Site- and strand-specific nicking in vitro at oriT by the traY-traI endonuclease of plasmid R100

We developed an in vitro system to reproduce a site- and strand-specific nicking at the oriT region of plasmid R100. The nicking reaction was dependent on the purified TraY protein and on the lysate, which was prepared from cells overproducing the TraI protein. This supports the idea that the protein products of two genes, traY and traI, constitute an endonuclease that introduces a specific nick in vivo in the oriT region of the conjugative plasmids related to R100. The products were the "complex" DNA molecules with a protein covalently linked with the 5'-end of the nick. The nick was introduced in the strand, which is supposed to be transferred to recipient cells during conjugation, and was located at the site 59 base pairs upstream of the TraY protein binding site, sbyA.

[Utility of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis of human brain tumors]

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was employed in vitro to obtain profiles of various metabolites contained in some of the representative human brain tumors. Extracted samples from each normal and tumoral tissue were used to obtain high-resolution spectra. While N-acetylaspartate was unequivocally demonstrated in normal brain tissues, it could not be detected in brain tumors. Creatine was variably reduced in brain tumors relative to that in normal brain tissue, and was undetectable in neurinomas and pituitary adenomas. Choline was present in all tumors and appeared as relatively prominent peaks in the spectra for meningiomas, pituitary adenomas and metastatic brain tumors. In contrast, levels of creatine and inositol in these tumors were low. Neurinoma showed the largest inositol peak among the tumors examined. Thus compared to normal brain tissue, creatine, choline and inositol in tumors exhibited various degrees of characteristic changes. Therefore we attempted to categorize the spectral pattern of normal and tumoral tissues based on creatine/inositol and/or choline/inositol ratios. There were statistically significant differences between either creatine/inositol ratios and choline/inositol ratios in the tumor groups and the ratios found in normal brain tissue. These ratios also varied relative to different tumor groups. These data suggested that nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy might yield clinically useful information which can not be provided by already widely used magnetic resonance imaging and might be applicable to the differential diagnosis of some brain tumors.

Hydration of fibrinogen, fibrin, and fibrin degradation product (FDP) as estimated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

The relaxation times (T1 and T2) of water proton in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) were measured with solutions containing bovine fibrinogen (Fbg), fibrin degradation products (FDP) and with fibrin-gel (Gel), at varying protein concentrations (0.7-70 mg/ml). Both T1 and T2 declined exponentially with increasing protein concentration. At a protein concentration of 35 mg/ml, the T1 of Fbg, Gel and FDP were 2.32, 2.12 and 2.82 s and the T2 values were 0.35, 0.17 and 0.70, respectively. The relaxation times for the control samples (0.2 M borate buffer) were 3.41 (T1) and 2.28 (T2). When the relaxation rates (the inverse of T1 and T2), R1 and R2 were plotted against the protein concentration, there were positive linear correlations between them. Using the slopes of the plots, the hydration value of each protein was calculated. The hydration value (g of H2O/g of protein) was 0.24 for Fbg, 0.34 for Gel and 0.14 for FDP.

Evolutionary pathways of N2 neuraminidases of swine and human influenza A viruses: origin of the neuraminidase genes of two reassortants (H1N2) isolated from pigs

The complete nucleotide sequences of the neuraminidase (NA) genes of two reassortant (H1N2) and two H3N2 influenza A viruses isolated from pigs were determined and phylogenetic relationships between these and previously reported N2 NA genes were investigated. On the basis of pairwise nucleotide sequence identity, the NA genes of two reassortants, A/sw/Kanagawa/2/78 and A/sw/Ehime/1/80, were most closely related to those of human influenza A virus strains isolated in 1972 and the earliest available swine H3N2 influenza A viruses, respectively. Phylogenetic trees showed that the NA genes can be segregated into three groups, including lineages for (i) swine strains, (ii) the earliest human strain and (iii) recent human strains. The evolutionary tree for the 11 nucleotide and amino acid sequences suggested that the NAs of A/sw/HK/4/76 and A/sw/Kanagawa/2/78 belong to the lineage for recent human viruses. In contrast, the NA genes of the A/sw/HK/3/76 and H1N2 reassortant A/sw/Ehime/1/80 viruses were found to be of a swine lineage. The swine virus NA genes were further characterized by the cocirculation of two distinct lineages. Although the rates of synonymous (silent) substitutions for the swine and human viruses were nearly identical (0.00946 to 0.00884 per site per year), the rate of non-synonymous (amino acid changing) substitutions for swine virus NA genes was about 60% of that for the human virus.

[Morphological study of human thyroid papillary carcinoma cells in collagen gel culture]

Human thyroid papillary carcinoma cells (surgical materials) were cultured in a monolayer or a collagen gel system. In the monolayer culture, degeneration and necrosis of cancer cells were observed after 10 days of culture. In the collagen gel culture, degenerative necrosis were observed 14 days culture. In histopathological observation monolayer cells proliferated in pavement-like form without forming any colony. On the contrary, collagen gel culture cells formed branching-type colonies and spheroid-type colonies. Those results suggested that papillary carcinoma cells can be cultured more like in vivo in collagen gel culture than monolayer culture.

Molecular evolution of hemagglutinin genes of H1N1 swine and human influenza A viruses

The hemagglutinin (HA) genes of influenza type A (H1N1) viruses isolated from swine were cloned into plasmid vectors and their nucleotide sequences were determined. A phylogenetic tree for the HA genes of swine and human influenza viruses was constructed by the neighbor-joining method. It showed that the divergence between swine and human HA genes might have occurred around 1905. The estimated rates of synonymous (silent) substitutions for swine and human influenza viruses were almost the same. For both viruses, the rate of synonymous substitution was much higher than that of nonsynonymous (amino acid altering) substitution. It is the case even for only the antigenic sites of the HA. This feature is consistent with the neutral theory of molecular evolution. The rate of nonsynonymous substitution for human influenza viruses was three times the rate for swine influenza viruses. In particular, nonsynonymous substitutions at antigenic sites occurred less frequently in swine than in humans. The difference in the rate of nonsynonymous substitution between swine and human influenza viruses can be explained by the different degrees of functional constraint operating on the amino acid sequence of the HA in both hosts.

Distinct gelation mechanism between linear and branched (1--3)- beta-D-glucans as revealed by high resolution solid state 13C NMR

We have recorded high-resolution 13C-NMR spectra of linear (curdlan) and branched (lentinan, HA-beta-glucan and its polyol and aldehyde derivatives) (1----3)-beta-D-glucans in hydrate and gel states, in order to gain insight into their gelation mechanism. Network structure of curdlan turned out to be highly heterogeneous from its motional state, from liquid-like, through intermediate, to solid-like domains. They are studied by a variety of experiments, conventional high-resolution NMR by broad-band decoupling, high-power decoupling with magic angle spinning (MAS), and cross-polarization-magic-angle-spinning (CP-MAS). Nevertheless, we found that conformations of these distinct liquid-like and solid-like domains exhibit an identical single helix conformation with a small proportion of a triple helix form, supporting our previous view as to the gelation mechanism. In contrast, the network structure of branched (1----3)-beta-D-glucans in the gel state arises mainly from the triple helix conformation. This means that gelation of branched (1----3)-beta-D-glucan proceeds from partial association of the triple helical chains, previously proposed for gelation of a linear glucan. Furthermore, we found that conversion from the single chain to the single helix was not achieved readily by hydration of over 8 h at 96% R.H. for branched glucan but the triple helix form is obtained when these samples are hydrated fully as in gel state.

Development of a new type of influenza subunit vaccine made by muramyldipeptide-liposome: enhancement of humoral and cellular immune responses

The muramyldipeptide (MDP), [6-O-(2-tetradecyl-hexa-decanoyl)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-isoglutamine] can be incorporated into liposomes with haemagglutinin and neuraminidase subunits were attached to the inner and outer surfaces of lamellar structures of the liposomes, probably through their hydrophobic ends. The addition of cholesterol resulted in much more stable liposomes, which were similar in size and shape to native influenza virus particles. These liposomes enhanced the immunogenicity of haemagglutinin in mice, such that the levels of antibody induced were about 16-fold higher than those of subunit haemagglutinin vaccine alone. Results of proliferation tests with spleen cells from mice and guinea-pigs were consistent with the immunopotentiation of haemagglutinin by liposomes. In addition, the higher antibody levels produced in mice, immunized with the haemagglutinin and MDP-containing liposomes (MDP-virosomes), were maintained for at least 6 months. Enhancement of the cellular immune response, measured by delayed type hypersensitivity reactions, was also observed in the guinea-pigs immunized with MDP-virosome vaccine. Preliminary tests with splenocytes from mice immunized with different vaccines also indicated that the MDP-virosome vaccine induced cytotoxic T-cell activity in these mice. This study revealed that the formation of liposomes with muramyldipeptide enhanced the level and persistence of circulating antibody, and enhanced cellular immunity in guinea-pigs and mice.

[The method of fixation of intra-aortic balloon catheter in the iliac artery without sheath introducer]

This paper showed the procedure of fixation of intra-aortic balloon without sheath. For this purpose, we found to use Implantaid Lead Introducer (peel away type). This introducer can be removed from balloon catheter after insertion into iliac artery. Consequently, the incidence of thromboembolism of iliac artery and complications such as myonephropathic metabolic syndrome may be decreased.

Nucleotide sequence of the promoter-distal region of the tra operon of plasmid R100, including traI (DNA helicase I) and traD genes

The nucleotide sequence of the promoter-distal region of the tra operon of R100 was determined. There are five open reading frames in the region between traT and finO, and their protein products were identified. Nucleotide sequences of plasmid F corresponding to the junction regions among the open reading frames seen in R100 were also determined. Comparison of these nucleotide sequences revealed strong homology in the regions containing traD, traI and an open reading frame (named orfD). The TraD protein (83,899 Da) contains three hydrophobic regions, of which two are located near the amino-terminal region. This protein also contains a possible ATP-binding consensus sequence at the amino-terminal region and a characteristic repeated peptide sequence (Gln-Gln-Pro)10 at the carboxy-terminal region. The TraI protein (191,679 Da) contains the sequence motif conserved in an ATP-dependent DNA helicase superfamily in its carboxy-terminal region. The protein product of orfD, which is probably a new tra gene (named traX), contains 65% hydrophobic amino acids, especially rich in alanine and leucine. There exist non-homologous regions between R100 and F that could be represented as four I-D (insertion or deletion) loops in heteroduplex molecules. Assignment of each loop to the strand of R100 or F was , however, found to be the reverse from that previously assumed. The three I-D loops that were located between traT and traD, between traD and traI, and between traI and finO had no terminal inverted repeat sequences nor had they any homology with known insertion sequences, while the fourth was IS3, located within the finO gene of F. The sequences in the I-D loops, except IS3, may also code for proteins that are, however, likely to be nonessential for transfer of plasmids.

Bilaterally persistent sciatic arteries

A very rare developmental anomaly showing bilaterally persistent sciatic arteries was found in a cadaver of 89 year old female. Both right and left sciatic arteries arose from the internal iliac arteries and appeared between the piriformis and superior gemellus muscles at the buttock, being about 10 mm in diameter. Each artery, which accompanied by the companion vein, i.e. sciatic vein, sent the branches to the gluteus maximus and the flexor muscles of thigh. On the other hand, the femoral arteries of both lower limbs were smaller than usual, measuring 4.7 mm in left and 5.2 mm in right. The terminal vessels of those were joined to the sciatic arteries at the popliteal fossa. In addition, the present case also had another developmental anomaly, i.e. superficial brachial artery in the right upper limb.

Automated exchange transfusion and exchange rate

An automated blood exchange transfusion (BET) with a two-site technique has been devised by Goldmann et al and by us, using an infusion pump. With this method, we successfully performed exchange transfusions 189 times in the past four years on 110 infants with birth weights ranging from 530 g to 4,000 g. The exchange rate by the automated method was compared with the rate by Diamond's method. Serum bilirubin (SB) levels before and after BET and the maximal SB rebound within 24 hours after BET were: 21.6 +/- 2.4, 11.5 +/- 2.2, and 15.0 +/- 1.5 mg/dl in the automated method, and 22.0 +/- 2.9, 11.2 +/- 2.5, and 17.7 +/- 3.2 mg/dl in Diamond's method, respectively. The result showed that the maximal rebound of the SB level within 24 hours after BET was significantly lower in the automated method than in Diamond's method (p less than 0.01), though SB levels before and after BET were not significantly different between the two methods. The exchange rate was also measured by means of staining the fetal red cells (F cells) both in the automated method and in Diamond's method, and comparing them. The exchange rate of F cells in Diamond's method went down along the theoretical exchange curve proposed by Diamond, while the rate in the automated method was significantly better than in Diamond's, especially in the early stage of BET (p less than 0.01). We believe that the use of this automated method may give better results than Diamond's method in the rate of exchange, because this method is performed with a two-site technique using a peripheral artery and vein.

The position of the disulfide bonds in human plasma alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein and the repeating double disulfide bonds in the domain structure

The positions of the inter- and intra-chain disulfide bonds of human plasma alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein were determined. alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein was digested with acid proteinase and then with thermolysin. The disulfide bonds containing peptides were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and detected by SBD-F (7-fluorobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diasole-4-sulfonic acid ammonium salt) method. One inter-disulfide bond containing peptide and five intra-disulfide bond containing peptides (A-chain) were purified and identified as Cys-18 (B-chain)--Cys-14 (A-chain), Cys-71--Cys-82, Cys-96--Cys-114, Cys-128--Cys-131, Cys-190--Cys-201 and Cys-212--Cys-229, respectively. The location of the intra-disulfide bonds revealed that the A-chain of alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein is composed of three domains. Two domains were shown to possess intramolecular homology judging from the total chain length of the domains, size of the loops formed by the S--S bonds, the location of two disulfide loops near the C-terminal end of domains A and B, the distance between two S--S bonds of each domain, the amino acid sequence homology between these two domains (22.6%), number of amino acid residues between the second S--S loops and the end of domains A and B, and the positions of the ordered structures.

Platelet activating factor antagonists: synthesis and structure-activity studies of novel PAF analogues modified in the phosphorylcholine moiety

New analogues of platelet activating factor (PAF), in which the phosphate and trimethylammonium moieties were replaced with an acylcarbamoyl moiety and a quaternary cyclic ammonium group, were synthesized. Their biological activities as PAF antagonists were evaluated by the inhibition of PAF-induced rabbit platelet aggregation in vitro and protective effects on PAF-induced hypotension in rats and PAF-induced death in mice. Investigation of structure-activity relationships revealed that PAF antagonist activity is strongly influenced by the acyl substituent of the nitrogen atom on the carbamoyl group and the nature of the polar head group at the 3-position of the glycerin backbone. Among the compounds tested, 2-[[N-acetyl-N-[[2-methoxy-3-[ (octadecylcarbamoyl)oxy]propoxy]-carbonyl]amino] methyl]-1-ethylpyridinium chloride (21, CV-6209) was one of the most potent compounds in the in vitro assay (IC50 = 7.5 X 10(-8) M) and the most potent and long-lasting in the in vivo assays. (R)-(-)-21 and (S)-(+)-21 were also synthesized, and no significant differences were observed in PAF antagonist activity in vitro and an inhibitory effect on PAF induced hypotension in vivo between (RS)-21 and its enantiomers.

Alignment of the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint: important criteria for a new joint replacement

Joint replacement is one of many options for the treatment of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. Studies of the geometry of that joint have shown that it consists of two distinct articulations, the metatarsophalangeal and the MT-sesamoidal. Both are important, but the MT-sesamoidal tolerates only small deviations from an ideal alignment. The aim of this study was to investigate the alignment of the first MTP joint of a potential patient population, in order to design an optimal surface replacement. One measurement, the extension angle between the MT and the proximal phalanx was found to be the most important alignment criterion for the successful design of an implant and the necessary instruments. This angle controls the delicate interplay between the metatarsal head and the sesamoids and tolerates only small deviations from the normal range before the chance of sesamoidal subluxation increases significantly. The pre-operative knowledge of this and other alignment criteria is important for the ideal placement of an anatomical implant.

Tibial anatomy and functional axes

Articular geometry of the tibia has been studied in relation to the functional axis and extra-articular bone landmarks, using a Cartesian coordinate system. Thirty-one cadaver limbs were used, 26 of them paired. The donor age range was 61 to 89 years (17 females, 14 males), none of whom showed evidence of significant arthritic deterioration. Most linear parameters were greater in males than females (p less than 0.005), and correlations between these parameters were noted, e.g., tibial length versus plateau width (r = 0.7, p less than 0.01) with both genders combined. Gender differences occurred in only two of the angular parameters--tibial torsion (p less than 0.025) and foot rotation (p less than 0.005). For the latter, mean rotation was internal (-5 degrees) for males, and external (11 degrees) for females. No correlations between angular parameters were found. In the paired limbs, there was asymmetrical distribution of just two parameters--varus tilt of the tibial plateau margins (p less than 0.005) and lateral deviation of the tuberosity (p less than 0.025). The data complement a previous report on the femur. These studies are relevant to the kinematics of the lower limb, design and sizing of resurfacing components, and possibly to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Difference in growth behavior of human, swine, equine, and avian influenza viruses at a high temperature

Growth characteristics of a wide range of influenza A viruses from different mammals and bird species were examined in an established line of canine kidney (MDCK) cells at an ordinary (37 degrees C) and a high temperature (42 degrees C). Although all viruses employed in the present study possessed a capability of replicating at 37 degrees C, virus growth at 42 degrees C showed considerable variation and reflected differences in the natural hosts of the isolates. All reference strains and isolates from bird species grew well in the MDCK cells maintained at 42 degrees C, but human viruses did not, showing an asymmetrical growth behavior. In contrast to this, growth of swine and equine viruses showed growth characteristics intermediate between human and avian viruses. Of the two swine viruses examined, replication of one strain occurred equally well at both temperatures and another failed to grow at 42 degrees C. Similarly, two of the three equine viruses tested belonging to H3N8 antigenic subtypes grew at 42 degrees C. However, the results obtained from comparison of plaque sizes and growth curves indicated that the replication of the above swine and equine viruses was restricted under a stringent temperature when compared to avian viruses. The detailed analysis of cloned viruses revealed that some of the swine and equine viruses contained two variants which are readily distinguished by growth behavior at 42 degrees C. Genome analysis of parental and virus clones by oligonucleotide mapping and migration profiles of RNA segments did not detect any differences among the above variants exhibiting the asymmetrical growth characteristics at 42 degrees C.

Identification and characterization of the products from the traJ and traY genes of plasmid R100

The nucleotide sequence of part of the tra region of R100 including traJ and traY was determined, and the products of several tra genes were identified. The nucleotide sequence of traJ, encoding a protein of 223 amino acids, showed poor homology with the corresponding segments of other plasmids related to R100, but the deduced amino acid sequences showed low but significant homology. The first four amino acids at the N-terminal region of the TraJ protein were not essential for positive regulation of expression of traY, the first gene of the traYZ operon. The nucleotide sequence of traY shows that this gene may use TTG as the initiation codon and that it encodes a protein of 75 amino acids. Analysis of the traY gene product, which was obtained as the fusion protein with beta-galactosidase, showed that the N-terminal region of the product has an amino acid sequence identical to that deduced from the assigned frame but lacks formylmethionine. traY of plasmid F, which encodes a larger protein than the TraY protein of R100, is thought to use ATG as an initiation codon. However, a TTG initiation codon was found in the preceding region of the previously assigned traY coding frame of F. Interestingly, when translation of traY of F was initiated from TTG, the amino acid sequence homologous to the TraY protein of R100 appeared in tandem in the TraY protein of F. This may suggest that traY of F has undergone duplication of a gene like the traY gene of R100.

Geometry of the first metatarsophalangeal joint

This study aimed to define the articular geometry of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint of the great toe. Embedded in resin blocks, five pairs of cadaveric first MTP joints (all from men) were sequentially cut in the sagittal plane with a milling machine, removing 0.5 mm of bone in each cut. The photographed cartilaginous outline of each cut was digitized against reference markers, which enabled a computer system to superimpose each outline in three dimensions. The intersesamoidal ridge was found to be parallel to the lateral shaft. The peak of the ridge was just lateral to the midline of the MT head. The articular outline, through the ridge of each sample, was circular; however, other surface contours were noncircular. The undulating plantar aspect of the MTP head formed by the intersesamoidal ridge and related grooves was found to have symmetric relationships to the sesamoid bones and a consistent orientation to the shaft. The rounded distal dorsal aspect of the MTP head showed consistent differences to the concavity formed by the phalangeal base. The sample size is too small for the sizing of prostheses but it is adequate to study the geometry of the MTP joint. More data are needed for the accurate replication of a resurfacing prosthesis and understanding of joint kinematics.

The moment of intraventricular hemorrhage

A continuous monitoring of the germinal layer by linear scanning ultrasound has been proposed for the purpose of ascertaining the moment of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Using a VHS videotape, we performed the 48 hours monitoring in 7 immature infants weighing less than 1,000 g who required respiratory support. Four cases of these developed IVH. In one case, which was 755 g in birth weight and 24 weeks in gestational age, the moment of IVH was successfully demonstrated on the ultrasonic monitor. At that moment, there were no significant changes in heart rate and systemic blood pressure. No direct manipulation or treatment, such as an endotracheal suctioning or a heel puncture which might induce a blood pressure fluctuation, was being given at the moment of IVH. About 15 minutes after the episode, abnormal seizure-like movement periodically developed.

Exercise-induced changes in branched chain amino acid/aromatic amino acid ratio in the rat brain and plasma

Central fatigue was induced by running rats on a treadmill. Amino acid and ammonia metabolism in the brain and blood were followed with time to correlate its changes with physical exhaustion. The blood ammonia level did not change during running, but was prominently increased at exhaustion. The brain level of ammonia was also prominently high at the end of exercise with a time course of change similar to that of the blood level. Plasma concentrations of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and aromatic amino acids (AAA) increased as the animals continued to run; however, the plasma BCAA/AAA ratio was definitely depressed at exhaustion. This was also true with the brain BCAA/AAA ratio. A positive correlation was demonstrated between the plasma and brain BCAA/AAA ratios at r=0.5040 and P less than 0.05. These exercise-related changes suggest that physical exercise-induced central fatigue involves not only an increase in brain ammonia, but also a disturbance in brain amine metabolism accompanying plasma and brain BCAA/AAA ratio depression. Furthermore, the ammonia level and BCAA/AAA ratio in the brain correlated with those in the blood. It is reasonable to consider that the blood ammonia concentration and plasma BCAA/AAA ratio may serve as important indices of the clinical condition of exercise-induced central fatigue.

Autoimmunity and chondrolysis of the hip. A report of two cases

Two patients with rapidly progressive chondrolysis of the hip are reported. Immunofluorescent staining showed deposits of immunoglobulins and complement components in the synovium and the remaining femoral head cartilage. Seven patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, or femoral neck fractures, were used as controls and all had a negative immunofluorescent staining reaction in the synovium. We suggest that an autoimmune reaction against articular cartilage antigens may play a role in the development of chondrolysis.

[Early gastric cancer associated with ectopic gastric mucosa (submucosal cysts)]

A 72 year-old man visited our hospital complaining of anorexia and hungry epigastric pain. Gastroscopy and upper G-I series examination established the diagnosis of double gastric cancers. Total gastrectomy, R2 lymphadenectomy and beta anastomosis were performed. The type IIc early cancer lesion at the pyloric vestibule was sm in depth and revealed a histological pattern of tubular adenocarcinoma. The multiple lesions on the anterior and posterior walls of the lesser curvature were a cluster of submucosal cysts, and were partially accompanied by signet-ring cell carcinoma having the depth m. The two lesions were histologically isolated without continuity, and the histology progress was PoHoeta (-) ps(-), Stage I, aw(-), ow(-). Postoperative course was uneventful. Though multiple diffuse ectopic gastric mucosa is seemed to be benign submucosal tumor of the stomach, occasional co-existence of cancer has been frequently reported. Even if the results of gastroscopy and upper G-I series results are negative, there is always a possible risk of overlooking a small cancerous focus. On detecting ectopic gastric mucosa, immediate and thorough resection seems desirable, especially when accompanied by cancer. The pathogenesis of multiple diffuse ectopic gastric mucosa has remained controversial and has been explained by the theory of either congenital or acquired aberration. From the histological findings, the pathogenesis of this case could not be determined.

The anatomy and functional axes of the femur

Linear and angular measurements were made on thirty-two cadaveric femora with respect to the mechanical (functional) axes of the bone. The long axis was defined as a line from the center of the femoral head to the anterolateral attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament. The transverse axis was defined as a line through the posterior cruciate ligament parallel to the line connecting each epicondyle. The condylar width, the length of each interepicondylar line, correlated well with depth, but the projections of the condyles from the transverse plane revealed significant variations from specimen to specimen. Considerable variation also was found between femora in terms of angular dimensions (that is, the angle of anteversion and the neck-shaft angle proximally, and the valgus angle of the femoral shaft distally). Considerable interspecimen variation in the angles between the transcondylar plane and the femoral center, in accord with the valgus angle of the femoral shaft distally, was also noted. The mean transcondylar valgus angle (described as the tangent of the condyles to the perpendicular of the long axis) was 3.8 degrees. In contrast, little variation among specimens was noted for the angle made by the shaft and the long axis.

Repressor gene finO in plasmids R100 and F: constitutive transfer of plasmid F is caused by insertion of IS3 into F finO

Fertility factor F confers bacterial conjugation, a process which involves at least 20 tra genes. Resistance plasmids such as R100, R6-5, and R1 have homology with F in the tra region. Conjugal transfer of these plasmids is, however, repressed, while transfer of F is constitutive. Repression of R transfer is due to the existence of the two genes, called finO and finP; constitutive transfer of F is believed to be due to a lack of finO in F. In this paper, we report the identification and DNA sequence of the finO gene of R100, encoding a protein of 21,265 daltons. We show that F does actually encode finO, but the gene has been inactivated by insertion of IS3. Lederberg and Tatum (Nature [London] 158:558, 1946), who discovered sexuality in bacteria, may have had an Escherichia coli K-12 strain harboring such an finO F factor, which facilitated the generation of recombinant progeny useful for genetic analysis of bacteria and established the foundation for molecular genetics.

Femoral anteversion: assessment based on function axes

This study describes a clinically oriented anatomical assessment of anteversion on 32 cadavers ranging from 61 to 89 years. The method used a three-dimensional reference system based on functional axes of the femur. Each soft tissue-free femur was mounted on an osteometric table and aligned to its functional axes. The long axes were defined as passing from the centre of the femoral head to the femoral attachment of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL). A line that ran through the PCL attachment (equal distal origin of this system) and was parallel to a transepicondylar line served as transverse axis. Anteversion of the femur was defined as an angle formed to the transverse axis by a line running through the centre of the femoral head through the midpoint of the narrowest segment of the femoral neck. The measurement mean for anteversion among these specimens was 7.4 degrees with a range from -10.8 degrees (retroversion) to 22.1 degrees. There was no statistical difference in mean values (p less than 0.05) between sexes or between right and left sides of the group; however, there were large variations for anteversions when each side in the same individual was compared (although there was no dominant side). Retroversions were observed in four of 32 femurs (12.5%). No correlation was found between the anteversion in these femurs and rotational geometry at the knee. We compared our data with those obtained by conventional techniques, by which anteversion for each femur was measured after the bone had been placed on a flat surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characterization of the gene products produced in minicells by pSM1, a derivative of R100

At least ten polypeptides larger than 6 kilodaltons (K) are produced in minicells from the miniplasmid pSM1 in vivo. pSM1 (5804 bp) is a small derivative of the drug resistance plasmid R100 (ca. 90 kb) and carries the R100 essential replication region as well as some non-essential functions. Cloned restriction fragments of pSM1 and plasmids with deletions within pSM1 sequences were used to assign eight of the ten observed polypeptides to specific coding regions of pSM1. Two of these polypeptides were identified as RepA1 and RepA2, proteins encoded by the essential replication region of pSM1/R100. The nucleotide sequence consisting of 885 bp outside the essential replication region is presented here. This sequence contains an open reading frame, orf4, for a protein 22.9 K in size, and one of the pSM1-encoded polypeptides was identified as the orf4 gene product. Five additional polypeptides were shown to be the products of other open reading frames mapping outside the essential replication region. Specific functions have been assigned to four of these polypeptides and tentatively to the fifth.

Double orifice mitral valve associated with endocardial cushion defect

Duplication of the mitral valve is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly. We encountered a case of duplication of the mitral valve associated with a partial form of endocardial cushion defect in a 6-year-old girl. The mitral orifice was separated by a fibrous tissue and each orifice provided papillary muscle and complete subvalvular mechanisms except for the cleft region. The fibrous tissue also provided a subvalvular apparatus. The cleft was repaired without complication. The short axis view of the two-dimensional echocardiogram demonstrated two separate holes in the mitral valve, which constituted the most obvious diagnostic sign prior to surgery.

The complete amino acid sequence of the A-chain of human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein

Normal human plasma alpha 2HS-glycoprotein has earlier been shown to be comprised of two polypeptide chains. Recently, the amino acid and carbohydrate sequences of the short chain were elucidated (Gejyo, F., Chang, J.-L., Bürgi, W., Schmid, K., Offner, G. D., Troxler, R.F., van Halbeck, H., Dorland, L., Gerwig, G. J., and Vliegenthart, J.F.G. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 4966-4971). In the present study, the amino acid sequence of the long chain of this protein, designated A-chain, was determined and found to consist of 282 amino acid residues. Twenty-four amino acid doublets were found; the most abundant of these are Pro-Pro and Ala-Ala which each occur five times. Of particular interest is the presence of three Gly-X-Pro and one Gly-Pro-X sequences that are characteristic of the repeating sequences of collagens. Chou-Fasman evaluation of the secondary structure suggested that the A-chain contains 29% alpha-helix, 24% beta-pleated sheet, and 26% reverse turns and, thus, approximately 80% of the polypeptide chain may display ordered structure. Four glycosylation sites were identified. The two N-glycosidic oligosaccharides were found in the center region (residues 138 and 158), whereas the two O-glycosidic heterosaccharides, both linked to threonine (residues 238 and 252), occur within the carboxyl-terminal region. The N-glycans are linked to Asn residues in beta-turns, while the O-glycans are located in short random segments. Comparison of the sequence of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal 30 residues with protein sequences in a data bank demonstrated that the A-chain is not significantly related to any known proteins. However, the proline-rich carboxyl-terminal region of the A-chain displays some sequence similarity to collagens and the collagen-like domains of complement subcomponent C1q.

Characteristics of a swine recombinant influenza virus isolated in 1980: recombination between swine and the earliest Hong Kong (H3N2) viruses

A recombinant (H1N2, formerly Hsw1N2), A/swine/Ehime/1/80 was found to possess antigenic biological and genomic characteristics different from those of a previous A/swine/Kanagawa/2/78 (H1N2) strain. Five monoclonal antibodies to A/NJ/8/76 differentiated the haemagglutinin molecules of the former virus from the latter, showing that these viruses differed at two-antigenic determinants at least. Immuno-double diffusion tests with antisera to the isolated neuraminidase and neuraminidase-inhibition tests with monoclonal antibodies to different H2N2 and H3N2 viruses revealed that A/swine/Ehime/1/80 strain contained a neuraminidase subunit very similar to that of late human Asian (H2N2) and the earliest Hong Kong (H3N2) viruses. RNA analysis by oligonucleotide mapping suggested that A/swine/Ehime/1/80 may be a recombinant between A/swine/Shizuoka/1/78-like and A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2)-like viruses. To determine further the gene constellation of this recombinant virus, DNA-RNA hybridizations were performed using DNA segments complementary for swine (H1N1) virus RNA and the entire RNA of three viruses. The molecular hybridization could define the genomic composition of the recombinant, indicating that only the neuraminidase gene of this virus is derived from the earliest Hong Kong (H3N2)-like virus and remaining seven genes are derived from swine (H1N1) virus.

Characterization of a 1980-swine recombinant influenza virus possessing H1 hemagglutinin and N2 neuraminidase similar to that of the earliest Hong Kong (H3N2) virus

A recombinant (H1N2, formerly Hsw 1N2), A/swine/Ehime/1/80 was found to possess antigenic, biological and genomic characteristics different from those of a previous A/swine/Kanagawa/2/78 (H1N2) strain. Five monoclonal antibodies to A/NJ/8/76 definitely differentiated the hemagglutinin molecules of the former virus from the latter, showing that these viruses differed, at least, at two antigenic determinants. Neuraminidase-inhibition tests with monoclonal antibodies to different H2N2 and H3N2 viruses revealed that the A/swine/Ehime/1/80 strain contained a neuraminidase very similar to that of the late human Asian (H2N2) and the earliest Hong Kong (H3N2) viruses. Growth comparison of swine and human isolates indicated that A/swine/Ehime/1/80 and A/swine/Shizuoka/1/78 (H1N1) failed to grow at 42 degrees C, while A/swine/Kanagawa/2/78 and its possible parental virus, A/swine/Kanagawa/4/78 (H1N1) replicated efficiently at this stringent temperature. These results revealed that the viruses having growth characteristics similar to those of avian influenza virus were present in the swine population. RNA analysis by oligonucleotide mapping suggested that A/swine/Ehime/1/80 may be a recombinant between A/swine/Shizuoka/1/78-like and A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2)-like viruses. To further determine the gene constellation of this recombinant virus, DNA-RNA hybridization was performed by using DNA segments complementary for swine (H1N1) virus RNA and the entire RNAs of three viruses. The molecular hybridization could define the genomic composition of the recombinant, indicating that only the neuraminidase gene of this virus is derived from the earliest Hong Kong (H3N2)-like virus and remaining seven genes from swine (H1N1) virus.

Antitumor polysaccharides from P. ostreatus (Fr.) Quél.: isolation and structure of a beta-glucan

We isolated an antitumor glucan (HA beta-glucan) from the neutral polysaccharide fraction (A3) of a hot-water extract of the edible mushroom P. ostreatus (Fr.) Quél. Purification was accomplished by extractions with 20% sodium chloride solution saturated with thymol and by precipitations with ethanol from dimethyl sulfoxide solution. The glucan showed marked antitumor activity at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. It is a highly branched (1----3)-beta-glucan having an average structure represented by a pentasaccharide segment consisting of one nonreducing terminal, one 3,6-di-O-substituted, and three 3-mono-O-substituted beta-D-glucopyranosyl residues. This structure was confirmed by examining 13C-n.m.r. spectra taken at 75.46 MHz.

The amino acid sequence of human beta-microseminoprotein

The complete amino acid sequence of beta-microseminoprotein of human seminal plasma was determined by automated Edman degradation of the protein and peptides which were obtained by enzymatic cleavage with trypsin, chymotrypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 proteinase. The carboxyl-terminal sequence of the protein was established with the aid of carboxypeptidase A. The amino acid sequence of this protein proved to be as follows: (sequence; see text) Thus, beta-microseminoprotein consisting of 93 amino acid residues has a molecular mass of 10 652 Da. The linear structure of this protein represents the first complete amino acid sequence of a sperm-coating protein specific to human seminal plasma.