[Deletion and down-regulation of mts1/p16 gene in human gastric cancer]

Deletion of mts1/p16 gene was frequently detected in many human tumor cell lines. However, whether alteration of the p16 gene was involved in human gastric carcinogenesis, it is not clear. In order to determine the incidence and correlation of the p16 gene deletion with human gastric cancer, we performed analyses of PCR, Southern and Northern blotting on 85 fresh tumor specimens and 5 tumor cell lines from gastric cancer patients. Homozygous deletion was observed in 1 cell line and down-regulation of expression was observed in 3. High rate of gene deletion was detected by PCR in 14 of 85 fresh tumor tissues. Gene deletion was confirmed by Southern blot analysis with p16 cDNA probe in 6 out of 26 tumor specimens examined.

Further characterization of the c-mos transcript and its cell cycle specific expression in NIH3T3 cells

The mouse c-mos proto-oncogene is primarily expressed in germ cells. Our previous studies demonstrated c-mos RNA expression in mouse somatic cells, with the highest level present in the G2 phase of the cell cycle (Tsui et al., 1993). We have identified the transcription start site of this G2 specific c-mos transcript to be located about 1580 bp upstream from the open reading frame based on RT-PCR and RNase protection experiments. Upstream sequences containing this transcription start site directed highest expression of the luciferase reporter gene in M phase of the cell cycle. These results suggest that c-mos transcripts are produced in G2 phase and that c-Mos protein albeit at extremely low levels would accumulate in M phase.

The N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated inhibitory control of gonadotropin-releasing hormone release in the hypothalamus of the adult male guinea pig is expressed through opioidergic systems

Previously, we reported on a dual role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated neurotransmission in the control of GnRH secretion from the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) of the adult male guinea pig, with a predominantly inhibitory action in the intact animal, which is reversed to a facilitatory role by orchidectomy. In the present study we examined the hypothesis that endogenous opioids are involved in the NMDA receptor-mediated inhibition of GnRH release. A static incubation system was used to test the effects of excitatory amino acid agonists and an excitatory amino acid antagonist, alone or in the presence of either the opiate agonist morphine or the mu-receptor antagonist naloxone, on in vitro GnRH release from the isolated MBH of intact, orchidectomized, or sham-operated guinea pigs. GnRH output from the MBH of intact guinea pigs was markedly suppressed in the presence of the NMDA-specific receptor agonist, N-methyl-D,L-aspartic acid (NMA; 50 mM), whereas NMDA-specific receptor blockade with D,L-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP-5; 1 mM) resulted in a pronounced facilitation of GnRH release, as did exposure to the non-NMDA-specific receptor agonist, kainic acid (50 mM). Opioidergic blockade with naloxone (1 mM) caused a reversal of the responses to NMA and AP-5, with exposure to these compounds this time resulting in clear facilitation and inhibition, respectively. The stimulatory action of kainic acid, on the other hand, remained unaffected by the presence of naloxone. Morphine inhibited basal GnRH output and also annulled the stimulatory effect of AP-5 on GnRH secretion. The results obtained from MBHs of sham-operated guinea pigs were identical to those seen for the intact animals, with naloxone effectively increasing baseline GnRH release and reversing the inhibitory effect of NMA and stimulatory action of AP-5 on GnRH secretion to a facilitation and inhibition, respectively. On the other hand, NMA caused a marked stimulation, whereas AP-5 produced a significant inhibition of GnRH release from the MBHs of orchidectomized guinea pigs; neither of these effects was altered by the presence of naloxone, which, moreover, had only a marginal effect on basal GnRH output in this group of animals. In conclusion, our present data provide evidence to support the view that the primary inhibitory action of NMDA receptor-mediated neurotransmission on GnRH release in the MBH of the intact male guinea pig is the result of activation of opioidergic systems and that a marked reduction of opioid tone after orchidectomy brings a facilitatory NMDA receptor-mediated system to the fore. On the other hand, non-NMDA-specific kainate receptor-mediated facilitation of GnRH, previously shown to be unaffected by gonadal status, appears to be also independent from opioidergic modulation.

[K562 cells differentiation induced by RNA from rabbit reticulocytes]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of RNA from the reticulocytes of rabbit on cell differentiation of human leukemia cell line K562 cells.

METHOD

RNA from rabbit reticulocytes and human leukemia K562 cells were cultured for 4 days to detect cellular changes.

RESULTS

When K562 cells grew in a medium containing 100 micrograms/ml RNA, the cellular growth and division were gradually suppressed and the cells changed toward a differentiated phenotype. Subsequently, K562 cells produced hemoglobins and further differentiated terminally.

CONCLUSION

RNA of mammalian erythrocyte played a role in declining cellular division and growth of K562 cells, reversing malignant phenotype, and promoting differentiation.

Subpopulations of migrating neurons express different levels of LHRH in quail and chick embryos

LHRH neurons of the septal-preoptic area originate in the olfactory placode and migrate in the olfactory nerve into the brain during embryonic development. In adult birds, LHRH neurons have been found in the septal-preoptic area, mesencephalon and more recently in the lateral anterior nucleus of the thalamus (LA). LHRH neurons of the LA do not originate in the olfactory placode. Using immunocytochemistry, we examined the distribution of LHRH neurons in the embryonic and adult quail nervous system. The pattern of LHRH immunostaining in quail embryos was similar to that seen in chick embryos. However, there were many fewer neurons immunostained for LHRH from the olfactory placode to the septal-preoptic area in quail than in chick embryos. In contrast, there were more labeled neurons and more intense LHRH immunostaining in the thalamus of the quail than in the thalamus of chick embryos. In agreement with other studies, our data suggest that there are species differences in LHRH expression in migrating neurons. The current results should also be considered for quail-chick chimeras involving the olfactory placode.

Tangential migration of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons in the medial telencephalon in association with transient axons extending from the olfactory nerve

During embryonic development, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neurons migrate to the brain from the medial olfactory epithelium through the olfactory nerve. LHRH neurons enter the brain and migrate tangentially along the medial edge of the telencephalon in close association with a neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) enriched fiber bundle. In the current work we wished to determine whether this N-CAM enriched fiber bundle is an extension of the olfactory nerve. Ablation experiments, immunocytochemistry and diI implants all suggest that LHRH neurons migrate in association with a very small subset of transient N-CAM enriched neuronal processes which extend out of the olfactory nerve proper to the septal-preoptic area.

[Inclusion compounds of jiuxin oil with beta-cyclodextrin]

The inclusion compounds of Jiuxin Oil with beta-cyclodextrin were prepared. The influence of temperature, ratio of host and guest molecules, stirring time on inclusion were observed. The quantitative determination was performed by gas chromatography. Inclusion compounds of Jiuxin Oil were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and powder X-ray diffractometry.

[The diagnosis and treatment of benign esophagotracheo-bronchial fistula: a report of 26 cases]

Twenty six patients with esophagotracheal fistula or esophagobronchial fistula were treated from 1960 to 1991. There were 18 males and 8 females with age ranging from 19 to 69. Trauma and complication of esophageal diverticulum were the main causes of fistula. Among 23 patients surgically treated, 10 underwent direct repair, and 13 either closure of esophageal defect or tracheal or bronchial defect. The concomitant procedures were permanent tracheostomy, tracheal resection and reconstruction, pulmonary resection, thoracoplasty esophagectomy, and esophagogastric anastomosis. All patients resumed normal eating. Complications included paralysis of recurrent nerves, empyema, injury and ligation of subclavian artery, dehiscence of tracheal anastomosis, and contralateral pneumohydrothorax in each patient. Prognosis of 3 nonsurgical treatments of fistulas was poor. Surgical intervention should be done as soon as the diagnosis is established in order to minimize pulmonary complication.

LHRH neuronal subtypes have multiple origins in chickens

Previous studies indicate that LHRH neurons of the septal-preoptic area originate in the olfactory epithelium. In the current study, we found that LHRH neurons entering the telencephalon from the olfactory nerve were not continuous with LHRH neurons in the thalamus. In addition, ablation of the olfactory placode eliminated LHRH neurons in the telencephalon but did not eliminate LHRH neurons in the thalamus. We propose that there are at least two sites of LHRH neuron production, the olfactory epithelium and the diencephalon.

[Case report of pulmonary histoplasmosis]

A case of pulmonary histoplasmosis in Beijing was reported Patient's CT scan showed naly patchy consolidation partly with small cavitations and hilar silhouette enlarged in both lungs. On pathologic examination, Histoplasma Capsutatums were found in the lung tissures by percutaneous lung biopsy. Skin rash had developed in the course. After treated by fluconaxole, most of the lung lesions and skin rash disappeared.

[Microdissection of human chromosome 1]

This work began with chromosome preparation and microdissection. Booster IRS-PCR was developed to amplify DNA dissected form human chromosome 1. The accuracy of microdissection was demonstrated by chromosomal in situ suppression (CISS)-hybridization. The amplified DNA fragments were ligated to pUC 18 vector at SmaI site and the average size of the inserts was about 450bp.

Effects of low level prenatal 60Co gamma-irradiation on postnatal growth and behavior in mice

Pregnant Kun Ming strain mice were exposed to a total dose of 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 Gy from 60Co gamma-rays from the 13th to the 18th days of gestation. An overall delay of the appearance of two physiologic markers (pinna detachment, eye opening) and the age of acquisition of four reflexes (surface righting, air righting, auditory startle, visual placing) was observed in offspring exposed to 0.2 or 0.4 Gy in utero. Postnatal growth retardation, shortened length of hanging time, inhibited exploratory activity in the hole board test (decreased number of head-dipping), and hyperactivity in the open field test (shortened latency to leave the center area and increased number of squares entered) were also found among the offspring exposed to 0.2 Gy or more in utero. The results indicate that 0.1-0.2 Gy may represent a threshold range in mice for certain physiologic and behavioral effects resulting from continuous exposure to 60Co gamma-rays on the 13th-18th days of gestation.

Experimental study of pylorus and pyloric vagus preserving gastrectomy

In an attempt to prevent the sequelae of conventional gastrectomy, such as rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome, intestinal content reflux, indigestion, and poor absorption, we have devised the pylorus and pyloric vagus preserving gastrectomy (PPVPG). Experimenting on 48 dogs, we found theoretic grounds for using our design and obtained the desired effects--retaining the merits of conventional subtotal resection of the stomach, with acidity reduction, while avoiding the above-mentioned complications.

[A modified staining method for examining Y chromatin]

A modified staining method for Y chromatin is reported here which proved to be rapid and efficient for sex differentiation diagnosis. Samples were fixed in methanol: acetic acid (3:1) solution and stained with dyes in McIlvaine buffer. Y chromatin in buccal smears from normal males could be clearly revealed by this method. With this modified method and X-chromatin examination, one testicular feminization was found during examination of 1342 athletes for the 11th Asian Games.

New plasmid vector and host system for genetic engineering in Bacillus sphaericus

A new plasmid, pNQ116, was constructed in Bacillus sphaericus by cloning a promoter fragment from B. sphaericus Ts-1 into pNQ112. The plasmid (CmrKmr, 5.23 kb) contains a restriction endonuclease polylinker used for cloning foreign genes, and its cat-86 gene is expressed at high levels from the Ts-1 promoter. This plasmid vector has been transformed into B. sphaericus AS 1.270, AS 1.465, AS 1.469, and 2362, at frequencies of 10(2)-10(3) transformants per microgram of DNA, and is maintained stably under nonselective conditions in these host strains. The presence of pNQ116 in B. sphaericus 2362 does ot interfere with the mosquito larvicidal activity of the organism.

Molecular cytogenetic study of short arm aberrations in human D, G group chromosomes

Six cases of Dp+/Gp+, 10 cases of D/G translocation, 1 case of supernumerary marker chromosome, and 1 case of Yqs were studied using molecular and cytogenetic techniques. The Ag-NOR frequencies of the Dp+ and Gp+ groups were found to be higher than those of normal controls, while their satellite association frequencies were lower. Autoradiographic silver grains were not significantly distributed along the p+ part of the marker chromosome as revealed by chromosomal in situ hybridization using an rRNA probe. This result differs from our previous report. It is suggested that there might be different mechanisms for the formation of p+ on acrocentric chromosomes. D/G translocation cases were found to have lost their NOR. A study of supernumerary marker chromosomes and Yqs cases suggested that the marker chromosome and Yqs exerted no phenotypic effect. The mechanism of their formation is discussed.

[The mortality of patients with malignant tumors in eleven cities of Jiangsu Province, 1984-1986]

The present paper analysed people in eleven cities making up one sixth of Jiangsu population. In 1984-1986 the mortality of malignant neoplasm was 163.28/10(5), (Chinese standard mortality were 116.57/10(5), the world standard mortality were 177.75/10(5)) which accounts for 25.04% of the total mortality during the same time. The trends of deaths from neoplasms show that oesophageal cancer in both sexes and leukemia in male are gradually decreasing, lung cancer in male and hepatoma in female are gradually increasing. The rank correlation analysis between chinese standard mortalities of some major malignant neoplasms indicates that the stomach cancer was positive correlated with oesophageal cancer in both sexes, the oesophageal cancer in male and the stomach cancer in female were negative correlated with lung cancer, and the breast cancer was negative correlated with oesophageal cancer in female. All this suggests that there may be likely etiologic association between these malignant neoplasms.

[An experimental study on the pathophysiology of septic ventilatory depression]

Ventilatory depression and apnea are well-known early pulmonary responses of sepsis in infants, yet their underlying mechanisms are not understood. To further elucidate the pathophysiology, we induced Escherichia coli septicemia in piglets and studied the sequential changes in intrapulmonary shunt (QS/QT), physiological dead space (VD/VT), minute ventilation (VE), and blood gases for up to 6 hours of lethal sepsis. Lung lymph was also collected and extravascular lung water (EVLW) was measured. Histology confirmed that interstitial edema developed 1 hour after E. coli infusion. These data suggest that high permeability pulmonary edema and hypoxemia following early intrapulmonary shunt increase may be the causes of septic ventilatory depression.

Berberine-induced morphologic differentiation and down-regulation of c-Ki-ras2 protooncogene expression in human teratocarcinoma cells

A pluripotent human teratocarcinoma cell clone, NT2/D1, which was derived from the Tera-2 cell line, was induced to differentiate into cells with neuronal cell morphology by treatment with berberine. As early as 1 day after a 24-h treatment of cells with berberine at a non-toxic dose of 0.1 mg/ml in culture medium, the cells started to show morphologic changes, developing into terminally differentiated neuronal cells with long, inter-connecting network-like cellular structures. This process is much faster as compared with that induced by treatment with retinoic acid (RA), which took at least several days to develop. Unlike RA, berberine could not induce murine teratocarcinoma cell line, F9, to differentiate into endodermal cells. It was also found that, although the NT2/D1 cell clone exhibited amplification and enhanced mRNA expression of c-Ki-ras2 gene as did the parent cell line, a marked down-regulation of c-Ki-ras2 mRNA expression was observed. However, there was no change in actin mRNA expression even after differentiation had occurred. Thus, morphologic differentiation of teratocarcinoma cells into neuronal cells is found to be associated with down-regulation of a protooncogene which plays some definite role in oncogenesis. The mechanism by which berberine induces differentiation in these cells needs further investigation.

[Clinical pathological analysis of recurrent oral ulcer and Behçet's syndrome]

Histopathological features of 53 cases of recurrent oral ulcer (ROU) and 28 cases of Behçet's syndrome (BS) were studied. The findings of light microscopic examinations are as follows: (1) The inflammatory cell reactions in early lesions are characterized by predominant lymphocytes and monocytes which differ from those in later lesions. (2) The vascular lesions are more significant in BS than in ROU. (3) The number of mast cells in the oral lesions of BS is more than that in ROU and controls. (4) Bacteria are observed in 11 specimens stained with HE and multinucleated epithelial giant cells are found in one specimen. It is considered that the lymphomonocytes in epithelial layer may play a role in the destruction of the epithelial cells through autoimmunization.

[Long-term results of the treatment of mandibular condyle fracture]

Long-term result of conservative and surgical treatment of varying types of mandibular condyle fracture in 34 cases was investigated. The study shows that 90% cases of condyle fracture, including that complicated with dislocation and displacement, could be successfully treated with simple immobilization by intermaxillary elastic bands. The long-term result of close reduction is closely related to the interval between the trauma and the start of treatment, the earlier the beginning of the treatment, the better the result. The unfavourable immediate result in form of imperfect occlusion and excursion, etc. could be corrected by forced mandibular movement. 10 cases complicated with badly dislocation or communicated fracture were treated with condylectomy, satisfactory results were achieved in 80% of them.