Survey on the distribution of the gene 4 alleles of human rotaviruses by polymerase chain reaction

The presence of six gene 4 alleles (or VP4 genotypes) in human rotaviruses has been recognized. Using 16 representative cultivable human rotavirus strains, we confirmed the specificity of VP4 genotyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the nested oligonucleotides specific to each of the four representative gene 4 alleles. Using the PCR, we surveyed the gene 4 alleles of 199 human rotaviruses in stools collected in Japan and Thailand. Strains with the gene 4 allele, corresponding to P1A serotype, were shown to be the most prevalent, but two strains with P2 gene 4 allele and one strain with P3 gene 4 allele were detected in Thailand and in Japan, respectively.

The binding site for ribosomal protein S8 in 16S rRNA and spc mRNA from Escherichia coli: minimum structural requirements and the effects of single bulged bases on S8-RNA interaction

Through specific interactions with rRNA and mRNA, ribosomal protein S8 of Escherichia coli plays a central role in both assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit and translational regulation of spc operon expression. To better understand S8-RNA association, we have measured the affinity of S8 for a number of variants of its rRNA and mRNA binding sites prepared by in vitro transcription or chemical synthesis. With the aid of site-directed deletions, we demonstrate that an imperfect, 33-nucleotide helical stem encompassing nucleotides 588-603 and 635-651 possesses all of the structural information necessary for specific binding of S8 to the 16S rRNA. This segment consists of two short duplexes that enclose a conserved, asymmetric internal loop which contains features crucial for protein recognition. The S8 binding site in spc operon mRNA is very similar in both primary and secondary structure to that in 16S rRNA except for the presence of two single bulged bases in one of the duplex segments. In addition, the apparent association constant for the S8-mRNA interaction is approximately fivefold less than that for the S8-rRNA interaction. We show that the difference in affinity can be attributed to the effects of the bulged bases. Deletion of the bulged bases from the mRNA site increases its affinity for S8 to a level similar to that of the rRNA, whereas insertion of single-base bulges at equivalent positions within the rRNA site reduces its affinity for S8 to a value typical of the mRNA. Single-base bulges in the proximity of essential recognition features are therefore capable of modulating the strength of protein-RNA interactions.

Symptomatic hemodynamic and hormonal effects of intravenous captopril in patients with heart failure

Since only oral preparations of captopril are clinically available, intravenous captopril was studied in 10 patients with mild heart failure and in 20 severe. The results showed that intravenous captopril may rapidly reduce cardiac preload and afterload, increase cardiac output, inhibit renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and depress plasma levels of catecholamine. After captopril infusion, a rapid symptomatic improvement occurred and the infusion could be well tolerated in patients with acute or severe heart failure. In addition, reversing hyponatremia and hypokalemia or improving azotemia may benefit the patients with acute or severe heart failure.

[Effect of processing on the alkaloids in Strychnos nux-vomica L]

The contents of strychnine, brucine, isostrychnine and isobrucine in different processed products of Strychnos nux-vomica were determined by TLC-densitometry. The relationship of the contents of strychnos alkaloids with processing methods was studied.

Penetration of piperacillin-tazobactam into cancellous and cortical bone tissues

The penetration characteristics of piperacillin-tazobactam into cortical and cancellous bone tissues were investigated in 10 patients undergoing total hip replacement. The concentration ratios of piperacillin/tazobactam were 9.4 +/- 1.8 in cancellous bone tissue and 8.0 +/- 2.2 in cortical bone tissue, which were close to the 8:1 ratio of drugs administered. The mean ratios of drug concentrations in bone and plasma for cancellous and cortical tissue were 23 and 18%, respectively, for piperacillin and 26 and 22%, respectively, for tazobactam. The concentrations of tazobactam achieved are sufficient to exert anti-beta-lactamase activity and supportive of clinical trials involving bone and joint infections, including those caused by beta-lactamase-producing pathogens.

Inhibitory effects of high molecular weight substances from CAPD dialysate on mouse bone marrow progenitor cells and lymphocyte transformation

The isolation and purification of F A1 (MW 23-64 KD), F B1 (MW 24-54 KD), F A2 and F B2 (both MW 67 KD) of high molecular weight substances (HMS) from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) dialysate of 2 end staged renal disease (ESRD) patients (A and B) were carried out by precipitation, desalting, gradient elution, chromatography and concentration. 0.1ml of tris-buffer, 0.2ml of uremic serum. 0.1ml of F A1, F B1, 0.2ml of F A2 were separately added to mouse bone marrow culture medium and lymphocyte culture medium, then colony-forming unit of erythroid (CFU-E), burst-forming unit of erythroid (BFU-E), colony-forming unit of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) and lymphocyte transformation (LT) were measured. We found that the uremic serum and F A1, F B1 could inhibit CFU-E, BFU-E very significantly (P < 0.001) compared to the tris-buffer control, but could not inhibit CFU-GM. The uremic serum and F A1 could inhibit LT significantly (P < 0.01) compared to the tris-buffer control, while F A2 could inhibit neither CFU-E nor BFU-E. If the dosage of erythropoietin (EPO) added to mouse bone marrow progenitor cell culture medium increased 3-6 times. F A1 could not express its inhibitory effect on CFU-E or BFU-E.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Double replacement: strategy for efficient introduction of subtle mutations into the murine Col1a-1 gene by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells

A subtle mutation that rendered type I collagen resistant to mammalian collagenase has been introduced into the murine Col1a-1 (recently redesignated Cola-1) gene by homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Initially, a "hit and run" procedure was used. Since two steps were required for introducing each mutation and more than one mutation was to be introduced in the same genomic region independently, we have developed a streamlined procedure that involves two sequential replacement-type homologous recombination events. In the first step, an internal deletion was introduced into the Col1a-1 locus along with the positive and negative selectable markers, neo and tk, to mark the region of interest. G418-resistant homologous recombinants were isolated and used in the second step in which the deleted Col1a-1 allele was replaced with a construct containing the desired mutation. Homologous recombinants containing the mutation were identified among the Tk- ES clones after selection with FIAU [1-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)-5-iodouracil (called fialuridine)]. Approximately 10% of such clones contained the desired mutation. The double replacement procedure greatly reduces the time and amount of work required to introduce mutations independently into the same or closely linked regions. Once the homologous recombinants derived from the first step are established, the introduction of other mutations into the deleted region becomes a one-step procedure. For X number of introduced mutations, 2X selections are required with the "hit and run" approach, but only X + 1 are required with the double-replacement method. This innovative procedure could be very useful in studies of gene structure and function as well as gene expression and regulation.

[Comparison on the kidney nourishing and yang strengthening functions of three different species of herba Cistanches]

Oral administration of water extraction of three kinds of herba cistanches can increase the weight of young mice, prolong the duration of swimming and promote anoxia tolerance in mice. These water decoctions can also increase the body weight, the activities of SOD in serum and the lifespan of "Yang insufficient" model mice induced by administration of hydrocortisone acetate.

Combinatorial interactions between AP-1 and ets domain proteins contribute to the developmental regulation of the macrophage scavenger receptor gene

Macrophage development is regulated by a complex set of hormone-like molecules and cell adhesion events that control the growth and differentiation of progenitor cells. The macrophage scavenger receptor (SR) gene becomes markedly upregulated during the final stages of monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and provides a model for the identification and characterization of transcription factors that control this process. In this report, we have identified three genomic regulatory elements that are required for transactivation of the SR gene in the THP-1 monocytic leukemia cell line following induction of macrophage differentiation by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. Each of these regulatory elements contains a near-consensus binding site for members of the AP-1 gene family, while the two most quantitatively important elements also contain juxtaposed binding sites for ets domain transcription factors. We demonstrate that tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate treatment results in a marked and prolonged increase in AP-1 binding activity on these elements, which can be accounted for almost entirely by c-jun and junB. These proteins in turn form ternary complexes with additional factors that bind to the adjacent ets recognition motifs. Several indirect lines of evidence indicate that ets2 represents a component of this ternary complex. The combined expression of c-jun, ets2, and a constitutive form of ras result in synergistic increases in transcription from promoters containing the SR regulatory elements. These observations suggest that SR gene expression is regulated via a signal transduction pathway involving ras, AP-1, and ets domain proteins and imply that at least some of the signalling components involved in ras-dependent growth are also utilized to promote the expression of genes involved in terminal differentiation.

[Evaluation of echocardiography for determining left ventricular function]

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated by echocardiography and gate blood pool (GBP) in 33 patients including those with coronary heart disease, acute and old myocardiac infarction, cardiomyopathy or mitral prolapse. Fourteen of the 33 had segmental wall motion abnormalities and 19 had non-segmental wall motion abnormalities. The results of comparing echocardiography and GBP showed that the former could substitute for other invasive and expensive examinations to determine LVEF (r = 0.804-0.964 in the 5 echocardiography methods used). Mod-Simpsons method of cross-sectioned echocardiography was the most accurate echocardiographic method (r = 0.964, sensitivity 90.9%) in all patients. The Teich method of M-mode echocardiography was useful in patients who had non-segmental wall motion abnormalities only (r = 0.957, sensitivity 94.7%) but not in patients who had segmental wall motion abnormalities (r = 0.703, sensitivity 42.9%).

Differences in plaque size and VP4 sequence found in SA11 virus clones having simian authentic VP4

We isolated five stable SA11 clones (TN-S1, TN-S2, TN-L1, TN-L2, and BN-S4) with different plaque sizes from two SA11 stocks. In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the mobilities of the fourth, fifth, and seventh RNA segments of SA11 clones with large plaque size (TN-L1 and TN-L2) were faster than those of clones with small plaque size (TN-S1, TN-S2, and BN-S4). Nucleotide sequence determination of the fourth RNA segment identified a five-amino-acid difference in VP4s between the clones with large and small plaque sizes. The VP4 sequences of two clones with small plaque size (TN-S1 and BN-S4) were the same as the sequence of SA11-SEM reported by K. Nishikawa et al. (1988, J. Virol. 62, 4022-4026), while the VP4 sequences of the clones with large plaque size (TN-L1 and TN-L2) were similar, but not identical, to that reported by D. B. Mitchell and G. W. Both (1989, Nucleic Acids Res., 17, 2122). A single-gene reassortant, K8-L2.4, in which RNA segment 4 was derived from clone TN-L2 of SA11 virus and the other RNA segments were from strain K8, produced large plaques like TN-L2, suggesting that the five-amino-acid difference in VP4 between the clones with large and small plaque sizes might be associated with the difference in plaque size.

Genomic relatedness of five equine rotavirus strains with different G serotype and P type specificities

Overall genomic relatedness among five equine rotavirus strains and their relatedness to representative human and animal rotavirus strains were investigated by RNA-RNA hybridization tests. The genomes of strains FI-14, FI-23 and H2 were highly related to one another. Strain L338 had only a low degree of genomic relatedness to the other four equine rotavirus strains. Strain H1 also showed little genetic relatedness to the other equine strains. The genome of the strain H1, however, was highly related to those of porcine rotavirus strains OSU, Gottfried and YM. Genomic relatedness of four equine rotavirus strains (FI-14, FI-23, H2 and L338) to human and other animal rotavirus strains was low, whereas several RNA segments of strain H1 showed a relatedness to those of human strain Wa.

Infectivity and pathogenesis of titered dosages of simian immunodeficiency virus experimentally inoculated into longtailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

The 50% macaque infectious dose (MID50) and pathogenesis of uncloned simian immunodeficiency virus (isolated from a pigtailed macaque, SIVmne) was determined in longtailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Five pairs of macaques were inoculated with 10-fold dilutions of the virus stock, and one macaque was mock-infected. The virologic and clinical status of these macaques was monitored for up to 80 weeks. The MID50 of SIVmne was determined to be 10(2) cell culture infectious dose of the original virus stock. In order to test the infectivity and pathogenesis of an established viral dose, six additional macaques were inoculated with 10x MID50 (10(3) cell culture infectious dose) of the SIVmne. The virologic and clinical status of these macaques was monitored for 40 weeks. All of the macaques inoculated with 10x MID50 or greater became infected as evidenced by seroconversion and consistent virus isolation from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Macaques infected with SIVmne had an initial sharp decrease in CD2, CD20, CD4, CD8, and CD4CD29 lymphocyte subsets, whereas the CD4:CD8 ratio increased. Viremic macaques developed persistent slight to moderate peripheral lymphadenopathy approximately 3 to 4 weeks after inoculation. Four macaques subsequently died of AIDS-like disease at 29, 33, 42, and 80 weeks after inoculation. Data obtained from the viral titration study and the acute infection model will aid in the development of animal trials to evaluate antiretroviral therapies and preventive vaccines against human immunodeficiency virus infection.

[Research on hemostatic mechanism of extracts from carbonized Schizonepeta tenuifolia Brig]

It has been shown that StE can significantly shorten PT, TT, KPTT and RT of experimental animals and has an antiheparin function in the body. Meanwhile, it can significantly shorten ELT and strengthen FA. Its hemostatic action is accomplished through promoting coagulation and inhibiting fibrinolysis. 3P test and EG test were negative, it is thus impossible for a large dosage of StE to lead to DIC.

The canine parvovirus empty capsid structure

The structure of empty canine parvovirus capsids shows that residues 37 to the carboxy-terminal residue 584 (VP2 numbering) are ordered in each of the 60 subunits. The central structural motif of each subunit is the eight-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel that has been found in many other virus structures. Five beta-hairpin turns form a beta-cylindrical structure at each icosahedral 5-fold axis. The N-terminal glycine-rich sequence can be accommodated within this cylinder without excessive steric hindrance, consistent with the electron density distribution. By far the largest conformational differences between the full and empty virus were found in the region where some ordered DNA has been observed to bind in canine parvovirus full particles. Extensive interactions among 3-fold related subunits indicate that a trimeric subunit might be a viral assembly intermediate.

[Analysis on postoperative prognosis in relation to blood ketone body ratios in surgical patients with liver disease]

Eighty-one patients with liver disease were studied for the postoperative changes in the arterial blood ketone body ratio (KBR) and routine liver function tests. The postoperative patients were classified into three groups-according to the postoperative changes in KBR. In the 54 patients of group A, KBR did not decrease to below 0.7, only 2 cases with complications (3.7%); in the 25 patients of group B, KBR decreased transiently to 0.4-0.7 and then increased to over 0.7, 9 cases with complications (36.0%), but they were ameliorated concomitantly with the restoration of KBR; in the 2 cases of group C, KBR decreased irreversibly to below 0.4, and a variety of complications occurred, so the patients finally died of multiple organ failure (MOF). It was found that routine liver function tests were less reliable direct indicators for the onset of postoperative hepatic insufficiency than KBR, which reflected the oxidoreduction state of liver mitochondria.

[Research on hemostatic constituents in carbonized Schizonepeta tenuifolia Brig]

It has been shown that the fatsoluble extract SeE from carbonized Schizonepeta tenuifolia has an obvious hemostatic action. In a given range of dose there is a significant linear correlation between the logarithms of its doses and the reciprocal of the bleeding and coagulating times in mice. Obvious hemostatic action was observed after mice had been administered in ip and po respectively for 0.5h and 1h. The hemostatic time of the former was 6h and the latter 12h. The LD50 of StE in po was 2.652 +/- 0.286 g/kg, while in ip 1.945 4/- 0.207 g/kg.

Demonstration of novel anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory effects of diphosphonates

Diphosphonates (DP) are synthetic pyrophosphates with a P-C-P backbone and are predominantly used for the treatment of bone diseases. Several DP have also been shown to exert significant antiarthritic effects in the rat adjuvant-induced polyarthritis model; however, there is no direct evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds. We therefore tested the effects of dichloromethylene diphosphonate on delayed-type hypersensitivity granuloma elicited by s.c. implantation of antigen-soaked hydroxyapatite disks in antigen-sensitized mice. Dichloromethylene diphosphonate induced a dose-related inhibition of the delayed-type hypersensitivity granuloma response (38-64% at 25-100 mg/kg/day s.c. or p.o.); novel DP analogs, U-81581, U-82579 and U-84849 were also effective in the same dose range. In contrast, all DP failed to suppress 24-hr delayed-type hypersensitivity paw edema in mice. In addition to rat adjuvant-induced polyarthritis, mouse antigen-induced erosive arthritis was also significantly suppressed by s.c. administration of all four DP. Toxicity was minimal for each DP (> 600 mg/kg p.o. or s.c.). We conclude that DP represent a novel class of anti-inflammatory agents with excellent therapeutic potential for chronic inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.

Induction of changes in the secondary structure of globular proteins by a hydrophobic surface

Circular dichroism, ellipsometry and radiolabeling techniques were employed to study the induction of changes in the secondary structure of BSA, myoglobin and cytochrome C by a hydrophobic surface. The results showed that adsorbed protein molecules lose their ordered native structure in the initial stage of adsorption and the structure appears to be a random or disordered conformation. Protein molecules adsorbed in later stages adopt a more ordered secondary structure (alpha helix and beta structure). The changes of secondary structure of globular proteins induced by a hydrophobic surface can be explained by the steric interaction between adsorbed proteins as well as by hydrophobic interactions during the adsorption process. In addition, there is obviously an intermediate stage in which the protein molecules are mainly in the beta structure, indicating that for certain proteins, the beta structure may be a more stable secondary structure than alpha helix on the hydrophobic surface.

Assignment of the chromogranin A (Chga) locus to homologous regions on mouse chromosome 12 and rat chromosome 6

Chromogranin A is an acidic protein, stored and released with catecholamines, and is overexpressed in genetic hypertension. In the human genome, its locus has previously been positioned on the long arm of Chromosome 14 in the 14q32 region. As a first step toward evaluating its potential linkage with hereditary hypertension, we determined its chromosomal position in mouse and rat. Chromogranin A was present as a single-copy gene in both mouse and rat. Analysis of the allele distribution in an interspecific mouse backcross by single-strand conformation polymorphism positioned the chromogranin A locus on Chromosome 12, between Igh-C and D12Pas1. Evaluation of a rat/mouse somatic cell hybrid panel indicated that chromogranin A is on rat Chromosome 6. In each case (mouse, rat, and human), chromogranin A is in a conserved region with nearby markers including the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus.