Angiography of the iliofemoral arteriovenous system supplying free groin flaps and free hypogastric flaps.

The circulatory anatomy of the iliofemoral region was elucidated by doing detailed angiography in 50 cases, and we classified the vessels into 4 types. In most cases, the s.c.i.a. predominated over the s.i.e.a. Therefore, it is probably better to plan free flaps supplied by this artery. This vessel usually arises approximately two or three fingerbreadths inferior to the intersection of the femoral artery and the inguinal ligament, and the skin flap should be designed in the area inferior and parallel to the inguinal ligament.     

Involvement of tryptase-related cellular protease(s) in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection

Trypstatin, a new cellular Kunitz-type protease inhibitor purified from rat mast cells, inhibited syncytium formation in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected CCRF-CEM and uninfected Molt-4 clone 8 at a concentration of 1 microM. Anti-rat tongue mast cell tryptase antibodies reacted with Molt-4 clone 8 cells, as determined by Western blot and by immunofluorescence. In addition, the antibody inhibited syncytium formation. These findings along with homologous sequences with trypstatin and a neutralizing epitope of gp120 of HIV-1 suggest that a tryptase-like cellular enzyme(s) is involved in HIV-1 infection.     

A chymotrypsin-type serine protease in rat basophilic leukemia cells: evidence for its immunologic identity with atypical mast cell protease

Activity of a chymotrypsin-type serine protease was found in a subline of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. The protease was immunologically cross-reactive with anti-atypical mast cell protease immunoglobulin (Ig) G, and its activity was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the antibody. The apparent m.w. of the protease that reacted with the antibody was 25,000, which was identical with that of atypical mast cell protease in rat mucosal mast cells. These results show that the chymotrypsin type serine protease in RBL-2H3 cells is immunologically identical with atypical mast cell protease, which was first purified from rat small intestine. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the protease was located not only in intracytoplasmic granules but also in organelles synthesizing protein, such as cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, perinuclear spaces, and the Golgi apparatus. However, no immunoreactivity was demonstrated in rat basophils. The activity of the protease increased in the exponential phase of growth of RBL-2H3 cells in which some activity was also detected in the medium, and it decreased in the late stationary phase.     

Placental-soluble aconitase polymorphism in Japanese

Polymorphism of soluble aconitase was investigated in 152 Japanese placentae. The allelic frequencies were ACONS1 = 0.951 and ACONS2 = 0.049. ACONS2 appears to be rather high among Orientals including Japanese, while ACONS4 seems to be characteristic for Negroids.     

Synthesis, characterization, and antitumor activity of new chloroethylamine platinum complexes.

A series of cis-bis-(2-chloroethylamine)platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopic techniques. Complexes were tested in vitro against murine L1210 leukemia and human ovarian A2780 cell lines and in vivo against the L1210 leukemia model. Some of these complexes showed excellent antitumor activity in both systems. However, all were inactive against cisplatin-resistant A2780/CP cells.     

Characterization of a Dopamine-Releasing Action of 6R-l-erythro-Tetrahydrobiopterin: Comparison with a 6S-Form

Abstract: 6R-l -erythro-Tetrahydrobiopterin (6R-BH₄) is a cofactor for aromatic l -amino acid hydroxylases and nitric oxide synthase. Recently, we have reported that independently of its cofactor activities, 6R-BH₄ acts from the outside of neurons in the brain to enhance the release of monoamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine. To characterize the pharmacological properties of the action, we examined the effects of 6S-BH₄, a diastereoisomer of 6R-BH₄, on dopamine release in the rat striatum by using brain microdialysis and compared its effects with those of 6R-BH₄. Perfusion of 6S-BH₄ or 6R-BH₄ through the dialysis probe increased extracellular dopamine levels (an index of in vivo dopamine release) concentration dependently; the maximal increase by 6S-BH₄, was one-sixth of that by 6R-BH₄. 6S-BH₄ increased extracellular DOPA levels in the presence of NSD 1015, an inhibitor of aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase (an index of in vivo tyrosine hydroxylase activity), to an extent similar to the increase induced by 6R-BH₄. The increase in the DOPA levels induced by either of the pteridines was abolished after pretreatment of rats with α-methyl-p-tyrosine (an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase). Under the same conditions, the 6S-BH₄-induced dopamine release was abolished, but most of the 6R-BH₄-induced increase persisted. Coadministration of 6S-BH₄ with 6R-BH₄ inhibited the increase in dopamine release induced by 6R-BH₄ alone. These results show that 6R-BH₄ stimulates dopamine release by acting at the specific recognition site on the neuronal membrane, and that 6S-BH₄ acts as an antagonist of 6R-BH₄ at this site, although it has cofactor activities.     

A new factor from enteric bacteria of rats amplifying induction of liver enzyme by glucocorticoid. 2. Mechanism of action.

1. An amplifier of the action of glucocorticoid was purified from Proteus mirabilis as described previously. It was found that it amplified the induction of liver tyrosine aminotransferase by dexamethasone markedly with doses of dexamethasone that caused minimal enzyme induction, but had little effect with doses that caused maximal induction. Thus the amplification may represent a saving of glucocorticoid. The amplification of enzyme activity was brought about by increase in amount of enzyme. 2. The amplification was observed when the amplifier was administered before or with dexamethasone, but not when it was given 2 h after dexamethasone. These results and the finding that actinomycin D inhibited the amplification indicate that the amplifier does not act on the translational level of enzyme induction. 3. It was found that the amplifier increased both incorporation of [3H]dexamethasone into the cytosol and binding of [3H]dexamethasone of cytosol protein and that it decreased decay of the [3H]dexamethasone-protein complex.     

Formation of 12-oxo-trans-10-dodecenoic acid in chloroplasts from Thea sinensis leaves

Linolenic acid-[1-¹⁴C] was converted to 12-oxo-trans-10-dodecenoic acid, via 12-oxo-cis-9-dodecenoic acid by incubation with chloroplasts of Thea sinensis leaves. Thus, it was confirmed that linolenic acid is split into a C₁₂-oxo-acid, 12-oxo-trans-10-dodecenoic acid, and a C₆-aldehyde, trans-2-hexenal, leaf aldehyde, by an enzyme system in chloroplasts of tea leaves.     

A membrane-bound metallo-endopeptidase from rat kidney hydrolyzing parathyroid hormone. Purification and characterization

A metallo-endopeptidase, which appears to be an integral membrane protein of rat kidney, was purified to homogeneity by a series of standard chromatographic procedures. This enzyme significantly hydrolyzed human parathyroid hormone [hPTH(1-84)] and a synthetic substrate Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Mec (Suc = succinyl, Mec = 4-methyl-coumarinyl-7-amide). The purified enzyme had apparent molecular masses of 250 kDa on gel filtration, and 88 kDa and 245 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions, respectively. Its pH optimum for activity was 8.0-8.5 and its isoelectric point was pH 4.9. Its activity was inhibited by EDTA, EGTA and o-phenanthroline, but not by phosphoramidon. The metal-depleted enzyme was reactivated by the addition of metal ions. The enzyme was also inhibited by chymostatin and eglin C, and by thiol compounds. Of the synthetic substrates examined, the enzyme hydrolyzed only Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Mec, one of the synthetic substrates for alpha-chymotrypsin. It did not hydrolyze synthetic substrates with less than four amino acid residues with tyrosine in the P1 position. The enzyme hydrolyzed hPTH and reduced hen egg lysozyme but did not hydrolyze azocasein or [3H]methyl-casein. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analyses of the degradation products of hPTH(1-84) and reduced hen egg lysozyme by the purified enzyme revealed that the enzyme preferentially cleaved these peptides at peptide bonds flanked by hydrophilic amino acid residues. Amino acid analyses showed that the main degradation products of PTH were hPTH(17-29), hPTH(30-38) and hPTH(74-84). The ability of the enzyme to hydrolyze peptide bonds flanked by hydrophilic amino acid residues and its inability to degrade azocasein distinguish it from several other kidney endopeptidases reported, such as endopeptidase 24.11 and meprin.