Chimeric restriction endonuclease

Fok I restriction endonuclease recognizes the nonpalindromic pentadeoxyribonucleotide 5'-GGATG-3'.5'-CATCC-3' in duplex DNA and cleaves 9 and 13 nt away from the recognition site. Recently, we reported the presence of two distinct and separable domains within this enzyme: one for the sequence-specific recognition of DNA (the DNA-binding domain) and the other for the endonuclease activity (the cleavage domain). Here, we report the construction of a chimeric restriction endonuclease by linking the Drosophila Ultrabithorax homeodomain to the cleavage domain (FN) of Fok I restriction endonuclease. The hybrid enzyme, Ubx-FN, was purified, and its cleavage properties were characterized. The hybrid enzyme shows the same DNA sequence-binding preference as that of Ubx; as expected, it cleaves the DNA away from the recognition site. On the 5'-TTAATGGTT-3' strand the hybrid enzyme cleaves 3 nt away from the recognition site, whereas it cuts the complementary 5'-AACCATTAA-3' strand 8, 9, or 10 nt away from the binding site. Similarly engineered hybrid enzymes could be valuable tools in physical mapping and sequencing of large eukaryotic genomes.

Decreased acetylation of isoniazid in chronic renal failure

Pharmacokinetic parameters of isoniazid obtained from 37 normal subjects were compared with parameters obtained from 14 patients with chronic renal failure. In the 29 normal rapid acetylators and eight normal slow acetylators, the mean plasma half-life values of isoniazid were 1.54 +/- 0.31 and 3.68 +/- 0.59 hours, respectively. The plasma half-life values of isoniazid in patients with chronic renal failure varied widely from 1.30 to 10.13 hours, but the values were significantly longer than those of normal subjects. Because isoniazid clearance is governed mainly by hepatic metabolism, such a significant prolongation of plasma half-life of isoniazid was unexpected; thus the pharmacokinetics of isoniazid were reevaluated in the same patients with chronic renal failure after the kidney transplantation. After successful kidney transplantation, the shortening of isoniazid half-life was pronounced and the nonrenal clearance was markedly increased. These findings indicate that decreased isoniazid clearance in chronic renal failure is caused in minor part by the decreased renal excretion of isoniazid and in major part by the depressed hepatic N-acetylation of isoniazid.

Localization of Hantaan viral envelope glycoproteins by monoclonal antibodies in renal tissues from patients with Korean hemorrhagic fever H

The role of viruses in several renal diseases is not documented clearly. The authors attempted to localize envelope glycoproteins of Hantaan virus in biopsy specimens from patients with Korean hemorrhagic fever (KHF) as evidence of direct viral invasion of renal tissues. The authors studied sequential sections of kidney biopsy specimens from 23 of 35 patients with serologically confirmed KHF diagnosed between June 1985 and December 1989. The sections were stained with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with monoclonal antibodies to G1 and G2 envelope glycoproteins. Control antibodies of the same isotype were used to rule out nonspecific staining, and hyperimmune rabbit sera or convalescent sera of patients with KHF were used for blocking tests. Normal renal tissues and kidney biopsy tissues from minimal-change nephrotic syndrome were used as negative control sections. The kidney biopsies were performed between the fifth and thirtieth days after onset of fever. The authors detected viral glycoproteins in renal tissues from 22 of the 23 patients. The viral glycoproteins were localized in the cytoplasm of the tubular epithelial cells, and the distribution of viral glycoproteins in the tubules was focal. Glycoproteins also were localized in the cytoplasm of the sloughed renal tubular epithelial cells, where tubular degenerative changes were prominent. These findings suggest the direct invasion of renal tubules by the virus and may partly explain the pathogenesis of acute renal failure in KHF.

Studies on isosporosis in dogs. I: Isolation and sporulation of Isospora ohioensis

Based on the morphologic characteristics of oocysts of the genus Isospora, we have demonstrated that I. ohioensis is a relatively common Isospora species in dogs which are resident in Chonbuk province, Korea. The prepatent period of I. ohioensis was four days. The size of the unsporulated oocysts in fresh stool specimens was 22.9 x 19.8 microns (R = 1.16). The size of the contracted sporonts was 17.4 x 16.3 microns (R = 1.06). By 96 hours, sporulation is complete and the ratio of length/width was constant relatively. And the sizes of oocysts and sporocysts were 22.8 x 20.5 microns (R = 1.11) and 15.0 x 10.8 microns (R = 1.39), respectively. At this time it is most reliable for the measurements of oocyst sizes of I. ohioensis to provide with the identifiable clues against the others. It is therefore recommended that the clinical fecal specimens suspected of isosporosis should first be incubated and aerated for 96 hours before a definitive parasitological diagnosis can be reached. These and other observations contribute to the understanding of the biological characteristics and laboratory and clinical diagnosis of isosporosis.

Black heel with atypical melanocytic hyperplasia

Two cases with a black pigmented patch on the heel are reported. Biopsy specimens showed that atypical melanocytic hyperplasia was confined to the epidermis despite the lesion being present for a long time. The diagnosis of atypical melanocytic hyperplasia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the black heel.

Evolutionary stability in the asymmetric war of attrition

It is shown that there are at least two evolutionarily stable strategies, or ESSs, in the war of attrition with a role asymmetry when players make an error with a small but positive probability in implementing their strategy choices. This result proves Maynard Smith's original conjecture that players should choose asymmetric pure strategies in the asymmetric war of attrition. It is also in contrast to the standard non-existence result of an ESS in this game under complete information. To derive this result we discretize the original game and apply the limit ESS condition introduced by Selten. The result is also compared with other evolutionary analyses of this game.

Malignant triton tumor of the acoustic nerve. Case report

The authors present the clinical, radiological, pathological features, and autopsy findings of a patient with malignant triton tumor of the acoustic nerve, which probably arose from a pre-existing acoustic schwannoma. The term "malignant triton tumor" is applied to malignant schwannomas with rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. A cerebellopontine angle tumor with spinal drop metastasis occurred in this patient 10 months after near-total removal of the original tumor.

Overproduction, purification and characterization of M.HinfI methyltransferase and its deletion mutant

We have used the polymerase chain reaction to alter transcriptional and translational signals surrounding the hinfIM gene [encoding M.HinfI methyltransferase (MTase)] so as to achieve overexpression in Escherichia coli. The PCR-generated hinfIM gene was subcloned in a high-expression vector under control of the hybrid trp-lac promoter. In addition, the positive retroregulator stem-loop sequence derived from the crystal protein-encoding gene of Bacillus thuringiensis was inserted downstream from hinfIM. Using a similar approach, we have also constructed overproducer clones of a deletion mutant of M.HinfI MTase that has 97 amino acids from the C terminus deleted. The plasmid from the mutant clones is fully protected from HinfI restriction endonuclease digestion. It appears that the functional properties (the recognition and catalytic functions) are encoded within this mutant gene. The overproducer clones yield the wild type (wt) and the mutant enzymes to about 10% of total cellular protein upon induction with 1 mM IPTG. The wt M.HinfI and the mutant MTase were purified to near electrophoretic homogeneity by phosphocellulose, DEAE and gel chromatography. Their monomer sizes by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis are 43 kDa and 31 kDa, respectively, in good agreement with that predicted from the nucleotide sequence. DNA methylation experiments with purified enzymes using single-strand and double-strand M13mp18 DNA substrates indicate that while wt enzyme methylates both forms of DNA substrates, the mutant enzyme appears to preferentially methylate ss DNA substrate.

Solitary myeloma with massive extracellular crystalline structures--a case report

We describe a case of solitary myeloma showing cystic change filled with massive crystalline structures in a 54-year-old woman. A bone X-ray showed a solitary cystic osteolytic lesion in the right iliac bone. Serum and urine protein electrophoresis showed no demonstrable M-protein, and bone-marrow aspirates did not show any myeloma cells. Histologic examination of the tumor revealed aggregation of plasma cells with massive extracellular infiltration of the rhomboid-shaped crystalline structures. In immunoperoxidase staining, both these crystalline structures and the cytoplasms of the myeloma cells demonstrated a positive reaction for lambda light chain. By electron microscope, the large extracellular crystalline structures were observed, and we found unique rhomboid or rectangular-shaped crystalline structures in the cytoplasms of the myeloma cells.

Bone scintigraphy in acute renal failure with severe loin pain and patchy renal vasoconstriction

To evaluate the patterns of renal images and the diagnostic value as a screening test of the whole-body bone and renal scintigraphy with technetium-99m-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) or -pyrophosphate (99mTc-PYP), we performed bone scintigraphy in 6 patients with acute renal failure (ARF) with severe loin pain and patchy renal vasoconstriction on postcontrast renal computed tomography (CT). All 6 patients were young and previously healthy but experienced severe loin pain after track events. Five took analgesics. Postcontrast renal CT showed patchy low-density areas or diffuse enhancement immediately after radiocontrast injection and then patchy wedge-shaped enhancement 24 or 48 h later, which subsequently disappeared 72 h later. On the whole-body bone scintigrams with 99mTc-MDP or 99mTc-PYP before obtaining renal CT, there was no increased uptake of isotope in the soft tissue, and multiple patchy increased accumulations of the isotope in the kidney were observed in 5 patients. In 2 patients, renal scintigraphies with technetium-99m-dimercaptosuccinate showed photon-deficient areas in the same areas of patchy isotope accumulation in the whole-body bone scintigraphies. Whole-body image and renal scintigraphy with bone-seeking agents may be useful as a screening test and in the search for the theoretical evidence of ARF with severe loin pain and patchy renal vasoconstriction.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: MR imaging of the kidney

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the kidneys was performed in 14 patients with a severe form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a major public health problem in Far Eastern Asia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of renal assessment with MR imaging in HFRS. Three MR imaging studies were done while patients were in the oliguric phase, 19 were done during the diuretic phase, and three were done during the convalescent phase. The authors differentiated the cortex and the medulla in all 21 T1-weighted examinations and all 25 T2-weighted examinations. Seven T1-weighted examinations (33%) and 20 T2-weighted examinations (80%) showed low signal intensity along the outer portion of the medulla, which thus enabled differentiation from the inner medulla. Low signal intensity along the medulla (especially the outer medulla) on T2-weighted images, possibly representing medullary hemorrhage, is fairly constant and characteristic on MR images of the kidneys in patients with HFRS.

Scanning electron microscopy of Malassezia furfur in tinea versicolor

Morphologic features of Malassezia(M.) furfur in the horny layer from clinical lesions of tinea versicolor were examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared with the appearance of fungus in the horny layer from normal skin and in culture. In skin lesions of tinea versicolor, M. furfur showed a variety of growth and reproduction patterns. Although the main patterns were budding yeast forms, various patterns suggesting yeast-mycelial conversion were observed and mycelial hyphae were more prominent in the deeper horny layer than in the superficial layers. However, in the skin of normal persons and in culture, M. furfur existed only as yeast forms and no mycelial hyphae or yeast-mycelial conversion forms were seen. This suggests that the morphologic change of M. furfur, from a yeast form to a mycelial hypha one, may play a role in the induction of the clinical lesion of tinea versicolor.

Comparison of two methods for isolation of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis from bovine fecal samples

Fecal samples from 131 cattle clinically suspect for paratuberculosis were cultured bacteriologically, using the traditional sedimentation processing method and a processing method that included a centrifugation step. Of 16 samples that were contaminated, 6 were culture-positive on at least 1 medium and by 1 processing method. Ten of 131 (7.6%) fecal samples processed by both methods were lost because of contamination. The number of culture-positive samples (using both processing methods) were 65 of 121 (53.7%) on media without miconazole and 60 of 121 (49.6%) on media with miconazole. Seven of the 121 (5.8%) samples were culture-positive, using centrifugation, after 16 weeks' incubation at 37 C. Thirteen of 60 (21.7%) isolates were obtained only with centrifugation, and 10 of these had low colony counts, suggesting that a centrifugation step may have concentrated microorganisms that would have gone undetected without centrifugation. Six of 60 (10%) isolates positive for M paratuberculosis on the sedimentation method were negative on the centrifugation method. Contamination rates were significantly (P less than 0.001) increased when centrifugation was used. The miconazole significantly (P less than 0.001) decreased contamination rates when centrifugation was used.

Serum and erythrocyte lipoperoxides and supproxide dismutase levels in normal persons and hypertensive patients

To assess the role and responses of lipoperoxide and superoxide dismutase in hypertensive disease, the serum and erythrocyte lipid peroxide and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase levels were measured in 65 normal persons and hypertensive patients.

The results are summerized as follows: In normal persons, serum and erythrocyte lipoperoxide values showed an increase according to age, but the elevation was not statistically significant. In normal persons, the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase value did not change according to age. In hypertensive patients, the serum and erythrocyte lipoperoxide values showed increases of 10.8% and 26% respectively compared to those of the controls. In hypertensive patients, the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase value showed a decrease of 29.9% compared to that of the controls.

Stratification, specialization, and proliferation of primary keratinocyte cultures. Evidence of a functioning in vitro epidermal cell system

A population of neonatal mouse keratinocytes (epidermal basal cells) was obtained by gentle, short-term trypsin separation of the epidermal and dermal skin compartments and discontinuous Ficoll gradient purification of the resulting epidermal cells. Over 4--6 wk of culture growth at 32--33 degrees C, the primary cultures formed a complete monolayer that exhibited entire culture stratification and upper cell layer shedding. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that the keratinocyte cultures progressed from one to two cell layers through a series of stratification and specialization phenomena to a six to eight cell layer culture containing structures characteristic of epidermal cells and resembling in vivo epidermal development. The temporal development of primary epidermal cell culture specialization was confirmed by use of two histological techniques which differentially stain the specializing upper cell layers of neonatal mouse skin. No detectable dermal fibroblast co-cultivation was demonstrated by use of the leucine aminopeptidase histochemical technique and routine electron microscope surveillance of the cultures. Incorporation of [3H]thymidine ([3H]Tdr) was greater than 85% into DNA and was inhibited by both 20 micron cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and low temperature. Autoradiography and 90% inhibition of [3H]Tdr incorporation by 2 mM hydroxyurea indicated that keratinocyte culture DNA synthesis was scheduled (not a repair phenomenon). The primary keratinocytes showed an oscillating pattern of [3H]Tdr incorporation into DNA over the initial 23--25 days of growth. Autoradiography demonstrated that the cultures contained 10--30% proliferative stem cells from days 2-25 of culture. The reproducibility of both the proliferation and specialization patterns of the described primary epidermal cell culture system indicates that these cultures are a useful tool for investigations of functioning epidermal cell homeostatic control mechanisms.

The effects of time-varying blood flow on diffusional resistance to oxygen transfer in the pulmonary capillaries

The effects of the persistence of pulsatile blood flow in the pulmonary capillaries on the over-all diffusing capacity and alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradient were studied. A mathematical analysis was made of the oxygen transfer process using an undamped cardiac flow pulse in the capillaries and taking into account the finite rate of reaction of oxygen with hemoglobin.In five cases of both normal and low oxygen atmospheres, combined with varying degree of exercise, it was found that the alveolar-arterial oxygen tension gradients were not affected by the time-varying blood flow, while in cases of breathing air the over-all diffusing capacity of the lung increased 10-15% over the diffusing capacity obtained with constant blood flow rate in the pulmonary capillaries.