Effect of ethanol on the production of carboxypeptidase Y using the GAL10 promoter in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gal80 mutant

In the course of studying carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) production, we found that the expression level of the gene, which is under the control of the GAL10 promoter, increased in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae gal80 mutant grown in a medium containing ethanol as the sole carbon source. In the cultivation of the gal80 mutant KS58-2D/pCY303 carrying a multicopy plasmid, which contains the PRC1 gene fused to the GAL10 promoter, CPY production continued after the consumption of galactose. In this phase, the cells utilized ethanol as the carbon source. To increase the CPY production level, we examined the effect of carbon source feeding in a fed-batch culture. The production level in the fed-batch culture using ethanol was 1.3-fold higher than that in a batch culture and 1.6-fold higher than that in a fed-batch culture using galactose. By 5'-deletion analysis of the GAL10 promoter, the region between -256 and -232 was found to be important for the promoter activity in the gal80 mutant growing in the presence of ethanol.

[Developmental changes of awareness during passive and active attentions: evaluation of serial event-related potentials (N130, N180, P250)]

Serial event-related potentials (ERPs), especially the negative components before P300, were recorded to evaluate the developmental changes of awareness, or intentional attention. In this study, 36 healthy children (5-16 years of age) and eight healthy adults (19-37 years) were told to perform two attentive paradigms: passive and active. Each test condition consisted of 16 electrical stimuli. Four trials were averaged in sequence and then evaluated as serial four blocks. With repetition in both passive and active attentive paradigms the amplitude of N130 was not attenuated until six years old. During active attention, N180 remained undiminished in adolescents and adults. The amplitude of P250 decreased with repetition during passive attention in children over seven years old, but was not attenuated during active attention in adults. These results suggest that N130 reflects the orienting reflex, and that N180 is associated with the process to maintain awareness.

[Quantitative measurement of prefrontal lobe volume on three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging scan]

This article describes the measurement of the frontal and prefrontal lobe volumes on three dimensional (3-D) MRI in 13 children aged 5 months to 14 years and in 3 adults aged 27 to 39 years. The 3-D MRI data were acquired by the fast spoiled gradient recalled (SPGR) sequence using a 1.5 T MR imager. The frontal and prefrontal lobe volumes were measured by the volume measurement function of the Workstation. We confirmed that this technique to analyze segmental brain volumes achieved acceptable levels of reliability and accuracy. There was an increase in the frontal and prefrontal lobe volumes with advancing age, being rapid between 8 and 15 years of age. The prefrontal to frontal lobe volume ratio also increased gradually, with spurts between 8 and 15 years of age. This approach may be particularly useful for studies on patients with frontal and prefrontal lobe dysfunctions.

Isolation and characterization of the gene conferring thiamine-inducible expression from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The production level of CPY in Saccharomyces cerevisiae KS58-2D/pCY303 was drastically decreased when thiamine was not added to the culture medium. We isolated and characterized the mutants that could produce CPY even though thiamine was absent from the medium. Using complementation screening in the mutants obtained, we isolated a gene that was involved in the thiamine-inducible expression, TIE1, which corresponded to the YDR325w ORF on chromosome IV. The predicted protein sequence of TIE1 did not have significant homology to proteins from public databases. The disruption of the TIE1 gene caused two phenotypes, increase of expression level in thiamine-free medium and ethanol sensitivity. This increase in thiamine-free medium was also observed in the expression under the control of ENO1 or ADH1 promoter in addition to the GAL10 promoter, suggesting that the TIE1 protein is associated with a similar kind of transcriptional mechanism regulated by thiamine.

Perfusion and blood pool scintigraphy for diagnosing soft-tissue arteriovenous malformations

PURPOSE

Six arteriovenous malformations were assessed to determine the effectiveness of perfusion and blood pool scintigraphy to diagnose arteriovenous malformations of soft tissue.

METHODS

After injection of Tc-99m RBC or Tc-99m DTPA-HSA, dynamic perfusion and early and delayed blood pool images were analyzed.

RESULTS

Four of six arteriovenous malformations showed increased activity on perfusion images and slightly increased activity on blood pool images; the remaining two arteriovenous malformations showed increased activity on perfusion and normal activity on blood pool studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This expansion of the authors' previous studies of hemangiomas shows that perfusion and blood pool scintigraphy are useful methods to differentiate arteriovenous malformations from various types of hemangiomas.

General pharmacological properties of the new proton pump inhibitor (+/-)-5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrid-2-yl)methyl]sulf inyl]- 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine

The general pharmacological profiles of a novel proton pump inhibitor, (+/-)-5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyrid-2-yl)methyl]sulfi nyl]- 1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine, TU-199) on the central nervous system, cardiorespiratory system, autonomic nervous system, gastrointestinal system and renal functions were investigated. TU-199 had no effects on general signs and behavior in mice. TU-199 (300 mg/kg p.o.) decreased locomotor activity 3 h after administration in mice. TU-199 had no effect on pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, analgesic activity and electroshock-induced convulsion in mice, and on rectal temperature in rats. However, TU-199 (300 mg/kg p.o.) showed slight anticonvulsant activity on pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsion in mice. TU-199 had no effect on respiratory rate, blood pressure, heart rate, femoral blood flow and electrocardiogram in anesthetized dogs. TU-199 (10(4) M) caused the cumulative concentration-response curve obtained with acetylcholine in isolated guinea pig ileum to shift to the right. However, TU-199 showed no effect on contraction of isolated guinea pig ileum and had no effect on intestinal motility in mice, gastric emptying in rats, bile secretion in rats and carbachol-induced salivary secretion in mice. TU-199 had no effect on urinary volume and excretion of electrolytes in rats. These results suggest that TU-199 does not induce serious adverse effects on the central nervous system, cardiorespiratory system, autonomic nervous system, gastrointestinal system and renal functions with the exception of a decrease in spontaneous motor activity with high doses.

Reproductive toxicity, mutagenicity and antigenicity of pamiteplase (genetical recombination)

Pamiteplase (genetical recombination), YM866, is a novel recombinant modified human tissue-type plasminogen activator developed by Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. An intended route of administration in the clinical use of this drug is intravenous administration. We conducted an intravenous fertility and general reproduction studies of this drug in male and female rats and teratology study of this drug in rabbits at the dose levels of 0 (vehicle control), 0.1, 0.3 or 1 mg/kg/day. In the rat, no treatment-related abnormalities were observed up to the maximum dose in parental animals and their offspring. In the teratology study in rabbits, prolonged coagulation time at the injection site was observed at 0.3 mg/kg or more. One death and one abortion occurred at 1 mg/kg on days 22 and 23 of pregnancy, respectively. No toxic effects on the litters were observed up to the maximum dose. Results of evaluation of the mutagenicity of YM866 and its ability to induce chromosome aberrations using the L5178Y TK+/- mouse lymphoma assay, human lymphocyte chromosome aberration assay and the micronucleus assay in mice were negative. Evaluation of the immunogenicity of YM866 by repeated intravenous injection in chimpanzees elicited no confirmed antibody titers.

Effects of muscle relaxation therapy using specially designed plates in patients with pulmonary emphysema

It has been suggested that respiratory muscle dysfunction plays a major role in the development of acute ventilatory failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this study, we devised a respiratory muscle relaxation maneuver using wedge-shaped wooden plates, with which pressure was exerted on the intercostal and accessory respiratory muscles by hand, or by tapping with a wooden hammer, for 15-20 minutes twice a day. The muscle relaxation maneuver was performed in 5 moderate to severe pulmonary emphysema patients for 4 weeks and in 7 emphysema patients for 6 weeks, and the effects on pulmonary function were examined. After the therapy, inspiratory capacity (IC) and vital capacity (VC) in both the 4 weeks-and 6 weeks-treated groups, and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1.0) in the 6 weeks-treated group were significantly increased, and CO2 retention had also improved. Daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) showed significant increases from 2 weeks after the initiation of the therapy. These results suggest that the respiratory muscle relaxation maneuver is effective for improving the pulmonary function of pulmonary emphysema patients.

Free radical production by the red tide alga, Chattonella antiqua

The red tide alga, Chattonella antiqua, was found to show a strong chemiluminescence, using luminol as the reagent, when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. This luminescence was completely inhibited by ascorbate or catalase, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide was generated by the plankton. Red tide cells exposed to fish gill mucus from young yellowtail resulted in the release of a large number of mucocysts and a weak luminosity, and showed a strong reduction of cytochrome c in the medium. Therefore, the discharge of mucocysts from the red tide, induced by the presence of gill mucus, may be accompanied by the release of active oxygen species. The active oxygen may be involved in depolymerization of mucus glycoproteins from the gill lamellae.

A case of familial adenomatous polyposis complicated by thyroid carcinoma, carcinoma of the ampulla of vater and adrenocortical adenoma

A 63 year old female with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) complicated by carcinoma of the thyroid and ampulla of Vater and a nonfunctioning adrenocortical adenoma is reported herein. We reviewed 23 cases of duodenal or periampullary carcinoma, 10 cases of thyroid carcinoma and 4 cases of adrenal neoplasm presented in the Japanese literature. From studying these cases, we identified that FAP patients had a high risk of developing periampullary carcinoma and consequently, it is very important to periodically examine the ampulla of Vater. Thyroid carcinomas in patients with FAP were well differentiated carcinomas and occurred earlier than in the general population. The use of medical imaging equipment with mean that insidious abdominal tumors in cases of FAP will be detected more frequently in the future and as patients with FAP have a high risk of developing malignancies, surgery should be indicated for incidentally found adrenal tumors.

Purification and mode of action of a microsomal endoribonuclease from rat liver

An endoribonuclease has been purified nearly to homogeneity from rat liver microsomes, and its mode of action and general properties were studied. The enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 58 000, as estimated by both gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and produced oligonucleotides from poly(A), poly(U) and poly(C). No mononucleotide was obtained by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the above substrates. The enzyme made endonucleolytic cleavages which generated 5'-phosphate-terminated oligonucleotides. It was suggested that the existence of at least (Ado5'P)2 residues at both sides of the cleavage bond was necessary for the action of the endoribonuclease. Divalent cations (Mg2+ or Mn2+) were required for the enzymatic activity, while K+ inhibited the enzyme. Spermine stimulated the enzymatic activity in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+.