Studies on the Metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis II. Comparative studies on the dehydrogenase reactions by intact cell suspensions and cell-free extracts of virulent and avirulent strains

By using H37 Rv and H3 7R astrains of human tubercle bacillus, a series of comparative studies have been made on the dehydrogenase reactions by the intact cells possessing the acid-fast natures and by the cell-free extracts without that nature. The results are as follows: 1) In both strains, in the case of cell-free extracts without the addition of substrate, dehydrogenase activity decreases to about 1/2 of that of the intact cells. 2) With the use of hexose as substrates, the dehydrogenase activities of the cell-free extract of H37Rv strain are somewhat higher than those of intact cells, while in the case of H37Ra strain the activities of the cell-free extract are lower than those of intact cells. 3) The activities of the cell-free extracts to pyruvate and lactate are, in both strains, markedly lower than those of intact cells, whereas in the case of H37 Rv strain the malate dehydrogenating activity is greater in the from of cell-free extract than in intact cells. 4) To histidine, the activity of the cell-free extracts of both strains is far greater than that of intact cells

Studies on prevention of infection (I) Antigenic capacity of enzymati-cally active fractions isolated from tubercle bacilli against tuberculosis of mouse

After grinding the tubercle bacilli cells, both human virulent strain, H37Rv, and avirulent strain, H37Ra, cultured in 5auton's medium, and obtaining three fractions of R1, S1 and R2 (R1, the first sediment; S1, the second supernatant; and R2, the second sediment) by the ultracentrifugation, the authors studied the enzymatic activities and the antigenic capacity against infection of these fractions; and obtained the following results: 1) Although the R1-fraction confers the defensive forte to mice in some degree, because of the presence of living bacilli in the fraction, it is difficult to decide definitely whether the defensive force owes its capability to this fraction or to living bacilli at the present stage of our experiment. 2) The S1-fraction possesses enzymatic activity on various substrates, but it does not confer animal any defensive force against infection. 3) The R2-fraction specifically oxidizes lactate and succinate&#34; and it can markedly impart animal the defensive ability against infection.</p

Studies on prevention of infection (II) The enzymologic traits and pro­tective ability of the fractions obtained from Sal. typhi by high speed centrifugation

By physically destroying typhoid bacilli and centrifuging at a high speed, an insoluble granular fraction (P1) and soluble fraction (S1) were obtained. Chemical and enzymologic properties of these substances as well as their influences on the protective ability against infection were studied; and the following results were attained: 1. P1 contains an extremely small amount of proteins when compared with S1. 2. The enzymologic activity of P1 is entirely different from that of S1. In P1 the respiratory enzyme system of only lactate and succinate is localized. 3. Although both P1 and S1 possess the antibody-producing ability in serum of rabbit to the same high degree, P1 imparts to mice a markedly high protective ability against infection. 4. By the heat-treatment of P1 its antigenicity is lost at the same time.</p

A novel peptide of endothelin family, 31 amino-acid length endothelin in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Human chymase converts big endothelin (ET)-1 to 31-amino acid length ET-1 {ET-1(1-31)} that also possesses a potent vasoconstrictive action. In addition, ET-1(1-31) is an intermediate peptide, which is then readily transformed to mature ET-1 by the neutral endopeptidase 24-11. To investigate the relevance of pathophysiology of ET-1(1-31) in vivo, we have developed specific sandwich-type, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the plasma concentration of ET-1(1-31) in healthy volunteers and patients with myocardial infarction. The plasma concentrations of ET-1(1-31) in healthy volunteers were 24.8±5.2 pg/ml (n=11). ET-1(1-31) concentration in plasma was elevated in patients with acute myocardial infarction, and its elevation was several times higher and lasted longer than that of ET-1. In addition, tissue concentration of ET-1(1-31) in the myocardium from a patient with acute myocardial infarction was extremely high (12729.8±2617.7 pg/mg protein). These results suggest that ET-1(1-31) may play some pathological roles in the remodeling, especially in sites where inflammatory cells produced a large amount of proteases, such as myocardial infarction

Pressure-induced volumetric negative thermal expansion in CoZr2 superconductor

We investigate the thermal expansion and superconducting properties of a CuAl2-type (tetragonal) superconductor CoZr2 under high pressures. We perform high-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a pressure range of 2.9 GPa < P < 10.4 GPa and discover that CoZr2 exhibits volumetric negative thermal expansion under high pressures. Although the uniaxial positive thermal expansion (PTE) along the a-axis is observed under ambient pressure, that is suppressed by pressure, while the large uniaxial negative thermal expansion (NTE) along the c-axis is maintained under the pressure regime. As a result of a combination of the suppressed uniaxial PTE along the a-axis and uniaxial NTE along the c-axis, volumetric negative thermal expansion is achieved under high pressure in CoZr2. The mechanisms of volumetric NTE would be based on the flexible crystal structure caused by the soft Co-Co bond as seen in the iso-structural compound FeZr2, which exhibits uniaxial NTE along the c-axis. We also perform high-pressure electrical resistance measurements of CoZr2 to confirm the presence of superconductivity under the examined pressure regime in the range of 0.03 GPa < P < 41.9 GPa. We confirm the presence of superconductivity under all pressures and observe dome-like shape pressure dependence of superconducting transition temperature. Because of the coexistence of two phenomena, which are volumetric NTE and superconductivity, in CoZr2 under high pressure, the coexistence would be achievable under ambient pressure by tuning chemical compositions after our present observation.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, supporting informatio

Clinical Usefulness of the VS Classification System Using Magnifying Endoscopy with Blue Laser Imaging for Early Gastric Cancer

Background. Blue laser imaging (BLI) enables the acquisition of more information from tumors’ surfaces compared with white light imaging. Few reports confirm the validity of magnifying endoscopy (ME) with BLI (ME-BLI) for early gastric cancer (EGC). We aimed to assess the detailed endoscopic findings from EGCs using ME-BLI. Methods. We enrolled 386 consecutive patients with 417 EGCs that were diagnosed using ME-BLI and resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection. Using the VS classification system, three highly experienced endoscopists (HEEs) and three less experienced endoscopists (LEEs) evaluated the demarcation line (DL), microsurface pattern (MSP), and microvascular pattern (MVP) within the endoscopic images of EGCs obtained using ME-BLI, assigning high-confidence (HC) or low-confidence (LC) levels. We investigated the clinicopathological features associated with each confidence level. Results. The HEEs’ evaluations determined the presence of DL in 99%, irregular MSP in 96%, and irregular MVP in 96%, and the LEEs’ evaluations determined the presence of DL in 98%, irregular MSP in 95%, and irregular MVP in 95% of the EGCs. When DL was present, HC levels in the Helicobacter pylori- (H. pylori-) eradicated group and noneradicated group were evident in 65% and 89%, a difference that was significant (p<0.001). Conclusions. In the diagnosis of EGC with ME-BLI, the VS classification system with ME-NBI can be applied, but identifying the DL after H. pylori was difficult

Simultaneous Combined Resection with Trachea, Bronchus and Aorta for Carcinoma of Thoracic Esophagus

Clinical experiences with combined sleeve resection of the trachea, bronchus and aorta with esophagectomy for esophageal cancer were reported in 6 cases including concurrent combined resection of the aorta and left main bronchus in one. 1) These cancers were advanced ones, showing nodal involvement of n2 in one, n3 in three and n4 in two. 2) In the three cases of combined resections of the aorta, it was made via left thoracotomy using preceding bypass with artificial vessel. There was no complication related to vascular surgery. 3) It must be prudent to determine the extent of the resection for involved trachea on the basis of an experience having recurrence at anastomosis. 4) It was sure that surgical outcome of combined resection was not necessarily satisfactory but improvement of it would be expected by avoiding early postoperative complication with meticulous postoperative care. 5) Based on our clinical experience with appearance of early lung metastasis following surgery, it is emphasized that potent multidisciplinary treatment is mandatory for improvement of the surgical result