Isolation of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the dental operatory

The state of contamination by methicillin-resistant Staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at the conservative dentistry section of the School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, was investigated. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci (MRCNS) were detected in 8 (20.5%) of 39 dental staff (28 dentists, 8 dental hygienists, and 3 dental assistants), but MRSA was not detected. MRCNS was also detected in locations such as the dental chair, dental bracket, dental cabinet, and floor, as well as in airborne samples. The presence of the same strain in both the oral cavity of staff persons and the dental chair/floor locations was determined by biochemical properties, antibiotic sensitivity tests, and electrophoretic patterns.

Size and position invariance of neuronal responses in monkey inferotemporal cortex

1. Object vision is largely invariant to changes of retinal images of objects in size and position. To reveal neuronal mechanisms of this invariance, we recorded activities from single cells in the anterior part of the inferotemporal cortex (anterior IT), determined the critical features for the activation of individual cells, and examined the effects of changes in stimulus size and position on the responses. 2. Twenty-one percent of the anterior IT cells studied here responded to ranges of size > 4 octaves, whereas 43% responded to size ranges < 2 octaves. The optimal stimulus size, measured by the distance between the outer edges along the longest axis of the stimulus, ranged from 1.7 to 30 degrees. 3. The selectivity for shape was mostly preserved over the entire range of effective size and over the receptive field, whereas some subtle but statistically significant changes were observed in one half of the cells studied here. 4. The size-specific responses observed in 43% of the cells are consistent with recent psychophysical data that suggest that images of objects are stored in a size-specific manner in the long-term memory. Both size-dependent and -independent processing of images may occur in anterior IT.

[Comparative study on frequency-doubled Nd: YAG laser, krypton laser and diode laser photocoagulation for diabetic maculopathy]

Twenty six eyes of thirteen patients with diabetic maculopathy (Fukuda's classification AI, AII, BI) were treated with frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser (6 eyes) or krypton laser (7 eyes) in one eye and diode laser (13 eyes) in the other eye. Group A was treated with frequency-doubled Nd: YAG laser and diode laser, and group B was treated with krypton laser and diode laser. The visual acuity, visual field (Octopus program 31) and fundus were examined at one month, 3 months, and 6 months after photocoagulation. Visual acuity was stable in all eyes. The central 30 degree visual sensitivity decreased more after diode laser treatment than after that of the other lasers. Krypton laser photocoagulation maintained the better visual function and was easy to use followed by frequency-doubled Nd: YAG laser. Because the appearance immediately after diode laser lesion was weaker than one hour after coagulation, it was difficult to get the proper power setting.

Cloning of tropomodulin cDNA and localization of gene transcripts during mouse embryogenesis

Tropomodulin (Tmod) is a tropomyosin-binding protein involved in the structuring of actin filaments. This report describes Tmod expression in distinct patterns during embryonic development in a wider variety of adult and embryonic vertebrate tissues than previously reported. Identical Tmod cDNAs were cloned from mouse brain, skeletal muscle, heart, and hematopoeitic cells. Genomic blotting demonstrates that Tmod is encoded by a single gene, which has a 1077-bp open reading frame that is highly homologous to that of the human erythrocyte. The spatial and temporal expression of the Tmod gene was examined during mouse embryogenesis using in situ hybridization. Tmod mRNA is present by 9.5 days postcoitum (p.c.) in the developing rostral somites, coincident with expression of contractile protein genes in myotomes, suggesting that Tmod may play an important role in sarcomeric thin filament organization in skeletal muscle. While the expression of Tmod mRNA in cardiac muscle is earlier than that in skeletal muscle, its appearance in the heart also coincides with the expression of genes for thin filament proteins and correlates with initial myocardial contractions at 8.0 days p.c. Tmod mRNA is not detected in developing smooth muscle of the gut, but Tmod mRNA is expressed in hematopoeitic cells in yolk sac and developing liver. The sensory ganglia and epithelia of the inner ear express Tmod mRNA as do other sensory neurons such as those in the olfactory epithelium. Expression levels in the brain are much lower prenatally than postnatally. These findings show that Tmod expression in many cell types is developmentally regulated, suggesting that the interaction of actin filaments with this tropomyosin binding protein is an important process in tissue and cell differentiation.

DNA diagnosis of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency in female patients with congenital lactic acidaemia

The diagnosis of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) E1 alpha deficiency, which is an X-linked inborn error of metabolism, is usually established by the measurement of PDH complex activity in cultured cells. However, heterozygous female patients with PDH E1 alpha deficiency may be misdiagnosed when the normal X chromosome is predominantly expressed in the cultured cells. Therefore, in female patients with convincing clinical presentations of PDH E1 alpha deficiency and the normal enzyme activity, the X-inactivation pattern should be analysed and the PDH E1 alpha gene screened for mutations. For this screening, we applied the method of single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing and examined 11 female patients with congenital lactic acidaemia whose PDH complex activity was normal in cultured cells. In 2 of the 11 female patients, we found distinct pathogenic missense mutations in the PDH E1 alpha gene (G89S and G291R). Both affected patients showed a similar clinical presentation and had been diagnosed as West syndrome. In 3 of the 11 patients, we found a polymorphic base-pair substitution in exon 9 of the PDH E1 alpha gene which resulted in a changed amino acid residue (M282L). We conclude that PCR-SSCP analysis of the PDH E1 alpha gene, followed by DNA sequencing, is a useful method to screen for mutations of the PDH E1 alpha gene in female patients with congenital lactic acidaemia who have normal enzyme activities in available samples, normal ratio of lactate to pyruvate, and predominantly raised lactate concentration in cerebrospinal fluid.

Characterization of the myosin-binding subunit of smooth muscle myosin phosphatase

A myosin phosphatase was purified from chicken gizzard smooth muscle. The holoenzyme is a trimer and consists of 130,000-, 38,000-, and 20,000-Da subunits (in agreement with the results of Alessi et al.: Alessi, D., MacDougall, L. K., Sola, M. M., Ikebe, M., and Cohen, P. (1992) Eur. J. Biochem. 210, 1023-1035). The catalytic subunit, 38,000 Da, is the type 1 delta isoform, and its derived amino acid sequence is identical to the rat isoform. The larger subunit bound to myosin and also interacted with the catalytic subunit. cDNA clones encoding the large subunit were isolated from chicken gizzard cDNA libraries. Overlapping clones indicated the presence of two isoforms, and open reading frames of 2889 and 3012 bases were obtained. These encoded proteins of 963 and 1004 amino acids, with masses of 106,700 and 111,600 Da, respectively. The insert in the larger isoform is in the center of the molecule, at residues 512-552. The N-terminal third of the molecule is composed of eight repeat sequences, similar to the cdc10/SWI6 or ankyrin repeat. Myosin binding and binding to the catalytic subunit are properties of a 58,000-Da fragment that represents the N-terminal part of the molecule.

Consecutive cerebral MRI findings of acute relapsing disseminated encephalomyelitis

A seven year old girl with acute relapsing disseminated encephalomyelitis (ARDEM) was observed with serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. She had the first encephalomyelitis episode at the age of 2 years 9 months. She entered remission with steroid therapy. She suffered a recurrence at the age of 7. Steroid therapy was instituted and consecutive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. In spite of rapid improvement of neurological abnormality with steroid and steroid pulse therapy, disseminated high intensity lesions in T2-weighted imaging which were considered as demyelination remained for a long time. Magnetic resonance imaging seems to be most suitable for evaluating the clinical condition and long-term follow-up of ARDEM.

Synthesis of 9E- and 9Z-locked retinoic acid analogs as ligands for RAR and RXR

New retinoic acid (RA) analogs 9E-locked-RA 3 and 9Z-locked-RA 4 were synthesized from dithiane 6 and beta-cyclocitral 13, respectively. Both analogs behaved as agonistic ligands for a mixture of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR).

Stimulus parameters for induction of long-term depression in in vitro rat Purkinje cells

Long-term depression (LTD) was induced in rat cerebellar slices by conjunctive stimulation of parallel fibers (PFs) and climbing fibers (CFs) under perfusion of 20 microM picrotoxin. LTD was estimated by the reduction in the initial rising slope of EPSPs PF-induced in Purkinje cell dendrites. LTD-inducing efficacy was represented by both the average amount of depression and the probability of inducing depression greater than 25%, both measured at 40 min after the onset of conjunctive stimulation. Using 300 regularly recurring pulses given to both CFs and PFs with 0 ms interval, LTD was optimally induced at 1 Hz, and to lesser degrees at other frequencies. When the number of conjunctive stimuli at 1 Hz with zero CF-PF interval was varied from 50 to 500, 300 stimuli induced LTD most robustly. When CF-PF interval was varied while 300 pulses were given at 0.25-4 Hz, LTD was induced even when PF stimuli were delayed after CF stimuli by as much as 2 s, but it was inhibited when PF stimuli preceded CF stimuli by 10-100 ms. LTD was also induced by applying repeated short pulse trains to both CFs and PFs, but repeated application of a PF stimulus train immediately followed by a CF stimulus train as in classical conditioning was effectless. The present results suggest complex processes leading to LTD as a result of conjunctive CF and PF stimulation.

Construction of a new teichuronopeptide-defective derivative from alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. C-125 by cell fusion

Cell walls of facultative alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. C-125 are composed of peptidoglycan, teichuronic acid, and teichuronopeptide. A mutant lacking teichuronic acid, or defective in both teichuronic acid and teichuronopeptide has been isolated from the organism. We now constructed another type of a cell-wall defective mutant that was defective in teichuronopeptide but had teichuronic acid, by cell fusion using protoplasts prepared from a wild-type strain and a mutant defective in teichuronopeptide and teichuronic acid. This mutant grew more poorly than wild type or a teichuronic acid-defective strain of C-125. The growth, however, was faster than that of the parental strain defective in both teichuronic acid and teichuronopeptide.

Mechanical detachable coil as a therapeutic alternative for cerebral aneurysm

Endovascular treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms has been recognized as a useful alternative. Various types of intravascular materials embolizing aneurysms were classified into one of two groups. One was retrievable after the placement, whereas the other was irretrievable. The former which has involved detachable coils is preferred, because it can be repositioned repeatedly, while it forms the most effective arrangement. In this report, we present a compromised patient who was a 68 year-old female suffering angina pectoris and was treated with an interlocking detachable coil. Technical points are discussed here compared with Guglielmi's detachable coil.

Comparative study of alcohol metabolism in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats fed normal or low levels of dietary protein

Our previous experiments have shown that the appetite or preference for alcohol is affected by the rat strain and nutritional status, such as dietary protein levels. To determine the affected factors in alcohol preference, the alcohol metabolism in SHRSP (stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats) and WKY (Wistar-Kyoto) rats fed with the standard level (15%) or low level (5%) purified egg protein diet (PEP) was investigated. The animals were kept on the experimental diets for 4 weeks. After 12 h fasting, a 15% ethanol solution was given in a dose of 100 mg ethanol per 100 g body weight with a gastric probe to all animals and the blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels were determined. Compared with 15% PEP diet-fed SHRSP, WKY showed higher levels of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde. Furthermore, the same results were also observed in SHRSP and WKY fed with 5% PEP diet. On the other hand, regardless of the rat strain, rats fed a low level protein diet showed higher blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels. We also found that there was no significant change in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activity and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity between SHRSP and WKY. However, both SHRSP and WKY fed a 15% PEP diet showed higher ADH and ALDH activity compared with rats fed the 5% PEP diet. These results suggested that the affected factors of preference for alcohol may be correlated with blood ethanol and acetaldehyde levels after alcohol intake.

Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the calcaneus: comparison with other techniques to assess bone density and value in predicting risk of spine fracture

OBJECTIVE

The calcaneus has been proposed as an alternative site for assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) in women with osteoporosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical usefulness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the calcaneus for predicting spinal fracture and to compare the predictive value of assessment of BMD by DXA of the calcaneus, quantitative CT or DXA of the lumbar spine, and DXA of the most distal part of the radius.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study group consisted of 399 healthy volunteer women (aged 19-81 years) and 27 women (aged 44-85 years) who had osteoporosis. They had DXA of the calcaneus, quantitative CT and DXA of the lumbar spine, and DXA of the most distal part of the radius. T-score analyses were used to compare decreases in BMD in postmenopausal women with decreases in premenopausal women, and to compare decreases in women with and without osteoporosis.

RESULTS

T-score analysis of age-related changes in BMD in the control subjects showed that densities in the calcaneus, the lumbar spine, and the most distal part of the radius decrease significantly with age in postmenopausal women. In women with osteoporosis (n = 27), BMDs in the calcaneus (DXA, p < .0002), L1-L3 (quantitative CT, p < .0001), L1-L4 (DXA, p < .0005), and the most distal part of the radius (DXA, p < .005) were significantly lower than those in healthy control subjects (n = 77). T-score analysis indicated that in women with osteoporosis, DXA of the calcaneus showed BMD losses greater than those shown by DXA of L1-L4 and the most distal part of the radius and similar to those shown by quantitative CT of L1-L3. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that findings on DXA of the calcaneus were as good a predictor of the risk of spinal fracture as findings on DXA of the lumbar spine and not as good as findings on quantitative CT of the lumbar spine.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that DXA assessment of BMD in the calcaneus is not a useful adjunct to other measurements. However, it can be used to predict the risk of fracture when better measures, such as quantitative CT, are unavailable.

Flies in the group Cyclorrhapha use (3S)-3-hydroxyretinal as a unique visual pigment chromophore

In the class Insecta, retinal and 3-hydroxyretinal are used as chromophores of visual pigments, but the absolute structure of the 3-hydroxyretinal chromophore has yet to be clarified. This study investigates the chirality of 3-hydroxyretinal in the compound eyes of five representative orders of insects. In the orders Odonata, Hemiptera, Neuroptera and Lepidoptera, and suborders Nematocera and Brachycera of the Diptera, only (3R)-3-hydroxyretinal isomers were detected, but dipterans of the suborder Cyclorrhapha (higher flies) had the (3S)-11-cis enantiomer and a mixture of (3R)-all-trans and (3S)-all-trans 3-hydroxyretinal enantiomers; the ratio of the (3R) enantiomer to the sum of both enantiomers of the all-trans isomer was in the range 9-32%. Despite differences in feeding habits, including one species that is a butterfly parasite, all higher flies analysed to date share the same pattern of 3-hydroxyretinal enantiomers, making them a unique group with regard to the nature of the visual pigment chromophore.

Chemopreventive effects of beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol and five naturally occurring antioxidants on initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in the rat

Inhibitory effects of naturally occurring antioxidants on the initiation stage of hepatocarcinogenesis were studied. Group 1 rats were given a diet containing beta-carotene (beta-CT, 0.02%), alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TP, 1.5%), glutathione (GLT, 5%), vanillin (VNL, 1%), quercetin (QCT, 1%) or ellagic acid (ELA, 1%), or 3 doses of diallyl sulfide (DAS, 200 mg/kg, i.g.) over an 8-day period. On day 7, the animals received a single dose of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ, 100 mg/kg, i.g.), 12 h after two-thirds partial hepatectomy for initiation and 2 weeks thereafter, were placed on promotion regimen comprising phenobarbital (0.05% in diet) and a single dose of D-galactosamine (100 mg/kg, i.p.). Groups 2 and 3 were treated as described for Group 1, but without test material or IQ, respectively. Survivors were killed at week 11 and antioxidant influence was assessed by comparing values for preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive (GST-P+) foci between Groups 1 and 2. All lesions larger than 70 microns in diameter consisting of approximately 5 cells in cross section were counted. Numbers of GST-P+ foci/cm2 in Group 1 were: beta-CT, 7.99; alpha-TP, 8.21; GLT, 9.71; DAS, 10.37; VNL, 10.57; QCT, 11.1; ELA, 12.5 (n = 11-15). All, except ELA, showed a significant decrease as compared with the Group 2 value of 14.54 (n = 15). Only beta-CT showed a significant decrease for the area value. This is the first report to show that beta-CT, alpha-TP, GLT, DAS, VNL, QCT exert inhibitory effects on initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis by the food carcinogen IQ, suggesting that these antioxidants might find application as chemopreventive agents. Furthermore, the current protocol proved practical for the assessment of chemopreventive agents within 11 weeks, a relatively short period.

Vitamin D-dependent rickets type II: regulation of human osteocalcin gene expression in cells with defective vitamin D receptors by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, retinoic acid, and triiodothyronine

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a nuclear transcription factor which binds to the vitamin D response element (VDRE) of the human osteocalcin gene and regulates its expression. Humans with VDR gene mutations, ever among those with the same point mutation in their VDR gene, demonstrate clinical heterogeneity. In addition, in some patients with these mutations, rickets has not recurred following cessation of therapy during follow-up ranging from 6 to 24 years. While important, it is likely that the VDR protein is not the sole factor in the development of rickets. To try to understand these clinical findings, the complex formed between the VDRE and one or more proteins in the nuclear extracts of cultured skin fibroblasts treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (1,25(OH)2D3), retinoic acid (RA), and/or triiodothyronine (T3) was investigated since such complexes are likely to precede the transcription of the VDR gene. Complex formation in the control cells with an intact VDR was increased by treatment with either 0.1 nM, 1 nM, 10 nM 1,25(OH)2D3, 100 nM RA, or 100 nM T3; however, combinations of these compounds did not produce an additive effect. In cells of affected patients, 1,25(OH)2D3, RA, or T3 increased complex formation, while no combination had an additive effect. These results indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3, RA, and T3 play a role in the regulation of bone remodeling through modulating the formation of protein complexes on the VDRE. Therefore, the clinical observations in patients with a VDR mutation might be explained at least in part by the overlapping control of osteocalcin expression by 1,25(OH)2D3, RA and T3.

Anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 activity of phosphorothioate analogs of oligodeoxynucleotides: penetration and localization of oligodeoxynucleotides in HIV-1-infected MOLT-4 cells

Phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against HIV-1 rev (S-ODN-rev) inhibits virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) in acute infection and inhibits the expression of HIV-1 core protein, p24, in chronically infected cells in vitro. HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity was not affected by S-ODN-rev at the high concentrations of 5-25 microM, which were 250-1250 times higher than the concentration required to achieve 100% HIV-1-induced CPE inhibition. [32P]-labeled S-ODN-rev was rapidly uptaken by MOLT-4 cells, whereas [32P]-SO-ODN-rev and [32P]-O-ODN-rev were not. In the observation of FITC-S-ODN-rev-treated MOLT-4 cells by a confocal laser scanning microscope, diffuse fluorescence was apparently observed in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, fluorescence signals were accumulated in the nuclear region of chronically infected MOLT-4/HIV-1 cells 60 min after incubation. FITC-labeled homooligomer, FITC-S-dC20 and FIT-C-S-dT20, also accumulated in the nucleus of MOLT-4/HIV-1 cells, but weak fluorescence was observed on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of the FITC-S-random treated MOLT-4/HIV-1 and MOLT-4 cells.

[Five cases of phosphorylase b kinase deficiency affecting muscle or liver: clinical symptoms and diagnosis]

Muscle, erythrocyte and/or leukocyte phosphorylase b kinase (PBK) activities were measured in 5 patients and in 2 families. The relation between phenotype and enzyme deficiency in clinically variable samples based on measurement of erythrocytes, leukocytes or muscle was described. Three patients showed the enzyme deficiency in liver and the disease was transmitted as an X-linked recessive trait. In these cases, our results suggested that carrier detection was more reliable with erythrocytes than leukocytes. Two patients showed enzyme deficiency in muscle, and the mode of inheritance was not clear. In these cases, muscle biopsies were necessary for diagnosis.

Prevention of preeclampsia with calcium supplementation and vitamin D3 in an antenatal protocol

OBJECTIVES

Using an angiotensin sensitivity test we carried out a prospective study in an attempt to predict the possible onset of preeclampsia and to prevent it by calcium supplementation (elemental calcium 156 or 312 mg/day per os) and treatment with vitamin D3 (0.5 micrograms/3 day per os).

METHOD

We used a study design in which 666 singleton pregnant women were managed with conventional antenatal care and 210 singleton pregnant women were managed with a protocol, together with conventional antenatal care.

RESULT

Of the 666 women managed conventionally, 113 (16.9%) developed preeclampsia. However, the incidence of preeclampsia in the 210 women managed on the protocol was lower, at 10.9%.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that this protocol for the prediction and prevention of preeclampsia is useful for pregnant women at high risk of developing preeclampsia.

Humoral and cellular immunity to an encoded protein induced by direct DNA injection

An immunization procedure with naked DNA that generates both humoral and cellular immune responses is described. A mammalian expression vector encoding human factor IX as an example of immunogen was injected into mice three times at 10-day intervals. Three of the 4 mice in which the DNA was injected intramuscularly and 5 of the 9 mice injected subcutaneously produced antibodies to human factor IX. Spleen cells from inoculated mice also showed significant cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to target cells expressing human factor IX. The titers of anti-single-stranded (ss)DNA antibodies were significantly higher in the subsets of genetically inoculated mice than in the control mice, but anti-double-stranded (ds)DNA antibodies were not detected in any serum samples. Thus, intramuscular and subcutaneous injection of plasmid DNA can induce immune responses against the encoded protein without an exposure to virus particles, and this approach may serve as the basis for immunotherapy in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases in humans.

Contribution of ED-1- and CD-8-positive cells to the development of crescentic-type anti-GBM nephritis in rats

The current studies were designed to identify which mononuclear leukocytes have an important role in the development of glomerular injury using rats with original-type (mild injury) and crescentic-type (severe injury) anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis. 1) Proteinuria was persistent in crescentic-type anti-GBM nephritis compared with original-type anti-GBM nephritis. Macrophages/monocytes (ED-1), cytotoxic/suppressor T cells (CD-8), interleukin-2-receptor (CD-25)-positive cells and Ia-positive cells accumulated remarkably and persisted for longer in crescentic-type nephritic glomeruli. 2) We then performed investigations using immunosuppressants. Cyclosporin A abrogated proteinuria more effectively than azathioprine in crescentic-type nephritis. However, plasma antibody titer and glomerular rat IgG deposition were equally reduced by both azathioprine and cyclosporin A. The increase in the numbers of ED-1-, CD-8- and CD-25-positive cells in nephritic glomeruli was completely inhibited by cyclosporin A, but inhibited only slightly by azathioprine. 3) There was a correlation between the degree of proteinuria and the number of ED-1- and CD-8-positive cells. It is likely that these cells are leukocytes that lead to glomerular injury in nephritis. 4) In additional experiments using monoclonal antibodies against macrophages/monocytes and cytotoxic/suppressor T cells, urinary protein excretion and accumulation of these cells were blunted in nephritic rats treated with these antibodies. These results suggest that ED-1- and CD-8-positive cells are involved in the development of crescentic-type anti-GBM nephritis.