A study of the C=O vibrational stretching bands in O=C-X-C=O systems

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Conscious sedation with midazolam intravenously for a patient with Parkinson's disease and unpredictable chorea-like dyskinesia

Oral surgery can be difficult in patients with chorea-like dyskinesia, which is common in those on long-term levodopa medication for Parkinson's disease, and we know of no conclusive evidence to indicate whether conscious sedation with midazolam is effective in such cases. We report a patient in whom levodopa-induced chorea-like dyskinesia disappeared when midazolam was given intravenously for conscious sedation.

Theoretical study of the molecular force field and vibration analysis of the hydrogen cyanide addition compound with boron tribromide

An extensive HF, MP2, B3LYP and CCSD study of the molecular structure, force field and normal vibrations has been carried out for the hydrogen cyanide compound with boron tribromide. Most of the calculations agree that the HCN-BBr(3) molecule belongs to C(3v) point group and has a N-B length of 1.55-1.70 A and a N-B-Br angle of 103-105 degrees. These calculations also have estimated the missing low-wavenumber fundamentals in the 190 (nu(5)), 150 (nu(9)) and 105 cm(-1) (nu(10)) regions, instead of the supposed fundamentals at 207, 188 and 150 cm(-1), respectively, based on the combination bands. The quantum chemical force constants, by the B3LYP/6-31G and CCSD/3-21G calculations, have been adjusted by the scaling factors to reproduce the fundamentals in the literature [3] to include the bands below 200 cm(-1) proposed in this study. Normal coordinate analysis using the scaled force constants has been performed to interpret the molecular vibrations of four isotopic molecules, HCN-(10)BBr(3), HCN-(11)BBr(3), DCN-(10)BBr(3) and DCN-(11)BBr(3).

Theoretical study of the molecular structure and normal coordinate analysis of hydrogen cyanide addition compound with boron trifluoride, HCN-BF(3)

An extensive HF, MP2, B3LYP and CCSD study of the molecular structure and normal vibrations have been performed for the HCN-BF(3) molecule. Calculations with a wide range of basis sets were classified into two groups based on the optimized N-B bond distance. The results for Group A are compared with the experimental structure of the solid phase molecules. The N-B lengths of Group A are approximately linear related to the N-B-F valence angles and also to the N-B stretching frequencies. HF/DZV calculation was used to represent the solid phase model. The N-B lengths of Group B are close to those of the gas phase molecule and both N-B-F angles and N-B sensitive frequencies have roughly the same values. Differences in the chemical bond between gaseous and solid phase HCN-BF(3) are discussed based on the calculated force constants, vibrational frequencies and potential energy distributions. Vibration mode analysis indicates that the nu(4) mode in the 600-700 cm(-1) region can be assigned to the BF(3) symmetric deformation, which shifts upon (10)B/(11)B isotopic substitution. The nu(5) mode which is insensitive to isotope substitution and changes band position with the N-B distance is assigned to the N-B bond stretching vibration.

LET dependence of lethality of carbon ion irradiation to single tobacco cells

PURPOSE

To determine the radiation sensitivity and relationship between linear energy transfer (LET) and relative biological effectiveness (RBE) in single plant cells irradiated with heavy ions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Single cells were isolated from the tobacco BY-2 cell line and irradiated with carbon ions (78.6-309 keV microm(-1)) and gamma-rays (0.2 keV microm(-1)). Two weeks after irradiation, colonies with 16 cells or more derived from the irradiated cells were counted as survivors. The surviving fraction was fitted using the single-hit, multitarget theory.

RESULTS

The doses needed to reduce the surviving fraction of the cells to 0.1 (D10) of gamma-rays and carbon ions were 47.2 and 10.5-12.6 Gy, respectively. The RBE based on the D10 peaked at an LET of 247 keV microm(-1). The inactivation cross-section of carbon ions reached a plateau of 11.3 microm2 at an LET of 247 keV microm(-1).

CONCLUSIONS

The radiation sensitivity of single tobacco cells was much lower than that of mammalian cells, although the mean number of base pairs per chromosome in the two cell types was similar. The RBE peak based on the D10 of carbon ions in single tobacco cells occurred at a higher LET than it does in other organisms.

The infrared fundamental intensities and polar tensor of CH3NC

The molecular force field and polar tensor of methyl isocyanide have been determined from its gas phase vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities. Quantum chemical results from MP2(FC), B3LYP and quadratic configuration interaction calculation including single and double substitutions procedures using a 6-311 + +G(3d,3p) basis set have been used to determine the signs of the dipole moment derivatives with respect to the normal coordinates as well as estimate individual fundamental intensities of the overlapped v1-v5 and v3-v6 band systems. Principal component graphical representations of the A1 and E symmetry polar tensor elements were useful in determining preferred sets of tensor elements. The mean dipole moment derivative (GAPT charge) of the methyl carbon in CH3NC, 0.347 e, is between the corresponding values in CH3CN, 0.110 e, and CH3F, 0.541 e. The mean dipole moment derivatives obtained here indicate the correct 1s methyl carbon ionization energy as 293.35 eV which is 0.98 eV higher than the corresponding ionization energy of the terminal atom.

Reduction of survival and induction of chromosome aberrations in tobacco irradiated by carbon ions with different linear energy transfers

PURPOSE

To determine the relationship between linear energy transfer (LET) and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for survival reduction and chromosome aberration induction in plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tobacco seeds were exposed to carbon ions having LET ranging from 92 to 260 keV microm(-1). Survival ratc was determined at 7 weeks after sowing. Chromosome aberrations were observed when the root length reached about 0.5 mm (immediately after radicle emergence), 3 and 10 mm.

RESULTS

The RBE for both endpoints increased with increasing LET and showed the highest value at 230 keV um(-1). The highest RBE was 65.0 for survival reduction and 52.5 for chromosome aberration induction. The types and yield ratio of chromosome aberrations such as fragments and bridges were not affected by radiation type at 0.5mm root length. As the roots elongated from 0.5 to 10 mm, the frequency of aberrant cells gradually decreased. The number of cells with fragments decreased faster than the number of cells with bridges. The decrement of chromosome aberrations appeared to be slower in roots irradiated by carbon ions than in roots irradiated by gamma-rays.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show a close relationship between survival reduction and chromosome aberration induction in plants. The types and yield ratio of initial chromosome aberrations did not differ among gamma-rays and carbon ions with different LET.

Molecular characterisation of glutamate dehydrogenase gene defects in Japanese patients with congenital hyperinsulinism/hyperammonaemia

Congenital hyperinsulinism and hyperammonaemia (CHH) is caused by dysregulation of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). We characterised the GDH gene in two Japanese patients with CHH. Patient 1 showed late-onset and mild hypoglycaemic episodes and mild hyperammonaemia, compared with patient 2. In GDH activity of lymphoblasts, patient 1 showed twofold higher basal GDH activity than control subjects and mild insensitivity for GTP inhibition. Patient 2 showed severe insensitivity for GTP inhibition, and similar allosteric stimulation by ADP in the controls. Genetic studies identified heterozygous and de novo L413V and G446D mutations in patients 1 and 2, respectively. COS cell expression study confirmed that both mutations were disease-causing gene. The insensitivity for GTP inhibition in L413V and G446D was emphasised in COS cell expression system as a result of the dosage effect of mutant GDH gene. L413V showed less impairment of GDH than G446D based on biochemical and genetic results, which was consistent with the clinical phenotype. Based on the structure of bovine GDH, G446D was located in GTP binding site of pivot helix and its surroundings, while L413V was located in alpha-helix of antenna-like structure. These different locations of mutations gave different effects on GDH enzyme. The antenna-like structure plays an important role in GDH activity.

The infrared fundamental intensities and polar tensor of allene

The polar tensor of allene was calculated from the infrared fundamental band intensities of C3H4 and C3D4. The ambiguities in the signs of the dipole moment derivatives with respect to their normal coordinates were resolved by comparison of tensor elements with ab initio calculations at the B3LYP, MP2(FC) and CCD(FC) levels with a 6/311 + + G(3d,3p) basis set. The results are similar to those previously obtained by Koga and co-workers except for the choice of an average of two sign combinations for the E symmetry elements. The values of the mean dipole moment derivatives for the sp and sp2 carbon atoms obtained in this work, 0.032 and -0.133 e, respectively, are in good agreement with the CCD(FC)/6-311 + + G(3d,3p), 0.061 and -0.128 e, and MP2(FC)/6-311 + + G(3d,3p), 0.072 and -0.153 e, theoretical results. The mean dipole moment derivatives are shown to be consistent with potential models relating 1s electron ionization energies and atomic charges.

FRL1 is required for petal and sepal development in Arabidopsis

A novel flower mutant, frl1 (frill 1) was isolated in Arabidopsis thaliana. The frl1 mutant has serrated petals and sepals but the other floral and vegetative organs appear to be normal. To analyse the role of the FRL1 gene, morphological, cytological and double mutant analyses were carried out. The frl1 flower had broader petals and sepals as compared with the wild-type. The distal region of frl1 petals contained fewer epidermal cells but their size was variable and generally larger than that in the wild-type. However, no significant difference was found in the basal region. Observations of the early petal development revealed that the morphology of the developing frl1 petal was normal until the middle of stage 9, but the frl1 phenotype became apparent in stages later than 10. Furthermore, larger nuclei with varied sizes were observed in the distal region of frl1 petals, but not in this region in wild-type petals. This strongly suggests that abnormal endo-reduplication had occurred. These observations indicate that the frl1 mutation affects the number of cell divisions and the subsequent cell expansion during the late stage of petal lamina formation, and that FRL1 might be maintaining the mitotic state or suppressing the transition to the endo-reduplication cycle. Double mutants with the homeotic mutants apetala3-1 and agamous showed additive phenotypes. Ectopic petals in the third whorl of fr11 ag flowers were serrated, indicating that the FRL1 gene acts in petal and sepal development in an organ-specific manner.

Theoretical study of the force field and vibrational assignments of thioacetamide and its deuterated analogues

The harmonic force field of thioacetamide has been obtained by Hartree-Fock level ab initio calculations using the 4-31G(d) basis set. The force constants have been scaled to reproduce the infrared fundamental bands of argon matrix isolated CH3CSNH2 and CD3CSNH2. Normal coordinate calculations based on the scaled force field suggested the co-presence of cis-CH3CSNHD and trans-CH3CSNHD in the infrared spectrum measured for CH3CSND2. The prediction of the fundamental bands was made for CD3CSND2, cis-CD3CSNHD and trans-CD3CSNHD.

Molecular characterization of galactokinase deficiency in Japanese patients

Galactokinase (GALK) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder, which causes cataract formation in children not maintained on a lactose-free diet. We characterized the human GALK gene by screening a Japanese genomic DNA phage library, and found that several nucleotides in the 5'-untranslated region and introns 1,2, and 5 in our GALK genomic analysis differed from published data. A 20-bp tandem repeat was found in three places in intron 5, which were considered insertion sequences. We identified five novel mutations in seven unrelated Japanese patients with GALK deficiency. There were three missense mutations and two deletions. All three missense mutations (R256W, T344M, and G349S) occurred at CpG dinucleotides, and the T344M and G349S mutations occurred in the conserved region. The three missense mutations led to a drastic reduction in GALK activity when individual mutant cDNAs were expressed in a mammalian cell system. These findings indicated that these missense mutations caused GALK deficiency. The two deletions, of 410delG and 509-510delGT, occurred at the nucleotide repeats GGGGGG and GTGTGT, respectively, and resulted in in-frame nonsense codons at amino acids 163 and 201. These mutations arose by slipped strand mispairing. All five mutations occurred at hot spots in the CpG dinucleotide for missense mutations and in short direct repeats for deletions. These five mutations in Japanese have not yet been identified in Caucasians. We speculate that the origin of GALK mutations in Japanese is different from that in Caucasians.

Biological effects of ion beams in Nicotiana tabacum L

The biological effects of ion beams on Nicotiana tabacum L., particularly the induction of chromosome aberrations, were investigated. Dry seeds were exposed to 12C5+, 4He2+ and 1H+ beams with linear energy transfer (LET) ranging from 1 to 111 keV/microm and irradiated with gamma-rays. Ion beams were more effective in reducing germination and survival of the seeds than gamma-rays. The LD50 for 12C5+ beams, 4He2+ beams and gamma-rays were 35, 60 and 500 Gy, respectively. The frequencies of mitotic cells with chromosome aberrations, such as chromosome bridges, acentric fragments and lagging chromosomes in the root tip cells of the exposed seeds, increased linearly with increasing doses. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values, based on the doses that induced a survival inhibition of 50% and a 10% frequency of aberrant cells, were 14.3-17.5 for the 12C5+ beams, 7.0-8.3 for the 4He2+ beams and 7.8 for the 1H+ beams. Furthermore, the relative ratios of the chromosome aberration types were significantly different between the ion beam and the gamma-ray regimes: chromosome fragments were more frequent in the former, and chromosome bridges in the latter. Based on these results, we concluded that the repair process of initial le

Molecular characterization of 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase deficiency in Japanese patients

We identified three mutations in four Japanese patients with central type 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency. One missense mutation was a C-to-T transition, resulting in the substitution of Pro by Ser at codon 87 (P87S) in exon 5. Another missense mutation was a G-to-A transition, resulting in the substitution of Asp by Asn at codon 96 (D96N) in exon 5. A splicing mutation was found by skipping of exon 4 on PTPS mRNA analysis, and a G-to-A transition at the third base of codon 81 (E81E) and at the terminal base in exon 4 were detected on genomic PTPS DNA analysis. The E81E mutation affected the splice donor site of exon 4 and caused the splicing error. In COS cell expression analysis, the P87S and D96N mutant constructs revealed, respectively, 52% and 10% of wild-type activity. Patients with P87S/P87S (52%/52% in-vitro PTPS activity) exhibited 0.11 and 0 microU/g hemoglobin [Hb] in erythrocyte PTPS activity (wild-type control: 11-29 microU/gHb) erythrocyte PTPS activity, and the patient with P87S/D96N mutations (52%/10%) had 0.97 microU/gHb in PTPS erythrocyte activity. The PTPS erythrocyte activity did not coincide with the in-vitro PTPS activity based on patient genotype.

Molecular characterization of phenylketonuria in Japanese patients

We characterized phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) genotypes of Japanese patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) and hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA). PKU and HPA mutations in 41 Japanese patients were identified by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to find a large deletion involving exons 5 and 6. Of 82 mutant alleles, 76 (92%) were genotyped showing 21 mutations. The major mutations were R413P (30.5%), R243Q (7.3%), R241 C (7.3%), IVS4nt-1 (7.3%), T2781 (7.3%), E6nt-96A-->g (6.1%), Y356X (4.9%), R111X (3.7%), and 442-706delE5/6 (2.4%). Eight new mutations (L52 S, delS70, S70P, Y77X, IVS3nt-1, A132 V, W187 C, and C265Y) and a polymorphism of IVS10nt-14 were detected. In vitro PAH activities of mutant PAH cDNA constructs were determined by a COS cell expression system. Six mutations, viz., R408Q, L52 S, R241 C, S70P, V388 M, and R243Q, had 55%, 27%, 25%, 20%, 16% and 10% of the in vitro PAH activity of normal constructs, respectively. The mean pretreatment phenylalanine concentration (0.83+/-0.21 mmol/l) of patients carrying the R408Q, R241 C, or L52 S mutation and a null mutation was significantly lower (P<0.0005) than that (1.99+/-0.65 mmol/l) of patients with both alleles carrying mutations associated with a severe genotype. Simple linear regression analysis showed a correlation between pretreatment phenylalanine concentrations and predicted PAH activity in 29 Japanese PKU patients (y=31.9-1.03x, r=0.59, P<0.0001). Genotype determination is useful in the prediction of biochemical and clinical phenotypes in PKU and can be of particular help in managing patients with this disorder.

[Home mechanical ventilation with nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation for a boy with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome]

We report a 4-year-old boy with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) successfully treated with home mechanical ventilation with nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) during sleep hours. He had had frequent severe apneic attacks from the neonatal period. At 8 months, he was treated with positive pressure ventilation following a tracheostomy. At 4 year and 2 months, NIPPV was attempted because of recurrent respiratory tract infections and cor pulmonale. The tracheostomy was successfully abandoned 6 months later. Adequate ventilation has been maintained for more than 3 years without troubles. NIPPV is an effective and non-invasive treatment of CCHS that it significantly improves the quality of life during daytime.

Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11: ten Japanese children

The clinical features of partial deletion 11q were correlated with the size of the deleted region. Ten Japanese children with partial deletion of 11q were investigated. They were divided into three groups. Three patients in the first group had interstitial deletions and preserved subband q24.1. Six patients in the second group demonstrated terminal deletion of 11q including subband q24.1, with typical features of 11q- syndrome (Jacobsen syndrome). The third group included only one patient, who had terminal deletion of 11q without characteristics of typical 11q- syndrome. Prominent features of patients in the first group included severe mental and motor developmental delay, seizures, cleft lip and palate, and ophthalmological findings. Patients in the second group showed mild to moderate developmental delays without deterioration. Abnormalities in neuroimages, high intensity in the cerebral white matter in T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, and recurrent infections were not observed after the age of 7 years. The subject in the third group, with the smallest amount of deleted chromosome, did not show developmental delays, suggesting that some unknown genes related to developmental delays may be located adjacent to subband q24.1. Variation in the deleted parts of 11q resulted in different clinical features in each group.

Synthesis and biological activity of conformationally restricted analogs of milnacipran: (1S,2R)-1-phenyl-2-[(S)-1-aminopropyl]-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxami de, an efficient noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist

We recently demonstrated that (+/-)-(Z)-2-(aminomethyl)-1-phenyl-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide [milnacipran, (+/-)-1], an inhibitor of the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT), was a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. On the basis of the cyclopropane structure of (+/-)-1, conformationally restricted analogs with different stereochemistries, namely 1-phenyl-2-(1-aminoalkyl)-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamindes (2, 3, ent-2, and ent-3), were designed and synthesized. Among these analogs, 2a, 2b, and 2f, with (1S,2R,1'S)-configuration, were more efficient than milnacipran as NMDA receptor antagonists; these compounds significantly inhibited the binding of [3H]MK-801 at IC50 = 0.35 +/- 0.08, 0.20 +/- 0.024, and 0.16 +/- 0.02 microM, respectively, and blocked the response of voltage-clamped oocytes to NMDA, surpassing the effects of (+/-)-1. Although both the 1'-methyl analog 2a and the 1'-vinyl analog 2f, like (+/-)-1, strongly inhibited 5-HT uptake in vitro, the corresponding 1'-ethyl analog 2b was devoid of the inhibitory effect on 5-HT uptake, while it was about 30 times more potent as an NMDA receptor antagonist than (+/-)-1.

(+/-)-(Z)-2-(aminomethyl)-1-phenylcyclopropanecarboxamide derivatives as a new prototype of NMDA receptor antagonists

(+/-)-(Z)-2-(Aminomethyl)-1-phenylcyclopropane-N,N-diethylcarbo xamide (milnacipran, 1), a clinically useful antidepressant, and its derivatives were prepared by an improved method and were evaluated as NMDA receptor antagonists. Of these, milnacipran (1), its N-methyl and N,N-dimethyl derivatives, 7 and 8, respectively, and its homologue 12 at the aminomethyl moiety had binding affinity for the receptor in vitro (IC50: 1, 6.3 +/- 0.3 microM; 7, 13 +/- 2.1 microM; 8, 88 +/- 1.4 microM; 12, 10 +/- 1.2 microM). These also protected mice from NMDA-induced lethality. These compounds would be important as anovel prototype for designing potent NMDA-receptor antagonists because of their characteristic structure, which clearly differentiated them from known competitive and noncompetitive antagonists to the receptor.

Four novel gene mutations in five Japanese male patients with neonatal or late onset OTC deficiency: application of PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphisms for all exons and adjacent introns [corrected]

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC), the most common inborn error of the urea cycle, shows an X-linked inheritance with frequent new mutations. Southern blots reveal only a small percent of the mutation, but amplification of cDNA or genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by DNA sequencing, has contributed greatly to overcoming this difficulty. Problems remaining are the limited availability of fresh liver samples for preparation of intact mRNA in the former case, and there are primer sequences for PCR for only some exons in the latter case. Here, we report the structures of intron sequences which are long enough to analyze all exons and adjacent introns of the OTC gene using PCR and PCR single-strand conformation polymorphisms (PCR-SSCP). We carried out a DNA analysis of findings in five Japanese male patients with neonatal or late onset form. Five patients had mutations in the protein coding region. C to G (S192R), A to T (D196V), A to G (T264A), T to C (M268T), and C to T (R277W) substitutions. The first four of these were novel missense mutations and the presence of the mutation was confirmed in the corresponding families.

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome with thymic hypoplasia

We report the autopsy findings in a 20-month-old boy with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and DiGeorge sequence. No visible thymus was demonstrated at the time of autopsy. With careful microscopic examination, a few pieces of thymic tissues found near the thyroid gland showed remarkable depletion of both thymocytes and cortical epithelial cells. Immunohistological staining with T-cell surface antigens resulted in a definite positive reaction. Repeated respiratory infections present in this patient may, in part, be attributable to thymic hypoplasia. Other major anomalies included broad thumbs and great toes, microphthalmia, arrhinencephaly, patent ductus arteriosus, stenosis of the ureterovesicular junction, bilateral cryptorchidism, and minor facial anomalies.

Frequency and distribution of phenylketonuric mutations in Orientals

The frequency and distribution of eight mutations (R111X, IVS4nt-1, Y204C, R243Q, IVS7nt-2, W326X, Y356X, and R413P) in the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene of Orientals in Japan and Korea were examined by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization. The mutant alleles comprised 54 and 55% of the phenylketonuria (PKU) chromosomes examined in 36 patients in Japan and 10 patients in Korea, respectively. The spectrum of PKU mutations in Japan was similar to that in China, particularly in northern China, but different from that in Korea. The IVS4nt-1 mutation had a high frequency in Korea and southern China, due to the result of the founder effect and genetic drift. The R413P mutation, which may have originated in the regions surrounding the Baikal, expanded to northern China and Japan. We did not find Caucasian mutations in the Japanese or Korean PKU chromosomes. Thus, PKU mutations occurred after racial divergence between Caucasians and Mongoloids, and there were different founding populations for PKU in the two populations.

Primary alveolar soft-part sarcoma of stomach

A case of primary gastric alveolar soft-part sarcoma is presented. The tumor was found in the gastric remnant of a 67-year-old male who had undergone partial gastrectomy due to hemorrhagic gastric ulcer 13 years before. It was located mostly in the submucosa arising from the muscularis propria. The large eosinophilic cells showed the characteristic alveolar compartmentalization and contained intracytoplasmic periodic acid-Schiff-positive granules and typical crystals. Numerous electron-opaque secretory granules in the tumor cell cytoplasm, in addition to crystals of 9 nm periodicity, were confirmed at the ultrastructural levels. Immunostaining failed to detect muscle-related antigens. In contrast, methionine-enkephalin and neuropeptide Y appeared positive in the tumor cells. Interstitial spindle cells showed an occasional positivity to S-100. This is the first case of such a tumor occurring in the gastrointestinal tract, and the findings suggest that gastric alveolar soft-part sarcomas may have a different origin from those arising in the skeleton.

[Experimental and clinical study on injection of neocarzinostatin into the duodenal sub-serosa as chemotherapy for the regional lymphatic system in pancreatoduodenal cancer]

At the time of pancreatoduodenal cancer resection, Neocarzinostatin (NCS) was injected into the duodenal sub-serosa, as perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy for metastatic lymph nodes and cancer cells released into the lymphatic system. NCS content in the lymph nodes was measured after administration, and usefulness of the chemotherapy was investigated.

EXPERIMENT

NCS (4,000 units) was administered into the duodenal sub-serosa of 18 adult mongrel dogs. NCS contents in the lymph nodes (those in the root of the mesentery and around the aorta) and pancreatic tissues were measured. NCS content in the pancreatic tissues decreased significantly 3 hours after administration, while that in the lymph nodes did not decreased even 3 hours later. Consequently, NCS is considered to be remain in the lymph nodes.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

NCS (10,000 units) was administered into the duodenal sub-serosa in 18 resectable cases of pancreatoduodenal cancer. NCS content in the dissected lymph nodes was measured. The total number of dissected lymph nodes was 176, and the mean NCS content was 0.62 mu/g. The number of lymph nodes positive for metastasis was 14, and much content of NCS was observed in the specimens (mean NCS content: 1.25 mu/g). Examination according to site revealed the most content in the lymph nodes in pancreatic head closest to the site of administration, followed by the lymph nodes in the root of the mesentery and those in the hepatoduodenal ligament in the direction of lymphatic flow. Moreover, some distal lymph nodes also showed much content. NCS content in the lymph nodes showed time-related increase after administration, and significant correlation was observed within 2 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Enzyme immunoassay of 17-hydroxyprogesterone in dried blood spot on filter paper using specific antibody for 17-hydroxyprogesterone]

Specific antiserum for 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH-P) was prepared by immunizing 7 alpha-(2-carboxyethylthio)-17-OH-P conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA) in rabbits. Using this antiserum, 17-OH-P enzyme immunoassay for dried blood spots on filter paper was established. As a label, alkaline phosphatase was coupled covalently with 7 alpha-carboxy-methylthio-17-OH-P by carbodiimide method. B/F separation was carried out by the addition of anti-rabbit IgG goat antiserum. All specimens used were punched out with a paper puncher of 3mm diameter. The assay sensitivity was 2pg/tube, which was estimated by two standard deviation at zero concentrations of the calibration curve. Cross reactivities of this antibody were as follows: 11-deoxycortisol (8.21%), 17-OH-pregnenolone (3.33%), progesterone (1.67%), 11-deoxycorticosterone (0.31%), cortisol (0.16%), pregnenolone-3-sulfate Na salt (0.03%), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (less than 0.03%), 16 alpha-OH-DHEA (less than 0.03%), DHEA-3-glucuronide (less than 0.03%), DHEA-3-sulfate Na salt (less than 0.03%), pregnenolone (less than 0.02%). Intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variations were 4-14% and 9-18%, respectively. In normal babies, 17-OH-P concentrations measured directly (without sample extraction) were below 23pg/disk (n=204). The histogram of 17-OH-P level in normal babies obtained by the direct method was distributed lower than that obtained by the enzyme immunoassay system (range: 4-79pg/disk, n=268) which used antibody raised against 17-OH-P-3-O-carboxymethyloxime conjugated BSA (Enzaplate, Sapporo Diagnostic Laboratory).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Polymorphic DNA haplotypes at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus in Asian families with phenylketonuria (PKU)

DNA polymorphisms at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus have proved highly effective in linkage diagnosis of phenylketonuria (PKU) in Caucasian families. More than 10 RFLP sites have been reported within the PAH structural locus in Caucasians. With information from affected and unaffected offspring in PKU families it is often possible to reconstruct complete RFLP haplotypes in parents and to use these haplotypes to follow the segregation of PKU within families and to determine the distribution of PKU chromosomes within populations. To establish the utility of these RFLPs in characterizing Asian families with PKU, we typed eight DNA sites in 21 Chinese families and 12 Japanese families with classical PKU. The eight RFLPs were chosen for their informativeness in Caucasians. From these families we reconstructed a total of 91 complete PAH haplotypes, 44 from non-PKU chromosomes and 47 from PKU-bearing chromosomes. Although all eight marker sites are polymorphic in both Chinese and Japanese, there is much less haplotypic variation in Asians than in Caucasians. In particular, one haplotype alone, haplotype 4, accounts for more than 77% of non-PKU chromosomes and for more than 80% of PKU-bearing chromosomes. Haplotype 4 is also relatively common in Caucasians. The next most common Asian haplotype is 10 times less frequent than haplotype 4. By contrast, in many Caucasian populations the sum of the frequencies of the five most common haplotypes is still less than 80%, and several of the most common haplotypes are equally frequent. Even though the extent of haplotypic variation in Asians is severely limited, the few haplotypes that are found often differ at a number of RFLP sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Early treatment of inborn errors of biopterin metabolism

Neurological symptoms in 6‐pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency (formerly called dihydrobiopterin synthetase deficiency) are caused by lack of neurotransmitters in turn due to deficiency of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) in the brain. The response to treatment in three patients with PTPS deficiency was variable. Trial of BH4 monotherapy in two patients, after three months and one year, respectively, was unsuccessful. We believe that BH4 monotherapy is unsafe even in the absence of symptoms. The levels of pterins and neurotransmitter metabolites, and the Ne/B ratio, in the cerebrospinal fluid are more reliable indicators of disease activity than in urine and serum. The prognoses of some patients with PTPS deficiency are poor, and brain damage may develop in utero. BH4 is transported from mother to fetus in guinea pigs when a large amount of BH4 is administered. If this is true in humans, prenatal treatment of PTPS deficiency might be feasible.

Triacylglycerol lipase-mediated release of arachidonic acid for renal medullary prostaglandin synthesis

The effect of triacylglycerol lipase or triarachidonin on the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 in rabbit kidney medulla slices was examined. Prostaglandin E2 generation was enhanced by exogenous triacylglycerol lipase, indicating that arachidonic acid released from medullary triacylglycerols is readily available for prostaglandin biosynthesis. Triarachidonin stimulated prostaglandin E2 production in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the kidney medulla slices showed triacylglycerol lipase activity using trimargarin as substrate. The addition of mepacrine made the stimulatory effect of triarachidonin on prostaglandin E2 formation more pronounced. Studies utilizing EGTA and p-bromophenacyl bromide revealed that triacylglycerol lipase of kidney medulla is independent of Ca2+ and sensitive to a sulfhydryl inhibitor. These results suggest the presence of triacylglycerol lipase and triacylglycerol as a possible candidate for providing free arachidonic acid to cyclooxygenase in kidney medulla.

[Intra-operative administration of neocarzinostatin into the duodenal subserosa and levels found in the regional lymph nodes in pancreato-duodenal cancer]

As an intraoperative chemotherapy treatment for the regional lymph nodes in resectable cases of pancreatoduodenal cancer, Neocarzinostatin (NCS) was administered in the duodenal subserosa and the NCS concentration was measured in the resected lymph nodes.

EXPERIMENTS

NCS 4,000 units (n = 4), or 10,000 units (n = 4) was administered into the duodenal subserosa of mongrel dogs, and 2 hours after administration, the lymph nodes of the mesentery root were resected. The NCS concentration in the lymph nodes was 0.21 U/g in the 4,000-U group and 1.39 U/g in the 10,000-U group.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

NCS 10,000 U was administered into the duodenal subserosa in 6 cases of pancreatoduodenal cancer. The total number of resected lymph nodes was 49 and the mean NCS concentration was 5.65 U/g. According to site, the highest concentration was measured in lymph nodes from the anterior and posterior region of the pancreas head, which were near to the administration site. Also, NCS was well distributed in the lymph nodes in the hepatoduodenal ligament and mesentery root which lay in the direction of lymph flow. NCS concentration was high in lymph nodes resected 1 hour after administration. According to experimental reports of in vitro studies, an NCS concentration of more than 0.5 U/g is required to obtain an anticancer effect. This method is therefore considered to be useful as a form of intraoperative chemotherapy for the regional lymph nodes in pancreatoduodenal cancer.