Determination and mechanism of Xiao-Ai Jie-Du decoction against diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: In silico and In vitro studies

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xiao-Ai Jie-Du decoction (XAJDD) has been used in clinical practice to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); its prescriptions vary based on the pathogenesis of patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to determine the core formula of XAJDD and investigate its mechanism of action against DLBCL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Apriori data mining of 187 clinical cases (including 421 Traditional Chinese Medicines, TCMs) was conducted to retrieve the core formula of XAJDD. Comprehensive in silico modeling was used to identify potential active components and corresponding targets. The potential targets of 16 compounds were identified based on network pharmacology using in silico modeling. Thereafter, experimental determination of the active compounds and their mechanism of action in treating DLBCL was performed using different assays (including CCK-8, Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining, Western blot, and flow cytometry assays).

RESULTS

The core formula of XAJDD included six herbs: Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Huangqi, family: Fabaceae), Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Banzhilian, family: Lamiaceae), Prunella vulgaris L. (Xiakucao, family: Lamiaceae), Smilax glabra Roxb. (Tufuling, family Smilacaceae) and Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Dabei, family: Liliaceae), and Curcuma zanthorrhiza Roxb. (Ezhu, family: Zingiberaceae); Databases including 62 druggable compounds and 38 DLBCL-related structural targets were constructed; ∼0.3 million data points produced by computational modeling based on potential compounds and targets six components from XAJDD, including astibin, folic acid, baicalin, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin, significantly inhibited DLBCL cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, and suppressed the expression of key oncogenes.

CONCLUSION

This study provides an integrated strategy for determining the core formula of XAJDD and reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying the treatment of DLBCL, which were consistent with the principle of "monarch (Jun), minister (Chen), adjunctive (Zuo), and guide (Shi)", confirming that XAJDD may serve as a promising natural therapeutic agent against DLBCL.

[Overview of design and construction of hypertensive disorders of a pregnancy-cohort in Shenzhen]

Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) involves two major public health issues: mother-infant safety and prevention and controlling major chronic disease. HDP poses a serious threat to maternal and neonatal safety, and it is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, as well as an important risk factor for long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD). In order to explore effective strategies to prevent and control the source of CVD and reduce its risk, we have established a cohort of HDPs in Shenzhen for the primordial prevention of CVD. The construction of the HDP cohort has already achieved preliminary progress till now. A total of 2 239 HDP women have been recruited in the HDP cohort. We have established a cohort data management platform and Biobank. The follow-up and assessment of postpartum cardiovascular metabolic risk in this cohort has also been launched. Our efforts will help explore the pathophysiological mechanism of HDP, especially the pathogenesis and precision phenotyping, prediction, and prevention of pre-eclampsia, which, therefore, may reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and provide a bridge to linking HDP and maternal-neonatal cardiovascular, metabolic risk to promote the cardiovascular health of mothers and their infants.

[Preliminary analysis of neuroprotective effects of capillary fascia preservation recurrent laryngeal nerve anatomical method in right level Ⅵ dissection]

Objective: To investigate the application and effect of capillary fascia preservation between the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and common carotid artery (fascia preservation method) in nerve protection when dissecting right level Ⅵ lymph nodes for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective cohort study enrolling 195 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma undergoing right level Ⅵ lymph node dissection in Beijing Tongren Hospital from March 2021 to August 2022 was carried out. The RLN was dissected by fascia preservation method in study group and by routine method in control group. The intraoperative electrical signal amplitude of the RLN, the number of dissected lymph nodes, and the postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 195 patients (study group: 94 cases, control group: 101 cases) were collected. There were 71 males and 124 females, with the median age of 32 (39, 51) years. In the study group, the total number of right level Ⅵ lymph nodes was significantly larger than the number of right Ⅵa level lymph nodes [8 (6, 11) vs 6 (4, 8), P<0.001]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of level Ⅵa or level Ⅵb lymph nodes [Ⅵa: 6 (4, 8) vs 5 (3, 7), P=0.373; Ⅵb: 3 (1, 4) vs 2 (1, 4), P=0.337] and metastasis rate [Ⅵa: 51.1% (48/94) vs 52.5% (53/101), P=0.844; Ⅵb: 12.8% (12/94) vs 15.8% (16/101), P=0.541]. The ratio of electromyography (EMG) amplitude R2 in lower level Ⅵ and entry into larynx (grouped as>90%, 50%~90%,<50%) in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). No significant differences were detected between the two groups in temporary RLN paralysis [1.1% (1/94) vs 2.0% (2/101), P=1.000]. Conclusions: Fascia preservation method can decrease the stimulus and traction to RLN and preserve the capillary network serving RLN. It can thoroughly dissect lymph nodes and decrease the injury of RLN.

MHD instability dynamics and turbulence enhancement towards the plasma disruption at the HL-2A tokamak

The evolutions of MHD instability behaviors and enhancement of both electrostatic and electromagnetic turbulence towards the plasma disruption have been clearly observed in the HL-2A plasmas. Two types of plasma disruptive discharges have been investigated for similar equilibrium parameters: one with a distinct stage of a small central temperature collapse ([Formula: see text] 5-10%) around 1 millisecond before the thermal quench (TQ), while the other without. For both types, the TQ phase is preceded by a rotating 2/1 tearing mode, and it is the development of the cold bubble from the inner region of the 2/1 island O-point along with its inward convection that causes the massive energy loss. In addition, the micro-scale turbulence, including magnetic fluctuations and density fluctuations, increases before the small collapse, and more significantly towards the TQ. Also, temperature fluctuations measured by electron cyclotron emission imaging enhances dramatically at the reconnection site and expand into the island when approaching the small collapse and TQ, and the expansion is more significant close to the TQ. The observed turbulence enhancement near the X-point cannot be fully interpreted by the linear stability analysis by GENE. Evidences suggest that nonlinear effects, such as the reduction of local [Formula: see text] shear and turbulence spreading, may play an important role in governing turbulence enhancement and expansion. These results imply that the turbulence and its interaction with the island facilitate the stochasticity of the magnetic flux and formation of the cold bubble, and hence, the plasma disruption.

[A cross-sectional study of prevalence of chronic kidney disease and related factors in adults in Anhui province]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related factors in adults in Anhui province based on the data of Chinese Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Surveillance program (2018) in Anhui. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select participants aged ≥18 years. Moreover, questionnaire survey, body measurements and laboratory tests were conducted. The complex weighting method was used to estimate the prevalence of CKD in residents with different characteristics, and complex sampling data logistic regression model was used for multivariate analysis to identify related risk factors. Results: A total of 7 181 participants were included. The overall prevalence of CKD was 11.06% in adults in Anhui, and the prevalence was 12.49% in women and 9.59% in men (P<0.05). The moderate, high and very high risk for CKD progression were 8.66%, 2.02% and 0.38%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR=1.03, 95%CI: 1.00-1.05), BMI (OR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.09), being woman (OR=1.38,95%CI: 1.22-1.55), hypertension (OR=2.50, 95%CI: 1.76-3.56), diabetes (OR=2.28, 95%CI: 1.51-3.43), dyslipidemia (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.11-1.43) and hyperuricemia (OR=2.16, 95%CI: 1.68-2.78) were risk factors for CKD. Conclusion: The prevalence of CKD in adults in Anhui was relatively high and age, gender, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were found to be associated with the prevalence of CKD. To prevent CKD and its complications, attention should be paid to the management of related risk factors, including overweight and obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia.

Potential roles of vitamin D binding protein in attenuating liver injury in sepsis

BACKGROUND

In sepsis, vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) has been shown to be low-expressed. The current study examined the relationship between serum VDBP level and liver injury in sepsis patients, as well as in a mouse model for sepsis and in cultured liver epithelial cell line exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS

The human study included 78 sepsis patients and 50 healthy volunteers. Sepsis patients were categorized into sepsis survivor group (n = 43) and sepsis non-survivor group (n = 35) based on 28-day mortality for data analysis. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Serum samples were collected on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 to determine the levels of VDBP, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D₃], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)₂D₃], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Potential protective effects of VDBP overexpression against LPS-induced liver damage were examined in cultured THLE2 cells.

RESULTS

Serum levels of VDBP, 25(OH)D₃, and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ were significantly lower in sepsis patients vs. the healthy control (P < 0.001), as well as in the sepsis non-survivor group vs. the sepsis survivor group (P < 0.001, P = 0.0338, or P = 0.0013, respectively). Lower serum VDBP level was associated with higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (r = - 0.2565, P = 0.0234) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (r = - 0.3522, P = 0.0016), but lower serum albumin (ALB, r = 0.4628, P < 0.001) and total protein (TP, r = 0.263, P = 0.02). In CLP mice, there was a 5-day period of serum VDBP reduction, followed by return towards the baseline on day 7. VDBP was also decreased in LPS-treated THLE2 cells (P < 0.001). VDBP overexpression reduced LPS-induced THLE2 damage. Reduced damage was associated with decreased oxidative stress and inactivation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

VDBP may be protective against sepsis-induced liver injury.

[Advances in quantitative assessment of immune function in critically ill patients]

With the development of ELISA, flow cytometry, quantitative PCR and various omics techniques, the means of immune function evaluation are gradually improved. The existing definitions of immune function, such as excessive immunity, immunosuppression, immune paralysis and immune tolerance, remain in descriptive concepts and lacks quantitative diagnostic criteria. Clinical manifestations combined with biological indicators will be the most effective quantitative method in the future. A variety of research concentrating on immunotherapeutic drugs is still in progress, and the success of individualized immunotherapy will depend on accurate immune function evaluation.

[Estimation of dietary salt intake in adult residents in Anhui province, 2019]

Objective: Based on the data of the baseline survey of hypertension and sodium intake monitoring in Anhui province in 2019, the salt intake in adult residents was estimated. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select participants aged 18-69 years, questionnaire survey and related measurements were conducted. Salt intake in participants with different characteristics were estimated with complex sample and linearization of Taylor series based on design and the correlation between salt intake and blood pressure, waist circumference and BMI were tested by linear regression. Results: A total of 1 500 participants were included. The overall salt intake was 9.14 g/d, which was 9.84 g/d in men and 8.47 g/d in women (P<0.05). The differences in salt intake across different subgroups were significant (P<0.05). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that salt intake was positively correlated with SBP, DBP, waist circumference and BMI (P<0.05), while multivariate linear regression analysis (adjusted for other factors) only showed a positive correlation between salt intake and BMI (β=0.053,95%CI: 0.028-0.078, P<0.05). Conclusion: The dietary salt intake in adult residents in Anhui was higher than WHO recommendation, suggesting that public health education need to be taken to reduce salt intake.

[A cross-sectional study on the prevalence and related factors of dyslipidemia among adults in Anhui province, in 2015]

Objective: Based on the data of chronic diseases and nutrition surveillance among Chinese adults in 2015, dyslipidemia and related factors were analyzed. Methods: Multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling was used to select participants who were aged 18 and over, with questionnaire survey and related measurements conducted. Prevalence rates of dyslipidemia among participants by different characteristics and influencing factors were analyzed, using the method of complex weighting and post-weighted stratification. Results: In all, 7 404 participants were included. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 30.5% among the adults. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia were 36.5% in males and 24.4% in females (P<0.05). The prevalence rates of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high LDL-C, and low HDL-C were 3.7%, 12.2%, 5.3%, and 19.4%, respectively. Results from the multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that age (OR=1.009, 95%CI: 1.000-1.018), female (OR=0.501, 95%CI: 0.397-0.632), College degree or above (OR=1.728, 95%CI: 1.257-2.374), alcohol consumption 3 (OR=0.711, 95%CI: 0.536-0.943), central obesity (OR=1.868, 95%CI: 1.547-2.257), BMI (OR=1.141, 95%CI: 1.098-1.186), hypertension (OR=1.259, 95%CI: 1.077-1.473) and diabetes (OR=2.025, 95%CI: 1.446-2.835) were influencing factors on dyslipidemia. Conclusions: The prevalence of dyslipidemia seemed high among adults in Anhui. Risk factors should be closely monitored and under control, including those people with unhealthy lifestyles or being overweight, obesity, hypertensive and diabetic.

[Ultrasonographic assessment of diaphragm function in long-term mechanical ventilation patients]

Objective: To evaluate the condition of the diaphragm in patients with long-term mechanical ventilation using ultrasound technology and to analyze its relationship with ventilation time and muscle atrophy in order to clarify the reasons for diaphragm dysfunction in long-term mechanical ventilation patients. Methods: Patients admitted to the respiratory department at the Chinese PLA General Hospital between June 2018 and April 2019 with mechanical ventilation were included in this study. The enrolled patients were divided into a short-term mechanical ventilation group (7 days ≤ ventilation time<1 month) and a long-term mechanical ventilation group (mechanical ventilation time ≥ 1 month). The diaphragmatic excursion, inspiratory time, contraction rate, E-T index, diaphragm thickness, diaphragm thickness fraction (DTF), and tibialis anterior thickness were compared between the two groups. The correlation between ventilation time and diaphragm thickness was analyzed in all patients. Results: The mean diaphragm thickness and DTF were significantly lower in the long-term mechanical ventilation group than in the short-term mechanical ventilation group [(0.13±0.036) vs (0.17±0.05) cm and (0.22±0.045) vs (0.27±0.075)](all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in diaphragmatic excursion, inspiratory time, contraction rate, E-T index or tibialis anterior thickness between the two groups (all P>0.05). There was a significant linear correlation between ventilation time and diaphragm thickness (P<0.01). Tibialis anterior thickness was not significantly correlated with ventilation time (P>0.05). Conclusion: Diaphragm thickness and function were significantly reduced in patients with long-term mechanical ventilation, which was correlated with the duration of ventilation. Nutritional status was not the main factor affecting diaphragm thickness.

Exosomes derived from plasma of septic patients inhibit apoptosis of T lymphocytes by down-regulating bad via hsa-miR-7-5p

Immunosuppression is currently a vital pathophysiological characteristic and core problem of sepsis. Apoptosis of T lymphocyte contribute to immunosuppression by decreasing immune effector cells. A report has recently revealed the potential regulatory role of exosomal miRNAs derived from plasma of septic patients on immune system, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We discovered the antiapoptotic effect of circulating exosomes derived from plasma of septic patients (Sepsis-Exos) on T lymphocytes and further investigated the molecular mechanism. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) indicated that sepsis induces prominent change of exosomal miRNA expression profile, including the overexpressed hsa-miR-7-5p. Gene Bad, which is in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, was negatively regulated by hsa-miR-7-5p by dual luciferase reporter assay. Sepsis-Exos were demonstrated to downregulate the mRNA and protein levels of proapoptotic gene Bad, active Caspase-3 and Bax, while upregulate that of antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 via hsa-miR-7-5p, thus inhibited apoptosis of T lymphocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. Furthermore, Sepsis-Exos was verified to inhibit T lymphocytes apoptosis during sepsis in vivo, reducing mortality rate of septic model mice. In conclusion, we provide evidence that Sepsis-Exos participate in ameliorating apoptosis of T lymphocytes by directly suppressing Bad via hsa-miR-7-5p.

[Characterization of N-linked glycosylation sites on envelope proteins of simian/human immunodeficiency virus in peripheral blood of Chinese rhesus macaques during acute infection]

Objective: To investigate the number and distribution of N-linked glycosylation sites of simian/human immunodeficiency virus envelope proteins(SHIV_SF162P3)and SHIV transmission. Methods: Two female adult Chinese rhesus macaques(4 years old)were intravenously inoculated with 300 TCID50 SHIV_SF162P3. The macaques weighed 4 and 5 kg and were identified as Rh1 and Rh2. We collected plasma samples at days 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70 and 77 post-challenge. Subsequently, we monitored plasma viral load by real-time PCR after viral RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis. We amplified the full-length envelope gene by single genome amplification(SGA)at days 7, 14, 28 and 77. BioEdit, MEGA, and the HIV Databases were used to analyze envelope sequences. Sequence diversity and N-linked glycosylation sites were compared between virus stock and plasma viruses of the two macaques. Results: A total of 55 env sequences were obtained from virus stock and their average pairwise distances were(0.166 6± 0.096 3)%. Viral loads peaked at 7.68 and 7.49 log10 copies/ml at day 10 and reached the set point at day 42(4.27 and 4.81 log10 copies/ml). The percentages of envelope sequences containing 25 potential N-linked glycosylation sites(PNGSs)were 83%(20/24)and 94%(29/31)in Rh1 and Rh2, respectively, at day 7; these were significantly higher than the proportion in SHIV_SF162P3 stock(49%(27/55)). Viral diversity after infection increased with time whereas the proportion of sequences containing 25 PNGSs decreased and sequences containing 27 PNGSs gradually increased. In Rh1, the percentage of sequences containing 27 PNGSs increased to 29% at day 28 and reached 35% at day 77 in Rh2. By analyzing the number of PNGSs in the V1-V5 regions, we found that PNGS variation mainly occurred in the V4 loop. Compared with sequences containing 27 PNGSs, a seven amino acid(TWNNTIG)deletion was found in the V4 loop, which resulted in a loss of two PNGSs at positions 392 and 396. Conclusion: Low glycosylation of the SHIV_SF162P3 V4 loop may facilitate spread of the SHIV virus whereas viruses with highly glycosylated V4 loops showed replication advantages after infection.

[Prognostic value of JAK2, MPL and CALR mutations in Chinese patients with primary myelofibrosis]

目的

评价JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变在中国原发性骨髓纤维化（PMF）患者中的预后意义。

方法

回顾性分析402例PMF患者的临床资料及JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变，应用Kaplan-Meier、Log-rank和Cox回归模型进行相关预后因素分析。

结果

402例PMF患者中男209例，女193例，中位年龄55(15~89）岁。JAKV617F基因突变189例（47.0%），MPLW515基因突变13例（3.2%），CALR基因突变81例（20.1%）[1型突变30例（37.0%），2型突变48例（59.3%），少见型突变3例（3.7%）]，119例（29.6%）未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变。单因素分析显示，2型CALR突变或未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变的患者中位生存期（74个月）短于检测到JAK2、MPL或1型及少见型CALR基因突变的患者（168个月）[HR=2.990（95% CI 1.935~4.619），P <0.001]。因此，将基因突变类型分为预后不良组（2型CALR突变和未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变）和预后良好组（JAKV617F、MPLW515、1型及少见型CALR基因突变）。经多因素分析提出了中国PMF患者的动态国际预后积分系统（DIPSS-Chinese）分子预后积分系统，各参数赋值如下：DIPSS-Chinese低危组0分，中危组1分，高危组2分，2型CALR突变或未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR基因突变积1分。402例患者中，低危组（0分）132例（32.8%），中危-1组（1分）143例（35.6%），中危-2组（2分）106例（26.4%），高危组（3分）21例（5.2%）。低危组中位生存时间未达到，中危-1组为156(95% CI 117~194）个月，中危-2组为60(95% CI 28~91）个月，高危组为22（95% CI 10~33）个月，总生存差异具有统计学意义（P<0.001）。DIPSS-Chinese分子预后积分系统较DIPSS-Chinese有更准确的预测能力（−2 log似然比分别为855.6和869.7，P=0.005）。

结论

在中国PMF患者中，2型CALR突变和未检测到JAK2、MPL和CALR突变是独立的不良预后因素，DIPSS-Chinese分子预后积分系统有更好的预测价值。

[Lycopene protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in mouse cardiomyocytes by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress induced apoptosis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of lycopene on primary cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes with hypoxia/reoxgenation (H/R) injury and explore related mechanism.

METHODS

Primary cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes were randomly divided to control group (control); lycopene group (5 μmol/L, lyc); H/R group (4 hours hypoxia followed by 6 hours reoxgenation); lycopene+ H/R group (lyc+ H/R, the cardiomyocytes were incubated with 5 μmol/L lycopene for 4 hours before H/R treatment). The cell viability of cardiomyocytes was assessed by CCK-8 assay. The apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry using AnnexinV-PI double staining. Western blot was used to determine the GRP78, CHOP, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression in cardiomyocytes. The mRNA expressions of ATF6、eIF2α and sXbp-1 were detected by real-time PCR. The fluorescence intensity for reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiomyocytes was measured with Olympus fluorescence microscope.

RESULTS

Compared to control group, the cell viability of cardiomyocytes was significantly reduced ((64.28±6.12)% vs. (100.00±4.98)%, P<0.01), the apoptotic rate ((24.42±1.76)% vs. (5.16±1.31)%, P<0.01) and ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 (2.33±0.20 vs. 1.00±0.09, P<0.01) significantly increased, the ATF6, eIF2α and sXbp-1 mRNA expression, the CHOP and GRP78 protein expression (1.98±0.15 vs. 1.00±0.12, 2.09±0.11 vs. 1.00±0.09) as well as fluorescence intensity for ROS ((262.13±22.03)% vs. (100.00±12.35)%) were markedly increased in H/R group (all P<0.01). Compared to the H/R group, pretreatment with lycopene markedly improved the cell viability of cardiomyocytes ((81.75±6.85)%, P<0.01), significantly decreased the apoptotic rate ((17.24±2.02)%, P<0.01) and ratio of Bax/Bcl-2(1.64±0.13, P<0.01), significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression levels of ATF6, eIF2α and sXbp-1, and the protein expression levels of CHOP (1.54±0.12) and GRP78 (1.53±0.12), significantly reduced the fluorescence intensity for ROS ((171.18±19.09)%, all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Lycopene could attenuate hypoxia/reoxygenation-injury in primary cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes, possibly through inhibiting the ER stress and alleviating the ER stress-induced apoptosis.

Delusional disorder and schizophrenia: a comparison of the neurocognitive and clinical characteristics in first-episode patients

BACKGROUND

Delusional disorder (DD) is thought to be distinct from schizophrenia (SZ). However, few systematic investigations have been conducted on DD because of the difficulty in ascertaining a representative sample size. Existing knowledge has been mostly generated from inpatient cohorts, which may be biased towards a more severe sample.

METHOD

We compared the demographic, clinical and cognitive differences between 71 patients with first-episode DD and 71 age-matched patients with first-episode SZ. Participants were consecutively recruited from a population-based territory-wide study of early psychosis in Hong Kong targeting first-episode psychosis. Basic demographic information, premorbid functioning, duration of untreated psychosis, pathways to care, symptomatology, social, occupational, and cognitive functioning were comprehensively assessed using standardized measurements.

RESULTS

Patients with DD had less premorbid schizoid and schizotypal traits compared to patients with SZ. More patients with DD were married compared to patients with SZ. However, at first episode, there were no significant differences between the two groups in regards to the duration of untreated psychosis, pathways to care, symptom severity, neurocognitive performance, treatment, and functioning.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings challenge previous thinking that patients with DD had better functioning than patients with SZ. This study not only provides an updated perspective into conceptualizing the clinical differences between DD and SZ, but also expands the descriptive account of the two disorders to include the neurocognitive dimension.

Developments in early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong

The year 2011 marked the 10-year milestone of early intervention for psychosis in Hong Kong. Since 2001, the landscape of early psychosis services has changed markedly in Hong Kong. Substantial progress has been made in the areas of early intervention service implementation, knowledge generation, and public awareness promotion. Favourable outcomes attributable to the early intervention service are supported by solid evidence from local clinical research studies; early intervention service users showed improved functioning, ameliorated symptoms, and decreased hospitalisation and suicide rates. Continued development of early intervention in Hong Kong over the decade includes the introduction and maturation of several key platforms, such as the Hospital Authority Early Assessment Service for Young People with Psychosis programme, the Psychosis Studies and Intervention Unit by the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Early Psychosis Intervention Society, the Jockey Club Early Psychosis Project, and the postgraduate Psychological Medicine (Psychosis Studies) programme. In this paper, we reviewed some of the major milestones in local service development with reference to features of the Hong Kong mental health system. We describe chronologically the implementation and consolidation of public early intervention services as well as recent progresses in public awareness work that are tied in with knowledge generation and transfer, and outline the prospects for early intervention in the next decade and those that follow.

Shifting bright spatial solitons in LiNbO3

We observe spatial bright solitons in a transversely shifting LiNbO3 crystal. In this scheme, the photovoltaic nonlinearity in LiNbO3 can be switched from self-defocusing to self-focusing by continuous shifting of the beam. Moreover, the shifting velocity has a strong influence on the wave shape of the bright spatial solitons.

Theoretical study and pathways for nanoparticle capture during solidification of metal melt

Nanocomposites can provide exciting physical, chemical, and mechanical properties for numerous applications. The solidification processing method has great potential for economical fabrication of bulk nanocomposites, especially for those with crystalline materials as the matrix, such as metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs). However, it is extremely difficult to effectively capture nanoparticles (less than 100 nm) into the solidification fronts during solidification. It is thus very important to initiate a theoretical study to examine the physics that governs the interactions between nanoparticles and the solidification front, and to provide enabling pathways for effective nanoparticle capture during solidification. The aim of this paper is to establish a theoretical framework for the fundamental understanding of nanoparticle capture during solidification of metal melt in order to obtain bulk MMNCs. A thermodynamically favorable condition is set as the starting point for further theoretical analysis of the three-party model system, namely a nanoparticle-metal-melt-solidification front. Three key interaction potentials, the interfacial energy at short range (0.2-0.4 nm), the van der Waals potential (especially at a longer range beyond 0.4 nm and up to ∼10 nm) and the Brownian potential, were studied. Three possible pathways for nanoparticle capture were thus devised: viscous capture, Brownian capture and spontaneous capture. Spontaneous capture is proposed as the most favorable for nanoparticle capture during solidification of metal melt. The theoretical model of nanoparticle capture from this study will serve as a powerful tool for future experimental studies to realize exciting functionalities offered by bulk MMNCs.

Executive function in first-episode schizophrenia: a three-year prospective study of the Hayling Sentence Completion Test

In recent decade, deficits in the mechanism of Supervisory Attentional System (SAS) have become increasingly influential in explaining the nature of dysexecutive syndrome experienced by schizophrenic patients. The SAS model is characterized by having a detailed sub-classification of specific executive function components, among which semantic inhibition has been investigated using the Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT). Several studies thus far have indicated that schizophrenic patients show impairment in HSCT performance. However, HSCT data concerning first-episode patients is still scarce. Besides, as previous HSCT studies were all cross-sectional in nature, they were not able to assess changes in HSCT performance over time. In order to address the paucity of knowledge about the longitudinal trajectories and correlates of semantic inhibition deficits in early schizophrenia, this paper reports a three-year prospective study of HSCT performance in medication-naïve, first-episode patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. HSCT performance was assessed in 34 patients at four times over a period of three years, while the 34 healthy controls were assessed once. We found that medication-naïve patients demonstrated impairment in the inhibition condition in HSCT as compared to controls, but not in the initiation condition. Such HSCT impairment gradually improved in the three years following the first psychotic episode; however, HSCT performance did not predict improvement in negative or positive symptoms over the three-year period. The present findings suggest that semantic inhibition impairment is a specific deficit in schizophrenia that may require early intervention efforts, with the goal of facilitating more successful verbal communication and thereby better interpersonal functioning.

Active components of common traditional Chinese medicine decoctions have antioxidant functions

Many traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions are proven to have multiple functions in animal production. These decoctions are seldom recognized by the international scientific community because the mechanisms of action are not clearly elucidated. According to TCM theory, Cortex Phellodendri (COP), Rhizoma Atractylodes (RA), Agastache Rugosa (AR), and Gypsum Fibrosum (GF) can be used to formulate a medicinal compound that prevents or cures animal disease caused by heat stress. The aim of this research was to study the regulatory functions of the active components of TCM and to elucidate the effects of different TCM decoctions on antioxidant activity and lipid peroxide content, using in vitro and in vivo models of heat stress. For in vitro experiments, intestinal crypt-like epithelial cell line-6 (IEC-6) cells were employed to evaluate the effects of the active components of COP, RA, AR, and GF. For in vivo experiments, forty-eight 2-mo-old Chinese experimental mini-pigs (7.20 ± 0.02 kg) were randomly assigned to 4 groups: a normal-temperature group (NTG); a high-temperature group (HTG); HTG treated with COP, RA, AR, and GF (1:1:1:1, TCM1); and HTG treated with COP, RA, AR, and GF (1:1:1:0.5, TCM2). Results showed that the active components of the COP, RA, AR, and GF increased (P < 0.05) the proliferation and viability of heat-stressed IEC-6 cells and that the most effective treatment doses of COP alkaloid, RA Aetherolea, Herba Agastachis Aetherolea, and GF water extract were 200, 100, 100, and 200 µg/mL, respectively. All 4 active components increased (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities, and glutathione content, and decreased (P < 0.05) malondialdehyde content with respect to the heat-stressed group to concentrations similar to those seen in NTG. In vivo experiments demonstrated that TCM1 and TCM2 improved (P < 0.05) the poor growth performance seen in HTG pigs. The superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities, and malondialdehyde content in porcine jejunum treated with TCM1 and TCM2 were not different (P > 0.05) from those seen in the NTG and were better (P < 0.05) than results seen in the HTG. Overall, it appeared that TCM2 was more effective than TCM1 in ameliorating the effects of heat stress in pigs. In conclusion, this study revealed that the active components of common TCM decoctions have antioxidant functions.

A laser-Compton scattering prototype experiment at 100 MeV linac of Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics

As a prototype of the Shanghai Laser Electron Gamma Source in the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, an x-ray source based on laser-Compton scattering (LCS) has been installed at the terminal of the 100 MeV linac of the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics. LCS x-rays are generated by interactions between Q-switched Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet laser pulses [with wavelength of 1064 nm and pulse width of 21 ns (full width at half maximum)] and electron bunches [with energy of 108 MeV and pulse width of 0.95 ns (rms)] at an angle of 42 degrees between laser and electron beam. In order to measure the energy spectrum of LCS x-rays, a Si(Li) detector along the electron beam line axis is positioned at 9.8 m away from a LCS chamber. After background subtraction, the LCS x-ray spectrum with the peak energy of 29.1+/-4.4|(stat)+/-2.1|(syst) keV and the peak width (rms) of 7.8+/-2.8|(stat)+/-0.4|(syst) keV is observed. Normally the 100 MeV linac operates with the electron macropulse charge of 1.0 nC/pulse, and the electron and laser collision repetition rate of 20 Hz. Therefore, the total LCS x-ray flux of (5.2+/-2.0) x 10(2) Hz can be achieved.

Photorefractive dynamic properties of Ca2+-doped strontium barium niobate crystals

Measurements for photorefractive dynamic properties under polarized light with different luminous intensity and wavelength at 650 nm were performed in calcium-doped strontium barium niobate crystals as a function of the time. Experimental results further validated that the different input luminous intensities influence only the saturated time and photorefractive velocity of the photorefractive crystals. Birefringence experiments suggest that an input luminous intensity oscillatory threshold should exist between 64 mW/cm(2) and 13 mW/cm(2). The dynamic change of refractive index from self-focusing to asymmetric self-defocusing was also measured and regarded as the mutual results of the nonuniform-intensity incidence and positive thermal lens effect, which was validated by a further experiment based on the Michelson interference. Also, oscillation accompanying change in the dynamic indices was analyzed and attributed to the high dielectric effect as well as asymmetric self-defocusing in this investigation.

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of imidocarb dipropionate in swine

A two-way crossover study was performed in eight healthy young pigs to determine the pharmacokinetics of imidocarb dipropionate (IMDP) following intravenous (2 mg/kg b.w.) and intramuscular (2 mg/kg b.w.) administrations. Each animal received one intravenous and one intramuscular injection with a 30-day washout period between the two-treatments. Plasma concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with UV detector at regular intervals for up to 24 h post-injection. Intravenous plasma concentration profiles best fit a three-compartmental model yielding a mean system clearance (Cl((s))) of 558 mL/kg.h and a mean half-life of 13.91 h. Mean imidocarb AUC((0-infinity)) (microg.h/mL), V(c) (L/kg), V(d(area))(L/kg) and MRT((0-t)) (h) values were 3.58, 0.11, 14.36 and 1.46, respectively. Compartmental modeling of imidocarb, after intramuscular administration produced best fit for two-compartmental model yielding mean Kalpha (h(-1)), Cmax (microg/mL), tmax (h), and bioavailability (%) of 3.89, 2.02, 0.54, and 86.57 for the 2 mg/kg dose level. The present studies showed that IMDP was rapidly absorbed, widely distributed, and slowly eliminated. No adverse effects were observed in any of the pigs after i.v. and i.m. administrations of IMDP. The favorable PK behavior, such as the long half-life, acceptable bioavailability indicated that it is likely to be effective in pigs.

Packing structure of cohesive spheres

This paper presents the first set of measured data to probe into the loose packing structure of wet particles featured with large pores, aggregated and chain-connected particles. The structure is also analyzed in terms of radial distribution function and coordination number, and compared with that of the random dense packing.

[Estimating concentrations of serum total digoxin and digoxin-like immunoreactive substances in patients of cardiac failure with renal insufficiency]

Measurement of serum digoxin concentration is recommended as a routine in patients undergoing digoxin therapy because its therapeutic range is narrow. The presence of a high concentration of digoxin-like immunoreactive substances(DLIS) in human serum have been reported in a number of pathophysiological conditions. DLIS which cross-react with anti-digoxin antibodies, can falsely elevate the total digoxin concentration and is troublesome in the therapeutic monitoring of digoxin. The concentrations of serum total digoxin and DLIS in twelve patients of cardiac failure with renal insufficiency were estimated after determination of free digoxin by ultrafiltration with fluorescence polarization immunoassay. In these patients, the free digoxin concentration in serum determined was 0.79 +/- 0.48 (0.46-2.10) nmol.L-1. The total digoxin determined(1.31 +/- 0.80 nmol.L-1) was significantly higher than the calculated total digoxin(1.05 +/- 0.64 nmol.L-1) (P < 0.01), suggesting the presence of elevated DLIS in serum for these patients. The calculated DLIS concentration was 0.27 +/- 0.19(0.07-0.76) nmol.L-1. The results were well consistent with that obtained by recently published method of Dasgupta et al. In conclusion, the approach presented in this paper can estimate the true serum concentrations of digoxin and DLIS in patients of chronic cardiac failure with renal insufficiency.

Intracerebroventricular injection of senktide-induced Fos expression in vasopressin-containing hypothalamic neurons in the rat

Intracerebroventricular injection of senktide, a selective agonist for neurokinin B receptor (NK3), induced Fos expression in many neurons of the rat hypothalamus. Fos-positive neurons were predominantly present in the supraoptic and paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei, and some of them were seen in the lateral preoptic area, lateral hypothalamic area, arcuate nucleus, perifornical region, posterior hypothalamic area, circular nucleus, and along relatively large blood vessels (lateral hypothalamic perivascular nucleus) in the anterior hypothalamus. A double labeling study was performed to examine if vasopressin-containing neurons in the hypothalamus could be activated by the treatment. Neurons with both Fos-like immunoreactivity (-LI) and vasopressin-LI were found in the paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus, circular nucleus and lateral hypothalamic perivascular nucleus. In the supraoptic nucleus, about 87% of vasopressin-containing neurons exhibited Fos-LI, which corresponded to about 64% of Fos-positive neurons in the nucleus. In the paraventricular nucleus, about 80% of vasopressin-like immunoreactive neurons exhibited Fos-LI, which constituted about 51% of the total population of Fos-positive neurons in the region. The results suggest that NK3 receptor may be involved in the modulation of release of vasopressin from the hypothalamus in the rat.

Inhibition against heat coagulation of ovotransferrin by ovalbumin dry-heated at 120 degrees C

Ovalbumin (OVA) was aggregated stepwise by dry heating at 120 degrees C with a gradual increase in its heating times (10 min-6 h). The inhibiting effects of DHOVAs (OVAs dry-heated for various times up to 6 h) on the heat coagulation of ovotransferrin (OT) were studied. DHOVAs and OT were solubilized at 5% (w/w) concentration with 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Their solutions were mixed at the volume ratio of 1:1 and reheated at 60 degrees C for 3. 5 min. Some remarkable differences according to dry-heating time were observed: coagulum formations were greatly inhibited in the solutions mixed with DHOVAs treated for more than around 2.0 h, with decreasing turbidity as dry-heating time increased. In addition, the effects of reheating time and temperature, as well as those of pH and ionic strength, were also examined on coagulum formation and turbidity development in connection with dry-heating time. Thus, the inhibiting effects of dry-heated egg white on the heat coagulation of fresh egg white previously described were confirmed on the molecular level of OVA and OT.

In-use testing of extemporaneously prepared suspensions of second generation non-nucleoside reversed transcriptase inhibitors in support of phase I clinical studies

DPC 961 and 963 are two of a series of prospective second generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) being considered for the treatment of HIV infections. The 'powder in a bottle' approach was used for drug administration for Phase I clinical studies. This new approach consists of compounding the active drug as a suspension or solution at the clinical site immediately before dosing. Prior to clinical use, studies were conducted to determine the compatibility of the drugs with the suspending agent, the recovery of the drugs using the administration procedure and the dissolution profile of the suspensions. The stability of the DPC 961 and 963 in the dosing formulation was followed over a 24-h period using a stability indicating HPLC method. In addition, the dissolution profiles of the suspensions were established for future comparison with solid dosage forms. Although the two drugs have very similar chemical structures, they clearly exhibited different behaviors in liquid/liquid extraction and dissolution experiments. These differences could be related to the physical characteristics of the powders, such as particle size and surface area. The results of the in-use testing of the suspension showed adequate recovery of the drugs from the bottle at two drug levels. The stability of DPC 961 and 963 in the suspending agent was sufficient for constitution and administration of the suspensions at the clinical site.

Localization of Barrington's nucleus in the pontine dorsolateral tegmentum of the rabbit

The localization of Barrington's nucleus in the dorsolateral pons of the rabbit and its projections to the sacral spinal cord were examined by using retrograde and anterograde labeling methods combined with immunohistochemistry. After injection of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) or a fluorescence tracer, tetramethylrhodamine-dextran amine (TMR), into the sacral spinal cord segments, a cluster of neurons labeled with WGA-HRP or TMR were seen in the pontine dorsolateral tegmentum. To identify whether the retrogradely labeled neurons were situated within the locus coeruleus, the sections containing TMR-labeled neurons through the pons were incubated with anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibody and observed under epifluorescence microscope. It was shown that the cluster of TMR-labeled neurons in the dorsolateral tegmentum were surrounded by TH-positive neurons, but they were negatively immunostained with TH-like immunoreactivity. In anterograde experiment, injection of WGA-HRP into the dorsolateral tegmentum resulted in many anterogradely labeled nerve fibers and terminals in the sacral spinal cord, including the sacral parasympathetic nucleus. The present results suggest that the cluster of neurons in the dorsolateral tegmentum of the rabbit may correspond to Barrington's nucleus revealed in the rat and cat, and thus may be involved in micturtion reflex of the rabbit.

Genetic polymorphisms of orosomucoid on the Han population in Nanjing of China

Human orosomucoid (ORM) is a major binding protein for various basic drugs. The genetic polymorphisms of ORM could be responsible for interindividual variation in the plasma binding of basic drugs, which might influence their effects or toxicities. The genetic polymorphisms of ORM on the Han population in Nanjing of China were analyzed by isoelectric focusing (IEF) on polyacrylamide gels following by immunoblotting. After desialylation of sera from 220 unrelated Chinese subjects, the band patterns of ORM showed that the polymorphism of the structural locus ORM1 is controlled by three codominant autosomal alleles, ORM1*F1, ORM1*F2 and ORM1*S, which presented five phenotypes, ORM1 F1, ORM1 S, ORM1 F1F2, ORM1 F1S, and ORM1 F2S. The allele frequencies were: ORM1*F1=0.7068, ORM1*F2=0. 0182, ORM1*S=0.2750. The results presented in this paper indicate the ORM1 locus is polymorphic and the ORM2 locus is monomorphic in sera from the Han population in Nanjing of China.

Inhibiting effects of egg white dry-heated at 120 degrees C on heat aggregation and coagulation of egg white and characteristics of dry-heated egg white

Dialyzed and freeze-dried egg white (FDEW) was dry-heated at 120 degrees C for up to 6 h. The inhibiting effects of the dry-heated egg white (DHEW) on the heat aggregation and coagulation of egg white (as 10% FDEW solution) and characteristics of the DHEW were examined. From the changes in turbidities and soluble protein contents of supernatant in various mixtures of 10% FDEW and DHEW solutions induced by heating (60 degrees C, 5 min), it was found that the inhibiting capacity increased with increases in the dry-heating time (DHT). The FDEW proteins were denatured with a mild conformational change (not secondary but tertiary structure) with the increase in DHT and aggregated partially. However, the more transparent solutions of DHEW containing soluble aggregates according to DHT were also obtained after heating. The transparency according to DHT came to be scarcely affected by the NaCl concentration and the dilution with diluents containing SDS, urea, and 2-mercaptoethanol. These findings suggest that the heat aggregations and coagulations of ovotransferrin and lysozyme in the FDEW were inhibited by their bindings with the soluble aggregates in DHEW.

Primary afferent fibers of the pelvic nerve terminate in the gracile nucleus of the rat

After injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the pelvic nerve of the rat, a small number of HRP-labeled axon terminals were found in the gracile nucleus. Double labeling experiments were also performed: Fluoro-Gold (FG) was injected into the pelvic nerve, while cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) was injected into the gracile nucleus or dorsal faciculus at the fifth and sixth cervical cord segments ipsilateral to the FG injection. About 5% of FG-labeled neurons were labeled with CTb in the L6-, S1- and S2-dorsal root ganglia ipsilateral to the tracer injection. The results suggest that some primary afferent information from pelvic visceral organs may be directly conveyed to gracile nucleus by the primary afferent neurons.

Direct projections from the medial preoptic area to spinally-projecting neurons in Barrington's nucleus: an electron microscope study in the rat

Direct projections from the medial preoptic area (MPO) to the pontine micturition center neurons directly projecting to the lumbosacral spinal cord were revealed electron microscopically in the rat by a double labeling method. Biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was injected into the MPO and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was injected into the lumbosacral cord segments. At light microscopic level, BDA-labeled presumptive axon terminals completely overlapped with HRP-labeled neurons in Barrington's nucleus. Electron microscopic observation showed that some BDA-labeled axon terminals made synaptic contacts with dendrites of HRP-labeled neurons in Barrington's nucleus. The present results indicated that the MPO may be involved in the modulation of the pontine micturition reflex in the rat.

Neurokinin B receptor (NK3)-containing neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the rat hypothalamus synthesize vasopressin and express Fos following intravenous injection of hypertonic saline

Subnuclear localization of neurokinin B receptor (NK3) in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus was immunohistochemically investigated in the rat. In the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, intense neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity was found in the posterior magnocellular part, moderate to weak neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity was seen in the other parts. In the supraoptic nucleus, intense neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity was distributed in its principal part, and a few neurons with neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity were found in the retrochiasmatic part. Co-localization of neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity with vasopressin-like immunoreactivity was examined through serial adjacent sections. Neurons with both neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity and vasopressin-like immunoreactivity were primarily found in the supraoptic nucleus and posterior magnocellular part of the pavaventricular nucleus. A small number of neurons with neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactivity and vasopressin-like immunoreactivity were also seen in the circular nucleus and the region surrounding blood vessel in the anterior hypothalamus. Many neurokinin B receptor-containing neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, as well as in circular nucleus and the region surrounding the blood vessel, expressed Fos-like immunoreactivity after intravenous injection of hypertonic saline. The present study demonstrated that a large proportion of neurokinin B receptor-like immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic and supraoptic nuclei contained vasopressin-like immunoreactivity, and expressed Fos-like immunoreactivity after intravenous administration of hypertonic saline. The results suggest that neurokinin B receptor in the two nuclei may be involved in modulation of the release of vasopressin when the internal environment is disturbed.

The distribution of substance P receptor (NK1)-like immunoreactive neurons in the newborn and adult human spinal cord

Substance P receptor (i.e. NK1)-like immunoreactive (SPR-LI) neurons were observed in the newborn and adult human spinal cord. Substance P receptor-like immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies were seen most frequently in lamina I, and were scattered throughout the remaining laminae of the dorsal horn and the area around the central canal. Some neurons in the intermediolateral nucleus also showed weak immunoreactivity. The pattern of distribution of SPR-LI neurons in the adult spinal cord was essentially the same as that in the newborn spinal cord. However, SPR-LI neurons cell bodies were seen much more frequently in the newborn than in the adult dorsal horn, especially in lamina II.

Investigation of a series of synthetic cationic porphyrins using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) was used to study a series of synthetic cationic porphyrins as the perchlorate and bromide salts. This work presents the analytical results for the porphyrins obtained using 2, 5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) and 1,8,9-anthratriol as matrices. The selective use of matrix affects ion formation from these porphyrins. By using DHB as the matrix, we not only observed [M - nClO(4)](+) (n = 1-4) ions, but also obtained [2M - nClO(4)](+) (n = 2-7) ions from the synthetic cationic porphyrins. The space volume of the side chains (R groups) and the nature of the anions (Br(-) or ClO(4)(-)) affected the relative importance of monomeric and dimeric ions of the porphyrin. The possible mechanisms of desorption and ionization of these cationic porphyrins were also considered in this study. MALDI-TOFMS proved to be a very useful method for obtaining structural information on these synthetic cationic porphyrins. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Polymerization of myosin on activation of rat anococcygeus smooth muscle

The in vivo state of assembly of myosin in vertebrate smooth muscle is controversial. In vitro studies on purified smooth muscle myosin show that it is monomeric (10S) under relaxing conditions and filamentous under contraction conditions. Electron microscopic and antibody labelling studies of intact smooth muscles, on the other hand, suggest that myosin is filamentous in the relaxed as well as the contracting state and that 10S myosin occurs only in trace amounts. However, birefringence, conventional EM and X-ray diffraction evidence suggests that in certain smooth muscles in vivo (e.g. rat anococcygeus), while myosin filaments exist in the relaxed state, their number increases on contraction. Here, we have used low temperature electron microscopic techniques (rapid freezing followed by freeze-substitution), which preserve labile components in close to their in vivo state, to detect any change in filament number on contraction. The results from rat anococcygeus have been compared with those from guinea pig taenia coli, in which other techniques have revealed no change in filament number. In the anococcygeus, we find evidence for a 23% increase in filament density in transverse sections of contracting muscle compared with relaxed muscle. In the taenia coli we find no change. These results are in qualitative agreement with earlier findings. They provide evidence for polymerization of myosin in contracting rat anococcygeus, and suggest that this process is subtle and occurs only in some smooth muscles.

Myosin filament structure in vertebrate smooth muscle

The in vivo structure of the myosin filaments in vertebrate smooth muscle is unknown. Evidence from purified smooth muscle myosin and from some studies of intact smooth muscle suggests that they may have a nonhelical, side-polar arrangement of crossbridges. However, the bipolar, helical structure characteristic of myosin filaments in striated muscle has not been disproved for smooth muscle. We have used EM to investigate this question in a functionally diverse group of smooth muscles (from the vascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, and visual systems) from mammalian, amphibian, and avian species. Intact muscle under physiological conditions, rapidly frozen and then freeze substituted, shows many myosin filaments with a square backbone in transverse profile. Transverse sections of fixed, chemically skinned muscles also show square backbones and, in addition, reveal projections (crossbridges) on only two opposite sides of the square. Filaments gently isolated from skinned smooth muscles and observed by negative staining show crossbridges with a 14.5-nm repeat projecting in opposite directions on opposite sides of the filament. Such filaments subjected to low ionic strength conditions show bare filament ends and an antiparallel arrangement of myosin tails along the length of the filament. All of these observations are consistent with a side-polar structure and argue against a bipolar, helical crossbridge arrangement. We conclude that myosin filaments in all smooth muscles, regardless of function, are likely to be side-polar. Such a structure could be an important factor in the ability of smooth muscles to contract by large amounts.

Pharmacokinetic study of RU 486 and its metabolites after oral administration of single doses to pregnant and non-pregnant women

RU 486 and three of its metabolites (RU 42633-monodemethyl, RU 42848-didemethyl, and RU 42698-hydroxymetabolite) were determined by HPLC in plasma from nine non-pregnant and 36 pregnant women. Each non-pregnant subject took an oral dose of RU 486 (25, 100, 400 and 600 mg consecutively) once per menstrual cycle. Six of the nine women also received a dose of 200 mg. The 36 pregnant women were randomized into four groups which were given a single dose of 25, 100, 400 or 600 mg RU 486. Blood samples were taken up to 120 h after dosing. Peak concentrations of RU 486 occurred on most occasions within 2 h. Plasma concentrations at 1 h and at 24 h increased in proportion to log dose. There was a wide variability (up to ten-fold) in the pharmacokinetic parameters within each dose group. Plasma concentrations of RU 42633 were similar to those of RU 486 but concentrations of RU 42848 and RU 42698 were much lower. As with RU 486, the plasma concentrations of the metabolites were maintained at high levels for up to 48-72 h after dosing. The findings were consistent with a rapid metabolism of RU 486 to RU 42633; removal of the second methyl group leading to RU 42698 occurred much more slowly and to a much less extent than removal of the first. There appeared to be no significant differences between the non-pregnant and pregnant women in either the plasma concentrations or pharmacokinetic parameters of RU 486 and its metabolites.

A multicenter clinical study on two types of levonorgestrel tablets administered for postcoital contraception

Contraceptive efficacy, cycle control and side effects of two types of 0.75 mg levonorgestrel tablets taken postcoitally during the periovulatory period of one cycle were studied in a multicenter trial involving 361 women. No significant differences were found between the two types of levonorgestrel pills in terms of contraceptive efficacy, cycle control and side effects. The failure rate observed (1.4% per treated cycle) was similar to that reported for other hormonal approaches to emergency postcoital contraception. Intermenstrual bleeding or spotting occurred in 11.5% of the cycles and anovulation as assessed from BBT charts in 14.4% of cycles. One or more side effects were reported by 22.2% of subjects. The relatively frequent occurrence of cycle disturbances and subjective side effects make it unlikely that the repeated postcoital use of levonorgestrel would be an acceptable routine method of contraception for most women.