Isolation of rat TATA factor as an active 75kDa protein complex

A general transcription factor TFIID was purified from rat liver by a sequential column chromatography including organomercurial Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200 chromatographies, which were developed with an acidic buffer (pH5.5). Analyses by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, assay of eluants after renaturation, and immunoblotting showed that isolated TATA factor is an active 75kDa protein complex which contains 36kDa TATA-binding protein.

Partial sequencing of two forms of concanavalin A-unbound collagenase inhibitor from bovine gingiva

Three forms of collagenase inhibitor, one ConA-bound and two ConA-unbound, were extensively purified from bovine gingiva by sequential column chromatography. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that inhibitory activity resides in proteins with M(r) of 26000-28000 and 22000 for ConA-bound and two ConA-unbound inhibitors, respectively. Of these, two ConA-unbound inhibitors were partially sequenced in the first 12 amino acids and found to have an identical sequence. The NH2-terminal sequence had 100% identity with TIMP-2 or MI.

[A case of aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]

A patient of aortic valvular disease with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura underwent aortic valvular replacement. We report a preventive measure against the intra and postoperative bleeding. The patient was a 67-year-old man. He was diagnosed as aortic valvular stenosis with regurgitation. There was no abnormal data about the coagulation test. Thrombocyte count was 8.2 x 10(4)/mm3, but thrombocytopenic life span had shortened 3.8 days. So, we used gamma-globulin 400 mg/kg/day for 5 days before the day of operation and infused blood platelets on the day of operation. There was no problem intra and postoperative period. On the 14th postoperative day thrombocyte count increased to 22.9 x 10(4)/mm3, and thrombocytopenic life span returned to normal range (7.6 days). But on the 45th day of postoperation, thrombocyte count decreased to 11.0 x 10(4)/mm3. We think that many gamma-globulin medication is a useful method to prevent intra and postoperative bleeding resulting from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

[A case of surgical repair of aortic dissection associated with tear of the right coronary artery]

A 39-year-old female with dissecting aortic aneurysm of DeBakey type I, underwent replacement of the ascending aorta. We found that the right coronary artery originated just distally from the left sinus of Valsalva, run transversally in the aortic wall. Because the entry of dissection occurred at the right coronary artery, it was torn longitudinally. Aorto (graft)-rt. coronary bypass grafting was performed. She had no ischemic heart symptoms postoperatively. It is supposed that the dissecting aortic aneurysm was caused by the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery.

[A case of bilateral multiple pulmonary arteriovenous fistula treated by the right fistula plication and resection of the left lingual lobe with use of microwave tissue coagulator (MTC)]

A 53-year-old man with the history of brain abscess and multiple cerebral arterio-venous malformations underwent the staged operation for bilateral multiple pulmonary arterio-venous fistulas (PAVF). Right fistula plication and the resection of the left lingular lobe using MTC were performed through posterolateral thoracotomy. Postoperatively, the patient showed the right residual fistula, but, he has been doing well without PAVF complications such as polycythemia and hypoxemia. In conclusion, 1) PAVF with central nervous system complications should be treated aggressively either by surgery or by embolization. 2) MTC was useful for the resection of the lung because of no air leak and bleeding coming from the resected section.

[Thoracic duct cyst--a case report]

A case of thoracic duct cyst was reported. The patient, 72 year old man, was admitted with chief complaint of dysphagia. Chest X-ray film demonstrated an ovoid mass at the right upper mediastinum and the esophagus pressed by the tumor to the right. CT scan showed a round tumor with obscure margin located at the right upper mediastinum. Other laboratory data were almost within normal limits. Thoracotomy was performed on March 26, 1987 under diagnosis of leiomyoma of the esophagus. A fluid containing cyst covered with pleura was found at the upper mediastinum. The tumor was connected to the thoracic duct at its upper and lower portion. The cyst was isolated by sharp and blunt dissection without difficulties and removed. The cyst measured 7.5 X 4.5 X 4.5 cm and contained chyle. Pathological examination revealed no evidence of malignancy. Postoperative course of this patient was uneventful, and dysphagia was disappeared.

[Production of prostaglandin E2 by polymorphonuclear neutrophils isolated from gingival crevicular fluid and peripheral blood of dogs in periodontal health and disease]

We examined PGE2 synthesis using inflamed and non-inflamed GCF PMNs and PB PMNs in the presence and absence of certain stimulators. The basal levels of PGE2 release from GCF PMNs isolated from ligature-induced gingival sulcus with a GI value over 2.2 were significantly lower than those from GCF PMNs isolated from sham operated sites with a GI value below 2.1. Levels were comparable to those from PB PMNs isolated at each experimental period, indicating that the amount of PGE2 synthesized by GCF PMNs is not correlated exactly with the severity of periodontitis. Calcium ionophore A23187 stimulated PGE2 synthesis by all PMN preparations. When compared to those with inflamed and non-inflamed GCF PMNs, stimulation was higher with PB PMNs. However, the chemotactic factor fMLP inhibited the synthesis by inflamed and non-inflamed GCF PMNs. PGE2 synthesis by PB PMNs isolated after periodontal operation was stimulated by the drug, but those cells isolated before the operation did not respond.

[The causes of prolonged postoperative respiratory care in mitral valve disease with a giant left atrium]

Whether a giant left atrium in mitral valve disease itself prolongs postoperative respiratory care or does not is an important problem. We investigated it in 39 patients who underwent MVR without plication of the left atrium. A giant left atrium (GLA) was defined when CT-LA volume exceeded 300 ml by rapid sequential CT or left atrial diameter exceeded 60 mm by echocardiography. According to this criteria, the 39 patients were divided into two groups: 18 patients of GLA group and 21 of non-GLA group. Eight GLA (44%) and 11 non-GLA patients (52%) needed postoperative respiratory care with intratracheal intubation for more than 24 hours. Four GLA (22%) and 2 non-GLA patients (9.5%) needed reintubation. There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning the duration of postoperative respiratory care and the frequency of reintubation. The reintubated patients had three prominent preoperative clinical profiles, such as poor general condition, poor cardiac function and poor respiratory function. Consequently, it is concluded that in mitral valve disease with a GLA the prolongation of postoperative respiratory care is largely due to poor cardiac and respiratory function rather than to the compression to the bronchus by a GLA.

[A case of Marfan syndrome with recurrent bilateral pneumothorax and anuloaortic ectasia]

A 17-year-old male patient with Marfan syndrome was admitted due to recurrent bilateral pneumothorax which had recurred totally 11 times during the past 3 years. For the treatment of obstinately continuing right pneumothorax resection of bullae in combination with pleuropexy using OK 432 was effective. Two months thereafter Bentall operation with a composite graft consisting of a woven Dacron tube and a Björk-Shiley 27 mm aortic valve prosthesis was performed for his anuloartic ectasia. Left pneumothorax recurred 2 weeks after Bentall operation. But it was treated successfully with OK 432 injection into the left pleural cavity. Now, he is doing well as a student.

Techniques used by elite long jumpers in preparation for takeoff

It was hypothesized that some characteristics of the positions adopted by long jumpers during the final strides of the approach are significantly related to the distance of the jump, and that they are so related only by virtue of their relationships with the horizontal velocity at touchdown and/or the vertical velocity at takeoff. Trials by 20 male and 26 female long jumpers were recorded cinematographically and subsequently analyzed. The takeoff distance for the fourth-last stride, the landing distance for the last stride, and the height of the center of gravity (CG) at takeoff into the jump were significantly correlated with the distance of the jump. These three position variables were significantly related to the distance of the jump, through their relationships with the velocity of the approach and the vertical velocity of the CG at takeoff into the jump. Considered alone, they were not influential in determining the distance of the jump.

[Effective thromboexclusion for repeating bleeding tendency caused by dissecting aneurysm: a case report]

A 75-year-old woman developed general fatigue and left chest pain in October 1986, and Chest CT showed DeBakey IIIb dissecting aneurysm. During the next 8 months, she repeated abdominal pain, tarry stool and subcutaneous hemorrhage for three times and after an angiography large hematoma at puncture site appeared. The laboratory data showed the decrease in platelet and fibrinogen and the increase in FDP every time when she developed the symptoms. Because this bleeding tendency was thought to be the "local DIC" caused by dissecting aneurysm, we performed thromboexclusion on July 27, 1987. Immediately after the operation, 60 packs of platelet and 3 g of fibrinogen was transfused, then laboratory data remarkably improved and bleeding tendency disappeared. The patient died 12 days after the operation of sudden ventricular tachycardia. At autopsy, precise cause of death was not determined, but the purpose of thromboexclusion seemed to be achieved, because good thrombus formation was observed in the descending aorta and the graft was patent.

[Surgical treatment of a right atrial myxoma with pulmonary embolism]

We report on an 18-year-old man with a right atrial myxoma complicated by widespread pulmonary infarction. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, a typical gelatin-like myxoma of 65 g in weight and the segments of pulmonary infarction were simultaneously removed. From the excised lung specimens, pulmonary tissue infarction caused by myxoma acting as a blocker was recognized. This was a very rare case of myxoma complicated by pulmonary infarction, and we report here the successful removal of the right myxoma and partial pneumonectomy.

Separation and partial characterization of three forms of collagenase inhibitor from bovine gingiva

Three forms of collagenase inhibitor were isolated; one bound to Con A-Sepharose and the other two did not. The Con A-bound (Mr 38,000) and the two unbound (Mr 50,000 and 22,000) inhibitors contained about 20, 15 and 65% of the total inhibitory activity, respectively. The bound and one of the unbound (Mr 22,000) inhibitors were fairly specific for mammalian collagenase; the other unbound inhibitor was rather non-specific and also inhibited trypsin and thermolysin, but not bacterial collagenase. All the inhibitors were heat stable (90 degrees C, 30 min) and unaffected by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate, but were inactivated by reduction and alkylation.

Production of chemotactic factor for lymphocyte by digestion of IgG with a highly purified polymorphonuclear leukocyte neutral thiol proteinase

In the present study, we purified a neutral thiol proteinase from dog PMN leukocytes and indicated that the proteinase elaborated the chemotactic factor for lymphocytes by cleavage of IgG. The neutral thiol proteinase was purified about 744-fold by ion-exchange chromatographies and affinity chromatography, and the final preparation was over 70% pure. After incubation of dog IgG with the proteinase, three distinct protein peaks were seen by the gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Only the third peak, perhaps a dialyzable peptide, showed a significant chemotactic activity for dog lymphocytes.

Purification of a cytosolic factor from rat liver that stimulates transcription in isolated nuclei and its action on purified RNA polymerase II-DNA system

A cytosolic factor that stimulates transcription in isolated nuclei was purified approximately 4000-fold to near homogeneity from rat liver. The molecular weight of the factor was determined as 47 000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The factor had no detectable deoxyribonuclease and protease activity but showed ribonuclease inhibitor activity. The factor could stimulate transcription in isolated nuclei by 50% at about 3.0 ng and the maximal stimulation was about 100%. When [gamma-S]ATP and [gamma-S]GTP were included in the reaction, the factor stimulated the synthesis of RNA which was able to bind to a mercury-Sepharose column and about 80% of the bound RNA was sensitive to a low concentration of alpha-amanitin. When heparin was added before initiation to preincubation mixture containing RNA polymerases II and DNA, a small but definite incorporation of [14C]UTP was observed. The factor alone had no stimulatory effect on the heparin-resistant incorporation of [14C]UTP but, in the presence of two rat liver nuclear fractions, phosphocellulose 0.5 and 1 M KCl step fractions, could stimulate the incorporation above the level with the combination of the two nuclear fractions. Antibody raised against the factor inhibited accurate transcription from the adenovirus 2 major late promoter in a nuclear lysate from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, and the inhibition was neutralized by the factor.