Highly polymorphic STR marker amplified with human DYS389 primers in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata).

Amplification products from male and female Japanese macaques were obtained by PCR with human Y-chromosomal DYS389 primers. These products were examined by electrophoresis and sequence analysis. The PCR products from the 12 Japanese macaques tested had different band patterns on an electrophoretogram. Sequence analysis of the products revealed that the high polymorphism originated from variable numbers of repeats of two separate CTAT sequences. The sequences of the Japanese macaque products were similar to those of the reference human DYS389 sequence. However, variable CTGT repeats and a difference in the second forward primer binding site yielded two products in human males, DYS389I and DYS389II, which do not exist in Japanese macaques. Our results suggest that the human DYS389 primers may be a potential tool not only for distinguishing between human and Japanese macaque DNA samples, but also for identifying individual macaques, because of the highly polymorphic alleles.

[Epidemiological profile of the schistosomiasis in school children in the Agneby Region (south-east of Côte-d'Ivoire)]. / Profil epidémiologique des schistosomoses chez les enfants d'age scolaire dans la région de l'Agnéby (sud-est de la Cote-d'Ivoire).

A parasitological survey was conducted in the Agnéby region (south-east Côte-d'Ivoire) from November 2000 to February 2001 in order to establish the epidemiological profile of schistosomiasis in school children in this region. Stools and urines of 724 school children were examined. Faeces were examined by direct analysis completed by Kato and Ritchie methods. Analysis of urine samples was made through the technique of centrifugation (2.000 g for 10 minutes). This survey revealed the importance of schistosomiasis. 20.6% of the subjects were found carriers of Schistosoma mansoni eggs, 12.6% carriers of Schistosoma haematobium eggs and 3.2% were found carriers of eggs of two Schistosoma species. Prevalence was higher in Adzope than in Agboville and Schistosoma mansoni was globally prevalent. Males were significantly more infected than females and older children were more infected than young children. The prevalence distribution among people could be explained by behaviour and occupations.

[Protein profile and vitamin A in children of school age in Ivory Coast]. / Profil protéique et vitamine A chez l'enfant d'âge scolaire en Côte d'Ivoire.

The purpose of this transverse prospective study was to determine blood nutritional, immunity and inflammatory proteins change in vitamin A deficiency in children of school-age (262 children, aged 7 to 15 years). Blood vitamin A has been determined by HPLC with UV detection. Proteins have been measured by radial immunodiffusion according to Mancini. Results showed that 96 children (36.6%) presented a vitamin A deficiency (vitamin A < 200 microg/L with a retinol binding protein/transthyretin molar ratio = 0.29 +/- 0.06) while 166 (63.3%) children presented normal blood concentrations of vitamin A (vitamin A > or = 200 microg/L with a Retinol Binding Protein/Transthyretin molar ratio = 0.40 +/- 0.08). This study showed that the retinol binding protein and the immunoglobulin A are lower in children with vitamin A deficiency. On the other hand, an isolated increase of alpha-1 glycoprotein acid has been observed in boys with vitamin A deficiency. The vitamin A deficiency observed in this survey is due to a micronutrients deficiency in the diet which is essentially based on glucides. The positive correlation between vitamin A and immunoglobulin A concentrations might be the result of the vitamin A inductive effect during immunoglobulins A synthesis. The isolated increasing of alpha-1 glycoprotein acid in boys with vitamin A deficiency has been assigned to the ecosensitiveness of the unfavourable environment. We therefore concluded that, in Ivorian primary-school-aged children with vitamin A deficiency, nutritional, immunity and inflammatory proteins which are modified are respectively retinol binding protein, immunoglobulin A and alpha-1 glycoprotein acid.

Multiplex amplified product-length polymorphism analysis for rapid detection of human mitochondrial DNA variations.

A number of mutations in coding and noncoding regions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have previously been studied. In the present study, we simultaneously typed six mutation sites in the coding region by use of amplified product-length polymorphism (APLP) analysis. The mtDNA variations of 2471 individuals from 20 populations of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and German were examined and classified into 18 haplotypes. Two of these haplotypes, B1 (estimated ancestral haplotype) and C1, were distributed among all populations tested. However, the haplotypes A1, A2, B2, B3, and C2 were mostly restricted to the Mongoloid populations, whereas haplotypes B5 and C5 appeared almost exclusively in the German population. Phylogenetic analysis by the neighbor-joining method revealed that the Japanese populations were more closely related to each other than to the other East Asian populations surveyed. The multiplex APLP method is suitable for large-scale screening studies of mtDNA variability because it is both rapid and economical.

Molecular characterization of four alpha-1-antitrypsin variant alleles found in a Japanese population: a mutation hot spot at the codon for amino acid 362.

In this study alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) phenotypes at the protease inhibitor (PI) locus were determined by isoelectric focusing of native and desialylated serum samples from 236 Japanese subjects living in the western part of Japan. The shifts in relative mobility between some PI types were observed before and after desialylation. This technique was useful in distinguishing between some PI M subtypes and variants. The molecular basis of four variant alleles, including two new alleles found in this study, was characterized: PI E(tokyo) [Lys(335)(AAG)--> Glu(GAG)] and PI N(nagato) [Leu(276)(CTG)-->Pro(CCG)] arose from PI M1(Val(213)) and PI M2, respectively. A new PI P(yonago) [Asp(19)(GAT)-->Ala(GCT)] originated from PI M1(Val(213)). A new PI M5(gunma) [Pro(362)(CCC)-->Ser(TCC)], arising from PI M3, was the sixth allele involving a mutation at codon 362, which is suggested to be a mutation hot spot. PI M5(gunma) was likely to show normal AAT levels and function although the mutations occurred near codon 358 for Met(358). The molecular basis of PI variant alleles found in Japanese was different from that reported in previous studies.

Y-chromosomal STR haplotyping in a Japanese population.

The Y-specific STR systems including DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS391 and DYS393, were investigated in 117 Japanese males. Analysis of the 6 loci permitted classification of the samples into 90 haplotypes, and the haplotypic diversity was estimated to be 0.984. Distribution of the haplotypes in the Japanese population studied was different from that in European populations.

[Studies on properties of cross-reacting anti-A,B antibodies in group O sera].

It is widely accepted that the sera of group O individuals contain three antibodies: anti-A, anti-B, and an antibody capable of reacting with both A and B red cells, generally called anti-A,B. The exact nature of the anti-A,B antibody, however, has been controversial for a long time. This paper attempts to answer the question of the anti-A,B antibody. The anti-A,B antibody was separated and purified from pooled group O sera by six consecutive runs of affinity chromatography on alternating columns of group A-specific and group B-specific immunoadsorbents. The final eluate, the anti-A,B preparation, was found to be homogeneous in the polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis. Immunodiffusion studies, together with treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol, showed the anti-A,B antibody to be IgG. The anti-A activity of the anti-A, B antibody was inhibited with group A secretor saliva and group A-specific substances, but not with group B secretor saliva and group B-specific substances, and the anti-B activity of the antibody was inhibited with group B secretor saliva and group B-specific substances, but not with group A secretor saliva and group A-specific substances. Then, Fab fragments of the anti-A,B antibody were prepared by papain digestion. Indirect hemagglutination tests for the Fab fragments by use of an anti-Fab antiserum demonstrated that the Fab fragments possess both of anti-A and anti-B activity. Then, rosetting tests for the anti-A,B antibody were carried out using A- and B-specific trisaccharides covalently attached to silica particles. The results showed that the anti-A,B antibody linked A- and B-specific trisaccharides to A and B red cells. These results strongly indicate that the anti-A,B antibody is an antibody with significant affinity for both group A and group B antigens rather than an antibody directed against a structure common to group A and group B antigens. The conclusions based on the above experiments are that the anti-A,B antibody in group O sera is IgG and presumably possesses dual specificity regarding to anti-A and anti-B activity.

[A case of death due to neurogenic shock].

An autopsy case of death due probably to neurogenic shock (primary shock) is reported. A 14-year-old boy got into a fight with his elder brother and received blows against the chest and abdomen. The young boy fell down senseless on the floor and had a spasm. An ambulance was called, but he was dead on arrival at a hospital. An autopsy revealed no external injuries on the chest and abdomen. There was no evidence of preexisting disease. On histological examination, there were signs of acute cardiac failure; edema of the lungs, liver and gall bladder, partial myofibrillar degeneration and cytoplasmic vacuoles in the media of a small coronary artery. Thus, the autopsy did not give any explanation of the fatality. It seems probable, however, that the blow(s) against the abdomen (the solar plexus) caused a fatal shock (vagal inhibition). In addition, the adrenal cortices (especially the zona fasciculata) were narrowed and the aorta was slightly narrow in caliber. It is likely that these hypoplasia might affect the fatal shock consequent to very slight injuries.