SummaryThe phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) isozyme involved in C 4 photosynthesis is known to undergo reversible regulatory phosphorylation under illuminated conditions, thereby decreasing the enzyme's sensitivity to its feedback inhibitor, L-malate. For the direct assay of this phosphorylation in intact maize leaves, phosphorylation state-speci®c antibodies to the C 4 -form PEPC were prepared. The antibodies were raised in rabbits against a synthetic phosphorylated 15-mer peptide with a sequence corresponding to that¯anking the speci®c site of regulatory phosphorylation (Ser15) and subsequently puri®ed by af®nity-chromatography. Speci®city of the resulting antibodies to the C 4 -form PEPC phosphorylated at Ser15 was established on the basis of several criteria. The antibodies did not react with the recombinant root-form of maize PEPC phosphorylated in vitro. By the use of these antibodies, the changes in PEPC phosphorylation state were semi-quantitatively monitored under several physiological conditions. When the changes in PEPC phosphorylation were monitored during the entire day with mature (13-week-old) maize plants grown in the ®eld, phosphorylation started before dawn, reached a maximum by mid-morning, and then decreased before sunset. At midnight dephosphorylation was almost complete. The results suggest that the regulatory phosphorylation of C 4 -form PEPC in mature maize plants is controlled not only by a light signal but also by some other metabolic signal(s). Under nitrogen-limited conditions the phosphorylation was enhanced even though the level of PEPC protein was decreased. Thus there seems to be some compensatory regulatory mechanism for the phosphorylation.

Key Points Question Is the risk of asthma or recurrent wheeze in young children decreased by avoiding supplementation with small amounts of cow’s milk formula at birth? Findings This randomized clinical trial of 312 children at risk for atopy examined risks of food allergy by the second birthday in extended follow-up examinations. Asthma or recurrent wheeze developed in significantly fewer children breastfed with or without amino acid–based elemental formula for at least the first 3 days of life than in children breastfed with supplementation from cow’s milk formula (≥5 mL/d) from the first day. Meaning The findings of this study suggest that asthma or recurrent wheeze can be prevented by avoiding cow’s milk formula supplementation at birth.

ObjectiveThe Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School‐Age Children‐Present and Lifetime version (K‐SADS‐PL) is a widely used semi‐structured diagnostic interview in child and adolescent psychiatry. However, the psychometric properties of its updated version, the K‐SADS‐PL for DSM‐5, have scarcely been examined, especially for criterion validity. This study was designed to examine the inter‐rater reliability, criterion validity and construct validity of the K‐SADS‐PL for DSM‐5 in 137 Japanese outpatients.MethodsTwo of 12 experienced clinicians independently performed the K‐SADS interview for each patient in a conjoint session, and the resulting consensus diagnosis was compared with a “best‐estimate” diagnosis made by two of eight experienced clinicians using all available information for the patient.ResultsThe inter‐rater reliability was excellent, as shown by κ > 0.75 for all disorders, with the exception of current separation anxiety disorder. The criterion validity was fair to good, as shown by κ > 0.40 for all disorders, with the exception of current and lifetime agoraphobia. The construct validity was also good, as shown by theoretically expected associations between the K‐SADS‐PL diagnoses and subscales of the child behavior checklist.ConclusionThe K‐SADS‐PL for DSM‐5, now available in Japanese, generates valid diagnoses in child and adolescent psychiatry.

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