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).

[Comparing development with physical fitness, motor ability, and health of children among various living environment]

This study had the purpose to compare with development of fitness, motor ability and health among various living environments of the sea-side, the urban, and the mountain districts, where were situated at Nadachi town on the suburbs of Niigata Prefecture. Five hundred thirty-five children (aged 4-15 yrs) were measured at the kindergarten, the fundamental school, and the junior high school. Measuring items of the physique were the height, the weight, the chest circumference, the sitting height, and the foot area. Physical fitness tests were the muscular grip-strength, the lung vital capacity, the closed-eye single-leg balance, the dipping time of the upper extremity, the vertical jump, the standing trunk flexibility, the endurance run, and pull-up. And, motor ability tests were the finger tapping, 5m shuttle run, 50m dash, and the ball throwing. As items of health inspection, the blood pressure (systolic and diasystolic) and the visual ability were adopted. As results of this study, following data were obtained; 1) At the sea-side environment, development of the muscle power, the respiratory function, and the physique were showed much faster rate of growth at the childhood than that of the other ones, significantly (P less than 0.01). 2) At the mountain environment, the arch-bend of the foot print only were appeared larger areas than that of the other ones, significantly (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biological activity of 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the chick

A newly synthesized fluorinated analogue of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), 26,26,26,27,27,27-hexafluoro-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (26,27-F6-1,25-(OH)2D3) has been compared with 1,25(OH)2D3 as to its biological activity in vitamin D-deficient chicks. One day-old, white Leghorn cockerels were fed a rachitogenic diet for 5 weeks. They were then given vehicle or 32.5, 130 or 325 pmol of 26,27-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 or 1,25(OH)2D3 in a solution of propylenglycol:ethanol (95:5 v/v) sc every day for 2 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last dose, the animals were sacrificed and their femurs were removed. 26,27-F6-1,25(OH)2D3 was more active than 1,25(OH)2D3 in stimulating growth, healing of rachitic cartilage visualized by soft X-ray radiography, elevation of serum inorganic phosphorus, and mineralization of rachitic bone. These biological differences between two compounds were observed only for the dose of 130 pmol. However, this fluorinated compound has less binding ability than 1,25(OH)2D3 to fetal chick intestinal cytosol receptors. The mechanism of the higher potency of this analogue is still unknown, but its affinity to the 1,25(OH)2D3 receptor does not account for the higher activity. Since 26-hydroxylation can be postulated as the inactivation step in vitamin D metabolism, these results suggest that the reason for increased activity of this fluorinated analogue is most likely its slower metabolism.

Relationship between the uptake of calcium or phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity induced by certain modulators in rat organs

The effects of phorbol ester or calmodulin on the calcium and phosphorus uptakes by rat tissues and their relationship to the alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) were investigated in vivo. In rat tissues, ALP activity and calcium uptake in the duodenum and liver were clearly induced by phorbol ester treatment, whereas in the calvarium and ileum they were decreased. Phosphorus uptake was increased by the administration of phorbol ester only in the calvarium. In rats pretreated with an injection of indomethacin as an inhibitor of prostaglandin-synthesizing enzyme, the selective uptake of calcium by phorbol ester was eliminated in the duodenum and liver, as was the ALP activity. In contrast, rats showed a marked increase in ALP activity in the ileum after calmodulin treatment. Moreover, the increased uptake of calcium after calmodulin treatment was clearly seen in the ileum, calvarium, and kidney, and an increased uptake in phosphorus was seen in the duodenum, ileum, and calvarium, but not in kidney. Furthermore, prior injection of W-7 or calmidazolium as an antagonist of calmodulin, reduced the increased ALP activities and the uptake of calcium in all organs tested, but did not reduce the increased phosphorus uptake by the calvarium. Consequently, it is suggested that calcium uptake under the above conditions correlated well with changes in the ALP activity; however, phosphorus uptake seemed to be less in accord with ALP activity. The amount of tested other mineral metabolic markers suggests that the Ca uptake and ALP activity induced by certain effectors regulate 1,25(OH)2D3 level by the modulation of 25(OH)D3-1 alpha-hydroxylase activity.

Primary structure of rat brain prostaglandin D synthetase deduced from cDNA sequence

The amino acid sequence of rat brain prostaglandin D synthetase (Urade, Y., Fujimoto, N., and Hayaishi, O. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 12410-12415) was determined by a combination of cDNA and protein sequencing. cDNA clones specific for this enzyme were isolated from a lambda gt11 rat brain cDNA expression library. Nucleotide sequence analyses of cloned cDNA inserts revealed that this enzyme consisted of a 564- or 549-base pair open reading frame coding for a 188- or 183-amino acid polypeptide with a Mr of 21,232 or 20,749 starting at the first or second ATG. About 60% of the deduced amino acid sequence was confirmed by partial amino acid sequencing of tryptic peptides of the purified enzyme. The recognition sequence for N-glycosylation was seen at two positions of amino acid residues 51-53 (-Asn-Ser-Ser-) and 78-80 (-Asn-Leu-Thr-) counted from the first Met. Both sites were considered to be glycosylated with carbohydrate chains of Mr 3,000, since two smaller proteins with Mr 23,000 and 20,000 were found during deglycosylation of the purified enzyme (Mr 26,000) with N-glycanase. The prostaglandin D synthetase activity was detected in fusion proteins obtained from lysogens with recombinants coding from 34 and 19 nucleotides upstream and 47 and 77 downstream from the first ATG, indicating that the glycosyl chain and about 20 amino acid residues of N terminus were not essential for the enzyme activity. The amino acid composition of the purified enzyme indicated that about 20 residues of hydrophobic amino acids of the N terminus are post-translationally deleted, probably as a signal peptide. These results, together with the immunocytochemical localization of this enzyme to rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and other nuclear membrane of oligodendrocytes (Urade, Y., Fujimoto, N., Kaneko, T., Konishi, A., Mizuno, N., and Hayaishi, O. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 15132-15136) suggest that this enzyme is a membrane-associated protein.

A case of interstitial pneumonia antedating rheumatoid arthritis

We describe a case report of an interstitial pneumonia in which pulmonary involvement of the both lower lobes mimicked idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) or bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). Its appearance antedated clinically apparent rheumatoid arthritis by one month and a half.