Equal-quantum action spectra indicate fluence-rate-selective action of multiple photoreceptors for photomovement of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus.

Unicellular thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus displayed phototaxis on agar plate at 55 degrees C. Equal-quantum action spectra for phototactic migration were determined at various fluence rates using the Okazaki Large Spectrograph as the light source. The shapes of the action spectra drastically changed depending on the fluence rate of the unilateral monochromatic irradiation: at a low fluence rate (3 mumol/m2/s), only lights in the red region had significant effect; at a medium fluence rate (10 mumol/m2/s), four major action peaks were observed at 530 nm (green), 570 nm (yellow), 640 nm (red) and 680 nm (red). At high fluence rates (30-90 mumol/m2/s), the former two peaks remained, while red peaks at 640 nm and 680 nm disappeared and, interestingly, an action peak around 700-740 nm (far-red) newly appeared. These results indicate that two or more distinct photoreceptors are involved in the phototaxis and that suitable photoreceptors are selectively active in response to the stimulus of light fluence rates. Far-red or red background lights irradiated vertically from above drastically inhibited phototaxis toward red light or far-red light, respectively. These results indicate involvement of some phytochrome(s).

A new erythrocyte fragility test: a simple procedure utilizing stirring.

In this study, a new simple method to measure erythrocyte fragility with stirring of diluted blood (stirring method) was introduced and evaluated with anemic rats given beta-acetylphenylhydrazine (APHZ) or clofibrate. APHZ at a dose of 40 mg/kg caused significant decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit 24 hr after administration. However, the marked elevation of erythrocyte fragility was already detectable after 6 hr by our stirring method. At a dose of 10 mg/kg APHZ, although no significant changes in the erythrocytic parameters were observed throughout the experimental period (72 hr), the blood stirring method revealed a marked elevation of erythrocyte fragility 6 hr after administration. Similarly with clofibrate, no changes in erythrocytic parameters were noted following 100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg administration, but the enhanced fragility was evident with the stirring method. Thus, using our approach, the erythrocyte fragility could be detected at an earlier stage and with greater sensitivity than by decreases in erythrocytic parameters. The results suggest that the stirring method will prove to be useful for detecting erythrocyte fragility in safety studies.

[Successful use of angiotensin II receptor antagonist (losartan) in a patient with scleroderma renal crisis].

A 67-year-old man with a one-and-a half-year history of Raynaud's phenomenon was admitted to our hospital for progressive dyspnea occurring over the previous two weeks. Physical examination revealed a blood pressure of 200/124 mmHg, and slightly tight and smooth skin of the fingers, hands and forearms. Laboratory evaluation included serum creatinine of 5.42 mg/dl, plasma renin activity > 20 ng/ml/hr, and antinuclear antibody with a titer of 1 : 1,280. Renal biopsy was performed and the histopathological findings showed that some glomeruli exhibited ischemic retraction with wrinkling of the basement membranes, and that one arteriole exhibited significant intimal hyperplasia with luminal stenosis. These findings were compatible with scleroderma renal crisis (SRC). On the 5th day, serum creatinine had risen to 9.16 mg/dl, and he required temporary hemodialysis therapy. After the administration of captopril was started, his blood pressure fell to 160/86 mmHg and serum creatinine was reduced to 5.12 mg/dl. On the 9th day, he exhibited skin eruptions, and captopril was discontinued accordingly and temocapril started. Because of continued eruptions, temocapril was replaced by losartan. His blood pressure was controlled easily and his serum creatinine level reduced steadily. One year after the start of losartan, serum creatinine was 2.25 mg/dl and blood pressure was 130/82 mmHg. SRC is a life-threatening manifestation of systemic sclerosis. In the late 1970s, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor was introduced and has dramatically improved the outcome in SRC patients. As ACE inhibitors act mainly on hyperreninemic renal vasoconstrictive hypertension in SRC, we would expect losartan, a selective antagonist of angiotensin receptor subtype 1, to be interchangeable with ACE inhibitors in SRC. In 1997, Caskey and colleagues reported the failure of losartan to control hypertension in a patient of SRC, and the reason has remained unclear. We report here, a case of SRC whose blood pressure was controlled successfully and his renal failure reversed by the administration of losartan.

Collaborative work to evaluate toxicity on male reproductive organs by repeated dose studies in rats 26). Detection of 1,3-dinitrobenzene-induced histopathological changes in testes and epididymides of rats with 2-week daily repeated dosing.

As part of a collaborative work, male rats were administered 1,3-dinitrobenzene (1,3-DNB) daily at 0, 25 and 50 mg/kg/day from the age of 6 weeks for 4 weeks (4-week exp.), or at 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg/day from the age of 8 weeks for 2 weeks (2-week exp.). After the end of each administration period, all survivors were sacrificed, and their testes and epididymides were removed, weighed and examined histopathologically. The following results were obtained. In the 4-week exp.: At 50 mg/kg/day, the weights of testes and epididymides showed decrease with macroscopic atrophy. The testicular spermatogenic epithelium showed decrease in the number of sperm-spermatocytes, degeneration/necrosis, giant cell formation and vacuolation, reduction in sperm counts also being evident in the ducts of the epididymides. In the 2-week exp.: At 50 and 75 mg/kg/day, the weights of testes and/or epididymides showed decrease with macroscopic atrophy. Several histopathological changes in the testes and epididymides were essentially the same changes as in the group given 50 mg/kg/day in the 4-week exp., with a clear relation. These results indicate that a 2-week administration period is sufficient to detect testicular and epididymal histopathological changes induced by 1,3-dinitrobenzene in male rats.

[Studies on the conditions of blood sampling and storage for the liposome-based CH50 assay].

The CH50 values in the serum and plasma, especially those from chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV), are strongly affected and reduced through a process known as cold activation. We attempted to optimize the conditions of blood sampling and storage for the CH50 assay with a recently developed liposome-based assay kit. The bloods were obtained from HCV hepatitis patients as well as healthy donors. Regardless of the temperature (room temperature, 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C) at which samples were kept until the assay, higher values were always obtained in the serum than in the plasma. The plasma samples could either be heparinized or given any of the other anticoagulants, EDTA-2K and sodium citrate, at the time of sampling. We also attempted to optimize the temperature at which the fresh specimens were left during the period from sampling to assay and the temperatures to freeze them for storage and to thaw for assays. In the assays immediately after sampling, higher values were obtained when the specimens were left at 37 degrees C than at room temperature or 4 degrees C. To store at -80 degrees C rather than at -20 degrees C and to thaw rapidly at 37 degrees C rather than slowly at room temperature were found to be advantageous.

[Sudden cardiac tamponade due to hemorrhagic myocarditis after preconditioning marrow transplantation with cyclophosphamide in a patient with aplastic anemia].

A 28-year-old male was diagnosed as aplastic anemia in 1983. He maintained on corticosterone with a large transfusion requirement for being resistant to other therapies, and combined with hemochromatosis at 20-year-old. In February 1994, he was admitted to the hospital for consideration of BMT. Echocardiogram was normal on admission. He was transplanted with bone marrow from his HLA-matched MLC negative sister following contained of TLI (7.5 Gy) and CY 50 mg/kg for four days on March 10 1994. Disturbance of consciousness appeared, an echocardiogram showed severe pericardial effusion on day 1 after BMT. He was diagnosed cardiac tamponade, pericardiocentesis was done immediately and 100 ml pericardial effusion was removed. Transiently he became alert, however, irreversible cardiac arrest occurred on day 2. Postmortem examination revealed thickened left ventricles with intramyocardial hemorrhage. It seems necessary to reduce CY, or substitute it with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) or TBI etc. for BMT in aplastic anemia accompanied by hemochromatosis.

Inactivation of a novel neuropeptide Y/peptide YY receptor gene in primate species.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) belong to a family of structurally related peptides which have numerous functions in both neural and endocrine signaling. By homology screening, we cloned a novel gene sharing the highest homology with the NPY Y1 receptor gene from humans, rabbits, and several other species. This novel gene of rabbit encodes a functional NPY/PYY receptor, designated Y2b, which prefers NPY13-36 rather than [Leu31,Pro34]NPY despite its higher identity with the Y1 receptor. Although, at low levels, mRNA was detected in the tissues and brain regions, including hypothalamus. Further, sequence data revealed that this gene is the orthologue of the recently cloned mouse novel NPY receptor, Y5. However, our study demonstrates that the receptor function of this gene has been inactivated in primates by a frameshift mutation occurring early in primate evolution. This novel NPY receptor represents the first neurotransmitter receptor identified that has universally lost its receptor function in primate species. Interestingly, despite its inactivation in humans, the transcripts were abundantly detected in the heart and skeletal muscle, suggesting a novel function of the human gene.

[Histological effects of short term endocrine therapy on prostatic cancer].

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to investigate the pathological changes which occurred in prostatic cancer shortly after the commencement of endocrine therapy. METHODS: Fourty-three patients underwent radical prostatectomy immediately after the short term endocrine therapy (treatment period was within one month) and the histological pictures of operative specimens were compared to those obtained from the pretreatment biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Degenerative changes of cancer cells, such as nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuole, collapse of the cytoplasm and the appearance of naked hyperchromatic nucleus were noticed after the short term endocrine therapy. Especially in the cases which were histologically evaluated to be poorly differentiated in the biopsy specimens, not only degenerative changes but also destruction of cancer nests caused by cell death were observed. The histological effects affected by short term endocrine treatment had no relation to the prognosis, but in the cases of stage D2, the pathological grade judged by post-therapeutic specimens were found to be useful for the prediction of prognosis. CONCLUSION: Endocrine therapy induces remarkable pathological changes in prostatic cancer within a very short time after beginning treatment.

[Immediate hypersensitive reactions to the ingestion of egg white and IgE binding to the egg white components].

IgE is considered to be involved in immediate hypersensitive reactions (IHR) following egg ingestion. IgE antibody levels to egg-white (EW) antigens in the IHR-positive group (n = 19, mean age +/- SD = 5.2 +/- 4.5 yr) were higher than those in the IHR-negative group (n = 13, mean of age +/- SD = 3.6 +/- 2.2 yr). However, even in the IHR-negative group, some patients showed high IgE to EW. RAST inhibition tests with heat-treated (100 degrees C, 5, 10, and 30 min) egg-white antigens were performed on 13 serum samples from subjects with IHR and 9 serum samples from subjects without IHR. Heat treatment decreased the IgE-binding activity of egg white and it was speculated that IgE from IHR-negative subjects bound to relatively heat-unstable sites of egg-white antigens. Furthermore, we selected IHR-negative subjects (n = 8, mean of age +/- SD = 3.0 +/- 1.7 yr) with higher IgE antibody levels than the lowest limit of IgE to EW of the IHR-positive group and compared IgE to ovomucoid (OM), ovalbumin (OA), conalbumin (CA), and lysozyme (Ly) between these IHR-negative and positive groups. IgE-binding activities to egg-white components, including OA, CA, and Ly but not OM, were significantly decreased with heat treatment. The IHR-negative group showed significantly lower IgE to OM (untreated, 5, 10, 30 min treatment) and 5 min treated OA alone than the IHR-positive group, while no difference was found in IgE to other components between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of dissolution of collagen on adhesion to dentin.

A new method of adherend surface treatment was evaluated to determine the effect of adhesion between dentin and adhesive resins. The pretreatment method consisted of the application of 40% phosphoric acid solution to dentin to remove the smear layer and decalcify the superficial dentin layer, followed by 10% sodium hypochlorite to dissolve and remove the exposed dentinal collagen and provide a fresh dentin apatite surface to which adhesive resin is applied. This method features a direct adhesion between the adhesive resin and dentin, with no resin-reinforced layer of dentinal collagen and adhesive resin. The adhesive tensile strength after storage in water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours measured 6.7 MPa with the phosphoric acid treatment alone, while the test method produced an initial adhesive strength as high as 9.7 MPa. After 10,000 thermal cycles (4 degrees C to 60 degrees C), the adhesive strength was 6.2 MPa, which was approximately 1.5 times greater than the value obtained with the method using the phosphoric acid solution alone.

[Two cases of primary sclerosing lipogranuloma in scrotum--review of 63 cases reported in Japan].

We reported two cases of primary sclerosing lipogranuloma in the scrotum. We performed tumor resection in both cases, but in one of the two cases tumor recurrence was observed 7 days after the removal. Sixty-three cases have been reported in our country, and we discuss the diagnosis and treatment with reference to previous reports.

[Cross-allergenicity between rice and buckwheat antigens and immediate hypersensitive reactions induced by buckwheat ingestion].

Immediate hypersensitive reactions (IHR) induced by buckwheat ingestion are considered to be IgE-mediated. However we found 28 subjects without IHR to buckwheat ingestion out of 46 subjects who had positive RAST values for both buckwheat and rice antigens. The IHR-positive group showed significantly higher RAST values for buckwheat antigens (p < 0.01) but lower RAST values for rice antigens (p < 0.01) than did the IHR-negative group. RAST values for buckwheat and rice were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.01) in the IHR-negative group, but not in the IHR-positive group. An effective dose-dependent inhibition was obtained in a RAST inhibition assay between homologous combinations of inhibitor and disc antigens such as rice and rice or buckwheat and buckwheat. The IHR-positive group showed no significant RAST inhibition between heterogeneous combinations of rice and buckwheat antigens. In contrast, the IHR-negative group showed a significant decrease in IgE binding even in the RAST inhibition assay between heterogenous combinations. These results led to the conclusion that there is cross-reactivity with IgE antibodies between buckwheat and rice and that IgE antibodies from IHR-negative subjects might recognize the epitopes on buckwheat antigens which cross react with rice antigens, whereas IgE antibodies from IHR-positive subjects might bind to buckwheat-specific epitopes.

Laser scanning system using a rotationally asymmetric aspheric surface.

In recent laser beam printers, higher resolution and a more compact system design are always desired. In this study, a rotationally asymmetric aspheric surface is introduced to achieve these purposes. This surface can completely eliminate field curvature aberration caused by the oblique incidence of the laser beam to the scanning optics, achieving high resolution over a wide scanning range.

Bacterial Accumulation of Metallic Compounds.

Xanthomonas maltophilia accumulated metals or metallic compounds within the cell in the form of one or a few particles, in a peculiar condition similar to that of an electrolyte solution in an electric cell. The particles consisted of many little granules, most of which were assumed to be composed mainly of a compound of zinc and phosphorus in an amorphous state.

[Vaginal fungi in toxemia of pregnancy (author's transl)].

In order to prevent the transfer of the fungi in maternal vagina into a neonate through transvaginal delivery, we examined the presence of vaginal fungi in the patients with toxemia of pregnancy occurring chiefly from the later stages of pregnancy and made an analysis from the quantitative aspect of fungi (number of colonies produced on Mizuno-Takada medium). The results obtained are as follows: 1) The detection rate of vaginal fungi was evidently so high as 37.1% in toxemia group compared with 27.6% in non-toxemia group (p less than 0.01). And the detection rate of vaginal Candida albicans (hereinafter: C. albicans) also proved to be higher tendency in toxemia group. 2) When the toxemia patients were divided into mild cases and severe ones for comparison, the detection rate of vaginal fungi and that of vaginal C. albicans were both higher in the severe case group. Particularly in the group which had the symptoms of toxemia at the examination time of vaginal fungi there was seen the higher rate. 3) From the quantitative aspect of vaginal fungi it is evident that there were more cases with over 51 colonies in the group showing the symptoms of toxemia at the time of fungi examination than in the group showing no such symptoms at the examination and the group of non-toxemia (p less than 0.01).