Isozyme variations in acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (e.c.1.2.1.3) in human tissues

NAD-dependent acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) of human tissues was investigated by electrophoresis and enzyme assay. ALDH is located mainly in the liver and kidney. The isozymes consist of at least six different components. Five different phenotypes were found in a total of 68 human liver and kidney specimens. It is likely that three isozyme sets are concerned in determining ALDH types. The distribution of various phenotypes of ALDH isozyme sets is presented.

Experimental Pseudomonas infection in mice: acquired resistance against Pseudomonas septicemia and altered susceptibility in BCG infected mice

Pseudomonas septicemia in mice caused the early death in the first three days of infection without any localized lesions. Localized lesions such as abscess are observed in the kidney and liver after the third day of infection. The early death increased in the BCG infected mice showing an increased level of macrophage activation. It seemed that such early death is due to endotoxin produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the BCG infected mice showing an enhanced antibody formation were more resistant to pseudomonas septicemia. Immune serum protected such death, but immune spleen cells did not. Furthermore immune serum also protected the increased death in BCG infected mice.

Isolation and characterization of mildiomycin, a new nucleoside antibiotic

A new antibiotic mildiomycin, strongly active against powdery mildew, was isolated from the culture filtrate of Streptoverticillium rimofaciens B-98891. It is a water-soluble basic antibiotic and was purified by ion-exchange and adsorption chromatography. The molecular formula of the purified compound was determined to be C19H30N8O9(H2O) from physical and chemical data. The UV and NMR spectra suggested that this antibiotic is a nucleoside. On acidic hydrolysis it gave 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine which has not previously been found in nucleoside antibiotics.

Mode of immunopotentiating action of BCG: persistence and spread of BCG infection

The mode of action of BCG, strain Japan was investigated using the immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as an indicator system. When SRBC were injected into the BCG-primed foot pad, the direct plaque forming cells (PFC) and the effector cells responsible for delayed type hypersensitivity (PTH) were produced in various lymphoid organs widely distributed. Furthermore, bacterial counts in the draining popliteal lymph node and the spleen in the mice inoculated with BCG into the hind foot pad suggested that a local infection with BCG has spread to a generalized systemic infection of lymphoid tissues with time. Enhancement of DTH response to SRBC was induced when the mice previously infected with BCG were inmunized with SRBC mixed with purified protein derivative (PPD). These findings suggested that nonspecific augmentation of immune response with BCG was due to a generalized systemic activation of lymphoid system by BCG infection and the long lasting effect of immunopotentiation with BCG was due to persisting BCG infection in the lymphoid tissues.

Population genetic studies of the Philippine Negritos. I. A pilot survey of red cell enzyme and serum protein groups

Electrophoretic surveys of red cell enzyme and serum protein systems representing 21 genetic loci were carried out on 129 blood samples of the Negritos of Pampanga, Central Luzon, the Philippines. Nine (out of 16) red cell enzyme loci and four (out of five) serum protein loci showed polymorphic variation. Low frequencies of ACP 1A, GPTs1, ESD2, and Hp1, and a markedly high frequency of PGM12 were contrasted to those in non-Negrito Filipinos. Variant ESD phenotypes with a slowly migrating isozyme occurred in high frequency. The new allele designated as ESD3Negrito (ESD3N) had a frequency of .10 +/- .019. In AK, a variant phenotype indistinguishable from AK 2-1 was observed in 14% of the sample. In the Gc system, a fast migrating variant was discovered in high frequency which was distinct from Gc Ab and Gc J. The variant allele, denoted GcNegrito (GcN), had a frequency of .21 +/- .025. A relatively high degree of allelic diversity in the Negrito sample was also suggested by the average heterozygosity for 21 loci screened (.165), which is compared to that of the Japanese population (.140).

Clinicopathologic characteristics of pulmonary acinar sarcoidosis

In 101 patients with histopathologic and clinical features compatible with sarcoidosis, a radiologic acinar pattern occurred in about 20% and was always accompanied by bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy. The radiologically acinar pattern histopathologically revealed noncaseating epithelioid granulomas and accumulations of macrophages in the alveolar spaces. Blood vessels were usually not affected by granulomas. On the other hand, a reticulonodular pattern histopathologically showed granulomas with centrally situated veins. The acinar form seems to represent the early stage of pulmonary sarcoldosis, producing primarily intra-alveolar lesions.

Mode of immunopotentiating action of BCG: macrophage activation produced by BCG-infection

Macrophage activation as measured by increased rate of carbon clearance and spreading of peritoneal macrophage was studied in mice infected with BCG, strain Japan. BCG caused marked increase of the numbers of peritoneal cells and spread macrophages. The increases of spread macrophages reached a peak at the 3rd week of BCG infection introduced by the both routes of intravenous(i.v.) injection and foot pad(f.p.) injection. BCG also enhanced the clearance of carbon. In the case of BCG given i.v., the increase of the rate of carbon clearance was biphasic : an early increase reaching maximum at the 1st week and a late increase reaching maximum at the 3rd week of BCG infection. When BCG given into one foot pad, peak increase was reached at the 5th week. The activation of macrophages as measured by increased levels of carbon clearance and increased numbers of spread macrophages in the mice receiving BCG i.v. was approximately two fold greater than that in the mice receiving BCG by f.p. route. When sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as antigen were injected i.v. into the mice primed with BCG i.v., the optimal interval between BCG priming and subsequent antigen injection varied with the dose of antigen for the induction of the highest level of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to SRBC, but not with the degree of macrophage activation.

Human liver alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzyme variations. Improved separation methods using prolonged high voltage starch-gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing

Human liver alcohol dehydrogenase isozyme patterns were studied using prolonged high voltage starch-gel electrophoresis and gel-slab isoelectric focusing. Homo- and heterodimers of ADH2 locus were easily distinguished from each other. The gene frequencies of ADH2 2 and ADH2 3 in 46 random liver samples from Germany were found to be 0.044 and 0.424 respectively.

Inhibition and promotion of tumor growth by BCG: evidence for stimulation of humoral enhancing factors by BCG

Effects of pretreatment with BCG, strain Japan, on tumor growth were studied using a transplatable methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced fibrosarcoma in C3H/He mice. Injection of BCG7 weeks before tumor inoculation at a site distant from the tumor caused a slight inhibition of tumor growth. A low dose of tumor cells did not grow at the BCG-primed site when BCG was injected 7 and 11 weeks before the tumor. When a high dose was inoculated into the BCG-primed site, inhibition of the primary tumor occurred in mice which had received BCG 7 weeks previously, but the number of distant metastases in the popliteal lymph node and the lungs was increased in mice pretreated with BCG at any time. Furthermore, post treatment with BCG at a site distant from the tumor caused promotion of tumor growth. Enhanced antibody formation and suppression of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) occurred in tumor-bearing mice. BCG treatment of such mice caused a vigorously enhanced antibody formation and a marked suppression of DTH. The sera from tumor-bearing mice enhanced tumor growth. Tumor growth was suppressed in splenectomized mice. These findings suggested that antibodies against tumor-specific antigens enhanced tumor growth in this system and that BCG treatment of tumor-bearing mice stimulated formation of antibodies probably acting as blocking factors.

Comparison of the mode of immunopotentiating action of BCG and wax D. II. Effect on the methylcholanthrene carcinogenesis

The effects of BCG and wax D on methylcholanthrene (MCA) carcinogenesis in mice were studied. BCG given 8 weeks after MCA administration conferred a significant protection against carcinogenesis. When given either on the same day as MCA injection or 4 weeks after MCA, BCG slightly increased tumor incidence. Wax D provided a marked protection against tumor development when given 4 weeks after MCA. An enhanced tumor development was obtained, when wax D was administered either on the day of MCA injection or 8 weeks after MCA. These results indicated that the effects of BCG and wax D on MCA carcinogenesis varied with the timing of administration. When BCG and wax D increased the level of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) at the initiating time of tumor development, a protection against carcinogenesis was obtained. On the other hand, BCG and wax D enhanced tumor development, when it increased antibody formation at the time of initiation of tumor development.

New phenotypes of serum alpha1-antitrypsin in Japanese detected by gel slab isoelectric focusing

The phenotype distribution and gene frequencies of serum alpha1-antitrypsin in 856 healthy blood donors in Tokyo were examined by gel slab isoelectric focusing (pH 4--6). The allele of the common subtype variant Pi M2 was present with a frequency of 0.1099 in Japanese. A study of 23 twin pairs and their parents was in agreement with the hypothesis of autosomal codominant inheritance of Pi M subtypes. Other rare variant alleles, Pi MF, Pi MS, Pi MN, Pi mv, Pi MX, Pi MZ were found in very low frequencies. The total concentration of serum alpha1-antitrypsin was compared among three different phenotypic groups (M1, M1M2, M2). Statistically significant quantitative differences were found among these three groups (P less than 0.01).

Selective release of follicle-stimulating hormone during the period of ovulation induced by human chorionic gonadotrophin in dioestrous rats

Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183, Japan

(Received 2 May 1977)

When an amount of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) sufficient to cause ovulation is given to 4-day cyclic rats on the day of dioestrus, premature ovulation is induced the next morning (Eto & Imamichi, 1955). The pattern of release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responsible for the initiation of follicular maturation of the next set of follicles (Schwartz, 1969; Welschen & Dullaart, 1976) after HCG-induced ovulation has not been previously evaluated. The present communication is concerned with this problem and indicates that a large amount of FSH is released within 12 h of administration of HCG, with only a small concomitant rise in the concentration of luteinizing hormone (LH).

Adult female Wistar rats were maintained under a 14 h light : 10 h darkness schedule (lights on 05.00 h), and those showing three or

Comparison of the mode of immunopotentiating action of BCG and wax D. I. Effect on the immune response to SRBC

The immunopotentiating action of BCG and wax D was comparatively evaluated as the immune response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) in mice. The immunopotentiation of BCG varied with the interval between its priming and subsequent antigen injection. BCG increased delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) at early stage but enhanced antibody formation at later stage. DTH reached its maximum about 5 weeks after BCG inoculation. In contrast, wax D increased antibody formation at early stage but increased DTH at later stage. Freund complete adjuvant (FCA) containing wax D stimulated much antibody formation rather than induction of DTH in mice. Cord factor and even Drakeol 6VR could induce DTH at early stage of prior inoculation.

Reconstruction of the cervical esophagus by transplantation and revascularization of a small intestinal segment: ten year follow-up

This study represents a 10 year follow-up of one case of cervical esophagus reconstruction by transplantation of a small intestinal segment. The graft was of normal configuration in esophagoscopy, radiography, and biopsy. The patient is well now and is able to have any food she likes, but she finds it somewhat difficult to take liquid foods. This may be one of the longest recorded follow-up cases in medical history.

Isolation and characterization of a new nucleoside antibiotic, amipurimycin

A new antibiotic amipurimycin, active against Pyricularia oryzae in vitro and in vivo, was isolated from the culture filtrate of Streptomyces novoguineensis nov. sp. The antibiotic was purified by a combination of ion-exchange and adsorption chromatography based on its amphoteric water-soluble characteristics. Its molecular formula was estimated to be C20H27approximately31N7O8-H2O. Characteristic maxima in the UV spectrum and signals in the PMR and CMR spectra were similar to those of 2-aminopurine 9-(beta-D)-riboside. These findings indicated that amipurimycin is a new nucleoside antibiotic and the first example of a natural product containing 2-aminopurine.

Studies on juvenimicin, a new antibiotic. II. Isolation, chemical characterization and structures

A series of new macrolide antibiotics was isolated from the culture filtrate of Micromonospora chalcea var, izumensis. The fat-soluble basic complex consisted of eight components which were named juvenimicin A1 approximately A4 and B1 approximately B4. Juvenimicin A3 was found to be identical with rosamicin and the structures of four of the other components (JVM A2, A4, B1 and B3) have been elucidated. Juvenimicin A2 has a methyl group at position 6 instead of the formylmethyl group of juvenimicin A3. Juvenimicin A4, B1 and B3 possess a hydroxyethyl group at position 6. Juvenimicin A4 and B1 differ from each other in the nature of the chromophore. Juvenimicin B3 differs from juvenimicin B1 in that a hydroxymethyl group is present at position 14 in the former.