Cation effluxes associated with the uptake of TPP+, TPA+, and TPMP+ by Neurospora: evidence for a predominantly electroneutral influx process

Previously observed anomalies in the transport of lipid-soluble cations (LSI's) - presumed voltage-probe ions-by intact fungal cells [1] prompted a systematic investigation of ion exchanges induced by high (millimolar) concentrations of the particular species tetraphenylphosphonium ion (TPP+), tetraphenylarsonium ion (TPA+), and triphenylmethylphosphonium ion (TPMP+). With low extracellular free Ca2+ (no calcium added to the medium), influx of the LSI's was biphasic, indicating rapid entry into the cytoplasm followed by sequestration into a subcompartment. The latter process, especially, was strongly inhibited by extracellular Ca2+ (1 mM). Contrary to the expectation for electrophoretically driven entry of LSI's into fungal cells, no major efflux of protons (acidification of the medium) could be measured; in fact, significant alkalinization of the medium was observed. The major cellular inorganic cations, K+ or Na+ (under different conditions), were released during LSI uptake, but with kinetic behavior which clearly ruled out direct coupling to the uptake of TPP+, TPA+, or TPMP+. The major mechanism for entry of these lipid-soluble cations into Neurospora appears to be electroneutral diffusion in combination with one or more hydrophilic anions. Subsequent penetration of the fungal vacuoles would result in binding of LSI's to storage polyanions (viz., polyphosphate) and concomitant displacement of the normal vacuolar cations, such as basic amino acids and polyamines, thus leading to alkalinization of the extracellular medium. The observed effluxes of cytoplasmic K+ and Na+ should result independently from energetic changes (i.e., uncoupling of the mitochondrial) and are most easily described by simple, but asynchronous, changes in the average rate constants for entry and exit of the alkali-metal cations.

Small lipid-soluble cations are not membrane voltage probes for Neurospora or Saccharomyces

Small lipid-soluble cations, such as tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) and tetraphenylarsonium (TPA+) are frequently used as probes of membrane voltage (delta psi, or Vm) for small animal cells, organelles, and vesicles. Because much controversy has accompanied corresponding measurements on 'walled' eukaryotic cells (plants, fungi), we studied their transport and relation to Vm in the large-celled fungus Neurospora crassa-where Vm can readily be determined with microelectrodes-as well as in the most commonly used model eukaryotic cell, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found no reasonable conditions under which the distribution of TPP+ or TPA+, between the cytoplasm (i) and extracellular solution (o), can serve to estimate Vm, even roughly, in either of these organisms. When applied at probe concentrations (i.e., < or = 100 microM, which did not depolarize the cells nor deplete ATP), TPP+ stabilized at ratios (i/o) below 30 in both organisms. That would imply apparent Vm values positive to -90 mV, in the face of directly measured Vm values (in Neurospora) negative to -180 mV. When applied at moderate or high concentrations (1-30 mM), TPP+ and TPA+ induced several phases of depolarization and changes of membrane resistance (Rm), as well as depletion of cytoplasmic energy stores. Only the first phase depolarization, occurring within the perfusion-turnover time and accompanied by a nearly proportionate decline of Rm, could have resulted from TPP+ or TPA+ currents per se. And the implied currents were small. Repeated testing, furthermore, greatly reduced the depolarizing effects of these lipid-soluble ions, implicating an active cellular response to decrease membrane permeability.

Chiral separation by capillary affinity zone electrophoresis using an albumin-containing support electrolyte

Chiral separations of some pharmaceutical compounds were studied by capillary affinity zone electrophoresis. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a chiral selector and added to electrolyte. For the chiral separation of new quinolone bactericidal reagents, phosphate buffer was more appropriate than borate buffer solution as the support electrolyte. The effects of BSA concentration, albumin type, pH, chiral additive, and voltage on separation were observed. As a result, chiral separations were performed in the pH range 7-8. The migration and stereoselectivities of enantiomers were changed by varying the protein concentration (more than 0.2% w/v) and voltage and by adding amino acids as chiral modifiers. This procedure is easily applicable to other compounds for chiral separation or for studies of protein binding interaction.

[Leiomyosarcoma of the prostate accompanied by multiple hepatocellular carcinoma: report of a case]

A case of leiomyosarcoma of the prostate accompanied by multiple hepatocellular carcinoma in a 51-year-old man is presented. He visited our hospital with the complaints of feeling of residual urine and pain of the coccygeal bone in November, 1990. A histopathological study of the transrectal needle biopsy specimens revealed leiomyosarcoma of the prostate. Since multiple liver tumors were pointed out, the patient was given combined chemotherapy (CYVADIC: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, adriamycin and DTIC). He died 1 year and 2 months after the initial diagnosis due to hepatic failure. The autopsy findings revealed that the histology of the liver tumors was hepatocellular carcinoma, and that the leiomyosarcoma of the prostate had directly invaded the wall of the urinary bladder and the rectum, but there was no obvious distant metastasis.

Circadian oscillation of 64-kDa polypeptide in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus

In cell suspensions of suprachiasmatic nucleus harvested every 3 hr from rats kept under 12 hr: 12 hr light-dark cycle and constant darkness, we have detected a M(r) 64-kDa protein whose synthesis exhibits two distinct daily peaks in SDS-PAGE. Analysis of densitometer tracings revealed that the synthesis of other proteins was independent of the time of day or not reproducible. Maximum synthesis of the 64-kDa polypeptide occurred at around CT6 and CT21, which are almost coincident with the phase advance regions of circadian activity rhythm induced by anisomycin and light pulses [15], respectively. These results suggest that the 64-kDa protein in SDS-PAGE may be a part of the circadian clock mechanism.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM)

Nine hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to bovine milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) were produced from spleen cells of three immunized BALB/c mice. Several MFGM antigens recognized by some mAbs were identified as a 120 kDa protein and 67 kDa (butyrophilin), 57 kDa (PAS-6), 53 kDa (PAS-7), 33 kDa glycoproteins. The other mAbs secreted by four independent hybridoma clones recognized many broad bands ranging from 20 to 200 kDa. The 120 kDa protein and 67 kDa, 57 kDa, 53 kDa glycoproteins were detected by each mAb in the plasma membrane fraction prepared from a lactating bovine mammary gland. Moreover, mammary gland epithelium of a thin section was specifically stained with these mAbs, indicating that these mAbs directed against MFGM recognized membrane proteins and glycoproteins of lactating mammary epithelial cells. Upon heating of the MFGM in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 100 degrees C for 10 min, the antigens still retained most of its reactivity to these mAbs, whereas, proteolytic cleavage by trypsin and chymotrypsin strongly reduced its reactivity to these mAbs by 60% or more except for two mAbs which recognized the 57 and 53 kDa glycoproteins, respectively.

FS2. a mamba venom toxin, is a specific blocker of the L-type calcium channels

The peptide FS2 is a mamba venom toxin, consisting of 60 amino acids, three residues of which are different from those of calciseptine (CaS), a natural L-type Ca2+ channel blocker. The biological activities of synthetic FS2 for L-type Ca2+ channels were determined under comparisons to those of CaS and nitrendipine, a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative. Similar to CaS, FS2 competitively inhibited the binding of [3H]nitrendipine to rat brain synaptosomal membranes on Lineweaver-Bulk plot, with Kd value of 210 nM, which was similar to that of CaS being 290 nM, but did not affect binding of an N-type Ca2+ channel ligand omega-[125I]-conotoxin GVIA to the membranes. Pretreatment of A7r5 cells with either FS2 or CaS at concentrations of 10(-8) M and greater for 5 min significantly and dose-dependently reduced 10(-6) M Bay K8644-induced increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of the cells determined by the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2, with the half inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 2.3 x 10(-8) and 2.7 x 10(-8) M, being similar to that of the IC50 value of nitrendipine (4.4 x 10(-8) M). These observations indicate that FS2, similar to CaS, is an active natural L-type Ca2+ blocker sharing the binding site on the channels with the 1,4-dihydropyridines.

Prognosis after hepatic resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, estimated on the basis of the morphometric indices

To determine whether the morphometric indices of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) correlated with the prognoses, the microscopic morphometric values for 84 HCC cases treated by hepatic resection were studied using an image analyzer in relation to the survival rate and the gross classification. The mean survival time (MST) was 58 months in cases with a nucleocytoplasmic area ratio (N/C) of less than 0.28; this was significantly longer than the 38-month MST in cases with an N/C of more than 0.28 (P < 0.05). In stage III disease, the MST for cases with an N/C of less than 0.28 was 63 months, which was significantly longer than the MST of 13 months for cases with an N/C of more than 0.28. After relatively noncurative hepatic resection, the MST for cases with an N/C of less than 0.28 was 49 months, and this was significantly longer than the MST of 8 months for cases with an N/C of more than 0.28. The MST was 71 months for cases with a coefficient of variance of the nuclear form factor (NCV) of less than 5.5%, which was significantly longer than the MST of 33 months for cases with an NCV of more than 5.5% (P < 0.05). In stage III disease, the MST was 69 months for cases with an NCV of less than 5.5%, and this was significantly longer than the MST of 29 months for cases with an NCV of more than 5.5% (P < 0.05). In cases with an N/C of less than 0.28, 18% had vascular invasion and 38% had intrahepatic metastases, whereas in those with an N/C of more than 0.28, 62% had vascular invasion and 67% had intrahepatic metastases (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Based on the results of these morphometric studies on HCC cases treated by hepatic resection, N/C and NCV may be useful as prognostic factors.

Effect of magnesium and calcium on myocardial protection by cardioplegic solutions

The cardioprotective effect of the magnesium and calcium content of hyperkalemic cardioplegic solutions was investigated using isolated rat hearts subjected to hypothermic ischemic arrest. Hearts were arrested for 180 minutes at 20 degrees C by administering a 3-minute infusion of cardioplegic solution containing various concentrations of magnesium and calcium. Treatment groups received solution with either 0, 8, or 16 mmol/L magnesium. For each of these magnesium concentrations, 0.1, 0.6, or 1.2 mmol/L calcium was also present in the solution. At each concentration of magnesium, the percentage recovery of aortic flow was dependent on the calcium concentration. The maximum percentage recovery of aortic flow was 67.9% +/- 2.3% (mean +/- standard error of the mean) in the Mg-free, 0.1 mmol/L Ca group, whereas it was 65.1% +/- 2.7% in the 8 mmol/L Mg, 0.1 mmol/L Ca group and 70.0% +/- 3.5% in the 16 mmol/L Mg, 0.6 mmol/L Ca group. No significant differences in the recovery of cardiac function and creatine kinase leakage were observed between the three groups. The findings suggested that the cardioprotective effect was dependent on the relative concentration of both magnesium and calcium, and that it is important to maintain an appropriate ionic balance in cardioplegic solutions.

[Efficacy of 48-hour infusion of 5-fluorouracil for gall bladder cancer]

Usefulness of an adjuvant chemotherapy for 23 patients who had undergone "non-curative" resection for adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder was investigated. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (16 patients) was given MF (mitomycin C 6 mg/m2, 5-fluorouracil 250 mg/body) by injection on the 2nd and 9th postoperative day and received orally Tegafur 600 mg/day and PSK 3 g/day. Group B(7 patients) was treated weekly with a 48-hour infusion of 5-FU (1,000 mg/m2/24 hours), for 6 weeks and leucovorin (30 mg/body) was given for 2 hours prior to 5-FU infusion. The results were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Response rate of anti-tumor was 0% in Group A and 14.3% in Group B, including: PR, 1 and NC, 6 cases. The 50% survival time was 230 days in group A and 471 days in group B (p = 0.0008). The results suggest that treatment with 5-FU and LV is effective for gallbladder cancer.

[Prostatic malacoplakia: a case report]

We report a case of prostatic malacoplakia in a 68-year-old man complaining of fever, residual urinary sensation and small urinary stream. Culture of the urine showed E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Digital examination and transrectal ultrasound of the prostate were most compatible with carcinoma. However, transrectal needle biopsy revealed the histopathological features of malacoplakia. The patient had been treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, bethanechol and ascorbic acid for 5 months. Twenty-seven cases of prostatic malacoplakia in the Japanese literature are reviewed.

[A case of infective endocarditis with subaortic-valve aneurysm]

We report a 64-year-old female patient with a subaortic-valve aneurysm due to infective endocarditis, in whom the aneurysm and its perforation was detected by Doppler color flow imaging. She had severe aortic and mitral valve regurgitation, and underwent aortic valve replacement with plication of the aneurysm. Transthoracic echocardiography doesn't have enough usefulness to clarify periaortic-annular changes, but combination with Doppler color flow imaging is supposed to be informative for subaortic-valve changes same as transesophageal echocardiography especially in the cases with abnormal flow.

Biological properties of aureobasidin A, a cyclic depsipeptide antifungal antibiotic

Aureobasidin A (AbA) is a novel cyclic depsipeptide antifungal antibiotic. The antifungal activity of AbA was studied in vitro and in vivo in comparison with clinically effective antifungal agents, amphotericin B and fluconazole. AbA was highly active in vitro against many pathogenic fungi, including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum. The activity was superior to amphotericin B in most cases. AbA exhibited fungicidal action toward growing cultures of C. albicans. It was highly tolerated by mice and showed good efficacy in the treatment of murine systemic candidiasis when given orally or subcutaneously. AbA's fungicidal action in mice with candidiasis was more effective than fluconazole and amphotericin B.

[Propranolol for prophylaxis of first hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices--a controlled study comparing with sclerotherapy]

To compare the efficacy of oral propranolol and sclerotherapy in the prevention of first hemorrhage from esophageal varices, 65 cirrhotic patients with moderate to large esophageal varices and no history of bleeding were included in the prospective controlled trial. After randomization, 33 patients received propranolol at a does reducing the heart rate by 25%; 32 patients were treated with intra-variceal and extra-variceal injection of ethanolamine oleate. On entry to the trial, the two groups were comparable in terms of clinical and biological parameters. The patients were observed for up to 60 months, with an average of 31 months. Nine patients bled (5 in propranolol and 4 in sclerotherapy) during follow-up. No significant difference were observed between propranolol and sclerotherapy in the cumulative bleeding rate and survival. The multivariate Cox model indicated that drug compliance in the propranolol group and high portal pressure in the sclerotherapy group were factors predictive of the first hemorrhage. These data support that propranolol and sclerotherapy are of comparable value in preventing the first hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices.

[A case of verrucous carcinoma of the penis with detection of human papillomavirus using the in situ hybridization method]

A case of penile verrucous carcinoma is reported. The patient had a previous history of condyloma acuminatum of the penis. No signs of squamous cell carcinomas were observed in the histopathological findings. We also detected the histologic evidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in the result of the study by in situ hybridization. The local positive reaction of HPV infection for type 6/11 was seen, and was related to the koliocytosis. However other types of HPV (16/18, 31/33, 51) were negative.

[A case of surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus using left heart bypass in an adult]

This paper describes a new operative method for patent ductus arteriosus using left heart bypass. A 57-year-old woman with patent ductus arteriosus associated with severe pulmonary hypertension was successfully operated upon. Because of aneurysmal dilatation and calcification of the aortic side of the ductus, PDA was divided under left heart bypass with centrifugal pump. Postoperative course was uneventful, and is now well.

[A case report of graft-versus-host disease caused by using stored blood after aortic valve replacement]

A 61-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement and received transfusion of 8 units of stored blood. Erythema appeared on the entire body the 12th day after operation, and was followed by high fever, elevation of liver enzymes, progressive pancytopenia, aplastic bone marrow and diarrhea. He died due to septic shock on the 19th postoperative day. Skin biopsy showed the typical features observed in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Based on the clinical course, skin and bone marrow biopsy, we diagnosed as post-transfusion GVHD. Therefore, even when stored blood or stored red blood cells are used, these should be irradiated and transfused through the leukocyte removal filter.

[Surgical treatment of total left anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the coronary sinus without atrial septal defect]

Surgical repair of total left anomalous pulmonary venous connection to coronary sinus without atrial septal defect (ASD), a very rare situation, was recently conducted. A 13-year-old girl was diagnosed as ASD. Two-dimensional echocardiography, however, indicated enlarged coronary sinus preoperatively. During operation the absence of ASD and drainage of total left pulmonary veins into the coronary sinus were observed. The operation was conducted by the method of Van-Praagh. The coronary sinus was closed to divert pulmonary venous blood to the left atrium, while maintaining coronary venous return to the right atrium. The postoperative course was uneventful and cardiac catheterization showed satisfactory results.

[Surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in the adult]

Ten patients over the age of 30 were operated on for isolated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Division was performed in 9 patients and ligation in only one. In two cases, the aorta had to be cross-clamped above and below the level of the ductus under normothermia because of massive bleeding. In another two patients with aneurysmal dilatation and calcification of the aortic side of the ductus, PDA was closed by aortic cross-clamping under LA-to-femoral-artery bypass with a centrifugal pump. Postoperatively, all patients are well and in NYHA class I. Therefore, in the adult, if the conventional method of division between ductus clamps is considered dangerous due to increased friability and atheromatous changes of the ductus and surrounding tissues, the ductus should be closed during aortic cross-clamping under assist circulation. In such a case, LA bypass is considered quite useful and safe.

[Metachronous bilateral testicular seminomas. A case report]

A case of metachronous bilateral testicular seminomas on a 36-year-old male is reported. He had a history of right testicular typical seminoma treated with right high orchiectomy and adjuvant irradiation therapy 6 years previously. He returned to our clinic complaining of painless left testicular enlargement in August 1990, and under a diagnosis of testicular neoplasm left high orchiectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed anaplastic seminoma. DNA histograms of both testicles revealed almost the same aneuploid pattern. The patient was diagnosed as stage I seminoma, has been followed up closely. Recently genetic factors as human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-A24, B14, DR5 and DR7, have been shown to be important in the development of metachronous bilateral testicular tumors. HLA antigens were determined in our case, and HLA-A24 shown in our case was compatible with the review.

ATP-dependent protein synthesis in isolated pea chloroplasts. Evidence for accumulation of a translation intermediate of the D1 protein

In the presence of externally added ATP, in the dark, isolated pea chloroplasts accumulate two proteins of molecular masses of about 22 and 24 kDa which precipitate with specific antibodies raised against the D1 protein. By chasing in the light, these proteins disappeared on the fluorogram concomitant with the appearance of the precursor- and mature-sized D1 proteins. Polysome analysis indicated that the 22-kDa component is associated with membrane-bound ribosomes and is thus ascribed to a translation intermediate of the D1 protein. On the other hand, the 24-kDa component could not be found in the polysome fraction under the experimental condition used, suggesting the possibility that this component is a degradation product of the D1 protein. The conclusion from this analysis is that the synthesis and/or stable accumulation of the D1 protein requires factor(s) caused by illumination, in addition to ATP, in isolated pea chloroplasts.

[A case of left atrial plication for mitral valvular disease with giant left atrium]

A case of plication of giant left atrium complicating mitral valvular disease is reported. The patient was a 44-year-old female with mitral stenosis and regurgitation, whose respiratory function was severely disturbed. Chest X-ray showed severe stenosis of the left main bronchus and widening of the tracheal bifurcation secondary to compression by the left atrium. Mitral valve replacement and left atrial plication was performed. Postoperative respiratory weaning was uneventful and respiratory function was improved. We concluded that plication is very beneficial in patients with giant left atrium who have signs of compression of the bronchus and lungs.

[Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the ureter: report of a case]

A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the ureter in a 63-year-old female is reported. Right hydronephrosis was found by examination of duodenal ulcer. Ureteroscopy and biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lower ureter. Total nephroureterectomy with a bladder cuff was performed. Pathological diagnosis was SCC pT3 G2 INF beta pL1 pV0 pR0. Three cycles of chemotherapy were performed postoperatively with bleomycin, methotrexate and cisplatin. Fifty-three cases of primary ureteral squamous cell carcinoma from the Japanese literature are reviewed and characteristic clinical figures of the tumor are discussed.