[Blalock-Taussig shunts in infants less than 6 months of age with special reference to the long-term administration of prostaglandin E1]

Classical Blalock-Taussig (B-T) shunt operation was performed in 14 neonates (group N) and 22 infants (group P). A mean age of group N patients was thirteen days and that of group P patients was two months. Preoperatively prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was administered in all patients and was continued for a mean of 7 days (range 2 hours to 21 days) in group N, and a mean of 78 days (range 42 to 158 days) in group P. Body weight (4359 +/- 339 g), size of subclavian artery (3.7 +/- 0.5 mm in diameter) and size of pulmonary artery (6.4 +/- 1.2 mm in diameter) at operation of group P patients were larger than those (3212 +/- 490 g, 3.4 +/- 0.4 mm, 5.1 +/- 1.3 mm) of group N. But there were no differences in operation time (165 +/- 22 minutes in group N vs 174 +/- 25 minutes in group P) and clamp time of pulmonary artery (31 +/- 10 minutes in group N vs 30 +/- 5 minutes in group P) between 2 groups. There was no operative death in both groups. There were one late death in group N and three late death in group P. Five patients in group N and nine patients in group P required additional B-T shunt at the mean follow up interval of two years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Long-term palliation after systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt using an internal mammary artery

We report the long-term results after systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts using the internal mammary arteries in 2 patients. The systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts using the internal mammary arteries were created in 2 children. Both of them are doing well 11 years and 7 years after operation. This procedure could be a reasonable alternative to classic Blalock-Taussig shunt for patients with diminutive pulmonary arteries as it offered good long-term palliation.

Relationship between urinary excretion of fibronectin degradation products and proteinuria in diabetic patients, and their suppression after continuous subcutaneous heparin infusion

To explore the possibility that the excretion of urinary fibronectin degradation products (U-FnDP) can be an indicator of the progression of diabetic nephropathy, U-FnDP and urinary protein(U-P) were determined in 64 diabetic patients and 11 healthy volunteers. Moreover, to determine whether continuous subcutaneous heparin infusion (CSHI) reduces elevated U-FnDP and U-P in diabetic patients with persistent proteinuria, heparin sodium was administered as a bolus subcutaneous injection of 5000 IU, followed by subcutaneous infusion of 250 IU/kg per 24 h heparin sodium for 7 days. U-FnDP excretion rate elevated proportionally to the degree of U-P. CSHI reduced significantly elevated U-FnDP from 172.68 +/- 15.79 to 100.04 +/- 14.93 micrograms/24 h (P < 0.01) and U-P from 1.76 +/- 0.13 to 1.20 +/- 0.12 g/24 h (P < 0.01). No significant changes in blood pressure and diurnal mean plasma glucose levels were found. APTT was prolonged with a decrease of AT-III activity during the treatment. These findings suggest that U-FnDP can be one of the indicators which reflects the degree of progression of diabetic nephropathy, and that CSHI may be useful for the normalization of elevated U-FnDP and reduction in U-P in diabetic nephropathy.

Pharmacological properties of beta-amyrin palmitate, a novel centrally acting compound, isolated from Lobelia inflata leaves

Effects of beta-amyrin palmitate isolated from the leaves of Lobelia inflata were studied on the central nervous system of mice and were compared with those of antidepressant drugs, mianserin and imipramine. In the forced swimming test, beta-amyrin palmitate, like mianserin and imipramine, reduced the duration of immobility of mice significantly in a dose-dependent manner (5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1). beta-Amyrin palmitate (5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1) or mianserin (5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1) elicited a dose-related reduction in locomotor activity of mice and antagonized locomotor stimulation induced by methamphetamine. In contrast, imipramine (5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1) increased locomotor activity and potentiated methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity. beta-Amyrin palmitate showed no effect on reserpine-induced hypothermia, whilst mianserin (10 mg kg-1) and imipramine (10 and 20 mg kg-1) antagonized the reserpine-induced effect. Unlike imipramine, beta-amyrin palmitate and mianserin did not affect haloperidol-induced catalepsy, tetrabenazine-induced ptosis and apomorphine-induced stereotypy. beta-Amyrin palmitate and imipramine had no effects on the head-twitch response induced by 5-hydroxytryptophan, whereas mianserin (5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1) decreased it in a dose-dependent manner. A potentiating effect of beta-amyrin palmitate (5, 10 and 20 mg kg-1) on narcosis induced by sodium pentobarbitone was stronger than that of imipramine (10, 20 and 40 mg kg-1) but weaker than that of mianserin (2.5, 5 and 10 mg kg-1). These results suggest that beta-amyrin palmitate has similar properties in some respects to mianserin and might possess a sedative action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

MKK1 and MKK2, which encode Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitogen-activated protein kinase-kinase homologs, function in the pathway mediated by protein kinase C

The PKC1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a homolog of mammalian protein kinase C that is required for normal growth and division of yeast cells. We report here the isolation of the yeast MKK1 and MKK2 (for mitogen-activated protein [MAP] kinase-kinase) genes which, when overexpressed, suppress the cell lysis defect of a temperature-sensitive pkc1 mutant. The MKK genes encode protein kinases most similar to the STE7 product of S. cerevisiae, the byr1 product of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and vertebrate MAP kinase-kinases. Deletion of either MKK gene alone did not cause any apparent phenotypic defects, but deletion of both MKK1 and MKK2 resulted in a temperature-sensitive cell lysis defect that was suppressed by osmotic stabilizers. This phenotypic defect is similar to that associated with deletion of the BCK1 gene, which is thought to function in the pathway mediated by PCK1. The BCK1 gene also encodes a predicted protein kinase. Overexpression of MKK1 suppressed the growth defect caused by deletion of BCK1, whereas an activated allele of BCK1 (BCK1-20) did not suppress the defect of the mkk1 mkk2 double disruption. Furthermore, overexpression of MPK1, which encodes a protein kinase closely related to vertebrate MAP kinases, suppressed the defect of the mkk1 mkk2 double mutant. These results suggest that MKK1 and MKK2 function in a signal transduction pathway involving the protein kinases encoded by PKC1, BCK1, and MPK1. Genetic epistasis experiments indicated that the site of action for MKK1 and MKK2 is between BCK1 and MPK1.

Invasive aspergillosis in leukemic children

Two cases of invasive aspergillosis are reported. Case 1, a 3-year-old boy with leukemic transformation of myelodysplastic syndrome, had an aspergillus infection in the hand, resulting in necrosis of the thumb. Case 2, an 18-year-old girl with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, had an aspergillus skin infection on the wrist, accompanied by swelling and discoloration of the arm. In Case 2, angiography revealed a hypovascular lesion and vascular irregularity, suggesting that vessels were involved. Intraarterial infusion of urokinase and amphotericin B led to improvement of these symptoms in this patient. The combination of urokinase and an antifungal drug should be considered for intractable aspergillus infections involving the extremities.

A specific host factor binds at a cis-acting transcriptionally silent locus required for stability control of yeast plasmid pSR1

A cis-acting locus, Z, of plasmid pSR1 functions in stable maintenance of the plasmid in the native host, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. The Z locus was shown to be located in a 482 bp sequence in the 5' upstream region of an open reading frame, P, by subcloning various DNA fragments in a plasmid replicating via the ARS1 sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome. Northern analysis revealed that the Z region is not transcribed in either the native host Z. rouxii or the heterologous host S. cerevisiae. The Z region is protected from micrococcal nuclease attack in Z. rouxii but not in S. cerevisiae, its protection depending on the product of the S gene encoded by pSR1. Gel retardation assays suggested that a factor present in nuclear extracts of Z. rouxii cells, irrespective of the presence or absence of a resident pSR1 plasmid, binds to a 111 bp RsaI-SacII sequence in the Z region. These findings suggest that a host protein binds to the Z locus and that the S product interacts with this DNA-protein complex and stabilizes pSR1.

Promoter analysis of the PHO81 gene encoding a 134 kDa protein bearing ankyrin repeats in the phosphatase regulon of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The PHO81 gene encoding one of the regulators of the phosphatase regulon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was mapped 9.8 centimorgans distal from the ser2 locus on the right arm of chromosome VII. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of cloned PHO81 DNA revealed a 3537 bp open reading frame encoding a 134 kDa protein. This protein has six repeats of a 33-amino acid sequence homologous to the ankyrin repeat and an asparagine-rich region. Transcription of PHO81 is activated by Pho4 protein in cooperation with Pho2 (i.e., Bas2/Grf10) protein under the influence of the inorganic phosphate (Pi) concentration in the medium, through the PHO regulatory system. Major transcription initiation sites of PHO81, determined by primer extension analysis, are at nucleotide positions -66 and -65 relative to the ATG codon. Deletion analysis showed that a 95 bp region from nucleotide position -385 to -291 is essential for response to the Pi signals. Purified Pho4 protein protected a 19 bp region (positions -350 to -332) in the 95 bp fragment from DNase I digestion in vitro and the protected region includes the core sequence 5'-CACGTG-3', which is also observed in other genes of phosphate metabolism.

Function of the ste signal transduction pathway for mating pheromones sustains MAT alpha 1 transcription in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sterile mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated from alpha * cells having the a/alpha aar1-6 genotype (exhibiting alpha mating ability and weak a mating ability as a result of a defect in a1-alpha 2 repression). Among these sterile mutants, we found two ste5 mutants together with putative ste7, ste11, and ste12 mutants of the signal transduction pathway of mating pheromones. The amino acid sequence of the Ste5p protein predicted from the nucleotide sequence of a cloned STE5 DNA has a domain rich in acidic amino acids close to its C terminus, a cysteine-rich sequence, resembling part of a zinc finger structure, in its N-terminal half, and a possible target site of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase at its C terminus. Northern (RNA) blot analysis revealed that STE5 transcription is under a1-alpha 2-Aar1p repression. The MAT alpha 1 cistron has a single copy of the pheromone response element in its 5' upstream region, and its basal level of transcription was reduced in these ste mutant cells. However, expression of the MAT alpha 1 cistron was not enhanced appreciably by pheromone signals. One of the ste5 mutant alleles conferred a sterile phenotype to a/alpha aar1-6 cells but a mating ability to MATa cells.

Crystallographic characterization of a PHO4-DNA complex

Crystals have been obtained of the DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcription factor PHO4 in complexes with several synthetic fragments of DNA with appropriate cognate sequences. Crystals suitable for X-ray diffraction studies were produced in the case of a complex of the protein with a 17 base-pair fragment of DNA from a solution in polyethylene glycol and calcium chloride. The crystals have the space group of P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 with unit cell dimensions a = b = 56.7 A, c = 447.8 A. The diffraction data at 3 A resolution were collected using synchrotron radiation with a Weissenberg camera for macromolecular crystallography.

A possible mechanism of antidepressant activity of beta-amyrin palmitate isolated from Lobelia inflata leaves in the forced swimming test

A mechanism of antidepressant activity of beta-amyrin palmitate was studied using the forced swimming method in mice. Beta-amyrin palmitate (10 mg/kg) reduced the increase in the duration of immobility induced by tetrabenazine (100 and 200 mg/kg), but showed no effect on that in mice treated with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (500 mg/kg). Beta-amyrin palmitate (5 and 10 mg/kg) decreased the duration of immobility in mice treated with desipramine plus 6-hydroxy-dopamine (50 micrograms/mouse), but did not affect that induced by nomifensine plus 6-hydroxydopamine. The decreased immobility produced by desipramine (15 mg/kg) was not affected by beta-amyrin palmitate. A study of norepinephrine release in mouse brain synaptosomes indicated that beta-amyrin palmitate caused a release of [3H]norepinephrine. The results of the present study suggest that beta-amyrin palmitate might release norepinephrine from newly synthesized pools, and thus, it might activate noradrenergic activity.

A gene, SMP2, involved in plasmid maintenance and respiration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a highly charged protein

The smp2 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows increased stability of the heterologous plasmid pSR1 and YRp plasmids. A DNA fragment bearing the SMP2 gene was cloned by its ability to complement the slow growth of the smp2 smp3 double mutant (smp3 is another mutation conferring increased stability of plasmid pSR1). The nucleotide sequence of SMP2 indicated that it encodes a highly charged 95 kDa protein. Disruption of the genomic SMP2 gene resulted in a respiration-deficient phenotype, although the cells retained mitochondrial DNA, and showed increased stability of pSR1 like the original smp2 mutant. The fact that the smp2 mutant is not always respiration deficient and shows increased pSR1 stability even in a rho0 strain lacking mitochondrial DNA suggested that the function of the Smp2 protein in plasmid maintenance is independent of respiration. The SMP2 locus was mapped at a site 71 cM from lys7 and 21 cM from ilv2/SMR1 on the right arm of chromosome XIII.

Functional analysis of Box II mutations in yeast site-specific recombinases Flp and R. Significance of amino acid conservation within the Int family and the yeast sub-family

The site-specific recombinases Flp and R from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, respectively, are related proteins that share approximately 30% amino acid matches. They exhibit a common reaction mechanism that appears to be conserved within the larger Integrase family of site-specific recombinases. Two regions of the proteins, designated as Box I and Box II, harbor, in addition to amino acid conservation, a significantly high degree of nucleotide sequence homology within their coding segments. Box II also contains two amino acids, a histidine and an arginine, that are invariant throughout the Int family. We have performed functional analysis of Flp and R variants carrying point mutations within the Box II segment. Several positions within Box II can tolerate substitutions with no effect, or only modest effects on recombination. Alterations of the Int family residues, His305 and Arg308, in the R protein lead to the arrest of recombination at the strand cleavage or the strand exchange step. This is very similar to previously observed "step-arrest" phenotypes in Flp variants altered at these positions and has strong implications for the catalytic mechanism of recombination. Flp and R variants at His305 and His309 can be complemented in half-site strand transfer by a corresponding Tyr343 to phenylalanine variant. In contrast to Arg308 Flp variants, which are efficiently complemented in half-site strand transfer by Flp(Y343F), no strong complementation has been observed between Arg308 variants of R and R (Y343F).

Toxin composition of resting cysts of Alexandrium tamarense (Dinophyceae)

Paralytic shellfish toxin composition in the resting cysts of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense was investigated by means of high performance liquid chromatography. A comparison was made between cysts collected from ship ballast tank sediments, natural population of motile vegetative cells collected from the area where ballast water was taken, as well as cultured vegetative cells established from the cysts and the natural plankton bloom. Total toxin concentration of the cysts (595 fmole/cell) was six-fold higher than that of the natural population of vegetative cells. They contained the same ten toxic components but in different relative abundances. The higher proportion of 11-alpha-hydroxysulfate epimers in the cysts suggests that the biosynthesis of toxins is halted at an early stage in cyst formation.

A case of congenital leukemia with monosomy 7

A case of congenital leukemia with monosomy 7 is reported. Immunological study of the blast cells using monoclonal antibodies was suggestive of both myelomegakaryocytic and T-lymphoblastic leukemia. Chromosomal analysis of the bone marrow cells showed monosomy 7. Chemotherapy was initiated with a combination of adriamycin, cytosine arabinoside, 6-mercaptopurine, and prednisolone. The patient obtained complete remission, which has been maintained for 4 years and 1 month. He receives no chemotherapy now. Our case shows that monosomy 7 in congenital leukemia is rare, but the presence of monosomy 7 in congenital leukemia does not necessarily indicate a poor prognosis.

Automatic elimination of unnecessary bacterial sequences from yeast vectors

Most vectors for Saccharomyces cerevisiae are shuttle vectors which can be both propagated and selected in Escherichia coli. The DNA segments, however, which are required for propagation in E. coli are unnecessary and moreover toxic in S. cerevisiae. To delete these harmful DNA fragments from the vector after it is introduced into S. cerevisiae cells, we propose a specific gene conversion mechanism of a yeast plasmid, pSR1. Plasmid pSR1 has a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) that divides the plasmid molecule into two unique regions. Intramolecular recombination frequently occurs at a pair of specific recombination sites in IRs catalyzed by recombinase R, encoded by a pSR1 plasmid gene. This R-mediated recombination is often accompanied by gene conversion in IRs. Thus, a 2.1-kb pBR322 sequence for the E. coli host ligated into one of the IRs of a composite plasmid was automatically and effectively eliminated when the plasmid was introduced into S. cerevisiae cells.

[Accessory tricuspid valve--a report of two cases]

Accessory tricuspid valve is a rare cardiac anomaly. We describe two cases with accessory tricuspid valve. Case 1: A 7-year-old boy underwent repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Under deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, right ventricle was opened. An accessory tricuspid leaflet was noted to the right side of the VSD attaching to the infundibular septum from medial papillary muscle as a chordal origin. After excision of the accessory tricuspid leaflet, the VSD was closed with a Dacron patch followed by relieve of the right ventricular outflow obstruction and pulmonary valvotomy. Case 2: A 8-year-old boy had Rastelli operation to correct transposition of the great arteries. An accessory leaflet originated from the medial papillary muscle and was floating like a parachute in the way between VSD and aorta. There was no additional apparatus in the pathway between the VSD and aorta after excision of the accessory tricuspid leaflet. Intraventricular tunnel was created with a Dacron patch. Extracardiac conduit between the right ventricle and the distal pulmonary artery was constructed using a valved pericardial roll.

[Blood concentrations of futraful, uracil and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) after UFT administration in the various reconstructions after gastrectomy. Saitama UFT Research Group]

The study was undertaken in the total of 58 gastric cancer patients among which 17 of Billroth (BI), 14 of Billroth II (B II) anastomosis after subtotal gastrectomy, and 7 of jejunal interposition, 9 of double tract and 11 of Roux en Y anastomosis after total gastrectomy were included. Blood samples were taken before 200 mg of per oral UFT administration and after 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7hrs. consecutively. The blood Futraful (FT) level in the total gastrectomy groups reached peak concentration within 1hr and kept in relatively high level during the observation period of 7hrs. The time to maximum FT concentration delayed in almost of B I and a few of B II patients. The concentration curves of uracil (URA) and 5-FU were similar in shape, revealing steep increase and decrease except B I anastomosis which showed gentle course. The plotted maximum concentrations of URA and 5-FU in the every type of reconstruction showed a significant correlation in the regression line. In the analysis of AUC, URA/FT was under 10%, suggesting the longer retention of the unmetabolite type of FT and early disappearance of URA. The ratio of 5-FU/FT was indifferent in each reconstruction. 5-FU/URA was higher in subtotal rather than total gastrectomy groups. From the data obtained, blood concentration of 5-FU after UFT administration was considered to depend on the emptying status in the gastrectomies. And moreover, it depended on blood URA level, since FT from which 5-FU was derived, was kept still sufficiently remained during observation period.

A hit-and-run system for targeted genetic manipulations in yeast

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Systemic atrioventricular valve replacement in an infant with corrected transposition of the great arteries

A 3-month-old infant with corrected transposition of the great arteries and severe systemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation due to "Ebstein-like anomaly" is reported. Through a right thoracotomy and longitudinal left atrial incision, a 19-mm St. Jude Medical valve was implanted into the annulus without removing the native valve. He is doing well 7 months after operation.

[Long-term results of the Blalock-Taussig shunts]

One-hundred and thirty-six patients received the classical Blalock-Taussig shunts between 1980 and 1990. Their age range at operation was 4 days to 12.8 years and their median age was 13 months. The operative mortality rate was 0.7% (1/136). The survivors were followed up from 1 month to 11.5 years, 5.4 years in average. Twenty-five patients required another shunt and the mean interval to that procedure was 2.4 years (modified Blalock-Taussig 23, classical Blalock-Taussig 2, Glenn 1, internal mammary artery-pulmonary artery shunt 1). Forty-five patients received corrective operations, there were four operative deaths (Fontan 2, Rastelli 2). There were 15 late deaths of which three deaths were not cardiogenic. One year after operation, 91.0% of patients remained in well-palliated condition. At three years after operation, 76.4% of patients continued to be in well-palliated condition. There were twelve neonates in this series. Their age range was 4 to 26 days and their median age was 13 days. There was no operative death. Five patients required second shunt. There were two late deaths. At present, six patients continue to be in well-palliated condition 8 months to 9 years after first operation. Angiographic findings showed the stenotic change of the vascular anastomoses in 49.3% (35/71) of patients. This study suggests that polydioxanone suture (PDS) will be useful for the growth of the anastomoses in Blalock-Taussig operation.

Functional analysis of box I mutations in yeast site-specific recombinases Flp and R: pairwise complementation with recombinase variants lacking the active-site tyrosine

The site-specific recombinases Flp and R from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, respectively, are related proteins that belong to the yeast family of site-specific recombinases. They share approximately 30% amino acid matches and exhibit a common reaction mechanism that appears to be conserved within the larger integrase family of site-specific recombinases. Two regions of the proteins, designated box I and box II, also harbor a significantly high degree of homology at the nucleotide sequence level. We have analyzed the properties of Flp and R variants carrying point mutations within the box I segment in substrate-binding, DNA cleavage, and full-site and half-site strand transfer reactions. All mutations abolish or seriously diminish recombinase function either at the substrate-binding step or at the catalytic steps of strand cleavage or strand transfer. Of particular interest are mutations of Arg-191 of Flp and R, residues which correspond to one of the two invariant arginine residues of the integrase family. These variant proteins bind substrate with affinities comparable to those of the corresponding wild-type recombinases. Among the binding-competent variants, only Flp(R191K) is capable of efficient substrate cleavage in a full recombination target. However, this protein does not cleave a half recombination site and fails to complete strand exchange in a full site. Strikingly, the Arg-191 mutants of Flp and R can be rescued in half-site strand transfer reactions by a second point mutant of the corresponding recombinase that lacks its active-site tyrosine (Tyr-343). Similarly, Flp and R variants of Cys-189 and Flp variants at Asp-194 and Asp-199 can also be complemented by the corresponding Tyr-343-to-phenylalanine recombinase mutant.

Putative GTP-binding protein, Gtr1, associated with the function of the Pho84 inorganic phosphate transporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have found an open reading frame which is 1.1 kb upstream of PHO84 (which encodes a Pi transporter) and is transcribed from the opposite strand. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this gene is distal to the TUB3 locus on the left arm of chromosome XIII and is named GTR1. GTR1 encodes a protein consisting of 310 amino acid residues containing, in its N-terminal region, the characteristic tripartite consensus elements for binding GTP conserved in GTP-binding proteins, except for histidine in place of a widely conserved aspargine residue in element III. Disruption of the GTR1 gene resulted in slow growth at 30 degrees C and no growth at 15 degrees C; other phenotypes resembled those of pho84 mutants and included constitutive synthesis of repressible acid phosphatase, reduced Pi transport activity, and resistance to arsenate. The latter phenotypes were shown to be due to a defect in Pi uptake, and the Gtr1 protein was found to be functionally associated with the Pho84 Pi transporter. Recombination between chromosome V (at the URA3 locus) and chromosome XIII (in the GTR1-PHO84-TUB3 region) by using a plasmid-encoded site-specific recombination system indicated that the order of these genes was telomere-TUB3-PHO84-GTR1-CENXIII.

An antidepressant principle of Lobelia inflata L. (Campanulaceae)

A crude methanolic extract of the leaves of Lobelia inflata exhibited antidepressant activity in mice. The extract was fractionated, monitored by the activity, to give beta-amyrin palmitate as an active component.