Biosynthesis of rat insulin-like growth factor II. I. Immunochemical demonstration of a approximately 20-kilodalton biosynthetic precursor of rat insulin-like growth factor II in metabolically labeled BRL-3A rat liver cells

BRL-3A rat liver cells synthesize mature 7484-dalton rat insulin-like growth factor II (rIGF-II) as a approximately 22-kDa precursor, presumably prepro-rIGF-II. In the present study, we have biosynthetically labeled intact BRL-3A cells with [35S]cysteine and immunoprecipitated cell lysates and media with antisera to rIGF-II. A approximately 20-kDa protein was identified in immunoprecipitates of cell lysates having properties consistent with pro-rIGF-II. The approximately 20-kDa protein is precipitated by immune sera but not by nonimmune serum. Its immunoprecipitation is specifically inhibited by unlabeled rIGF-II but not by insulin. It is not precipitated from labeled lysates of a subclone of BRL-3A cells (BRL-3A2) that does not synthesize rIGF-II. The approximately 20-kDa protein is rapidly labeled intracellularly (10 min) but is not detected in BRL-3A media. In pulse-chase experiments, radioactivity in the approximately 20-kDa protein disappears during the chase and appears, at later times, in specifically immunoprecipitated approximately 19-, approximately 10-, approximately 8-, and approximately 7-kDa proteins in media and, to a limited extent, intracellularly. A protein with electrophoretic mobility identical to that of the approximately 20-kDa protein observed in cell lysates is immunoprecipitated from 35S-proteins whose synthesis is directed by BRL-3A RNA in a reticulocyte lysate cell-free translation system supplemented with microsomal membranes, and presumably arises by cotranslational removal of the signal peptide from approximately 22-kDa prepro-rIGF-II. Processing of the approximately 20-kDa protein in intact BRL-3A cells to intermediate and mature rIGF-II species appears to occur at the time of secretion and/or shortly thereafter, with the different forms appearing at approximately the same time.     

Plant Reactions to Inoculation of Roots with Fungi and Bacteria

The potential of 120 isolates of fungi and bacteria from plant rhizospheres to interfere with plant development and growth was studied in greenhouse experiments. The pure cultured isolates were obtained from plant roots in the field and applied as suspensions to the roots of eight test plant species. 10–20% of the isolates caused distinct symptoms on shoots, growth retardations without other symptoms or growth promotions. Responses of treated plants ranged from death of plants soon after treatment to up to about 40% higher shoot fresh weight than in control plants. Two bacterial isolates induced strong reactions in most of the plant species tested while other isolates showed a more or less pronounced specificity by giving reactions in only some of the plant species tested.     

Kawasaki disease,or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome: report of seven cases in North America.

The clinical and laboratory findings in seven children with Kawasaki disease are reviewed. Four of the patients had the more complicated course that has characterized the cases diagnosed in North America. This suggests that the benign forms are often mistaken for other febrile illnesses. The patients were two girls and five boys ranging in age from 4 months to 7 years; six were Caucasian and one was a North American Indian. Fever, redness of the oral mucosa, an erythematous or scarlatiniform rash and cervical adenopathy were seen in all; six patients had the characteristic fingertip desquamation and nonexudative conjunctivitis. Cardiac involvement occurred in four patients, two of whom had coronary artery aneurysm or thrombosis. Arthritis or arthralgia was seen in six patients, and aseptic meningitis occurred in four. Of the three patients with jaundice two underwent laparotomy and excision of a hydropic gallbladder; one of them died from Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.     

Shoulder defect correction with the island latissimus dorsi flap

Reconstruction of normal shoulder contour is possible utilizing a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap at the end of a long neurovascular pedicle. The thoracodorsal vessels and their lateral divisions form the basis of the pedicle. The nerve in the pedicle is left intact if maintenance of muscle bulk is desired and sectioned if atrophy is preferred. The amount of muscle taken in conjunction with the skin island is determined by the nature of the defect to be corrected. The twin goals of a single-stage reconstruction and a satisfactory aesthetic result are achieved with this method.     

Germination of the chlamydospores of Candida albicans

Using a slide culture technique, it was determined unequivocally that the chlamydospore of Candida albicans does germinate. The germination was by way of a multiple-budding process which was associated mostly with young spores following their transfer to a fresh environment. It is concluded the chlamydospore of C. albicans is a reproductive cell with a transient viability.     

Reversible steps in the reaction of aldehydes with bacterial luciferase intermediates.

Aliphatic aldehydes of different chain lengths were found to differ in their reaction at 22 °C with the B. harveyi luciferase peroxyflavin intermediate. Although similar quantum yields were obtained in the luciferase reaction with the different chain-length aldehydes, the catalytic turnover rates differed. The kinetics of a reaction utilizing two aldehydes of different chain lengths can thus indicate the degree to which the aldehyde reaction is reversible. By such criteria the reactions of octanal and decanal were found to be readily reversible, while that of dodecanal was not. This conclusion was supported both by the effects of long-chain alcohols, which are competitive inhibitors, and by the secondary addition of hydroxylamine, an aldehyde trapping agent. The results are consistent with a model in which there are many intermediates along the reaction path. Since the reactions are monitored by decay of luminescence intensity, it is difficult to determine the position of the rate-determining step. For octanal and decanal the rate-limiting step could be at an early reversible stage of the reaction, but later for dodecanal, subsequent to a less reversible step, but still prior to the final irreversible step which populates the excited state.     

Luteal phase defects: a possible relationship between short hyperthermic phase and sporadic sexual behavior in women

Sporadic (less than regular weekly) coital activity is associated with a particular type of infertility—the short hyperthermic (luteal) phase. This preliminary report is the first suggestion that a reduced frequency of human sexual activity might, itself, be associated with subfertile reproductive function.