Full-load expansion technique and preliminary clinical application

For accelerating the inflation process of soft-tissue expansion, a continuous inflation protocol regarding pain as the criterion of overinflation, the full-load expansion technique, has been introduced. It is carried out by restricting persistently the pressure in the expander near the pain threshold in a state of dynamic equilibrium between the infusing rate and the skin expansion velocity with a simple and practical device. This inflation is neither at a uniform infusion rate nor at a constant filling pressure. Nineteen expanders in 13 patients were inflated following this protocol. Their inflations were fulfilled in 5 to 20 days, depending individually on their anatomic regions, total volumes of infusion, areas of the overlying skin, and patient susceptibilities.

Sequential action of two-component genetic switches regulates the PHO regulon in Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis has an alkaline phosphatase (APase) gene family composed of at least four genes. All members of this gene family are expressed postexponentially, either in response to phosphate starvation or sporulation induction or, in some cases, in response to both. The phoA gene (formerly called phoAIV) and the phoB gene (formerly called phoAIII) products have both been isolated from phosphate-starved cells, and a mutation in either gene decreased the total APase expressed under phosphate starvation conditions. Data presented here show that a phoA phoB double mutant reduced APase production during phosphate starvation by 98%, indicating that these two genes are responsible for most of the APase activity during phosphate-limited growth. The promoter for phoA was cloned and used, with the phoB promoter, to examine phosphate regulation in B. subtilis. phoA-lacZ reporter gene assays showed that the expression of the phoA gene commences as the culture enters stationary phase as a result of limiting phosphate concentrations in the growth medium, thereby mimicking the pattern of total APase expression. Induction persists for approximately 2 h and is then turned off. phoA is transcribed from a single promoter which initiates transcription 19 bp before the translation initiation codon. PhoP and PhoR are members of the two-component signal transduction system believed to regulate gene expression in response to limiting phosphate. The expression of phoA or phoB in response to phosphate starvation was equally dependent on PhoP and PhoR for induction. lacZ-promoter fusions showed that both phoA and phoB were hyperinduced, or failed to turn off induction after 2 h, in a spo0A strain of B. subtilis. Mutations in genes which are required for phosphorylation of Spo0A, spo0B and spo0F, also resulted in phoA and phoB hyperinduction, suggesting that phosphorylation of Spo0A is required for the repression of both APases in wild-type strains. The hyperinduction of either APase gene in a spo0A strain was dependent on PhoP and PhoR. Analysis of a phoP-lacZ promoter fusion showed that the phoPR operon is hyperinduced in a spo0A mutant strain, suggesting that Spo0A approximately P represses APases by repressing phoPR transcription. We propose a model for PHO regulation in B. subtilis whereby the phoPR operon is transcribed in response to limiting phosphate concentration, resulting in activation of the PHO regulon transcription, including transcription of phoA and phoB. When the phosphate response fails to overcome the nutrient deficiency, signals for phosphorylation of Spo0A result in production of Spo0A approximately P, which represses transcription of phoPR, thereby repressing synthesis of the PHO regulon.

Growth factors and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (mitogen-activated protein kinase) in the rat pineal gland

The present study revealed that the pineal gland expressed basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and FGF-receptor 1 (FGFR1/flg), suggesting that bFGF in the pineal gland acts in an autocrine or paracrine manner, which is mediated by FGFR1/flg. The present study also examined gene expression of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) family (ERK1-3) which may be intracellular signal mediators of growth factors. ERK1 [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-kinase)] was strongly expressed throughout the pineal gland, while expression of ERK2 and ERK3 was not found. These findings suggest the presence of a signal pathway from bFGF to ERK1 via FGFR1/flg in the pineal gland.

(R)-2-hydroxy-3-iodo-2-methylpropyl 4-nitrobenzenesulfonate

The global minimum conformation, as computed by PCMODEL [Gajewski & Gilbert (1992). Serena Software, Bloomington, IN, USA], of the title compound agrees with that observed in the crystal. In the crystal, the torsion angles I--CH2--C--CH2O, ICH2--C--CH2--O, C--CH2--O--S and CH2--O--S--C are -57.7 (4), -61.7 (4), 171.2 (2) and -73.0 (3) degrees, respectively. Weak intermolecular hydrogen bonding connects OO--H and OS = O with an O ... O distance of 2.927 (4) A and an angle about the H atom of 165 (4) degrees.

Phosphopeptides as substrates for thylakoid protein phosphatase activity

Lack of a suitable substrate has been a major obstacle in studying the chloroplastic thylakoid membrane protein phosphatase activity. In this study, the suitability of synthetic phosphopeptides for this purpose was investigated. Phosphothreonine-containing phosphopeptides mimicking the N-terminal phosphorylation site of the major thylakoid phosphoprotein, the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein (LHCP-II), were dephosphorylated by isolated peak thylakoid membranes. Phosphopeptides representing unrelated sequences or in which the target phosphothreonine had been changed to a phosphoserine were not dephosphorylated. The dephosphorylation of phosphopeptides by thylakoid membranes was similar to the dephosphorylation of endogenous LHCP-II in its pH-dependence profile, sensitivity to inhibitors, and bivalent cation requirement. The same phosphopeptide analogs of the LHCP-II phosphorylation site inhibited endogenous LHCP-II dephosphorylation in isolated thylakoids, whereas the dephospho-analogs and nonsubstrate phosphopeptides had no effect. Collectively, these results suggest that phosphopeptides mimicking a thylakoid phosphoprotein dephosphorylation site can be exploited for further study of the thylakoid protein phosphatase activity.

Effects of fish oil supplementation on acute ischemic brain injury in the rat

We studied the effects of long-term fish oil (FO) dietary supplementation on brain edema, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration, and infarct size in a rat stroke model. Rats were given regular rat chow with or without FO supplement (20% of total calories) for 7 weeks. Body weight did not differ between the two groups. In the FO group, an increase in eicosapentaenoic acid and a decrease in arachidonic acid content in hepatic phospholipids were significant in the phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine but not in the phosphoinositol fraction. Platelet activity reflected by serum thromboxane B2 levels was reduced in the FO group. Postischemic brain edema and PMN infiltration were not different between the two groups. The infarct volume was significantly greater in the FO group (controls: 96 +/- 7 mm3, n = 49; FO group: 124 +/- 6 mm3, n = 53; p = 0.0036). The greater ischemic brain injury in the FO-supplemented animals is probably related to the intraischemic hyperglycemia, which was worse in the FO group than in the control group (controls: 265 +/- 19 mg/dl, n = 14; FO group: 340 +/- 18 mg/dl, n = 16; p = 0.0079).

Epidemiological aspects of fatal and severe injury urban freeway crashes

Two types of crashes are common on urban freeways: in-lane rear-end impacts with stopped or slowed vehicles and those where a vehicle leaves the roadway (and road shoulder) and impacts with obstacles outside traffic lanes. Crashes resulting in a fatal or severe injury to a vehicle occupant were identified from crash records in the regional office of the California Department of Transportation for the 1,500 miles of freeways in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange counties, California, for 1984 and 1985. Selected road characteristics were assessed and traffic-volume data obtained for these freeways to determine the relationship of these types of crashes to freeway features. Fatal- or severe-injury crash rates were highest for off-road crashes compared with in-lane crashes, with certain lanes having more frequent in-lane collisions and with a higher rate of in-lane crashes in freeway segments without a left shoulder. Off-road collisions were significantly more frequent in the absence of a right shoulder and on freeways with two or three lanes. Multivariate analyses that control for selected confounding factors such as traffic volume show similar findings including strong association with hour of crash.

Coexistence of amyloid beta-protein precursor and basic fibroblast growth factor in single cells of the rat parietal cortex, hippocampus and basal magnocellular nucleus

The coexistence of amyloid beta-protein precursor (APP) and basic fibroblast growth factor (basic FGF) in single cells of the parietal cortex, hippocampus and basal magnocellular nucleus was investigated immunohistochemically in adult rats. A monoclonal antibody directed against human recombinant APP and a polyclonal antibody against a synthetic fragment of basic FGF (the N-terminal 12 residues) were used. APP and basic FGF were frequently colocalized in the pyramidal cells of layers III and V of the parietal cortex, in the pyramidal and extrapyramidal cells of the hippocampus, and in large cells of the medial septal nucleus and the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca. Such a frequent colocalization suggests a close functional relationship between APP and basic FGF in the neuronal cells.

Clinical and experimental studies of JPYS in reducing side-effects of chemotherapy in late-stage gastric cancer

This article reports a research project undertaken for more than 16 years by the Cancer Department of Guang An Men Hospital. Tonic Jian Pi Yi Shen (JPYS), which nourishes the spleen and kidney, was used in combination with chemotherapy in the treatment of late stage gastric cancer patients for the purpose of promoting completion of the chemotherapeutic course, improving the general condition, ameliorating the reaction in the digestive system, protecting hemopoiesis and strengthening immunocompetence. The results of lab experiments were found to coincide with those of clinical application.

[Diagnosis and treatment of extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas]

Eleven cases of extraadrenal pheochromocytoma were diagnosed and treated. When using general image and endoscopic examination, most tumors of this kind were accurately located. "Stimulant symptoms of tumors" were also helpful in locating the tumors. "Symptoms of tumor's clear away" were helpful in determining whether the tumor has been radically resected or not. The difficulty in operation is related to the occurrence of the tumor. If the tumor occurs in the postperitoneal region, there is a risk for the operation. Adequate preparation before operation is the key to a successful operation. Enucleation is not advisable for this tumor.

[The value of serum tumor-associated glycoprotein 72 (TAG 72) in the diagnosis of malignancies]

Serum TAG 72 concentrations of 110 normal subjects, 110 patients with benign diseases and 109 with malignant diseases were determined by a solid phase radioimmunoassay. Its levels in normal subjects were 1.6 +/- 1.5 u/ml (mean +/- SD, range 0-8.2 u/ml) and the cut-off limit was set at 4.6 u/ml. The positive rates in benign and malignant patients were 5.5% and 48.6%, respectively. Among the malignancies, 80.0% of ovarian and 63.6% of colon carcinomas had positive test results. The specificity for differentiating malignancies from benign diseases was 94.5% and the accuracy of diagnosis was 71.7%. The present study indicates that TAG 72 as a tumor marker is helpful in the diagnosis of malignancies.

[Effect of CCK receptor antagonists on plasma CCK bioassay]

Fasting and postprandial plasma CCK levels of 102 normal subjects were measured by bioassay with dispersed rat pancreatic acini. The reference values ranged from 0 to 4.2 pmol/L (CCK-8 equivalents) for fasting and from 1.1 to 13.5 pmol/L for postprandial state. There was no significant difference between male and female, or in different age groups. The effects of CCK receptor antagonists of 3 different categories on CCK bioactivity in plasma measured by the bioassay were investigated. L 364,718 (5 nmol/L), proglumide (1.0 mmol/L), or Bt2-cGMP (0.1 mmol/L) was either extracted by SEP-PAK C18 cartridges together with human plasma containing 8 pmol/L of CCK-8, or added into the plasma extracts before the assay. The CCK bioactivity was inhibited by all of the 3 CCK antagonists. The action of L364,718 could be eliminated by the procedure of plasma extraction, but not of proglumide or Bt2-cGMP. It was suggested that CCK bioassay can be used even if L364,718 was administered. However, CCK cannot be measured accurately if there are proglumide or Bt2-cGMP in the plasma.

Clonal evolution in a myeloid cell line transformed to interleukin-3 independent growth by retroviral transduction and expression of p210bcr/abl

Current evidence suggests that the expression of the tyrosine kinase p210bcr/abl in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) may directly induce the initial phase of granulocytic hyperplasia. However, the dysregulation of additional genes appears to be required for transition to the acute leukemic phase, as inferred by the appearance of recurrent secondary cytogenetic abnormalities in the majority of patients. To determine whether the expression of p210bcr/abl alone is responsible for this genetic instability, we introduced and expressed the bcr/abl gene from a retroviral vector in a clone of the interleukin-3 (IL-3) dependent myeloblastic 32D C13(G) cell line. Clonal and polyclonal cells transformed to IL-3 independent growth were observed for a period extending up to 6 months for changes in the expression of p210bcr/abl, cell proliferation, inhibition by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), forskolin, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogues, regulation of the cell cycle, and karyotype. Whereas the properties of control vector infected 32D C13(G)' cells remained stable over time, cells expressing p210bcr/abl were phenotypically unstable. In cells expressing p210bcr/abl, we observed selective modulation of p210bcr/abl mRNA and protein expression, evolution from partial to full abrogation of IL-3 dependence, reduced serum requirements, increased cell proliferation, decreased inhibition by PGE1 and cAMP analogues, and the appearance of new structural and numerical chromosomal abnormalities with successive cell passages. These results indicate that expression of p210bcr/abl can directly predispose 32D C13(G)' cells to genetic instability, promotes the emergence of clones with an increased proliferative advantage, and may represent an in vitro model suitable for the study of mechanisms underlying progression to the acute leukemic phase in CML.

Lack of Types 1 and 2A Protein Serine(P)/Threonine(P) Phosphatase Activities in Chloroplasts

Protein phosphatase activity in crude leaf extracts and in purified intact chloroplasts of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and pea (Pisum sativum) was analyzed using exogenously supplied phosphoproteins or endogenous thylakoid proteins. Leaf extracts contain readily detectable amounts of protein phosphatase activity measured with either phosphohistone or phosphorylase a, substrates of mammalian protein phosphatases. No significant chloroplast protein phosphatase activity was detected using these exogenous phosphoproteins. The dephosphorylation of endogenous thylakoid light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding proteins in situ was inhibited by fluoride, but not by microcystin-LR or okadaic acid, diagnostic inhibitors of mammalian types 1 and 2A protein phosphatases. Additionally, no evidence for a pea chloroplast alkaline phosphatase activity was found using beta-glycerolphosphate or 4-methylum-belliferyl phosphate as substrates. From these results, we conclude that phosphohistone and phosphorylase a are not useful substrates for chloroplast thylakoid protein phosphatase activity and that the chloroplast enzymes may not fit into one of the canonical classifications currently used for protein phosphatases.

[Human blood stain identification using DNA amplification technique]

DNA was extracted from human's and 15 different species of mammals' dried blood stains as well as from camel hair roots. DNA amplification was carried out using primers of Alu 9.1 and Alu 9.2. The results have indicated that this method can be used for the identification of human's dried blood stain under general condition.

Release of cholecystokinin and secretin by sodium oleate in dogs: molecular form and bioactivity

The release of cholecystokinin (CCK) and secretin into both circulation and duodenal lumen, after intraduodenal perfusion with sodium oleate or oral ingestion of fat, was studied in anesthetized and conscious dogs, respectively. Intraduodenal infusion with sodium oleate (4 mmol.kg.-1.h-1, pH 9.5) in anesthetized dogs with diversion of bile and pancreatic juice stimulated the release of both CCK and secretin not only into the circulation but also into the duodenal lumen. The concentration of CCK and secretin in the luminal perfusate increased from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to 2.1 +/- 0.4 nM and 0.34 +/- 0.16 to 2.59 +/- 0.63 nM, respectively. Intraduodenal infusion of NaHCO3 solution at pH 9.5 did not result in release of either hormone. Luminal release of both hormones was also observed by intraduodenal infusion of sodium oleate in the dogs without diversion of bile and pancreatic juice, albeit at lower concentrations than those released in the dogs with diversion. Analysis of the molecular form of luminal secretin by gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography showed only a single form of secretin with molecular size, hydrophobicity, and charge similar to those of natural porcine secretin. In contrast, multiple forms of CCK were released into both circulation and duodenal lumen with CCK-58 as the predominant form. In conscious dogs, CCK-58 was also found to be the predominant form of CCK released into the circulation after oral ingestion of fat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Bioassay for plasma cholecystokinin bioactivity]

A sensitive and specific bioassay for the measurement of plasma cholecystokinin (CCK) is reported. CCK was extracted from plasma by SEP-PAK cartridges and the extracts were measured for CCK levels based on their ability to stimulate amylase release from dispersed rat pancreatic acini. Plasma CCK levels as low as 0.86 pmol/L (CCK-8 equivalent) were detectable. Gastrin in physiological concentration did not affect the bioassay. The amylase release stimulated by plasma extracts was abolished by Bt2-cGMP, a specific CCK receptor antagonist, indicating that there might be no secretin or VIP in plasma extracts. With this bioassay, fasting and postprandial plasma CCK levels of 11 normal volunteers were determined. The fasting level of CCK was 0.95 +/- 0.22 pmol/L (mean +/- SE). It increased to 2.98 +/- 0.67 pmol/L 15 minutes after feeding and remained significantly higher than the fasting level during a 60-minute period.

Hybrid leukemia and the 5q-abnormality

Most cases of acute leukemia with deletions of chromosome 5q (5q-) are acute myelogenous leukemia. 5q- in acute lymphoid leukemia is rare. We studied a case of acute leukemia with 5q- using morphologic, cytochemical, immune and molecular techniques. Morphologic and cytochemical techniques were consistent with ALL (FAB L-2, PAS+, MPO-, ASD-). TdT was present. Immune studies suggested a T-cell phenotype (CD5+, CD7+); however, there was no rearrangement of the T beta-cell receptor gene. Surprisingly, the leukemia cells also expressed the CD13 myeloid antigen. Dual staining analysis showed co-expression of lymphoid and myeloid antigens on most cells. Based on these data and a review of previous reports we suggest that acute leukemia associated with the 5q- abnormality can occur in an immature stem cell resulting in a hybrid leukemia.

QRS onset and offset detection accuracy improvement by additional spatial information in body surface potential maps

A new automatic spatiotemporal algorithm has been developed for detecting QRS onset and offset in body surface potential mapping. The new algorithm, based on a spatial and temporal approach, along with three other algorithms (total energy, 3-lead, and median), was tested in 73 normal and abnormal patients. The reference or gold standard onset and offset times were determined visually by two experienced investigators. The results demonstrate that the new method is less sensitive to noise, to the temporal overlap of the QRS and other components, and to the spatial location changes of QRS initial and final activation. The spatiotemporal method resulted in very consistent findings, with a standard deviation of less than one third of the standard deviation in the next best method.

[Human sex identification in dried bloodstains by analysis of amplified DNA sequences]

This paper describes a technique of DNA amplification in vitro and its application on sex identification of human dried bloodstains. Dried bloodstains (8 males and 8 females) were prepared on filter paper, and then DNA was extracted. Target DNA sequences (Y-3.4kb repeat and Alu-repeat) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two pairs of primers (Y1.1, Y1.2 and Alu9.1, Alu9.2). Amplification products were obtained in 8 male's bloodstains with the primers Y1.1 and Y1.2, but not in 8 female's bloodstains; and in 4 male's and 4 female's bloodstains with Alu9.1 and Alu9.2.