Astroglial expression of ATL-derived factor, a human thioredoxin homologue, in the gerbil brain after transient global ischemia

Distribution of adult T cell leukemia derived factor (ADF/TRX), a human thioredoxin homologue, was studied by immunohistochemistry in gerbil brain during reperfusion after transient cerebral ischemia. In control brains, immunoreactivity was observed widely in the central nervous system, including the ependyma, tanycytes, endothelial cells as well as subcommisural organs, and weakly in the neuronal cell bodies. During reperfusion, ADF/TRX was expressed in glial cells in the CA1 and dentate hilus of the hippocampus, and in a few cases in the lateral portion of the caudateputamen. ADF/TRX positive glias first appeared after reperfusion for 24 h, and the intensity of staining peaked at 72 h and diminished after 7 days of reperfusion. They were concentrated around microvessels and identified to be astroglia by double labeling immunohistochemistry with glial fibrillary acidic protein as marker. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated an increase of ADF/TRX in the postischemic hippocampus. Astroglial expression of ADF/TRX in postischemic injuries suggests a role in neuroprotection by hydrogen peroxide reducing and protein-refolding activities or in modulation of local immune responses.

Studies on the constituents of Turkish plants. I. Flavonol triglycosides from the fruit of Rhamnus thymifolius

Two new flavonol glycosides have been isolated from the fruit of Turkish Rhamnus thymifolius (Rhamnaceae) and their structures were elucidated as kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->3)-(4-O-acetyl)-O-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside and kaempferol-4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->3)-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->6)-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside based on spectral and chemical evidence.

Effect of single base substitutions at glycine-870 codon of gramicidin S synthetase 2 gene on proline activation

The mutant gene coding for a proline-activating domain (grs2-pro) was cloned and sequenced from Bacillus brevis Nagano, BII-3 strain, which produces gramicidin S synthetase 2 defective in proline-activation. By comparison of the nucleotide sequence with the wild-type sequence, a single point mutation was found at the 2609th guanine, which was replaced with adenine, resulting in the change of the 870th glycine to glutamic acid. Homology search for the deduced amino acid sequence of grs2-pro gene revealed that the 870th glycine was conserved in adenylate-forming enzymes, and its flanking sequence was highly conserved among the aminoacyl adenylate-forming enzymes, such as antibiotic peptide synthetases: gramicidin S synthetase 1 and 2 (GS1, GS2), tyrocidine synthetase 1 (TS1), and delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine synthetase (ACVS); and other aminoacyl adenylation enzymes: alpha-aminoadipate reductase (LYS2), EntF, and AngR. On the other hand, this flanking sequence was not conserved in the other adenylate-forming enzymes lacking amino acid activation, such as acetyl-CoA synthetase, long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, luciferase, and 4-coumarate CoA ligase. Single base substitutions at the 870th GGG codon were carried out by oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis. Four mutagenized clones were isolated, containing grs2-pro genes which exchange 870-Gly for alanine, valine, arginine, and tryptophan. The translated products from these clones could scarcely catalyze proline-dependent ATP-32PPi exchange reaction. The coil structure of 870-Gly region was lost in the mutants. These results suggest that the 870-Gly residue of grs2-pro protein is essential for aminoacyl-adenylation in the antibiotic peptide synthetase family.

Effects of discrimination learning on the rat amygdala dopamine release: a microdialysis study

Extracellular levels of dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were monitored with the in vivo microdialysis method in the amygdala of rats while and after they performed a discrimination learning task or a non-discrimination task. A group of rats was trained to discriminate between lamp-on and lamp-off states under an operant-type learning procedure. After a stable discriminative behavior was established, a dialysis probe was inserted into the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus of each rat. The concentrations of DA and its metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid significantly increased during the learning sessions as compared to their basal levels. In contrast, another group of rats trained on a similar, but non-discriminative task showed no such increases. These results suggest that the dopaminergic neural systems in the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus are activated during ongoing behavior maintained under the discrimination learning situation.

Saponin and sapogenol. L. On the constituents of the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer from Xinjiang, China. Chemical structures of licorice-saponin L3 and isoliquiritin apioside

From the air-dried roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer collected in Xinjiang province, China ("Shinkyo-Kanzo" in Japanese), a new oleanene-type triterpene oligoglycoside named licorice-saponin L3 and a new chalcone oligoglycoside named isoliquiritin apioside were isolated together with glycyrrhizin, 18 alpha-glycyrrhizin, apioglycyrrhizin, araboglycyrrhizin, licorice-saponins A3, E2, G2, and H2, and six known flavonoid glycosides. On the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, the structures of licorice-saponin L3 and isoliquiritin apioside were elucidated as 3 beta-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1--> 2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyloxy]-22 beta-acetoxy-24-hydroxyolean-12-en-30-oic acid (1) and 4-O-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl]isoliquiritigenin (6), respectively.

Anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery in a 54-year-old woman presenting ventricular tachycardia from anteroseptal scar

We report a 54-year-old female with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery who came to our hospital complaining of dizziness presumably due to ventricular tachycardia. Electrocardiography, echocardiography and myocardial scintigraphy were indistinguishable from anteroseptal myocardial infarction. Only coronary angiography enabled us to differentiate between atherosclerotic ischemic heart disease and anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.

Saponin and sapogenol. XLIX. On the constituents of the roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin from Xinjiang, China. Characterization of two sweet oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, apioglycyrrhizin and araboglycyrrhizin

Two sweet oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides named apioglycyrrhizin and araboglycyrrhizin were isolated from the air-dried roots of Glycyrrhiza inflata Batalin, collected in Xinjiang province (Shinkyo-Kanzo in Japanese), together with glycyrrhizin (3), licorice-saponins A3 (8), G2 (10), and H2 (11) and known flavonoid glycosides. On the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, the structures of apioglycyrrhizin and araboglycyrrhizin have been determined to be expressed as 3-O-[beta-D-apiofuranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D- glucuronopyranosyl]glycyrrhetic acid (1) and 3-O-[alpha-L- arabinopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]glycyrrhet ic acid (2), respectively. During the course of these studies, it has been found that the hydroxyl groups in the oligosaccharide moiety of the glucuronide saponins may be partially methylated by prolonged treatment with diazomethane in methanol. The sweetness of the saponins hitherto isolated from various Glycyrrhizae Radix has been examined and a structure-sweetness relationship, as compared with glycyrrhizin, has been found.

Saponin and sapogenol. XLVIII. On the constituents of the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer from northeastern China. (2). Licorice-saponins D3, E2, F3, G2, H2, J2, and K2

Following the characterization of licorice-saponins A3 (2), B2 (3), and C2 (4), the chemical structures of licorice-saponins D3 (5), E2 (6), F3 (7), G2 (8), H2 (9), J2 (10), and K2 (11), seven of the ten oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides isolated from the air-dried roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer collected in the northeastern part of China, were investigated. On the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, the structures of licorice-saponins D3, E2, F3, G2, H2, J2, and K2 have been determined to be expressed as 3 beta-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-- >2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyloxy]-22 beta-acetoxyolean-12-en-30-oic acid (5), 3-O-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D- glucuronopyranosyl]glabrolide (6), 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1--> 2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl]-11-deoxoglabrolide (7), 24-hydroxyglycyrrhizin (8), 3-O-[beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta- D-glucuronopyranosyl]liquiritic acid (9), 24-hydroxy-11-deoxoglycyrrhizin (10), and 3 beta-[beta-D- glucuronopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyloxy]-24-+ ++hydroxyoleana- 11,13(18)-dien-30-oic acid (11), respectively.

Tuberculous pericarditis: importance of adenosine deaminase activity in pericardial fluid

We present a case of tuberculous pericarditis that was diagnosed early by a high titer of adenosine deaminase activity in the pericardial fluid and by a strongly positive tuberculin test. Within 2 weeks of initiation of treatment, pericardial effusion gradually decreased while clinical symptoms improved markedly. Culture from sputum, gastric juice, urine, and pericardial fluid were negative for tubercle bacillus. Measurement of adenosine deaminase activity in the pericardial fluid is a supplementary diagnostic test which is as important as for tuberculous pericarditis as it is for tuberculous pleuritis, because negative Ziehl Neelsen staining and culture for tubercle bacillus are common in tuberculous pericarditis.

Reversible left ventricular dysfunction secondary to rapid atrial fibrillation

We present the cases of four patients with reversible left ventricular dysfunction associated with severe congestive heart failure presumably induced by rapid atrial fibrillation. The mean heart rate was 159 beats/min and the mean left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was 58.5 mm with diffusely impaired left ventricular motion. None of the patients had a history of preceding upper respiratory infection before the acute episode and no signs of inflammation at onset, and all patients were New York Heart Association Class I or II before the acute episode. Left ventriculography, done about 1 month when congestive heart failure and ventricular rate were controlled with digitalis and diuretics, still showed diffusely decreased left ventricular motion; the mean end-diastolic volume was 165 ml and the mean ejection fraction was 30%. Coronary angiography was normal in three patients and one showed moderate left anterior descending artery stenosis. Right ventricular biopsy, done in three patients showed no evidence of myocarditis. Left ventricular wall motion normalized in 5-36 months on follow-up echocardiography. These findings suggest that persistent rapid atrial fibrillation can cause reversible left ventricular dysfunction which can take a considerable period of time to normalize.

[Transient "moyamoya" echo in a markedly enlarged pulmonary artery after Waterston operation is an expression of decreased pulmonary blood flow]

A 32-year-old-female with single ventricle, 20 years after the Waterston operation is described. The right pulmonary artery was markedly enlarged and the blood flow across the Waterston shunt was 2 m/sec in systole and 1.5 m/sec in diastole. "Moyamoya" echo developed transiently in the markedly enlarged pulmonary artery when she suffered from bacterial bronchitis and PaO2 decreased. Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography showed decreased blood flow across the Waterston shunt. After the bronchitis was resolved and PaO2 returned to the basal level, "Moyamoya" echo was barely seen. This "Moyamoya" echo can be a reflection of decreased pulmonary blood flow, and was a useful marker in the follow-up of this patient.

Deterioration of congestive heart failure after converting to VOO mode from DDD mode in a dilated cardiomyopathy patient; importance of atrial contribution

We describe a 62-year-old dilated cardiomyopathy patient in whom congestive heart failure progressed shortly after DDD mode was changed to VOO mode because of battery exhaustion. Emergency battery exchange with restoration of DDD mode improved his functional status to the previous level; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 28 to 24 mmHg and cardiac output increased from 1.5 to 2.0 L/min associated with widening of the aortic pulse pressure. Maintenance of atrial contraction is therefore important even if left ventricular systolic function is markedly impaired and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is increased.

[Three cases of aspiration caused by cerebrovascular disorder that were managed with total laryngectomy]

Total laryngectomy can be used to prevent aspiration pneumonia in patients with severe dysphagia, though caution is required with regard to the indications. In this paper, we describe 3 patients in whom severe dysphagia developed as a result of cerebrovascular disorders, and who repeatedly developed aspiration pneumonia. We managed them with total laryngectomy, and this has prevented aspiration pneumonia in all three. Oral feeding became possible in two of these patients, and home care became possible for one. This report includes a discussion based on the literature, and includes preoperative evaluation and indications for laryngectomy.

Dehatrine, an antimalarial bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid from the Indonesian medicinal plant Beilschmiedia madang, isolated as a mixture of two rotational isomers

Through bioassay-guided separations of the chemical constituents of the Indonesian medicinal plant Beilschmiedia madang BL. a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid was obtained as the major antimalarial principle. The physicochemical properties of the alkaloid were consistent with the proposed structure of dehatrine. However, the alkaloid isolated by us was shown to be a mixture of two rotational isomers. The X-ray crystallographic analysis of 1 has shown that two rotamers are incorporated in a single crystal in 1:1 ratio. The complex NMR spectrum of 1 has also been defined as a mixture of two rotamers by extensive use of 2D (COSY and COLOC) techniques. Dehatrine has been shown to significantly inhibit the growth of cultured Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain (cholorquine resistant) with similar activity to quinine.

Nucleotide sequences of the helper component-proteinase genes of aphid transmissible and non-transmissible isolates of turnip mosaic virus

We have compared nucleotide sequences of the helper component-proteinase (HC-Pro) coding region of aphid transmissible (isolate 1) and non-transmissible (isolate 31) isolates of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). HC-Pro coding regions of both TuMV isolates 1 and 31 were 1,374 nucleotide long. The nucleotide sequence homology between these isolates was 93.5%, with 89 nucleotides substitution. The nucleotides of HC-Pro regions of two isolates of TuMV genomes encoded 458 amino acids of M(r) 51,746 (isolate 1) and M(r) 51,764 (isolate 31). The deduced amino acid sequence homology between these isolates was 98.7% with six different amino acids. These amino acids appeared to regulate the activity of HC-Pro needed for aphid transmissibility of TuMV.

[Development of left atrial thrombus after excellent mitral valvuloplasty for chronic severe mitral regurgitation]

We report two cases with chronic severe mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation in whom left atrial thrombus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography after excellent mitral valvuloplasty. The reason why thrombus developed after valvuloplasty is that preoperative severe mitral regurgitation made the left atrial blood less stagnant than it was after surgery. Thus, even when mitral valvuloplasty achieves excellent results in patients with severe chronic mitral regurgitation and atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation and left atrial appendage ligation should also be considered.

Isozyme-specific modules on human aldolase A molecule. Isozyme group-specific sequences 1 and 4 are required for showing characteristics as aldolase A

Vertebrate aldolase molecules bear at least four stretches of isozyme group-specific sequences (referred to as IGS). The IGSs of the type A isozyme are known to endow the aldolase molecules with some characteristics typical of A. In order to locate the type A regions, 4 chimeric enzymes were constructed between human aldolases A and B and 5 mutant enzymes with single or double mutations in the IGS-1 region. Among engineered proteins, the chimeric enzymes bearing the type A IGS-1 to -4 (BABA34-108:306-363) and the IGS-1 and -4 (BABA34-55:306-363) exhibited similarities to isozyme A in many respects. On the other hand, neither chimeric enzyme bearing the type A IGS-1 to -3 (BAB34-108) nor that bearing the IGS-1 alone (BAB34-55) exhibited properties as isozyme A. Four mutant aldolases A (carrying single mutation in the IGS-1 region) maintained the original activity as A. Similarly, the BA306 chimera with the type B-->A substitution at positions 41 and 45 (BA306 N41K:R45S) failed to exhibit the A-like properties although the activities toward Fru-1,6-P2 and Fru-1-P significantly increased. Conclusively, the type A IGS-1, together with the IGS-4, act as indispensable modules in determining the characteristic properties of human aldolase A.

Saponin and sapogenol. XLVII. On the constituents of the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer from northeastern China. (1). Licorice-saponins A3, B2, and C2

From the air-dried root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, collected in the northeastern part of China, ten new oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides were isolated together with glycyrrhizin (1) and several known flavonoids. Among the newly isolated triterpene oligoglycosides, the chemical structures of licorice-saponin A3 (2), licorice-saponin B2 (3), and licorice-saponin C2 (4) have been determined, on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, to be expressed as 30-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylglycyrrhizin, 11-deoxo-glycyrrhizin, and 3-O-[beta-D-glucuronpyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronpyranosyl++ +]oleana- 11,13(18)-dien-30-oic acid, respectively. During the course of these studies, facile conversions from glycyrrhizin (1) to licorice-saponins A3 (2), B2 (3), and C2 (4) have been accomplished.

The etiology of damage to lucerne by the green mirid, Creontiades dilutus (Stal)

Green mirid [Creontiades dilutus (Stsl) (Miridae: HEM)] of all developmental stages was found in lucerne throughout December and January 1989-90 at sites near Adelaide, Australia. In the laboratory, they were unable to complete development when given foliage only, but 65% completed development when provided with flowers, from which they fed preferentially on the developing ovules. Only 25% developed from egg to third instar when cut pods were the sole food source but all survivors completed their development on pods thereafter. The insects were observed to make unsuccessful attempts to feed on spotted alfalfa aphid [Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) f. maculata Aphidae (HEM)]. When fifth instars were caged on entire plants, most of the insects were subsequently found near the tops of the plants. Ten adults caged on a head with 7 pods caused them to turn yellow in 5 days, brown in 6, and withered in 7. An adult caged with 2 flowers for 5 h caused both to drop the standard petal and to abort development within the subsequent 24 h. Feeding frequency of fifth instars when given flower heads ad libitum was estimated at 18 times, for a total of 169 minutes, over a 5-h observational period. The saliva contained a pectin, endopolygalacturonase, and its injection into developing ovules and seeds probably accounts for the etiology of damage. The insects' requirement of lucerne seeds and/or ovules to complete its development, its frequency of feeding, and the abscission of whole flowers due to feeding on the ovules probably accounts for the serious losses of seed production previously reported.

Correlation between HPV positivity and state of the p53 gene in cervical carcinoma cell lines

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is clearly associated with cervical carcinomas, yet it is also true that there are cervical carcinomas in which HPV DNA is absent. We examined eight established cell lines derived from cervical carcinomas for the presence of mutations of the p53 antioncogene in relation to the presence of HPV DNA sequences. Of these eight cell lines, seven were positive for HPV DNA and the remaining one was negative for HPV DNA. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses revealed a point mutation of the p53 gene in the cell line in which HPV DNA was absent. Sequencing analysis revealed a single-base mutation at codon 273 from CGT to CAT(Arg-->His) and immunocytochemical studies provided evidence that the p53 protein was overexpressed in this cell line. Our observations suggest that the loss of normal p53 gene function may be linked to the oncogenesis of cervical carcinoma.

Genetic predisposing factors in non-insulin dependent diabetes with persistent albuminuria

We designed this study to elucidate a possible involvement of genetic factors which influence the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A total of 328 patients was randomly selected in the Tokai University Hospital. They had been cared for in our hospital as NIDDM for the past five years, until April, 1989. Fifty-six patients with persistent albuminuria, and an equal number of patients without persistent albuminuria were included in this study. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, estimated period of illness, blood pressure, body-mass index, HbAlc, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride level and mean blood pressure. The family histories obtained by questionnaires revealed that there might be some genetic predisposing factors leading to the onset of nephropathy in patients with NIDDM, especially in cases with paternal high blood pressure. It is suggested that paternal hypertension might be related to the development of nephropathy in patients with NIDDM.

Reversible left ventricular dysfunction induced by recurrent ventricular tachycardia

Two cases of transient LV dysfunction associated with VT are described. Both patients had a history of palpitations of several years' duration without symptoms of congestive heart failure. The reason for presentation was an increase in frequency and duration of palpitation. Decreased LV wall motion, observed by 2DE, normalized shortly after treatment of the VT. Diffusely decreased LV wall motion is associated with frequent episodes of VT and may mimic DCM except that signs and symptoms of heart failure are absent.