Isolation of cDNA for a plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase from guard cells of Vicia faba L.

cDNA encoding the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase of guard cells of Vicia faba L. was isolated. The clone encoded a 105-kDa polypeptide (956 amino acids) that was 79-85% identical in terms of amino acid sequence to other plant H(+)-ATPases. High levels of mRNA explain the high H(+)-ATPase activity of these plasma membranes.

[An epidemiologic examination on the prevalence of the periodontal diseases and oral pigmentation in Yusho patients].

An epidemiologic examination was carried out to reveal the prevalence of the periodontal diseases and oral pigmentation in Yusho patients 26 years after PCB exposure. The results obtained were as follows. 1) 158 teeth of the total 284 examined teeth had the periodontal pockets deeper than 3 mm and the lower left first molar showed the highest prevalence of the periodontal pocket among the examined six index teeth. There was no definitive difference not only between sexes but also between age groups. However, 42 teeth had the periodontal pockets deeper than 4 mm. 2) Oral pigmentation was observed in 25 Yusho patients (33.8%). Chronological examination revealed that the prevalence of oral pigmentation seemed to be higher in the patients below the age of 49 than in those beyond the age of 50, but there was no definitive difference between sexes. It was of particular interest that the incidence of oral pigmentation appeared to decrease with decrease of the teeth present in number.

Alumina versus polyethylene in total knee arthroplasty.

The cementless alumina total knee prosthesis, which uses alumina in the portions coming in contact with the bone and a combination of alumina and ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) in the sliding portions, is referred to as a total condylar. Alumina total knee arthroplasty was performed on 137 patients, including 103 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 34 osteoarthrosis (OA) patients, from January 1982 to February 1985. The follow-up period was seven years 11 months and four years ten months, respectively. At follow-up evaluation, 108 patients were available for clinical and roentgenographic examinations, amounting to a 79% follow-up rate. At follow-up examination, 67 joints (62%) were completely pain free and 28 joints (26%) caused slight pain on bearing weight. Walking ability was recovered moderately in RA and markedly in OA. In RA, 14 of 84 knees were cemented and one knee was treated with loosening. Of 72 cementless implantations, 55 sustained displacing distally and one sustained loosening in the tibia, whereas 31 sustained displacing proximally and six sustained loosening in the femur. In OA, 21 cementless knees had 17 displacings in the tibia, and ten displacings and two loosenings in the femur. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of the UHMWPE surface in tibial plates revealed smoothing and burnishing. Alumina is far superior to metal for the sliding part, although it is not always best for the portion in contact with the bone. To resolve these problems, for cementless fixation, anchoring portions of Ti alloy and alumina implants were covered with beads and coated with hydroxyapatite. For cement fixation, "the interface bioactive bone cement technique" interposing hydroxyapatite granules between bone and cement was performed.

[Basic studies on glass ceramics. 3. Influence on calcification of osteogenic cells in vitro].

Two established osteogenic cell lines (NY, MC 3 T3-E 1) were used in vitro to determine the biocompatibility of glass ceramics and their effect on initial calcification of osteogenic cells. Morphological study of the cell under the phase-contrast microscopy and histochemical staining were applied as follows. First, glass ceramic granules were placed in 60 mm dishes, and cells were suspended in the dishes in alpha-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS (basic medium) or medium with 50 micrograms/ml of L-ascorbic acid added. After 8 or 14 day of culturing, calcium formation was tested by von-Kossa's staining. Also, alkaline phosphatase staining was performed by the azo-dye method. As controls, cultures in dishes without glass ceramic granules were stained at the same time. The results obtained in the experimental culture were as follows. 1. Phase contrast microscopy showed that contacts with glass ceramics did not cause cellular death or degeneration. 2. In both cell cultures with the glass ceramics the von-Kossa reaction was positive as early as the 8th day. 3. The alkaline phosphatase reaction on the 8th day occurred only in MC 3 T3-E 1. The reaction was localized on fibroblastic cells which proliferated three-dimensionally around glass ceramics, and on small polyhedral cells situated relatively for apart from the ceramics. 4. On the 14th day, the MC 3 T 3-E 1 formed large nodules around the glass ceramics, and they were stained uniformly positive by von-Kossa's method. The alkaline phosphatase-positive cells extended spoke-like forms. 5. In medium with L-ascorbic acid, growth of NY was inhibited, After being cultured for 14 days, abundant von-Kossa positive reaction was found around glass ceramics in both cells. In MC 3 T 3-E1 on the 8th days, the alkaline phosphatase reaction was stronger with glass ceramics than with basic medium only. On the contrary, in the control cultures of both cells there was negative von-Kossa reaction during the culture period. The above results showed that glass ceramic granules have the biocompatibility needed for bone grafts, and they facilitated calcification of MC 3 T 3-E 1 in culture.

Effects of disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) on interleukin 1 production by macrophages.

The effects of disodium ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate (EHDP) on the in vitro functions of guinea pig macrophages were studied. A high dose (1 mg/ml) of EHDP inhibited interleukin 1 (IL 1) production by oil-induced peritoneal macrophages stimulated with muramyl dipeptide (MDP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phorbol myristic acetate (PMA), heat-aggregated IgG2 or calcium ionophore A23187. On the other hand, low doses (less than 0.125 mg/ml) of EHDP augmented the MDP induced IL 1 production by macrophages. This biphasic effect was also observed when macrophages were exposed to EHDP at 37 C for 24 hr and then stimulated with IL 1 inducers. Superoxide anion generation induced by formyl peptide or PMA was not affected by preincubation of the macrophages with doses of EHDP up to 1 mg/ml. Adherence and spreading of macrophages was inhibited by EHDP in a dose dependent manner without affecting cell viability. These results demonstrated that EHDP acted on macrophages directly and modulated IL 1 production in vitro.