Panclicins, novel pancreatic lipase inhibitors. I. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activity

Panclicins A, B, C, D, and E are novel pancreatic lipase inhibitors isolated from Streptomyces sp. NR 0619. Structurally, panclicins A, B, C, D, and E are analogues of tetrahydrolipstatin (THL), which contains a beta-lactone and a N-formyl leucine ester, and the IC50s of panclicins A, B, C, D, and E for porcine pancreatic lipase are 2.9, 2.6, 0.62, 0.66, and 0.89 microM, respectively. The potency of the inhibitory activity of each compound is attributed to the amino acid moiety of each structure. The panclicins are either glycine-type compounds such as panclicins C, D, E, which are two to threefold more potent than THL, or they are alanine-type compounds such as panclicins A and B, which are less potent than the glycine compounds. The inhibitory profiles of the panclicins for other lipases such as post-heparin plasma lipases and bacterial lipases are similar to those for pancreatic lipase. Panclicins A, B, C, D, and E, in a manner similar to THL, irreversibly inhibit pancreatic lipase. However, the compounds don't irreversibly inhibit the enzyme as strongly as THL does.

Absence of paravascular nerve projection and cross-innervation in interscapular brown adipose tissues of mice

To determine whether a paravascular nerve projection or cross-innervation exists in the interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT), the distribution of noradrenergic or peptidergic nerve fibers in intact or denervated interscapular BAT pads of mice was examined histochemically. Noradrenaline (NA) fibers were visualized by the glyoxylic acid condensation method, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) and substance P (SP) fibers were detected immunohistochemically. Numerous NA-positive fibers and a few NPY- or SP-positive fibers were observed around intralobular arterioles in intact BAT pads. Some NA-positive fibers and very few NPY- or SP-positive fibers were seen around interlobular arteries. NA- and NPY-positive fibers were also found around brown adipose cells in the parenchyme of BAT, whereas SP-positive fibers were absent around the cells. However, all sections cut from denervated BAT pads of unilaterally or bilaterally denervated animals showed a total absence of NA-, NPY- or SP-positive nerve fibers. Therefore, neither a paravascular projection of NA, NPY, and SP fibers to the BAT nor a cross-innervation of these nerve fibers between the left and right BAT pads exists in the mouse BAT.

A small pedunculated adenomatous polyp of the colon found to contain the focus of invasive carcinoma extending to the serosa: report of a case

A small pedunculated polyp was detected among other polyps in the transverse colon of a 64-year-old man, the resected specimen of which showed an adenomatous polyp 1 cm in diameter, containing the foci of adenocarcinoma invading the submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. This case report stresses the importance of performing careful pathologic examination of resected specimens obtained from endoscopic polypectomy, even for small pedunculated colon polyps.

Age-related changes in fibre number, fibre size, fibre type composition and adenosine triphosphatase activity in rat soleus muscle

To study the aging of muscle fibres in red skeletal muscle, fibre number, fibre diameter and fibre type composition in the soleus muscle of male rats of 3, 12 and 24 months old were examined. The total number of muscle fibres remained unchanged, while average diameter increased slightly with increasing age. The staining intensity of myosin adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the fibres decreased with advancing age. Therefore, observation on the basis of myosin ATPase histochemistry alone is not adequate to study the aging of muscle fibres. In the muscles of 24 month-old animals, four fibre types were recognized; 1) many (52%) type I-O fibres showing weak ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) reactions with slight subsarcolemmal aggregates of diformazan (SAD); 2) some (33%) type M fibres showing weak ATPase and intense SDH reactions with marked SAD; 3) a few (12%) type O fibres showing weak ATPase and intense SDH reactions without SAD; and 4) very few (4%) type IIA fibres. Histochemical and morphometric results suggest that type I-O, type M and type O fibres are derived from type I, type I and type IIA fibres, respectively. Furthermore, no transitional fibres from type IIA to type I were observed. Therefore, age-related changes in fibre type composition in the muscle cannot be explained by the simple idea that most type IIA fibres are transformed into type I fibres.

[Influence of liver function on stereotactic microwave tissue coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma]

We studied 21 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis to investigate the influence of liver function on stereotactic microwave tissue coagulation therapy. The cases were divided into three groups by the operation. The first group received only hepatectomy, the second hepatectomy and coagulation therapy for any remaining tumor, and the third group received only coagulation therapy. In group one, the average value of ICG R15 increased from 26.6% to 33.8%. In group 2, the average value of ICG R15 increased from 18.9% to 32.1%. And in group 3, the initial ICG R15 was 26.1%; after four weeks, the ICG test was 25.4%. These results showed that coagulation therapy alone had less influence on hepatic function. We propose that the coagulation therapy should be selected for cases of HCC with liver cirrhosis which have a poor liver function.

Influence of urethane anesthesia and abdominal surgery on gastrointestinal motility in rats

The influence of various experimental treatments on propulsive gastrointestinal motility was examined in rats, using inulin as a marker. In unanesthetized rats without any surgery, the distribution center of inulin, which was expressed as a dimensionless distance normalized by the length of the small intestine, reached 0.587 down the intestinal tract from the pylorus 60 min after the intragastric administration of inulin. However, the distribution center of inulin moved only 0.061 in 60 min in unanesthetized rats with minimial abdominal surgery for intraduodenal administration of inulin, and did not move in unanesthetized rats with cannulas for perfusion or in the rats anesthetized with urethane and treated with abdominal surgery. In urethane-anesthetized rats without surgery, almost 100% of the inulin was recovered from the stomach 60 min after intragastric administration. These results suggest that gastrointestinal motility is extensively suppressed by minimal abdominal surgery as well as by anesthesia.

[Semi-radical transurethral resection of the prostate for small benign prostatic hyperplasia]

The conventional method of transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) is often not beneficial for small benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) because of a high frequency of postoperative bladder neck contracture (BNC). Herein, we examined the usefulness of semi-radical transurethral resection of the prostate (semi-radical TUR-P) from the view points of improvement of peak flow rate, the frequency of postoperative BNC and incidental carcinoma of the prostate in 79 cases of small BPH (group A) and 101 cases (group B) of large BPH in which less than 10 g for more than 10 g of the internal glands was resected, respectively. The bladder neck was resected carefully to avoid over resection which may cause BNC in small BPH cases. Satisfactory results were obtained in both groups, that is, the improvement of the peak flow rate from 7.03 +/- 3.79 ml/sec to 13.9 +/- 7.32ml/sec and from 4.96 +/- 2.88 ml/sec to 15.2 +/- 8.30 ml/sec, and the frequency of BNC were 2.53% (2/79) and 1.98% (2/101) in groups A and B, respectively. The frequency of incidental carcinoma of the prostate were 15.2% (12/79) and 17.8% (18/101) in groups A and B. We conclude that semi-radical TUR-P is a favorable maneuver for small BPH because of satisfactory improvement in peak flow rate with low frequency of postoperative BNC and its superiority in screening test for incidental carcinoma of the prostate.

Gastric emptying-limited oral absorption of alpha-linolenic acid administered as a milk fat-globule membrane (MFGM) emulsion in rats

As a study to assess the potential application of milk fat-globule membrane (MFGM), which is of natural origin and expected to be a safer alternative to synthetic emulsifiers, to pharmaceutical dosage forms, the oral absorption of alpha-linolenic acid was evaluated by the analysis of gastrointestinal disposition after oral administration as an MFGM emulsion to rats. A linear model incorporated with first-order gastric emptying followed by first-order intestinal absorption was fitted to the data of the remaining fraction of alpha-linolenic acid versus time profiles for the stomach and small intestine to estimate the rate constants of gastric emptying (kg) and intestinal absorption (ka). The ka (0.045 min-1) was about 4 times larger than the kg (0.011 min-1). The kg was comparable to the apparent oral absorption rate constant estimated by the pharmacokinetic analysis of plasma concentration data. These results suggest that the oral absorption of alpha-linolenic acid administered as MFGM emulsion is gastric emptying-limited and, hence, any change in the intestinal absorption process would only modestly affect its oral absorption.

Transglycosylation activity of Mucor hiemalis endo-beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase which transfers complex oligosaccharides to the N-acetylglucosamine moieties of peptides

A novel endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase in the culture fluid of Mucor hiemalis isolated from soil was found to have transglycosylation activity. This endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase, Endo-M, could liberate the complex type of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides by hydrolysis of diacetylchitobiose linkage from glycoproteins. The treatment of Endo-M with N-acetyl-glucosamine and asialotransferrin glycopeptide having the complex type of oligosaccharides resulted in the transfer of the released oligosaccharide from the glycopeptide to N-acetyl-glucosamine. The structure of the product after transfer was deduced to be (GlcNAc)2-Man-(Gal-GlcNAc-Man)2 by a combination method of pyridylamination and high performance liquid chromatography, and mass-spectrometry. The enzyme could transfer the complex type of oligosaccharide from asialotransferrin glycopeptide to bovine ribonuclease with the high-mannose type of oligosaccharide. This will lead to the construction of neoglycoproteins containing different types of oligosaccharides.

Molecular cloning of the human AH receptor gene promoter

A lambda phage clone containing a promoter region of the human Ah receptor gene was isolated. This clone spanned 13.8 kb and contained the 1st exon, the sequence of which completely matched the reported Ah receptor cDNA. Using RNase protection assay and primer extension analysis, the transcription initiation sites were determined to be 643 and 615 bp upstream of the translational initiation codon ATG. This promoter did not contain a TATA box, while multiple GC boxes were present close to the determined transcription initiation sites. Comparison of the 5' flank sequence of the human Ah receptor with its murine equivalent showed several well conserved regions, containing binding sites for known transcription factors, such as Sp1. The promoter activity was confirmed by transient transfection of chimeric constructs of the Ah receptor gene and reporter gene luciferase into hepatoma HepG2 cells.

Measurement of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase content in rat liver sections by quantitative immunohistochemistry with a video image processor

We have a quantitative light microscopic immunohistochemical method using video image processing. First, an antigen (NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase) content in homogenates of livers of rats was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Then frozen sections from rat livers were incubated with the anti-NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase antibody under saturation conditions by the indirect immunoperoxidase method. Subsequently, relative staining intensities in small portions and those in wide areas in the sections were measured with a video image processor. Finally, the resulting relative values obtained from the small portions were converted into absolute NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase contents using the results of enzyme immunoassay and the average relative staining intensity obtained from the wide areas in the sections. The reductase content in sections from rat livers measured by the image processing method coincided with the content measured by the microphotometric method using a nitrocellulose model system. The present image processing method is applicable to measurement of contents of antigens that can not be immobilized in model systems.

Different regulation and expression of the human CYP2E1 gene due to the RsaI polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region

The effects of two genetically associated polymorphisms [c1 allele: PstI -, RsaI +; c2 allele: PstI +, RsaI -] in the 5'-flanking region on the regulation and expression of the human CYP2E1 gene were investigated. DNase I footprinting and CAT activity analyses using various deletion mutants constructed with DNA segments from genotype A (c1/c1) or C (c2/c2) and SV40 or an endogenous promoter showed that the RsaI polymorphism affects the binding of a transcription factor and the transcriptional activation of CYP2E1, while the PstI polymorphism has little effect. The correlation between the genotypes and expression levels of CYP2E1 mRNA were examined in peripheral lymphocytes of 86 individuals by RT-PCR, the alcohol consumption by the subjects being taken into account. In non-drinkers, the mean ratio of the expression of CYP2E1 mRNA to that of GAPDH mRNA in genotype B (c1/c2) was 1.7-fold higher than that in genotype A (0.05 < p < 0.10). As compared to non-drinkers with genotype A, subjects with genotype B who drank alcohol on a daily basis expressed about 2.0-fold higher levels of CYP2E1 mRNA (p < 0.01). These results indicate that a RsaI polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region of CYP2E1 may lead to inter-individual differences in CYP2E1-mediated microsomal drug oxidation activities, including oxidation of N-nitrosamines.

Markers of hepatitis C and B virus infections among blood donors in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam

Blood donors in two cities in Vietnam were tested for markers of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus infections. Antibody to HCV was detected by passive hemagglutination with antigens of the second generation in 101 (20.6%) of 491 donors in Ho Chi Minh City; it was detected less frequently (P < 0.001) in donors in hanoi (4 [0.8%] of 499). HCV RNA was tested for in donors with antibody by PCR with nested primers from the 5'-noncoding region and detected in 79 donors in Ho Chi Minh City and 4 donors in Hanoi. HCV RNA was genotyped by PCR with type-specific primers from the core gene. Of 83 HCV carriers from Vietnam, 24 (29%) were infected with HCV of genotype I/1a 19 (23%) were infected with II/1b, 4 (5%) were infected with III/2a, and 2 (2%) were infected with mixed genotypes (I/1a and II/1b); HCV genotypes in the remaining 34 (41%) donors, including all 4 donors in Hanoi, were not classifiable into I/1a, II/2a, IV/2b, or V/3a. Of the 10 isolates with unclassifiable genotypes, 2 showed substantial sequence divergence within the 5'-noncoding region from reported isolates with known genotypes (I/1a to 6a). An analysis of part of the core gene sequence indicated that six of the remaining isolates most likely represented new HCV genotypes. Hepatitis B surface antigen and the corresponding antibody, respectively, were detected in 15 (3.1%) and 234 (47.7%) donors in Ho Chi Minh City as well as 15 (3.0%) and 248 (49.7%) donors in Hanoi. These results indicate an extensive spread of HCV among Ho Chi Minh City donors and HCV of novel genotypes in vietnam.

Establishing a physical map of chromosome No. 4 of Plasmodium falciparum

We isolated a panel of 20 DNA probes that hybridize specifically to chromosome No. 4 of Plasmodium falciparum and used them to construct a restriction map of chromosome No. 4 in the FCR3 strain. These probes were partially sequenced and had an insert size range of 70-310 bp (average 160 bp) and a GC content range of 19-53% (average 35%). Three probes were identical to previously described P. falciparum sequences. Two probes were homologous to an 18-bp repetitive sequence in a previously cloned P. falciparum gene but were not homologous to other parts of the gene. One probe sequence is a homologue of the heat shock protein, DnaJ. The location of these probes and four previously cloned probes on chromosome No. 4 were determined by using eight restriction enzymes that recognize 6-bp sites containing only G or C and 10 restriction enzymes that recognize 6-bp sites containing four G or C and two A or T. The locations of the probes were well distributed along the chromosome. Three probes were located at two sites and two probes were found at at least four sites on chromosome No. 4. Maps of chromosome No. 4 of the FCR3 strain, and three laboratory-selected, pyrimethamine-resistant derivative strains were constructed. Two of the strains, FCR3-D81 and FCR3-D85, each had two polymorphic forms of chromosome No. 4. Each of those polymorphic chromosomes had a duplicated part of the center of the chromosome making the cell diploid for the genetic material in that region. Those chromosomes also had an amplification and probable intrachromosomal translocation of a 50-kb fragment of chromosome No. 4. One strain derived from FCR3-D7, FCR3-D7-1 contained 20 copies of a tandemly amplified fragment carrying the dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene and an amplification of an unrelated part of the chromosome.

Interindividual difference in expression of human Ah receptor and related P450 genes

The genomic clones of human aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) and Ahr nuclear translocator (Arnt) were isolated, and the structures of exon-intron junctions of these genes were partially determined. Based on the sequence information, a quantitative RT-PCR analysis was developed, and the expression of these genes was studied in various human tissues. mRNAs for Ahr and Arnt were widely expressed in human tissues and abundantly in lung. Individual difference in expression levels of Ahr and Arnt mRNA was observed in liver, lung and blood. In order to examine whether expression levels of Ahr and Arnt were associated with those of CYP1A1, we studied the expression of these mRNAs in blood among 20 healthy subjects, taking account of individuals' cigarette smoking habits. We found that the expression levels of CYP1A1 appeared to associate with those of Ahr and Arnt mRNAs (P < 0.06), and also that the expression of Ahr and Arnt was influenced by cigarette smoking. The expression of human Ahr and Arnt is reported here for the first time, providing a quantitative RT-PCR analysis as a useful tool for further studies.

Evaluation of milk fat-globule membrane (MFGM) emulsion for oral administration: absorption of alpha-linolenic acid in rats and the effect of emulsion droplet size

The performance of milk fat-globule membrane (MFGM) emulsion as an oral dosage form was evaluated in rats using [14C]alpha-linolenic acid as a lipophilic model solute. For emulsions prepared by homogenization alone, the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) after oral administration tended to be larger for MFGM emulsion, 35.0 +/- 2.5 micrograms eq.h/ml (mean +/- S.E., n = 3), than for Tween 80 emulsion, 28.5 +/- 0.6 micrograms eq.h/ml at p < 0.1, though the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and the time required to reach Cmax (Tmax) were not significantly different. The absorption in the intestinal loop was not significantly different between the two emulsions, either. Thus, MFGM emulsion, compared with Tween 80 emulsion, did not show an obvious advantage or enhancement in the oral and intestinal absorption of alpha-linolenic acid, except for a slight increase in AUC. However, MFGM could be a good alternative to a synthetic emulsifier for oral use, considering that it is of natural origin and may be safer. In addition, it was shown that the AUC, as well as the absorption in the intestinal loop, was decreased for a MFGM emulsion in which the droplet size was reduced by sonication, presumably because of the observed decrease in alpha-linolenic acid concentration in the water phase, which was assumed to be the result of an increased distribution of alpha-linolenic acid, due to its amphipathic nature, to the increased oil-water interface.

Effects of ryanodine on development of myogenic response in rat small skeletal muscle arteries

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to elucidate the functional role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in myogenic contraction.

METHODS

Small arteries which perfuse the rat gracilis muscle were isolated and cannulated. The inner diameter was measured under no flow condition. Myogenic contraction was induced by increasing transmural pressure from 40 to 100 mm Hg. The diameter transient and the steady state internal diameter were analysed at 40 (ID40) and 100 mm Hg (ID100) of lumen pressure.

RESULTS

In control, the vessels dilated immediately after the pressure change, and then constricted over approximately 4 min (the diameter decay). ID40 and ID100 were 120(SEM 16) and 108(12) microns (n = 6, p < 0.05), respectively. Ryanodine (10(-5) M) decreased ID40 to 82(8) microns. The relative rate of the diameter decay in the first 1 min was lower in the ryanodine treated vessels than in control, at 43(1)% v 74(7)%, n = 6 (p < 0.05). While KCl constriction was similar to that of ryanodine, the diameter decay was identical to that of control. Thus a decrease in baseline diameter was not of itself the cause of the depressed rate of diameter decay in the ryanodine treated vessels. Nisoldipine (10(-6) M) abolished myogenic contraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Ryanodine sensitive sarcoplasmic reticular function is probably involved in the mechanism for developing the myogenic response in rat skeletal muscle small arteries.

Rapid detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 in stools of Peruvian cholera patients by using monoclonal immunodiagnostic kits. Loyaza Cholera Working Group in Peru

We compared stool culture with two commercial Vibrio cholerae O1 rapid diagnostic kits which detect antigen in 100 adults with cholera in Peru. Serum vibriocidal-antibody titer was used as an external reference. Both rapid diagnostic kits appeared to detect cholera more frequently than did culture and were highly specific.

Inter-organ relation between salivary gland and kidney in lithium excretion. IV. Saturation of inhibitory effect of NaCl on ductal reabsorption of Li+ in beagle dogs

The inhibitory effect of NaCl coadministration on the reabsorption of Li+ in the salivary ducts and the renal tubules was investigated in beagle dogs. Following the bolus intravenous administration of LiCl (0.145 meq/kg), 50 ml of NaCl solution (100, 200 meq/l) was administered orally each hour, and parotid saliva (Pr) and mandibular-sublingual saliva (MS) were collected under the continuous stimulation of salivation with citric acid. The renal clearance of Li+ increased with the increased concentration of administered NaCl solution. This could be a result of the competitive inhibition of the tubular reabsorption of Li+ by Na+. The salivary clearance of Li+ also tended to increase by the administration of NaCl. These results suggest the existence of a reabsorption process of Li+ in the salivary glands similar to that in the renal tubule. However, when the administered NaCl was increased from 100 to 200 meq/l, the renal clearance was further increased, but the salivary clearance was not. This suggests that the transport capacity of Li+ reabsorption is relatively small in the salivary glands, compared with that in the renal tubule, and that the inhibitory effect of NaCl on Li+ reabsorption had already reached a maximum level when 100 meq/l NaCl was administered.

Clinicopathologic study on lymph node metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study of 660 consecutive autopsy cases

There have been few reports in the literature concerning lymph node metastasis (LM) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nowadays, hepatectomy has become one of the most popular treatments for HCC, and understanding LM in HCC is indispensable at surgery for improving the patient's prognosis. In the present study, the authors verified this using autopsy cases. The clinicopathologic characteristics of LM have been studied in 660 consecutive autopsy cases of HCC at Kurume University Hospital during the past 22 years. LM was noted in 168 (25.5%) of the 660 cases, and was most frequent (66.7%) in HCCs of the pedunculated type. The incidence of LM was significantly higher in the massive type of HCC (30.1%) than the nodular type (19.9%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of LM was also higher in non-cirrhotic (34.8%) than cirrhotic cases (23.5%) (P < 0.05). No metastasis was found in tumors less than 3 cm in diameter. The metastasis rate increased to 40% in tumors larger than 10 cm in diameter. The LM sites were peripancreatic, 13.6%; hepatic hilar, 13.5% and perigastric, 10.8%. The incidence of LM in the perigastric nodes was significantly higher in tumors located in the left hepatic lobe. LM was not found in well-differentiated HCCs but was frequently found in poorly-differentiated HCCs. Extensive LM was found in 60% of HCCs with sinusoidal tumor growth and in 57% of cases showing sarcomatous changes.

Application of the random amplified polymorphic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction for efficient elimination of duplicate strains in microbial screening. II. Actinomycetes

We evaluated the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method using Streptomyces lavendulae and Streptomyces virginiae strains to eliminate duplicate actinomycete strains in our microbial screening program. The RAPD data were compared with phenotypic characteristics, DNA relatedness, HPLC analysis of metabolites and low-frequency restriction fragment analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These results were consistent with each other. Therefore, we conclude that RAPD is a simple, efficient, and reliable method for the selection of actinomycete strains.

Quantitative assessment of influence of aging on optokinetic nystagmus

A quantitative assessment of the influence of aging on optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) was investigated using 50 normal adults in ages ranging from 30 to 70 years. In linear stimulus-induced OKN, a statistically significant difference was demonstrated in slow-phase OKN velocity only between the 30-59 year old age group and the 70-79-year-old age group, when OKN stimulus was more than 60 degrees/s. Step stimulus-induced OKN was investigated in the same age groups in order to compare aging effects upon slow-phase OKN velocity. No statistically significant difference was found in slow-phase OKN velocity between younger age groups and the oldest age group. There was no significant difference in fast-phase velocity among the age groups. Thus, step-induced OKN has a wider clinical application than linear stimulus-induced OKN.

Cyclothialidine, a novel DNA gyrase inhibitor. II. Isolation, characterization and structure elucidation

Cyclothialidine is a novel DNA gyrase inhibitor produced by Streptomyces filipinensis NR 0484. It was isolated from the culture broth by charcoal adsorption, Diaion HP-21, Amberlite CG-50, DEAE Toyopearl, and Toyopearl HW-40 SF column chromatography. The structure of cyclothialidine was determined to be a unique twelve membered lactone by amino acid analysis and various 2D-NMR experiments. Cyclothialidine inhibited Escherichia coli DNA gyrase with an IC50 of 30 ng/ml.