[The antitumor activities of gnidimacrin isolated from Stellera chamaejasme L]

Gnidimacrin, a diterpene compound, isolated from the methanol extract of Stellera chamaejasme L, showed significant antitumor activities against mouse leukemia P-388 and L-1210 in vivo. At the dosages of 0.02-0.03mg/kg ip, the in increase in life span (ILS) was 70% and 80%, respectively. Gnidimacrin was also active against murine solid tumors in vivo, such as Lewis lung carcinoma, B-16 melanoma and colon cancer 26. It showed ILSs of 40%, 49% and 41% at the dosages of 0.01-0.02mg/kg ip, respectively. Gnidimacrin strongly inhibited cell proliferation of human cancer cell lines such as leukemia K562, stomach cancers Kato-III, MKN-28, MKN-45, and mouse L-1210 by the MTT assay and colony forming assay in vitro. The IC50 of gnidimacrin was 0.007-0.00012microgram/ml. It is concluded that gnidimacrin is the principal antitumor element in Stellera chamaejasme L. with strong antitumor activities.

Solution NMR structure of the major cold shock protein (CspA) from Escherichia coli: identification of a binding epitope for DNA

Sequence-specific 1H and 15N resonance assignments have been determined for the major cold shock protein (CspA) from Escherichia coli with recently developed three-dimensional triple-resonance NMR experiments. By use of these assignments, five antiparallel beta-strands were identified from analysis of NMR data. Strands 1-4 have a classical 3-2-1-4 Greek key beta-sheet topology and there are two beta-bulges, at positions Lys10-Trp11 and Gly65-Asn66. Three-dimensional structures of CspA were generated from NMR data by using simulated annealing with molecular dynamics. The overall chain fold of CspA is a beta-barrel structure, with a tightly packed hydrophobic core. Two-dimensional isotope-edited pulsed-field gradient 15N-1H heteronuclear single-quantum coherence spectroscopy was used to characterize the 15N-1H fingerprint spectrum with and without a 24-base oligodeoxyribonucleotide, 5'-AACGGTTTGACGTACAGACCATTA-3'. Protein-DNA complex formation perturbs a subset of the amide resonances that are located mostly on one face of the CspA molecule. This portion of the CspA molecular surface includes two putative RNA-binding sequence motifs which contribute to an unusual cluster of eight surface aromatic side chains: Trp11, Phe12, Phe18, Phe20, Phe31, His33, Phe34, and Tyr42. These surface aromatic groups, and also residues Lys16, Ser44, and Lys60 located on this same face of CspA, are highly conserved in the family of CspA homologues. These isotope-edited pulsed-field gradient NMR data provide a low-resolution mapping of a DNA-binding epitope on CspA.

Cloning and expression of a novel acidic calponin isoform from rat aortic vascular smooth muscle

The actin-binding protein calponin has been implicated in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. We have isolated cDNA clones encoding a novel acidic calponin isoform from rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. The initial 273 residues of the deduced 330 amino acid polypeptide (M(r) 36,377) are highly homologous to basic smooth muscle calponin isoforms, but the remaining 57 residues at the carboxyl terminus comprise a unique and strongly acidic domain. The sequence of the acidic domain shows high homology (93.3% identity) to the partial sequence of HUMXT01244, an unidentified human hippocampal gene product (Adams, M., Dubnick, M., Kerlavgne, A. R., Moreno, R., Kelly, J. M., Utterback, T. R., Nagle, J. W., Fields, C., and Venter, J. C. (1992) Nature 355, 632-634). Transcripts encoding acidic calponin are expressed in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells and in non-muscle and smooth muscle tissues of adult rat. Based on its calculated M(r) and the tissue distribution of its expression, acidic calponin is an excellent candidate for a previously detected non-muscle calponin homolog (Takeuchi, K., Takahashi, K., Abe, M., Nishida, W., Hiwada, K., Nabeya, T., and Maruyama, K. (1991) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 109, 311-316). Like basic calponin isoforms, acidic calponin synthesized in a bacterial expression system bound F-actin. However, unlike basic calponin, the acidic isoform did not interact with Ca2+/calmodulin, indicating a functional distinction between the muscle and non-muscle forms.

Total and methyl mercury levels in human scalp hairs of typical populations in China by NAA, GC(EC), and other techniques

The contents of total and methyl mercury in scalp hair samples of 1179 fishermen living in a typical Hg-polluted region in northeast China and 27 lying-in women and their newborns in Beijing have been determined by INAA, GC(EC), and other techniques. Only 18 of all fishermen had Hg contents above 5 micrograms/g, which indicates that the Hg pollution there has been substantially alleviated. The longitudinal Hg patterns of the lying-in women showed a gradually lowering tendency during pregnant period. Further, the Hg contents of the newborn babies generally were above or close to those of their mothers, confirming the mechanism that the methyl Hg, an organic species of Hg with high toxicity, is readily able to penetrate the placental barrier and to accumulate in the fetus. Thus, the mercury poison has occurred at the early stage of pregnancy.

Photorefractive damage thresholds in Ti:LiNbO(3) channel waveguides

The photorefractive effect in titanium-in-diffused LiNbO(3) waveguides is studied both experimentally and theoretically. Measurements of mode size and transmitted optical power as a function of input optical power are presented. The diffusion constants in the diffusion model and the unknown parameters in Kukhtarev's model are determined from measurements of the near-field intensity profiles at low and at high intensity levels. These parameters can then be used to predict waveguide behavior as a function of the input power level. The simulated behavior closely resembles that observed experimentally. Calculated corrections for thermally induced index perturbation show that the thermal effects are higher-order corrections to the dominant photorefractive effect.

Studies on silica-bonded monoclonal antibody packing material for separation of recombinant interferon by high performance immunoaffinity chromatography

A method for the preparation of a new packing material for high performance liquid chromatography by bonding an anti-interferon monoclonal antibody to the surface of silica gel is described. The high coupling efficiency and activity of the interferon-alpha A-monoclonal antibody (IFN-alpha A-McAb) column were obtained by activated diol-silica gel with an activating agent. After purification with this packing material, the specific activity of recombinant human interferon-alpha A rose by up to 1.03 x 10(7)IU/mg protein and the purification efficiency was increased by approximately 100 times.

Low follicular oestrogen levels in New Zealand women consuming high fibre diets: a risk factor for osteopenia?

AIMS

To study effects of anthropometry, diet and exercise on plasma 17 beta-oestradiol concentrations in healthy premenopausal women.

METHODS

Fifty-five healthy female volunteers aged 19-29 (Mean (SD) = 22.2 (2.6) years) were studied. Anthropometric measurements were made, food intakes were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire, physical activity was assessed, menstrual histories were taken and blood 17 beta-oestradiol values were measured in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.

RESULTS

Adiposity and dietary fat intake did not influence circulating plasma 17 beta-oestradiol but dietary fibre intake was negatively correlated with both follicular (r = -0.43, p < 0.001) and luteal (r = -0.28, p < 0.05) 17 beta-oestradiol concentrations. Follicular oestradiol values were abnormally low in 53% of the population. Subjects with high fibre intakes (> or = 25 g fibre daily) had significantly lower concentrations of 17 beta-oestradiol in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (p < 0.01). Physical activity was similar in groups consuming high and low fibre diets. Subjects with oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea (n = 7) had higher fibre intakes/energy (p < 0.05) than subjects with eumenorrhoea (n = 48).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that healthy New Zealand women of premenopausal age have lower 17 beta-oestradiol levels on high fibre diets than on low fibre diets. Because hypoestrogenism is a known risk factor for osteoporosis we propose that high fibre intakes may influence bone mass adversely and be a risk factor for osteoporosis. The effects of high fibre intakes on bone mass warrant further investigation.

Characterization of Haemophilus paragallinarum isolates from China

The biochemical and serological properties of 11 isolates of Haemophilus paragallinarum from outbreaks of infectious coryza in the People's Republic of China are described. All 11 isolates had the typical biochemical properties of H. paragallinarum, and all belonged to Page serovar A.

Quantum chemical and molecular mechanics studies on the binding of stereoisomers of the oligopeptide antibiotics amidinomycin and noformycin to the minor groove of B-DNA

Ab initio calculations (Hartree-Fock) using the 6-31G basis set have been performed on two chiral oligopeptide antitumor antibiotics amidinomycin 5 and noformycin 6. The latter are DNA minor groove binding agents related to the A.T recognizing netropsin 4 and distamycin 3 but, unlike the latter, bear stereocenters (two for 5 and one for 6) that may be expected to affect binding to the B-DNA receptor. Geometry optimized conformations, energies and distribution of electrostatic charges within the molecules were derived. The rotational barrier for bond C3-C6 in 6 was calculated to be ca. 6 kcal.mole-1 and the dipole moment for 6 was 7.69D and for 5 was 5.58D. The ab initio derived parameters of the geometry optimized conformations of the different possible stereoisomeric forms of 5 and 6 were used to interpret their different interactions with the minor groove of DNA at both A.T and G.C sequences and the results were compared with molecular mechanics calculations. The order of binding of the four stereoisomers of 5 at the preferred (A.T)n sequences by both ab initio and molecular mechanics calculations is 1S,3R > RR > RS > SS. The predicted energy differences for complexation with DNA of the other stereoisomers from that of 1S,3R are: RR (4.2%); RS (6.7%) and SS (21.5%). In the case of noformycin the 4R structure binds more effectively than the enantiomer. Considerations of phasing in the computed distances between hydrogen bond donating sites in the DNA-bound antibiotics provide further insight into the binding processes. In the complexes of noformycin 6 the N-N1-N4 and N1-N5 distances (9.05 and 9.15 A respectively for 4R-6 and 9.23 and 9.26 A respectively for 4S-6) are close to the optimum value of 9.1 A for effective binding. In the case of amidinomycin 5 the best agreement with the optimum value occurs with the strongest binding diastereomer 1S,3R (N1-N3 = 8.91, N1-N4 = 9.41 A). The unexpected result, consistent in both ab initio and molecular mechanics treatments, is that, in contrast to the cases of kikumycin 1 and anthelvencin 2, the natural 3S configuration of 5 and 4S of 6 do not confer maximal binding efficiency. This suggests that biogenetic factors in the generation of the oligopeptide antibiotics lead to maximum DNA binding in the cases of kikumycin and anthelvencin but not in the cases of amidinomycin and noformycin.

Shift in infrared interference filters at cryogenic temperature

The temperature dependence of the IR interference filters that use lead telluride as a high-index material is measured at various temperatures. Experimental results show that the wavelength and transmission shifts are dominated by the absorption edge and index of refraction of lead telluride, respectively, depending on where the transmission spectrum of the filter is located.

Radial keratotomy. 1. The wound healing process and measurement of incisional gape in two animal models using in vivo confocal microscopy

Using in vivo confocal microscopy, corneal wound healing was evaluated in both rabbit and cat eyes after radial keratotomy. A total of six rabbit and six cat eyes were evaluated sequentially over time for 1 mo after surgery by in vivo confocal microscopy, and quantitative measurements of changes in incisional wound gape were determined. In vivo histopathologic changes were correlated with conventional histopathologic findings in 18 rabbit and 4 cat eyes; the animals were killed at various intervals from 0-30 days after surgery. In the rabbit, in vivo corneal wound healing was characterized by the initial ingrowth of corneal epithelium followed by persistence within the wound without a marked fibrotic response. Measurement of incisional wound gape showed increasing gape from 144 +/- 32 microns on day 0 to 976 +/- 155 microns on day 26 at a distance of 2.4 mm from the optical zone. These in vivo measurements were not significantly different (P = 0.996) from those obtained using conventional histopathologic techniques which showed an incisional wound gape of 252 +/- 112 microns on day 0 and 917 +/- 216 microns on day 26 at 2.5 mm from the optical zone. In the cat eyes, healing of radial keratotomy wounds showed an initial increase in incisional wound gape from 135 +/- 56 microns on day 0 to 245 +/- 88 microns on day 7 at a distance of 2.4 mm from the optical zone. Starting at day 14 and continuing to day 30, there was a progressive decrease in incisional wound gape from 198 +/- 41 microns to 92 +/- 35 microns. Sequential, in vivo histopathologic analyses indicated that increasing incisional wound gape correlated with the retention of corneal epithelium in the wound. Initiation of decreasing incisional wound gape was associated with replacement of the incisional epithelial plug with fibroblastic tissue. These changes in the incisional wound gape observed in the cat suggest that healing of radial keratotomy wounds involves contraction of the wound in response to the ingrowth of fibroblastic cells. Furthermore, the contractile response appears to be biphasic involving a precontractile and contractile phase. Overall these data indicated that in vivo confocal microscopy provides quantitative histopathologic data on living tissue comparable with that obtained with conventional techniques on dead, fixed, and sectioned tissue. Additionally, the absence of wound fibrosis in the rabbit radial keratotomy model raises important questions as to the appropriateness of this experimental model for human radial keratotomy.

Tamoxifen in the rat prevents estrogen-deficiency bone loss elicited with the LHRH agonist buserelin

In young women chronic use of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists such as buserelin to treat endometriosis leads to estrogen-deficiency bone loss. Tamoxifen citrate is an estrogen agonist/antagonist which protects the skeleton from osteopenia when ovarian hormones are depleted. The present study was undertaken to determine whether tamoxifen citrate (20 mg/kg body wt/week s.c.) could prevent the osteopenic effect of buserelin (25 micrograms/kg body wt/day s.c.). Four groups of rats with 45Ca-labelled bones were studied for 4 weeks: group A--placebo controls; group B--buserelin; Group C--tamoxifen; group D--buserelin+tamoxifen. Bone resorption was monitored by measuring the urinary excretion of 45Ca and hydroxyproline. Interestingly buserelin lowered both blood 17 beta-estradiol values and uterine weights in the presence and absence of tamoxifen. However, tamoxifen slowed bone breakdown and inhibited the bone-thinning effects of buserelin. Total body calcium values (mg; means +/- S.D.) were: 2227 +/- 137; 1926 +/- 124; 2233 +/- 94 and 2268 +/- 163, in groups A to D respectively. Osteopenia was thus present only in group B (P less than 0.001). Because tamoxifen inhibits estrogen-deficiency bone loss in buserelin-treated rats without depressing the hypoestrogenic actions of this LHRH-agonist, we suggest that use of tamoxifen to protect the skeleton during LHRH-agonist therapy in young women should be explored. Tamoxifen citrate might also help to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis.

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

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

Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy for stage IIIa carcinoma of the lung

Thirty-six patients with stage IIIa histologically proven non-small cell carcinoma (T3 N2 or T2 N2) underwent concomitant radiation therapy and chemotherapy before pulmonary resection. The therapy consisted of two cycles of continuous infusion of cis-platinum, 25 mg.m-2.day-1 (days 1 through 4) every 4 weeks and concomitant irradiation, 55 Gy, of the tumor and mediastinum. Two to 3 weeks after treatment, the patients were reevaluated for thoracotomy and pulmonary resection. Five patients were found to have unresectable lesions. Thirty-one patients had complete resection, 27 by radical pneumonectomy and 4 by radical lobectomy, giving a resectability rate of 86%. Complete sterilization of lung tumor and mediastinal nodes proven histologically was achieved in 10 patients (28%) and 17 patients (47%). The 3-year survival rate is 61.7% for patients who had resection. Median follow-up is 27 months (range, 6 to 61 months). The preliminary study indicates that preoperative cis-platinum and concomitant radiation therapy is tolerated, appears to increase resectability, and may improve survival in patients with stage IIIa lung cancer.

The binding of prototype lexitropsins to the minor groove of DNA: quantum chemical studies

Ab initio calculations (Hartree-Fock) using the 6-31 G basis set have been performed on two prototype lexitropsins or information-reading molecules. The latter are DNA minor groove binding agents related to the A.T recognizing netropsin in which each of the two N-methylpyrrole moieties is replaced in turn by 1-methylimidazole and which thereby confers the property of recognizing G.C sites.Ab initio treatment was possible by examining composities of separate non-conjugated segments of the molecules. Geometry optimized conformations, energies and distribution of electrostatic charges within the molecules were derived. The ab initio derived parameters of the geometry optimized conformations of these lexitropsins were used to interpret their interaction with different sequences within the minor groove of B-DNA.

[Effect of Tibetan drug Arenavia kansuensis Maxim. var. ovatipetala Tsui on inflammation and immunological function]

It has been found that the Tibetan drug Arenaria kansuensis has significant inhibitory action on edema in the ears of mice induced by cotton oil and granuloma, on acute inflammation in the form of swollen feet of rats induced by albumen injection and carrageenan, on phagocytosis of histiocytes in the abdomen of mice, and on the formation of antibody (serum HC50). Being low in toxicity, the drug is conducive to the smooth functioning of the liver and kidney.

Recent Trends in Fertility and Nuptiality in China

The State Family Planning Commission of China has conducted two large-scale fertility surveys, in 1982 and 1988, covering sample households containing 1 million and 2 million persons, respectively. These surveys obtained lifetime histories, including age at first marriage and at each birth for female members of the households from ages 15 to 67 in the first survey and from 15 to 57 in the second. The data provide detailed information on the extraordinary decline in the rate of childbearing in China (by 60% from 1970 to 1980). Because rising age at marriage played a significant role in this decline, the effect of changes in the pattern of entry into marriage on childbearing since 1980 was examined. There was a sharp increase in overall fertility (the total fertility rate) from 1980 to 1982; after falling to slightly below the 1980 level in 1985, the rate rose in 1985 and 1986 to well above that of 1980. A major factor in this arrested and partially reversed decline was a boom in marriage that followed a relaxation in 1980 of locally administered restrictions on marriage before the officially designated desirable age. In fact, the total fertility rate of married women (summed over duration of marriage rather than age) averaged much lower in the mid-1980s than in 1980. The summary rate of bearing second children increased markedly in the 1980s when calculated by age of women, but declined when calculated by duration of marriage, given the inflated number of recently married women.

Historical demography in China: review and perspective

"This paper argues that the development of historical demography in China will not only contribute greatly to our understanding of the particular population and social development dynamics in China, but will also enhance our understanding of the role of population for social and economic development in general.... After a review of the recent development of population studies in China, this paper will review the current state of Chinese historical demography and examine some research issues and data sources which can help broaden the horizons of population research in China."

Function of the diabetic retina after panretinal argon laser coagulation

Panretinal photocoagulation has been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on the natural history of diabetic retinopathy. However, it is associated with detectable loss of retinal function. To determine the best coagulation technique we conducted a prospective study in 32 eyes of 16 patients. We investigated retinal function in relation to spot size and scatter density after panretinal laser coagulation. One eye was treated with approximately 400 comparatively large laser spots (0.6-0.8 mm diameter), whereas the fellow eye was coagulated with approximately 1500 small spots (0.2-0.4 mm diameter), so that the total coagulated area was almost the same in both eyes. Subjective parameters (visual acuity, perimetry, dark adaptation, photostress), as well as objective functions (electroretinogram, ERG; electro-oculogram, EOG), were studied preoperatively and then postoperatively over a time span of 6 months. Pronounced impairment of retinal function was detected, which recovered after 3 months on the average. When the pairs of eyes were compared, persistent visual field scotomas as detected by computerized static perimetry, occurred less frequently in eyes subjected to small coagulation spots, although this tendency was not statistically significant.