Histochemical studies on urate oxidase in several mammals with special reference to uricolytic ability of primates

Summary Strong reactivity for urate oxidase was found in the liver parenchymal cells of the prosimians (i.e. the tree shrew, slow loris, potto and galago) as well as those of lower mammals. The liver parenchymal cells of the platyrrhine monkeys (i.e. the marmoset, owl monkey, squirrel monkey, capuchin monkey and spider monkey) were moderately positive. There was no preferential distribution of granular reaction products in zones of liver lobules of these species. The prosimians and platyrrhine monkeys seem to be uricolytic as lower mammals are. On the other hand, the old world monkeys (i.e. Java monkey and rhesus monkey) and the apes (i.e. the orang-utan and chimpanzee) were histochemically negative.     

Histochemical demonstration of O-glycosidically linked,type 3 based ABH antigens in human pancreas using lectin staining and glycosidase digestion procedures

Summary Histochemical analyses of the chemical structures of sugar sequences with or without blood group specificity were carried out by combined stepwise digestion of tissue sections with exo-and endoglycosidases and subsequent lectin stainings in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human pancreas. In acinar cells from blood group A or AB secretor individuals, sequential digestion with -N-acetylgalactosaminidase and -L-fucosidase imparted reactivity with peanut agglutinin (PNA) in cells reactive with Dolichos biflorus agglutinin as well as those with Ulex europaeus agglutinin I(UEA-I). Simple fucosidase digestion imparted the PNA reactivity only in UEA-I reactive cells. Sequential digestion with -galactosidase and fucosidase likewise liberated the PNA binding sites in Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin I-B₄ reactive cells from blood group B and AB secretors. Sialidase digestion liberated the PNA binding sites not only in acinar cells but also intercalated duct cells, islet cells of Langerhans and endothelial cells. The PNA reactivity obtained by these enzyme digestions was eliminted by endo--N-acetylgalactosaminidase (endo-GalNAcdase) digestion. Preexisting PNA affinity in acinar cells from nonsecretors was also susceptible to endo-GalNAcdase treatment. Following the endo-GalNAcdase digestion, fucosidase or sialidase digestion recovered the PNA reactivity in acinar cells from nonsecretors. These results show that ABH determinants carried on O-glycosidically linked type 3 chain (D-galactose-(1-3)-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine1-serine or threonine) are secreted in pancreatic acinar cells and suggest that product coded by the secretor gene is required for the complete conversion of type 3 precursor chains into H determinants.     

Tracheoplasty with palatal mucoperiosteal graft

A case of tracheal reconstruction with a palatal mucoperiosteal graft is reported. The patient is a 75-year-old woman who had the anterior wall of her trachea resected for invading thyroid carcinoma. Palatal mucoperiosteum, which is easy to handle, provided both the lining and supporting tissue for the trachea. Local neck skin was used for covering. This procedure proved very successful.     

Augmentation of the nostril splint for retaining the corrected contour of the cleft lip nose

Whatever method is used to correct the deformity of the cleft lip nose, it is important to maintain the corrected contour of the nose for a certain period postoperatively. For this purpose, moldable silicone rubber is used to add volume to a ready-made nostril splint. With this material it is easy to make a splint that fits the individual contour of the nostril. Clinical examples are presented.     

Role of three chitin synthase genes in the growth of Candida albicans.

The CHS2 and CHS3 genes of Candida albicans were disrupted. The double disruptant was still viable. Assessment of chitin and of calcofluor white resistance shows that CHS1 is responsible for septum formation and CHS3 is responsible for overall chitin synthesis otherwise. There were only small differences in virulence to immunocompromised mice of homozygous chs2 delta amd chs3 delta null mutants.     

Enzyme complex structure and location of enzymes in the phthalate degradative pathway in Rhodococcus erythropolis

A. SUEMORI, K. NAKAJIMA, R. KURANE AND Y. NAKAMURA. 1996. Rhodococcus erythropolis strain S1 formed enzymes essential to the degradation of phthalate when grown in phthalate-minimal medium. The reaction responsible for the dihydroxylation of the phthalate-benzene ring was concluded to be catalysed by membrane-associated phthalate 3,4-dioxygenase (PO). Of the other enzymes involved, 3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxyphthalate 3,4-dehydrogenase (PH) and 3,4-dihydroxyphthalate 2-decarboxylase (PC) appeared likely to be membrane-bound, while protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase appeared to be present in the cytoplasm. Based on the data, the membrane-bound PO and PH apparently form an enzyme complex, which is associated with the NADH-regenerating system.     

Effect of penicillin G on the electroporation of Rhodococcus rhodochrous CF222

M. SUNAIRI, N. IWABUCHI, K. MURAKAMI, F. WATANABE, Y. OGAWA, H. MUROOKA AND M. NAKAJIMA. 1996. Suitable conditions for the introduction of bacteriophage DNA into cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous CF222 by electroporation were established, and penicillin G was found to enhance the transfection frequency. When conditions optimal for the parental strain were applied to its colony-morphological mutants, different transfection frequencies were observed. Penicillin G enhanced the transfection frequency of smooth and mucoidal mutants but not of rough mutants.