Effect of ultrasound-guided lumbar square muscle block on stress response in patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Radical surgery is a common treatment for patients with gastric cancer; however, it can lead to postoperative complications and intestinal barrier dysfunction. Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block is often used for postoperative analgesia, but its effects on stress response and intestinal barrier function are not well understood.

AIM

To investigate the effects of an ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block on stress response and intestinal barrier function in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer.

METHODS

A total of 100 patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer were randomly categorized into observation and control groups. Plasma adrenaline and cortisol levels, intestinal mucosal barrier indexes, and complication rates were compared between the two groups before, during, and 1 day after surgery.

RESULTS

The observation group had significantly lower plasma adrenaline and cortisol levels during surgery and at 1 day postoperatively than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, intestinal barrier indexes (endotoxin and D-dimer) at 1 day postoperatively were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block could reduce stress response, protect intestinal barrier function, and decrease the incidence of complications in patients undergoing radical surgery for gastric cancer. This technique has the potential for clinical applications.

[A survey of cervical and lumbar spine diseases of express delivery employees]

Objective: To understand the current situation and influencing factors of cervical and lumbar spine diseases of the express delivery employees, and provide scientific basis for carrying out their occupational health protection in a targeted manner. Methods: From February 2020 to January 2021, the current situation research method was used to obtain 527 express delivery employees by cluster sampling. Online questionnaires were used to investigate sociodemographic characteristics and emotional characteristics, and clinical data were obtained by digital X-ray (DR) examination of the neck and waist. Pearson χ(2) test and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of cervical and lumbar spine diseases in express delivery employees. Results: The prevalence rates of cervical spine and lumbar spine diseases among express delivery employees were 49.15% (259/527) and 67.74% (357/527) , respectively. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of cervical and lumbar spine disease among express delivery employees with different ages, length of service, working hours per week, and different degrees of distress due to emotional factors (P<0.05) . Multivariate analysis showed that express delivery employees aged ≥25 years old had a higher risk of cervical spine disease (P<0.05) , the express delivery employees who worked 49-55 hours per week had a lower risk of cervical spine disease (P<0.05) . Express delivery employees aged≥35 years old had a lower risk of lumbar spine disease (P<0.05) , and the risk of lumbar spine disease was higher among express delivery workers who suffered moderate or more distress due to emotional factors (such as anxiety, depression, or irritability) in the past 4 weeks (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The prevalence of cervical and lumbar spine diseases is relatively high among express delivery employees. It is recommended to adjust the weekly working hours of express delivery employees, organize psychological counseling training, and effectively protect the occupational health rights of express delivery employees.

[Investigation on occupational injury of sanitation workers in Shenzhen City]

Objective: To understand the occurrence of occupational injuries among sanitation workers in Shenzhen, and provide a scientific basis for the prevention of occupational injuries among sanitation workers. Methods: From May to November 2020, a cluster sampling method was used to select some street sanitation workers in Shenzhen to conduct a questionnaire survey. A total of 2200 questionnaires were recovered, of which 2167 were valid (98.5% effective recovery rate) . The socio-demographic data, length of service, type of work and occurrence of occupational injuries of sanitation workers were collected, and the distribution characteristics of occupational injuries and their relationship with factors such as type of work were analyzed. Results: Among the 2167 sanitation workers, 240 (11.1%) had experienced occupational injuries. The most common occupational injuries among sanitation workers were sharp injury, heat stroke and motor vehicle traffic accident, with the incidence rates of 6.1% (133/2167) , 2.4% (53/2167) and 1.7% (36/2167) respectively. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of occupational injuries among sanitation workers with different lengths of work and types of work (P<0.05) . The incidence of occupational injury among sanitation workers with more than 5 years of service was significantly higher than that of workers with less than 5 years of service (P<0.05) . The incidence of sharp injury among garbage sorting and transportation personnel was higher (7.9%, 21/265) , the incidence of heat stroke among manual cleaners was higher (3.1%, 42/1366) , and the incidence of motor vehicle traffic accident among mechanized cleaners was higher (5.4%, 10/184) . Conclusion: There are many cases of occupational injuries among sanitation workers in Shenzhen. Targeted measures should be taken to prevent the occurrence of different types of work and different types of occupational injuries, and to improve the occupational health level of sanitation workers.

Application of velocity vector imaging (VVI) in the evaluation of left ventricular myocardial contractile strain and dyssynchrony before and after stent implantation in patients with coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become increasingly mature and has gradually become the main treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD). However, evaluation of myocardial reperfusion after PCI remains a major clinical challenge. This study aimed to explore the VVI technique in evaluating the effect, prognosis, and follow-up of CHD patients after percutaneous coronary intervention. We performed a quantitative analysis of left ventricular myocardial contractile strain and dyssynchrony before and after stent implantation in patients by VVI.

METHODS

Thirty-five patients diagnosed with CHD who underwent percutaneous coronary stenting (PCI) in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from March 2019 to October 2020 were selected as the case group. Continuous dynamic two-dimensional images of the patient's left ventricle were analyzed using VVI at 1 day before PCI (group A), 7 days after PCI (group B), and 30 days after PCI (group C). The patients' left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), peak longitudinal strain, and peak radial strain of myocardial contraction were measured. The VVI images of 35 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination in the outpatient department of our hospital from March 2019 to October 2020 were selected as controls.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the LVEF, LVEDD, and LVESD between the case and control groups (P>0.05). The peak systolic longitudinal and radial strain values at 1 month after treatment were higher than those before treatment. The differences among myocardial segments were statistically significant, except for the apical septum, base anterior, apical anterior, and base inferior segments (P<0.05). The peak systolic longitudinal and radial strain values at 1 week after treatment were not significantly different from those at 1 month after treatment, except for the base anterior septum, mid anterior, posterior, and inferior myocardial segments (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

VVI technology can comprehensively and objectively evaluate the overall and local myocardial function of the left ventricle, thereby providing a novel method for the clinical treatment of CHD as well as the evaluation of curative effect and prognosis.

[Risk factors of anastomotic leakage after robotic surgery for low and mid rectal cancer]

Objective: To investigate the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage after robotic surgery in mid-low rectal cancer. Methods: A retrospective case-control study method was conducted. Inclusion criteria: (1) 18 to 80 years old; (2) pathologically confirmed rectal cancer; (3) distance <10 cm from tumor to anal margin; (4) robotic anterior rectal resection. Patients with previous history of colorectal cancer surgery, distant metastases or other malignant tumors, undergoing emergency surgery, with severe abdominal adhesions or those receiving combined organ resection were excluded. Based on the above criteria, 636 patients undergoing robotic radical sphincter-preserving surgery for mid-low rectal cancer in Zhongshan Hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were included in this study, including 398 males (62.6%) and 238 females (37.4%) with a mean age of (61.9±11.3) years. Sixty-eight cases (10.7%) received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Amony the 636 included patients, 123(19.3%) underwent natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) and 15 (2.3%) underwent preventive stoma. According to the cirteria developed by the International Rectal Cancer Research Group in 2010, the anastomotic leakage was classified as grade A (no requirement of intervention), B (requirement of intervention), and C (requirement of operation). Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between anastomotic leakage and clinicopathological factors. Factors in univariate analysis with P<0.05 were included in the multivariate analysis. Results: Anastomotic leakage occurred in 38 cases (6.0%). The grading of anastomotic leakage was grade A in 13 cases (2.0%), grade B in 19 cases (3.0%), and grade C in 6 cases (0.9%). The 3-year disease-free survival rate of patients with anastomotic leakage and without anastomotic leakage was 83.5% and 83.6% respectively (P=0.862); the 3-year overall survival rate of the two group was 85.1% and 87.5% respectively (P=0.296). The results of univariate logistic regression analysis showed that male (P=0.011), longer operation time (P=0.042), distance ≤5 cm from tumor to anal margin (P=0.012), more intraoperative blood loss (P=0.048) were associated with anastomotic leakage (all P<0.05). NOSES was not associated with anastomotic leakage (P=0.704). Multivariate analysis confirmed that male (OR=3.03, 95%CI: 1.37 to 7.14, P=0.010), operation time ≥180 minutes (OR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.03 to 3.99, P=0.040), distance ≤5 cm from tumor to anal margin (OR=2.56, 95%CI:1.28 to 5.26, P=0.008) were independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage. Conclusion: Male, short distance from tumor to anal margin, and long operation time are independent risk factors for anastomotic leakage in patients undergoing robotic mid-low rectal cancer radical surgeries. These patients need to be cautiously treated during surgery.

[Surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases]

Surgical resection of the metastases offers the only opportunity for long-term survival in colorectal liver metastases. However, only 10% to 20% of patients present with resectable disease, and so how to increase surgical patients has been a clinical hotspot. In addition to expanding surgical indications, two-stage hepatectomy and convertible therapy are optional. In convertible therapy, initial treatment regimen decides long-term benefit, and it is important to select appropriate patient population in addition to Ras status when anti-epithelial growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody is used. Minimally invasive surgery can also be used for liver resection and simultaneous resection, and it is safe and effective. For patients with colorectal cancer and unresectable asymptomatic liver metastases, the debate continues over the efficacy of primary resection compared to chemotherapy alone, limited by lack of prospective evidence. Therefore, multidisciplinary team assessment is essential to optimize outcomes in colorectal liver metastases.

[Features of peripheral nerve injuries in workers exposed to vibration: an analysis of 197 cases]

Objective: To investigate the features of peripheral nerve injuries in workers exposed to vibration. Methods: A total of 197 male workers [median age: 34 years (21-50 years) ; median working years of vibration exposure: 7.3 years (1-20 years) ] engaged in grinding in an enterprise were enrolled. Their clinical data and electromyography results were analyzed to investigate the features of peripheral nerve impairment. Results: Of all workers, 96 (48.73%) had abnormal electromyography results. Of all workers, 88 (44.7%) had simple mild median nerve injury in the wrist, who accounted for 91.7% (88/96) of all workers with abnormal electromy-ography results. Six workers had ulnar nerve injury, superficial radial nerve injury, or/and superficial peroneal nerve injury and accounted for 6.3% of all workers with abnormal electromyography results. Of all workers, 88 had a reduced amplitude of median nerve sensory transduction, and 28 had slowed median nerve sensory transduction. A total of 46 workers were diagnosed with occupational hand-arm vibration disease and hospitalized for treatment. They were followed up for more than 4 months after leaving their jobs, and most of them showed improvements in neural electromyography results and returned to a normal state. Conclusion: Workers exposed to vibration have a high incidence rate of nerve injury in the hand, mainly sensory function impairment at the distal end of the median nerve, and all injuries are mild peripheral nerve injuries. After leaving the vibration job and being treated, most workers can achieve improvements and return to a normal state.

Expression of anti-neuroexcitation peptide (ANEP) of scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch in Escherichia coli

According to the cDNA sequence of anti-neuroexcitation peptide of scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch, the putative mature anti-neuroexcitation peptide (ANEP) encoding DNA fragment was obtained by a PCR method, then was cloned into expression plasmid pET28a, fused with His tag at its 3' end. When expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3), the expression of recombinant ANEP was 15% of total cellular proteins, while most recombinant ANEP products existed in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. Coexpression of molecular chaperones or protein disulfide isomerase could not improve its solubility. The recombinant ANEP in the cell lysate was purified to homogeneity by metal chelating affinity chromatography and Superdex 30 chromatography. In bioassay with convulsive mice model induced by thiosemicarbazide, recombinant ANEP could apparently delay the convulsion seizure of model animals by 18% and showed anti-neuroexcitatory activity.

Effects of rhM-CSF expressed in silkworm on cytokine productions and membrane molecule expressions of human monocytes

AIM

To study the effects of recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhM-CSF) expressed in silkworm on cytokine productions and membrane molecule expressions of monocytes.

METHODS

The rhM-CSF was added to the human peripheral blood monocyte cultures and 3 d later, the culture supernatants and cells were collected, respectively. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-alpha levels in the supernatants were detected by biological activity test or ELISA and expressions of CD11b, CD16, HLA I, and HLA II on the cellular surface were examined by the method of alkaline phosphatase anti-alkaline phosphatase complex (APAAP).

RESULTS

The rhM-CSF promoted TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 inductions of monocytes and increased the percentages of CD11b, CD16, HLA I, and HLA II molecule expression on monocytes.

CONCLUSION

The rhM-CSF plays a role in monocyte function up-regulation and has a certain practical value in immunological therapy.

ATP-sensitive potassium channels regulate in vivo dopamine release in rat striatum

ATP-sensitive K+ channels (K(ATP)) are distributed in a variety of tissues including smooth muscle, cardiac and skeletal muscle, pancreatic beta-cells and neurons. Since K(ATP) channels are present in the nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) pathway, the effect of potassium-channel modulators on the release of DA in the striatum of conscious, freely-moving rats was investigated. The extracellular concentration of DA was significantly decreased by the K(ATP)-channel opener (-)-cromakalim but not by diazoxide. (-)-Cromakalim was effective at 100 and 1000 microM concentrations, and the maximum decrease was 54% below baseline. d-Amphetamine significantly increased extracellular DA levels at the doses of 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg, s.c. with a 770% maximum increase. (-)-Cromakalim had no effect on d-amphetamine-induced DA release, while glyburide, a K(ATP) blocker, significantly potentiated the effects of a low dose of d-amphetamine. These data indicate that K+ channels present in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminals modulate basal release as well as evoked release of DA.

Drug allergy: identification and characterization of IgE-reactivities to aspirin and related compounds

Twenty-seven patients with aspirin (ASA) sensitivity were studied. 14 patients had naso-ocular-bronchial reactions after taking ASA while others had cutaneous and gastrointestinal reactions. The oral challenges with salicylic acid (SA), O-methylsalicylic acid (OMSA), ASA, and the determination of IgE antibodies specific to salicyloyl, O-methylsalicyloyl, acetylsalicyloyl using correspondent disks by RAST, RAST inhibition and RAST crossinhibition assays were performed. The findings suggest that OMSA seems to be the main offender responsible for cutaneous and gastrointestinal reactions, whereas ASA is responsible for naso-ocular-bronchial reactions. The clinical crossreactions between ASA and ASA-like drugs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pyrazolone drugs) are probably due to "inborn errors of metabolism". The results indicate that genetic factors, mast-cell heterogeneity, and the interindividual variability in drug metabolism, combined with immunological background should be considered as underlying mechanisms.

Enhancement of in vitro renaturation of recombinant human pro-urokinase by ampicillin

Ampicillin was used in in vitro renaturation process of recombinant human prourokinase and it can obviously improve the yield of the renaturation, although not as well as arginine. When ampicillin was used together with arginine or lysine, it decreased the yield of the renaturation comparing with the yield when arginine or lysine used alone.

A low molecular weight urokinase derivative with enhanced fibrin affinity

A Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro tetrapeptide, homologous to amino-terminal segment of the human fibrin alpha chain after the release of the fibrinopeptide A, was covalently coupled to peptide A of low molecular weight urokinase. The resulting derivative gained increased affinity for fibrin. In caseinolytic assay, fibrin can stimulate the derivative to activate plasminogen. The derivative had two-fold greater fibrinolytic potency than native low molecular weight urokinase and its affinity for fibrin clot was 3.9-fold higher than that of low molecular weight urokinase.

Chemical conjugation of Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro. Tetrapeptide to low molecular weight urokinase

Two low molecular weight urokinase derivatives were obtained by covalent coupling of a synthetic Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro tetrapeptide to peptide A of low molecular weight urokinase and exchanging the native peptide A of low molecular weight urokinase with Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-peptide A to obtain derivative I or direct conjugation of Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro tetrapeptide to low molecular weight urokinase to obtain derivative II. In caseinolytic assay, fibrin can stimulate the two derivatives to activate plasminogen. But the two derivatives showed different kinetic behaviors. The derivative I displayed immediate onset of lysis and derivative II displayed a lag phase.

Characterization of a recombinant chimeric plasminogen activator composed of Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro tetrapeptide and truncated urokinase-type plasminogen activator expressed in Escherichia coli

A chimeric plasminogen activator, GPRP-u-PA (144-411), consisting of the Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro tetrapeptide fused to the N-terminal of a truncated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (comprising Leu 144 through Leu 411), was produced by expression of the corresponding chimeric cDNA in Escherichia coli cells. After renaturation, the chimera was purified to homogeneity with specific amidolytic activity of 100,000 IU/mg protein. The chimera showed 6-fold greater affinity for fibrin clots than native low molecular weight urokinase (LUK) and 1.5-fold greater affinity than a chemical conjugate, GPRP-LUK, generating via coupling Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro tetrapeptide to native low molecular weight urokinase. The chimera had 2 to 3 fold greater fibrinolytic potency than native LUK in vitro. Fibrinogen had no influence on fibrinolysis of the chimera. The chimera consumed much less fibrinogen than native LUK.

Renaturation of recombinant human pro-urokinase expressed in Escherichia coli

A synthetic gene encoding human pro-urokinase (pro-UK) with E. coli-favored codon usage was cloned into plasmid pET-3d and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) LysS strain. The expressed products, which accumulated as inactive inclusion bodies, were denatured and renatured in vitro. A broad range of parameters such as pH, protein concentration, denaturant concentration, the use of cosolvent polyethylene glycol and presence of basic or acidic amino acid was examined. At optimal renaturation condition, pro-UK activity of more than 1000I.U was obtained from 1 milliliter cell culture.

[The role of TNF-alpha in the growth and differentiation of U937 cells induced by PMA and IFN-gamma]

The effects of PMA and IFN-gamma on regulation of growth and differentiation of human monoblastic leukemic cell U937 were examined. U937 cells were stimulated by different concentrations of PMA and IFN-gamma respectively and NBT reduction assay was used to detect the differentiation of the cells. The results showed that both PMA and IFN-gamma dose-dependently induced differentiation of U937 cells into mature macrophage-like cells. The data also revealed a time-course response in the differentiation induction. Moreover, the U937 cell growth was significantly inhibited by the treatment of PMA and IFN-gamma. These results suggest that PMA and IFN-gamma coupled the regulation of U937 cell growth and differentiation. It was found that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was expressed by the stimulated U937 cells. The specific monoclonal antibody against TNF-alpha diminished the effects of PMA and IFN-gamma on the growth and differentiation of U937 cells. Thus the endogenous TNF-alpha may involved in the mechanism of the effects of PMA and IFN-gamma on the differentiation of U937 cells. The regulatory action of the endogenous TNF-alpha on U937 cells was not due to its cytotoxic effect.

Synthesis and expression of a gene from kringle-2 domain of tissue plasminogen activator in E. coli

The DNA fragment corresponding to the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) sequence 174-262 (Kringle-2 domain) has been synthesized by using the solid phase phosphotriester method. The Kringle-2 domain of human tPA was expressed in Escherichia coli by secretion into the periplasmic space using the Lpp-Lac promoter and PIN-III OmpA2 signal sequence. About two thirds of the expression product was secreted into the periplasmic space, and purified with ammonium sulfate fractionation, affinity chromatography on Lysine-Sepharose, and FPLC-Mono Q exchange chromatography. The amino acid composition observed from the Kringle-2 purified from E. coli is identical with that expected for the 174-262 fragment of human tPA. Radio binding assay shows that the recombinant Kringle-2 domain possesses the activity of fibrin binding.

An efficient method for large-scale isolation of plasmid DNAs by heat-alkali co-denaturation

A method is presented for efficient and large-scale isolation of plasmid DNAs from bacterial cells. Based on the cooperativity of heat and alkali actions, the method provides DNA preparations with high quality and yield (about 2 micrograms of DNA/ml culture), which are completely digestable by restriction enzymes and have a high transformation efficiency. Furthermore, the DNA preparations are extremely stable, and even through 4-year storage at -20 degrees C, the electrophorogram and transformation efficiency remain as high as before. The factors affecting the stability of various DNA samples are discussed.

Hybridization to an anti-activated platelet monoclonal antibody enhances fibrinolytic potency on urokinase

The B-chain of urokinase (UK) was covalently linked by disulfide bond to the Fab fragment of an anti-human activated platelet monoclonal antibody (SZ-51). The UK-SZ-51 conjugate retained the original binding specificity of its parent antibody, and produced about a 5-fold enhancement in clot lysis in plasma over that of the urokinase in vitro. Whereas UK significantly decreased the concentration of fibrinogen in plasma clot assay supernatants, UK-SZ-51 did not.

Purification and characterization of the biologically active human truncated macrophage colony-stimulating factor expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A human truncated macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) cDNA encoding amino acid residues from 3 to 149 of the native M-CSF was isolated by using the polymerase chain reaction. When introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a general secretion vector pVT 102u/alpha, it directs the expression of the biologically active dimeric form of M-CSF. Through the 3 stages of purification, i.e. concentration by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography on phenyl-sepharose and Mono Q fast protein liquid chromatography, the recombinant truncated M-CSF was purified as to exhibit a specific activity of 1.02 x 10(7) units/mg of protein. SDS-PAGE of this purified truncated M-CSF showed that its apparent molecular mass is 22 kDa under reducing conditions.

[The role of p53 gene in the switch of U937 leukemic cells from growth into differentiation]

The expression of p53 gene has been found to be regulated during the induction of differentiation of U937 leukemic cells into mature macrophages by recombinant human granulocyte- macrophage colony stimulating factors (rhGM-CSF) We showed here that the increased expression of p53 seemed to be necessary for the differentiation of U937 cells induced by rh-GM-CSF. The inhibition of p53 expression by a p53 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide lead to the significant decrease of formation of mature macrophages from U 937 cells in the presence of rhGM-CSF. By contrast, the p53 sense oligodeoxynucleotide had no any effect. Furthermore, we have analysed the growth of U937 cells in the presence or absence of rhGM-CSF. The results showed that rhGM-CSF dramatically inhibited the growth of U 937 cells in the cultures. At the same time, the antisense inhibition experiment demonstrated that the inhibition of p53 expression partially diminished the growth-inhibitory effect of rhGM-CSF on U 937 cells. These results suggested that the p53 was required for the initiation of rhGM-CSF-induced differentiation of U 937 cells on one hand, and the inhibition of cell growth on the other hand. Thus we deduce that the increased expression of p53 induced by rhGM-CSF may be a coupling event of switch of U 937 cells from growth into differentiation.

Selective inhibition of normal murine myelopoiesis "in vitro" by a Hox 2.3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide

Multiple homeobox genes are expressed in haematopoietic cell lineages and their expression is cell-type specific. Thus we hypothesized that certain homeobox genes may play an important role in the process of haematopoiesis. To prove that issue, normal murine bone marrow cells were stimulated with appropriate Colony Stimulating Factors in the presence of mouse homeobox gene (Hox 2.3) sense or antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and the effects on the haematopoietic colony formation were examined. Treatment of the cells to Hox 2.3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides led to a selective inhibition of myeloid colony formation, both in size and in numbers, but without significant effect on erythroid and megakaryocytic haematopoiesis. Exposure to Hox 2.3 sense oligodeoxynucleotides (no-oligomers), had no such effect. It was further showed that inhibition of myelopoiesis by Hox 2.3 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides was dependent on the differentiation stage of target cells. These findings demonstrated that Hox 2.3 gene plays a critical role in regulating normal murine myelopoiesis.

Primary structure and disulfide bridge location of arrowhead double-headed proteinase inhibitors

Two arrowhead proteinase inhibitors (inhibitors A and B) were characterized and their primary structures were determined. Both inhibitors A and B are double-headed and multifunctional protease inhibitors. Inhibitor A inhibits an equimolar amount of trypsin and chymotrypsin simultaneously and weakly inhibits kallikrein. Inhibitor B inhibits two molecules of trypsin simultaneously and inhibits kallikrein more strongly than does inhibitor A. The amino acid sequences of inhibitors A and B were determined by sequencing the reduced and S-carboxamidomethylated proteins and their peptides produced by cyanogen bromide or proteolytic lysylendopeptidase or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease cleavage. Inhibitors A and B consist of 150 amino acid residues with three disulfide bonds (Cys 43-Cys 89, Cys 110-Cys 119, and Cys 112-Cys 115) and share 90% sequence identity, with 13 different residues. Since the primary structures are totally different from those of all other serine protease inhibitors so far known, these inhibitors might be classified into a new protease inhibitor family.

[IL-2 potentiates the IL-3 production by ConA activated mouse splenic T cells]

In addition to the regulation of T cell growth, IL-2 exerts effects on the induction of certain lymphokines. We show here that IL-2 synergizes with 5 micrograms/ml of ConA to promote the production of IL-3 in mouse splenic T cell cultures. IL-3 was measured as CFU-GEMM-inducing activity on mouse bone marrow progenitor cells in the supernatant of the stimulated mouse splenic T cells (TCM). The resting T cells produced no CFU-GEMM-inducing activity, but could be induced to produce low level of CFU-GEMM-inducing activity in the presence of ConA. In vitro exposure to IL-2 markedly increased CFU-GEMM-inducing activity production (nearly up to 8-fold) by the ConA-activated T cells. Optimal stimulation was observed when 80 u/ml IL-2 was used for 48 h incubation. Anti-mouse IL-3 monoclonal antibody inhibited the CFU-GEMM inducing activity of TCM. Moreover, the TCM stimulated the proliferation of IL-3 dependent cell line FDC-P1. We also show that IL-2 and ConA-treated T cells expressed high level of IL-3 mRNA through dot blot analysis. These results confirmed the nature of CFU-GEMM-inducing activity of TCM as IL-3. The capacity of IL-2 to promote the production of IL-3 may represent an important mechanism by which it mediate the communication between the immune and hematopoietic systems.

The structural basis of the poor fibrin specificity of urokinase(I)--knowledge-based prediction of kringle structures of urokinase and its related proteins

The Kringle-1 structure of plasminogen (PGK-1), the Kringle-2 structure of tissue plasminogen activator (PAK-2) and the Kringle structure of prourokinase (UKK) has been modeled on the basis of the three-dimensional structure of Kringle-1 of prothrombin (PTK-1) at 2.8 A resolution. The predicted three-dimensional structure of these Kringles shows that the binding site of PGK-1 is characterized by an apparent dipolar site, the polar parts of which are separated by a hydrophobic region. PAK-2 possesses the anionic center but has not a cationic binding center which might be provided by a guanidinium group from Arg-69 located adjacent to the Arg-71 position. UKK possesses neither the anionic binding center nor the cationic center which are probably the main reason for the poor fibrin specificity of urokinase.

Inhibitory property characterization and reactive site exploration of the arrowhead proteinase inhibitor

Affinity chromatography was used to separate two components A and B of the crystalline arrowhead proteinase inhibitor. Both A and B are double-headed and multifunctional proteinase inhibitors. Inhibitor A is capable of inhibiting equimolarly trypsin and chymotrypsin simultaneously, and has a weak inhibitory activity toward kallikrein; whereas inhibitor B can inhibit two molecules of trypsin simultaneously, and shows rather higher inhibitory activity toward kallikrein than inhibitor A, but its inhibitory activity toward chymotrypsin is much weaker than that of inhibitor A. The results of chemical modification and the competitive binding of trypsin and chymotrypsin with inhibitor A showed that the two reactive sites of both inhibitors A and B are Lys and Arg residues. Among them the Lys reactive site is specific for inhibiting mainly trypsin, whereas the active domain composed of the Arg reactive site appears to be multifunctional and capable of inhibiting many different Ser proteinases. Based on the structural characteristics of inhibitors A and B, it was predicated that the two reactive sites should be located in the positions Lys-Ser (44-45) and Arg-Tyr-Lys (76-78), respectively. In inhibitor A, there exists another hydrophobic residue involved in inhibiting chymotrypsin. This residue might be situated in the reactive region composed of the Arg reactive site.

The role of the c-fms oncogene in the regulation of HL-60 cell differentiation

Human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA (phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate), 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3(1-alpha-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, hrGM-CSF (human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and into granulocytes by DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). We found that the differentiation of HL-60 cells into macrophages was accompanied by transcription of the c-fms oncogene, which was assessed by a modified PCR (polymerase-chain reaction) method. After treatment with a c-fms anti-sense oligomer, the PMA and hrGM-CSF induced macrophage differentiation of HL-60 cells was significantly inhibited, whereas either 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3 induced macrophage or DMSO and hrGM-CSF induced granulocytic differentiation was not inhibited. Furthermore, we treated the HL-60 cells with M-CSF (macrophage-colony stimulating factor or CSF-1) anti-sense N degrees 2 (see Figure 1) in the presence of PMA, hrGM-CSF, 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3 and DMSO. The results showed that this treatment leads to a significant inhibition of PMA and hrGM-CSF-induced macrophage differentiation, but has no influence on the 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3-induced macrophage differentiation and DMSO-induced granulocytic differentiation. It was further demonstrated that the M-CSF (or CSF-1) and c-fms antisense oligomers acted synergistically on inhibition of macrophage formation induced by PMA and hrGM-CSF, but had no inhibitory effect on the macrophage formation induced by 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3. Thus we concluded firstly, that HL-60 cells differentiate into macrophages along two different pathways: one is involved in the action of the c-fms oncogene and the other is not. Secondly, an autocrine circuit of M-CSF (or CSF-1) action may exist in the macrophage formation induced by PMA and hrGM-CSF.

The regulatory effects of macrophages on colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) production

1. By using the anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibition strategy, we demonstrated that the production of CSF-1 by macrophage was blocked specifically by a CSF-1 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to the 5' end of the coding region of mouse CSF-1 m-RNA transcripts, but not by the CSF-1 mRNA transcripts, but not by the CSF-1 sense oligomer. 2. The LPS-induced condition medium of macrophages treated with CSF-1 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide retained the capacity of stimulating mouse fibroblast cells and bone marrow cells producing CSF-1 in vitro. 3. In addition to the inhibition of CSF-1 production by macrophages CSF-1 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide also inhibited the CSF-1 production of fibroblast cells and bone marrow cells stimulated by the macrophages conditioned medium. 4. These results suggest that macrophages stimulate their own development by mediating CSF-1 production at least in three ways: (1) production CSF-1; (2) stimulating fibroblast cells; (3) bone marrow cells to produce CSF-1. There is a positive feedback mechanism for macrophage hematopoiesis and its functional expression.

Evidence for the overestimation of molecular masses of proteins after chemical modification and chemical crosslinks on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE)

Human trypsin inhibitor (home prepared), lactalbumin, trypsinogen, carbonic anhydrase, and bovine serum albumin were submitted to succinylation and their molecular masses were determined by SDS-PAGE according to the method of Weber and Osborn (1969 J. Biol. Chem. 244, 4406) before and after chemical modification. High estimates of their molecular masses were obtained. The monomer and dimer of arrowhead inhibitor proteinase-B (Chinese vegetable legume) obtained after chemical crosslink(s) were also submitted to SDS-PAGE and their apparent molecular masses were also determined and compared to the native arrowhead inhibitor proteinase-B. Abnormally high estimates of their molecular masses were obtained. Our results agree with those in the literature.

The specific binding activities of human urinary radioiodinated colony-stimulating factor-1 to various human tissue cells

1. Colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) was isolated from a large volume of fresh normal human urine by 5 steps of purification and enrichment. 2. The purification factor is 100,000 fold and the purified compound exhibits a 2.16 x 10(7) U/mg of protein sp. act. 3. The isolated CSF-1 is a sialoglycoprotein with 41.5% of carbohydrate. The almost complete removal of this carbohydrate moiety (up to 91%) was achieved by incubation with trifluoromethane sulfonic acid. 4. The deglycosylated CSF-1 (DG-CSF-1) possesses an apparent Mr 38,000 compared to native CSF-1 with an initial Mr 57,000 (Goa et al., 1988). 5. The features of the interaction of radio-iodinated [125I]CSF-1 with single cell suspensions from various human tissues (bone marrow, spleen, blood, peritoneal cavity, alveolar lavage, lymph node and thymus), were studied. 6. The binding activity of peritoneal macrophages was the highest among the cells examined and erythrocytes, thymus and blood granulocytes showed no CSF-1 binding. 7. On incubation with [125I]CSF-1 at 0 degrees C, cellular binding of [125I]CSF-1 reached a stable maximum within 16 hr. This is in contrast to the association behaviour at higher temperature. 8. At 37 degrees C, cellular associated [125I]CSF-1 levels reached, within 90 min, an unstable maximum which was up to 10 times less than that occurring under the same conditions at 0 degree C. From the Scatchard plot analysis, we obtained the affinity constant and the number of receptor(s). 9. The binding site is sensitive to trypsin. 10. The receptor alone, (labelled by cross-linking to [125I]CSF-1 with di-succinylimidyl-suberate), is a polypeptide with an approx. Mr 110,000. 11. Our results showed that the receptor of CSF-1 is a tyrosin-kinase.

Characterization of deglycosylated human urinary colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1)

1. Isolation of CSF-1 from human urine was performed through five purification steps. These include concentration by dialysis, silica gel absorption, hydrophobic chromatography and phenyl-Sepharose CL-6B, Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC) and finally preparative electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. These methods have been reported in a previous paper (Tao et al., 1987). 2. The isolated CSF-1 which exhibits a one band pattern on SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions after Coomassie Blue and silver stainings. CSF-1 was purified 100,000-fold and has a specific activity of 2.16 x 10(7) units/mg protein. Its apparent Mr is 57,000 with an isoelectric point pI = 5.8-6.0 CSF-1 is a glycoprotein with 40% of carbohydrate (w/w). 3. An almost complete removal of the carbohydrate moiety from CSF-1 was obtained after treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic (TFMS) acid followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 (Fine). The deglycosylated (DG) CSF-1 possesses an apparent Mr of 38,000 and an isoelectric point, pI: 6.2 as compared to native-CSF-1 (N-CSF-1), Mr = 57,000 and pI = 5.8 respectively. 4. The TFMS treatment did not alter the activities of CSF-1 as shown by biological assay and receptor binding assay. The thermostability experiment revealed that DG-CSF-1 was less stable than N-CSF-1. The circular dichroism spectra (CD) of N-CSF-1 and DG-CSF-1 were different. 5. The features of interaction of iodinated-N-CSF-1 and iodinated-DG-CSF-1 with single cell suspensions from human peritoneal macrophage were studied. The binding activity of peritoneal macrophage was the highest among all cells examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Isolation and characterization of ATP-dependent proteolytically active ubiquitin in cock testis

1. We have successfully isolated and purified ubiquitin from cock testis by using an inhibitor, p-CMB (p-chloromercuribenzoate), which is one of the inhibitors specific for thiol-proteases and with the following procedures: heating up to 85 degrees C, ammonium sulfate fractionation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, chromatography on DE-52 and CM-11 and lyophilization. 2. Amino-acid analysis showed that Ub isolated from cock testis has 76 residues including 6 glycines. 3. Hydrazinolysis and carboxypeptidase digestion were also performed: the C-terminal residue is glycine. 4. The purity was checked by analytical SDS-PAGE and the isolated Ub exhibited only one band. 5. The Ub-dependent proteolysis experiment showed that this Ub was ATP-dependently proteolytically active. 6. In this paper we present evidence that a thiol enzyme is present during the purification procedure.

Isolation and characterization of human urinary colony-stimulating factor

CSF-1 was isolated from a large volume of human normal urine (10,000 l), using the following 5 stages of purification: concentration by dialysis, silica gel adsorption, hydrophobic chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose CL-6B, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and finally preparative electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. We have isolated 8 mg of purified CSF-1 which migrated as a single band under non-reducing conditions in SDS-PAGE (staining with Coomassie Blue and the sensitive silver techniques). But in the presence of dithiothreitol, the SDS-PAGE pattern revealed a minor second band with a molecular mass of 50,000 Da. CSF-1 was purified 100,000-fold and has a specific activity of 2.16 X 10(7) units/mg protein. Its apparent molecular mass is 57,000 Da with an isoelectric point, pI = 5.8-6.0. The amino-acid composition is reported and compared with that of murine CSF-1. The carbohydrate content (sialic acid, sulphate groups, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine) was also determined, and it shows that CSF is a glycoprotein.

Amino acid sequence of the variable region of an unusual lambda-type human Bence Jones protein (Lee)

The variable portion of a human lambda-type Bence Jones protein (Lee) has been prepared by limited tryptic digestion. Its amino acid sequence is determined from analysis of tryptic peptides, CNBr cleavage fragments prepared from the reduced-aminoethylated protein. Peptides are aligned by homology to other lambda-type proteins. The Lee L-chain has an unusual extension of two amino acid residues (Val-Thr) at the N-terminus. An idiotypic antibody of Lee can react with two other lambda-type Bence Jones proteins, Meg (V lambda IV) and Cap (V lambda III). Application of the principle of Chou and Fasman to the sequence data indicates that two portions on the surface of the V-region have identical secondary structures similar to the portions of the Meg and Cap lambda-chains. This appears to relate to the idiotypic similarities of the three proteins.

Investigations of primary and secondary structure of porcine ubiquitin. Its N epsilon-acetylated lysine derivative

N epsilon-acetylation in vitro of internal lysyl residues of Ub by p-nitro-phenyl acetate at pH 8.0 was performed. The position of acetylation sites are determined. (e.g. Fully acetylated: Lys-6, Lys-11 and Lys-33; partially free internal lysines: Lys-27, Lys-29; Lys-48 and probably Lys-63.) 55 cycles Edman degradation were performed and the first 53 N-terminal residues were identified. Secondary structural studies of ubiquitin have been carried out using the circular dichroism (CD) technique. No changes are noted upon heating to 100 degrees C at neutral pH even in the presence of 8 M urea but in 6 M guanidine-HCl extensive modification results. Ubiquitin with an average of 4.4 of its 7 lysines in the N epsilon-acetyl form shows little deviation from native protein. After reduction with dithiothreitol and subsequent removal of the mercaptan, significant changes in the secondary structure are noted. Circular dichroic measurements of ubiquitin indicated an alpha-helical content of about 10% whereas the secondary structural predictions of Chou and Fasman suggest a level of about 45%.

The complete amino-acid sequence of the proteinase inhibitor B from the root of the arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.)

After reduction and alkylation of the disulfide bonds of the proteinase inhibitor B from the root of the arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.) followed by CNBr cleavage three peptide fragments with 68, 62 and 11 amino-acid residues could be separated on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. The peptides or the inhibitor itself were further specifically cleaved either by trypsin or by the mixture of (CH3)2SO/HCl/HBr at the arginyl- and the tryptophyl-peptide bond, respectively. The complete amino-acid sequences of the peptides were determined by manual solid phase DABITC/PITC double coupling micro-method and the primary structure of the arrowhead inhibitor B consisting of 141 amino-acid residues was then elucidated. Twenty pairs of amino-acid residues are repeated in the molecule of this inhibitor, three of these pairs even occur three times. The possible locations of the reactive sites are discussed. On the basis of sequence comparisons between this inhibitor and all other serine proteinase inhibitors the arrowhead inhibitor may belong to a new family.

N-epsilon-acetylation of porcine mature erythrocytes ubiquitin

Highly purified of porcine mature erythrocytes ubiquitin were obtained according to the experimental procedure reported by Jabusch and Deutsch (1983). N-epsilon-acetylation in vitro of internal lysyl residues of ubiquitin by p-nitro-phenyl-acetate at pH 8.0 was performed. The extent of acetylation of ubiquitin was determined: about 4-5 residues (4.5 residues) of N-epsilon-lysine groups of ubiquitin were acetylated. We have assigned by Edman degradation the sites of acetylation and the sites of remaining free internal N-epsilon-lysine residues in the sequence: fully acetylated: Lys-6, Lys-11 and Lys-33. Partially free N-epsilon-lysine: Lys-27 and Lys-29 and probably Lys-48 and Lys-63. 50 cycles Edman degradation were performed on porcine ubiquitin and the first 45 N-terminal residues were identified. We have partially determined that the molecular conservation of 45 amino acid sequence of ubiquitin between cattle, man and swine since the 45 amino acid sequence out of 76 residues are identical. The amino acid composition between human and porcine ubiquitin are also identical.

Amino acid sequences of lower vertebrate parvalbumins and their evolution: parvalbumins of boa, turtle, and salamander

One major parvalbumin each was isolated from the skeletal muscle of two reptiles, a boa snake, Boa constrictor, and a map turtle, Graptemys geographica, while two parvalbumins were isolated from an amphibian, the salamander Amphiuma means. The amino acid sequences of all four parvalbumins were determined from the sequences of their tryptic peptides, which were ordered partially by homology to other parvalbumins. Phylogenetic study of these and 16 other parvalbumin sequences revealed that the turtle parvalbumin belongs to beta lineage, while the salamander sequences belong, one each, to the alpha and beta lineages defined by Goodman and Pechère (1977). Boa parvalbumin, however, while belonging to the beta lineage, clusters within the fish in all reasonably parsimonious trees. The most parsimonious trees show many parallel or back mutations in the evolution of many parvalbumin residues, although the residues responsible for Ca2+ binding are very well conserved. These most parsimonious trees show an actinopterygian rather than a crossoptyrigian origin of the tetrapods in both the alpha and beta groups. One of two electric eel parvalbumins is evolving more than 10 times faster than its paralogous partner, suggesting it may be on its way to becoming a pseudogene. It is concluded that varying rates of amino acid replacement, much homoplasy, considerable gene duplication, plus complicated lineages make the set of parvalbumin sequences unsuitable for systematic study of the origin of the tetrapods and other higher-taxa divergence, although it may be suitable within a genus or family.