Identification of three novel mutations and a high frequency of the Arg778Leu mutation in Korean patients with Wilson disease

Four mutations--R778L, A874V, L1083F, and 2304delC--in the copper-transporting enzyme, P-type ATPase (ATP7B), were identified in Korean Patients with Wilson disease. Arg778Leu, the most frequently reported mutation of this enzyme, was found in six of eight unrelated patients studied, an allele frequency of 37.5%, which is considerably higher than those in other Asian populations. The novel single nucleotide deletion, 2304delC, was found in one patient. Since a mutation at cDNA nucleotide 2302 (2302insC) had been previously described, this region of the ATP7B gene may be susceptible to gene rearrangements causing Wilson disease.

Identification of three novel mutations and a high frequency of the Arg778Leu mutation in Korean patients with Wilson disease

Four mutations--R778L, A874V, L1083F, and 2304delC--in the copper-transporting enzyme, P-type ATPase (ATP7B), were identified in Korean Patients with Wilson disease. Arg778Leu, the most frequently reported mutation of this enzyme, was found in six of eight unrelated patients studied, an allele frequency of 37.5%, which is considerably higher than those in other Asian populations. The novel single nucleotide deletion, 2304delC, was found in one patient. Since a mutation at cDNA nucleotide 2302 (2302insC) had been previously described, this region of the ATP7B gene may be susceptible to gene rearrangements causing Wilson disease.

Activation of two types of brain glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins by gabapentin

The stimulatory effects of gabapentin on the activities of two types of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) isoproteins homogeneously purified from bovine brain have been studied at various conditions. When the effects of different gabapentin concentrations on GDH activities were studied in the direction of reductive amination of 2-oxoglutarate with NADPH as a coenzyme, a marked activation was observed for both isoproteins, whereas both isoproteins showed activation to a lesser extent with NADH as a coenzyme. Stimulatory effects of gabapentin on GDH activities in the direction of the oxidative deamination of glutamate were also observed, but to a much lesser extent than reductive amination. There were big differences between the two GDH isoproteins in their sensitivity to the action of gabapentin. The largest activation was observed with GDH II when NADPH was used as a coenzyme. Half-maximal stimulation was reached at around 1.5 mM. Gabapentin relieved the inhibition of GDH isoproteins by GTP and this resulted in an increase in the apparent activation by gabapentin in the presence of GTP. 2-Oxoglutarate was found to give rise to high substrate inhibition and gabapentin reduced the substrate inhibition in the presence of 0.2 mM NADH. Since there are neurodegenerative disorders in which GDH activity is decreased, the therapeutic modulation of the activity of this enzyme may be clinically useful.

Effects of transferrin on the modulation of cytokine production on mouse spleen cells

In order to investigate the the effects of transferrin(Tf) on the production of cytokines, mouse spleen cells were treated with various concentrations of apo- and holo-Tf, and then the production of IL-6, IFN gamma and the expression of mRNA for TNF alpha was determined. The distribution of Tf, macrophages and T cells in the mouse mammary glands was also examined. IL-6 and IFN gamma producing capabilities of the unstimulated spleen cells in the presence of apo and holo-Tf were increased in a dose dependent manner, while the cells stimulated with anti-CD3 had no significant effects on production in thd presence of graded concentrations of Tf. The relative abundance of TNF alpha mRNA was significantly affected by the concentration of TF. During early involution almost all of the secretory epithelial cells and the secretion in the alveoli showed a very strong positive reaction to transferrin antibody, and macrophages and T cells were distributed in the lumen, alveolar epithelial layer and connective tissue area. These findings suggest that the upregulated patterns of these cytokines and distribution of immune cells may play a beneficial role in the augmentation of host's defense mechanisms during involution.

Augmented eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori by new combination therapy with lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and rebamipide

The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of a new combination regimen including an antioxidant, a proton pump inhibitor, and antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori and to document the changes of oxidative stress and cytokines involved in H. pylori-associated gastric inflammation. From 57 patients with endoscopically diagnosed gastric and/or duodenal ulcers associated with H. pylori infection five gastric antral biopsy specimens were taken for the diagnosis of H. pylori and for the experimental measures. The patients were then treated either with lansoprazole 30 mg + amoxicillin 1.5 g (LA group; 21 patients) or lansoprazole 30 mg + amoxicillin 1.5 g + rebamipide 300 mg (LAM group; 36 patients) for two weeks. Four weeks after the initiation of treatment, the patients were endoscoped again and biopsy specimens were obtained. Mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities; superoxide dismutase; catalase; glutathione peroxidase; cytokines IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha; and chemokines IL-8, GRO-alpha, RANTES (regulated on activation normal T expressed and secreted) were measured. Using paraffin-embedded tissue sections, in situ terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase (TdT) mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) for apoptosis and immunohistochemical staining for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were performed. Two weeks of treatment with the LA regimen resulted in 57.4% eradication rates of H. pylori, whereas two weeks of treatment with the LAM regimen resulted in 75.0% eradication rates. Eradication rates between these two groups were statistically significantly different (P < 0.05). Mucosal MDA levels and MPO activities were significantly lower in the LAM group than the LA group. Mucosal levels of cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha and of chemokines IL-8, GRO-alpha, and RANTES were all significantly decreased after the treatment of H. pylori, especially so in the LAM group. The apoptotic index and iNOS score were significantly reduced after the eradication of H. pylori. The addition of an antioxidative drug to the eradication regimen against H. pylori has advantages either in augmenting the eradication rates of H. pylori or in decreasing the oxidative stress and cytokines levels generated by H. pylori infection.

Possibility of chemoprevention by the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in H. pylori infection

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to study the changes of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) contents of DNA from human gastric mucosa with or without Helicobacter pylori and the changes of two biomarkers, iNOS and apoptosis, in gastric biopsies obtained before and after the eradication of H. pylori.

METHODS

DNA isolated from the biopsied human gastric mucosa was digested to deoxynucleotides by nuclease P1, then with Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase, and analyzed by HPLC-ECD system. 8-OH-dG content was expressed as the number of residues per 10(5) deoxyguanosine. iNOS immunohistochemical staining was performed with antihuman iNOS antiserum generated in mice at a dilution of 1:500, and in situ apoptosis was detected by in situ terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling. Both the density of H. pylori and the degree of inflammation were scored.

RESULTS

The 8-OH-dG contents of healthy normal controls with negative H. pylori were 4.31 +/- 2.33 (8-OH-dG/10(5) dG), whereas those of patients with positive H. pylori were 10.40 +/- 7.25. The difference between these two values was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The 8-OH-dG contents were significantly decreased after the eradication of H. pylori (12.22 +/- 2.09 vs. 2.42 +/- 1.22, p < 0.001). After the eradication of H. pylori, both the apoptotic index and the iNOS scores were significantly decreased, compared with those before eradication (3.72 +/- 1.74 vs. 1.17 +/- 1.06 for apoptosis and 10.34 +/- 6.79 vs. 1.43 +/- 1.14 for iNOS, p < 0.001). Statistically significant correlations were observed among apoptotic index, iNOS score, degree of inflammation, and density of H. pylori (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The increased levels of oxidative DNA damage, increased occurrences of apoptosis, and increased expressions of iNOS suggest mechanistic links between H. pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis.

B cell activation and Ig, especially IgE, production is inhibited by high CD23 levels in vivo and in vitro

The capacity of CD23 to regulate IgE production was evaluated in both an in vitro and an in vivo system. The decreased IgE response seen in CD23 transgenic mice was confirmed and observed to occur at all antigen doses used. In addition, purified B cells from the Tg animals in general exhibited lower IgE production when stimulated with CD40L and IL-4. To examine this down-regulating activity of CD23 an in vitro model system was developed. CHO cells were transfected with CD23, ICAM-1, or both CD23 and ICAM-1. ICAM-1 was chosen to enhance B cell-B cell interaction. Purified resting B cells were placed into culture with the mitomycin C-treated transfected or control CHO cells and activated with IL-4, IL-5, and CD40L-CHO. A dose-dependent decrease in IgE production was observed with increasing cell numbers of the CHO transfectants that expressed CD23. The effect lasted up to Day 3 of culture. B cell proliferation was also inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by increasing numbers of CD23-expressing cells suggesting a potential effect of CD23 on B cell apoptosis. In contrast, ICAM-1-transfected or CHO control cells had minimal effects on either Ig production or B cell proliferation. While IgE production was inhibited up to 95% by high numbers of CD23-transfected CHO cells, some inhibition of IgG and IgM production was also seen. Finally, the mechanism of CD23-mediated inhibition of IgE production was compared with the inhibition in IgE production seen when B cell were coactivated with multivalent anti-IgD in conjunction with CD40L plus optimal IL-4. To this end we used RT-PCR to compare the relative levels of epsilon-germline transcripts in control cultures and cultures coactivated by anti-IgD, CD40L, and IL-5 or activated in the presence of high levels of CD23-expressing cells. CD22 was used as an internal standard since levels change little with B cell activation. Coactivation strongly inhibited epsilon-germline transcript levels but the presence of CD23-expressing cells did not. Thus, coactivation potentially operates prior to isotype switching, while high CD23 coculture blocks either recombination or more likely B cell differentiation to high Ig producers stage. Our data support the hypothesis that IL-4 induces both IgE and a controlling agent for IgE, namely, CD23.

The usefulness of Tc-99m HMPAO labeled WBC SPECT in eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Tc-99m HMPAO labeled WBC SPECT was performed in 5 patients with eosinophilic gastroenteritis before and after successful medical therapy. The imaging findings were graded according to the following imaging scheme; grade 0, no uptake; grade 1, uptake < bone marrow; grade 2, uptake < liver; grade 3, uptake > liver. In no patient was the diagnosis made radiologically or with colonoscopy. The sites of involvement were identified with Tc-99m HMPAO WBC imaging in all patients before treatment and the radionuclide imaging studies were all negative after therapy.

Essential active-site lysine of brain glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins

Two soluble forms of bovine brain glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) isoproteins were inactivated by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Spectral evidence is presented to indicate that the inactivation proceeds through Schiff's base formation with amino groups of the enzyme. Sodium borohydride reduction of the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-inactivated GDH isoproteins produced a stable pyridoxyl enzyme derivative that could not be reactivated by dialysis. The pyridoxyl enzyme was studied through fluorescence spectroscopy. No substrates or coenzymes separately gave complete protection against pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. A combination of 10 mM 2-oxoglutarate with 2 mM NADH, however, gave complete protection against the inactivation. Tryptic peptides of the isoproteins, modified with and without protection, resulted in a selective modification of one lysine. In both GDH isoproteins, the sequences of the peptide containing the phosphopyridoxyllysine were clearly identical to sequences of other GDH species.

Modulation of the catalytic activity of brain succinic semialdehyde reductase by reaction with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate

An NADPH-dependent succinic semialdehyde reductase from bovine brain was inactivated by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Spectral evidence is presented to indicate that the inactivation proceeds through formation of a Schiff's base with amino groups of the enzyme. After sodium borohydride reduction of the inactivated enzyme, it was observed that 1 mol phosphopyridoxyl residue was incorporated/mol enzyme monomer. The coenzyme, NADPH, protected the enzyme against inactivation by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. After tryptic digestion of the enzyme modified with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in the presence and absence of NADPH followed by [1H]NaBH4 reduction, a radioactive peptide absorbing at 310 nm was isolated by reverse-phase HPLC. The amino acid sequence of the peptide identified a portion of the pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-binding site as the region containing the sequence I-L-E-N-I-Q-V-F-X-K, where X indicates that the phenylthiohydantoin amino acid could not be assigned. The missing residue, however, can be designated as a phosphopyridoxyl lysine as interpreted from the result of amino acid composition of the peptide. It is suggested that the catalytic function of succinic semialdehyde reductase is modulated by binding of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate to a specific lysyl residue at or near the coenzyme-binding site of the protein.

Molecular typing of Vibrio vulnificus isolates by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis

This study was undertaken to determine molecular types and genetic similarity among V. vulnificus isolates by RAPD analysis. We compared these results with serotypes of V. vulnificus. Ninety-seven V. vulnificus strains including 69 strains from Chonnam University Hospital (CUH; Kwangju, Korea), 13 from Wonkwang University Hospital (WUH; Iksan, Korea), 13 from the Japanese National Institute of Health (JNIH) and two reference strains (ATCC 33815 and ATCC 27562) were analyzed. Four molecular types comprising all the strains were obtained by RAPD analysis. Type I was the most common (60/95) and included 58 strains from CUH. Type I showed a further subdivision into seven subtypes. Type II (23/95) composed of 11 strains from CUH, nine from WUH, three from JNIH and two reference strains. Six type III strains comprised four WUH strains and two JNIH strains. All six strains of type IV were from JNIH. The range of genetic similarity values among V. vulnificus isolates was 0.24 to 1.00. The serotypes of 95 strains were 04 (84.2%), 014 (3.2%), 01 (2.1%), 013 (2.1%), and R (2.1%). The most common 04 serotype strains were distributed among types I (60 strains), II (23 strains), III and IV (six strains). Although the V. vulnificus isolates showed a wide range of genetic similarity values, RAPD analysis could separate V. vulnificus strains into four molecular types, and the isolates from the same hospitals tended to belong to the same molecular type. There was no specific correlation between molecular types and serotypes of V. vulnificus.

Distribution of succinic semialdehyde reductase in rat brain

Succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSR) that catalyzes the reduction of succinic semialdehyde (SSA) to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been identified as one of the NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductases. Reduction of SSA to GHB strongly supports the proposal that GHB biosynthesis may be an important step in the GABA shunt. It is pharmacologically significant in anesthesia, evoking the state of sleep, and an increase in brain dopamine level. Monoclonal antibodies against bovine brain succinic semialdehyde reductase were produced. Using the anti-succinic semialdehyde reductase antibodies, we investigated the distribution of brain succinic semialdehyde reductase in rat brain. The brain tissues were sectioned with a basis on the rat brain atlas of Paxinos and were stained by the immunoperoxidase staining method using monoclonal antibodies. In the section of the frontal lobe, immunoreactive cells were observed in the lateral septal area, the ventral pallidum, which belongs to the substantia innominata. We could observe immunoreactive cells in the reticular thalamic nucleus, which is closely related with 'sleeping', the basal nuclei of Meynert, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease, and hypothalamic nuclei. Immunoreactive cells were also shown in raphe nuclei or the reticular formation of the midbrain, cerebellum, and inferior olivary nuclei of the medulla oblongata. Succinic semialdehyde reductase-immunoreactive cells were distributed extensively in rat brain, especially immunoreactive cells were strongly observed in the areas associated with the limbic system and reticular formation.

Role of rebamipide on induction of heat-shock proteins and protection against reactive oxygen metabolite-mediated cell damage in cultured gastric mucosal cells

Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) have been reported to be important in the pathogenesis of ischemia/ reperfusion-, ethanol-, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug-, or Helicobacter pylori-induced gastric mucosal injury. Rebamipide, a novel antiulcer agent, has been reported either to prevent various acute experimental gastric mucosal lesions or to accelerate the healing of chronic gastric ulcers. The underlying mechanism by which rebamipide exerts its cytoprotective effect in the damaged stomach is not fully determined. We investigated the role of rebamipide in protecting against ROM-mediated cell damage in gastric mucosal cells and in inducing cytoprotective proteins. Cells were exposed to ROM enzymatically generated by hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase. Cytotoxicity was quantified by measuring specific 51Cr release from prelabeled cells. ROM caused dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity and amount of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS). ROM-induced cytotoxicity and TBA-RS were dose-dependently decreased by the addition of rebamipide and/or catalase, but not by superoxide dismutase alone. The effects of rebamipide on electric spin resonance signal were investigated. We found that the DMPO spin adduct ESR signal of hydroxyl radicals (DMPO-OH) was significantly attenuated by rebamipide. Western blot analysis showed that induction of heat-shock protein (HSP70) was significantly increased following rebamipide administration in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these results, it is concluded that rebamipide exerted a protective effect on HX-XO-induced gastric mucosal cell cytotoxicity through one or more of the following mechanism(s): (1) inhibition of lipid peroxidation of the cell membrane; (2) hydroxyl radical scavenging activity; and (3) induction of cellular cytoprotective protein such as HSP70.

Identification of a peptide of the guanosine triphosphate binding site within brain glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins using 8-azidoguanosine triphosphate

Photoaffinity labeling with [gamma-32P]8N3GTP (8-azidoguanosine triphosphate) was used to identify the guanine binding peptides of the GTT binding site within two types of glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins (GDH I and GDH II) isolated from bovine brain. 8N3GTP, without photolysis, mimicked the inhibitory properties of GTP on GDH I and GDH II activities. Saturation of photoinsertion of GDH isoproteins revealed an apparent Kd of 8 microM (GDH I) and 24 microM (GDH II) for [gamma-32P]8N3GTP. Ion exchange and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to isolate photolabel-containing peptides generated with trypsin. This identified a portion of the guanine binding domain within the GTP binding site is the region containing the sequence I-S-G-A-S-E-X-D-I-V-H-S-A-L-A-Y-T-M E-R (GDH I) and I-S-G-A-S-E-X-D-I-V-H-S-G-L-A-Y-T-M-E-R (GDH II). The symbol X indicates a position for which no phenylthiohydantoin-amino acid could be assigned. The missing residue, however, can be designated as a photolabeled lysine since the sequences including the lysine residue in question have a complete identity with those of the other GDH species known. Also, trypsin was unable to cleave the photolabeled peptide at this site. Photolabeling of these peptides was prevented by the presence of GTP during photolysis, while other nucleotides could not reduce the amount of photoinsertion as effectively as GTP. These results demonstrate selectivity of the photoprobe for the GTP binding site and suggest that the peptide identified using the photoprobe is located in the GTP binding domain of the brain GDH isoproteins.

Comparison of antiproliferative effects of 1-histamine-2 receptor antagonists, cimetidine, ranitidine, and famotidine, in gastric cancer cells

In the immune system, histamine is known to suppress cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and nitrogen induced lymphocyte thymidine uptake, down-regulate some cytokines, and activate suppressor T-lymphocytes, and in the gastrointestinal system, histamine was reported to have trophic effects on gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Enhanced rates of cell proliferation by histamine are implicated in the pathogenesis. This study was designed since there is a lack of comparative data about the cell proliferations of histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2-RA), cimetidine, ranitidine, and famotidine, in gastric cancer. KATO-III and AGS cell lines were used in this experiment. The concentrations of the histamine and cimetidine were 10(-5)-10(-8) M, respectively and those of ranitidine and famotidine were 10(-6)-10(-9)M, respectively. Cell proliferation after drug treatment was evaluated by direct cell counting, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and MTT assay. Activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a rate limiting enzyme in polyamine synthesis, were measured after each drug treatment. Protein kinase A, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase system, was assayed using [alpha-32P]ATP. Histamine showed statistically significant cell proliferating effects in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001), the maximal effect in 10(-5) M concentration. ODC activities were increased in accordance with the increment of cell numbers after histamine treatment. Cimetidine reversed the histamine-stimulated cell proliferation significantly, the maximal effect in 10(-5) M concentration (P < 0.01). Although ranitidine showed the tendency to attenuate the cell proliferation dose-dependently, but without statistical significance, famotidine did not show such an effect at all. cAMP-dependent protein kinase activities were significantly increased following 10(-5) M histamine treatment, also reversed significantly by cimetidine co-administration (P < 0.01). Beneficial clinical outcomes could be anticipated from cimetidine treatment in patients with gastric cancer by anti-proliferating effects against gastric cancer cells. These effects of H2-RA are likely to be mediated by specific interactions at the H2-receptor.

Inactivation of an NADPH-dependent succinic semialdehyde reductase by o-phthalaldehyde

Incubation of an NADPH-dependent succinic semi-aldehyde reductase from bovine brain with o-phthalaldehyde resulted in a time-dependent loss of enzyme activity. The inactivation followed pseudo first-order kinetics with the second-order rate constant of 28 M(-1) s(-1). The inactivation was prevented by preincubation of the enzymes with NADPH, but not by succinic semialdehyde. There was a linear relationship between isoindole formation and the loss of enzyme activity. Spectrophotometric studies indicated that complete inactivation of the enzyme resulted from the formation of one isoindole derivative per molecule of enzyme, which was formed from the reaction of cysteine and lysine residues with o-phthalaldehyde at or near the enzyme active site.

In situ detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in liver tissue using a digoxigenin-labeled probe created during a polymerase chain reaction

The cellular localization of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in liver tissue was studied by nonisotopic in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probe created during a polymerase chain reaction on samples from 16 patients with chronic HCV infection. Hybridization signals were recognized in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, and a few hepatocytes had hybridization signals in the nucleus as well. HCV RNA positive hepatocytes were found in 1 of 9 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 2 of 5 patients with chronic active hepatitis, and in each of 2 patients with chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis. Positive signals were found in many hepatocytes within the lobule in liver sections of patients with advanced chronic active hepatitis. A number of HCV RNA positive hepatocytes were found in nodules, but not in the area of fibrosis. On the other hand, positive signals were found in a few hepatocytes scattered in the lobule in a patient with chronic persistent hepatitis. The mean ALT levels in the patients with positive signal (175.6 +/- 44.2 U/L) were significantly higher than in those without a signal (70.27 +/- 16.1 U/L) (P < 0.05). The findings suggest that a larger amount of HCV may be present during the advanced than during the early stages of type C hepatitis and nonisotopic in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled HCV cDNA probe created during a polymerase chain reaction deserves wider application for the detection of HCV replication in specimens.

Modification of brain glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate

Two soluble forms of brain glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins were inactivated by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate. Restoration of catalytic activity can be accomplished by dialysis and addition of an excess of cysteine or lysine. Spectral evidence is presented to indicate that the inactivation proceeds through Schiff base formation with amino groups of the enzyme. Inactivation became irreversible after reduction with NaBH4 and the NaBH4-reduced enzyme showed a characteristic absorption peak at 325 nm. Using spectral titration at 325 nm, the stoichiometry was 2 mol/mol of GDH subunit without protection and 1 mol/mol with protection, indicating the complete masking of one mol of lysine. The results with analogs of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate show that the aldehyde group, but not the phosphate group, is required for efficient inactivation.

Nutcracker syndrome: diagnosis with Doppler US

PURPOSE

To assess diagnosis of the nutcracker (renal vein entrapment) syndrome with Doppler ultrasonography (US).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Doppler US findings in 16 patients with the nutcracker syndrome and in 18 healthy control subjects were compared. The anteroposterior (AP) diameter and peak velocity (PV) were measured at the hilar portion of the left renal vein (LRV) and at the LRV between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery.

RESULTS

The mean AP diameters of the LRV were 10.0 mm +/- 2.0 (standard deviation) and 1.9 mm +/- 1.0 (ratio, 5.0 +/- 2.3) in the patient group and 7.2 mm +/- 1.8 and 2.3 mm +/- 0.6 (ratio, 3.3 +/- 1.1) in the control group. The PVs at the two locations were 14.2 cm/sec +/- 2.5 and 110.7 cm/sec +/- 35.8 (ratio, 7.9 +/- 2.7) in the patient group and 18.6 cm/sec +/- 3.7 and 50.9 cm/sec +/- 27.9 (ratio, 2.8 +/- 1.5) in the control group. Differences in AP diameter and PV were statistically significant between the two groups (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Doppler US of the LRV with measurement of the AP diameter and PV may be useful in diagnosing the nutcracker syndrome.

Two soluble forms of glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins from bovine brain

Two soluble forms of novel glutamate dehydrogenase isoproteins, designated GDH I and GDH II, have been purified from bovine brain. GDH I and GDH II were separated on a hydroxyapatite column and eluted by a step gradient at different phosphate concentrations (30 mM and 50 mM for GDH I and GDH II, respectively). The preparations were homogeneous on SDS/PAGE. GDH I and GDH II showed similarity in their molecular sizes and are composed of six identical subunits having a molecular size of 57,500 Da. Differences between the biochemical properties of GDH I and GDH II, such as N-terminal amino acid sequences of intact and tryptic-digested enzymes, kinetic parameters, optimum pH and heat stability, were extensively examined in both reductive amination of alpha-oxoglutarate and oxidative deamination of glutamate. The different effects of ADP on GDH isoproteins were also studied under various conditions. These results indicate that GDH I and GDH II, isolated from bovine brain, are novel and distinct polypeptides.

A novel glutamate dehydrogenase from bovine brain: purification and characterization

A soluble form of novel glutamate dehydrogenase has been purified from bovine brain. The preparation was homogeneous on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and composed of six identical subunits having a subunit size of 57,500 Da. The biochemical properties of glutamate dehydrogenase such as N-terminal amino acids sequences, kinetic parameters, amino acids analysis, and optimum pH were examined in both reductive amination of alpha-ketoglutarate and oxidative deamination of glutamate. N-terminal amino acid sequences of the bovine brain enzyme showed the significant differences in the first 5 amino acids compared to other glutamate dehydrogenases from various sources. These results indicate that glutamate dehydrogenase isolated from bovine brain is a novel polypeptide.

Ginsenosides activate DNA polymerase delta from bovine placenta

The activation of a DNA polymerase delta (pol delta) purified from bovine placenta by ginsenosides from Panax Ginseng C. A. Meyer has been studied. Preincubation of the enzyme with ginsenosides increased the polymerase activity 2.2-fold in a dose-dependent manner. There was a reproducible decrease in Km, in addition to a substantial increase in Vmax, in response to increasing concentrations of ginsenosides. Ginsenosides also activated the proofreading ability of 3'- to 5'-exonuclease activity associated with DNA pol delta. The coordinated activation of both polymerase and exonuclease activities of DNA pol delta by ginsenosides is consistent with the view that its polymerase and its exonuclease activities residue on the same protein molecule. UV/Vis difference spectroscopic studies suggested that the activation of DNA pol delta by ginsenosides might be due to the conformational change induced by ginsenosides binding.

Neutrophil chemotactic activities in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with bronchial asthma

OBJECTIVES

To elucidate the presence of neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) and characterize them in the bronchial trees of symptomatic patients with bronchial asthma.

METHODS

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were concentrated by ultrafiltration. Differential counts of BAL cells was performed upto 500 cells on the cytocentrifuge-prepared slides. NCF activities in concentrated BAL fluids were measured by using microchemotactic chamber. These NCF activities were characterized by heat-stability, sensitivity to trysin and solubility into organic solvent.

RESULTS

NCF activities were significantly higher in low molecular weight (LMW)-BAL fluid fraction below 5000 dalton than those in high molecular weight (HMW)-BAL fluid fraction. The NCF activities were significantly higher in the patients with bronchial asthma when compared to those of normal subjects. The LMW-NCF and HMW-NCF activities were correlated with the percentages of neutrophils in BAL fluid in the patients with bronchial asthma. The LMW-NCF activities were extractable into ether, stable to heat and resistant to trypsin.

CONCLUSIONS

Main NCF activities in BAL fluid are suggested to be lipid substances with low molecular weight less than 5000 dalton and these substances may recruit neutrophils into the bronchial trees of patients with bronchial asthma.