Occurrence of multiple ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate-reducing enzymes in Candida magnoliae

Multiple ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (COBE)-reducing enzymes were isolated from a cell-free extract of Candida magnoliae. A NADPH-dependent COBE-reducing enzyme, distinct from the carbonyl reductase and aldehyde reductase previously reported, was purified to homogeneity using five steps, including polyethylene glycol treatment. The relative molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 86,000 on high performance gel-permeation chromatography and 29,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme catalyzed the reduction of COBE to the corresponding (S)-alcohol with a 51% enantiomeric excess. The substrate specificity of the enzyme was different from those of the other COBE-reducing enzymes of the same strain. The partial amino acid sequences of the enzyme showed that it belongs to the short chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family. This is the first report of multiple COBE-reducing enzymes with various stereoselectivities occurring in the same strain but belonging to different (super)families.

[Lung cancer detected in a patient under age 40 treated for pneumothorax]

We report a case of lung cancer in a relatively young patient who presented pneumothorax. A 31-year-old man complaining of pressure in his left chest was admitted with left pneumothorax disclosed on X-ray film. Although pleural drainage was performed for a week, the left lung did not expand well, and surgical treatment was required. During surgery, a tumor (1.5 x 1.0 cm in size) was discovered in the upper lobe of the left lung (S3). Histopathological examination revealed that it was a large cell carcinoma. People under the age of 40 account for only a small fraction of the entire lung cancer patient population. Pneumothorax occurs together with lung cancer, especially in people under age 40. We reasoned that lung cancer should be considered a possible complication in patients under 40 who experience recurrent or prolonged bouts of pneumothorax.

Genotype phenotype correlation in achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia

Recent studies of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene have established that achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia are allelic disorders of different mutations.

To determine whether the genotype could be distinguished on the basis of the phenotype, we analysed height, arm span, and skeletal radiographs from 23 patients with achondroplasia and the G380R mutation of FGFR3 and eight with hypochondroplasia and the N540K mutation. Both conditions share the classical pathological features of micromelic short stature, reduced or unchanged interpedicular distances in the lumbar spine, disproportionately long fibulae, and squared and shortened pelvic ilia. These were significantly more severe in the G380R patients than in the N540K patients.

Our findings have shown a firm statistical correlation between the genotype and the phenotype, although there were a few exceptional cases in which there was phenotypic overlap between the two conditions.

Genotype phenotype correlation in achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia

Recent studies of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene have established that achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia are allelic disorders of different mutations. To determine whether the genotype could be distinguished on the basis of the phenotype, we analysed height, arm span, and skeletal radiographs from 23 patients with achondroplasia and the G380R mutation of FGFR3 and eight with hypochondroplasia and the N540K mutation. Both conditions share the classical pathological features of micromelic short stature, reduced or unchanged interpedicular distances in the lumbar spine, disproportionately long fibulae, and squared and shortened pelvic ilia. These were significantly more severe in the G380R patients than in the N540K patients. Our findings have shown a firm statistical correlation between the genotype and the phenotype, although there were a few exceptional cases in which there was phenotypic overlap between the two conditions.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome caused by a health drink (Eberu) containing ophiopogonis tuber

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is considered to be a severe type of erythema exsudativum multiforme. It is characterized by erythema with bullous and eroded lesions of skin and mucous membranes. We report a case of Steven-Johnson syndrome following consumption of a health drink containing ophiopogonis tuber. A 66-year-old female took an O.T.C. health drink for fever. The next morning, she noted erythema and swelling of her face, neck, and chest. She started to develop bullous and eroded lesions on the skin of her entire body and the mucous membranes of her oral cavity, conjunctiva, and cornea, and she became feverish. She had high degrees of corneal erosion and liver dysfunction. Skin biopsy showed diffuse necrosis of the epidermis. After admission to the hospital, steroid pulse therapy (1000 mg/day of methylprednisolone sodium succinate) was continued for 5 days. The health drink induced a positive drug lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST) and patch test. A challenge test was done with a one hundredth dose, and it was positive. We did patch tests with all components of the drink and found that Mai-Meu-Dong-Tang (ophiopogonis) alone was positive at 72 hours. There is no previous report of Stevens-Johnson syndrome caused by a health drink or Mai-Meu-Dong-Tang. Even though it is a health drink, we should be aware of the possibility of a severe reaction.

Sucrose permeability as a means of detecting diseases of the upper digestive tract

The healthy gastric epithelium will not allow easy permeation of a disaccharide-sized molecule such as sucrose. However, during gastric damage, intact sucrose can pass the gastric epithelium and ultimately appear in the urine. We examined the relationship between total urinary sucrose excretion and various diseases. We used 149 patients (105 had upper gastrointestinal disease, 12 had gastric cancer and 32 were normal). Subjects were given a solution containing 100 g sucrose in 450 c.c. water. All urine was collected for 7.5 h. The urinary sucrose concentration was determined by anion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. Total urinary sucrose excretion was significantly higher in patients with gastric ulcer and those with gastric cancer than in endoscopically normal controls. In the 34 patients with gastric ulcer, the total sucrose excretion was closely correlated with ulcer size. Ulcer location did not affect urinary sucrose excretion. A strong correlation was also observed between sucrose excretion and lesion size in the 12 patients with gastric cancer. The sucrose permeability test may be a relatively sensitive method to detect gastric disease.

Residual deformity in congenital radial club hands after previous centralisation of the wrist. Ulnar lengthening and correction by the Ilizarov method

We used the Ilizarov method in seven patients with severe congenital radial club hands who had had previous wrist surgery, to correct residual shortening and bowing of the ulna together with recurrent wrist deformity. The mean age at operation was 6.5 years. The mean ulnar shortening was 5.3 cm and the mean angular deformity 42 degrees. The mean length gained was 51% of the original ulna. The mean healing index was 46.9 days (29.8 to 64.0). The ratio of the length of the lengthened ulna to the normal side improved on average from 64% to 95%. The angular deformity was initially completely corrected in six out of seven patients. The length ratio, however, decreased to 83% at the final follow-up. In four patients, the angular deformity partially recurred. We recommend correction of congenital radial club hand by staged procedures. The first is centralisation and stabilisation of the wrist and the second lengthening of the ulna and correction of the angular deformity using the Ilizarov method.

Residual deformity in congenital radial club hands after previous centralisation of the wrist

We used the Ilizarov method in seven patients with severe congenital radial club hands who had had previous wrist surgery, to correct residual shortening and bowing of the ulna together with recurrent wrist deformity.

The mean age at operation was 6.5 years. The mean ulnar shortening was 5.3 cm and the mean angular deformity 42°.

The mean length gained was 51% of the original ulna. The mean healing index was 46.9 days (29.8 to 64.0). The ratio of the length of the lengthened ulna to the normal side improved on average from 64% to 95%. The angular deformity was initially completely corrected in six out of seven patients. The length ratio, however, decreased to 83% at the final follow-up. In four patients, the angular deformity partially recurred.

We recommend correction of congenital radial club hand by staged procedures. The first is centralisation and stabilisation of the wrist and the second lengthening of the ulna and correction of the angular deformity using the Ilizarov method.

Preparation of heat-labile antigens on air-dried cytologic specimens for immunocytochemical analysis

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the efficacy of Zamboni's solution and storage medium for immunocytochemistry of Ki-67, p53 tumor suppressor gene product and CD3 on long-preserved, air-dried cytologic specimens.

STUDY DESIGN

Air-dried imprint cytologic specimens obtained from 13 lymphatic tissues and 13 colorectal cancers were fixed with Zamboni's solution and stored for various periods in storage medium including 50% glycerol at -10 to -20 degree C. Mouse monoclonal antibody PC, PAb 1801 and anti-Leu-4 were used for immunostaining.

RESULTS

Immunocytochemical identification of Ki-67, p53 and CD3 was possible on specimens stored for 36, 32 and 16 weeks, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our method, using Zamboni's solution and storage medium, is feasible for immunocytochemistry on long-preserved, air-dried cytologic specimens using the three antibodies were employed.

Metamorphosis-associated and region-specific expression of calbindin gene in the posterior intestinal epithelium of Xenopus laevis larva

The present study used a molecular approach toward understanding the mechanism of hormone- and region-dependent remodeling of the small intestine during metamorphosis of Xenopus laevis. A protein spot was noticed on a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel as a protein whose expression was metamorphic stage- and region-dependent. The protein was identified as the Xenopus homolog (Xcalbindin) of chick calbindin D28k. Xcalbindin expression in the intestine was restricted to absorptive cells in the posterior part, being detectable at stages 49-61, not detectable at stages 62-63, detectable again at stages 64-66, and finally becoming undetectable in the adult. During spontaneous metamorphosis, the level of Xcalbindin mRNA was significantly increased between stages 57 and 58, dramatically reduced at stage 59, and the mRNA was undetectable from stages 60-63, after which it was weakly re-expressed until the end of metamorphosis. Such up- and down-regulation of Xcalbindin mRNA was induced precociously by exogenous thyroid hormone. These results indicated that Xcalbindin is a specific marker of the differentiated absorptive cells of the intestine. Immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies against Xcalbindin demonstrated that precursor cells of adult intestinal epithelial cells expressed Xcalbindin. Considering these results, the origin of adult intestinal epithelial cells was discussed.

Genetic and immunological analyses of Vls (VMP-like sequences) of Borrelia burgdorferi

DNA fragments containing the VMP-like sequence (Vls) were cloned from Borrelia burgdorferi strain 297. Analyses by PCR, PFGE, and Southern hybridization revealed that the Vls sequences existed in multi-copies on the 20-kb borrelial plasmid, but not on chromosomes or other plasmids. One Vls unit of the strain 297 was about 669 bases, and predicted peptides length was 223 amino acids. Homologues of the Vls fragment were detected in three B. burgdorferi strains, a B. garinii strain 20047, and a B. afzelii strain P/Gau. A recombinant VlsII protein prepared in Escherichia coli strain JM109 reacted with antibodies that existed in three of five patients, by immunoblotting. These results suggested that the Vls of B. burgdorferi is expressed in Lyme disease patients.

Multifocal electroretinogram in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome

Electrophysiologic findings including multifocal electroretinogram and visual evoked cortical potentials were studied in a patient with multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. A 19-year-old woman was diagnosed as having multiple evanescent white dot syndrome because of decreased visual acuity, white dots on fundus examination and hyperfluorescence of the white dots in the right eye. The amplitude of the flicker electroretinogram was reduced, but the single-flash electroretinogram was within the normal range. The P100 latency of the pattern visual evoked cortical potentials was slightly prolonged. The amplitudes of multifocal electroretinogram were markedly reduced in the area corresponding to the scotoma and moderately reduced in other regions of the central field in the affected eye. The results suggest that the retinal dysfunction area is wider than that detected by subjective methods or conventional electrophysiological examinations. The delayed recovery of the visual evoked cortical potential latency suggests the involvement of the optic nerve in multiple evanescent white dot syndrome.

Purification and characterization of NADPH-dependent carbonyl reductase, involved in stereoselective reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate, from Candida magnoliae

A NADPH-dependent carbonyl reductase was purified to homogeneity from Candida magnoliae AKU4643 through four steps, including Blue Sepharose affinity chromatography. The enzyme catalyzed the stereoselective reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate to the corresponding (S)-alcohol with a 100% enantiomeric excess, which is a useful chiral building block for the chemical synthesis of pharmaceuticals. The relative molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 76,000 on high performance gel filtration chromatography and 32,000 on SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme reduced alpha-, beta-keto esters and conjugated diketones in addition to ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate. The enzyme activity was inhibited by quercetin and HgCl2, but not by EDTA. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme showed no apparent similarity with those of other oxidoreductases.

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple bone metastasis successfully treated by both methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil sequential therapy, and endoscopic intratumoral injection of 5-fluorouracil]

We reported a case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple bone metastasis successfully treated by both methotrexate (MTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) sequential therapy, and endoscopic intratumoral injection of 5-fluorouracil. A 38-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of appetite loss and bone pain. He could not walk by himself for the bone pain. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a lesion like II c + III in the greater curvature of the angulus. By both MTX /5-FU sequential therapy and endoscopic intratumoral injection of 5-FU, partial response (PR) was obtained against gastric primary lesion, and his performance status was improved. PR was maintained for 5 months. Severe side effects of the chemotherapy were not observed.

Multifocal electroretinogram in myopia

PURPOSE

To investigate early changes of retinal function in myopic eyes, patients with various degrees of myopia underwent multifocal electroretinography (multifocal ERG).

METHODS

Thirty young patients (mean age, 26.1 years) were divided into three groups according to the degree of refractive error: emmetropia/low, medium, and high myopia. All groups were matched by sex and age. All subjects had good corrected visual acuities of better than 1.0 and normal color vision. No other ophthalmoscopic abnormalities except for tessellated fundus existed. Three grouping programs (all-traces, rings, and quadrants) were used, and all-traces grouping waveforms, six-ring grouping waveforms, and four-quadrant grouping waveforms were determined from 103 local responses. We studied the differences of amplitudes and latencies of the waves among the myopic groups and their relation to refractive error and axial length.

RESULTS

Amplitudes were reduced and latencies were delayed as the refractive errors increased. The amplitudes in the peripheral areas were more reduced in the myopic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced amplitude and delayed latency of each wave of multifocal ERG in myopia resulted primarily from cone function loss, which may occur even when the only noted retinal change is tessellated fundus.

Enzymatic production of ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate: asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate by an Escherichia coli transformant expressing the aldehyde reductase gene from yeast

The asymmetric reduction of ethyl 4-chloro-3-oxobutanoate (COBE) to ethyl (R)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate (CHBE) using Escherichia coli JM109 (pKAR) cells expressing the aldehyde reductase gene from Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AKU4429 as a catalyst was studied. The reduction required NADP+, glucose and glucose dehydrogenase for NADPH regeneration. In an aqueous system, the substrate was unstable, and inhibition of the reaction by the substrate was also observed. Efficient conversion of COBE to (R)-CHBE with a satisfactory enantiomeric excess (ee) was attained on incubation with transformant cells in an n-butyl acetate/water two-phase system containing the above NADPH-regeneration system. Under the optimized conditions, with the periodical addition of COBE, glucose and glucose dehydrogenase, the (R)-CHBE yield reached 1530 mM (255 mg/ml) in the organic phase, with a molar conversion yield of 91.1% and an optical purity of 91% ee. The calculated turnover of NADP+, based on the amounts of NADP+ added and CHBE formed, was about 5100 mol/mol.

Lengthening of the lower limbs in patients with achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia

Ten years of experience in lower limb lengthening achieved in 35 patients with achondroplasia and seven patients with hypochondroplasia is reported. A uniform method of callus distraction (callotasis) was used in all cases, although the order of lengthening of each bone differed among the cases. The mean age of the patients at the time of first operation was 14.5 years; at followup, the mean age was 18.8 years. The mean lengthening achieved in the femur was 7.2 cm (range, 4.5-12 cm) and in the tibia 7.1 cm (range, 4.5-13 cm). More lengthening was achieved in the more recent cases. The function of lengthened limbs, evaluated by physical strength tests, was better at followup than before lengthening in the growing children, although the mechanical axes of the lengthened bones were not necessarily in correct alignment.

Apoptosis as a cell biological abnormality in myelodysplasia

Evidence is accumulating to indicate that alterations in the control of apoptosis can contribute to a variety of disorders. Among the disorders associated with abnormal regulation of apoptosis, MDS stands out unequaled in that apoptosis is related, in apparently opposite directions, to ineffective hematopoiesis and leukemic transformation of MDS; notably, excessive apoptosis in the former and deranged apoptosis or escape from apoptotic control in the latter. In this review, we want to focus on the role of apoptosis in various stages of MDS, and to discuss its possible relevance to further therapeutic interventions.

[Sensitivity loss of short wavelength sensitive cones in myopic eyes by blue-on-yellow perimetry]

A decrease of the short wavelength sensitive cone (S-cone) sensitivity has been reported in myopic eyes in addition to glaucoma and retinal diseases such as retinal detachment and diabetic retinopathy. In order to investigate early changes of visual function in myopic eyes, blue-on-yellow perimetry (B on Y) which could detect S-cone sensitivity and white-on-white perimetry (W on W) were measured with a computed perimeter program. Young subjects with good visual acuity, normal color vision, and normal intraocular pressure were selected. They had no other ophthalmoscopic abnormalities except for tigroid fundus. Mean deviations of W on W were reduced in mild and high myopic groups. In both tests, the sensitivities decreased as the refractive errors increased in all the tested areas (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity in B on Y decreased more remarkably than in W on W with an increase of refractive error (p < 0.05). We concluded that B on Y perimetry was significantly sensitive to identify early changes of visual function in myopic eyes.

Ca2+/Mg(2+)-dependent endonuclease in marrow CD34 positive and erythroid cells in myelodysplasia

Endonucleases capable of producing internucleosomal DNA cleavage are one of the key enzymes in apoptosis. We examined endonuclease activities contained in nuclei of CD34+ and erythroid cells in the bone marrow (BM) from 12 patients with the myelodysplastic syndromes. The levels of Mg(2+)-dependent and acidic endonucleases showed little changes as compared with those from normal BM. By contrast, the level of Ca2+/Mg(2+)-dependent endonuclease was appreciably higher in MDS erythroid cells than normal counterparts, although the activity varied markedly in CD34+ and erythroid cells. Our results suggested that Ca2+/Mg(2+)-dependent endonuclease is related to ineffective erythropoiesis in MDS.

Effect of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor on metabolism and contractility in ischemic reperfused rabbit heart

The effect of thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor (OKY-046) on myocardial metabolism and contractility during ischemia and reperfusion was examined by the phosphorus 31-nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) in Langendorff rabbit hearts with use of an artificial blood substitute, perfluorochemical emulsion Fluosol-43. After normothermic fifteen-minute global zero-flow ischemia or fifteen-minute global low-flow ischemia (coronary perfusion pressure = 20 mmHg), reperfusion of sixty minutes was carried out. OKY-046 was administered from forty-five minutes prior to the global ischemia. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), creatine phosphate (CrP), inorganic phosphate (Pi), pH, left ventricular systolic developed pressure (LV Dev.P) and coronary flow were continuously measured. Twenty-eight heart were divided into four experimental groups consisting of 7 hearts each; Group I consisted of controls with zero-flow ischemia; Group II, perfusion with OKY-046 (10(-6) M) in zero-flow ischemia; Group III, controls with low-flow ischemia; and Group IV, perfusion with OKY-046 in low-flow ischemia. Group II showed a significant inhibition of the increase in Pi and of the decrease in ATP, CrP, and pH during global ischemia compared with Group I, and a suppression of the overshoot of CrP observed after postischemic reperfusion. Group IV also showed a significantly marked improvement of ATP, CrP, and pH and significant suppression in Pi during low-flow ischemia compared with Group III. These were no differences in LV Dev.P and coronary flow among any groups. In conclusion, OKY-046 has a significantly beneficial effect on metabolism during both myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.