Comparison of the entire nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the attenuated hog cholera vaccine strain GPE- and the wild-type parental strain ALD

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequences of a live attenuated hog cholera virus (HCV) and its progenitor strain. The viral RNA of each strain consisted of 12,298 nucleotides including untranslated regions of 373 and 228 bases at the 5' and 3' end, respectively. There was a single large open reading frame spanning 11,697 nucleotides which could encode a large protein of 3,899 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 438-kDa. We have found 225 nucleotide difference between the two strains, of which six were located in the untranslated region. Four-sixths of these differences resulted in amino acid substitutions.

Plasma adsorption to charcoal and ion-exchange resin for treating postoperative hepatic failure

Postoperative hepatic failure was treated by plasma adsorption (PA) to charcoal and ion-exchange resin in five patients suffering from pancreatic or biliary carcinoma that was not accompanied by liver cirrhosis. Four of these patients recovered completely from the hepatic failure, while the fifth patient recovered sufficiently to be taken off the treatment for three weeks. Reactions in platelet counts and circulatory system during and after the PA treatment were minimal in all these patients. PA proved to be an effective liver support system for treating non-cirrhotic patients with postoperative hepatic failure.

Toward salivary-urinary chronosensitivity testing: chronomes of OVX1, M-CSF and CA130

Several rhythmic components were previously mapped for salivary and/or urinary CA125 and CA130. On the background of such reference standards, OVX1 and M-CSF were assayed on 242 urine samples and 160 saliva samples provided by a 71-year-old patient with a Müllerian/ovarian adenocarcinoma. Serum OVX1 correlates with serum CA125 (P = 0.002); when circulating CA125 concentrations decreased (from 122 to 14 U/ml), the urinary excretion rate of OVX1 decreased (P = 0.005), whereas the urinary excretion rate of CA125 increased (P < 0.001). Salivary OVX1 and urinary M-CSF show ultradian variations (with a frequency of one cycle in 14-17 hours), which could be utilized to guide treatment timing targeted first to optimize treatment efficacy and as a second consideration to minimize treatment toxicity.

Evidence that the expression of the gene for NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase is n-alkane-inducible in Candida maltosa

A gene coding for NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase of an n-alkane-assimilating yeast, Candida maltosa, was isolated and sequenced. Northern analysis and assay of the expression of the reporter gene under the control of the promoter of this gene showed that the transcriptional level was induced 4 to 8-fold in cells grown on n-alkane relative to cells grown on glucose.

Spectral differences between epitopes in the cronomes of salivary CA130 and CA125

Ovarian tumor markers CA125 and CA130 are here investigated in the search for harbingers of an elevated cancer risk or pre-cancer. A circadian rhythm of large amplitude is demonstrated for salivary CA125 and CA130 of a clinically healthy 28-year-old woman (AP). The circadian rhythms of both markers found in AP have a pattern similar to that of a patient (EH) with a müllerian cancer involving the ovary, with high values in the early morning and low values in the afternoon. Whereas acrophases occur approximately at the same circadian stage in both AP and EH, the MESOR and circadian amplitude are higher in EH as compared to AP. The circadian rhythm of salivary CA130 of AP is similar to that of other clinically healthy women. CA130 concentrations are lower than CA125 concentrations in unstimulated saliva (before rinsing of the mouth) in this clinically healthy woman (AP), and in other women studied herein. This difference between CA130 and CA125 concentrations is observed irrespective of circadian stage and irrespective of the concentration range of CA125 at the outset. After rinsing of the mouth, a statistically significant decrease in both CA130 and CA125 concentration is observed in AP and in another healty woman (GC) who collected saliva both before and after rinsing of the mouth.

Characterization of chitin synthase 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Implication of two highly conserved domains as possible catalytic sites

Chitin synthase 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was characterized by means of site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent expression of the mutant enzymes in yeast cells. Chitin synthase 2 shares a region whose sequence is highly conserved in all chitin synthases. Substitutions of conserved amino acids in this region with alanine (alanine scanning) identified two domains in which any conserved amino acid could not be replaced by alanine to retain enzyme activity. These two domains contained unique sequences, Glu561-Asp562-Arg563 and Gln601-Arg602-Arg603-Arg604-Trp605, that were conserved in all types of chitin synthases. Glu561 or arginine at 563, 602, and 603 could be substituted by glutamic acid and lysine, respectively, without significant loss of enzyme activity. However, even conservative substitutions of Asp562 with glutamic acid, Gln601 with asparagine, Arg604 with lysine, or Trp605 with tyrosine drastically decreased the activity, but did not affect apparent Km values for the substrate significantly. In addition to these amino acids, Asp441 was also found in all chitin synthase. The mutant harboring a glutamic acid substitution for Asp441 severely lost activity, but it showed a similar apparent Km value for the substrate. Amounts of the mutant enzymes in total membranes were more or less the same as found in the wild type. Furthermore, Asp441, Asp562, Gln601, Arg604, and Trp605 are completely conserved in other proteins possessing N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase activity such as NodC proteins of Rhizobium bacterias. These results suggest that Asp441, Asp562, Gln601, Arg604, and Trp605 are located in the active pocket and that they function as the catalytic residues of the enzyme.

Comparison of HIV-1 protease expression in different fusion forms

Earlier observations showed that the expression of recombinant protease of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1 PR) was usually in a low level, and its proteolytic activity and hydrophobicity were believed to be toxic for the host cells. Various constructs were investigated that contained an N-terminal extended HIV-1 PR gene (PR107) in order to find a system which can express this protease in high level. The constructs of PR107 gene expressed as fusion proteins either with glutathione S-transferase (GST) by pGEX-PR107 or with maltose-binding protein (MBP) by pMAL-PR107 showed that the full length of fusion protein exhibited self-cleavage in E. coli. The results from expression experiments indicated that the size of the fusion portion does not affect the self-processing of fused HIV-1 PR to release its mature form, despite the attachment of only one subunit of the dimeric protease to GST or MBP. The construct, pET-PR107, under the control of strong bacteriophage T7 promoter system, did not show clear advantages for expression of this HIV-1 PR. Comparing these three constructs, the pGEX-PR107 system showed the highest expression level. Quantitative immuno-blotting indicated that the amount of HIV-1 PR expressed by pGEX-PR107 was twice that expressed by pMAL-PR107, and thrice that expressed by pET-PR107. More than 1 mg of pure HIV-1 PR from per liter culture of E. coli. DH5 alpha containing pGEX-PR107 can be obtained via the purification procedures [Biochem. Mol. Biol. International, (1995) 35:899-912].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mark-release-recapture experiments to estimate the efficiency of the light trap in collecting Japanese encephalitis vector mosquitoes

Efficiency of the light trap in collecting females of Culex tritaeniorhynchus, the principal vector mosquito of Japanese encephalitis, was evaluated by mark-release-recapture experiments. Females collected with dry ice in the field were marked and released in a pigsty. The recapture rate of marked females by the light trap was so low as around 1% or lower. Owing to this low efficiency, it is not likely that the light trap can be a useful tool in the control of Japanese encephalitis.

Human neutrophil collagenase (MMP-8), identified in bronchiectasis BAL fluid, correlates with severity of disease

Collagenases in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with bronchiectasis and healthy subjects were characterized using specific functional and immunologic assays. The BAL fluid contained interstitial collagenase and collagenolytic proteinases of bacterial origin. Collagenase activities, obtained after organomercurial activation, correlated with the severity of bronchiectasis. In severe cases, collagenase activities were 3.5 x 10(-7) IU/L/48 h or 4.8 x 10(-6) IU/g/48 h (p < 0.01), in moderate ones 1.74 x 10(-7) IU/L/48 h or 3.35 x 10(-6) IU/g/48 h (p < 0.05), and in mild cases 0.32 x 10(-7) IU/L/48 h or 0.7 x 10(-6) IU/g/48 h (p < 0.05). The corresponding activities in healthy control subjects were 0.08 x 10(-7) IU/L/48 h or 0.13 x 10(-6) IU/g/48 h. The cellular origin of interstitial collagenase was assessed with doxycycline inhibition test utilizing the differential sensitivity of fibroblast-type collagenase/MMP-1 (IC50 = 280 microM) and neutrophil-type collagenase/MMP-8 (IC50 = 26 microM) to the anticollagenolytic, nonantimicrobial doxycycline action. Interstitial collagenase, contained in BALF, was totally inhibited by 100 microM of doxycycline. It can therefore be concluded that most of mammalian collagenase presented in inflamed fluid of bronchiectasis originated from neutrophils. The molecular forms of neutrophil-type collagenase/MMP-8 were confirmed and analyzed by Western-blot, which showed evidence of the proteolytic conversion of the latent 85-kD MMP-8 proenzyme species into active 65-kD molecular weight species. These findings strongly suggest involvement of proteolytic activation pathway of proMMP-8, especially in severe and moderate forms of bronchiectasis. Furthermore, collagenolytic proteases of bacterial origins may also participate in tissue destruction of the lung.

Proliferation of intracellular membrane structures upon homologous overproduction of cytochrome P-450 in Candida maltosa

In an alkane-assimilating yeast, Candida maltosa, a cultivation on alkane causes both induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident membrane proteins, such as cytochrome P-450, and proliferation of ER. In this study, individual genes for alkane-inducible forms of cytochrome P-450 (P-450alk) were homologously overexpressed in C. maltosa using a galactose-inducible expression system developed in this yeast. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that, upon the overexpression, a dramatic proliferation of ER occurred, in which overproduced P-450alk protein accumulated. The proliferated membranes were mainly tubular forms and stacks of paired membranes were also observed after prolonged expression. The tubular forms were morphologically very similar to the proliferated ER in alkane-induced C. maltosa cells. The observed proliferation of ER membranes by homologous overproduction of P-450alk, here depicted, will provide a unique opportunity for investigating the mechanisms by which cells regulate ER biogenesis, in comparison with the intrinsic form of ER proliferation.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) poor-responsive inbred mouse strains carry the identical deletion of a branch point in the IL-3 receptor alpha subunit gene

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) stimulates colony formation of multiple lineages of hematopoietic cells. Bone marrow cells of A/J mice are nonresponsive to IL-3, and this observation has recently been correlated with aberrant mRNA splicing and impaired expression of the IL-3 receptor alpha subunit (IL-3R alpha), a binding component of the high-affinity receptors. We examined the IL-3R alpha gene in 27 inbred mouse strains and found the identical mutation, a 5-bp deletion at the branch point of intron 7, in 10 of these mouse strains. Bone marrow cells isolated from these 10 mouse strains did not express IL-3R alpha on the cell surface and did not form colonies in response to IL-3. Because the defective IL-3R alpha gene was found in several distantly related mouse strains, it appears to be a recessive allele rather than a sporadic mutation. In contrast, only 1 of 21 wild-derived mouse strains carried the 5-bp deletion in the IL-3R alpha gene. This study suggests that IL-3 function is not required for normal hematopoiesis in mice, but the retention of the IL-3 and IL-3R system may be of some selective advantage in wild populations.

[Functional magnetic resonance imaging of the human primary visual cortex during visual stimulation]

Signal changes in the human primary visual cortex during visual stimulation were evaluated using non-invasive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The experiments were performed on 10 normal human volunteers and 2 patients with homonymous hemianopsia, including one who was recovering from the exacerbation of multiple sclerosis. The visual stimuli were provided by a pattern generator using the checkerboard pattern for determining the visual evoked potential of full-field and hemifield stimulation. In normal volunteers, a signal increase was observed on the bilateral primary visual cortex during the full-field stimulation and on the contra-lateral cortex during hemifield stimulation. In the patient with homonymous hemianopsia after cerebral infarction, the signal change was clearly decreased on the affected side. In the other patient, the one recovering from multiple sclerosis with an almost normal visual field, the fMRI was within normal limits. These results suggest that it is possible to visualize the activation of the visual cortex during visual stimulation, and that there is a possibility of using this test as an objective method of visual field examination.

[Bacterial intracavernous carotid aneurysm presented as massive epistaxis]

A 55-year-old man was admitted with complaints of headache, diplopia, fever and swelling of the right eyelid. Physical examination revealed low grade fever of 37.6 degrees C, but no evidence of infectious focus was detected. The neurological examination disclosed right abducens nerve palsy. An initial routine blood count showed an increased white blood cell count of 11,800/microliters. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 93mm and the C-reactive protein level was 3.6mg/dl. Massive epistaxis and hypovolemic shock developed on the 14th day while the patient was receiving antibiotics (CEZ, CMZ) for a possible intracranial infection. The magnetic resonance angiography of the brain and the cerebral angiography demonstrated an aneurysm within the cavernous sinus, which had not been present on the admission. Since epistaxis was caused by a rupture of the aneurysm, internal carotid artery ligation was done. The signs of inflammation improved as well as patients' symptoms. The improvement while using antibiotics strongly implies that the aneurysm was a result of bacterial infection of the cavernous sinus. There have been no reports of ruptured bacterial intracavernous aneurysms presented with massive epistaxis as this case.

Cloning of the Rhizopus niveus pyr4 gene and its use for the transformation of Rhizopus delemar

We have cloned a pyr4 gene encoding orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase of the filamentous fungus Rhizopus niveus. The pyr4 gene of R. nivens has an open reading frame composed of 265 amino-acid residues and has two putative introns. We have also isolated a pyr4 mutant of Rhizopus delemar from 5-fluoroorotic acid-resistant mutants and transformed it with the pyr4 gene of R. niveus as a selectable marker. Introduced DNA was integrated into the chromosome in a multiple tandem array. The mitotic stability of the introduced DNA was increased by a repeated sporulation process. The expression of the Escherichia coli beta-glucuronidase gene in R. delemar was successfully obtained under the control of the pgk2 gene promoter of R. niveus by co-transformation with the pyr4 gene.

Multi-colony stimulating activity of interleukin 5 (IL-5) on hematopoietic progenitors from transgenic mice that express IL-5 receptor alpha subunit constitutively

The interleukin 3 (IL-3), IL-5, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptors consist of a cytokine-specific alpha subunit and the common beta subunit. Whereas IL-3 stimulates various lineages of hematopoietic cells, including multipotential progenitors, IL-5 acts mainly as an eosinophil lineage-specific factor. To investigate whether the lineage specificity of IL-5 is due to restricted expression of the IL-5 receptor alpha subunit (IL-5R alpha), we generated transgenic mice that express the mouse IL-5R alpha constitutively by phosphoglycerate kinase promoter. The transgenic mouse expressed IL-5R alpha ubiquitously, and the bone marrow cells formed various types of colonies, including multi-lineage colonies, in response to IL-5. IL-5 also supported formation of both multi-lineage and blast cell colonies from dormant progenitors of the 5-fluorouracil-treated transgenic mice. The cells composing the blast cell colony gave rise to many colonies including multi-lineage colonies when they were replated in secondary culture containing either Il-5 or IL-3. There was no significant difference in replating efficiency or in types of secondary colonies between IL-5- and IL-3-stimulated cultures. Conversely, the cells from the IL-3-induced blast cell colonies of the transgenic mice proliferated in response to either IL-3 or IL-5. Thus, the development of the progenitors can be equally supported by either IL-5 or IL-3, suggesting that intracellular signals from the IL-3R can be replaced by those from IL-5. These results strongly suggest that the lineage specificity of IL-5 is mainly due to the restricted expression of IL-5R alpha.

Facilitation in Anopheles and spontaneous disappearance of filariasis: has the concept been verified with sufficient evidence?

The validity of recently much argued phenomenon of facilitation in the transmission of filariasis was considered by examining previously published papers. It was concluded that there was no clear evidence to support the existence of facilitation and facilitation-based unstable equilibrium in relation to microfilaria prevalence and density in human population below which filariasis would spontaneously disappear, even when the vector was Anopheles mosquitoes. Instead, the existence of a critical level of man/mosquito contacts for the disappearance of filariasis was suggested.

Impaired interleukin-3 (IL-3) response of the A/J mouse is caused by a branch point deletion in the IL-3 receptor alpha subunit gene

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) alone does not support hematopoietic colony formation of bone marrow cells from the A/J mouse. To elucidate the molecular lesion in A/J mice, we examined expression of the alpha and beta subunits of the IL-3 receptor (IL-3R). While IL-3R beta was normally expressed, IL-3R alpha was not detectable on the surface of A/J-derived cells by antibody staining. Genetic linkage analysis using recombinant inbred mouse strains between A/J and IL-3-responsive C57BL/6 indicated that the IL-3R alpha gene locus was responsible for the impaired IL-3 response in A/J mice. Molecular cloning and characterization of A/J-derived IL-3R alpha cDNA revealed that it lacked the sequence corresponding to exon 8, which encodes 10 amino acid residues in the extracellular domain. The aberrant splicing was due to a 5 base pair deletion at the branch point in intron 7 and was reproduced in heterologous cells by transfecting with an IL-3R alpha minigene carrying the deleterious intron. The A/J-specific abnormal form of IL-3R alpha was localized inside the cells, but not on the cell surface, providing the molecular basis for the impaired IL-3 response in the A/J mouse.

Effect of rice culturing practices on seasonal occurrence of Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) immatures in three different types of rice-growing areas in central Japan

Seasonal occurrence of Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles immatures was surveyed, together with detailed observations on the rice cultivation practices, weekly in three different types of rice field habitat from 1982 to 1985. Despite early water introduction and seedling transplantation, a late seasonal peak of density and abundance of first instars were observed at terraced rice fields (YE) with continuous water in- and outflow through sluices in a hilly area. In contrast, immature populations increased quickly in flat rice fields (AN, SK). High density and abundance of fourth instars were encountered before midseason drying in rice fields (AN) with less flow and little loss of water, because of construction of an independent irrigation and drainage system. The midseason drying and the alternating flooding and draining after the drying effectively suppressed the occurrence of immatures. Early final draining for harvesting eliminated mass production of mosquitoes, even if the density was high in some rice fields. Differences in timing of seasonal rice-culturing procedures and water management were assumed to be effective in controlling the seasonal occurrence of C. tritaeniorhynchus.

Myocardial infarct size by serum troponin T and myosin light chain 1 concentration

The late troponin T (TnT) peak concentration, which is known to be independent of reperfusion of the infarcted zone in acute myocardial infarction (MI), has been suggested to be correlated with clinical estimates of cardiac function and myocardial infarct size. To refine the clinical application of the late TnT peak in infarct sizing, and to examine differences in this estimation in different infarct sites, we measured the serum concentrations of TnT and myosin light chain 1 (MLC1), and compared these values with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) obtained from left ventriculography, and extent score (ES) and severity score (SS) obtained from 201Tl scintigraphy in patients with anterior and inferior myocardial infarction. The late TnT peak concentration was strongly correlated with the MLC1 peak value in patients with anterior MI (r = 0.67, p < 0.05) and in those with inferior MI (r = 0.92, p < 0.0005). Furthermore, there were strong linear correlations between the late TnT peak values and all of the clinical data (LVEF; r = -0.79, p < 0.01, ES; r = 0.75, p < 0.05, SS; r = 0.75, p < 0.05, respectively) in patients with anterior MI. However, these correlations were weak in patients with inferior MI. Similar correlations were observed between MLC1 and the clinical data. Thus, TnT and MLC1 have similar kinetics in the serum at the late phase and can be used to estimate the size of anterior infarct.

Elastase activity, uninhibited by alpha 1-antitrypsin, in the periprosthetic connective matrix around loose total hip prostheses

To clarify the proteolytic cascade in the loosening of total hip prostheses, the presence, tissue localization, and content of the serine proteinase, elastase, and its endogenous inhibitor, alpha 1-antitrypsin, were studied in periprosthetic tissues around 12 loose hip prostheses by immunohistochemistry, spectrophotometric enzyme assay, and immunoblot analysis, and the results were compared with those in control synovial tissue samples from eight knees. Increased numbers of elastase-immunoreactive cells and elevated elastase activity, inhibited by the addition of native alpha 1-antitrypsin, were observed both in the interface tissues between the bone and implants and in the pseudocapsular tissues from around loose hip prostheses. Elevated elastase activity, uninhibited by alpha 1-antitrypsin in situ and inhibited by the addition of native inhibitor, suggests a proteinase-inhibitor imbalance that contributes to the weakening of periprosthetic tissues and thus causes the loosening of hip prostheses.

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor: report of three cases

BACKGROUND

Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) is one of the mixed neuronal-glial tumors that should be differentiated from low-grade gliomas. The recognition and correct diagnosis of DNT is important because this tumor is curable by excision.

METHODS

We report three cases of histologically proven DNTs with various image studies performed preoperatively and describe characteristic findings of them, as well as those of previous reports.

RESULTS

In our three cases, computed tomography (CT) showed a well-defined, nonenhancing hypodense area. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a cortical mass of hypointensity on T1- and of marked hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. I-123-IMP or Tc-99m-HMPAO single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images showed marked hypoperfusion of the lesion. Thallium-SPECT showed no uptake.

CONCLUSIONS

I-123-IMP, Tc-99m-HMPAO, and Thallium-SPECT images, as well as CT and MRI, may be helpful in distinguishing DNT from low-grade gliomas.