Unusual selective immunoglobulin deficiency in an Arabian foal

A 10-month-old Arabian foal was evaluated for a suspected immunoglobulin (Ig) M deficiency. Decreased to nondetectable concentrations of IgM, IgA, and IgG (T), and a normal concentration of IgG, were present. Results of in vitro testing of the blood lymphocyte blastogenesis showed a weak response to the B-cell mitogen, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but normal responses to T-cell mitogens. Results of postmortem examination showed synovitis of the left tibiotarsal and both scapulohumeral joints. Atrophy and edema of the lymph nodes and lymphocyte depletion in the thymus and spleen were seen. A subacute inflammatory infiltrate was observed in the kidney, synovium, liver, and brain. Etiologic agents were not identified. This case represents a previously unreported form of immunodeficiency disease in the horse.

Mechanism of impaired growth hormone secretion in patients with Cushing's disease

The function of the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-growth hormone (GH) axis in Cushing's disease was studied by monitoring (a) the GH responses to GHRH loading and L-dopa loading, (b) the GHRH response to L-dopa loading, and (c) the daytime profiles of plasma GH concentration. GH release following GHRH and L-dopa was blunted in patients as compared to that in age-matched control subjects. However, GHRH release following L-dopa was similar in patients and controls. The plasma GH levels in four patients measured every 20 min by a highly sensitive immunoradiometric assay for GH showed pulsatile GH secretion at low levels during the observation period. These results indicate that GHRH release from the hypothalamus is preserved in patients with Cushing's disease, and support the hypothesis that glucocorticoid inhibits GH secretion by altering the hypothalamic somatostatin tone.

Physical and genetic mapping of the catA region of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A prime plasmid has been used as the basis for the construction of a physical and genetic map of a 125 kb segment of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO chromosome. Using pMO1811, a prime plasmid selected for the catA region, a series of Tn5 insertions were obtained which identified two new markers gcu (glycine utilization) and oap (organic acids and alcohols permeability) in the 125 kb region and located them in relation to other known markers of this region. A cosmid bank was constructed from the prime plasmid and an ordered array of cosmid clones for this region identified by restriction endonuclease mapping with EcoRI, HindIII and KpnI, as well as complementation mapping and chromosome walking. By Southern hybridization analyses, it was confirmed that the chromosomal insert carried by pMO1811 was flanked by single, tandemly arranged copies of IS21 and the orientation of the insert on this prime was determined. This cosmid bank provides a resource for the further analysis of this region of the P. aeruginosa genome.

[Contrast sensitivity study in the fellow eyes of patients with central serous chorioretinopathy]

In clinical practice, it has been shown that the contrast sensitivity (CS) test is one of the most sensitive visual functional tests. In our experiment, we used a U.S.-made VCTS 60000 CS test plate to test the fellow eyes (20) of 20 cases with unilateral central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), along with age-matched normal controls. From the control group, we obtained a group of bell-shaped normal CS curves which showed some degree of decrease with age. 40% of the fellow eyes of the patient group showed a slight CS decrease at mid-high spatial frequencies, though other visual functional tests show no abnormality. These fellow eyes may be at risk for CSC. Our experiment, for the first time, showed the possibility of using the CS test as a diagnostic test for subclinical CSC.

[Electrophysiological effects of different dosage of adenosine triphosphate on normal sinoatrial and atrioventricular node]

In order to study the electrophysiological basis of smaller dosage that would terminate PSVT effectively and decrease side effects remarkably, we have observed the electrophysiological effects of ATP in different dosage (5mg, 10mg, 15mg) on the sino-atrial node (SAN) and atrioventricular node (AVN). Cardiac electrophysiological investigations were carried out in 62 patients with history of PSVT by using the method of trans-esophagus ECG and body surface ECG continuously and simultaneously, during the normal sinus rhythm and PSVT. The results showed that when the effect of 10mg ATP on SAN was not clinically significant yet, it did strikingly block the AVN conduction enough to terminate the PSVT with no severe arrhythmias. 37 cases of 62 patients were provoked PSVT during control electrophysiological study, the PSVTs of 33 cases out of these 37 patients (89.7%) were terminated by using 10mg ATP. There was no serious bradyarrhythmias after PSVT termination. We suggest that 10mg ATP is a reliable dose for PSVT termination.

Selective preglomerular constriction to nerve stimulation in rat hydronephrotic kidneys

The purpose of this study was to quantitate the constrictor responses of pre- vs. postglomerular microvessels during brief increases in renal nerve activity by directly observing the intact microcirculation. To validate the use of the rat hydronephrotic kidney model for this purpose, the vascular reactivity of hydronephrotic kidneys, and normal kidneys was assessed to adrenergic and neural stimulation by quantitating whole kidney blood flow velocity changes elicited by intravenous administration of norepinephrine, electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus, and direct renal nerve stimulation. Hydronephrotic and nonhydronephrotic kidneys responded comparably to norepinephrine and posterior hypothalamic stimulation; however, the hydronephrotic kidneys were less responsive than normal kidneys to direct renal nerve stimulation. In the microcirculatory experiments, stimulation of the splanchnic nerve (2-8 Hz) induced a frequency-dependent constriction of interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles. Preglomerular vessel diameters decreased by 42-53% during the 8-Hz stimulation, whereas the efferent arteriolar diameters did not significantly change. Thus, constriction of preglomerular vessels mediates, in large part, the changes in renal hemodynamics evoked by increases in renal sympathetic nerve activity.

Recovery from exercise-induced desaturation in the quadriceps muscles of elite competitive rowers

A simple muscle tissue spectrophotometer is adapted to measure the recovery time (TR) for hemoglobin/myoglobin (Hb/Mb) desaturation in the capillary bed of exercising muscle, termed a deoxygenation meter. The use of the instrument for measuring the extent of deoxygenation is presented, but the use of TR avoids difficulties of quantifying Hb/Mb saturation changes. The TR reflects the balance of oxygen delivery and oxygen demand in the localized muscles of the quadriceps following work near maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in elite male and female rowers (a total of 22) on two occasions, 1 yr apart. TR ranged from 10 to 80 s and was interpreted as a measure of the time for repayment of oxygen and energy deficits accumulated during intense exercise by tissue respiration under ADP control. The Hb/Mb resaturation times provide a noninvasive localized indication of the degree of O2 delivery stress as evoked by rowing ergometry and may provide directions for localized muscle power output improvement for particular individuals in rowing competitions.

Multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions in an elderly human individual

We have used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to study deletions in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of an elderly human individual. An extended set of PCR primers has been utilised to identify 10 mitochondrial DNA deletions in a 69-year-old female subject with no known mitochondrial disease. The particular deletions visualised as PCR products depended on the primer pairs used, such that the more distantly separated PCR primers enabled visualisation of larger deletions. Some deletions were common to the heart, brain and skeletal muscle, whereas others were apparently specific to individual tissues. DNA sequencing analysis of PCR products showed that short direct repeat sequences (5 to 13 bp) flanked all deletion breakpoints; in most cases one copy of the repeat was deleted. It is proposed that the accumulation of such multiple deletions is a general phenomenon during the ageing process.

The effect of captopril on glucoheptonate uptake in experimental renal artery stenosis

This study attempted to evaluate the role of glucoheptonate (GHA) in captopril renography in an in vivo laboratory investigation in which postcaptopril glucoheptonate uptake was analysed in awake 2KlC hypertensive rats. Clamped kidney uptake in a previous study was greater in the poststenotic kidney than in the normal kidney (P = 0.01) in rats with mild renal artery stenosis. A glucoheptonate renogram protocol was developed for use in rats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. An 123I-hippuran scan was performed to determine the relative renal function, followed by a control 99Tcm-GHA scan. Five minutes after administering captopril, another 99Tcm-GHA scan was performed. Relative renal uptake was determined between 30 and 90 s postinjection. 99Tcm-GHA uptake in the clamped kidney was more than 50% of total uptake in 3/9 of the abnormal rats' control scans. No abnormal rats clamped kidney 99Tcm-GHA uptake was greater than 50% in the postcaptopril scans. Captopril reduced GHA uptake in all nine of the animals with baseline scans. These findings suggest that the laboratory observation of captopril induced paradoxically increased 99Tcm-GHA uptake in renal artery stenosis may not be observed scintirenographically. Moreover, the data support a potential value of glucoheptonate in captopril renography.

[Review of improving the technology of processing Chinese herbal medicines]

In this paper, the present situation of processing technology for Chinese herbal medicines is expounded in all aspects. Careful processing, overall developing and comprehensive utilization are put forward as improving ways, in the hope of providing a scientific basis for carrying forward the traditional processing techniques for Chinese herbal medicines in producing areas and putting the resources to full and rational use.

[Research of the physicochemical properties of hair in endemic arsenism area]

The paper reports the results of research of hair in the endemic arsenism area where water with arsenic content is 0.58 mg/L in Kuitun district, Xinjiang. In the area of endemic arsenism, the content of hair arsenic with arsenism patients is higher than that of subjects without arsenism. Hair arsenic content among residents was also higher than those of control areas. The stretch and relative strength of hair of subjects living in the area of endemic arsenism were lower than those of the areas of control. The ultrastructure of hair surface has obvious pathologic changes by scanning electron microscope examination. By using a hygienic standard (the arsenic content of water being 0.03 mg/L) to improve the drinking water for two years, the content of hair arsenic has reduced, approaching 95% upper confidence limit for normal hair (1.5 micrograms/g). The stretch and relative strength of hair have distinctly increased. The ultrastructure of hair surface has returned to near normal. The results of our investigation show that we should pay attention to the latent harm to residents in the high-arsenic-content area. The authors consider that hair arsenic content, stretch and relative strength of hair are sensitive and objective indexes to monitor the effects of improving water quality in area of endemic arsenism.

Instabilities of metabolic regulations in aging

1) That non-invasive NMR and optical methods can a) quantify the work stress on mitochondria for ATP production, and b) indicate the tissue O2 tension in the capillary bed that is responsible for the rate of radical generation. 2) That free radical damage to mitochondrial function can be quantified by reciprocal plots of inverse slope giving the extrapolated Vm of mitochondria. 3) That a particular genetically deficient individual requiring high dosages of menadione has survived over 9 years. 4) That mitochondrial deficiency leads to an exercise hyperoxia.

[A investigation on the types of chromosomes and epidemiology of Paragonimus westermanni in Huadian city of Jilin Province]

An investigation on the types of chromosomes and epidemiology of Paragomanni westermanni in five Villages and towns of Huadian city was carried out. The data showed that the infection rate of crayfish, the first intermediate host, was 100% and the infectiosities varied from 99 to 160/per crayfish in the five areas. The genetic patterns of all the cysticercus, ovum and imagoes had been proved to be diploid by morphological and genetic studies. The infection rate of animal final host such as dogs and cats reached as highly as 94.3%, and all the infected animals presented typical pathological changes. Among the total 1008 examined people, the positive rate of skin test of hypersensitivity was 25.1%, and only 0.4% was positive sputum test. Moreover, very few infected people had remarkable clinical expressions, suggesting that the infection of most people was only "transient", or of the larval parasitisim. The results showed that diploid Paragonimus westermanni were not strongly pathogenic to human beings.

[The report of organophosphorus pesticides cause delayed nervous system diseases (143 cases)]

This article reports delayed dysneuria 143 cases, 54 cases in male and 89 cases in female, age 8-59 years old. They are treated by atropine. After the cholinesterase inhibited symptoms had vanished or had improved and after the other factors had been eliminated the delayed dysneurias occur after poisoning 5.42 days. They are the peripheral neuritis, the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the myasthenic crisis, the peptic neuritis, the encephalitis, the mixed aphasia and the symptoms like Guillain-Barre's syndrome. Their death rates are higher in two months to the types of the myasthenic crisis, the encephalitis and the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and to the other types of disease and the cases. Poisoned two months later, their prognosis are better and the mechanism are not very clear now.

Case-control study of cigarette smoking and primary hepatoma in an aflatoxin-endemic region of China: a protective effect

Aflatoxin is believed to be a major causative agent in the high incidence of primary liver cancer seen in certain regions of the world. In Fujian Province, an aflatoxin-endemic region of China, we compared the cigarette smoking habits of 200 primary hepatoma patients with those of 200 matched nonhepatoma controls. We excluded from our study all individuals with evidence of hepatitis B virus serum antigen and/or alcoholic cirrhosis. Interestingly, two groups of hepatoma patients could be discerned. In patients more than 50 years of age, a significantly higher number of cases of primary hepatoma was found among nonsmokers than smokers (odds ratio = 2.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.32-3.20). In patients less than 50 years of age, this difference was not seen. Previous studies in the rat, mouse and duck had suggested that agents present in cigarette smoke might induce a cytochrome P450-mediated detoxication pathway, leading to protection against aflatoxin-induced primary liver cancer. Our clinical data in the present study are therefore consistent with the previous laboratory animal experiments.

[Analysis of outer membrane proteins from eight strains of Campylobacter in SDS-PAGE]

The outer membrane proteins (OMPs) from 8 strains of Campylobacter, including 5 reference strains and 3 local strains, were isolated and examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The results showed that the population distributions of molecular weight of OMPs from different species and sources were alike based on the Rank Sum Test analysis. The number of bands of major OMP was around 2-3, the molecular weight of which varied from 33-68 kd. Moreover, three C. jejuni local strains isolated from patients in China showed common characteristics of OMPs to the reference strains. It is suggested that the OMPs of Campylobacter are of a conservative and stable structure.

Platelet activating factor-induced shock and intestinal necrosis in the rat: role of endogenous platelet-activating factor and effect of saline infusion

BACKGROUND AND METHODS

The mechanism of ischemic bowel necrosis induced by platelet-activating factor is unclear. Since intestinal hypoperfusion is observed after platelet-activating factor injection, we hypothesized that mesenteric vasoconstriction is the mechanism of bowel injury. The present study investigated the effects of saline infusion on platelet activating factor-induced bowel necrosis and its mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: group A consisted of sham-operated rats; group B received platelet-activating factor (1.5 micrograms/kg iv); group C received platelet-activating factor and saline (0.097 mL/min iv); group D received platelet-activating factor and WEB 2086 (platelet-activating factor antagonist).

RESULTS

Saline infusion largely reversed platelet activating factor-induced hypotension, hemoconcentration, and reduction of the superior mesenteric arterial blood flow. Saline infusion also ameliorated platelet activating factor-induced bowel injury, although a mild-to-moderate degree of necrosis still developed focally. In addition, saline prevented the platelet activating factor-induced increase in intestinal platelet-activating factor production. Saline also prevented the increase in intestine leukocyte number, as estimated by myeloperoxidase activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Saline infusion is an effective treatment for platelet activating factor-induced shock and intestinal necrosis. However, focal bowel injury is still observed, suggesting that other factors besides hemodynamic changes contribute to the development of tissue injury. We also showed that, in vivo, platelet-activating factor stimulates its own synthesis via a positive feedback loop, which could be blocked by intravascular volume expansion with saline.

Pylorus and antroseromuscular flap-preserving gastrectomy--a new type of reconstruction after subtotal gastrectomy for treatment of gastroduodenal ulcer: clinical and experimental study

To avoid motility disturbances after Billroth gastrectomy, the authors designed pylorus and antroseromuscular flap-preserving subtotal gastrectomy (PAFPG). Results showed that gastric motility and emptying time of dogs after PAFPG were close to normal. PAFPG was applied to 125 consecutive patients with gastroduodenal ulcers (gastric ulcer, 15 patients; duodenal ulcer, 94 patients; and combined ulcers, 16 patients) confirmed by barium examination and fibro-gastroendoscopy. All patients recovered smoothly, none of them had postoperative complication. Gastric acid output reduction rates were as follows: basal acid output, 85.05% +/- 8.13%; maximal acid output, 81.76% +/- 10.85%; peak acid output, 81.42% +/- 10.15%. The incidence of postoperative enterogastric reflux (endoscopically) and the concentration of cholic acids in gastric juice were significantly lower in patients after PAFPG than after Billroth I or II gastrectomy. Results suggest that PAFPG reduced gastric acid outputs definitely and overcame adverse motility consequences after Billroth I or II gastrectomy desirably.

Isoflurane alters the kinetics of oral cyclosporine

Cyclosporine is an important immunosuppressive agent often given orally preoperatively to patients undergoing organ transplantation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of anesthesia on the pharmacokinetics of orally administered cyclosporine. Sixty unanesthetized fasting female Lewis rats were given 25 mg/kg cyclosporine by gastric tube and were then randomized to immediately receive an isoflurane anesthetic (n = 30) or to serve as nonanesthetized controls. At 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 h after the administration of the cyclosporine, six animals from each group (while still anesthetized for those in the anesthesia group) were killed, and arterial blood and the entire bowel from the esophagogastric junction to the ileocecal junction were removed for measurement of cyclosporine concentrations. A subsequent study with six animals in each group was performed to examine more closely the distribution of cyclosporine in the stomach and small intestine 4 h after the oral dose. In these animals the cyclosporine concentration in the stomach and in five 10-cm-long segments of small bowel was assayed. In all studies of gastrointestinal specimens, the cyclosporine extracted is a combination of that contained in the lumen and the wall. At all times except at 6 h, the blood cyclosporine levels were significantly higher in the control group than in the isoflurane group. Conversely, the amount of cyclosporine in the distal small bowel of control rats was increased as compared with the anesthetized animals. In the animals studied at 4 h, the amount of cyclosporine in the stomach of control rats was significantly lower than that in the anesthetized animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A study on the effectiveness of three common stabilizers of peracetic acid]

This paper reports the effectiveness of 0.1% (W/V) quinoline-8-ol, 0.5% (V/V) phosphoric acid and 0.5% (W/V) sodium pyrophosphate as stabilizers of stock solutions on peracetic acid. The three solutions were put separately as stabilizers into stock solutions of peracetic acid in the laboratory. They were stored at room temperature for approximately one year, and the percent of peracetic acid content was determined at regular intervals. Also, we made studies on different concentrations of phosphoric acid for different prescriptions of peracetic acid. The results show that 0.1%, 0.3% and 0.5% (V/V) phosphoric acid and 0.5% (W/V) sodium pyrophosphate were not effective stabilizers for the stock solutions of peracetic acid. Therefore, phosphoric acid or sodium pyrophosphate is not an effective stabilizer in stockpiling stock solutions of peracetic acid.

Naloxone-sensitive inhibition of nicotinic transmission in the superior cervical ganglion of the cat

In anesthetized, artificially ventilated cats, pretreated with the muscarinic antagonist scopolamine, the effect of naloxone on the efficacy of nicotinic transmission in the superior cervical ganglion was used as a test of endogenous opioid release by the preganglionic axons. The cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) was split into two bundles. The compound action potential (CAP), evoked by supramaximal low-frequency stimulation (0.25 Hz) of one CST bundle, was recorded from a postganglionic nerve of the superior cervical ganglion. Partial block with hexamethonium was used to reduce the 'safety factor' of nicotinic transmission. A conditioning train (5 Hz, 40 s, supramaximal) to the other CST bundle (heterosynaptic conditioning) inhibited the CAP. At the peak of the inhibition the CAP was attenuated by 51 +/- 4%. Recovery was 90% complete in 201 +/- 28 s. The inhibition was antagonized in a dose-dependent manner by i.v. naloxone with an apparent IC50 of 60 +/- 12 micrograms/kg. The maximum effect obtained with naloxone was an 80% decrease in the magnitude of the inhibition. Magnitude and duration of the heterosynaptic inhibition were related to frequency, duration and intensity of the conditioning train. Naloxone-sensitive inhibition was observed with frequencies of the conditioning train as low as 0.5 Hz. A train (5 Hz, 40 s) to the postganglionic nerves produced a naloxone-insensitive depression of the orthodromic test CAP which was of smaller amplitude and duration than when the conditioning train was applied to the preganglionic axons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

PAF-induced bowel necrosis. Effects of vasodilators

Ischemic bowel necrosis in the rat is produced by injecting platelet-activating factor (PAF) intravenously. Since intestinal hypoperfusion is observed after PAF injection, we hypothesize that mesenteric vasoconstriction is the mechanism of bowel injury. We thus studied the effects of vasodilators in this model. We found that: (1) Phenoxybenzamine, prazosin, ICI 198615 (leukotriene antagonist) and PGE1 counteracted the PAF-induced mesenteric flow reduction and ameliorated the bowel injury. However, phenoxybenzamine and prazosin were relatively ineffective in correcting PAF-induced hypotension, showing that bowel injury can be prevented independently of the hypotensive state. (2) Nitroglycerin failed to prevent bowel injury, although it improved the mesenteric blood flow. Thus, in opposition to our initial hypothesis, correction of the mesenteric flow reduction induced by PAF does not always prevent intestineal necrosis. (3) Only phenoxybenzamine, prazosin, ICI 198615, and PGE1 ameliorated PAF-induced hemoconcentration and bowel injury. This suggests a correlation between vascular injury (expressed by "leaky" vessels and the consequent hemoconcentration) and bowel necrosis. (4) Although both nitroglycerin and hydralazine relax smooth muscle, hydralazine seemed to aggravate bowel necrosis. The mechanism remains unclear.

Fetal tissue grafts for cerebellar atrophy

It has been shown in a rat model that surgical injury to the right cerebellum with resultant ataxia can be corrected by implantation of embryonic cerebellar tissue into the injured cerebellum. Histological examinations of the cerebellar tissue revealed that mitoses of Purkinje cells of the implanted group were increased substantially over the control group's. The surgically induced ataxia resolved more rapidly in the cerebellar implant group than the control group. Based on this experimental data, a similar technique was applied in 6 patients with severe hereditary cerebellar degenerative ataxia. The preliminary results in these 6 surgically implanted patients with heredity degenerative cerebellar disease show 2 with marked improvement, 3 with moderate improvement and 1 with improvement for 2 months followed by mild deterioration but still better than presurgery. We also studied immunological markers in the blood and CSF in an attempt to determine whether rejection of implanted tissue occurs.

Impaired secretion of growth hormone-releasing hormone, growth hormone and IGF-I in elderly men

The GHRH test and L-dopa test were performed in 12 normal young men (24.1 +/- 1.1 years) and 12 normal elderly men (77.8 +/- 1.4 years) to investigate age-related changes in secretion of GHRH, GH and IGF-I. The basal plasma levels of GHRH and GH were not significantly different in young and elderly men, but the basal plasma level of IGF-I was higher in the young men (159.0 +/- 11.7 vs 86.7 +/- 11.6 micrograms/l). The area under the curve for plasma GH in the GHRH test was less in the elderly group (35.1 +/- 5.9 vs 11.2 +/- 2.1 micrograms.h-1.l-1, p less than 0.001). The AUCs for the plasma GHRH and GH responses in the L-dopa test in young and elderly men were 32.0 +/- 2.7 vs 20.3 +/- 1.8 ng.h-1.l-1 (p less than 0.001), and 21.8 +/- 4.6 vs 5.4 +/- 1.1 micrograms.h-1.l-1 (p less than 0.01), respectively, indicating decreased releases of GHRH and GH in the elderly. Correlations between the AUCs for plasma GHRH and GH responses in L-dopa were found in both groups, but the ratio of the AUCs for GH/GHRH was lower in the elderly group. The elderly group showed a significant correlation between the basal plasma IGF-I level and the AUCs for plasma GH in the GHRH and L-dopa tests. These results suggest that elderly men have a decreased reserve of hypothalamic GHRH, resulting in secondarily impaired GH release, which may lead to a lower level of IGF-I than in young men.

[Electroretinogram of normal rabbits (experimental research)]

Electroretinograms of 44 eyes (22 normal rabbits) were studied. Of them, 11 were albinotic and 11 colored. The highest amplitude of the a-wave was 87.90 +/- 22.70 microV. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. The highest amplitude of the b-wave was 241.4 +/- 43 microV in the albinotic and 220.06 +/- 26.9 microV in the colored rabbits (P less than 0.01). In each group of the rabbits, the b-wave amplitude increased when the flash intensity increased both in dark-adapted ERG and in light-adapted ERG.

Effect of precursors on the synthesis of catecholamines and on neurotransmission in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (325-350 g) were anesthetized with urethane (1.5 g/kg i.p.) and treated with physiological saline, Aspartame (APM; 552 mumols/kg), or tyrosine (Tyr; 552 mumols/kg). Ganglionic transmission and the synthesis of dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) were measured in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) following electrical stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk (CST). When the CST was stimulated with single pulses, neither APM nor Tyr affected the synthesis of NE or DA. However, in response to low- (5 Hz, 20 s) and high- (20 Hz, 20 s) frequency pulses, the metabolism of DA was increased (p less than 0.05), but to the same extent after saline, APM, or Tyr. In rats stimulated with similar low- and high-frequency pulses, the synthesis of NE was increased significantly (p less than 0.05) after Tyr, but not after APM or saline. In saline-treated controls, ganglionic transmission was not changed in response to single pulses, or low- or high-frequency stimulation. However, after treatment with APM, ganglionic transmission was depressed significantly (p less than 0.01) in response to high-frequency stimulation (single: 0.46 +/- 0.09 mV; low: 0.39 +/- 0.07 mV; high: 0.27 +/- 0.07 mV). After treatment with Tyr, ganglionic transmission was depressed significantly (p less than 0.05) in response to both low- and high-frequency stimulation (single: 0.44 +/- 0.04 mV; low: 0.22 +/- 0.12 mV; high: 0.26 +/- 0.07 mV). In the nonstimulated SCG, L-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (25 mg/kg) caused a rapid, significant (p less than 0.01) increase in the synthesis and metabolism of DA, but not of NE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Dissolvable supporting in small artery anastomosis: an experimental study]

Intra-lumen supporting, made of biomaterial, non-toxic, tissue-compatible, and dissolvable, was used in anastomosing femoral artery on one side of 51 rabbits, while that on other side was anastomosed by conventional procedure for comparison. Results showed that suturing on the experiment group could be accomplished with better accuracy, less trauma and avoidance of puncturing the opposite wall, and with higher speed, shorter operation time than the contra. Better still, the intra-lumen supporting stabilized the vessel stumps and dilated the segments being handling, so that torsion and spasm were prevented. The intra-lumen supporting was then dissolved and no thrombosis developed in any of the experiment ones but some of the contra. Histological observation revealed that repair of tissue in each layer of the artery wall at the anastomosis site proceeded much quicker in the experiment ones than in the contra. We are impressed, through this survey, that the newly formed endothelial cells cover in the juncture area may arise from the uninjured endothelium nearby, and may also come from monocytes in the circulation.

[Immunomodulatory action of the total saponin of Gynostemma pentaphylla]

The specimen of the total saponin for this experimental study was extracted from Gynostemma pentaphylla growing in Suining county in Hunan province. Weight of immune organs, content of anti-SRBC hemolysin, rate of special Ea-RFC formation and percentage of NK cell activity had been employed for the study as experimental indices, both the normal healthy mice and the mice with immunity impairment due to Cyclophosphamide (Cy) management as experimental models. The results of the study exhibited: (1) The total saponin of Gynostemma pentaphylla could markedly act against the immunity inhibition due to Cy management in the experimental animals, showing a variant recovery in mice treated by Cy in weight of the immune organs, content of hemolysin, forming rate of Ea-RFC and unequivocally elevating NK cell activity, by significant difference in comparison with the Cy control groups (P less than 0.05-0.01). (2) The total saponin showed a definite of bidirective immunomodulatory action in normal healthy mice, recovering the immune indices to normal value from either originally lower or higher than the medium figure, by significant difference in comparison with the Cy control groups (P less than 0.05-0.01). (3) The total saponin had actions to prevent from fatigue and to tolerate hypoxia under usual atmospheric pressure. The above description indicates that the total saponin of Gynostemma pentaphylla is a better immunomodulator, seems to be like the actions of some Chinese drugs, for example, Panax ginseng, Astragalus membranaceus etc.

Thermal denaturation of the Ca2(+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum reveals two thermodynamically independent domains

Inactivation of Ca2+ uptake and ATPase activity of the Ca2(+)-ATPase of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum was measured and compared to the thermal denaturation of the enzyme as measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and fluorescence spectroscopy. Two fluorophores were monitored: intrinsic tryptophan (localized in the transmembrane region) and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Lys-515 (located in the nucleotide binding domain). Inactivation, defined as loss of activity, and denaturation, defined as conformational unfolding, were irreversible under the conditions used. Activation energies (EA) and frequency factors (A) for inactivation were obtained for the enzyme in 1 mM EGTA and 1 mM Ca2+. These were transformed to a transition temperature for inactivation, Tm (defined as the temperature of half-inactivation when temperature is scanned upward at 1 degree C/min). All denaturation profiles were fit with an irreversible model to obtain EA and Tm for each transition, and the values of these parameters for denaturation were compared to the values for inactivation. In EGTA, denaturation obeys a single-step model (Tm = 49 degrees C), but a two-step model is required to fit the DSC provile of the enzyme in 1 mM Ca2+. The specific locations of tryptophan and the fluorescein label were used to demonstrate that denaturation in Ca2+ occurs through two distinct thermodynamic domains. Domain I (Tm = 50 degrees C) consists of the nucleotide binding region and most likely the phosphorylation and transduction regions [MacLennan, D. H., Brandl, C. J., Korczak, B., & Green, N. M. (1985) Nature 316, 696-700].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Influence of subtotal gastrectomy on bile acid concentration, total bacterial counts in the gastric juice, and histologic changes in the gastric mucosa]

The concentrations of bile acids, PH and total bacterial counts in the gastric juice were measured among 44 patients with peptic ulcer before and after subtotal gastrectomy (Billroth II in 14 cases, Billroth I in 10 cases, and PAFPG in 20 cases). Thirty three patients were studied by endoscopy and gastric mucosa biopsy one year after the surgery. The results showed that the fasting gastric bile acids concentrations in both B-II and B-I groups were significantly higher than in PAFPG group, when examined 3 weeks and 1 year postoperatively. The PH and total bacterial counts in gastric juice were increased significantly after B-II and B-I reconstruction compared with PAFPG. The abnormal histology of gastric remnant mucosa was more common in B-II or B-I groups than in PAFPG (P less than 0.05). Our data demonstrated that B-II and B-I gastrectomy caused considerably enterogastric reflux, while PAFPG prevented it effectively by keeping the gastric physiology in a relatively stable status. It is the authors' belief that the results provide objective basis for selecting surgical procedure and evaluating operative effects.

[Preventive effects of fortified pollen on diphenylhydantoin teratogenesis]

This paper reports the preventive effects of fortified pollen and folic acid on diphenylhydantoin (DPH) teratogenesis in pregnant SD rats. The experiment showed that i.p. injection of DPH 75mg/kg per day to pregnant rats on gestational days 7 through 11, and feeding of fortified pollen (pollen 10g/kg per day plus folic acid 20mg/kg per day) or folic acid (20mg/kg per day) on gestational days 0 through 20 may partly prevent the embryotoxicity and fetal toxicity produced by DPH. However, the preventive effects of fortified pollen is better than those of folic acid on the following: decrease of fetal body weight; retarded ossification of metacarpus, proximal phalanx, metatarsus, and supraoccipital bone; sternebrae ossification agenesis; subcutaneous hemorrhage; single eye defect; hydronephrosis and the widening of subarachnoid space. This paper also discusses the possible mechanism of prevention of fortified pollen and folic acid against DPH teratogenesis.

Possible involvement of beta-endorphin in the deteriorating effect of arginine vasopressin on burn shock in rats

The effect of intracerebroventricular injections of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on burn shock in the rat and its possible mechanism were explored in this study. AVP was administered intraventricularly at 30 min intervals (50 ng) in the burned rats. The arterial pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded with a multipurpose polygraph before and after burn. Compared with the control, the MAP of the rats in the AVP group was elevated at the initial stage and fell dramatically at the late stage of burn shock with a higher mortality. The ECG of the rats in the AVP group also displayed earlier changes such as elevation of S-T segment, inversion of T wave, and ventricular fibrillation. These findings suggest an unfavorable role of AVP in burn shock. The plasma, hypothalamic, and anterior and posterior pituitary levels of beta-endorphin 3 hr after burn were measured by radioimmunoassay. The increased level of beta-endorphin in the plasma after AVP treatment indicates the possible involvement of beta-endorphin in the deteriorating effect of AVP on burn shock.

Nonconventional joint-transform correlator

A nonconventional joint-transform correlator (NJTC) is discussed. We show that the shift-invariant property of the usual joint-transform arrangement can be preserved. The advantages of the NJTC are the efficient use of the light source, the use of smaller transform lenses, higher correlation peaks, and a higher carrier fringe frequency.

Differentiation of avian adenovirus type-II strains by restriction endonuclease fingerprinting

Three serologically indistinguishable viruses from the avian adenovirus type-II splenomegaly virus of chickens, marble spleen disease virus of pheasants, and hemorrhagic enteritis virus of turkeys, were analyzed by restriction endonuclease fingerprinting. The DNA from these viruses were examined with 6 restriction endonucleases (Bgl II, EcoRI, HindIII, Hha I, Xho I, and BamHI). Markedly different DNA cleavage patterns were found in these virus isolates with all the 5 enzymes, except with BamHI, suggesting genetic differences between isolates of adenovirus type II. Restriction endonuclease analyses were found to provide a method for distinguishing genetically different, and yet serologically similar, strains of avian adenovirus type II.