Cloning and Sequencing of an MPB70 Homologue Corresponding to MPB83 from Mycobacterium bovis BCG

MPB70 is secreted in high concentrations by Mycobacterium bovis BCG substrain Tokyo (BCG Tokyo), but little by substrains Pasteur (BCG Pasteur) and M. tuberculosis . The gene encoding a MPB70 homologue secreted by BCG Tokyo was found at the upstream region of the gene encoding MPB70, with approximately 2.3 kilobase pairs (kbp) spacing: the same gene was also found in BCG Pasteur. This gene was cloned and sequenced from BCG Tokyo. The DNA sequence which contained a 663 base pair (bp) open reading frame beginning at position 1 and ending with a TAA codon at position 661 was found. Its theoretical molecular mass was calculated to be 22.068 kDa. This gene was highly homologous to the coding region of mpb70 and the deduced amino acid sequence was very similar to MPB83 reported by Harboe et al . It was speculated that the gene the authors characterized probably corresponded to the mpb 83 gene.     

Effects of Bis-diamine to Cardiac Mesenchymal Cell Migration of the Chick Embryo

Summary Bis-diamine is a teratogen which induces conotruncal anomalies in rats and chicks. Bis-diamine induces endocardial cushion defects in rats but it does not induce in chicks. In the present study, we examined effects of bis-diamine to chick embryonic cardiac mesenchymal cells. Chick embryos of 3 days incubation (E3, H. H. stage 17–28) were treated with 100 μg of bis-diamine dissolved in 50 μl dimethylsulfoxide. The conotruncal and atrioventricular cushions of the E6 embryos treated with bis-diamine were cultured with chicken serum. After 48 h of incubation, the culture was fixed with 4% formaldehyde. The area of grown out mesenchymal cells from the transplanted tissue was measured, and then the migration distance of mesenchymal cells was computed from the area.
In the group treated with bis-diamine, the migration distance of conotruncal cushion mesenchymal cells was significantly shorter than that of controls. However, the migration distance of atrioventricular cushion mesenchymal cells was not diminished. By scanning electron microscopy, the superior endocardial cushion of E4.5 or E5 embryos treated with bis-diamine was slightly hypoplastic compared with the inferior endocardial cushion. In spite of hypoplasia of the superior and inferior endocardial cushions, these cushions fused in E6 embryos treated with bis-diamine.
These results have shown that bis-diamine affects migration activity of conotruncal cushion mesenchymal cells but it does not severely affect that of the atrioventricular cushion in chicks. This portionally different effect of bis-diamine can explain that bis-diamine does not frequently induce endocardial cushion defects in chicks.     

An inappropriate erythropoietic response to iron deficiency anaemia in the elderly

Summary This study was carried out to clarify the features of iron deficiency anaemia in the elderly. Subjects were chosen from residents undergoing an annual health check in a home for the aged and the features of anaemia in the elderly were compared with those in middle-aged adults under 60 years old. The red cell count, red cell size and haemoglobin content in an elderly group with iron-deficiency anaemia did not differ from those in middle-aged adults. No significant differences of the serum ferritin and iron levels were noted between the two groups. Total iron binding capacity was higher in the middle-aged adults than in the elderly, while the reticulocyte count was significantly lower in the elderly group. Immature reticulocytes showing a considerable amount of residual RNA by flow cytometry with fluorescent staining were also lower in the elderly group than in the middle-aged adults. Serum erythropoietin levels in both groups were significantly higher than in non-anaemic age-matched controls and no difference in erythropoietin levels was noted between them. The ratio of the reticulocyte count to the log-transformed erythropoietin level was low in the elderly group with iron-deficiency anaemia compared with the middle-aged adults with iron deficiency anaemia. The same result was seen when the immature reticulocyte count was related to the log-transformed erythropoietin level. These findings suggest that the red cell production response to erythropoietin in the elderly with iron-deficiency anaemia might be inappropriate compared with both non-anaemic and anaemic middle-aged adults.     

CASE REPORT: A patient who developed an amoebic liver abscess during treatment with interferon

A 65-year-old female received recombinant interferon (IFN) α-2b daily for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Fever (39°C or higher) developed 14 days after the start of administration. Abdominal computed tomography suggested multiple liver abscesses, which had not been detected before IFN administration. An autopsy revealed an amoebic liver abscess. A subclinical infection of Entamoeba histolytica in this case developed into amoebic liver abscess during IFN administration.     

A guide to murine fibrinolytic factor structure, function, assays, and genetic alterations

The components and functions of the murine fibrinolytic system are quite similar to those of humans. Because of these similarities and the adaptability of mice to genetic manipulation, murine fibrinolysis has been studied extensively. These studies have yielded important information regarding the function of the several components of fibrinolysis. This review presents information on the structure, function and assay of mouse fibrinolytic parameters and it discusses the results of the extensive studies of genetically modified mice. It is intended to be a convenient reference resource for investigators of fibrinolysis.     

Cigarette smoking increases the mean platelet volume in elderly patients with risk factors for atherosclerosis

Summary To study the effects of cigarette smoking and atherosclerosis on platelet size, we measured the mean platelet volume (MPV) and other platelet parameters in 142 elderly smokers and nonsmokers with or without atherosclerotic risk factors. The MPV and the platelet count were highest and their inverse correlation was strongest in the atherosclerotic smokers (r= 0.54, P < 0.05) when compared with the nonsmoking and non-atherosclerotic groups. A 10% decrease of MPV was found in 8 smoking subjects in the atherosclerotic group, who successfully discontinued smoking (P < 0.05). These results suggest that smoking may increase platelet consumption in atherosclerotic vessels and that subsequently megakaryocytes are activated to produce larger platelets, which are more active. Thus, an increase in MPV due to smoking may also contribute to the acceleration of atherosclerosis and should be considered as a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease.     

An Autopsy Case of Klippel-Feil Syndrome with Cardiovascular Anomalies and Upper Limb Anomaly

Abstract An autopsy case of Klippel-Feil syndrome with the classical triad of short neck, low posterior hairline and limitation of neck movement is reported. The patient died of cardiac failure resulting from complicated serious cardiovascular anomalies such as double outlet right ventricle, congenital mitral valve stenosis and coarctation of aorta. The condition was also complicated by radial ray deficiency of the left arm and asymmetry of the thyroid gland. Narrowing of the left subclavian and axillary arteries was detected by angiography while the patient was alive, a finding which may suggest the etiology of this congenital anomaly complex.     

Prevalence of appendectomy in Japanese families

We investigated the prevalence of appendectomy in Japan to determine the tendency of familial aggregation on appendicitis using a large scale study. A total of 517 Japanese women (aged 20 to 45 years) served as the subjects and were questioned regarding their family history of appendectomy due to appendicitis. We compared the prevalence of appendectomy in children (subjects + their siblings) of three groups of families: (i) both parents affected; (ii) one parent affected; (iii) no parents affected. The differences between groups were statistically significant using contingency table and Chi-squared test. Our results suggest that about 40% of children with both parents affected, and about 20% of children with one parent affected may develop the disorder during childhood. This study may provide useful information in the nature of the development of appendicitis.