Bacteroides pyogenes isolated from appendiceal abscess in a patient without animal contact.

Bacteroides pyogenes is a member of the oral flora of cats and dogs. We report a case of B. pyogenes isolated from an appendiceal abscess in a patient without a history of animal contact. This species was identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and sequencing of 16S rRNA, rpoB, gyrB and hsp60 genes.

[A statistic study of airborne pollen grains].

Since 1969, authors have been doing a statistical analysis of airborne pollen grains, aiming at the clarification of their atmospheric behaviors, in connection with an increase in a number of pollinosis cases. The airborne pollens were collected three times a week starting from January 1 and ending December 31 with the help of cascade impactor, by which 6001 of air was suctioned at the rate of 51 per min for 2 h from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 at the rooftop of one of the buildings (16 m high) in the Narashino Campus of Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba. The collected airborne pollens were numerated and classified under microscope according to the Ikuse's classification system for Japanese pollens. The number of days (n) was plotted as a function of daily number of a certain type of airborne pollens (x), not fitting to a simple normal distribution. However, the data were found to approximate a normal distribution when x was log-transformed as ln (x + 1). Among the statistical methods tested, semilogarithmic plot, Weibull plot, Edwards' plot and circular graph method were found to be useful in the follow-up of seasonal variation of environmental pollen grains, especially when used in combination.

A statistic study of atmospheric pollen in Japan.

By using a volumetric method, the authors made an investigation on airborne pollen grains in connection with the incidence of pollinosis since 1969, in Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. The airborne pollen grains in each sample were counted under the microscope to identify the pollen types, and the pollen grains were classified into seven types according to the classification of pollen grains in Japan reported by Ikuse. In this report, the accumulated number of each species was analyzed statistically by circular plot, semi-logarithmic plot and test of skewness (g1) and kurtosis (g2) of frequency distribution by G. W. Snedecor. From the investigation in the years of 1969, 1970, 1990, 1991, the most frequent airborne pollen grains belonged to the 1-aperturate 3C(ab) type pollen in 1969 and 1970, and to the 1-aperturate 3B type pollen in 1990 and 1991, reflecting the change of environment during twenty years. By the g1 and g2 statistics for almost all species, the mode of distribution curve was significantly smaller than the mean, indicating that the whole distribution significantly skewed from a normal distribution, and the peak was flat for the herbs, while sharp for the trees.

Are free radicals involved in Ca(2+)-induced membrane damage of mitochondria?

Ca(2+)-Induced membrane damage of energized mitochondria has been proposed to be due to lipid peroxidation induced by Ca2+. To examine this possibility, we studied the effects of the radical scavenger, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT), and its derivative, 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxytoluene (MeO-BHT), on membrane damage of respiring mitochondria induced by Ca2+ in the presence of inorganic phosphate. Both compounds inhibited Ca(2+)-induced damage almost completely at 20 microM, and their effects were identical, although MeO-BHT had no radical scavenging ability. These results indicate that the protective effects of BHT and MeO-BHT are not due to their radical scavenging ability. Thus, free radicals are concluded not to be involved in Ca(2+)-induced membrane damage of mitochondria.

Protective effect of the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate against damage of the mitochondrial membrane induced by calcium: possible participation of the adenine nucleotide translocator.

The effect of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the response of isolated rat liver mitochondria to Ca2+ was investigated. DEHP was found to inhibit more than 60% of the auto-accelerating release of respiration induced by 100 microM Ca2+, being maximally inhibitory at 40 microM. Prior addition of DEHP also partially inhibited Ca2+-induced swelling of the mitochondrial matrix. However, DEHP did not change the net rate of Ca2+ uptake measured by the steady-state infusion method. DEHP also reduced the rate of adenine nucleotide exchange across the mitochondrial membrane. Another alkyl phthalate and alkyl citrates had similar effects on Ca2+-induced membrane damage, but their potencies depended on the lengths of their alkyl chains. These results suggest that the effects of DEHP and other alkyl esters on mitochondrial functions are mainly based on their actions on membrane lipids surrounding adenine nucleotide translocator (AdNT), resulting in alteration of the interaction between these phospholipids and AdNT, and consequent modification of the state of the protein.

Effect of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria: modification of the function of the adenine nucleotide translocator.

The effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) on oxidative phosphorylation of isolated rat liver mitochondria was investigated. DEHP at concentrations of 20-1000 microM had no effect on state 4 respiration, but at 40 microM, DEHP decreased the rate of state 3 respiration by about 20%. Although DEHP had no effect on electron transport through the respiratory chain, it decreased the rate of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Its inhibition of ATP synthesis showed a similar concentration dependence to that of state 3 respiration. Furthermore, DEHP at 40 microM inhibited the uptake of [3H]adenosine diphosphate into mitochondria. DEHP also retarded the action of cationic uncoupling agents, which are known to modify the 29000-dalton protein involved in adenine nucleotide exchange. These results suggest that DEHP affects the activity of adenine nucleotide exchange and consequently partially decreases the rate of state 3 respiration. The action of DEHP on the 29000-dalton protein involves a protective effect against mitochondrial damage induced by hydrophobic cations or heavy metal cations.