Changes in urinary thromboxane level in man during cardiopulmonary bypass: effect of thromboxane on renal tubules

ONO-3708, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) antagonist, was administered at a dose of 2 micrograms/kg/min by a double blind method as compared with inactive placebo during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedure to study the changes of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) levels in plasma and urine and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) level in urine. TXB2 levels in plasma and urine increased significantly (P less than 0.01) during CPB in the patients given ONO-3708 (ONO-3708 group) and in those given placebo (placebo group). The plasma TXB2 level as expected from the urinary TXB2 level was higher than the measured plasma TXB2 level showing increases in TXB2 originating from the kidney. The urinary NAG level, increased significantly (P less than 0.01) during CPB the NAG level in ONO-3708 group was significantly low as compared to placebo group. The levels of TXB2 in plasma and urine in ONO-3708 group were not different from those of the patients receiving placebo, indicating that ONO-3708 does not have any effect on TXA2 production. We concluded that the elevation of urinary TXB2 level might be due to increased TXA2 production in the kidney under hypoxic condition induced by hypotension and lowered perfusion during CPB. Furthermore, the increased production of TXA2 appears to suppress the functions of the renal proximal tubules.     

BACTERIAL OXIDATION OF DIPICOLINIC ACID I. : Isolation of Microorganisms, Their Culture Conditions, and End Products.

Arima, Kei (University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan) and Yasuo Kobayashi. Bacterial oxidation of dipicolinic acid. I. Isolation of microorganisms, their culture conditions, and end products. J. Bacteriol. 84:759-764. 1962.-In a study of the metabolic pathway(s) of dipicolinic acid (DPA) in microorganisms, 436 strains of soil microorganisms were isolated by use of an enrichment culture technique. Most of them were bacteria, and one of them, Achromobacter, which had the strongest DPA-oxidizing activity, was used for the following experiments. In DPA-free medium, the enzymes which oxidize DPA were not produced. The best culture condition for enzyme production and cell growth was: Nutrient Broth supplemented with 0.1% DPA, 30 C, and 20 hr of shake culture. End products were oxalic acid, NH(3), and CO(2). Oxalic acid was not oxidized further by this bacterium. The over-all reaction equation of DPA oxidation was determined.     

Crystallization and positional specificity of hydroperoxidation of Fusarium lipoxygenase.

A lipoxygenase obtained from the fungus Fusarium oxysporum was purified and crystallized. Using the purified enzyme, the positional specificity of linoleate peroxidation was studied. Linoleate hydroperoxides were converted into the corresponding trimethylsilyl derivative by reduction, catalytic hydrogenation and treatment with hexamethyldisilazane/trimethylchlorosilane/pyridine and then analyzed by combined gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fusarium lipoxygenase was found to produce 9- or 13-hydroperoxy-octadecadienoates from linoleate. The ratio of 9- to 13-hydroperoxides produced by the enzyme was also determined by high performance liquid chromatography of their methyl esters. When the enzymic reaction proceeded at pH 9.0 and 12.0, the ratio of 9- to 13-hydroperoxide isomers was 70 : 30 and 56 : 44, respectively. With the use of the heavy isotope of oxygen (18O2), atoms of oxygen introduced into hydroperoxides were found to be derived from the gaseous phase and not from the aqueous phase.     

Regular structures on the microvillar surface membrane of ileal epithelial cells in suckling rat intestine

Freeze-fracture deep-etch studies were done to examine regular patterns of surface membrane particles in the suckling rat ileal epithelium by using quick-freezing method. In addition to the presence on the luminal surfaces of well-developed endocytic complexes, latticed particles were consistently observed on almost the entire apical membrane between microvilli and frequently on the microvilli. These particles seemed to be partly integrated in the outer half layer of membranes. After rinsing with phosphate-buffered saline, patterns on the microvilli appeared to be parallel circle lines rather than latticed particles found in fresh preparations. Filipin treatment showed the presence of filipin-sterol complexes on most of the particle-covered membrane areas except small tubules and vesicles. Possibilities were suggested that these latticed particles were transferred to the apical surface along the outer half layer of membranes, and released or secreted into the intestinal lumen.     

Influence of Agar on the Morphology and Pigmentation of Streptomycetes

The effect of various agar preparations in a chemically defined medium on promoting the development of taxonomic characteristics of streptomycetes was studied. Various agar products gave different results. Agar purified to a certain extent was favorable for good, constant development of such characteristics. The presence of certain metals played a great role in this domain. Agar purified to a high degree may give poor results unless supplemented with the proper metals. Recommendations were made for the standardization of agar media used for the study of characteristics of streptomycetes.     

Determination of collagen band positions on polyacrylamide gel without staining

Protein band positions on a slab polyacrylamide gel were determined without staining, by blotting the bands onto a nitrocellulose membrane which was then stained to visualize the electrophoretic pattern. The unfixed, unstained bands were cut from the gel according to the copy pattern placed underneath the slab gel. Collagen alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains were separately extracted from the gel using this procedure.