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A 73-year-old man had sigmoidectomy for sigmoid colon cancer in December 2001. Although he was followed regularly with chemotherapy, his serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) increased on August 2002. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a right adrenal mass and no other abnormality. The preoperative diagnosis was a solitary adrenal metastasis from sigmoid colon cancer; the lesion was removed in September 2002. On pathology, adrenal metastasis was confirmed. Although the patient's serum CEA normalized soon thereafter, 12 months after adrenalectomy, the CEA again increased; the patient had local recurrence of the resected adrenal lesion and liver metastasis. Therefore, the patient was given systemic chemotherapy, but his condition deteriorated, and he died 38 months after adrenalectomy. Adrenal metastasis from colorectal cancer is not unusual; however, a solitary metastasis is rarely found and resected surgically. As surgical treatment of the metastatic lesion could improve patients' prognosis to some extent if it is detected early, the possibility of adrenal metastasis should be kept in mind when colorectal cancer patients are followed.

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The purpose of this study was to compare the mesh-plug repair with the Bassini repair for the treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernias. Patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernias who underwent a Bassini repair (n = 118) between January 1992 and May 1996 and a mesh-plug repair (n = 113) between July 1996 and April 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. We recorded information regarding the types of hernia according to Nyhus classification, operation time, complications, postoperative recovery, and recurrence after surgery. The two groups were comparable regarding age, sex, side of hernia, types of hernia, and the follow-up interval. The operation time was 55 +/- 20min for Bassini repair and 54 +/- 18min for mesh-plug repair. There was no incidence of mesh infection in the mesh-plug repair cases. The amount of diclofenac sodium (suppository) was 307 +/- 222mg in the Bassini repair group and 132 +/- 182mg in the mesh-plug repair group (P < 0.0001). The length of hospital stay was 8.2 +/- 2.0 days in the Bassini repair group and 4.3 +/- 2.7 days in the mesh-plug repair group (P < 0.01). Nine patients (7.6%) in the Bassini repair group had recurrence, compared with one patient (0.9%) in the mesh-plug repair group. The recurrence-free survival in the mesh-plug repair group was significantly longer than that in the Bassini repair group (P = 0.03). In conclusion, patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernias who undergo a mesh-plug repair recover more rapidly and have less recurrence in comparison with those who undergo a Bassini repair.

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Crystal structures of conformationally restricted (Z)- and (E)-6-styrylpurines with the beta-substituents involving hydrogen, chlorine, and bromine atoms as well as a methylthio group were studied as conformer models of N(6)-adenines in relation to active conformation of cytokinins. X-ray crystallographic analyses confirmed that all of the trans-isomers exist in an anti conformation, whereas the cis-isomers except the (E)-methylthio derivative adopt a syn conformation. The derivative with a bulky beta-substituent was found to be in an anti conformation in contrast to the other cis-isomers. The preferred anti conformation and potent cytokinin activity of the trans-isomers supports the anti-transoid form as the most plausible active conformation of N(6)-adenines. In addition, it is likely that the syn-cisoid form of N(6)-adenines is also involved in receptor binding, by considering both the preferred syn conformation of the cis-isomers and their moderate activity, although it does not play a major role compared to the anti-transoid form.

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The spike G protein of bacteriophage phiX174 was prepared as a hexa histidine-tagged G protein (HisG). In the enzyme-linked plate assay, HisG bound specifically to lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of the phiX174-sensitive strains, and did not bind to LPSs of the phiX174-insensitive strains. The truncated G protein obtained after trypsin digestion of HisG had the similar affinity to the LPSs to HisG, indicating that eight amino acid residues from the N-terminus are not essential to the binding with the LPSs.

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7-Phenylethynylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and its riboside have been newly developed as fluorescent carbon-substituted cytokinin analogues. Palladium-catalyzed coupling of 7-iodo-3-(tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine with phenylacetylene followed by ammonolysis afforded the 7-phenylethynyl riboside via its tri-O-acetate. Acid hydrolysis of the riboside provided its free base, which showed a marked enhancement in fluorescence intensity in an aqueous alkaline solution. The free base and its riboside were more active than the corresponding 6-phenylethynylpurine and its riboside, respectively, in Amaranthus betacyanin and tobacco callus bioassays. Surprisingly, the imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine base exhibited strong cytokinin activity comparable to that of N(6)-benzyladenine in the tobacco callus bioassay. This compound would be useful for studying localization and transport of cytokinins in cells or tissues of plants.

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The spike H protein of bacteriophage phiX174 was prepared as a hexa histidine-tagged fusion (HisH). On enzyme-linked plate assaying, HisH was found to bind specifically to the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of phiX174-sensitive strains, Escherichia coli C and Salmonella typhimurium Ra chemotype, having the complete oligosaccharide sequence of the R-core on the LPSs. In sharp contrast, HisH bound weakly to the LPSs of phiX174-insensitive strains, i.e. E. coli F583 (Rd(2)) lacking some terminal saccharides and E. coli O111: B4 (smooth strain) having additional O-repeats on the R-core. The fluorescence spectra of HisH changed dose-dependently in the case of the LPS of E. coli C, the intensity increasing and the emission peak shifting to the shorter wavelength side, which was attributable to the hydrophobic interaction of HisH with the LPS. The binding equilibrium was analyzed by fluorometric titration to determine the dissociation constant K(d), 7.02 +/- 0.37 microM, and the Gibbs free energy change DeltaG(0), -29.1 kJ mol(-1) (at 22 degrees C, pH 7.4). Based on the temperature dependence of (K)d in a van't Hoff plot, the standard enthalpy change DeltaH(0) and the entropy change DeltaS(0) were calculated to be +23.7 kJ mol(-1) and 179 J mol(-1) K(-1) at 22 degrees C, respectively, and this binding was thereby concluded to be an entropy-driven reaction.

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The DNA fragment encoding the spike H protein of bacteriophage phiX174 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. The fragment was sub-cloned into pQE-30 to yield pQE-H. The histidine-tagged H protein (HisH) was obtained from the cell extract of Escherichia coli M15 (pREP4) harboring pQE-H and purified by nickel chelating and anion-exchange chromatographies. HisH was shown to bind dose-dependently to the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) isolated from phiX174-sensitive strains, E. coli C or Salmonella typhimurium TV119 (Ra mutant). In sharp contrast, HisH did not bind to the LPSs from insensitive strains, E. coli F583 (Rd2 mutant) or E. coli O111:B4 (smooth strain). Since the same selectivity was observed in the plaque counting assay for in vitro inactivation of phiX174, the spike H protein was shown to recognize receptor LPS.

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The thermotropic effect of ganglioside GD1a on the phosphatidylcholine membrane immobilized on the porous cellulose acetate filter was investigated by ESR spin-labeling and DSC. The spin-labeled GD1a having 12-DOXYL-stearic acid instead of the long acyl chain of the ceramide portion (GD1a*) was incorporated into the model membrane. An ESR examination of the membrane showed that GD1a* undergoes an anisotropic rotation in the wide range of temperature -30-70 degrees C. By monitoring the overall splitting (2T parallel) of spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine (PC*), the model membranes were found to show decreased fluidity in accordance with the GD1a content. The phase transition temperature (Tm) of distealoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) model membranes could be estimated by the measurement of ESR and DSC. The effects of GD1a were found to be more significant in broadening the phase transition rather than in elevating the Tm of DSPC model membranes.

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Handgrip force (HF), maximal pinch force (MF), muscle endurance (ME), and the median power frequency (MdPF) of the activity shown in the electromyogram (EMG) were studied at various altitudes in eight normal healthy subjects. MF and ME were measured between the index finger and thumb, and all measurements were obtained at altitudes ranging from 610 to 4860 m during an expedition in the Qinghai Plateau in China. With the change in altitude HF, ME, and MF showed no significant change. Compared to the MdPF at 2260 m on ascent, the MdPF at other altitudes showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01). Thus, we conclude that muscle performance (HF, MF, and ME) was not affected by the environment at high altitude. However, MdPF was affected and the mean MdPF at 610 m after the expedition did not recover to initial values of MdPF. We suggest these results may have been affected by fatigue and chronic exposure to the hypobaric hypoxic environment, since the members of the expedition party expressed feelings of sluggishness and fatigue after the expedition.

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The reactivity of gangliosides with superoxide anion (O2(•-)) and hydroxyl radical (HO(•)) was evaluated by ESR spin-trapping using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide under physiological conditions (1/15 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4). Gangliosides proved to react with HO(•) but not with O2(•-). The second order rate constants for various gangliosides with HO(•) ranged from 5 × 10(9) M(-1)s(-1) to 16 × 10(9) M(-1)s(-1). The rate constant for tetrasialoganglioside, GQ1b, was about three times higher than that of monosialoganglioside, GM1. The reactivity of gangliosides and asialo-GM1 with HO(•) was in the order: GQ1b >GT1b >GD1a >GD1b = GM1 ≫ asialo-GM1. The observed high reactivity of gangliosides probably involves the sialyl residues, since sialic acid was shown to be more reactive with HO(•) than d-glucose under the same conditions.

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6-Alkynylated purines were conveniently transformed to the corresponding 6-alkyl- and 6-alkenylpurines by three methods: (i) hydrogenation with 10% palladium-carbon or palladium acetate-sodium borohydride, (ii) addition of hydrogen halides or water and (iii) formal addition of diethylamine to the triple bond. Some of the products exhibited strong cytokinin activity.

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Coupling reaction of 6-iodo- or 6-chloropurine with alkynes in the presence of (PPh3) 2PdCl2-CuI catalyst in triethylamine to give 6-alkynylated purines was achieved by the use of dipolar aprotic solvent as co-solvent. Under the reaction conditions, ribonucleoside as well as its tri-O-acetate of 6-chloropurine also gave the corresponding alkynylated products in high yields. Though similar reaction for 8-bromo-derivatives of adenine and guanine gave poor yields, the 8-alkynylated free bases could be obtained by acid hydrolysis of the alkynylated ribonucleosides. 6-Alkynylated purines exhibited moderate to weak cytokinin activity in Amaranthus test.

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The circular dichroism (CD), optical rotatory dispersion (ORD), and fluorescence emission spectra of two subfractions of pig serum low density lipoproteins (LDL1 and LDL2) were compared. The contribution of the carbohydrate moiety to the CD and ORD spectra was estimated on the basis of data obtained from isolated glycopeptides and the constituent monosaccharides. The carbohydrate moiety had no effect on the conformation of the protein moieties of LDL1 and LDL2 (apoLDL1 and apoLDL2). However, the intensities of the observed extrema in the CD and ORD spectra of the glycopeptides were greater than those expected from the monosaccharide composition. This suggests the existence of secondary structure in the carbohydrate moiety. In contrast to the carbohydrate moiety, the contribution of the lipid moiety to the CD and ORD spectra could not be neglected. When the effect of the lipid moiety was subtrated from the CD and ORD spectra, the spectra due to apoLDL1 and apoLDL2 were quite similar. Delipidation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) induced an increase in the content of disordered structure and alpha-helix accompanied by a decrease in the beta-structure. In the presence of SDS, marked quenching occurred in the fluorescence emission spectra with a blue shift of the maximum emission wavelength from 332 to 326 nm. ApoLDL1 and apoLDL2 showed quite similar SDS-induced conformational transitions. The secondary structures of apoLDL1 and apoLDL2 in the native lipoproteins were stable to changes of pH and temperature. However, this stability was lost in the presence of SDS. These results suggest the importance of the lipid moiety in maintaining the native secondary structures of LDL1 and LDL2. From the overall similarity of the optical properties of apoLDL1 and apoLDL2, we conclude that the secondary structures of apoLDL1 and apoLDL2 are identical.

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Three glycopeptides were isolated from the pronase digest of the protein moiety of pig serum low density lipoprotein. The isolation procedure consisted of pronase digestion, gel filtration on Sephadex G-25 and G-50 columns, paper chromatography and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. Based on the carbohydrate analysis, the isolated glycopeptides were classified into two types. One type (GDI) consisted of mannose and N-acetylglucosamine residues in the molar ratio of 6:2 and had a molecular weight of about 2,300. The other type (GDII and GDIII) consisted of sialic acid, mannose, galactose, fucose, and N-acetylglucosamine residues in the molar ratio of 1:4:2:1:3 and 2:4:3:1:3, respectively. The molecular weights of GDII and GDIII were about 2,100 and 3,100, respectively. The results on the strong alkaline treatment of these glycopeptides suggested that all carbohydrate chains were linked to the peptide chains through N-acetylglucosaminyl-asparagine linkages. Of these glycopeptides and pig serum lipoproteins, only glycopeptide GDI and native LDL strongly interacted with concanavalin A.

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The comparison of the binding capacities of the three major classes of pig serum lipoproteins, very low-density, low-density and high-density lipoproteins, to concanavalin A, was demonstrated by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose. Very low-density lipoprotein was separated into two fractions (60 to 66% of total protein was adsorbed). Each fraction had different electrophoretic mobility in pore size gradient gel. The majority of the carbohydrate was found in the adsorbed fraction. The carbohydrate content of the unadsorbed fraction was 0.14% sialic acid. 0.47% hexosamine and 0.93% neutral sugars, and of the adsorbed fraction, 2.05, 3.21 and 4.20%, respectively. The adsorbed and unadsorbed fractions contained fucose, mannose and galactose in the molar ratio of 1.0 : 3.6 +/- 0.2 : 2.2 +/- 0.4 and 1.0 : 3.1 +/- 0.2 : 2.5 +/- 0.3, respectively. Based on these results, two different molecular species were proved to be present in very low-density lipoproteins. In high-density lipoproteins, 80 to 85% of the total protein was not adsorbed on concanavalin A-Sepharose in spite of the presence of mannose in the apoprotein. In contrast to these lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein was completely adsorbed on concanavalin A-Sepharose. However, the separation of the subfractions of low-density lipoprotein as well as the subfractions of high-density lipoprotein could not be achieved by this affinity column. The carbohydrate content of eluted fractions of low-density and high-density lipoproteins was identical with the previously reported values obtained in native lipoproteins. This difference in affinities for concanavalin A was also evidenced by gel electrophoretic profiles in urea and in sodium dodecyl sulfate which showed different glycoprotein distribution in each class of lipoproteins.

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The low-density lipoproteins in pig serum were separated into two subclasses (LDL1 and LDL2) by 2 to 7% pore size gradient gel electrophoresis. Preparative gel electrophoresis in 2 to 4% gradient gel made it possible to isolate these components as distinct entities. After delipidation by chromatography on Sepharose 4B in the presence of SDS, both apo-LDL1 and apo-LDL2 were found to have a molecular weight of 2.6X10(5). However, when these apoproteins were incubated in 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate, fragmentation occurred and the minimum fragment molecular weight was estimated to be 2.4X10(4). No essential difference was found in the amino acid compositions or fragmentation patterns of the apoproteins. However, the amounts of carbohydrates in the two apoproteins were different (7.09% in apo-LDL1 and 5.08% in apo-LDL2). The carbohydrate composition was 0.8% sialic acid, 2.38% N-acetyl-glucosamine, and 4.01% neutral sugars in apo-LDL1 and 0.5, 1.75, and 2.83% in apo-LDL2, respectively. In both apoproteins, mannose, galactose, and fucose were present in almost the same molar ratio of 4-5 : 2-3 : 1.

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