Survey of a receptor protein in human erythrocytes for hemagglutinin of Porphyromonas gingivalis

The purpose of this study is to survey a receptor protein in human erythrocyte membrane for the hemagglutinin (HA) of Porphyromonas gingivalis. Human erythrocytes were modified by either chymotrypsin or P. gingivalis HA along with the disappearance of their hemagglutinating ability and the removal of the band 3 protein. By preparative electrophoresis, this protein was isolated and purified from human erythrocytes. The purified protein showed strong inhibitory activity for hemagglutination and the binding to P. gingivalis cells, whose binding sites were calculated to be approximately 9000, suggesting its binding to the active site of HA. Hemagglutinin purified from P. gingivalis by affinity absorption to sheep erythrocyte ghosts possessed strong trypsin-like activity, and both the HA and the enzyme activities were inhibited by arginine. Specific modification of arginyl residues in human erythrocytes by phenylglyoxal diminished the hemagglutinating ability. From the similarity of the inhibition profile and possible active sites between HA and the trypsin-like protease, it is suggested that hemagglutination may occur as a result of the primary reaction of the enzyme (protease) and the substrate. These results suggest that band 3 may be a key protein in human erythrocyte membrane for HA from P. gingivalis and its binding sites may be arginyl residues of the protein.

[Possible mechanisms of inositol phosphate-diacylglycerol signalling pathway in the regulation of intraocular pressure]

To clarify the role of the inositol phosphate diacylglycerol (IP/DAG) signalling pathway in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP), the effect of tumor promoter phorbol ester (PMA) and Ca ionophore (A23187) on IOP responses was examined in albino rabbits. PMA stimulates protein kinase C (PKC) directly and A23187 elevates intracellular Ca2+ concentration. In this study, the topical application of 10 microM PMA or 15 microM A23187 slightly reduced IOP. However topical application of both 10 microM PMA and 15 microM A23187 significantly reduced IOP. The maximum IOP decrease was 5.0 mmHg. This decrease was inhibited by pretreatment with 0.5 microM staurosporin, a PKC inhibitor. Quantitative changes of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and PKC activity in cultured ciliary epithelia (CE), stimulated with several ocular hypotensive agents were also studied. When cultured CE was stimulated with 50 microM carbachol, the PKC activity and IP3 content rapidly increased. When CE was stimulated with 50 microM epinephrine, isoproterenol or timolol, PKC activity did not show any change and IP3 level declined. These studies suggest that the IP/DAG signalling pathway somehow mediates aqueous dynamic changes in ciliary epithelia.

Structural organization of the gene for prostaglandin D synthase in the rat brain

A 3-kilobase-pair gene for rat brain prostaglandin D synthase [(5Z,13E)-(15S)-9 alpha,11 alpha-epidoxy-15-hydroxyprosta-5,13- dienoate D-isomerase, EC 5.3.99.2], which belongs to the lipocalin family, was isolated from a rat genomic DNA library by plaque hybridization with the cDNA for the enzyme. The gene contains seven exons, and all the splice donor and acceptor sites conform to the GT/AG rule. Transcription initiates at a guanine residue 39 base pairs upstream of the translation initiation codon, as determined by primer-extension analysis of rat brain mRNA. The 5'-flanking region of the gene lacks typical transcriptional regulatory sequences, such as TATA and CAAT boxes, but contains several sets of inverted repeats, direct repeats, and sequences resembling the transcriptional factor Sp1-binding site. The gene structure of prostaglandin D synthase is remarkably analogous to those of other lipocalins, such as beta-lactoglobulin, alpha 2-urinary globulin, placental protein 14, and alpha 1-microglobulin, in terms of number and sizes of exons and phase of splicing of introns. Furthermore, in a multiple alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences, positions of exon/intron junction of the prostaglandin D synthase gene are highly conserved and located around the positions of those of the genes for other lipocalins despite a weak homology.

A marked molecular heterogeneity of growth hormone (GH) detected in the plasma but not pituitary of a patient with acromegaly: comparison with other acromegalics and an implication for discrepant plasma levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor

We experienced a 41-year-old acromegalic male (Case 1) in whom the basal plasma GH was extremely high (320-450 ng/mL) but plasma IGF-I was only slightly elevated (2.0-2.8 U/mL). His nutritional condition and associated diabetes mellitus did not appear to be responsible for the relatively low IGF-I level, and a GH-autoantibody in the plasma was absent. We thus performed gel filtration analyses of his plasma and somatotroph adenoma to determine elution patterns of immunoreactive (IR) and receptor active (RA) GH. For comparison, the same studies were carried out on plasmas and somatotroph adenomas obtained from three other acromegalics (Cases 2-4) whose basal plasma GH and IGF-I levels were 22-45 ng/mL and 3.5-6.0 U/mL, respectively. IR GH in Case 1's plasma distributed over an extremely wide range keeping similar titers rather than showing three discernible components (big-big, big, and little GH) as did plasmas and adenomas from Cases 2-4. And, most of the IR GH in Case 1's plasma was eluted in such fractions that contained low levels of RA GH, indicating a minor proportion of biologically active GH. However, interestingly, the chromatographic profile and total GH content of Case 1's adenoma were similar to those of Cases 2-4's adenomas. These results may, at least in part, explain the discrepancy between the plasma GH and IGF-I levels of Case 1. The unexpectedly different GH elution patterns between the plasma and adenoma from this patient, may suggest a contribution of certain plasma factor(s) to the unusual chromatographic profile of plasma GH.

Eosinophilia associated with chronic pancreatitis: an analysis of 122 patients with definite chronic pancreatitis

Among 122 patients with chronic pancreatitis, marked eosinophilia (greater than 500 eosinophils/mm3 in the peripheral blood) was observed in 21 cases (17.2%). All of the affected patients were males, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of eosinophilia between patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic pancreatitis. In the patients with eosinophilia, endocrine pancreatic function was maintained comparatively well, despite marked exocrine pancreatic dysfunction. The eosinophilia of chronic pancreatitis frequently developed in association with severe damage to neighboring organs (pleural effusion, pericarditis, and ascites), as well as in association with pancreatic pseudocyst. Our findings suggest that there is a close correlation between marked eosinophilia and severe tissue injury during acute exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis.

Biological potency of a fluorinated vitamin D analogue in hypoparathyroidism

Several in vivo experiments have revealed that a synthesized fluorinated analogue of vitamin D, 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1,25(OH)2D3) has a higher and longer-lasting biological activity than 1,25(OH)2D3 in calcium regulating actions. We evaluated the biological potency and the availability for clinical use of this compound in hypocalcemia associated with hypoparathyroidism. In an experimental setting, daily administration of 650 pmol/kg of 26,27-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 showed an equivalent effect to that of 3250 pmol/kg of 1,25(OH)2D3 in elevating whole blood ionized calcium levels in parathyroidectomized rats. Furthermore, an additional clinical study demonstrated that 0.5-1.5 micrograms/day of 26,27-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 were considered adequate maintenance doses in various types of hypoparathyroidism and that changes of medication to the same doses of 1,25(OH)2D3 resulted in prompt decline of urinary calcium excretion and of whole blood ionized calcium levels, and in recurrence of symptoms related to hypocalcemia. Although the mechanism responsible for the high potency of this analogue remains unclear, our experience confirms that 26,27-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 has higher biological activities in bone calcium mobilization and is more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 in correcting hypocalcemia of hypoparathyroidism in a hospital setting.

Surface electromyogram spectral characterization and motor unit activity during voluntary ramp contraction in men

The relationships were investigated between the surface electromyographic (SEMG) power spectrum analysed by the 20 order autoregressive model (AR spectrum) and underlying motor unit (MU) activity during isometric contractions increasing linearly from 0% to 80% maximal voluntary contraction. Intramuscular spikes and SEMG signals were recorded simultaneously from biceps brachii muscle; the former were analysed by a computer-aided intramuscular MU spike amplitude-frequency (ISAF) histogram and the latter subjected to AR spectral analysis. Results indicated that there was a positive correlation between the force output and the mean amplitude of the ISAF histogram but not with the mean frequency. These changes were accompanied by changes in relative power of the high frequency (100-200 Hz) peak (HL) in the AR spectrum. It was also found that there was a positive correlation between the mean amplitude of the ISAF histogram and the HL value. These data suggested that the power of the high frequency peak in the AR spectrum of the SEMG signal preferentially reflected the progressive recruitment of underlying MU according to their size. Differences between the AR spectrum and the spectrum estimated by fast Fourier transform algorithm have also been discussed.

An additional homolog of the fission yeast cdc25+ gene occurs in humans and is highly expressed in some cancer cells

The gene cdc25+ is a mitotic inducer controlling transition from the G2 to the M phase of the cell cycle in the fission yeast, Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Using phenotypic complementation of a mutant of S. pombe, we have cloned a human homolog (CDC25Hu2) of the cdc25+ gene that differs markedly in structure from CDC25 (referred to here as CDC25Hu1), the first such homolog to be isolated. The carboxyl-terminal region of p63CDC25Hu2 shares significant sequence similarity with cdc25 protein homologs from other eukaryotes and possesses full complementation activity. CDC25Hu2 is expressed in human cell lines 10 to 100 times more than CDC25Hu1, and its expression is particularly high in some cancers, including SV40-transformed fibroblasts. Whereas CDC25Hu1 is predominantly expressed in G2, CDC25Hu2 is expressed throughout the cell cycle with a moderate increase in G2. Thus, at least two homologs of the cdc25 gene exist and are both expressed in human cells. The implications of CDC25Hu2 overexpression in some cancer cells are discussed.

Wee1(+)-like gene in human cells

The wee1+ gene is a mitotic inhibitor controlling the G2 to M transition of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and encodes a protein kinase with both serine- and tyrosine-phosphorylating activities. We have cloned a human gene (WEE1Hu) similar to wee1+ by transcomplementation of a yeast mutant. WEE1Hu encodes a protein homologous to the S. pombe wee1+ and mik1+ (a functionally redundant sibling of wee1+) kinases and effectively rescues a wee1 mutation. We report here that overexpression of WEE1Hu in fission yeast generates very elongated cells as a result of inhibition of the G2-M transition in the cell cycle. In addition, we detected a 3-kilobase-long WEE1Hu messenger RNA in all the human cell lines we examined. We conclude that a wee1(+)-like gene exists and is expressed in human cells.

[Effect of topical 8-hydroxy carteolol on intraocular pressure and melanin granules]

It was reported that 8-Hydroxycarteolol (8-OH CA), the major metabolite of carteolol hydroxychloride (CA), has a slightly different pharmacological effect from CA. We studied the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) on a single eyedrop application of 8-OH CA in albino and pigmented rabbit eyes. To determine the characteristic of 8-OH CA and CA, we investigated the binding ability of these drugs to synthetic melanin. In the present study, topically applied 2% CA did not significantly decrease IOP in albino and pigmented rabbit eyes. Topically applied 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 1.0% 8-OH CA significantly decreased the IOP of albino rabbit as did 0.1 and 1.0% 8-OH to pigmented rabbit eyes. The maximum reduction of IOP was 3.5 +/- 0.33 mmHg (mean +/- SEM) in albino rabbit and 3.0 +/- 0.45 mmHg (mean +/- SEM) in pigmented rabbit. Maximum IOP reduction was obtained after 30 min. from topical application in albino rabbit, but in pigmented rabbit after 1 hour or later. Our binding studies to melanin show that the melanin binding ability is less for 8-OH CA than for CA at any concentrations. These results may indicate that lower concentrations of topically applied 8-OH CA profoundly reduce IOP compared to CA, and 8-OH CA has less effect on melanin than CA.

[Clinical evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium against severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors]

Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) was administered to a total of 67 patients with severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors. Fifty patients are included in the present analysis of efficacy and 64 in that of safety. 1. Out of 31 patients with hematological disorders, responses were excellent in 10 patients, good in 10 patients, and the efficacy rate was 64.5%. Out of 19 patients with solid tumors, responses were excellent in 8 patients, good in 8 patients and the efficacy rate was 84.2%. 2. For patients whose responses to other antibiotics had been poor, the efficacy rate was 59.3% in the group with hematological disorders and 62.5% in the group with solid tumors. 3. The relationship between the neutrophil count and efficacy was studied in the patients with hematological disorders. The efficacy rate for 8 patients whose neutrophil counts were 500/mm3 or less was 75.0%. 4. For the patients with hematological disorders, the efficacy rate for patients from whom causative organisms were isolated was 70.0% and that for patients for whom they were unknown was 61.9%. 5. Adverse reactions were observed in 3 patients and abnormal laboratory test results in 2 patients. However, they were mild and disappeared after discontinuation of this drug. From these results, IPM/CS is considered to be a useful antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors.

Analysis of the promoter region in the rRNA operon from Mycobacterium bovis BCG

At least two transcriptional initiation sites were observed in rRNA operon of Mycobacterium bovis BCG at approximately -187 and -265. The former transcriptional signal was recognized by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase, whereas the later was not.

[Interaction of antiglaucomatous drugs and melanin granule]

The author investigated the effects of several antiglaucomatous drugs and prostaglandins (E2 and F2 alpha) on intraocular pressure responses in pigmented and albino rabbits, and spectrophotometrically assessed the binding of these drugs to synthetic melanin. Topical application of 0.5% timolol, 1% epinephrine and 3% pilocarpine had greater ocular hypotensive effects in albino rabbits than in pigmented rabbits. However no such differences were seen with application of prostaglandins. Melanin binding of drugs was higher in the order of befunolol, carteolol, timolol, epinephrine and pilocarpine. At higher concentrations of the drugs, the degree of binding increased. Prostaglandins had no binding ability. Thus drugs with lower hypotensive effects in pigmented rabbits than in albino rabbits had high melanin binding ability, whereas drugs with similar effects in pigmented and albino rabbits had no melanin binding ability. It is speculated that some antiglaucomatous drugs bind to melanin, resulting in decreased pharmacological action.

Human brain prostaglandin D synthase has been evolutionarily differentiated from lipophilic-ligand carrier proteins

cDNAs for glutathione-independent prostaglandin D synthase were isolated from cDNA libraries of human brain. The longest cDNA insert was 837 base pairs long and contained a coding region of 570 base pairs corresponding to 190 amino acid residues with a calculated Mr of 21,016. Between two cDNA inserts isolated from the two different libraries, nucleotide substitutions were observed at 16 positions, including conservative amino acid substitutions at 2 positions and nonconservative substitutions at 5 positions, indicating genetic heterogeneity of this enzyme in humans. The computer-assisted homology search revealed that the enzyme is a member of the lipocalin superfamily, comprising secretory hydrophobic molecule transporters, showing the greatest homology (28.8-29.4% identity; 51.3-53.1% similarity) to alpha 1-microglobulin among the members of this superfamily. In a phylogenetic tree of the superfamily, this enzyme, alpha 1-microglobulin, and the gamma chain of the complement component C8 form a cluster separate from the other 14 members. The two distinctive characteristics of glutathione-independent prostaglandin D synthase, as compared to the other members of this superfamily, are its enzymatic properties and its association with membranes that were probably acquired after evolutionary divergence of the two lipocalins. Based on the observed sequence homology, the tertiary structure of the enzyme was deduced to consist of an eight-stranded anti-parallel beta-barrel forming a hydrophobic pocket. Furthermore, the Cys-65 residue in the pocket, which is conserved only in the human and rat enzymes but not in other lipocalins, was considered to be a putative active site of the enzyme.

Serological studies of Porphyromonas (Bacteroides) gingivalis and correlation with enzyme activity

Porphyromonas gingivalis from the human oral cavity was serologically characterized using absorbed and unabsorbed rabbit antisera. The reference strains were ATCC 33277, W50, W83, 381 and hara 1. The 432 isolates were from periodontal pockets of 63 patients with adult periodontitis. Using sonicated antigens, four serotypes were identified by immunodiffusion tests and immunoelectrophoresis. Each patient harbored only one serotype of P. gingivalis, and serotypes I and IV predominated. The incidence of serotype I was four times higher than that of serotype II, and approximately seven times higher than that of serotype III. The collagenolytic and some proteolytic enzymes of representatives of each serotype were assessed. Although all strains produced these enzymes to some degree, some differences in their levels were observed. Serotype II strains were more collagenolytic than serotypes I or III, and serotype III exhibited lower activities of N-CBz-glycyl-glycyl-arginyl peptidase than other serotypes. Antibiotic sensitivity was also compared with antimicrobial disks, and serotype IV strains exhibited high sensitivity to the four antibiotics used.

Sandwich assay for carcinoembryonic antigen with immobilized lectins and a monoclonal antibody

A lectin-linked immunoradiometric assay (L-IRMA) using 7 different lectins and a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) directed against the protein moiety-specific epitope was developed to detect carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The method used for L-IRMA was as follows: certain CEAs that reacted with lectin agarose beads were allowed to bind further to an 125I-labeled anti-CEA MoAb, and the resulting trapped 125I-MoAb was counted in a gamma counter. From the results, CEAs which interacted with Phaseolus vulgaris erythroagglutinin and leukoagglutinin were presumed to contain the complex type of sugar chains. Furthermore, CEAs interacting specifically with wheat germ agglutinin lectin were found in the tested samples, suggesting that the CEA had a hybrid or a complex type of sugar chain as the core structure of the sugar chain, except for that in seminal plasma. These results obtained by L-IRMA were in good accord with the data obtained from serial lectin affinity chromatography. L-IRMA may therefore be a simple method to study the glycoprotein heterogeneities in tumors and in normal subjects.

Molecular nature and possible presence of a membranous glycan-phosphatidylinositol anchor of CA125 antigen

The molecular nature and possible presence of a glycan-phosphatidylinositol anchor (GPI-anchor) in CA125 molecules was investigated. Serial lectin affinity chromatography and N- or O-glycanase treatment to reduce antigenicity showed that CA125 contained certain N- and O-glycosylated sugar chains in the molecule, like a glycoprotein. CA125 released from ovarian cancer tissues increased time-dependently following phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) treatment, concomitant with the release of tissue-unspecific alkaline phosphatase. Western blotting of CA125 treated by PI-PLC showed a single band of 90 kD instead of the 162- and 76-kD bands of the native antigen. Further, ovarian cancer tissues subjected to PI-PLC treatment lost the immunohistochemical localization of CA125 with OC125 antibody. Consequently, it is strongly suggested that CA125 is a glycoprotein that has both N- and O-linked sugar chains and a membranous GPI-anchoring moiety, and further, that its 90-kD form is the antigen without the GPI-anchor.

Black-pigmented, asaccharolytic Bacteroides species resembling Porphyromonas gingivalis (Bacteroides gingivalis) from beagle dogs

Black-pigmented, asaccharolytic Bacteroides strains, which positively reacted with anti-Bacteroides gingivalis (now reclassified as Porphyromonas gingivalis) serum, were isolated from beagle dogs, and their characteristics were studied and compared with those of P. gingivalis. The strains from dogs were different from P. gingivalis in their catalase activity, nutritional requirements and oxygen tolerance, and double-immunodiffusion tests showed serological dissimilarity between the strains from dogs and P. gingivalis. However, the strains from dogs had guanine-plus-cytosine contents of 49.0 to 49.3 mol %, which were very similar to P. gingivalis, and they showed strong DNA-DNA hybridization with P. gingivalis. These results indicated that beagle dogs had Porphyromonas species analogous to P. gingivalis in their oral cavities.

[Effect of epidural anesthesia on the function of hormonal regulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis]

To evaluate the effects of epidural anesthesia on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, we examined the concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T). The effects of epidural anesthesia on plasma levels of LH, FSH and T were investigated in 8 men aged from 64 to 87 years, suffering from untreated prostate cancer. There were no significant differences in plasma levels of LH, FSH or T between patients under epidural anesthesia and patients under no anesthesia. The effects of epidural anesthesia on plasma levels of LH, FSH and T after LH releasing hormone (LH-RH) administration were studied in 10 men between 65 and 84 years with diagnoses of untreated prostate cancer. Plasma LH and FSH levels increased significantly after LH-RH administration under epidural anesthesia or no anesthesia. Plasma LH and FSH were lower under epidural anesthesia than under no anesthesia. No change in plasma T level was observed after LH-RH administration under epidural anesthesia. We conclude that there is no effect of epidural anesthesia on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.

Mast cells contain spleen-type prostaglandin D synthetase

Prostaglandin D synthetase activity in the cytosol (100,000 x g, 1-h supernatant) fraction of peritoneal mast cells of adult rats (105.0 nmol/min/mg protein) was the highest among such activities in various rat tissues and cells. As judged by the absolute requirement for glutathione for the reaction (Km = 300 microM), the Km value for prostaglandin H2 (200 microM), and insensitivity of the activity to 1 mM 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, the enzyme in mast cells was similar to rat spleen prostaglandin D synthetase and differed from rat brain prostaglandin D synthetase or glutathione S-transferase, all of which catalyze the isomerase reaction from prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin D2. In immunotitration analyses, the activity in mast cells showed a titration curve exactly identical with that of the purified spleen-type enzyme and almost completely absorbed by an excess amount of antibody against this enzyme, but it remained unchanged after incubation with antibodies against the brain-type enzyme and glutathione S-transferase isozymes thus far purified. In Western blot after two-dimensional electrophoresis of crude extracts of mast cells, a single immunoreactive spot was observed with antibody against the spleen-type enzyme at the same position as that of the purified enzyme (Mr = 26,000, pI = 5.2). Furthermore, the immunoreactive protein obtained from mast cells showed the same peptide fingerprints as those of the purified spleen-type enzyme, after partial digestion with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease or trypsin. In immunoperoxidase staining, the immunoreactivity of the spleen-type enzyme was found in the cytosol of tissue mast cells in various organs such as thymus, intestine, stomach, and skin of adult rats. These findings indicate that prostaglandin D2 is produced by the spleen-type synthetase in mast cells of various tissues.

[Effects of breathing high concentrations of oxygen on changes in blood indices during bicycle exercise]

The purpose of this study is to examine effects of hyperoxic gas mixtures on changes of blood indices during bicycle exercise of human. Oxygen-enriched gases (30% O2) were inspired during the ramp load exercise of 25 watt/min. Changes of blood indices were analyzed with Sequential Multiple Analyzer with the computer (SMAC). The improvement of exercise performance were discussed about relationship between function of hyperoxic gas and physiological mechanism. Three experimental conditions were set as follows (I) 30% O2 +N2 gases balance, (II) air (21% O2), and (III) 30% O2 +2% CO2 +N2 gases balance. Arterial blood were sampled from the radial artery of the forearm in order to analyze following items; 1) pH level, PaO2, PaCO2, and HCO3 of these blood gases, 2) Blood sugar, TG, and F-CH of the blood contents, 3) red blood corpuscle, white blood corpuscle, Hb, and Ht values, 4) LDH, CK, GOT, and GPT of the blood enzymes, 5) TP, ALB, Na, K, Ca and Cl of the electric ions. In the case of inspiring hyperoxic gases, the recovery rate of blood indices increased after this ramp load exercise remarkably, and the whole exercise metabolism were removed from acidosis tendency to alkalosis value of the resting condition significantly. At hyperoxic experimental conditions, the blood sugar and oxygen consumption were much more decreased than these at normal oxygen content one during both states of exercise and recovery times. These data of the blood indices would support strongly to the hypothesis that improvement of oxygen delivery should be depended upon the enhanced performance with the hyperoxic gases. There might be effects of the hyperoxia on the cellular metabolism and on function of the vascular muscle during those aerobic exercise.

A case of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome accompanied by a small cell carcinoma of the lung

A 57-year-old man presented with muscle stiffness and weakness accompanied by small cell carcinoma of the lung. The electromyogram showed the characteristic pattern for a Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). The tumor of the lung was reduced in size by one-half with chemotherapy, but the muscle weakness improved only a little.

Congenital epulis--an electron microscopic observations of two cases

Two cases of congenital epulis occurring in the gingiva at the site where the lower deciduous incisors were to erupt are described. The first patient was a 7 day-old female infant. Her epulis was diagnosed, histopathologically, as a granular cell tumor. Electron microscopy revealed that the tumor cells were large with small eccentric nuclei. The cells were filled with granular structures. These granular substances varied in size and electron density. Case 2 involved a 37 day-old male infant. A histopathological diagnosis of fibromatosis was made. Electron micrographs showed a proliferation of cells which resembled fibroblasts. These cells varied in shape, including some with thin, long processes. Abundant reticular and collagen fibers were present in the stroma. In both cases, the postoperative course was uneventful without recurrence.

[CA 19-9 like epitope(s) on carcinoembryonic antigen molecules]

CA 19-9 epitope(s) on carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied by a method designated the hybrid immunoradiometric-assay (hybrid IRMA) using solid phase CEA antibody to capture the CEA molecule and radio-labeled NS 19-9 antibody as a detector. The radioactivities of the hybrid IRMA of respective sera with certain cancers differed from that of normal sera. The specific radioactivities of hybrid IRMA did not disappear on washing with a reaction mixture containing Triton X-100 as a detergent. Treatment of the sample with neuraminidase or periodate diminished the specific bound radioactivities, similar to CA 19-9 antigen. Furthermore, the treatment of CEAs by PI-PLC had no effect on the radioactivities. Taken together, it was suggested that CEA sugar moieties contain CA 19-9 like epitope(s).