Differential expression and internal feedback regulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase, and ethylene receptor genes in tomato fruit during development and ripening.

We investigated the feedback regulation of ethylene biosynthesis in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit with respect to the transition from system 1 to system 2 ethylene production. The abundance of LE-ACS2, LE-ACS4, and NR mRNAs increased in the ripening fruit concomitant with a burst in ethylene production. These increases in mRNAs with ripening were prevented to a large extent by treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP), an ethylene action inhibitor. Transcripts for the LE-ACS6 gene, which accumulated in preclimacteric fruit but not in untreated ripening fruit, did accumulate in ripening fruit treated with MCP. Treatment of young fruit with propylene prevented the accumulation of transcripts for this gene. LE-ACS1A, LE-ACS3, and TAE1 genes were expressed constitutively in the fruit throughout development and ripening irrespective of whether the fruit was treated with MCP or propylene. The transcripts for LE-ACO1 and LE-ACO4 genes already existed in preclimacteric fruit and increased greatly when ripening commenced. These increases in LE-ACO mRNA with ripening were also prevented by treatment with MCP. The results suggest that in tomato fruit the preclimacteric system 1 ethylene is possibly mediated via constitutively expressed LE-ACS1A and LE-ACS3 and negatively feedback-regulated LE-ACS6 genes with preexisting LE-ACO1 and LE-ACO4 mRNAs. At the onset of the climacteric stage, it shifts to system 2 ethylene, with a large accumulation of LE-ACS2, LE-ACS4, LE-ACO1, and LE-ACO4 mRNAs as a result of a positive feedback regulation. This transition from system 1 to system 2 ethylene production might be related to the accumulated level of NR mRNA.

Etiology of idiopathic scoliosis. Computational study.

A review of the literature on the mechanical aspects of the etiology for idiopathic scoliosis reveals that the buckling hypothesis has been presented as a purely mechanical phenomenon. In an attempt to confirm the buckling hypothesis, a numerical simulation of growth and the resulting buckling phenomena was done by means of finite element analysis. It previously was observed that growth was induced in the T4 to T10 vertebrae. Only the sacrum was assumed to be stationary. From the growth analysis, a deformation process that mitigated thoracic kyphosis was obtained as observed in healthy children during early adolescence. From the buckling analysis, the first to the fourth buckling modes that correspond to the first side bending, first forward bending, first rotation, and second side bending modes were obtained. The shape of the fourth buckling mode (second side bending mode) was in good agreement with the clinical shape. Considering the potential for controlling these modes by posture change, it is concluded that the second bending mode in the coronal plane is one of the most likely etiologic candidates in the mechanics of thoracic idiopathic scoliosis.

[What patients expect from home hospice medicine].

Over 60% of men and women with terminal illness wish for providing hospice care at home. The goal of hospice is to enhance the quality of life through relief of physical, emotional, social and spiritual pain. Hospice must be accepted by patients and family when their illness is without cure and hospice medicine is palliative. Providing patients with truthful information about their illness is essential for patients to control in determining how best to spend the remaining lives. Above described conditions allow patients choice, "informed choice". However as for Japanese concern, it is not yet sufficient enough about providing the patients and family what hospice medicine means with truthful information about illness. Therefore, the urgent needs enforce us to ask the questionnaire to let them understanding what is hospice medicine about and providing the patient and family with maximum self-determination. The results indicated that the most of men and women are expecting to exercise self-determination rights (over 80%) with their appropriate information to choice the specialized program of hospice medicine.

Effects of hypoxia on renal function in carp, Cyprinus carpio.

1. Changes in urine and blood properties and heart rate (HR) of carp were investigated during and following hypoxia. 2. When carp were exposed to hypoxic conditions, urine flow in some carp increased immediately. However, it decreased gradually with time. Osmotic pressure and Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ levels in urine increased in contrast to urine flow. K+, P, ammonium, and lactic acid levels in urine increased gradually. 3. When carp lost their balance, blood pH and plasma K+ were lower, and RBC, Ht, Hb, Mg2+, P, ammonium, lactic acid, and glucose in plasma were higher than those of the control. 4. As water-dissolved oxygen level was restored, urine flow increased immediately and soon decreased to the control rate. Other urine properties showed higher values than the initial levels and decreased with time. No significant change was found in urinary protein. 5. The relationship between HR and urine flow is discussed.

Physiological response of the fish, Cyprinus carpio, to formalin exposure--I. Effects of formalin on urine flow, heart rate, respiration.

1. Carp were exposed to 280 ppm formalin. Haematocrit and plasma glucose and lactic acid increased. In moribund fish, blood pH was remarkably lower and plasma protein increased. 2. When exposed to formalin, heart rate (HR) and respiration increased briefly, and then decreased. 3. Some fish increased urine flow (UF) immediately and maintained higher values for a while, followed by gradual decrease, and others decreased UF consistently. UF stopped at 30 min or longer prior to fish death. Urine osmotic pressure was higher at the 1st to 2nd hour and immediately before UF stopped. 4. The relationship between UF, HR and respiration was also discussed.

Cardiac arrest in the spawning chum salmon.

1. Cardiac activities of male and female spawning chum salmon were recorded simultaneously by using a radio telemetry system in combination with a wired system. 2. Heart beat stopped during a spawning bout for about 10 sec in female and for 4-6 sec in male. 3. Just before and after the temporary cardiac arrest, heart rate increased from the usual rate, about 50 to about 60 beats per min. 4. It is suggested that the cessation of heart beat might be a reflex response of the cardiovascular system to the hypertension at spawning.

Lipid storage myopathy associated with scoliosis and multiple joint contractures.

Two patients with cleft palate, clubfoot, congenital scoliosis, and arthrogryposis multiplex congenita showed increased numbers of lipid droplets in biopsied muscle fibers. There was little abnormality in the mitochondrial morphology of the muscle and the results of blood chemistry including carnitine concentrations. Accumulation of large lipid droplets, increased amount of glycogen and a decreased number of mitochondria were observed in chondrocytes from the biopsied iliac crest cartilage of these patients. It was suggested that the present cases might belong to a previously unknown clinico-pathological entity of myopathies.

Familial tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome Type II.

Two cases, a father and daughter, with all the principal signs of tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome Type II are described, although nine previously reported cases were all sporadic. It is suggested that these patients have a genetic disorder with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. It may be reasonable to assume that a patient with relatively mild mental retardation, such as the father in the present report, could marry and have off-spring. Generalized aminoaciduria was found in the affected daughter.

Ultrastructure of cartilage in heritable disorders of connective tissue.

Ultrastruct of cartilage were examined in Marfan syndrome, Menkes kinky hair syndrome, achondroplasia, asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia, mild diastrophic dysplasia and mucopolysaccharidoses I and III. Ruthenium red staining revealed decrease of proteoglycans in cases with Marfan syndrome and kinky hair syndrome, and increase in cases with osteochondrodysplasia and mucopolysaccharidosis III. This morphologic tendency coincided with the result obtained by biochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycan contents in cartilage matrix from cases with Marfan syndrome (decreased content) and asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia (increased content). It was postulated that proteoglycan content in cartilage matrix might be related to excessive or reduced skeletal growth in Marfan syndrome or osteochondrodysplasia.

Clinical features and treatment of joint dislocations in Larsen's syndrome. Report of three cases in one family.

Of 3 cases of Larsen's syndrome in one family, one had bilateral dislocation of the hip and the knee joints. The knee joint was not reduced by manipulation and corrective cast, while both hip and knee joints were simultaneously reduced by skeletal traction of the tibia at the age of 4 months, and the course was satisfactory. Reduction of joint dislocations should be attempted by a conservative method such as skeletal traction as early as possible. Various radiographic skeletal abnormalities occurred in all 3 cases. Larsen's syndrome very likely has a genetic origin.

[Role of the silent period preceding the rapid voluntary movement (author's transl)].

It has been shown that there is the silent period preceding the rapid voluntary movement. The present paper is designed to find the mechanisms of this inhibitory phenomenon and to investigate their role in the voluntary movement. The following results were obtained: 1. It was found that the silent period before the movement was observed not only in reaction trials to visual stimulus but also in voluntary trials without stimulus. 2. The silent period were simultaneously recorded from the rectus femoris, the vastus lateralis and the vastus medialis by upward jumping movement. This finding suggested that this inhibitory phenomenon was a change in excitability of motoneurons innervating the quadriceps. 3. When a subject extended his elbow and knee at the same time, the silent period before the movement could be seen in both triceps brachii and vastus medialis. 4. These results suggest that the upper center sends some inhibitory discharge to the motoneurons before the movement. It is supposed that the silent period preceding the voluntary movement plays a major role in the mechanisms of motor control.

Phalangeal acroosteolysis associated with Down syndrome.

This report described a case of acroosteolysis of phalangeal type associated with regular Down syndrome. The findings of the present case overlapped those of familial or idiopathic acroosteolysis previously reported by others. Study of the patient's family uncovered consanguineous marriage of the parents and affection of his brother, suggesting affection was the result of homozygosity for an autosomal recessive gene. Similarities of findings of the digits among acroosteolysis, pyknodysostosis and Down syndrome were discussed.