Delivery of F2-excimer laser light by aluminum hollow fibers

A hollow fiber composed of a glass-tube substrate and an aluminum thin film coated upon the inside of the tube delivers F2-excimer laser light. A smooth, aluminum thin film was deposited by using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition using dimethylethylamine:alane (DMEAA) as the precursor. It was shown that the transmission loss of the fiber with a 1.0-mm inner diameter was as low as 0.5 dB/m for the fiber with 1.0-mm diameter when the bore of the fiber is pressurized with an inert gas to remove the absorption of air. When the fiber is bent at the radius of 30 cm, the additional loss was 1.6 dB.

A case of ABO-incompatible renal transplant patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; long-standing observation of serial glomerular change by protocol biopsy

A 41-yr-old patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), before and after ABO-incompatible renal transplant, is reviewed using serial protocol biopsy. Although she recovered from delayed hyperacute rejection (DHAR) immediately post-transplantation, her graft function deteriorated gradually. A mild acute transplant glomerulitis, noted at the 155th day post-transplantation, progressed to pronounced chronic transplant glomerulopathy over 5 yr. In the specimen of the last biopsy, at 5 yr post-transplantation, glomeruli demonstrated an exudative hyaline lesion, which was characteristic of diabetic nephropathy in addition to chronic transplant glomerulopathy. Therefore, we made a diagnosis of this glomerular lesion as chronic transplant glomerulopathy complicated by diabetic glomerulopathy. Considering the result of this case, the protocol biopsy is a useful procedure to diagnose an accurate cause of graft dysfunction in individual cases. It is concluded that the protocol biopsy is apparently useful for the detection of various pathological processes occurring in allograft and may contribute to a strategy for improvement of graft survival.

Fluid shear stress induces lipocalin-type prostaglandin D(2) synthase expression in vascular endothelial cells

Ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, such as the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic drugs and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)), modulate various processes in atherogenesis. In search of cells that generate prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)), the metabolic precursor of 15d-PGJ(2), we identified PGD(2) from culture medium of endothelial cells. To study how PGD(2) production is regulated in endothelial cells, we investigated the role of fluid shear stress in the metabolism of PGD(2). Endothelial cells expressed the mRNA for the lipocalin-type PGD(2) synthase (L-PGDS) both in vitro and in vivo. Loading laminar shear stress using a parallel-plate flow chamber markedly enhanced the gene expression of L-PGDS, with the maximal effect being obtained at 15 to 30 dyne/cm(2). The expression began to increase within 6 hours after loading shear stress and reached the maximal level at 18 to 24 hours. In contrast, shear stress did not alter the expression levels of PGI(2) synthase and thromboxane A(2) synthase. In parallel with the increase in the expression level of L-PGDS, endothelial cells released PGD(2) and 15d-PGJ(2) into culture medium. These results demonstrate that shear stress promotes PGD(2) production by stimulating L-PGDS expression and suggest the possibility that a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ligand is produced in vascular wall in response to blood flow.

Disulfide bond structure of the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor extracellular domain: conserved disulfide bonds among guanylate cyclase-coupled receptors

The disulfide bond structure of the extracellular domain of rat atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor (NPR-ECD) has been determined by mass spectrometry (MS) and Edman sequencing. Recombinant NPR-ECD expressed in COS-1 cells and purified from the culture medium binds ANP with as high affinity as the natural ANP receptor. Reaction with iodoacetic acid yielded no S-carboxymethylcysteine, indicating that all six Cys residues in NPR-ECD are involved in disulfide bonds. Electrospray ionization MS of NPR-ECD deglycosylated by peptide-N-glycosidase F gave a molecular mass of 48377.5+/-1.6 Da, which was consistent with the presence of three disulfide bonds. Liquid chromatography MS analysis of a lysylendopeptidase digest yielded three cystine-containing fragments with disulfide bonds Cys(60)-Cys(86), Cys(164)-Cys(213) and Cys(423)-Cys(432) based on their observed masses. These bonds were confirmed by Edman sequencing of each of the three fragments. No evidence for an inter-molecular disulfide bond was found. The six Cys residues in NPR-ECD, forming a 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 disulfide pairing pattern, are strictly conserved among A-type natriuretic peptide receptors and are similar in B-type receptors. We found that in other families of guanylate cyclase-coupled receptors, the Cys residues involved in 1-2 and 5-6 disulfide pairs are conserved in nearly all, suggesting an important contribution of these disulfide bonds to the receptor's structure and function.

Successful transplantation of a cadaveric kidney with post-infectious glomerulonephritis

This report describes a successful renal Tx in a patient with chronic renal failure, caused by dysplastic kidneys, who received a cadaveric kidney with post-infectious glomerulonephritis. Sequential renal biopsies were performed at 12 h before Tx, and at 1 h and on days 8 and 58 post-Tx. Post-operative hematuria disappeared on day 9 and proteinuria on day 13. Normal graft function was observed within 1 month, with histologic resolution. Our study suggests that while the donor kidney facilitates deposition of certain immune reactants, this is a host (environmental) problem and when transplanted into a new host (new environment), the problem is no longer sustained.

Flexible small-bore hollow fibers with an inner polymer coating

Flexible hollow-glass fibers with small-bore diameters of 250 and 320 mum have been developed for Er:YAG laser delivery. The fibers consist of a glass capillary tube and an inner coating of silver and polymer thin films that are deposited by use of a simple liquid-phase technique. The 250-mum-bore fiber exhibits a straight loss of 0.8 dB/m and a bending loss of 1.2 dB when it is bent 180 degrees at the output end, with a bending radius of 2 cm. The maximum energy delivered by the fibers is ~100 mJ.

Practical asymmetric synthesis of (S)-MA20565, a wide-spectrum agricultural fungicide

A practical asymmetric synthesis of a wide-spectrum agricultural fungicide, (S)-MA20565 (1), is described. The convergent synthesis was achieved starting from commercially available 3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (7) in 44% overall yield through five steps and 2-bromobenzaldehyde (9) in 48% overall yield through four steps, respectively. (S)-O-[1-(3-Trifluoromethylphenyl)ethyl]hydroxylamine (2), a key intermediate of 1, was prepared via ruthenium(II)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 1-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)ethanone (6) followed by chlorination using methanesulfonyl chloride and oxyamination using potassium acetohydroxamate with high level of stereocontrol.

Vacuum-cored hollow waveguide for transmission of high-energy, nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses and its application to biological tissue ablation

A vacuum-cored hollow waveguide has been found to transmit 1064-nm, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pulses. With this scheme, laser-induced air breakdown was completely suppressed, and the laser-induced damage threshold of the waveguide's inner coating was significantly increased. With a 1-m-long, 1-mm inner-diameter, cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow waveguide, the maximum transmitted laser energy was as great as 158 mJ/pulse (20.1 J/cm(2)), at a repetition rate of 10 Hz in a 90 degrees -bent waveguide condition. The corresponding transmitted peak laser power was 17.6 MW. With the transmitted laser pulses, deep ablation of myocardium tissues was demonstrated in vitro.

Er:YAG and alexandrite laser radiation propagation in root canal and its effect on bacteria

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare the bactericidal effect of the Er:YAG (wavelength 2.94 microm) and the Alexandrite (wavelength 0.75 microm) laser radiation. The spreading laser energy in the surrounding hard dental tissues round the root canal was evaluated and the bactericidal effect of both these different laser wavelengths was analyzed.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

The use of a laser to clean and shape the root canal space is the latest method used for cleaning of root canals. The interest in laser endodontics was concentrated on the possibility to extirpate the contents of the root canal, to sterilize and to "melt" the walls of the root canals. The previous reports were performed with CO2, excimer, argon, Nd:YAG, Ho:YAG, and Er:YAG lasers.

METHODS

Er:YAG laser system (2.94 microm, energy 100 mJ or 300 mJ, repetition rate 1 Hz, 30 pulses) and alexandrite laser system (0.75 microm, energy 250 mJ, repetition rate 1 Hz, 30 pulses) were prepared and three experimental arrangements were used during the measurements. First the energy transport through the tooth tissue was observed (frontal and side experimental setups) and then, the bactericidal effect was evaluated.

RESULTS

It was demonstrated that due to the absorption in the hydroxyapatite and water content in the dentin, the Er:YAG laser radiation is fully absorbed in the root canal wall. This direct influence of the radiation could be expected only close to the sapphire tip. It was found that the tissue, which was not directly affected by the laser radiation, cannot be disinfected by the subablative effect of Er:YAG laser radiation. In the second part of the experiment the real bactericidal effect of Er:YAG ablative energy (300 mJ) could be observed. It was also shown that the alexandrite laser radiation with a wavelength of 0.75 microm spreads through the canal system space and leaks into the surrounding tooth tissues. Both lasers have bactericidal effect.

CONCLUSIONS

The pulsed Er:YAG and alexandrite lasers can be efficiently used for killing dental bacteria but the spreading of their radiation in the tooth tissues are different.

Pilot study on the effect of a mouthrinse containing silver zeolite on plaque formation

A double-blind cross-over study was performed to evaluate the inhibitory activity of silver zeolite (SZ) mouthrinse on plaque formation. Eleven dental students participated in this study. SZ mouthrinse was prepared by suspending SZ powder into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at a concentration of 3% (w/w). Type-A zeolite was used as a placebo. Before the experiment, the subjects were rendered plaque-free by professional prophylaxis. They then suspended any oral hygiene for five days, during which time they rinsed with either SZ or type-A zeolite mouthrinse twice a day. SZ significantly reduced plaque formation compared to the placebo (p < 0.05), suggesting that silver ions released from the SZ inhibited plaque formation.

[Relation between temporomandibular joint disorder and subjective symptoms of fatigue]

An investigation was performed for the purpose of guaging the relation between temporomandibular joint disorder on the one hand and occupational category and subjective symptoms of fatigue on the other. Subjects were 2,414 workers (1,598 male, 816 female) in small and medium size enterprises at 67 workplaces in Hiroshima Prefecture. A comparison of cases with and without temporomandibular joint disorder showed that there were more complaints of fatigue among those with the disorder. Given these indications that temporomandibular joint disorder was related to occupation, it is possible that temporomandibular joint disease may be a work-related disease.

Chemotherapy with hybrid liposomes for melanomatosis

The inhibitory effects of the hybrid liposomes on the growth of B-16 melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo were examined. The 50% inhibitory concentration of the hybrid liposomes composed of 90 mol% dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and 10 mol% polyoxyethylenedodecyl ether (C12(EO)10) was one-twelfth of that of DMPC liposomes. It was noteworthy that for the first time significantly prolonged survival was obtained using a mouce model of carcinoma after the administration of the hybrid liposomes of 90 mol% DMPC/10 mol% C12(EO)n (n=10 or 23) without antitumor drugs.

Characterization of urinary metabolites of a new benzofuroquinoline derivative, 3,9-bis(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy)-5 H-benzofuro[3,2-c]-quinoline-6-one (KCA-098), in dogs

The metabolism of 3,9-bis(N,N-dimethylcarbamoyloxy)-5 H-benzofuro[3,2-c]-quinoline-6-one (KCA-098), a new inhibitor of bone resorption and stimulator of bone formation, was examined after oral administration to dogs. Nine metabolites and the unchanged KCA-098 were isolated by extraction and HPLC from dog urine. The structures of these metabolites were characterized by LC/MS or LC/MS/MS, and/or were confirmed by comparison with corresponding authentic standards. The presumed main metabolic pathways were hydrolysis, hydroxylation, and N-demethylation of the N,N-dimethyl-carbamate ester group.

Presence of asparagine-linked N-acetylglucosamine and chitobiose in Pyrus pyrifolia S-RNases associated with gametophytic self-incompatibility

S-RNases encoded by the S-locus of rosaceous and solanaceous plants discriminate between the S-alleles of pollen in gametophytic self-incompatibility reactions, but it is not clear how. We report the structures of N-glycans attached to each of the N-glycosylation sites of seven S-RNases in Pyrus pyrifolia of the Rosaceae. The structures were identified by chromatographic analysis of pyridylaminated sugar chains prepared from S4-RNase and by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric analysis of the protease digests of reduced and S-carboxymethylated S-RNases. S4-RNase carries various types of sugar chains, including plant-specific ones with beta1-->2-linked xylose and alpha1-->3-linked fucose residues. More than 70% of the total N-glycans of S4-RNase are, however, an N-acetylglucosamine or a chitobiose (GlcNAcbeta1-->4GlcNAc), which has not been found naturally. The N-acetylglucosamine and chitobiose are mainly present at the N-glycosylation sites within the putative recognition sites of the S-RNase, suggesting that these sugar chains may interact with pollen S-product(s).

DL-2-Haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. 113 is a new class of dehalogenase catalyzing hydrolytic dehalogenation not involving enzyme-substrate ester intermediate

DL-2-Haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. 113 (DL-DEX 113) catalyzes the hydrolytic dehalogenation of D- and L-2-haloalkanoic acids, producing the corresponding L- and D-2-hydroxyalkanoic acids, respectively. Every halidohydrolase studied so far (L-2-haloacid dehalogenase, haloalkane dehalogenase, and 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA dehalogenase) has an active site carboxylate group that attacks the substrate carbon atom bound to the halogen atom, leading to the formation of an ester intermediate. This is subsequently hydrolyzed, resulting in the incorporation of an oxygen atom of the solvent water molecule into the carboxylate group of the enzyme. In the present study, we analyzed the reaction mechanism of DL-DEX 113. When a single turnover reaction of DL-DEX 113 was carried out with a large excess of the enzyme in H(2)(18)O with a 10 times smaller amount of the substrate, either D- or L-2-chloropropionate, the major product was found to be (18)O-labeled lactate by ionspray mass spectrometry. After a multiple turnover reaction in H(2)(18)O, the enzyme was digested with trypsin or lysyl endopeptidase, and the molecular masses of the peptide fragments were measured with an ionspray mass spectrometer. No peptide fragments contained (18)O. These results indicate that the H(2)(18)O of the solvent directly attacks the alpha-carbon of 2-haloalkanoic acid to displace the halogen atom. This is the first example of an enzymatic hydrolytic dehalogenation that proceeds without producing an ester intermediate.

High-power Nd:YAG laser picosecond pulse delivery by a polymer-coated silver hollow-glass waveguide

An oscillator-amplifier high-power Nd:YAG laser system was used for transmission of a single 50-ps-long pulse or a train of pulses through a cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow-glass waveguide. The maximum energy that was transmitted was 150 mJ for the train of pulses and 40 mJ for the single pulse, from which followed a delivered power of 100 GW/cm(2) . The characteristics that were obtained make these waveguides promising for the delivery of high-power laser pulses in medical as well as other applications.

Effects of sex hormones on production of interleukin-1 by human peripheral monocytes

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent mediator of inflammation and is known to induce bone resorption. We studied the effects of sex hormones on the function of human monocytes and demonstrated that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was enhanced by progesterone and estradiol. As PGE2 has been shown to suppress the production of IL-1 by monocytes, it was speculated that sex hormones also modify the production of IL-1 by regulating PGE2 production. Thus, the effects of sex hormones on the production of IL-1 from human peripheral monocytes and the influence of PGE2 were investigated.

METHODS

Mononuclear leukocytes were obtained from 22 healthy adults. Progesterone, 17-beta estradiol (estradiol), and testosterone were used as representative sex hormones. Monocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C in air with 5% CO2 for 24 hours in RPMI 1640 medium with sex hormones at the designated concentrations. LPS (Salmonella typhimurium) was used to stimulate the monocytes at a concentration of 10 microg/ml. The concentrations of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta in the medium were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The concentration of PGE2 was determined using a direct radio-immunoassay kit. Indomethacin was used to inhibit the synthesis of PGE2 and eliminate its effect on the production of IL-1.

RESULTS

Estradiol at concentrations of 0.04 ng/ml or more significantly reduced both IL-1alpha and IL- 1beta production. Progesterone also reduced IL-1alpha and IL-1beta production significantly at concentrations of 0.1 ng/ml or more and 0.02 ng/ml or more, respectively. The reductions in IL- 1alpha and IL-1beta production by sex hormones were not affected by addition of indomethacin.

CONCLUSIONS

Estradiol and progesterone inhibited the production of IL-1 from human peripheral monocytes. The inhibition was not the result of enhanced production of PGE2. Under conditions in which sex hormone levels are low, monocytes produce IL- more readily in response to stimulation by LPS than high levels of such hormones. Low concentrations of sex hormones may be considered as one of the risk factors for periodontitis.

Effect of intraperitoneal administration of heparin on advanced glycation end-products in CAPD

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal (IP) administration of heparin on clearance of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and peritoneal dialysis efficiency.

DESIGN

Sequential self-controlled intervention study.

SETTING

University hospital, Department of Nephrology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pyrraline, urea, and creatinine levels in plasma and dialysate, along with AGE-derived fluorescence intensity (excitation, 370 nm; emission, 440 nm) in dialysate were measured 0, 30, and 60 days after IP administration of heparin in 11 patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Pyrraline levels were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS

Heparin induced a significant decrease in plasma pyrraline levels; the values on days 0, 30, and 60 were 162.0+/-89.8 micromol/L, 101.1+/-32.1 micromol/L (p < 0.01), and 94.0+/-19.8 micromol/L (p < 0.001), respectively. Heparin also induced a tendency of increased dialysate pyrraline levels and a significant increase in AGE-derived fluorescence intensity in the dialysate. The values for the latter on days 0, 30, and 60 were 51.0+/-9.3 AU (arbitrary units/ mg of collagen), 73.5+/-16.0 AU (p < 0.001), and 65.6+/-15.5 AU (p < 0.01), respectively. Furthermore, heparin administration resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the dialysate/plasma ratio of urea (means 0.80, 0.90, and 0.94 on days 0, 30, and 60, respectively).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that a beneficial effect of IP administration of heparin is in part due to its action on AGE kinetics, supporting a potential preventive strategy for peritoneal membrane distortion in CAPD.

Pathological evaluation of steroid withdrawal in pediatric renal transplant recipients

Protocol biopsies were performed to detect and treat subclinical rejection in eight living related pediatric renal transplant recipients who had been withdrawn from steroids. Low-grade tubulitis (t1) and mononuclear cell interstitial inflammation (i1), typical of borderline rejection and low-grade interstitial fibrosis (ci1), and tubular atrophy (ct1), characteristic of chronic rejection, appeared frequently in protocol biopsies more than 3 yr after steroid withdrawal. In contrast, early-type glomerulitis (g), allograft glomerulopathy (cg), arteriolar hyaline thickening (ah), intimal arteritis (v), and fibrous intimal thickening (cv) were not observed in protocol biopsies after steroid withdrawal. Low-dose pulse therapy (methylprednisolone (MP) 250 or 500 mg/d for 3 d) was administered to five patients for borderline and/or acute grade 1a rejection, as determined by protocol biopsies in the absence of clinical rejection. No oral steroids were administered. Renal function in all patients remained satisfactory, without proteinuria, in follow-up periods ranging from 22 to 68 months after steroid withdrawal. Of the eight patients, three grew to almost normal height (> mean -2SD) and four exhibited catch-up growth. Thus, steroid withdrawal can be safe and improves growth in pediatric renal transplant recipients if undertaken with careful clinical follow-up, including protocol biopsies.

Fluorescence spectrum analysis of atherosclerotic plaque using doxycycline

Using doxycycline (DOXY), fluorescence spectrum analysis was performed on arteriosclerotic lesions, and the efficacy of this method was examined in basic and clinical studies. In the basic study, DOXY 50 mg was administered intravenously to arteriosclerotic rabbits, and the thoracoabdominal aorta removed. Fluorescence spectral analysis was performed on each specimen, and the fluorescence spectral pattern, peak intensity and degree of intimal hypertrophy were studied. In the clinical study, DOXY 200 mg was administered intravenously to 6 human subjects with stable angina and coronary arterial stenosis of greater than 90%, and coronary angiography, coronary angioscopy and fluorescence spectral analysis were performed. DOXY accumulation in the arteriosclerotic intima of rabbit aortae was confirmed. The fluorescence spectrum was monomodal, peaking at around 532 nm. In the noncalcification group, significant correlation was observed between peak intensity and arteriosclerotic intimal thickness. Using DOXY as a fluorescent marker, it was possible to assess the level of arteriosclerotic intimal hypertrophy. Clinically, it was possible to obtain the DOXY spectrum of the coronary arteries.

Optical characteristics of stretched silver island multilayers for submicrometer-thick optical polarizing films

We fabricated submicrometer-thick optical polarizing films at a wavelength of 1300 nm with extinction ratios of > or = 30 dB by stretching periodic multilayers of silver island layers and glass layers. We compared the measured and theoretical optical characteristics of the polarizing films. The measured optical characteristics were quantitatively different from preliminary theoretical ones reported in an earlier paper [Opt. Lett. 16, 964 (1991)]. We have improved the theory by considering the distribution in silver island shapes and the difference between the stretching ratios of the glass layers and the silver islands. We have successfully elucidated the optical characteristics of the fabricated optical polarizing films.

Aluminum-coated hollow glass fibers for ArF-excimer laser light fabricated by metallorganic chemical-vapor deposition

A hollow fiber composed of a glass capillary tube and a metal thin film upon the inside of the tube is proposed for the delivery of ArF-excimer laser light. From theoretical analysis, aluminum is chosen as the metal layer. A thin aluminum film is deposited by metallorganic chemical-vapor deposition, with dimethylethylamine alane employed as the source material. Measured loss spectra in vacuum-ultraviolet and ultraviolet regions and losses for ArF-excimer laser light show the low-loss property of the aluminum-coated fiber at the 193-nm wavelength of ArF-excimer laser light. The straight loss of the 1-m long, 1-mm-bore fiber is 1.0 dB.

Photodynamic therapy of atherosclerosis using YAG-OPO laser and Porfimer sodium, and comparison with using argon-dye laser

We performed photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the Yttrium Aluminium Garnet-Optical Parametric Oscillated (YAG-OPO) laser in cases of atherosclerosis, and examined its efficacy in vivo. We also performed PDT using an Argon-dye (Ar-dye) laser with the same output, and compared the efficacies. Following balloon denudation injury of the thoracoabdominal aorta, rabbits were raised on a cholesterol diet for 16 weeks, producing atheroma in that region. At 24 h following the administration of Photofrin 5 mg/kg, PDT was performed, and animals were sacrificed at 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks following the procedure to examine its efficacy. This was compared with the efficacy of PDT using the Ar-dye laser. Following PDT using a YAG-OPO laser, an increase in the vessel lumen was seen due to reduction of the hypertrophic intima and media, without the appearance of inflammatory cells. This result was seen more strongly in PDT using the pulse wave YAG-OPO laser than with the continuous wave Ar-dye laser, affecting not just the intima but also the media. These data demonstrated that PDT can effectively regress atherosclerotic lesions.

Fabrication of copper oxide-coated hollow waveguides for CO2 laser radiation

Hollow fibers for transmitting CO(2) laser light were fabricated by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. A dielectric film of copper oxide (Cu(2)O) was deposited upon the inside of a Ag-coated glass capillary by use of a metal acetylacetonate as the precursor. The waveguide, which was coated with Cu(2)O and had a bore diameter of 700 microm, showed a loss of 0.9 dB/m for CO(2) laser light. The Cu(2)O film deposited by CVD had high chemical and heat resistivity. Therefore a hollow fiber coated with copper oxide is suitable for high-power laser applications in a severe environment.

A study to determine if basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) reduces myocardial infarct size in acute coronary arterial occlusion

We investigated the angiogenic and myocardial salvage effects of bFGF. Twelve beagles with ligated left anterior descending coronary arteries were divided into two groups: a FGF group administered bFGF intravenously, and a Control group, after CAG immediately post-ligation. One week post-ligation, CAG was repeated. The heart was sliced along the short axis. For each section, the fluorescein Na staining deficit area (DA) and ratio of DA to total area (DAR), TTC staining of the infarct area (IA) and ratio of IA to total area (IAR), and Masson trichrome staining of the fibrosed area (MA) and ratio of MA to total area (MAR), were calculated. The increase in the number of collateral vessels, seen on CAG from post-ligation to 1 week later, was significantly greater in the FGF group. No significant differences in IAR or MAR were seen between the groups. However, DAR and DA/IA were significantly less in the FGF group. In conclusion, bFGF had no effect on infarct size, but stimulated the growth of collateral vessels and improved coronary blood flow in IA.

Low-dose basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor for angiogenesis in canine acute hindlimb insufficiency

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have shown strong angiogenetic effects in ischemic animals; however, whether such a beneficial effect could be achieved using low doses remains to be determined. The effects of identical low-level doses of these substances on the creation of collateral circulation in canine acute hind limb insufficiency were evaluated. Anesthetized dogs that had undergone left femoral artery occlusion received 20 microg (2 microg/kg) intravenous boluses of either bFGF or VEGF 3 times at 2-day intervals for the first week only, animals on vehicle saline injection served as controls. All groups, control (n=8), bFGF-treated (n=8), and VEGF-treated (n=6) underwent angiography, blood flow measurement (in ml/min) on the day of ligation (day 0), and at 7, 14 and 28 days, then underwent ischemic limb muscle biopsy at 28 days. Angiogenic-treated groups showed remarkable enhanced collateral circulation at 7 days, which was maintained up to 28 days, and the main collateral source artery of the angiogenic-treated groups dilated by 14 days. Many neovascularized arterioles in specimens of the angiogenic groups were recognized without any tissue edema or necrosis. Even low doses of bFGF or VEGF were enough to augment collateral circulation with no side-effects, and short treatment after acute ischemia was effective. Low-dose bFGF or VEGF may be therapeutical effective options in patients with acute lower limb vascular disease.

Hollow-fiber delivery of high-power pulsed Nd:YAG laser light

We propose hollow fibers for delivery of high-peak-power pulsed Nd:YAG laser light. Hollow fibers with an internal polymer layer were fabricated by a liquid-phase coating technique. We reduced the losses of the fibers in the near-infrared region by producing a silver film that was very smooth owing to use of an ultrasonic wave for mixing of the silver and the reducer solutions in the silver-plating process. The straight losses of the 1-m-long polymer-coated fibers were 0.3 dB for the 700-mum bore size and 0.1 dB for the 1000-mum bore fiber.

Cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow glass waveguides for the infrared

Cyclic olefin polymer (COP) is newly used as the inner dielectric of infrared, hollow glass waveguides because of its low extinction coefficient in the mid-infrared region. A liquid-flow coating and dry-cure process are employed to form the COP layer on the inside of a silver-coated hollow glass tube. In the coating process, cyclohexane is chosen as the solvent of COP to form a smooth and uniform COP layer. It is shown that COP-coated silver hollow glass waveguides show low loss properties for CO(2), CO, and Er:YAG laser light when the thickness of the COP layer is properly chosen.

Reaction mechanism of fluoroacetate dehalogenase from Moraxella sp. B

Fluoroacetate dehalogenase (EC 3.8.1.3) catalyzes the dehalogenation of fluoroacetate and other haloacetates. The amino acid sequence of fluoroacetate dehalogenase from Moraxella sp. B is similar to that of haloalkane dehalogenase (EC 3.8.1.5) from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 in the regions around Asp-105 and His-272, which correspond to the active site nucleophile Asp-124 and the base catalyst His-289 of the haloalkane dehalogenase, respectively (Krooshof, G. H., Kwant, E. M., Damborský, J., Koca, J., and Janssen, D. B. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 9571-9580). After multiple turnovers of the fluoroacetate dehalogenase reaction in H218O, the enzyme was digested with trypsin, and the molecular masses of the peptide fragments formed were measured by ion-spray mass spectrometry. Two 18O atoms were shown to be incorporated into the octapeptide, Phe-99-Arg-106. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of this peptide revealed that Asp-105 was labeled with two 18O atoms. These results indicate that Asp-105 acts as a nucleophile to attack the alpha-carbon of the substrate, leading to the formation of an ester intermediate, which is subsequently hydrolyzed by the nucleophilic attack of a water molecule on the carbonyl carbon atom. A His-272 --> Asn mutant (H272N) showed no activity with either fluoroacetate or chloroacetate. However, ion-spray mass spectrometry revealed that the H272N mutant enzyme was covalently alkylated with the substrate. The reaction of the H272N mutant enzyme with [14C]chloroacetate also showed the incorporation of radioactivity into the enzyme. These results suggest that His-272 probably acts as a base catalyst for the hydrolysis of the covalent ester intermediate.

Refractive indices and extinction coefficients of polymers for the mid-infrared region

Refractive indices and extinction coefficients of several polymers have been measured for the wide infrared wavelength region. The polymers used as coating materials have also been found useful for low-loss hollow waveguides for the transmission of Er:YAG, CO, and CO(2) laser light, respectively.

Flexible hollow waveguides for delivery of excimer-laser light

A hollow waveguide consisting of a glass tube with a thin aluminum film on the inner surface is proposed for delivery of excimer-laser light. The waveguide, fabricated by a chemical-vapor-deposition method, shows low losses for KrF excimer laser light: the straight loss of a 1-mm-bore waveguide was 0.4 dB:m.

Identification of the catalytic triad residues of porcine liver acylamino acid-releasing enzyme

Acylamino acid-releasing enzyme (AARE) [EC 3.4.19.1] is a tetrameric serine protease, which belongs to the oligopeptidase family and specifically removes acetyl amino acids from N-terminally acetylated peptides. By using diisopropyl fluorophosphate, we previously identified one of the residues comprising the catalytic triad of this enzyme as Ser587 [Miyagi, M. et al. (1995) J. Biochem. 118, 771-779]. To elucidate the other two residues forming the catalytic triad of this new serine-type protease, wild-type and four mutant AAREs, in which each candidate residue of the catalytic triad deduced from sequence alignment with other oligopeptidases was substituted by site-directed mutagenesis, were expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with short peptide chains at both N- and C-termini of a subunit of porcine liver enzyme. All of the recombinant AAREs were estimated to have similar conformational and quaternary structures to the native porcine liver enzyme from their CD spectra and behavior on gel-filtration, but the mutants in which Ala587, Asn675, or Tyr707 was substituted for Ser587, Asp675, or His707, respectively, did not show detectable hydrolytic activity toward acetyl-L-methionyl L-alanine. These facts suggest that Ser587, Asp675, and His707 are essential residues for the AARE activity and comprise the catalytic triad of the enzyme in this order. Thus, AARE has been shown to have a protease-like domain in its C-terminal region, as do other proteins classified as members of the oligopeptidase family.

Formation of water-insoluble gel in dry-coated tablets for the controlled release of theophylline

Sodium alginate (ALNa) of a natural polysaccharide is known to form a water-insoluble gel when combined with a bivalent metal. In this study, we prepared tablets containing ALNa and calcium gluconate (GLCa) as a bivalent metal, and studied the application of the water-insoluble gel involving the controlled release of a test drug by permeation of water. Dry-coated tablets containing theophylline (TP) as a model drug, ALNa and GLCa were prepared by the dry power compression method. The controlled release of TP was evaluated by the dissolution test according to JP XIII. The release rate was extremely high for the tablets which contained only TP and GLCa. A zero order or sigmoidal release profile was observed for the tablets that contained only TP and ALNa. On the other hand, the lowest dissolution rate and a sigmoidal release profile were observed for the tablet containing TP and GLCa in its core and ALNa in its outer phase. These results suggest that dry-coated tablets containing ALNa and GLCa and prepared by the direct powder compression method would be useful for the controlled release of drugs.

In vitro release of tranilast from oily gels and penetration of the drug into Yucatan micropig skin

For the transdermal delivery of tranilast (TL), a drug used for the treatment of skin diseases such as keloids and hypertrophic scars, its oily gels were prepared; its in vitro release and penetration into Yucatan micropig skin were evaluated. In the gels that consisted of hydrogenated soybean phospholipids (HSL) and octyl isononanoate (IOIN), a fatty-acid ester, the release of TL from the gels was proportional to the drug content, and the extent of TL released up to 6 h from them was approximately 70% of the amount of applied TL. On the other hand, with the gels consisting of HSL and isocetyl isostearate (ICIS), the release of TL from the gels was about half of that from IOIN gels, even at the same drug concentration. When oily gels were used, the TL skin concentration was rapidly increased compared with the level obtained with suspensions. With 0.1% IOIN gel, a high concentration of TL (ca. 160 microg/g) in the dermis was obtained and continued until at least 48 h. These results suggest that oily gels may be useful for the topical application of TL.

Renal ACE immunohistochemical localization in NIDDM patients with nephropathy

A role of renal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in diabetic nephropathy has been suggested. Immunohistochemical localization of ACE was studied in 20 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients with diabetic nephropathy and 17 healthy kidney transplant donors, with ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism also examined in the latter. Immunohistochemical studies indicated that ACE staining was significantly (P < 0.01) enhanced in glomeruli and slightly decreased in proximal tubules in diabetic patients. Glomeruli positive for ACE immunostaining were observed in 23.5% of the healthy subjects and in 80% of the diabetic patients. All patients with nodular lesions had ACE-positive glomeruli and showed significantly (P < 0.01) more intense glomerular ACE immunostaining than patients without nodular lesions. Among healthy controls, subjects with the DD genotype had ACE-positive glomeruli more frequently and tended to show slightly increased intensity on proximal tubule ACE immunostaining compared with subjects with other genotypes. These observations suggest that increased ACE localization in glomeruli is likely to be one of the factors in the increased renin-angiotensin system activity in glomeruli in patients with diabetic nephropathy. There is a possibility that ACE gene I/D polymorphism may be related to renal ACE immunohistochemical localization.

Polymer-coated hollow fiber for CO(2) laser delivery

Hollow fibers for CO(2) laser light have been fabricated with a cyclic olefin polymer as the inner dielectric. A film of cyclic olefin polymer was coated inside the glass capillary tubing by a simple liquid-flowing process. A polymer-coated fiber with a 700-microm bore showed a loss of 0.06 dB/m for CO(2) laser light because cyclic olefin polymer has low absorption at a 10.6-microm wavelength.

Two hevein homologs isolated from the seed of Pharbitis nil L. exhibit potent antifungal activity

Two antifungal peptides (Pn-AMP1 and Pn-AMP2) have been purified to homogeneity from seeds of Pharbitis nil. The amino acid sequences of Pn-AMP1 (41 amino acid0 residues) and Pn-AMP2 (40 amino acid residues) were identical except that Pn-AMP1 has an additional serine residue at the carboxyl-terminus. The molecular masses of Pn-AMP1 and Pn-AMP2 were confirmed as 4299.7 and 4213.2 Da, respectively. Both the Pn-AMPs were highly basic (pI 12.02) and had characteristics of cysteine/glycine rich chitin-binding domain. Pn-AMPs exhibited potent antifungal activity against both chitin-containing and non-chitin-containing fungi in the cell wall. Concentrations required for 50% inhibition of fungal growth were ranged from 3 to 26 micrograms/ml for Pn-AMP1 and from 0.6 to 75 micrograms/ml for Pn-AMP2. The Pn-AMPs penetrated very rapidly into fungal hyphae and localized at septum and hyphal tips of fungi, which caused burst of hyphal tips. Burst of hyphae resulted in disruption of the fungal membrane and leakage of the cytoplasmic materials. To our knowledge, Pn-AMPs are the first hevein-like proteins that show similar fungicidal effects as thionins do.

Osteopathy in broiler chicks fed toxic mimosine in Leucaena leucocephala

Further studies of mimosine toxicity in broiler chicks were done to clarify a possibility of osteopathy. The mineral content and density of femur and the strength, ductility, and toughness for the index of mechanical properties significantly decreased in the 1% mimosine group, compared with those in the control and restricted groups. The stiffness had a decreasing tendency in the 1% mimosine group. Consequently, it was concluded that chicks fed ad libitum a 1% mimosine diet for 12 days developed osteopathy. The bone mineral density and the strength of the restricted group were lower than those of the control group, and those of the 1% mimosine group were still lower than those of the restricted group. Contents of pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline in the excrement were significantly higher in the restricted group than those in the control group, but the contents in the 1% mimosine group were significantly lowest among the groups. Osteopathy in chicks fed mimosine, therefore, seemed to be done by loss of appetite and changing to a low turnover of bone caused by mimosine.

Optical and magneto-optical properties of copper-nickel compound metal island films

The optical properties of copper Cu-Ni compound metal island (CMI) films composed of nanoclusters of an alloy of Cu and Ni have been experimentally investigated. The spectral characteristics of the Cu-Ni CMI films are intermediate between those of conventional Cu and Ni island films in visible and near-IR regions. In addition, the magneto-optic effect has been observed in the Cu-Ni CMI films. It is also shown that the Faraday rotation in the Cu-Ni CMI films can easily be controlled by selection of the mixture ratio of Cu and Ni.

A novel derivatization method with 5-bromonicotinic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide for determination of the amino acid sequences of peptides

We have developed a novel method that effectively identifies the N-terminal product ions produced in the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of peptides done in conjunction with the specific derivatization of the N-terminal amino group using 5-bromonicotinic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (BrNA-NHS). Electrospray ionization with low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) MS/MS clearly differentiated the N-terminal product ions labeled with the 5-bromonicotinyl group from other ions, on the basis of the appearance of CID peaks with a doublet pattern characteristically separated by 2 mass units produced by the equal natural abundances of 79Br and 81Br. The tracing of a series of these bromine-containing product ions allows the easy amino acid sequencing of peptides. Using Gln-Arg-Leu-Gln-Ser-Asn-Gln-Leu-Lys as the test peptide, we found that within 30 minutes at pH 6.5 and 37 degrees C its alpha-amino group was completely acylated with BrNA-NHS (peptide: BrNA-NHS = 1:40; mol/mol). The epsilon-amino group of the C-terminal lysine residue was less likely to be acylated under these conditions, being only partly modified (about 20%). This suggests the possibility of keeping the epsilon-amino group free from acylation. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the amino acid sequences of peptides from porcine kidney aminoacylase I produced by digestion with lysyl endopeptidase and with Staphylococus aureus V8 protease.

Lensed-taper launching coupler for small-bore, infrared hollow fibers

A new type of launching coupler for small-bore, hollow fibers, consisting of a lens and a tapered hollow waveguide, is proposed to increase the alignment tolerance between an input laser beam and small bore fibers. First, we designed the structural dimensions of the coupler by using a ray-tracing method. Then, a series of experiments employing tapered hollow waveguides made of Pyrex glass was performed to investigate the effectiveness of the new coupler. It is shown that the coupler has a high efficiency with attenuation of around 0.5 dB, especially when the inside of the taper section is coated with a polymer and silver film. In addition, we also show that the coupler has great tolerance for the transverse displacement of a waveguide axis, which gives a 0.1-dB loss increase for a 300-mum displacement.

Methionine aminopeptidase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus: molecular cloning and overexpression in Escherichia coli of the gene, and characteristics of the enzyme

A gene for a methionine aminopeptidase (MAP; EC 3.4.11.18), which catalyzes the removal of amino-terminal methionine from the growing peptide chain on the ribosome, has been cloned from the hyperthermophilic Archaeon, Pyrococcus furiosus, by a novel method effectively using its cosmid protein library, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence encodes a protein containing 295 amino acid residues with methionine at the N-terminus. From protein analyses of the recombinant protein expressed in E. coli, by using both amino acid sequence analysis from the N-terminus by automated Edman degradation and analyses of molecular masses of the peptides generated by two enzymatic cleavages performed independently, digestions with lysylendopeptidase and Endoproteinase Asp-N, with ionspray mass spectrometry, the primary structure of the protein has been elucidated to be completely identical with that deduced from its DNA sequence. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of P. furiosus MAP (P.f. MAP) with those of other MAPs from Eukarya and Bacteria showed that the protein has a high degree of sequence homology in the stretches surrounding the five cobalt-binding residues fully preserved in all of MAPs determined so far, but P.f. MAP belongs to Type II because it has an extra long insertion of about 60 amino acid residues between the fourth and fifth cobalt-binding ligands, similar to MAPs from human and rat, and to Met-AP2 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in comparison to Type I MAPs from Bacteria. Therefore, P.f. MAP seems to be rather close to those from Eukarya, although it is distinct in lacking the N-terminal extension of about 90-150 residues universally found in MAPs from Eukarya. These findings suggest that P.f. MAP is evolutionally located at the Eukarya-Bacteria boundary. The enzyme expressed in E. coli exhibits a considerable thermostability, with a half-life of approximately 4.5 h at 90 degrees C and an optimum temperature of around 90 degrees C.

Silver-halide fiber tip as a beam homogenizer for infrared hollow waveguides

A beam-homogenizing device consisting of a short tip of silver-halide infrared fiber eliminates the low-order multimode effect generated by bending of hollow guides. A series of experiments with a CO(2) laser shows that the solid fiber functions as a homogenizer with a small insertion loss of 0.2dB.

Thickness and uniformity of fluorocarbon polymer film dynamically coated inside silver hollow glass waveguides

The variation in properties of a fluorocarbon polymer (FCP) film during a drying-curing process is investigated for fabricating FCP-coated silver (FCP/Ag) hollow glass waveguides. A dynamic liquid-phase coating procedure is used. Through the analyses of the loss spectra of hollow waveguides made in various conditions, a relationship between the thickness of the FCP film and the coating velocity is obtained. The optimum fabrication condition is also established for producing FCP/Ag hollow glass waveguides for the mid-IR.

Simultaneous determination of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine and its metabolite, L-histidyl-L-lysine, in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column derivatization

A selective and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK), a liver-cell growth factor isolated from human plasma, and its metabolite, L-histidyl-L-lysine (HK), in rat plasma. Both high selectivity and sensitivity were achieved by the use of solid-phase extraction with a Bond-Elut Certify cartridge, ion-pair chromatography with 1-pentanesulfonate on a 5-microm Capcell Pak C18 UG120 column (250x4.6 mm I.D.) with a guard column, and by post-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA). GHK and HK were extracted from 0.1 ml of rat plasma after addition of o-phenanthroline to protect against degradation. The limit of detection for GHK and HK were 50 and 15 ng/ml, respectively, and the calibration curves were linear in the range 0.1-5.0 microg/ml. The developed method was applied to the pharmacokinetic study of GHK after a single dose was administered intravenously to rats. GHK was rapidly degraded to HK, which was eliminated rapidly.

Write-once optical data storage media with large reflectance change with metal-island films

Gold (Au), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and aluminum (Al) island films have been investigated for write-once optical data storage media with the high reflectance and the large reflectance changes induced by laser irradiation. We show that, of the four, the Ag and the Cu island films are the most useful as WO media at 800 nm. The Al island films are useful for a shorter wavelength region. The optical and structural changes in laser-written regions on the island films have also been investigated experimentally. It appears that the metal-island films show great potential as optical data storage media for compact-disk-compatible write-once optical disks.

Paracatalytic inactivation of L-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. YL by hydroxylamine. Evidence for the formation of an ester intermediate

Asp10 of L-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Pseudomonas sp. YL was proposed to act as a nucleophile to attack the alpha-carbon of L-2-haloalkanoic acids to form an ester intermediate, which is hydrolyzed by nucleophilic attack of a water molecule on the carbonyl carbon (Liu, J.-Q, Kurihara, T., Miyagi, M., Esaki, N., and Soda, K. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 18309-18312). We have found that the enzyme is paracatalytically inactivated by hydroxylamine in the presence of the substrates monochloroacetate and L-2-chloropropionate. Ion spray mass spectrometry demonstrated that the molecular mass of the enzyme inactivated by hydroxylamine during the dechlorination of monochloroacetate is about 74 Da greater than that of the native enzyme. To determine the increase of the molecular mass more precisely, we digested the inactivated enzyme with lysyl endopeptidase and measured the molecular masses of the peptide fragments. The molecular mass of the hexapeptide Gly6-Lys11 was shown to increase by 73 Da. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of this peptide revealed that the increase is due to a modification of Asp10. When the enzyme was paracatalytically inactivated by hydroxylamine during the dechlorination of L-2-chloropropionate, the molecular mass of the hexapeptide was 87 Da higher. Hydroxylamine is proposed to attack the carbonyl carbon of the ester intermediate and form a stable aspartate beta-hydroxamate carboxyalkyl ester residue in the inactivated enzyme.

Simultaneous measurement of optical constants of dispersive material at visible and infrared wavelengths

A systematic method has been proposed to evaluate the complex refractive indices and thicknesses of dispersive polymer thin films in both visible and infrared regions. The curve-fitting method has been applied to the measurement of the film thicknesses and complex refractive indices in the visible and near-infrared regions. The accuracy of the evaluated film thickness is of the order of +/-0.5%. The presented method is useful for characterizing the optical properties of polymers whose refractive indices are near to those of substrates.