Previous studies have indicated the existence of common mechanisms regulating sleep and somatotropic activity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of prolonged treatment with a novel, orally active, growth hormone secretagogue (MK-677) on sleep quality in healthy young and older adults. Eight young subjects (18-30 years) followed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-period crossover design. Each subject participated in three 7-day treatment periods (with bedtime drug administration), presented in random (Latin square) order, and separated by at least 14 days. Doses were 5 and 25 mg MK-677 and matching placebo. Six older subjects, ages 65-71 years, each participated in two 14-day treatment periods (with bedtime drug administration) separated by a 14-day washout. Doses were 2 and 25 mg MK-677 during the first and second periods, respectively. Baseline sleep and hormonal data were obtained on the 2 days preceding the beginning of the first 14-day treatment period. In young subjects, high-dose MK-677 treatment resulted in an approximately 50% increase in the duration of stage IV and in a more than 20% increase in REM sleep as compared to placebo (p < 0.05). The frequency of deviations from normal sleep decreased from 42% under placebo to 8% under high-dose MK-677 (p < 0.03). In older adults, treatment with MK-677 was associated with a nearly 50% increase in REM sleep (p < 0.05) and a decrease in REM latency (p < 0.02). The frequency of deviations from normal sleep also decreased (p < 0.02). The present findings suggest that MK-677 may simultaneously improve sleep quality and correct the relative hyposomatotropism of senescence.

Corynebacterium callunae and Corynebacterium efficiens are close relatives of the glutamate-producing mycolata species Corynebacterium glutamicum. The properties of the pore-forming proteins, extracted by organic solvents, were studied. The cell extracts contained channel-forming proteins that formed ion-permeable channels with a single-channel conductance of about 2 to 3 nS in 1 M KCl in a lipid bilayer assay. The corresponding proteins from both corynebacteria were purified to homogeneity and were named PorH(C.call) and PorH(C.eff). Electrophysiological studies of the channels suggested that they are wide and water-filled. Channels formed by PorH(C.call) are cation-selective, whereas PorH(C.eff) forms slightly anion-selective channels. Both proteins were partially sequenced. A multiple sequence alignment search within the known chromosome of C. efficiens demonstrated that it contains a gene that fits the partial amino acid sequence of PorH(C.eff). PorH(C.call) shows high homology to PorH(C.eff). PorH(C.eff) is encoded in the bacterial chromosome by a gene that is localized within the vicinity of the porA gene of C. efficiens. PorH(C.eff) has no signal sequence at the N terminus, which means that it is not exported by the Sec-secretion pathway. The structure of PorH in the cell wall of the corynebacteria is discussed.

A liveborn female with a 69,XXX karyotype and clinical features of triploidy syndrome is reported. Main phenotypical features are: intrauterine growth retardation, hypotonicity, micrognathism, low-set ears, ocular anomalies, syndactyly and atrophy of the cerebral cortex and corpus callosum. Study of chromosomal heteromorphisms revealed that triploidy might have arisen through fertilization of a diploid ovum by a haploid sperm (diginy).