[Studies on the ganoderic acid, a new constituents from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst]

Three compounds have been isolated from the dichloromethane soluble fraction of the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) Karst. On basis of spectral analyses (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and 2D-NMR), they were identified as 3, 7-dioxo-lanosta-8, 24(E)-dien-26-oic acid (I), 7 beta-15 alpha-dihydroxy-3, 11, 23-trioxo-5 alpha-lanost-8-en-26-oic acid (II) and 3 beta, 7 beta, 15 alpha-trihydroxy-11, 23-dioxo-5 alpha-lanosta-8-en-26-oic acid (III). Compound I is a new compound named ganoderic acid DM.

[Isoflavones from Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa]

A new isoflavone, named eurycarpin A and a new natural product isoflavone named eurycarpin B have been isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa P. C. Li. Their structures were determined to be 7,2',4'-trihydroxy-3'-(3,3-dimethylallyl) isoflavone(I) and 7,2'-dihydroxy-6",6"-dimethylpyrano-(2",3":4',3') isoflavone(II) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis (UV, EI-MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, NOE difference and HMBC). In addition, three known isoflavones, licoisoflavone A, calycosin and formononetin, were obtained for the first time from this plant.

Korean analytical quality assurance (KAQUA) program for biological monitoring

The Korean analytical quality assurance (KAQUA) program on biological monitoring was performed by the Industrial Health Research Institute in Korea in spring, 1995. The object of the KAQUA program is to improve the analysis capability for the biological monitoring of hazardous chemicals and to confirm the reliability of data from each laboratory. The items chosen for the first round were analyses of lead in blood (PbB) and of hippuric acid in urine (HAU). Eighty-eight laboratories in Korea participated in this program. Two levels of samples, randomly chosen among six levels for each item, were sent to the participants. The consensus value from participants and reference laboratories was determined by statistical analysis and used as a reference value. The tolerance range was +/-15% (+/-6 micrograms/dl for PbB below 40 micrograms/dl) of the reference value. The mean proficiency rate of analytical data increased dramatically in the first round compared with a pre-round that was provided as part of a training course for participants before performing the first round. The mean proficiency rate of PbB was 69% at pre-round and increased at 91% at the first round; for HAU the increase was from 58% to 88%. Not only the analytical results but also raw data were reviewed to find problems which might have arisen during the analytical process. Re-education courses provided after final evaluation of each participant by means of telephone discussion, correspondence course, and experimental practice, were helpful in achieving the purpose of the analytical quality assurance program.

Efficient transformation of papaya by coat protein gene of papaya ringspot virus mediated byAgrobacterium following liquid-phase wounding of embryogenic tissues with caborundum

Generation of transgenic papaya (Carica papaya L.) has been hampered by the low rates of transformation achieved by conventionalAgrobacterium infection or microprojectile bombardment. We describe an efficientAgrobacterium-mediated transformation method based on wounding of cultured embryogenic tissues with carborundum in liquid phase. Embryogenic tissues were obtained from cultured immature zygotic embryos collected 75-90 days after pollination. The expressible coat protein (CP) gene of a Taiwan strain of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) was constructed in a Ti binary vector pBGCP, which contained the NPT-II gene as a selection marker. The embryogenic tissues were vortexed with 600 mesh carborundum in sterile distilled water for 1 min before treating with the disarmedA. tumefaciens containing the pBGCP. Transformed cells were cultured on kanamycin-free medium containing 2,4-D and carbenicillin for 2-3 weeks and then on the kanamycin medium for 3-4 months. The developed somatic embryos were transferred to the medium containing NAA, BA and kanamycin and subsequently regenerated into normal-appearing plants. Presence of the PRSV CP gene in the putative transgenic lines was detected by PCR and the expression of the CP was verified by Western blotting. The transgene was nuclearly inherited as revealed by segregation analysis in the backcrossed R1 progeny. From five independent experiments, the average successful rate of transformation was 15.9% of the zygotic embryos treated (52 transgenic somatic embryo clusters out of 327 zygotic embryos treated), about 10-100 times higher than the available methods previously reported. Thus, wounding highly regenerable differentiating tissues by carborundum vortexing provides a simple and efficient way for papaya transformation mediated byAgrobacterium.

Molecularly cloned feline immunodeficiency virus NCSU1 JSY3 induces immunodeficiency in specific-pathogen-free cats

A full-length feline immunodeficiency virus NCSU1 (FIV-NCSU1) genome (JSY3) was cloned directly from FIV-NCSU1-infected feline CD4+ lymphocyte (FCD4E) genomic DNA and identified by PCR amplification with 5' long terminal repeat, gag, env, and 3' long terminal repeat primer sets. Supernatant from FCD4E cells cocultured with JSY3-transfected Crandell feline kidney (CrFK) cells was used as an inoculum. Cell-free JSY3 virus was cytopathogenic for FCD4E lymphocytes but did not infect CrFK cells in vitro. To determine in vivo infectivity and pathogenesis, six young adult specific-pathogen-free cats were inoculated with cell-free JSY3 virus. Provirus was detected at 2 weeks postinfection (p.i.) and was still detectable at 25 weeks p.i. as determined by gag region PCR-Southern blot analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cell lysates. Infectious virus was recovered from peripheral blood mononuclear cells at 6 and 25 weeks p.i., and an antibody response to FIV was detected by 4 weeks. In the acute phase of infection, JSY3 provirus was found only in the CD4+ lymphocyte subset; however, by 14 weeks p.i., the greatest provirus burden was detected in B lymphocytes. All six cats were panlymphopenic at 2 weeks p.i., CD4+/CD8+ ratios were inverted by 6 weeks p.i., and five of the six cats developed lymphadenopathy by 10 weeks p.i. To determine if the JSY3 molecular clone caused immunodeficiency similar to that of the parental wild-type FIV-NCSU1, the cats were challenged with the low-virulence ME49 strain of Toxoplasma gondii at 29 weeks p.i. Five of six cats developed clinical signs consistent with generalized toxoplasmosis, and three of six cats developed acute respiratory distress and required euthanasia. Histopathologic examination of the severely affected cats revealed generalized inflammatory reactions and the presence of T. gondii tachyzoites in multiple tissues. None of the six age- and sex-matched specific-pathogen-free cats inoculated with only T. gondii developed clinical disease. Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of the molecularly cloned NCSU1 JSY3 is similar to that of wild-type FIV-NCSU1.

Survey of natural occurrence of trichothecene mycotoxins and zearalenone in Korean cereals harvested in 1992 using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

For the survey of the natural occurrence of trichothecene mycotoxins, produced by species of fungi imperfecti such as Fusarium and Trichothecium, a sensitive analytical method was developed for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of the major trichothecene mycotoxins, viz. T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin (HT-2), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (F-X), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol (3-Ac DON), and zearalenone (ZEN), using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (GC/MS-SIM) mode after trimethyl silyl derivatization. The incidence of NIV and DON in 30 barley samples were 93% and 67%, respectively; the average contents of NIV and DON in positive samples were 390 ng/g (range 40-2038) and 106 ng/g (range 5-361) respectively. In 15 maize samples, the incidences of NIV and DON were 53% and 93% respectively and the average contents were 168 ng/g and 145 ng/g, respectively. These results suggest that NIV and DON were the major contaminating trichothecene mycotoxins in Korean barley and maize samples harvested in 1992.

Lead concentrations in blood among the general population of Korea

The purpose of this survey was to obtain information on the overall blood lead concentrations of the Korean population due to environmental exposure. Five hundred and twenty-five Korean adults from four provinces who had no previous occupational exposure to lead were chosen by random sampling to represent the general (normal) population. Blood lead determinations were performed by atomic absorption spectrometry with a graphite furnace. Interlaboratory quality control for analysis of blood lead was carried out in seven laboratories in Korea and Europe. The geometric mean were 6.36 micrograms/dl for males and 5.09 micrograms/dl for females. There was no correlation between blood lead concentration and age. The mean concentration of blood lead in smokers was higher than that in nonsmokers (P < 0.0005). The mean blood lead concentration in male nonsmokers was higher than that in female nonsmokers (P < 0.0005). Differences in mean blood lead values according to residential area were observed, and this result showed good agreement with the results of ambient monitoring.

Transgenic papaya plants from Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of petioles of in vitro propagated multishoots

In order to establish a model system for introduction of foreign genes into papaya (Carica papaya L.) plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, petioles from multishoots were used as explant source and bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) gene and β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene were used as a selection marker and a reporter, respectively. Cross sections of papaya petioles obtained from multishoots micropropagated in vitro were infected with A. tumefaciens LBA4404 containing NPTII and GUS genes and co-cultured for 2 d. The putative transformed calluses were identified by growth on the selective medium containing kanamycin and carbenicillin, and consequently regenerated to plants via somatic embryogenesis. Thirteen putative transgenic lines were obtained from a total of 415 petiole fragments treated. Strong GUS activity was detected in the selected putative transgenic calli or plants by fluorogenic assay. Western blot analysis using GUS antiserum confirmed that the GUS protein was expressed in putative transformed papaya cells and transgenic plants. The presence of the GUS gene in the papaya tissues was detected by PCR amplification coupled with Southern blot.

Efficacy of tablet huperzine-A on memory, cognition, and behavior in Alzheimer's disease

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tablet huperzine-A (Hup) in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

METHODS

Using multicenter, prospective, double-blind, parallel, placebo controlled and randomized method, 50 patients were administered orally 0.2 mg (4 tablets) Hup and 53 patients were given po 4 tablets of placebo bid for 8 wk. All patients were evaluated with Wechsler memory scale, Hasegawa dementia scale, mini-mental state examination scale, activity of daily living scale, treatment emergency symptom scale, and measured with BP, HR, ECG, EEG, ALT, AKP, BUN, Cr, Hb, WBC, and urine routine.

RESULTS

About 58% (29/50) of patients treated with Hup showed improvements in their memory (P < 0.01), cognitive (P < 0.01), and behavioral (P < 0.01 functions. The efficacy of Hup was better than placebo (36%, 19/53) (P < 0.05). No severe side effect was found.

CONCLUSION

Hup is a promising drug for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Seizures associated with stroke in childhood

Seventy-three consecutive children younger than 17 years of age seen from 1978 to 1992 with acute hemiplegia from stroke, were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the incidence of seizures and the risks of recurrent seizures after stroke. The population consisted of 56 children with cerebral infarction, 12 with intracranial hemorrhage, and 5 with transient ischemic attack. Children whose strokes occurred in the neonatal period and those secondary to trauma, malignancy, or infection were excluded. Mean follow-up time was 43.5 months (range: 12-156 months). At least 1 seizure occurred in 36 patients (49.3%) and recurrent seizures occurred in 21 patients (28.8%). Recurrent seizures developed more often among patients who had initial seizures with delayed onset (P < .05). In 56 patients with cerebral infarction, 16 of 31 patients (51.6%) with cortical involvement documented by neuroradiologic studies and 1 of 25 patients (4%) without cortical involvement developed recurrent seizures (P < .01). In 12 patients with intracranial hemorrhage, 3 of 10 patients with cortical involvement and none of 2 patients without cortical involvement developed recurrent seizures. It is concluded that seizures commonly occur in childhood stroke. Risk factors for recurrent seizures include later onset of initial seizures and presence of cortical involvement.

Characterization of two novel filamentous phages of Xanthomonas

Two filamentous phages of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae were isolated and designated phi Xv and phi Xo, respectively. They were similar to other filamentous phages of Xanthomonas in (i) shape, (ii) restrictive host specificity, (iii) high stability, (iv) an ssDNA genome, (v) a dsDNA as the replicative form (RF), (vi) propagation without lysis of host cells and (vii) ability to integrate into the host chromosome. These phages showed sequence homology to filamentous phage phi Lf of X. c. pv. campestris. phi Xv was inactivated by antisera against phi Xv, phi Xo and phi Lf, whereas phi Xo and phi Lf were inactivated only by their respective antisera and the anti-phi Xv serum. Both the single-stranded phage DNAs and the RF DNAs of phi Xv, phi Xo and phi Lf were able to transfect X. c. pv. vesicatoria, X. o. pv. oryzae and X. c. pv. campestris. Physical maps of phi Xv and phi Xo were constructed for the RF DNAs. Genome sizes were estimated, based on mapping data, to be 6.8 kb for phi Xv and 7.6 kb for phi Xo, larger than that of the phi Lf genome (6.0 kb). The difference in genome sizes appeared to result from insertions of large DNA fragments. These fragments and the regions mediating integration were localized in the physical maps.

[Compounds from Caesalpinia sappan L]

Two compounds were isolated from the stem of Caesalpinia sappan. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physical and spectral analysis. They were named as tetraacetylbrazilin and protosappanin A respectively.

Quantitative determination of styrene in blood and mandelic acid in urine of the occupationally styrene-exposed workers

The concentration of styrene in blood of the occupationally styrene-exposed workers was checked by gas chromatographic headspace analysis. Mandelic acd in urine, that is a major metabolite of styrene, and hippuric acid were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. For the biological monitoring of styrene-exposed workers, the routine method of the quantitative determination of styrene and its metabolites in the biological samples were studied.

Upper human hair follicle contains a subpopulation of keratinocytes with superior in vitro proliferative potential

We and others have shown previously that corneal keratinocyte stem cells can proliferate in vitro better than their progeny cells. In this paper, we applied this approach to the identification of hair follicular stem cells. When human scalp hair follicles were placed in explant culture, the bulge area yielded best outgrowths. In another experiment, we isolated different subpopulations of human follicular keratinocytes by micro-dissection, dispersed them by trypsin/EDTA into single cells, and grew them in the presence of 3T3 feeder cells. The keratinocytes were then subcultured under identical conditions to compare their in vitro life span. Our results indicate that the life span of keratinocytes of the upper follicle (containing mainly the isthmus area) > sebaceous gland > lower follicle (between the bulge and bulb) > bulb (containing the matrix cells). The cultured upper follicular keratinocytes tend to be small and relatively uniform in size. The poor in vitro growth of matrix cells may reflect their non-stem cell nature and/or special growth requirement(s) satisfied in vivo by the neighboring dermal papilla cells. Unexpectedly, we found that the upper follicular keratinocytes grow even better than epidermal keratinocytes. The existence of a subpopulation of keratinocytes with an in vitro growth potential superior than other known keratinocytes of the skin supports the hypothesis that follicular stem cells reside in the upper follicle. Our data also raise the possibility that putative follicular stem cells are involved not only in forming the follicle, but also in the long-term maintenance of the epidermis. Finally, we discuss the possibility that keratinocyte stem cells, as defined by their in vivo slow-cycling nature, are absent in culture.

Expression of the sodium channel beta 1 subunit in rat skeletal muscle is selectively associated with the tetrodotoxin-sensitive alpha subunit isoform

Transcripts homologous to the rat brain sodium channel beta subunit (beta 1) are prominently expressed in both innervated and denervated adult skeletal muscle and in heart, but not in neonatal skeletal or cardiac muscle. Regulation of beta 1 mRNA expression closely parallels that of SkM1 alpha during development, after denervation in adult muscle, and in primary muscle culture, but does not follow SkM2 expression under any condition examined. In oocytes, beta 1 interacts functionally with SkM1 to modulate the abnormally slow inactivation kinetics observed with this alpha subunit expressed alone. We conclude that a common beta 1 subunit is expressed in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain and that in skeletal muscle, this subunit is specifically associated with the SkM1, rather than the SkM2, sodium channel isoform.

Report of a case of sympathetic ophthalmia with special regard to ultrastructural examination

A case of sympathetic ophthalmia (SO) is reported. A long lasting stable result was obtained for this patient treated basically with traditional Chinese medicine. His exciting eye was investigated under light and transmission electron microscopes. Prominent granulomatous lesions in the choroid, Dalen-Fuchs nodules (DFNs) and disruption of outer and inner basement membrane of Bruch's membrane under DFNs are found, plasma cells are not few and melanocytes and retinal pigment epithelial cells are possibly the target cells. In various cells, nuclear bodies (NBs) are ubiquitous and sometimes multiple in an individual cell nucleus. Microtubule-like structures are present inside and outside the NBs and parallel lines composed of relatively uniform high electron dense granules as lattice-like structures can be seen. It was surmised that a virus induced autoimmune process might be involved in the pathogenesis of SO.

Interaction of peptide fragment 828-848 of the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type I with lipid bilayers

The interaction of the peptide fragment 828-848, called P828, from the carboxy-terminal region of the envelope glycoprotein gp41 of HIV-I with model membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) was investigated using microelectrophoretic mobility of liposomes, fluorescence polarization of labeled lipids, NMR, and differential scanning calorimetry. The peptide binds to negatively charged lipid surfaces. No interaction between P828 and neutral PC surfaces is observed. The interaction between the peptide and the lipid is exclusively electrostatic with the six positively charged arginines of P828 acting as binding sites for PG. Circular dichroism measurements of P828 indicate that the peptide undergoes a transition from a random coil to an ordered conformation upon binding to negatively charged PG bilayers or SDS micelles, but not in the presence of neutral PC bilayers. The ordered structure has an apparent helical content of 60%. IN DOPG/DOPC mixtures containing 20 mol % DOPG, the peptide causes the formation of lipid domains enriched in DOPG, as assessed by measurement of fluorescence energy transfer between labeled PG and PC. The formation of these domains requires energy and therefore reduces the strength of peptide binding to the lipid matrix. Our data support and quantitate the results from antibody binding studies [Haffar, O.K., Dowbenko, D. J., & Berman, P. W. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 107, 1677-1687] that the carboxy-terminal segment of the envelope glycoprotein gp41 interacts with microsomal membranes.

[Study on lignans from Diphylleia sinensis]

A new lignan along with eight known lignans and a flavonoid were isolated from the rhizomes of Diphylleia sinensis Li.. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis. The new lignan, compound IX, was named as picropodophyllin-1-ethyl ether (IX). The eight known lignans were identified as podophyllotoxin (I), isopicropodophyllone (II), dehydropodophyllotoxin (III), diphyllin (IV), picropodophyllin (V), podophyllotoxone (VI), 4'-demethylpodophyllotoxin (VII) and picropodophyllin glucoside (VIII). Compounds II, VI, VII and VIII were found for the first time from the rhizome of this plant. The flavonoid was identified as kaempferol.

Endothelial potentiation of relaxation response to ascorbic acid in rat and guinea pig thoracic aorta

The role of the endothelium was evaluated in the relaxation of rat and guinea pig aortic rings induced by ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid relaxed rat and guinea pig aortic rings that were previously contracted with submaximal dose of phenylephrine (PE), in a concentration dependent manner. Removal of the endothelium significantly reduced the sensitivity but not the magnitude of the response to ascorbic acid. Methylene blue, but not propranolol, blocked the endothelial augmentation of vascular relaxation to ascorbic acid. Vessels precontracted with potassium chloride (high K+) were also relaxed by ascorbic acid. Methylene blue also inhibited the response to ascorbic acid in the intact vessels precontracted with high K+. A23187 and acetylcholine, but not ADP, variably caused endothelium dependent component relaxation in guinea pigs, whereas all of these three probes constantly caused it. In Ca(2+)-free medium, Ca(2+)-induced contraction of high K(+)-depolarized rat aorta was inhibited by the presence of ascorbate, which was more pronounced in endothelium intact rings than in endothelium denuded ones. PE-induced contraction in the presence of different concentrations of ascorbate reduced both the sensitivity and the maximal contractile force in rat aorta. Ascorbic acid (0.125-32 mM) did not change the pH in the medium. From these findings, it is speculated that 1) receptor- and potential-operated Ca2+ channels may be modulated by ascorbate, 2) endothelium has a significant role in promoting relaxation induced by ascorbic acid.