Differential induction responses of delta-aminolevulinate synthase mRNAs during erythroid differentiation: use of nonradioactive in situ hybridization.

Expression of mRNAs encoding the erythroid-specific delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS-E) and the nonspecific delta-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS-N) were examined in murine Friend virus-transformed erythroleukemia (MEL) cells using nonradioactive in situ hybridization. Following dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment, ALAS-E mRNA increased markedly, while ALAS-N mRNA did not increase in wild-type MEL cells. In contrast, in a DMSO-resistant clone of MEL cells, ALAS-E was not detectable before and after DMSO treatment. These findings suggest that ALAS-E and ALAS-N mRNAs are under separate controls and that the expression of ALAS-E mRNA is a critical event in erythroid differentiation.     

Ulnar recurrent adipofascial flap for reconstruction of massive defects around the elbow and forearm.

An ulnar recurrent adipofascial flap was raised and turned over to reconstruct massive defects around the elbow and forearm after wide resection of malignant tumours. Compared to the fasciocutaneous flap, the ulnar recurrent adipofascial flap has the following advantages: (1) a larger flap can be harvested without the problem of primary closure of the donor site, (2) the contour and scar of the donor site is reasonably acceptable since no tension is presented, (3) the flap can be turned over to cover a wider area, and (4) debulking of the flap can be performed during the operation if needed. The rotation arc of the ulnar recurrent adipofascial flap reaches a wide region, including the distal one-half of the upper arm, the elbow, and the proximal two-thirds of the forearm. Sensory deficit in the forearm was avoided in our patients because meticulous separation and preservation of the medial cutaneous nerve of the forearm was achieved without jeopardising the blood supply to the flap. The ulnar recurrent adipofascial flap is an easy and reliable option for one-stage reconstruction of massive defects around the elbow.     

Genetic changes in JC virus possibly associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy]

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fetal demyelinating disease in the central nervous system. PML was once a rare disease, but it is now relatively common among AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients. The immunological state of patients mainly contributes to the pathogenesis of PML. Genetic changes of the etiological agent, however, may also be involved in the development and progression of the disease. The major genetic changes possibly associated with PML include the regulatory region rearrangement and the VP1 loop mutation. Both changes have been identified as genetic changes usually occurring in JCV (JCvirus) DNAs from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid of PML patients. Although it remained to be clarified how these changes are involved in the pathogenesis of PML, accumulating evidence suggests that the VP1 loop mutation is associated with the progression of PML. Here we overview studies (mainly those performed by ourselves) on these genetic changes.     

Remote Connection to the Kyushu University Medical Center LAN Using Digital and Analog Telephone Lines

SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) has recently become popular, as it makes working at home possible. Computers or Local Area Networks(LAN) connected to the office network from home are necessary for the implementation of this concept. Kyushu University has begun a service connecting home computers to the campus LAN for researchers, staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine. We have two different telephone connection methods. One connects the campus LAN and the home computer LAN using routers through the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). The other connects computers at home to the workstation in the university, using modems and the PPP (Point to Point Protocol) through a public telephone analog line. This paper outlines our university SOHO connection system and discusses the merits and demerits of using telephone line connections.     

Ammonia: a possible promotor in Helicobacter pylori-related gastric carcinogenesis.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) has been shown to possibly be a pathogen of gastric carcinoma. HP has urease activity and produces ammonia in the stomach. In this study, the role of ammonia on gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in rats. After 24 weeks pretreatment with MNNG (83 mg/l), 0.01% ammonia or tap water as a drinking water was administered for 24 weeks. The ammonia-treated rats showed a significantly higher incidence of gastric cancer (percent of animals with tumors and number of tumors per rat). Ammonia would thus appear to have an important role in HP-related human gastric carcinogenesis.     

Limited vertical skin incision for median sternotomy.

The cosmetic deformity of the vertical skin incision for median sternotomy was decreased by using a mechanical traction system to increase exposure at the superior margin of a shorter wound. The limited vertical skin incision did not impede technical surgical maneuvers and produced a scar that was more acceptable than submammary incision or right anterior thoracotomy. The limited skin incision is especially useful in young women with congenital heart disease.     

The effect of dietary protein source on plasma cholesterol level and fecal steroid excretion in obese mice

Both goldthioglucose (GTG)-treated and the genetically obese (C57BL/6J ob/ob) mice were fed semisynthetic diets containing either soy protein isolate (SPI) or casein as a protein source, or laboratory chow. In GTG-induced obese mice, the plasma cholesterol level correlated positively with their body weight. The level was highest in mice fed high-fat diet, and lowest in ones fed laboratory chow. No difference was observed between SPI and casein groups whether the diet was low-fat or high-fat. Thus, in the GTG-treated mice, SPI did not have a hypocholesterolemic effect while dietary fat had a hypercholesterolemic effect, and laboratory chow contained some component(s) which can lower the plasma cholesterol level. Both neutral and acidic steroid contents in feces of the SPI group were not different from those of the casein group, and both groups of mice excreted a smaller amount of steroids than mice fed laboratory chow. Results of essentially the same tendency were obtained with normal mice regarding the effects of SPI and casein, although the degree of hypercholesterolemia was lower in high-fat-fed normal mice than in similarly fed GTG-treated mice. These results strengthened the inverse correlation between the amount of fecal steroids and the plasma cholesterol level upon feeding various proteins, indicating that the former is one of the important factors that determine the latter. The ob/ob mice showed a marked hypercholesterolemia irrespective of the kind of diet. The amount of fecal steroids was highest in the laboratory chow group and lowest in the casein group. This indicates that some factor(s) other than fecal steroid excretion is dominantly responsible for their hypercholesterolemia.