[Association of organizational climate perception withwork-related acceptance actions and work engagement among nurses in emergency department]

Objective: To understand the current situation of emergency department nurses' work engagement, and analyze the relationship between emergency department nurses' organizational climate perception, work-related acceptance actions and work engagement. Methods: In May 2021, 273 emergency department nurses from 6 class Ⅲ class a general hospitals in Tianjin were selected as the research objects by using the convenient sampling method, and the general information questionnaire, work input scale, nurses' organizational climate perception scale and work-related acceptance action questionnaire were used for questionnaire survey. The correlation between job involvement and nurses' organizational climate perception and job-related acceptance action was analyzed by pearson correlation, and the influencing factors of job involvement were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results: The average score of job involvement was (3.57±0.45) , the average score of nurses' organizational climate perception was (3.29±0.69) , and the score of work-related acceptance action was 35.00 (29.00, 47.00) . The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between nurses' organizational climate perception, job acceptance action and job involvement in emergency department (r=0.435, 0.518, P<0.05) . Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that job acceptance, nurses' perception of organizational climate, health status, specialist nurses, education and emergency work years were the influencing factors of emergency department nurses' job involvement (P<0.05) , accounting for 41.9% of the total variation. Conclusion: We should create a good organizational atmosphere, improve the acceptance of emergency department nurses to nursing work, and improve the level of nurses' work input.

[Current status of nurses' perceived professional benefits and influencing factors in 3A-level hospitals in Tianjin]

Objective: To investigate the current status of nurses' perceived professional benefits in 3A-level hospitals in Tianjin, and analyze its influencing factors. Methods: A total of 421 clinical nurses from five 3A-level hospitals in Tianjin were recruited for investigation on perceived professional benefits by Nurses'Perceived Professional Benefits Scale. Results: The total score of nurses' perceived professional benefit was 110.50±14.24, the score index was 77.34%. Among five dimensions, the highest scores index was 84.80% for personal development, the lowest was 71.57% for identification by relatives and friends. Multiple linear regression analysis showed the three variables, such as department, teaching and cooperative relation between doctors and nurses entered the model, higher perceived professional benefits was observed in medical nurses, teaching nurses, and those with better cooperative relation between doctors and nurses (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The investigated nurses in 3A-level hospitals in Tianjin show upper-moderate level of perceived professional benefits. Nursing managers should develop targeted interventions based on the factors affecting the perceived professional benefits of the nurses and further enhance their perceived professional benefits.

[Prognostic study of visceral pleural invasion by pulmonary adenocarcinoma with tumor size ≤3 cm]

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between visceral pleural invasion (VPI) and other clinicopathological features in lung adenocarcinoma with tumor size ≤3 cm, and to investigate the impact of VPI on the patients' prognosis. Methods: The clinical and pathological features were retrospectively reviewed in 231 cases of lung adenocarcinoma with the largest diameter of tumor ≤3 cm, following complete resection and systemic lymphadenectomy. VPI was divided into three grades, PL0, PL1 and PL2 according to modified Hammar classification for lung cancer upon elastic fiber staining. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and the risk factors for prognosis were explored by Cox proportional hazards model. Patient prognosis was evaluated by progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: In all 231 cases, the number of patients with VPI was 70 (30.3%), of which 61 cases were PL1 and 9 cases were PL2. The remaining 161 cases (69.7%) had no VPI (PL0). The tumor size (P=0.003), histological grade (P<0.01), the presence of solid component (P=0.001) and micropapillary component (P=0.009), N stage (P<0.01) and TNM stage (P<0.01) were significantly correlated with VPI. Patients with VPI had significantly shorter PFS and OS than those without VPI (P<0.01). There were significant differences in PFS and OS between patients with different VPI levels (P<0.01). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that VPI was not an independent prognostic factor, whereas PL2 was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (P=0.007), but not an independent prognostic factor for OS (P=0.052). Conclusions: For patients with lung adenocarcinoma of tumor size ≤3 cm, VPI is related to poor prognosis; However, only PL2 is an independent prognostic factor for PFS. It may be not necessary to separate PL0 and PL1 status in smaller lung adenocarcinomas. Therefore, the definition of VPI may need further modification through large cohort studies.

[Application of p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry in triage of patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry in patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASC-US). Methods: One hundred and seventy-one cases of thin-prep cytology test (TCT) diagnosed as ASC-US underwent p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry. All patients had colposcopy and biopsy from March 2015 to January 2016. Ninety of the 171 cases underwent high-risk HPV test at the same time. Results: p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry was positive in 43.9% (75/171) of the 171 cytology samples; the sensitivity and specificity of p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry were 77.6%(52/67) and 77.9%(81/104) in detecting CIN2+ , and the positive and negative predictive value were 69.3%(52/75) and 84.4%(81/96), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing CIN2+ were 100.0%(34/34) and 10.7%(6/56) for HPV test, and the positive and negative predictive value were 40.5%(34/84) and 6/6. p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry showed lower sensitivity but obviously higher specificity than high-risk HPV detection. Conclusion: p16/Ki-67 immunocytochemistry is a good triage test for identifying CIN2+ in ASC-US specimens.

Successful management of primary splenic pregnancy: a case report and review of literature

Ectopic pregnancy is defined as dislocation of a fertilized ovum anywhere other than in the cavity of uterus. Generally, the common site for dislocation is within fallopian tube, accounting for 95.5% of all ectopic gestations. Abdominal pregnancy is rare with a potentially life-threatening variation that resides within peritoneal cavity and the primary splenic pregnancy is even rarer. This report describes a patient with primary splenic pregnancy, who was successfully managed after splenectomy.

Mortality from road traffic accidents in a rapidly urbanizing Chinese city: A 20-year analysis in Shenzhen, 1994-2013

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the trends of motorization and mortality rates from road traffic accidents and examine their associations in a rapidly urbanizing city in China, Shenzhen.

METHODS

Using data from the Shenzhen Deaths Registry between 1994 and 2013, we calculated the annual mortality rates of road traffic accidents, in addition to the age- and sex-specific mortality rates and their annual percentage changes (APCs) for the period of 2000-2013. We also examined the associations between mortality rate of road traffic accidents and traffic growth with Spearman's rank correlation analysis and a log-linear model derived from Smeed's law.

RESULTS

A total of 20,196 deaths due to road traffic accidents, including 14,391 (71.3%) male deaths and 5,805 (28.7%) female deaths, were recorded in Shenzhen from 1994 to 2013. The annual mortality rates in terms of deaths per population and deaths per vehicle changed in similar patterns, demonstrating an increase since 1994 and peaking in 1997, followed by a steady decrease thereafter. The decrease in mortality was faster in individuals aged 20 year or older compared to those younger than 20 years. The mortality rates in term of deaths per population were positively correlated with the total number of vehicles per kilometer of road but negatively correlated with the motorization rate in term of vehicles per population. The estimated model for deaths due to road traffic accidents in relation to the total population and the number of registered vehicles was ln (deaths/10,000 vehicles) = -1.902 × ln (vehicles/population) - 1.961. The coefficient was statistically significant (P < .001) and the coefficient of determination was 0.966, indicating a good model fit.

CONCLUSIONS

We described a generally decreasing trend in the mortality rates of road traffic accidents in a rapidly urbanizing Chinese city based observations in the 20-year period from 1994 to 2013. The decreased mortality rate may be explained by the expansion of road network construction, improved road safety regulations and management, as well as more accessible ambulance services in recent years. Nevertheless, road traffic accidents remain a universal problem of great public health concern in the whole population.

Novel and recurrent COL2A1 mutations in Chinese patients with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) is an autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia characterized by short stature, abnormal epiphyses and flattened vertebral bodies. SED is mainly caused by mutations in the gene encoding the type II procollagen α-1 chain (COL2A1). We looked for mutations in COL2A1 in three unrelated Chinese families with SED. Putative mutations were confirmed by RFLP analysis. We identified three missense mutations (p.G504S, p.G801S and p.G1176V) located in the triple-helical domain; p.G801S and p.G1176V are novel mutations. The p.G504S mutation has been associated with diverse phenotypes in previous studies. Our study extends the mutation spectrum of SED and confirms a relationship between mutations in the COL2A1 gene and clinical findings of SED.

Identification of novel and recurrent mutations in the calcium binding type III repeats of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in patients with pseudoachondroplasia

Pseudoachondroplasia is an autosomal dominant osteochondrodysplasia characterized by disproportionate short stature, joint laxity, and early onset osteoarthrosis. Pseudoachondroplasia is caused by mutations in the gene encoding cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). We looked for mutations in the COMP gene in three sporadic Chinese pseudoachondroplasia patients and identified two novel mutations, c.1189G>T (p.D397Y) and c.1220G>A (p.C407Y), and one recurrent mutation, c.1318G>C (p.G440R), in the calcium binding type III repeats of COMP. This study confirms the relationship between mutations of the COMP gene and clinical findings of pseudoachondroplasia; it also provides evidence for the importance of the calcium binding domains to the functioning of COMP.

[A case of human highly pathogenic avian influenza in Shenzhen, China: application of field epidemiological study]

OBJECTIVE

Based on analyzing the characteristics of a case with human avian influenza and the effects of field epidemiological study.

METHODS

An emergency-response-system was started up to follow the probable human Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza case initially detected by the "Undefined Pneumonia Surveillance System of Shenzhen". Public health professionals administered several epidemiologic investigations and giving all the contacts of the patient with a 7-day-long medical observation for temporally related influenza-like illness. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primers for H5 and N1 was applied to test respiratory tract samples and/or throat swabs of the patient and all his contacts specific for the hemagglutinin gene of influenza A H5N1. Activities and strategies such as media response,notification in the public, communications with multiple related sectors, social participation and information exchange with Hong Kong were involved in field control and management.

RESULTS

The patient was a male, 31 years old,with an occupation as a truck driver in a factory,and had been residing in Shenzhen for 7 years. Started with an influenza-like syndrome, the patient received treatment on the 4th day of the onset, from a clinic and on the 6th day from a regular hospital. On the 8th day of the disease course, he was confirmed by Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention as human avian flu case and was then transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). On the 83rd day of commence, the patients was healed and released from the hospital. The patient had no significant exposure to sick poultry or poultry that died from the illness before the onset of the disease. The patient and five family members lived together, but no family member was affected and no contact showed positive results for H5N1. A small food market with live poultry, which was under formal supervision and before illness the patient once visited, located near his apartment. Totally, 35 swabs from live birds and bird's coops in the market for H5 nucleic acid were tested and all were negative. The influenza H5N1 virus isolated for the case was named as A/Guangdong/02/2006 (H5N1) or GD/2/06. Phylogenetic relationships and molecular characterization analysis revealed that all the segments of the H5N1 virus named GD/2/06 still belonged to avian segments. Investigation process and control measures were released to the general public through the media. Soon after the laboratory confirmation, information was released to the society, as well as Hong Kong Center for Health Protection. Local Departments of Agriculture, Industries & Business, and Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau together with the Public Health Department put up combined actions. A computer-based telephone survey was initiated to investigate attitudes and knowledge of residents in town, revealing that positive atmosphere dominated and no panic existed.

CONCLUSION

Rapid laboratory diagnosis of the virus was the key for successful treatment and survival result of the case. Still, the pathogen was from birds resources. No human-to-human transmission was observed, however, source of infection was unclear. Field epidemiological study could offer special methods for the responses of emergency public health problems.

The use of a multimedia risk analysis approach in designing waste management strategies

A pollution source may release residuals to any of several environmental media, depending on the process design and control strategies. These residuals then are subject to transfer, transport, and transformation within the interconnected compartments of the environmental system. The exposure and susceptibility of people and other receptors to pollutants are different in these various media, and so that risks imposed will vary according to the fate of the pollutants in the system. Because of interactions between compartments in the system, a single-medium approach to environmental management that mitigates problems in one environmental medium at a time independently of risk through other media may not minimize the aggregate risk a receptor receives from all pathways. Alternatively, a multimedia approach advocates focusing on the full environmental system providing pathways for exposure and selecting risk management strategies based on minimization of the aggregate and cumulative risk from all pathways and all compounds. This study combines multimedia risk analysis and an optimization framework to examine a methodology for selecting waste treatment/disposal and pollution control measures, applies the methodology to a sludge management decision problem, and considers the implications for continued use of single-medium analyses.

Radical-Mediated Diastereoselective Construction of a Chiral Synthon for Synthesis of Dolabellanes

[reaction: see text] A useful trans-substituted multifunctional cyclopentane with a chiral quaternary center was selectively synthesized by free radical Michael addition to the (Z)-propionate or -malonate derivatives. The stereoselectivity could be reversed by changing the configuration of the double bond.

Rheologic determinant changes of erythrocytes in Binswanger's disease

BACKGROUND

Binswanger's disease (BD) has been associated with severe arteriosclerotic changes in the long perforating arteries and with impaired cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia. Rheology parameters may become important factors in regulating cerebral blood flow. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in rheologic determinants of erythrocytes and to discuss the relation of erythrocytes and white matter lesions in this type of dementia.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients suffering from BD and a control group matched for age, sex and cerebrovascular risk factors were tested for the following hemorheologic variables: erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte membrane fluidity, erythrocyte aggregation, plasma viscosity and whole blood viscosity. Additionally, red cell membrane metabolic parameters, lipids and individual membrane phospholipids, sialic acid (SA) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, and ATPase activities were measured.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte membrane fluidity, membrane phosphatidylethanolamine, membrane phosphatidylcholine, membrane SA and membrane ATPase activities, and a significant increase in membrane cholesterol, cholesterol to total phospholipid ratio, MDA, broad viscosity and erythrocyte aggregation were observed in BD patients when compared with those of the matched control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in erythrocyte membrane parameters, especially in phospholipids, can produce serious metabolic disorders and influence the rheologic properties of erythrocytes in patients with BD. These alterations can contribute to a circulatory slowdown and may lead to worsening of the condition of the cerebral white matter in these patients.

A gene for Meckel syndrome maps to chromosome 11q13

Meckel syndrome (MKS) is a rare autosomal recessive lethal condition of unknown origin, characterized by (i) an occipital meningo-encephalocele with (ii) enlarged kidneys, with multicystic dysplasia and fibrotic changes in the portal area of the liver and with ductal proliferation, and (iii) postaxial polydactyly. A gene responsible for MKS in Finland has been mapped to chromosome 17q21-q24. Studying a subset of Middle Eastern and northern African MKS families, we have recently excluded the chromosome 17 region and have suggested a genetic heterogeneity. In the present study, we report on the mapping of a second MKS locus (MKS2) to chromosome 11q13, by homozygosity mapping in seven families that do not show linkage to chromosome 17q21-q24 (maximum LOD score 4.41 at recombination fraction .01). Most interestingly, the affected fetuses of southern Tunisian ancestry shared a particular haplotype at loci D11S911 and D11S906, suggesting that a founder effect is involved. Our observation gives support to the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of MKS.

Genetic heterogeneity of Meckel syndrome

Meckel syndrome (MKS) is a lethal, autosomal recessive condition characterised by an occipital meningoencephalocele, enlarged kidneys with multicystic dysplasia, fibrotic changes of the liver in the portal area with ductal proliferation, and postaxial polydactyly. Recently, a MKS gene has been mapped to chromosome 17q21-q24 in Finnish families, with no evidence of locus heterogeneity in this population. Here, we report the exclusion of chromosome 17q21-q24 in eight typical MKS families of North African and Middle Eastern ancestry and provide evidence for genetic heterogeneity of this condition.

The infection status of anisakid larvae in marine fish and cephalopods from the Bohai Sea, China and their taxonomical consideration

The infection status of anisakid larvae was examined in 290 marine fish of 25 species and in 108 cephalopods of 3 species purchased in Bayuquan region, Yingko city nearby the coast of the Bohai Sea from may to August 1992. A total of 7,327 larvae were collected from 156 fish of 19 species and 8 squids of one species. The 3rd-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex were collected from 121 fish (63.4%) of 15 species (N = 191) and from 8 squids (14.8%) of one species (N = 54), and they were total, 5,992 (81.8%). Out of remaining 1,335 larvae, 154 (2.1%) were classified as Thynnascaris type B from 23 fish of 4 species, 1,013 (13.8%) as Thynnascaris type C from 79 fish of 13 species. 164 (2.2%) as Hysterothylacium China type V from 20 fish of 4 species, 3 (0.04%) as Raphidascaris from 3 fish of 2 species and one was Pseudoterranova decipiens larva.

A novel 70-kDa Triton X-114-soluble antigen of Plasmodium falciparum that contains interspecies-conserved epitopes

In order to identify novel conserved integral membrane and other membrane-associated proteins of Plasmodium falciparum, lambda gt11-P. falciparum DNA library phages were immunoscreened with convalescent-phase mouse sera and rabbit antiserum against Triton X-114-soluble proteins of P. falciparum. One recombinant phage clone, L857, reacted with both of the antibody probes. Insert DNA (857 bp long) in L857 was 69% dA+dT rich and hybridized to a fragment of 1800 bp from mung bean nuclease-digested P. falciparum genomic DNA. The cloned parasite DNA did not show notable sequence homology with any known protein gene. The L857-encoded polypeptide, p34 (M(r) 34 kDa) was expressed in bacteria, fused to glutathione S-transferase (GST). The fusion peptide, GST-p34 (M(r) 62 kDa), was recognized by immune serum against Triton X-114-soluble antigens of P. falciparum and was reactive with anti-P. falciparum, anti-Plasmodium yoelii, and anti-GST sera. Rabbit antiserum raised against the fusion peptide recognized a 70-kDa protein from lysates of P. falciparum cells and a putative homologous 100-kDa protein from lysates of P. yoelii. The rabbit serum anti-fusion peptide antibodies bound to acetone-fixed P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes and, in immunofluorescent antibody tests, produced a punctate pattern of fluorescence suggesting that the 70-kDa native protein is associated with an apical organelle of the parasite.

Possible genetic heterogeneity in the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome

Saethre-Chotzen syndrome is an autosomal dominant acrocephalosyndactyly syndrome whose gene has been assigned to chromosome 7p. Cytogenetic and linkage analyses have enabled the interval encompassing the disease gene to be delimited to a short region of chromosome 7p15.3-p21.2. Based on the genetic analysis of three unreported families, we confirm the location of the disease gene(s) in the interval defined by loci D7S664 and D7S493 (Zmax = 4.78 at [symbol: see text] = 0 at the D7S488 locus) but fail to decide whether one or more disease-causing genes map in this genetic interval.

No evidence of genetic heterogeneity in Crouzon craniofacial dysostosis

Crouzon craniofacial dysostosis (CFD) is an autosomal dominant form of craniosynostosis characterized by an abnormal skull shape, with hypertelorism, prominent eyes and midfacial retrusion. Recently, a gene for CFD has been mapped to chromosome 10q25-q26 and mutations in exon B of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene have been identified. Here, we report the mapping of a CFD gene to chromosome 10q by close linkage to probe AFMa197wb1 at locus D10 S1483 in six unrelated families of French ancestry (Zmax = 4.69 at theta = 0) and provide additional evidence of genetic homogeneity of this condition. In addition, we report a novel mutation in exon B of the FGFR2 gene (Cys 342 Trp) in familial CFD and describe recurrent mutations at codon 342 as a particularly frequent event in CFD. Since mutations in the extracellular domain of the FGFR2 gene are observed in a few clinically distinct craniosynostosis syndromes (CFD, Jackson-Weiss, Apert and Pfeiffer), the present study gives support to the variable clinical expression of FGFR2 mutations in humans.

Constitutively active Gq-alpha stimulates prolactin promoter activity via a pathway involving Raf activity

We have investigated the ability of a constitutively active Gq-alpha mutant, Q209L-alpha q, to regulate target gene expression. Transient expression in GH3 pituitary cells of a rat proximal prolactin promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase construct (-187)PRL-CAT, was stimulated by co-expression of Q209L alpha q, but not by wild-type alpha q. Q209L-alpha q stimulated expression of constructs driven by promoters for either rat prolactin or growth hormone, but not of a control construct driven by the thymidine kinase promoter. Thus, transcriptional effects of alpha q are specific both for the activated state of this G-alpha subunit and the promoter examined. Since both the prolactin and growth hormone promoters are activated by the pituitary cell-specific transcription factor Pit-1, we examined whether a Pit-1 binding site could direct a response to Q209L-alpha q. Two copies of prolactin promoter Pit-1 binding site 1P conferred upon a heterologous metallothionein promoter a response to Q209L-alpha q, implying an involvement of this site in the transcriptional action of Q209L-alpha q on the prolactin promoter. The phorbol ester activator of protein kinase C, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, stimulated (-187)PRL-CAT activity, but opposed the action of Q209L-alpha q on activity of this PRL-CAT construct. Q209L-alpha q stimulation of (-187)PRL-CAT activity was inhibited by co-expression of a dominant negative Raf mutant, Raf-C4, but not by a point mutant of Raf-C4 with reduced inhibitory properties. These results imply that activated alpha q subunits can stimulate prolactin promoter activity via a pathway that involves a Pit-1 DNA binding site(s), is opposed by protein kinase C, and is mediated by a pathway in which Raf-1 kinase plays a role.

Extraction of high quality genomic DNA from microsamples of human blood

A simple and efficient method for extracting human genomic DNA from microsamples of blood has been developed. This method used sodium perchlorate, chloroform, polymerised silica gel and a dumbbell-shape tube, instead of proteinase K and phenol. The entire process took less than two hours, and high molecular weight DNA, in high yield and purity, was obtained from a few microlitres of human blood. DNA prepared in this way can be easily digested with restriction endonucleases and has been employed for DNA profiling and the polymerase chain reaction.

A point mutation at the junction of domain 2.3/2.4 of transcription factor sigma 70 abrogates productive transcription and restores its expected mobility on a denaturing gel

Region 2 of eubacterial sigma factors is highly conserved and the subdomain 2.4 is involved in -10 promoter recognition. An evolutionary conserved "RpoD box" has been identified at the junction of subdomain 2.3/2.4 in class I and class II sigma factors and there are two tryptophan residues at position 433 and 434 which can be used as intrinsic fluorescent markers to study their structure-function relationship. Site-directed mutagenesis of these two tryptophan residues has been carried out to generate three variants of sigma 70 of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase. These are W433F, W433G and W434G. sigma 70-W433F is found to be indistinguishable from the native sigma factor by both structural and functional analysis. sigma 70-W433G shows anomalous mobility on SDS-PAGE like the native sigma factor, is alpha-helical in conformation (50% helicity) although found to be less active in total transcription when reconstituted with core RNA polymerase. Free sigma 70-W434G, unlike the native sigma factor, shows the expected mobility of a 70 kDa protein on SDS-PAGE and has 20% helicity. Time-resolved fluorescence analysis indicates that free sigma 70-W434G has DNA binding ability, and displays a normal abortive initiation reaction but a decreased level of productive transcription after reconstitution with core RNA polymerase. A model is proposed in which tryptophan at position 434 interacts with the hydrophobic 1.1 domain of sigma 70 giving rise to the stability of the protein under denaturing conditions.

Receptor-evoked Cl- current in Xenopus oocytes is mediated through a beta-type phospholipase C. Cloning of a new form of the enzyme

Xenopus oocytes exhibit a receptor-evoked Cl- current that is mediated through the activation of phospholipase C (PLC) and release of intracellular Ca2+. The identity of PLC(s) mediating this effect is unknown. We have cloned cDNAs encoding a new form of PLC-beta from a Xenopus oocyte cDNA library. The Xenopus PLC-beta has substantial (33-64%) homology with mammalian beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, and beta 4 phospholipase C and is closest to PLC-beta 3, with 64% identity and 80% similarity. Injection of antisense oligonucleotides to a specific region of Xenopus PLC-beta results in degradation of its mRNA and significantly reduces Cl- currents evoked by both endogenous angiotensin receptors and expressed mammalian alpha 1b-adrenergic receptors and M1-muscarinic receptors as compared to responses in sense oligonucleotide-injected oocytes. Inhibition of the M1-muscarinic response by antisense oligonucleotides was nonadditive with pertussis toxin inhibition. PLC antisense oligonucleotide-injected oocytes show Cl- current responses to IP3 that are indistinguishable from sense oligonucleotide-injected oocytes. Since the receptor responses are pertussis toxin-sensitive, we conclude that we have isolated a new form of PLC-beta involved in the pertussis toxin-sensitive receptor stimulation of the Ca2+ activated Cl- current in Xenopus oocytes.

Two members of a widely expressed subfamily of hormone-stimulated adenylyl cyclases

cDNA encoding a hormone- and guanine nucleotide-stimulated adenylyl cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] (type 6) from rat liver and kidney has been cloned and expressed. This enzyme is stimulated by forskolin, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, and isoproterenol plus GTP but is not stimulated by beta gamma subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. A second form (type 5), which is 75% similar to type 6, has also been cloned. Both types 5 and 6 cDNAs have multiple messages. PCR-based detection of the mRNA for the type 5 and 6 enzymes indicates that both are widely distributed. Homology analyses indicate at least four distinct subfamilies of guanine nucleotide stimulatory protein-regulated adenylyl cyclases. Types 5 and 6 enzymes define one distinct subfamily of mammalian adenylyl cyclases. Diversity of one guanine nucleotide-binding protein-regulated effector may allow different modes of regulation of cell-surface signal transmission.