Rubredoxin was purified from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki. It was sequenced and some of its properties determined. Rubredoxin is composed of 52 amino acids. It is highly homologous to that from D. vulgaris Hildenborough. Its N-terminal methionyl residue is partially formylated. The millimolar absorption coefficients of the rubredoxin at 489 nm and 280 nm are 8.1 and 18.5, respectively, and the standard redox potential is +5 mV, which is slightly higher than those of other rubredoxins. Rubredoxin, as well as cytochrome c-553, was reduced with lactate by the action of lactate dehydrogenase of this organism, and the reaction was stimulated with 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone. It is suggested that rubredoxin, in collaboration with membranous quinone, functions as a natural electron carrier for cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase of this organism, whereas cytochrome c-553 plays the same role for periplasmic lactate dehydrogenase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

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Fundic adenomyomatosis bulged with the subserosal excessive fat of the gallbladder mimicking polypoid carcinoma: a case report with unusual imaging and morphological features.

This report describes a 41-year-old female who presented with adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder mimicking polypoid carcinoma, on the diagnostic imaging findings and revealing unusual histologic features for such a localized adenomyomatosis. The mass was located on the gallbladder liver-side wall at the fundus and papillary hyperechoic growth showed no clear ultrasonographic features of adenomyomatosis. The patient underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a tentative diagnosis of superficial polypoid carcinoma. Histologically, the tumor bulged due to subserosal excessive fat tissue.

Adenomyoma↗

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Primary sequence of a dimeric bacterial haemoglobin from Vitreoscilla.

Vitreoscilla, a filamentous bacterium in the Beggiatoa family, synthesizes a soluble haem-protein which has two identical subunits of relative molecular mass 15,775 and two b haems per molecule. It is synthesized in relatively large quantities when the organism, a strict aerobe, is grown under hypoxic conditions. It forms a relatively stable oxygenated form which is spectrally similar to oxymyoglobin (oxyHb) and oxyhaemoglobin (oxyHb). The amino acid sequence of this protein has been determined and aligned to fit the helical regions of several animal and plant globins. This alignment is consistent with its being a structural homologue of the eucaryotic haemoglobins although it diverged from the others in the N-terminal region and may lack an A-helix. It showed the maximum sequence homology (24%) with lupin leghaemoglobin (Lb). Vitreoscilla Hb is the first bacterial haemoglobin to be sequenced. It may function to enable the organism to survive in oxygen-limited environments by acting as an oxygen storage-trap or to facilitate oxygen diffusion.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

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Olfactory neuroblastoma as a second malignant neoplasm in a patient previously treated for childhood acute leukemia.

Various kinds of second malignant neoplasms after sucessful treatment for childhood acute leukemia have been reported. The authors describe an unusual case of an olfactory neuroblastoma in a patient previously treated for childhood acute leukemia including autologous bone marrow transplantation. The prophylactic cranial irradiation and the total body irradiation during autologous bone marrow transplantation may have induced the development of their patient's olfactory neuroblastoma. Although a second primary olfactory olfactory neuroblastoma is rare is rare, it should be added to the list of second malignant neoplasms in the sinonasal region.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

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Spontaneous and agonist-induced contractions and endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortae from SHRSP and WKY rats under various levels of passive force.

1. The influence of the passive force on the contraction and endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortae of normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were compared. 2. Force changes of endothelium-intact and -removed preparations were measured isometrically by a force-displacement transducer. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was observed by applying acetylcholine to the preparation precontracted in the presence of 5 x 10(-7) mol/L noradrenaline. 3. The preparations showed spontaneously developed tension (tone) that increased with the increase in the passive force. The effect of passive force was greater in preparations from SHRSP. Contraction initiated by noradrenaline was also increased by passive force up to 30 mN, then showed a tendency to decrease. 4. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was depressed as the passive force was increased. Preparations from SHRSP showed impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation and were influenced by passive force to a lesser degree when compared with preparations from WKY rats. 5. Relaxation by sodium nitroprusside was influenced by passive force to a much lesser extent than that by acetylcholine. 6. Indomethacin potentiated endothelium-dependent relaxation and blocked the effect of passive force in both preparations. 7. The difference in relaxation and the effect of passive force is primarily caused by the difference in the release of endothelium-derived contracting factor, which is thought to be a product of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway of the arachidonic acid cascade.

Acetylcholine↗

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Antitumor effect of murine colon carcinoma cells retrovirally transduced with interleukin-4 and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor genes.

We have investigated the antitumor effect of murine colon carcinoma cells developed to produce cytokines. Retrovirally transduced cells were inoculated into syngeneic mice, and their survivals were examined. Inoculation of interleukin-4 (IL-4)- or granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-producing cells alone did not affect the survival of the mice. In the tumors derived from an admixture of IL-4 and GM-CSF producers, however, regression developed spontaneously, and prolonged survival of the challenged mice was consequently observed. Histological examination revealed predominant infiltration of neutrophils around the tumor of a mixed population of IL-4 and GM-CSF producers.

Animals↗

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Is it possible to differentiate between choledochal cyst and congenital biliary atresia (type I cyst) by antenatal ultrasonography?

Both choledochal cyst and congenital biliary atresia (type I cyst) may share the same ultrasonographic pattern. We report 2 cases which were shown to have cystic structures on the upper abdomen by antenatal ultrasonography. The size of the choledochal cyst found at 24 weeks' gestation increased steadily as gestational age advanced. But the size of the cyst in congenital biliary atresia found at 29 weeks' gestation remained unchanged throughout the remaining pregnancy. Cyst enlargement, therefore, may suggest the possibility of a choledochal cyst.

Adult↗

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A longitudinal study of some physiological parameters and autogenic training.

Physiological parameters were studied over 4.5 months in normal high-school girls. One group frequently practised autogenic training (AT) whereas the other (control) did not. After 4.5 months the physiology of the AT, but not the control group had changed to some extent. The mean increase in finger skin temperature in the final session was significantly greater in the AT group than in the control group, especially in subjects who experienced hand warmth during AT. No significant differenced between groups were apparent for finger blood flow, but within the AT group the girls who experienced hand warmth showed a significantly greater blood flow than those who did not experience hand warmth. The electroencephalogram (EEG) of the AT group showed significantly more 'slow' (delta and theta) and less fast (alpha and beta) activity than at the beginning of the project. Microvibration (MV) of the thumb did not differ significantly in any comparisons. Both in the AT and control group means there were no significant differences between the periods before, during and after AT although significant changes did occur in some individuals of the AT group in the final session. In particular, in 3 of 14 AT subjects respiration rate decreases markedly even though weekly training had not included any breathing exercies. The results suggest that the effects of AT are predominantly long-term, resulting in gradual physiological changes that are maintained to some extent between practice periods.

Adolescent↗

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Pathophysiological role of angiotensin II type 2 receptor in cardiovascular and renal diseases.

Since the discovery of nonpeptidic ligands, the receptors for angiotensin (Ang) II have been classified into 2 subtypes (Ang II type 1 receptor [AT1-R] and Ang II type 2 receptor [AT2-R]). AT1-R mediates most of the cardiovascular actions of Ang II. AT2-R is expressed at very high levels in the developing fetus. Its expression is very low in the cardiovascular system of the adult. The expression of AT2-R can be modulated by pathological states associated with tissue remodeling or inflammation. In failing hearts or neointima formation after vascular injury, AT2-R is reexpressed in cells proliferating in interstitial regions or neointima and exerts an inhibitory effect on Ang II-induced mitogen signals or synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, resulting in attenuation of the tissue remodeling. An extreme form of cell growth inhibition ends in programmed cell death, and this process, which is initiated by the withdrawal of growth factors, is also enhanced by AT2-R. Cardiac myocyte- or vascular smooth muscle-specific mice that overexpress AT2-R display an inhibition of Ang II-induced chronotropic or pressor actions, suggesting the role of AT2-R on the activity of cardiac pacemaker cells and the maintenance of vascular resistance. AT2-R also activates the kinin/nitric oxide/cGMP system in the cardiovascular and renal systems, resulting in AT2-R-mediated cardioprotection, vasodilation, and pressure natriuresis. These effects, transmitted by AT2-R, are mainly exerted by stimulation of protein tyrosine or serine/threonine phosphatases in a Gi protein-dependent manner. The expression level of AT2-R is much higher in human hearts than in rodent hearts, and the AT2-R-mediated actions are likely enhanced, especially by clinical application of AT1-R antagonists. Thus, in this review, the regulation of AT2-R expression, its cellular localization, its pathological role in cardiovascular and kidney diseases, and pharmacotherapeutic effects of AT2-R stimulation are discussed.

Angiotensin II↗

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Experimental study on Meniere's disease.

Experimental hydrops caused by underabsorption of endolymphatic fluid is a model of remissional stage of Meniere's disease. In this study, another type of model, ie, hydrops caused by overproduction of endolymphatic fluid, was accomplished by applying various pressures into scala media through a micropipette via stria vascularis. This type of hydrops could be a model of attacks of Meniere's disease. By using two types of the model, effects of glycerol administration and of opening the endolymphatic sac were discussed.

Animals↗

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Relationship between body mass index and anti-hypertensive efficacy of doxazosin according to a survey of Japanese patients.

In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed a population of 101 hypertensive patients in Japan to determine the efficacy of the blood pressure lowering effect of alpha 1-blockers in relation to their body mass index (BMI). We found that doxazosin was frequently administered to obese hypertensive patients; many patients treated with doxazosin were taking concomitant medication. We also demonstrated that the higher the dose of doxazosin, the lower the ambulatory blood pressure measured in the out-patient clinic. Doxazosin showed a more favourable blood pressure lowering effect in patients with a higher BMI. These results suggest that anti-hypertensive drugs are useful when used in obese patients receiving multiple concomitant medications. These patients would normally be considered to show a poor response to anti-hypertensive treatment. Furthermore, we expect the alpha 1-blocker doxazosin to demonstrate a dose-dependent effect in obese patients with hypertension.

Adult↗

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Hb Kurosaki [alpha 7(A5)Lys-->Glu]: a new alpha chain variant found in a Japanese woman.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of serum p53 antibodies in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathologic features and tumor markers.

The significance of serum p53-Abs in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was determined. Examination of clinicopathological features and assessment of tumor marker sensitivities of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) and CYFRA21-1 were performed. Thirty-three (58%) of 57 patients were positive for serum p53-Abs, however, no relation with cancer progression existed. Fourteen of the 33 sero-positive patients revealed normal levels of all tumor markers tested. Thus, serum p53-Abs appears to be a useful marker for the detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Differential efficacy of suicide gene therapy by herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase gene reflects the status of p53 gene in human esophageal cancer cells.

We examined the effect of herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase gene (HSV-TK)-mediated suicide gene therapy on human esophageal cancer. Two human lines, T.Tn cells which bears truncated p53 and TE2 cells with wild-type p53, were transduced with the HSV-TK gene and tested for their sensitivities to a prodrug, ganciclovir (GCV). The transduced cells, T.Tn/TK and TE2/TK, increased in vitro sensitivity to GCV compared with that of respective wild-type cells. However, the growth suppression of T.Tn/TK tumors induced by GCV was marginal in nude mice and the tumors regrew thereafter. In contrast, the growth of TE2/TK tumors was significantly inhibited by GCV and all the tumors disappeared. The status of the p53 gene of tumor cells thereby may influence the efficacy of the HSV-TK/GCV system.

Animals↗