Enhancement of transpiration by ethylene is responsible for absence of internodal elongation in floating rice at low humidity

Internodal elongation in floating rice (Oryza sativa) is known to be enhanced by treatment with ethylene or gibberellic acid (GA3) at high relative humidity (RH). However, ethylene-induced internodal elongation is inhibited at low RH, while GA3-induced internodal elongation is hardly affected by humidity. We examined the effects of ethylene and GA3 on the rate of transpiration in stem segments incubated at 30% or 100% RH. Ethylene promoted the transpiration of stem segments at 30% RH, but not at 100% RH, while GA3 had little effect on transpiration at either 30% or 100% RH. We propose that the absence of ethylene-induced internodal elongation at low RH is due, at least in part, to ethylene-induced transpiration.     

Histochemistry of glycoconjugates in the nasolabial skin of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus, Artiodactyla, Mammalia) with special reference to glandular structures

The histochemistry of glycoconjugates in the nasolabial skin of the Japanese serow ( Capricornis crispus ) was studied by light microscopic histochemical methods, particularly lectin histochemistry. The eccrine glands present exhibited neutral and acidic glycoconjugates with different saccharide residues (alpha-L-fucose, beta-D-galactose, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, alpha-D-galactose and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid) especially in the cells of the secretory acini, the free surface of the collecting duct cells also showed distinct positive reactions with most of the histochemical methods. The thick epidermis of the nasolabial skin contained smaller amounts of glycoproteins. The results obtained are discussed with regard to possible functions of the glandular secretions. This substance mixture may particularly improve water retention on the skin surface, and protect against physical damage as well as microbial contamination. There seem to be no basic differences of muzzle functions between wild and domesticated bovine species.     

The primary structure of the subunit in Bacillus thermoamyloliquefaciens KP1071 molecular weight 540,000 homohexameric alpha-glucosidase II belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 31

The gene that coded for the subunit of an molecular weight (Mr) 540,000 homohexameric alpha-glucosidase II (alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.20) produced by Bacillus thermoamyloliquefaciens KP1071 (FERM-P8477) growing at 30 to 66 degrees C was expressed in Escherichia coli HB101. The resulting homohexameric enzyme had a half-life of 10 min at 80 degrees C. Its purification and characterization showed that the enzyme was identical with the native one except for the latter deleting 7 N-terminal residues found in the former. The primary sequence of the subunit with 787 residues and an Mr of 91,070 deduced from the gene was 24-34% identical to the corresponding sequences of 15 alpha-glucosidases in the glycosyl hydrolase family 31 from 14 eukaryotic origins and the archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus 98/2. From the sequence analysis by the neural network method of Rost and Sander [Rost, B. and Sander, C., Proteins: Struct. Funct. Genet., 19, 55-72 (1994)], we inferred that alpha-glucosidase II might make each subunit of 3 secondary structural regions, i.e., one N-terminal beta region, one central alpha/beta region with two catalytic residues Asp407 and Asp484, and one C-terminal beta region.     

Synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotide bearing 2'-S-alkyl residue and its effect on the duplex stability

2'-Deoxy-2'-S-hexyluridine derivative was synthesized from 2,2'-anhydrouridine and 1-hexanethiol and incorporated into an oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The thermal stability of the duplexes formed by the 2'-S-hexyl modified ODN with either the complementary DNA or RNA strand was decreased compared to the unmodified counterparts.     

Analysis of soluble interleukin 6 receptor in cerebrospinal fluid in inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions

The objective of this study was to investigate the pathophysiological roles of soluble interleukin 6 receptor (sIL-6R) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF was obtained from patients suspected with meningitis. Eight patients without any meningeal signs or symptoms were enrolled as controls. An additional 34 CSF samples were collected to measure both biologically active and immunoreactive sIL-6R. All CSF samples were proven to be aseptic. IL-6 and sIL-6R were measured using specific ELISAs. Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of cell number in CSF; inflammatory group (cell number >5 microl, mean 241+/-363.1, n=61); non-inflammatory group (cell number < or =5 microl, mean=2.1+/-1.7, n=12) and controls (cell number < or =5 microl, mean=0.3+1.7, n=8). Among these three groups, the differences in protein (F (2,78)=8.274, P<0.0001) and IL-6 concentration (F (2,78)=6.475, P<0.001) were statistically significant but those of sIL-6R concentration were not. There were only weak correlations between log (sIL-6R) versus log (cell number) (r=0.23, P=0.0375), log (protein) (r=0.239, P=0.0358) and log (IL-6) (r=0.27, P=0.0167). Amounts of immunoreactive and biologically active sIL-6R were closely correlated (r=0.62, n=34, P<0.005). It was concluded that sIL-6R is present constitutively in CSF and its level may not increase significantly in inflammatory conditions; infiltrating cells in CSF are not the main source of sIL-6R; and sIL-6R in CSF can bind IL-6.     

Structures of the N-linked sugar chains in the PAS-6 glycoprotein from the bovine milk fat globule membrane

The structures of the N-linked sugar chains in the PAS-6 glycoprotein (PAS-6) from the bovine milk fat globule membrane were determined. The sugar chains were liberated from PAS-6 by hydrazinolysis, and the pyridylaminated sugar chains were separated into a neutral (6N) and two acidic chains (6M and 6D), the acidic sugar chains then being converted to neutral sugar chains (6MN and 6DN). 6N was separated into two neutral fractions (6N13 and 6N5.5), while 6MN and 6DN each gave a single fraction (6MN13 and 6DN13). The structure of 6N5.5, which was the major sugar chain in PAS-6, is proposed to be Man16 (Man13) Man14GlcNAc14GlcNAc-PA; 6N13, 6MN13 and 6DN13 are proposed to be Gal13Gal14GlcNAc12Man16 (Gal13Gal14GlcNAc12Man13) Man14GlcNAc14 (Fuc16)GlcNAc-PA;6M and 6D had 1 or 2 additional NeuAc residues at the non-reducing ends of 6MN13 and 6DN13, respectively. © 1998 Rapid Science Ltd     

Comparison of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Score and Modified JOA (mJOA) Score for the Assessment of Cervical Myelopathy: A Multicenter Observational Study

Objectives

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score is widely used to assess the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy, particularly in East Asian countries. In contrast, modified versions of the JOA score are currently accepted as the standard tool for assessment in Western countries. The objective of the present study is to compare these scales and clarify their differences and interchangeability and verify their validity by comparing them to other outcome measures.

Materials and Methods

Five institutions participated in this prospective multicenter observational study. The JOA and modified JOA (mJOA) proposed by Benzel were recorded preoperatively and at three months postoperatively in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy who underwent decompression surgery. Patient reported outcome (PRO) measures, including Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ), the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI), were also recorded. The preoperative JOA score and mJOA score were compared to each other and the PRO values. A Bland-Altman analysis was performed to investigate their limits of agreement.

Results

A total of ninety-two patients were included. The correlation coefficient (Spearman’s rho) between the JOA and mJOA was 0.87. In contrast, the correlations between JOA/mJOA and the other PRO values were moderate (|rho| = 0.03 – 0.51). The correlation coefficient of the recovery rate between the JOA and mJOA was 0.75. The Bland-Altman analyses showed that limits of agreement were 3.6 to -1.2 for the total score, and 55.1% to -68.8% for the recovery rates.

Conclusions

In the present study, the JOA score and the mJOA score showed good correlation with each other in terms of their total scores and recovery rates. Previous studies using the JOA can be interpreted based on the mJOA; however it is not ideal to use them interchangeably. The validity of both scores was demonstrated by comparing these values to the PRO values.