Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic data of the alpha-amylase inhibitors, Haim I and Paim I

Two proteins that act as alpha-amylase inhibitors, Haim I and Paim I, were crystallized and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies on them were carried out. We also sequenced Haim I prepared from Streptomyces griseosporeus YM-25 and confirmed that it is composed of 78 amino acid residues. Crystals of Haim I were grown from ammonium sulfate solution mixed with ethanol by the vapor diffusion technique. The crystals grew as hexagonal bipyramids and diffracted X-rays beyond 2.0 A resolution. They belong to the space group P6(1)22 (or P6(5)22) with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 36.7 A, c = 192.4 A, and contain one molecule per asymmetric unit. Paim I, a protein of 39 amino acid residues produced by Streptomyces corchorusii, was crystallized under similar conditions to Haim I. The crystals diffracted X-rays beyond 2.5 A. They belong to the space group P4(1)2(1)2 (or P4(3)2(1)2) with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 65.4 A, c = 96.1 A, and contain three molecules per asymmetric unit.

A novel POU domain gene, zebrafish pou2: expression and roles of two alternatively spliced twin products in early development

POU domain proteins are a large family of transcriptional regulatory proteins, many of which are implicated in the control of gene expression during early development. We describe here the cloning and expression of zebrafish pou2, a novel POU domain gene related to the mouse germ-line-specific transcription factor oct-3. Zebrafish pou2 is maternally expressed, and the transcripts are present from the one-cell stage to the gastrula stage. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that the transcripts were present in all blastomeres until the midblastula stage and that the expression was restricted to the epiblast during gastrulation. We found that alternatively spliced transcripts, t-pou2 RNAs, were also expressed in the embryos. In contrast to the Pou2 product, the t-Pou2 product lacks DNA-binding activity because of its incomplete POU domain structure. To examine the roles of the Pou2 and t-Pou2 products, we increased their expression in the embryo by microinjection of synthetic pou2 and t-pou2 RNAs into the fertilized eggs at the one-cell stage. Most embryos that developed from the eggs injected with pou2 RNA did not show any obvious developmental defects. In contrast, overexpression of the t-Pou2 product greatly affected the embryonic development: There was strong developmental retardation or arrest due to the incomplete gastrulation. In the affected embryos, expression of zebrafish T gene was reduced and the hypoblast formation was disturbed. Temporal and spatial expression patterns and the effects of overexpression of these products on development are consistent with the idea that the Pou2 and t-Pou2 proteins are involved in early development of zebrafish embryos. They may be involved in the proliferation of blastomeres in undetermined state at the blastula stage and/or the early cell commitment events at the gastrula stage. Also, our results indicate that different products generated as a result of alternative splicing from the same gene possess distinct functional capacities.

Effects of pilsicainide on systemic hemodynamics and cardiac function of anesthetized dogs

The effects of pilsicainide, propafenone and flecainide on systemic hemodynamics and cardiac function were compared in anesthetized open-chest dogs. Pilsicainide, propafenone and flecainide given intravenously at 1 and 3 mg/kg produced dose-dependent decreases in the mean aortic pressure. The heart rate was decreased by pilsicainide and flecainide, but not by propafenone. The three drugs increased the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and reduced the first derivative of left ventricular pressure and myocardial oxygen consumption. Pilsicainide decreased aortic, vertebral, coronary and renal blood flows in a dose-dependent manner at 1 and 3 mg/kg. Propafenone increased aortic and vertebral blood flows at 1 mg/kg and decreased coronary and renal blood flows at 3 mg/kg. Flecainide did not significantly change blood flow, except for an increase in the aortic blood flow with 3 mg/kg. The total peripheral, vertebral, coronary and renal vascular resistances were increased by pilsicainide, but not by flecainide. Propafenone decreased total peripheral and vertebral vascular resistances, but hardly affected the coronary and renal vascular resistances. The stroke volume was decreased by 1 and 3 mg/kg pilsicainide in a dose-dependent manner, and increased by 1 and 3 mg/kg propafenone, but not significantly changed by 1 or 3 mg/kg flecainide. The stroke work index was decreased by 3 mg/kg pilsicainide and 3 mg/kg flecainide. The effects of pilsicainide correlated with the changes in its plasma concentration with time. The results indicate that pilsicainide has a negative inotropic activity similar to that of propafenone and flecainide. Pilsicainide and flecainide show almost the same effects with a slightly different efficacy, while propafenone exerts different effects upon some cardiovascular functions.

Effects of 2-buten-4-olide, an endogenous feeding suppressant, on the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized rats

The effects of 2-buten-4-olide (2-B40), an endogenous feeding suppressant, on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) were studied in ovariectomized rats. Intraperitoneal (ip) administration of 2-B40: adult female ovariectomized Wistar rats were given daily ip injections of solution containing 2-B40 at 0, 50 or 100 mg/kg body wt for 14 days. This ip treatment with 2-B40 significantly decreased the mean LH concentration and pulse frequency of LH. Intravenous (iv) administration of 2-B40: a solution of 2-B40 (50 or 100 mg/kg body wt) was slowly injected through an intra-atrium catheter and blood samples were taken every 6 min for 2 h. This iv treatment significantly suppressed the LH pulse frequency but had no significant effect on the LH amplitude or mean LH. Injection of 2-B40 into the third cerebroventricle: the injection of 2-B40 into the third cerebroventricle of freely moving rats decreased the mean LH concentration and the frequency and amplitude of LH pulses. Third cerebroventricle injection of a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist before third cerebroventricle injection of 2-B40: the specific CRF receptor antagonist alpha-helical-CRF (9-41) was injected into the third cerebroventricle of ovariectomized rats before injection of 2-B40. Administration of 2-B40 into the third cerebroventricle significantly decreased the mean LH, concentration and pulse frequency. Third cerebroventricle injection of the CRF antagonist at 50 micrograms/rat and then 2-B40 also resulted in significant suppression of the mean LH concentration and pulse frequency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma--a clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical study

Eleven cases of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) were studied. The ages at presentation ranged from 34 to 79 years (mean = 59.9 years). Six patients were female and five male. Five of the 11 patients had a solitary tumour and the other six had multiple tumours at initial presentation. According to Burg's classification, six cases were at stage I, two stage II, two stage III and one was at stage IV at initial presentation. Abnormalities in laboratory data were rare, except for serum lactic dehydrogenase values. Epidermotropism was not detected, and the area mainly affected by neoplastic cells was the reticular dermis (seven cases) and subcutis (four cases). Biopsy specimens from the patients analysed by immunohistochemical techniques on paraffin or cryostat sections showed CD20 and/or CD22 positivity. Biopsy specimens from two patients which showed CD10 positivity were diffuse large cell types by the working formulation and presented as pre-B-cell lymphoma. At least two groups of CBCL were demonstrable on the basis of prognosis. One was a benign low-grade lymphoma presenting with solitary tumours, mature B-cell markers and intermediate-grade pathology, and the other was a high-grade lymphoma with multiple tumours, pre-B-cell or mature B-cell markers and a poor prognosis.

Successful treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma with MACOP-B, M-FEPA and VEPP-B combination chemotherapy

A 45-year-old man was referred to our department in March of 1989. Physical examination showed erythroderma, palmo-plantar hyperkeratosis, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and leukemic manifestation. The lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood before treatment was 1.7 x 10(4) cells/mm3. Atypical lymphocytes such as flower cells and lobulated cells were seen in the peripheral blood. A sample excised from a lymph node showed immunoblastic, pleomorphic T cells by a modified classification scheme of the Working Formulation. A high level of serum LDH was detected (2.1 times the upper normal limit). Anti HTLV-1 antibody was also detected in the serum. The atypical lymphocytes were positive for CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7 and HLA-DR, and negative for CD8. Thus, the clinical, pathologic and immunologic features were those of typical acute-type ATL. The patient was treated with VEPA-M for three months starting in March of 1989. Because of poor response, the patient was then treated with MACOP-B, M-FEPA, and VEPP-B for about one year from June of 1989 and has been free of disease up to the time of writing, March of 1993.

Diseases among men living in human T-lymphotropic virus type I endemic areas in Japan

The health effects of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) were studied in HTLV-I endemic areas in Japan during the period from September 1990 to October 1991. The study subjects were 2,847 men living in the southern part of Kyushu and engaged in light work. Ages ranged from 19 to 79 years (47.8 +/- 7.2; mean +/- standard deviation). The prevalence of each disturbance was analyzed with a logistic model. The disturbances in which the prevalence showed a significant association with HTLV-I were old tuberculosis, ulcerative colitis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine (OPLL). The results of the present study suggest that HTLV-I may be a risk factor for these diseases and may indicate the necessity for a synthetic study on HTLV-I.

[Clinical experience in 3 cases, 5 events of thrombosed Björk-Shiley mitral prostheses]

We have successfully treated 3 cases, 5 events of thrombosed Björk-Shiley mitral prostheses. Case 1: Treatment with urokinase thrombolytic therapy failed to improve the valve opening, and then submergent surgical thrombectomy was performed successfully. Case 2: This case was recurrent thrombosed valve. First time thrombosis was successfully managed by urokinase thrombolytic therapy. Second time thrombosis was treated with emergent surgical thrombectomy. Third time thrombosis was treated with urokinase thrombolysis and elective replacement of the Björk-Shiley valve with a 25 mm SJM valve. Case 3: Urokinase thrombolytic therapy failed to improve the valve function, and then emergent replacement of the Björk-Shiley valve with a 25 mm SJM valve was performed successfully. These cases suggested that the surgical treatment for the thrombosed Björk-Shiley mitral valve should be performed without delay in the patient whose condition is rapidly deteriorating.

Gastric acid inhibits antral phase III activity in duodenal ulcer patients

Fourteen patients with duodenal ulcers and eight healthy volunteers were examined to measure interdigestive gastroduodenal motility and plasma motilin. In order to study the effects of gastric acid on the gastroduodenal motility, 20 mg of famotidine was administered intravenously. The motility index of the gastric antrum and the duodenum, as well as the pH in the duodenal bulb were calculated. The duodenal pH was significantly lower and the gastric motility index was significantly weaker before the duodenal interdigestive migrating complex (IMC) in the ulcer patients than in the controls. Motilin levels increased before the duodenal IMC and decreased afterwards in both groups. Famotidine significantly increased the duodenal pH and the gastric motility index before the IMC, but no changes in the motilin level were noted. We conclude that duodenal ulcer patients have duodenal hyperacidity that results from increased inflow from the antrum and antral hypomotility during the gastric IMC and that these changes are normalized by the administration of famotidine. These results suggest that gastric acid inhibits antral contraction during the gastric IMC.

A case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma with a storiform stromal reaction

A case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma is described. The patient was treated only by surgical excision of the skin tumors five times during a period of about two years from February of 1984 to October of 1986. After the last surgical excision, a continuous disease-free period was achieved. Biopsy samples showed dense lymphocytic infiltrations with discrete masses in the dermis and subcutis; one of them showed a storiform pattern. At the time, the infiltrating cells were composed of medium and large lymphoid cells and spindle-shaped cells. The medium and large lymphoid cells were positive for CD20, CD22 and HLA-DR and negative for CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD43, and kappa and lambda light chain. The spindle-shaped cells were negative for CD20, CD43, kappa and lambda light chain, lysozyme, and S-100 protein.

Effects of gallopamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker in models of ventricular arrhythmia in dogs

The antiarrhythmic effects of gallopamil on adrenaline-, digitalis- and two-stage coronary ligation-induced arrhythmias and on adrenaline-induced triggered arrhythmia were investigated. Gallopamil suppressed adrenaline-induced and adrenaline-induced triggered arrhythmias, and these antiarrhythmic effects of gallopamil were similar to those of verapamil. Gallopamil also showed some antiarrhythmic effect on the 48-h coronary ligation-induced arrhythmia. The plasma concentration of gallopamil which decreased the arrhythmic ratio for adrenaline-induced arrhythmia by 50% (IC50) was 32 ng/ml. These results indicate that gallopamil may be a clinically useful antiarrhythmic drug.

Immunoblot analysis of dystrophin-related protein (DRP)

Polyclonal antibodies against the carboxy-terminal portion of dystrophin-related protein (DRP), the putative autosomal gene product which shares sequence homology with dystrophin, show the clear expression of DRP in mouse fetal muscle and in cultured human muscle cells, but not in mature mouse or human muscle. DRP has the same molecular mass as X-linked dystrophin and is recovered from the membrane fraction, but is associated with membranes more loosely than dystrophin.

A case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma treated successfully with MACOP-B

A case of cutaneous B-cell lymphoma successfully treated by MACOP-B therapy is described. The patient was a 43-year-old man with reddish tumors measuring 3 to 7 cm in diameter on the right cheek and the post-auricles. Histopathologically, massive infiltrations of medium-sized atypical lymphoid cells were found in the reticular dermis and subcutis. A clear zone beneath the epidermis was also detected. The atypical lymphoid cells were positive for CD19, CD20, CD22 and HLA-DR but negative for CD3, CD4, CD5, CD10, CD43, CD45RO and CDw75. The patient was treated successfully with the MACOP-B protocol from March of 1990 to May of 1990. Since April of 1990, he has been free of disease.

Regional vascular responses to thromboxane A2 analogue and their blockade with vapiprost, a selective thromboxane receptor blocking drug, in anesthetized dogs

Regional vascular responses to the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619 and effects of the selective thromboxane receptor blocking drug vapiprost on these responses were examined in anesthetized dogs. Hemodynamic responses to U46619 (0.5 micrograms/kg into the left atrium), norepinephrine (NE, 0.3 microgram/kg, i.v.) and angiotensin II (AII, 30 or 60 ng/kg, i.v.) were periodically tested before and after administration of vapiprost (10, 30 or 100 micrograms/kg, i.v.) or its vehicle. In the absence of vapiprost, U46619 increased total peripheral (TPR), vertebral (VR), coronary (CR) and renal (RR) vascular resistance by 60.1 +/- 4.7%, 33.6 +/- 4.9%, 15.3 +/- 1.3% and 120.8 +/- 17.4%, respectively, indicating that vasoconstrictor responses to U46619 were most prominent in the renal vascular bed as compared to those in the vertebral or coronary vasculatures. Vapiprost as well as the vehicle did not affect the base-line hemodynamics. However, vapiprost apparently inhibited the U46619-induced vasoconstriction in all measured vascular beds in a dose-related manner without attenuating vasoconstrictor responses to NE compared to the inhibitions of VR and CR. These results demonstrate that there was a regional difference both in the vasoconstrictor responses to U46619 and in the blocking effects of vapiprost, and indicate that vapiprost is a potent and selective antagonist for thromboxane receptors in vivo.

Ultrasonography and Doppler studies in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

In 40 twin pregnancies, the evaluation of hemodynamics by ultrasound was performed during the period January 1986 through September 1991. The blood flow velocities' waveforms in the umbilical artery, umbilical vein and tricuspid valve, and the total cardiac dimension, were obtained by ultrasonography in conjunction with 3.5 MHz pulsed Doppler ultrasound. Six patients with twin pregnancies were identified as having twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTS), on the basis of like-sex twins with monochorionic diamniotic placentation, vascular anastomosis in the placenta, and umbilical cord venous blood hemoglobin difference exceeding 5 g/dl at delivery. No distinctive findings for TTS were revealed by the measurement of umbilical artery blood flow velocity waveforms. However, cardiomegaly in 5 recipient fetuses and tricuspid regurgitation and biphasic umbilical vein waveforms in 3 recipient fetuses constituted characteristic features of TTS. Ultrasonography and a Doppler study might be beneficial in diagnosing TTS and evaluating the hemodynamics in a recipient fetus.

A new neutralization method for influenza virus in cell culture

A novel neutralization method (ELISA-NT) has been developed for simple detection of neutralizing antibodies to influenza virus in which type specific soluble (S) CF antigen produced by unneutralized virus was measured by anti-S immune (probe) serum and enzyme-labelled Clq. Neutralizing antibody activity was determined within 48 h and expressed as a new term, NT% of the quantity of neutralized virus. A good correlation was found between NT% determined by the ELISA-NT method and NT titer by the conventional method in 82 human serum samples (r = 0.941 for type A and r = 0.875 for type B of influenza virus, p < 0.01).

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) -clinical, histopathological, immunological and immunohistochemical characteristics

Twenty-one patients with ATL were assessed. The predominant physical findings were lymph node and bone marrow involvement, skin involvement, hepatosplenomegaly and leukemic manifestations. The predominant histopathological findings in both skin and lymph node specimens were the diffuse medium-sized cell type and the diffuse mixed cell type. Some phenotypic discrepancy was found between the neoplastic cells in the peripheral blood, lymph nodes and skin of patients with ATL with respect to CD45RA and CD45RO, and CD7, CD29, CD25 and HLA-DR. That is, the predominant neoplastic cell phenotype was the helper T-cell, which was CD3+, CD4+, CD7+, CD25+, CD45RA+ and HLA-DR+, and CD29- and CD45RO- in peripheral blood and lymph nodes, and CD3+, CD4+, CD7+, CD29+, CD45RO+ and HLA-DR+, and CD45RA- in the skin. In other words, we have described the phenotypic heterogeneity of ATL cells and demonstrated the heterogeneity of CD45R isoform expression on ATL cells in different organs--the skin, peripheral blood and lymph nodes--of the same patient.

[Proposal for the nosocomial infection control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)]

To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital environments, quantitative isolation of MRSA from environmental and human specimens was performed. It was found that as many as 6 x 10(4) colony forming units (CFU)/100cm2 of MRSA and also methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) were isolated from 1) 25-100% of the bed-mattresses tested in 10 out of 11 (90%) hospitals, and also 2) bed sheets for patients, floors of patient wards, laundry, bath-room, toilet and laundry storage-room. And seven and eight palms of 20 patients were contaminated with MRCNS and MRSA, respectively, and MRCNS contamination was revealed in six of medical staffs. These results indicate that hospital environments, especially the mattresses and hospital floors are highly contaminated with MRCNS and MRSA, and sanitation and cleanliness of mattresses and floors are necessary to prevent the dissemination of both MRCNS and MRSA in hospital.

Effects of the new thromboxane A2 antagonist vapiprost on isolated canine blood vessels

Effects of the new thromboxane A2 antagonist vapiprost (SN-309, GR-32191B, CAS 85505-64-2) on isolated canine blood vessels were investigated. U46619 ((15S)-hydroxy-11a, 9a-(epoxymethano) prosta-5Z, 13E-dienoic acid) 10(-10)-10(-6) mol/l, a thromboxane A2 analogue, produced concentration-dependent contractions of oblong or ring preparations isolated from basilar, coronary, mesenteric and femoral arteries. Vapiprost 10(-8) and 10(-7) mol/l significantly and concentration-dependently shifted the concentration-contraction curves for U46619 of these arteries to the right. The pA2 values were 8.80 +/- 0.09 in basilar arteries, 8.67 +/- 0.12 in coronary arteries, 8.86 +/- 0.05 in mesenteric arteries and 9.01 +/- 0.07 in femoral arteries. On the other hand, oblong or ring preparations of basilar, coronary, mesenteric and femoral arteries showed sustained contractile responses to KCl 3 x 10(-2) mol/l, U46619 10(-7) mol/l or prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha 10(-5) mol/l. Norepinephrine (NE) 3 x 10(-5) mol/l also produced sustained contractions in mesenteric and femoral arterial preparations, but not in basilar and coronary arterial preparations. Vapiprost 10(-10)-3 x 10(-6) mol/l relaxed these four arterial preparations constricted with U46619 10(-7) mol/l and PGF 2 alpha 10(-5) mol/l in a concentration-dependent fashion, but hardly affected them constricted with KCl 3 x 10(-2) mol/l. NE 3 x 10(-5) mol/l-induced contractures of mesenteric and femoral arterial preparations were not influenced by any concentrations of vapiprost. Results indicate that vapiprost has an antagonistic action on a so-called TP-receptor and/or a vasoconstrictive prostaglandin(s)-receptor and thus produces vasorelaxation.

Effects of a new antiarrhythmic drug, SD-3212, on canine ventricular arrhythmia models

The antiarrhythmic effects of a new antiarrhythmic agent, SD-3212, (-)-(S)-3,4-Dihydro-2-[5-methoxy-2-[3-[N-methyl-N-[2-[(3,4- methylene dioxy)phenoxy]ethyl]amino]propoxy]phenyl]-4-methyl-3-oxo-2H-1, 4-benzothiazine hydrogen fumarate, were investigated using canine models of ventricular arrhythmias, i.e. spontaneously occurring digitalis-, two-stage coronary ligation- and adrenaline-induced arrhythmias. SD-3212 suppressed adrenaline-induced arrhythmia and showed some antiarrhythmic effect on digitalis- and 48 hr coronary ligation-arrhythmias. These results indicate that SD-3212 has antiarrhythmic effects common among class IV antiarrhythmic drugs and also has additional efficacy common among class I antiarrhythmic drugs, thus when considering the level of experimental arrhythmias it somewhat resembles propafenone. It may therefore become a clinically useful antiarrhythmic drug among typical class I or class IV antiarrhythmic drugs.