately even thickness, length and distribution of microvilli. In dyskaryotic cells of the superficial type, the microridgelike structure was retained, and some regularity of the microvilli remained. However, in dyskaryotic cells of the deep-layer type, the microvillous surface ultrastructure had a pronounced irregularity and diversity. In malignant cells, there was unevenness in the projections and in the thickness of the cytoplasm, and these cells presented, as a whole, a bizarre appearance. The surface ultrastructure of malignant cells thus reflected a strong atypia of the cytoplasm.