Isamu Yonemura

A Rare Suicidal Case of a Ten-Year-Old Child Stabbing Himself in the Throat

A rare case is reported of a ten-year-old boy who committed suicide by stabbing himself in the throat with a pointed knife. Possibility of an accidental injury was excluded by the autopsy findings; suspicion of a homicide by his father was cleared through the deposition of his sister. The reason of suicide was attributed directly to his fathers severe scolding and indirectly to his mothers death two years before.

Cytoplasmic influence on the expression of nuclear genes affecting life span in Drosophila melanogaster

In earlier studies we have found that the difference between short and long life spans of two inbred strains of Drosophila melanogaster is controlled by nuclear major genes. The present study has revealed a cytoplasmic factor that influences the expression of the nuclear longevity genes. The factor shows a typical maternal inheritance and is considered to be an extranuclear gene, such as mitochondrial DNA (chondriome). This paper marks the discovery of two basic forms of inheritance, nuclear and extra-nuclear, in the genetics of life span of D. melanogaster. These findings suggest that further studies, including genetic engineering, on longevity and aging might enable direct manipulation of these characters.

Relationship between genotypes of longevity genes and developmental speed in Drosophila melanogaster

Hatching time (the period between egg-laying and hatching) and emerging time were surveyed and their relationship with the adult life span was investigated. A relationship between emerging time and adult life span was clearly evident: early emergers were often long-lived. This relation is considered to have a genetic basis because all the larvae in a group were bred in the same culture bottle. Thus, the longevity genes involved also appear to have control over the rate of development. No significant relation was observed between hatching time and adult life span or between hatching time and emerging time. These results suggest that the function of the longevity genes begins at the larval or pupal stage before emergence, and that adult life spans differentiate at this time.

Membrane proteins in Rh+, Rh− and Rh: −29, 38 (− − −/− − −, rh) red cells compared by using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Since Rh: -29, 38 (- - -/- - -, rh) phenotype of the Rh blood groups (--- in text) revealed unusual red cells, such as stomatocytes and microspherocytes and the relatively shortened half life of 17 days, red cell membrane proteins from Rh + (D), Rh - (d) and --- were compared by using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). No differences were observed among the patterns of the reduced and non-reduced membrane proteins from Rh+, Rh- and --- red cells. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of --- red cell membrane proteins also revealed a pattern similar to Rh+ and Rh- red cell membrane proteins. It is suggested that the lack of all Rh antigens causes no visible alteration of red cell membrane proteins detected by the method of Fairbanks G., Steck T.L. and Wallach D.F.H. (1971) Biochemistry, N.Y. 10, 2606-2617.

Detection of AB0 blood group-active glycolipids extracted from red cell membrane and heat hematoma using TLC-immunostaining

SummaryGlycolipids extracted from groups A, B, and 0 erythrocytes were developed on thin-layer plates; their AB0 blood group antigenicities were detected by immunostaining method using avidin-biotin-complex (ABC). Among series of glycolipids of different flow rates, antigen-specific staining was observed in five bands from group A1 erythrocytes, four bands from group B, and two bands from group O. Monoclonal anti-A, -B, and -H antibodies specifically stained glycolipids from A1, B, and 0 erythrocytes, respectively.AB0 blood grouping was possible from 5 g of epidural heat hematoma of a charred body by this method. ABC immunostaining on thin-layer chromatography is a useful and reliable method for AB0 blood grouping in forensic practice.ZusammenfassungGlycolipide, welche von Erythrozyten der Blutgruppen A, B und 0 extrahiert wurden, wurden mittels der Dünnschichtchromatographie nachgewiesen; ihre AB0-Blutgruppenprägung wurde mit Hilfe der Immunfärbungsmethode unter Verwendung von Avidin-Biotin-Complexen nachgewiesen. Unter den Serien von Glycolipiden mit verschiedenen Fließgeschwindigkeiten wurden antigenspezifische Färbungen in fünf Banden von Erythrozyten der Blutgruppe A festgestellt, in vier Banden von Erythrozyten der Blutgruppe B und in 2 der Blutgruppe 0. Monoklonale Anti-A, B- und H-Antikörper färbten spezifisch Glycolipide der jeweiligen Erythrozyten.Im Falle einer verkohlten Leiche war die AB0-Blutgruppenbestimmung aus 5 g eines epiduraden Hitze-Hämatoms möglich. Die Immunfärbung mit Hilfe des Avidin-Biotin-Complexes auf Dünnschichtchromatographie-Platten ist eine nützliche und zuverlässige Methode für die AB0-Blutgruppenbestimmung in der forensischen Praxis.

Determination of ABO Blood Groups by Radioimmunoassay Using125I-Protein A

Since the crystallizable fragment (Fc) portion of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule is the binding site of Protein A, a radioimmunoassay procedure using 125I-Protein A was developed for identification of the ABO blood groups. The isotope level bound to Group A, B, or AB red cells decreased with the dilution of anti-A or -B, respectively. After sensitization by anti-A plus B in Group O serum, the isotope bindings were observed in Groups A, B, and AB cells, while no significant radioactive count appeared in Group O cells. Furthermore, there was little significant isotope binding in both Group A and B red cells sensitized by the serum from Group A or B blood containing mainly IgM anti-A or -B. A radioimmunoassay using 125I-Protein A is an excellent method for identifying ABO blood groups.

A Case of Paternity Testing Influenced by the Silent Allele of Rh Erythrocyte Groups

A paternity test is presented in which a father and his two children possessed an extremely rare amorphic gene R-29 (r,---). One of the children was determined to be illegitimate at the first trial as her Rh phenotype was R2R2(ccDEE) and the fathers phenotype was R1R1(CCDee). At the Court of Appeal, however, the rare Rh gene r(---) was shown to be inherited from the father to the appellant child through extended tests including her brother whose phenotype was also R2R2(ccDEE). She was acknowledged to be legitimate.

Localization of Rh1(D), 2(C), 3(E), 4(c), 5(e) and 25(LW) antigens of human Rh blood groups in fetal erythrocyte membranes

The fetal erythrocyte membranes were partially solubilized with Triton X-100 at the low concentration (0.5%). The localizations of Rh1(D), 2(C), 3(E), 4(c), 5(e) and 25(LW) were investigated. Using hemagglutination inhibition assay, Rh1(D) antigen activity was observed in the Triton-treated membrane (Triton shell) containing mainly band 1, 2 (spectrin), band 5 (actin), band 4.1 and a part of band 3, while Rh2(C), 3(E), 4(c), 5(e) and 25(LW) antigens were detected in the supernatant containing band 3, 6, 2.2, 2.3 and 4.2. It is suggested that: Rh1(D) antigen would associate with cytoskeleton matrix of fetal erythrocyte membranes; Rh1(D) and Rh25(LW) antigens might be integral membrane proteins, while Rh2(C), 3(E), 4(c) and 5(e) antigens would be surface membrane proteins which are easily released from membranes by EDTA, mercaptoethanol and alkaline treatments.