Solid-phase synthesis of human osteocalcin by using a γ-carboxyglutamic acid derivative

Human osteocalcin, also called bone Gla protein (BGP), consisting of 49 amino acids with two to three γ-carboxyglutamate residues, was chemically synthesized for the first time by a novel solid-phase peptide synthesis. An l -enantiomer of N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-γ,γ′-dicyclohexyl-γ-carboxyglutaniic acid was designed, prepared and utilized as a monomeric compound and proven to be useful for the solid-phase peptide synthesis of human osteocalcin. The synthesis and optical resolution of the γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) derivative are first described, followed by the synthesis and characterization of Gla¹⁷-human osteocalcin.     

小鼠皮下子宫内膜异位症模型的建立

目的 建立ICR小鼠皮下子宫内膜异位症动物模型。方法 将ICR小鼠子宫片自体移植于腹腔和腹部皮下。3周后测量皮下种植结节及腹膜种植结节大小,对皮下种植成功的小鼠行卵巢去势术。4周后再次测量皮下种植结节及腹膜种植结节大小,并将小鼠随机分为2组,其中 1组每3天注射0.5μg 17β-雌二醇,另1组注射芝麻油作对照。3周后处死小鼠,再次测量皮下种植结节及腹膜种植结节大小,皮下种植结节切除秤重。各种植结节和子官行HE染色组织学检查。结果30只小鼠中27只发生皮下和/或腹膜子宫内膜异位结节,成功率为90.0％。其中22只(73.3％)出现皮下种植结节;26只(87.6％)出现腹膜种植结节,两者发生率相似。27只鼠中20只(74.l％)同时有腹膜种植结节和皮下种植结节。行去势术4周后,皮下和腹膜种植结节的体积均明显缩小(P<0.01)。两者一致性缩小,有相关性(r=0.783,P<0.001)。对去势鼠应用雌激素后,无论皮下种植结节还是腹腔种植结节,体积均明显增大(P<0.01),并恢复到去势术前的水平,两者一致性增大,呈正相关(r=0.748,P<0.01)。皮下种植结节易于切除,其平均重量雌激素处理组为(30.2±4.7)mg,对照组为(15.4±3.9)mg,P<0.05。组织学检查发现,皮下和腹膜种植结节均含有子宫内膜腺体及间质,其形态相似,对去势及使用雌激素和在位子     

Transoral vs. Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Clival/Upper Cervical Chordoma

The surgical results of 18 cases of clival/upper cervical chordoma treated in the last decade via the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA, 9 cases) and the transoral-transpalatal approach (TO-TPA, 9 cases) were compared. Each group showed the same incidence of subdural invasion, with 5 cases each. The superior (frontal base) and lateral surgical fields were wider by EEA, but the inferior view lower than the cranio-vertebral junction (CVJ) was wider by TO-TPA. Gross total removal was achieved in 3 cases in the EEA group, but in only 1 case in the TO-TPA group. Differences in radicality might be due to the extent of the lateral and subdural overview. However for large tumors extending below the CVJ, TO-TPA was the only viable approach for surgical removal. Surgical complications were higher in the EEA (4 cases) than the TO-TPA group (1 case), and were mainly caused by aggressive management of subdural invasion in the EEA group. Post-operative oral intake was earlier and the operative time was shorter in the EEA group. The surgical results were more radical and less invasive in the EEA group than the TO-TPA group. However in tumors extending below the CVJ, the surgical field in EEA was limited, indicating the need to use the transoral route or a combination of routes. A higher complication rate following subdural management was a negative factor that requires improvement in the EEA group and two-staged EEA followed by a transcranial approach may be considered for the cases with subdural invasion.     

Characterization of the recognition specificity of autoreactive, polyspecific monoclonal antibodies obtained from spleen cells of parasite-infected BALB/c mice

We examined the specificity of four monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) obtained from Schistosoma japonicum (1D, GAO3), Trypanosoma cruzi (TSLO), and Trichinella spiralis (TSY2) infected BALB/c mice. All four MoAbs reacted not only with autologous parasite antigens but also with various heterologous parasite antigens and normal tissues. The antigen recognition pattern seen on Western blots was almost identical in 1D and GAO3, and in TSLO and TSY2. Furthermore, certain bands were identical among all four MoAbs. The mechanisms responsible for these phenomena are discussed.     

Linkage analysis and identification of deletion in Alagille syndrome gene

Alagille syndrome (AGS) is a genetic disease and the responsible gene has already been mapped at 20p12. To more accurately detect the region of the AGS gene on the linkage map of chromosome 20p, 14 yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones were screened to construct a YAC contig in the candidate region and 13 locus markers and 2 sequence-tagged sites (STS) were ordered. Combining all of the analyses, a 1.3 Mb critical region from D20S507 to D20S61 for the AGS gene was identified. As the human Jagged 1 gene (JAGI) lies just in this region and is responsible for the AGS disease, the genomic DNA in an AGS family without a visible deletion were analyzed by single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and direct DNA sequencing, and a 2-bp (CT) deletion mutation at exon 26 of the JAGI was identified.     

Epithelial cell proliferation during colonic chemical carcinogenesis in the rat

To define the significance of alterations in epithelial cell proliferation as a marker of high risk mucosa for colorectal cancer, we examined cell proliferative events in the colonic mucosa during chemical carcinogenesis using in vitro bromodeoxyuridine labelling and by analysing serial colonoscopic biopsy specimens from dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats. In both the rectum and flexure of the colon, an increased labelling index of colonic epithelial cells, an upward extension of the proliferating zone and an upward shift of the major area of DNA synthesis of epithelial cells were observed during DMH-induced colonic carcinogenesis in rats. These changes preceded the development of the colonic tumour and were observed in endoscopically normal rectal mucosa where the tumour was absent. We confirmed the altered cell proliferative events preceding the development of the tumour by examining serial colonoscopic biopsies. The results suggest that these alterations are features that identify premalignant colonic mucosa in DMH-treated rats.     

Symbolic meanings of island in dreams

Abstract Six dreams reported from neurotic patients in the therapy of Jungian analysis are presented to illustrate the symbolic meanings of islands in dreams. The island in dreams symbolizes (i) the entrance point into Jungian analysis, (ii) a complex in which a dreamer has got involved and (iii) the beginning of the newly organized ego consciousness. The multiple meanings of islands are suggested to originate from several levels of the unconscious from which the identical symbol of island comes from.     

Human herpesvirus-6-associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia

We report the first case of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) associated exanthema in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). We analysed DNA extracted from an exanthematous lesion using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was positive for HHV-6 but negative for herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus. Immunohistochemical staining of the skin with monoclonal antibody against HHV-6 confirmed the infection. The possibility of HHV-6 infection should be considered when an atypical skin rash is seen in patients with ALL.     

Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation for the Treatment of Acute Leukemia: The Kanazawa Experience

Twelve patients with acute leukemia (7 with nonlymphoblasticleukemia and 5 with lymphoblastic leukemia) were treated withhigh-dose cyclophosphamide and 1,000 rad total body irradiationfollowed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from theirHLA-identical sibling donors. Of eight patients given transplantsat relapse, only one patient has become a long-term survivor;he is alive in disease-free complete remission (CR) 4 yr afterthe transplantation. A cure is probable in this patient. Offour patients given transplants during remission, two have survivedin unmaintained CR for almost 1 yr or more. Recurrent leukemiawas observed in two patients whose disease was resistant toconventional therapy at the time of transplantation. Major causesof treatment failure were interstitial pneumonia, hepatic failuredue to veno-occlusive disease, severe infection and relapse.Transplantation-related complications were more frequent andserious in patients who received transplants at relapse thanin those receiving them during remission. The incidence of graft-versus-hostdisease was relatively high but the disease was neither primarynor leading cause of death. These preliminary but relativelyencouraging data suggest that transplantation during remissionmay reduce posttransplant morbidity and mortality. This approachwill contribute to producing long-term survival or cure in patientswith adult acute leukemia if a suitable donor is available.