We briefly review recent studies concerning the neural mechanisms of the reflex effects of acupuncture-like stimulation on gastric and vesical function in anesthetized rats. In anesthetized rats, acupuncture-like stimulation of the abdominal area inhibits the gastric tone and motility, while limb stimulation excites them. Stimulation of the perineal area can inhibit the rhythmic micturition contractions of the urinary bladder. Each of these responses is a reflex response. The adherent pathway consists of cutaneous and muscle adherent nerves, and the efferent pathway consists of the autonomic efferent nerves; the reflex center requires the presence of the central nervous system. Some of these reflexes are characterized by segmen tal organization, and others by non-segmental organization
We recently demonstrated the renotropic activity in ovine LH isoform(s). In this study we purified porcine (p) LH isoforms and analyzed their structures and bioactivities. Purified pLH preparation (G-100-fraction 3) was dissociated into α- and β-subunits, followed by isolation with reverse phase HPLC. Six components were isolated and analyzed for their amino acid compositions and amino-terminal amino acid sequences. α-Subunits were found to have heterogeneous N-terminal sequences, which started at Phe-1, Gly-4, Phe-6, or Thr- 7. This N-terminal heterogeneity and the presence of the initial 6 amino acids has not been reported previously to the best of our knowledge. Moreover, the first 10 residues, Phe-Pro-Asp- Gly-Glu-Phe-Thr-Met-Gln-Gly, were identical with those of the ovine LH α subunit. At least 3 different β-subunits were identified as heterogeneous in their carboxyl-terminal amino acids. The pLH preparation (G-100-fraction 3) was then chromatographed by an isoelectrofocusing (IEF) column. Four IEF fractions were obtained. Their amino acid structures appeared to be identical, as judged by the identical elution profiles on reverse phase HPLC, but their carbohydrate compositions were slightly different, especially in N-acetylgalactosamine in α-subunits. Thus, fractionation on IEF depended on the heterogeneity in carbohydrate structures. Each IEF fraction had different potencies in terms of its gonadotropic activity (in vitro) and renotropic activity (in vivo and in vitro). The discrepancy was observed not only between gonadotropic activity and renotropic activity, but also between in vivo and in vitro renotropic activity. This study identified the structural heterogeneity of pLH isoforms and demonstrated their biological heterogeneity. We conclude that the carbohydrate structure of the pLH isoform is important for expressing its biological heterogeneity (gonadotropic and renotropic activity). (Endocrinology124: 712–719, 1989)
We herein report a 67-year-old kidney transplant patient who died of COVID-19. He was treated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin and received mechanical ventilation that temporarily improved his respiratory status. Despite our efforts, however, he later developed respiratory failure and died 43 days after the disease onset. The autopsy revealed prominent organization of alveoli and alveolar ducts, with a massive accumulation of macrophages in the lungs. A few severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen-positive cells were detected in the lung, suggesting delayed virus clearance owing to his long-term immunosuppressed state, leading to constant lung damage and ultimately respiratory failure.
However, the presence of a consensus sequence for the AML1 transcription factor, located 109±114 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site, supports the observation that FLT3 transcript expression is absent in AML1-deficient (±/±) mouse embryos (Okada et al, 1998).In summary, we report that the human FLT3 gene is encoded by 24 exons spanning approximately 100kb and that previously described mutations have been allotted to inappropriate exons.
