Isomerization of the UL region of varicella-zoster virus DNA

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA exists principally as two isomers. Despite the presence of inverted repeats bounding the long sequence region, the unique long sequence, UL, is found in one (prototype) orientation in 95-98% of VZV DNA molecules and in the inverted orientation in only 2-5% of the molecules. In searching for an explanation for this disparity, we superinfected VZV-infected cells with herpes simplex virus type 1 or pseudorabies virus. Neither superinfecting virus produced a measurable change in the frequency of isomerization of the VZV DNA long sequence region.

Taurine inhibits octopamine-stimulated cAMP production in cockroach haemocytes

Taurine and the taurine analogue guanidinoethanesulfonic acid interact with octopamine receptors of cockroach hemocytes to decrease octopamine-stimulated cAMP production. Dopamine-, synephrine- and tyramine-stimulated cAMP production in the haemocytes are also inhibited by taurine.

Analysis of varicella-zoster virus DNAs of clinical isolates by endonuclease HpaI

The DNAs of 20 strains of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) isolated from epidemiologically unrelated individuals, and of 15 strains isolated from vesicles of vaccinees with varicella or zoster after vaccination, were compared by restriction enzyme cleavage using HpaI. Differences were found in the sizes of the HpaI-F, -G and -K fragments of the wild strains. The gel migration patterns of the HpaI-F and -G fragments, but not of the HpaI-K fragment, were polymorphic in the different strains isolated from the vaccinees. The effects of serial passages in vitro and in humans on the genome stability of VZV were investigated by HpaI analysis. The DNA profiles of the HpaI-K fragments from six isolates recovered from room-mates infected in a single outbreak were identical, but the mobilities of their HpaI-F and -G fragments varied. The DNA profiles of the Oka vaccine virus after 10 and 85 passages in human embryo cells differed only in the HpaI-F fragment. The profiles of these fragments in DNA derived from two isolates obtained at different times from a vaccinee with varicella followed by zoster were compared with those of the Oka (parental) and Oka (vaccine) strains, and identical results were obtained for the two viruses. In addition, the same DNA profiles of HpaI fragments were obtained from three sequential isolates from one person and also from two isolates from another with varicella and zoster. Thus, it was concluded that: three variable fragments (HpaI-K, -F and -G) were not changed in the DNAs of isolates derived from the same patient; HpaI-K was stable both on passage in vitro and after human transmission in the case of the same outbreak, but was different among all wild-type strains isolated in epidemiologically unrelated outbreaks; HpaI-F was very unstable both on passage in vitro and in human infections by either vaccine or wild-type strains; HpaI-G was not influenced by passage in vitro but varied among wild-type strains. Using physical maps of VZV DNA established by others, three variable regions on the viral genome were identified. One was located near the 0.16 coordinate, which is covered by HpaI-K (variable region I, VRI). Another was represented by HpaI-F (VRII), the most unstable fragment, and mapped at about the 0.35 coordinate. The third was VRIII near the right terminus, covered by HpaI-G.

[Clinical investigation of indications in proton therapy]

The indications for curative treatment with proton therapy were investigated by the clinical results of 31 cancer patients treated with proton beams between 1983 and 1985 at the Particle Radiation Medical Science Center of Tsukuba University. Many locally extended, radioresistant lesions, lesions with large volume and small radiocurable lesions in this series revealed sufficient improvement without definite late damage in the surrounding normal tissues. This clinical result suggests that proton beam treatment could be applied to lesions in a much wider range for curative purposes as compared with conventional radiotherapy. This study is to be continued further.

Relapsing process in FAB subtypes of adult acute leukemia and its relationship to treatment regimens

The relapsing process in the bone marrow was studied in those 77 patients with adult acute leukemia, diagnosed according to the FAB classification who achieved complete remission (CR) and then received intermittent multi-drug intensification treatment. Relapse occurred in most of the patients who exhibited Auer rods or Ph1 chromosomes in the bone marrow, or in whom blasts increased to 8% or more, but some patients remained in CR by subsequent treatment, that is, relapsing process was reversible. With our conventional treatment, the relapse or relapsing process occurred in most of the patients with L1, L2 and M1 subtypes within 6 months and was irreversible. It occurred mainly between 5 and 13 months in those with M2, M3 and M5 and was reversible in some cases. Patients with M4 subtype received intensified treatment due to the difficulty of achieving remission; relapse was seen in only 3 of 7 cases. To prevent relapse and attain a potential cure, the treatment should be intensive before the relapsing process with adequate supporting care. In view of the above-mentioned observations, our new treatment protocols for acute leukemia were designed to be more intensive than those conventionally employed, and to be discontinued within approximately 10 months in lymphoblastic leukemia and approximately 8 months in myeloid leukemia.

Squamous cell carcinoma with hypercalcemia and leukocytosis

Squamous cell carcinoma with hypercalcemia and leukocytosis arising from burn scars in a 45-year-old man is reported. Hypercalcemia and leukocytosis improved with pepleomycin treatment and worsened with recurrence of the tumor. Serum levels of parathyroid hormone, prostaglandin E and 25-OH-Vitamin D were within normal limits. Autopsy did not disclose any bone metastases or abnormalities of the parathyroid glands. It is suggested that hypercalcemia and leukocytosis were due to factors produced by the squamous cell carcinoma. This is the fifth reported case of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma associated with hypercalcemia in the absence of bone metastasis or parathyroid gland abnormalities.

Synergistic stimulation of VIP/PHM-27 gene expression by cyclic AMP and phorbol esters in human neuroblastoma cells

The effects of dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) and phorbol esters such as 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (PDD) on VIP/PHM-27 gene expression in human neuroblastoma cells in culture were investigated. Bt2cAMP and phorbol esters increased the VIP/PHM-27 mRNA level by about 9- and 4-fold, respectively. In the presence of both Bt2cAMP and phorbol esters, the VIP/PHM-27 mRNA level increased by about 36-fold. The intracellular cAMP level was essentially unaffected by phorbol esters. The VIP/PHM-27 gene dosage was unchanged by Bt2cAMP and phorbol esters. The results suggest that cAMP and phorbol esters synergistically induce the VIP/PHM-27 gene expression through independent pathways.

Mini-F protein that binds to a unique region for partition of mini-F plasmid DNA

A mini-F-coded protein, named F2 protein, binds specifically to mini-F DNA. This protein has a molecular weight of 37,000 and is coded by the A2 segment of the mini-F genome (47.3 to 49.4 kilobases on the F coordinate map). The binding site is located also in the A2 segment of mini-F. This binding site is lost by spontaneous deletion when the A2 segment alone, but not A2 together with its neighboring segment, is cloned in a multicopy plasmid pBR322. These data are discussed in connection with incompatibility and plasmid stability.

Nucleotide sequence divergence and functional constraint in VIP precursor mRNA evolution between human and rat

The nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned cDNA for VIP precursor from rat cerebral cortex reveals that the precursor contains both rat VIP and PHI-27. The deduced primary structure of rat VIP is identical with human VIP. The amino acid sequence of rat PHI-27 differs by 4 amino acids from human PHM-27. When each VIP precursor is divided functionally into 6 domains, the amino acid sequence homology between rat and human precursors ranges from 69 to 100%. In contrast, any domain exhibits an essentially equal degree of nucleotide sequence homology.