Efficient complementary DNA directed expression of human fetal liver cytochrome P450 (CYP3A7) in insect cells using baculovirus

CYP3A7 is a form of cytochrome P450, which is expressed specifically in human fetal livers. NPVHF1, a recombinant baculovirus containing the entire coding region of CYP3A7, was constructed and infected to Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. Upon infection with NPVHF1, the Sf9 cells expressed the CYP3A7 to the maximum content of 0.2 nmol per mg of whole cell lysates 72 hours after infection. A 5.5-fold expression level (1.1 nmol per mg of whole cell lysates) was attainable when cultured in the presence of externally added hemin. A catalytic activity of the CYP3A7 expressed in the Sf9 cells was confirmed by the umu gene expression mutation assay, in which aflatoxin B1 was activated to a mutagen by the expressed CYP3A7 in the presence of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome b5. From these results, it is concluded that the baculovirus expression system enables the high-level expression of CYP3A7 and will be a very useful tool for the characterization of CYP3A7.     

A 20-ps Si bipolar IC using advanced super self-aligned processtechnology with collector ion implantation

A super self-aligned process technology, SST-1B, which is an advanced version of the previously proposed SST-1A in high-speed Si bipolar LSIs is discussed. A selectively ion-implanted collector (SIC) process and bird's-beak-free isolation process are utilized. The SIC process is designed to improve shallow base-collector profiles in the intrinsic region. It reduces base width and intrinsic base resistance, and suppresses the base push-out effect (Kirk's effect) in high-current operations. The SIC profile is easily controlled by 150-200 keV phosphorous ion implantation at the base-collector junction. Using these processes, SST-1B has achieved a high cutoff frequency of 21.1 to 25.7 GHz and a fast switching delay of 20.5 ps/G for nonthreshold logic and 34.1 ps/G for emitter-coupled logic. SST-1B has potential applications to 50-ps/G logic LSIs and 10-GHz SSIs. Device simulation indicates that it is possible to achieve a cutoff frequency of 40-50 GHz in a future scaled-down Si bipolar transistor with a 40-nm base and graded collector     

Influence of anti-LDL receptor antibody on the transfer of cholesterol from LDL to isolated lymphocytes in normal subjects

Results 2 1/2 years after an enuresis nocturna training are presented, including rate of success, percentage and duration of relapse for 113 children (mean age 11.6 year at the start of the training). The bibliotherapeutic treatment by parents did not require any intervention by a professional. Behaviour of parents in the event of a relapse differed between training conditions. Children in the Arousal condition recovered faster from a relapse, 90% of their parents used the Arousal training again at relapse or did not intervene at all and none of them consulted a professional. Clearly they had confidence in the method of Arousal training: combining the alarm device with reinforcement for correct behaviour at the time the alarm goes off. Parents in control conditions did not use the alarm device as often as the parents in the Arousal condition, but tried other means with less success, including consulting professionals.     

Influence of CRT workstation on observer's performance.

The effects of the operability of the prototype CRT workstation and room illumination upon observer's performance were studied. In the experiment of reading CT images as a routine daily work at the CRT workstation, the average time required to analyse one CT image under a room illuminance of 100 lux was longer than that on the film viewbox. Prolongation occurred due mainly to the longer time required to retrieve and to arrange images as observers desired, and the limitation to the number of images simultaneously displayed on two CRT monitors. In the ROC studies to detect small pulmonary nodules on CRT images of computed radiography with imaging plate, illuminance around 170 lux showed the best result and a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.05) as compared with that of 480 lux. In addition to the radiologist's visual performance, room illumination must also be taken into consideration as it influences the observer's performance and diagnostic efficiency.     

Promoter/repressor system of Lactobacillus plantarum phage og1e: characterization of the promoters pR49-pR-pL and overproduction of the cro-like protein cng in Escherichia coli

Previous studies have shown that extensive damage to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of rats causes reversal learning deficits. The mPFC of rats, however, consists of several subareas that are different from each other in both cytoarchitecture and neural connectivity, suggesting a functional dissociation among the mPFC subareas. In the present study, selective lesions of the mPFC of rats were made with a specially designed microknife whose intracranial placement could be controlled stereotaxically. Restricted lesions were made to each of the 3 parts of the mPFC: the anterior cingulate area (AC) (including the medial precentral area, PrCm), the prelimbic area (PL), and the infralimbic area (IL). One week after surgery, rats were trained in an aversively motivated visual discrimination task in a novel rotating T-maze. After reaching the acquisition criterion, rats were trained in a reversal task in the same maze. No difference was found in acquisition between control and mPFC lesioned rats. However, lesions of either the PL or the IL produced a marked deficit in the reversal task. This behavioral deficit was not found in rats with lesions of the AC. The results indicate that the mPFC of rats is not essential for discrimination learning, but that each of the 2 ventral subareas of the mPFC, PL, and IL, plays a critical role in reversal learning.     

Experience of reoperations followed by repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysms

We experienced 8 cases who required reoperations, including 2 re-redo operations, after repairs of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Of 8 patients, one patient developed a new aneurysm due to atherosclerosis in thoraco-abdominal aorta involving all visceral arteries and other 7 patients had aneurysmal formations at proximal anastomotic sites, including 3 suprarenal, 2 juxtarenal and 2 infrarenal aortic lesions. Etiology at initial operation in patients who subsequently developed anastomotic aneurysms included vasculo-Beh?et disease in 4, atherosclerosis in 2 and dissecting aortic aneurysms type III due to Marfan syndrome in 1. At reoperation, all who had vasculo-Beh?et disease had ruptures of anastomotic sites and 2 patients underwent repairs of dehiscent patch, 1 extra-anatomic bypass between ascending and abdominal aorta and 1 interposition of graft. One patient who had graft infection after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm required axillo-femoral bypass with removal of infected graft. A patient who had dehiscence of proximal anastomosis after repair of aortoiliac occlusive disease required interposition of graft. Two patients, Marfan syndrome and aneurysm in thoraco-abdominal aorta, underwent graft replacement of thoraco-abdominal aorta concomitant with reconstruction of all visceral arteries. There were 8 patients who required reoperations for aneurysms at distal anastomotic sites after repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Five patients underwent repairs of new aneurysms, including replacement of total arch in 3, descending aorta in 1 and iliac artery in 1. In all cases, no hospital death was noted, however, late deaths were occurred in vasculo-Beh?et disease, Marfan syndrome and graft infection. Thus, late result depends on etiology of disease. Although patients who requires reoperation after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms have higher operative risk factors, early and late results are satisfactory compared to initial operations.