Enantiomorphs differ in shape in opposite directions between populations.

Development is left-right reversed between dextral and sinistral morphs of snails. In sympatry, they share the same gene pool, including polygenes for shell shape. Nevertheless, their shell shapes are not the mirror images of each other. This triggered a debate between hypotheses that argue either for a developmental constraint or for zygotic pleiotropic effects of the polarity gene. We found that dextrals can be wider or narrower than sinistrals depending on the population, contrary to the prediction of invariable deviation under a developmental constraint. If the pleiotropy is solely responsible instead, the mean shape of each morph should change, depending on the frequency of polarity genotype. Our simulations of this mean shape change under zygotic pleiotropy, however, show that the direction of interchiral difference remains the same regardless of genotype frequency. Our results suggest the presence of genetic variation among populations that changes the maternal or zygotic pleiotropic effect of the polarity gene.

Counteracting regulation of chromatin remodeling at a fission yeast cAMP response element-related recombination hotspot by stress-activated protein kinase, cAMP-dependent kinase and meiosis regulators.

In fission yeast, an ATF/CREB-family transcription factor Atf1-Pcr1 plays important roles in the activation of early meiotic processes via the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathways. In addition, Atf1-Pcr1 binds to a cAMP responsive element (CRE)-like sequence at the site of the ade6-M26 mutation, which results in local enhancement of meiotic recombination and chromatin remodeling. Here we studied the roles of meiosis-inducing signal transduction pathways in M26 chromatin remodeling. Chromatin analysis revealed that persistent activation of PKA in meiosis inhibited M26 chromatin remodeling, suggesting that the PKA pathway represses M26 chromatin remodeling. The SAPK pathway activated M26 chromatin remodeling, since mutants lacking a component of this pathway, the Wis1 or Spc1/Sty1 kinases, had no M26 chromatin remodeling. M26 chromatin remodeling also required the meiosis regulators Mei2 and Mei3 but not the subsequently acting regulators Sme2 and Mei4, suggesting that induction of M26 chromatin remodeling needs meiosis-inducing signals before premeiotic DNA replication. Similar meiotic chromatin remodeling occurred meiotically around natural M26 heptamer sequences. These results demonstrate the coordinated action of genetic and physiological factors required to remodel chromatin in preparation for high levels of meiotic recombination and eukaryotic cellular differentiation.

[Inhibition of mycelial growth of Candida albicans by ascites fluid of tumor bearing mice].

The effects of ascites fluids and sera of tumor-bearing mice on the mycelial growth of Candida albicans were examined. When the ascites fluids or the sera obtained from mice inoculated with MM46 mammary carcinoma were added to the culture medium, mycelial growth of C. albicans was strongly inhibited. The molecular size of the growth inhibitory factor in the ascites fluids was estimated to be approximately 80 K dalton by gel-filtration chromatography. Ferric chloride (6 microM) neutralized the anti-Candida activity. On the basis of these results including morphological observation, a possible role of a transferrin-like molecule was discussed.

Augmentation of production of TNF-alpha and anti-tumour activity by an amphotericin B preparation for clinical use in mice.

Effects of amphotericin B on production of endogenous tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and anti-tumour activity in mice was examined. Intravenous administration of Fungizone, an amphotericin B preparation complexed with deoxycholate, augmented the induction of endogenous TNF in response to a second stimulus with intravenous doses of FK23 (heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis). This augmentation was observed when more than 1.8 microg of Fungizone was injected intravenously before intravenous dosing of FK23. The time interval between priming injection of Fungizone and secondary injection of FK23 for the maximal effect was 3 h. Similar augmentation of TNF production was also observed in amphotericin B-primed and FK23-injected mice. Correspondingly, anti-tumour activity of the combined, intravenous injection of Fungizone and FK23 with a 3-h interval was examined. Growth of Meth A fibrosarcoma was clearly inhibited by this combination but not by administration of either one alone. These results suggest that amphotericin B is able to elicit anti-tumour activity, perhaps through activation of the immune system, and in particular augmentation of the induction of endogenous TNF.

Purification and molecular characterization of a novel 16-kDa galectin from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

In our previous study (Hirabayashi, J., Satoh, M., Ohyama, Y., and Kasai, K. (1992) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 111, 553-555), two beta-galactoside-binding lectins (apparent subunit molecular masses, 16 and 32 kDa, respectively) were identified in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The subsequent study revealed that the 32-kDa lectin is a member of the galectin family. Since the 32-kDa galectin was found to consist of two homologous domains (approximately 16 kDa), 16-kDa lectin was thought to be a degradation product of the 32-kDa galectin. To clarify this, the 16-kDa lectin was purified by an improved procedure employing extraction with a calcium-supplemented buffer. The purified 16-kDa lectin was found to exist as a dimer (approximately 30 kDa) and showed hemagglutinating activity toward trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes, which was inhibited by lactose. Almost the whole sequence of the 16-kDa polypeptide (approximately 95%, 135 amino acids) was determined after digestion with various proteases. Based on the obtained information, a full-length cDNA was cloned with the aid of RNA-polymerase chain reaction. The clone encoded 146 amino acids including initiator methionine (calculated molecular mass, 15,928 Da). Based on these results, it was concluded that the 16-kDa lectin is a novel member of the galectin family, but not a degradation product of the 32-kDa galectin as had previously thought. However, the 16-kDa galectin showed relatively low sequence similarities to both the N-terminal and the C-terminal domains of the 32-kDa galectin (28% and 27% identities, respectively) and to various vertebrate galectins (14-27%). Nonetheless, all of the critical amino acids involved in carbohydrate binding were conserved. These observations suggest that, in spite of phylogenic distance between nematodes and vertebrates, both the 16-kDa and 32-kDa nematode isolectins have conserved essentially the same function(s) as those of vertebrate galectins, probably through recognition of a key disaccharide moiety, "N-acetyllactosamine."

[A socio-medical study of adult diseases related to life style--comparison of foreigners living in Japan and Japanese].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between life style factors and adult diseases among three ethnic groups, Chinese living in Japan, Koreans living in Japan and Japanese. The mortalities of major cancers and other adult diseases of Chinese and Koreans in Japan were compared with those of Japanese by calculating Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMR) of the two groups using death rates in the Japanese population as the standard. Life style data on smoking, drinking and dietary habits of the three groups were collected by self-administered questionnaire surveys, and age-adjusted proportions were calculated with the truncated world population as the standard. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The mortality rates for liver cancer, lung cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertensive disease, cerebrovascular disease and liver cirrhosis for Koreans of both sexes in Japan were significantly higher than those for Japanese, but the mortality rates of stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer for Korean females were lower than those for Japanese females. 2. The mortality rates for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disease, liver cirrhosis, rectum cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer (females), breast cancer (females) and cerebrovascular disease (females) for Chinese in Japan were higher than those for Japanese, but the rates for stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer (both sexes), uterus cancer (females) and cerebrovascular disease (males) were lower than those for Japanese. 3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Estimation of validity of mass screening program for gastric cancer in Osaka, Japan.

To assess the validity of mass screening tests for gastric cancer conducted with three types of radiographic techniques, i.e., photofluorography by a mirror camera, photofluorography by an image intensifier, and direct radiography, 105,122 persons who underwent a total of 272,667 screening tests during 1970 through 1982 were followed through December 31, 1983 by means of a record linkage to the Osaka Cancer Registry, Osaka, Japan. The results of 1 year's follow-up from screening were defined as the gold standard and test performance values were calculated. Sensitivity of screening with photofluorography by a mirror camera, photofluorography by an image intensifier, and direct radiography was 90%, 89%, and 91%, and specificity was 86%, 92%, and 91%, respectively. The receiver operating characteristics curve for screening with photofluorography by an image intensifier resembled that for direct radiography and these two curves were located somewhat to the left of the curve for screening with photofluorography by a mirror camera. The authors conclude that the validity of screening with photofluorography by an image intensifier is almost equivalent to that of screening with direct radiography and both are superior to that of screening with photofluorography by a mirror camera.

A long-term follow-up study of patients with gastric cancer detected by mass screening.

This report is based on 1,139 patients with gastric cancer (GC) detected by mass screening conducted by the Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka during 1961-1985. Early GC totalled 527 patients and advanced GC totalled 612 patients. In 859 patients curative resection was performed. Their vital status was traced yearly and six patients were lost to follow-up. Relative survival rates of screening-detected GC patients were 69-70% and almost constant after 5 years from operation/diagnosis. The survival curve in which only death from GC was counted as a death was almost equal to the relative survival curve in its shape and value. The hazard rates of screening detected GC patients decreased rapidly within 7 years and remained low after 7 years. It was confirmed by this long-term follow-up study that about two thirds of GC patients detected by screening were successfully cured of their disease.

Cancer patterns among Koreans in Japan, Koreans in Korea and Japanese in Japan in relation to life style factors.

Cancer incidences for major sites were compared among Koreans in Osaka, Japan, Koreans in Korea and Japanese in Osaka by calculating standardized proportional incidence ratios (SPIR's), in addition to updating the findings on cancer mortality experiences of Koreans and Japanese in Osaka reported before. Compared with Japanese, Koreans in Osaka had significantly higher mortality rates from cancers of the esophagus, liver and lung in males, and liver in females. Mortality rates among Koreans in Osaka were significantly lower for stomach cancer in both sexes and for breast cancer in females. Compared with Korean counterparts in the homeland, Koreans in Osaka had a reduced risk for cancers of the stomach in males and the uterus in females. On the other hand, an elevated risk was observed for cancers of the esophagus, colon, liver and lung among Korean males in Osaka and for cancers of the colon and liver among Korean females in Osaka. The risk for cancer of the breast in females was similar among Koreans in the host and home countries. These different cancer patterns among Koreans in the host and home countries and Japanese are discussed in relation to their life styles, such as smoking, drinking and dietary habits, which have been investigated by means of questionnaire surveys.

Evaluation of a mass screening program for stomach cancer with a case-control study design.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of a mass screening program for stomach cancer, a case-control study was conducted in Nose town in Osaka, Japan. The case series consisted of all deaths from stomach cancer during the period 1969-1981 (54 in males and 37 in females). For each case, 3 controls of the same sex and from the same precinct as the case, and born within 5 years of the case birth-year, were selected at random from Nose town residents alive at the date of death of the relevant case. We then investigated whether each case and corresponding controls had ever had screening tests before the date of diagnosis of the case. From the matched analysis of the distribution of screening in case-control combination, the odds ratio of screened vs. unscreened among those who died from stomach cancer compared to those who did not was calculated as 0.595 (90% confidence interval: 0.338-1.045) among males and 0.382 (0.185-0.785) among females. When the screening tests conducted within 12 months of diagnosis were ignored on the presumption that they were symptom-related, the odds ratio was calculated as 0.519 (0.297-0.905) among males and 0.486 (0.239-0.986) among females. These data strongly suggest that the mass screening program is effective in reducing stomach cancer mortality.

Mortality among Koreans living in Osaka, Japan, 1973-1982.

The mortality pattern of Koreans living in Osaka, Japan was surveyed by comparing their age-specific and age-adjusted death rates with those among Japanese during 1973-1982. Cancer was the leading cause of death among Korean males, while cerebrovascular disease was most common among Korean females in Osaka. Mortality rates from tuberculosis, cancer, mental disorder, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), liver cirrhosis, accidents and suicide were significantly higher for Korean males than for Japanese males. COPD, liver cirrhosis and accidents were more frequent for Korean females than for Japanese females. In cancers, liver cancer was most common among Korean males, followed by stomach and lung cancers. Stomach cancer was most frequent among Korean females, followed by uterine and liver cancers. The ratio of cancer mortality rates for Koreans and Japanese was significantly higher than 1.0 for oesophagus, liver and lung among males, and for liver among females. Koreans had considerably higher levels of liver cancer and liver cirrhosis compared with Japanese. Mortality from stomach cancer was significantly lower in both sexes among Koreans in Osaka and the reduction of this disease among Koreans in Japan occurred more rapidly than among Japanese.

Selective alveolo-bronchographic findings in type B chronic obstructive lung disease patients with particular reference to lesions in small airways.

Selective alveolo-bronchography (SAB) was performed in 14 patients with type B chronic obstructive lung disease to evaluate the morphologic changes of their "small airways". The distance from the branching portion of the segmental bronchus (B9) to the end of the conducting airway was divided into three equal parts (central, middle and peripheral). In the peripheral part, interruption of the airway with a rounded or tapering end was noted at a high incidence (9 cases). Dilatation of the bronchus, irregular outline of the bronchial wall and increased angle of branching were also conspicuous in this part. Inadequate lateral branchings of airways were often observed in the middle and the peripheral part, particularly in the latter (10 cases). Generalized narrowing of an airway and narrowing especially at a branching point were observed in about one half of the cases. Fringes and/or spikes were most often seen in the central part of the airway (9 cases). These pathological appearances are considered to reflect morphologic changes in "small airway disease", and thus SAB can serve as a useful method for detecting lesions of the small airways.