Marked increases in concentrations of apolipoprotein in the cerebrospinal fluid of poliovirus-infected macaques: relations between apolipoprotein concentrations and severity of brain injury

Apolipoproteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) might have important functional roles in the pathophysiology of brain and lipid metabolism in the vascular component. The present study examined apolipoprotein A-I (apo-A-I) and apolipoprotein E (apo-E) levels in CSF and serum from poliovirus-infected macaques. Poliovirus-infected macaques developed motor deficits and were classified into three groups: (1) muscle weakness in one or both legs; (2) partial paralysis in one or both legs; (3) complete paralysis in one or both legs. No motor deficits were evident in the control or sham-treated macaques. Apo-A-I concentrations in CSF were markedly elevated in poliovirus-infected macaques with weakness, partial or complete paralysis, in comparison with either control or sham-treated animals, and were proportional to the severity of motor impairment. Apo-E concentrations in CSF were also significantly elevated in poliovirus-infected macaques with complete paralysis. The magnitude of increase in CSF apo-A-I or apo-E concentrations was also closely associated with the degree of histologic neurological damage and inflammation (lesion scores). However, no changes in serum apo-A-I and apo-E concentrations were observed in the poliovirus-infected macaques compared with control macaques. Furthermore there were no significant correlations apo-A-I or apo-E concentrations between serum and CSF. We hypothesize that the elevation of apo-A-I and apo-E concentrations after poliovirus infection is caused by immune stimulation within the central nervous system (CNS). Measures of CSF apo-A-I and apo-E levels might serve as a useful marker for the severity and/or the range of CNS injury.

[Clinical significance of changes of fibrillation potential amplitude following denervation of human skeletal muscle]

To evaluate the value of clinical application of examination of fibrillation potential amplitude, 110 patients, 97 males and 13 females, were examined and only the maximum fibrillation potential amplitudes were recorded in 420 muscles. The results showed that there was no significant difference between sexes, ages and sides. However, significant difference was evident between the groups of different frequency (1+ to 4+). The fibrillation potential amplitude was maximum at 3 to 4 months after denervation and still remained at relatively high level for years in certain patients. No significant difference was showed between the time groups in incomplete nerve injuries. Surgery did not affect the course of fibrillation potential amplitude change. It was suggested that the muscle cells sustained their property for years after denervation in some patients, thus it might explain that satisfactory result could be obtained from operative repair in some late cases. The changes of fibrillation potential amplitude might indicate that the changes from muscle denervation was still reversible and might be more accurate than traditional method of examination.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 can replace ectodermal signaling for feather development

The initiation and morphogenesis of cutaneous appendages depend on a series of reciprocal signaling events between the epithelium and mesenchyme of the embryonic skin. In the development of feather germs, early dermal signals induce the formation of epidermal placodes that in turn signal the mesoderm to form dermal condensations immediately beneath them. We find a spatially and temporally restricted pattern of transcription for the genes that encode fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF receptor (FGFR) 1 in developing feather germs of the chicken embryo. FGF-2 expression is restricted to the epidermal placodes, whereas FGFR-1 expression is limited to the dermal condensations. Transcription of these genes could not be detected in skins of scaleless (sc/sc) embryos that fail to develop feathers as a result of an ectodermal defect. Treatment of sc/sc skins with FGF-2 results in the formation of feathers at the site of application of the growth factor and the induced feathers express FGFR-1 in their dermal condensations. Thus, we have established FGF-2 as an epidermal signal in early feather germ formation. The observation that FGF-2 can rescue the mutant phenotype of sc/sc embryos suggests that FGF-2 either is, or is downstream from, the signal that the sc/sc mutant ectoderm fails to generate.

The spatial relationship between infant mortality and birth defect rates in a U.S. city

The spatial patterns of infant mortality and birth defect rates in the Des Moines, Iowa, urban region are described as a contoured surface based on the punctual kriging of address-matched vital statistics records from The Iowa Department of Public Health. Areas defined as having high rates are shown to be sensitive to the size of the spatial filtering units. There is no correlation between infant mortality and birth defect rates in the region. The significance of areas with high rates is determined by a Monte Carlo simulation procedure. One area of high infant mortality is found in the region, which contrasts with many smaller areas with high birth defect rates in the region. The observed birth defect rate pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that each birth was equally likely to result in a birth defect, while the infant mortality pattern is unlikely to be the result of such an equal likelihood process.

[Curcuma longa L. tuber yield simulation model and its application under combined agronomic measures for good-quality, high-yield and obvious economic results]

A design of second order orthogonal rotative regression was developed and field tested, and the tuber models for yield, quality and benefit were simulated and built. The effect of agronomic measures on the tuber yield is plant density > phosphorus > sowing date > nitrogen > potassium. There is a clear interrelation effect among agronomic measures. The results of simulation experiment have shown that the optimal combination of farming practices can greatly increase the tuber yield, quality and benefit, and is adjusted according to climate, soil, ferilizer or manure sources, and so on.

A role of PDI in the reductive cleavage of mixed disulfides

We previously reported that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) can dissociate the glutathione molecule in vitro from the mutant human lysozyme (hLZM) C77A-a, which is modified with glutathione at Cys95; however, it seems structurally difficult for PDI to attack either the disulfide bond or the side chain of the cysteine residue of a mixed disulfide. To investigate the function of PDI, we introduced several glutathione and cysteine derivatives at Cys95, instead of the glutathione of C77A-a. Using thiol compounds modified by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), we could easily modify the free thiol group of C77A-b (C77A with no glutathionylation), without denaturation. For all of the modifications we tested, a negative correlation was found between the initial rate and the acceleration ratio of the reductive cleavage of mixed disulfides with PDI. A mutant PDI (hPDIM), which has no thiol-disulfide exchange activity, suppressed the reductive cleavage of the mixed disulfide of C77A-a with hPDI, suggesting that hPDI non-covalently interacted with the substrates. Taking account of the results of the structural analysis, we conclude that one of the functions of PDI in vivo lies in relaxing the structure around the disulfide bond, as well as in exchanging the thiol-disulfide bonds.

Binding sites on microtubules of kinesin motors of the same or opposite polarity

The kinesin motor proteins translocate toward either the plus or minus end of microtubules (MTs). Competitive microtubule binding assays were carried out with monomeric motor domains of the minus-end-directed nonclaret disjunctional (Ncd) and Kar3 and the plus-end-directed kinesin heavy chain (KHC) to determine whether motors of the same or opposite polarity compete for binding sites on MTs and to test the idea that motor polarity is determined by differences in binding sites on MTs of the motors. The stoichiometries of binding were approximately 1 motor:1 tubulin heterodimer for all three motors. Ncd and Kar3, both minus-end motors, severely inhibited the binding of one another to MTs, as predicted theoretically for binding of the two motors to the same site on MTs, indicating that the binding sites on MTs of Ncd and Kar3 are the same or overlap extensively. Motors of opposite polarity, KHC and Ncd or KHC and Kar3, showed partial or complete inhibition of binding to MTs under different experimental protocols. The differences in binding behavior could be due to experimental conditions or be inherent in the nature of motor binding to MTs. Alternatively, differences in KHC and Ncd or Kar3 binding sites on MTs may exist such that the motors bind to partially overlapping but nonidentical sites on MTs. These differences in binding sites may be related to the opposite polarity of translocation on MTs of the motors.

[Effects of blood pressure day-nocturnal rhythm and endothelin in patients of sleep apnea syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the change of blood pressure and endothelin in sleep apnea syndrome.

METHODS

The ambulatory blood pressure, echocardiogram and plasma endothelin in 164 cases of hypertension and normal controls with or without sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) were examined. The patients were divided into four groups and 41 cases were in each group.

RESULTS

The results showed that in a number of the patients of sleep apnea with or without hypertension blood pressure day nocturnal rhythm disappeared and endothelin increased (18.2 +/- 5.7 ng/L and 13.2 +/- 4.4 ng/L) The difference of nocturnal blood pressure and endothelin between SAS groups and non-SAS groups (11.7 +/- 3.9 ng/L and 4.3 +/- 2.1 ng/L) were statistically significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

It was suggested that the SAS patients might be due to cyclical hypoxemia and nerve-endocrine abnormality activating endothelin, and other vasoactive peptides with increased blood pressure during sleep and enhance the damage to target organs.

A point mutation in the microtubule binding region of the Ncd motor protein reduces motor velocity

Non-claret disjunctional (Ncd) is a kinesin-related microtubule motor protein in Drosophila that functions in meiotic spindle assembly in oocytes and spindle pole maintenance in early embryos. The partial loss-of-function mutant ncdD retains mitotic, but not meiotic, function. The predicted NcdD mutant protein contains a V556-->F mutation in the putative microtubule binding region of the Ncd motor domain. Here we report an analysis of the properties of recombinant Ncd and NcdD proteins. A GST-NcdD fusion protein translocated microtubules approximately 10-fold more slowly than the corresponding wild-type protein in gliding assays. The maximum microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity of an NcdD motor domain protein was reduced approximately 3-fold and an approximately 3-fold greater concentration of microtubules was required for half-maximal stimulation of ATPase activity, compared with the corresponding wild-type protein. The Km for ATP and basal rate of ATP turnover were, in contrast, similar for the NcdD mutant and wild-type Ncd motor domain proteins. Pelleting assays demonstrated that the binding of the mutant NcdD motor protein to microtubules was reduced in the absence of nucleotide, relative to wild-type. The reduced velocity of NcdD translocation on microtubules is therefore correlated with reductions in microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity and affinity of the mutant motor for microtubules. The characteristics of the NcdD motor explain its meiotic loss of function, and are consistent with partial motor activity of Ncd being sufficient for its mitotic, but not its meiotic, role.

Predominance of defective proviral sequences in an HIV + long-term non-progressor

We examined the accessory genes and envelope V3 region of provirus obtained over a 5 year period from an HIV+ long-term non-progressor with very low viral load and no in vitro recoverable virus during that same time span. LTR sequences supported normal Tat-mediated promoter activity. Multiple clones of nef sequences were highly conserved with < 10% containing frame shift or stop codon mutations. Functional analysis of the predominant nef sequence indicated wild type downregulation of surface CD4 and good function in a complementation infectivity assay. By contrast, inactivating mutations were found in 64% of amplicons containing vif, vpr, vpu, tat1, and rev1, and in 41% of amplicons containing env V3. Identical inactive sequences were obtained at an interval of 2 years, suggesting persistence of quiescent defective provirus in a long-lived clonal cell population. Furthermore, genetic distance versus time analysis revealed an absence of progressive evolution or arborization of quasispecies over time. This contrasts with data generated from other asymptomatic HIV+ individuals. The non-progressive pattern of env sequence diversity and low R2 for genetic divergence over time suggests that the defective provirus circulating in the periphery of this patient represents a randomly sampled 'fossil record' of earlier replication competent HIV-1 genomes.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of recombinant staphylokinase

Staphylokinase, a fibrin-specific plasminogen activator, was highly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography. The purified recombinant staphylokinase was fully active and readily crystallized against 1.2 M sodium citrate in 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8.0 using the hanging-drop method. Crystals of staphylokinase diffract to better than 2.2 A resolution. The crystal belongs to the tetragonal space group P4(1)2(1)2 or its enantiomorph with unit-cell parameters a = b = 67.5, c = 150.1 A. There are two molecules in the asymmetric unit. In this paper, we described the first crystallization of a kind of plasminogen activator and present the results of preliminary X-ray diffraction data from the native protein.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of RepA1, a replication control protein of the RepFIC replicon of enterotoxin plasmid EntP307

RepA1 protein is essential for replication of the RepFIC replicon of enterotoxin plasmid EntP307 and is thought to interact directly with the origin of replication. We have purified RepA1 from an over-producing expression system and have prepared single crystals using a macroseeding technique. The crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) or P2(1)2(1)2, with cell dimensions a = 61 A, b = 67 A, and c = 243 A. They diffract X-rays to 3.3 A resolution and probably contain two 40,000 molecular weight RepA1 molecules per asymmetric unit.

[Selective arterial catheterization in the management of drug-resistant choriocarcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

In order to save the life of the patients with drug-resistant choriocarcinoma due to improper treatment, selective arterial catheterization was used.

METHODS

All the 71 cases were treated with systemic chemotherapy together with pelvic selective arterial chemotherapy. 5 of them had arterial chemotherapy plus arterial embolization for hemorrhage. In 13 patients who had lung metastasis, intraarterial injection of methotrexate (MTX) through bronchial arterial was added.

RESULTS

55 of 71 (77.8%) achieved complete remission and 10 (14.1%) had partial remission. One patient failed to follow-up. 5 died of various causes during hospitalization. On Follow-up 12 had survived for more than 5 years with no signs of recurrence. 2 of them had childbirth after recovery.

CONCLUSION

Systemic intravenous infusion chemotherapy in combination with arterial chemotherapy is useful for drug-resistant choriocarcinoma. In patients with intraperitoneal hemorrhage caused by tumor rupture, selective arterial embolization should be used as emergency treatment to effectively control the bleeding, in order that patients will have a chance for further chemotherapy.

[Experimental study of human micro-urokinase gene therapy]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility and efficiency of gene therapy to thrombotic disease.

METHODS

The retroviral vectors containing 982 bp mUKcDNA were constructed and transfected into PA317 viral packaging cells. Recombinant retroviral particles collected from media of PA317 cells were injected into mice subcutaneous tissue, abdominal cavity and quadriceps muscle, respectively. mUK activity of plasma was measured with a synthetic substrate S-2390. Six mice were sacrificed after injection for immunofluorohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

The mUK activity in plasma was obviously increased (P < 0.01) and the expression of mUKcDNA was observed at local sites of injection by immunofluorohistochemical staining. The mUK activity was raised for 4 months.

CONCLUSION

The injection of recombinant viral particles containing transcriptional unit of mUKcDNA might be applied to the prevention and treatment of thrombotic disease.

Selective arterial embolization in the management of internal bleeding caused by trophoblastic diseases

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of selective arterial embolization in the management of internal bleeding caused by trophoblastic diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Four patients with internal bleeding caused by trophoblastic diseases were diagnosed with arteriography and treated with selective arterial embolization as a life-saving measure. Effect of controlling bleeding was assessed by follow-up arteriogram and clinical observation.

RESULTS

The embolization successfully controlled the bleeding in all patients. Operation time was short with a mean of 42 minutes. The shock was corrected dramatically. Fever and pain were common complications.

CONCLUSION

Selective arterial embolization is a life-saving measure in the management of internal bleeding caused by trophoblastic diseases.

[Cardiotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the possibility and magnitude of cardiotoxicity following high dose intravenous infusion of fluorouracil (5-FU).

METHODS

A prospective clinical study was performed on 104 patients with choriocarcinoma and invasive mole. 5-FU was administered by slow intravenous infusion in 5% glucose 500 ml for 8 hours at doses of 28-30 mg.kg-1.day-1 when used as a single agent treatment or 24-26 mg.kg-1.day-1 when used in combination with kengshengmycin (KSM). The total cycles of treatment with 5-FU + KSM were 109 and those of 5-FU or KSM each used as a single agent were 71 and 12 respectively. The cardiac functions were monitored by cardiac symptoms, ECG and serum cardiac enzymes before and after 5-FU infusion.

RESULTS

Among the 192 treatment cycles tachycardia, palpitation or cardiac distress were observed in 14 cycles. ECG showed changes of ST or T waves in 8 cycles, sinus tachycardia in 3 cycles. The results of serum cardiac enzyme determinations were variable. The diagnostic criteria of cardiotoxicity were appearances of abnormalities manifested in any two of the three monitor items. The incidence of cardiotoxicity was 4.2% in 5-FU group, 4.6% in 5-FU + KSM group and 0% in KSM group. All episodes were mild, reversible spontaneously after cessation of chemotherapy and did not reappear in subsequent chemotherapeutic cycles. Seven patients with definite cardiac diseases before chemotherapy were given 5-FU treatment, but no obvious aggravation of cardiotoxicities were observed even with repeated 5-FU treatments.

CONCLUSION

Only occasional cardiotoxicities were observed in 5-FU treatments. They were rather mild and reversible. The incidence of cardiotoxicity might be reduced with emphasis on strict observance of the treatment regimen in regard to the dosage used, the speed of the infusion and attention to the treatment of any side-effects.

[Purification and properties of polysaccharide PPIII from Sterculia lychnophora Hance]

Polysaccharide PP III was isolated and purified from aqueous extract of the seeds of Sterculia lychnophora. It is composed of galactose, arabinose and rhamnose, the molar ratio being 1 : 1.67 : 1.01 and molecular weight 162200. Rhamnoses in the main chain are linked by alpha-(1-->3) glycoside linkage. PP III C is its major fragment, and is composed of galactose and rhamnose with a molar ratio of 1 : 2. 78 and MW 62500.

[Changes of intestinal flora in senile mouse models and the antagonistic activity of the root of Astragalus membraceus (Fisch) Bge]

Inhaled by mice, ozone induced stronger free radical reaction in the organism and led to a series of changes similar to senility. In this way the senility mouse models were established to observe the changes of intestinal flora in senile mice. The senile mice were given the root of Astrogolus membraceus decoction orally. The results showed that the imbalance of intestinal flora in these mice was recovered.

A protein kinase C inhibitor attenuates cyanide toxicity in vivo

We have examined the effect of pretreatment with a potent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinoline-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), against metabolic alterations induced by sodium cyanide (NaCN), 4.2 mg/kg, in brain of anesthetized male micropigs (6-10 kg). Brain high energy phosphates were analyzed using a 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic surface coil in a 4.7 Telsa horizontal bore magnet. H-7, 1 mg/kg, was given intravenously (i.v.) 30 min before NaCN challenge (H-7 + CN-). Prior to NaCN, H-7, or H-7 + CN- administration, baseline 31P resonance spectra of 1-min duration were acquired for 5-10 min, and continued for an additional 60 min following i.v. NaCN injection, each animal serving as its own control. Peaks were identified as phosphomonoester (PME), inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphodiester (PDE), phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), based on their respective chemical shifts. Without H-7 pretreatment, NaCN effects were marked by a rising Pi and a declining PCr peak 2 min after injection, with only 2/5 of the animals surviving the 60 min experiment. Through a pretreatment period of 30 min, H-7 did not affect baseline cell energy profile as reflected by the 31P-NMR spectra, but in its presence, those changes (i.e. diminishing PCr and rising Pi peaks) elicited by NaCN were markedly blunted; 4/5 of the animals in this group survived the NaCN challenge. It is proposed that H-7, a pharmacologic inhibitor of PKC, may be useful in CN- antagonism, underscoring the role of PKC in cyanide intoxication.

Dissection of protein-carbohydrate interactions in mutant hen egg-white lysozyme complexes and their hydrolytic activity

Trp62 in the binding subsite B of hen egg-white lysozyme shows general features often observed in protein-carbohydrate interactions including a stacking interaction and a hydrogen bonding network with water molecules. A previous report by our group showed that the perturbation of these interactions by substitution of Trp62 with tyrosine or phenylalanine affects the substrate binding modes and also enhances the hydrolytic activity. In order to elucidate the relationship between structural and functional changes of these protein-carbohydrate interactions, the Trp62Tyr and Trp62Phe mutants complexed with the substrate analogue, (GlcNAc)3, were analyzed at 1.8 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. The overall structures of the mutant enzymes are indistinguishable from that of the wild type enzyme. Although the wild-type enzyme binds (GlcNAc)3 in only one binding mode (A-B-C), the Trp62Tyr mutant binds (GlcNAc)3 in two binding modes (A-B-C, B-C-D) and the Trp62Phe mutant has an even weaker binding mode. The aromatic rings of Tyr62 and Phe62 maintain their interactions with the carbohydrate molecules, but make fewer stacking interactions with the GlcNAc in the B site than the wild-type enzyme does. The hydroxyl group of Tyr62 interacts weakly with a water molecule which mediates hydrogen bonding in the GlcNAc residues in the B and C sites. The C-6 hydroxyl group of the GlcNAc residue in the C site rotates around the C-5-C-6 bond to complete the hydrogen bond network in the Trp62Tyr mutant-(GlcNAc)3 complex. On the other hand, this hydrogen bonding network does not form in the Trp62Phe mutant-(GlcNAc)3. In addition to these structural studies, the kinetic parameters of the hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-chitotriose, ((GlcNAc)3-MeU), have been determined in order to further characterize the enzymatic properties of these mutant lysozymes. This demonstrates that the modulation of the hydrogen bonding network, including the flexible part of the carbohydrate and water molecules and/or the slight reduction of stacking interaction in the B site, alters the binding mode toward the carbohydrate and induces an enhancement of the hydrolytic activity.

Structure of a conformationally constrained Arg-Gly-Asp sequence inserted into human lysozyme

To examine the effect of a conformational constraint introduced into the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence on cell adhesion activity, we constructed a mutant protein by inserting an RGD-containing sequence flanked by two Cys residues between Val74 and Asn75 of human lysozyme. The CRGDSC-inserted lysozyme was expressed in yeast, purified, and designated as Cys-RGD4. Using baby hamster kidney cells, Cys-RGD4 was shown to possess even higher cell adhesion activity than that of the RGDS-inserted lysozyme, RGD4. The Cys-RGD4 protein was co-crystallized with a lysozyme inhibitor, tri-N-acetylchitotriose, and the three-dimensional structure was determined at 1.6-A resolution by x-ray crystallography. In contrast to RGD4, the inserted RGD-containing region of Cys-RGD4 was well defined. The structural analysis revealed that the two inserted Cys residues form a new disulfide bond in Cys-RGD4, as expected, and that the RGD region assumes a type II' beta-turn conformation of Gly-Asp with a hydrogen bond between the C = O of Arg and the H-N of Ser. In addition, it was confirmed that two more hydrogen bonds are present in the RGD region of the Cys-RGD4 lysozyme. These results suggest that the conformation of the RGD-containing region is rigid and stable in the Cys-RGD4 molecule and that the type II' beta-turn structure of RGD is essential for binding to integrins with high affinity.

Repetitive, low-dose tissue plasminogen activator for clearance of experimental vitreous hemorrhage

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness of repetitive, low-dose tPA for clearance of experimental vitreous hemorrhage.

METHODS

The model vitreous hemorrhage was produced by intravitreal injection of 0.05ml of autologous citrated whole blood in 14 rabbits (28 eyes). One week after the creation of vitreous hemorrhage, the eyes were randomly separated into 3 groups. Groups 1 and 2 received two injections of 5 or 25 micrograms of tPA, respectively, with one injection in a 7-day interval. Group 3 received two injections of PS in the same way.

RESULTS

The clearance of vitreous hemorrhage in tPA-treated groups was significantly faster than that in the control group (P < 0.05, or P < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two tPA-treated groups. Not any retinal toxicity was detected by ERG, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy examinations.

CONCLUSIONS

Repetitive injections of low-dose tPA were effective in the treatment of experimental vitreous hemorrhage. Whether it is effective on the clearance of vitreous hemorrhage in human eyes needs further investigation.

[Pathological study of hepatoid gastric adenocarcinomas]

Routine examination of pathologic sections in 500 cases of primary gastric adenocarcinomas was carried out by light microscopy. Regions of hepatocellular carcinomatoid differentiation were discovered in 12 of the 500 cases. In 11 of them, histopathologic features were described in great detail and the hepatocellular carcinomatoid regions were studied by four kinds of immunohistochemistrical methods. The results indicate that positive staining for AFP was seen in 9 cases but negative in 9 controls, weakly positive for CEA in 10 cases, but strongly positive in 8 controls. Staining for alpha 1-AT and alpha 1-ACT showed no differences as compared to controls. The clinical pathological features and its relationship with AFP are discussed. It is suggested that hepatoid gastric adenocarcinoma is a subtype of gastric adenocarcinoma.

[Personal characteristics as risk factors of endometriosis]

203 patients with pelvic endometriosis, all Beijing resident, were collected from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and the Beijing Obstetrical and Gynecological Hospital. The diagnosis of endometriosis was confirmed by pathological examination of surgical specimens in 186 patients and by aspiration of chocolate substance under laparoscopy in 17. Two population controls, age matched +/- 1 year, were randomly selected for each patient from the same residential area, after careful pelvic examinations and ultrasonographies. A questionnaire for any possible risk factors to endometriosis was developed and with this questionnaire a face to face interview for each subject was carried out by the trained interviewers. All interviews were tape recorded and calculated in a AST 386 computer. The continuous logistic regression for matched sites was used to obtain a maximum likelihood point and to control the potential confounding effects of selected variables. Relative risk (RR) substituted for odds ratio together with the 95% confidence intervals was estimated. All the results were adjusted for the variables of the model including some relevant factors of menstruation, pregnancy and contraception. An increased risk for endometriosis was found to be related to women who had a higher level of education. Even it was adjusted for age of first marriage and pregnancy, gravidity, parity, contraception and all other variables of the model, the relative risk was 1.84 for endometriosis. Therefore, it is the education level itself that plays a true role in development of endometriosis. Although there was a trend in risk for endometriosis in height, it was statistically insignificant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structural changes of active site cleft and different saccharide binding modes in human lysozyme co-crystallized with hexa-N-acetyl-chitohexaose at pH 4.0

Human lysozyme was co-crystallized with hexa-N-acetyl-chitohexaose, (GlcNAc)6, at pH 4.0 and 4.0 degrees C in a new orthorhombic form, where two protein molecules, MOL1 and MOL2, were contained in an asymmetric unit. The three-dimensional structure was refined to an R-factor of 17.0% at 1.6 A resolution. It was found that (GlcNAc)6 had already been cleaved to (GlcNAc)4 and (GlcNAc)2. In MOL1, (GlcNAc)4 was bound to the A, B, C, and D subsites, and binding sites of (GlcNAc)2 were close to the E and F subsites proposed on the basis of model building by Phillips and his colleagues. In MOL2, only the (GlcNAc)4 moiety could be found in the A, B, C and D subsites. Significant shifts of the backbone atoms were observed in the region of residues 102 to 120, which composed one side of the wall of the active site cleft. Consequently, the active cleft, with respect to the saccharide binding sites A, B and C, is narrower in both protein molecules. The residues 109 to 111 in site D of MOL1 are moved toward saccharide residue D, whereas those of MOL2 are only slightly shifted. In spite of these facts, the saccharide residues in site MOL1 and MOL2 are moved inside of the cleft. The distribution of water molecules and the hydrogen bond network in site D differ between the structures of MOL1 and MOL2. These structural changes in the active site cleft may be responsible for accommodating the substrate and releasing the products of hydrolysis. These results suggest that the three-dimensional structures of MOL1 and MOL2 remain in intermediate states between a transition state and an enzyme/product complex state.

Novel regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase purified from anaerobic muscle mitochondria of the adult parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHb) phosphatase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from mitochondria of the adult parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum. The enzyme is a heterodimer of 89 and 50 kDa, as judged by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It appeared to copurify with its substrate, pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) and could be separated by chromatography on Superose 12 in the presence of 0.5 M NaCl. Phosphatase activity was absolutely dependent on Mg2+, with an apparent Km of about 4 mM. In contrast to PDHb phosphatases from other sources, the ascarid enzyme was not stimulated by Ca2+ or spermine, but it was stimulated by L-malate, the major mitochondrial substrate in A. suum. L-Malate had no effect on the dephosphorylation of isolated [32P]E1, but it decreased the apparent Km of the phosphatase for 32P-pyruvate dehydrogenase complex or [32P]E1 in the reconstituted complex about 4-6-fold, suggesting that the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) core was necessary for malate activation. The activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in isolated A. suum muscle mitochondria was significantly greater than that reported for other mitochondria, and the majority of the PDC appeared to be in the phosphorylated inactive state. Incubation of intact phosphorylating A. suum muscle mitochondria in the absence of substrate and the presence of an uncoupler did not lead to an activation of PDC activity. In contrast, incubation in malate plus Mg2+ markedly increased PDC activity. These results contrast markedly with those reported for aerobic mitochondria and suggest that the regulation of PDC activity in these anaerobic organelles differs significantly from that of their mammalian hosts.

Implementation of the chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry technique on a Hewlett-Packard mass-selective detector

A microwave-powered chemical reaction interface has been installed in a Hewlett-Packard gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) system (5890 IT gas chromatograph-S971 mass-selective detector). The technical details and optimization strategies are discussed. The evaluation of this new setup is presented, showing detection limits of 1 ng of (13)C-, (15)N-, and Cl-containing compounds with signal-to-noise ratios greater than or egual to 3. Selective detection was evaluated with a urine sample from a dog dosed with (15)N3-midazolam that had been previously analyzed by using a differentially pumped research-level quadrupole mass spectrometer. The results show that the detection of (15)N and Cl remains highly selective and the mass-selective detector gives comparable sensitivity to the larger instrument when the latter is operating over a conventional mass range. The capability for chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry can be easily accomplished with an inexpensive GC-MS system.

[Using ELISA to evaluate the serologic and epidemiologic effect following rabies vaccination]

After vaccinating the people bitten by animals against rabies, we have examined their serum antibodies by using ELISA. One year later, we sent a mail to everyone of them inquiring if he had contracted rabies. The response rate was 85%. The case fatality rate of the positive antibody group was 0.24% (1/415). The case fatality rate of the negative antibody group was 3.16 (3/95). It showed that there was significant difference in the case fatality rate of rabies between the two groups, (P = 0.022). The dead person of the positive antibody group was bitten on his cheek by a rabid dog. He had not cleaned his wound. He had received 6 injections of rabies vaccines. His incubation period was 28 days. The P/N of serum antibody on the 28th day was 3.27.

Lecompte procedure for complete transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis

From December 1988 to February 1993, 19 patients were treated by the Lecompte procedure for complete transposition of the great arteries associated with a ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis. The mean age at operation was 3.1 +/- 0.8 years (mean +/- standard error). This technique consisted of resecting the outlet septum, constructing a tunnel that connected the left ventricle to the aorta, closing the proximal pulmonary arterial stump, pulling the distal pulmonary artery down to the right ventriculotomy site directly, and covering anteriorly with the fixed autologous pericardium. Operative mortality was 5.3%. The mean follow-up was 24.2 +/- 3 months, with no late death. One reoperation was performed because of residual right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. All survivors were studied by echocardiography at intervals of 6 months to 1 year. In all survivors (except for 1 child who underwent reoperation), the estimated pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, the structure of the left ventricular outflow tract, left ventricular function, and right ventricular contractility were all satisfactory.

Preparation, characterization and application of monoclonal antibodies against PAI-1

Six hybridoma cell lines (AP1-AP6) secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAb) against PAI-1 were obtained by fusing the murine myeloma cell line SP2/0 with the spleen cells from Balb/c mouse immunized with recombinant PAI-1 expressed in E. coli. These antibodies were purified by SPA affinity chromatography. All McAbs recognized rPAI-1 and PAI-1 from the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. The titers of ascites were more than 10(6). The antibody-antigen affinity constants (Kaff) for anti-PAI-1 McAb measured by EIA were between 3.45 x 10(7)-1.05 x 10(10) M. AP2 and AP3 McAbs were effective in quenching the activity of PAI-1. Partial quenching of PAI-1 activity was achieved with AP4, AP5 and AP6 McAbs respectively. AP1 McAb had no effect upon PAI-1 activity. Three of the six McAbs (AP1, AP4 and AP5) bound to the PAI-1/t-PA complex, while the others did not. The PAI-1 was purified 51 folds to homogeneity from serum free medium of HepG2 with the recovery rate of 92% by one-step procedure using Sepharose 4B conjugated with anti-PAI-1 McAb (AP1, AP3 and AP4). A sandwich ELISA for the measurement of PAI-1 antigen in human plasma was developed, based on anti-PAI-1 McAb against non-overlapping epitopes. The mean value of plasma PAI-1 for the healthy donors was 24.7 +/- 7.75 ng/ml measured by ELISA.

Neuro-pathophysio-biochemical profiles of neonatal asphyxia

Neurological and neuroelectrophysio-biochemical profiles were evaluated in newborn lambs exposed to severe temporary asphyxia. Isoelectric EEG, marked disturbances of phosphorus magnetic resonance spectrum (31P-MRS), and significant brain intracellular acidosis (pHi) were noted during asphyxia. Following resuscitation, the presence of early postasphyxic blood-brain-barrier (BBB) opening was associated with a marked transient increase in intracranial pressure (ICP), a 50% neonatal mortality and a 67% incidence of severe asphyxic encephalopathy. In contrast, those lambs exposed to the same magnitude of asphyxia, but without early BBB opening experienced neither death nor severe neurological deficits. Further, these lambs showed a rapid progressive normalization of the 31P-MRS and pHi, despite, the lack of EEG recovery in the first hour following resuscitation. Thus, the present study depicts that the early postasphyxic BBB disruption following temporary neonatal asphyxia is associated with poor prognosis.

Rezoning and Dynamic Substructuring Techniques in FEM Simulations of Welding Processes

Distortion and residual stresses cause significant problems in the welding of large structures. Prediction of these phenomena would provide substantial assistance to the design and fabrication of welding. Unfortunately, the complexity of structural interactions during welding and the severe nonlinearities associated with the welding process limit the application of weld simulations. This presentation develops rezoning and dynamic substructuring techniques that make the finite element welding simulation of large structures more tractable. Both techniques exploit the fact that only a local zone around the welding electrode is nonlinear during welding. We therefore model the local nonlinear zone around the electrode or heat source with a dense finite element mesh. The rest of the larger structure is modeled using both a coarser mesh and substructures. The model is then redefined incrementally to represent the motion of the electrode through the larger structure. The redefinition is performed on the deformed geometry of the previous increment, achieving a step-wise coupled thermo-mechanical analysis. The techniques are applied to a two-dimensional plate welding example, achieving significant reductions in model size. Computer memory requirements and analysis times achieve close to order-of-magnitude reductions. Three-dimensional welding simulations should experience greater reductions in analysis time. Although developed for welding applications, the rezoning and dynamic substructuring techniques can also be used for other analyses involving a small nonlinear zone translating within a larger elastic body.

Evidence for sensing and integration of biological signals by the capillary network

The aim of this study was to explore the phenomenon first described by Dietrich (Microvasc. Res. 38: 125-135, 1989) in which a local application of norepinephrine (NE) on a capillary can temporarily reduce flow via constriction of the feeding arteriole. Our objectives were to show that this phenomenon of remote response is not limited to vasoconstriction, can be elicited by materials other than NE, shows stimulus-strength dependency, and can be integrated within the capillary network. We used an intravital micropharmacological approach to iontophoretically apply (in mM concentrations in the pipette) NE, acetylcholine (ACh), 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA, adenosine analogue), K+, and H+ on capillaries of the frog sartorius muscle in situ. Responses were measured in terms of changes in velocity of red blood cells (VRBC) in capillaries or in terms of changes in arteriolar diameter. ACh (3 mM) caused significant increases in diameter (from 34 to 37 microns) and in VRBC (from 250 to 340 microns/s, i.e., 36%). NE (3 mM) reduced VRBC by 16%. The magnitude of ACh and NE velocity responses increased with increasing pipette concentration and with increasing iontophoretic current. The ACh response was blocked by a local pretreatment with atropine. NECA, K+, and H+ caused 20-40% increases in VRBC. Dual application of NE on two capillaries fed by the same arteriole resulted in a greater VRBC reduction than for single NE application. Dual application of NE and ACh significantly attenuated the ACh response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Toxicological investigations on silicon carbide. 1. Inhalation studies

The question of lung damage as a result of exposure to silicon carbide (SiC) was investigated by inhalation experiments to obtain information on the qualitative response of lung tissue to the test substance (SiC). For comparison, quartz, kaolinite, and tempered clay dusts were used. The indices for the effects of the dusts studied were organ weights, numbers of bronchoalveolar cells, lung surfactant phospholipid concentrations including subfractions, and lung clearance. Exposure to the test samples was carried out according to the Essen inhalation model in two independent series. The results of the two series were similar: Compared with sham controls, exposure to SiC did not affect the indices studied. Even at a low dose (a quarter of the SiC dose) quartz gave pronounced deviations in all indices. In particular, an increase in granulocytes indicated toxic properties of the dust. The long term elimination of quartz from the lung was worse than that of SiC. The kaolinite and tempered clay dusts were intermediate between SiC and quartz based on several of the indices studied. It is concluded that SiC is deposited practically inert in the lung.

Drug metabolism studies using "intrinsic" and "extrinsic" labels. A demonstration using 15N vs. Cl in midazolam

The chemical reaction interface for mass spectrometry (CRIMS) has been used to evaluate the ability of an "intrinsic" label (chlorine) to replace an "extrinsic" label (15N) in a study of the metabolite profile of a drug, in this case the benzodiazepine anesthetic agent midazolam. We find equally high selectivity and comparable signal/noise characteristics for chlorine as for isotopic nitrogen demonstrating that the chlorine in midazolam is itself an effective label and that special synthesis to incorporate isotopic labels is not necessary. The power of either detection mode of CRIMS is shown by detecting 14 metabolites, whereas only four had been previously determined. The ratios of 15N/Cl for each metabolite peak along with conventional mass spectra provide clues to the structures of these new metabolites.

Selective detection of chlorine-containing compounds by gas chromatography/chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry

Chemical reaction interface mass spectrometry (CRIMS) was studied as a gas chromatographic detection technique for chlorine-containing compounds. Both SO2 and HBr were tested as reactant gases. With SO2, a detection limit of 50 pg of diazepam and a linear range of 4 orders of magnitude were achieved, and the experimental data were reproducible. With HBr, the detection limit was 10 ng of diazepam and the linear dynamic range was only 2 orders of magnitude. The possible pharmacological application of CRIMS was studied using urine spiked with diazepam and several of its metabolites, and the results show CRIMS to be a simple but potentially powerful method in drug metabolism studies.

Finite Element Simulation of Welding of Large Structures

Current simulations of welding distortion and residual stress have considered only the local weld zone. A large elastic structure surrounding a weld, however, can couple with the welding operation to produce a final weld state much different from that resulting when a smaller structure is welded. The effect of this coupling between structure and weld has the potential of dominating the final weld distortion and residual stress state. This paper employs both two-and three-dimensional finite element models of a circular cylinder and stiffening ring structure to investigate the interaction of a large structure on weld parameters such as weld gap clearance (fitup) and fixturing. The finite element simulation considers the full thermo-mechanical problem, uncoupling the thermal from the mechanical analysis. The thermal analysis uses temperature-dependent material properties, including latent heat and nonlinear heat convection and radiation boundary conditions. The mechanical analysis uses a thermal-elastic-plastic constitutive model and an element “birth” procedure to simulate the deposition of weld material. The effect of variations of weld gap clearance, fixture positions, and fixture types on residual stress states and distortion are examined. The results of these analyses indicate that this coupling effect with the surrounding structure should be included in numerical simulations of welding processes, and that full three-dimensional models are essential in predicting welding distortion. Elastic coupling with the surrounding structure, weld fitup, and fixturing are found to control residual stresses, creating substantial variations in highest principal and hydrostatic stresses in the weld region. The position and type of fixture are shown to be primary determinants of weld distortion.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum: novel subunit composition and domain structure of the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase component

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) from muscle of the adult parasitic nematode Ascaris suum plays a unique role in its anaerobic mitochondrial metabolism. Resolution of the intact complex in high salt dissociates the pyruvate dehydrogenase subunit but leaves the dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase subunit (E3) and two other proteins with apparent M(r)s of 45 and 43 kDa bound to the dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) core. These proteins are not observable on Coomassie brilliant blue-stained gels of other eukaryotic PDCs, but the 45-kDa protein is similar in apparent M(r), pI, and sensitivity to trypsin to the Kb subunit of the bovine kidney PDH alpha kinase. Acetylation of the ascarid PDC with [2-14C]pyruvate under conditions designed to maximize the incorporation of label into protein yielded only a single radiolabeled subunit, E2. These results confirm earlier reports that the ascarid PDC lacks protein X, an integral component recently identified in other eukaryotic PDCs. About 1.6 to 1.8 mol of 14C was incorporated/mole of E2, suggesting that the ascarid E2 contained two lipoly-bearing domains. Domain mapping of the 14C-acetylated ascarid E2 by limited tryptic digestion identified two lipoyl-bearing fragments with apparent M(r)s of 50 and 34 kDa and two core fragments with apparent M(r)s of 46 and 30 kDa. The ascarid E2 domain structure appears to be similar to that of other E2s. However, it appears that the subunit-binding domain (E2B) of the ascarid E2 may be significantly larger or be flanked by larger than normal interdomain regions. An enlarged E2B domain may be necessary to accommodate the additional binding of E3 to the E2 subunit in the ascarid complex, in the absence of protein X.

[Effect of concentration of nutrients solution on the growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge]

The experiment on the effect of various concentrations of nutrient solution on sand culture of Salvia miltiorrhiza was carried out. The results show that Salvia miltiorrhiza is a fertilizer tolerant plant. It can grow well and give high yield when the total concentration of nutrient reaches 0.37%.