Isolation and characterization of two glycophorins from horse erythrocyte membranes

Crude glycophorin fraction was prepared from horse erythrocyte membranes by extraction with lithium diiodosalicylate and partition in aqueous phenol. Two glycophorins, designated glycophorins HA and HB, were isolated by two different techniques: preparative gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and ion-exchange chromatography in the presence of the nonionic detergent Ammonyx LO. Each glycophorin formed at least two bands on gel electrophoresis, which corresponded to a dimeric form and a monomeric form. Glycophorin HA, the major component, had a blocked amino-terminus and consisted of 70% protein and 30% carbohydrate. Glycophorin HB, the minor component, had threonine as the amino-terminus and consisted of 80% protein and 20% carbohydrate. Since glycophorin HB showed a chemical composition distinct from that of glycophorin HA, glycophorin HB was not a partially degraded form of glycophorin HA.

Genetic organization of transposon Tn10

Transposon Tn10 is 9300 bp in length, with 1400 bp inverted repeats at its ends. The inverted repeats are structurally intact IS-like sequences (Ross et al., 1979). Analysis of deletion mutants and structural variants of Tn10, reported below, shows that the two IS10 segments contain all of the Tn10-encoded genetic determinants, both sites and functions, that are required for transposition. Furthermore, the two repeats (IS10-Right and IS10-Left) are not functionally equivalent: IS10-Right is fully functional and is capable by itself of promoting normal levels of Tn10 transposition; IS10-Left functions only poorly by itself, promoting transposition at a very low level when IS10-Right is inactivated. Complementation analysis shows that IS10-Right encodes at least one function, required for Tn10 transposition, which can act in trans and which works at the ends of the element. Also, all of the sites specifically required for normal Tn10 transposition have been localized to the outermost 70 bp at each end of the element; there is no evidence that specific sites internal to the element play an essential role. Finally, Tn10 modulates its own transposition in such a way that transposition-defective point mutants, unlike deletion mutants, are not complemented by functions provided in trans; and wild-type Tn10, unlike deletion mutants, is not affected by functions provided in trans from a "high hopper" Tn10 element.

Frequency of tuberous sclerosis in San-in district (Japan) and birth weight of patients with tuberous sclerosis

Fifty-two patients with tuberous sclerosis including 44 propositi were collected from 11 hospitals and 20 institutions in the San-in district. Of the 52 patients 44 were alive at the time of the study and the prevalence of tuberous sclerosis among the general population of the San-in district in October 1979 was estimated to be one in 31,000 (3.2 x 10(-5)), which was the highest value among the surveys in certain geographical areas. The frequency of tuberous sclerosis in live-births was estimated to be one in 24,000 (4.0 x 10(-5)). The frequency of the sporadic cases in live-births was one in 31,000 (3.2 X 10(-5) and the mutation rate was directly estimated to be 1.6 X 10(-5) per gene per generation. A difference between the parental age or birth order of the sporadic cases and those of controls was not detected. The mean birth weight for the tuberous sclerosis group was 2,834 g which was slightly less than the 2,985 g for their normal sibs. The frequency of low birth weight, less than 2,500 g, among the children with tuberous sclerosis was 30% (7/23), which was 4 times that in the general population (P less than 0.005). These facts suggest that the intrauterine growth is affected in a considerable number of the patients.

Lissencephaly (agyria) on computed tomography

Unusual computed tomographic findings were observed in two infants with similar clinical pictures including delay in developmental milestones, seizures, decerebrated posture, and microcephaly. Computed tomography revealed small brain with widened subarachnoid space, smooth surface of the brain, uniformly enlarged ventricles, wide sylvian cisterns, and lack of insular opercularization. These findings coincide with pathologic features of lissencephaly (agyria), a rare congenital anomaly of the brain due to interruption of neuronal migration.

A case of rectal carcinoma concomitant with Pagetoid lesion in the perianal region--histopathological and electron microscopic observations--

A case of extramammary Paget's disease of the perianal area adjacent to a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the rectum is presented. The histopathological examination of the case revealed that within the epidermis adjacent to the invading rectal cancer nest, the formation of glandular structures can be observed occasionally, around which so-called Paget's cells are noted to be scattered and further many points of similarity between cancer cell and Paget's cell are proved by electron microscope. Perianal skin lesion looking like Paget's disease is proved to be due to intraepidermal spread of the rectal carcinoma. Referring to the literature, this is the first report to our knowledge, to elucidate the histogenesis of perianal extramammary Paget's disease associated with a rectal carcinoma using the electron microscopy.

Prognosis of Wilson's disease in childhood

Wilson's disease in childhood has several characters distinct from those in adults. The progression of the disease tends to be rapid, hepatic manifestations are common, cerebral symptoms related to dystonia are predominant, and tremor is rare. Forty-nine children with Wilson's disease under the age of 15 were treated with D-penicillamine for 2 to 15 years. None of the presymptomatic patients subsequently developed any symptoms of the disease. The results of treatment in patients who had exhibited only hepatic symptoms were also excellent. However, neurological manifestations associated with a history of jaundice or ascites responded less well to chelation. These observations clearly indicate that early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important to ensure normal lives for children with Wilson's disease.

Myelopathy in infancy complicating congenital atlantoaxial dislocation

Two infants had congenital atlantoaxial dislocation associated with myelopathy. One of them, a 3-month-old girl, showed anterior dislocation of the atlas on the axis, and had extreme weakness of the extremities. Another patient, an 8-month-old boy, showed tetraplegia, and posterior dislocation with absent odontoid process was demonstrated radiologically. These cases add another cause to the varied etiologies of floppiness in early infancy.

Radiological practice in Hiroshima and Nagasaki: trents from 1964 to 1970

Use of X-ray in Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1964 to 1970 was assessed according to numbers of films consumed, and the radiographic, fluoroscopic, and photofluorographic examinations performed. Except for chest photofluorography, a steady increase in the use of medical X-ray since Workd War II is demonstrated.