Allometric scaling of skin weight and thickness to body weight in relation to taxonomic orders and habitats in mammals

Skin is the largest organ in a mammal body, and it exhibits most significant range of adaptations to different habitats. It is a complex, biological composite structure, consisting of epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissues and is used for the therapeutic application of medical devices to improve healthcare. Extensive studies have been performed on the roles of the skin; however, little is known on its physiological characteristics in relation to body size among different species. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the allometric scaling of skin weight (SW) and thickness (ST) to body weight (BW) in relation to genetics and habitats. Also analysed the relationship of BW to thicknesses of epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissues. This study used 249 adult animals of both sexes, belonging to 144 species, clustered in 18 taxonomic orders and five types of habitats. The animals were obtained from various sources in Japan. SW and BW were weighed, and ST was measured using a calliper followed by data analysis. Results showed that SW and ST were related to BW [log SW = 0.969 × logBW - 0636, adjust. R2 : 0.975]. The BW increased with increasing skin dermal thickness (y = 0.3916x + 1.5253, adjust. R2 : 0.6921), slightly with epidermal thickness (y = 0.2495x + 0.3984, adjust. R2 : 0.3402), but not all with the thickness of subcutaneous tissues (y = 0.1454x + 2.2437, adjust. R2 : 0.0752). The ratio of SW to BW (SW/BW) distributed over a large range from 0.06 to 0.64 values and varied among animal taxonomic orders and their dwelling habitats. Close relationship of BW to SW/BW was observed in species weighing ≥200 g but not in species weighing <200 g. In conclusion, SW and ST in mammals are determined by BW. The SW/BW varies based on BW, taxonomic orders and habitat and is large in small mammals weighing ≥200 g to provide a mechanism used for survival strategy.

Molecular allergen profiling in horses by microarray reveals Fag e 2 from buckwheat as a frequent sensitizer

Background

Companion animals are also affected by IgE‐mediated allergies, but the eliciting molecules are largely unknown. We aimed at refining an allergen microarray to explore sensitization in horses and compare it to the human IgE reactivity profiles.

Methods

Custom‐designed allergen microarray was produced on the basis of the ImmunoCAP ISAC technology containing 131 allergens. Sera from 51 horses derived from Europe or Japan were tested for specific IgE reactivity. The included horse patients were diagnosed for eczema due to insect bite hypersensitivity, chronic coughing, recurrent airway obstruction and urticaria or were clinically asymptomatic.

Results

Horses showed individual IgE‐binding patterns irrespective of their health status, indicating sensitization. In contrast to European and Japanese human sensitization patterns, frequently recognized allergens were Aln g 1 from alder and Cyn d 1 from Bermuda grass, likely due to specific respiratory exposure around paddocks and near the ground. The most prevalent allergen for 72.5% of the tested horses (37/51) was the 2S‐albumin Fag e 2 from buckwheat, which recently gained importance not only in human but also in horse diet.

Conclusion

In line with the One Health concept, covering human health, animal health and environmental health, allergen microarrays provide novel information on the allergen sensitization patterns of the companion animals around us, which may form a basis for allergen‐specific preventive and therapeutic concepts.

Expression of foreign type I ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) stimulates photosynthesis in cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942 cells

A reporter gene assay revealed that promoters derived from Synechococcus PCC7942 (S.7942) psbAI and Synechocystis PCC6803 (S.6803) psbAII were suitable for the expression of foreign ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO; EC 4.1.1.39) in S.7942 cells. Transformational vectors with a promoter and a foreign RuBisCO gene, cvrbc originated from Allochromatium vinosum, were constructed on a binary vector, pUC303, and introduced to S.7942 cells. When the cvrbc was expressed with the S.7942 psbAI promoter, the total RuBisCO activity increased 2.5- to 4-fold than that of the wild type cell. The S.6803 psbAII promoter increased the activity of the transformant 1.5-2 times of that of wild type cell. There was a significant increase in the rate of photosynthesis depending on the increase of RuBisCO activity. The maximum rate of photosynthesis of the transformant cell was 1.63 times higher than that of the wild type under the illumination of 400 micromol m(-2) s(-1), at 20 mM bicarbonate and at 30 degrees C. Although the photosynthesis of the higher plant is limited by the ability of photosystems under high irradiance and the high CO(2 )concentration, that of the S.7942 cell is limited by the RuBisCO activity, even at high CO(2) concentrations and under high irradiance.

Congestive heart failure is associated with the rate of bone loss

AIMS

To characterize relationships between mineral homeostasis, bone turnover, bone mass, and congestive heart failure (CHF), we evaluated 75 women with mild to moderate CHF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined the association in annual rate of change in spinal bone mineral density (BMD) with polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene. Compared with the control group, the CHF group had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF: 68.2 +/- 7.5% vs. 60.2 +/- 12.9%; P = 0.0249), human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) was elevated (hANP: 10.7 +/- 4.7 pmol L-1 vs. 25.8 +/- 24.2 pmol L-1; P = 0.001) and had lower peak VO2 (22.3 +/- 7.5 mL kg-1 min-1 vs. 15.8 +/- 7.4 mL kg-1 min-1; P = 0.0429). The CHF patients with the VDR FF genotype had a significantly high annual rate of decrease in BMD. In the CHF patients with the VDR FF genotype, urinary calcium excretion (FECa) was elevated (1.40 +/- 0.91% vs. 2.39 +/- 1.40%; P = 0.028), and serum bone-type alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) was reduced (62.6 +/- 13.7 IU L-1 vs. 47.0 +/- 18.6 IU L-1; P = 0.0123). Also, FECa was correlated positively with furosemide dose (R = 0.881; P = 0.0087) and hANP concentrations (R = 0.635; P = 0.0147) and negatively with DeltaBMD (R = 0.72; P = 0.044) in the CHF patients with the VDR FF genotype.

CONCLUSION

The CHF patients with the VDR FF genotype have higher rates of bone loss. These patients may need to increase their calcium intake and BMD may need to be followed more carefully over time.

[Selection of antibiotics and planning of eradication for H. pylori infection]

There is general agreement that H. pylori should be eradicated in patients with peptic ulcers. But the optimal therapeutical regimen to be used still remains a matter for many investigations. An increase in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains has been reported recently. The recommended drugs for the eradication in Japan are clarithromycin (CAM) and amoxicillin (AMPC) because metronidazole (MNZ) is anti-parasites drug in Japan. A total of 392 H. pylori strains in the last twelve years were tested for sensitivity to CAM, MNZ, and AMPC. The Primary resistance of H. pylori to CAM, MNZ, and AMPC were found in 10.2%, 26.5%, and 0.3% strains, respectively. The resistant strains to CAM were gradually increasing in the last few years. The eradication therapies which do not increase antibiotics resistant strains after eradication failure were reported. The recommendation for eradication in patients with peptic ulcer disease includes those with bleeding ulcers. The pretreatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) does not influence the success of PPI-based triple therapy in eradicating H. pylori.

[Combined valve and coronary artery bypass surgery]

Between January 1997 and November 1999, 31 patients underwent combined valve and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in our institute. There was no hospital death and clinical symptom improved in all patients after surgery. Mean follow-up was 16.3 months. The actuarial survival rate was 96.8% at 1 year. There were 4 late deaths (CHF in 3, arrhythmia in 1). Tepid blood cardioplegia was effective for those operations. Operation of CABG combined with valve surgery or LV surgery could be safely performed. We therefore considered that complete correction of the lesion with not only CABG but also combined valve surgery or LV surgery was the procedures of choice in patients with complicated lesions.

A transmembrane hybrid-type histidine kinase in Arabidopsis functions as an osmosensor

Water deficit and the resulting osmotic stress affect plant growth. To understand how plant cells monitor and respond to osmotic change from water stress, we isolated a cDNA from dehydrated Arabidopsis plants. This cDNA encodes a novel hybrid-type histidine kinase, ATHK1. Restriction fragment length polymorphism mapping showed that the ATHK1 gene is on chromosome 2. The predicted ATHK1 protein has two putative transmembrane regions in the N-terminal half and has structural similarity to the yeast osmosensor synthetic lethal of N-end rule 1 (SLN1). The ATHK1 transcript was more abundant in roots than other tissues under normal growth conditions and accumulated under conditions of high or low osmolarity. Histochemical analysis of beta-glucuronidase activities driven by the ATHK1 promoter further indicates that the ATHK1 gene is transcriptionally upregulated in response to changes in external osmolarity. Overexpression of the ATHK1 cDNA suppressed the lethality of the temperature-sensitive osmosensing-defective yeast mutant sln1-ts. By contrast, ATHK1 cDNAs in which conserved His or Asp residues had been substituted failed to complement the sln1-ts mutant, indicating that ATHK1 functions as a histidine kinase. Introduction of the ATHK1 cDNA into the yeast double mutant sln1Delta sho1Delta, which lacks two osmosensors, suppressed lethality in high-salinity media and activated the high-osmolarity glycerol response 1 (HOG1) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). These results imply that ATHK1 functions as an osmosensor and transmits the stress signal to a downstream MAPK cascade.

Poorer nutritional status of the older-generation in a Japanese farming village, as related to fewer types of food consumed

This study was carried out to determine whether the most recent nutritional improvements in Japanese farming villages were due to improvement in the diet of the young only or across all ages. Food duplicates for 24 h were collected. The number of food items and the adequacy of each nutrient level were compared between subgroups, by age of cooking and those eating meals. The older-generation used and ate fewer food items resulting in poorer nutrition. The most recent improvement in nutrition in the farming villages of Japan was found mainly to affect the younger-generation with the older-generations being more poorly nourished.

Hsl7p, a negative regulator of Ste20p protein kinase in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae filamentous growth-signaling pathway

In the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, protein kinases Ste20p (p21(Cdc42p/Rac)-activated kinase), Ste11p [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase], Ste7p (MAPK kinase), Fus3p, and Kss1p (MAPKs) are utilized for haploid mating, invasive growth, and diploid filamentous growth. Members of the highly conserved Ste20p/p65(PAK) protein kinase family regulate MAPK signal transduction pathways from yeast to man. We describe here a potent negative regulator of Ste20p in the yeast filamentous growth-signaling pathway. We identified a mutant, hsl7, that exhibits filamentous growth on rich medium. Hsl7p belongs to a highly conserved protein family in eukaryotes. Hsl7p associates with the noncatalytic region within the amino-terminal half of Ste20p as well as Cdc42p. Deletions of HSL7 in haploid and diploid strains led to cell elongation and enhancement of both haploid invasive growth and diploid pseudohyphal growth. However, deletions of STE20 in haploid and diploid greatly diminished these hsl7-associated phenotypes. In addition, overexpression of HSL7 inhibited pseudohyphal growth. Thus, Hsl7p may inhibit the activity of Ste20p in the S. cerevisiae filamentous growth-signaling pathway. Our genetic analyses suggest the possibility that Cdc42p and Hsl7p compete for binding to Ste20p for pseudohyphal development when starved for nitrogen.

A gene encoding proline dehydrogenase is not only induced by proline and hypoosmolarity, but is also developmentally regulated in the reproductive organs of Arabidopsis

The cDNA clone ERD5 (early responsive to dehydration), isolated from 1-h-dehydrated Arabidopsis, encodes a precursor of proline (Pro) dehydrogenase (ProDH), which is a mitochondrial enzyme involved in the first step of the conversion of Pro to glutamic acid. The transcript of the erd5 (ProDH) gene was undetectable when plants were dehydrated, but large amounts of transcript accumulated when plants were subsequently rehydrated. Accumulation of the transcript was also observed in plants that had been incubated under hypoosmotic conditions in media that contained L- or D-Pro. We isolated a 1.4-kb DNA fragment of the putative promoter region of the ProDH gene. The beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene driven by the 1.4-kb ProDH promoter was induced not only by rehydration but also by hypoosmolarity and L- and D-Pro at significant levels in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The promoter of the ProDH gene directs strong GUS activity in reproductive organs such as pollen and pistils and in the seeds of the transgenic plants. GUS activity was detected in vegetative tissues such as veins of leaves and root tips when the transgenic plants were exposed to hypoosmolarity and Pro solutions. GUS activity increased during germination of the transgenic plants under hypoosmolarity. The relationship between Pro metabolism and the physiological aspects of stress response and development are discussed.

C-ABI3, the carrot homologue of the Arabidopsis ABI3, is expressed during both zygotic and somatic embryogenesis and functions in the regulation of embryo-specific ABA-inducible genes

A carrot gene homologous to the ABI3 gene of Arabidopsis was isolated from a carrot somatic embryo cDNA library and designated C-ABI3. The sequence of C-ABI3 was very similar to those of ABI3 of Arabidopsis and VP1 of maize in certain conserved regions. The expression of C-ABI3 was detected specifically in embryogenic cells, somatic embryos and developing seeds. Thus, expression of C-ABI3 was limited to tissues that acquired desiccation tolerance in response to endogenous or exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). Endogenous levels of ABA in seeds increased transiently and then desiccation of seeds started. The expression of C-ABI3 in developing seeds was observed prior to the increase in levels of endogenous ABA that was followed by desiccation of seeds. In transgenic mature leaves in which C-ABI3 was ectopically expressed, expression of ECP31, ECP63 and ECP40 was induced by treatment with ABA, which indicates that the expression of ECP genes was controlled by the pathway(s) that involved C-ABI3 and ABA. This suggests that C-ABI3 has the same function as VP1/ABI3 factor in carrot somatic embryos.

Regulation by an extract of embryonic chick brain of the densities of voltage-dependent Na+ and Ca2+ channels in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells during their development in culture

We studied the chronic effects of a brain extract (BE) prepared from chick embryonic brains on voltage-dependent Na+ channels (VDNCs) and Ca2+ channels (VDCCs) during the development of chick skeletal muscle cells in culture. The maximum rates of rise of Na+ and Ca2+ action potentials were measured electrophysiologically in an attempt to determine the effects of BE on the densities of these channels. The basic culture medium was supplemented with chick transferrin instead of whole-embryo extract and skeletal muscle cells were grown in the absence or in the presence of crude BE or fractionated BE. Long-term inclusion of BE to the culture medium increased the densities of both VDNCs and L-type VDCCs. By contrast, BE apparently decreased the density of T-type VDCCs. Our results indicate that BE contains some protein(s) that has a negative effect on the density of T-type VDCCs of skeletal muscle cells at a less differentiated stage and that this effect of BE is closely associated with subsequent regulation of the densities of VDNCs and L-type VDCCs. Possible roles of the influx of Ca2+ ions through T-type and L-type VDCCs in the control of the densities of VDNCs and L-type VDCCs are discussed.

Development of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric carcinoma in Mongolian gerbils

Helicobacter pylori is classified by IARC/WHO as a definite human gastric carcinogen, despite "inadequate experimental evidence." To obtain direct evidence concerning this relationship, we investigated the histopathological findings of gastric mucosa using a model of H. pylori infection in Mongolian gerbils. The animals were challenged p.o. with H. pylori ATCC-43504 and sacrificed at 6, 12, and 18 months after inoculation for histological examination. All inoculated animals were infected with H. pylori. Severe infiltration of the lamina propria by polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells appeared in the lesser curvature of the antrum, with an increase in epithelial cell proliferation, and the infiltration extended to the body. Atrophic gastritis and focal intestinal metaplasia also appeared in the lesser curvature of the antral mucosa at 6 months after inoculation. Intestinal metaplasia became severe, with dysplasia, after that. At 18 months after H. pylori inoculation, two of five infected animals showed three well-differentiated gastric cancers. The uninfected control animals showed no abnormal findings throughout the entire observation period. Here, it was confirmed that H. pylori infection alone causes gastric cancer in an animal model.

Development of a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) for testosterone: measurement of serum testosterone concentrations after testosterone treatment in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

A sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) for testosterone was developed, and the assay system was used for measuring serum testosterone concentrations in rainbow trout. Testosterone-3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime-bovine serum albumin (T-3-CMO-BSA) was immobilized by physical adsorption to the wells of microtiter plates. A competitive assay using two antibodies was performed among T-3-CMO-BSA in the solid-phase, unknown amounts of testosterone, testosterone antibodies, and europium labeled secondary antibodies, followed by measurements using a time-resolved fluorometer (DELFIA system). The TR-FIA had a sensitivity of 0.075 pg/50 microliters sample (1.5 pg/ml), and the range of the assay system was between 1.5 pg/ml and 25 ng/ml. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation for the testosterone TR-FIA were satisfactorily low, and were between 1.62 and 6.38% and 2.96 and 8.29%, respectively. The assay system was applied to measure the serum testosterone concentrations after an injection of testosterone dissolved in saline, propyleneglycol, or coconut oil. Among the three solvents, the coconut oil group showed continuously high serum testosterone level. In contrast, the saline and propyleneglycol groups had maximum concentrations 24 hr after the injection, but their levels were significantly lower than that of the coconut oil group. The testosterone TR-FIA method is sensitive, repeatable, and is as accurate as conventional RIAs. It is very good for measuring serum testosterone concentrations.

Hard work does not result in a decrease in meal quality: the case of a Japanese farming village

Historically, when Japanese farmers engaged in hard labor, they were likely to increase their carbohydrate intake without increasing intake of other nutrients. After Japan's economic growth started in the 1960s, however, many kinds of food became available and affordable. We investigated whether farmers today have increased the nutrients in their diet in proper proportion to energy expenditures when they are engaged in farming work by comparing the quantity and quality of meals between farmers and other villagers within a small area of a farming village. The quantity of energy and other nutrients increased with farming work, but the amounts of each nutrient per unit of energy did not decrease with the increase in energy intake. The intake of each nutrient relative to the recommended dietary allowance for energy and each nutrient did not decrease with farming work either. It was concluded that the quality of meals of farmers does not decrease with the increasing energy intake for farming work when many kinds of food are available and affordable.

[Effects of corticosteroid pulse treatment on outcomes in acute exacerbations of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia]

We studied the relationship between the effectiveness of corticosteroid pulse treatment, clinical characteristics and outcomes in 17 patients with acute exacerbatin of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. Acute exacerbation was defined as a decrease in PaO2 by more than 10 Torr, worsening of chest-radiographic findings, and deterioration of symptoms within 1 month. Effects of corticosteroid pulse treatment were judged 2 weeks and 3 months after the end of treatment. The change in AaD2 was computed and was used to determine whether the treatment had been effective, temporarily effective, or ineffective. The effects at three months were difficult to predict on the basis of those at two weeks. The treatment was often effective in patients who had not previously received steroids and in those with mild disease. Those in whom the treatment was effective at three months lived longer after the exacerbation than did those in whom it was ineffective, but the average lengths of survival through the whole clinical course were not significantly different among the three groups. We suggest that corticosteroid pulse treatment is effective in acute exacerbatins of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and that effectiveness should be evaluated three months after treatment.

Existence of branched side chains in the cell wall mannan of pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans. Structure-antigenicity relationship between the cell wall mannans of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis

Isolation of side chain oligosaccharides from mannans of Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) and Candida parapsilosis IFO 1396 strains has been conducted by acetolysis under mild conditions. Structural study of these oligosaccharides by 1H and 13C NMR and methylation analyses indicated the presence of novel branched side chains with the following structures in C. albicans mannan. [sequence: see text] It was observed that the H-1 proton chemical shifts of the second and the third mannose units from the reducing terminus in each oligosaccharide are shifted upfield by substitution with an alpha-linked mannose unit at position 6 of the 3-O-substituted mannose unit. An agglutination inhibition assay between factor 4 serum and cells of Candida stellatoidea IFO 1397 lacking the beta-1,2-linked mannose unit, with oligosaccharides obtained from these mannans, indicated that only the branched oligosaccharides were active. This finding suggests that the branched oligosaccharides correspond to the epitope of antigenic factor 4. The presence of the branched structure in other mannans was detected by the characteristic H-1-H-2-correlated cross-peak of the alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit connected with the 3,6-di-O-substituted one by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent regulation of the density of Na+ channels in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells during their development in culture

Regulation of the density of voltage-dependent Na+ channels (VDNC) was studied in chick myotubes during their development in culture. The density of VDNC was assessed quantitatively in terms of the maximum rate of rise (M.R.R.) of Na+ spikes. Chronic treatment of myotubes, whose density of VDNC had reached a plateau level after 6 days in culture, with the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitor W-7 caused a further increase in the density. A derivative of W-7, known as W-5, which has a lower affinity for CaM than does W-7, was without effect. A selective inhibitor of Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII), namely, KN-62, also caused an increase in the density of VDNC when its effect was examined in mature myotubes. A structural analogue of KN-62, namely, KN-04, which is a much less effective inhibitor of CaM-KII, was without effect. These results suggest that density of VDNC in developing myotubes is regulated by Ca2+/CaM and CaM-KII. However, the role of CaM-KII in this regulation is not straightforward since it appears to decrease the density of VDNC in mature myotubes, but to increase their density in immature myotubes.

Symmetrical lipomatosis of the tongue presenting as macroglossia. Report of two cases

Symmetrical lipomatosis in the oral cavity is extremely rare. Two cases of symmetrical lipomatosis presenting as macroglossia are presented. Glossectomy was performed in order to reduce the size of the tongue and for diagnosis. Because of their multiplicity, non-encapsulation and invasiveness, the lesions were diagnosed histopathologically as symmetrical lipomatosis.

Structural study of a cell-wall mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri IFO 1685 strain. Presence of a branched side chain and beta-1,2-linkage

Acetolysis of the cell-wall mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri under mild conditions, gave fragments with 1-6 mannose residues. The structures of mannopentaose and mannohexaose were determined to be [Formula; see text] respectively, by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy and a sequential NMR assignment method that combines 1H-13C correlated spectroscopy, relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy, 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity and methylation analysis. The H1 proton chemical shift of a neighboring alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit of the 3-O-substituted structure was shifted upfield by the addition of a mannose unit to the adjacent 3-O-substituted unit by an alpha-1,6 linkage. The characteristic H1--H2-correlated cross-peak of the alpha-1,3-linked mannose unit substituted by a beta-1,2 linkage, beta 1-->2Man alpha 1-->3, in the mannan of S. kluyveri, as also found by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy in the mannan of Candida guilliermondii, a pathogenic yeast in man.

A ring-shaped structure with a crown formed by streptolysin O on the erythrocyte membrane

Streptolysin O (SLO) is a membrane-damaging toxin produced by most strains of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. We performed ultrastructural analysis of SLO-derived lesions on erythrocyte membranes by examining electron micrographs of negatively stained preparations. SLO formed numerous arc- and ring-shaped structures with or without holes on membranes. Rings formed on intact cell membranes had an inner diameter of ca. 24 nm and had distinct borders of ca. 4.9 nm in width, but the diameter of rings varied from 24 to 30 nm on membranes of erythrocyte ghosts. Image analysis of electron micrographs demonstrated that each ring was composed of an inner and an outer layer. Each layer contained an array of 22 to 24 SLO molecules. On the top of the ring, we found a characteristic crown that projected from the cell membrane. The crown was separated by an electron-dense layer from the basal part of the ring that was embedded in the lipid bilayer of the erythrocyte membrane. Heights of the three parts, namely, the crown (head), the space (neck), and the basal portion (base), were ca. 3.2, 1.6, and 5.0 nm, respectively, and we postulated that these parts are the constituents of a single SLO molecule. The volumes of SLO molecules in the inner and outer layers were calculated to be 77 and 88 nm3. On the basis of a model of the structure of SLO, we propose some new details of the mechanisms of hemolysis by SLO toxin.

Transforming growth factor beta 1-induced cellular heterogeneity in the periosteum of rat parietal bones

We examined the osteogenesis process in transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1)-treated neonatal and adult rats, aiming to investigate the age difference in the effect of TGF-beta 1 on mesenchymal cell differentiation. Recombinant human (rh) TGF-beta 1 (20 and 200 ng) was injected onto the outer periostea of the right side of the parietal bone of each rat once a day for 1-12 days starting at the age of either 1 day or 12 weeks. On the day after the final injection, the calvaria was excised and evaluated histologically. In the neonates, the 12-day treatment with rhTGF-beta 1 increased the number of osteoprogenitor cells, resulting in intramembranous ossification. In the adult rats, rhTGF-beta 1 induced differentiation of chondrocytes. Cartilage masses were surrounded by mesenchymal cells, which would differentiate into chondrocytes. The cartilage matrix was partially calcified, with chondrocytes buried therein. In the calcified matrix, marrow cavities containing some multinuclear osteoclasts were formed. These findings indicate that rhTGF-beta 1 stimulated the differentiation of mesenchymal cells into chondrocytes and produced the cartilaginous matrix. rhTGF-beta 1 induced intramembranous ossification of the parietal bone in neonatal rats, and it induced enchondral ossification in adults. This result suggests that the different responses of mesenchymal cells in the periosteum to rhTGF-beta 1 may depend on the age of the animals used: namely, they may reflect the respective osteogenic stages of modeling and remodeling.

[Bone mineral density of the internal auditory meatus by quantitative computed tomography]

The bone mineral density of the internal auditory meatus was investigated by means of quantitative computed tomography in 20 normal subjects (40 ears). Investigated portions of the internal auditory meatus were the porus anterior and posterior and the fundus anterior and posterior. Two other portions of the ear, the bony vestibule and lateral wall of the mastoid, were also investigated. The bone density values (calcium carbonate equivalent value) for each portion were analyzed statistically. The following results were obtained: 1) There was no significant difference between the right and left values in any portion. 2) The highest mean value was found in the fundus posterior, the lowest in the porus anterior. There was a significant difference between the values of the fundus and porus. Bone hardness generally correlates with bone density. Thus, the bone hardness of the porus of the internal auditory meatus was appraised to be lower than that of the fundus. These results suggest that this is one of the factors promoting enlargement of the internal auditory meatus in acoustic neuroma.

Morphological study of recombinant human transforming growth factor beta 1-induced intramembranous ossification in neonatal rat parietal bone

Recombinant human transforming growth factor beta 1 (rhu TGF beta 1) was injected singly or repeatedly for 3-12 days into the periosteum of the right side parietal bone of neonatal rats under the period of bone growth, and the time course of histological changes of the bone was observed by light and electron microscopy and by enzyme histochemistry. The repeated injections of rhu TGF beta 1 at 200 ng/day increased the thickness of the bone tissue on the treated side, which was about twice the nontreated side value after 12-day injections. On the dermal side, preosteoblasts in the periosteum increased in an early stage of treatment, and thereafter, differentiation into osteoblasts, increase of bone matrix, bone marrow cavity formation, and increase of osteoclasts within the bone marrow cavities were observed. Activation of osteoblasts on the dura mater side was also seen. The single injection of rhu TGF beta 1 at 200 ng resulted only in increased osteoprogenitor cell layers and bone matrix formation in an early stage, and the thickness of the osteoprogenitor cell layers and bone tissue at 12 days after single injection was comparable to the values on the nontreated side. At 1 microgram, however, the osteoblasts were activated, and the osteoprogenitor cell layers and bone matrix formation were markedly increased. At 12 days, the bone tissue thickness on the treated side was about twice the nontreated side value, as in the repeated treatment groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chronological changes of MRI findings on striatal damage after acute cyanide intoxication: pathogenesis of the damage and its selectivity, and prevention for neurological sequelae: a case report

A 31-year-old male technician in an electroplating factory, who had been suffering from the temporal lobe epilepsy for 24 years and from hypertension for 2 years, took an unknown amount of potassium cyanide apparently over the lethal dose, in an attempt to commit suicide. He was treated successfully and survived without any neurological sequelae. The electroencephalograms and the nature of the seizures were not different before and after the poisoning. The T2-weighted magnetic resonance images at 9 and 51 days after the poisoning showed bilateral elevation of signals in the caudate nuclei and the putamina. At the 143th and 286th days. T2-weighted high-resonance areas were restricted to the lateral portion of the putamina. The T1-weighted images at the 51st day showed abnormal signal elevations in both putamina, while those of 9th, 143th and 286th days were mainly normal. Selective vulnerability of the putamen and the caudate nucleus may be due to their specific structural properties of high oxygen and glucose utilization, and enzyme distribution. Both chronological changes of striatal damage and the absence of neurological sequelae in this patient suggest the possibility that anti-epileptics and a calcium antagonist played a neuroprotective role in the acute cyanide intoxication.

Calcium channels in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells after cultivation with calcium channel blocker

The effects of chronic treatment with calcium channel blockers were studied on the expression of voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) in chick skeletal muscle cells developing in culture. Myotubes were treated after 2 days in culture with either 20 microM D600 or 10 microM nifedipine, and measurements were made of the maximum rate of rise (M.R.R.) of the two components of action potential, operated by T- and L-type VDCCs, respectively. Treatment with either blocker reduced the M.R.R. of the action potential component operated by the L-type VDCC throughout the culture period examined. The M.R.R. of the T-type VDCC component, on the other hand, was unaffected by either treatment. The reduction in the M.R.R. of the L-type component in blocker-treated cells is thought to be due to the down-regulation of the expression of L-type VDCC. Thus, it appears that the expression of L-type VDCC in the chick skeletal muscle cells can be regulated by a function of L-type VDCC, which mediate the entry of Ca2+ into the cells. The physiological significance of the L-type VDCC, which expressed prominently early in the development of skeletal muscle cells, for the differentiation of excitability is discussed.

[Difference between horizontal enlargement and vertical enlargement of the internal auditory meatus in acoustic neuroma]

Twenty-one patients with acoustic neuroma were investigated. The vertical diameter of the internal auditory meatus was measured by polytomography, the horizontal by target imaging CT. The ratio of the abnormal side to the normal side was calculated in each dimension. Two dimensional ratios were compared with each other in order to investigate the difference between horizontal and vertical enlargement of the internal auditory meatus. The results were as follows: 1) Horizontal enlargement of the internal auditory meatus was greater than that of the vertical one in 15 cases (75%). Vertical enlargement was greater in 6 cases but the difference between the two dimensions was not significant. 2) With horizontal enlargement, the posterior wall of the internal auditory meatus was more extended or destroyed than that of anterior wall. 3) With enlargement of the posterior wall, the bony eminence forming the inner side of the porus was predominantly extended or destroyed in every case.

Chronic treatment with D600 enhances development of sodium channels in cultured chick skeletal muscle cells

We have studied the long-term effects of D600, a blocker of L-type voltage-dependent Ca channels (VDCC), on the development of voltage-dependent Na channels (VDNC) that are sensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX), by electrophysiological measurements of the maximum rate of rise of the TTX-sensitive Na spike in cultured chick skeletal muscle cells. Chronic treatment with D600 (2-20 microM) caused a dose-dependent increase in the density of VDNC. The density of VDNC was increased by 150-250% when D600 was added to the cultures at 20 microM from the second day of culture onward. Co-treatment with an inhibitor of the transcription of RNA from DNA, alpha-amanitin, or with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, prevented the up-regulation by D600. Nifedipine, a different type of blocker of L-type VDCC, was also effective in increasing the density of VDNC, and BAY K 8644, an agonist of L-type VDCC, had the opposite effect. It is suggested that the effect of D600 was mediated via a mechanism specific for L-type VDCC that involves regulation of cytosolic levels of Ca2+ and protein synthesis de novo.

Pharmacological properties of two types of calcium channel in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells in culture

We have studied the effects of organic and inorganic Ca channel blockers on the two-component action potentials (low- and high-threshold components) in cultured chick skeletal muscle cells, which are generated by the T- and L-type voltage-dependent Ca channels (VDCCs), respectively. Nifedipine and D600 effectively blocked the high-threshold component of the action potential, whereas omega-conotoxin and phenytoin had no effect on this component. By contrast, the low-threshold component was insensitive to all of these organic Ca channel blockers. Blocking effects of polyvalent cations were observed with the following rank order of relative potency (mean apparent dissociation constant in microM): La3+ (14.7) greater than Ni2+ (20.7) greater than Cd2+ (51.2) greater than Co2+ (912) for the low-threshold component, and Cd2+ (0.7) greater than La3+ (29.2) greater than Co2+ (431) greater than Ni2+ (1241) for the high-threshold component. Taken together, these findings suggest that the pharmacological properties of the T- and L-type VDCCs in cultured chick skeletal muscle cells may differ from those in other preparations.

[A case of beriberi heart--with special reference to the rapid effect of fursultiamine on hemodynamics]

A 33-year-old man was admitted to Kushiro City General Hospital on February 27, 1989, because of palpitation, shortness of breath and anasarca. Eight months previously he had noted the onset of pretibial edema, which had progressed to anasarca. He had had a meal only once a day for nine months. Physical examination revealed a blood pressure of 114/46 mmHg and pulse rate of 80/min. The 3rd sound was audible. No rales in the chest and no hepatosplenomegaly were noted. Ascites, pretibial edema and anasarca were present. Vibration sensation was diminished, and the deep tendon reflexes were absent in the legs. The blood thiamine level on the 4th day of hospitalization decreased to 2.9 micrograms/dl. The red cell transketolase activity and TPP effect on the 10th hospital day were 0.76 IU/gHb and 11%, respectively. A chest roentogenogram showed pulmonary congestion and cardiomegaly (CTR 61.3%). The electrocardiogram showed non-specific T wave changes. On the echocardiogram, remarkable pericardial effusion and diffuse hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall were observed. In addition, the left ventricular wall motion showed a hyperkinetic state. On the basis of these findings, the diagnosis of beriberi heart was made. The hemodynamic study performed on the 10th hospital day showed a remarkable high cardiac output (CO) of 10.7 l/min and an extremely reduced total peripheral resistance (TPR) of 352 dynes.sec.cm-5. 15 min after intravenous administration of Fursultiamine 100 mg, CO decreased to 7.24 l/min and TPR increased to 848 dynes.sec.cm-5. Following the administration of Fursultiamine 75 mg, po/day, his symptoms and abnormal findings of clinical examination data rapidly improved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Local irritancy study of cefpirome sulfate]

As a series of safety studies of cefpirome sulfate (CPR), its local irritancy was examined in rabbits after the following treatments: intracutaneous injection (single), application into the conjunctival sac of the eye (single), intramuscular injection (single, 7-day repeated), and intravenous injection (8-day repeated). In addition, the hemolysis test was carried out with human blood. When CPR was injected intracutaneously at a high concentration of 20%, its irritating effects were only equal to or slightly stronger than those of distilled water for injection and Na2SO4 solution. The same concentration of the compound applied into the conjunctival sac had little irritancy to the eye. In the single intramuscular administration experiment, muscular changes caused by 10% CPR were comparable to those by 0.75% acetic acid, slightly severer than those by physiological saline, and slighter than those by 6% acetic acid at 2 days after administration, but at 7 days, the changes were apparently slighter than those by 0.75% acetic acid. CPR is classified under Grade 3 according to the draft guidelines for local tolerability studies issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. The repeated intramuscular administration experiment showed the following results. Muscular changes caused by 10% CPR were comparable to those by physiological saline and slighter than those by 0.75% acetic acid, 5% cefotetan (CTT) and 20% cephalothin sodium (CET) at 2 days after the last administration. At 7 days, the changes were slightly severer than those by physiological saline, but slighter than those by the other control solutions. Microscopically, a tendency toward recovery was marked. In the vascular irritancy experiment, the 10% CPR group showed thrombus macroscopically on and after day 5 of dosing. Microscopy at the end of the 8-day administration period revealed thrombus and organized thrombus. In the 20% CET group, thrombogenesis was slighter than that in the 10% CPR group, while perivascular changes were severer. The changes caused by 5% CTT (thrombogenesis, perivascular changes) were somewhat severer than those by 10% CPR. In the hemolysis test, 10% CPR solution applied to fresh blood from adult men caused to hemolysis when determined by the macroscopic or spectrophotometric method.

[Acute toxicity study of cefpirome sulfate in mice and rats]

Acute toxicity of cefpirome sulfate (CPR) was examined in 6-week-old mice and rats and immature (5-day-old) rats. The LD50 values of CPR (mg/kg) were as follows: (1) mice: intravenous, 2420 (95% confidence limits, 2122-2758) for males and 2400 (2181-2640) for females; intraperitoneal, 3850 (3407-4351) for males and 4200 (3889-4536) for females; and oral, 16200 (14781-17755) for males and 18500 (17290-19795) for females. (2) 6-week-old rats: intravenous, 1900 (1784-2023) for males and 2080 (1953-2215) for females; intraperitoneal, 6550 (6179-6943) for males and 5800 (5311-6334) for females; subcutaneous, more than 10000 for both sexes; and oral, more than 8000 for both sexes. (3) 5-day-old rats: subcutaneous, between 1750 and 2500 for males and 2080 (1651-2621) for females. Major changes in general health conditions observed in 6-week-old mice and rats were decreased spontaneous activity, lying prone, tremor, respiratory changes (slow or deep respiration, gasping), clonic or clonic-tonic convulsions. In the 6-week-old rats dosed subcutaneously, vocalization, writhing and cutaneous changes at the injection site (dark reddening or blackening, swelling, exfoliation, depilation, induration) were also observed. In the 5-day-old rats dosed subcutaneously, the changes noted were slow respiration, writhing, cyanosis, and dark reddening and swelling of the skin at the injection site. After administration, transient depression of body weight gain or loss of body weight was observed in the mice and rats except the rats dosed orally. These changes disappeared at 7 days after administration at latest, and all surviving animals showed favorable body weight gain thereafter. Necropsies revealed hemorrhage under meninges in the brain in many of the mice and rats which died. Other findings included subcutaneous changes at the injection site in the 6-week-old and 5-day-old rats dosed subcutaneously (dark reddening, retention of dark red fluid, retention of red, white or dark red gelatinous material) and changes in the peritoneal cavity in the 6-week-old rats dosed intraperitoneally (red or dark red spots on the serous membrane, reddening of adipose tissues).

[Antigenicity study of cefpirome sulfate]

Immunological properties of cefpirome sulfate (CPR) were examined. The immunogenicity and challenging ability of CPR were examined in guinea pigs by active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) and homologous 4-hr passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests. The animals given CPR alone intraperitoneally for sensitization and their sera were negative for ASA or PCA reactions, like the results with reference substances, ceftazidime (CAZ) and cephalothin sodium (CET). When each antibiotic plus Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was used for sensitization, ASA reactions were observed with CPR, cephaloridine (CER), CET, and cefazolin sodium (CEZ), and PCA reactions, with CPR and CET. CPR had the ability to challenge the ASA and PCA reactions. CER and CET also showed the ability to challenge ASA or PCA reactions, though at low incidences. The cross-reactivity of CPR with commercially available antibiotics was examined by heterologous PCA test and by passive hemagglutination test and its inhibition test. The antiserum used was from rabbits immunized with each antibiotic-ovalbumin conjugate plus FCA, and the antigen was each antibiotic-bovine serum albumin conjugate. CPR cross-reacted markedly with cefotaxime sodium (CTX) having the same side chain at position 7 and showed weak, unidirectional reactions with CAZ and CET. In the in vitro direct Coombs test, the positive reactions noted with CPR were stronger than those with latamoxef sodium, equal to those with CEZ and slighter than those with CTX, CET and benzylpenicillin potassium. In conclusion, in the safety evaluation of CPR, its antigenic potential may not be a problem, like the cases of other antibiotics.

[A case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with right ventricular outflow obstruction manifested during three-year follow-up study]

A case is reported of a 55-year-old female with idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which was accompanied with outflow obstruction in the right ventricle developed during the previous 3 years without lesion of the left ventricle. In 1984, she was admitted to our hospital to be examined for cardiac murmurs and abnormal electrocardiogram including ST depression and inverted T. The findings of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. She had been treated with sympathetic beta-blockade and calcium antagonist for 3 years until she complained of dyspnea on exertion, and she was readmitted to our hospital in 1987. Echocardiographic findings showed protrusion of the ventricular septum toward the right ventricle and systolic turbulent flow along the right ventricular outflow tract (by pulsed Doppler technique). A pressure gradient of 20 mmHg across the protrusion was detected by the examination of the cardiac catheter. However, neither protrusion nor pressure gradient was observed in the left ventricular outflow tract as well as that in 1984. Idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has been described as involving both ventricles, and outflow obstruction is the usual hemodynamic finding in the left ventricle. However, right ventricular outflow obstruction is the usual hemodynamic finding in the left ventricle. However, right ventricular outflow obstruction with the left ventricular outflow tract intact has been very rare. In addition, in this case, the change of hemodynamic characteristics from non-obstructive to obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and the development of these changes only in the right ventricle were observed during the last 3 years.

Increases in alpha-but not beta-adrenoceptors in hypertrophied non-infarcted cardiac muscles from rats with chronic myocardial infarction

The alteration in adrenoceptors in the hypertrophied right ventricle of the rats with myocardial infarction (Ml) was examined. The density of alpha-1-adrenoceptors increased in four and twelve week old Ml rats but not in one week old Ml rats. The beta-adrenoceptors did not significantly change. It is probable that the increased density of alpha-adrenoceptors may be one of the causes for the increased responsiveness to the alpha-adrenergic agonist in the hypertrophied cardiac muscles of Ml rats.

[A case of so-called carcinosarcoma of the lung]

A 66-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of a persistent cough and hemoptysis. Her chest X-ray showed a coin lesion in the S10 area of her right lung. The tumor was resected and its histologic features showed it to be a so-called carcinosarcoma of the lung.

Two new loci that give rise to dominant omnipotent suppressors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ten dominant omnipotent suppressors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which were previously shown to be different from SUP46, have been examined. Nine are mapped in a region between lys5 and cyh2 on the left arm of chromosome VII. These suppressors, like SUP46, manifest sensitivity to increased temperature and the antibiotics paromomycin and hygromycin B. In addition, they have an identical action spectrum. These results strongly suggest that they are allelic to each other and they are designated SUP138. The tenth is mapped to a position between his1 and arg6 on the right arm of chromosome V. This suppressor, named SUP139, does not manifest temperature sensitivity nor antibiotic sensitivity. SUP139 and SUP138, which are clearly distinguished by means of action spectrum, act on much fewer nonsense mutations than SUP46. It is now clear that dominant omnipotent suppressors arising at a single locus are homogeneous and that their efficiency is locus-dependent. The order of efficiency is SUP46 greater than SUP138 greater than SUP139.

Two components of calcium channel current in embryonic chick skeletal muscle cells developing in culture

The properties of the Ca channel currents in chick skeletal muscle cells (myoballs) in culture were studied using a suction pipette technique which allows internal perfusion and voltage clamp. The Ca channel currents as carried by Ba ions were recorded, after suppression of currents through ordinary Na, K and Cl channels by absence of Na, K and Cl ions, by external TEA, by internal EGTA and by observing the Ba currents instead of the Ca currents. Two components of Ba current could be distinguished. One was present only if the myoballs were held at relatively negative holding potentials below -50 mV. This component first became detectable at clamp potentials of about -50 mV and reached a maximum between -10 and -20 mV. During long clamp steps, it became inactivated completely. The inactivation process of this component at a clamp potential of -30 mV was well fitted to a single exponential with a time constant of about -20 ms. Half-maximal steady-state inactivation was observed at -63 mV. The other component persisted even at relatively positive holding potentials above -40 mV, was observed during clamp pulses to -20 mV and above, and reached a maximum between +10 and +20 mV. This component inactivated very little; a substantial fraction of this component remained at the end of clamp pulses lasting 1 s. The inactivation process of this component at a clamp potential of -10 mV apparently followed a single exponential with a time constant of about 1 s. Half-maximal steady-state inactivation was attained at -33 mV. Both components of Ba current were blocked by Co ions, but organic Ca channel blocker D600 preferentially blocked the high-threshold, slowly inactivating component. The relationship between the current amplitude and the concentration of the external Ba ions was different between the two components. Furthermore, the two components of Ba current also differed in their developmental profile. These findings demonstrate the existence of two distinct types of Ca channels in the early stages of chick muscle cell development.