High-pressure synthesis of the cubic perovskite BaRuO3 and evolution of ferromagnetism in ARuO3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) ruthenates.

The cubic perovskite BaRuO(3) has been synthesized under 18 GPa at 1,000 degrees C. Rietveld refinement indicates that the new compound has a stretched Ru-O bond. The cubic perovskite BaRuO(3) remains metallic to 4 K and exhibits a ferromagnetic transition at T(c) = 60 K, which is significantly lower than the T(c) approximately = 160 K for SrRuO(3). The availability of cubic perovskite BaRuO(3) not only makes it possible to map out the evolution of magnetism in the whole series of ARuO(3) (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) as a function of the ionic size of the A-site r(A,) but also completes the polytypes of BaRuO(3). Extension of the plot of T(c) versus r(A) in perovskites ARuO(3) (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) shows that T(c) does not increase as the cubic structure is approached, but has a maximum for orthorhombic SrRuO(3). Suppressing T(c) by Ca and Ba doping in SrRuO(3) is distinguished by sharply different magnetic susceptibilities chi(T) of the paramagnetic phase. This distinction has been interpreted in the context of a Griffiths' phase on the (Ca Sr)RuO(3) side and bandwidth broadening on the (Sr,Ba)RuO(3) side.

Generation of pressures over 40 GPa using Kawai-type multi-anvil press with tungsten carbide anvils.

We have generated over 40 GPa pressures, namely, 43 and 44 GPa, at ambient temperature and 2000 K, respectively, using Kawai-type multi-anvil presses (KMAP) with tungsten carbide anvils for the first time. These high-pressure generations were achieved by combining the following pressure-generation techniques: (1) precisely aligned guide block systems, (2) high hardness of tungsten carbide, (3) tapering of second-stage anvil faces, (4) materials with high bulk modulus in a high-pressure cell, and (5) high heating efficiency.

Characteristics of organic cation transporter in rat renal basolateral membrane.

Characteristics of organic cation transport system were studied in rat renal basolateral membrane and compared with those in brush-border membrane. We first examined the effect of various chemical modifiers on tetraethylammonium uptake by the membrane vesicles. Treatment with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and phenylglyoxal (carboxyl groups and arginine residues specific reagent, respectively) resulted in inhibition of tetraethylammonium transport in both basolateral and brush-border membranes. Tetraethylammonium uptake by brush-border, but not by basolateral, membrane vesicles was decreased by diethyl pyrocarbonate, histidine residues specific reagent, treatment. Treatment of sulfhydryl groups with HgCl2 decreased tetraethylammonium transport in both membranes. However, in contrast to brush-border membrane, unlabeled tetraethylammonium failed to protect against the inhibition of [14C]tetraethylammonium uptake by p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate in basolateral membrane. We next examined the inhibitory effect of various organic cations on tetraethylammonium uptake. The order of inhibitory potency of organic cations was somewhat different between two membranes. These findings suggest that the characteristics of organic cation transport systems in basolateral and brush-border membranes were different in regard to essential amino acid residues and the affinity of substrates.

Inhibitory effect of KW-3902, an adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, on p-aminohippurate transport in OK cells.

KW-3902 (8-(noradamantan-3-yl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine) is a novel potent and selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist. We examined the effect of KW-3902 on p-aminohippurate (PAH) transport in opossum kidney (OK) epithelial cells. Pretreatment for 3 h with KW-3902 inhibited the transcellular transport of PAH across OK cell monolayers from the basal to the apical side. The uptake of PAH across the basolateral membrane of OK cells was inhibited by KW-3902 pretreatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. A kinetic analysis revealed that the inhibitory effect of KW-3902 on the basolateral PAH uptake was due to an increase in the Michaelis constant (K(m)) as well as a decrease in the maximum uptake rate (V(max)), showing that the inhibition was a mixed type. Pretreatment with adenosine deaminase or 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, another selective adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist, also decreased the basolateral PAH uptake. KW-3902 pretreatment had no effect on the concentration of intracellular alpha-ketoglutarate which exchanges for PAH across the basolateral membrane of OK cells. These results suggest that KW-3902 has an inhibitory effect on PAH transport in OK epithelial cells.

Transport of bestatin in rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles.

Bestatin [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl-L-leucine] is a dipeptide, comprising L-leucine and an unusual beta-amino acid. We studied its transport mechanism in rat renal brush-border membrane vesicles. Uptake of cephradine, an aminocephalosporin, by isolated brush-border membrane vesicles was trans-stimulated and cis-inhibited by bestatin, indicating that these drugs are transported via the same transport system(s). The uptake of bestatin was trans-stimulated by preloading the vesicles with glycylsarcosine, and was cis-inhibited by substrates for the H+/dipeptide cotransport system. Bestatin inhibited tetraethylammonium (an organic cation) uptake, and bestatin uptake was cis-inhibited by substrates for the H+/organic cation antiport system. In addition, bestatin uptake was stimulated by an outward H+ gradient (the driving force for the H+/organic cation antiport system). These findings suggest that bestatin, in spite of being a dipeptide, is transported via not only the H+/dipeptide cotransport system but also the H+/organic cation antiport system in rat renal brush-border membrane.

Bestatin transport in rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles.

The effect of papain treatment on bestatin uptake by rabbit intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) was studied. Papain treatment of BBMVs effectively diminished aminopeptidase activity but not bestatin uptake by a H+/dipeptide cotransporter. Bestatin uptake by BBMVs was composed of two saturable components, and after papain treatment the high-affinity component disappeared while the low-affinity component was retained. These findings suggest that high- and low-affinity components represent bestatin binding to aminopeptidase and the true uptake by the H+/dipeptide cotransporter, respectively.

Steady-state kinetic study on the inhibition of the adenosinetriphosphatase activity of dynein from Tetrahymena cilia by glycerol.

The characteristics of glycerol-induced inhibition of the dynein ATPase extracted from Tetrahymena cilia were investigated. Fifty percent inhibition was observed at about 15% (v/v) glycerol with the 22S dynein Mg-ATPase. Ethylene glycol was equally inhibitory, while sucrose, a kind of polyol, was less effective. The glycerol-induced inhibition of the 22S dynein Mg-ATPase was not influenced by pH or by raising the ionic strength of the assay solution. An aqueous glycerol solution treated with anion or cation exchanger or charcoal was equally inhibitory to a non-treated solution. The inhibition was most likely to be due to glycerol or ethylene glycol itself, not to a contaminant. The inhibition of the 22S dynein Mg-ATPase was apparently noncompetitive: only the Vmax was reduced without a significant change in the apparent Km. The dynein ATPase is known to be inhibited potently by vanadate. Glycerol reduced the sensitivity of the dynein ATPase to the vanadate-induced inhibition. Glycerol exhibited a decelerating effect on the rate of the oxygen exchange between phosphate and water catalyzed by 22S dynein in the presence of ADP and Mg2+. If it is assumed that the rate constants of the ATP hydrolysis step are not affected by glycerol, it may be implied that the phosphate release from the E.ADP.P1 intermediate was decelerated by glycerol and that the deceleration of the phosphate release paralleled the reduction of the overall ATPase activity over a wide range of glycerol concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies on ribosomal ribonucleic acid from yeast. III. Secondary structure of 18 and 26S yeast ribosomal RNA's and their complex: circular dichroism and infrared analyses.

Circular dichroism (CD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic analyses were performed of 26 and 18S yeast ribosomal RNA's (rRNA) and their specific complex, 30S RNA. The molecular ellipticity coefficients [thota] of 18, 26, and 30S rRNA's were 2.72, 2.63, and 2.65X10(4) degree-cm2/decimole at 264 nm, respectively. The base-pairing contents of 18, 26, and 30S rna's determined by iC), and 70% (32% AU, 38% GC), respectively. These results suggest that 18 and 26S rRNA have very similar secondary structures, and that 30S rna may have a slightly higher base-pairing content than the estimated sum of those of 18 and 26S rRNA's. The biological significance of this phenomenon is discussed in this report.

Small angle neutron scattering from lysozyme solutions in unsaturated and supersaturated states (SANS from lysozyme solutions).

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) method was used to study lysozyme solutions, with particular interest in an understanding of the crystallization process at the initial stage. It is found that (1) in the unsaturated solution, the protein molecules aggregate with a continuous increase in size when NaCl concentration is increased, and (2) in the supersaturated solution, an irreversible change, superimposed on the former process, occurs when the supersaturation is realized. These facts indicate the usefulness of SANS in detecting changes of protein molecules in solution on the nanometer scale. The reliability of the SANS results are indicated by (1) comparing them with those of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and (2) comparing the effect of D(2)O and H(2)O as solvent. Since the interparticle interaction is essential in the crystallization process and a simple Guinier plot analysis is not allowed, a more rigorous framework of analyzing data with interference function is developed, through which both average interparticle distance and particle size are estimated.

Genetic and genotype x environment interaction effects for the content of seven essential amino acids in indica rice.

It is necessary for rice breeders to understand the genetic basis of nutrient quality traits of rice. Essential amino acids are most important in determining the nutrient quality of rice grain and can affect the health of people who depend on rice as a staple food. In view of the paucity of genetic information available on essential amino acids in indica rice, we estimated the genetic main effects and genotype x environment (G x E) interaction effects on the content of essential amino acids. Nine cytoplasmic male sterile lines as females and five restorer lines as males were introduced in a North Carolina II design across environments. Estimates of the content of the essential amino acids valine, methionine, leucine and phenylalanine showed that they were mainly controlled by genetic main effects, while the contents of threonine, cysteine and isoleucine were mainly affected by G x E effects. In the case of genetic main effects, both cytoplasmic and maternal genetic effects were predominant for all essential amino acids, indicating that selection for improving essential amino acid content based on maternal performance would be more effective than that based on seeds. The total narrow-sense heritabilities were high and ranged from 0.72 to 0.83. Since general heritabilities for these essential amino acids (except for cysteine) were found to be much larger than G x E interaction heritability, the improvement of content of most essential amino acids under selection would be expected under various environments. Rice varieties such as Zhenan 3, Yinchao 1, T49, 26715, 102 and 1391 should be selected as optimal parents for increasing the content of most essential amino acids, while the total genetic effects from Zhexie 2, Xieqingzao, Gangchao 1, V20, Zuo 5 and Zhenshan 97 were mainly negative and these parents could decrease the contents of most essential amino acids.

Abnormal sensations of the pharyngo-larynx.

By use of a chart questionnaire, abnormal sensations of the pharyngo-larynx (ASPL) were analyzed between May 1-October 30, 1984 and followed up uintil 1 year after the first consultation date. Two hundred ninety-one patients from the total were found to suffer from ASPL, the ratio of ASPL to all out-patients being 1.47%. The ratio of sex distinction was 6.2 (males): 10 (females). A significant number of ASPL cases occured between the ages of 30-59 years old. ASPL patients were divided into the following categories: (1) causes originating from the ENT field, (2) internal medicine origin, (3) psychological internal medicine, (4) malignant origin and (5) unknown origin. The authors also conducted an investigation of the relationship between iron deficiency and abnormal sensations of the pharyngo-larynx. ASPL in females aged between 30 to 40 years indicated a significant relation to anemia of latent iron deficiency. The authors also investigated from the psychological internal medicine view and the results revealed sticky sensations of the pharyngo-larynx and autonomic imbalances with position reaction to psychosomatic and neurotic symptoms.

[Detection of cross-reacting protein antigen from urinary tract pathogens by using reversed passive gelatin agglutination test].

The basic studies on detection and titration of the 60-kDa cross-reacting protein antigen (CRPA), which is common to gram-negative rods, by reversed passive gelatin agglutination test with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were performed. The gelatin particles sensitized with 500 micrograms/ml of the monoclonal antibody had an ability to react with 200 ng/ml of the purified CRPA for 1.5 h. In contrast, the particles sensitized with 200 micrograms/ml of the polyclonal antibody had an ability to react with 25 ng/ml of the purified CRPA for 1.5 h. In addition, the detection of the 60-kDa CRPA in urinary tract pathogens, which consisted of 60 bacterial strains representing 14 species, was carried out by using the gelatin particles sensitized with 200 micrograms/ml of the polyclonal antibody. The CRPA was detected in all gram-negative rods of urinary tract pathogens, but not in gram-positive cocci. These results suggested that the detection of the 60-kDa CRPA by reversed passive gelatin agglutination test was a rapid and simple method for screening gram-negative bacteriuria.

[A case report of the atypical tuberculosis associated with AIDS].

A 49-year-old Japanese male who had been imprisoned for five years then lived with other men complained of fever, constitutional symptoms and a 12 kg weight loss over four-month period. He was referred to us as his gastric washings were positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Chest X-ray showed patchy, infiltrative small shadows primarily in the right upper lung field without hilar adenopathy. Before transfer to our hospital, tuberculosis chemotherapy composed of SM, INH, RFP and PZA was initiated. Over the next three weeks, fever dropped, and the above described abnormal shadows on the chest X-ray improved, leaving small cystic lesions. Although a sputum smear was negative for AFB, M. tuberculosis was isolated from cultured samples and sensitive to all standard anti-tuberculous drugs. AFB were also demonstrated on a touch imprint of biopsied cervical lymph nodes. Sputum samples turned negative one month later both on smear and culture. Moreover, high fever developed and another abnormal shadow indicative of Pneumocystis carinii (PCP) appeared in the left lung field one month after the admission. White plaque was noted in the oral cavity. Dark red nodules were observed on the upper extremities and chest wall, and diagnosed histologically as Kaposi's sarcoma. Serologic testing for HIV was positive both by PA and Western blot methods, thus AIDS was diagnosed according to the CDC surveillance case definition for AIDS with the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The patient died of wasting syndrome on the 90th hospital day. On autopsy, small thin-walled cavities were observed in the right upper lung, correlating with earlier X-ray and CT findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A nested case-control study of risk factors for circulatory disease--correlation of initial medical examination findings with mortality and their progression].

Risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and heart disease (HD) were studied prospectively in 2112 men and women, aged 30-59, initially without history of either disease, living in the Nishi-izu district of Shizuoka Prefecture. Baseline medical examinations were performed in 1964-1966 and subjects were followed until 1985. There were 93 CVD cases and 64 HD cases identified by death certificate during the follow-up period. Using a nested case-control design, risk variables at the last medical examination before death of the 157 cases (93 CVD cases and 64 HD cases) were compared to examination results of 314 controls (survivors) matched for gender, age (+/- 2 years), and residential district. Using the same design, the progression of risk variables over the 5 +/- 1 years prior to the last examination was followed to identify factors associated with circulatory disease. From conditional logistic regression analysis using findings at the last health examination, significant risk variables for CVD were found to be high blood pressure and abnormality in electrocardiogram (ECG), while risk variables for HD were hypertensive or arteriosclerotic changes in ocular fundus, and ECG abnormalities. From the same multivariate analysis using the progression of findings, the most significant risk variable for either CVD or HD was abnormalities in ECG. The present study suggests that in addition to cross-sectional findings on a given occasion, following the progression of findings through serial health examinations yields useful information for management of the health of residents.

[Is routine application of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting warranted?].

The limitation and indication of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) remain controversial. Since May 1999, we have applied OPCAB for all isolated coronary bypass cases routinely. Intraoperative conversion to CCAB occurred in 8 patients (10.8%). The main reasons for conversion were intramyocardial coronary arteries and arythmia-induced hemodynamic instability in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. We evaluated the results of OPCAB as compared to conventional coronary artery bypass (CCAB) as a historical control. The operative mortality was 1.6% in both groups. Postoperative complications including renal failure and requirements of circulatory support were significantly less in OPCAB. Postoperative max CPK-MB value, the amount of postoperative bleeding and the requirement of transfusion were also significantly less in OPCAB. Only neurological complication in OPCAB was temporary delirium in a high-aged patient, whereas three patients developed neurological complications including permanent stroke in CCAB. Right heart bypass was effectively utilized to maintain hemodynamics and expose the posterior vessels in patients with severely dilated and poorly functioning left ventricle (EF: 24-31%) and a patient with multiple severe stenosis in cerebral arteries. Coronary angiogram performed after the operation demonstrated 94% of graft patency. These results warrant the further application of OPCAB for multivessel surgical revascularization.

[An autopsy case of systemic sclerosis with small cell carcinoma of the lung].

We report an autopsy of a 69-year-old woman who had systemic sclerosis with small cell carcinoma of the lung. She had interstitial pneumonia associated with systemic sclerosis and was admitted to our hospital because of acute on chronic respiratory failure due to a respiratory tract infection. Although she was treated with antibiotics, artificial respiration, and so on, she died 54 days after admission of exacerbation of respiratory failure. Histopathological examination at autopsy revealed intermediate cell type small cell carcinoma of the lung and usual interstitial pneumonia. It is generally said that the most common type of lung cancer associated with systemic sclerosis is adenocarcinoma or alveolar cell carcinoma, and that small cell carcinoma is rare. No autopsy case of systemic sclerosis with small cell carcinoma of the lung has ever been reported in Japan. Small cell carcinoma of the lung is more responsive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy than other histological types of lung cancer. Patients with small cell lung cancer are generally treated with chemotherapy alone or a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is important to remember that the lung cancers that may be complicated with systemic sclerosis include not only adenocarcinoma and alveolar cell carcinoma but also small cell carcinoma of the lung, because the histological type may dictate the treatment.

[Study of serum phospholipase A2 activity in bronchial asthmatic patients].

We examined serum PLA2, lipids and platelets in 133 bronchial asthma patients who had not taken any glucocorticoids. Serum PLA2 was measured by radioimmunoassay. Serum PLA2 activity in the bronchial asthma patients was 384.2 +/- 114.7 (pmol/ml/min), and in the control group (healthy subjects) it was 271.7 +/- 53.9; this is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). Serum PLA2 of the mixed type was higher than that of the atopic type (p < 0.05) with respect to age, those subjects in their 60s showed statistically higher serum PLA2 values than those in their 20s and 30s (p < 0.05). The serum PLA2 level was statistically higher in a patient with an attack (409.1 +/- 113.9) than without an attack (342.6 +/- 94.3) (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in lipid and platelet levels according to attack status. In conclusion, the serum PLA2 level is not only higher in asthma patients with attacks, but is also higher in asthma patients without attacks when compared to the control group. Therefore, the measurement of serum PLA2 is significant in predicting attacks.

Loss of multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) is associated with metformin-induced lactic acidosis.

BACKGROUNDS AND PURPOSE: Lactic acidosis is a fatal adverse effect of metformin, but the risk factor remains unclear. Multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) is expressed in the luminal membrane of the kidney and liver. MATE1 was revealed to be responsible for the tubular and biliary secretion of metformin. Therefore, some MATE polymorphisms, that cause it to function abnormally, are hypothesized to induce lactic acidosis. The purpose of this study is to clarify the association between MATE dysfunction and metformin-induced lactic acidosis. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Blood lactate, pH and bicarbonate ion (HCO(3) (-) ) levels were evaluated during continuous administration of 3 mg·mL(-1) metformin in drinking water using Mate1 knockout (-/-), heterozygous (+/-) and wild-type (+/+) mice. To determine the tissue accumulation of metformin, mice were given 400 mg·kg(-1) metformin orally. Furthermore, blood lactate data were obtained from diabetic patients given metformin. KEY RESULTS: Seven days after metformin administration in drinking water, significantly higher blood lactate, lower pH and HCO(3) (-) levels were observed in Mate1(-/-) mice, but not in Mate1(+/-) mice. The blood lactate levels were not affected in patients with the heterozygous MATE variant (MATE1-L125F, MATE1-G64D, MATE2-K-G211V). Sixty minutes after metformin administration (400 mg·kg(-1) , p.o.) the hepatic concentration of metformin was markedly higher in Mate1(-/-) mice than in Mate1(+/+) mice. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: MATE1 dysfunction caused a marked elevation in the metformin concentration in the liver and led to lactic acidosis, suggesting that the homozygous MATE1 variant could be one of the risk factors for metformin-induced lactic acidosis.