Abstract: Proteolytic activity was demonstrated when a strain of Microsporum canis was cultured in broth with human hair, but not in the medium without hair. The extracellular proteinase (keratinase) was isolated and purified by chromatography. Disc electrophoresis showed one protein band of extracellular proteinase, and the antibody against this enzyme gave a single precipitin line in agar diffusion. The IgG fraction completely neutralized the proteinase activity. The proteinase of M. canis may play a role in infection caused by this fungus, by affecting keratinized tissue such as stratum corneum and hair.

Abstract: It has been reported that the rate of cracked or soft-shelled eggs markedly increases in old laying hens. We investigated the effect of age on cholecalciferol metabolism in different age groups of laying hens. The egg production rate in hens more than 500 days old was maintained within a range of about 70% of that in young hens (230-320 days old), whereas the rate of cracked or soft-shelled eggs increased markedly with age. When kidney homogenates from the different age groups were incubated with [3H]-25-hydroxyvitamin D-3, renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3-1 alpha-hydroxylase activity was found to decrease markedly with age. When birds were given intravenously either [3H]-25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 or [3H]-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, the accumulation of [3H]-1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in plasma and target tissue also decreased with age. Forced molting performed in old hens restored eggshell quality. The treatment also restored, though partially, the in vivo accumulation of [3H]-l alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 in the target tissues. These results suggest that the increased rate of cracked or soft-shelled eggs seen in older birds is associated with disorders of vitamin D-3 metabolism.

Abstract: The structures of three triterpenoidal saponins, onjisaponins A (1), B (2) and E (3), were determined on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence as presenegenin-(3)-β-D-glucopyranosido-(28)-2-O-{[β-D-apio-D-furanosyl (1→3)] [β-D-galactopyranosyl (1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl}-3-O-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-4-O-(4'-methoxy-cinnamoyl)-β-D-fucopyranoside, presenegenin-(3)-β-D-glucopyranosido-(28)-2-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl (1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-3-O-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-4-O-(4'-methoxycinnamoyl)-β-D-fucopyranoside (=senegin III) and presenegenin- (3)-O-β-D-glucopyranosido-(28)-2-O-[β-D-galactopyranosyl (1→4)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-4-O-(3', 4', 5'-trimethoxycinnamoyl)-β-D-fucopyranoside, respectively. The 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of onjisaponins A, B, E and their derivatives were investigated and each carbon signal was assigned as shown in Table I.

Abstract: The complete amino acid sequence of the major sialoglycoproteins of horse erythrocyte membranes, glycophorin HA, was determined by manual sequencing methods, using tryptic, chymotryptic, and cyanogen bromide fragments. Glycophorin HA is a polypeptide chain of 120 amino acid residues and contains 10 oligosaccharide units attached to the amino-terminal side of the molecule. Its amino terminus is pyroglutamic acid. All of the oligosaccharides are linked O-glycosidically to threonine or serine residues. The amino acid sequence is consistent with the transmembrane orientation of glycophorins. There is no significant homology between the glycosylated domains of horse, human, and porcine glycophorins, but there is a considerable homology between the hydrophobic domains of the three glycophorins, which interact with the lipid bilayer of the erythrocyte membrane.

Abstract: When an aqueous solution of a spin-labeled "two tail" gangliosidoid was incubated with liposomes or sheep erythrocytes, the broad single resonance line in the ESR spectrum disappeared and a signal showing an anisotropic motion appeared, indicating that the spin-labeled "two tail" gangliosidoid in the micellar state was transferred to the lipid phase of the acceptor membranes. The transfer was temperature- and time-dependent, irrespective of the acceptor membranes, indicating that the rate of transfer is determined by the escape of monomers from the micelles. The kinetics and temperature-dependence of the association of ganglioside II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer with sheep erythrocytes was very similar to that of the "two tail" gangliosidoid, indicating that parts of ganglioside II3NeuAc-GgOse4Cer could be incorporated into the lipid phase of membranes via a similar mechanism.

Abstract: A single-dipole model and a two-dipole model have been examined to approximate the electrical activity of heart; positions as well as vector components of these dipoles were estimated from the body surface potential distribution that was measured with 64 electrodes arranged on the chest. The "residue" has been defined as a measure for how much potential component is left that cannot be attributed to the equivalent dipoles. A locus of the vector end of an equivalent dipole in the single-dipole model is very much like ordinary vectorcardiogram (VCG). The residue has a peak in the last half of QRS; this means that the single-dipole approximation is not valid there. Then another dipole is introduced, which is the two-dipole approximation. The residue has been greatly reduced and the peak disappears; the resultant two dipoles move around in the right and left parts of the heart with nearly opposite directions. The moving-two-dipole model for normal subjects describes the cardiac activity in QRS much better than with the moving-single-dipole model.

Abstract: Five steroidal compounds were isolated from the dried underground part of Aspidistra elatior BLUME (Liliaceae), and four of them were elucidated to be aspidistrin (diosgenin 3-O-β-lycotetraoside), proto-aspidistrin, methyl proto-aspidistrin, and 1β, 2β, 3β, 4β, 5β-pentahydroxyspirost-25 (27)-ene (Δ25 (27)-pentologenin or Δ25 (27)-neopentologenin), on the basis of physical and chemical investigations. The remaining steroidal compound is suggested to be a new spirostanol compound.

Abstract: The presence of ginsenoside-Ra in Ginseng Radix has been demonstrated by thin-layer chromatography. Recently, ginsenoside-Ra was shown to be a mixture of more than two saponins. Among them, ginsenoside-Ra1 was isolated and its structure was determined on the basis of spectral, chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis evidence as 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosido-20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1). Besides compound K (8), three prosapogenins, 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosido-20-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7), 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosido-20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), and 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol 20-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1→4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (10) were obtained in the course of enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside-Ra1. Further, 20 (S)-protopanaxadiol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosido-20-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), 7 and 8 were obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenoside-Rb2 (4). The course of enzymatic hydrolysis of ginsenosides with naringinase is also discussed.

Abstract: The relationship between the appearance of vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein (CaBP) and calcium absorption was studied in sequentially isolated duodenal mucosal preparations from vitamin D-deficient chicks and those supplemented with vitamin D3 or 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1α,25-(OH)2D3] The duodenal calcium absorption activity was significantly increased 6 h after a single iv injection of 0625 μg of lα,25-(OH)2D3, attained a maximum at 12 h, and declined gradually thereafter On the other hand, only small amounts of CaBP appeared in the crypt and lower villus regions 6 h after 1α,25-(OH)2D3 administration At 12 h, the CaBP was found in the entire villus, but its content was still much higher in the crypt and lower villus At 24 h and 48 h, the distribution of CaBP showed the opposite gradient, higher in the villus and lower in the crypt At 72 h, CaBP was found only in the upper villus The life time of duodenal mucosal cells was calculated to be 108 h as indicated by the cells labeled with

Abstract: To study 5α-reductase activity in the human fetal tissues, hypothalamus, cerebrum, skin, liver, kidney, small intestine, lung, adrenal and placenta of aborted fetuses at mid gestation were obtained and incubated with labeled Δ4-3-keto steroids under CO gas in the presence of excess NADPH.A higher conversion of progesterone to 5α-pregnanedione was observed in the hypothalamus and cerebrum than in other tissues studied. The major portion of 5α-reductase in the cerebrum was localized in 800×g precipitate (crude nuclear fraction). Androstenedione and progesterone were found preferred substrate for 5α-reductase to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone or testosterone. Km of 5α-reductase for progesterone and androstenedione were 1.0×10-5 M and 9.0×10-6 M, respectively. The enzyme activity for progesterone was inhibited by estrone and androstenedione but not by estriol.

Abstract: The incidence and distribution of amyloid deposits in aged tongues obtained from 107 necropsies over 60 years of age were examined. Thirty-nine tongues were affected with amyloid deposits and the overall incidence was 36.4%. The incidence increased with each advancing decade, and the group over 90 years old showed the highest incidence of 59.6%. Although the amount of amyloid deposits differed in each case, severely affected cases were most frequently found in the advanced decades. Amyloid deposits were almost always confined to blood vessels, especially arterioles and arteries. They occasionally occupied the entire wall and occluded the lumen. Blood vessels affected with amyloid were usually located in the muscle layers of the tongue. Vessels in the subepithelial layer and lingual glands were, however, sometimes affected. Amyloid deposits were resistant to Congo red staining with the potassium permangante method, and stained positively with DMAB. The present study suggested that the tongue is an important organ as to the appearance of amyloid deposits in elderly persons.

Abstract: Orthodontic mechanical stress reduced the frequency of the appearance of mast cells stainable with toluidine blue in the periodontal ligament on both the pressure and tension sides of rat molar teeth. This effect was seen immediately after insertion of elastic bands between the first and second molars, and the greatest reduction in the number of mast cells stainable with toluidine blue was observed 15 min after insertion.

Abstract: The pharmacokinetics of amikacin (5.5 mg/kg intramuscularly) and cephalothin (1000 mg/body intravenously) in bedridden elderly patients were studied in comparison with those in healthy volunteers. The eliminations of amikacin and cephalothin from the plasma followed the course of a one-compartment open model. For amikacin, five healthy volunteers, elimination rate constant Kel was 0.396 hr-1, biologic half-life t1/2 was 1.80 hour, volume of distribution Vd was 0.201 l./kg; in five bedridden elderly patients, Kel was 0.208 hr-1, t1/2 was 3.55 hours, Vd was 0.376 l./kg. Cumulative renal excretion of amikacin in 8 hours was 44 per cent of the total dose in bedridden elderly patients and 69 per cent in healthy volunteers. For cephalothin, in seven healthy volunteers, Kel was 0.0353 min-1, t1/2 was 19.7 min, Vd was 0.176 l./kg; in four bedridden elderly patients, Kel was 0.0127 min-1, t1/2 was 56.4 min, Vd was 0.283 l./kg. Cumulative renal excretion of cephalothin reached a plateau by 4 hours of 40.8 per cent of the total dose in bedridden elderly patients and of 56.7 per cent in healthy volunteers. These results suggest that in bedridden elderly patients decreased renal excretion of amikacin and cephalothin is related to decreased renal function and an increased Vd.