Membrane targeting and binding of the 74-kDa form of mouse L-histidine decarboxylase via its carboxyl-terminal sequence

The role of the C-terminal region of the 74-kDa form of L-histidine decarboxylase (HDC) in the targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was investigated in COS-7 cells. The deletion of a 10-kDa segment (residues 578-662) of the C-terminal end of HDC, especially a 20 amino acid sequence (residues 588-607), abrogated the targeting to the ER. The C-terminal 10-kDa portion is sufficient to target the green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the ER. The 74-kDa form of HDC synthesized in an in vitro translation system post-translationally associated with the heterogeneous canine microsomal membranes. These results suggest that the C-terminal 10-kDa portion of HDC contains a signal necessary for HDC to be targeted to the ER membrane.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with liver and lung metastasis effectively treated by combined chemo-immunotherapy of MMC, 5'-DFUR, OK-432

A sixty-eight-year-old male patient was diagnosed as having inoperable advanced gastric cancer with liver and lung metastasis. The patient was treated by combined chemo-immunotherapy of MMC 10 mg/M, 5'-DFUR 800 mg/day and OK-432 5 KE/2 W. Six months after commencing chemotherapy, CT-scan and upper GI series revealed that metasized liver tumors and stomach lesion were remarkably decreased in size and no cancer cell was confirmed by endoscopic biopsy. Further, the metastatic lung tumor has disappeared on chest X-ray. The patient had been well without any evidence of tumor re-progression for over one year, but from July the liver tumor began to metastasize again and the patient eventually died of liver metastasis on Jan. 1, 1993.     

Effective treatment of mice with type II collagen induced arthritis with lethal irradiation and bone marrow transplantation

Ricin A-chain is delivered into macrophages via receptor-mediated endocytosis. We have found that following uptake via the mannose receptor, ricin A-chain is rapidly cleaved by endosomal proteases. Inhibition of endosomal proteases such as cathepsin D and B leads to the accumulation of toxin inside the cell. Inhibition of cathepsin D reduces ricin A-chain cytotoxicity, while blocking cathepsin B enhances cytotoxicity. Similar results were obtained using fibroblasts transfected with the mannose receptor. Our data strongly suggest that the activation or membrane translocation of ricin A-chain is dependent upon the action of specific proteases.     

Photodegradation of chlorofluorocarbon alternatives on metal oxide

HCFC and HFC were photodegraded on metal oxides. Degradation rate on several metal oxides was in the order: TiO₂ZnO > Fe₂O₃kaolin SiO₂ Al₂O₃. Principal degradation products were CO₂, Cl⁻ and F⁻. Minor products which oxidize I⁻ were included for some HCFC's. A photocatalytic process is suggested for the degradation reaction. An overall reaction equation is proposed on the basis of mass balance.     

Ultrafast operation of Vth-adjustedp+-n+ double-gate SOI MOSFET's

To optimize the V_th of double-gate SOI MOSFET's, we fabricated devices with p⁺ poly-Si for the front-gate electrode and n⁺ poly-Si for the back-gate electrode on 40-nm-thick direct-bonded SOI wafers. We obtained an experimental V_th of 0.17 V for nMOS and -0.24 V for pMOS devices. These double-gate devices have good short-channel characteristics, low parasitic resistances, and large drive currents. For gates 0.19 μm long, front-gate oxides 8.2 nm thick, and back-gate oxides 9.9 nm thick, we obtained ring oscillator delay times of 43 ps at 1 V and 27 ps at 2 V. To our knowledge, these values are the fastest reported for this gate length with suppressed short-channel effects     

Granulocyte superoxide anion and elastase release during cardiopulmonary bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is known to induce several pathogenic responses in cardiovascular surgery. To explore leukocyte activation during PCB, we investigated superoxide anion (O2-) production by granulocytes in 6 patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery. O2- production was determined with chemiluminescence amplified by a cypridina luciferin analogue. Granulocytes collected from the blood in the arterial site of the CPB circuit were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate, n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, and opsonized zymosan. All the stimulators failed to disclose a significant difference between the magnitude of chemiluminescence during and after CPB. However, significant complement activation was detected, and the plasma level of granulocyte elastase increased gradually during and after CPB. This discrepancy between the unchanged O2- production by stimulated granulocytes and the increase in inflammatory mediators including granulocyte elastase may be due to sequestration of activated granulocytes in extravascular tissues. Namely, it was highly likely that activated granulocytes responsible for the increased plasma elastase level were sequestered and remained outside the blood circulation.     

Low Temperature Phase Transition in C70 and Solvation Effects

The heat capacity of C₇₀ has been measured by adiabatic calorimetry between 14 and 320 K. The orientational phase transition is observed as a broad hump in the heat capacity curve, which is strongly influenced by small amount of solvent remaining in the sample.     

Motions of alloying additions during furnace tapping in steelmaking processing operations

Numerical computations were carried out to describe the subsurface trajectories of spherically shaped particles (alloy additions) during simulated furnace to ladle tapping operations in steel-making. Complementing this, experiments in a 0.15 scale water model ladle of a 250 ton teeming ladle were also carried out so as to simulate the subsurface trajectories and total immersion times of various alloy additions as a function of (steel) jet orientation, jet entry locations, particle (alloy additions) entry location, particle shape, density,etc. Similarity criteria for model and prototype were deduced on the basis of Froude modeling. The possibilities of additions of various density being entrained into the bulk liquid and under-going prolonged subsurface motion were examined for a variety of operating conditions. It was found, however, that buoyant spherical particles with apparent densities ranging between 0.4 and 0.9 would, when projected into a recirculating water bath at velocities of 2.7 m/s, record total immersion times of only 0.1 to 40 seconds. The implications of the water model study, together with some idealized sets of computations for an industrial size 250 ton ladle, are analyzed from the viewpoint of industrial alloy addition practices. Finally, the results are examined with reference to different shaped particles and multi-particle addition procedures, since the latter are more typical of industrial practice. Formerly Doctoral Candidate, Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, McGill University Formerly Assistant Professor, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, 208016, India     

Absence of linkage disequilibrium at amyloid precursor protein gene locus in Japanese familial Alzheimer's disease with 717Val-->Ile mutation

To date, eleven independent early onset familial Alzheimer's disease (EOFAD) pedigrees with the 717Val-->Ile mutation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene have been identified. Interestingly, five pedigrees have been of Japanese origin. The apparent ethnic prediction of this mutation raises the possibility that there is a founder effect in Japan. If the hypothesis holds true, we can expect the presence of linkage disequilibrium at the APP locus. We did not, however, observe any significant linkage disequilibrium at any locus of APP or the adjacent GT12 locus in the five Japanese EOFAD probands with the 717Val-->Ile mutation. The result indicates that a founder effect would probably not be present in Japanese EOFAD pedigrees with the 717Val-->Ile mutation.