Protective effects of API0134 on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury

Previous studies have demonstrated that a crude extract from Chinese medicinal herb Andrographis Paniculata Nees (APN) could prevent myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury. A refined extract API0134 was studied further. LAD was ligated for 90 min in 20 dogs and then reperfused for 120 min. The animals were randomly divided into 2 groups, API0134 treated group (n = 10), 45 min after ischemia receiving a slow i.v. bolus of 1 mg/kg and then an infusion of 80 micrograms.kg-1/min for 60 min and control group (n = 10) which was given only 5% glucose in saline. Result showed that the hemodynamics in API0134 treated group showed better effects of preventing the increase of the LVEDP and maintaining relatively normal CO as compared with control group. Ischemic ECGs were significantly milder. Malignant arrhythmia did not appear in API0134 treated group. After reperfusion, the infarct size was smaller (5.06 +/- 2.67% vs 10.45 +/- 3.11%, P < 0.01), the damages found in myocardial ultrastructure were significantly milder. It is concluded that API0134 may protect the myocardium from ischemic reperfusion injury.

CXCR-4 (Fusin), a co-receptor for the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), is expressed in the human brain in a variety of cell types, including microglia and neurons

Entry of the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus into most cells requires the presence of the CD4 protein in combination with one of several recently described co-receptors. CXCR-4 (fusin) was the first identified, and it serves as co-receptor for T-cell-line tropic (T-tropic) HIV-1 isolates. To determine the expression of CXCR-4 in the brain, a major target of HIV pathology, we used immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with CXCR-4-specific antibodies and probes. We found that CXCR-4 was expressed in several cell types in brain, but notably in neurons and microglia, a finding that was replicated in tissue culture. The study of the expression of CXCR-4 in the brain, which may be one of many chemokine receptors in the central nervous system, may provide further insight into the interactions between brain cells, pathogens, and the immune system, and help understand the pathogenesis of HIV dementia.

Participation of the human p53 3'UTR in translational repression and activation following gamma-irradiation

p53 protein levels have been shown to increase in a number of cells after treatment with genotoxic agents through a post-transcriptional mechanism. In gamma-irradiated human cells, the accumulation of p53 protein is accompanied by an increase in the association of p53 mRNA with large polysomes without any change in the level of p53 mRNA. This redistribution of p53 mRNA on polysomes in response to irradiation is consistent with enhanced translational activity of p53 mRNA. We demonstrate that a region of the p53 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) inhibits translation of a chimeric reporter mRNA in vivo. Induced elevation of reporter activity after gamma-irradiation was seen in cells expressing chimeric reporter-p53 3'UTR transcripts. These data taken together demonstrate translational control of p53 gene expression after gamma-irradiation and denote a previously unsuspected and novel role for the p53 3'UTR in controlling translation.

[Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic determination of propofol in human plasma]

An RP-HPLC method is described for the assay of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), a new anesthesia drug, in human plasma. Protein in sample was precipitated with methanol, followed by extraction of propofol with cyclohexane. Both propofol and the internal standard thymol were derivatized with Gibbs' reagent and then chromatographed on an ODS column (Ultrasphere, 250 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.) with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-trifluoroacetic acid (80:20:0.1) and UV detection at 276 nm. The detectable limit of propofol was 24.8 microg/L (S/N>2) and calibration curves were linear between 50 to 1500 microg/L (r=0.9991). The average coefficient of variation was 6.1%.

Variable requirement for splicing signals for nucleocytoplasmic export of mRNAs

Using in situ hybridisation to detect the intracellular localisation of mRNAs we have found that mRNAs expressed from intronless cDNAs of normally intronic genes are expressed well but largely retained in nuclei. The degree of nuclear retention is quite variable but in all cases addition of splicing signals to the expression cassette are required for efficient export of the mRNAs from nucleus to cytoplasm. In contrast mRNAs expressed from the intronless genes of hamster beta-adrenergic receptor and human serotonin receptor type 1A showed very little nuclear accumulation and strong expression in the cytoplasm independently of splicing signals. The data demonstrate a link between splicing and export and dissemble from the idea that splicing enhances mRNA expression by protecting nascent nuclear mRNAs from degradation.

A hematopoietic cell L-selectin ligand exhibits sulfate-independent binding activity

L-selectin is a leukocyte cell-surface glycoprotein that mediates adhesive interactions between circulating cells and vascular endothelium. All endothelial ligands of L-selectin characterized to date are glycoproteins that require sulfation for activity and share reactivity with MECA 79, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a sulfate-dependent epitope involved in L-selectin attachment. We have recently identified by functional assay a glycoprotein L-selectin ligand expressed on the human hematopoietic cell line KG1a. We report here that this ligand is not recognized by MECA 79 and that it retains binding activity after metabolic inhibition of sulfation by chlorate. A native membrane L-selectin ligand exhibiting sulfate-independent function has not been described previously. Identification of this novel ligand on a nonendothelial cell type suggests that structural determinants conferring L-selectin binding may vary in a cell- and tissue-specific manner.

A glucose-sensing polymer

We have prepared a robust polymer that can be used to measure glucose concentrations in complex biological media. At alkaline pH, the metal-complexing polymer binds glucose and instantly releases protons in proportion to the glucose concentration over a clinically relevant range (0 to 25 mM). The inexpensive polymer is sufficiently selective to provide an easily measurable response to glucose in porcine plasma. The polymer's ability to function at nonphysiological pH (at which the buffer capacity of biological samples is small) makes it possible to design simple and inexpensive sensing devices based on measurement of changes in proton concentration.

Imaging of axonal damage in multiple sclerosis: spatial distribution of magnetic resonance imaging lesions

We performed magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging on 28 patients with multiple sclerosis stratified for disability and clinical course (relapsing with at least partial remissions or secondary progressive disease). Lesions were segmented on the conventional proton density and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images, and lesion distribution images were generated for, each patient. The conventional magnetic resonance and spectroscopic images were transformed into a standard brain-based stereotaxic coordinate space, allowing comparison of images from different patients on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The spatial distribution of lesions in the transformed magnetic resonance images did not differ significantly between the relapsing and the progressive disease groups. We then generated from the individual data sets, group lesion probability distribution images for the relapsing and the progressive disease groups. The spatial distribution of metabolites was characterized with respect to lesion distribution using the magnetic resonance spectroscopic images transformed into stereotaxic space and averaged. The neuronal marker N-acetylaspartate was diffusely lower in the multiple sclerosis patients than in normal control subjects. Comparison of the averaged metabolite and T2-weighted lesion probability images confirmed loss of N-acetylaspartate in regions of both high and low lesion probability. This suggests that diffuse axonal volume loss or dysfunction extends beyond the inflammatory lesions of multiple sclerosis, perhaps due to microscopic disease or wallerian degeneration along projection pathways of axons traversing the lesions.

A functional model related to cytochrome c oxidase and its electrocatalytic four-electron reduction of O2

A cytochrome c oxidase model that consists of a cobalt(II) porphyrin with a copper(I) triazacyclononane macrocycle fastened on the distal face and an imidazole covalently attached to the proximal face has been synthesized and characterized. Redox titrations with molecular oxygen (O2) and cobaltocene were carried out, and O2 was found to bind irreversibly in a 1:1 ratio to the model compound. This O2 adduct (a bridged peroxide) can be fully reduced to the deoxygenated form with four equivalents of cobaltocene. The model compound was adsorbed on an edge-plane graphite electrode, and rotating ring-disk voltammetry was used to monitor the electrocatalytic reduction of O2. Four-electron reduction of O2 was observed at physiological pH.

The factors related to fungal peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis

Fungal peritonitis (FP) is a serious infectious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD). This retrospective study was conducted in 11 cases of FP among 64 cases of patients with bacterial peritonitis (BP). Our results showed that age and sex underlying disease did not correlate significantly with the development of FP (P > 0.05), while long-term, repeated administration of antibiotics did (P < 0.01). It is suggested that the patients recently suffering from BP and being resistant to antibiotics were at great risk of suffering from FP. The key to prevent FP was to avoid BP, to use sensitive antibiotics with appropriate courses and to give nutritive treatment.

Statistics for investigation of multimodal MR imaging data and an application to multiple sclerosis patients

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can image axonal damage specifically based on changes in N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), a neuronal marker. We have developed statistical methods for multimodal analysis of MR spectroscopic images. These methods, which are extensions of mixed-effect models, have allowed us to quantify differences in images from different subgroups of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to determine the dependence of chemical pathology on clinical disability, duration of disease and lesions on T2-weighted MRI. Statistical power was improved by using all reliable resonance intensities in the spectroscopic images while taking into consideration the intra-subject correlations. We studied 17 normal subjects, 14 patients with relapsing remitting (RR) MS and 21 patients with chronic progressive (CP) MS. The ratio of resonance intensities of N-acetylaspartate over creatine (Cr) was found to be significantly lower than normal in normal appearing white matter (NAWM) of both RR and CP patients (19.6% in RR, 28.8% in CP), NAA/Cr was decreased even more in MS plaques than in NAWM (44.2% in RR, 17.7% in CP), NAA/Cr was correlated with clinical disability (p < 0.02) and disease duration (p < 0.1). Our results suggest that, in this setting, MRS reflects accumulated neuronal loss or damage and can be used as a measure of disease severity. The methods developed provide opportunities to evaluate the relationship between inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss and clinical disability in future studies.

Enhancement of nucleocytoplasmic export of HTLV-1 Rex mRNA through cis and trans interactions of the mRNA with the complex of Rex protein and Rex-responsive element

p27 rex of HTLV-1 promotes nucleocytoplasmic export of viral mRNAs through binding of the Rex-response element (RexRE) present at the 3' end of the viral transcripts in cis with respect to the ORFs of the viral mRNAs. We have found that expression of the RexRE in trans, as a separate RNA, still allows Rex protein to promote export of viral mRNAs lacking the RexRE. The data suggest the formation of a ternary complex between Rex protein, RexRE and upstream elements of viral mRNA and hence the existence of secondary sites of interaction between Rex protein and viral RNAs.

Molecular cloning of the human leukotriene C4 synthase gene and assignment to chromosome 5q35

BACKGROUND

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (LT) are mediators involved in inflammatory and allergic disorders LTC4 synthase catalyzes the first committed step in the synthesis of these inflammatory mediators, and its cellular distribution appears to be unique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A human genomic library was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers that were designed based on the reported cDNA sequence for the LTC4 synthase gene. The gene was identified in one clone by Southern blotting of restriction enzyme digests, subcloning of fragments containing regions of interest, and DNA sequencing of these subclones. The transcription initiation site was determined by primer extension analysis. Chromosome location was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization and screening of somatic cell hybrids by PCR.

RESULTS

The LTC4 synthase gene is approximately 2.5 kb in length, consisting of five exons (136, 100, 71, 82, and 257 bp, respectively) and four introns (1,447, 102, 84, and 230 bp, respectively). Transcription initiation occurs at a single site 78 bp upstream of the coding region. The 5'-flanking region contains neither a TATA nor a CAAT box. The first 1 kb of the 5'-flanking region, however, contains putative DNA binding motifs for SP-1, AP-1, AP-2, ets factors, and CREB/ATF. A STAT binding motif is present in the first intron. The LTC4 synthase gene is located in the distal region of the long arm of chromosome 5 in 5q35.

CONCLUSIONS

The LTC4 synthase gene does not contain elements of a typical regulated gene and may therefore contain novel regulatory elements. This gene is also located in a region on chromosome 5 that appears to play a role in allergic and inflammatory disorders, such as asthma.

Translational regulation of human p53 gene expression

In blast cells obtained from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, p53 mRNA was present in all the samples examined while the expression of p53 protein was variable from patient to patient. Mutations in the p53 gene are infrequent in this disease and, hence, variable protein expression in the majority of the samples cannot be accounted for by mutation. In this study, we examined the regulation of p53 gene expression in human leukemic blasts and characterized the p53 transcripts in these cells. We found control both at the level of RNA abundance and at the level of translation. Four experiments point towards translational control of human p53 gene expression. First, there is no correlation between the level of p53 mRNA and the level of p53 protein expression in blast cells. Second, in two cell lines with similar levels of p53 protein expression but with different levels of p53 mRNA, we find that there is preferential association of p53 mRNA with large polysomes in the cells with less p53 RNA. Third, translation of synthetic human p53 transcripts in cell-free extracts is inhibited by the p53 3'UTR. Fourth, the p53 3'UTR, when present in cis, can repress translation of a heterologous transcript. These observations raise the possibility that human p53 mRNA translation may be regulated in vivo by RNA binding factors acting on the p53 3'UTR.

Assessment of lesion pathology in multiple sclerosis using quantitative MRI morphometry and magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Quantitative measurement of MRI-defined brain lesions can provide an index of the extent and activity of disease in multiple sclerosis patients. However, the relationships between these indices and clinical features are not well-understood. Heterogeneity of the pathological changes underlying MRI lesions may be an important factor determining the correlation between MRI lesion volumes and clinical measures. Recent studies have suggested that with magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), it may be possible to define chemical changes that better reflect the pathological changes in multiple sclerosis. Here we report results of combined quantitative brain T2-weighted MRI lesion volume and proton MRS examinations that demonstrate heterogeneity of the chemical pathology underlying brain lesions in patients selected on the basis of similar clinical disability but differing with respect to the presence or absence of clinical relapses. We examined 29 patients with disease characterized by either clear relapses with at least partial remissions (RR) or secondary, chronic progression after an earlier history of a more relapsing and remitting course (SP). Total hemispheric lesion volume was greater (P < 0.04) in the RR (32.5 +/- 20.9 cm3) than in the SP (16.2 +/- 9.0 cm3) patients, despite the longer duration of disease in the latter group. Central brain N-acetyl aspartate: creatine (NAA:Cr) ratios were reduced relative to normal controls (4.0 +/- 0.3, n = 19) by similar amounts in the two patients groups (RR, 3.1 +/- 0.5; SP, 3.2 +/- 0.4; P < 0.0001). The ratio lesion volume:(NAA:Cr) was greater for the RR group (11.7 +/- 9.3 cm3) than for the SP group (5.4 +/- 3.3 cm3, P < 0.05), implying a greater average degree of axonal loss per unit lesion volume defined by MRI for subjects in the SP group or, alternatively, a greater proportion of lesions without axonal damage or loss in the RR group. Our results emphasize a limitation of using T2-weighted MRI lesion volume alone and suggest that combined analysis of MR-based chemical and imaging data might allow improved non-invasive assessment of lesion pathology in order to better understand its relationship to clinical features of multiple sclerosis.

Dendrites of locus coeruleus neurons extend preferentially into two pericoerulear zones

The intrinsic cytoarchitecture and neurochemical organization of the nucleus locus coeruleus have been characterized extensively, but there is little information about the organization of locus coeruleus neuronal processes extending outside of the nucleus proper. Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical techniques were used to investigate the distribution of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase- or tyrosine-hydroxylase-labeled extranuclear processes in the rat pericoerulear region. The vast majority of these processes extended preferentially into two zones: (1) the pontine tegmentum medial and rostral to locus coeruleus, here termed the rostromedial pericoerulear region; and (2) a narrow region adjacent to the IVth ventricle caudomedial to locus coeruleus, designated here as the caudal juxtaependymal pericoerulear region. Far fewer labeled processes extended into the lateral and ventral pericoerulear regions. Seventy-seven percent of the labeled profiles in the pericoerulear region were dendrites. All labeled profiles in the rostromedial pericoerulear region and 94% of the labeled profiles in the caudal juxtaependymal zone were dendrites. By contrast, in the rostroventral pericoerulear region, 25% of the labeled profiles were axons. Locus coeruleus extranuclear dendrites were never presynaptic to other structures but were often contacted by several unlabeled presynaptic terminals. These results indicate that the dendrites of locus coeruleus neurons extend preferentially into two pericoerulear zones. Extranuclear dendrites in all pericoerulear regions receive extensive, nonnoradrenergic synaptic contacts. Thus, pericoerulear dendrites, particularly in the rostromedial and caudal juxtaependymal zones, are important sites for the integration of inputs to locus coeruleus neurons.

Learning capacity and sample complexity on expert networks

A major development in knowledge-based neural networks is the integration of symbolic expert rule-based knowledge into neural networks, resulting in so-called rule-based neural (or connectionist) networks. An expert network here refers to a particular construct in which the uncertainty management model of symbolic expert systems is mapped into the activation function of the neural network. This paper addresses a yet-to-be-answered question: Why can expert networks generalize more effectively from a finite number of training instances than multilayered perceptrons? It formally shows that expert networks reduce generalization dimensionality and require relatively small sample sizes for correct generalization.

[The effect of renal dopamtne receptor blockade on natriuresis induced by volume expansion and intracerebroventricular injection of hypertonic saline in rabbits]

The present study was carried out to study the effects of renal dopamine receptor blockade on natriuresis induced by volume expansion (VE) and intracerebroventricular injection of hypertonic saline (ICHNa) in connexion with the use of dopamine receptor blockers haloperidol (Hal) in anesthetized rabbits. In the VE experiments, Hal group decreases the peak increase of UNa V from control group of 65.0 +/- 15.0 to 19.0 +/- 5.5 mumol/min (P < 0.02). In the ICHNa experiments, the peak increase of UNa V in control and Hal groups were respectively 28.9 +/- 4.6 and 29.0 +/- 5.8 mumol/min (P > 0.50). In the experiments of rabbit with intact renal dopamine receptor, the natriuresis induced by VE+ICHNa was significantly greater than those due to either inducing factor acting alone. Renal dopamine receptor blockade also significantly attenuated the natriuresis induced by VE+ICHNa. These results indicate that renal dopamine receptor blockade significantly attenuated the natriuresis induced by VE or VE+ICHNa, but did not affect the response of ICHNa. In the rabbits with intact renal dopamine receptor, the natriuretic response induced by VE+ICHNa was significantly greater than those response by either inducing factor acting alone.

Molecular defects in Krabbe disease

Krabbe disease (globoid cell leukodystrophy) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems due to an enzymatic defect of the galactocerebrosidase. In this study, molecular defects in Krabbe disease were investigated in 11 patients (seven Japanese and four non-Japanese) using cultured skin fibroblasts. A Japanese late infantile patient had a missense mutation of Pro at codon 302 to Ala and a non-Japanese patient had a missense mutation of Val at codon 550 to Gly. The reduced enzymatic activities expressed from the cDNAs with these missense mutations and from the previously reported nonsense mutation (E369X, Glu at codon 369 to stop codon) were confirmed. Genomic DNA analyses revealed that the P302A and E369X mutations were heterozygous and the V550G mutation was homozygous in these patients. A 12 base deletion with a 3 base insertion was found in three unrelated Japanese infantile patients, but not in 30 controls. The mutation was homozygous in two patients and heterozygous in one patient. We could not find any confirmed mutation in the coding region in the other six patients. These findings suggest that mutations in infantile and late infantile patients are relatively heterogeneous.

The efficiency of translation termination is determined by a synergistic interplay between upstream and downstream sequences in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In a recent study we found that the efficiency of translation termination could be decreased several hundred fold by altering the local sequence context surrounding stop codons in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Suppression of termination was shown to be mediated by near-cognate tRNA mispairing with the termination codon. We have now examined in greater detail how the local sequence context affects the efficiency of translation termination in this organism. Our results indicate that the sequence immediately upstream of the termination codon plays a significant role in determining the efficiency of translation termination. An extended termination sequence (containing the stop codon and the following three nucleotides) was also found to be a major determinant of termination efficiency, with effects attributable to the fourth nucleotide being largely independent of the termination codon. For the UGA and UAA stop codons, the influence of the fourth position on termination efficiency (from most efficient to least efficient termination) was found to be G > U,A > C, while for the UAG codon it was U,A > C > G. These sequence-specific effects on the efficiency of translation termination suggest that polypeptide chain release factor (or another molecule that may play a role in translation termination, such as rRNA) recognizes an extended termination sequence in yeast. A previous study found a statistically significant bias toward certain tetranucleotide sequences (containing the stop codon and the first distal nucleotide) in several organisms. We found that tetranucleotide sequences most frequently used in yeast are among the most efficient at mediating translation termination, while rare tetranucleotide sequences mediate much less efficient termination. Taken together, our results indicate that upstream and downstream components of an extended sequence context act synergistically to determine the overall efficiency of translation termination in yeast.

The posttranslational modification of phosphoglucomutase is regulated by galactose induction and glucose repression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The enzyme phosphoglucomutase functions at a key point in carbohydrate metabolism. In this paper, we show that the synthesis of the major isoform of yeast phosphoglucomutase, encoded by the GAL5 (PGM2) gene, is regulated in a manner that is distinct from that previously described for other enzymes involved in galactose metabolism in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Accumulation of this isoform increased four- to sixfold when the culture experienced either glucose depletion or heat shock. However, heat shock induction did not occur unless the cells were under glucose repression. This nonadditive increase in expression suggests that the regulatory mechanisms controlling the heat shock induction and glucose repression of the GAL5 gene are functionally related. We previously demonstrated that phosphoglucomutase is modified by a posttranslational Glc-phosphorylation reaction. We now show that this posttranslational modification, like phosphoglucomutase expression itself, is also regulated by galactose induction and glucose repression. Finally, no evidence was found to indicate that the Glc-phosphorylation of phosphoglucomutase alters its enzymatic activity under the conditions examined.

Platelet-activating factor mediates the ozone-induced increase in airway microvascular leakage in guinea pigs

In the present study, we asked whether platelet-activating factor (PAF) mediates the ozone-induced increase in airway microvascular leakage. To answer this question, we examined the effect of a PAF receptor antagonist on the ozone-induced increase in airway microvascular leakage quantified by the extravasation of Evans blue dye in the guinea pig trachea and main bronchi. Guinea pigs were pretreated with the PAF receptor antagonist, E6123 ((S)-(+)-6-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-cyclopropane-carbonyl-8,11-dimethyl-2,3,4, 5- tetrahydro-8H-pyrido[4',3':4,5]thieno[3,2- f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine) (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg i.v.) and then exposed to 3 ppm ozone for 30 min. The PAF receptor antagonist significantly reduced the ozone-induced increase in microvascular leakage in a dose-dependent manner in both the trachea and main bronchi. Our results indicate that PAF mediates the ozone-induced increase in airway microvascular leakage. We therefore suggest that PAF may be involved in ozone-induced airway inflammation.

[Identification on the botanical origin of xueshangyizhihao produced in Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan Provinces and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region]

The botanical origin of Xueshangyizhihao should be Aconitum brachypodum var. laxiflorum produced in Dongchuan, Huize and Xundian districts in Yunnan Province. Recently, this herb has been found coming from Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan Provinces and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Botanical identification show that except the one from Sichuan being of the same origin as that from Yunnan, this herb consists essentially of the species of genus Aconitum, mainly A. flavum, A. pendulum, and others such as A. sungpanense, A. polyschistum and A. iudlowii.

[Changes in serum lipoprotein cholesterol in rabbit model of calcium bilirubinate cholangiolithiasis]

The lithogenic process of cholangiolithasis is still not understood clearly. In this study, several serum lipoprotein cholesterol, the bile BA level, etc. in the rabbit model of calcium bilirubinate cholangiolithiasis was examined. The main results included: (1) The concentrations of HDL-ch and HDL2-ch in the serum decreased in all the experimental groups (P < 0.01; P < 0.05), except HDL-ch in the BO 1W group (P > 0.05) compared with the control group. The concentrations of HDL2-ch in the BOI 1W and the BOI 6W groups were lower than those in the BO 1W and the BO 6W groups respectively (P < 0.05); the both concentrations of Fch and HDL3-ch in the BOI and the BO groups were much higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). (2) The bile T-BA level was lower in the both BOI groups than that in the control group (P < 0.05). It began to decrease in the BO group during the first week, but it was not significant in statistical difference (P > 0.05). During the 6th week the level of the bile acid (BA) was much lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). According to the above results, it may be concluded that in the formation of calcium bilirubinate gallstones, caused by the biliary obstruction and infection, there is a disorder in the lipoprotein metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Capsaicin reduces ozone-induced airway inflammation in guinea pigs

We investigated whether neural pathways are involved in mediating ozone (O3)-induced airway inflammation. To determine this, we studied the contribution of adrenergic and cholinergic pathways to the O3-induced increase in airway vascular permeability, an indicator of airway inflammation, by measuring vascular permeability after giving guinea pigs propranolol or atropine to block these pathways. We also studied the contribution to O3-induced airway inflammation of neuropeptides localized in unmyelinated airway sensory nerves, by measuring vascular permeability after giving capsaicin to deplete neuropeptides from these nerves. We found that capsaicin reduced but did not abolish the increase in airway vascular permeability induced by 3 ppm O3 for 30 min. Propranolol and atropine had no effect on airway vascular permeability. These results indicate that neuropeptides released from sensory nerves, presumably by acting through the axon reflex, partly mediate O3-induced airway inflammation, and that adrenergic and cholinergic pathways are not involved.

Polygenic trait analysis by neural network learning

AI techniques have been applied to the domain of DNA sequence analysis in predicting or identifying certain specialized regions, in recognizing genes, and in understanding the evolutionary relationships between sequences. This paper focuses on a kind of genetic pattern recognition, namely, the problem of identifying the gene combinations (patterns) causally related to a given trait determined by multiple genes (a so-called polygenic trait). A novel approach is presented which combines neural-network and knowledge-based techniques. The neural network is trained to predict the trait and then the knowledge embedded in the network is decoded into symbolic patterns. This hybrid approach is evaluated in the domain of identifying genes of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The consistency between the results with this approach and those reported in genetic literature supports the viability of this approach.

Photodiode nonlinearity measurement with an intensity stabilized laser as a radiation source

A new facility for the nonlinearity measurement of the spectral responsivity of photodiodes has been developed by using an intensity stabilized laser as radiation source. This device enables an automated measurement of the photodiode nonlinearity from the nanowatt to the milliwatt radiant power range at wavelengths between 250 and 800 nm with uncertainties of better than 0.01% in the visible and better than 0.05% in the UV at the 1σ level.

Induction and the possible mechanism of ventricular tachycardia after catheter ablation with direct current shocks in dogs

Cathodal DC shocks (150-J) were administered via the His bundle to 20 closed-chest dogs, and in a further three dogs 25-J cathodal shocks were given via the left ventricular endocardium. In 18 dogs, including three that underwent left ventricular ablation, Holter electrocardiograms were recorded from 1 to 7 days after ablation, and 4 weeks after ablation. There were frequent episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) from the first few hours after ablation to 4 days after ablation in all dogs, but both the rate and the coupling interval of VT were variable. In five conscious dogs stimulated 1 day after ablation, it was difficult to induce and terminate VT repeatedly. There was a direct relationship between the paced cycle length and the interval of the last paced beat to the initiating VT beat in three out of four dogs. In the fourth dog there was an inverse relationship. There was no transient entrainment with ventricular burst pacing during VT in any of the four dogs tested. The effects of lidocaine (2-3 mg.kg-1), verapamil (0.2-0.4 mg.kg-1), and propranolol (0.2 mg.kg-1) on VT were tested within 2 days of ablation in 10 conscious dogs. In general, both lidocaine and verapamil terminated VT, and propranolol slowed VT. In conclusion, VT soon after ablation possibly results from triggered activity, although abnormal automaticity cannot be ruled out.

Postreceptor events involved in the up-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor mediated lipolysis by testosterone in rat white adipocytes

In the previous studies we have shown that testosterone increases lipolytic responsiveness to catecholamines in rat white adipocytes, and that is associated with an up-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptor density. However, the postreceptor events involved in the testosterone induced enhancement of beta-adrenergic receptor activated lipolysis in these cells have not been adequately studied, and were therefore investigated in the present study. Male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, castrated, and castrated treated with testosterone. The beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated cAMP accumulation, measured with RIA after isoproterenol (a beta-adrenergic agonist) stimulation was decreased in castrated rats, and reversed by testosterone treatment, suggesting a testosterone effect at or proximal to adenylate cyclase. However, no differences between the groups were found in abundance of G alpha protein messenger RNAs (G alpha s, G alpha i-1, and G alpha i-2) as analyzed by Northern blot and a solution hybridization RNase protection assay, or in G protein mass measured with a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in fat cell membrane preparation. Lipolysis stimulated by N6-monobutyryl-cAMP was reduced in castrated rats and recovered by testosterone treatment, suggesting that components distal to the adenylate cyclase, i.e. protein kinase A (PKA) and/or hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) also are involved in testosterone regulation of lipolysis. In conclusion, these and previous results suggest that the testosterone-induced increase in lipolytic response to catecholamines in rat white adipocytes is mediated through several events including an increased beta-adrenergic receptor density, probably an increased adenylate cyclase activity and an increased protein kinase A/hormone sensitive lipase activity at the postreceptor level with apparent absence of effect on the expression of G-proteins.

Vaccination of bovines against Schistosomiasis japonica with cryopreserved-irradiated and freeze-thaw schistosomula

Four laboratory tests and one field trial with cryopreserved irradiated (CI) schistosomula vaccine and a freeze-thaw (F/T) vaccine against bovine Schistosomiasis japonica were carried out in 1979 and 1980 with the following results: (1) Single intradermal vaccination in buffalo calves each with 10,000 20 krad CI Schistosomula plus 1 ml BCG gave 62% worm reduction (P < 0.05). Using the same protocol 55% worm reduction (P < 0.01) was obtained in cattle. (2) Buffalo calves immunized twice, at a 1.5 month interval, with 10,000 and 20,000 CI schistosomula, respectively, resulted in a worm reduction 65%. (3) In a preliminary field trial with 10,000 CI schistosomula plus 1 ml BCG resulted in a worm reduction of 53% in buffalo calves. (4) Intradermal vaccination of 30,000 F/T schistosomula with 1 ml BCG was also tried in cattle and revealed a worm reduction of 57% but increasing the number of vaccinations did not improve the protective effect. (5) Evidence regarding the effects of immunization with CI vaccine in buffaloes and F/T vaccine in cattle, on the number of eggs and miracidia and that of female worms themselves was obtained. (6) Immune responses, cellular and humoral, elicited in buffaloes vaccinated with CI schistosomula were detected by means of Lymphocyte Transformation Assay and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

A degenerative lesion of the approach to the atrioventricular node producing second-degree and third-degree atrioventricular block

We report a case of a degenerative approach lesion in an 83-year-old male with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. His ECGs changed from first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block 14 years ago, to third-degree AV (A-H) block. A pacemaker was implanted for bradycardia. He died 4 years later from heart and renal failure. Serial sections through the conduction system revealed total depletion and fatty replacement of the atrial muscle at the approaches to the AV node.

On the origin of the enthalpy and entropy convergence temperatures in protein folding

Temperature dependence of the thermodynamics of folding/unfolding for cytochrome c has been determined as a function of moderate [0-10% (vol/vol)] concentrations of methanol. Heat capacity change (delta Cp) for unfolding decreases with increased concentrations of methanol, consistent with a higher solvent hydrophobicity. For a given transition temperature, this effect results in higher experimental enthalpy (delta H) and entropy (delta S) changes with increased methanol concentrations. When the enthalpy or entropy data sets obtained at different methanol concentrations are plotted as a function of temperature, they are seen to converge and assume common values around 100 degrees C for delta H and 112 degrees C for delta S. These convergence temperatures are similar to those obtained for different proteins in aqueous solution when delta H and delta S are normalized with respect to number of residues. It has been previously hypothesized that these convergence temperatures correspond to the temperatures at which the hydrophobic contributions to delta H and delta S are zero; the results presented here agree with this viewpoint.

A possible mechanism for pacemaker-induced T-wave changes

The genesis and the significance of pacemaker-induced T-wave changes remain unclear. Changes in body surface potential mapping (BSM) were observed and compared with resting thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy (T1-SC) findings before, during and after ventricular pacing (VP) in 10 patients with various bradyarrhythmias. All studies were performed with the patients taking no medication. In all patients, isoarea QRST maps showed a characteristic abnormal dipolar pattern with positive values distributed over the upper chest and negative values over the lower chest during VP at a physiological rate for 14 days or more. These abnormalities were preserved almost completely after pacing was terminated; and coincided with deep T-wave inversions in leads II, III, aVF and V4-6. In three patients, BSM performed before VP showed normal QRST isoarea maps with positive values distributed over the left lower chest. All patients in whom resting T1-SC was performed during chronic VP showed transient perfusion defects in the posteroinferior (seven cases) or inferolateral (one case) left ventricular wall. In three patients, T1-SC was performed before VP and showed a normal distribution. Both the pacing-induced perfusion defects and the T-wave abnormalities remained unchanged 2 h after ceasing VP, were attenuated 7 days later and disappeared within a month. These findings suggest that chronic ventricular pacing may produce myocardial ischaemia, and that it persists for a certain period after the cessation of pacing, resulting in post-pacing T-wave inversion.

Cortical stimulation induces fos expression in striatal neurons

Electrical stimulation of a broad area of the frontoparietal cortex in the rat brain induces immunocytochemically detectable Fos in striatal neurons normally devoid of the protein. The vividness of labeling within striatal neurons was maximal at 0.5 h after the cessation of a 15-min-long stimulation period and became weaker by 3 h. Although Fos-reactive neurons were widely distributed in the striata of both hemispheres in an uneven pattern, those on the stimulated side were more numerous and more darkly stained. At no time-point were labeled neurons found in the globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus or substantia nigra. Destruction of the nigrostriatal dopamine projection with 6-hydroxydopamine did not induce Fos production and failed to prevent the induction of Fos by cortical stimulation. That many of the Fos-positive neurons project to the substantia nigra was confirmed by retrograde labeling with Fluoro-Gold. The data suggest that corticostriatal excitatory transmission may directly influence the genomic activity of striatal neurons by way of Fos.

[The expression of C-myc oncogene in leukemia and its relationship to clinical symptoms]

The expression of C-myc proto-oncogene were studied at the levels of protein in bone marrow cells obtained from patients with AML and CML. It was found that the expression of C-myc in florid AML and during blast phase of CML were much higher than that in remission of AML and in chronic phase of CML. In 7 cases of AML diagnosed for the first time, 2 cases with high C-myc expression had no remission after 3-6 months, while 5 with rare C-myc expression had remission after 3-6 months. This results suggest that the expression of C-myc proto-oncogene are possibly sensitive indicator of the prognosis of leukemia.

[A comparative study of Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli related to the pathogenesis of calcium bilirubinate gallstones]

A comparative study of Bacteroides fragilis and E. coli bacterial infection in the biliary tract in relation to the pathogenesis of pigment stone formation was carried out on the basis of gallstone rabbit's model of anaerobic bacterial infection. One hundred and twenty Japanese hybrid big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: 14 in control group, 31 in B. fragilis (BF) group, 42 in E. coli group and 33 in the mixed group. In the experimental groups we successfully made gallstone formation in aerobic, anaerobic and mixed bacterial infections in biliary tracts respectively. On 7, 15 and 30 postoperative days the survival rabbits were sacrificed for investigations. Our experiments demonstrated that the incidence and amount of stone formation in the mixed group were the highest among the experiment groups. The key point to preclude stone formation was to control the bacterial infection in the biliary tract as early as possible. The results suggested that the ability of production of beta-glucuronidase in BF group was significantly higher than that in E. coli group. The author considered that BF was more important than E. coli in the pathogenesis of calcium bilirubinate gallstone formation.