β2-Microglobulin-containing IgG Complexes in Sera and Synovial Fluids of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

The occurrence and composition of complexed beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) in sera and synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus patients and control persons was investigated. Beta2m-containing complexes were detected in immune complex (IC)-enriched fractions isolated by precipitation with 3% polyethylene glycol 6000, in the macromolecular peaks after Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, and in IC desorbed from solid-phase Clq. Beta2m complexes were demonstrated also after precipitation of redissolved PEG-insoluble material by anti-human beta2m serum or isolation of the complexes by use of Sephadex-anti-beta2m. IgG was co-isolated with beta2m on Sephadex-anti-beta2m and free beta2m inhibited the binding of IgG to Sephadex anti-beta2m, indicating that IgG was present in the complexed beta2m. Analysis by SDS-polyacrylamide gradient electrophoresis under reducing conditions indicated that the purified beta2m complexes contained IgG and beta2m.     

Simultaneous determination of alkaline earth metal ions by a conventional high performance liquid chromatographic system

A simultaneous determination method of alkaline earth metals was attempted with the conventional high performance liquid chromatographic system. Four cations, namely, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium ion, were injected directly as aqueous solution into an eluent containing copper chloride solution and were successfully separated and determined on a separating column (Zipax SCX, 4.6 mm i.d. ×25 cm length, Du Pont, USA) by using a variable wavelength UV detector. The linear calibration curves were obtained in the range from 1.0×10⁻⁴ M to 5.0×10⁻⁴M and the correlation coefficient of the calibration curve for each metal was in the range of 0.9952∼0.9996. The proposed method was applied to the determination of magnesium and calcium in tap water. Alkaline earth metals were determined with the conventional high performance liquid chromatographic system.     

Anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries

We report the case of an infant with anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries in solitus [S, L, D], associated with ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and right juxtaposition of the atrial appendages. The aortic pole was posterior to the tricuspid mitral line and the conus was bilateral. Successful surgical repair was undertaken by the Senning procedure with closure of ventricular septal defect and division of the ductus. Postoperative cardiac angiography demonstrated no hemodynamic obstruction or residual shunt.     

Inhibition of angiogenesis by the BTB domain of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein

Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger is a negative regulator of cell cycle progression. In this study, we showed that PLZF inhibits endothelial cell angiogenesis using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell system. We also focused on characterizing the specific function of the BTB domain of PLZF as a novel apoptotic and anti-angiogenic protein via deletion mapping analysis. The BTB domain directly inhibited tube formation, as well as the biological functions of angiostatic activity in vivo, and reduced the expression of p-Akt and p-eNOS, which play a significant role in angiogenesis when stimulated by VEGF. These results strongly suggest that the BTB domain could potentially modulate the apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects of PLZF.