Immunological detection of the GerA spore germination proteins in the spore integuments of Bacillus subtilis using scanning electron microscopy

To clarify the molecular mechanisms that trigger spore germination of Bacillus subtilis, the location of GerA proteins (GerAA, GerAB and GerAC), which were reported to be putative gene products of a receptor for one of the germinants, L-alanine, was investigated by immunological techniques using anti-GerA peptide antibodies. Four antibodies were raised against the corresponding epitopes, two in GerAA, one in GerAB and the other in GerAC molecules. The binding of all four antibodies to the inner surface of the cortex-less spore coat fragments could be seen by scanning immunoelectron microscopy with colloidal gold particles. The result agreed with the fact, previously reported, that the colloidal gold particles were visualized just inside the spore coat layer by transmission immunoelectron microscopy using another anti-GerAB peptide antibody.

[Correlation between an enzyme (glutathione S-transferase-pi) and effects of chemotherapy (cisplatin + etoposide)]

OBJECTIVES

We studied the correlation between cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy and GST-pi staining in patients with untreated primary non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODS

Of patients diagnosed as having primary lung cancer, 27 patients (26 men, 1 woman; median age 74.9 years) with stage III b or over were studied. Histological types included squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. A course of treatment consisted of cisplatin 100 mg/m2/day x one day and etoposide 100 mg/m2/day x 3 days during 28 days. After 2 courses of treatment, the therapeutic effects were judged and examined in relation to immunostaining levels obtained with anti-GST-pi antibody.

RESULTS

Of patients with PR (14), 11 showed GST-pi (-) staining.

CONCLUSION

There is a correlation between GST-pi staining and the effects of cisplatin and etoposide chemotherapy.

[Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA content of resected non-small cell lung cancer with reference to long-term follow-up]

We measured the cellular DNA content of paraffin-embedded tumor specimens by flow cytometry from 340 cases of resected non-small cell lung cancer, and investigated the correlation of DNA content and prognosis of these cases with long-term follow-up. These 340 cases were divided into some populations according to pathological stage, histologic type, surgical curativity and N factor, and we compared the prognosis of DNA diploidy cases and DNA aneuploidy cases in each population. DNA aneuploidy cases had a significantly less favorable prognosis than DNA diploidy cases in population of stage I adenocarcinoma, stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer and N2 cases among stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer, all after curative operation. But in other populations, there was no significant difference in prognosis between DNA diploidy cases and DNA aneuploidy cases. In conclusion, DNA ploidy pattern is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with stage I adenocarcinoma and N2 cases of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

Preparation and antirheumatic activity of optically active 2-acetylthiomethyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid (KE-298)

2-Acetylthiomethyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-4-oxobutanonic acid (KE-298) is an antirheumatic agent. To elucidate the effects of optically active KE-298, we resolved the racemic acid and obtained the two optical isomers. (+)-KE-298 was converted to the 4-bromobenzyl ester derivative and the absolute structure was confirmed as (S) by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The pharmacological activities of the optical isomers and racemic KE-298 were compared by using the characteristic tests for KE-298. Though (+)-KE-298 showed a stronger suppressive effect on rat adjuvant arthritis than (-)-KE-298, no difference between the two isomers was detected in in vitro tests (enhancing effect on lymphocyte transformation, IL-1 antagonistic effect).

[T cell lymphoma presenting as recurrent bilateral pulmonary infiltrates over five years]

A 52-year-old man presented with BOOP-like recurrent bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. In 1989 a chest X-ray film showed an infiltrative shadow in the right S6 region which disappeared after administration of prednisolone. Thereafter, bilateral patchy infiltrates recurred many times, and each time they resolved rapidly with steroid therapy. Skin eruptions on the face recurred. In October 1994 the patient underwent an open-lung biopsy of the infiltrate in the left S6 region. The pathological findings were consistent with BOOP, except for the moderate-to marked infiltration of lymphocytes. A lymphoproliferative disorder was suspected, and Southern blot analysis of the specimen revealed a rearrangement of the TCR-beta gene, which led to the diagnosis of T cell lymphoma. Ten months after the diagnosis, no recurrence of the lymphoma had been detected. In this case a gene analysis of the biopsy specimen was very useful for the diagnosis of T cell lymphoma.

Serial electroencephalograms and somatosensory evoked potentials in a patient with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency

Serial electroencephalograms (EEGs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were carried out in a 36-year-old man with isolated ACTH deficiency. Before treatment with glucocorticoids, the EEGs displayed bilateral diffuse 5-6 Hz theta waves, and SEPs demonstrated a decreased amplitude. Following treatment with glucocorticoids, the EEGs showed gradual improvement; a diffuse alpha pattern was demonstrated on the 11th day after treatment and an occipital dominant alpha pattern was found on the 83rd day after treatment. After treatment, SEPs also showed improvement. The amplitude of N20 increased and N32 became clearly recognizable. The influence of glucocorticoids on EEGs and SEPs was discussed in the context of these observations.

Permeability of dormant spores of Bacillus subtilis to gramicidin S

Gramicidin S, dissolved in ethanol, penetrated into the inside of the dormant spores of Bacillus subtilis, had a partial inhibitory effect on L-alanine-initiated germination and completely inhibited their outgrowth and vegetative growth. The activity of particulate NADH oxidase of the antibiotic-treated dormant spores was also influenced significantly. Abnormal morphological changes were observed in germinated spores from gramicidin S-treated dormant spores. An immunoelectron microscopy method with colloidal gold-IgG complex showed that the penetration site of gramicidin S inside dormant spores was mainly the core region. These facts suggest that gramicidin S induces the damage of not only the outer membrane-spore coat complex but also the inner membrane surrounding the spore protoplast, and is able to penetrate into the core region of B. subtilis dormant spores.

[Chest wall reconstruction using polyester mesh]

From January 1987 through December 1994, we performed chest wall reconstruction using the polyester mesh in 15 patients with lung cancer, 11 with empyema after open drainage, 8 with chest wall tumor and 1 with radiation dermatitis and costal chondritis. Twenty five patients were resected 3 or more ribs. Chest wall defects were reconstructed with the polyester mesh covered with Gore-Tex soft tissue patch. Twenty two cases passed more than a year without signs of infection and follow-up averaged 27.6 months. Polyester mesh was removed due to bronchial fistula (3 cases), deformities (3 cases) and abscess formation (1 case). In these cases, polyester mesh was well incorporated and had no foreign body change. In conclusion, the polyester mesh seems to be a dependable prosthetic material for chest wall reconstruction.

[Positive expression of c-myc and p53 products in two cases of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma]

The c-myc and p53 genes are thought to be an oncogene and a tumor suppressor gene, respectively. These genes' products are characteristic of malignant tumors. We quantitatively analyzed the c-myc and p53 products by flow cytometry in two cases of pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma. In case 1, 32.3% of the tumor cells were found to have the c-myc product, and 8.9% were found to have the p53 product. In case 2, 6.7% of the tumor cells were found to have the c-myc product and 15.5% were found to have the p53 product. The percentages in both cases were twice as high as those in a negative control lymphocytes stained with c-myc and p53 products. Therefore, these two cases showed positive expression of the c-myc and p53 products. In addition DNA from six other patients with sclerosing hemangioma was analyzed with paraffin-embedded sections. All six had DNA diploidy, with DNA indexes ranging from 0.91 to 1.03 and coefficients of variation ranging from 3.0 to 5.5. We suggest that pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma is a very weakly malignant tumor.

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of one of the spore germination proteins, GerAB, in Bacillus subtilis spores

Ultrastructural localization of GerAB, one of the proteins of Bacillus subtilis spores related to L-alanine-initiated germination, was investigated by immunoelectron microscopy with antipeptide (residues 61 to 80 of GerAB) antiserum and a colloidal gold-immunoglobulin G complex. Immunogold particles were visualized in the boundary region between the cortex and coat of dormant spores, and they were broadly dispersed into the cortex region after germination.

[Study on surfactin, a cyclic depsipeptide. I. Isolation and structure of eight surfuctin analogs produced by Bacillus natto KMD 2311]

Crude surfactin was simply prepared from the culture filtrate of Bacillus natto KMD 2311 twice by acidification of the filtrate and extraction of the precipitate with ethanol. Eight surfactin analogs were isolated from the crude surfactin by RP-HPLC and gel filtration. The structure of each analog was deduced by means of amino acid composition of the acid hydrolysate and FAB-MS measurement to be a cyclic depsipeptide containing a hydroxyfatty acid. The structure of the hydroxyfatty acid moieties was elucidated as n- or iso- or anteiso-3-hydroxyfatty acid composed of carbon number 13-16 by GC analysis and EI-MS after the methanolysis of the analogs. The amino acid sequence of the peptide portion was assigned as acyl-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Asp-Leu-Leu by EI-MS for eight analogs. The isolated four compounds were found to be identical with the known surfactin analogs, A1, B1, B2 and C1. Although surfactin A2 and C2 had not been isolated, their structures were deduced to be a surfactin analog. Surfactin A3 and D were novel analogs. The acyl groups of surfactin A2, A3, C2 and D were anteiso-3-hydroxytridecanoic acid, n-3-hydroxytridecanoic acid, anteiso-3-hydroxypentadecanoic acid and iso-3-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, respectively.

Salfredins, new aldose reductase inhibitors produced by Crucibulum sp. RF-3817. I. Fermentation, isolation and structures of salfredins

New inhibitors of aldose reductase, designated salfredins A3, A4, A7, C1, C2, C3 and B11, were isolated from the fermentation broth of Crucibulum sp. RF-3817 by successive purification procedures of solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatographies and reverse-phase HPLC. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including UV, SI-MS and NMR. The structures of salfredins A4 and B11 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Effects of the neonatal vitamin A exposure on behaviors of adult rats

The effects of neonatal vitamin A exposure on six behavioral parameters in adult Wistar rats were investigated. Newborn male rats were injected intraperitoneally with 80,000 IU/kg/day of retinol palmitate (vitamin A) dissolved in physiological saline or vehicle alone (controls) during 1-5 days after birth. The animals were examined using the open field test (at 36 weeks of age), the rotarod test (38 weeks), the Biel water-maze test (40 weeks), the conditioned avoidance test (42 weeks), the running-wheel activity with pentobarbital challenge test (44 weeks), and the tail flick test (45 weeks). The vitamin A-exposed rats made significantly more errors and took significantly longer times in the Biel water-maze test, and showed significantly slower responses in the tail flick test than the controls. No significant effects of treatment with vitamin A were observed in any of the other behavioral tests. These results indicate that a long-lasting defect in learning in water-maze task and depression of the heat-pain response are induced in rats exposed neonatally to vitamin A.

Filtering noncorrelated noise in impedance cardiography

Impedance cardiography (ICG) may be altered by noises as respiration and movement artifacts, mainly during exercise. In this work, a scaled Fourier linear combiner (SFLC) event-related to the R-R interval of ECG is proposed. It estimates the deterministic component of the impedance cardiographic signal and removes the noises uncorrelated to this interval. The impedance cardiographic signal is modeled as Fourier series with the coefficients estimated by the least mean square (LMS) algorithm. Simulations have been carried out to evaluate the filter performance for different noise conditions. Moreover, the method capability to remove uncorrelated noises was also examined in physiological data obtained in rest and exercise, by synchronizing respiration and pedaling with a metronome. Analyzing the ICG power spectrum, it was concluded that the proposed filter could remove the noises that are not synchronized with heart rate.

Development of Babesia gibsoni in the salivary glands of the larval tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus

The development of Babesia gibsoni in the salivary glands of larval Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks was morphologically studied for 4 days of feeding of tick on rabbits. Babesia gibsoni showed two forms (sporont and sporozoite) in the budding process. Sporozoites were formed in the acinar cells of salivary glands and released from the hollow cytoplasmic area of these cells by day 4 of feeding. The morphology of B. gibsoni in the salivary glands of R. sanguineus shows a close similarity to those of B. gibsoni in Haemaphysalis longicornis.

[The result of reoperation for lung cancer]

Twenty four patients with recurrent or multiple lung cancer were reoperated in our center. Five-year survival rate was 20% for 11 patients with recurrent, while was 25% for 13 patients with multiple after reoperation. The patients with limited operation had well survival and there was no significant difference in procedure. However all four patients with N2 had poor prognosis. Seven patients (29%) had the post reoperative complication in pulmonary system. All of them had the impairment of pulmonary function (FEV1.0% was less than 50%) or more than 75% perfusion ratio, measured with pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy, in the side of the reoperation.

[A case of intractable pulmonary tuberculosis complicated by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)]

The authors describe a case of pulmonary tuberculosis with multiple drug resistance and complicated by severe idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The patient was initially treated with high-dose gamma globulin therapy and splenectomy. These procedures resulted in improvement of the patient's condition; the platelet count increased from 7,000/mm3 to 230,000/mm3 and the bleeding time fell from 15 min to 1 min 30 s. Given the significant improvement in the patient's condition, it was considered safe to carry out left pulmonary upper lobectomy and thoracoplasty. There have been no reports describing pulmonary resection performed for inflammatory lung disease in patients with ITP. High-dose gamma globulin therapy rapidly brings about an increase in the platelet count and a reduction of the bleeding time, and it thus extremely useful as preoperative treatment in surgical cases complicated by thrombocytopenia.

[The effect of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the hepatic hemodynamics after releasing of hepatic ischemia]

The effect of synthetic chicken calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on the hepatic circulation was studied using adult mogrel dogs. Infusion of CGRP (10(-9) M/kg) decreased the mean arterial blood pressure to 56.8% of the pre-infusion value and increased heart rates to 106.3%. 10(-10) M/kg CGRP increased blood flow of the superior mesenteric artery, hepatic artery and portal vein by 130.1%, 130.2%, and 121.2% respectively of the basal levels. The hepatic blood flow was discontinued for 20 minutes by clamping the hepato-duodenal ligament. After reestablishing effects of CGRP on the hepatic hemodynamics became more evident. These results offer the possibility that CGRP may be used to maintain the hepatic blood flow stable during and after hepatic surgery.

The prevalence of cardinal TMJ dysfunction symptoms and its relationship to occlusal factors in Japanese female adolescents

Cross-sectional data were obtained from 1182 Japanese high school girls of 12 and 15 years old. The data were analysed for the prevalence of specific occlusal features and the prevalence of cardinal Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) symptoms in different occlusion groups. The associations between occlusal features and TMJD symptoms were analysed by the Z-analysis. The results were as follows: the prevalence of TMJD symptoms (total) was about 23% in both age groups examined. Noise had the highest prevalence of the specific TMJD symptoms in both age groups (16% and 11%). With age and for different occlusion groups, there was a significant increase in deviation on opening (P < 0.001) and a decrease in pain and noise (P < 0.05). No significant associations were found between the occurrence of TMJD symptoms (total) and occlusal features in all the examined occlusion groups. With respect to specific TMJD symptoms, however, the investigation of the different groups revealed a significant association (P < 0.05) of intra-arch occlusal (crowding) features with the occurrence of deviation on opening and with the occurrence of the combined TMJD symptoms which include deviation on opening. This indicates that crowding may be an important sign for predisposing TMJD. For the other single disorder symptoms (except pain), we did not find a significant relationship (P < 0.05) with aspects of occlusion, which may confirm a multifactorial TMJD problem wherein occlusal features can have a contribution to TMJD.

Preservation of chick primordial germ cells in liquid nitrogen and subsequent production of viable offspring

Conservation of genetic material in chickens was attempted by preserving primordial germ cells in liquid nitrogen. Primordial germ cells collected from the blood of embryos at stage 13-15 of White Leghorn and Barred Plymouth Rock breeds were concentrated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. The primordial germ cells were then suspended in a freezing medium containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide. The temperature of the cell suspension was decreased by 1 degree C min-1 to -80 degrees C; the suspension was then placed in liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) and stored for 4-5 months. The cell suspension was thawed by taking it out of liquid nitrogen and placing it in water at 4 degrees C. The viability of the frozen-thawed primordial germ cells was 94.2%. One hundred frozen-thawed cells were injected into the bloodstream of recipient embryos (stage 14-15) from the other breed, from which blood had been drawn before the injection. These embryos were cultured in recipient eggshells until hatching. Viable offspring derived from the frozen-thawed primordial germ cells were obtained by mating male and female germline chimaeras or by mating the chimaeras with Barred Plymouth Rock chickens, and the offspring showed normal reproductive performance. This technique for cryopreservation of primordial germ cells giving rise to viable offspring makes it possible to conserve genetic material in avian species.

Production of germline chimeric chickens, with high transmission rate of donor-derived gametes, produced by transfer of primordial germ cells

Germline chimeric chickens were produced by transfer of primordial germ cells from White Leghorn to Barred Plymouth Rock, and vice versa. Blood was collected from stage 13-15 embryos and primordial germ cells were concentrated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation. Approximately 200 primordial germ cells were injected into the bloodstream through the dorsal aorta of stage 14-15 recipient embryos from which blood had been drawn via the dorsal aorta prior to the injection. Intact embryos were also prepared as recipients for White Leghorns only. The manipulated embryos were cultured in recipient eggshells until hatching. Germline chimerism of the chickens reaching maturity was examined by mating them with Barred Plymouth Rocks and donor-derived offspring were identified based on their feather color. The efficiency of production of germline chimeras was 95% (19/20). When primordial germ cells were transferred from White Leghorn to Barred Plymouth Rock, the average frequency of donor-derived offspring was 81% for three male chimeras (96% for one female chimera), and it was approximately 3.5 times higher for transfer in the opposite direction (23% for 6 male chimeras). Removing blood from recipient embryos prior to primordial germ cell injection enhanced the frequency of donor-derived offspring by 10% in resulting male chimeras. Male chimeras produced donor-derived offspring more frequently (approximately 3.8 times) than female chimeras. Increases, decreases, or no changes were observed in the frequency of donor-derived offspring from the germline chimeras with increasing age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone from the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): multiplicity of molecular forms by stereoinversion and diverse functions

The complete amino acid sequence of two forms of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) from the X-organ sinus gland complex of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has been determined. There are two variants of P. clarkii CHH (Prc-CHH), I and II, which can be separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Each variant was oxidized by performic acid and then cleaved with lysyl endopeptidase. Intact hormone was also digested with trypsin and endoproteinase Asp-N, successively. The resulting fragments were separated by RP-HPLC and subjected to sequence analyses by a gas-phase sequencer and tandem mass spectrometry. Both variants contain 72 amino acid residues with three disulfide linkages, at positions 7-43, 23-39, and 26-52, and differ from each other by the D/L epimerization of phenylalanine at position 3; Prc-CHH-II contains D-amino acid. Injections of Prc-CHH-I and Prc-CHH-II at a dose of 12.5 pmol resulted in significant increase of hemolymph glucose levels in the crayfish. The hormones are also active in repressing ecdysteroid synthesis at concentrations of 250 mM (Prc-CHH-I) and 25 nM (Prc-CHH-II) in Y-organ culture. These results may indicate that the stereoinversion in the CHH molecule leads to an important alternation in hormonal functions during crustacean development.