Dense Alu clustering and a potential new member of the NF kappa B family within a 90 kilobase HLA class III segment.

We have conducted a detailed structural analysis of 90 kilobases (kb) of the HLA Class III region from the Bat2 gene at the centromeric end to 23 kb beyond TNF. A single contig of 80 kb was sequenced entirely with a group of four smaller contigs covering 10 kb being only partly sequenced. This region contains four known genes and a novel telomeric potential coding region. The genes are bracketed by long, dense clusters of Alu repeats belonging to all the major families. At least six new families of MER repeats and one pseudogene are intercalated within and between the Alu clusters. The most telomeric 3.8 kb contains three potential exons, one of which bears strong homology to the ankyrin domain of the DNA binding factors NF kappa B and I kappa B.

The role of JH III and ecdysterone in the regulation of the left colleterial gland activities in Periplaneta americana during the reproductive cycle.

We studied the in vitro effects of JH III and ecdysterone on RNA synthesis and secretory activities of the left colleterial gland (LCG) in mature females of Periplaneta americana during the reproductive cycle. We found that RNA synthesis is a cyclic and highly dynamic process. The major increases in poly(A)- RNA synthesis occurred 8 hr before the peak leucine incorporation into colleterial polypeptides, whereas high poly(A)+ RNA synthesis coincided with high leucine incorporation. Depending on the stage of the cycle JH III exhibited stimulatory or inhibitory effects, or caused no change in RNA synthesis. JH III stimulated RNA synthesis in glands from stages in the reproductive cycle with high endogenous RNA synthesis. The pattern of protein synthesis was not affected by JH III. Ecdysterone lowered RNA synthesis in the LCG and induced secretory activity in LCGs isolated at stages far removed from ovulation. JH III reduced the inhibitory effect of ecdysterone on RNA synthesis and inhibited the ecdysterone-induced secretory activity. The presence of ovarioles isolated at 62 hr of the reproductive cycle (onset of in vivo LCG secretory activity) in the incubation medium inhibited RNA synthesis in 32 hr LCG but induced secretory activity. We suggest that changes in synthetic and secretory activities are coordinated with ovulation and ootheca formation through the interactions between JH III and ovarioles, and ecdysterone may also play a role.

Insulin deficiency in non-insulin-dependent diabetics.

In this study, the prevalence of severe insulin deprivation amongst 104 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients was determined using a mixed meal pancreatic stimulation test (2.4 MJ). Of the 104 patients, 62 were recently diagnosed and 42 had been diabetic for between 1 and 40 years, but were not adequately controlled on diet and oral hypoglycaemic agents. Twenty-one (34%) of the recently diagnosed patients and 13 (31%) of the poorly controlled patients had peak post-testmeal insulin responses less than 160 pmol/l (less than 23 mU/l)--values 3 SD below normal--and were therefore considered to have severe blunting of beta cell response to nutrient secretagogues. Amongst recently diagnosed diabetics, these patients, as a group, had higher blood glucose levels (P less than 0.05) and lower body weights (P less than 0.01) but overall these parameters correlated poorly with insulin responses. Islet cell antibodies were positive in only one patient, whereas they were present in three others with less severe insulin secretory defects. For the treated diabetics, insulin release showed very low non-significant correlations with duration of diabetes, age, weight and glycaemic control. Islet cell antibodies were present in five patients, one only showing peak insulin values less than 160 pmol/l. These data suggest that about one-third of new diabetics and one-third of treated diabetics with poor glycaemic control are insulin deficient. Clinical and biochemical parameters, including islet cell antibodies, appear to be of no value in identifying this sub-group requiring insulin therapy. Their early recognition is best facilitated by routine pancreatic function tests.