A novel case of unilateral blepharophimosis syndrome and mental retardation associated with de novo trisomy for chromosome 3q

We have evaluated a 3 2/12 year old girl who presented with unilateral blepharophimosis, ptosis of the eyelid, and mental retardation. Additional dysmorphic features include microcephaly, high, narrow forehead, short stubby fingers, and adduction of the right first toe. Cytogenetic analysis showed an unbalanced karyotype consisting of 46,XX,add(7)(q+) that was de novo in origin. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) using microdissected library probe pools from chromosomes 1,2,3,7, and 3q26-qter showed that the additional material on 7q was derived from the distal end of the long arm of chromosome 3. Our results indicate that the patient had an unbalanced translocation, 46,XX,der(7)t(3;7)(q26-qter;q+) which resulted in trisomy for distal 3q. All currently reported cases of BPES (blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome) with associated cytogenetic abnormalities show interstitial deletions or balanced translocations involving 3q22-q23 or 3p25.3. Our patient shares similar features to BPES, except for the unilateral ptosis and absence of epicanthus inversus. It is possible that our patient has a contiguous gene defect including at least one locus for a type of blepharophimosis, further suggesting that multiple loci exist for eyelid development.

[An epidemiological investigation of eperythrozoon infection in human and animals (III)]

This paper reported an epidemiological investigation on human and animal infection to Eperythrozoon in 5 provinces. The results showed that Eperythrozoon infection existed in human as well an in animals in those provinces. Due to geographical variation, the infection rates were different. The infection rate was not associated with sex and age in human. The overall infection rate of different Eperythrozoonoses was higher than in healthy humans. The cases of Eperythrozoonoses among human and pig-herd were reported in this paper.

Induction of cancer, actinic keratosis, and specific p53 mutations by UVB light in human skin maintained in severe combined immunodeficient mice

To study the mechanism and risk of human skin cancer from solar light, we exposed human skin transplanted to severe combined immunodeficient mice to daily doses of UVB for periods of approximately 2 years. We have succeeded for the first time in inducing cancer and solar (actinic) keratosis in human skin by UVB. Of 18 normal skins exposed to doses of 7.3 x 10(5) to 1.8 x 10(6) J/m2, 14 actinic keratoses (77.8%) and 3 squamous cell carcinomas (16.7%) developed, whereas neither actinic keratosis nor cancer was observed in 15 human skins not exposed to UVB. Each human skin showed a different susceptibility, and skins sensitive for actinic keratosis were also sensitive for cancer induction. Among p53 mutations at various sites, mutation at codon 242 (C TGC --> C CGC; Cys --> Arg) was specifically observed in both skin cancers and actinic keratoses. Furthermore, double or triple mutations were induced in all UVB-induced skin cancers and in three of eight actinic keratoses. Most of the mutations (17 of 20) occurred at dipyrimidine sites.

Consecutive maintenance of human solitary and hereditary colorectal polyps in SCID mice

Recently, the sequential changes from adenoma to adenocarcinoma have been well studied in human colorectal carcinogenesis. To study the precise clonal changes from colorectal polyps to cancer, we have established an experimental system to maintain human colorectal polyps in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice that have been improved by the selective inbreeding of C.B17-scid/scid homozygous male and female showing undetectable serum IgG and IgM (< 1 microgram/ml). Two of two solitary polyps from two nonhereditary colon polyp patients, four of five colon polyps from two Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome patients and one polypoid lesion from a familial polyposis coli (FAP) patient grew very slowly but steadily, at approximately one-tenth the rate of their malignant form, (i.e., adenocarcinoma), in the improved SCID mice and were maintained for a long period (more than 2 years), over several mouse generations. However, two polyps from FAP and Peutz-Jeghers' syndrome patients could not be transplanted further because of microinfection at the transplanted site due to incomplete sterilization of original human tumors prior to surgical operation (endoscopic polypectomy). Transplanted colon polyps had a semitransparent, soft and sticky appearance, with cells containing large amounts of mucin. Malignant transformation of human colon polyp to adenocarcinoma has not been observed during the maintenance period (about 2 years) in SCID mice. In the consecutively maintained human colon polyps, however, K-ras mutations were detected at codon 12, while these mutations were not found in their original polyps in the patients.

Fluorometric study of the isoform difference of mammalian metallothionein

A fluorometric method for studying the isoform difference of mammalian metallothionein (MT), which lacks aromatic amino-acid residues, is reported. Cadmium-induced rabbit and hedgehog liver MT exhibited a strong luminescence signal in the range of 335 to 340 nm when excited at 285 nm in aqueous solution. The differences in emission intensity of the two major isoforms of MTs are significant. When titrated with chloride acid, which is believed to proton the metal-thiolate coordination bound to the -SH group in MT, a 10-nm red-shift property of the emission spectrum was observed, and the red-shift properties of the isoforms varied with the species. The observed fluorescence property of MT was considered to be the result of its polypeptide chains, which was confirmed by comparing the luminescence and absorption spectra during the titration of MT with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. The new luminescence property of MT should be useful in studying the isoform and function difference of MT.

E5 proteins of human papillomavirus types 11 and 16 transactivate the c-fos promoter through the NF1 binding element

Human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) and HPV-16 contain an E5 gene that can induce c-fos gene expression in mouse fibroblasts. This study investigated the human c-fos promoter characteristics by mapping the c-fos promoter sequence with several deletion and point mutants that confer responsiveness to E5 of HPV-11 or HPV-16. The mutant studies show that NF1 binding sequences within the c-fos promoter were crucial for the induction of the c-fos gene by E5, and the gel shift assay study suggested that E5 of both HPV-11 and HPV-16 is associated, perhaps indirectly, with this NF1 element in the transactivation of the human c-fos promoter. Using an inducible system, we demonstrate that increased induction of the HPV-11 E5 gene in cells led to increased transactivation of the NF1 element. In addition, the transactivating activity of a series of HPV-11 E5 mutants on the NF1 element had a strong correlation with their respective transforming activities.

Human papillomavirus type 11 and 16 E5 represses p21(WafI/SdiI/CipI) gene expression in fibroblasts and keratinocytes

Here we report that the E5 proteins of human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) and HPV-16 suppressed the expression of the p21(WafI/SdiI/CipI) tumor suppressor gene in NIH 3T3 cells and immortalized human keratinocytes. The promoter activity of p21 was repressed by E5 of HPV-11 and -16, suggesting that p21 gene suppression by E5 was at the transcriptional level. Using an inducible system, we demonstrated that increased induction of HPV-11 E5 in NIH 3T3 cells and keratinocytes led to increased repression of p21 promoter activity. The repression of p21 promoter activity by a series of E5 mutants was somewhat correlated with their respective transforming activities. Previously, we and other investigators showed that the E5 proteins of HPV-11 and -16 can activate the expression of c-jun. The repression of p21 gene expression might be a mechanism of oncogene-mediated growth promotion, since the expression of c-jun also led to a reduction of the levels of p21 RNA and protein in keratinocytes. This is the first demonstration that E5 proteins of HPV-11 and -16 repress p21 gene expression, and this might be one of the mechanisms by which E5 stimulates cell proliferation. In addition, this is also the first report of c-jun repression of p21.

The stimulatory effect of opioids on mitogen-activated protein kinase in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected to express mu-opioid receptors

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO mu66 cell line) transfected to express mu-opioid receptors was markedly activated by mu agonists. The rank order of effectiveness of agonists was approximately the same as the rank order of their binding affinities to the mu receptor. The delta and kappa receptor-specific agonists cyclic[D-Pen2, D-Pen5]enkephalin and U69,593 showed a very weak stimulatory effect. The mu agonist-stimulated MAP kinase activity peaked at approximately 4-8 min and lasted almost 1 hr. The stimulatory effect of mu agonists was antagonized by the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone and inhibited by pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin. This opioid-induced activation of MAP kinase activity may have a role in the long term effects of opioids.

Determination of LTE4 in human urine by liquid chromatography coupled with ionspray tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic/ionspray tandem mass spectrometric (LC/ionspray MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantitate leukotriene E4 (LTE4) in human urine. This method involves solid-phase extraction with Empore membrane disks to isolate LTE4 and its internal standard, LTE4-d3, from the urine stabilized with antioxidant and metal ion chelating agent. The reconstituted extracts were analyzed by LC/ionspray MS/MS in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The assay has a lower level of quantitation (LOQ) of 50 pg ml-1 for LTE4 based on 5 ml aliquots of urine. The calibration graphs were linear from 50 pg ml-1 to 10 ng ml-1 for LTE4 extracted from urine. The inter- and intra-assay precision (RSD) and accuracy (DEV) did not exceed 11% and 8% at any level of the calibration standards and quality control (QC) samples, respectively. The recovery of LTE4 using the Empore disk solid-phase extraction technology was independent of LTE4 concentration in human urine. The overall extraction recovery for LTE4 was 72% (RSD = 2.14%).

Alternative splicing of the FMR1 gene in human fetal brain neurons

The alternative splicing expression of the FMR1 gene was reported in several human and mouse tissues. Five regions of FMR1 gene can be alternatively spliced, but the combination of them has not been investigated fully. We reported here the analysis of alternative splicing pattern of the FMR1 gene in cultured fetal human neurons, using a RT-PCR and cloning strategy. Eleven splicing types were cloned and different isoforms were not equally represented. The dominant isoform represents nearly 40%, and the other isoforms were relatively rare. One isoform has a different carboxylterminus. Most of the alternative spliced regions appear hydrophilic; thus, they may locate on the surface of the FMR1 protein.

[An epidemiological investigation of eperythrozoon infection in human and animals (II)]

This paper reported an epidemiological investigation on human and animals infection of eperythrozoon in 1 provinces. The results showed that eperythrozoon infection appeared in human as well as in swines, sheep, cats, donkeis and chickens. Due to geographical variations, the infection rates showed a significant difference, both in human and animals. The infection rate was not associated with sex, age or occupation in human, but was associated with seasons in animals. High peak of infection rates in animals was in May, June, July and August.

NMR microscopy of polyacrylamide hydrogel

Polyacrylamide Hydrogel (PAMG) is a kind of water-absorbing functional material. It has the ability of absorbing large amounts of water and releasing water under different conditions. So PAMG has an extensive background of applications in many fields. It is an interesting problem to clarify the distribution and status of water in PAMG1. This paper reports experiments in which the proton distribution and structures of networks in gamma-irradiation crosslinked PAMG samples have been shown by using spin-echo single-slice imaging of nuclear magnetic resonance microscopy.

Human papillomavirus 11 E5a delays the growth restriction induced by temperature shift in temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 T antigen-immortalized keratinocytes

The transfection with human papillomavirus type 11 E5a oncoprotein can cause longer and more active proliferation in the human keratinocytes previously transfected stably with temperature sensitive SV40 T antigen at 39 degrees C. Also, after the E5a transfection in parental temperature sensitive SV40 T antigen gene transfected cells, we observe a delay in the accumulation of p21 gene at 39 degrees C. Moreover, T antigen degradation did not occur at 39 degrees C in the E5a transfected cells as it did in the parental cells. We draw from these observations that E5a may transiently stabilize temperature sensitive T antigen and/or repress p21 synthesis.

Conjugative transposons: an unusual and diverse set of integrated gene transfer elements

Conjugative transposons are integrated DNA elements that excise themselves to form a covalently closed circular intermediate. This circular intermediate can either reintegrate in the same cell (intracellular transposition) or transfer by conjugation to a recipient and integrate into the recipient's genome (intercellular transposition). Conjugative transposons were first found in gram-positive cocci but are now known to be present in a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria also. Conjugative transposons have a surprisingly broad host range, and they probably contribute as much as plasmids to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in some genera of disease-causing bacteria. Resistance genes need not be carried on the conjugative transposon to be transferred. Many conjugative transposons can mobilize coresident plasmids, and the Bacteroides conjugative transposons can even excise and mobilize unlinked integrated elements. The Bacteroides conjugative transposons are also unusual in that their transfer activities are regulated by tetracycline via a complex regulatory network.

Asian hereditary neuropathy patients with peripheral myelin protein-22 gene aneuploidy

Japanese hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNPP) patients have a deletion of one peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP22) gene region in distal chromosome band 17p11.2 as do Caucasian patients. Japanese and Asiatic Indian CMT1A patients have a PMP22 gene duplication that results in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type IA (CMT1A; HMSNIA) in patients of European and Middle Eastern ancestry. About 70% of Japanese CMT1 patients have a PMP22 duplication as do Caucasians, while Japanese CMT1B, CMT2 and Dejerine-Sottas patients to not have PMP22 gene region aneuploidy. Although HNPP and CMT1A genotypes are generated simultaneously by unequal recombination that results in PMP22 gene aneuploidy in each daughter cell, only 3 Japanese HNPP probands with PMP22 deletion from a large patient population were referred to a single center compared to 18 referred CMT1A probands with PMP22 duplication. This lower HNPP frequency more likely reflects lower HNPP reproductive fitness than patient ascertainment bias because disease severity and variation in severity is about the same in CMT1A and HNPP patients and because all patients of both types were referred regardless of disease severity. These results, along with an apparently high de novo CMT1A mutation rate, suggest that common ancestors of Japanese, Asian Indians, and Caucasians carried PMP22 geneflanking sequences that enhance unequal crossing over.

Location and characteristics of the transfer region of a Bacteroides conjugative transposon and regulation of transfer genes

Many Bacteroides clinical isolates contain large conjugative transposons, which excise from the genome of a donor and transfer themselves to a recipient by a process that requires cell-to-cell contact. It has been suggested that the transfer intermediate of the conjugative transposons is a covalently closed circle, which is transferred by the same type of rolling circle mechanism used by conjugative plasmids, but the transfer origin of a conjugative transposon has not previously been localized and characterized. We have now identified the transfer origin (oriT) region of one of the Bacteroides conjugative transposons, TcrEmr DOT, and have shown that it is located near the middle of the conjugative transposon. We have also identified a 16-kbp region of the conjugal transposon which is necessary and sufficient for conjugal transfer of the element and which is located near the oriT. This same region proved to be sufficient for mobilization of coresident plasmids and unlinked integrated elements as well as for self-transfer, indicating that all of these activities are mediated by the same transfer system. Previously, we had reported that disruption of a gene, rteC, abolished self-transfer of the element. rteC is one of a set of rte genes that appears to mediate tetracycline induction of transfer activities of the conjugative transposons. On the basis of these and other data, we had proposed that RteC activated expression of transfer genes. We have now found, however, that when the transfer region of TcrEmr DOT was cloned as a plasmid that did not contain rteC and the plasmid (pLYL72) was tested for transfer out of a Bacteroides strain that did not have a copy of rteC in the chromosome, the plasmid was self-transmissible without tetracycline induction. This and other findings suggest that RteC is not an activator transfer genes but is stimulating transfer in some other way.

Cultural differences in Canadian-Chinese nursing

The Schools of Nursing of Tianjin Medical College and the University of Ottawa have been partners in a Canadian-Chinese linkage project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Chinese Government since 1989, at teh instigation of Canadian faculty member Nancy Johnson who saw the need for academic support for the Chinese nursing community.

The mobilization regions of two integrated Bacteroides elements, NBU1 and NBU2, have only a single mobilization protein and may be on a cassette

Bacteroides conjugative transposons can act in trans to excise, circularize, and transfer unlinked integrated elements called NBUs (for nonreplicating Bacteroides units). Previously, we localized and sequenced the mobilization region of one NBU, NBU1, and showed that this mobilization region was recognized by the IncP plasmids RP4 and R751, as well as by the Bacteroides conjugative transposons. We report here that the single mobilization protein carried by NBU1 appears to be a bifunctional protein that binds to the oriT region and catalyzes the nicking reaction that initiates the transfer process. We have also localized and sequenced the mobilization region of a second NBU, NBU2. The NBU2 mobilization region was 86 to 90% identical at the DNA sequence to the oriT-mob region of NBU1. The high sequence similarity between NBU1 and NBU2 ended abruptly after the stop codon of the mob gene and about 1 kbp upstream of the oriT region, indicating that the oriT-mob regions of NBU1 and NBU2 may be on some sort of cassette. A region on NBU1 and NBU2 which lies immediately upstream of the oriT region had 66% sequence identity to a region upstream of the oriT region on a mobilizable transposon, Tn4399, an element that had previously appeared to be completely unrelated to the NBUs.

Engineering of fibroblast growth factor: alteration of receptor binding specificity

A five-residue loop structure in basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) which extends from amino acid residue 118 to residue 122 was replaced, by cassette mutagenesis, with the corresponding seven-residue loop structure from the structural homologue acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) or the corresponding five-residue loop from interleukin-1 beta to give FGF-2LA and FGF-2LI, respectively. The mutants were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity, and their heparin and receptor binding and biological properties were examined. The ability of FGF-2LA to induce endothelial cell proliferation was the same as that of FGF-2. Affinities of the mutants to heparin and to cells that express FGF receptor-1 (FGFR-1) were identical to those of the wild-type protein. The role of the loop structure in FGF-1 and FGF-2 was elucidated by using soluble FGF receptor systems, which display distinct ligand binding specificities. Thus, FGF-2LA bound, with the same affinity as FGF-1 and FGF-2, to FGFR-1 and FGFR-2, whereas only FGF-1 and the FGF-1 loop-containing mutant, FGF-2LA, bound to the keratinocyte growth factor receptor. A change in receptor binding specificity was not observed with the FGF-2LI engineered mutant. That the binding specificity of FGF-2 was dramatically altered by transfer of a loop structure from FGF-1 to resemble the binding profile of the donor protein provides strong evidence that this motif is a receptor binding specificity determinant of fibroblast growth factors.

An unusual type of cointegrate formation between a Bacteroides plasmid and the excised circular form of an integrated element (NBU1)

Evidence for an unusual type of cointegrate formation was found as the result of analyzing three integration events that fused a mobilization-deficient Bacteroides plasmid (pEG920) with the excised circular form of a nonreplicating Bacteroides element (NBU1). NBU1 is capable of inserting itself into DNA segments, but the cointegrates were the result of invasion of NBU1 by pEG920, not vice versa. The same site on pEG920 was involved in all cases. Sequence analysis of the cointegrates suggested that the integration events may have been the result of a multistep process in which a conjugative transposon was involved.

[Superinfection of hepatitis viruses]

Using ELISA method, anti-HAV-IgM and anti-HCV were determined in 493 blood donors and 192 patients with HBV infection. The positive rate of anti-HCV in blood donors was 1.62%. The superinfection rates of HBV and HAV, HBV and HCV, HBV, HAV and HCV in patients with HBV infection were 16.7%, 3.13% and 0.52%, respectively. The incidence of hepatitis B viral replication marker was found to be lower in patients with superinfection of types A and B and/or C hepatitis viruses than in those with HBV infection alone. The prolonged course was found to be longer and the degree severer in patients with superinfection of types A and B and/or C hepatitis viruses than in those with HAV or HBV or HCV infection alone. The results suggest that those patients with superinfection of types A and B and/or C hepatitis viruses showed poor prognosis and prolonged course, and many patients with chronic Type A hepatitis resulted from superinfection HBV and/or HCV.

Diminished heparin binding of a basic fibroblast growth factor mutant is associated with reduced receptor binding, mitogenesis, plasminogen activator induction, and in vitro angiogenesis

Using modeling of heparin-fibroblast growth factor interactions, we replaced four basic residues of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) with neutral glutamine residues by site-specific mutagenesis to give the mutants K128Q, K138Q, K128Q-K138Q, R129Q, K134Q, and R129Q-K134Q. The FGF mutants were characterized for their receptor and heparin binding affinities, mitogenic and cell proliferation activities, and their ability to induce plasminogen activator (PA) production and in vitro angiogenesis by cultured endothelial cells. Heparin binding properties and biological activities of the three mutants involving R129 and K134 remained essentially unchanged; however, significant changes for three mutants involving K128 and K138 were found. The KD values for heparin binding for K128Q and K138Q mutants were increased about 10-fold, and that for the K128Q-K138Q double mutant was increased by about 100-fold. The mutant K128Q-K138Q required a 10-fold higher concentration of heparin to promote binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)-deficient CHO cells transfected with fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) or to induce DNA synthesis in HSPG-deficient myeloid cells transfected with FGFR1. Binding affinities of the mutants to cell surface receptors on BHK-21 cells, however, were similar to that of wild-type FGF-2. In endothelial cell proliferation assays the activities of K128Q and K128Q-K138Q were about 10-fold lower than that of the wild-type protein, whereas the K138Q mutant exhibited wild-type activity. In addition, the K128Q-K138Q mutant displayed a markedly lowered capacity to induce PA activity in cultured endothelial cells and to form capillary-like structures in an in vitro angiogenesis model.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Construction and application of the chromosomal specific probe pool from human chromosome no. 7]

We constructed a chromosomal specific probe pool from human chromosome No. 7 using the techniques of chromosomal microdissection, PCR and chromosomal painting. A patient's pedigree with an abnormal chromosome No. 7 were analysed by the above probe pool.

[The clinical significance serum N-POMC level in lung cancer patients]

Serum N-POMC level of 103 cases of lung cancer were measured in our hospital. The results were as follows: The lung cancer group, 50.5%, of patienst has an N-PONC level above the normal upper limit. The percentages of the N-POMC levels above the normal limit in lung cancers, such as: squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, SCLC and undifferentiated carcinoma were 52.2%, 50.0%, 47.3% and 57.1%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference of N-POMC levels among these kinds of lung cancers, Eleven of 18 cases of SCLC patients in stage IIIb or IV, and 3 of 9 cases of SCLC patients in stage IIIa had N-POMC levels above the upper normal limit. Could serum N-POMC be one of the indexes for assisting the diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer needs further investigation. Cases with carcinoid, thymoma and neurofibroma had higher N-POMC levels too. Six patients had Cushing syndrome.

[Contents of free amino acids and water-soluble carbohydrates in safflower plant at different stages of growth]

As closely related to the development of plant organs, the contents of free amino acids and water-soluble carbohydrates in safflower plant vary with the course of growth. The ratio of the two contents rise with the growing periods, reaching maxima in the later stages of growth.

[Culture techniques of Asarum sieboldii Miq]

Asarum sieboldii was domesticated in Sichuan, China. The rational planting density was selected according to this study. In the deep, loose and fertile soil, it grows well under semisunlight. Seedlings are raised in the seedling bed for two or three years, and then transplanted to the field, Harvest is started after three of four years of growth. Fertilizer is applied at the beginning of March and the beginning or middle of July.

Sequencing for 4 single-copy DNA segments from human chromosome 8q24.1

A successful method for constructing human chromosome 8q24.1 band specific probe pool by microdissection and microcloning is described in this paper. The probe pool was proved to be band-specific by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Through Southern blot analysis, 34 single copy DNA segments were obtained and four of them were sequenced. It is possible to provide useful landmarks for constructing human chromosome 8q24.1 physical map and STSs map.

[Effect of Leontopodium leontopodioides (Willd.) Beauv. on inflammation induced by animal reversed passive arthus (RPA)]

The extract from Leontopodium leontopodioides 50-100mg/kg ip has been proved able to suppress the swelling of normal or adrenalectomised rat hind paws induced by RPA, and strongly inhibit the cutaneous hemorrhage of animals induced by RPA, lysosome or lysosome of broken membrane. It has also been shown that the extract 100 mg/kg ip can markedly inhibit the migration of leukocytes. These suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of the extract are not dependent on the pituitary-adrenal system or membrane of lysosome.

[Protective effect of 1,6-diphosphate fructose in ischemic renal failure in elderly rats]

To study the protective effect of 1,6-diphosphate fructose (FDP) on acute ischemia damage in brain, heart and liver, we observed its effect on acute ischemic renal failure (AIRF). AIRF in male Wistar rats was produced by renal arterial clamping for 45 minutes and reperfusion for 90 minutes. The rats were divided into 4 groups according to their age and FDP therapy: G1: young (3-4 months) AIRF rats without FDP; G2: old (26-27 months) AIRF rats without FDP; G3: young AIRF rats with FDP (0.5g/kg) i.v. infusion; G4: old AIRF rats with FDP. Inulin clearance (CIn), PAH clearance (CPAH), urinary sodium (UNA) were examined before ischemia and 30, 60 and 90 minutes after reperfusion. After reperfusion for 90 minutes, renal cortex was taken for the examination of renal mitochondrial ATP synthetic content (miATPs). CIn and CPAH were lower in G2 than in G1 (0.24 +/- 0.12 vs. 1.75 +/- 0.79, P < 0.01; 0.87 +/- 0.42 vs 7.12 +/- 4.04, P < 0.05, at 90 minutes reperfusion). CIn and CPAH in G1 showed an auto-recovery up to 40.1% and 33.7% of the level in contrast to G2. In G3 and G4 original FDP infusion resulted in a significant increase in miATPs and CIn (609 +/- 145 vs 389 +/- 97; 569 +/- 77 vs 338 +/- 61, P < 0.02; 2.47 +/- 0.58 vs 1.75 +/- 0.79, 1.29 +/- 0.42 vs 0.24 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fluorospectrometric analysis of heparin interaction with fibroblast growth factors

The fluorescence emission of a single tryptophan residue present in both FGF-1 and FGF-2 was used as a structural probe to directly assess the interaction of the growth factors with heparin or beta-cyclodextran tetradecasulfate. About 20-25% of the fluorescence of either FGF-1 or FGF-2 is quenchable, and is dependent on sulfation of the ligands. The quenchable fluorescence is associated with about 20% of total FGF, suggesting the presence of two fluorospectrometric forms of the protein. The equilibrium dissociation constants, determined by this method, for heparin or beta-cyclodextrin tetradecasulfate binding to FGF-1 are about 1 nM, whereas the values for FGF-2 are 1 and 23 nM, respectively. The method provides a direct tool to evaluate FGF-ligand interaction and assess the structural integrity of the proteins.

Tetracycline regulation of genes on Bacteroides conjugative transposons

Human colonic Bacteroides species harbor a family of large conjugative transposons, called tetracycline resistance (Tcr) elements. Activities of these elements are enhanced by pregrowth of bacteria in medium containing tetracycline, indicating that at least some Tcr element genes are regulated by tetracycline. Previously, we identified a central regulatory locus on the Tcr elements that contained two genes, rteA and rteB, which appeared to encode a two-component regulatory system (A. M. Stevens, J. M. Sanders, N. B. Shoemaker, and A. A. Salyers, J. Bacteriol. 174:2935-2942, 1992). In the present study, we describe a gene which is located downstream of rteB in a separate transcriptional unit and which requires RteB for expression. Sequence analysis of this gene showed that it encoded a 217-amino-acid protein, which had no significant sequence similarity to any proteins in the GenBank or EMBL data base. An insertional disruption in the gene abolished self-transfer of the Tcr element to Bacteroides recipients, indicating that the gene was essential for self-transfer. The disruption also affected mobilization of coresident plasmids. Mobilization frequency was reduced 100- to 1,000-fold if the recipient was Escherichia coli but was not affected to the same extent if the recipient was an isogenic Bacteroides strain. The complex phenotype of the disruption mutant suggested that the newly identified gene, like rteA and rteB, had a regulatory function. Accordingly, it has been designated rteC. Our results indicate that regulation of Tc(r) element functions is unexpectedly complex and may involve a cascade of regulators, with RteA and RteB exerting central control over secondary regulators like RteC, which in turn control subsets of Tcr element structural genes.

Characterization of the mobilization region of a Bacteroides insertion element (NBU1) that is excised and transferred by Bacteroides conjugative transposons

Many Bacteroides clinical isolates carry large conjugative transposons that, in addition to transferring themselves, excise, circularize, and transfer smaller, unlinked chromosomal DNA segments called NBUs (nonreplicating Bacteroides units). We report the localization and DNA sequence of a region of one of the NBUs, NBU1, that was necessary and sufficient for mobilization by Bacteroides conjugative transposons and by IncP plasmids. The fact that the mobilization region was internal to NBU1 indicates that the circular form of NBU1 is the form that is mobilized. The NBU1 mobilization region contained a single large (1.4-kbp) open reading frame (ORF1), which was designated mob. The oriT was located within a 220-bp region upstream of mob. The deduced amino acid sequence of the mob product had no significant similarity to those of mobilization proteins of well-characterized Escherichia coli group plasmids such as RK2 or of either of the two mobilization proteins of Bacteroides plasmid pBFTM10. There was, however, a high level of similarity between the deduced amino acid sequence of the mob product and that of the product of a Bacteroides vulgatus cryptic open reading frame closely linked to a cefoxitin resistance gene (cfxA).

[Pulmonary embolism: an analysis of 25 patients]

We reported 25 cases of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) definitely diagnosed in our hospital from 1983 to 1990. Twenty-one cases of them were found in the last 5 years. This indicated that the discovery rate had increased obviously. Five of these patients were confirmed by autopsy, the other twenty cases were diagnosed by clinical manifestations combined with perfusion-inspiration lung scans and chest roentgenogram. Due to the prompt diagnosis and the appropriate use of anticoagulants, 72% of the patients survived after treatment. We suggest that all the patients with suspected PE should take perfusion-inspiration lung scans, because this is a noninvasive and reliable method. Digital subtraction angiography is necessary for some patients. Routine chest radiography, arterial blood gas analysis, intrapulmonary shunt test, deep venography or nuclide scan of lower extremities are also useful methods for the diagnosis of PE.

[Effects of Ilexonin A on chemical salpingitis induced tubal obstruction in rats]

Ilexonin A, a new drug in improving the blood circulation and microcirculation, is extracted from Ilicis pubescentis. The preventive and therapeutic effects of Ilexonin A on chemical salpingitis induced tubal obstruction (CSTO) with morphological and hemorheological change in rats was studied. Results showed that Ilexonin A was effective in treating (CSTO by oppositing the degeneration and necrosis of epithelium, inhibiting the hyperplasia of connective tissue, and reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells. The improvement of morphology was more significant in treated groups than that in controls (P < 0.05-0.01). The indices concerning model rat's hemorheology were also analysed between treated groups and controls. It indicated that Ilexonin A could improve the viscosity of blood and aggregation of red blood cells. It is suggested Ilexonin A could promote the absorption of inflammatory substances as a result of improving hemorheology.

[The treatment of small cell lung cancer]

Forty-nine cases with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy were analyzed. Eight of them were of limited disease (LD), and 41(83.7%) had extensive disease (ED). Forty six were treated on a protocol comprising the induction with cyclophosphamide 1g i.v. on days 1st and 8th, vincristine 1-2mg, i.v. on days 1st and 8th, etoposide 100mg i.v. on days 3rd-7th and methotrexate 20mg i.v. on day 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th and than repeated with the second course of treatment after 21 days. Eight patients (17.4%) responded completely. There were 29 cases with partial response (63%). The total response rate was therefore 80.4%. Then radiotherapy (50 GY Over 4 weeks) was administered to primary cancer area in 36 patients of good response. The CR was increased from 19.4% to 55.6%. Twenty patients had CR. These patients were treated by late intensification with average of six cycles. The median survival period was 10 months. 21 patients (58.3%) were alive more than 1yr. 10 patients (27.8%) survived more than 2 yrs. Six patients (24%) were alive more than 3 yrs. One patient survived over 7 yrs. It was suggested that combined therapy is important for achieving a better response. CR is beneficial for long term remission. Late intensification is a kind of treatment with minimal toxicity and longer remission. Metastases to the central nervous system usually caused death, so prophylactic CNS irradiation (PCI) should be used in patients with ED for achieving a longer remission.

[Pulmonary angitis and granulomatosis]

16 patients of Wegener's granulomatosis, 4 of allergic angiitis and granulomatosis, 3 of lymphomatoid granulomatosis and 1 of necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis were reported. In this group of different diseases, characteristic pathological manifestations are inflammatory cellular infiltration of vessel wall combined with destruction and necrosis of pulmonary parenchyma. There was little difference in their clinical features. In most of the cases, fever and systemic symptoms related to lung and extrapulmonary organs were present. Correct diagnosis of these diseases is very important, because both the prognosis and therapy are different. As for the prognosis, it ranges from benign (necrotizing sarcoidal granulomatosis) to very malignant (lymphomatoid granulomatosis). The clinical features of each illness were reviewed with emphasis on their histopathologic findings. The therapeutic effect and final outcome were followed.

Purification of opioid receptor in the presence of sodium ions

Opioid receptor was solubilized from rat brain membranes with a mixture of the detergents CHAPS and digitonin in the presence of protease inhibitors and 1 M NaCl. The solubilized receptor bound mu-opioid agonists and antagonists with affinities similar to those of native membrane receptor. The affinity of solubilized receptor for the agonist PL017 was greatly reduced by GTP gamma S, suggesting the receptor is still associated with G-protein. The solubilized material was passed through an opioid antagonist (10cd) affinity column and a wheat germ agglutinin column, set up in series, to obtain a partially purified receptor preparation. This partially purified material bound mu-agonist with low affinity and the binding affinity was no longer affected by GTP gamma S. The partially purified receptor was further purified by repeating the affinity and lectin chromatography with smaller size column. Binding of opioid antagonist [3H]diprenorphine to the partially or purified receptors was dependent upon the presence of sodium ions. The purified receptor showed saturable and stereospecific binding for opioid ligands, was predominantly of the mu-type, and exhibited as a diffuse band with a medium molecular mass of 62 kD upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The average specific binding activity of the purified receptor was 18.8 +/- 2.3 pmol/micrograms protein, a value close to the theoretical estimation.

[Clinical use of polysomnography (PSG)]

The clinical diagnoses in 695 cases using PSG were analysed. The results are as follows: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in 482 cases (69.4%), chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with nocturnal hypoxemia in 25 cases (3.6%), epilepsy in 31 cases (4.5%), other sleep disorders in 5 cases (0.7%), and essentially normal in 152 cases (21.9%). Some parameters of PSG in 65 cases with OSAS and those in 2 cases before and after treatment were analysed. It is emphasized that PSG is using for diagnosis of different types of OSAS with appraisable seriousness and of other related sleep disorders. The method and indications of PSG were discussed.

Microdissection of human high resolution banded chromosome, polymerase chain reaction and microcloning

A simple technique for microdissection of specific region of human high resolution banded chromosome, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and microcloning was successfully used to microdissect 4 chromosomal pieces from the distal one third from band 11.2 to the terminal of the short arm of Y chromosome where the testis determining factor is located; 3.6 x 10(4) clones were obtained after 30 cycles of PCR. We analysed 41 clones with insert. The size of insert ranges from 140 to 350 bp (average 250 bp). A Southern blot analysis was done for one of them, and a 2.5 kb Hind III fragment was detected.

Codon usage, transfer RNA availability and mistranslation in amino acid starved bacteria

The fidelity of codon reading was examined in amino acid starved Escherichia coli. In one case the level of misincorporation of methionine was measured at an isoleucine residue encoded by either the commonly used AUU codon or the rarely used AUA codon. In this situation we found the frequency of methionine misincorporation to be very low and to be unaffected by the identity of the isoleucine codon. In other experiments histidine misincorporation for glutamine was measured in glutamine starved cells with normal levels of histidine-specific tRNA and cells overproducing this tRNA. Cells overproducing the tRNA had higher levels of misincorporation.

[An analysis of 30 cases of chylothorax and chyloperitoneum]

Thirty patients diagnosed as chylothorax and chyloperitoneum (13 of chylothorax, 9 of chyloperitoneum and 8 of both) in PUMC Hospital from 1923 to 1989 were reported. Thus, the incidence rate of these two diseases is rather low. The commonest causes were iatrogenic trauma (9 cases) and malignant tumor (7 cases). Other causes were tuberculosis (5 cases), lymphangioma (2 cases), Behcet's syndrome (1 case) and non-iatrogenic trauma (1 case). The etiology was not known in 5 cases. Acute episode was observed in patients with traumatic chylous effusion; it was usually manifested as dyspnea or abdominal distention. Patients with nontraumatic chylous effusion usually run a chronic course. The characteristics of chylous effusion were analyzed. Lymphangiography and lymphoscintigraphy with 99m TC-labeled dextran play important roles in diagnosis and treatment. It has been suggested that the changes in T-cell immunocompetence is important in determining whether the treatment should be conservative or operative. If chylous effusion is due to tuberculosis, antituberculosis treatment should be instituted.

[Lymphomatoid granulomatosis. A report of 2 cases]

Two patients with lymphomatoid granulomatosis were diagnosed by postmortem autopsy or exploratory thoracotomy. The lung, skin, spleen, renal and lymph nodes were involved. The most common presenting complaints are fever, cough, expectoration shortness of breath. The radiographic manifestations are multiple, bilateral nodular shadows. The histologic features is a unique form of pulmonary angiitis and granulomatosis, which is a necrotizing angiocentric and angio-destructive infiltrative process composed of small lymphocytes and atypical lymphoreticular cells.

Impact on catalysis of secondary structural manipulation of the alpha C-helix of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase

The alpha C-helix of Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase has been converted to its counterpart in Lactobacillus casei by a triple mutation in the helix (H45R, W47Y, and I50F). These changes result in a 2-fold increase in the steady-state reaction rate (kcat = 26 s-1) that is limited by an increased off rate for the release of tetrahydrofolate (koff = 40 s-1 versus 12 s-1). On the other hand the mutant protein exhibits a 10-fold increase in the KM value (6.8 microM) for dihydrofolate and a 10-fold decrease in the rate of hydride transfer (85 s-1) from NADPH to dihydrofolate. The elevated rate of tetrahydrofolate release upon the rebinding of NADPH, a characteristic of the wild-type enzyme-catalyzed reaction, is diminished. The intrinsic pKa (6.4) of the mutant enzyme binary complex with NADPH is similar to that of the wild type, but the pKa of the ternary complex is increased to 7.3, about on pH unit higher than the wild-type value. Further mutagenesis (G51P and an insertion of K52) was conducted to incorporate a hairpin turn unique to the C-terminus of the alpha C-helix of the L. casei enzyme in order to adjust a possible dislocation of the new helix. The resultant pentamutant enzyme shows restoration of many of the kinetic parameters, such as kcat (12 s-1), KM (1.1 microM for dihydrofolate), and khyd (526 s-1), to the wild-type values. The synergism in the product release is also largely restored. A substrate-induced conformational change responsible for the fine tuning of the catalytic process was found to be associated with the newly installed hairpin structure. The Asp27 residue of the mutant enzyme was found to be reprotonated before tetrahydrofolate release.

A prospective study of nosocomial infections in cardiac surgery patients in China

A prospective survey of postoperative nosocomial infections (NI) in cardiac surgery was carried out in a cardiovascular specialty hospital in Beijing, China. During the period from December 1986 to December 1987, 1208 cardiovascular surgery patients were surveyed for NI. The overall incidence of NI was found to be 7.5%. The incidence of lower respiratory tract and wound infections were 4.5% and 2.9%, respectively. These two kinds of infection accounted for 78.1% of the total infections. After effective control measures were taken at the end of the first 6 months (December 1986 to May 1987) of the study, the incidence fell from 10.6% to 5.1% in the next 7-month period (June to December 1987). The pathogens causing NI were mostly gram-negative bacteria, and they were mainly opportunistic. The contribution of fungal infection was significant in the hospitals. The majority of the pathogenic isolates were highly resistant to the antibiotics commonly used in the hospital.

[Clinical analysis of 90 cases of eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrates with peripheral eosinophilia]

90 patients diagnosed as eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrates with peripheral eosinophilia in PUMC Hospital from 1957 to 1986 were reported. The cause of the eosinophilia was unknown in 42% of the patients. Among these patients, hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) were suspected in 11 patients. The most common presenting symptoms of HES were fever, skin lesions gastrointestinal symptoms and hepatosplenomegaly, the mean peripheral blood eosinophil count was as high as 25.6 x 10(9) cells/L. Biopsies of bone marrow and involved organs revealed extensive eosinophilic infiltration and severe necrosis. In the past ten years, eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrates caused by parasitic infections obviously decreased. The most common parasites were ascaris Lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale and Clonorchis sinesis. The other main causes which induced pulmonary infiltrates were allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. The prevalence of ABPM increased recently; early diagnosis and effective therapy could prevent the irreversible damage resulting in airways obstruction and fibrosis.

Economic effects of nosocomial infections in cardiac surgery

A study of 60 infected patients and matched controls showed that nosocomial infection in cardiac surgery cost each patient an additional 2207 yuan (pounds 290). The cost of multisite infection was much higher. Infected patients were in hospital for a mean of 14 extra days.

[Mesothelioma and mesothelial hyperplasia]

Twenty cases of pleural mesothelioma (2 localized and 18 diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma), 6 cases of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma and 1 case of mesothelial hyperplasia were reported. The prominent clinical manifestations of malignant mesothelioma was serosal effusion. The exudate was bloody, mucinous and of high specific gravity. It contained numerous mesothelial cells. The diagnosis is difficult because mesothelial hyperplasia and other malignant tumors may mimic mesothelioma in some clinical aspects. Roentgenography, CT scan, cytology of serosal fluid and biopsy world help to establish the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Immunohistochemical features of 4 cases of mesothelioma is negative immunostaining for carcino embryonic antigen (CEA) and positive for keratin antigen. In one case ultrastructural examination showed characteristic features of epithelial mesothelioma cells. The average survival period in case of chemotherapy and/or surgical intervention in patients of this series was 31.3 months. Mesothelial hyperplasia has rather good prognosis; but the strategy of therapy may be conservative.