Minor components of reduced bovine kappa-casein

Bovine kappa-casein reduced with 2-mercaptoethanol was fractionated on a DEAE-cellulose column to one nonadsorbed, five major adsorbed and two minor adsorbed fractions. The properties of the nonadsorbed and five major adsorbed fractions were reported in our previous paper (4). In this paper, the characteristics of two minor adsorbed fractions (P-X and P-Y) were reported. Gel electrophoretic patterns of these fractions were similar to kappa-casein. These fractions had the same amino acid composition and the same phosphorus content as the major components. P-X contained one residue each of N-acetylneuraminic acid, galactose and galactosamine, and P-Y two residues each. Furthermore, these fractions showed the stabilizing ability for alpha s1-casein in the presence of calcium ion. These results indicate that P-X and P-Y are minor components of reduced bovine kappa-casein.

Susceptibility of kappa-casein components to various proteases

In order to clarify the function of the carbohydrate moiety of bovine kappa-casein, kappa-casein components having different carbohydrate contents were prepared by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Five adsorbed fractions so obtained had an identical peptide chain and contained carbohydrate moieties of increasing size in the order of components P-2, P-3, P-4, P-5 and P-6. The subsceptibility of kappa-casein components, having different carbohydrate contents, to various proteases was examined. kappa-Casein components were subjected to calf rennin [chymosin; EC 3.4.23.4], bovine trypsin [EC 3.4.21.4], alpha-chymotrypsin [EC 3.4.21.1], pronase [EC 3.4.24.4] and human plasmin [EC 3.4.21.7]. The component containing a larger carbohydrate moiety was less susceptible to hydrolysis than the component containing a smaller carbohydrate moiety. Rennin, trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin and pronase hydrolyzed each component with a different reaction rate. On the contrary, human plasmin hydrolyzed component P-2, but did not hydrolyze component P-5. These results indicate that the carbohydrate moiety of kappa-casein components to various proteases.

[Angiographically visualized extravasation in a case of arteriovenous malformation: the first case in Japan (author's transl)]

A case of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) with angiographically visualized extravasation of contrast medium on carotid angiography has been reported. The patient, a 9-year-old girl, came to our clinic with chief complaints of unconsciousness and left hemiplegia. On right carotid angiogram, done 4 hours after stroke, an AVM with a large intracerebral hematoma at the region of the right basal ganglia was recognized. The AVM was feeded from several lenticulostriate arteries and a small branch from precentral artery, and drained into thalamostriate vein. The extravasation of contrast medium was seen in a sash like fashion through arterial and venous phase. Extravasation of contrast medium from AVM has been extremely rarely reported, and this is considered as the third reported case. From the study of these 3 cases, we have discussed about the rarity of the extravasation from AVM and the causative factors.

Deep tendon reflex in Eaton-Lambert syndrome

The mechanism of absent or decreased deep tendon reflex in Eaton-Lambert syndrome was studied. There was no evidence suggestive of the presence of a neuropathy. On the other hand, a brief (about 10 seconds) maximal voluntary contraction made the absent deep tendon reflexes elicitable, which suggests that the block of neuromuscular transmission in Eaton-Lambert syndrome is responsible for the absent or decreased deep tendon reflex. Such enhancement of the decreased deep tendon reflex in Eaton-Lambert syndrome might be helpful in differentiating neuropathy and Eaton-Lambert syndrome.

Further characterization of rennin action on kappa-casein using carboxymethylcellulose: effects of various additives on the enzymatic hydrolysis of kappa-casein

The effects of various additives on the reaction of rennin with kappa-casein were investigated by using carboxymethylcellulose. Both urea and sodium 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate effectively inhibited rennin action at concentrations larger than 2 M and 2 mM, respectively. These reagents, however, activated the enzyme action at the lower concentrations. Both alpha S-and beta-caseins had some ranges of concentrations in which the rennin reaction was activated. Calcium chloride had an inhibitory effect on the rennin action. Neither mercaptoethanol nor KCl had any appreciable effect on the enzymatic hydrolysis of kappa-casein. These results are analyzed in terms of the association and dissociation of kappa-casein due to the presence of these additives in the reaction solutions.

Lesions associated with familial polyposis coli: studies of lesions of lesions of the stomach, duodenum, bones, and teeth

The entire gastrointestinal tract and bones were examined systematically in 24 patients (10 pedigrees) in whom familial polyposis coli was diagnosed. Polypoid lesions were observed in the stomach in as high as 68.2% of the cases, and in the duodenum in 90%. Abnormalities were noted in the skeleton in 50% and in the mandible in 81.3%. The authors emphasize the possibility that familial polyposis coli is substantially the same entity as Gardner's Syndrome.

Induction of esophageal cancer associated with gastric cancer in a dog by N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguandine

The experimental induction of gastric cancer was studied in four dogs given oral administration of N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG) in solution. Esophageal cancer with the regional lymph node metastasis was found in one dog at autopsy, with concomitantly existing gastric cancer. This dog, which ingested a total amount of about 38 g of ENNG, died of weakness on the 513th experimental day. Three remaining dogs are still living and under observation.

The distribution of serotonin-containing cells in the human alimentary tract

The distribution of serotonin-containing cells (SC cells) in the human alimentary tract was studied by means of the fluorescent histochemical method of Falck et al. on surgically resected specimens. No SC cells could be observed in the nonmucosal parts of the alimentary tract and in the squamous cell epithelium of the esophagus. The richest SC cells were observed in the upper portion of the small intestine (namely the duodenum and the jejunum). The rectum was relatively rich in the distribution of SC cells. They moderately distributed in the terminal ileum and the pyloric and cardiac gland region of the stomach. The ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon and the fundic gland region of the stomach showed poor distribution of SC cells. The basal-layer of the mucosa contained generally richer SC cells than the superficial-layer of the mucosa throughout the alimentary tract except for the esophagus. In the pyloric gland region of the stomach, the rectum and the upper portion of the small intestine, often a few SC cells were observed in the basal part of several glands in the transverse section. In contrast, SC cells could be rarely identified in other parts of the alimentary tract even in the basal part of the mucosa. And it was characteristic that SC cells distributed fairly even in the mucosa of the sigmoid colon.