Immune response induced by live attenuated varicella vaccine and short term follow-up on immunity of the vaccinated children

Live attenuated varicella vaccine (Oka strain, 500 to 750 PFU) was inoculated into 234 children with various underlying diseases. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) specific immune adherence hemagglutination antibody developed in 95% of initially seronegative subjects. VZV specific cellular immune responses were detected in 91% of subjects within 6 weeks after vaccination. A preliminary survey of 46 vaccinated normal-risk subjects during the first and the third year revealed excellent protection with the exception of one case who had not shown any antibody response at the fourth week.     

Cell-Free Synthesis of a Putative Precursor of Polygalacturonase in Tomato Fruits

By using a monospecific anti-polygalacturonase-2 antibody, a54K-dalton polypeptide was detected in in vitro translationproducts by a wheat germ cell-free translation system programmedwith polyadenylated RNA from ripe tomato pericarp tissue. Thisputative precursor of polygalacturonase was about 9K daltonslarger in molecular weight than polygalacturonase-2. (Received December 12, 1983; Accepted May 17, 1984)     

Effects of polyamines on the activities of Escherichia coli ribonuclease I and II.

The effects of polyamines on the breakdown of synthetic polynucleotides [poly(A), poly(C), and poly(U)] by E. coli ribonuclease I [ribonucleate 3'-oligonucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.23] and ribonuclease II [EC 3.1.4.1] have been studied. The degradation of poly(C) by RNase II was stimulated by spermine and spermidine, while that of poly(A) by RNase II was not affected by polyamines. Under our standard experimental conditions, the breakdown of poly(U) by RNase II was inhibited slightly by polyamines. The stimulatory effect of spermine and spermidine on the breakdown of poly(C) occurred in the absence of monovalent cations but not in the absence of divalent cations. When polyamines were used as a stimulant of RNase II, the ratio of poly(C) degradation to poly(U) degradation was greater in the presence of inhibitors such as poly(G) than in their absence. Although the breakdown of all synthetic polynucleotides by RNase I was stimulated by polyamines, the degree of stimulation by polyamines was in the order poly(C)greater than poly(A)(see text)poly(U). However, the difference in degree of stimulation among polynucleotides decreased as monovalent cation concentration was increased.     

Studies on the restoration of the activities of Ribonucleases by polyamines in the presence of various ribonuclease inhibitors.

The effect of polyamines on ribonucleases in the presence of various inhibitors (poly(G), heparin, and rat liver RNase inhibitor) has been studied. Bovine pancreatic RNas A and a ribonuclease from horse submaxillary gland (RNase HS) were inhibited by the inhibitors, but RNase T1 and RNase M were not inhibited. Polyamines were found to restore the activites of RNase A and RNase HS inhibited by poly(G) or heparin but not those activities inhibited by rat liver RNase inhibitor. When poly(U) and poly(C) were used as substrates, the inhibitory effects of poly(G) and heparin were greater with poly(U) than poly(C) as a substrate. However, when poly(C) was used as a substrate in the presence of either of the above inhibitors, the restoration of RNase activity by sperimine was more efficient. In fact, a stimulatory effect was observed. From the double-reciprocal plots, it was concluded that polyamines restored the activiities of RNases by increasing the availability of the substrate and enzyme to each other. The restoration of enzyme activity by polyamines occurred through the binding of the polyamines to the inhibitor and the subsequent release of enzyme from the inhibitor.     

Action spectra for the light inhibition of flowering and its reversal inLemna paucicostata T-101

Lemna paucicostata Hegelm. T-101, a short-day plant, flowers when plants preirradiated with red light (R) for 24 h are subjected to inductive darkness for 72 h followed by two short-day cycles (6 h R+ 18 h dark). However, flowering is inhibited by blue-or far-red-light pulses applied at the beginning of the inductive dark period. These inhibitory light effects are fully reversible by a R pulse. The action spectra for the inhibitory light effect and for its reversal show that the light pulses act exclusively through phytochrome. It is concluded that a low level of Pfr at the beginning of the inductive dark period prevents flowering.Abbreviations R red (light) - B blue (light) - FR far-red (light)     

Human pituitary corticotrophs: their amphophilic stainability and immunohistochemical characterization

Immunohistochemical characterization of the human pituitary beta(R) cells was investigated through the findings of the immunoreactivities with anti-porcine ACTH, -rat TSH, -rat FSH sera. Immunostained corticotrophs are oval or round in shape and localized in the anteromedial wedge. It is shown on the adjacent sections that they correspond to the beta(R) cells with amphophilic stainability with PAS-iron hematoxylin. In this wedge, amphophilic cells are preponderant, but PAS-positive thyrotrophs and gonadotrophs are not numerous. Amphophilic stainability varies in degree from cell to cell: One cell contains numerous medium-size of secretory granules weakly stained with iron hematoxylin and strongly with PAS in the PAS-positive cytoplasm, and the other cell is filled with big secretory granules intensively stained with iron hematoxylin and weakly with PAS. The immunostained TSH, LH and FSH cells are different from the beta(R) corticotrophs, because anti-ACTH serum never reacts to the TSH, LH and FSH cells in the two adjacent sections. LH and FSH reactivities are observed in the single cells. It is concluded that human corticotrophs are amphophilic beta(R) cells filled with secretory granules, and that they have quite a different appearance from the rat chromophobic stellate corticotrophs with a row arrangement of secretory granules along the plasma membrane.     

Effects of 2 water-soluble contrast media, meglumine iothalamate (Conray) and meglumine iocarmate (Dimer-X), on the electric activity of identifiable giant neurons of the African giant snail (Achatina fulica Ferussac)]

The influences of two water soluble contrast media, meglumine iothalamate and meglumine iocarmate, on the neuronal excitability and on the neuronal sensitivity to putative transmitters were examined in comparison with those of sucrose using two identifiable giant neurones of Achatina fulica Férussac (the TAN and the PON). A relatively low increase of osmotic pressure of the extracellular fluid, produced by the application of contrast media, reversed the Cl- dependent inhibition caused by a putative transmitter. The same increase of this osmotic pressure, however, did not influence the Cl- independent inhibition and the excitation of the neurone examined. The hyperpolarization of neuromembrane was caused by an increase of osmotic pressure of the extracellular fluid. Its relatively high increase was necessary to make spontaneous spike discharges disappear totally. All effects of the two contrast media, observed in this study, were due to the increase of osmotic pressure of the extracellular fluid ; no specific effect of the contrast media containing the iodine on the indicators used was observed.     

A sulfotransferase model: Covalent participation of a macrocyclic oxime in the hydrolysis of 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfate

The liberation of 2,4-dinitrophenolate ion from 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfate (DNPS) in aqueous organic solvent with 0.1 N sodium hydroxide was accelerated upon addition of an equimolar amount of Oxime-I (10-hydroxy-11-hydroxyimino[20]-paracyclophane) to the sulfate ester. Oxime-I was found to undergo covalent participation at the oxime group to afford oxime O-sulfonate. The rate acceleration with Oxime-I was larger than that with β-CD (cycloheptaamylose). The catalytic efficiency of Oxime-I has been ascribed primarily to the tighter inclusion of the substrate ester into the more hydrophobic Oxime-I cavity provided by the effective apolar paracyclophane skeleton, as well as to the greater nucleophilicity of the oxime group than of the hydroxyl group in β-CD. Consequently, Oxime-I may be considered as a conventional model for arylsulfatases and sulfotransferases, providing the effective binding process for the substrate.     

Radioimmunoassay for β-endorphin: Presence of immunoreactive “big-big” β-endorphin (“big” β-lipotropin) in human and rat pituitaries

A sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay for β-endorphin has been developed with an antiserum obtained in a rabbit immunized with β-endorphin contained in crude porcineACTH preparations. The minimal detectable quantity was 5 pg. The antiserum used reacted slightly with ovine β-lipotropin (5.5 %), but showed negligible cross-reactivity with other fragments of β-lipotropin, α-MSH and ACTH. Using this radioimmunoassay we have observed the presence of “big-big” β-endorphin (“big” β-lipotropin) with apparent molecular weights of 37,000 and 31,000 in human and rat pituitaries respectively, in addition to β-lipotropin and β-endorphin, by Sephadex gel-chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.