Ocular histopathologic observations in Norwegian Elkhounds with primary open-angle, closed-cleft glaucoma.

A retrospective histopathologic study of primary glaucoma in the Norwegian Elkhound was undertaken with the study of 9 clinically normal eyes and 22 glaucomatous eyes. All glaucomatous eyes showed goniodysgenesis as manifested by pectinate ligament dysplasia and/or trabecular meshwork dysplasia. Cystic degeneration of the iridociliary epithelial and/or peripheral retina was present in a high percentage of both normotensive and glaucomatous eyes. Utilizing the scheme proposed by Smith et al. (Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology 1993; 3: 16-28) the morphology of this disease in the Norwegian Elkhound would be classified as an open-angle, closed-cleft glaucoma, with histopathologic alterations of the outflow pathway similar to that described in other breeds with primary glaucoma.

Genetic susceptibility for emphysematous changes of the lung in Japanese.

Risk of chronic pulmonary emphysema from exposure to tobacco smoke varies widely from person to person, depending in part on the status of particular genes and acquired susceptibilities. Certain genes determine how cells activate and/or detoxify tobacco smoke products. We aimed to determine whether any genetic susceptibility exists in the development of emphysematous changes confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT). Genotypes of various enzymes involved in the activation or detoxification of tobacco smoke, epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1), cytochrome P450s (CYP1A1 and CYP2E1), glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1/P1/T1), and hemoxygenase-1 (HMOX1), were determined by PCR-based assays in a total of 235 heavy smokers (Brinkman index >/=400). They were divided into two groups according to the CT findings: 63 and 172 subjects with and without emphysematous changes, respectively. Although the allele frequency of any genetic polymorphism was not statistically different between the two groups, the frequency of the individuals having combination of the genotype representing very slow activity for epoxide hydrolase and at least one allele with large size of (GT)n repeats in the HMOX1 gene promoter region was higher in the subjects with emphysematous changes (p=0.03; odds ratio 2.8; 95% CI = 1.07-7.5) among the stratified individuals (age >/=51 years). These findings suggest that combination of several polymorphisms in the enzymes that activate or detoxify the tobacco smoke, such as EPHX1 and HMOX1, might be associated with its affects on the development of emphysematous changes of the lung.

Cloning of the maltose phosphorylase gene from Bacillus sp. strain RK-1 and efficient production of the cloned gene and the trehalose phosphorylase gene from Bacillus stearothermophilus SK-1 in Bacillus subtilis.

The maltose phosphorylase (MPase) gene of Bacillus sp. strain RK-1 was cloned by PCR with oligonucleotide primers designed on the basis of a partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme. The MPase gene consisted of 2,655 bp encoding a theoretical protein with a Mr of 88,460, and had no secretion signal sequence, although most of the MPase activity was detected in the culture supernatant of RK-1. This cloned MPase gene and the trehalose phosphorylase (TPase) gene from Bacillus stearothermophilus SK-1 were efficiently expressed intracellularly under the control of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase promoter in Bacillus subtilis. The production yields were estimated to be more than 2 g of enzyme per liter of medium, about 250 times the production of the original strains, in a simple shake flask. About 60% of maltose was converted into trehalose by the simultaneous action of both enzymes produced in B. subtilis.