HLA-DRB1*1502 allele, subtype of DR15, is associated with susceptibility to ulcerative colitis and its progression

HLA-DRB1 allele typing was performed by the PCR-RFLP method on 59 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and 136 healthy controls. Phenotypic frequencies of HLA-B52 and DR2 were significantly increased among the UC patients, serologically. DNA typing of HLA-DRB1 revealed that the genotypic frequency of DRB1*1502 was higher in UC than in the controls (49.2% vs 17.6%; P < 0.0001). In the analysis of clinical parameters, 82.8% of patients bearing DRB1*1502 were treated with corticosteroids. DRB1*1501 and DRB1*1502 differ in only one amino acid at residue 86 (valine vs glycine), and 66% of the UC patients carried two glycines at position 86 in the HLA-DR beta-chain (vs 51% of control; P < 0.05). These observations suggest that the presence of Gly-86 in the HLA beta-chain and surrounding amino acid sequence of HLA-DRB1*1502 is strongly associated with susceptibility to UC.

Divergent structural requirements exist for calcitonin receptor binding specificity and adenylate cyclase activation

The basis of the high potency of salmon calcitonin (sCT) in radioligand binding competition and cAMP accumulation studies with cloned calcitonin (CT) receptors from rats, pigs, and humans was examined using two sets of CT analogues, i.e., chimeric sCT/human CT (hCT) analogues and analogues of sCT with differing capacities to form an amphipathic alpha-helix. In competition for 125I-sCT binding the following relative specificities were observed for the chimeric peptides: rat C1a CT receptor, sCT > or = (1-16)hCT/(17-32)sCT (ACT-15) > (1-16)sCT/(17-32)hCT (ACT-27); rat C1b CT receptor, sCT >> ACT-15 > ACT-27; hCT receptor, sCT = ACT-15 > ACT-27; porcine CT receptor, sCT > ACT-27 > ACT-15. In contrast, in ligand-induced cAMP accumulation studies the relative efficacies were as follows: rat C1a CT receptor, sCT = ACT-15 > ACT-27; rat C1b CT receptor, sCT = ACT-15 > ACT-27; hCT receptor, sCT = ACT-15 > or = to ACT-27; porcine CT receptor, sCT = ACT-15 = ACT-27. The data demonstrate that residues present in the carboxyl-terminal half of sCT are more important for binding competition with the rat C1a, rat C1b, and human CT receptors, whereas residues in the amino-terminal half of sCT are more important for binding competition with the porcine CT receptor. Carboxyl-terminal sCT residues are also important for full potency in adenylate cyclase activation with the rat C1a and rat C1b CT receptors but are less important for activation via the hCT receptor. The disparity in the relative potencies of the peptides in studies of binding competition and cAMP accumulation is suggestive of significant differences in the relative affinities of the peptides for active and inactive conformations of the CT receptor. The use of sCT analogues with varying capacities to form alpha-helices also revealed divergence in the responses of different receptors. This was most apparent for the stimulation of cAMP production by the rat receptor isoforms C1a and C1b. In cells expressing the C1a receptor, the helical analogues sCT and des-Ser2-sCT were equipotent with [Gly8]-des-Leu19-sCT and des-1-amino-[Ala1,7,Gly8]-des-Leu19 sCT, analogues that have reduced or absent helical structure, respectively. In contrast, the nonhelical analogues were 100-1000-fold less potent than sCT and des-Ser2-sCT at the C1b receptor. In general, reduction in the ability of sCT analogues to form helix structures had a greater impact on the potency of the analogues in competition for 125I-sCT binding than in cAMP accumulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Regulation of gene expression and recent advance on transcription studies]

Gene expression is governed by multiple cellular processes including transcription, splicing, and translation. Among them, transcriptional regulation is the main regulatory mechanism. Transcription process can be divided into pre-initiation, initiation, elongation and termination, and transcriptional regulation is especially governed through the pre-initiation step. Eukaryotic RNA polymerase alone is not able to initiate specific transcription, but general transcription factors (GTFs) is required for this reaction. In pre-initiation step, many GTFs and RNA polymerase gather at the core promoter of a gene, and form a large initiation complex. There are another class of factors: transcription regulatory factors (TRFs) responsible for the regulation such as tissue-specific/timing-specific transcription and induction/repression of transcription. TRFs directly bind to cis-acting DNA elements which are generally referred enhancers (for activation) or silencers (for repression), and regulate the rate of formation of initiation complex. A TRFs can be divided into at most 4 domains: domains for binding to DNA, regulation of transcription, interaction to other proteins and ligand binding. A number of TRFs can be categorized into rather small numbers of families such as b-zip, Zn-finger, etc. which have a characteristic combination with functional motifs. The third class of transcription factor is referred as a mediator/coactivator, that binds to both TRFs and GTFs, and can transduce the regulatory signal from enhancer to promoter. We can describe many biological processes by a term of transcriptional regulation, such as carcinogenesis, development, morphogenesis, infection and immunity, cell growth and hormone action, etc. However, further studies on chromain/nuclear matrix structure, molecular anatomy of transcription factors, and network of transcription factors are required for understanding of the relationship between biological processes and transcriptional regulation.

Effect of high-fat diet on the gene expression of pancreatic GLUT2 and glucokinase in rats

To define the biochemical and molecular basis of high-fat diet to reduce insulin secretion, the present study examined the effect of high-fat diet on the gene expression of pancreatic GLUT2 and glucokinase. Rats were isoenergetically meal-fed a high-fat or a high-carbohydrate diet for 10 weeks. Plasma glucose concentration was higher, whereas insulin concentration was lower in the rats fed a high-fat diet than in the rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet. The level of GLUT2 and glucokinase mRNA in pancreas was significantly decreased in the rats fed a high-fat diet compared with a high-carbohydrate diet. The rates of reduction in plasma insulin level, pancreatic gene expression of GLUT2 and glucokinase by high-fat feeding were about 50%. These results suggest that high-fat feeding impairs signal transduction mechanism in pancreatic beta-cells to reduce insulin secretion in rats.

Repeat embolization of the side branch of the internal mammary artery graft by gelatin sponge particles and micro coils

The internal mammary artery (IMA) is increasingly used as a coronary bypass conduit because of better long-term patency and improved prognosis as compared with venous grafts. Previous investigators have suggested that the "steal" of blood flow of the IMA graft via the subclavian artery or a persistent large side branch of the graft may lead to its thinning. However, only a few reports have described the embolization of a large side branch using a transcatheter procedure. We present a case of repeated embolization of a large lateral costal side branch of the left internal mammary arterial graft applying gelatin sponge particles and micro coils, as well as angioplasty to the graft conduit, with resulting easing of chest pain.

Endometrial oestrogen and progesterone receptors and their relationship to sonographic endometrial appearance

The present study was undertaken to evaluate a possible relationship between the endometrial concentrations of oestrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR), and the sonographic appearance of human endometrium. Sonographic assessments and aspirations of the endometrium at the time of or prior to ovulation were made in 48 cycles of 45 infertile women. Endometrial patterns were classified as A, triple line pattern, or B, not triple line, on the basis of echogenicity. We did not find a correlation between ER or PR and serum oestradiol or endometrial thickness. Furthermore, serum oestradiol concentrations were not correlated with endometrial pattern or thickness. The only significant correlations were found between the concentrations of ER and PR in the pattern A endometrium (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and in the pattern B endometrium (r = 0.49, P < 0.05). There were no differences in the mean concentrations of ER and PR despite differences in endometrial pattern and thickness. However, PR was measured at > 800 fmol/mg protein in 12 out of 38 pattern A endometria, while PR was < 800 fmol/mg protein in all pattern B endometria. These data suggest that high PR expression in the pre-ovulatory period is related to an adequate endometrial growth and thereby increases the responsiveness of the endometrium to progesterone stimulation after ovulation.

A dual blood supply protects the right gastroepiploic arterial graft: report of two cases

We report two cases whose right gastroepiploic arterial bypass grafts were protected by a dual blood supply due to the anatomical anastomosis between the celiac and the superior mesenteric artery systems. This unique characteristic of the graft adds an advantage for its use as a graft conduit.

A re-evaluation of the prolactin-releasing activity of growth hormone-releasing hormone in acromegaly in vivo

In 1985, Losa et al reported that an i.v. bolus injection of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) was able to paradoxically stimulate PRL secretion in more than half of their acromegalic patients. However, this observation was not generally accepted since several other investigators have concluded that such an anomalous PRL response to GHRH was an extremely rare phenomenon in acromegaly. Therefore, in this study we examined a large number (51 patients) of active acromegalics in order to obtain more reliable data on the incidence of the paradoxical PRL response to GHRH in this disorder. Each patient underwent i.v. bolus injections of GHRH (100 micrograms) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, 500 micrograms) on separate days, and plasma levels of GH and PRL were measured. The plasma PRL response to GHRH was considered positive (a paradoxical increase) when an increase over baseline of at least 50% occurred. We found that only 6 patients (12%) showed a positive PRL response to GHRH. These PRL-responders to GHRH had higher GH responses to this peptide than PRL-non-responders to GHRH. Although PRL-responders and non-responders to GHRH had a similar PRL responsiveness to TRH, the GH response to TRH was lower in PRL-responders to GHRH than PRL-non-responders to this peptide. In addition, PRL-non-responders to GHRH had lower basal GH and higher basal PRL levels than PRL-responders to GHRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[5-FU concentrations in the blood and tumor tissue after 5'-DFUR or UFT administration in the patients with uterine cervical cancer]

In order to verify the antitumor activity of fluorinated pyrimidine drugs, we conducted an investigation of the clinical pharmacology with two drugs, 5'-DFUR and UFT. Total 21 cases of cervical cancer were alloted randomly into 5'-DFUR group (daily dose 800 mg for 3 days) consisting of 11 patients and UFT group (daily dose 600 mg for 3 days) consisting of 10 patients, the unchanged substances (5'-DFUR in the 5'-DFUR group and tegafur concentrations in the UFT group) and 5-FU concentrations in serum and tissues were measured 6 hours after administration of the drugs. The 5'-DFUR concentration in the 5'-DFUR group was not detected in serum and less than a detectable limit for all of cancerous tissues, normal cervical tissues, and lymph nodes. The tegafur concentrations in the UFT treated group was 13.8 +/- 7.0 micrograms/ml for serum, 10.4 +/- 6.4 micrograms/g for cancerous tissues, 14.1 +/- 7.3 micrograms/g for normal cervical tissues, and 4.5 +/- 4.2 micrograms/g for lymph nodes. The 5-FU concentrations in the 5'-DFUR treated group were 0.018 +/- 0.046 micrograms/g for cancerous tissues, but less than a detectable limit for serum and normal cervical tissues. On the other hand, in the UFT group, 0.271 +/- 0.247 micrograms/g for a cancerous tissue, 0.035 +/- 0.018 micrograms/ml for serum, 0.125 +/- 0.073 micrograms/g for normal cervical tissues, showing significantly high values (p < 0.01, p < 0.001, and p < 0.01, respectively) compared to those in the 5'-DFUR treated group. These results suggest that UFT is a promising drug for the treatment of cancer of the uterine cervix.

Clinical significance of the growth hormone response to vasoactive intestinal peptide and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in acromegaly

GH-secreting pituitary adenomas causing acromegaly can be classified into at least two types, i.e. the lactotroph-like adenoma and somatotroph-like adenoma. From a functional point of view, the lactotroph-like adenoma is characterized by positive GH responses to TRH and bromocriptine (Br) with a GH increase or decrease, respectively, whereas the somatotroph-like adenoma is characterized by a high GH response to GHRH and a low GH response to TRH and Br. In this study, we examined whether the loading of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and GnRH, another hypothalamic hormone capable of stimulating GH secretion in acromegaly, have a pathophysiological significance as TRH, GHRH, and Br tests. In 52 patients with active acromegaly, we performed iv bolus injections of TRH (500 micrograms), GHRH (100 micrograms), VIP (100 micrograms), and GnRH (100 micrograms), and a peroral administration of Br (2.5 mg), in order to compare the GH responses to these loads. There was a significant correlation that the higher was the GH response after TRH the greater was the GH decrease after Br. Although statistically insignificant, there was a trend (0.05 < p < 0.1) that the higher was the GH response after GHRH the smaller was the GH decrease after Br. In addition, as novel findings, we observed that the GH responses to GHRH, VIP, and GnRH were in significant positive correlations to each other, and that the higher were the GH responses after VIP and GnRH the smaller was the GH decrease after Br. In agreement with this, we also found that a simultaneous GH responsivity to VIP and/or GnRH in TRH-responsive acromegalics significantly enhanced the GH response to GHRH and lowered the Br responsiveness compared to the data of pure TRH-responders. From these results, we hypothesize that the positive GH responsiveness to VIP and GnRH, like that to GHRH, may be a feature of the somatotroph-like pituitary adenoma causing acromegaly. The present results appear to be of some help in understanding the basis of the great variabilities in the GH responses to various dynamic testings in acromegaly.

Inhibitory action of lansoprazole and its analogs against Helicobacter pylori: inhibition of growth is not related to inhibition of urease

The proton pump inhibitors omeprazole and lansoprazole and its acid-activated derivative AG-2000, which are potent and specific inhibitors of urease of Helicobacter pylori (K. Nagata, H. Satoh, T. Iwahi, T. Shimoyama, and T. Tamura, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 37:769-774, 1993), inhibited the growth of H. pylori. The growth was inhibited not only in urease-positive clinical isolates but also in their urease-negative derivatives which had no urease polypeptides. AG-1789, a derivative of lansoprazole with no inhibitory activity against H. pylori urease, also inhibited the growth of both strains even more strongly than the urease inhibitors lansoprazole and AG-2000. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of omeprazole and lansoprazole was not affected by glutathione or dithiothreitol, which completely abolished the inhibitory activity of lansoprazole against H. pylori urease. These results indicated that the inhibitory action of these compounds against the growth of H. pylori was independent from the inhibitory action against urease.

Effects of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone on the progesterone receptor induction in chicken granulosa cells in vivo

Progesterone receptor (PR) is increased in the granulosa cells prior to ovulation. In order to investigate the factors that induce PR in granulosa cells, we examined whether the PR is induced in granulosa cells by the injection of chickens with ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) or porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) by Western blot analysis. In the oLH-stimulated birds, PR of 79 kDa and 110 kDa were recognized in the granulosa cells of the largest follicle, whereas a PR of 110 kDa was observed in those of the smaller follicles (the second and third largest follicles). No immunoreaction product was observed in the granulosa cells of both the largest and the smaller follicles in pFSH-stimulated birds. In the control birds that were injected with saline, no immunoprecipitate was recognized in the granulosa cells of the largest or smaller follicles. These results suggest that LH may be involved in the induction of PR in the granulosa cells prior to ovulation.

The influence of ageing on cisplatin pharmacokinetics in lung cancer patients with normal organ function

This study was performed to identify any relationship between age and cisplatin (CDDP) pharmacokinetics in lung cancer patients. CDDP was given at a dose of 80 mg/m2 by 1-h intravenous infusion to 23 lung cancer patients. All patients had normal renal, hepatic, and bone marrow functions. We measured ultrafilterable platinum (U-Pt) and total plasma platinum (T-Pt) using atomic absorption spectrometry. There was significant correlation between the age of the patients and U-Pt pharmacokinetic parameters such as the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC), total clearance (Cl), and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) as well as the AUC of T-Pt (P < 0.05). We performed univariate regression analysis to examine the influence of factors aside from age on the AUC of U-Pt and T-Pt. Creatinine and GPT levels were significantly related to the AUC of U-Pt, and creatinine clearance and creatinine concentrations were significantly related to the AUC of T-Pt. Therefore, stepwise multiple-regression models for the AUC of U-Pt and T-Pt were developed to assess an age effect. Age was consistently an independent and significant predictor of the AUC of U-Pt and T-Pt.

Fifty novel sequence-tagged sites (STSs) on human chromosome 11q13.4-->q25 identified from microclones generated by microdissection

Fifty sequence-tagged sites (STSs) from human chromosome region, 11q13.4-->q25 were identified in microdissection-generated microclones. From a total of 124 single-copy microclones obtained from regions 11q14-->q22 and 11q23-->q25, 59 were sequenced, and a PCR primer pair was designed for each of them. Fifty of the 59 clones were mapped to regions ranging from 11q13.4 to 11q25 by means of PCR on a somatic hybrid cell panel with various deletions of the long arm of human chromosome 11. These STSs will contribute to the construction of physical cosmid/YAC maps representing the chromosome regions. They are also useful for analysis of chromosome aberrations, such as translocations, inversions or marker chromosomes.

A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis of CPT-11 and its active metabolite SN-38

In the present study, an attempt was made to determine the precise pharmacokinetics of 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (CPT-11) and its active metabolite, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38). The relationship between pharmacokinetic parameters and pharmacodynamic effects was also investigated to elucidate the cause of interpatient variation in side effects. Thirty-six patients entered the study. CPT-11, 100 mg/m2, was administered by IV infusion over 90 min weekly for four consecutive weeks. The major dose-limiting toxicities were leukopenia and diarrhea. There was a positive correlation between the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of CPT-11 and percent decrease of WBC (r = 0.559). On the other hand, episodes of diarrhea had a better correlation with the AUC of SN-38 (r = 0.606) than that of CPT-11 (r = 0.408). Multivariate analysis revealed that the AUC of SN-38, AUC of CPT-11 and indocyanine green retention test were significant variables for the incidence of diarrhea and that both performance status and AUC of CPT-11 were significant variables for percent decrease of WBC. The large interpatient variability of the degree of leukopenia and diarrhea is due to a great plasma pharmacokinetic variation in CPT-11 or SN-38. The AUCs of CPT-11 and SN-38 obtained from the first administration of CPT-11 correlate with toxicities, but it is impossible to predict severe side effects before the administration of CPT-11 at the present time.

Effect of atrial and ventricular activation interval on hemodynamics during atrioventricular and ventriculoatrial pacing: determination from pressure-volume loops in dogs

To determine the effect of relative timing of atrial and ventricular activation on hemodynamic indices, we evaluated pressure-volume loops during pacing at 160 beats/min with various atrioventricular intervals in dogs. End-systolic pressure, end-diastolic volume, and stroke volume were reduced during pacing at atrioventricular intervals of 0 ms, compared with 80 ms. These changes were more significant during pacing at atrioventricular intervals of -50 and -100 ms than at 0 ms. During tachycardia, the abnormal timing of atrial contraction leads to unfavorable hemodynamic change and the degree of the changes are determined by the ventriculoatrial activation interval.

Influence of tyrosine residues Y705 and Y807 on the transforming potency of the v-fms oncogene product of feline sarcoma virus

Cell transformation is characterized by overt changes in growth control and cell morphology. To study the role of tyrosine residues Y705 and Y807 of v-Fms of the McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus in cell transformation we replaced them individually with phenylalanine residues. Cells expressing the mutant genes showed mitogenic properties similar to wild-type v-Fms transformed cells. However, the morphology of cells expressing the Y807F mutant remained the same as nontransformed cells. Four phosphoproteins of 190, 120, 55 and 50 kDa were detected in cells expressing the wild-type but were absent in cells expressing the mutant Y807F-v-fms gene.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia associated with nephrotic syndrome and dermatomyositis

Several types of autoimmune complications of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have been previously reported. However, the tendency to develop autoantibodies is usually restricted to the hematopoietic system. We report a 68-year-old man who had developed dermatomyositis after ten years of chemotherapy for CLL. He also had secondary nephrotic syndrome at the onset of CLL. Subsequently, the patient died of perforation of the small intestine. The association of both nephrotic syndrome and dermatomyositis with CLL is very rare. We discuss the possibility of a casual relation.

The mutual sparing effects of selenium and vitamin E in animal nutrition may be further explained by the discovery that mammalian thioredoxin reductase is a selenoenzyme

The recent discovery that mammalian thioredoxin reductase is a selenoprotein furnishes an additional explanation of the mutual sparing roles of selenium and vitamin E in cellular antioxidant systems. Thioredoxin reductases isolated from human lung adenocarcinoma cells, human Jurkat T-cells and HeLa cells contain selenocysteine which is located in a C-terminal tripeptide, -Cys-SeCys-Gly.

Derivatization and purification of bisecting tyrosinamide-oligosaccharides from ovotransferrin

The major N-linked oligosaccharides from ovotransferrin were purified on a large scale. The oligosaccharides were released from 5 g of the glycoprotein using N-glycosidase F and isolated from a mixed bed ion exchange column. Reducing-oligosaccharides were reacted with ammonium bicarbonate to form a reducing-end glycosylamine which coupled with the N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester of Boc-tyrosine, resulting in tyrosinamide-oligosaccharides. Resolution of tyrosinamide-oligosaccharides on reverse-phase (RP)-HPLC necessitated the removal of Boc by treatment with trifloroacetic acid. Two major tyrosinamide-oligosaccharides were isolated from preparative RP-HPLC and were characterized by 500 MHz proton NMR and FAB-MS. These were a biantennary and triantennary oligosaccharide, each possessing a bisecting GlcNAc residue extending from the central core Man residue. Thus, ovotransferrin represents an abundant glycoprotein source from which to prepare multi-micromole quantities of bisecting complex oligosaccharides which may find utility in exploring the ligand specificity of mammalian lectins or may be used as synthons to prepare novel glycoconjugates.

Genetic heterogeneity of Helicobacter pylori by pulse-field gel electrophoresis and re-evaluation of DNA homology

PURPOSE

The genetic heterogeneity of Helicobacter pylori isolates was re-evaluated by using pulse-field gel electrophoresis to examine macrorestriction patterns and by studying DNA homology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty H. pylori isolates, two closely related species, H. mustelae and H. felis, and Campylobacter spp. were used. Notl-digested macrorestriction patterns were examined by pulse-field gel electrophoresis. DNA homology was examined by the S1 nuclease method, using [3H]-labeled DNA from H. pylori NCTC11637 and two H. pylori isolates for reference.

RESULT

Intergenus DNA homology between H. pylori and Campylobacters was 50-60%. Interspecies homology between H. pylori and H. mustelae or H. felis was around 60%. Intraspecies homology among H. pylori isolates was above 80%, except for a few that exhibited 70-80% homology. These findings indicate that all H. pylori isolates were homogeneous and belonged to the same species. Notl pulse-field gel electrophoresis patterns of H. pylori isolates differed markedly at the individual strain level. There was no specific relationship to any deviation from DNA homology, and the differences were observed within rather homogeneous members of the species.

CONCLUSION

The polymorphism in the Notl pulse-field gel electrophoresis patterns of H. pylori isolates differed markedly among strains, even though these isolates displayed species homogeneity, with DNA homology of 70-100%.