Enhancement of Flowering by Acetic Acid Bacteria-oxidized Products in Pharbitis Seedlings

When seedlings of Pharbitis nil Chois., strain Shifukurin weregrown in a medium containing acetic acid bacteria-oxidized ethanol(AABOE) or acetic acid bacteria-oxidized methanol (AABOM), 100%flowering was induced by exposure to a single dark period of9.5 to 10.5 hr, while this regime induced little or no floweringin control plants. When the plants were grown in water containingthe freeze-dried substance from an AABOE solution, floweringwas also enhanced. Vegetative growth was considerably suppressedby these fermented alcohols and by the freeze-dried substancefrom an AABOE solution. However, the freeze-dried substancefrom the AABOM solution had no effect on either flowering orvegetative growth. (Received May 13, 1981; Accepted August 21, 1981)     

Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to 1-bromopropane by means of urinalysis for 1-bromopropane and bromide ion

The purposes of the present study are (1) to develop a sensitive analytical method to measure 1-bromopropane (1-BP) in urine, (2) to examine if 1-BP or bromide ion (Br) in urine is a useful biomarker of exposure to 1-BP, and (3) to identify the lowest 1-BP exposure concentration the method thus established can biomonitor. A factory survey was carried out on Friday, and 33 workers (all men) in cleaning and painting workshops participated; each worker was equipped with a diffusive sampler (carbon cloth KF-1500 as an adsorbent) to monitor 1-BP vapour for an 8-h shift, and offered a urine sample at the end of the shift for measurement of 1-BP and Br in urine. In addition, 10 non-exposed men offered urine samples as controls. The performance of the carbon cloth diffusive sampler was examined to confirm that the sampler is suitable for monitoring time-weighted average 1-BP vapour exposure. A head-space GC technique was employed for analysis of 1-BP in urine, whereas Br in urine was analysed by ECD-GC after derivatization to methyl bromide. The workers were exposed to vapours of seven other solvents (i.e. toluene, xylenes, ethylbenzene, acetone, etc.) in addition to 1-BP vapour; the 1-BP vapour concentration was 1.4 ppm as GM and 28 ppm as the maximum. Multiple regression analysis however showed that 1-BP was the only variable that influenced urinary 1-BP significantly. There was a close correlation between 1-BP in urine and 1-BP in air; the correlation coefficient (r) was >0.9 with a narrow variation range, and the regression line passed very close to the origin so that 2 ppm 1-BP exposure can be readily biomonitored. The correlation of Br in urine with 1-BP in air was also significant, but the r (about 0.7) was smaller than that for 1-BP, and the background Br level was also substantial (about 8 mg l^-1). Thus, it was concluded that 1-BP in end-of-shift urine is a reliable biomarker of occupational exposure to 1-BP vapour, and that Br in urine is less reliable.     

Age-related changes of the branched-chain fatty acid concentration in rat skin surface lipid.

1. Age-related change of the branched-chain fatty acid distribution in rat skin surface lipid was studied for 24 months. 2. The proportion of even carbon number iso-acid increased from infancy to month 5 and thereafter decreased with advancing age toward senescence. 3. Concentration of odd carbon number iso-acid depicted a similar shape of time course, but with a lesser magnitude and a peak value at month 1. 4. Anteiso- fatty acid reached the plateau level at month 5 and remained roughly constant through maturity to senescence.     

Optically Active Compounds Derived from Salicylaldehyde and Pyridoxal: Syntheses and Their Chelate Formation Properties in the Interaction with α-Amino Acid

Synthesis of chiral compounds derived from salicylaldehyde and pyridoxal was carried out. In aqueous media containing copper ion, these compounds were analyzed to form Schiff base copper chelate spontaneously with α-amino acid. This complex formation process was reversed by the addition of EDTA. Applicabilities of the compounds to the resolution of α-amino acids are discussed.     

Morphology and molecular phylogeny ofTretopileus sphaerophorus, a synnematous hyphomycete with basidiomycetous affinities

Tretopileus sphaerophorus, a synnematous hyphomycete with basidiomycetous affinities was newly isolated from the decaying petiole and peduncle ofCocos nucifera collected in Depok, Indonesia. The species produced first a bulbil as a propagule on the top of a synnema. After the bulbil had fallen, the synnema proliferated about seven times to produce new bulbils, each time making conspicuous nodes at the upper part. By careful morphological observation, clamp connections were confirmed on the hyphae in the specimens and culture. In culture, each hyphal cell with or without a clamp was found to be dikaryotic by DAPI nuclear staining. Germination of the bulbils occurred first from projecting hyphal tips on their upper surface, which have been treated as germ pores. The inner structure of the bulbils, the hyaline mucus of the bulbils, and conidium-like hyphal fragments were also examined. Phylogenetically,T. sphaerophorus was inferred to be related to the Aphyllophorales based on the nuclear encoded small subunit (18S) rDNA using the homology search system (FASTA) and the neighbour-joining method. Part 10 in a series on the taxonomy of synnematous fungi.     

Importance of methodology in the evaluation of renal mononuclear phagocytes and analysis of a model of experimental nephritis with Shp1 conditional knockout mice

Tissue resident mononuclear phagocytes (Mophs), comprising monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), play important roles under physiological and pathological conditions. The presence of these cells in the kidney has been known for decades, and studies of renal Mophs (rMophs) are currently underway. Since no unified procedure has been identified to isolate rMophs, results of flow cytometric analysis of rMophs have been inconsistent among studies. We therefore first evaluated a preparative method for rMophs using collagenous digestion. The yield of rMophs greatly increased after the collagenase digestion. In particular, F4/80^high rMophs, which were positive for CD11c, a specific marker of DCs, dramatically increased. In addition, since neutrophils are sometimes mixed among rMophs in the analysis of flow cytometry, we established a gating strategy for eliminating neutrophils. To determine the contribution of rMophs to the development of autoimmune nephritis, we analyzed an experimental model of autoimmune nephritis that was applied to Shp1 conditional knockout mice (Shp1 CKO). This knockout strain is generated by crossing a mouse line carrying floxed Shp1 allele to mice expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the CD11c promoter. Shp1 CKO therefore specifically lack Shp1 in cells expressing CD11c. As a result, Shp1 CKO were susceptible to that experimental glomerulonephritis and F4/80^high rMophs of Shp1 CKO increased dramatically. In conclusion, our preparative methods for collagenase digestion and gating strategy for neutrophils are necessary for the analysis of rMophs, and Shp1 suppresses the development of autoimmune nephritis through the control of rMophs.     

Circulating immune complexes in the serum of diabetes mellitus in childhood by a modified 125I-C1q binding test.

The 125I-C1q binding test for the detection of soluble immune complexes in native unheated human serum was applied to the study of sera from 52 patients with diabetes mellitus in childhood. This radiolabeled C1q binding test is more sensitive and reproducible among the various methods proposed for the detection of immune complexes. The 125I-C1q binding activity in 52 sera from diabetes mellitus in childhood was 9.47 +/- 0.36% compared to 6.94 +/- 0.74% in normal controls. 125I-C1q binding values in diabetes mellitus in childhood were significantly higher than normal controls. Slight high values were seen in 3 patients with positive anti-DNA-antibodies in diabetes mellitus in childhood. 125I-C1q binding was not significantly increased in patients with positive antithyroid antibodies and insulin antibodies. There was no significant correlation between the duration of diabetes and 125I-C1q binding activity.