Characterization of Pseudomonas paucimobilis FP2001 which forms flagella depending upon the presence of rhamnose in liquid medium.

A bacterial strain FP2001 isolated from the exudate of land reclaimed for municipal waste was identified as Pseudomonas paucimobilis. Cells of strain FP2001 were mobile by means of polar monotrichous flagellum, only when rhamnose was added as a carbon source in the liquid medium. The replacement of rhamnose by arabinose, galactose, glucose or xylose did not lead to the formation of flagella.

Phenotypic and functional characterization of T-cell lines generated from colonoscopic biopsy specimens in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Intestinal T-cell lines were generated from lamina propria mononuclear cells isolated from colonoscopic biopsies in ulcerative colitis patients and controls. In both ulcerative colitis and controls, expanded cells were constituted largely by T-cell receptor alpha beta+, CD4+, CD45RA- (helper), and CD8+, CD11b- (cytotoxic) phenotypes. T-cell receptor V beta gene usage was not significantly changed after cell expansion and no difference was observed between ulcerative colitis and controls.

Adrenomedullin increases cyclic AMP more potently than CGRP and amylin in rat renal tubular basolateral membranes.

In rat renal tubular basolateral membranes, the potency to increase cAMP of adrenomedullin (AM), a novel vasorelaxant peptide originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma, was compared with those of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and amylin. Although all three peptides raised cAMP in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with a 4-fold increase at 10(-6)-10(-5) M, the EC50 value (10(-9) M) of AM was 100-fold smaller than those of CGRP and amylin. CGRP[8-37], an antagonist for CGRP receptors, attenuated cAMP elevation induced by these peptides with the essentially similar concentration-inhibition curves.

Inactivation of Lactobacillus bacteriophage PL-1 by microwave irradiation.

The effect of microwave irradiation on the survival of bacteriophage PL-1, which is specific for Lactobacillus casei, was studied using a commercial 2,450 MHz microwave oven. The phages were inactivated by microwave irradiation according to almost first-order reaction kinetics. The rate of phage inactivation was not affected by the difference in the continuous or intermittent irradiation, nor by the concentrations of phages used, but was affected by the volume of phage suspensions, which prevented the loss of generated heat.

Correlation of activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II with catecholamine secretion and tyrosine hydroxylase activation in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells.

We have investigated the activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. The activation was assayed as an increase in the Ca(2+)-independent (autonomous) activity of CaM kinase II, using the synthetic substrate Syntide-2. Incubation of cells with acetylcholine increased the Ca(2+)-independent activity in a time (20 sec to 5.

Impaired interleukin-2 production in active ulcerative colitis is reversed by calcium ionophore plus phorbol myristate acetate and related to altered intracellular Ca2+ responses.

Phytohemagglutin in (PHA)-induced IL-2 production in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) from patients with active UC (n = 24, n = 8, respectively) was significantly less than that in controls (n = 13, n = 8, respectively) and inactive patients (n = 11). In contrast, PBMC from inactive disease showed no significant difference when compared with the controls. Depressed IL-2 production in active UC was not reversed by the addition of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody plus phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), but was largely reversed by adding calcium ionophore plus PMA.

Effects of beta-adrenergic blockade on vasodepressor reaction in patients with vasodepressor syncope.

The mechanism of vasodepressor reaction induced by head-up tilt test in patients with vasodepressor syncope is not clearly understood. We hypothesized that an abnormal alteration of beta-adrenergic transmission could be involved in these patients. We measured plasma catecholamine concentration during tilt and density of beta-adrenoceptors and tested the effects of beta-adrenergic blockers in the prevention of the vasodepressor reaction in patients with vasodepressor syncope.

Pharmacologic evaluation of the renal handling of uric acid and oxypurines.

The effect of drugs that alter the renal tubular transport of urate in the renal excretion of the oxypurines, hypoxanthine (Hx) and xanthine (X), was used to analyze the tubular mechanisms involved in oxypurine excretion in normal subjects and in patients with idiopathic renal hypouricemia. In healthy subjects, administration of the drugs, benzbromarone (Bb) and probenecid (Pb), brought a marked uricosuric effect, but did not alter oxypurine excretion. One of 2 hypouricemic patients exhibited no uricosuric effects with Bb and the other showed a slight uricosuric effect with the drug.

Role of a conserved retinoic acid response element in rhombomere restriction of Hoxb-1.

After activation in mesoderm and neuroectoderm, expression of the Hoxb-1 gene is progressively restricted to rhombomere (r) 4 in the hindbrain. Analysis of the chick and mouse Hoxb-1 genes identified positive and negative regulatory regions that cooperate to mediate segment-restricted expression during rhombomere formation. An enhancer generates expression extending into r3 and r5, and a repressor limits this domain to r4.

A conserved retinoic acid response element required for early expression of the homeobox gene Hoxb-1.

Within the Hoxb homeobox gene complex, Hoxb-1 is the earliest member expressed in the mesoderm and neuroectoderm of primitive streak and presomite embryos, preceding rhombomere-restricted expression in the hindbrain. Ectopic exposure of embryos to retinoic acid alters spatial aspects of Hox gene expression patterns. However, the role of retinoids in regulating these genes during normal development is unclear.

Complete atrioventricular block during left heart catheterization.

A 75-year-old male underwent cardiac catheterization for frequent ventricular premature contractions and reduced left ventricular function. ECG on admission showed complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) and left anterior hemiblock. Right heart catheterization was performed uneventfully, but complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) occurred suddenly when a pig-tail catheter was inserted into the left ventricle.

B cell mitogenic activity of sea squirt antigen.

The activity of sea squirt antigen, one of the allergy-inducing substances for humans, on murine and human lymphocytes was studied in vitro. Sea squirt antigen stimulated normal mouse spleen cells to proliferate, as detected by [3H]-TdR incorporation, in a dose-dependent manner. The responder cells are B cells because the response was reduced by the treatment of spleen cells with anti-immunoglobulin antibody and complement and passing through a nylon wool column, but not with anti-Thy-1 antibody and complement.

Studies on the purine-pyrimidine metabolism (2)--Effects of sample preparation and diet on the concentrations of oxypurines in blood and urine.

The levels of pseudouridine (psi rd), uridine (Urd), hypoxanthine (Hyp), xanthine (Xan) and uric acid (UA) in both blood and urine samples were assayed by a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The evaluation of the sampling procedures showed that the levels of plasma oxypurines were overestimated by more than 15% for Hyp and 35% for Xan when heparinized plasma separation was delayed for 5 minutes after sampling. The fact that oxypurines levels of serum were significantly higher than those of plasma was also documented.

Expression of adhesion molecules and HLA-DR by macrophages and dendritic cells in aphthoid lesions of Crohn's disease: an immunocytochemical study.

The phenotypes and ultrastructure of macrophages and dendritic cells in aphthoid lesions of the colon were immunocytochemically observed in patients with Crohn's disease. Biopsy specimens were endoscopically obtained from both aphthoid and advanced lesions in Crohn's disease patients. Biopsy specimens obtained from patients with infectious colitis and from normal individuals served as controls.

The detection of residual ischemia and stenosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction with dobutamine stress echocardiography.

The aim of this study was to validate the usefulness of dobutamine stress echocardiography to detect residual ischemia and significant stenosis at the infarct zone in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Dobutamine stress echocardiography and stress thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography were performed on 40 consecutive patients 1 month after the onset of acute myocardial infarction. Dobutamine was infused incrementally, and wall motion score index at the infarct zone was calculated before and at peak dobutamine infusion.

Atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry associated with 2:1 infra-His conduction block during tachycardia in a patient with AV nodal triple pathways.

We report a patient with atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry in which a 2:1 infra-His conduction block was demonstrated during tachycardia. The electrocardiogram (ECG) at the time of attack showed two types of supraventricular tachycardias. The first type was a narrow QRS tachycardia associated with 1:1 AV conduction at a rate of 170 beats/minute.

Lidocaine increases the number of beta-adrenoceptors in neonatal rat cardiocytes in culture.

Some physiological functions of the heart are modulated through cardiac beta-adrenoceptors. In acute myocardial infarction, ventricular arrhythmias occur frequently and class I antiarrhythmic drugs such as lidocaine are often administered continuously over long period. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term treatment with lidocaine on cardiac beta-adrenoceptors.

C-type natriuretic peptide stimulates catecholamine synthesis through the accumulation of cyclic GMP in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells.

We examined the effects of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on cyclic GMP production and catecholamine synthesis in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. 1) CNP increased intracellular cyclic GMP content in a concentration-dependent manner (10-1000 nM). 2) The cyclic GMP production induced by 1 microM CNP reached a 200-fold increase, and the effect of CNP was most potent among the natriuretic peptide family.

Effect of low dose aspirin on augmented plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 activity in patients with permanent pacemakers.

To clarify the activity states of coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with a permanent pacemaker, we studied 29 patients more than 4 months after operation. They were divided into a single pacemaker lead group (S, n = 14) and a double lead group (D, n = 15). Prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) activity, and platelet aggregation were measured and compared to those in an age-matched control group (C, n = 7).

Effect of sustained release diltiazem (Diltiazem-R) in patients with stable effort angina.

Ca++-antagonist is effective not only for variant angina but also for effort angina. The effects of sustained release diltiazem (diltiazem-R) and beta 1-blocker (atenolol) on exercise tolerance were studied in seven patients with stable effort angina in a cross over trial. Diltiazem-R (100mg) or atenolol (50mg) was given once a day, each treatment period lasting for two weeks after a two-week control period.

Increase in intracellular calcium ion in smooth muscle cells induced by low-density lipoprotein.

It was investigated whether low-density lipoprotein (LDL) had effects on intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the smooth muscle cell (SMC). LDL promoted SMC proliferation and increased intracellular Ca2+ by a two-phase pattern, an initial peak and a following plateau. Each phase was suppressed by treatment with ryanodine or extracellular Ca(2+)-free buffer.

Pathogenetic mechanisms involved in mesangial interposition in IgA nephropathy.

To investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of mesangial interposition (MI) in IgA nephropathy, we examined renal biopsy samples from 20 patients with IgA nephropathy. Electron microscopic morphometric analysis showed that cytoplasmic protrusion of mesangial cells (MCs) into endothelial cells (ECs) or capillary lumina, and widening of the lamina rara interna (LRI) were significantly more prominent in glomeruli with MI than in those without. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that the ratio of positive endothelial staining with a polyclonal antibody against human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB was significantly higher in capillary loops with MI than in those without.

Comparison of dobutamine stress echocardiography and stress thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography for detecting coronary artery disease.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography and stress thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were compared for detecting coronary artery disease in 120 consecutive patients who underwent concomitant quantitative coronary angiography. The left ventricle was divided into anterior, inferior, and lateral regions. Wall motion or perfusion abnormalities observed within each region were classified as ischemia or fixed abnormality.