Characterization of protein kinase C activities in postsynaptic density fractions prepared from cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum

Protein kinase C (PKC) activities, especially, substrates and PKC isozymes, associated with postsynaptic density (PSD) fractions isolated from rat cerebral cortex, hippocampus, or cerebellum were investigated. The 17kM_r major substrate for PKC was associated with PSD fractions prepared from cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and several substrates including 18kM_r, protein were associated with PSD fraction isolated from cerebellum. The content of 17kM_r, substrate was extremely low in the PSD fraction prepared from cerebellum. PKCs-β and λ were associated with PSD fractions and PKC-α was virtually absent in the fraction prepared from the three different regions of the brain. All of PKCs-α, β, and λ were associated with synaptosome fractions. The 36kM_r bands immunoreactive with anti-PKC-β antibody, probably degradation products of native PKC-β, were detected in both the PSD and synaptosome fractions from the three regions, and the ratio of the degradation fragments to native PKC molecule was higher in PSD fractions than in synaptosome fractions. The results suggest postsynaptic roles of PKCs-β and λ and involvement of proteolytic activation of PKC-β in the postsynaptic signal processing.     

Adult T-cell leukemia with leukemic cell infiltration in the conjunctiva

A 77-year-old Japanese woman who had suffered from skin eruptions since 1986 was admitted in January, 1990. A diagnosis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory data. On admission, erythematous lesions were present in both eyelids. Yellowish-white elevated lesions were found along the limbal conjunctiva, and extended segmentally into the cornea of both eyes. Microscopically, leukemic infiltration into the subepithelial layer of the conjunctiva was observed. Ophthalmic manifestations in ATL have not been well described, because of a little attention paid to them.     

Translocation of inhaled asbestos fibers from the lung to other tissues

To investigate translocation of asbestos fibers, tissue samples from 13 North American insulators were examined, using electron microscopy. Of the two major types of asbestos, chrysotile and amosite, chrysotile was found to be much more active in the translocation than amosite, being the fiber mainly detected in mesotheliomas and hyaline plaques.     

高效液相色谱法测定tRNA~(Ile)的核苷酸组成

用高效液相色谱法(HPLC)分析了纯化的牛肝tRNA~(He)核苷酸组成成份,并根据各成份的峰的面积计算了它们的近似数量。实验表明牛肝tRNA~(He)有76个核苷酸,其中含9种14个稀有碱基。t~6A不能被发现。     

Intraoperative contrast transesophageal echocardiography using Albunex

This study was designed to investigate the effect of administration of the contrast material Albunex on intraoperative contrast transesophageal echocardiography for patients with mitral valve disease or coronary artery disease. We studied nine patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG group) and nine patients scheduled for elective mitral valve replacement (MVR group), and used a transesophageal echocardiography probe and an echocardiographic system. During the period of stable hemodynamics before the start of cardiopulmonary bypass, Albunex in doses of 0.1 ml·kg⁻¹ was injected at a rate of about 1 ml·s⁻¹ from either the peripheral venous line or the distal lumen of the pulmonary arterial catheter, and the effect on contrast was compared. This effect was semiquantitatively assessed by using a grading scale from 0 to 3, with 0 indicating an absence of opacification and 3, full opacification of the cavities examined. In the CABG group, contrast resulting from administration of Albunex from the pulmonary arterial catheter was significantly better than that from the peripheral venous line, whereas in the MVR group, no improvement was found. Furthermore, when it was administered into the pulmonary artery, the effect on contrast for the MVR group was significantly lower than that for the CABG group. The efficacy rate of intraoperative contrast transesophageal echocardiography using Albunex was relatively low, and appeared to be affected by pulmonary circulation or many other factors such as the method of administration, including the route and injection pressure.     

Persistent subclinical rejection associated with nodular B-cell infiltrates in a renal transplant recipient

Abstract:  Recently, B-cell infiltrates in acute rejection grafts have attracted interest as an indicator of refractory rejection. Here, we report a case of deceased donor renal transplantation in a Japanese recipient operated overseas in which the recipient suffered from persistent tubulointerstitial rejection episodes associated with B-cell infiltrates. A 59-yr-old man with end-stage renal disease caused by immunoglobulin A nephropathy underwent deceased donor renal transplantation overseas in December 2005. The initial post-operative course was uneventful. The patient was referred to our hospital one month after transplantation. He maintained stable renal function throughout the follow-up period. The maintenance immunosuppressive regimen consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and methylprednisolone. His serum creatinine concentration remained around 1.0 mg/dL, with no evidence of proteinuria. However, a discrepancy was detected between the renal function and the pathological findings. The pathology showed subclinical tubulointerstitial rejection with nodular B-cell infiltrates refractory to aggressive antirejection therapy. A steroid pulse and 15-deoxyspergualin were ineffective and the patient developed interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy by one yr after the transplantation, with persistent tubulitis and B-cell infiltrates. We treated the refractory rejection with B-cell infiltrates with a single 200 mg/body dose of rituximab and obtained an improvement. The pathological findings after administering rituximab consisted of mild tubulitis classified as Banff borderline, and elimination of the nodular B-cell infiltrates. At present, 20 months after renal transplantation, the patient continues to maintain stable renal function, with a good serum creatinine concentration (0.87 mg/dL).     

Airborne asbestos levels in non-occupational environments in Japan

Airborne asbestos levels in non-occupational environments in Japan were determined by analytical transmission electron microscopy (ATEM) for about 100 air samples from various outdoor settings. Asbestos fibres (chrysotile) were found in almost all samples. The fibre (mass) concentrations were in the range of 4-367 fibres per litre (0.02-47.2 ng/m3) with a geometric mean of 18 f/1 (0.3 ng/m3). The mass concentrations were similar to the earlier data reported from other countries. Samples from main roads showed extremely high asbestos concentrations and short fibre lengths compared with those of the other samples. This strongly suggested that braking of vehicles was a significant emission source of airborne asbestos. Laboratory experiments using a brake testing machine demonstrated that asbestos fibres were released during braking. In addition, the present study found high levels of airborne asbestos in some highly polluted areas, such as a serpentine quarry, a town adjacent to an asbestos mine, and factories making asbestos slate-board. On the other hand, chrysotile fibres were also found in air samples from a small isolated island in the Pacific Ocean as well as in ice samples from ten thousand years ago in Antarctica. These facts suggest that chrysotile fibres have been liberated both by industrial activities and natural weathering, and have circulated around the earth.     

Congenital fiber type disproportion myopathy in Lowe syndrome

Two brothers with the typical clinical features of oculo-cerebro-renal syndrome of Lowe exhibited delays in developmental milestones, muscular weakness and hypotonia, and high serum creatine kinase activity. The biopsied muscle revealed selective type 1 fiber atrophy and mild type 1 fiber predominance, similar to that observed in congenital fiber type disproportion myopathy. The abnormal fiber type distribution may be responsible for the common finding of muscle hypotonia in this syndrome.