Biological characterization of gastric surface mucous cell line GSM06 from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.

We investigated the biological features of gastric surface mucous cell line GSM06, established from transgenic mice harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. GSM06 cells grew until confluent monolayers were formed at the permissive temperature (33 degrees C), showing that the cessation of cell growth may be due to contact inhibition. Moreover, the cells did not grow in a soft agar gel.

Liquid chromatographic-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric analysis of glycine conjugates and urinary isovalerylglycine in isovaleric acidemia.

n-Acetylglycine, n-propionylglycine, n-butyrylglycine, isobutyrylglycine, n-valerylglycine, isovalerylglycine, heptanoylglycine, phenylacetylglycine and isovalerylglucuronide were identified based on their liquid chromatographic-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectra (LC-APCI-MS). We were able to detect the presence of urinary isovalerylglycine in two cases of isovaleric acidemia using LC-APCI-MS. Membrane-filtered urine samples were injected into the LC-APCI-MS system in the negative-ion mode without any further pretreatment, and large amounts of isovalerylglycine were detected as the [M-H]- ion.

An electron microscopic study of the processes of nerve regeneration after lyophilized nerve homografting.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of the Schwann cell basal lamina in nerve regeneration. To achieve this goal, we observed the process of axonal regeneration within a lyophilized nerve graft, in which only the basal lamina of the Schwann cell persisted. Sciatic nerves were removed from rats and lyophilized to kill the Schwann cells and other components.

Two kinds of neutral serine proteinases in salted muscle of anchovy, Engraulis japonica.

Two kinds of proteinases, type-I and type-II, were purified or partially purified from salted muscle of anchovy, Engraulis japonica. Mol. wts.

An ultrastructural study of glomerular basement membrane in rheumatoid arthritis patients with urinary abnormalities.

We measured the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in 48 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with proteinuria and/or hematuria and studied its relationship to clinical features of RA. Ten cases with minor glomerular abnormalities, renal cancer, donor of renal transplantation, were studied as controls. Secondary glomerular diseases and hereditary thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) were excluded.

Clinical evaluation of newly developed CRT viewing station: CT reading and observer's performance.

The clinical performance of the new viewing station with six CRT monitors (17-inch, 1,024 x 1,280) was evaluated. In the primary interpretation of CT images, time measurements were carried out for eight radiologists. No significant differences in reading time existed between CRT and film in 3 of 4 readers in head CT series, and in 2 of 6 readers in body CT series.

MvaI polymorphism in the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene.

We report a rare polymorphism in the human proteolipid protein (PLP) gene. A synonymous mutation, 168 A-->G, was detected in exon 2 of the PLP gene. Mutations in this gene have been reported in some cases of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

Atypical presentation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) deficiency as status epilepticus.

A 23-year-old Japanese man presented with status epilepticus unresponsive to medication, respiratory failure, rhabdomyolysis, myoglobinuria, and irreversible renal failure. Muscle biopsy revealed type 1 fiber atrophy and an increased type 2C fibers (7%). His carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) I and II activities were 0.

Assessment of auditory and vestibular functions after vestibular neurectomy for Menière's disease.

Fourteen patients (12 Meniere's disease, one delayed endolymphatic hydrops and one labyrinthitis) suffering from intractable vertigo were treated with retrosigmoid vestibular neurectomy (RSVN) in our institute. Dizziness was controlled completely in all patients. Hearing was preserved in 91.

Ebselen, a seleno-organic compound, protects against ethanol-induced murine gastric mucosal injury in both in vivo and in vitro systems.

The inhibitory effect of the seleno-organic compound ebselen on ethanol-induced murine gastric mucosal injury was examined. In an in vivo study, absolute ethanol (50 microliters/mouse, oral) produced marked gastric mucosal necrosis along with hemorrhage or edema and elevations in both lipid peroxide and peptidoleukotriene levels in the fundic mucosa. Pretreatment with ebselen (30 and 100 mg/kg, oral) significantly prevented this gastric mucosal injury and, further, remarkably decreased the elevated lipid peroxide and peptidoleukotriene levels.

Alteration of ammonia and carnitine levels in short-term treatment with pivalic acid-containing prodrug.

We investigated the influence on mitochondrial functions in carnitine deficiency caused by short-term treatment of cefteram-pivoxil (CFTM-PI) which is one of pivaloyloxymethyl-esterified antibiotics in adult volunteers and diseased children. Administration of CFTM-PI caused hypocarnitinemia in all cases, and we observed a significant elevation of blood ammonia levels compared with those after its withdrawal in diseased children. A significant negative correlation was found between the levels of serum free carnitine and blood ammonia, and a positive correlation was observed between serum carnitine and blood glutamine levels in all adult samples and samples during administration in diseased children.

[A clinical and morphological study of thin basement membrane disease (TBMD)].

Among patients with minor glomerular abnormality detected by light microscopy, but without significant finding by immunofluorescent study, fifteen cases showing global thinning of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) when examined by electron microscopy were investigated as thin basement membrane disease (TBMD). Fourteen cases with a normal GBM thickness were selected as the control group. In the TBMD group, the mean width of the GBM, the distance between the cell membranes of the epithelial and endothelial cells, was 225 +/- 20 nm, whereas it was 354 +/- 42 nm in the control group.

Preparation and taste of certain glycosides of flavanones and of dihydrochalcones.

The 7-O-[2-O-(alpha-L-Rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-L-quinovoside] of naringenin and of hesperetin, and their dihydrochalcone (DHC) derivatives were synthesized by the method of Koenigs-Knorr (Ag2CO3 and quinoline). The reaction of TMS ethers of naringenin and of hesperetin with each of the alpha-acetofluoro derivatives of D-glucose, L-rhamnose, 2-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-L-rhamnose, and 2-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-D-glucose (neohesperidose), using boron trifluoride etherate as an activator, yielded coupling products which, after deprotection, gave naringenin 4'-O-beta-D-glucoside, naringenin 4'-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside, naringenin 4'-O-[2-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-alpha-L-rhamnoside], hesperetin 3'-O-[2-O-(alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-alpha-L-rhamnoside], and naringenin 4'-O-beta-neohesperidoside, respectively. Catalytic hydrogenation of these flavanones gave the corresponding DHC derivatives.

Synthesis and topical antiinflammatory and antiallergic activities of antioxidant o-aminophenol derivatives.

In order to develop novel compounds for topical use possessing antiallergic as well as antiinflammatory activities, a series of o-aminophenol derivatives bearing H1-antihistaminic structures were synthesized and their effects were investigated on lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates, antiinflammatory effection arachidonic acid- and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate-induced mouse ear edema and antiallergic effect on 48-h homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. Furthermore, the effects of these compounds on delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in mice were examined. Several N-monosubstituted amino-4-methylphenols were found to exert potent inhibitory activities in all of these assays.

Carnitine determination by an enzymatic cycling method with carnitine dehydrogenase.

We describe a highly sensitive and specific method for determining L-carnitine in serum by use of carnitine dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.

Monoclonal antibodies against human thrombomodulin whose epitope is located in epidermal growth factor-like domains.

Thrombomodulin (TM) on endothelial cells is a glycoprotein that functions as a cofactor for thrombin-catalyzed activation of protein C. The structural requirement for thrombin binding and cofactor activity were investigated using monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) against TM and site-directed mutagenesis of recombinant human soluble TM (rsTM). Results showed that moAb 2A2 inhibited thrombin binding to rsTM and also abolished its functions as a cofactor in thrombin-catalyzed activation of protein C and as an anticoagulant by modifying thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting and platelet aggregation, moAb 1F2 did not affect its activity as an anticoagulant, but inhibited its cofactor activity, and moAb 10A3 did not inhibit either activity.

Establishment of gastric surface mucous cell lines from transgenic mice harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene.

We succeeded in establishing two gastric surface mucous cell lines (designated as GSM06 and GSM10), which produce periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)- and concanavalin A (Con A)-positive glycoproteins, from a primary culture of gastric fundic mucosal cells of adult transgenic mice harboring a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large T-antigen gene. At the permissive temperature (33 degrees C), GSM06 and GSM10 cells grew until confluent monolayers were formed and have now been in culture for more than 9 months with regular passaging. Con A-horseradish peroxidase- and PAS-positive staining indicated that these cells retain the characteristics of gastric surface mucous cells.