[Hypomagnesemia in patients of gynecologic neoplasms following chemotherapy with cisplatin]

Serum magnesium in 79 patients of gynecologic neoplasms treated with cisplatin and their controls was measured. The results showed: (1) the average value of serum magnesium in patients following chemotherapy with cisplatin was significantly lower than in the controls; (2) the incidence of hypomagnesemia was positively correlated with the number of the courses and the total dosages of chemotherapy, being 52.9% after one to three courses of treatment and 92.0% after more than six courses of treatment; (3) the incidence of hypomagnesemia was directly related with the severity of gastrointestinal disorders; (4) serum magnesium following cisplatin chemotherapy was not correlated with serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Hypomagnesemia is clinically characterized by symptoms of the nervous system which are found in 14.0% of hypomagnesemic patients.

Effects of caffeine or EDTA post-treatment on EMS mutagenesis in soybean

Seeds of soybean cultivar LD4 were mutagenically treated with EMS (0.3, 0.5, 0.6, 0.9, 1.5 and 1.8%) for 3 h only or plus caffeine (50 mM) or EDTA (1 mM) post-treatment for 5 h. The experimental results indicated that: (1) of the different concentrations of EMS treatment, the M2 mutation frequency induced with 0.6% EMS was the highest (9.7%). When the EMS concentration was over 0.9%, the mutation frequency decreased rapidly. (2) Of the EMS treatments plus caffeine or EDTA post-treatment, the mutagenic effect of 0.6% EMS was the best for inducing morphological variations. Caffeine post-treatment decreased notably the mutation frequency of EMS treatment; when concentrations of EMS were very high (1.5% and 1.8%), mutation frequencies of EDTA post-treatment were still 5.0% and 4.88%, but no mutants were found in EMS treatment or plus caffeine post-treatment. (3) In the M2 mutation spectrum, 11 kinds of mutant types were observed in EMS treatment or plus caffeine or EDTA post-treatment. Relative frequencies of some mutant types (growth period, plant height, grain size, leaf shape and sterility, etc.) were similar among the three treatments, but EDTA post-treatment could change the relative frequencies of yield characteristics (number of pods and grains, grain weight/plant) induced by EMS treatment only.

Expression of three osmotin-like protein genes in response to osmotic stress and fungal infection in potato

We have characterized three cDNAs encoding osmotin-like proteins from potato (Solanum commersonii) cell cultures. These cDNAs (pA13, pA35, and pA81) have extensive nucleotide identity in the coding regions but low homology in the 3' non-coding sequences, and may encode three isoforms of potato pathogenesis-related (PR) type 5 proteins. Using gene-specific probes, RNA gel blot analyses showed constitutive accumulation of osmotin-like protein mRNAs in cell cultures, leaves, stems, roots and flowers, with high abundance in the roots and mature flowers. Treatments with abscisic acid (ABA), low temperature, and NaCl increased the accumulation of all three mRNAs in S. commersonii cell cultures and plants grown in vitro. Salicylic acid (SA), and wounding resulted in a moderate increase in the levels of pA13 and pA81 but not pA35 mRNAs. Infection with the fungus Phytophthora infestans activated strong and non-systemic expression of all three osmotin-like protein genes. The accumulation of osmotin-like proteins, however, was detected only in P. infestans-infected tissues but not in plants treated with ABA, SA, NaCl, low temperature, or wounding.

[Effect of scopolamine on morphine levels in serum and urine in rats]

Free morphine and conjugated morphine were determined by radioimmunoassay. Excretion of conjugated morphines in urine was increased significantly by treatment with scopolamine in a dose-related manner in morphine-dependent Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8). Conjugated morphine in serum was increased by administration of scopolamine greater than that of controls at 2h, and both free and conjugated morphine in serum were enhanced at 24h after last injection of morphine in morphine-dependent rats (n = 6). After use of scopolamine (0.5mg/kg, bid, ip) for 3d the rats (n = 6) received single injection of morphine (10mg/kg, sc), the levels of free morphine were increased greater than those of controls at 2 and 10h. The data showed that scopolamine may not only induced the metabolism of morphine in liver, but also facilitated subcutaneous absorption of morphine, which result in enhancing the excretion of morphine.

Influence of training on the response of androgen plasma concentrations to exercise in swimmers

In eight top-level male endurance swimmers the aerobic performance and the response to exercise of total testosterone (T), free testosterone (fT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), non-SHBG-bound testosterone (NST) and cortisol (C) were evaluated during a training season. The swimmers participated in three test sessions which occurred 6, 12 and 24 weeks after the beginning of the season. During each session, after a standard warm-up, the swimmers performed a set of 15 x 200-m freestyle, with a 20-s rest between repititions, at a predetermined individual speed. Three blood samples were collected: before warm-up, at the end of the set, and after 1 h of recovery. A few days before each session, the individual swimming velocity associated with a 4 mmol.l-1 blood lactate concentration (v4) was assessed as a standard of aerobic performance. The values of v4 were lower in the second session than in the third one. The concentrations of C. which increased after the exercise, showed the highest values in the second session. The values of T and the T:SHBG ratio increased after the exercise but returned to their initial concentrations during the recovery period. The values of fT and NST increased after the exercise in the first and third sessions. In the initial two sessions, when the aerobic performance was still low, the concentrations of NST decreased to below the initial values after recovery. In session III, when the adaptation to the training workload was complete, NST returned to resting concentrations after recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Contractile hyperreactivity and alteration of PKC activity in gastric fundus smooth muscle of diabetic rats

Contraction dose dependently induced in gastric smooth muscle of diabetic rats by Bay K 8644 in the presence of 20 mM KCl was about two times that induced in controls, and was inhibited more than 50% by 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7). Contraction was caused in diabetics but usually not in controls by 10(-5) M phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). In diabetics, this contraction was about 2.5 times that in controls. Protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the soluble fraction was depressed by H-7 or staurosporine, and depended on PMA concentration, but was greater in diabetics than in controls at any PMA concentration. PKC activity in the soluble fraction was inhibited by lower Ca2+ concentration, and was greater in diabetics than in controls. Affinity and density of binding sites of a Ca2+ channel antagonist ligand, [3H]PN200-110, were the same in plasma membrane-enriched fractions isolated from either controls or diabetic preparations. Thus, hyperreactivity in diabetic fundus may depend, in part, on alteration of PKC properties, but not on the density of Ca2+ channels.

Interleukin 4 receptor signaling in human monocytes and U937 cells involves the activation of a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C: a comparison with chemotactic peptide, FMLP, phospholipase D, and sphingomyelinase

Interleukin 4 (IL-4) diminishes cytokine activation of human macrophage. IL-4 binding to monocyte IL-4R is associated with protein kinase C (PKC) translocation to a nuclear fraction. The cleavage of diacyglycerol (DAG), an activator of PKC, from membrane phospholipids was investigated to define the proximal events of IL-4R signaling. IL-4 induced a statistically significant time-and dose-dependent generation of DAG. The IL-4-triggered production of DAG was not derived from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis, since neither cytosolic calcium flux nor liberation of inositol phosphates was detected in response to IL-4. Experiments were performed using [14C-methyl]choline-labeled U937 cells and monocytes to determine whether IL-4R activated phospholipase C (PLC), PLD, or PLA2 to use membrane phosphatidylcholine (PC) to form DAG. IL-4 induced a time- and dose-dependent increase of phosphocholine (pchol) with concomitant degradation of membrane PC (p < 0.05 compared with control). The finding that the peak reduction of PC was equivalent to peak production of pchol suggested that IL-4R signaling involved the activation of a PC-specific PLC. Changes in choline (chol) or lyso-PC and glycerolphosphocholine, the respective products of PC cleavage by PLD or PLA2, were not detected in IL-4-treated cells. In contrast, exogenous PLD induced an increase in chol and concomitant loss of membrane PC. Additional investigation suggested that IL-4R signaling does not involve PLD. In cells labeled with L-lyso-3-PC 1-[1-14C]palmitoyl, PLD but not IL-4, increased the production of phosphatidic acid (PA) and phosphatidyl-ethanol when pretreated with ethanol. Propranolol, an inhibitor of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, and calyculin A, a phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitor, blocked DAG production in response to FMLP but not to IL-4. In propranolol pretreated cells, PMA but not IL-4 triggered the production of PA and lowered the amount of DAG. Evidence that PLA2 is not coupled to IL-4R is the detection of arachidonate production in response to FMLP but not to IL-4. Furthermore, IL-4R is not coupled to sphingomyelinase (SMase) since IL-4, unlike exogenous SMase, did not generate ceramide but induced the hydrolysis of PC to pchol that was comparable to exogenous PLC. In summary, IL-4R signaling in monocytes and U937 cells involves PLC and not PLD, PLA2, or SMase, and it uses PC and not PIP2 to form DAG.

[POEMS syndrome--a report of eight cases and review of literature]

POEMS syndrome is an unusual multisystem disorder associated frequently with polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M-protein change and skin lesion. POEMS is the acronym the above-mentioned clinical manifestations. The patients who were diagnosed must have at least three of the manifestations; polyneuropathy and plasmagenic disorders are almost always present. We present in this paper eight patients, their clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and treatment were analysed and discussed.

The mitochondrial DNA mutation at position 11778 in Chinese families with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy

We amplified the 340 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by PCR including the recognized sequence of restriction enzyme of SfaN I. After amplification and digestion of SfaN I, two bands of 190 bp and 150 bp appeared in the mtDNA of four normal individuals but only one band of 340 bp appeared in the mtDNA with the mutation of G to A at the site of the nucleotide 11778 because such mutation destroyed the recognized sequence of SfaN I. We studied the mtDNAs of the patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy from 19 Chinese families and their maternal relatives as well as the normal individuals i. e. the husbands of the female members of the pedigrees. The results show that 66.7% of the patients (30/45) and 54.7% of the maternal relatives (29/53) have such a mutation, while no such a mutation exists in the four normal individuals. So, we conclude that the mutation of mitochondrial DNA at position 11,778 is also a major cause of LHON in China.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastrointestinal malignancy: natural history and new prospects for management

Peritoneal carcinomatosis represents regional spread of gastrointestinal, gynecological and other malignancies with or without evidence of systemic metastases. The authors reviewed the natural history and the different types of peritoneal carcinomatosis. A new treatment approach that combines cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy is described. The principles of this surgery and the pharmacology principles of intraperitoneal drug administration are explained. The major attraction of intraperitoneal therapy is that following intracavitary drug administration, the peritoneal cavity is exposed to higher concentrations than the rest of the body. A total of 100 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis followed from one to ten years were treated by this approach. Patients were divided into four prognostic groups according to the histologic findings, extent of diseases, distant metastases and the completeness of cytoreductive surgery. This new cytoreductive approach is particularly effective for patients with low-grade malignancies confined to the abdominal cavity and who had a complete cytoreductive surgery.

[Studies on polysaccharide of Rheum palmatum L]

Two homogeneous acidic heteroglycans DHP-1 and DHP-2 were obtained from the root of Rheum palmatum, the mean molecular weights being 11 x 10(4) and 2.5 x 10(4) respectively. It was identified by TLC and GC that both heteroglycans contain the same main residues of glucose, galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, lyxose, xylose, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid.

Expression of an ABA-responsive osmotin-like gene during the induction of freezing tolerance in Solanum commersonii

We have isolated a cDNA (pA13) of an ABA-responsive gene from suspension cultures of Solanum cultures of Solanum commersonii. The deduced amino acid sequence of pA13 cDNA revealed 89 and 91% identity with tobacco osmotin and tomato NP24 protein, respectively. The accumulation of the transcript corresponding to pA13 cDNA was regulated by ABA, cold temperature, and low water potential treatments. Cold-induced accumulation of the pA13 transcript was partially suppressed by fluridone, an ABA synthesis inhibitor, and the suppression was restored by exogenous ABA application. The transcript corresponding to pA13 also accumulated in an organ-specific manner in response to ABA or cold treatment.

Immunocytochemical identification of serotonin-synthesizing neurons in the vertebrate retina: a comparative study

Serotonin-synthesizing neurons in the retinas of goldfish, axolotl, turtle, chick, rabbit and cat were identified using double labelling with anti-serotonin and anti-phenylalanine hydroxylase antibodies. The latter antibody recognizes tryptophan 5-hydroxylase, one of the synthesizing enzymes for serotonin. Neurons labelled by both markers were considered to be serotonin-synthesizing neurons, while those only with serotonin-immunoreactivity were assumed to be serotonin-accumulating neurons. In the goldfish and chick retinas, all serotonin-immunoreactive amacrine cells (S1) were positive for phenylalanine hydroxylase. In the axolotl and turtle retinas, all the S1 amacrine cells, and only 52.8% and 40.5% of S2 amacrine cells were double-labelled. Although serotonin-immunoreactive bipolar cells were observed in the turtle and chick retinas, the synthesizing enzyme for serotonin could not be detected in these cells. In the rabbit and cat retinas, tryptophan hydroxylase could not be revealed in any cell type with immunocytochemistry. In control experiments SLI neurons in the raphe nuclei of the brain stem always exhibited PH-LI in all species examined, including mammals, indicating that our anti-PH antibody is able to recognize tryptophan hydroxylase across vertebrate classes. These results indicate that the majority of serotonin-immunoreactive amacrine cells are able to synthesize serotonin and are the source of endogenous serotonin in the non-mammalian retina, while some serotonin-immunoreactive amacrine and bipolar cells possibly only accumulate serotonin. We also suggest that serotonin may not be a primary neurotransmitter in the serotonin-accumulating bipolar and amacrine cells of the non-mammalian retina.

Fusarin C: isolation and identification of two microsomal metabolites

Fusarin C (FC), a metabolite formed by Fusarium moniliforme, is, with microsomal activation, genotoxic. Two metabolites of FC, fusarin Z (FZ) and fusarin X (FX), have been isolated from an in vitro metabolic activation system using microsomal mixtures from phenobarbital-induced rat livers and their chemical structures identified. FZ and FX are 500 and 60 times more mutagenic than FC in the Ames test, respectively. Both result from hydroxylation at the 1-position of FC. FZ is a gamma-lactone involving isomerization of the 2,3-double bond and intramolecular transesterification between the 21-methyl ester and the newly formed 1-hydroxyl group. FX, however, could not be converted to FZ by the microsomal system.

[Detection of estrogen receptors (ER) in gastric cancer]

Using Avidn-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) immunohistochemical method, 68 gastric cancer specimens and 20 non-cancerous stomach specimens were examined for ER. In 38 of 68 gastric cancer specimens, ER concentrations were also biochemically determined by Dextran-coated charcoal (DCC) assay. The results showed that ER was absent in noncancerous stomach tissues. ER was present in 21 (30.9%) of gastric cancers. The ER positive cases were chiefly poorly differentiated gastric cancers. There were no significant statistical differences in the patient's age or sex, size of primary tumor and the ER positive rates. The results indicate that endocrine therapy might be useful for the ER positive gastric cancer patients.

[Genetic profile of LIBP/1 inbred strain derived from the Kunming outbred stock of the mouse]

To make the genetic profile of the LIBP/1 inbred strain obtained from Kunming mice, the most widely used outbred stock in China, 26 loci were examined. The genotypes of four kinds of coat color genes were a/a, B/B, c/c and D/D. The results of testing 21 biochemical marker genes showed Akp-1b, Amy-1a, Car-2a, Ce-2a, Es-1b, Es-3a, Es-10a, Es-11a, Gpd-1a, Gpi-1a, Gus-1b, Hbbs, Idh-1a, Ldr-1a, Mod-1a, Mup-1b, Pep-3b, Pgm-a, Sep-1b, Tam-1c, and Trfb. The H-2 gene loci were Kb and Db.

Large serotonin-like immunoreactive amacrine cells in the retina of developing Xenopus laevis

The earliest appearance of serotonin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) in different cell types and the development of large SLI amacrine cells were studied in the retina of Xenopus laevis from stage 33/34 to adult. Intense SLI was first found in the somas of large amacrine cells at stage 39. The somas of small amacrine cells showed weak SLI at stage 41, followed by bipolar cells at stage 43. The number of large SLI amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer of the retina increased from 57 at stage 40 to 774 in adult. Over the same period, retinal area increased from 0.19 mm2 to 24.57 mm2 with an accompanying decrease of cell density from 301/mm2 to 32/mm2. in adult animals large SLI amacrine cells were non-uniformly distributed. Peak cell density of 50-60/mm2 was located in the center of the ventrotemporal quadrant and a trough of 8-15/mm2 in the dorsal periphery of the retina. Peak cell density region of the adult retina corresponded to part of the retina formed at early developmental stages where the rate of cell generation of large SLI amacrine cells was higher. These observations indicate that (1) SLI is expressed first by large amacrine cells, followed by small amacrine and bipolar cells; (2) large SLI amacrine cells are generated continuously throughout life, (3) the non-uniform retinal distribution of large cells results from a spatio-temporally differential cell generation at the ciliary margin.

Serotonin synthesis and accumulation by neurons of the anuran retina

Serotonin-synthesizing and serotonin-accumulating neurons were studied in the retinas of Xenopus laevis and Bufo marinus. All previously identified cell types exhibiting serotonin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) were labeled by intravitreal injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT). They included two amacrine cell types (large and small) in both species, and one bipolar cell type in Xenopus. Incubation of retinas in culture medium in the ambient light reduced SLI in amacrine cells and enhanced the labeling in bipolar cells. After incubation, some photoreceptor cell bodies and large numbers of outer segments also displayed SLI in both species. Incubation with the serotonin-uptake inhibitor, fluoxetine, reduced immunolabeling in bipolar cells and outer segments to the level in the untreated retinas. Both large SLI and 5,7-DHT-accumulating amacrine cells in Xenopus and Bufo were labeled with an antibody raised against phenylalanine hydroxylase (PH), which binds to tryptophan 5-hydroxylase, one of the synthesizing enzymes for serotonin. Small SLI and 5,7-DHT-accumulating amacrine cells in both species represented two populations, one with and the other without PH-like immunoreactivity (PH-LI). The anti-PH antibody failed to label any SLI or 5,7-DHT-accumulating bipolar cells in Xenopus. These observations indicate that all large and some small SLI amacrine cells in the retinas of Xenopus and Bufo synthesize serotonin, while other small SLI amacrine, bipolar and photoreceptor cell bodies, and outer segments only accumulate serotonin.

Synaptic contacts of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive elements in the inner plexiform layer of the retina of Bufo marinus

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunocytochemistry was utilized to quantify dopaminergic synapses in the inner plexiform layer of the retina of Bufo marinus. Since dopaminergic cells have bistratified dendritic arborisation in the inner plexiform layer, attention was given to the segregation of synapses between the scleral and the vitreal sublaminae. Light-microscopically, a more elaborate dendritic branching was observed in the scleral than in the vitreal sublamina. In contrast, about 55% of synapses occurred in the vitreal one fifth of the inner plexiform layer, 30% in the scleral fifth, and 15% in the intermediate laminae. Input sources and output targets showed only minor quantitative differences between sublaminae 1 and 5. TH-immunoreactive processes were found in presynaptic (62.8%) and postsynaptic (37.2%) positions. Synapses to the stained dendrites derived from bipolar (40.4%) and amacrine (59.6%) cells, whereas outputs from the TH-positive processes were directed to amacrine cells (56.8%) and to small and medium-sized dendrites (35.4%); at least some of these can be considered as ganglion cell dendrites. TH-positive profiles neither formed synapses with each other nor were presynaptic to bipolar cell terminals. Junctional appositions of the immunoreactive profiles were occasionally seen on non-stained amacrine and ganglion cell dendrites in the scleral sublamina of the inner plexiform layer and on optic axons in the optic fibre layer. Although dopaminergic cells are mainly involved in amacrine-amacrine interactions, inputs from bipolar terminals and outputs to ganglion cell dendrites were also substantial, suggestive of a role also in vertical information processing.

Stability of fusarin C: effects of the normal cooking procedure used in China and pH

Fusarin C (FC) is a naturally occurring mutagen found on Fusarium moniliforme-contaminated corn. In Linxian, China, an area of exceptionally high incidence of esophageal cancer, the milled corn is made into small cakes called wotou, which are steamed. It has been suggested that FC may play a role in the etiology of esophageal cancer, but this has been questioned, in part, because of the thermal instability of FC. We therefore measured the effects of temperature on FC stability, mimicking the cooking process. FC was extracted from the wotou and quantitated by both reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and the Ames assay. After wotou were steamed for 30 minutes, 11% and 3% of the initial FC remained, as detected by the two assays, respectively. The milled corn, when moistened with water, had a pH of 6.1, which was lowered to 5.3 when it was inoculated with F. moniliforme and cultured for three weeks. Pickled vegetables are sometimes added to the wotou, which further reduces the pH. To determine the effects of pH on FC, it was heated in solution, with the pH varied between 4 and 8. Its stability was very pH dependent, decomposing more rapidly as the pH increased. Because ingested FC would also be subjected to the low pH of the stomach, it was treated for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C and pH values ranging from 1.0 to 7.0. FC was stable (less than 15% decomposition) under these conditions. If FC is a significant health threat, it could most easily be destroyed by cooking at slightly basic pH values.

Cloning and partial sequencing of the porcine growth hormone (pGH) gene from pituitary gland

High molecular weight DNA was isolated from porcine pituitary gland, and a genomic library was constructed using lambda EMBL3 as cloning vector. Five positive clones were identified by in-situ hybridization with the full-length pGH cDNA as the probe. Dot-blot hybridization, restriction analysis, and Southern hybridization showed that one of the positive clones contained the entire pGH gene. A subclone that contained the upstream sequence from the SmaI site of pGH gene was identified, and part of it was sequenced. We also compared the sequence of our pGH gene with the corresponding sequence of the published pGH gene.

Amplification on the Amycolatopsis (Nocardia) mediterranei plasmid pMEA100: sequence similarities to actinomycete att sites

An amplification of a 2.0-kb fragment was found on the plasmid pMEA100 isolated from a subculture of the wild-type strain LBG A3136 of Amycolatopsis (Nocardia) mediterranei. Plasmid preparations contained a mixture of molecules with copy numbers of the amplified unit in the range of 2 to 10. The amplification on pMEA100 was stable; propagation of cells for many generations did not change the pattern of the amplified DNA. Fragments of the plasmids containing the amplifiable unit of DNA (AUD) and the amplified DNA sequence (ADS) were subcloned and characterized. Sequencing of the AUD terminal regions and the junction between ADS units showed that the amplifiable unit of DNA was flanked by 12-bp direct repeats. The DNA segments adjacent to the 12-bp sequence common to the left and right AUD terminal regions also showed significant similarities. In addition, the left AUD terminal region flanking the 12-bp repeat exhibited considerable sequence similarity to actinomycete plasmid attachment sites, particularly to the pMEA 100 att site.

Dendritic morphology and retinal distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive amacrine cells in Bufo marinus

Tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive (TH-IR) amacrine cells (ACs) in the retina of metamorphosing and adult Bufo marinus were visualized, and their retinal distribution established, using immunohistochemistry on retinal wholemount and sectioned material. The somata of TH-IR ACs were located in the innermost part of the inner nuclear layer (INL). Their dendrites branched predominantly in the scleral sublamina of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), with sparse branching also in the vitreal sublamina. In the retinae of metamorphosing animals 592 +/- 113 (mean +/- S.D.) immunoreactive cells and in adult 5,670 +/- 528 cells were found. Usually 1, 2 or 3 stem dendrites arose from the somata of TH-IR cells which branched 2 or 3 times. In the adult retinae the dendritic field sizes of immunoreactive cells were in the range of 0.059 +/- 0.012 mm2, which resulted in a considerable dendritic overlap across the retina. TH-IR cells were unevenly distributed over the retina, with 72 cells/mm2 in the central temporal retina, 45-50 cells/mm2 along the naso-temporal axis of the retina and 25 cells/mm2 in the dorsal and ventral peripheral retina. The average density was 36 +/- 6 cells/mm2. A considerable number of TH-IR cells (range 52-133, n = 4) were displaced into the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of the retina. The mean soma sizes of immunoreactive cells were significantly higher in the low density (95 +/- 13 microns 2) than in the high cell density areas (86 +/- 12 microns 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

New trends and problems in urbanization: a survey of farmers who moved into townships in the Shanghai suburbs

Results are presented from a survey conducted in China to evaluate 1984 changes in a rural migration policy. "To reflect the new trends and problems of the urbanization of the rural population in Shanghai suburbs in the light of the policy, the Institute of Population Studies of East China Normal University conducted a sampling survey, in early 1989, of the farmers who had moved into townships in the Shanghai suburbs in recent years. From the seven townships selected, a total of 1,057 samples were obtained, representing 17.0% of the total number of farmers who had moved into the townships."

A "serum-free" medium for the production of erythropoietic bursts by murine bone marrow cells

We describe a culture medium that does not require the addition of serum, in which erythropoietic bursts are produced from murine bone marrow cells with efficiencies at least as great as those of serum-containing media. Four ingredients were shown to be essential: bovine serum albumin (BSA), transferrin, cholesterol, and erythropoietin. The system supported burst formation without the addition of conditioned medium as source of burst-promoting factor(s). To include cholesterol in the medium we found that there was no necessity for sonication, nor for subsequent evaporation of the ethanol in which the cholesterol was dissolved. Filtration of cholesterol and delipidation of BSA both impaired the ability of the medium to support burst production. The "serum-free" medium described here, even though not truly defined, is useful for erythropoietic culture: it is reliable, highly efficient in supporting burst formation, and simple and economical to prepare from ingredients readily available from commercial sources without the need for special testing.

Antisecretory effects of berberine with morphine, clonidine, L-phenylephrine, yohimbine or neostigmine in pig jejunum

The effects of berberine alone or in combination with morphine, clonidine, L-phenylephrine or yohimbine were compared in Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST)-exposed ligated jejunal loops in 2 week old pigs. In addition, net water and electrolyte fluxes in normal jejunal loops were measured in the presence of neostigmine, morphine, clonidine, L-phenylephrine or yohimbine alone or in combination with berberine. Berberine, morphine, clonidine and L-phenylephrine each reduced the net secretion of water and electrolytes induced by ST (P less than 0.05). A significant enhancement of antisecretory effect was observed only with the combination of berberine and L-phenylephrine. Yohimbine or neostigmine augmented the net loss of water and electrolytes produced by ST. Yohimbine did not block the antisecretory action of berberine. In normal jejunum, there was no significant difference in water and ion absorption between adrenergic or opiate agonists alone and their combination with berberine. Neostigmine reversed absorption to net secretion in normal jejunum and this effect was significantly reduced by berberine. The anti-secretory action of berberine appears similar to that of alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, opiates, and anticholinergic agents.

Effects of indomethacin, acetazolamide, ethacrynate sodium, and atropine on intestinal secretion mediated by Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin in pig jejunum

Intraluminal perfusion of pig jejunum with Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin reversed net absorption of water and electrolytes to net secretion. Addition of atropine (2 x 10(-5)M) to the perfusate reduced the secretory response to enterotoxin and enhanced sodium and chloride absorption in control segments. Indomethacin (1.4 x 10(-3)M), acetazolamide (2.2 x 10(-3)M), or ethacrynate sodium (3.1 x 10(-4)M) had no effect. Mucosal disaccharidase activity and Na-K-ATPase activity were not altered by enterotoxin. The results suggest that blockade of cholinergically mediated secretion in the small intestine attenuates the enterosorptive effects of heat-stable enterotoxin and may be useful therapeutically in the management of secretory diarrhea.

Effect of berberine on intestinal secretion mediated by Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin in jejunum of pigs

Intraluminal perfusion with Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) reversed water and electrolyte movements from net absorption to net secretion in porcine jejunal segments. Addition of berberine hydrochloride (3.2 X 10(-5) M) to the perfusate reduced the jejunal secretory response of water, sodium, potassium, and chloride to ST and enhanced water and electrolyte absorption in control segments. At lower concentrations (1.1 X 10(-5) M), berberine reduced the secretory response in ST-exposed segments, but only the decrease of sodium flux was significant. In the presence of berberine, the mucosal enzyme activities of adenosine triphosphatase and disaccharidases were not significantly different between control and ST-exposed segments. Doses of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10 mg of berberine were injected into ligated loops of proximal part of the jejunum with 1 ml of ST filtrate. At doses of 2 or more mg/loop, berberine was effective in reducing water and electrolyte secretions induced by ST; the effect was dose-dependent. These findings indicate that berberine may be an effective antidiarrheal agent in E coli heat-stable enterotoxin mediated secretory diarrhea and provide a basis for the frequent empirical use of berberine alkaloid and berberine-containing plants in gastroenteritis and infectious diarrhea in Asian and other countries.