Suppression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae hac1/ire15 mutation by yeast genes and human cDNAs.

We previously reported that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ire15 mutation results in an inositol-auxotrophic phenotype, and that human cDNAs can suppress the ire15 mutation (Nikawa, J., 1994. A cDNA encoding the human transforming growth factor beta receptor suppresses the growth defect of a yeast mutant. Gene 149, 367 372; Nikawa, J., Nakano, H., Ohi, N., 1996b. Structural and functional conservation of human and yeast HAC1 genes which can suppress the growth defect of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ire15 mutant. Gene 171, 107-111). Herein, we present evidence that the gene responsible for the ire15 mutation is HAC1, which encodes a transcription factor for KAR2, obtained by isolating a yeast single-copy supressor gene and by performing complementation analysis. Sequencing analysis revealed that the mutant HAC1 gene obtained from the ire15 mutant contained an AAA codon at position 50 instead of the AGA codon observed in the wild-type gene, resulting in the alteration of the aa from Arg to Lys. All human cDNAs and yeast multicopy suppressors, which had been isolated as suppressors for the ire15 mutation, were able to suppress the inositol-auxotrophic phenotype but not the defect in KAR2 induction of the hac1-disrupted strain.

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of kyotorphin, a basic Tyr-Arg dipeptide, in rat brain tissue and quantification using fluorimetric detection.

Two HPLC procedures based on sample derivatization at the N-terminal Tyr moiety with agents yielding fluorescent derivatives were applied to the selective and sensitive detection as well as quantification of the basic kyotorphin, Tyr-Arg dipeptide, in rat brain tissue. The first one is a post-column fluorescence derivatization method, whereby the peptides extracted from the brain tissue are separated on an octadecylsilyl-silica gel column, followed by on-line fluorescence derivatization for detection. The other one is a pre-column derivatization method, where the extracted peptides are first reacted with fluorogenic agents at the N-terminal Tyr moiety to their corresponding fluorescent derivatives, subsequently separated on an octadecyl-poly(vinyl alcohol) copolymer gel column, and signal responses are measured fluorimetrically. Both methods permitted the quantification of the synthetic kyotorphin added to the rat brain tissues. The concentration range of kyotorphin-like biogenic peptide was 60-100 pmol/g in the cortex, striatum and hypothalamus tissues.

Influence of boiling water treatment on surface roughness and surface microstructure of set gypsum (dental stone).

The influence of boiling water treatment on the surface roughness and surface microstructure of set gypsums was investigated. Typical surfaces before and after immersion in boiling water were compared by means of SEM observation, the Knoop hardness test, and a surface roughness test. The surfaces of set gypsums were rougher than that of an acrylic resin plate, and after immersion in boiling water, highly roughened surfaces and thinner crystal bodies were observed on each specimen under SEM. The knoop hardness of set gypsums was considerably lowered after boiling water immersion. That of die stones was the same or lower than set dental stones. The results showed that even brief immersion in boiling water had profound effects on the dental stone cast, resulting in rougher surfaces and lower hardness of set gypsums.

Methyldopa-induced colitis in a patient with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

A 76-year-old man with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis complicated by methyldopa-induced colitis is reported. Eight months after administration of methyldopa, mucous bloody stool was noted. A barium enema examination showed disappearance of haustra and a spastic rectosigmoid with pseudo-polyposis. Biopsy specimens obtained from the sigmoid mucosa revealed interstitial edema and small inflammatory cells. After cessation of methyldopa treatment, the sigmoid findings, blood pressure, and proteinuria were improved, suggesting that methyldopa not only induced the acute colitis but also worsened the nephrotic syndrome in this patient.

[A case of recurrent liver tumor from gastric cancer responding remarkably to hepatic arterial infusion of large doses of mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil].

A 69-year-old man underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in 1989. He was diagnosed with recurrent liver tumors at 9 months after the operation. Mitomycin C and 5-Fluorouracil were infused repeatedly into hepatic artery, at total doses of 170 mg and 15 g, respectively. Metastatic tumors disappeared in liver by this therapy. There were no side effects such as liver dysfunction, bone marrow suppression and anorexia in spite of the large amount of anti-cancerous agents. This case suggested that hepatic arterial infusion of a large amount of anti-cancerous agents is a good method for liver metastasis from gastric cancer.

[A case of hepatoma treated successfully with a percutaneous intratumoral injection of CDDP-PC-lipiodol suspension].

Reported is a case that was treated successfully with a percutaneous intratumoral injection of a CDDP-PC-Lipiodol Suspension (CPLS) of the viable tumor cells of a hepatoma after arterial injection therapy. Although the size of the viable tumor cells remained almost unchanged, a marked reduction in the level of the plasma AFP (484 ng/ml-35 ng/ml) was obtained after the percutaneous injection. No major complication was encountered except for minimal vomiting and mild transient abnormalities of the liver functions.