Mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3-like protease activation during indomethacin-induced apoptosis in rat gastric mucosal cells

Indomethacin (IND), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been known to cause gastric mucosal injury as a side effect. Using a rat gastric mucosal cell line, RGM1, we determined whether apoptosis is involved in IND-mediated gastropathy, and whether caspase activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c release play an important role in producing apoptosis of IND-treated RGM1 cells in the presence of serum. IND caused caspase-3-like protease activation followed by apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Caspase-1-like protease activity did not change during IND-induced apoptosis. IND also increased mitochondrial cytochrome c release in a time-dependent fashion. Mitochondrial cytochrome c efflux occurred just before or at the same time as caspase-3-like protease activation, and preceded the increase in apoptotic cell numbers. Z-VAD-FMK, a caspase inhibitor, inhibited both the increase in caspase-3-like protease activity and apoptosis in IND-treated RGM1 cells but did not affect caspase-1-like protease activity or mitochondrial cytochrome c release. These observations suggest that the apoptosis of gastric mucosal cells could be involved in IND-induced gastropathy, that cytochrome c is released from mitochondria into the cytosol during the early phase of IND-mediated apoptosis, and that subsequent activation of caspase-3-like protease, but not caspase-1-like protease, is required for the execution of apoptosis.

Fission yeast Eso1p is required for establishing sister chromatid cohesion during S phase

Sister chromatid cohesion is essential for cell viability. We have isolated a novel temperature-sensitive lethal mutant named eso1-H17 that displays spindle assembly checkpoint-dependent mitotic delay and abnormal chromosome segregation. At the permissive temperature, the eso1-H17 mutant shows mild sensitivity to UV irradiation and DNA-damaging chemicals. At the nonpermissive temperature, the mutant is arrested in M phase with a viability loss due to a failure to establish sister chromatid cohesion during S phase. The lethal M-phase arrest phenotype, however, is suppressed by inactivation of a spindle checkpoint. The eso1(+) gene is not essential for the onset and progression of DNA replication but has remarkable genetic interactions with those genes regulating the G(1)-S transition and DNA replication. The N-terminal two-thirds of Eso1p is highly homologous to DNA polymerase eta of budding yeast and humans, and the C-terminal one-third is homologous to budding yeast Eco1p (also called Ctf7p), which is required for the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion. Deletion analysis and determination of the mutation site reveal that the function of the Eco1p/Ctf7p-homologous domain is necessary and sufficient for sister chromatid cohesion. On the other hand, deletion of the DNA polymerase eta domain in Eso1p increases sensitivity to UV irradiation. These results indicate that Eso1p plays a dual role during DNA replication. The C-terminal region acts to establish sister chromatid cohesion, and the N-terminal region presumably catalyzes translesion DNA synthesis when template DNA contains lesions that block regular DNA replication.

Cell surface activities of the human type 2b phosphatidic acid phosphatase

Several isozymes of mammalian type 2, Mg(2+)-independent phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP-2) have recently been cloned, and they are predicted to have their catalytic sites exposed at the cell surface membranes. We investigated the mode of utilization of extracellular lipid substrates by the human PAP-2b expressed in HEK293 cells as a green fluorescent fusion protein. We first confirmed the plasma membrane localization of the expressed PAP-2b. PAP-2b actively hydrolyzed exogenously added lysophosphatidic acid and short-chain phosphatidic acid. In the case of dephosphorylation of lysophosphatidic acid, the reaction products, including inorganic phosphate and monoacylglycerol, were recovered exclusively in the extracellular medium. Interestingly, PAP-2b exhibited negligible activities toward long-chain phosphatidic acid either exogenously when added or generated within the membranes by treating the cells with bacterial phospholipase D. These findings indicate that PAP-2b acts at the outer leaflet of cell surface bilayers and can account for the ecto-PAP activities previously described for various types of cells.

"Honeymoon psychosis" in Japanese tourists to Hawaii

Although Japanese tourists in Hawaii are infrequently treated for acute psychiatric emergencies, we observed several cases among Japanese honeymooners. To investigate this phenomenon, we retrospectively and prospectively collected such cases of honeymooners. Sixteen cases of acute psychiatric disturbance in Japanese honeymooners in Hawaii are described. This phenomenon occurs more frequently than in other Japanese tourists or non-Japanese honeymooners. The tradition of arranged marriage and other cultural factors may be associated with the potential for "honeymoon psychosis."

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: elimination of densely calcified gallstones and gallstones with calcified rims

OBJECTIVE

Until now, radiopaque gallstones have been excluded from extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), because these stones in vivo are less sensitive to the forces that cause disintegration. In Japan there is a higher percentage of patients with radiopaque gallstones than in Western countries. Our purpose in working with patients in Japan was to warrant extensive indication of ESWL to radiopaque gallstones, especially densely calcified stones.

DESIGN/METHODS

Retrospective analysis of clinical data. Patients were classified by computed tomography (CT) of stones. Group A consisted of 78 patients whose gallstones were densely calcified (CT attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU), 473 +/- 323). Group B consisted of 22 patients whose stones had a calcified rim (CT attenuation values, 357 +/- 244). Ninety-eight patients received adjuvant dissolution therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid. Other recommendations, such as a glass of milk at night, were not given to the patients.

SETTING

One university hospital and one general hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred consecutive Japanese patients with radiopaque stones in contractile gallbladder (CT attenuation values, > 150 HU, 447 +/- 310, mean +/- SD) were the subjects. With respect to the efficacy of ESWL, a degree of calcification for stones and its relationship with the rates of stone fragmentation and disappearance were assessed. Fragmentation to less than 3 mm in stone diameter was the aim, without limit of shock wave discharges and sessions.

RESULTS

After ESWL sessions stones were fragmented successfully in 74 of the 100 patients (57 of the 78 patients in Group A, and 17 of the 22 patients in Group B). The mean number of discharges per patient was 10,435 +/- 8,726. The mean number of discharges for successful stone fragmentation of Group A (9,839 +/- 8,187) was not significantly different from that of Group B (11,376 +/- 6,344). One year after lithotripsy, 60 of the 100 patients were free of stones (45 in Group A, and 15 in Group B).

CONCLUSION

It appears that patients with either densely calcified gallstones, or those in whom the stones have a calcified rim, are both suitable candidates for lithotripsy.

Inhibition of dopamine biosynthesis by protoberberine alkaloids in PC12 cells

Berberine and palmatine exhibit a mild and competitive inhibition on bovine adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2; TH). In this study, the inhibitory effects of protoberberine alkaloids (such as berberine, palmatine and coptisine) on dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells were investigated. Treatment with berberine and palmatine showed 53.7% and 61.0% inhibition of dopamine content in PC12 cells at a concentration of 20 microM for 24 hr, respectively. However, coptisine did not reduce dopamine content. The IC50 values of berberine and palmatine were 18.6 microM and 7.9 microM. Dopamine content was lowered at 6 hr and reached the minimal level at 24 hr after exposure to berberine and palmatine at 20 microM. The decreased dopamine level was maintained up to 48 hr, and then recovered to the control level at about 72 hr. TH activity was inhibited at 6 hr following treatment with berberine and palmatine, and was maintained at a reduced level up to 36 hr in PC12 cells (21-27% inhibition at 20 microM), whereas TH mRNA level was not found to alter for 24 hr. However, the intracellular Ca2+ concentration decreased by treatment with berberine and palmatine at 20 microM by 22-26% inhibition relative to the control level in PC12 cells. These results give evidence that berberine and palmatine lead to decreased dopamine content by inhibition of TH activity but not by regulation of TH gene expression in PC12 cells.

Expression and imprinting status of human PEG8/IGF2AS, a paternally expressed antisense transcript from the IGF2 locus, in Wilms' tumors

A large imprinted gene cluster in human chromosome 11p15.5 has been implicated in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Wilms' tumor. We have identified a paternally expressed imprinted gene, PEG8/IGF2AS, in this locus. It is transcribed in the opposite direction to the IGF2 transcripts and some genomic regions are shared with the IGF2 gene, as in the case of the mouse imprinted Igf2as gene reported previously by T. Moore et al. As to the relationship between these genomic regions, the human and mouse genes are very similar but there is no homology in their middle parts. Interestingly, PEG8/IGF2AS and IGF2 were found to be overexpressed in Wilms' tumor samples, at levels over ten and a hundred times higher than that in normal kidney tissues neighboring the tumors, respectively. These findings indicate that PEG8/IGF2AS is a good marker of Wilms' tumor and also suggest the possibility of PEG8/IGF2AS being one of the candidate Wilms' tumor genes.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of stain color using RGB computer color specification

OBJECTIVE

To establish standardized Papanicolaou stain for cytology using RGB color specification. This new method was formerly used in DTP software application for computer color specification.

STUDY DESIGN

RGB color specification was taken from a color film, optical constituents of which were made into computer software. Cell samples used in this study were from 100 sputum specimens stained with Papanicolaou stain. We analyzed the color tone of the cytoplasm of squamous cells in the smear.

RESULTS

The R and B value of eosinophilic cells were demonstrated statistically by different values between normal, borderline atypical and malignant squamous cells. G and B values of light green-philic cells demonstrated a statistical difference between normal, borderline atypical and malignant squamous cells. No significant differences were found in RGB value between normal, borderline atypical and malignant squamous orangeophilic cells.

CONCLUSION

Using our own method of analyzing Papanicolaou-stained sputum, a new quantitative and qualitative analysis of stain color for standardized Papanicolaou stain was introduced.

Muscle adaptation of Thoroughbred racehorses trained on a flat or sloped track

OBJECTIVE

To determine histochemical and biochemical properties of muscle during adaptation to training on a flat or sloped track.

ANIMALS

22 Thoroughbreds.

PROCEDURE

Samples were obtained from the middle gluteus muscle before and after training programs were conducted, using a needle-biopsy technique. Training programs consisted of horses running 1,600 m on a flat or sloped track for 16 weeks. Amplitude of middle gluteus muscle activity per burst was calculated. Muscle fiber composition and area were examined on serial cross sections processed by standard histochemical staining procedures (ATPase stain after prior incubation with an acid or base, followed by succinate dehydrogenase [SDH] stain). Furthermore, SDH and phosphofructokinase activities were determined biochemically, and composition of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms was analyzed electrophoretically.

RESULTS

Training resulted in substantial adaptations. Relative contribution of muscle fiber with high SDH activity (type-I and -IIa fibers) to total cross-sectional area, SDH activity, and composition of MHC-IIa isoforms were increased. Gel electrophoresis revealed a large amount of MHC-IIx isoform and a small amount of MHC-IIb isoform in the muscle. Although root mean square of muscle activity for training on a sloped track was 7.6% higher than the value obtained while training on a flat track, muscle histochemical and biochemical properties did not differ significantly between groups training on flat and sloped tracks.

CONCLUSIONS

Training adaptations for contractile and metabolic properties of the middle gluteus muscle were evident for the 2 types of training. However, training adaptations did not differ significantly between groups trained on flat or sloped tracks.

Diaminodiphenylsulfone resistance of Mycobacterium leprae due to mutations in the dihydropteroate synthase gene

The nucleotide sequence analysis of the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene of six diaminodiphenylsulfone-resistant Mycobacterium leprae strains revealed that the mutation was limited at highly conserved amino acid residues 53 or 55. Though the mutation at amino acid residue 55 or its homologous site has been reported in other bacteria, the mutation at residue 53 is the first case in bacteria. This is the first paper which links the mutations in DHPS and sulfonamide resistance in M. leprae. This finding is medically and socially relevant, since leprosy is still a big problem in certain regions.

Molecular cloning of homologs of RAS and RHO1 genes from Cryptococcus neoformans

We cloned and sequenced homologs of RAS(CnRAS) and RHO1(CnRHO1) genes from Cryptococcus neoformans. The proteins encoded by the CnRAS and CnRHO1 genes contained 216 and 197 amino acids, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of the CnRAS gene shared a high degree of sequence identity with the Ras proteins in other fungal species: Coprinus cinereus(76%), Lentinula edodes(74%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAS2(72%), and Schizosaccharomyces pombe(68%). The deduced amino acid sequence of the CnRHO1 gene shared a high degree of sequence identity with the Rho1 proteins in other fungal species: Candida albicans(78%), S. pombe(77%) and S. cerevisiae(76%). The deduced proteins contained GTP-binding and GTP-hydrolysis domains, and the prenylation site that are conserved among the small G protein superfamily. The synthetic peptides that contained the C-terminal amino acid sequence of the CnRas and CnRho1 proteins were geranylgeranylated.

Influence of training on autonomic nervous function in horses: evaluation by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability

We studied the influence of training on autonomic nervous function in the horse. For this purpose, Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded before and after training from 24 Thoroughbred horses (2-year-olds) and autonomic nervous function was evaluated by the power spectral analysis of heart rate (HR) variability. We obtained HR, low-frequency (LF) power, high-frequency (HF) power, and LF/HF ratio from recording. We set LF at 0.01-0.07 Hz and HF at 0.07-0.6 Hz. The HF power is thought to reflect primarily parasympathetic nervous function. Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have been shown to contribute to the LF power. The LF/HF ratio is considered as an index of the cardiac sympathovagal balance. Second degree atrioventricular blocks were found in the ECG of 3 and 5 horses before and after the training period, respectively. Ventricular premature depolarisations were detected in a horse after the training period. Heart rate decreased at night. The lowest HR values had a tendency to appear in the early morning. Both the LF and HF power tended to be higher at night. However, the LF/HF ratio was almost the same throughout the day. The HR was significantly decreased by training. Although the LF power and LF/HF ratio were significantly increased, the HF power was not changed by training. These results suggest that parasympathetic nervous activity may be fully activated even before training in this species.

Plasma adrenocorticotropin, cortisol and catecholamines response to various exercises

The responses of plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), cortisol, noradrenaline and adrenaline in 5 Thoroughbred horses to an incremental exercise and 2 relative workload exercises, at 105 and 80% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), on a treadmill were examined. These hormone concentrations increased (P < 0.05) with each exercise and the maximal plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol were observed between 5 and 30 min after the end of the exercise, while maximal catecholamine concentrations occurred just at exhaustion time. The plasma ACTH, noradrenaline and adrenaline responses during exercise were more sensitive to the intensity of exercise than that of cortisol and showed a significant correlation with blood lactate concentrations (r = 0.605, P < 0.001 for ACTH; r = 0.718, P < 0.001 for noradrenaline; r = 0.738, P < 0.001 for adrenaline). The plasma cortisol response appeared to be connected with the duration of exercise (r = 0.71, P < 0.05). The recovery of these hormones was related to the exercise styles. These results suggest that the autonomic nervous system and the pituitary-adrenal axis of the horse are efficiently stimulated by various treadmill exercises, and these hormones may be used in the evaluation of exercise-induced stress.

Influence of rough track surfaces on components of vertical forces in cantering thoroughbred horses

No kinetic data are available to indicate the influence of a rough track surface and the resultant loss of footing on the components of hoof vertical forces. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of rough track surfaces on the components of hoof vertical forces. Seven clinically sound 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses had instrumented shoes attached to both of the fore hooves to obtain the magnitudes of consecutive forces exerted in the hoof. All horses were cantered at approximately 10 m/s on straight tracks of smooth and rough surfaces of woodchip and dirt. The instrumented shoe indicated in real time 4 component forces acting on the hoof via 4 transducers positioned on the lateral and medial sides of the toe (LT, MT) and the heel (LH, MH). The peak vertical component forces of the heel were about twice that of the toe. The variances of the 4 components of peak vertical forces significantly increased on the rough track surface of both the woodchip (Leading: LH, MH and MT; Trailing: MH and LT) and dirt (Leading: LH and LT; Trailing: MH and MT) tracks. The trajectories of the position of the resultant force acting on the hoof also tended to increase the variance on rough track surfaces. Therefore, running on a rough track changes the vertical hoof forces and the balance of the resultant hoof forces. These results suggest a mechanism by which the rough track surfaces may influence the soundness of the horse.

EMG activity of the muscles of the neck and forelimbs during different forms of locomotion

We recorded the electromyographic (EMG) activity of 7 skeletal muscles in the forequarters and 1 in the hindquarters of 6 Thoroughbred horses during overground walking, swimming in a circular pool, and walking and trotting in a water treadmill. Bipolar fine wire electrodes were inserted into the muscles and the EMG signals were recorded using a telemetric system. The splenius exhibited tonic EMG activity during swimming. The brachiocephalicus showed its highest intensity during swimming followed by the walk and trot in the water treadmill and then walking overground. The triceps brachii caput longum had a similar activity pattern to the brachiocephalicus. The brachialis showed only weak EMG activity in all 3 types of locomotion. The extensor digitorum communis had higher intensity of EMG activity in the walk in the water treadmill than in other kinds of locomotion. The flexor digitorum profundus exhibited the most intense EMG activity during swimming. These results indicated that swimming evoked strong EMG activity in the antigravity muscles in spite of reduced gravitational force. Walking in the water treadmill may require more intensified EMG activity of the forelimb than the trot in the same treadmill.

Effects of caffeine and promazine hydrochloride on plasma catecholamines in thoroughbreds at rest and during treadmill exercise

Our aim was to investigate plasma catecholamine responses to so-called 'doping' drugs and exercise in Thoroughbreds. Plasma adrenaline (Ad) and noradrenaline (NA) were determined after the administration of caffeine and promazine hydrochloride (PRZ) using a high performance liquid chromatographic method. Caffeine or PRZ was administered i.m. to Thoroughbreds and its effects on plasma catecholamines at rest and during exercise were compared with the saline control. The treadmill exercise was performed 1 h after administration. A dose of 5.0 mg/kg bwt caffeine was found to significantly increase both plasma Ad and NA levels but this was not the case for the 2.5 mg/kg bwt dose and their peak levels at 1.5 h were about 3 and 2.5 times as compared with the control values at 1.5 h (Ad: mean +/- s.e. 21.2 +/- 2.8 pg/ml, NA: 55.5 +/- 4.1 pg/ml), respectively. Both 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg bwt PRZ doses reduced the plasma Ad to below the detection limit (10 pg/ml) and significantly reduced the plasma NA. The 2.5 mg/kg bwt caffeine dose significantly increased plasma Ad and NA during exercise and approximately doubled their maximal values as compared with the saline control (Ad: mean +/- s.e. 12.328 +/- 4.733 ng/ml, NA: 9.997 +/- 4.146 ng/ml). The 1.5 mg/kg bwt PRZ dose decreased the plasma Ad during exercise but the effect was not significant. On the other hand, PRZ significantly increased the plasma NA as compared with the saline control. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the plasma catecholamine responses to caffeine and PRZ were modified by exercise. It is probable that the modification may be related to exercise-induced activation of the sympathetico-adrenal axis.

Fragility of red cells during exercise is affected by blood pH and temperature

We examined the relationship in horses between osmotic fragility of erythrocytes (OFE) measured as the red cell haemolysis rates (HLR) in 0.56% NaCl and certain physiological characters. Animals were exercised on a treadmill: warmed up at 30% VO2max for 5 min or at 105% VO2max for 1 min, given an exercise test at 80 or 105% VO2max until fatigued, and then cooled down. The pH and temperature of the blood had a significant correlation for the HLR: r = 0.93 and 0.92 (P < 0.01) on arterial and mixed venous blood, respectively. In multiple regression analysis, heart rate and packed cell volume showed lower coefficients for the HLR. The present study suggested that, in exercising horses, 1) the increase of blood flow and release of erythrocytes from the spleen into the circulation have little effect on changes of OFE; 2) the decrease of blood pH promotes OFE; 3) the increase of the pH causes osmotic resistance in the cells and 4) an increase of blood temperature during exercise is associated with the decrease in the OFE.

Structure-function studies of an anti-asialo GM1 antibody obtained from a phage display library

Although gangliosides elicit human autoantibodies, they are extremely weak immunogens in mice. We obtained a monoclonal antibody Fab fragment (clone 10) that is specific for asialo GM1 (GA1), from a phage display library. The Vkappa domain of clone 10 could be replaced by two different Vkappa domains without changing the specificity of the antibody. Mutagenesis of the third hypervariable regions of the heavy and light chains of clone 10 yielded three mutants that exhibited a 3 to 4 times increase in avidity for GA1. A molecular model of clone 10 indicated that the putative antigen-binding site contained a shallow surface pocket. These data illustrate the use of recombinant DNA techniques to obtain anti-ganglioside antibodies, and to explore the molecular basis of their antigen-binding activity.

No-touch isolation technique reduces intraoperative shedding of tumor cells into the portal vein during resection of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The mutant-allele-specific amplification (MASA) method is capable of detecting 1 genetically altered tumor cell among thousands of normal cells. The MASA enabled us to detect occult tumor cells undetectable by histopathologic examination of lymph nodes and blood samples.

METHODS

To investigate whether tumor manipulation during operation enhances cancer cell dissemination into the portal vein with use of MASA and to assess the effect of the no-touch isolation technique in the treatment of colorectal cancers, 27 colorectal cancers (17 were operated on conventionally and 10 were operated on according to the no-touch isolation technique) were screened for mutations in K-ras or p53. We next examined blood samples of the portal vein collected before, during, and after manipulation of tumors, using MASA to look for the specific mutation found in the primary tumors.

RESULTS

Somatic mutations were identified in 18 of these primary tumors (11 were in the conventional resection technique group and 7 were in the no-touch isolation technique group). In 8 of 11 (73%) conventional resection technique cases, we identified the same genetic alteration of the primary tumor in the portal blood during operation, whereas only 1 patient (14%) in the no-touch isolation technique group had a positive result.

CONCLUSIONS

The no-touch isolation technique may be useful to prevent cancer cells from being shed into the portal vein during surgical manipulation.

Molecular characterization of the type 2 phosphatidic acid phosphatase

Phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) converts phosphatidic acid to diacylglycerol, thus regulating the de novo synthesis of glycerolipids and also signal transduction mediated by phospholipase D. We initially succeeded in the cDNA cloning of the mouse 35 kDa PAP bound to plasma membranes (type 2 enzyme). This work subsequently led us to the identification of two human PAP isozymes designated 2a and 2b. A third human PAP isozyme (2c) has also been described. The cloned enzymes are, in common, N-glycosylated and possess six transmembrane domains. The transmembrane dispositions of these enzymes are predicted and the catalytic sites are tentatively located in the 2nd and 3rd extracellular loops, thus suggesting that the type 2 PAPs may act as ecto-enzymes dephosphorylating exogenous substrates. Furthermore, the type 2 PAPs have been proposed to belong to a novel phosphatase superfamily consisting of a number of soluble and membrane-bound enzymes. In vitro enzyme assays show that the type 2 PAPs can dephosphorylate lyso-phosphatidate, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine-1-phosphate and diacylglycerol pyrophosphate. Although the physiological implications of such a broad substrate specificity need to be further investigated, the type 2 PAPs appear to metabolize a wide range of lipid mediators derived from both glycero- and sphingolipids.

Neonatal 24-hour urinary C-peptide and birth weight in infants of diabetic mothers

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the birth weights and 24-h urinary C-peptide in infants of diabetic mothers.

METHODS

Sixty pregnancies with gestational diabetes mellitus (DM) were enrolled. Neonatal urine was collected for the first and second 24 h for measuring C-peptide. Birth weights were classified into 3 categories according to the Japanese standard curves; heavy-for-date (HFD), appropriate-for-date (AFD), and light-for-date (LFD). Unpaired t-test was used for comparison of 24-h urinary C-peptide in the 3 birth weight categories, with P-value <0.05. There were 7 HFD, 47 AFD, and 6 LFD infants. Birth weight averaged 3.9+/-0.7, 3.0+/-0.4, and 2.3+/-0.3 kg, respectively.

RESULTS

Insulin concentrations of the umbilical artery were significantly higher in HFD than in AFD, and significantly higher in AFD than in LFD (49.5+/-45.1, 16.8+/-15.2, and 6.3+/-6.1 microU/ml). During the first 24 h, urinary C-peptide was significantly higher in HFD than in AFD (2.73+/-1.52 vs. 0.76+/-0.81 microg/day), and significantly higher in AFD than in LFD (0.27+/-0.27). On the second day, there was no longer statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Measurement of 24-h urinary C-peptide revealed that, among infants of diabetic mothers, HFD infants continue to secrete more insulin than AFD and LFD infants for the first 24 h.

Characterization of a 1200-kb genomic segment of chromosome 3p22-p21.3

We previously determined the nucleotide sequence and characterized the 685-kb proximal half of CEPH YAC936c1, which corresponds to a portion of human chromosome 3p21.3. In the study reported here, we characterized the remaining 515-kb of this YAC clone corresponding to the telomeric half of its human insert. The newly sequenced region contained a total of ten genes including six reported previously: phospholipase C delta 1 (PLCD1), human activin receptor type IIB (hActR-IIB), organic cation transporter-like 1 (OCTL1), organic cation transporter-like 2 (OCTL2), oxidative stress response 1 (OSR1), and human xylulokinase-like protein (XYLB). The remaining four genes present in the telomeric region included two known genes, MyD88 and ACAA, and two novel genes. One (designated ENGL) of the novel sequences was found to encode an amino-acid sequence homologous to the family of DNA/RNA endonucleases, especially endonuclease G. The other gene F56 revealed no significant homology to any known genes. These results disclosed complete physical and transcriptional maps of the 1200-kb region of 3p present in YAC 936c1.

A predominant increase of arterial beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration during partial hepatectomies in patients with impaired indocyanine green clearance test

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that a concentration ratio of two ketone bodies, [acetoacetate]/[beta-hydroxybutyrate], reflects the redox state in the liver mitochondria, but there are few reports which examined each ketone body concentration during hepatectomy. Materials and Methods. (1) Ketone body levels in the radial artery and the hepatic vein were measured simultaneously during hepatectomies in 12 patients. (2) Arterial ketone body levels were measured during hepatectomies (at three points) in 73 patients.

RESULTS

(1) Both ketone body levels in the radial artery well reflected those in the hepatic vein (P < 0.001). (2) There was no change in the arterial acetoacetate level. The level of beta-hydroxybutyrate increased significantly from 30.4 to 76.5 micromol/L (P < 0.005) only in the group of 25 patients with seriously impaired indocyanine green clearance test.

CONCLUSIONS

Ketosis during hepatectomy was caused by increased beta-hydroxybutyrate, and this phenomenon was observed only in patients with seriously impaired liver function.