[Amniotic band disruption complex: report of one case in twins]

Amniotic band disruption complex is a congenital disorder with the principal features vary from simple digital band constrictions to major craniofacial and visceral defects. Early amniotic rupture results in multiply affected infants who are frequently aborted or stillborn, whereas later rupture results primarily in limb involvement. Here we report a case of amniotic band disruption complex, a male infant (twin A) weighing 2350 gm with Apgar scores of 9 and 10 at one and five minutes. The second, third and fourth fingers on the left hand appeared to have ring constrictions, the distal part of the fourth finger had been amputated distally. There were amputations and ring constrictions of the distal parts of the second, third and fifth digits on the right hand, the fourth finger had only proximal third. All of the toes on the left foot had been amputated distally. The fifth toe on the right foot were absent, and the others had been partly amputated. Left cleft lip and palate were present with sunken left nasal flare. This baby underwent the cranial ultrasound examination, which demonstrated on structural anomalies, and both of the twins had the karyotype of 46XY. No other abnormalities was noted in the infant. The 890 gm placenta was delivered spontaneously. Two umbilical cords were present, each with normal vessels. The examination of the placenta revealed it to be dichorionic and diamniotic, and numerous fibrous strings extending form the fetal surface.

Growth inhibition by vaccinia virus growth factor

Vaccinia virus growth factor (VGF), a highly glycosylated 77-residue epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like polypeptide encoded in vaccinia poxvirus, is reported to play an important role in stimulating growth of uninfected cells to facilitate virus infection. We have chemically synthesized the unglycosylated forms of VGF and VGF19-69, a shortened VGF analog consisting of 51 residues and comprising the EGF-homologous region (position 19-69) of VGF. Both synthetic forms of VGFs were purified to homogeneity and vigorously characterized by various criteria, including the Cf-252 ion fission fragment mass spectrometry, amino acid sequencing, and enzymatic digestion to confirm the disulfide linkages. Synthetic VGFs exhibited high affinity binding to the EGF receptors in A431, NRK 49F, NRK clone 3, and NIH 3T3 cells, but, unlike the glycosylated form, showed contrasting mitogenic activities in various cells in vitro. Synthetic VGFs showed low levels of mitogenic and colonogenic activities in NRK clone 49F cells and NIH 3T3 cells, full agonist activities in human keratinocytes and Swiss 3T3 cells, and partial agonist activities in NRK clone 3 cells. Our results suggest that the unglycosylated form of VGF is an EGF antagonist to selected cells and that the production of unglycosylated form of VGF by the cytolytic vaccinia virus may serve as a mechanism whereby inhibition of growth and metabolism of selected host cells may be used to facilitate the propagation of the virus infection.

[Nebulizing terbutaline therapy in children with acute asthma]

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of nebulized terbutaline in children with acute asthma, 21 children, aged 1 year and 7 months to 10 years, with acute asthma, were enrolled into this study, during the period from July to December 1989. Each patient received nebulized terbutaline (Bricanyl) 5 mg/dose over 10 minutes. The respiratory rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, peak expiratory flow rate and clinical severity score were recorded before, and at 10 minutes after treatment. Comparing with the data before treatment, respiratory rate, peak expiratory flow rate and clinical severity score at 10 minutes after treatment showed significant improvement (p value less than 0.05; less than 0.0005; less than 0.0001, respectively), but pulse rate and blood pressure did not differ significantly. It was concluded that administration of nebulized terbutaline, at a dose of 5 mg, was both safe and effective in treating acute asthma, and may be used as the first line measure in treating acute asthma in children.

Synthesis and properties of cholecystokinin-releasing peptide (monitor peptide), a 61-residue trypsin inhibitor

A 61-residue cholecystokinin-releasing peptide (monitor peptide), which was obtained from rat pancreatic juice and found to stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion, was recently reported to inhibit bovine trypsin and to possess epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like activities, at a concentration of about 10 nM. However, monitor peptide is structurally different from the EGF family of growth factors. To investigate whether monitor peptide contains the supposed EGF-like activities, it has been synthesized together with its [Ala23, Ala47] analog. The purified peptides, which were fully characterized by a range of methods including Cf-252 ionization mass spectrometry and enzymatic digestion to establish the locations of disulfide linkages, were shown to belong to the pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor family and not to the EGF family. Neither synthetic monitor peptide nor its analog were able to compete with 125I-EGF in A-431 cells or to stimulate growth of Swiss 3T3 and NRK 49F cells, up to 1 microM concentration. However, synthetic monitor peptide was as effective as the native product in the inhibition of trypsin. Replacement of the essential Arg23 in the [Ala23, Ala47]-analog led to loss of trypsin inhibition activity.

[Hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by maternal irregular antibody anti-E: report of one case]

A 3390 gm male baby was born smoothly at 41 weeks' gestation to a 35-year-old, gravida 3, para 3, mother by spontaneous vaginal delivery at this hospital. The mother denied ever having received a blood transfusion. Her first two uneventful pregnancies had resulted in two healthy fullterm infants. Physical examination of the baby showed normal, until 15 hours of age, when apparent jaundice with serum total bilirubin concentration up to 21 mg/dl was noted. The blood types of both baby and mother were group A, Rh(D) positive. Compatibility testing for exchange blood transfusion with group A whole blood showed positive reaction due to the presence of an irregular antibody. Two exchange blood transfusions were performed in the same day with compatible blood. Thereafter, the patient's condition was much improved, he was discharged one week later. The irregular antibody--anti-E was identified in both baby and mother. The maternal RBC phenotyping was CCDee (R1R1), and the baby, CcDEe (R1R2).

Comparison of inactivation and conformational changes of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase during thermal denaturation

The inactivation of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating) EC 1.2.1.12) (GAPDH) during thermal denaturation has been compared to its dissociation-aggregation measured by light scattering and changes in secondary structure measured by CD in the far ultraviolet. The inactivation at 38.5 degrees C consists of two stages. The rate of the first stage is too fast to be followed by conventional methods. The extent of this fast stage inactivation increases with increasing temperature and, more markedly, with increasing pH. At this stage, the inactivation is reversible and no appreciable dissociation or change in secondary structure can be detected. The secondary structure of the enzyme is relatively heat stable, showing no appreciable change at 38.5 degrees C. At this temperature, the enzyme first dissociates within several minutes probably into dimers and with prolonged heating, it becomes irreversibly aggregated. The above results are in accord with the earlier suggestion, based on results obtained during denaturation of a number of enzymes by guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) and urea, that for some enzymes the active site is situated in a region more susceptible to perturbation than the molecule as a whole (Tsou, C.-L. (1986) Trends Biochem. Sci. 11, 427).

Dissociation and aggregation of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase during denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride

The inactivation of lobster muscle D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (phosphorylating), EC 1.2.1.12) (GAPDH) during guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl) denaturation has been compared with its state of aggregation and unfolding, by light scattering and fluorescence measurements. The enzyme first dissociates at low concentrations of GdnHCl, followed by the formation of a highly aggregated state with increasing denaturant concentrations, and eventually by complete unfolding and dissociation to the monomer at concentrations of greater than 2 M GdnHCl. The aggregation and final dissociation correspond roughly with the two stages of fluorescence changes reported previously (Xie, G.-F. and Tsou, C.-L. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 911, 19-24). Rate measurements show a very rapid inactivation, the extents of which increase with increasing concentrations of GdnHCl. This initial rapid phase of inactivation which takes place before dissociation and unfolding of the molecule is in agreement with the results obtained with other enzymes, that the active site is affected before noticeable conformational changes can be detected for the enzyme molecule as a whole. A scheme for the steps leading to the final denaturation, and dissociation of the enzyme to the inactive and unfolded monomer, is proposed.

Insulin and epidermal growth factor stimulate phosphorylation of p185HER-2 in the breast carcinoma cell line, BT474

The product of the HER-2 proto-oncogene, p185HER-2, was found to be amplified approximately 10-fold in the human breast carcinoma cell line, BT474, compared to a cell line, HBL-100, derived from normal breast tissue. To explore the possible role of p185HER-2 in growth of the breast carcinoma cells, we investigated factors that may modulate cell growth and phosphorylation of the HER-2 protein product. Two growth factors, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin, stimulated phosphorylation of the HER-2 protein product. In response to insulin, the phosphoserine and phosphothreonine content in p185HER-2 was transiently enhanced about 6-fold. When EGF was added to BT474 cells there was 2- to 3-fold enhanced phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues in p185HER-2 which was maintained for at least 60 min. Although p185HER-2 has been found to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residues following EGF treatment of several different cell types, we estimate that less than 1% of the protein contained phosphotyrosine in the BT474 cells.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver

Since the first report of inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in 1953, 12 cases have been reported in the literature. The authors report herein five cases of inflammatory pseudotumor of the liver in our hospital. These tumors were resected and the diagnosis confirmed pathologically. Three of the patients were male and two female. Four of these patients had been misdiagnosed as having primary liver cancer by sonography and CT scan. Our experience has shown that if the patient had a long clinical course, few clinical symptoms, good general condition, and a negative alpha-fetoprotein assay, if the tumor was well encapsulated and the liver presented without cirrhosis, the patients should be suspected of having inflammatory pseudotumor of liver. In this series, all five patients underwent hepatectomy. There were no complications after operation. Surgical resection should be considered as the main therapeutic method for inflammatory pseudotumor of liver. If the patient proves unsuitable for surgical treatment, steroid therapy should be the treatment of choice. In this paper 12 cases of inflammatory pseudotumor of liver reported in the literature are reviewed and discussed.

Chronic granulomatous disease in two Chinese families

Two Chinese families with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) are reported. The first case was an 11-month-old male baby and the second a 2-month-old male baby. Both patients presented with persistent infections caused by Staphylococcus and Candida since birth. Neutrophil functions were studied in patients and a number of family members. Chemotaxis and phagocytosis were normal in every subject. Slide and spectrophotometric nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) tests of both patients were abnormal and remained unchanged in spite of treatment with ascorbic acid, levamisole, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim and isoniazide. Mothers were proved to be carriers as evidenced by the presence of both normal and CGD phagocytes in the slide NBT test. During the 2-month follow-up period, the percentage of normal phagocytes from the mother of case 1 varied from 12% to 73%, which correlated with the fluctuation of spectrophotometric NBT value. The slide NBT test of the mother of case 2 was nearly normal in face of the presence of CGD phagocytes. Both carrier mothers were healthy and asymptomatic.

Selective IgG subclass deficiencies in patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infections: report of two cases

Two patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infections and normal total serum immunoglobulin levels were found to have selective deficiencies in IgG subclasses. The serum of one patient contained abnormally low IgG2 and IgG4; and the other was deficient in IgG4. Both patients responded to the treatment with high dose intravenous immunoglobulin. The experiences on these two cases strongly suggest that IgG subclasses should be checked in patients with recurrent sinopulmonary infections in face of normal total immunoglobulins.

Shope fibroma virus growth factor exhibits epidermal growth factor activities in newborn mice

A synthetic 55-residue peptide consisting of the carboxyl portion of the predicted genomic DNA sequence of Shope fibroma virus growth factor (SFGF residue 26-80) was found to exhibit epidermal growth factor-transforming growth factor activities in newborn mice. The synthetic SFGF accelerated precocious incisor eruption and eyelid opening in newborn mice and also retarded the overall growth rates of hair, body weight and body length when administered in dosages of 4 to 6 micrograms per gram of body weight. The results of whole animal studies indicate that SFGF belongs to the EGF-TGF alpha family and exerts similar biologic effects in newborn animals.

Synthesis of a biological active tumor growth factor from the predicted DNA sequence of Shope fibroma virus

A 55-residue peptide comprising the carboxyl portion (residues 26-80) of the Shope fibroma virus growth factor (SFGF), a predicted 80-residue DNA virus gene product that encoded a homologous sequence with the epidermal growth factor transforming growth factor alpha family, was synthesized by a stepwise solid-phase method. The synthetic SFGF (26-80) purified to homogeneity by reverse-phase HPLC was characterized by fission ionization mass spectrometry and amino acid analysis. The disulfide pairings were established by enzymatic digestion and mass spectrometry and were found to be similar to those of EGF and TGF alpha. Synthetic SFGF (26-80) was found to share about 10% of the activities as EGF in the radioreceptor binding to A431 cells, stimulation of [3H]thymidine uptake in NRK cells, and induction of colony formation in soft-agar assay. Our results therefore confirmed that SFGF contained the putative biological activities of the EGF-TGF alpha family and that production of SFGF by Shope fibroma virus infected cells may account for the proliferative diseases associated with this particular virus.

[Flow cytometry in analysis of precancerous lesions of the esophagus]

DNA content of the severe dysplasia cells in the esophageal epithelium was quantitatively analysed using flow cytometry and compared with those of the normal, mild dysplasia and cancer cells. The results showed that DNA index of the severe dysplasia cells was 1.27 +/- 0.11 and there was a significant difference between its value and those of the normal (1.0 +/- 0.02), mild dysplasia (1.01 +/- 0.03) and cancer cells (1.73 +/- 0.35). The DNA content of severe dysplasia cells lies between the normal and cancer cells. The hyperplasia degree of the severe dysplasia cells parallels their DNA contents. This study indicates that flow cytometry is a useful supplementary tool for diagnosis of the tumor.

Effect of alkyl side chain variation on the electron-transfer activity of ubiquinone derivatives

The effect of the alkyl side chain of the ubiquinone molecule on the electron-transfer activity of ubiquinone in mitochondrial succinate-cytochrome c reductase is studied by using synthetic ubiquinone derivatives that possess the basic ubiquinone structure of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone with different alkyl side chains at the 6-position. The alkyl side chains vary in chain length, degree of saturation, and location of double bonds. When a ubiquinone derivative is used as an electron acceptor for succinate-ubiquinone reductase, an alkyl side chain of six carbons is needed to obtain the maximum activity. However, when it serves as an electron donor for ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase or as a mediator in succinate-cytochrome c reductase, an alkyl side chain of 10 carbons gives maximal efficiency. Introduction of one or two isolated double bonds into the alkyl side chain of the ubiquinone molecule has little effect on electron-transfer activity. However, a conjugated double bond system in the alkyl side chain drastically reduces electron-transfer efficiency. The effect of the conjugated double bond system on the electron-transferring efficiency of ubiquinone depends on its location in the alkyl side chain. When location is far from the benzoquinone ring, the effect is minimal. These observations together with the results obtained from photoaffinity-labeling studies lead us to conclude that flexibility in the portion of the alkyl side chain immediately adjacent to the benzoquinone ring is required for the electron-transfer activity of ubiquinone.