Neutral lipids, phospholipids, and a betaine lipid of the snow mold fungus Microdochium nivale

The hyphae of the snow mold Microdochium nivale contained lipids in a yield of about 10% w/w of the dry matter of hyphae. The total lipid was fractionated into neutral and polar lipid fractions. In the neutral lipid fraction, triacylglylcerol was the sole major component. As minor components, ergosterol, diacylglycerol, free fatty acid, and fatty acyl ergosterol were identified. The polar lipid fraction contained phospholipids, glycolipids, and a lipid containing neither phosphorus nor sugar. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidic acid were identified as phospholipids. The polar lipid fraction included at least four kinds of glycolipids that have not been identified. A very unusual lipid in fungi, a betaine lipid, diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine, was identified by chemical and physicochemical analyses. The level of the neutral lipid fraction, which accounted for 60% of the total lipid in hyphae at the exponential phase, was significantly increased compared with that of the polar lipid fraction and constituted 80% of the total at the stationary phase. The neutral and polar lipids of Microdochium nivale contained 18:3 (9,12,15), 18:2 (9,12), 18:1 (9), and 16:0 as principal fatty acids. Among them, 18:2 (9,12) and 18:3 (9,12,15) were the major fatty acids of triacylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine, whereas in diacylglyceryltrimethylhomoserine, the major components were 16:0 and 18:3 (9,12,15).Key words: snow mold, phospholipids, betaine lipid, fatty acid, Microdochium nivale.

T-cell clonal change after allo-kidney transplantation in humans

Whether T cells circulating peripherally express changes at a clonal level after renal transplantation is uncertain. To clarify this issue, we analyzed T-cell clonality of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in 12 renal transplant recipients by a novel polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method that can discriminate T-cell clones with different T-cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta motifs. The PCR-SSCP study showed that after transplantation, only a few distinct T-cell clonotypes accumulated in the absence of clinical episodes, irrespective of the compatibility of HLA antigens. In contrast, various T-cell clones appeared in cases of acute rejection (AR) and infection. These subsided immediately after the AR was resolved; however, they remained long after the resolution of the infection. In a case of AR followed by an infectious episode, distinct T-cell clones appeared concomitantly with each episode. Several of them disappeared or remained thereafter. In one case, significant numbers of accumulating bands were observed by in-vitro stimulation by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR); several were identical to those found in vivo. However, some of those that did not appear in vitro were apparent in vivo. In conclusion, the appearance of T-cell clonotypes at a peripheral level indicates the existence of immunologically activated T-cell clones, which were significantly affected by immunosuppressive therapy. It was also determined that the T-cell immune system is much more complicated in vivo than in vitro.

Proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblastic cells associated with differential activation of MAP kinases in response to epidermal growth factor, hypoxia, and mechanical stress in vitro

In an attempt to elucidate the specificity of pathways from environmental stress to cellular outcome via mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation, we examined the responsiveness of cultured human osteoblastic periodontal ligament (PDL) cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF), hypoxia, and mechanical stress, in terms of cell proliferation, differentiation, and associated activation of three different types of MAPK. Cell proliferation was promoted in the presence of 10ng/ml of EGF or in hypoxic conditions (5% O2), whereas it was inhibited by cyclic stretch (9% strain, 6 cycles/min), which was used as a model of mechanical stress. Conversely, the alkaline phosphatase activity, a marker for osteoblastic differentiation of the cells, was increased by cyclic stretch but decreased by EGF and hypoxia. The mitogenic response of PDL cells to EGF or hypoxia was associated with the selective phosphorylation and activation of extracellular-related kinase (ERK) 1/2, while phosphorylation and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed in mechanical stretch loaded cells. No such changes were seen in p38 protein. These findings suggested that stress-responsive changes in proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of PDL cells are selectively mediated by ERK 1/2 and by JNK, respectively, and that a balance between these two pathways determines the cell fate.

In vitro and in vivo grafting of xeno pig fetal liver fragments using ultrafiltration membrane

Transplantation of xeno fetal liver fragments (FLF) could be an alternative or supplementary therapy for acute and chronic liver failure not resolved by routine medical therapies. However, the xenografts themselves are rejected by the host immune system. To overcome these problems, immunoisolate capsules with various cutoff points, from 50,000 (YM30) to 500,000 (ZM500) were tested for their protective effects on FLF graft survival. In an in vitro study, the capsule with the smallest cutoff size (YM30) had an excellent protective effect on the grafts it contained, and showed the lowest GOT values in the culture supernatant and the normal histological structure. In an in vivo study using rats, the same capsule enabled a FLF graft to survive as long as 21 days, even with severe IgG deposition on and within the graft. In another in vivo study, which used beagle dog, however, it did not improve the natural course of survival of the graft, which had totally degenerated by day 7. In conclusion, 1) Immunocapsules, especially those with the smallest cutoff values, impeded the infiltration of the (xeno) humoral attacking factor, but the blocking effect was not complete, as shown by the immunoglobulin (IgG) deposit on the grafts they contained. 2) The FLFs with capsules survived longer than those without capsules--only in rats, not in beagles. This difference may be attributable to the difference of the extent of humoral or nutritional response to the xenografts.

Metabolic labeling of a subset of glial cells by UDP-galactose: implication for astrocyte lineage diversity

Astrocytes are implicated in many aspects of brain function; however, it remains unclear whether astrocytes arise from a single cell lineage. It is therefore important to obtain new markers for the astrocyte cell lineage. We show that exogenously added UDP-galactose (UDP-Gal) can be used to metabolically label a subset of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive (GFAP+) cells. UDP-Gal was incorporated into the cultured embryonic mouse brain slices in a time-dependent manner. Surprisingly, the transferred sugar moiety was no longer Gal but was mainly glucose. Most of the radioactivity was transferred to a polymer of glucose, most likely to be glycogen, and also to glucosyl ceramide. In the slice culture, the reaction products were distributed densely in the ventricular zone and also on process-like structures extending to the pial surface. In dissociation culture, UDP-Gal labeled some of the GFAP+ cells and some of the vimentin+ cells. Because radial glial cells (RGCs) contain glycogen and change from vimentin+ to GFAP+, it is strongly suggested that UDP-Gal labeled RGCs and their descendants. Only 27% of the GFAP+ cells were labeled with UDP-Gal, which suggests that only a subset of astrocytes are derived from RGCs and that there is a discrete group of GFAP+ cells that is not generated from RGCs.

Differential expression of estrogen receptor mRNA and protein in the female rat preoptic area

The expression of estrogen receptor (ER) mRNA and ER protein in the medial preoptic area of ovariectomized rat was investigated at both cellular and regional levels using non-isotopic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. ER mRNA was localized in the cytoplasm, while both liganded and unliganded forms of the ER protein were confined to the nucleus. Furthermore, ER mRNA containing cells were evenly distributed throughout the medial preoptic area, showing a homogeneous staining pattern compared to that of ER protein. ER immunoreactive cells were highly distributed in the medial, moderately in the lateral aspect of the medial preoptic area, showing a heterogeneous staining pattern with strongly and weakly labeled cells. These results suggest that ER protein levels are controlled by cellular posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Effects of microcapsulated docosahexaenoic acid preparation on properties of dough and bread

The effects of microcapsulated docosahexaenoic acid powder (hereinafter DHA powder) on some viscoelastic properties of wheat flour dough and loaf volume were studied. The addition of DHA powder in the range of 0.1 to 0.3% caused a significant increase in the loaf volume of bread after baking. Dough containing 0.2 or 0.3% DHA powder had greater modulus of elasticity, viscosity coefficient and relaxation time than that not containing DHA powder (control). Farinography revealed that DHA powder alone did not decrease the arrival and development times more than those of the control, but increased the stability time significantly. There was no considerable change in the gelatinization temperature or enthalpy of starch in the dough. The size of gas cells in crumbs backed with the DHA powder increased slightly. DHA powder suspension did not appreciably decompose on heating at 120 degrees C for 30 min, nor in the fermentation or backing processes in a home baker.

Bus hijacking by a pre-schizophrenic: from a viewpoint of criminal romance

There are cases in which no clear symptoms of schizophrenia are observed in a person at the time of a crime but are diagnosed to have schizophrenia after the crime due to the appearance of typical symptoms. We present psychiatric evidence of a patient who saw a bus hijacking incident on TV during several years of isolation at home after graduation from junior high school, and was then determined to hijack a bus, and carried out the crime 6 months later. The patient exhibited clear symptoms of schizophrenia 3 days after the crime. This case of a crime committed before the appearance of clear symptoms of schizophrenia was evaluated from the viewpoint of verbrecherromantik or 'criminal romance'.

Laparoscopic repair of a diaphragmatic hernia through the foramen of morgagni

A 78-year-old woman is described who presented with a diaphragmatic hernia through the foramen of Morgagni. A definitive diagnosis was confirmed by a sagittal view on magnetic resonance imaging prior to surgery. The hernia was repaired laparoscopically under an abdominal wall lifting technique without pneumoperitoneum, and her symptoms completely resolved postoperatively with no evidence of recurrence. The laparoscopic repair was considered a suitable and safe procedure for the treatment of a Morgagni hernia.

Astrocytic lineage analysis by detection of GFAP promoter activity in vitro

To survey the emergence and onset of differentiation of the astrocytic lineage in the developing mouse cerebral wall, the promoter activity of a 2.5 kb 5'-flanking region of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was measured in individual developing brain cells using a retrovirus-mediated gene transfer system. We identified precursors for astrocytes in primary culture of embryonic mouse cerebral wall cells by detection of GFAP promoter activity, which was detected approximately 3 days prior to the appearance of GFAP immunoreactivity. Since retroviruses only integrate into the chromosomes of actively proliferating cells, cells detected by this method should have been mitotically active at the time of retroviral infection on day 15 postfertilization (E15). Furthermore, we observed that cells activating GFAP promoter were located near the ventricular surface of cultured cerebral wall slices as a cluster of spherical cells. These results demonstrate that precursor cells for astrocytes exist within the germinative zone of developing cerebral wall, and that these cells are mitotically active on day E15, which is a late stage of neuronal production period in the mouse cerebral wall. The morphology, location and mitotic activity of these cells suggest that they are unlikely to be cells that have been transformed from radial glial cells.

GFAP gene expression during development of astrocyte

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is expressed exclusively in astrocytes in the central nervous system. In order to characterize individual cultured cells in which the GFAP promoter is active and to identify the regulatory mechanisms of GFAP expression in these cells, we have developed a unique assay system for promoter activity using retrovirus vectors. Retrovirus containing the mouse GFAP promoter fused to the lacZ gene were used to infect mixed glial cultures. The infected cells, in which the GFAP promoter was active, were visualized by X-Gal staining. From these experiments, we found that a 256 bp fragment 5' of the transcription initiation site was sufficient to confer astrocyte-specific expression of GFAP. The GFAP promoter became active about 3 days before GFAP protein can be detected immunohistochemically, which indicates that detection of GFAP promoter activity can be used to identify astrocyte progenitors. We have also established immortalized astrocyte cell lines in which we detect GFAP promoter activity. Immorto mouse is a transgenic mouse generated by the introduction of thermolabile SV40 T Ag, tsA58. A mixed glial culture prepared from 2-day-old Immorto mouse brain was incubated at 32 degrees C, at which temperature most of the cells expressed T Ag. The culture was then infected with retrovirus containing GFAP promoter-lacZ, and the infected cells were selected. Using the fluorescence-activated cell sorter with fluorescein di-beta-D-galactopyranoside as a substrate (FDG-FACS), these cells were separated into two groups: FDG(+), in which the GFAP promoter was active, and FDG(-), in which it was inactive. Mature astrocyte cell lines were established from the FDG(+) cells by colony isolation. The FDG(-) cells were cloned by colony isolation and cultured at 32 or 39 degrees C. At the latter temperature the expression of T Ag was suppressed and cell differentiation was induced in most cells. The cells which became positive for X-Gal staining only after switching to 39 degrees C were collected as immature astrocyte cell lines. These immortalized cell lines should be useful to investigate the molecular mechanisms of astrocyte differentiation.

Vitamin B12 enhances the phase-response of circadian melatonin rhythm to a single bright light exposure in humans

Eight young males were subjected to a single blind cross-over test to see the effects of vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin; VB12) on the phase-response of the circadian melatonin rhythm to a single bright light exposure. VB12 (0.5 mg/day) or vehicle was injected intravenously at 1230 h for 11 days, which was followed by oral administration (2 mg x 3/day) for 7 days. A serial blood sampling was performed under dim light condition (less than 200 lx) and plasma melatonin rhythm was determined before and after a single bright light exposure (2500 lx for 3 h) at 0700 h. The melatonin rhythm before the light exposure showed a smaller amplitude in the VB12 trial than in the placebo. The light exposure phase-advanced the melatonin rhythm significantly in the VB12 trail, but not in the placebo. These findings indicate that VB12 enhances the light-induced phase-shift in the human circadian rhythm.

A case of possessive state with onset influenced by 'door-to-door' sales

Recently in Japan, 'door-to-door sales' has become of concern because it has created numerous legal and social problems. In this paper, a 47 year old dissociative trance disorder case who presented with possession by God is discussed. Specific types of door-to-door sales is known to use superstition and folk beliefs as tools to lure customers. In this particular case, these religious factors seemed to have played an important role in the precipitation of the disorder and its presentation. In addition, the brain-washing environment observed in video lectures used in door-to-door sales seemed to play an important role in the development of the possessive state. We also performed social psychiatric analysis of the occurrence of the possessive state in a city area, which has been considered to develop within traditional culture. Phenomenological classification by one of the authors was useful for diagnosing underlying disorders in the possessive state.

Carotenoids and their fatty-acid esters in banana peel

In relation to banana ripening, banana peel was examined for carotenoid pigments by a combination of alumina column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Carotenoids and their fatty-acid esters were first separated by an alumina column into five fractions, of which each was further subfractionated by HPLC with different kinds of solvent. The carotenoid content of the banana peel was in the range of 3-4 micrograms per gram as lutein equivalent. The ingredients of the carotenoids were ascertained to consist of lutein, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, violaxanthin, auroxanthin, neoxanthin, isolutein, beta-cryptoxanthin and alpha-cryptoxanthin. Most of the oxygenated carotenoids were found to occur in the esterified form, mainly with myristate, and to a lesser extent with laurate, palmitate or caprate.

Distinct localization of two serine-threonine kinase receptors for activin and TGF-beta in the rat brain and down-regulation of type I activin receptor during peripheral nerve regeneration

The localizations of serine-threonine kinase receptor mRNA for the novel type I TGF-beta and/or activin receptor named B1 (rat), ALK-4 (mouse) or ActR-IB (human) were demonstrated by in situ hybridization. As the putative ligand for this receptor in the brain has not yet been clearly determined, we compared its localization to type II activin receptor (ActR-II) which is the counterpart of the type I activin receptor. B1 mRNA was widely observed in neuronal cells throughout the brain, and especially strong positive signals were found in the cerebral cortex, olfactory tubercle, and hippocampus. The localization of B1 mRNA coincided well with that of ActR-II. This strongly suggests that B1 (ALK-4/ActR-IB) could be the type I activin receptor, as type I and type II activin receptor were supposed to form a receptor complex. In addition, we examined the localization of type II TGF-beta receptor (TbetaRII) mRNA which is an essential counterpart of the type I TGF-beta receptors for TGF-beta signaling. TbetaRII mRNA was expressed mainly in non-neuronal cells such as choroid plexus. In addition, TbetaRII mRNA expression was also found in a minor population of neuronal cells. TbetaRII mRNA-positive neurons were observed in the reticular thalamus, laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and the ventral tegmental nucleus. The localization of TbetaRII was markedly different from that of activin receptors in the rat brain. Since TGF-betas and activins are known as growth factors and/or survival factors, we examined changes in levels of B1 and TbetaRII mRNA expression during peripheral nerve regeneration. Expression of B1 mRNA in the axotomized hypoglossal motoneurons was substantially decreased from day 3 after axotomy and this decrease was significant until postoperative day 28, whereas no TbetaRII signal was observed in hypoglossal nucleus prior or after axotomy. This transient down-regulation of B1 mRNA expression suggests that activin signaling is somehow suppressed during peripheral nerve regeneration.

Marked expression of plasma brain natriuretic peptide is a special feature of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVES

We examined whether plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels are abnormally elevated in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy compared with other cardiac diseases.

BACKGROUND

We previously reported that plasma brain and atrial natriuretic peptide levels were elevated in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

METHODS

We compared plasma concentrations of brain and atrial natriuretic peptide and hemodynamic and echocardiographic data in 50 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 15, mean [+/-SD] intraventricular pressure gradient 37 +/- 16 mm Hg), hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 15), aortic stenosis (n = 10, mean pressure gradient 41 +/- 18 mm Hg) and hypertensive heart disease (n = 10, mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure 203 +/- 16/108 +/- 11 mm Hg, respectively) and 10 normal subjects.

RESULTS

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels were higher in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group (397.1 +/- 167.8 pg/ml*) than in the hypertrophic nonobstructive cardiomyopathy (60.0 +/- 48.1 pg/ml*), hypertensive heart disease (53.9 +/- 31.4 pg/ml*), aortic stenosis (75.4 +/- 54.3 pg/ml*) and normal groups (9.8 +/- 6.4 pg/ml [*p < 0.05 vs. normal group, p < 0.05 vs. hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group]). Although plasma atrial natriuretic peptide levels were higher in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group than the other patient groups, the brain/atrial natriuretic peptide ratio in the hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy group was higher (4.5 +/- 2.3) than those in the other three patient groups (1.1 to 1.4) and the normal group (0.7 +/- 0.5). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index were similar among the four patient groups. The interventricular septal thickness and the ratio of interventricular septal thickness to left ventricular posterior wall thickness were similar between the hypertrophic obstructive and nonobstructive cardiomyopathy groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal elevations of plasma brain natriuretic peptide levels are difficult to explain on the basis of hemodynamic and echocardiographic data and are a special feature of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Distribution of glucocorticoid receptor immunoreactivity and mRNA in the rat brain: an immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization study

The localization of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) immunoreactivity and mRNA in the adult rat brain was examined by light microscopic and electron microscopic immunohistochemistries, and in situ hybridization. For the purpose of detailed investigation of the distribution and comparison of GR immunoreactivities and mRNAs, specific polyclonal antibodies against a part of the transcription modulation (TR) domain of rat GR were used in the immunohistochemistry, whereas fluorescein-labeled RNA probes, complementary to the TR domain in the GR cDNA were used in the in situ hybridization. In the rat brain, GR immunoreactivity was predominantly localized in the cell nucleus, and the expression of GR mRNA was detected in the cytoplasm. GR-immunoreactive and GR mRNA-containing cells were widely distributed from the olfactory bulb of the forebrain to the gracile-cuneate nuclei of the medulla oblongata. The highest densities of GR-immunoreactive and mRNA-containing cells were observed in the subfields of cerebral cortex, olfactory cortex, hippocampal formation, amygdala, septal region, dorsal thalamus, hypothalamus, trapezoid body, cerebellar cortex, locus coeruleus and dorsal nucleus raphe. The distributional pattern of GR immunoreactivity in many regions was well-correlated with that of GR mRNA, but in the CA3 and CA4 pyramidal layers of the hippocampus, different localization was noted. The present study provides the groundwork for elucidating the role of GRs in brain function.