Effects of atropine sulfate on rat harderian glands: correlation between morphological changes and porphyrin levels

We examined the correlation between histopathological changes and porphyrin levels in the Harderian glands of male rats after treatment with atropine sulfate. After a single administration of atropine sulfate (250 mg/kg/day), the porphyrin levels in the Harderian glands gradually increased, beginning from 2 hr after administration, and at 36 hr reached a maximum level, which was about 7 times higher than that of the control animals. Histopathologically, the Harderian glands showed marked luminal dilatation and a brownish pigment accumulation in the lumina 6 hr after a single dose. Under daily repeated administrations of atropine sulfate (250 mg/kg/day), the highest porphyrin levels in the Harderian glands were observed 24 hr after the third dose, and were about 9 times higher than those of the control animals. However, beginning from one week after the initial dose, much lower peak porphyrin levels were observed 6 hr after each dose. The maximum porphyrin levels were only twice as high as those of the control animals, and they returned to the control levels 24 hr after each atropine dose. Histological examinations of the Harderian glands revealed that repeated administrations of atropine sulfate induced the same histopathological changes observed after a single atropine administration, and that no aggravated dilation of the lumina or pigmentation in the lumina appeared after such repeated administrations. The degree and incidence of the histopathological changes observed correlated well with the porphyrin levels. Some animals showed a degeneration of the glandular epithelium after 4 weeks of treatment, and the frequency increased slightly after 13 weeks of treatment. The present study suggests that atropine suppresses the expulsion of secretory materials, including porphyrin, from the glandular lumen of the Harderian glands, and thereafter an excessive accumulation of porphyrin induces luminal dilatation. These changes were gradually reduced by repeated administrations. The degeneration of the glandular epithelium after repeated administration might be a consequence of retention of an excessive accumulation of porphyrin.

Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and adrenal insufficiency induced by rathke's cleft cyst: a case report

We report a case of a seventy-year-old woman with syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and adrenal insufficiency induced by Rathke's cleft cyst. She experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache and disturbance of consciousness induced by hyponatremia at a serum sodium level of 100 mEq/l. In spite of severe hyponatremia, urinary sodium excretion was not suppressed and serum osmolality (270 mOsm/kg) was lower than urine osmolality (304 mOsm/kg), and arginine vasopressin (AVP) remained within normal range. SIADH was diagnosed because she was free from other diseases known to cause hyponatremia such as dehydration, cardiac dysfunction, liver dysfunction, renal dysfunction, hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency. Cranial computed tomographic (CT) scan and cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a cystic lesion of approximately 2 cm in diameter in the pituitary gland. These images suggested that the cystic lesion was a Rathke's cleft cyst, which was the cause of SIADH. Water restriction therapy normalized her serum sodium concentration and improved her symptoms. After one year, she suffered from general fatigue, appetite loss, fever, and body weight loss (5 kg/2 months). She had neither hypotension nor hypoglycemia, but her serum sodium level was low and serum cortisol, ACTH, and urine free cortisol were very low. Therefore, secondary adrenal insufficiency was suspected and diagnosed by stimulation tests. After start of hydrocortisone replacement therapy (10 mg/day), her symptoms disappeared. In conclusion, Rathke's cleft cyst should be kept in mind as a potential cause in a patient with SIADH, hypopituitarism, and/or adrenal insufficiency.

Influence of the pK(a) value of the buried, active-site cysteine on the redox properties of thioredoxin-like oxidoreductases

Thioredoxin constitutes the prototype of the thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase family. These enzymes contain an active-site disulfide bridge with the consensus sequence Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Cys. The more N-terminal active-site cysteine is generally a strong nucleophile with an abnormal low pK(a) value. In contrast, the more C-terminal cysteine is buried and only little is known about its effective pK(a) during catalysis of disulfide exchange reactions. Here we have analyzed the pK(a) values of the active-site thiols in wild type thioredoxin and a 400-fold more oxidizing thioredoxin variant by NMR spectroscopy, using selectively (13)C(beta)-Cys-labeled proteins. We find that the effective pK(a) of the buried cysteine (pK(b)) of the variant is increased, while the pK(a) of the more N-terminal cysteine (pK(N)) is decreased relative to the corresponding pK(a) values in the wild type. We propose two empirical models which exclusively require the knowledge of pK(N) to predict the redox properties of thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases with reasonable accuracy.

ELISA for bovine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and its application to mastitic sera and whey

A sandwich ELISA for the bovine IL-1 receptor antagonist (bIL-1ra) was developed using recombinant (r) bIL-1ra produced by Escherichia coli, anti-rbIL-1ra rabbit IgG, its biotinylated one and avidin-peroxidase. This ELISA system enabled detection of rbIL-1ra at a concentration of more than 2 ng/ml. This ELISA was applied to quantitation of bIL-1ra in sera and whey of mastitic and healthy cows. The results indicate that although IL-1ra levels in healthy and mastitic sera and whey were comparable, serum IL-1ra/IL-1beta ratio of euthanized cows was significantly lower than that of the recovered.

1-Bromopropane, an alternative to ozone layer depleting solvents, is dose-dependently neurotoxic to rats in long-term inhalation exposure

1-Bromopropane has been newly introduced as an alternative to ozone layer-depleting solvents. We aimed to clarify the dose-dependent effects of 1-bromopropane on the nervous system. Forty-four Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 11 each. The groups were exposed to 200, 400, or 800 ppm of 1-bromopropane or only fresh air 8 h per day for 12 weeks. Grip strength of forelimbs and hind limbs, maximum motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), and distal latency (DL) of the tail nerve were measured in 9 rats of each group every 4 weeks. The other 2 rats of each group were perfused at the end of the experiment for morphological examinations. The rats of the 800-ppm group showed poor kicking and were not able to stand still on the slope. After a 12-week exposure, forelimb grip strength decreased significantly at 800 ppm and hind limb grip strength decreased significantly at both 400 and 800 ppm or after a 12-week exposure. MCV and DL of the tail nerve deteriorated significantly at 800 ppm. Ovoid or bubble-like debris of myelin sheaths was prominent in the unraveled muscular branch of the posterior tibial nerve in the 800-ppm group. Swelling of preterminal axons in the gracile nucleus increased in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma creatine phosphokinase (CPK) decreased dose-dependently with significant changes at 400 and 800 ppm. 1-Bromopropane induced weakness in the muscle strength of rat limbs and deterioration of MCV and DL in a dose-dependent manner, with morphological changes in peripheral nerve and preterminal axon in the gracile nucleus. 1-Bromopropane may be seriously neurotoxic to humans and should thus be used carefully in the workplace.

Pathophysiological role of leptin in obesity-related hypertension

To explore the pathophysiological role of leptin in obesity-related hypertension, we examined cardiovascular phenotypes of transgenic skinny mice whose elevated plasma leptin concentrations are comparable to those seen in obese subjects. We also studied genetically obese KKA(y) mice with hyperleptinemia, in which hypothalamic melanocortin system is antagonized by ectopic expression of the agouti protein. Systolic blood pressure (BP) and urinary catecholamine excretion are elevated in transgenic skinny mice relative to nontransgenic littermates. The BP elevation in transgenic skinny mice is abolished by alpha(1)-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, or ganglionic blockers at doses that do not affect BP in nontransgenic littermates. Central administration of an alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone antagonist causes a marked increase in cumulative food intake but no significant changes in BP. The obese KKA(y) mice develop BP elevation with increased urinary catecholamine excretion relative to control KK mice. After a 2-week caloric restriction, BP elevation is reversed in nontransgenic littermates with the A(y) allele, in parallel with a reduction in plasma leptin concentrations, but is sustained in transgenic mice overexpressing leptin with the A(y) allele, which remain hyperleptinemic. This study demonstrates BP elevation in transgenic skinny mice and obese KKA(y) mice that are both hyperleptinemic, thereby suggesting the pathophysiological role of leptin in some forms of obesity-related hypertension.

High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy of Bartholin's gland: A case report

OBJECTIVE

To preserve the organs and function of the anus and ureter, radiotherapy was chosen for an advanced vulvar tumor originating from Bartholin's gland.

METHODS

The patient was a 74-year-old female with stage III (FIGO) vulvar cancer derived from the left Bartholin's gland. She received 63 Gy to the vulvar lesion with external beam irradiation followed by 30 Gy of high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy.

RESULTS

One year after radiotherapy, simple vulvectomy and reconstructive surgery were performed. The anal and ureteral functions were preserved. Histological examination revealed no evident malignant cells.

CONCLUSION

Owing to the technological development of radiotherapy and improved reconstructive surgery, radiotherapy in treatment of the vulvar area has become effective and safe and could be indicated more as a treatment option for the sake of organ preservation.

Reproductive toxicity of 1-bromopropane, a newly introduced alternative to ozone layer depleting solvents, in male rats

1-Bromopropane has been newly introduced as an alternative to ozone-depleting solvents. We aimed to clarify its dose-dependent reproductive toxicity in male rats. Thirty-six Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 9. The groups were exposed to 200, 400, or 800 ppm 1-bromopropane or only fresh air, 8 h per day for 12 weeks. Epididymal sperm indices were evaluated after a 12-week exposure. The testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle, prostate, and other organs were weighed and examined histopathologically. Spermatogenic cells, in stage VII seminiferous tubules, and retained spermatids, at the basal region of stages IX-XI seminiferous epithelium, were counted. Plasma testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The testicular weight did not significantly change, but the weight of epididymides, seminal vesicle, and prostate dose-dependently decreased. The weight of seminal vesicle decreased significantly at the lowest concentration of 200-ppm and over. 1-Bromopropane induced a dose-dependent decrease in the epididymal sperm count and in motility, as well as an increase in tailless sperm and sperm with an immature head shape. The spermatogonia, preleptotene spermatocytes, pachytene spermatocytes, and round spermatids did not decrease significantly at stage VII. Retained, elongated spermatids near the basement membrane at the postspermiation stages IX-XI increased dose-dependently. Plasma testosterone levels significantly decreased at the 800-ppm dosage. 1-Bromopropane caused failure of spermiation. Its reproductive toxicity is different from that of 2-bromopropane, which specifically impairs spermatogonia. Thus, this solvent may have serious reproductive toxic effects in men, and should be used very cautiously in the workplace.

Detection of Borna disease virus in a pregnant mare and her fetus

A pregnant mare showing pyrexia, reduced appetite, ataxia and paresis was euthanized and examined for the presence of Borna disease virus (BDV). Her brain, showing multiple neuronal degeneration and necrosis with hemorrhage, and the histologically normal brain of the fetus were both positive for BDV RNA. The BDV nucleotide sequences were identical in the mare and fetus in the second open reading frame (ORF). This is the first report of the possible vertical transmission of BDV in a horse.

Experimental impression tray fabricated with a NiTi shape memory alloy plate

A small experimental impression tray was fabricated with a NiTi shape memory alloy plate. After recovery of the shape memory effect, the upper rims of the tray holding the impression were opened to some extent, the resistance during removal of the model from the impression was significantly decreased compared to a commercially available tray and the tray before recovery of the shape memory effect. The pull-out force of the model from the impression was 23.5(0.2)N for the commercially available tray, 23.5(3.9)N for the experimental tray before recovery of the shape memory effect and 14.7(4.0)N after recovery of the shape memory effect (heated for 15 min at 70 degrees C). Therefore the tray should be useful in teeth fracture free modeling.

T cells infiltrating from the systemic circulation proliferate in the endolymphatic sac

It has been reported that autoimmune mechanisms are involved in the development of inner ear disorders such as Meniere's disease and steroid-responsive sensorineural hearing loss. In the present study, using an animal model for graft-versus-host disease, we investigated the immune regulatory mechanism in the endolymphatic sac and demonstrated that donor T cells injected into the systemic circulation of recipients infiltrate and proliferate in the perisaccular region. These findings suggest that immunocompetent cells are supplied from the systemic circulation through blood-labyrinth and blood-endolymph barriers into the endolymphatic sac, and that the endolymphatic sac allows these cells to proliferate locally as a local immune defense. It therefore seems likely that the endolymphatic sac plays a crucial role in not only graft-versus-host disease but also autoimmune inner ear disorders.

[Evaluation of frozen section diagnosis of parotid gland tumors]

A retrospective study is presented comparing the results of 167 frozen section diagnoses of surgical extirpated parotid gland tumors with permanent-section diagnoses. Percentages of correct diagnosis for malignancy (cases correctly classified as benign or malignant tumors) and of correct diagnosis for histopathology (cases in which frozen section diagnosis and permanent-section diagnosis were identical) were calculated. Percentages of correct diagnosis for malignancy in all cases, benign cases, and malignant cases were 98.8%, 99.3%, and 95.8%, respectively. Percentages of correct diagnosis for histopathology in all cases, benign cases, and malignant cases were 94.0%, 97.2%, and 75.0%, respectively. These results are superior to the previous reports both of frozen section diagnosis and of fine-needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis although the data for histopathological diagnosis in malignant tumors are average compared to previous reports. We conclude that diagnoses of most parotid gland tumors based on frozen section examination are reliable and accurate, but caution should be exercised in malignant tumors diagnosis.

Circular beta-lactamase: stability enhancement by cyclizing the backbone

We have cyclized the polypeptide backbone of beta-lactamase with a short peptide loop as a novel method for protein stabilization, using intein-mediated protein ligation. Successful cyclization was proven by mass spectrometry and subsequent re-linearization by proteolytic cleavage, as well as by resistance against carboxypeptidase. Under the conditions of the experiment, no disulfide bond is present. The circular form of beta-lactamase was found to be significantly more stable against irreversible aggregation upon heating than the linear form. The circular form could be purified from the linear one either by this heat treatment or by a his-tag which became exopeptidase-resistant by cyclization. The increased stability of the circular form is probably due to the decreased conformational entropy in the unfolded state and in the intermediate states. While the introduction of additional disulfide bonds for protein stabilization follows the same rationale, the cyclization strategy may disturb the structure less and thus constitute a general method for stabilizing those proteins with N- and C-termini in close proximity.

Conformational changes of the BS2 operator DNA upon complex formation with the Antennapedia homeodomain studied by NMR with 13C/15N-labeled DNA

The NMR structures have been determined for a 13C/15N doubly labeled 14 base-pair DNA duplex comprising the BS2 operator sequence both free in solution and in the complex with the Antennapedia homeodomain. The impact of the DNA labeling is assessed from comparison with a previous structure of the same complex that was determined using isotope labeling only for the protein. Differences between the two structure determinations are nearly completely limited to the DNA, which retains the global B -conformation of the free DNA also in the complex. Local protein-induced conformational changes are a narrowing of the minor groove due to the interaction with the N-terminal arm of the homeodomain, and changes of the sugar puckers of the deoxyriboses G5 and C6, which are apparently induced by van der Waals interactions with Tyr25, and with Gln50 and Arg53, respectively. The high conservation of these amino acid residues in homeodomains suggests that protein-induced shifts in some sugar puckers contribute to the affinity of homeodomains to their cognate DNA. The data obtained here with the Antennapedia homeodomain-DNA complex clearly show that nucleic acid isotope-labeling can support detailed conformational characterization of DNA in complexes with proteins, which will be indispensable for structure determinations of complexes containing globally distorted DNA conformations.

Increased glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in transgenic skinny mice overexpressing leptin

Excess of body fat, or obesity, is a major health problem and confers a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary heart disease. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived satiety factor that plays an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, and its synthesis and secretion are markedly increased in obese subjects. To explore the metabolic consequences of an increased amount of leptin on a long-term basis in vivo, we generated transgenic skinny mice with elevated plasma leptin concentrations comparable to those in obese subjects. Overexpression of leptin in the liver has resulted in complete disappearance of white and brown adipose tissue for a long period of time in mice. Transgenic skinny mice exhibit increased glucose metabolism accompanied by the activation of insulin signaling in the skeletal muscle and liver. They also show small-sized livers with a marked decrease in glycogen and lipid storage. The phenotypes are in striking contrast to those of recently reported animal models of lipoatrophic diabetes and patients with lipoatrophic diabetes with reduced amount of leptin. The present study provides evidence that leptin is an adipocyte-derived antidiabetic hormone in vivo and suggests its pathophysiologic and therapeutic implications in diabetes.

Glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in transgenic mice overexpressing leptin with lethal yellow agouti mutation: usefulness of leptin for the treatment of obesity-associated diabetes

Leptin acts as an adipocyte-derived blood-borne satiety factor that can increase glucose metabolism. To elucidate the therapeutic implications of leptin for obesity-associated diabetes, we crossed transgenic skinny mice overexpressing leptin (Tg/+), which we have developed recently, and lethal yellow KKAy mice (Ay/+), a genetic model for obesity-diabetes syndrome, and examined the metabolic phenotypes of F1 animals. At 6 weeks of age, plasma leptin concentrations in Tg/+ mice with the Ay allele (Tg/+:Ay/+) were significantly higher than those in Ay/+ mice. Although no significant differences in body weight were noted among Tg/+:Ay/+ mice, Ay/+ mice, and their wild-type lean littermates (+/+), glucose and insulin tolerance tests revealed increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in Tg/+:Ay/+ compared with Ay/+ mice. However, at 12 weeks of age, when plasma leptin concentrations in Ay/+ mice were comparable to those in Tg/+:Ay/+ mice, Tg/+:Ay/+ mice developed obesity-diabetes syndrome similar to that of Ay/+ mice. Body weights of 12-week-old Tg/+:Ay/+ and Ay/+ mice were reduced to those of +/+ mice by a 3-week food restriction; when plasma leptin concentrations remained high in Tg/+:Ay/+ mice but were markedly reduced in Ay/+ and +/+ mice, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in Tg/+:Ay/+ mice were markedly improved as compared with Ay/+ and +/+ mice. The present study demonstrates that hyperleptinemia can delay the onset of impaired glucose metabolism and accelerate the recovery from diabetes during caloric restriction in Tg/+:Ay/+ mice, thereby suggesting the potential usefulness of leptin in combination with a long-term caloric restriction for the treatment of obesity-associated diabetes.

[Clinical study of parotid tumors: a 20 year statistical analysis of 633 cases]

During the 20 years from 1977 to 1996, 633 cases underwent excisions of parotid tumors (539 benign and 94 malignant) in the department of Otolaryngology of Kansai Medical University. The incidence of Warthin's tumors in the years from (1987 to 1996) was higher than that in the years from 1977 to 1986. On the other hand, the incidence of mucoepidermoid carcinomas was less than in previous reports. Tumors accompanied with spontaneous pain or facial nerve palsy and with invasion to both lobes frequently indicated malignancy. Facial nerve palsy caused by either benign or malignant tumors before operation showed no improvement after surgery. The incidences of facial nerve palsy (1.0% in benign, and 18.3% in malignant) and Frey's syndrome (17.8% in benign, and 18.3% in malignant) after surgery were lower than those in other reports of both benign and malignant tumors. Five-year mortality was 76.1%. All deaths that occurred five years after operation involved highly grade malignant tumors.

NMR with 13C, 15N-doubly-labeled DNA: the Antennapedia homeodomain complex with a 14-mer DNA duplex

Nearly complete 1H, 13C and 15N NMR assignments have been obtained for a doubly labeled 14-base pair DNA duplex in solution both in the free state and complexed with the uniformly 15N-labeled Antennapedia homeodomain. The DNA was either fully 13C, 15N-labeled or contained uniformly 13C, 15N-labeled nucleotides only at those positions which form the protein-DNA interface in the previously determined NMR solution structure of the Antennapedia homeodomain-DNA complex. The resonance assignments were obtained in three steps: (i) identification of the deoxyribose spin systems via scalar couplings using 2D and 3D HCCH-COSY and soft-relayed HCCH-COSY; (ii) sequential assignment of the nucleotides via 1H-1H NOEs observed in 3D 13C-resolved NOESY; and (iii) assignment of the imino and amino groups via 1H-1H NOEs and 15N-1H correlation spectroscopy. The assignment of the duplex in the 17 kDa protein-DNA complex was greatly facilitated by the fact that 1H signals of the protein were filtered out in 13C-resolved spectroscopy and by the excellent carbon chemical shift dispersion of the DNA duplex. Comparison of corresponding 13C chemical shifts of the free and the protein-bound DNA indicates conformational changes in the DNA upon complex formation.

NMR with (13)C, (15)N-doubly-labeled DNA: The shape Antennapedia homeodomain complex with a 14-mer DNA duplex

Nearly complete (1)H, (13)C and(15) N NMR assignments have been obtained for a doubly labeled 14-base pair DNA duplex in solution both in the free state and complexed with the uniformly (15)N-labeled Antennapedia homeodomain. The DNA was either fully (13)C,(15)N-labeled or contained uniformly (13)C, (15)N-labeled nucleotides only at those positions which form the protein-DNA interface in the previously determined NMR solution structure of the Antennapedia homeodomain-DNA complex. The resonance assignments were obtained in three steps: (i) identification of the deoxyribose spin systems via scalar couplings using 2D and 3D HCCH-COSY and soft-relayed HCCH-COSY; (ii) sequential assignment of the nucleotides via(1) H-(1)H NOEs observed in 3D(13) C-resolved NOESY; and (iii) assignment of the imino and amino groups via (1)H-(1)H NOEs and(15) N-(1)H correlation spectroscopy. The assignment of the duplex in the 17 kDa protein-DNA complex was greatly facilitated by the fact that (1)H signals of the protein were filtered out in (13)C-resolved spectroscopy and by the excellent carbon chemical shift dispersion of the DNA duplex. Comparison of corresponding (13)C chemical shifts of the free and the protein-bound DNA indicates conformational changes in the DNA upon complex formation.

Removal of endotoxin and cytokines by plasma exchange in patients with acute hepatic failure

OBJECTIVES

To compare the circulating concentrations of endotoxin and cytokines in patients with fulminant hepatitis and patients with the severe form of acute hepatitis, and to assess the effects of plasma exchange on the circulating concentrations of these inflammatory mediators in patients with acute hepatic failure.

DESIGN

Prospective, consecutive entry study of patients meeting fulminant hepatitis criteria and the severe form of acute hepatitis criteria.

SETTING

University hospital, intensive care unit.

PATIENTS

Five patients with fulminant hepatitis, eight patients with the severe form of acute hepatitis, two patients with acute-on-chronic hepatic failure, and one patient with postoperative hepatic failure.

INTERVENTIONS

Plasma endotoxin, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6 were determined on admission in five patients with fulminant hepatitis and eight patients with the severe form of acute hepatitis. Circulating concentrations of the inflammatory mediators were measured before and after a single course of plasma exchange in eight patients with acute liver failure, including five patients with fulminant hepatitis, two patients with acute-on-chronic hepatic failure, and one patient with postoperative hepatic failure.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

TNF-alpha and IL-6 in patients with fulminant hepatitis were significantly higher than in patients with the severe form of acute hepatitis, whereas endotoxin concentrations did not differ between patients with fulminant hepatitis or the severe form of acute hepatitis. IL-1beta was not detectable in patients with either fulminant hepatitis or the severe form of acute hepatitis. Plasma endotoxin concentrations decreased immediately after plasma exchange. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly lower after plasma exchange than before plasma exchange.

CONCLUSION

TNF-alpha and IL-6 may be important in the pathogenesis of the clinical symptoms that differentiate fulminant hepatitis from the severe form of acute hepatitis, and plasma exchange removes these inflammatory mediators from the circulation of patients with severe liver disease.

Improvement of spectrometer energy resolution for high-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy

For high-energy-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation, the energy resolution of a commercial compact photoelectron spectrometer (hemispherical concentric spectrometer) was improved by reducing the size of the entrance and detector slits and optimizing the operation conditions of the lens voltage. Under the optimized conditions, ray-tracing simulations show that severe spectral intensity decreases can be avoided. An energy resolution of 6.2 meV and a resolving power of 8100 at a kinetic energy of 50 eV were experimentally obtained.

Enzymatic amplification and expression of bovine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist cDNA

cDNA generated from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells was used to amplify and clone the bovine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) using primers derived from semi-conserved regions between human and mouse IL-1ra sequences. 5' and 3' terminal sequences of bovine IL-1ra were amplified by 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The deduced amino acid sequence of bovine IL-1ra demonstrated 80%, 78%, 78%, 77% and 76% homology with human, mouse, rat, rabbit and equine sequences, respectively. Recombinant bovine IL-1ra produced in Escherichia coli suppressed the growth inhibitory activity of bovine IL-1beta on A375 cells in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the present bovine IL-1ra cDNA encodes biologically active proteins.

Simple purification method of the antiphospholipid antibody from normal human plasma

We have reported that rabbit serum contains a phospholipid (PL)/ganglioside-binding protein which adsorbs to Sephacryl S-400 gel and agglutinates human red blood cells. A new protein similar to the PL/ganglioside-binding protein was simply purified from normal human plasma using Sephacryl S-400, Sepharose CL-4B and DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B columns. The purified protein was found to agglutinate rabbit red blood cells. The hemagglutination was specifically inhibited by two PL, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol, but not by any other PL, gangliosides, saccharides or glycoproteins tested. From analyses of the N-terminal amino acid sequence and immunological specificity, the protein was identified to be a human immunoglobulin M.

Induction of immune-mediated hearing loss in SCID mice by injection of MRL/lpr mouse spleen cells

Induction of immune-mediated hearing loss in SCID mice by injection of MRL/lpr mouse spleen cells The MRL/lpr mouse, which has a mutation in the Fas gene encoding a cell-surface receptor for apoptosis, shows an accumulation of abnormal immunocompetent cells and SLE-like disease. It has recently been reported that this mouse also manifests sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) with cochlear pathology at 20 weeks of age. We examined the effects of injecting MRL/lpr spleen cells on the development of SHL in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, which originally develop neither SHL nor cochlear pathology. Immune-mediated SHL and cochlear pathology were, indeed, transferred to the SCID mice by the injection of spleen cells from the MRL/lpr mice. These findings suggest that cell-mediated immunity is involved in the development of SHL and cochlear pathology.