Enhanced biomass production of duckweeds by inoculating a plant growth-promoting bacterium, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus P23, in sterile medium and non-sterile environmental waters.

Duckweed offers the promise of a co-benefit culture combining water purification with biomass production. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus P23 is a plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from a duckweed, Lemna aequinoctialis. This study quantified its growth-promoting effect on three duckweeds (L. aoukikusa, L. minor, and Spirodela polyrhiza) in sterile Hoagland solution and evaluated its usefulness in duckweed culture under non-sterile conditions. P23 promoted growth of three duckweeds in sterile Hoagland solution at low to high nutrient concentrations (1.25-10 mg NO3-N/L and 0.25-2.0 mg PO4-P/L). It increased the biomass production of L. aequinoctialis 3.8-4.3-fold, of L. minor 2.3-3.3-fold, and of S. polyrhiza 1.4-1.5-fold after 7 days compared with noninoculated controls. P23 also increased the biomass production of L. minor 2.4-fold in pond water and 1.7-fold in secondary effluent of a sewage treatment plant under non-sterile conditions at laboratory-scale experiments. P23 rescued L. minor from growth inhibition caused by microorganisms indigenous to the pond water. The results demonstrate that the use of P23 in duckweed culture can improve the efficiency of duckweed biomass production, and a positive effect of P23 on duckweed-based wastewater treatment can be assumed.

Multidirectional lip-closing force in adult females after short-term lip training.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the multidirectional lip-closing force in adult females before and after short-term lip training. Sixty-six Japanese females participated in this study. The subjects performed lip training that involved maintaining 200 or 400 g of bottled water in the oral vestibule. The signals of directional lip-closing force were investigated in eight directions before training and 5 and 7 days after the lip training. The differences in the closing force between pre- and post-training were then analysed statistically. The lip-closing force increased in the following order: pre-training, 5 days post-training and 7 days post-training in every direction (P < 0·05). The patterns of the increase in the lip-closing force in the upper, lower, right and left directions as a result of the repetitions were similar. No significant differences were noted between the training effects with loads of 200 and 400 g. Our findings demonstrated that the lip-closing force was influenced by the short-term lip training.

Genomic structure and chromosomal localization of the gene encoding TRAX, a Translin-associated factor X.

The TRAX gene encodes a Translin-associated 33-kDa protein partner, TRAX. The TRAX protein has extensive amino acid homology with Translin, and contains bipartite nuclear targeting sequences, suggesting a possible role in the selective nuclear transport of Translin lacking any nuclear targeting motifs. In the present study, genomic clones of the human TRAX gene were isolated to determine the complete genomic organization. The genomic structure of the human TRAX gene was similar to that of the human Translin gene, consisting of six exons and five introns, encompassing approximately 27kb in genomic DNA. Northern blot analysis revealed a predominant transcript of approximately 2.7kb, and its distribution in various tissues was like that of Translin. Chromosomal mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis allowed localization of the TRAX gene to human chromosome lq41.

Structural analysis of the gene encoding RP58, a sequence-specific transrepressor associated with heterochromatin.

RP58, a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor sharing homology with the POZ domain of a number of zinc-finger proteins, is highly synthesized in brain and localized in condensed chromatin regions, suggesting a role in transcriptional repression in the central nervous system. In the present study, genomic clones of the human rp58 gene were isolated to determine the complete genomic organization. Sequence analyses indicated that the human rp58 gene encoding the functional protein is uninterrupted over its entire 4.2 kb length. Comparison of the human and mouse rp58 genes revealed that they share not only a high homology in the amino acid sequences of their encoded proteins, but also a high degree of structural similarity at the genomic level. RT-PCR analysis also demonstrated the existence of an alternatively spliced form of rp58 similar to the previously reported zinc-finger cDNA, C2H2-171. Chromosomal mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis allowed localization of the rp58 gene to human chromosome 1q44 ter, a genetic region associated with a number of human malignancies and neurological disorders.

Non-peptide bombesin receptor antagonists, kuwanon G and H, isolated from mulberry.

Kuwanon G and H, isolated from the methanol extract of Morus bombycis, inhibited specific binding of [125I]gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) to GRP-preferring receptors in murine Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts with Ki values of 470 and 290 nM, respectively. Kuwanon H was one order of magnitude less potent for inhibiting [125I]bombesin binding to neuromedin B (NMB)-preferring receptors in rat esophagus membranes. This compound antagonized bombesin-induced increases in the cytosolic free calcium concentration and GRP-induced DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 cells. Thus, kuwanon H, and possibly kuwanon G also, are specific antagonists for the GRP-preferring receptor and can be useful for studying the physiological and pathological role of GRP.

Synthesis of manool-related labdane diterpenes as platelet aggregation inhibitors.

Enantioselective total synthesis of the labdane diterpene (-)-1, was achieved starting from the R-(-)-enantiomer of the Wieland-Miescher ketone. The enantiomer (+)-1 was obtained by partial synthesis via microbial transformation of sclareol. These results established that the natural compound (+)-1, a platelet aggregation inhibitor, has a normal absolute stereochemistry like that of manool. The B-norlabdane-related compound 44 was also synthesized using a novel ring contraction reaction.

Platelet aggregation inhibitors in a Bhutanese medicinal plant, shug chher.

The 90% methanol-soluble fraction of a Bhutanese medicinal plant, Shug Chher, exhibited inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by platelet activating factor. Bioassay-directed fractionation led to the isolation of four new labdane diterpenoids, 3 alpha, 15-dihydroxy-labda-8(17), 13E-diene (5), 3 alpha-hydroxy-labda-8(17), 13E-dien-15-oic acid (6), 3 alpha-hydroxy-labda-8(17), 12E, 14-trien-19-oic acid (7), and 3 alpha-acetoxyisocupressic acid (8) and four known diterpenoids, manool (1), 3 alpha-hydroxymanool (2), 3 alpha-hydroxy-12, 13E-biformene (3), and isocupressic acid (4). The structures of the new compounds were determined spectroscopically. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 inhibited platelet aggregation.

Platelet aggregation inhibitors and inotropic constituents in Pyrolae herba.

The chloroform-soluble and n-butyl alcohol-soluble fractions of water extract of Pyrolae Herba inhibited platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid and showed a positive inotropic effect. A new naphthoquinone and a new tetralone derivative and known chimaphilin, acetovanillon, and toluhydroquinone were isolated as active constituents. Three new tetralone derivatives were also obtained from an active fraction. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated.

Platelet aggregation inhibitors from Populus sieboldii Miquel.

The water extract of Populus sieboldii Miquel (Salicaceae) inhibited arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. Pyrocatechol and salicyl alcohol were isolated as active constituents. Pyrocatechol showed an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid with IC100 value of 4 microM, which was 25 times more potent than aspirin.

Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy of siomycin A. Proton--carbon-13 chemical shift correlation.

A trial application of a recent two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance experiment to the polypeptide antibiotic siomycin A is described. Proton--carbon-13 chemical shift correlation measures the proton and carbon-13 chemical shift for each directly bonded CH group in a molecule, in a single experiment. The resultant map of correlated chemical shifts enables the carbon-13 spectrum to be assigned directly from the known proton shifts, and allows individual proton signals to be identified without problems of overlap. The signal-to-noise ratio available from such techniques should enable their application to aqueous protein solutions using currently available high-field spectrometers.

Water-soluble siomycin-A derivatives. Preparation, chemical structures and biological properties of half-esters of the peptide antibiotic.

The peptide antibiotic siomycin-A was transformed into half-esters with dicarboxylic acids with the intention of making siomycin-A soluble in water. Sodium salts of the half-esters were also prepared. Some of the salts showed antibacterial activities comparable to siomycin-A against Gram-positive bacteria in vitro and exhibited better therapeutic effects in infected mice than siomycin-A. The chemical structures of siomycin-A hemiadipate-II and -III were elucidated by comparing their 13C and 1H NMR spectra with those of siomycin-A. Their physicochemical properties are described.

Congenital atresia of the duodenum with gastric perforation. Case report and review of the literature.

Gastric perforation associated with duodenal atresia is a very rare condition. We are able to cure an infant with this complicated disease by using a two-stage operation. Of interest is the occurrence of massive subcutaneous emphysema in our patient.