Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of a 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. strain KKS102 having polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrading activity

Crystals have been obtained for a 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase (conventionally called BphC) from a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrader, Pseudomonas sp. strain KKS102. The crystals were grown using both ammonium sulfate and MPD as the precipitating agents. The crystals belonged to a tetragonal space group (I422) and diffracted to 2.5 A.

[Relationship between birch pollen allergy and oral and pharyngeal hypersensitivity to fruit]

We evaluated the relationship between birch pollen allergy and oral and pharyngeal hypersensitivities to certain fruits. 1. Of 171 birch pollen CAP positive (score > or = 2) patients, twenty two (13%) were revealed to be hypersensitive to apples, eleven (6%) to be hypersensitive to peaches, both rates being higher than those found in patients with other CAP positive reactions (orchard grass pollen CAP, mugwort pollen CAP or Dermatophagoides pteronyssius CAP positive). 2. Among the birch pollen CAP positive patients, the higher the CAP score for birch pollen, the higher the prevalences of hypersensitivity to apples and peaches were found to be. 3. Of 171 birch pollen CAP positive patients, six (3.5%) were revealed to be hypersensitive to kiwi fruit. Of 253 patients with other CAP positive reactions, three (1%) were revealed to be hypersensitive to kiwi fruit.

Correlation between serum prolactin levels and hepatocellular tumorigenesis induced by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in mice

Ovariectomy at 1 month of age promotes development of hepatocellular adenomatous nodules in female C57BL/6 x DS-F1 mice treated neonatally with 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB). Implantation of oestradiol-17 beta (E2) pellets at 1 month of age suppresses nodule development. Since E2 increases serum levels of prolactin, high serum levels of prolactin in mice that have received implants of E2 pellets may play a role in the suppression of hepatocellular tumorigenesis. Therefore, to investigate the role of prolactin in hepatocellular tumorigenesis, we examined development of adenomatous nodules in female mice that had been treated neonatally with 3'-Me-DAB and had undergone ovariectomy at 1 month of age, under various serum levels of prolactin. Treatment of these mice with perphenazine (dopamine antagonist) from 6 months of age or transplantation of pituitary glands under the renal capsule at 6 months of age markedly increased serum levels of prolactin and significantly suppressed the incidence of adenomatous nodules at 12 months of age. Implantation of E2 pellets at 1 month of age increased serum levels of prolactin to a greater extent and further decreased the incidence of adenomatous nodules. Treatment of mice that had received implants of E2 pellets at 1 month of age with bromocriptine (dopamine agonist) from 6 months of age decreased serum levels of prolactin, and was accompanied by an increase in the incidence of nodules. The present results showed that an increase in serum levels of prolactin was accompanied by a decrease in incidence of liver tumours induced by 3'-Me-DAB in mice, suggesting a suppressive effect of prolactin on liver tumorigenesis in mice. Thus, it is possible that the suppressive effect of oestrogen on liver tumorigenesis in mice is mediated, at least in part, by prolactin.

[A case of myelodysplastic syndrome who died of septic pulmonary embolism]

A case of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) complicated by septic pulmonary embolism is reported. A 61-year-old female who had been followed for refractory anemia with excess of blasts suddenly died of acute respiratory failure. An autopsy revealed massive pulmonary emboli with gram-positive cocci gathered in the emboli and alveolar spaces. Staphylococcus aureus was also detected through a blood culture from the right atrium. We speculate that pulmonary embolism was the result of septicemia induced by the immunosuppressive condition associated with MDS.

Effects of V1- and V2-vasopressin (AVP) antagonists on the pressor, AVP and atrial natriuretic peptide responses to a hypertonic saline infusion in conscious anephric rats

To examine the role of vasopressin (AVP) receptors in the regulation of the hemodynamics and release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and the participation of renal nerve inputs in the osmotic AVP release, hypertonic saline (HS) was infused into conscious, bilaterally nephrectomized rats with non-peptide, selective antagonists for the V1-receptor or V2-receptor of AVP. In the control group, HS alone increased mean arterial pressure, plasma ANP and AVP, plasma volume and plasma osmolality, and decreased the heart rate. In the V1-receptor antagonist group, an increase in the mean arterial pressure and a decrease in heart rate were completely abolished and an increase in plasma ANP was attenuated. In the V2-receptor antagonist group, increases in mean arterial pressure and plasma ANP and a decrease in heart rate were attenuated. However, the ratio of the changes in heart rate to the changes in mean arterial pressure in the V2-receptor antagonist group is significantly higher than that in the control group. In both experimental groups, increases in plasma AVP, plasma volume and plasma osmolality were not different from those in the control group. These results suggest that a HS-induced increase in mean arterial pressure is mediated by the pressor effect of AVP, mainly through V1-receptors, and that the depressor effect of AVP through V2-receptors may not influence tonically HS-induced hypertension. Moreover, HS-induced increase in plasma ANP is mediated mainly by increases in plasma volume and blood pressure, but may not be affected by a direct action of AVP to the heart. Renal afferent nerve inputs may not have effects on the regulation of osmotic AVP release.

[Leiomyosarcoma metastatizing to the sphenoid bone presenting exophthalmos: a case report]

A rare subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma metastatizing to the sphenoid bone and presenting exophthalmos is reported. A 56-year-old female presented with protrusion of the right eye and a slowly growing lump on the right temporal region. Six years previously, she had undergone removal of a subcutaneous mass in the back, which was histologically diagnosed in another hospital as leiomyosarcoma. She had undergone four other operations, including removal of local recurrences and a right renal metastasis. On admission, physical examination showed no neurological deficits. Craniogram revealed an osteolytic lesion without marginal sclerosis in the right sphenoid bone. CT showed an inhomogeneously enhanced mass with irregular expansion of the diploic space, which was partly invading the right orbit. MRI demonstrated an extradural mass in the right sphenoid region, which was slightly low-intense in T1-weighted image, high-intense in T2-weighted image, and inhomogeneously enhanced by Gd-DTPA. Right external carotid angiogram showed a highly vascular stain fed by meningeal arteries. Radionuclide bone scintigram showed multiple high-uptake areas in the left femoral head, the ribs, and the sphenoid bone. Preoperative embolization of the tumor vessels fed by the external carotid artery was performed. Following this procedure, the tumor stain disappeared completely. The tumor was totally excised with minimal bleeding through an orbitozygomatic approach. The tumor was loosely adherent to the dura and periorbit. The bone defect was covered with a methylmethacrylate resin plate. the histological examination demonstrated fascicular arrangement of the spindle shaped cells with mitotic figures. Immunohistochemical studies showed that most tumor cells were positive for actin and myosin, but negative for desmin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Applications of minisatellite variant repeat (MVR) mapping for maternal identification from remains of an infant and placenta

Minisatellite variant repeat (MVR) mapping using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at D1S8 (MS32) was applied to a practical forensic case of an infant and placenta found in an incinerator. They were thought to be left for a few days postmortem, and the infant was severely burnt when found. DNA was extracted from the infantile muscle and maternal placental hematoma. MVR-PCR analysis as well as other common DNA typing (D1S80, HLA-DQA1) were performed on both DNA samples. Both MVR diploid codes were matched although some extra faint bands in the ladder were observed from the maternal placental sample, which probably indicated superimposing of an allele derived only from the mother, and not the infant. In order to detect the original maternal alleles, three flanking polymorphic sites were typed and allele-specific MVR-PCR was performed. Finally, one maternal allele not inherited by the infant and two alleles from the infant were typed. Two alleles suggested the infant and/or mother was Japanese. The two diploid codes including one possibly from the mother were deduced and compared with other codes in the databases for evaluating the discriminating power.

Enhancement of the binding of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to the very low density lipoprotein receptor by apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein lipase

The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor plays a crucial role in cholesterol metabolism. A related protein, designated the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor, that specifically binds apolipoprotein (apo) E has recently been characterized and shown to be expressed in heart, muscle and adipose tissue and the human monocyte-macrophage cell line THP-1. The VLDL receptor binds and internalizes VLDL and intermediate density lipoprotein from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits as well as beta-migrating VLDL from cholesterol-fed rabbits but not LDL from WHHL rabbits. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the rabbit VLDL receptor cDNA have now been shown to bind or internalize VLDL (d < 1.006 g/ml) isolated from fasted normolipidemic human subjects with lower affinity than WHHL-VLDL or rabbit beta-VLDL. However, binding and internalization were markedly enhanced when fasted human VLDL was preincubated with either recombinant human apoE (3/3) or lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in CHO cells overexpressing the rabbit or human VLDL receptor. CHO cells transfected with both the rabbit VLDL receptor cDNA and the human LPL cDNA effectively bound, internalized, and degraded fasted human VLDL without pretreatment. Treatment of heparinase reduced the effect of LPL-mediated binding at 4 degrees C, but the inhibitory effect was lower at 37 degrees C. Pseudomonas LPL also enhanced the binding of human fasted VLDL to the VLDL receptor at 37 degrees C in CHO cells overexpressing the human VLDL receptor. Taken together, LPL causes the enhancement of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins binding to the VLDL receptor via both the formation of bridge between lipoproteins and heparan sulfate proteoglycans and its lipolytic effect. Ligand blot analysis showed that the apparent molecular mass of the VLDL receptor is 118 kDa, which is smaller than that of the LDL receptor. These results indicate that the VLDL receptor recognizes both triglyceride-rich lipoproteins that are also relatively rich in apoE, as well as the remnants of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins after catabolism and the interaction with heparan sulfate proteoglycans by LPL. The VLDL receptor may thus function as a receptor for remnants of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in extrahepatic tissues.

Investigation of tau-2 positive microglia-like cells in the subcortical nuclei of human neurodegenerative disorders

An anti-tau monoclonal antibody tau-2 was demonstrated to react with the cells which characteristically appeared in the subcortical nuclei of certain neurodegenerative disorders. These cells had rod-like cell bodies and elongated processes, whose morphology was consistent with that of reactive microglia (tau-2 positive microglia-like cells; TPMC). TPMC were diffusely scattered in the subcortical nuclei, especially the putamen, irrelevant to focal tissue injury such as infarcts and amyloid deposits. TPMC were positively immunostained with anti-ferritin antibody, but negatively with LN3, anti-GFAP, other kinds of anti-tau and anti-neurofilament antibodies. TPMC were found in some cases of Alzheimer type dementia and diffuse Lewy body disease, but not in the cases of Parkinson's disease, Pick's disease and control without neurological disorder. Similar microglia-like cells were found around infarctic foci and amyloid cores of senile plaques, regardless of the disorder. They were, however, different from TPMC in that they were positively immunostained with LN3.

Isolation and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in rats trapped at restaurants in buildings in downtown Tokyo

165 (18.1%) out of 910 rats captured at restaurants in 14 buildings in downtown Tokyo were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. The 165 S. aureus strains isolated were biotyped into A, B, C, D, G, and untypable groups (UT1 and UT2). The UT1 was the most frequent (72 strains, 43.6%), followed by biotype G (33 strains, 20.0%). The strains were classified into coagulase types I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and an untypable group. Coagulase type V was the most frequent (92 strains, 55.8%), followed by coagulase type VII (25 strains, 15.2%). Enterotoxins A, B, C, or D were produced by 35 strains. Enterotoxins A and B were the most frequent (13 strains each). Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 was produced by 3 strains. 65 strains were resistant to ampicillin, 2 to oxytetracycline, and 1 to erythromycin.

[The effect of MS-430, a synthetized pyrimidine compound, on regeneration of nerve fibers of rats after crush injury--a morphometric study]

One of the synthetized pyrimidine compounds, 2-piperidino-7-methyl-6-oxo-5,6-dihydro-(7H) pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine maleate (MS-430), has neurotropic effects in vitro. Therefore, we studied the effect of MS-430 on regeneration of the myelinated fibers of the peroneal and sural nerve of Sprague-Dawley rats after crush injury in two tests, intraperitoneally administered daily 1.0 mg/kg (test 1, n = 7) and 7.5 mg/kg (test 2, n = 8) of MS-430, respectively. We then compared the effects with the control rats (n = 7) administered similarly as in the tests with physiological saline for 14 days from the day after crushing. Twenty-four hours after completion of the administration, the sural nerves at 7.5 mm and 15 mm distal to the crushed site, and the peroneal nerve at 15 mm distal to the crushed site were removed from each rat used in the two tests and from the controls, and then embedded into epoxy resin. In the sural nerve, the total number of regenerated myelinated fibers per nerve in test 2 was greater (P < 0.05) than in the controls at 7.5 mm distal to the crushed site. However, it was similar among the three groups at 15 mm distal to the crushed site. In the case of the peroneal nerve, it was greater in both tests 1 and 2 than in the controls, however the difference was not statistically significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult left isomerism complicated with life threatening arrhythmias detected by the use of biplane transesophageal echocardiography: a case report

Left isomerism with critical arrhythmia in a 34-year-old housewife is reported. Left isomerism is rare among adult congenital disorders. The prognosis in childhood depends on intractable heart failure, but is unclear in adulthood. We describe an adult patient with left isomerism who recovered from life-threatening arrhythmias. Transesophageal echocardiography was especially useful to identify the morphology of both atrial appendages.

Upregulation of respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by a bleomycin derivative, peplomycin

The influence of peplomycin (PLM) on the respiratory burst of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) was investigated. Short-term (5 min) treatment of human PMN with 0.1mu g/ml to 100mu g/ml of PLM increased phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)- and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. PMN, as well as alveolar macrophages from rabbits treated with 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg of peplomycin per day for 5 days, generated more superoxide (O2-) than the cells from untreated rabbits. In both PLM-treated and untreated PMN, chemiluminescence induced by FMLP and PMA was decreased to less than 50% of the control by staurosporine, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. However, the peak intensity in PLM-untreated PMN was decreased to about 30% of the control by genistein, while this agent induced a slight decrease in peak intensity in the PLM-treated PMN. Inositol triphosphate and diacyl glycerol levels were not clearly increased by PLM, but an increase of intracellular Ca++ and a shift of protein kinase C (PKC) to the membrane occurred in PMN within 1 min after PLM treatment. Western blotting revealed that the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 115 kDa protein was upregulated by 5 to 50mu g/ml of PLM. While, PLM suppressed SOD activity in alveolar macrophages and PMN. These results seem to indicate that PLM increases the respiratory burst of PMN and macrophages both by way of direct PKC activation and by the upregulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. This increased reactive oxygen generation, together with the suppression of SOD activity seems to be tissue-impairing.

Coexistence of subepidermal calcified nodule and keratosis punctata in a patient with hyperhidrosis

A 47-year-old female with hyperhidrosis developed multiple subepidermal calcified nodules and keratosis punctata on her palms. Although calcification was not detected on eccrine sweat glands around the calcified mass by histologic examination, it was supposed that the eccrine sweat glands may have played a role in inducing these two lesions in our case.

Possible involvement of mononuclear cells stimulated with specific allergen from asthmatic patients in ICAM-1 expression on the eosinophilic cell line

Adhesion molecules, particularly intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), recently have been considered to play a key role in inflammatory processes in asthma. Thus, from the point of view of cell interactions between mononuclear cells and eosinophils, we examined whether the supernatant of mononuclear cells (MNC) obtained from mite-allergic asthmatic patients cultured with specific allergen is involved in ICAM-1 expression using an eosinophilic cell line (EoL). ICAM-1 expression was induced by the supernatant of MNC from mite-allergic asthmatic patients stimulated with mite allergen as well as by a combination of IL-3, GM-CSF, and IL-5. Thus, we could conclude that some cytokines produced by specific allergen-stimulated MNC in asthmatics might be involved in allergic inflammation through the induction of adhesion molecule expression such as ICAM-1 on eosinophils in asthma or allergic disorders.

Is there a third peripheral catecholaminergic system? Endogenous dopamine as an autocrine/paracrine substance derived from plasma DOPA and inactivated by conjugation

In mammals, the sympathetic neurotransmitter is norepinephrine (NE), and the main adrenomedullary hormone is epinephrine (EPI). The sources and physiological roles of the third endogenous catecholamine, dopamine (DA), outside the brain have been obscure. Several lines of evidence suggest that in the periphery, rather than DA serving only as the precursor for the active compounds, released from sympathetic nerves and the adrenal medulla, DA may also act as an autocrine/paracrine regulator of local organ function. Thus, in the kidneys, most of DA formation appears to be from proximal tubular uptake of plasma DOPA, and binding of locally formed DA to dopaminergic receptors decreases Na/K ATPase activity and thereby accentuates natriuresis. In the gastric mucosa, DA may modulate sodium absorption and acid secretion. Recent clinical and laboratory animal evidence has indicated that the lungs and mesenteric organs contribute substantially to total body production and metabolism of DA. Generation of DA in non-noradrenergic, non-adrenergic cells can explain why human urine contains higher concentrations of DA and its metabolites than of NE and its metabolites. The vast preponderance of plasma DA in humans is sulfoconjugated. Since patients with sympathoneural failure have normal plasma levels of DA sulfate, one may speculate that the sulfoconjugating mechanism is relatively independent of sympathetic nerves and acts to localize DA effects and inactivate DA entering the circulation. These considerations lead to the concept of a third peripheral catecholaminergic system, where DA derived from plasma DOPA acts as an autocrine/paracrine substance and is inactivated by conjugation.

Amino acids and glucose differentially increased extracellular 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the rat brain

To reveal the role of serotonergic neurons in the regulation of feeding, the levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolite of serotonin, in the striatum and the hypothalamus were continuously monitored by an in vivo microdialysis technique. Intake of 20% casein diet did not induce significant changes in the 5-HIAA level in these regions. When rats were fed on 5% casein diet (83.5% carbohydrate diet) for 2 h, the level of 5-HIAA in the striatum gradually increased and reached a maximum (226 +/- 44% of basal level, M +/- SEM, n = 7) at 4 h after stopping the diet. In the medial hypothalamus, its level also increased to 183 +/- 19% (n = 10) at 2 h after starting the diet. On the other hand, a 60% casein diet increased the level of 5-HIAA in the lateral hypothalamus to 138 +/- 19% (n = 10) at 2 h after starting the diet. The intravenous infusion of each of these nutrients, glucose, amino acid mixture or lipid, produced more rapid elevation of the 5-HIAA level than oral intake of the diets. When rats were infused with glucose, its level in the striatum continued to be elevated. In the medial hypothalamus, glucose infusion increased 5-HIAA to the maximum (189 +/- 38%, n = 7) at 4 h after starting infusion. In contrast, serotonergic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus seemed to respond only to infusion of the amino acid mixture, and the level of 5-HIAA reached 163 +/- 14% (n = 5) of the basal level at 1 h after starting the infusion. These results suggest that rapid elevation of glucose or amino acids may independently stimulate serotonin metabolism in these brain areas, participating in the feedback regulation of nutrient intake.