Mutations within the S gene of hepatitis B virus transmitted from mothers to babies immunized with hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine

A variant of hepatitis B virus (HBV) having a specific mutation within the S gene has been found to infect vaccinees. To know whether similar variants were involved in Japan, we analyzed two cases of maternal transmission of HBV in infants immunized with hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine. DNA clones of HBV S genes were propagated from patients and family members and sequenced. In one family, the DNA clones from the baby patient had a Gly-to-Arg mutation at the 145th codon of the S gene, whereas those from her mother had no such mutations. In the other family, all the DNA clones obtained from the two infected children had the 145th codon intact, but they had a missense mutation at the 126th codon of the S gene, causing an amino acid substitution of Asn for Thr or Ile. This same mutation was observed in 12 of 17 clones of DNA obtained from their mother. In comparison with the wild type HBV-derived hepatitis B surface antigen, the two types of S gene mutations, either at the 145th or the 126th codon, were associated with a significant decrease in the antigenicity of some determinants on the hepatitis B surface antigen, measured by MAb. Amino acid substitution at these sites, therefore, would have induced the escape from conventional vaccines that were S gene products of wild type HBV and also from hepatitis B immune globulin, whose main components were probably also antibodies against the S gene products expressed by wild type HBV.

Prolyl endopeptidase purified from granulomatous inflammation in mice

Activity of prolyl endopeptidase (EC 3.4.21.26) which hydrolyses the Pro7-Phe8 bond in angiotensin II has been found to elevate in experimentally produced granulomatous inflammation in liver and skin. We purified the enzyme 1,536-fold by 6 steps from murine hepatic granulomas. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 79 kDa and physicochemical properties equivalent to those previously reported for prolyl endopeptidase purified from other sources. By HPLC analysis, the cleavage of Phe8-Leu10 and Phe8 from angiotensin I and II, respectively, was detected and quantified. Monospecific IgG was prepared from serum of rabbits injected with purified enzyme. Concentration of the enzyme was immunohistochemically detected in cells which form granulomatous organization, but not in inflammatory cells surrounding the foci. The antibody, however, cross reacted with the enzyme in adjacent liver cells and weakly stained their cytoplasm. The findings indicate that this enzyme, in addition to angiotensin converting enzyme, may serve as a useful biochemical marker for granulomatous tissue reactions.

[The effect of the thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) on the motor speech disorder in spinocerebellar degeneration]

A prospective study regarding the effect of TRH on the motor speech disorder of three patients with spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), the first with hereditary cortical cerebellar atrophy, the second and third with sporadic olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy, was performed. The effect was analyzed by using speech evaluation, such as the auditory impression, the questionnaire of the consciousness for verbal communication, the phonetic evaluation and the acoustic analysis. The results of the analysis and the mechanism of the improvement of the motor speech disorder are discussed. Only the first patient showed a remarkable improvement subjectively. In addition, the improvement of phonation and articulation was demonstrated quantitatively in the evaluation of the first patient. On the other hand, by phonation analysis using VISI-PITCH, it was seen that there were a decrease in the perturbation of the voice pitch and an increase in voice range in all three patients. Therefore, it was concluded that the improvement of phonation plays a major role in the improvement of the motor speech disorder. Such improvement of the phonation seems to have resulted from the improvement of coordination, mainly due to the normalization of the muscle tone of the larynx by TRH administration. Although a remarkable beneficial effect of TRH may be obtained in exceptional patients of SCD, the mechanism of such an effect of TRH should be more extensively studied using the quantitative clinical evaluation of phonation and articulation.

Concentrations of monoamines and their metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type and vascular dementia of the Binswanger type

We measured the concentrations of total (conjugated and unconjugated) monoamines (dopamine, DA; norepinephrine, NE) and monoamine metabolites (homovanillic acid, HVA; 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyleneglycol, MHPG; 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), using HPLC-ECD in 11 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or senile dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT), 17 patients with vascular dementia of the Binswanger type (VDBT), and 15 controls. In AD/SDAT, there was a significant decrease in the DA concentration and a significant increase in the MHPG concentration. The average NE concentration was not altered, but significantly increased with the progression of intellectual disability. There were no significant changes in HVA and 5-HIAA concentrations. Patients with VDBT showed a significant increase in the DA concentration and a significant decrease in HVA and 5-HIAA concentrations. The DA concentrations increased significantly with the progression of dementia and ventricular enlargement. These results indicate that the noradrenergic and dopaminergic system in particular are altered in AD/SDAT, while the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems are mainly involved in VDBT.

A new rat mutant with chronic conjugated hyperbilirubinemia and renal glomerular lesions

A new mutant strain of inbred Sprague Dawley rats with autosomal recessive hyperbilirubinuria, were studied by biochemical, histologic, and ultrastructural methods. The plasma bilirubin concentration in the homozygote was significantly higher than that of the heterozygote, and about 80% of the bilirubin was conjugated. Plasma BSP and ICG clearance were both severely delayed in the homozygote. Plasma BSP elimination kinetics suggested that the pathophysiologic defect was not hepatic uptake or storage but rather in secretion into bile. Histopathology of the liver demonstrated brown pigment in the hepatocytes that appeared to be lipofuscin. The electron microscopic features of the hepatic pigment resembled those of the Dubin-Johnson syndrome. Homozygote histopathology also revealed glomerular lesions with mesangial expansion and proliferation in the kidneys. Immunohistologic studies disclosed mesangial granular deposition of IgG, IgA, and to a lesser degree, IgM and C3. These renal changes resembled those of IgA nephropathy. The spontaneous hyperbilirubinuric rat (EHBR) may be a useful animal model for studying constitutive conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, bilirubin metabolism, cholestasis, and glomerulonephropathy subsequent to hepatic dysfunction.

Sperabillins, new antibacterial antibiotics with potent in vivo activity. Taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activity

A Gram-negative bacterium was found to produce new antibacterial antibiotics, sperabillins A, B, C and D, and the producing bacterium was characterized and identified as Pseudomonas fluorescens YK-437. Sperabillins were isolated by column chromatographies using cation-exchange resins, activated carbon and cation-exchange Sephadex, and preparative reverse-phase HPLC. Sperabillins showed antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including antibiotic-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Sperabillin A inhibited DNA, RNA, protein, and cell wall biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Sperabillins showed good protective effects in experimentally infected mice.

Angiographic management of massive hemobilia due to iatrogenic trauma

Ten patients with massive hemobilia in shock or preshock status were treated with angiography. The hemobilia had been induced by iatrogenic trauma: biliary drainage in seven patients, and surgery, liver biopsy, and angiography in one patient each. Angiography was performed on all patients. Embolization was performed in nine, and in the one remaining patient, spasm of the right anterior hepatic artery and catheter manipulation injured the intima and obliterated the artery. In seven patients with hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm, gelfoam particles were injected in five, however, extravasation could not be prevented in four of these patients. Permanent embolic materials were added and complete hemostatis was obtained. Hemobilia never recurred in any patient. Emergency embolization should be considered as the initial treatment of choice for hemobilia and when pseudoaneurysms are discovered, they should be obliterated by permanent embolic materials. Moreover, tumor thrombus in the portal vein is not a contraindication for this procedure.

The significance of 3-O-methyldopa concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid in the pathogenesis of wearing-off phenomenon in Parkinson's disease

We determined concentrations of 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD), L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), dopamine (DA) and other related substances in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) 15 h after L-dopa/carbidopa medication, and compared patients with and without the wearing-off phenomenon. Concentrations of 3-OMD significantly increased, and the ratio of DA to 3-OMD was significantly shifted in favor of 3-OMD in patients with the wearing-off compared with patients without the wearing-off. However, concentrations of L-dopa, DA, and homovanillic acid (HVA) were not different between the groups. These results suggest that even if 3-OMD is related to the pathogenesis of the wearing-off, it is not through competition with L-dopa for uptake into the brain, but through other unknown mechanisms within the brain.

[A case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome developed in liver cirrhosis patient addicted to alcohol]

A 55-year-old man with addiction of alcohol was admitted to our hospital with hematoemesis. After admission, the rupture of esophageal varices was observed and it was treated with endoscopic injection sclerotherapy. On the 3rd hospital day, the patient showed alcohol withdrawal syndrome and therefore haloperidol was administered intramuscularly and intravenously. After a half day of this treatment, high fever, diaphoresis, hypotension, tachycardia, muscular rigidity and tremor developed. With the laboratory data including high serum levels of CK, LDH, GOT and GPT, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) was suspected. Regardless of intensive care, hepatic failure, DIC and acute renal failure promptly developed, and he died on the 11th hospital day. Neuroleptics may cause serious side effects, such as NMS, when the physical status of patients was deteriorated. Especially in exhausted patient such as our case, even the small dose of neuroleptics caused NMS within short term. Thus, it seemed to be important for clinicians to pay attention to choice of neuroleptics.

Concentrations of tyrosine, L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopamine, and 3-O-methyldopa in the cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease

We determined the concentrations of tyrosine, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), dopamine (DA), and 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of parkinsonian patients and elevated potential interactions between the substances. We found a significant increase in tyrosine, and a significant decrease in DOPA, DA, and 3-OMD. We also found that for a given concentration of DOPA, DA and 3-OMD were proportional. In addition, the ratio of DA to 3-OMD was significantly shifted in favor of DA in parkinsonian patients.

A significant reduction of putative transmitter amino acids in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease and spinocerebellar degeneration

We evaluated the concentrations of the putative transmitter amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid, and found a significant reduction of glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glycine concentrations in parkinsonian patients. There was no difference in amino acid concentrations between parkinsonian patients receiving L-DOPA and those not receiving L-DOPA. A similar decrease of glutamate and aspartate concentrations was found in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration. Concentrations of asparagine, glycine and taurine were also significantly decreased in patients with late cortical cerebellar atrophy.

An improved noninfectious murine skin model of organized granulomatous inflammation

An improved model of granulomatous inflammation in skin was developed by second passage skin grafting of isolated, lyophilized skin granulomas, originally elicited in naive mice by inoculations of lyophilized hepatic schistosome egg granulomas. The tissue reaction is caused by a single exposure to a noninfectious, acellular granulomagenic stimulus and occurs in healthy mice free of systemic disease. The model should prove useful for isolation of granuloma initiation factor(s). Furthermore, because there is a time lag before new granuloma formation begins, a window exists for analytical dissection of the initiation process. In this study we described the responses of host cells by autoradiography, and light and electron microscopy. The activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme and proline-specific endopeptidase showed a modulation during granuloma formation. In addition we found that severe immunosuppression with high dose cyclosporine therapy did not alter granuloma formation, supporting the idea that initiation of organized granulomas is T-cell independent.

Reactivity for prostaglandins and inhibition by nonsteridal anti-inflammatory drugs of rabbit liver befunolol reductase

Befunolol (BF) reductase with 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, which was purified from rabbit liver, catalyzed the oxidoreduction of prostaglandins, indicating that this enzyme has broad substrate specificities for endogenous substances. BF reductase was strongly inhibited by a variety of nonsteridal anti-inflammatory drugs and then a significant correlation was observed between the logarithms of IC50 (concentration required to produce 50% inhibition of BF reductase activity) values and the maximal daily human doses for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These results suggest that the pharmacological potency of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be predicted from the degree of inhibition of BF reductase by these drugs.

Inhibitory effect of acyclic retinoid (polyprenoic acid) on the secretion of alpha-fetoprotein in CCl4-treated rats

A study was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of acyclic retinoid (polyprenoic acid) on the secretion of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in rats with chronic liver damage induced by CCl4. Oral administration of the compound brought about a significant reduction of serum AFP levels at the time when liver cirrhosis was formed. Acyclic retinoid also decreased the activities of serum aminotransferases and ornithine carbamyl transferase, while it increased serum albumin levels, demonstrating the reduction of hepatic parenchymal damage. Significant negative correlation was observed between serum AFP and albumin levels. This cytoprotective effect of the retinoid on the parenchymal cell may well be related to the inhibition of the synthesis and/or secretion of AFP. No significant side effect was observed, despite a long-term administration of the compound. The present finding will provide a potential scope for the future use of acyclic retinoid for the treatment of chronic liver damage.

Effect of a synthetic norepinephrine precursor, L-threo-3,4- dihydroxyphenylserine on the total norepinephrine concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid of parkinsonian patients

We studied the effect of a synthetic norepinephrine precursor, L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-threo-DOPS) on the total (conjugated and unconjugated) norepinephrine concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 6 parkinsonian patients with freezing phenomenon. The total norepinephrine concentrations in the CSF increased from 5- to 75-fold after treatment with L-threo-DOPS. The degree of increase in the norepinephrine (NE) concentrations was closely correlated to the dosage of L-threo-DOPS. The freezing phenomenon improved in 3 out of 6 patients.

Inhibitory effect of acyclic retinoid (polyprenoic acid) on hepatic fibrosis in CCl4-treated rats

A study was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of acyclic retinoid (polyprenoic acid) on the development of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 in rats. Oral administration of the compound brought about a significant reduction in both serum and tissue levels of immunoreactive prolyl hydroxylase, a key enzyme of collagen formation. The result indicated that the rate of collagen synthesis in the liver was decreased which was consistent with histological findings. Acyclic retinoid also decreased both AST and ALT activities in serum, demonstrating the reduction in hepatic parenchymal damage. This cytoprotective effect on parenchymal cells may be related, at least in part, to inhibition of hepatic fibrosis. No significant side effects were observed, despite a long-term administration of the acyclic retinoid. The present findings suggest the potential scope of therapy of hepatic fibrosis by retinoid.

Fosfadecin and fosfocytocin, new nucleotide antibiotics produced by bacteria

Two new nucleotide antibiotics, fosfadecin and fosfocytocin, have been isolated from the culture filtrates of Pseudomonas viridiflava PK-5 and Pseudomonas fluorescens PK-52, respectively. These antibiotics were purified by column chromatographies using adsorption, gel filtration and ion exchange resins. On the basis of the spectroscopic and degradation studies, the chemical structures of fosfadecin and fosfocytocin were determined. These antibiotics were either enzymatically or chemically hydrolyzed to generate fosfomycin and a new antibiotic, fosfoxacin, which are also produced in the culture filtrates. They showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activity of these nucleotide antibiotics was weaker than that of fosfomycin and fosfoxacin.

Determination of tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine by second derivative spectrophotometry

Second derivative spectrophotometry has been useful for the determination of aromatic amino acids. However, published methods produce erroneous results, because those methods measure second derivative values by the vertical distance between peak and trough which is subject to variation according to the aromatic amino acid composition of proteins. This paper presents a method of second derivative spectrophotometry which measures second derivative absorbance values by means of the vertical distance from baseline to the derivative curve at a wavelength specifically assigned to each aromatic amino acid, and makes corrections for the interference from other amino acids at the same wavelength. The Appendix describes a computational method for obtaining absolute values of second derivative absorbances directly from normal absorbance values without using the spectrophotometer's derivative mode, because most commercial instruments produce completely arbitrary second derivative values which make comparison of data obtained on two different instruments impossible.

Kinetics of befunolol reductase from rabbit liver

The kinetic mechanism for the reduction of befunolol catalyzed by befunolol reductase from rabbit liver was investigated. From the initial velocity analysis, product inhibition and coenzyme binding studies, the reduction of befunolol was found to proceed through an ordered Bi Bi mechanism, in which beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH) binds to the enzyme firstly and NADP+ leaves lastly. NADPH bound to the free enzyme at a molar ratio of 1:1. Furthermore, the result of dead-end inhibition by Cibacron blue F3GA, a nucleotide analogue which binds to many enzymes, was consistent with the ordered Bi Bi mechanism for the enzyme.

Purification and characterization of befunolol reductase from rabbit liver

An enzyme (befunolol reductase) which catalyzes the reduction of befunolol to dihydrobefunolol was purified from the cytosolic fraction of rabbit liver to homogeneity by various chromatographic techniques. Befunolol reductase had molecular weights of 29000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 34000 on gel filtration. The enzyme required reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as a cofactor and showed an optimal pH of 6.5. The apparent Km and Vmax values of the enzyme for the reduction of befunolol were 1.7 mM and 4.4 units/mg, respectively. Flavonoids, sulfhydryl reagents, heavy metals and coumarins strongly inhibited the enzyme. The enzyme catalyzed the reduction of a variety of aromatic ketones. In addition to befunolol, some ketone-containing drugs such as daunorubicin and levobunolol were efficiently reduced by the enzyme. On the basis of substrate specificities for steroids, befunolol reductase purified from the cytosolic fraction of rabbit liver appeared to be a 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Lactivicin, a naturally occurring non-beta-lactam antibiotic having beta-lactam-like action: biological activities and mode of action

Lactivicin is moderately active against a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria and highly active against Gram-positive bacteria. It shows various biological activities commonly observed with beta-lactam antibiotics, such as higher activity against beta-lactam hypersensitive mutants than against their parents, sensitivity to beta-lactamases, inhibitory activity against beta-lactamases and ability to induce beta-lactamase activity. The primary lethal target of lactivicin in Escherichia coli is highly likely to be penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 1; lactivicin strongly lysed E. coli cells with induction of spheroplasts at its MIC, and showed high affinity for PBPs 1A and 1B. At concentrations above x 5 MIC, however, lactivicin dominantly exhibited secondary antibacterial action possibly owing to inhibition of crucial SH proteins engaged in the fundamental membrane functions. In contrast, against Bacillus subtilis, lactivicin showed the typical beta-lactam action under a wide range of concentrations. It showed high affinity for PBPs 1, 2 and 4, the possible lethal targets of beta-lactam antibiotics in this organism. In conclusion, lactivicin is the first non-beta-lactam antibiotic showing beta-lactam action through binding to PBPs.

Binding of a non-beta-lactam antibiotic to penicillin-binding proteins

In the search for new beta-lactam antibiotics of natural origin, the discoveries of cephamycins and sulfazecins (monobactams) were important turning points in that they accelerated many screening efforts aimed at other new compounds. In our target-directed screening for beta-lactam antibiotics using beta-lactam hypersensitive mutants, we have examined Gram-negative bacteria isolated from natural habitats and have recently reported several types of beta-lactam antibiotics such as cephabacins and formadicins. Here we report a novel antibiotic, lactivicin, found using this system. Although lactivicin has various biological activities commonly observed in beta-lactam antibiotics, it does not possess a beta-lactam ring in its molecule, but has the unique structure of a dicyclic dipeptide.