Effect of ginsenopolypeptide on the 3H-TdR integration of human blood lymphocyte

This paper reports the study of the effect of ginsenopolypeptide on 3H-TdR integration in normal human blood lymphocytes in vitro with micro-blood culture method of 3H-TdR integration. The results showed that the effect of ginsenopolypeptide on 3H-TdR integration in normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes which can be activated by phytoagglutinin was enhanced at low dosage and inhibited at high dosage, and its stimulating spike was 10(-6) micrograms/ml (P less than 0.01).

[The hemodynamic changes in the course of the development from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to cor pulmonale]

Swan-Ganz catheterization was done in 36 cases of COPD (19 cases) and chronic cor pulmonale (17 cases) patients diagnosed clinically. The results showed that exercise might greatly increase the rate of early diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale in 47.4%, which is significant in clinical practice, together with gamma-camera, echocardiography and vectorcardiography, it can further increase the early diagnostic rate of cor pulmonale. In these 36 cases, 13 cases had no pulmonary hypertension and in 7 cases of them pulmonary arterial mean pressure were still in normal range even after exercise. If only right heart catheterization was used to diagnose cor-pulmonale without above three noninvasive examinations mentioned above, a high rate of misdiagnosis cor pulmonale would be possible.

[Hemodynamic changes in patients with chronic cor pulmonale secondary to COPD and effect of sodium nitroprusside administration]

Pulmonary hemodynamic changes were studied with Swan-Ganz right heart catheterization in 19 patients with chronic cor pulmonale secondary to COPD. HR, RVP, PAPM, PVR, PCWP, RWI and PaCO2 were significantly higher and PaO2 and PH lower in patients with decompensated than those with compensated heart function. Nitroprusside lowered effectively pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. Meanwhile, the drug also lowered PaO2 when the patient was breathing air but did not so or even increased it when breathing oxygen.

[The specificity of plague antigen FI in PHA]

It were inoculate a total of the 15 type and 13 group Leptospira strains to the Rattus flavipetus and Rattus lose 137 rates in Lei Zhou peninsula. As the antisera acquired, it has been examined the lyso-agglutinative test in Leptospira strains. Up to standard serum it was to test for PHA of plaque, employing the sensitized blood cell by FI from 4 antiplague institutes. All of tests are negative. In addition to test for 3 immune sera, Hemorrhagic Fever antisera (Immunized animals Apodemus agraius, Rattus norvegicus, Mouse and Rabbit), anthrax antiserum, there were be negative by PHA of plague test, at same time by RIA test also be negative. Therefore all of the other antisera would not be interfering with specificity of the plague FI antiserum in PHA or RIA test.

The new model of DNA structures

The new model of the DNA dynamic state is proposed in terms of Watson-Crick (WC) and Corey-Pauling-Kortum (CPK) models by the modification of the cis ladder conformation. The model may rationally explain the DNA replication, transcription, renaturation, hybridization, premelting and breach etc.

Expression of the Epstein-Barr virus genome in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma epithelial tumor cell line

An epithelial tumor cell line was recently established from a biopsy specimen of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and designated HONE-I. Uncloned (parental) HONE-I and HONE-I clone (C)-40 cells were found to contain latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Expression of the latent EBV genome in HONE-I C-40 cells has been examined. It was possible to detect a small percentage of cells spontaneously synthesizing EBV early antigen (EA) and virus capsid antigen (VCA) by immunofluorescence (IF). In addition, the EBV nuclear antigens (EBNA-I and EBNA-2), as well as the EBV latent membrane protein (LMP) were detected in the HONE-I cells. Attempts were made to induce the latent EBV genome in these cells with iododeoxyuridine (IUdR). We observed a significant increase in the number of EA/VCA-positive cells, an increase in EBV DNA, the synthesis of virus particles, and the rescue of infectious virus after treatment of HONE-I C-40 cells with IUdR. The HONE-I C-40 cells should facilitate studies of the expression and regulation of the EBV genome in NPC epithelial tumor cells, which have not previously been available.

[Relation between oxygen consumption and oxygen delivery in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and chronic cor pulmonale]

An investigation of 13 cases of COPD and 15 cases of chronic cor pulmonale caused by COPD revealed that oxygen consumption was not related to oxygen delivery in these patients. Tissue hypoxia was not so severe in stable state of COPD and remitting period of chronic cor pulmonale, although the oxygen delivery was decreased. The demand of oxygen consumption could still be met by means of compensatory mechanism in the body. Oxygen consumption was usually a little lower than normal (114.0 +/- 11.2 ml/min/M2) in COPD; while that in cor pulmonale a little higher than normal (145 +/- 32.4 ml/min/M2). There was significant difference (P less than 0.01). This could be used as one of the diagnostic criteria when combined with clinical data.

Randomized trial of the effect of drugs on cervical dilatation for termination of first trimester pregnancy

A randomized triple-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial on the effect of lidocaine and Anodyne-lubricant jelly (ALJ) containing dicaine on cervical dilatation is reported. Three-hundred-seventy-two consecutive cases were randomly allocated to 4 groups. The four groups were given: ALJ and placebo (placebo 1); and lidocaine and placebo (placebo 2). ALJ and placebo 1 treatment was by topical application, and lidocaine and placebo 2 by injection. In parous women, a significant difference was found for satisfactory dilatation (SD) rate (p less than 0.01) among four groups. It was unexpected that there were no significant differences between drug and placebo groups, neither between ALJ treatment group and placebo 1 group (p greater than 0.5), nor between lidocaine and placebo 2 (p greater than 0.75). However, the combined SD rate was 60.9% for the topical groups compared with 39.0% for the injection groups (p less than 0.005). The findings suggested that the effect of ALJ on cervical dilatation was not mainly due to dicaine, but associated with the lubricant and the topical treatment.

Establishment and characterization of two epithelial tumor cell lines (HNE-1 and HONE-1) latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus and derived from nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Two epithelial tumor cell lines were established from biopsy specimens of 2 nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) and designated HNE-1 and HONE-1. Uncloned HNE-1 cells were found to be Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA-positive when examined by Southern blot analysis up to passage 35, after which the EBV genome could no longer be detected. A similar loss of EBV DNA took place in uncloned HONE-1 cells. However, HONE-1 clone 40 cells are still EBV DNA-positive up to passage 42 thus far and cell cultures contain 85-90% EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA)-positive cells. The HNE-1 cell line has been passaged more than 100 times and the uncloned HONE-1 cells more than 90 times. The tumorigenicity of the HNE-1 and HONE-1 cells was demonstrated by tumor induction in nude mice. Karyotypic analysis of the HNE-1 cells demonstrated an aneuploidy with a modal chromosomal number of 74 at passages 5 and 101 at passage 20; 18 marker chromosomes were identified. We have continued to map the EBV genome latently associated with the HNE-1 and HONE-1 cells using the Bam HI, EcoRI or Hind III restriction enzymes. Using EcoRI fragments A-K as probes, we found that HNE-1 EBV DNA is different from B95-8 and HR-1 EBV DNA in the EcoRI-C region. The Bam HI map for HONE-1 EBV DNA is very similar to the B95-8 map; it contains the Bam HI-Y fragment but without Bam HI B' and WI'. Differences were observed between HONE-1 EBV DNA and B95-8 DNA using the Hind III restriction enzyme. There was no evidence of spontaneous expression of the latent EBV genome in HNE-1 cells, and attempts to induce replication of the latent EBV genome and rescue infectious virus have failed, suggesting a tightly restricted virus genome.

Two epithelial tumor cell lines (HNE-1 and HONE-1) latently infected with Epstein-Barr virus that were derived from nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Two epithelial tumor cell lines were established from biopsy specimens of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC). The specimens were taken from poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas of the nasopharynx. The tissues were prepared for cell culture and eventually two continuous epithelial cell lines were obtained and designated HONE-1 and HNE-1. Light and electron microscopic examination of these two cell lines demonstrated cells with an epithelial morphology including the presence of desmosomes. The HNE-1 cell line has been passaged more than 100 times and the HONE-1 cell line has been passaged more than 90 times. It was found that early-passage uncloned HNE-1 cells (passage 23) could be superinfected with the B95-8 and NPC-EBV isolates as demonstrated by the induction of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific early antigen(s) in a small percentage of the cells; HONE-1 cells could also be superinfected with EBV. Southern blot analysis detected EBV DNA in samples from uncloned HNE-1 cells at passages 12, 17, 21, 27, and 35. However, by passage 45, EBV DNA could no longer be detected in HNE-1 cells by Southern blot analysis. The EBV genome was detected in parental HONE-1 cells at subculture 9 and in clone 40 cells up to passage 40 thus far. When HNE-1 cells were examined for the expression of the EBV-encoded nuclear antigen (EBNA) at passage 12, only about 10% of the cells were found to be positive. The percentage of EBNA-positive HNE-1 cells decreased as the cells were passaged. A similar loss of EBNA was observed in uncloned HONE-1 cells, but not in HONE-1 clone 40 cells. In clone 40, which has been passaged 40 times thus far, 85-90% of the cells are still EBNA-positive. The data suggest that EBV genome-positive HNE-1 and HONE-1 cells were lost as the cells were cultivated in vitro and that cloning the cells at an early passage level may be critical in maintaining EBV genome-positive epithelial NPC cells. These EBV genome-positive epithelial NPC cell lines will be useful for studying the association of EBV and NPC.

[The antipyretic, hypothermal and sedative activities of mieyanling]

Mieyanling has an antipyretic effect on the fever of animals caused by yeast or TAB vaccine. The hypothermal effect of Mieyanling on the temperature of normal mice and rats was also observed. The ED50 of antipyretic and hypothermal action of this drug in mice was 20g/kg and 50g/kg respectively. There was a CNS depressive effect when Mieyanling was administered 60g/kg orally to mice.

Primary study of attenuated live hepatitis A vaccine (H2 strain) in humans

Strain H2, an attenuated live hepatitis A virus (HAV), was derived from the fecal specimen of a patient with hepatitis A in Hangzhou, China. After isolation and passage in a culture of newborn monkey kidney cells, adaptation to grow in human lung diploid cells (KMB17), and serial passage at a low temperature (32 degrees C) in KMB17 cells, this strain became the master seed virus for H2-strain vaccine. Twelve human volunteers received the experimental vaccine subcutaneously and were closely observed for 20 w. None of the subjects developed any local or systemic reactions, and there were no elevations of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, type 5 isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase, or isocitrate dehydrogenase. Seroconversion occurred in all subjects at a mean time of 3 w after inoculation. ELISA competitive test for titer of antibody to HAV showed values ranging from 1:2 to 1:8 with a geometric mean titer of 1:3.48 at 20 w after inoculation. No marked decrease in titer of HAV antibody was found in the subjects tested at 1 y. These antibodies were proved to be neutralizing antibodies.

Epstein-Barr virus DNA in nasopharyngeal biopsies

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been closely associated with the undifferentiated form of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which is particularly common in the high risk area in southeast China. We have examined 37 nasopharyngeal biopsies from patients within this high risk area, including 31 cases of undifferentiated NPC and 6 cases of patients with nasopharyngitis, for the presence of EBV DNA. We found that 26 of 31 biopsies from NPC patients were EBV DNA positive; 3 of the 6 biopsies from patients diagnosed with nasopharyngitis were also EBV DNA positive. Southern blot analysis of the DNAs obtained from the EBV genome positive biopsies, digested with EcoRI, showed that all preparations from the NPC tumors had only one band corresponding to the EcoRI A fragment when a BamHI W fragment was used as a probe. However, one tumor had an additional band with a molecular weight larger than EcoRI A. The presence of this novel band could indicate the integration of viral DNA into host cellular DNA. DNA from the same biopsies were restricted with BamHI and PstI restriction enzymes. The data obtained from these experiments suggest that the EBV genomes in both the NPC tumor biopsies and biopsies from nasopharyngitis patients obtained from an endemic area in South China may be similar to each other and to the B95-8 EBV isolate with respect to the BamHI Y region of the EBV genome. The data also demonstrate that infection of normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cells with EBV takes place in patients with nasopharyngitis.

Gene mapping of an Epstein-Barr virus isolate obtained from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Gene mapping of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) isolate derived from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), designated NPC-EBV, has been performed. This isolate was rescued from an NPC epithelial hybrid cell line (NPC-KT), and used to transform cotton-top tamarin lymphocytes which, along with the epithelial NPC-KT cells, were used in the mapping studies. Using the BamHI and EcoRI restriction enzymes, we found that the NPC-EBV isolate did not contain the deletions observed in the genomes of the prototype HR-1 and B95-8 isolates, and may represent a 'more complete' virus genome. Polymorphism was observed in the BamHI-X, T, H, and L regions as compared to the HR-1 and B95-8 isolates. The NPC-EBV DNA in the epithelial NPC-KT cells was compared to the NPC-EBV genome in three different cotton-top tamarin lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed with the isolate. The restriction patterns were the same with one exception; there were differences in the size of the BamHI N-J het regions. This finding is consistent with the idea that the BamHI N-J het region may be the switch point of EBV DNA from the linear to the episomal form. The NPC-EBV is the first NPC-derived isolate to be obtained from epithelial cells in vivo and maintained in epithelial cells in vitro, and will be useful for studying biological variability of EBV.

Detection of enterovirus RNA in experimentally infected mice by molecular hybridisation: specificity of subgenomic probes in quantitative slot blot and in situ hybridisation

Subgenomic cDNA clones representing defined regions of the genome of Coxsackie B3 virus were used as hybridisation probes to detect RNA of various enteroviruses in cell culture and mouse model systems. Radiolabelled probes were used in slot blots to quantitate the RNA in samples; biotinylated probes were used to localise virus RNA at the cellular level by in situ hybridisation with monolayers of infected cells or thin sections of tissue samples. Probes derived from the 5' or 3' terminal regions of Coxsackie virus RNA, which are highly conserved in the genus Enterovirus, detected RNA of various serotypes in infected cell cultures, but failed to hybridise with hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA. Although HAV is clearly a Picornavirus, our data support the view that its taxonomic position within the enteroviruses should be reconsidered. The biotinylated probes were also used to detect in situ virus RNA in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from experimental mouse models of Coxsackie B3 virus-induced myocarditis or Coxsackie B1 virus-induced myositis. Since the integrity of the tissues was preserved during the process, and viral RNA was localised in the affected muscle fibres, this has enabled us unequivocally to relate the infecting virus to the underlying tissue injury.

Epidermal growth factor stimulates the synthesis of cell-attachment proteins in the human breast cancer cell line PMC42

The human breast cancer cell line PMC42 responds to the addition of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by proliferation and increased frequency of attachment of cell-organoid structures to the culture vessel. Antibodies to fibronectin and laminin reacted strongly, by immunoperoxidase, with the membranes of cells from organoids that became adherent following addition of EGF. This reaction was weak with membranes of cells of non-adherent organoids in cultures containing EGF and was negative with membranes of cells of free-floating organoids from cultures without EGF. An increase in biosynthetic labelling with 35S-methionine was found in cell lysates and supernatants of PMC42 cells cultured in the presence of EGF compared with control cells grown without EGF. One-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 2-dimensional NEPHGE-PAGE of labelled cell proteins showed increased synthesis of several cellular proteins and the appearance in EGF-treated cells of 2 proteins which were not detected in cells from control cultures lacking EGF. Immunoprecipitation experiments using antibodies to fibronectin and laminin with lysates of 35S-methionine labelled PMC42 cells cultured with EGF showed strong immunoprecipitation at Mr 200 and 400 with anti-laminin, and at Mr 200 and 96 with anti-fibronectin. These immunoprecipitates were blocked specifically by purified laminin or fibronectin, respectively. No immunoprecipitates were detected with these antibodies in lysates from cells grown without EGF. EGF thus stimulates increased adherence of cultured PMC42 cell-organoid structures together with increased membrane expression of the cell-adhesive proteins laminin and fibronectin. These effects may play a role in normal development and neoplastic behaviour of breast epithelia.