Associations of blood selenium and serum lipid levels in Japanese premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the level of selenium in serum or the level of selenium in erythrocytes (E-Se) was associated with serum lipid parameters (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides, and high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]) in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Design: Healthy female workers aged 35 to 60 years were recruited, and TC, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C, E-Se, and serum-Se levels were measured in 68 premenopausal and 59 postmenopausal women after excluding those who were treated for hyperlipidemia, receiving hormone therapy, had previous gynecological surgeries, or had irregular menstrual cycles. Information on these women, such as smoking status, current status of menstruation, and current or previous medical treatments, was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire.

[Clinical study of radical retropubic prostatectomy for prostate cancer].

Purpose: To evaluate the results of radical retropubic prostatectomy in patients treated at a single institution.

Materials And Methods: Between April 1985 and July 1997, 76 patients with prostate cancer underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy, including 73 receiving pelvic lymphadenectomy. The median age and follow-up time were 68 years old and 44 months, respectively.

Differential expression of Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein on CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and monocytes.

Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein are considered to be involved in cellular homeostasis. We precisely analyzed the expression of human Fas antigen and Bcl-2 protein on CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and monocytes. The positivities of Fas antigen on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells increased with aging.

[Analysis of the state of patients with rheumatoid arthritis using a personal computer].

The present study was designed to analyze the state of 203 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in our clinic using a personal computer. The duration of the disease was significantly correlated with the progression of radiographical stages of RA, indicating that no drugs were able to prevent the progression of joint destruction. Nevertheless, bucillamine, a newly developed anti-rheumatic drug, was found to be effective in some patients who did not respond to D-penicillamine, but not vice versa.

Regulatory effects of human IgE-binding factors in the IgE synthesis by human and rat lymphocytes.

We have previously established human T cell hybridomas which produce IgE-binding factors. Incubation of one of the T cell hybridomas, 166A2, with human IgE dimer in the presence of 1 microgram/ml bradykinin resulted in the formation of IgE-binding factors having affinity for lentil lectin. The factors selectively enhanced both IgE-forming cell responses of rat mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells and spontaneous IgE synthesis by human peripheral blood B cells of atopic patients, without affecting the IgG response.

Monoclonal antibody specific for T cell-derived human IgE binding factors.

A B cell hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibody against human IgE binding factors was obtained by immunization of BALB/c mice with partially purified IgE binding factors, and fusion of their spleen cells with SP-2/0-AG14 cells. The monoclonal antibody bound all of the 60,000, 30,000, and 15,000 dalton IgE binding factors from two T cell hybridomas and those from activated T cells of a normal individual. The antibody bound both IgE-potentiating factors, which had affinity for lentil lectin, and IgE-suppressive factors, which had affinity for peanut agglutinin.

Microbial Transformation of beta-Ionone and beta-Methylionone.

Aspergillus niger JTS 191 was selected from many microorganisms tested as capable of converting ionones to other compounds having aromas. The individual transformation products from beta-ionone were isolated and identified by comparison with synthetically derived compounds. The major products were (R)-4-hydroxy-beta-ionone and (S)-2-hydroxy-beta-ionone.

Studies on the production of Digitalis cardenolides by plant tissue culture I. Determination of digitoxin and digoxin contents in first and second passage calli and organ redifferentiating calli of several Digitalis species by radioimmunoassay.

With first and second passage calli induced from seedlings of Digitalis purpurea, D. lanata, D. lutea, D.

Glycolate and glyoxylate metabolism by isolated peroxisomes or chloroplasts.

Chloroplasts, mitochondria, and peroxisomes from leaves were separated by isopycnic sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The peroxisomes converted glycolate-(14)C or glyoxylate-(14)C to glycine, and contained a glutamate: glyoxylate aminotransferase as indicated by an investigation of substrate specificity. The pH optimum for the aminotransferase was between 7.

A survey of plants for leaf peroxisomes.

Leaves of 10 plant species, 7 with photorespiration (spinach, sunflower, tobacco, pea, wheat, bean, and Swiss chard) and 3 without photorespiration (corn, sugarcane, and pigweed), were surveyed for peroxisomes. The distribution pattern for glycolate oxidase, glyoxylate reductase, catalase, and part of the malate dehydrogenase indicated that these enzymes exist together in this organelle. The peroxisomes were isolated at the interface between layers of 1.

Phytochemical Studies on the Tobacco Alkaloids. XII. Identification of gamma-Methylaminobutyraldehyde and its Precursor Role in Nicotine Biosynthesis.

gamma-Methylaminobutyraldehyde (N-methylpyrroline) labeled with (14)C was isolated from tobacco roots which had metabolized ornithine-2-(14)C. It was labeled most strongly 4 hours after adding ornithine-2-(14)C to the root, also labeled by putrescine-1,4-(14)C and methionine-(14)CH(3), and observed in the root but not in the aerial portions of tobacco plants. gamma-Methyl-aminobutyraldehyde when added back to the root was an efficient precursor of nicotine.