Hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis with disposable chemical pocket warmers

A case of chromomycosis in which hyperthermia proved effective is reported. The patient was a 56-year-old male bean curd maker who, without any previous history of minor trauma, developed on the extensor side of the left upper arm an eczematous lesion that underwent gradual radial expansion. The lesion showed a well-defined, 7×10 cm infiltrated erythematous plaque with the central area healed and, at the upper and lower borders, adherent scales and crusts on the surface. Histological examination revealed granulomatous changes in the dermis, as well as sclerotic cells within giant cells and microabscesses. On culturing,Fonsecaea pedrosoi was isolated. The patient was treated with disposable chemical pocket warmers, which were secured over the lesion with a rather tight elastic bandage, so that they kept the affected area warm for 24 hours a day. After a month of such hyperthermic treatment, the erythema and infiltration had decreased considerably, and microscopic examination and culture of the crusts both yielded negative results. Examination of biopsy specimens of the lesion after the third month showed that it had cicatrized. The treatment was stopped after 4 months, and no relapse occurred. We also summarize the published results of local hyperthermic treatment of chromomycosis in Japan.     

Cleavage of double helical DNA by Cu2+ ion in the presence of bisintercalator containing penta(ethylene glycol) connector chain

In designing new DNA recognizing and cleaving reagents, we introduce herein a bisacridine derivative (referred to as bisacridine) in which two acridine heterocycles are connected by a penta(ethylene glycol) bridging chain. This compound offers two possible functions: 1, stabilization of DNA bisacridine intercalator complex by metal ion. The penta(ethylene glycol) chain stabilizes metal ions binding to the phosphate site of DNA, where the penta(ethylene glycol) chain constitutes a part of a pseudomacrocyclic ligand for metal binding; and 2, enhancement of metal-assisted hydrolytic cleavage of DNA by means of a metal concentration effect by the pseudomacrocyclic ethereal chain. The binding isotherms of bisacridine with DNA in the presence of metal ions showed that the binding was mainly governed by the cation exchange reaction on the anionic DNA polymer chain, i.e., the exchange between metal ions and the cationic bisacridine. The bisacridine showed an increase DNA binding ability compared to quinacrine, the monoacridine counterpart, and caused an enhancement of DNA cleavage in the presence of Cu2+ ions. Additional experiments which included DNase 1 footprinting in the presence of bisacridine and the DNA cleavage by Cu2+/bisacridine using a 32P end-labelled DNA fragment, suggested that the Cu2(+)-assisted DNA cleavage sites in the presence of bisacridine were in reasonable overlap with the DNA binding sites of bisacridine.     

Inhibition of ovulation in PMSG/hCG-treated immature rats by rotenone, a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial oxidation

Immature Wistar rats were induced to ovulate by treatment with PMSG and hCG. Control animals ovulated 43.5 +/- 0.36 ova/rat. Intraperitoneal injection of rotenone doses of 0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg reduced the ovulation rate to 24.0 +/- 3.08, 8.0 +/- 0.88 and 1.5 +/- 0.44 ova/rat, respectively. The rotenone significantly reduced ovarian cytochrome oxidase activity and progesterone production, but not production of oestradiol or testosterone. Thyroxine treatment at a dose of 5 mg/kg s.c. reversed the rotenone inhibition of ovulation. The results suggest that an increase in mitochondrial respiration is an essential feature of the ovulation process in mammals.     

CD16+ lymphoblastic cell lines of crab-eating monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) shared U-5 antigen and expressed natural killer activity

The CD16+ lymphoblastic cell lines of crab-eating monkeys shared the U-5 antigen recognized by a monoclonal antibody. The CD16+U-5+ cell lines expressed high natural killer activity to K562 cells, whereas the CD16-U-5- control cell line had no significant natural killer activity. A possible involvement of the U-5 antigen in natural killer function was also suggested by reduction of the natural killer activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Japanese monkeys after treatment with U-5 monoclonal antibody and complement.     

Development of a series of monoclonal antibodies recognizing leukocyte differentiation antigens of Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata)

Six monoclonal antibodies to Japanese monkey leukocytes were developed. These monoclonal antibodies, designated the U series, cover most kinds of leukocytes (pan T cells, CD8+ cells, CD8+ subset and granulocytes, CD16+ cells, monocytes/macrophages), and should be useful in the immunological analysis of primate models, such as tissue transplants and virus-related diseases, in particular, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).     

Distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the brain and neurohypophysis of the lamprey,Lampetra japonica

Summary Distribution of molluscan cardio-excitatory tetrapeptide Phe—Met—Arg—Phe—NH₂ (FMRFamide) was determined by means of immunohistochemistry in the brain and neurohypophysis of the lamprey, Lampetra japonica. Many FMRFamide-like immunoreactive neurons were found in the periventricular nuclear region and in a region near the mammillary recess. Neurons situated in the former region were larger. The immunoreactive cell groups were shown to be located at sites differing from those of the AF-positive cell groups. The fibers of immunoreactive neurons extended in all directions within the brain and towards the spinal cord, some reaching the third ventricle and capillaries. Thus, FMRFamide-like immunoreactive peptides appear to function as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators and possibly also as neurohormones. FMRFamide-like immunoreactive material was rarely observed in the posterior neurohypophysis (neural lobe), but was noted to be present to a limited extent in the caudal part of the anterior neurohypophysis (median eminence). It would thus follow that FMRFamide-like immunoreactive neurons may not necessarily be related to the hypothalamo-neural lobe system, but may possibly be associated with the hypothalamoadenohypophysial system. The pineal body showed no FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity.     

Plasma thyroxine-binding proteins and thyroid hormone levels in primate species; is callithricidae thyroid hormone resistant?

Thyroxine(T4)-binding to serum proteins in primates; catarrhini, prosimiae, and platyrrhini were studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis T4 binding analysis. From the electrophoretic analysis, it was shown that thyroxine-binding proteins similar to human thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) and thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) were present in catarrhini and prosimiae species, but not in platyrrhini (callithricidae and cebidae). T4-binding analysis also revealed that catarrhini and prosimiae have a high affinity T4-binding protein similar to human TBG. The association constant (Ka) for T4 of the plasma proteins in these species was approximately 2.0 X 10(10) M-1. On the other hand, it was unable to demonstrate a high affinity binding site for T4 in the plasma of platyrrhini species. Both the total and free thyroid hormone concentrations in catarrhini and prosimiae were similar to those in human. Total T4 in cebidae, one of the platyrrhini species, was extremely low. Among 8 animals examined, T4 in 6 was undetectable by radioimmunoassay and the mean T4 of the other two was 2.8 micrograms/dl. However, free thyroid hormone concentrations were similar to those in human. In callithricidae, another platyrrhini species, T4 in plasma was 6.90 +/- 2.11, which is comparable to the level in normal human subjects. However, in this species, high-affinity T4-binding protein was lacking and free thyroid hormone concentrations were extremely high (most were higher than the assay limit). Although the thyroid function of callithricidae remains to be studied, it will be interesting if callithricidae is resistant to thyroid hormone action.     

Changes in membrane constituents and chemiluminescence in vitamin E-deficient red blood cells induced by the xanthine oxidase reaction

The oxidation of vitamin E-deficient rat red blood cells (RBCs) induced by the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase (HX-XOD) system has been performed in an aqueous suspension. The generation of chemiluminescence and the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were observed initially and were followed by hemolysis. Interestingly, the total counts of chemiluminescence were closely related to the amount of TBARS. The predominant change of membrane proteins induced by the reaction was the depletion of spectrin bands in gel electrophoresis. When RBC ghosts were oxidized with HX-XOD, the sulfhydryl (SH) groups of membrane proteins decreased at an early stage of the incubation, which was coincident with the above protein alteration. Membrane alpha-tocopherol suppressed not only the formation of TBARS but also chemiluminescence and hemolysis; nevertheless, it did not inhibit the protein damage and the loss of SH groups. Moreover, it was concluded that the chemiluminescence observed during the oxidation of RBC membranes was associated mainly with the peroxidation of lipids and only to a minor extent with the oxidation of proteins.     

Effect of some essential amino acid deficiency in the medium on the action of insulin on primary cultured hepatocytes of rats. Hepatocytes do not respond to insulin in some essential amino acid-deficient medium

1. The effects of insulin, glucagon and dexamethasone on the amino acid consumption by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were studied in a medium containing all essential amino acids or in those deficient in some essential or nonessential amino acids. 2. The cells which were cultured in a medium containing all the essential amino acids responded to insulin by enhancing the consumption of amino acids and augmenting protein synthesis. 3. However, the cells did not respond to insulin significantly when they were cultured in a medium deficient in lysine or some other essential amino acids. 4. The results suggest that some essential amino acid deficiency impairs the transmission of the signal of insulin to the site of the metabolic changes induced by the hormone.