Bilateral injection of fasciculin into the amygdala of rats: effects on two avoidance tasks, acetylcholinesterase activity, and cholinergic muscarinic receptors

These experiments examined the effects of the bilateral injection of fasciculin-2 (FAS), a natural acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory peptide, into the amygdala of rats on acquisition and retention of two avoidance behaviors. Intraamygdala injection of FAS (150 ng/amygdala) produced a pronounced and long-lasting inhibition of AChE activity: 85% and 74% on day 2 and day 5, respectively. After 48 hr, FAS-treated animals showed no changes in training or test session performance in a step-down inhibitory avoidance task (training-test interval was 24 hr). In a 2-way shuttle avoidance task, intraamygdala FAS slightly reduced retention test performance without modifying training session scores. Two and five days after FAS injections into the amygdala, the density of muscarinic receptor decreased about 50% as measured by the specific bindings of 3H-quinuclidinyl benzilate and 3H-oxotremorine. No alterations were observed in the apparent dissociation constants. On the other hand, the central-type benzodiazepine receptor population of the amygdala remained unchanged, suggesting that FAS microinjection did not produce damage to neuronal components of these nuclei. In conclusion, the results presented have indicated that a clear-cut and long-lasting inhibition of AChE activity in the amygdala is not accompanied by a facilitation of learning and memory of two different avoidance tasks. Compensation of the increased cholinergic activity by a down-regulation of muscarinic receptors could account for these findings.

Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 is a major synthetic product of osteoblastic cells and localized as 75- and/or 50-kDa forms in mineralized phases of bone and growth plate and in serum

Anti-peptide and anti-protein antisera were produced which both recognize bone acidic glycoprotein-75 (Mr = 75,000) and an apparent fragment or biosynthetic intermediate (Mr = 50,000) in calcified tissues and/or serum. A fragment-precursor relationship is suggested from the fact that closely spaced doublet polypeptides of Mr = 50,000 could be produced by proteolysis of the purified protein upon long term storage. No reactivity was detected with osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, or small bone proteoglycans. Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 represents 0.5-1% of the total radiolabeled proteins synthesized by explant cultures of neonatal calvaria or growth plate, by calvarial outgrowth cultures, and by rat osteosarcoma cells. Amounts produced by explant cultures and calvarial outgrowth cultures were similar to that for osteopontin, a major product of osteoblasts. In osteosarcoma cultures, 80% of labeled antigens were associated with the cell layer fraction wherein specific immunoprecipitation pelleted Mr = 50,000 and 75,000 sized antigens. Bone acidic glycoprotein-75 (Mr = 75,000) is enriched in 4 M guanidine HCl/0.5 EDTA extracts of neonatal rat bone and growth plate tissues, whereas largely absent from heart, lung, spleen, liver, brain, and kidney. Explant cultures of these noncalcifying tissues also synthesized bone acidic glycoprotein-75 antigen, but the quantities produced were only 5% or less that obtained with calvaria. By immunohistochemistry, antigenicity is associated with the bony shaft and calcified cartilage of long bones, but is absent from associated soft tissues. These finding demonstrate that bone acidic glycoprotein-75 is antigenically distinct, predominantly localized to calcified tissues, represents a major product of normal osteoblastic cells and may undergo a characteristic fragmentation in vivo and in vitro.

[The measurement of umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms in normal late pregnancy by Doppler ultrasound]

Doppler ultrasound was adopted in a study of fetal umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms in 81 cases of late pregnancies (28-41 gestational weeks). The peak systolic/end-diastolic ratio (A/B) and the Pourlot index were used as indices for assessing placental resistance. Both the A/B ratio (2.34 +/- 0.44) and Pourlot index (0.56 +/- 0.07) decreased while the gestational week was increasing, and they had a good correlation with the gestational week (r1 = -0.90, r2 = -0.93). The results indicated that the placental resistance became lower when the gestational week was increasing. This method has been documented a useful noninvasive technique for the exam of placental resistance.

[T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with bone tumors]

Peripheral blood T-cell subsets of 54 patients with malignant or benign bone and soft tissue tumors and 20 age-and sex-matched normal controls were studied by using monoclonal antibodies. T-cell subsets were also studied before and after operation in ten patients with osteosarcoma. The number of T cells (OKT 11) and OKT 4 cells significantly decreased in malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. The number of OKT 8 cells increased. Statistically significant decrease in the T4/T8 ratio and the number of macrophage were also found in malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. In giant cell tumor of bone, the number of T cells and OKT 4 cells were also statistically decreased. But, the number of OKT 8 cells and macrophage remained unchanged. The ratio of T 4/T 8 was nearly normal. There was no difference in T cell subsets between benign bone tumors and normal controls. In malignant bone tumors, the number of T cells and T 4/T 8 ratio in some degree may be as a predictor for prognosis.

Measurement of the refractive index and thermal refractive index coefficients of Nd:YAP crystal

The principal refractive indices of yttrium aluminate crystal doping with 1-wt.% neodymium (Nd:YAP) have been measured by a minimum deviation method for the wavelengths 0.5398, 0.6328, and 1.0795 microm in the temperature range of 289-435 K. The thermal refractive index coefficients have been obtained at these wavelengths, and they are all positive and slightly decrease with increased wavelength. The constants of the single term Sellmeier equation are also given for the 273-420 K temperature range. These constants are in linear relationship with temperature in the 4 x 10(-3) error range.

[Superoxide dismutase activity in tissues from 19 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue was studied. It was observed that activities of total SOD, Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in HCC tissue were lower than those in normal liver tissues respectively (P less than 0.001 & 0.01 less than P less than 0.05). SOD activity in poorly differentiated HCC tissue was lower than that in well differentiated HCC tissue. Contents of copper, zinc and manganese in HCC tissues were lower than those in normal liver tissues respectively (P less than 0.001 & P less than 0.01). This study suggests that decreased content of copper, zinc and manganese may be one of the factors that lead to impairment of SOD activity. The characteristic of lower SOD activity in HCC tissue and poorly differentiated HCC tissue may be a negative regulation to limitless proliferation and poor differentiation of liver cancer cells.

[A case of successful closure of multiple lung fistulae by omental pedicle flap after intrapleural sponge plombage 34 years before]

A case of successful closure of pulmonary fistulae by omental pedicle flap is reported. A 58-year-old female with chronic empyema as a sequela of pulmonary tuberculosis was referred with complaints of fever and purulent sputa. After extirpation of spongy "Plombs" (Vinylsponge) which had filled pleural space in previous operation done 34 years before, omental pedicle flap was fixed by sutures to multiple lung fistulae. Omental pedicle was not filled up all the empyema cavity. We anticipate that an omental pedicle flap covering the lung fistulae will be a simpler but promising method of closing lung fistulae, while simultaneously preventive of infection of residual cavity.

Mixed-chain phospholipids and interdigitated bilayer systems

The lipid bilayer is a fundamental structural component for all biological membranes. The function of lipid bilayers may be considered not only to serve as a permeability barrier preventing the free flows of ions and polar molecules between the cell interior and its external environment, but also to modulate the activity of bilayer-spanning proteins or glycoproteins in biological membranes. Based on the location of the terminal methyl groups of the two hydrocarbon chains in phospholipids or glycosphingolipids, two broad categories of lipid bilayers have been recognized: (1) the noninterdigitated and (2) the interdigitated bilayers. Depending on the chain-length difference between the two hydrocarbon chains, three different types of packing models for interdigitated bilayer systems have been identified. Among the three types, the mixed interdigitated bilayer is perhaps unique, since the hydrocarbon chains in the bilayer core are observed to be interdigitated in both the gel and the liquid-crystalline states. In this communication, various experimental data supporting the chain packing characteristics of the mixed interdigitated bilayer for a large number of mixed-chain phospholipid species are considered. In addition, two types of phase diagrams for binary phospholipid mixtures obtained with mixed-chain phospholipids are also presented. These studies may be of great importance in understanding the functional control of bilayer-spanning proteins in biological membranes, and for providing basic information explaining the dynamic regulation of membrane activities in general.

[The use of omental pedicle flap for treatment in the field of thoracic surgery]

We present a series of 16 consecutive patients who underwent the omental pedicle flap method in the field of thoracic surgery. Fourteen of 16 patients were chronic empyema with bronchopleural fistulae and/or thoracic fistulae. A pedicle of omentum containing the right gastroepiploic artery was passed through a tunnel in the anterior diaphragm into the empyema cavity. It was fixed by mono-filament sutures on the bronchopleural fistulae. All but two patients were cured successfully by single-stage procedures. We also used a omental pedicle flap for mediastinal infection and reconstruction of the chest wall. We conclude that the use of omental pedicle flap is a promising method for treatment of serious infection in the field of thoracic surgery.

Isolation and characterization of S49 mouse lymphoma cell mutants deficient in adenosine deaminase

Adenosine deaminase-deficient mutants of a mouse lymphoma cell line S49 have been isolated by a two-step selection process. In the first step, we derived mutant lines containing haploid levels of adenosine deaminase activity from wild-type cells. The selective medium contained tritiated deoxyadenosine, deoxycytidine, and deoxycoformycin. Wild-type cells were killed, presumably because of suicidal incorporation of tritiated deoxyadenosine via the adenosine deaminase pathway. The second step was to derive, from the partially deficient mutants, sublines that were virtually lacking adenosine deaminase, using tritiated deoxyadenosine and deoxycytidine. Four mutant clones were found to contain less than 5% of the enzyme activity of wild-type cells and virtually no immunoreactive adenosine deaminase protein. Northern blot analysis showed that the levels of adenosine deaminase mRNA were drastically reduced. Back-selection for adenosine deaminase-positive revertants can be accomplished by using a medium containing deoxyadenosine (as a sole source of purine), aminopterin, and thymidine or, alternatively, by using deoxyadenosine alone in a serum-free medium.

Eutectic phase behavior of 1-stearoyl-2-caprylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine mixtures

The thermotropic behavior of aqueous dispersions of C(18):C(10)PC/diC(14)PC mixtures with different molar ratios has been investigated by high-resolution differential scanning calorimetry. C(18):C(10)PC is a highly asymmetric lipid molecule, whereas diC(14)PC is a symmetric species with the same molecular weight. Their packing properties in the bilayer are known to be similar at T greater than Tm, but very dissimilar at T less than Tm. Calorimetric results indicate that C(18):C(10)PC and diC(14)PC are completely miscible in the liquid-crystalline state. In the gel state, however, C(18):C(10)PC and diC(14)PC are only partially miscible. The temperature-composition phase diagram for C(18):C(10)PC/diC(14)PC mixtures has the shape characteristic of a typical eutectic system.

Nucleic acid hybridization for detection of cell culture-amplified adenovirus

A number of recombinant plasmids containing genomic segments of adenovirus were constructed. Seven cloned probes, as well as total adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) and Ad16 genomic DNA, were tested by a nucleic acid hybridization technique for sensitivity and specificity in detecting adenoviruses in infected cells. Adenovirus DNA was spotted onto a nitrocellulose filter and hybridized with 32P-labeled DNA probes. The probes, total Ad2 genomic DNA, and plasmid pAd2-H (containing the hexon gene from Ad2 DNA) all detected 10 reference serotypes of five genomic subgroups (A through E) with similar sensitivities. However, plasmid pAd2-H required less preparation time than did total Ad2 DNA. Probes pAd2-F (containing the fiber gene from Ad2) and pAd16-BD (containing the BamHI D fragment from Ad16) hybridized only with reference serotypes from the homologous subgroups (C and B, respectively). Of 101 patient isolates amplified in cells, pAd2-H detected 100% of all isolates from both the homologous and the heterologous subgroups. The detection rates for pAd2-F were 100% (subgroup C) and 3.6% (subgroups A, B, and D), and those for pAd16-BD were 100% (subgroup B) and 9.4% (subgroups A, C, and D). A commercial biotinylated product (Pathogene II) was also included in this study for comparison.

Vaccinia virus recombinants expressing an 11-kilodalton beta-galactosidase fusion protein incorporate active beta-galactosidase in virus particles

Recombinant plasmids in which vaccinia virus transcriptional regulatory sequences were fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ gene were constructed for insertion of the lacZ gene into the vaccinia virus genome. beta-Galactosidase (beta-gal) was found in some purified recombinant vaccinia virions. By enzyme activity, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and microscopic techniques, the evidence suggested that beta-gal accounted for 5% of the total protein in the virion. These recombinant viruses were constructed so that a portion of the coding sequences of a late vaccinia virus structural polypeptide was fused to the amino terminus of beta-gal to produce the fusion protein. Removal of the coding sequences resulted in the complete loss of beta-gal activity. This demonstrated that a vaccinia virus DNA segment from a late structural gene is responsible for the incorporation of beta-gal into the virion.

Quality improvement of sweet-potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) roots as feed by ensilage

1. Sweet-potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam.) strips (SPS) mixed with maize powder (CP) in proportions 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, and 7:3 were ensiled for 1, 2 or 3 months. 2. Trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) decreased during ensilage in samples of all treatments while the SPS-CP mixture (7:3, w/w) ensiled for 3 months contained the lowest TIA. 3. SPS-CP (8:2, w/w) dried or ensiled for 2 months, or ensiled for 2 months and dried, were each mixed with twice the amount of control diet (1:2, w/w) to make three diets. These three diets together with the control diet were used for a feeding experiment with rats to evaluate the nutritive value. 4. General composition analysis (including metabolizable energy), fatty acid composition and amino acid analysis (including percentage of essential amino acids) of the samples did not change during ensilage to an extent which could explain the improved performance of rats fed on ensiled diets. 5. Rats fed on diets containing dried SPS-CP (8:2, w/w) showed significantly lower (P less than 0.05) body-weight gain than rats fed on the control diet or ensiled SPS diets, at the end of the 8th week. They also showed enlargement of the pancreas. The adverse effect of SPS was associated with TIA which seemed to be prevented to some extent by ensilage. 6. The possibility that the starch of SPS may also contribute to the adverse effect cannot be excluded at present.

Lacunar syndromes due to brainstem infarct and haemorrhage

Nine patients with brainstem infarct and two with brainstem haemorrhage presented with pure motor stroke, pure supranuclear facial palsy, sensorimotor stroke or ataxic hemiparesis. Despite the clinical similarity with hemispheric lacunes, brainstem infarcts causing lacunar syndromes probably have a greater tendency to progress. Small brainstem haemorrhages should also be considered as a cause of lacunar syndromes and the difficulty in differentiating them from small infarcts without CT is emphasised.

Adenosine kinase deficiency in tritiated deoxyadenosine-resistant mouse S49 lymphoma cell lines

Mutant sublines were derived of S49 mouse T-lymphoma cells that were resistant to tritiated deoxyadenosine. Twenty-five isolates that were selected in 1 microCi/ml of the nucleoside were cross-resistant to 6-thioguanine, were sensitive to HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine), and contained less than 1% of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activity in wild-type cells. One of the mutant clones, S49-dA2, was further subjected to selection in a medium containing 2 microCi/ml tritiated deoxyadenosine and 1 microgram/ml deoxycoformycin, an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase. All resistant subclones were cross-resistant to tubercidin, 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside, and arabinosyladenine. One of the subclones, S49-12, was completely devoid of adenosine kinase and was partially deficient in deoxyadenosine kinase. This subclone, however, contained wild-type levels of deoxycytidine kinase. DEAE chromatography of the wild-type cell extracts revealed two deoxyadenosine phosphorylating activities, one of which coeluted with adenosine kinase and was the enzyme missing in S49-12. The other species phosphorylated both deoxyadenosine and deoxycytidine, of which deoxycytidine was the preferred substrate.

Scanning calorimetry reveals a new phase transition in L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine

We report a new phase transition in fully hydrated dispersions of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). This new transition, called the sub-subtransition, exhibits a transition enthalpy of 0.25 kcal/mol with a Tm at 6.8 degrees C. Unlike the subtransition, no extended low temperature incubation is required to observe the sub-subtransition. This new sub-subgel (SGII) phase may be a precursor to the subgel (SGI) phase, and this discovery is discussed in relation to the current knowledge regarding the polymorphic gel phases of both ester- and ether-linked lipids with identical acyl chains.

Characterization of the cell surface heterodimer VLA-4 and related peptides

A monoclonal antibody (B-5G10) was produced which specifically recognizes the Mr 150,000/130,000 VLA-4 complex on the surface of human cells. Cross-linking studies indicated that the Mr 150,000 alpha 4 subunit of VLA-4 is in noncovalent 1:1 association with the Mr 130,000 VLA beta subunit. In the absence of cross-linking, the VLA-4 alpha 4 beta subunit complex was easily dissociated, especially in Nonidet P-40 detergent, or at elevated pH (above 8.0). Studies of dissociated subunits showed that B-5G10 recognizes an epitope on the Mr 150,000 alpha 4 subunit of VLA-4, whereas the beta subunit is immunologically identical to the Mr 130,000 beta subunit common to all VLA heterodimers. VLA-4 is widely distributed on hematopoietic cells, including thymocytes, peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes, activated T cells, T and B lymphoblastoid cell lines, and myeloid cell lines. However, VLA-4 is only weakly expressed on most adherent cell lines tested. Immunoprecipitates of VLA-4 often contain additional proteins of Mr 80,000 and Mr 70,000. These are probably derived from the Mr 150,000 alpha 4 subunit because: 1) they are both recognized by anti-alpha 4 sera, but not anti-beta sera; 2) the sum of their sizes is equal to the size of alpha 4; 3) they are selectively coexpressed with alpha 4 and not other VLA alpha subunits; 4) the Mr 80,000 protein has an identical NH2-terminal sequence to alpha 4; 5) like alpha 4, the Mr 70,000 and 80,000 peptides can variably associate with the VLA beta subunit; and 6) trypsin appears to cleave the Mr 150,000 alpha 4 subunit into products of Mr 70,000 and 80,000.

Transient expression system to measure the efficiency of vaccinia promoter regions

A transient expression system has been developed to compare the relative efficiency of expression of various vaccinia virus DNA sequences containing transcriptional regulatory elements. A plasmid vector was constructed containing both the Escherichia coli galactokinase gene (galK) and the guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (gpt). To direct the expression of gpt within this vector, a vaccinia virus promoter region was isolated from the HindIII-F fragment of the genome and inserted 5' to gpt coding sequence. Four unique cloning sites in front of galK allow simple and precise fusion of various vaccinia virus DNA fragments that contain the regulatory site of interest to galK. Sequences containing promoter regions were ligated to the coding segment of the galK to create four recombinant plasmids, which were introduced into vaccinia virus-infected cells by transfection. Both galK and gpt were thus expressed under the control of vaccinia virus transcriptional units, and the enzymatic activities were measured in the same cell extract with a filter-binding assay. The major advantage of this transient expression system is that the variations in galK expression are always measured relative to the internal gpt standard. Changes in the galK/gpt ratio resulting from different vaccinia promoters of galK are thus a quantitative measurement of promoter strength.