CuB promotes both binding and reduction of dioxygen at the heme-copper binuclear center in the Escherichia coli bo-type ubiquinol oxidase

A CuB-deficient mutant of the Escherichia coli bo-type ubiquinol oxidase exhibits a very low oxidase activity that is consistent with a decreased dioxygen binding rate. During the turnover, a photolabile reaction intermediate persists for a few hundred milliseconds, due to much slower heme o-to-ligand electron transfer. Thus, the lack of CuB seems to have endowed the mutant enzyme with myoglobin-like properties, thereby stabilizing the CO-bound form, too. Accordingly we conclude that CuB plays a pivotal role in preferential trapping and efficient reduction of dioxygen at the heme-copper binuclear center.

CETP and LCAT activities are unrelated to smoking and moderate alcohol consumption in healthy normolipidemic men

To distinguish between the effects of smoking and drinking on lipid metabolism, we conducted a cross-sectional study using 52 healthy normolipidemic subjects who either smoked or drank, but not both. The subjects were divided into three groups: Group S, smokers who did not drink (n = 20); Group D, drinkers who did not smoke (n = 12); and Group C, controls (n = 20), who neither drank nor smoked. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activities were measured in all of the subjects, and the values obtained in Group S and Group D were compared to those of controls. Group S had lower (p < 0.01) HDL2-C and HDL3-C levels, and Group D had higher (p < 0.05) HDL2-C and HDL3-C levels than the controls, but there were no significant differences between groups with respect to CETP and LCAT activities. Thus, in healthy normolipidemic men, both smoking and drinking affect HDL-C levels as expected, but do not affect plasma CETP or LCAT activity levels.

[Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung: a case report in a newborn infant with severe respiratory failure and a review of the literature]

The patient was newborn infant with severe respiratory failure. The left upper lobe of her lung was occupied by multiple small cysts and it was getting worse in her condition soon after birth. So left upper lobectomy was underwent urgently four days later. Then she was recovering her strength. Pathological examination of resected specimen revealed congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung (type II lesion of Stocker's classification). It is reported that about seventy percent of CCAM present between birth and one month of age. Its prognosis is poor without operation. The lesion is showed by Chest-abdominal X-ray and ultrasonography, and recognized to best advantage by computed tomography. Neonatal CCAM must be rapidly diagnosed and decided its indication of lobectomy, then its prognosis may be improved.

Acquired cytomegalovirus infection and blood transfusion in preterm infants

The urinary excretion of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA, amplified by polymerase chain reaction using two pairs of primers for late antigen (LA) and major immediate-early antigen (MIE), and serum CMV IgM were examined in 85 pre-term infants (birth-weight less than 2000 g) on admission and monthly until 6 months after birth. Of these 85 infants, 27 had blood exchange transfusions (BET) and 28 had bolus blood transfusions two to nine times. Fifteen of 27 infants underwent BET with blood that had been filtered through Pall RC100 leukocyte removal filter; the other 12 with unfiltered blood. Neither urinary CMV DNA nor serum CMV-specific IgM was detected at birth in any of the 85 pre-term infants; during the first 6 months after birth urinary CMV DNA, for both MIE and LA, appeared in 22 of the 85 infants (25.9%) and CMV IgM was positive in 14 of the 85 (16.5%). Nine of the 12 (75%) infants who received BET of unfiltered blood showed a significantly higher prevalence of urinary CMV DNA compared to the infants in the other three groups (i.e., those who received no blood transfusion, those who had bolus blood transfusions, or those who received BET of filtered blood; P < 0.01 in each instance). In a logistic regression model, CMV DNA urinary excretion was significantly associated with the mode of blood transfusion (unfiltered BET), and the Odds ratio was 38.9 (95% confidence interval, 9.4-160). There was no significant association with other independent variables such as gender, mother's seropositivity, gestational age, birth-weight or delivery mode.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunolocalization of CD44 and heparan sulfate chains on the stratum intermedium and papillary layer in the rat enamel organ

We studied the immunohistochemical localization of CD44 and heparan sulfate (HS) chains in rat enamel organ by confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. We also investigated the binding sites of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), one of the heparin-binding growth factors (HBGF), on Microslicer-sections to clarify its role in the cell-cell interaction of HS. At the differentiation stage of ameloblast, weak immunoreactivity for CD44 was detected on the plasma membrane of the inner enamel epithelium, external enamel epithelium and the cells adjacent to the inner enamel epithelium. In accordance with the differentiation of preameloblasts into secretory ameloblasts, this immunoreactivity increased in stratum intermedium cells. At the secretory stage, stratum intermedium cells showed the most intense immunoreactivity in the enamel organ. At the maturation stage, strong immunoreactivity was seen on papillary layer cells. On the other hand, the lateral plasma membrane of ruffle-ended (RA) and smooth-ended ameloblast (SA) showed weak reactivity. No immunoreactivity was detected on the ruffled border of RA and the distal plasma membrane of SA. Immunolocalization of HS chains was similar to that of CD44. The binding activity of bFGF was also intense on stratum intermedium cells and papillary layer cells. These findings suggest that: 1) stratum intermedium cells and papillary layer cells express CD44 and HS chains in accordance with their differentiation; 2) HS chains on the plasma membrane of these cells may regulate calcium transport by their negative charge; and 3) HS chains on the stratum intermedium and papillary layer may play an important role in the differentiation and activity of ameloblasts by preserving HBGF.

Do the effects of blood pressure control on the progression of diabetic nephropathy depend on disease stage?

To determine whether the control of blood pressure has a consistent effect on the progression of diabetic nephropathy with macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients with differing serum levels of creatinine, we evaluated the relationship between mean blood pressure and the yearly rate of increase in serum creatinine concentration in two groups: one with macroalbuminuria and a serum creatinine concentration less than 2 mg/100 ml (group 1), and the other with macroalbuminuria and a serum creatinine concentration of 2 mg/100 ml or more (group 2). Both groups showed a positive relationship between the mean blood pressure and the yearly rate of increase in serum creatinine concentration. However, when the yearly rate of increase in serum creatinine concentration was compared in patients from both groups with matched mean blood pressures of less than 100 mmHg, it was greater in patients of group 2 than in patients of group 1. Thus, although a beneficial effect of blood pressure control on the progression of diabetic nephropathy was found in both groups, the effect was less in patients with macroalbuminuria and a serum creatinine concentration of 2 mg/100 ml or more when mean blood pressure was controlled at less than 100 mmHg.

Mutation in alpha 5(IV) collagen chain gene in nonfamilial hematuria

Alport syndrome is an inherited disorder characterized by progressive nephritis with ultrastructural basket-weave changes of the glomerular basement membrane and neurosensory deafness. Mutations in the COL4A5 gene encoding the Type IV collagen alpha 5 chain have been reported to occur in patients with X-linked Alport syndrome. A girl with hematuric nephritis, characteristic basket-weave glomerular basement membrane changes, and abnormal expression of the Type IV collagen alpha 5 chain immunohistochemically, but no family history of nephritis, was identified. Mutation detection enhancement gel electrophoresis of the polymerase chain reaction-amplified exons of COL4A5 from this patient revealed a sequence variant in the exon 50 region. Sequence analysis of her polymerase chain reaction product demonstrated a single-base (C; nucleotide 4728 from the 5' end) deletion in exon 50. This novel mutation alters the reading frame and introduces a translation stop codon that would be expected to result in a noncollagenous domain with only 209, instead of the normal 229, amino acid residues. Gene tracking with restriction enzyme AfIIII demonstrated that her mother was normal. These findings represent a new mutation of the X-linked Alport syndrome in this patient and demonstrate that a COL4A5 gene mutation causes the abnormal expression of Type IV collagen alpha 5 chain protein.

Healing process of vascular cutting edge using an Nd:YAG laser bipolar dissector

The wound healing process was histopathologically investigated in a rabbit femoral artery (n = 48) after transection using a laser bipolar dissector (LBD, 1064nm the Nd:YAG bipolar contact laser) with laser power of 13W in 0.5-sec pulses. The cutting edges were harvested immediately (n = 6) and at 1 (n = 6), 4 (n = 6), and 7 (n = 6) days, 2 (n = 6), 3 (n = 6), and 4 (n = 6) weeks, and 6 months (n = 6), and evaluated by light microscopy. During the postoperative period, no perforation was seen in the 48 transected sites with the LBD. The healing process after LBD transection was accomplished within 2 weeks by organization of the intraluminal thrombus and by the formation of granulation tissue outside the adventitia of vessels. Characteristic morphological changes after LBD transection were recognized in the tapering area, i.e., cartilage and bone formation. Cartilaginous foci (n = 6) were observed in the media at 4 weeks after transection, and osseous foci (n = 3) in subendothelial space at 6 months. These observations may suggest that the heterotopic cartilaginous and osseous metaplasia of a vessel wall may be a result of the biostimulative effects of the Nd:YAG laser.

Positron emission tomography (PET) study of the alterations in brain distribution of [11C]methamphetamine in methamphetamine sensitized dog

[11C]Methamphetamine ([11C]MAP) was synthesized by an automated on-line [11C]methylation system for positron emission tomography (PET) study. We newly produced a MAP sensitized dog by repeated MAP treatment and studied the brain distribution of [11C]MAP in the normal and the MAP sensitized dog. The maximal level of accumulation of [11C]MAP in the sensitized dog brain was 1.4 times higher than that in the control. No difference was found in the metabolism of MAP between the two conditions. The significant increase of [11C]MAP in the MAP sensitized brain indicates that subchronic MAP administration causes some functional change in uptake site of MAP.

Recognition of 2'-hydroxyl groups by Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI

In order to investigate the hydrogen-bonding interactions between Escherichia coli ribonuclease HI and the 2'-hydroxyl functions of the substrate, oligonucleotide duplexes containing 2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine or 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine at a specific site were used, and their affinities for the enzyme were determined by kinetic analyses. The results indicate that the hydroxyl groups of the nucleoside 3'-adjacent to the cleaved phosphodiester linkage and the second nucleoside 5' to the cleaved phosphodiester act as both a proton donor and an acceptor and as a proton acceptor, respectively, in the enzyme-substrate complex. A molecular model was constructed using the interactions derived from the results.

Clinical efficacy of fluvastatin for hyperlipidemia in Japanese patients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluvastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, in a 1-year study (a 12-week open assessment, followed by 40 weeks of active treatment). Of the 337 patients enrolled in the study, the effects of fluvastatin were analyzed in 296 patients at baseline and at 12 weeks. Of these, 265 were receiving 20 mg/day fluvastatin at week 12 and in 20 patients the dose had been increased to 30 mg/day; 11 patients violated the dosing protocol. A total of 229 patients continued into the 40-week, long-term phase, and 212 patients were analyzed at baseline and after 24 and 52 weeks. At the end of treatment, 153 evaluable patients were still taking 20 mg/day fluvastatin, 1 was taking 10 mg/day, and 48 patients were taking 30 mg/day, and 10 were taking 40 mg/day. In the 20 mg/day fluvastatin group, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased by 24.1% at week 12 and by 29.3% at week 52. In those patients requiring the higher doses, the corresponding reductions in LDL-C were 20.2% (week 12) and 26.7% (week 52). Total cholesterol was also reduced at week 12 by 17.0% (20 mg/day) and 15.7% (20-30 mg/day), and at week 52 by 20.4% (< or = 20 mg/day) and 19.2% (> or = 30 mg/day). Throughout the study, fluvastatin was generally well tolerated and no serious clinical adverse events were observed. In conclusion, long-term treatment of hypercholesterolemia with fluvastatin at dosages of 20-40 mg daily can be considered both safe and effective.

[Angioscopic observation of the ruptured plaque cap in a patient with acute myocardial infarction with particular reference to the mechanism of plaque rupture]

A 45-year-old man was admitted with the diagnosis of acute inferior myocardial infarction. After successful thrombolytic therapy, coronary angiography showed TIMI grade 3 flow with the filling defect and haziness on the infarct-related coronary segment. Repeat coronary angiography and coronary angioscopy were performed on the 28th hospital day. Coronary angiography showed 50% stenosis of the luminal diameter of the right coronary artery. Coronary angioscopy showed a white plaque with ruptured cap which occupied one third of the circumferential coronary artery. The torn ends of the cap were longitudinal, and projected into the lumen during the cardiac cycle. Plaque rupture and thrombus formation are important in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes, although the mechanism of plaque rupture is still controversial. The present angioscopic findings seem to support the concept that circumferential tension or mechanical stretch from part of the coronary artery causes the longitudinal fissure at the weakened site of the plaque cap.

Effect of traumatic occlusion on periapical lesions in rats

The effect of traumatic occlusion on periapical lesions in rats was investigated histologically and histometrically. Rats were divided equally into groups A to D. Rats in group A received no treatment; in group B, rats received pulpal exposure of the left mandibular first molar; in group C, a resin plate was cemented onto the occlusal surface of the corresponding maxillary molar; and in group D, the molar pulp was exposed and the resin plate was installed. At 1 and 2 wk, compression of the periodontal ligament and inflammation were less in group D than in group B. Lesions in the periapical periodontal ligament at 1, 2, and 4 wk in group D were significantly smaller than those in group B. This study suggests that traumatic occlusion delayed the enlargement of the periapical lesions in rats.

Detectability of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma by arterial phase images of MR and spiral CT

The ability of arterial phase images of breath-hold MR imaging and spiral CT to detect hypervascular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) was evaluated. Prior to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with iodized oil, MR images and spiral CT during i.v. bolus injection of contrast medium (IV-MR imaging and IV-spiral CT) and spiral CT during intraarterial injection of contrast media through catheter (IA-spiral CT) of the entire liver were obtained in 24 consecutive patients with 93 HCCs. In the detection of HCCs less than 1 cm in diameter, IA-spiral CT (87.3%) was superior to IV-MR imaging (63.5%) and IV-spiral CT (54.0%) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in detectability in any tumor size between IV-MR imaging and IV-spiral CT. IA-spiral CT was the best for detecting hypervascular HCCs, and there was no significant difference between IV-MR imaging and IV-spiral CT.

Detection of protein 3D-1D compatibility characterized by the evaluation of side-chain packing and electrostatic interactions

A new approach to evaluate protein structure (3D)-sequence (1D) compatibility has been developed. This approach uses four functions: side-chain packing, solvation, hydrogen-bonding, and local structure functions. The side-chain packing function takes into account not only inter-residue distance but also inter-residue contact and angle. Parameters defining the functions were statistically derived from 101 proteins with known 3D structures. The functions are combined to give a score quantifying the 3D-1D compatibility. The ability to identify the native structure of a protein among a large number of incorrect structures was tested. For 69 out of the 70 proteins examined, the native structures were successfully identified. Particularly, the side-chain packing function showed clear improvement over our previous function. The only unsuccessful case was observed for cytochrome c3 containing four haems; such prosthetic groups were ignored in the calculation. In addition to the above functions, two procedures for removing membrane-spanning regions and estimating electrostatic interactions were also adopted. A sequence for which membrane-spanning regions were predicted was considered incompatible with a structure irrespective of the compatibility score. A method to calculate the electrostatic interaction energy was developed and used for the detection of electrostatically undesirable interactions between residues of a sequence threaded onto a structure. These procedures greatly help to remove false positives in the 3D-1D compatibility search.

Gualamycin, a novel acaricide produced by Streptomyces sp. NK11687. II. Structural elucidation

A novel acaricide, gualamycin was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. NK11687. The structure of gualamycin was determined to be (2R,3S,4S)-2-O-[4-O-(2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-gulopyranosyl)-alpha-D - galactopyranosyl]-2,3,4-trihydroxy-4-[(2S,3S,4S,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-hydr oxy - methylpyrrolidin-2-yl] butanoic acid by FAB-MS, 1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, IR, X-ray crystallographic analyses and synthetic studies.

Neutrophils activated by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor suppress tumor necrosis factor-alpha release from monocytes stimulated by endotoxin

We investigated the in vitro effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release from monocytes. Peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils were obtained from healthy donors (n = 8). Neutrophils alone, neutrophils plus monocytes, and monocytes alone were incubated with and without G-CSF (10 ng/ml) and were studied for TNF-alpha release; monocytes subsequently were stimulated by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] at 10 and 1,000 ng/ml). Neutrophils alone did not produce TNF-alpha after LPS stimulation irrespective of G-CSF treatment. TNF-alpha release from monocytes was suppressed significantly by pretreatment with G-CSF in the presence of neutrophils (P < 0.01). Suppression of TNF-alpha release after LPS was not observed when monocytes were preincubated with G-CSF in the absence of neutrophils. TNF-alpha release from monocytes stimulated by LPS was not inhibited when monocytes were incubated with the supernatant from G-CSF-activated neutrophils. Pretreatment with G-CSF inhibited intracellular TNF-alpha production, as measured by flow cytometry, of monocytes stimulated by LPS (P < 0.05). These data suggest that neutrophils activated by G-CSF directly suppress TNF-alpha release from monocytes stimulated by LPS.

Portal hypertension: influence on management

In treating cases of portal hypertension, it is important to know the intramural, extramural, and communicating vascular structures of the esophagus and stomach using EUS. From these structures, suitable treatment for the esophagogastric varices can be selected and the efficacy of treatment can be evaluated.

Biosynthesis of basement membrane molecules by salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma cells: an immunofluorescence and confocal microscopic study

The biosynthesis of basement membrane molecules and fibronectin was studied in vitro in the two different human cell systems (ACC2 and ACC3) established from adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) of the salivary gland using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. When cells were attached and spread on dishes, fine granular immunofluorescence for type IV collagen, laminin, heparan sulphate proteoglycan, entactin, and fibronectin first appeared diffusely in the cytoplasm, and then changed in aggregation of coarse granules in the perinuclear area. With formation of colonies, these signals were present in the extracellular space, initially in the basal aspect of attached cells and consequently in the lateral intercellular space. After the cells formed a confluent monolayer, extracellular signals started to decrease in inverse proportion to the reappearance of intracellular ones. The results indicate that the parenchymal cells of ACC synthesize these five extracellular matrix molecules, secrete them into the extracellular milieu and remodel the extracellular deposits. It is suggested that the characteristic stromal architecture of ACC, represented by stromal pseudocysts, results from their own secretion of the basement membrane molecules and fibronectin.

Clinical significance of tissue polypeptide antigen in serum of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) in serum was measured at diagnosis in 27 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) (1 FAB M0, 1 M1, 10 M2, 7 M3, 5 M4, 1 M5, 1 M6 and 1 MU). Statistical analysis disclosed a close correlation of TPA level with age (P < 0.01), hemoglobin level (P < 0.05), therapeutic response (P < 0.01) and the length of survival after the initial diagnosis (P < 0.02). A significant difference in TPA level was present between patients with complete remission and those with poor response. To our knowledge, this is the first report to prove a correlation of TPA level with therapeutic response and the length of survival in ANLL.

Classification of congenital hypothyroidism based on scintigraphy, ultrasonography and the serum thyroglobulin level

In the present study, infants with congenital hypothyroidism discovered on neonatal mass screening were examined in order to clarify the pathogenesis by means of I-123 or Tc-99m scintigraphy, with and without thyroid ultrasonography and serum thyroglobulin measurement. The patients were divided into two groups: sixteen neonates with hypothyroidism discovered in a neonatal mass screening program performed between 1985 and 1992 (group A), and eleven neonates discovered between 1992 and 1994 (group B). In group A, only I-123 scintigraphy was performed to determine the pathogenesis. Group B was subjected to Tc-99m scintigraphy, thyroid ultrasonography and serum thyroglobulin measurement. The pathogenesis of thirteen patients with congenital hypothyroidism in group A (1985-1992) were as follows; seven patients were diagnosed as having dysorganogenesis, consisting of six with ectopic glands and one with agenesis of the thyroid gland. Six patients were diagnosed as having dyshormonogenesis. All three patients with transient hypothyroidism were diagnosed as having transient dyshormonogenesis. The pathogenesis of eight patients with congenital hypothyroidism in group B (1992-1994) were as follows; one patient of dysorganogenesis with ectopic gland and seven patients of dyshormonogenesis consisting of one patient with iodine transport defect, one patient with iodine transport defect combined with ectopic gland, one patient with dyshormonogenesis combined with dysorganogenesis and four patients with only dyshormonogenesis. All of three patients with transient hypothyroidisms were diagnosed as transient dyshormonogenesis. These results suggest that the examination of thyroid scintigraphy and ultrasonography as well as serum thyroglobulin measurement are useful to clarify the etiology and pathogenesis of congenital hypothyroidism.