Cytofluorometric study on lectin binding of isolated guinea pig keratinocytes

Lectin binding was cytofluorometrically measured on fractionated keratinocytes of guinea pig. Free keratinocytes were obtained by treatment of EDTA and trypsin. After the treatment, they were separated into 3 fractions by centrifugation on a continuous colloidal silica (Percoll) density gradient. Cells in each fraction were stained by biotinyl lectins and avidin-FITC, and fluorescence intensity was measured by cytofluorometry. Results obtained indicate that little cell surface glycoconjugate is lost during the preparation of free keratinocytes.     

Prognosis of chronic thrombocytopenic purpura

A multicenter prospective study on the treatment of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), conducted by the Idiopathic Disorders of Hematopoietic Organ Research Committee, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan, is currently in progress. In this study we analyzed the clinical records of 256 patients with chronic ITP in order to define the prognostic factors. As of November, 1988 after a median observation period of 34 months, 174 of the 256 patients (68%) were alive, 11 (4%) dead and 71 (28%) lost to follow-up. Bleeding was a direct cause of death in only one patient. Assessment of the status of patients based on platelet count at the final observation revealed that 48% of patients were in remission, 21% showed improvement, and 31% remained unchanged or worsened. Univariate analyses identified 4 parameters associated with favorable prognosis: presenting platelet count less than 2 x 10(4)/microliters, platelet count greater than 10 X 10(4)/microliters after one-year follow-up, maximal platelet count greater than 10 X 10(4)/microliters during administration of the initial dose of corticosteroids and splenectomy.     

Differential distribution of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and ER-beta in the midbrain raphe nuclei and periaqueductal gray in male mouse: Predominant role of ER-beta in midbrain serotonergic systems

We examined the distribution of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and ER-beta immunoreactive (ir) cells in the dorsal (DRN) and median/paramedian (MPRN) raphe nuclei in male mice. ER-alpha ir neurons were scattered across the three subdivisions (ventral, dorsal, and lateral) of the DRN and the MPRN. Robust ER-beta ir cells were observed throughout the raphe nuclei, and were particularly abundant in the ventral and dorsal subdivisions of the DRN. Using dual-label immunocytochemistry for ER-alpha or ER-beta with tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate-limiting enzyme for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis, over 90% of ER-beta ir cells exhibited TPH-ir in all DRN subdivisions, whereas only 23% of ER-alpha ir cells contained TPH. Comparisons of ER-alpha knockout (alphaERKO) as well as ER-beta knockout (betaERKO) mice with their respective wild-type (WT) littermates revealed that gene disruption of either ER-alpha or ER-beta did not affect the other ER subtype expression in the raphe nuclei. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that there was a small but statistically significant decrease in TPH mRNA expression in the ventral DRN subdivision in betaERKO mice compared with betaWT mice, whereas TPH mRNA levels were not affected in alphaERKO mice. These findings support a hypothesis that ER-beta activation may contribute to the estrogenic regulation of neuroendocrine and behavioral functions, in part, by acting directly on 5-HT neurons in the raphe nuclei in male mice.     

The mitochondrial plasmid of the true slime mold <Emphasis Type="Italic">Physarum polycephalum</Emphasis> bypasses uniparental inheritance by promoting mitochondrial fusion

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited maternally in most eukaryotes. Linear mitochondrial plasmids in higher plants and fungi are also transmitted from the maternal parent to the progeny. However, mF, which is a mitochondrial linear plasmid of Physarum polycephalum, evades uniparental mitochondrial inheritance. We examined 36 myxamoebal strains of Physarum and isolated three novel mF⁺ strains (JE8, TU111, NG111) that harbored free mF plasmids. These strains were mated with the mF^– strain KM88. Of the three mF^– × mF⁺ crosses, only KM88 × JE8 displayed complete uniparental inheritance. However, in KM88 × TU111 and KM88 × NG111, the mtDNA of KM88 and mF of TU111 and NG111 were inherited by the plasmodia and showed recombination. For example, although the mtDNA of TU111 was eliminated, the mF of TU111 persisted and became inserted into the mtDNA of KM88, such that recombinant mtDNA represented 80% of the total mtDNA. The parental mitochondria fused to yield giant mitochondria with two or more mitochondrial nucleoids. The mF appears to exchange mitochondria from the recipient (paternal) to the donor (maternal) by promoting mitochondrial fusion.The first two authors have equally contributed to this work     

Microtia as an autosomal dominant mutation in a transgenic mouse line: a possible animal model of branchial arch anomalies

Microtia was found in a transgenic mouse 643 and all offspring with microtia had the transgene. No anomalies, other than occasional low set ear and abnormal biting, were identified in other tissues and organs. In the developmental analysis, on the 9th and 10th days of gestation, hypoplasia of the second branchial arch was observed, while various kinds of malformed hillocks were noted on the 12th day. All of these anomalous embryos were transgenic. Histologically, hemorrhage and subsequent phagocytosis were noted at the second branchial arch. Left sided anomalies were predominant and in bilaterally defective ones asymmetry existed. These findings closely resembled to those in experimental animals with a phenocopy of the first and second branchial arch syndrome in humans. Since all other transgenic mouse lines with the same transgene as 643 appeared normal, this dysmorphic phenotype may be caused by an insertional mutation of a host gene, although inappropriate expression of the transgene should be examined further as a possible cause. These results suggest that this transgenic mouse line 643 may be useful as an animal model of branchial arch anomalies in humans.     

Components of root bark of morus lhou1 1. Structures of two new natural diels-alder adducts, kuwanons N and o

Kuwanons N and O, two new flavonoid derivatives with a fused dihydrochalcone partial moiety, and four known flavonoid derivatives, morusin, kuwanons G, H, and K, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the root bark of MORUS LHOU (SER.) Koidz. The structures of kuwanons N and O were shown to be 1 and 2, respectively, on the basis of spectral data. They are regarded biogenetically as Diels-Alder adducts of a chalcone and a dehydroprenyl flavonoid.     

The association between renal elasticity evaluated by Real-time tissue elastography and renal fibrosis

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology - The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) depends on the extent of fibrosis in the kidneys; however, a renal biopsy is necessary to evaluate the...     

Structures of four new isoprenylated xanthones, cudraxanthones h,i,j, and k1,2

Four new isoprenylated xanthones, cudraxanthone H,I,J, and K were isolated from the ethanol extract of the root bark of CUDRANIA TRICUSPIDATA (Carr.) Bur. (Moraceae), collected in China. The structures of cudraxanthones H,I,J, and K were shown to be 1- 4, respectively, on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.