Evidence for Acquisition in Nature of a Chromosomal 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid/(alpha)-Ketoglutarate Dioxygenase Gene by Different Burkholderia spp.

We characterized the gene required to initiate the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) by the soil bacterium Burkholderia sp. strain TFD6, which hybridized to the tfdA gene of the canonical 2,4-D catabolic plasmid pJP4 under low-stringency conditions. Cleavage of the ether bond of 2,4-D by cell extracts of TFD6 proceeded by an (alpha)-ketoglutarate-dependent reaction, characteristic of TfdA (F.

Chicken extract stimulates haemoglobin restoration in iron deficient rats.

Chicken essence is widely used as a traditional remedy for several ailments including anaemia. To test this claim for objective evidence, a series of experiments was carried out in anaemic rats by supplementing iron deficient diets with either liquid or lyophilised essence, which contains mainly protein and peptides (83 mg/ml) and free amino acids (3.1 mg/ml), very little iron (1 microgram/ml), and no fat.

Characterization of a chromosomally encoded 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid/alpha-ketoglutarate dioxygenase from Burkholderia sp. strain RASC.

The findings of previous studies indicate that the genes required for metabolism of the pesticide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) are typically encoded on broad-host-range plasmids. However, characterization of plasmid-cured strains of Burkholderia sp. strain RASC, as well as mutants obtained by transposon mutagenesis, suggested that the 2,4-D catabolic genes were located on the chromosome of this strain.

Inhibition of amyloid beta protein aggregation and neurotoxicity by rifampicin. Its possible function as a hydroxyl radical scavenger.

Aggregation of physiologically produced soluble amyloid beta protein (Abeta) to insoluble, neurotoxic fibrils is a crucial step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Aggregation studies with synthetic Abeta1-40 peptide by the thioflavin T fluorescence assay and electron microscopy and cytotoxicity assays using rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells showed that an antibiotic, rifampicin, and its derivatives, which possess a naphthohydroquinone or naphthoquinone structure, inhibited Abeta1-40 aggregation and neurotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner. Hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, and 1,4dihydroxynaphthalene, which represent partial structures of the aromatic chromophore of rifampicin derivatives, also inhibited A beta1 40 aggregation and neurotoxicity at comparable molar concentrations to rifampicin.

Self-setting hydroxyapatite cement as a carrier for bone-forming cells.

To investigate the feasibility of using self-setting hydroxyapatite cement as a carrier for marrow cells having a high osteogenic ability, a porous form of this cement was fabricated and combined with cultured marrow cells. Marrow cells were obtained from the femurs of a seven-week-old male Fischer 344 rat and cultured in Eagle's MEM containing 15% fetal bovine serum for ten days before being combined with the porous cement or with Interpore 200 hydroxyapatite as a control. The composites were subcutaneously implanted into syngeneic rats and harvested after six weeks.

Differential effects of fibronectin-derived oligopeptides on the attachment of rabbit lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Among the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-containing sequences that are known to be cell-binding domains of fibronectin, 500 migrograms/ml of Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) and Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser showed 100% inhibition of the attachment of cultured lens epithelial cells (TOTL-86 cells), when they were added to culture medium and coincubated with the cells for 24 h whereas RGD at concentrations of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 micrograms/ml had no such activity. After 48 h of cocultivation of 800, 400 or 200 micrograms/ml of RGDS with TOTL-86 cells, the percentage of floating cells was 100, 30.1 or 11.

Pathogenesis of ocular cytomegalovirus infection in the immunocompromised host.

Balb/C nude and C.B-17 SCID mice were inoculated with salivary gland passaged cytomegalovirus (SG-MCMV) intraperitoneally. Dissemination of the virus in the systemic and ocular tissues was studied by the direct immunofluorescence test, and the virus growth in each tissue was titrated in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography of carbonate apatites used for sintering.

Gas chromatography was employed to quasi-continuously determine the amount of carbon dioxide that evolved from carbonate apatite specimens during sintering. Assuming that the carbonate in the specimens decomposed to carbon dioxide on a mole-for-mole basis, the determination of the carbon dioxide evolved allowed for the determination of the amount of carbonate that remained in the specimens during different stages of sintering. Previously, this measurement could be carried out only after sintering was completed.

Full active baculovirus-expressed human monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 with the intact N-terminus.

The Sf-9 insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus integrated with a cDNA encoding human monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) produced three different MCP-1s, which were isolated by reverse-phase HPLC as 13kDa, 14kDa, and 15kDa bands on SDS-PAGE. The heterogeneity between these MCP-1s was ascribed to the different degree of O-glycosylation with Gal beta 1-3GalNAc beta 1-Ser/Thr, while the 13kDa was regarded as carbohydrate-free. The integrity of the N-termius was confirmed by the amino acid sequence analysis.

Ultrastructural changes of blood capillaries in patients with microvascular angina, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Blood capillary abnormalities accompanied by intramural small arterial lesions were reported in patients with microvascular angina (MVA), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We compared the ultrastructural changes of blood capillaries in myocardial biopsy samples from MVA, HCM, and DCM patients using electron microscopy and ultrastructural morphometry. Ten cross-sectioned views were selected from each patient at random, and the degree of cytoplasmic swelling of the endothelial cells was measured (transverse area of endothelial cell cytoplasm (E)/transverse area of the blood capillary (C)).

alpha-Tocopherol enhances the hypocholesterolemic action of sesamin in rats.

The effect of alpha-tocopherol on the hypocholesterolemic action of sesamin was examined in rats given a cholesterol-enriched diet. When different levels (0.05 and 0.

Effect of particle size of metastable calcium phosphates on mechanical strength of a novel self-setting bioactive calcium phosphate cement.

Resistance to compressive strength after setting of the calcium phosphate cement consisting of tetracalcium phosphate (TECP), dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD), and 40 wt/wt% of a synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) was tested. An equimolar mixture of the calcium phosphate powder containing DCPD (particle diameter [D] 0.52-3.

A novel skeletal drug delivery system using a self-setting calcium phosphate cement. 5. Drug release behavior from a heterogeneous drug-loaded cement containing an anticancer drug.

A novel drug delivery device based on a self-setting bioactive calcium phosphate cement formed from tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate has been developed and tested in vitro using the anticancer agent 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) as a model compound. X-ray diffraction results suggest that equimolar mixtures of the calcium phosphate salts were transformed into hydroxyapatite after being mixed with a dilute phosphoric acid solution, even in the presence of various amounts of 6-MP powder. The inclusion of 6-MP in the reaction mixture resulted in the formation of a homogeneous drug-containing cement.

[A case of sepsis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus aureus (MRSA) following retropubic prostatectomy].

Although severe infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a serious social problem in medical facilities, it is relatively uncommon in the urological field. It is supposed that MRSA in the urine is asymptomatic and MRSA urinary colonization is not likely to occur compared with the other Staphylococci. We report a case of sepsis caused by MRSA that occurred in the patient following retropubic prostatectomy.

Rifampicin prevents the aggregation and neurotoxicity of amyloid beta protein in vitro.

The aggregation and cerebral deposition of amyloid beta protein (A beta), which is a major component of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Inhibition of A beta aggregation would seem to be a promising strategy for the treatment of AD. Here, we show that rifampicin, which is an antibiotic widely used in the treatment of tuberculosis and leprosy, inhibited the aggregation and fibril formation of synthetic A beta 1-40 peptide in a dose-dependent manner at reasonable concentrations.

[Ocular murine cytomegalovirus infection in immunocompromised hosts].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) chorioretinitis is one of the commonest complications in immunocompromised hosts. However, the entire scope of ocular involvement during generalized CMV infection in immunocompromised hosts is yet to be elucidated. Balb/c nude mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with Smith strain of salivary gland passaged murine cytomegalovirus.

A novel skeletal drug delivery system using self-setting calcium phosphate cement. 2. Physicochemical properties and drug release rate of the cement-containing indomethacin.

A novel drug delivery device based on a self-setting bioactive cement formed from tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate has been developed and tested in vitro with indomethacin as a model drug. Equimolar mixtures of the calcium phosphate powders containing 2 and 5% of indomethacin were transformed into a hydroxyapatite after being mixed with a dilute phosphoric acid solution. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry results suggested that indomethacin transformed into an amorphous form in the pores of the cement matrix as it hardened.

Small vessel pathology and coronary hemodynamics in patients with microvascular angina.

We studied the ultrastructure of cardiac myocytes and small blood vessels obtained by endomyocardial biopsy from 21 patients with microvascular angina. Ischemic ST segment depression during atrial pacing was recognised in all the patients who had normal coronary arteriograms and biopsy tissues were examined by light and electron microscopy. In patients with microvascular angina, insufficient increases in coronary sinus blood flow and in myocardial oxygen consumption measured with a Webster's catheter were apparent during atrial pacing.

A novel skeletal drug-delivery system using self-setting calcium phosphate cement. 4. Effects of the mixing solution volume on the drug-release rate of heterogeneous aspirin-loaded cement.

The effect of the mixing solution volume was investigated on the in vitro drug-release rate of a novel drug-delivery device based on a self-setting bioactive calcium phosphate cement containing aspirin as a model drug. Equimolar mixtures of metastable calcium phosphate powders containing various proportions (3-40 w/w %) of seed hydroxyapatite crystals transformed into hydroxyapatite after being mixed with dilute phosphoric acid. The drug release from cement pellets in vitro into a 0.

A novel skeletal drug-delivery system using self-setting calcium phosphate cement. 3. Physicochemical properties and drug-release rate of bovine insulin and bovine albumin.

A novel drug-deliver device based on a self-setting bioactive cement formed from tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate has been developed and tested in vitro using bovine insulin and bovine albumin as model polypeptide drugs. Equimolar mixtures of the calcium phosphate powders containing bovine insulin and bovine albumin were transformed into a hydroxyapatite cement after being mixed with a dilute phosphoric acid solution. X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectra results suggested that the raw materials transformed into lower crystallinity of hydroxyapatite as it hardened.

Cloning and sequencing of a novel rat cytochrome P450 2B-encoding gene.

A novel rat P450 2B gene encoding cytochrome P450 2B15 was cloned and sequenced. The gene is separated into nine exons by eight introns. This gene structure is very similar to those of P450 2B1 and 2B2, except that the coding sequences of the gene are longer in the first and ninth exons than those of the P450 2B1 and 2B2 genes.

[Malignant lymphoma of the prostate--a case report].

We report a case of prostatic malignant lymphoma causing bilateral hydronephrosis. A 73-year-old man was referred to our department, suffering from urinary frequency and gross hematuria. The mild elevation of serum prostatic tumor markers made us suspect prostatic carcinoma.

Particle size effect of metastable calcium phosphates on crushing strength of self-setting bioactive calcium phosphate cement.

The resistance to crushing after a self-setting bioactive calcium phosphate cement, consisting of various particle sizes of tetracalcium phosphate (TECP), dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) and hydroxyapatite (HAP), had hardened was tested after setting at 37 degrees C, 100% RH. X-ray diffraction suggested that the cement containing fine particles of DCPD and TECP was completely transformed to HAP, but that containing larger particles was not. Since particle size of both DCPD and TECP affected the dissolution rate, the crystal growth of HAP during cement formation depended on the specific surface area (Sw) of the raw materials.

Influence of carbonate on sintering of apatites.

Sintering of carbonate apatite, prepared at 100 degrees C and pH 9.0 for 3 days, was studied by thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy. The sintering temperature, at which the linear thermal shrinkage of isostatically compacted specimens increased sharply, decreased in proportion to the amount of carbonate initially present in the apatite.