Long-acting nifedipine versus metoprolol as monotherapy for essential hypertension. A randomized,controlled crossover study.

We assessed the efficacy of long-acting nifedipine as monotherapy in 52 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension in a randomized, controlled crossover study. Good blood pressure control was achieved in 34 of 40 patients (85%) receiving nifedipine (mean daily dose, 52 mg in 2 divided doses) compared with 23 of 40 patients (58%) receiving metoprolol (mean daily dose, 155 mg in 2 divided doses). After treatment for 4 weeks, the mean blood pressures with nifedipine (149.7 +/- 16.6/88.7 +/- 11.1 mm of mercury) and metoprolol administration (163.9 +/- 23.3/94.2 +/- 10.2 mm of mercury) were significantly lower than with placebo (176.7 +/- 17.3/100.9 +/- 7.1 mm of mercury) (P less than .05). The mean systolic pressure during nifedipine treatment was 14.2 mm of mercury lower (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9 to 24.5 mm of mercury) and mean diastolic pressure 5.5 mm of mercury (95% CI, 0.3 to 10.7 mm of mercury) lower than with metoprolol therapy. Both drugs were reasonably well tolerated, and intolerance requiring withdrawal was encountered in 3 of 45 (7%) patients receiving nifedipine, compared with 1 of 45 (2%) of those taking metoprolol and placebo, respectively. Adverse effects of nifedipine, most of which were transient, included palpitations, headache, facial flushing, and ankle edema. Long-acting nifedipine is a promising agent when given alone for mild to moderate hypertension and can be safely administered in clinical practice.     

Transforming growth factor alpha and a PC12-derived growth factor induce neurites in PC12 cells and enhance the survival of embryonic brain neurons.

We have identified and characterized a 5000-Da protein that induces neurite outgrowth from PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, enhances the survival of embryonic rat brain neurons in primary culture, and induces the multiplication of embryonic rat brain astrocytes in primary culture. The factor is produced by a flat cell PC12 variant that expresses the activated ras oncogene after transfection of the gene. The factor resembles transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in that it induces anchorage-independent colony formation of normal rat kidney cells in soft agar and competes with EGF for binding to the EGF receptor. Rat TGF alpha and human TGF alpha also induce neurite outgrowth from PC12 and enhance the survival of embryonic brain neurons. The PC12 variant-derived factor can be distinguished from TGF alpha and EGF immunologically and by migration rates on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Nucleophilic Distribution of Metallothionein in Human Tumor Cells

Metallothionein (MT), a major zinc-binding intracellular protein thiol, has been associated with cytoprotection from heavy metals, antineoplastic drugs, mutagens, and cellular oxidants. Despite its small mass (7 kDa), nuclear partitioning of MT has been observed in both normal and malignant tissues. The factors controlling MT sequestration are unknown. Thus, we examined the regulation of MT subcellular distribution in human cancer cell lines that exhibit prominent nuclear MT. The nuclear disposition of MT was unaltered during cell cycle passage in synchronized cells. MT redistributed to the cytoplasm when cells were exposed to reduced temperature. Cytoplasmic redistribution was also seen in DU-145 and HPC36M prostatic cancer cells after ATP depletion, but not in PC3-MA2 and SCC25/CP cells. Pretreatment with 10 μMCdCl₂did not significantly alter MT distribution but did render all cells sensitive to cytoplasmic redistribution after either reduced temperature or ATP depletion. Thus, nuclear retention of MT is energy requiring and this ability of MT to accumulate in subcellular compartments against its concentration gradient may be important in the capacity of MT to supply Zn or other metals to target sites within the cell.     

Characterization of a cDNA encoding cysteine proteinase inhibitor from Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. pekinensis) flower buds

A cDNA encoding a new phytocystatin isotype named BCPI-1 was isolated from a cDNA library of Chinese cabbage flower buds. The BCPI-1 clone encodes 199 amino acids resulting in a protein much larger than other known phytocystatins. BCPI-1 has an unusually long C-terminus. A BCPI-1 fusion protein expressed in Escherichia coli strongly inhibits the enzymatic activity of papain, a cysteine proteinase. Genomic Southern blot analysis revealed that the BCPI gene is a member of a small multi-gene family in Chinese cabbage. Northern blot analysis showed that it is differentially expressed in the flower bud, leaf and root.     

The synthesis and reactions of A-ring aromatic steroid complexes of manganese tricarbonyl

Treatment of the A-ring aromatic steroids estrone 3-methyl ether and β-estradiol 3, 17-dimethyl ether with Mn(CO)₅⁺BF₄⁻ in CH₂Cl₂ yields the corresponding [(steroid)Mn(CO)₃]BF₄ salts 1 and 2 as mixtures of and β isomers. The X-ray structure of [(estrone 3-methyl ether)Mn(CO)₃]BF₄ · CH₂Cl₂ (1) having the Mn(CO)₃ moiety on the side of the steroid is reported: space group P2₁ with a=10.3958(9), b=10.9020(6), c=12.6848(9) Å, β=111.857(6)°, Z=2, V=1334.3(2) ų, _calc=.481 cm⁻³, R=0.0508, and wR=0.0635. The molecule has the traditional ‘piano stool’ structure with a planar arene ring and linear Mn---C---O linkages. The nucleophiles NaBH₄ and LiCH₂C(O)CMe₃ add to [(β-estradiol 3,17-dimethyl ether)Mn(CO)₃]BF₄ (2) in high yield to give the corresponding - and β-cyclohexadienyl manganese tricarbonyl complexes (3). The nucleophiles add meta to the arene -OMe substituent and exo to the metal. The and β isomers of 3 were separated by fractional crystallization and the X-ray structure of the β isomer with an exo-CH₂C(O)CMe₃ substituent is reported (complex 4): space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=7.5154(8), b=15.160(2), c=25.230(3) Å, Z=4, V=2874.4(5) ų, _calc=1.244 g cm⁻³, R=0.0529 and wR2=0.1176. The molecule 4 has a planar set of dienyl carbon atoms with the saturated C(1) carbon being 0.592 Å out of the plane away from the metal. The results suggest that the manganese-mediated functionalization of aromatic steroids is a viable synthetic procedure with a range of nucleophiles of varying strengths.     

frizzled Gene expression and development of tissue polarity in the Drosophila wing

Almost every cell in the Drosophila pupal wing forms a single, distally pointing cuticular hair. The function of the frizzled (fz) gene is essential for the elaboration of the normal wing hair pattern. In the absence of fz function hairs develop, but they display an abnormal polarity. We have examined the developmental expression of the fi gene at the RNA level via in situ hybridization and at the protein level via Western blotting. We have found that fz is expressed in all regions of the epidermis before, during, and after the fz cold sensitive period. We have also found that fz function is not required for normal fi expression. We have further found that mutations in several other tissue polarity genes do not noticeably alter the expression or the modification state of the Fz protein. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Methyl viologen hydrogenase II, a new member of the hydrogenase family from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H.

Two methyl viologen hydrogenase (MVH) enzymes from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H have been separated (resolution, Rs at 1.0) on a Mono Q column after chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and Superose 6 Prep Grade. The newly discovered MVH (MVH II) was eluted at 0.5 M NaCl with a linear gradient of 0.45 to 0.65 M NaCl (100 ml). The previously described MVH (MVH I) eluted in a NaCl gradient at 0.56 M. The specific activities of MVH I and MVH II were 184.8 and 61.3 U/mg of protein, respectively, when enzyme activity was compared at pH 7.5, the optimal pH for MVH II. Gel electrophoresis in nondenaturing systems indicated that MVH I and MVH II had a similar molecular mass of 145 kDa. Denatured MVH II showed four protein bands (alpha, 50 kDa; beta, 44 kDa; gamma, 36 kDa; delta, 15 kDa), similar to MVH I. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the alpha, gamma, and delta subunits of MVH II were identical with the sequences of the equivalent subunits of MVH I. However, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the beta subunit of MVH II was totally different from the sequence of the beta subunit of MVH I. Both MVH I and MVH II had the same optimal temperature of 60 degrees C for maximum activity. The pH optima of MVH I and MVH II were 9.0 and 7.5, respectively. Most of the divalent metal ions tested significantly inhibited MVH I activity, but MVH II activity was only partially inhibited by some divalent cations. Both hydrogenases were shown to be stable for over 8 days at --20 degrees C under anaerobic conditions. When exposed to air, 90% of MVH I activity was lost within 2 min; however, MVH II lost only 50% of its activity in 3 h.     

Dynamic heat and moisture transfer through multiple clothing layers

1. 1. The purposes of this study are to find out the arrangement effects on the vapor pressure gradient across the cotton–nylon double layer and to elucidate changes in the vapor pressure gradient when an additional third layer covers the double layer.

2. 2. Model tests for single, double and triple layer system and wear test for triple layer clothing were conducted.

3. 3. It was found that up to the second layer, dryness of innermost microclimate could be maintained when cotton faced the skin (C/N).

4. 4. However, when more permeable and hydrophobic third layer (UWF) covers the double layer, the microclimate of C/N is no longer drier than N/C.

5. 5. When nylon is exposed to the skin, a larger drop in vapor pressure across the first two layers occurred for both model and wear test.

6. 6. The innermost microclimate was not necessarily kept dry when the outermost layer dissipated more moisture due to the inefficient distribution of moisture.

In vitro oxygen consumption and motility of Cryptobia salmositica, Cryptobia bullocki, and Cryptobia catostomi (Sarcomastigophora: Kinetoplastida).

Cryptobia salmositica (pathogenic and vaccine strains), Cryptobia bullocki (pathogenic), and Cryptobia catostomi (nonpathogenic) have similar oxygen consumption rates (0.17 +/- 0.01 nm O2/10(6) parasites). Incubation with sodium azide (5 microliters of a 1-M solution to 1 ml of parasite suspension, i.e., a 5-mM final concentration) reduced the oxygen consumption by approximately 4.5-fold. Motility of the parasites was also greatly reduced in sodium azide. The oxygen consumption and motility of the parasites returned to preazide treatment levels when the azide was removed even after 24 hr of incubation in sodium azide. The activities of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and cytochrome C oxidase were not detected in the 3 species of Cryptobia.