[Epidemiological and therapeutic studies of gonorrheal infection--clinical efficacy of sultamicillin]

We conducted an epidemiological study including analyses of background factors of 192 male and 13 female patients with gonorrheal infection in the Sapporo area and at the same time, investigated the therapeutic efficacy of sultamicillin, an ester linked prodrug of ampicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam in the treatment of these patients. The percentage of infections in Sapporo was rather high in the young generation, being as high as 13.5% in teen-age boys and 30.8% in teen-age girls, which were higher than the 6.1% and 6.3% of corresponding groups in Honshu island. The source of infections was so-called special public bath-ouse which accounted for about 31.8% of all cases which however, was lower than the 50% in Honshu island. By contrast, the percentage of their friends or so-called pick-up friends as a source of infection in Sapporo was as high as 46.9% which was significantly higher than the 19.9% in Honshu. Juveniles who had nonprostitutes of the other sex as a source of infection are a characteristic of the patients in Sapporo. The isolation rate of PPNG was 13.8%. The MIC (10(6) CFU/ml) of sultamicillin ranged from 0.05 to 0.39 micrograms/ml in beta-lactamase non-producing strains and from 0.20 to 1.56 micrograms/ml in beta-lactamase producing strains showing no trend of higher MIC against beta-lactamase producing strains. There was almost no difference in the efficacy of sultamicillin between a daily dose of 750 mg (2 tablets) and 1125 mg (3 tablets) nor in side effects. The eradication rate (efficacy rate) of gonococcus following a 3-day therapy was 96.2% (38.9% excellent cure rate) in male patients and 83.3% (8.3%) in female patients. In 31% of the male patients who underwent a 7-day therapy, residual serous secretion was found though some inaccuracy is involved in this data since dropouts were not counted. This suggests the need of concurrent therapy with other appropriate drugs in consideration of possible mixed infection involving Chlamydia trachomatis or other microorganisms.

[Epidemiologic and therapeutic study on gonorrheal infections--one shot therapy by aztreonam]

A clinical study of a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, AZTREONAM (hereafter referred to as AZT) for gonorrheal infections as well as epidemiologic study of gonorrheal infections were made Epidemiology: There was a reflection of the increasing sexual activity of the younger generation; both male and female patients in their twenties were most frequent (male 49.5%, female 43.7%) and the percent of teen age patients was 15.1% (male) and 34.4% (female). Forty two strains (17.2%) out of 244 clinically isolated gonococci were PPNG. Residue of serious secretion was observed in a little less than 20% suggesting a complication by Chlamydia trachomatis. Clinical Result: One shot (1-2 g) therapy by AZT was given to 244 gonorrheal infection cases (212 urethritis cases of males. 32 cervicitis cases of females) with the following highly effective rate. Although beta-lactamase producing MIC of AZT at 10(6) CFU/ml showed a peak of 0.025 microgram/ml and ranged between less than 0.0125 microgram/ml to 0.2 microgram/ml. The time required for the elimination of gonococci was studied by the administration of 1 g and 2 g AZT. Gonococci became extinct in 1-8 hours or 4-4.5 hours on average. The difference between n 1 g and 2 g was scarcely observed. Clinical effect of 1 g one shot and 2 g one shot AZT was examined on the 3rd treatment day for 244 male and females cases. The effective rate was high; 90.7% by 1 g, 97.1% by 2 g for male urethritis, 100% by 1 g also by 2 g for female cervicitis. This therapeutic efficacy was kept even in PPNG, isolated cases. There were two side effects (0.8%), one case each of numbness and, redness and swelling of both hands, out of 244 cases, but both of them were minor ones without clinical complication.

General recombination mechanisms in extracts of meiotic cells

RecA-like proteins have been purified from somatic and meiotic cells of mouse and lily. The rec proteins have been designated "s-rec" and "m-rec" to indicate their respective tissues of origin. The two proteins differ in molecular weight and in their response to temperature, the latter being consistent with the optimal temperature for physiological function of their tissues of origin. There is a major increase in m-rec protein with the entry of cells into meiosis, the peak of activity being early pachytene. Extracts of the cells and also those of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) have been prepared that have the capacity to catalyze homologous recombination. These extracts behave similarly to the m-rec proteins upon entry of cells into meiosis. Yeast transferred to sporulation medium displays a 100-fold increase in the recombination activity of the extract at about the time of entry into meiosis. The occurrence of peak levels of m-rec and recombination activity in extracts from cells in early pachytene points strongly to that stage as the time at which the enzymatic phase of recombination occurs.

[Effect of UFT on urinary bladder tumors in rats induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine]

The effect of combined tegafur and uracil (UFT) on the development of rat urinary bladder tumors induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) was studied. Two hundred F344 male rats were divided into 10 groups. Groups 1 to 5 were given 0.05% BBN in drinking water for the initial 8 weeks of the experiment, and Groups 6 to 10 were the controls of the prior 5 groups treated with BBN. UFT in commercial diet was administered at daily doses of 100mg (30.9 mg as FT-207) per kg of body weight in Groups 2 and 4 and 200 mg (61.7 mg as FT-207) per kg of body weight in Groups 3 and 5. Groups 2 and 3 received UFT throughout the period of the experiment, and Groups 4 and 5 for 12 weeks after 8 week treatment with BBN. All animals were sacrificed at 20 weeks, and studied histopathologically. In Groups 1 to 5, urinary bladder tumors developed in 20 of 20, 13 of 20, 6 of 20, 14 of 20 and 6 of 20, respectively. Incidences of tumors in the 4 groups treated with UFT were significantly lower than that in Group 1 treated with BBN alone. This result shows that UFT inhibits the development of urinary bladder tumors in rats induced by BBN.

Simple, rapid cleanup method for analysis of aflatoxins and comparison with various methods

A method is described for simple and rapid determination of aflatoxins in corn, buckwheat, peanuts, and cheese. Aflatoxins were extracted with chloroform-water and were purified by a Florisil column chromatographic procedure. Column eluates were concentrated and spotted on a high performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) plate, which was then developed in chloroform-acetone (9 + 1) and/or ether-methanol-water (94 + 4.5 + 1.5) or chloroform-isopropanol-acetone (85 + 5 + 10). Each aflatoxin was quantitated by densitometry. The minimum detectable aflatoxin concentrations (micrograms/kg) in various test materials were 0.2, B1; 0.1, B2; 0.2, G1; 0.1, G2; and 0.1, M1. Recoveries of the aflatoxins added to corn, peanut, and cheese samples at 10-30 micrograms/kg were greater than 69% (aflatoxin G2) and averaged 91%, B1; 89%, B2; 91%, G1; 78%, G2; and 92%, M1. The simple method described was compared with the AOAC CB method, AOAC BF method, and AOAC milk and cheese method. These methods were applied to corn, peanut, and cheese composites spiked with known amounts of aflatoxins, and to naturally contaminated buckwheat and cheese. Recoveries were much lower for the BF method compared with our simple method and the CB method.

Meiosis-specific transcripts of a DNA component replicated during chromosome pairing: homology across the phylogenetic spectrum

In meiotic cells of Lilium, a group of single or low copy number DNA sequences that constitute about 0.1-0.2% of the genome do not replicate during the premeiotic S-phase but do so at zygotene in coordination with chromosome pairing. An appreciable fraction of these sequences has now been found to be transcribed into poly(A)+ RNA when chromosomes initiate the pairing process. This "zygRNA" has not been detected in nonmeiotic tissues. Even within the meiocytes, zygRNA is not detectable prior to leptotene or beyond midpachytene. S1 nuclease digestion of mouse spermatocyte nuclei selectively released zygDNA, which hybridizes with lily zygRNA. zygRNA has not been detected in mouse somatic tissues. The profile of zygRNA formation and disappearance in mouse spermatocytes is very similar to that of zygRNA in lily meiocytes.

[Clinical study of lumbar spinal canal stenosis on 70 operated cases --clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, operative method, postoperative results]

In surgical treatment of lumbar spinal canal stenosis, the stenotic area related to the clinical symptoms was determined and the stenotic form and stenotic factors in this stenotic area were estimated before operation. The most appropriate decompression of the stenotic area was performed taking the stenotic form into consideration and retaining the spinous process and interspinous ligament. In cases of stenosis of the spinal canal, posterolateral decompression of the dural sheath was performed by means of resection of the medial edge of the bilateral inferior articular processes and the yellow ligaments. In cases of stenosis of the spinal canal associated with stenosis of the lateral recess, the root was decompressed by unroofing the lateral recess in addition to posterolateral decompression of the dural sheath. And in cases with stenosis of the lateral recess, the root in an affected area was decompressed. Neither operation on the intervertebral disc nor incision of the dural sheath was performed. After operation as described above, symptoms, operative findings and postoperative results were investigated in 70 cases which could be directly examined. In this paper we discuss the relationship between the symptoms and the stenotic area, stenotic forms and stenotic factors. When our postoperative results were compared with those of cases with extensive laminectomy, it was seen that none of the patients we treated had low back pain nor recurrence of intermittent claudication and that lessening of paralysis was sufficient.

[Experience of renal autotransplantation]

We present 2 cases with renovascular hypertension treated by renal autotransplantation and 3 cases with extensive renal calculi treated by renal bench surgery and autotransplantation. The cases with renovascular hypertension were due to fibromuscular dysplasia in the trunk of renal artery, and return to normotension and improvement of renal function were obtained within a few days after the operation. In 2 of the cases with extensive renal calculi, the contralateral kidney was contracted. In all cases, the stones were removed completely and urinary tract infection persisting before operation was eradicated. The postoperative renal function was well preserved and no recurrence of renal calculi was observed throughout the follow up period. The indication of renal bench surgery and autotransplantation was discussed both for renal calculi and renovascular hypertension.

[A clinical observation on pyeloplasty in obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction. Special consideration on Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty]

Thirty-three patients (thirty-five kidneys) underwent pyeloplasty for hydronephrosis due to obstruction of ureteropelvic junction between 1963 and 1982 in our department. Renal function was judged to have improved in 68 and 67% of the patients from the radiogram and radioisotope renogram, respectively, Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty was performed on 27 kidneys. In these kidneys, the improvement of renal function as judged from the radiogram and radioisotope renogram was 74 and 71%, respectively. Postoperative results were compared according to age, preoperative urinary tract infection (UTI), indwelling periods of nephrostomy and splint catheter, and duration of postoperative UTI. In addition the relationship between indwelling periods of nephrostomy catheter and the duration of postoperative UTI are discussed. Infants under 10 years old had the best improvement. Preoperative UTI and indwelling periods of nephrostomy and splint catheter were not directly related with post operative results. The cases with nephrostomy catheter which could be removed within the 16th day after operation had excellent improvement on UTI and also in renal function.

Replication and nicking of zygotene DNA sequences. Control by a meiosis-specific protein

A protein having a molecular weight of 73,000 daltons has been purified from the nuclear membranes of preleptotene, leptotene, and zygotene cells. It has been named the leptotene protein (L-protein) because of its role in suppressing the replication of zygotene DNA sequences through leptotene until the initiation of zygotene DNA synthesis. The protein has been found to be highly specific in its inhibitory activity. S-phase replication in somatic nuclei and in microspore nuclei are unaffected by the protein. Only zygotene DNA sequences appear to be affected. L-protein binds specifically to zygotene DNA. The binding is limited to a relatively short DNA segment, probably no longer than 90 base pairs (bp). Chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA do not bind to the protein, but a low level of binding is displayed by DNA from several other eukaryotic species. The L-protein also has the capacity to nick the bound DNA in the presence of ATP. Nicking does not occur in the absence of binding. Using supercoiled plasmids with zygotene DNA inserts as substrates, the nicking has been found to be confined to a small region of the plasmid and to occur in only one of the strands. The L-protein is considered to be one of the principal factors responsible for the irreversible commitment of cells to meiosis at the end of the preleptotene S-phase. It is also proposed that its endonucleolytic activity plays a role in the initiation of synapsis.

Rapid induction of carcinoma in situ in dog urinary bladder by sequential treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea and N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine

A highly atypical intraepithelial proliferation, which was interpreted as carcinoma in situ, developed in the urinary bladder of 2 beagle dogs after repeated intravesical instillations of N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea followed by oral administration of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine. The latent period was 37 weeks. The technique may provide a useful model to study the natural history of bladder cancer, particularly carcinoma in situ.

Purification and characterization of alpha-glucosidases produced by Saccharomyces in response to three distinct maltose genes

alpha-Glucosidases or maltases (EC 3.2.1.20) were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from a respective strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which carries a single MAL gene, either MAL alpha, MAL beta, or MAL gamma, using gluconate-Sepharose affinity chromatography and isoelectrofocusing. Of these maltases, two types of maltase were obtained from the MAL gamma strain, the pI values of which were 5.6 and 5.9. From the MAL alpha and MAL beta strain was obtained only one type of maltase with the pI at 5.6 which was identical to one of the maltases from the MAL gamma strain. These four maltases possessed the same properties, except for pI. They were monomers with molecular weights of between 66 000 and 67 000. With regard to the substrate specificity, they hydrolyzed maltose and sucrose exclusively but not alpha-methylglucoside nor maltooligosaccharide. They did not differ in immunological properties.

[Central nervous system irradiation for children with leukemia]

Between 1972 and 1981, 247 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with prophylactic CNS irradiation. Cranial irradiation (2400 rad) plus intrathecal methotrexate was the prophylactic CNS therapy of choice. At 5 years, the overall, relapse-free and CNS relapse-free survival rates were 51%, 47% and 79%, respectively. Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to the inferior border of the radiation field, since the anterior and middle cranial fossae were sometimes not included and the second spine was almost always excluded.

[Epidemiological and therapeutic studies of gonorrheal infections (I)--clinical efficacy of long acting amoxicillin (L-AMPC)]

During the period from October of 1981 through March of 1982, our research group in Sapporo treated 178 patients (158 males and 20 females) for gonorrheal infections. We performed epidemiological and therapeutic studies on these patients. The youngest of the 158 male patients with acute gonorrheal urethritis was 15 years old. The age distribution was 32 patients (20.3%) under 20 years, 46 patients (29.1%) aged 20 to 24, 34 patients (21.5%) aged 25 to 29, 22 patients (13.9%) aged 30 to 34, 10 patients (6.3%) aged 35 to 39, and 14 patients (8.9%) aged 40 to 54. The fact that 20% of gonorrheal urethritis occurred in youths under 20 years of age, is especially noteworthy. The infection in the teenage boys was found to be picked up mostly from girls met at discos , etc., On the other hand, the patients in their 20s, were infected more frequently by contact with hostesses at massage parlors and bars, these sources making up the majority of male patients who were 25 years or older. These findings are quite interesting because they reflect the socio-economic status of the patients. In addition, the fact that hostesses working at massage parlors are a frequent source of gonorrheal urethritis infections can represent a considerable problem in terms of public hygiene. The 20 female patients with gonorrheal infections were all found to be cases of cervicitis, except for a 1-year-old girl with gonorrheal infection of external genitals. The fact that about half of these female patients were teenagers, aged 16 to 19 years is worth special note. The duration of the latent period was less than 5 days in 83 male patients (58.9%) with urethritis, 6 approximately 10 days in 39 patients (27.7%), 11 approximately 20 days in 13 patients (9.2%), 21 approximately 30 days in 4 patients (2.8%), and over 30 days in 2 patients (1.4%), It can thus be said that the number of cases showing a long incubation period is increasing. The MICs of 154 gonococci strains isolated from the urethral or vaginal discharge were determined. Thirteen (8.4%) of these clinically isolated strains were found to be beta-lactamase producers. When a bacterial inoculation level of 10(6) cells/ml was used in the in vitro MIC determination, the MIC was 1.56 micrograms/ml or higher for 12 of these beta-lactamase-producing strains; the MIC of the 13th strain was 0.78 microgram/ml. At the same time, the MICs of these beta-lactamase-producing strains to doxycycline were also high; 1.56 micrograms/ml or higher.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The 245 base-pair oriC sequence of the E. coli chromosome directs bidirectional replication at an adjacent region

The replication origin of the E. coli K-12 chromosome has been isolated as autonomously replicating molecules(oriC plasmid), and the DNA region essential for replicating function(oriC) has been localized to a sequence of 232-245 base-pairs(bp) by deletion analysis. In this report, the functional role of oriC was analysed by using an in vitro replication system and various OriC+ and OriC- plasmids previously constructed. The results obtained were summarized as follows: (1) The oriC sequence contained information enough to direct bidirectional replication. (2) The actual DNA replication began at a region near, but outside, oriC and progressed bidirectionally. (3) Initiation of DNA synthesis at the specific region required the dnaA-complementing fraction from cells harboring a dnaA-carrying plasmid.

Nucleotide sequences of the 5S ribosomal RNA genes and their adjacent regions in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

The organization of 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes in the genome of Schizosaccharomyces pombe has been investigated by restriction and hybridization analyses. The 5S rRNA genes were not linked to the other three species of rRNA genes which formed a repeating unit of 6.9 megadaltons, but located in other regions surrounded by heterogeneous sequences. The 5S rRNA gene organization in S. pombe is therefore different from those in other yeasts; Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Torulopsis utilis. Four restriction segments of different sizes each containing a single 5S rRNA gene were cloned on a bacterial plasmid, and the sequences in and around the RNA coding regions were determined. In the RNA coding regions, the sequences in four clones were identical with an exception that one residue has been substituted in one clone. In the flanking regions, the sequences were extremely rich in the AT-content and highly heterogeneous. The sequences were also markedly different from those in the corresponding regions of the other two yeasts. THe presence of T-clusters in the regions immediately after the RNA coding sequences was only notable homology among the four clones and the other two yeasts.

Structure of the 5-S ribosomal RNA gene and its adjacent regions in Torulopsis utilis

A DNA segment spanning one repeating unit of ribosomal RNA(rRNA) genes in a yeast strain, Torulopsis utilis, has been cloned on a bacterial plasmid pBR322. The size of the cloned segment was about Mr = 8.0 x 10(6). All of the genes for the four species of rRNA were linked on it, and there was a long spacer between the 5-S and 18-S rRNA coding regions. The nucleotide sequences of the regions flanking the 5-S rRNA gene were determined and compared with those in the corresponding regions of Sacharomyces cerevisiae [Valenzuela, P., Bell, G. I., Masiarz, F. R., DeGennaro, L. J., and Rutter, W. J. (1977) Nature, 267, 641-643; Maxam A. M., Tizard, R., Skryabin, K. G., and Gilbert, W. (1977) Nature, 267, 643-645]. The sequence of the T. utilis 5-S rRNA is identical with that of S. cerevisiae except for two residues at positions 18 and 61. However, its upstream region contained a quite different sequence, and a sequence which showed some homology was only found at positions -21 to -28. The sequences were d(T-G-T-A-A-C-C-T) in T. utilis and d(T-A-T-C-A-C-C-T) in S. cerevisiae. Although the presence of various repeat sequences having the same or opposite directions was noted, these repeats occurred at different positions in the two yeast species. In the downstream region, the common sequence was only seven dT deoxynucleotides, which occurred immediately after the 5-S rRNA coding sequence. Significant direct and inverted repeat sequences were found in T. utilis, but such repeats are not seen in S. cerevisiae.

The clustered and scrambled arrangement of moderately repetitive elements in Drosophila DNA

An examination of cloned Drosophila DNA has revealed large clusters of densely spaced, short (less than or equal to 1 kb), moderately repetitive elements. Different clusters have many of the same repetitive elements, but these elements are arranged differently in each cluster. It is improbable that this clustered arrangement can be detected by conventional reassociation kinetic and electron microscopic techniques, but it can be detected and features of its fine structure can be determined by a two-dimensional version of Southern's blotting technique. The genomic organization of these clustered repetitive elements was investigated by hybridizing restriction fragments of cloned DNA to polytene chromosomes, to filter-bound recombinant DNA clones and to Southern blots of total Drosophila DNA. These studies demonstrated that clusters occur in euchromatic regions of the chromosomes and that at least one of the clusters has the same repetitive element organization in cloned and in chromosomal DNA. These studies also demonstrated that copies of the elements from one cluster are scattered in at least 1000 chromosomal regions. These regions appear to have differing concentrations of repetitive DNA, but together they account for a large fraction of Drosophila's moderately repetitive DNA. Aside from indicating the genomic organization of cluster elements, this work has identified cluster elements throughout a 9 kb region neighboring one of the heat shock genes, throughout the intron of the major rDNA repeat and within the apparently transposable element, 412.

Subsurface Currents in the Strait of Georgia, West of Sturgeon Bank

Spectral characteristics of subsurface currents and temperature records spanning 310–533 days from the Strait of Georgia near Sturgeon Bank are examined. Of particular interest are low-frequency fluctuations having a characteristic period of 30 days. Typically, the energy of the low-frequency and tidal currents are equal at 50 m (each about 40% of the total) and 10 and 70%, respectively, at 200 m.Low-frequency currents are observed to be baroclinic and possess a lateral length scale < 10 km. Their generation mechanisms are not identified. Low-frequency fluctuations in sea level and current have poor-to-fair coherence, while those in air pressure and current have poor coherence. Low-frequency fluctuations in wind and current have fair coherence at the eastern mooring and poor coherence at the remaining two moorings.Fluctuations in water temperature have a characteristic period of 300 days. Water temperatures at different locations generally have poor coherence except at the lowest frequencies where they are fair to good. Water temperature and current at the same location have poor coherence.Tidal currents are found to be ellipses, with the largest constituents being M2 and K1. The magnitude, shape, and orientation of the tidal current ellipses are time-dependent. Internal tides are suggested as an explanation.

Variability of Oceanographic Conditions Between Ocean Station P and Swiftsure Bank off the Pacific Coast of Canada

Oceanographic observations taken along the line between Ocean Station P (50°N, 145°W) and Swiftsure Bank (48°32′N, 125°00′W) from January 1959 through January 1962 showed that the annual variation of temperature was determined primarily by the heat exchange across the surface and only secondarily by currents. Salinity variations were related to freshwater runoff from land and the component of Ekman transport normal to the coast. Variations of depths of isopycnal surfaces appeared to be related to the curl of wind stress, except near the coast. However, the observed vertical movement of isopycnal surfaces was much larger than that calculated from the wind stress. Near the coast, the vertical movement was related to the component of Ekman transport normal to the coast.The average total transport through the section, as calculated from the curl of the wind stress, was 5.8 million metric tons per second and was directed northward. The average baroclinic flow was 13 million metric tons per second. These transports were consistent if the mean depth of no motion was at 1400 m with southward flow in the bottom portion.

An Anomalous Increase of Temperature in the Ocean off the Pacific Coast of Canada through 1957 and 1958

The temperature increase extended from the surface to nearly 500 m depth. Its progress is shown by temperature distribution on the isopycnal surface, σt = 26.60, which is in the halocline, immediately below the depth of seasonal influence. During this period the currents veered northward and strengthened. The spawning migration of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the ocean was shifted northward and delayed in association with these anomalous oceanographic conditions.