Pre- and postoperative sequential study on the serum gastrin level in patients with lung cancer

Serial changes in serum gastrin level were detected by radioimmunoassay in 58 lung cancer patients before and after operation. In comparing these tests with those of 40 cases of noncancerous thoracic lesions and 151 normal adults, the serum gastrin from lung cancer patients is significantly higher than that of noncancerous thoracic lesions and normal individuals (P less than 0.01). The gastrin level is closely related to stage of cancer, size of primary tumor, presence of lymph node metastasis, and type of histological classification. The serum gastrin was found to decrease gradually after the removal of the tumor and to return to normal on the 14th postoperative day. Those patients whose serum gastrin level can return to normal on the 14th postoperative day will have a good prognosis; if not, their prognosis will be very poor. These results suggest that serum from patients with lung cancer contains a high concentration of gastrin that can help differentiate benign from malignant thoracic lesions and evaluate prognosis of patients with lung cancer. Therefore, the cause of high serum gastrin in patients with lung cancer is likely due to the gastrin-producing property of the lung cancer cells.

Effect of human growth hormone on the proliferation of human fetal islet cells in vitro

In this study it was shown that 1000 micrograms/L hGH in serum-free medium promoted the attachment, spreading and formation of monolayer of islet cells. The radioactivity test indicated that hGH significantly stimulated the DNA synthesis of islet cells (P < 0.001). Furthermore, after 48 h exposure to hGH (1000 micrograms/L), both the insulin contents and release of islet cells significantly increased (P < 0.001); hGH also enhanced the responsiveness of fetal islet cells to high-concentration glucose plus theophylline stimulation (P < 0.001). However, the effect of hGH in the medium containing 10% newborn calf serum was not so prominent in comparison with that in the serum-free medium. The morphologic assay for mitotic cells showed a combination of 1000 micrograms/L hGH and 10% serum was the most efficient for inducing the mitosis, the mitotic index being 5.95%. We conclude that hGH is an important growth factor for human islet cells.

Polysialic acid is required for optimal growth of axons on a neuronal substrate

Formation of axonal pathways involves a variety of molecules that influence cell-cell interactions. The polysialic acid (PSA) moiety of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is present on neuronal surfaces during process outgrowth. Our studies reveal that the removal of PSA causes a decrease in the rate of elongation of retinal cell processes on a substrate of neuronal membranes derived from chick tectum. This effect was partially reversed by antibodies against the L1 adhesion molecule, but not by antibodies against NCAM, N-cadherin, or beta 1-integrins. This predominant effect of PSA on L1 was also observed in short-term, cell-cell adhesion assays, suggesting that PSA promotes optimal outgrowth on neuronal substrates by limiting the consequences of L1-mediated adhesion.

Coupled map lattices as computational systems

The coupled map lattice (CML) as a mathematical model for a computer is considered. Using the theory of synchronous concurrent algorithms, it is shown that the CML is a valid new model for a parallel deterministic analog machine, but that, in principle, such a CML computer does not generate computations that cannot be reproduced by the standard mathematical models for computing on real numbers. The analysis is based on new general mathematical definitions of CMLs, and an axiomatic approach to determining which models of computation can be used to simulate CMLs.

Localization of Pi class glutathione-S-transferase in the forebrains of neonatal and young rats: evidence for separation of astrocytic and oligodendrocytic lineages

The Yp isoform (Pi class) of glutathione-S-transferase has recently been localized in oligodendrocytes in the brains of mature rats. To examine at what postnatal age Pi first appears in oligodendrocytes or precursor cells, antibodies against Pi were used to immunostain tissue sections from the forebrains of neonatal rats and young rats up to 17 days of age. In the brains of neonates Pi immunofluorescence was observed in ovoid cells in the subependymal layer, and in ovoid cells and cells bearing short, thick processes in the corpus callosum and cingulum. These cells did not immunostain for vimentin. During the first postnatal week Pi-positive cells showed positive immunostaining for ganglioside GD3, which is characteristic of oligodendrocyte precursors, and process-bearing Pi-positive cells appeared in the cingulum and at the lateral borders of the corpus callosum in increasing numbers. During the second postnatal week the cytoplasm of Pi-positive cells became more compact, and the processes thinner, and the Pi-positive cells and their processes began to immunostain for 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase, which is characteristic of immature and mature oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths. By age 17 days Pi was observed in relatively mature oligodendrocytes. The observations suggest that Pi occurs in oligodendrocyte precursors, immature oligodendrocytes, and mature oligodendrocytes in the postnatal through 17 day old rat forebrain. In the accompanying paper (Cammer and Zhang, '92)--if references are permitted in the Abstract a different glutathione-S-transferase isoform, Yb (Mu class), was localized in cells of the astrocyte lineage, beginning in the forebrains of neonatal rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Localization of mu class glutathione-S-transferase in the forebrains of neonatal and young rats: implications for astrocyte development

The Yb (Mu class) isoform of glutathione-S-transferase has recently been localized in ependymal cells, subependymal cells, and astrocytes in the forebrains of rats 3 weeks to adult in age. It was not known, however, at what age Mu might first be observed during postnatal development and whether the first cells in which it was found would be immature astrocytes or some less differentiated glial precursor cell, if the latter were present in vivo. Tissue sections from the forebrains of neonatal to 16 day old rats were immunostained with antibodies against Mu. In neonates Mu was observed in vimentin-positive cells and their processes adjacent to the lateral ventricles, and in the corpus striatum. The colocalization with vimentin suggested that these were subependymal cells and radial glia. In the corpus striatum the radial glia, while still vimentin-positive, rapidly lost Mu from their radial cell processes, whereas the cell-bodies remained Mu-positive. During the first postnatal week the Mu-positive, glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP)-positive cell bodies of immature astrocytes appeared in the corpus striatum. The earliest Mu-positive cells in the immature white matter of the corpus callosum were vimentin-positive and had striking longitudinal processes that also were vimentin- and Mu-positive. Like the processes of radial glia, the longitudinal processes lost their Mu-immunoreactivity, only later and more gradually. Mu-positive, GFAP-positive cells appeared later in the corpus callosum than in the corpus striatum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Synteny between the loci for a novel FACIT-like collagen locus (D6S228E) and alpha 1 (IX) collagen (COL9A1) on 6q12-q14 in humans

A 1.8-kb cDNA encoding portion of a novel collagenous chain was isolated from a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line by cross-hybridization using a chicken type V collagen probe. Sequence analysis suggests that this chain belongs to the recently discovered group of collagens, termed the FACIT class of macromolecules. This cDNA was used to locate the corresponding gene (D6S228E) to chromosome 6, notably at position 6q12-q14. Interestingly, within this region of human chromosome 6 residues the alpha 1 (IX) collagen gene (COL9A1), a member of the FACIT group.

Antitumor activity of Hypsizigus marmoreus. I. Antitumor activity of extracts and polysaccharides

Antitumor activity of Hypsizigus marmoreus, one of the most popular Japanese edible mushrooms, was investigated. The aqueous and methanol extracts were tested against allogeneic tumor, solid sarcoma 180 and syngeneic tumor, Meth A fibrosarcoma. The aqueous extract was highly active in inhibiting growth of solid sarcoma 180, but not as much for Meth A fibrosarcoma. Fractionation of antitumor substances of the aqueous extract isolated four polysaccharides. Chemical analysis revealed one of them to be beta-(1-3)-glucan with a remarkable inhibitory effect against tumor-growth of sarcoma 180.

Plasma cells in the spleen of the Aleutian skate, Bathyraja aleutica

Splenic white pulp of the Aleutian skate (Bathyraja aleutica), an elasmobranch, was investigated using light and transmission electron microscopy. The major cellular constituent was plasma cells, of the typical Marshalko type, characterized by well developed rough-endoplasmic reticulum and a Golgi complex. The morphology of the rough-endoplasmic reticulum was variable, being lamellar in some cells and spherical in others. Plasma cells with distended cisternae of rough-endoplasmic reticulum and cells with Russel bodies were often observed. Only a small number of lymphocytes were encountered. These findings indicate that the splenic white pulp is the major site for immunoglobulin production in this fish, thus confirming our previous immunocytochemical observation. Globules presumably containing immunoglobulin were found consistently associated with the Golgi complex. The secretion mechanism of immunoglobulin by plasma cells is discussed in connection with the globules.

Somatic cell hybrids, sequence-tagged sites, simple repeat polymorphisms, and yeast artificial chromosomes for physical and genetic mapping of proximal 17p

Somatic cell hybrids retaining the deleted chromosome 17 from 15 unrelated Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) [del(17)(p11.2p11.2)] patients were obtained by fusion of patient lymphoblasts with thymidine kinase-deficient rodent cell lines. Seventeen sequence-tagged sites (STSs) were developed from anonymous markers and cloned genes mapping to the short arm of chromosome 17. The STSs were used to determine the deletion status of these loci in these and four previously described human chromosome 17-retaining hybrids. Ten STSs were used to identify 28 yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) from the St. Louis human genomic YAC library. Four of the 17 STSs identified simple repeat polymorphisms. The order and location of deletion breakpoints were confirmed and refined, and the regional assignment of several probes and cloned genes were determined. The cytogenetic band locations and relative order of six markers on 17p were established by fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping to metaphase chromosomes. The latter data confirmed and supplemented the somatic cell hybrid results. Most of the hybrids derived from [del(17)(p11.2p11.2)] patients demonstrated a similar pattern of deletion for the marker loci and were deleted for D17S446, D17S258, D17S29, D17S71, and D17S445. However, one of them demonstrated a unique pattern of deletion. This patient is deleted for several markers known to recognize a large DNA duplication associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 1A. These data suggest that the proximal junction of the CMT1A duplication is close to the distal breakpoint in [del(17)(p-11.2p11.2)] patients.

Carbonic anhydrase in distinct precursors of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the forebrains of neonatal and young rats

Carbonic anhydrase is present in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in the mature rat brain. Whereas carbonic anhydrase-positive oligodendrocyte precursors had been identified during the first postnatal week, no information was available about the earliest occurrence of carbonic anhydrase in the astrocytic cell line, nor had carbonic anhydrase been detected in astrocytes in neonatal rat brains. Beginning on the first postnatal day, rat brains were double immunostained with anti-carbonic anhydrase II and respective 'markers' for immature and mature astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. During the first postnatal week there were intensely carbonic anhydrase-positive cells which were ovoid or had broad processes. On the basis of their shapes and antigen contents these were considered to be precursors of oligodendrocytes. Beginning on the first postnatal day carbonic anhydrase II was also observed in some vimentin-positive radial glia and in other vimentin-positive cells that differed in their appearance from the immature oligodendrocytes. The vimentin-positive, carbonic anhydrase-positive cells were less smooth-surfaced, and had much finer processes, than the oligodendrocyte precursors. By the third postnatal day there appeared carbonic anhydrase-positive, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells that resembled the vimentin-positive cells. It is concluded that the latter are immature astrocytes and that carbonic anhydrase is in distinct precursors of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes as early as the first postnatal day.

[Chemical constituents of the roots of Ostericum grosseserratum (Maxim.) Kitag]

This paper reports the isolation of eleven compounds from the roots of Ostericum grosseserratum, of which nine compounds were elucidated as myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, octacosanoic acid, succinic acid, beta-sitosterol, sitosterol-beta-D-glucoside, isoscopletin and sucrose. The results are helpful in the study of plant taxonomy.

Enhancement of B cell responses by the interaction of CD2 with LFA-3

Potential effect of the interaction of CD2 with its ligand LFA-3 on B cell responses in vitro was studied to evaluate the action of CD2-LFA-3 in immune responses. It was found that: 1) addition of autologous erythrocytes to unfractional mononuclear cells resulted in enhancement of PWM-induced lymphocyte proliferation, and had no significant influence on non-mitogen stimulation; 2) autologous erythrocytes potentiated the synthesis of immunoglobulins; and 3) costimulating effects of autologous RBC can be depressed by preincubation of PBMNC with anti-CD2 monoclonal antibody (WuTll). The results suggest that preincubation of mononuclear cells with anti-CD2 McAb has a down-regulating effects on B cell responses and the interaction of CD2 with its ligand LFA-3 expressed by RBC is closely related to immune responses.

The diagnostic significance of gastrin measurement of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for lung cancer

In this study, determination of gastrin concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum has been detected by radioimmunoassay in 30 cases of lung cancer and 24 cases of non-cancer pulmonary diseases. The results show that the gastrin concentration and its positive rate of lavage fluids from cancer lung are much higher than those from healthy lung and serum in lung cancer patients, and those from serum and both disease and healthy lung in non-cancer pulmonary disease patients (P less than 0.01). The gastrin ratio of lavage fluids from cancer lung to serum is also significantly higher than the ratio of lavage fluid from healthy lung to serum and all the ratios in the non-cancer pulmonary disease group. These results suggest that there is a high gastrin concentration in local tissue of lung cancer, which is signified by the high concentration of gastrin and its high positive rate in lavage fluids from the lung with cancer. Therefore, the gastrin determination in lavage fluids and gastrin ratio of lavage fluids to serum are more reliable in the differential diagnosis of benign from malignant pulmonary diseases than gastrin determination of serum alone.

[Effect of mieyanling oral liquid on the immune responses in normal and cyclophosphamide treated mice]

It has been proved that Mieyanling in Vivo and in Vitro, can augment the lymphocyte transformation rate induced by PHA, Con-A or LPS in mice. The suppressed immune function caused by cyclophosphamide can also be significantly relieved by Mieyanling Oral Liquid.

Relaxant effects on iloprost in canine cerebral artery

Iloprost caused relaxation of rings of canine cerebral arteries precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha or the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619, but it was without effect on arteries precontracted with potassium chloride. Pretreatment with iloprost did not significantly affect the concentration-response curve to any agent. Contractile responses to oxyhemoglobin were completed relaxed by iloprost. In arteries from animals with moderate cerebrovascular spasm, the response to prostaglandin F2 alpha was also reduced by iloprost. The observation that iloprost relaxes the response to oxyhemoglobin to prostaglandin F2 alpha in spastic arteries may be of interest in the management of cerebral vasospasm.

Urinary ANP, ADH, and electrolyte excretion during saturation-excursion diving to pressures equivalent to 250 and 300 m

Four male divers were exposed to an environment of 26 and 31 atm abs He-O2 for 2 days. Urine was collected during the day (0700-1900 h) and at night (1900-0700 h) before (predive 1 atm abs air), during, and after (decompression and postdive 1 atm abs air) the exposure. Urine flow increased markedly and was mostly attributable to the urine flow during 1900-0700 h. The secretion of atrial natriuretic polypeptide (ANP) increased only at night during hyperbaria. On the other hand, the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was suppressed, but increased during compression and the early phase of hyperbaric exposure before it decreased. Linear regression analysis showed that urinary excretion of ANP was correlated significantly with urine flow (r = 0.88, P less than 0.01) and that excretion of ADH negatively correlated with urine flow (r = -0.61, P less than 0.01). Urinary excretion of Na, Cl, Ca, and Mg increased significantly at night during hyperbaria, whereas there was no consistent change in the excretion of K and P. These results suggest that both stimulated ANP secretion and suppressed ADH secretion correlate with the increase of urine and that nocturia is mostly attributable to stimulated ANP secretion. We observed that urinary excretion of ANP increased significantly as early as during the compression phase, which suggested that ANP plays a decisive role in the early diuresis.

Potassium currents of rat basilar artery smooth muscle cells

Primary isolates of smooth muscle cells from the basilar artery of the rat were studied using whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamp techniques. Two distinct potassium currents were characterized. With low intracellular calcium, depolarization above 0 mV elicited an outward current of a few hundred pA (at +120 mV) with sigmoidal onset and little inactivation during 1.25 s steps. This current was reduced by bath application of 1 mM procaine or 1 mM strychnine, but not by 500 nM charybdotoxin. These are characteristics of the delayed rectifier potassium current in other preparations. With higher intracellular calcium, depolarization above 0 mV elicited a non-inactivating potassium current of several nA (at +120 mV). This current persisted in the presence of 1 mM procaine or strychnine but was reduced by bath application of 100 nM charybdotoxin. In whole-cell recordings in which intracellular calcium was unbuffered with EGTA, spontaneous transient outward currents were manifest and displayed voltage dependence and tail currents similar to the calcium-dependent current. The spontaneous transient current and the calcium-dependent current had similar sensitivity to charybdotoxin. Cell-free membrane patches contained one or more channels of 220 pS (in solutions symmetrical with respect to potassium) with similar voltage and calcium dependence. These are characteristics of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium current in other preparations.

[Inhibition of skin test by astemizole]

For the purpose of evaluating the curative effect of antihistamines, we have set up an assay method called the "Skin Test Inhibition Index" (STII). Twenty cases of hay fever were selected for astemizole administration, 10 mg/d for 7 days. Skin titration test were carried out before and after treatment. Significant inhibition of skin test by astemizole was found with STII 91. Another group of 6 hay fever patients was given astemizole 10 mg/d for 10 days. STII was determined on the 5th and 10th days and also on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after treatment. STII were 12, 108, 90, 10 and 7 respectively. These results clearly demonstrated that astemizole is a long-acting antihistamine.

Alloxan cytotoxicity involves lysosomal damage

The cytotoxic effects of alloxan are not understood in any great detail, although they are considered to involve reactions mediated by oxygen-derived free radicals. These reactive species may form extra-or intracellularly following alloxan reduction, and result in cell damage through a number of complex interactions with a variety of macromolecules. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate further the early intracellular effects of alloxan on a model system of macrophage-like cells in culture. Addition of alloxan (15 mM), without reducing agents, to the medium surrounding the cells (phosphate-buffered saline, PBS, 37 degrees C, pH 7.4) resulted in rapid lysosomal damage (disappearance of the proton gradient over the membrane) followed by severe cellular degeneration (swelling and blebbing) and 50% cell death (trypan blue dye exclusion test) within fifty min. Cells pretreated with the gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthetase-inhibiting agent BSO, to decrease levels of intracellular glutathione, showed enhanced sensitivity to alloxan. The results are interpreted as indicating the cytotoxicity to result from intracellular formation of superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, the latter within secondary lysosomes containing trace amounts of reactive iron (inducing Fenton reactions). The ensuing lysosomal membrane damage may result in leakage of lysosomal hydrolases and further cellular degeneration.

The effect of ethanol metabolism on ferritin uptake by freshly isolated rat hepatocytes: is acetaldehyde responsible for this alteration?

Alcohol abuse is associated with disturbances to iron metabolism in man, ranging from anemia to siderosis. Also seen in these patients are increased serum ferritin levels. Since the liver not only stores iron in cytosolic ferritin, but has also been shown to take up this molecule from the plasma by an active transport mechanism, it has been suggested that the iron in this circulating ferritin may contribute to the increased incidence of siderosis seen in alcoholics. As part of an ongoing study of these disturbances, using a rat model, we have examined the uptake of ferritin by freshly isolated hepatocyte suspension to test the hypothesis that increased hepatocyte uptake of ferritin iron contributes to the siderosis seen in some alcoholics. Incubation of hepatocytes in the presence of ethanol resulted in a progressive reduction in uptake with increasing alcohol concentration, from 1.23 +/- 0.05 ng of ferritin/10(6) cells/min to 0.65 +/- 0.02 ng/10(6) cells/min (mean +/- SD) at an ethanol concentration of 100 mM. 4-Methylpyrazole (0.1 mM) restored 70% of this activity, but higher concentrations also decreased ferritin uptake in the absence of ethanol. The addition of 5 microM cyanamide decreased ferritin uptake slightly in the presence of ethanol (0.82 +/- 0.04 ng of ferritin/10(6) hepatocytes/min vs. 0.86 +/- 0.03 ng/10(6) cells/min for ethanol alone), while having no effect in the absence of ethanol (1.01 +/- 0.04 vs. 1.12 +/- 0.05 ng/10(6) cells/min). Preincubation of the hepatocytes with acetaldehyde resulted in a dose-dependent reduction to a maximum reduction of approximately 25% at 300 microM acetaldehyde.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Extracellular reduction of alloxan results in oxygen radical-mediated attack on plasma and lysosomal membranes

Alloxan participation in extracellular redox processes results in the formation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) superoxide anions (O2-), hydroxyl radical (OH.) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), causing cell damage through a number of complex interactions probably involving several different cellular structures. These involve the plasma membrane, and we have recently presented evidence for lysosomal interference. The present study elucidates the early (within 15 min) events in a model system of macrophage-like cells (J-774) in culture. Addition of 2 mM alloxan and 1 mM cysteine to the medium surrounding the cells (phosphate-buffered saline, PBS, 37 degrees C, pH 7.4) resulted in rapid lysosomal membrane damage with disappearance of the proton gradient as visualized by acridine orange relocalization, as well as plasma membrane alterations leading to increased leakage of fluorescein after fluorescein diacetate staining. These events were later (greater than 30 min) followed by cellular degeneration in the form of blebbing. Mitochondrial damage (rhodamine 123 relocalization) was a late event. Cells pretreated with desferrioxamine (Des) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) or Des, SOD and catalase (CAT) to induce partial (H2O2 formation only) or almost full protection (no ROS formation) showed about the same reactions as when cells were exposed to alloxan and cysteine without scavengers (O2-, H2O2 and OH. formation) or with PBS only, respectively. The results are interpreted as indicating that the cytotoxicity is a consequence mainly of H2O2 involvement and probably of lysosomal influx of H2O2 with ensuing OH.formation within secondary lysosomes containing trace amounts of reactive iron. It is suggested that the resultant lysosomal membrane damage is followed by leakage of lysosomal hydrolases and ensuing cellular degeneration.

Sensitive colorimetric bioassays for insulin-like growth factor (IGF) stimulation of cell proliferation and glucose consumption: use in studies of IGF analogs

We have established two in vitro bioassay systems for quantification of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) bioactivity. The first assay was used to quantitate mitogenic activity and the second was used to quantitate metabolic activity. Both assays use BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts grown under serum-free conditions; detection of bioactivity in assays was performed colorimetrically and did not require the use of radioisotopes. The mitogenic bioassay, which requires 48 h for detection, quantitates changes in cell number and provides an index for determining the mitogenic activity of growth factors. Changes in cell number were measured by the enzymatic reduction of exogenously added MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide] to MTT-formazan by mitochondrial enzymes, which was directly correlated to cell number. The metabolic bioassay, which requires 22 h for detection, measures glucose consumption by detecting changes from the initial glucose concentration of conditioned medium after addition of various growth factors. When appropriate standards were established for these bioassays, they demonstrated a high level of reproducibility (coefficients of variation were 0.085-0.096 for the mitogenic bioassay and 0.120-0.191 for the metabolic bioassay). Both assays can be performed in 96-well microtiter plates, without the use of radioisotopes, or the limitations of conventional glucose, amino acid, or thymidine incorporation studies. In initial experiments for assay specificity, epidermal growth factor had no measurable effect in either assay. However, IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin demonstrated effects on both metabolism and mitogenesis. In the case of the mitogenic bioassay, the maximum mitogenic activation by these growth factors was approximately 180% of control, and these factors demonstrated parallel sigmoidal dose-response curves, ranging from 0.02-2 ng/ml for IGF-I and from 2-200 ng/ml for both IGF-II and insulin. In the metabolic bioassay, in contrast to the mitogenic bioassay, insulin showed a dose-response curve whose shape was different from those of IGF-I and IGF-II. IGF-I and IGF-II stimulated glucose consumption in dose-dependent ranges of 0.02-3 ng/ml and 0.4-40 ng/ml, respectively. However, the dose-response effect of insulin was wider, ranging from 0.1-2000 ng/ml. When these assays were used to measure the bioactivity of IGF analogs, a des(1-3)-IGF-I, which has decreased affinity for IGF binding proteins, demonstrated activity equivalent to IGF-I, a [Leu27]IGF-II, which has markedly diminished affinity for the type 1 IGF receptor, exhibited approximately 0.07% of the potency of IGF-I and 1% of the potency of IGF-II.

[Cation channels formed in lipid bilayer by Pinellia ternata lectin]

Pinellia ternata lectin (PTL), a protein exhibiting hemagglutination activity and carbohydrate binding specificity to mannan was purified from rhizome of Pinellia ternata. In this work the actions of PTL on artificial lipid bilayer were investigated by means of the two-compartment system of Mueller and Rudin. The lipid bilayer with resistance more than 10G omega was formed by a solution of lecithin and cholesterol (20 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml respectively) in N-decane. The electrical properties of the lipid bilayer were investigated in voltage clamp mode. Several minutes after the addition of PTL (2 micrograms/ml) in one compartment the channel-like noise as well as a decrease of the resistance of the bilayer were observed. These actions were inhibited by mannan significantly. The resistance increase of the bilayer with PTL-channels could be observed from 2G omega to control level (greater than or equal to 10 G omega) immediately after addition of 40 micrograms/ml mannan. The discrete conduction steps were recorded at low concentration of PTL and at low holding potential. The predominant unit conductance was 35pS in symmetric KCl solution of 100 mmol/L. The selectivity of PTL-channel was estimated from Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz equation by measurement of the reversal potential in an asymmetrical salt solution. The results showed that PTL-channels were cation selective.

Capillary and venule proliferation in the healing process of Dacron venous grafts in rats

A woven, noncrimped graft (made of Dacron and coated with an elastomer) that was 1.5 mm in diameter and 15 mm long was capable of replacing the vena cava in rats. The elastomer mixture consisting mainly of silicone rubber was necessary to bond the woven Dacron fibrils of the woven graft to prevent fraying at the anastomoses and bleeding through the interstices of the lightly woven, fairly high porosity (500) conduit. Sequential histologic studies showed that patency was associated with the ingrowth of small venules and the spreading of endothelial cells from each anastomosis toward the center. Small venules appeared in loose connective tissue, forming a pseudointima 12 days after grafting. This process occurred in the midportion of the graft before pannus endothelial growth covered the endothelial surface. Various thicknesses of the external polymer coat were studied for their influence on healing. None of the grafts developed a thrombus in these latter studies, and regardless of the thickness of the external elastomer, endothelial resurfacing was complete at 30 days. However, the graft with the thinnest external elastomer coating had the best-formed vasa vasorum, and the intima at both the anastomoses and midportions of the graft was significantly thinner than intima found in grafts of other composition. We conclude that this woven Dacron polygraft provides a surface resistant to early thrombosis; that healing occurs mainly by pannus ingrowth, but external and interstitial factors are also important; and that properties inherent in the polygraft wall determine the size of the residual lumen.

[Isolation and identification of Leclercia adecarboxylate in clinical isolates in China]

1987, 3 strains of gram-negative straight rods were examined from 3 cases of patients with diarrhea. It's producing yellow pigment, fermentative metabolism of carbohydrates, oxidase test negative and motility with the help of peritrichous flagella. Through systematic biochemical identification, calculation of G+C mol% and homology of DNA/DNA, the species of Leclercia adecarboxylate are identified. While the susceptibility to certain antibiotics and the pathogenicity for white mice are tested, and relation of these microorganisms to clinical diarrhea is discussed.

[A preliminary study on growing tempo of Ophisourus harti Boulenger]

Under experimental circumstances, the relationship between the growing tempo of Ophisourus harti and its age, fodder, outside temperature and humidity has surveyed. Suggestions have accordingly been made with regard to the rational utilization and protection of the resources.

[Stability of shuang huanglian aerosol]

The contents of chlorogenic acid and baicalin in shuang huanglian aerosol were determined by HPLC. The process of chemical kinetics of the aerosol was studied by constant temperature acceleration tests, and the stability of the drug predicted. The results appeared close to those from the stored sample method. pH changes during degradation of the drug were also observed.

Increase in myofilament separation in the "stunned" myocardium

This study explores the effects of ischemic reperfusion injury on the radial separation distance between thick and thin myofilaments. The left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded for 5 mins and reperfused for 10 mins twelve times repetitively in 6 dogs. At the end of a final 90 min reperfusion period, the hearts were fixed by perfusion with glutaraldehyde, and subepicardial and subendocardial tissue from both normal and ischemic areas were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Quantitative analysis of inter-filament distance (IFD) was performed on micrographs of transverse sections. The center-to-center IFD was calculated from the numerical density of thick filaments at the A band level using a hexagonal array conversion formula. Sarcomere length was measured on micrographs of longitudinal sections. The results showed that center-to-center thick IFD in the stunned subendocardium was 43.9 +/- 0.8 nm which was significantly greater than the control distance of 40.6 +/- 0.4 nm (P less than 0.001) from normal zone tissue. Thick IFD in the subepicardium was also significantly different: 43.4 +/- 0.6 nm in the stunned tissue as compared with 39.0 +/- 0.7 nm in the non-ischemic tissue (P less than 0.001). Sarcomere length in the normally perfused subendocardium was 2.01 +/- 0.07 micron and was increased to 2.20 +/- 0.08 micron in the stunned subendocardium (P less than 0.005). Sarcomere length in the normal and the stunned subepicardium was also different: 2.02 +/- 0.04 vs. 2.10 +/- 0.09 micron (P less than 0.005). The significant increase in spatial separation between the contractile filaments may affect optimal cross-bridge force generation at the molecular level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibitory effect of cyclosporin A on T lymphocyte DNA synthesis

The interference of Cyclosporin A (CyA) with peripheral lymphocytes DNA synthesis was investigated. The results showed that the drug could strongly inhibit T cell proliferation in response to PHA stimulation if added at the start or at the early phase of the process, and it failed to do so if added 48 h later when most cells had already started to proliferate. Without PHA, no obvious differences were detected between normal control and CyA-treated cells. A comparison was made between T cell DNA synthesis of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy volunteers and renal transplant patients. It was found that T-cell DNA synthesis of patients was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls. From the above it may be suggested that CyA activity on T cell proliferation is similar in vivo and in vitro.

Intrahepatic hepatocyte transplantation following subtotal hepatectomy in the recipient: a possible model in the treatment of hepatic enzyme deficiency

Orthotopic liver transplantation as treatment for hereditary enzyme deficiencies in the absence of cirrhosis suffers from significant operative risks, complications, and donor shortages. Transplantation of isolated hepatocytes (HTX) may offer opportunities for the treatment of these diseases and retain the recipient liver. Hepatocytes transplanted into the portal vein, spleen, or omentum lack an ideal growing environment for cell proliferation and maintenance. Therefore, we investigated a method combining 75% recipient hepatectomy with direct injection of hepatocytes into the remaining 25% of liver parenchyma to provide proliferative stimuli and a stable environment during and following liver regeneration. Recipient Gunn rats (glucuronyltransferase deficiency and hyperbilirubinemia) underwent hepatectomy before HTX by direct injection of 10(7) isolated hepatocytes into the remaining parenchyma. Inbred male Wistar and Gunn rats were used as normal and control hepatocyte donors and saline injection served as a sham transplant control. Isolation of donor hepatocytes was performed with a two-step collagenase digestive method (Seglen) with cell viability of 85% to 95%. Liver regeneration was complete by 2 weeks posttransplant. Four weeks following HTX, total serum bilirubin and qualitative bile analysis were performed. A significant decrease in total serum bilirubin levels was observed in Gunn rats receiving Wistar hepatocytes compared with those receiving Gunn hepatocytes and saline control. Bile analysis from HTX rats demonstrated a normal pattern containing bilirubin monoglucuronides and diglucuronides (conjugated bilirubin) in the rats receiving Wistar hepatocytes, whereas the control group receiving Gunn hepatocytes or saline injection demonstrated only unconjugated bilirubin. No differences in histological appearance were noted between groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Efficacy of succinylcholine under hyperventilation]

To evaluate hypocapnic effect on muscle relaxant, we investigated succinylcholine under normal condition (PetCO2 5-5.5kPa) and hyperventilation (PetCO2 3-3.5kPa), with the patients as the self control. Fifteen patients undergoing selective surgery were divided randomly into two groups. The hypocapnic effect on single intubational dose course as well as sustaining two hours was observed with the neuromuscular blockade traced by accelograph. The results showed that the speed of onset, recovery time and duration of succinylcholine after 1 mg/kg i.v. have no significant difference between normal condition and hyperventilation. It is indicated that in good risk adult patients, ventilatory hypocapnia for two hours causes no significant change in succinylcholine relaxation.

Vasodilatation of canine cerebral arteries by nicorandil, pinacidil and lemakalim

1. Nicorandil, pinacidil and lemakalim relaxed precontracted rings of canine cerebral artery. 2. The order of potency was lemakalim greater than nicorandil approximately equal to pinacidil, but all these agents were less effective than nimodipine. 3. The effects of nicorandil were inhibited by methylene blue but not by glibenclamide, while the effects of pinacidil and lemakalim were inhibited by glibenclamide but not by methylene blue. 4. Thus nicorandil probably causes relaxation mostly by effects on guanylate cyclase while lemakalim and pinacidil produce the same effect by action at ATP-dependent potassium channels.

Skin test inhibition by astemizole

For the purpose of evaluating the therapeutic effect of antihistamines, we have set up an assay method called the "Skin Test Inhibition Index" (STII). Twenty subjects with hay fever were given astemizole (10 mg/d) for 7 days. Skin titration tests were carried out before and after treatment. Significant inhibition of the skin test reaction by astemizole was demonstrated (STII = 91). Another group of 6 hay fever patients was given astemizole (10 mg/d) for 10 days, and STII was determined on days 5 and 10 and on days 7, 14 and 21 after treatment. STII were calculated as 12, 108, 90, 10 and 7, respectively. These results demonstrate that astemizole is a long-acting antihistamine.

Microvascular corrosion casting of normal tissue, transitional mucosa and adenocarcinoma in the human colon

The microcirculatory architecture of normal tissue, transitional mucosa and adenocarcinoma of the human colon was investigated with microvascular corrosion casting (MVCC) combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study showed that the capillaries within the normal mucosa were arranged in a regular hexagonal pattern around the mucosal glands and that the microvessels of transitional mucosa mostly had lost the typical hexagonal pattern and become slightly wider in diameter. The microvessels in the tumor periphery were increased in number and disorganized, and presented large variation in morphology with claw-like formations, widened sinuses, diverticula and appendixoid patterns. Microvessels were lacking in the central areas of tumors. These morphological alterations may serve as additional indicators of tumor development.

Effect of administration schedules on the potentiation of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) by misonidazole in subcutaneous 9L tumors

Our previous studies demonstrated that metabolism of misonidazole (MISO) by hypoxic cells is required to potentiate the cytotoxicity of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) in sc 9L tumors. To determine the influence of administration schedules on this chemosensitization, tumors were either clamped to produce a reversible hypoxia or left unclamped. MISO (2.5 mmoles kg-1) was administered to rats with unclamped tumors simultaneously with BCNU (9 or 12 mg kg-1), 20 min before BCNU, or 2.5 hr before BCNU, and the drug pharmacokinetics and BCNU cytotoxicity were measured. MISO administered 20 min or 2.5 hr before BCNU increased the plasma elimination half-time (t1/2) of BCNU, but MISO administered simultaneously with BCNU did not change the plasma elimination t1/2 of BCNU. In unclamped sc 9L tumors, all administration schedules decreased the peak BCNU concentration and increased the initial BCNU elimination t1/2; however, the BCNU exposure dose (AUC0-infinity) calculated from these data did not change significantly. In agreement with the AUC calculations, none of the administration schedules altered the BCNU cytotoxicity in unclamped tumors. If the tumors were clamped for 5-120 min after the peak MISO concentration was reached, BCNU-induced cell kill was increased by a constant factor of 3 over the first hour of the clamping period and by an additional factor of 7 over the second hour of the clamping period. If the tumors were clamped for 2 hr after the peak MISO concentration was reached and then BCNU administered 0-60 min after the clamp was released, this chemosensitization remained at a constant factor of approximately 20 for the first 10 min, and then decreased rapidly to a factor of approximately 3 by 20 min after the clamp was released. These data indicate that in sc 9L tumors, (1) at least two biochemical mechanisms are involved in this MISO-BCNU interaction, one of which depends on the duration and extent of the metabolism of MISO by hypoxic cells, and (2) reoxygenation does not immediately eliminate the potentiation of BCNU by MISO. These data also suggest that MISO should be given 2-4 hr before BCNU to achieve the maximum chemosensitization in clinical trials.

Electroretinographic oscillatory potentials in diabetic retinopathy. An analysis in the domains of time and frequency

The oscillatory potentials of the electroretinogram in dark and light adaptation were evaluated by Fourier transform in 87 diabetics and 74 age-matched controls. The study consisted of four groups: normal control, no observable diabetic retinopathy, background diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. A reduction in the amplitude of each oscillatory potential, the summed amplitudes, the area and the total power of the oscillatory potentials as well as delayed implicit time of each oscillatory potential peak in dark and light adaptation could be found in patients with background diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The amplitude of oscillatory potential 4 in dark adaptation and the total power of the oscillatory potentials in light adaptation seemed to be affected in patients with no observable diabetic retinopathy. The implicit time of oscillatory potential 2 in dark adaptation was valuable to distinguish between patients with no observable diabetic retinopathy and background diabetic retinopathy.

Plasticity of Escherichia coli porin channels. Dependence of their conductance on strain and lipid environment

The conductance properties of three members of the porin family which form channels across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria were compared. With their endogenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) bound, the closely related porins F and C from Escherichia coli reveal significantly different conductance steps and closing potentials, with values of 0.82 nS (nanosiemens) and 89 mV for F-type channels, and 0.49 nS and 158 mV for C-type pores (1 M NaCl), respectively. On the basis of their closing potentials, the two channel types can be distinguished unequivocally. If reconstituted in asolectin and extraneous LPS, porin C forms F-type in addition to C-type channels. Substitution of asolectin by mitochondrial lipids yields the native C-type pores only. Both channel types can be induced to assume the mutually other channel configuration by variation of ionic strength. A multiplicity of channel subtypes is observed by variation of the pH of the medium. The three channels within a trimer are, however, consistently of the same type. Since structural studies have revealed a single channel per monomer, the several conductance steps observed are likely to reflect distinct configurations of the same channel. Best channel recoveries were observed if endogenous LPS remained associated to porin during purification. Significant yields could nevertheless be obtained also if LPS was removed from porin and replaced with various precursors or chemically synthesized analogues. As function requires the presence of glycolipids, yet crystallization is perturbed by heterodisperse endogenous LPS, the smallest monodisperse analogues yielding good channel recovery were determined. The minimal synthetic moiety is a monoglucosaminetetraacyl compound. The characteristics of porin B from E. coli BE are shown to be indistinguishable from those of porin F. The conductance properties of this porin, refolded from random coil configuration, are indistinguishable from those exhibited by native protein. The formation of channels is thus encoded by the sequence of the mature polypeptide alone.

ras p21 expression in relation to DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction and prognosis in colorectal adenocarcinoma

ras p21 expression, as indicated by the monoclonal antibody ras 11, was estimated using immunohistochemistry on 69 primary colorectal adenocarcinomas. Also, DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) were analysed with flow cytometry. Positive staining for ras 11 tended to be more common in DNA non-diploid tumours (P = 0.11), but was significantly correlated with high SPF (P = 0.038). Positive ras 11 staining, Dukes' stage, DNA ploidy and SPF were related to the recurrence-free interval of patients with Dukes' A-C tumours (P = 0.0014, P = 0.023, P = 0.035 and P = 0.040, respectively). ras 11 staining was a prognostic factor independent of both Dukes' stage and DNA ploidy (P = 0.011). The results indicate that pan ras p21 expression is associated with proliferative activity and has an independent prognostic value in colorectal adenocarcinoma.