[Molecular epidemiological study on rubella virus circulating in Yunnan Province during 2011-2021]

Objective: To understand the genotype distribution and transmission pattern of rubella virus (RuV) circulating in Yunnan Province. Methods: Throat swab samples were collected from rubella outbreaks and sporadic cases in nine prefectures/cities of Yunnan Province from 2011 to 2021. Virus isolation, amplification of target genes and sequence determination were performed on the RuV-positive samples. The genotypes and lineages of Yunnan strains were determined by comparing them with the reference strains, and further phylogenetic analysis was performed with Yunnan strains and strains circulating in other provinces of China during the same period. Results: RuV circulating in Yunnan province during 2011-2021 showed significant genetic diversity, and three lineages, 1E-L1, 2B-L1 and 1E-L2, were detected. Two lineage-switches were also identified, including the conversion of 1E-L1 to 2B-L1 between 2012 and 2013, and the replacement of 2B-L1 to 1E-L2 after 2018. The time of the switches was basically consistent with the outbreak in Yunnan province in 2012 and the time of the rubella reemergence and epidemic between 2018 and 2019. The amino acid sequence of RuV virus strains in Yunnan province was highly conserved, and no important functional regions were changed. Conclusions: The transmission pattern of RuV in Yunnan province is generally consistent with the epidemic trend of RuV in other provinces of China.

[Serological study of Lyme disease antibody in 2 311 patients with arthritis symptoms in Hainan Province]

Objective: To understand the infectious status of Lyme disease among patients with arthritis symptoms in Hainan Province, and to provide a theoretical basis for prevention and control of Lyme disease. Methods: From 2013 to 2018, sampling surveys had been conducted in medical institutions in 8 cities in Hainan Province(Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Dongfang, Wenchang, Qionghai, Qiongzhong, Wuzhishan), 2 311 patients serum samples were collected with arthritis symptoms, and descriptive research were conducted base on the collected clinical data. The Indirect Fluorescent-Antibody Test (IFA) method was used for preliminary screening of Lyme disease antibody, the Western Blot (WB) method was used for IFA positive samples confirmation. Statistical analysis using χ² test. Results: 2 311 serum samples were tested by IFA, and 166 were positive with the positive rate of 7.18%. Further confirmed by WB method, 62 samples were positive, the positive rate of Lyme disease antibody was 2.68%(62/2 311). The positive rate of Lyme disease antibody among patients with arthritis in different regions of Hainan was statistically significant (χ²=40.636,P<0.001), and the positive rate in Qiongzhong city was the highest (8.81%, 14/159). Danzhou's positive rate was the second highest, 5.62%(5/89). Dongfang city had the lowest positive rate (0.51%, 2/394). The positive rates of Lyme disease serum antibody in men and women were 2.79% (33/1 182) and 2.57% (29/1 129), respectively; the positive rates of antibodies between each age groups were in the range of 1.74% to 3.64%. The antibody positive rate of Lyme disease showed no significant difference between gender and age (χ²=0.110,P=0.740 ;χ²=1.938,P=0.747). Conclusion: Patients with arthritis symptoms caused by Borrelia burgdorferi infection were found in 8 cities in Hainan province, but the Lyme disease antibody positive rate was different among cities, with Qiongzhong County being the highest.

Effect of Application Rate and Timing on Residual Efficacy of Pyraclostrobin in the Control of Pepper Anthracnose

Anthracnose is a devastating disease that seriously affects pepper production worldwide. Anthracnose management is currently a major problem because of the widespread and long period of infection of this disease. Therefore, determination of the optimal fungicide application timing is important for controlling anthracnose in a timely manner . In vitro sensitivity tests showed no significant difference in the pyraclostrobin sensitivity of Colletotrichum scovillei collected from 2016 and 2017, with mean half maximal effective concentration values of 0.349 to 0.542 and 0.0475 to 0.0639 mg/liter for the inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination, respectively. Fungicide application initiated at the full-bloom stage could significantly delay anthracnose disease onset, decrease anthracnose incidence and development (23.67 to 89.80%), and increase pepper yield by 10.7 to 29.2%. In addition, the application dosage was decreased by >50%. BF-500-3, the main metabolite of pyraclostrobin, was detected in pepper fruit and exhibited high inhibitory activity against C. scovillei. The final residues of all fungicides at different application timing were below maximum residue limits. Moreover, structural equation modeling indicated that application timing plays the most important role in anthracnose disease inhibition. The tank mixtures of pyraclostrobin with tebuconazole and fludioxonil showed more satisfactory efficacy (69.87 to 78.36%) against anthracnose than did pyraclostrobin alone under field conditions. This study is the first to determine the best fungicide application timing for anthracnose management. These results establish the basis for sustainable development of the pepper industry.

Effect of Pyrisoxazole on Colletotrichum scovillei Infection and Anthracnose on Chili

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum scovillei is one of the most destructive diseases affecting chili production. Disease control mainly relies on conventional fungicides, and repeated exposure to single-site mode-of-action fungicides may pose a risk for the development of resistant isolates within the population. Our previous study suggested that pyrisoxazole has strong inhibitory activity against C. scovillei in vitro. However, the effects of pyrisoxazole on the C. scovillei infection process and the performance of pyrisoxazole in the field remain unclear. In this study, pyrisoxazole exhibited strong inhibitory activity against the mycelial growth, appressorium formation, and appressorium diameter of C. scovillei, with half maximal effective concentration values of 0.1986, 0.0147, and 0.0269 μg/ml, respectively, but had no effect on sporulation, even at the highest concentration of 1.6 μg/ml. The baseline sensitivity curves were unimodal with a long right-hand tail. The in vivo data showed that pyrisoxazole provided both preventive and curative activity against anthracnose on chili. Pyrisoxazole decreased the incidence of anthracnose and reduced disease progress. The results of electron microscopy showed that pyrisoxazole can affect the C. scovillei infection process by altering mycelial morphology, degrading conidia and germ tubes, suppressing conidial germination and appressorium formation, and enhancing conidiophore production. Pyrisoxazole can be used to effectively control anthracnose under field conditions and increase chili yield; moreover, no phytotoxicity symptoms were observed after treatment. These results provide new insight into the mechanisms by which pyrisoxazole controls disease and suggest that pyrisoxazole is a feasible alternative for the management of anthracnose in chili.

Integrated microRNA-mRNA analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The main aim of this study was to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms and potential target molecules of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The miRNA (GSE32678) and mRNA (GSE32676) expression profiles of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and healthy controls were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed miRNA and differentially expressed genes were identified by analyzing the microarray algorithm after data preprocessing. Functional analysis was conducted by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Analysis. miRNA-mRNA regulation pairs were obtained in TarMir database. The node degree of hsa-miR-200c, hsa-miR-429, and hsa-miR-200b (miRNA), and EFNB2, MYRIP, and PHF17 (mRNA) were extremely high in the miRNA-mRNA network, indicating that these miRNA and mRNA may play a key role in the development of pancreatic cancer. Our study screened out some target miRNAs and mRNAs for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which may be helpful in its diagnosis and treatment.

[Correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide in ventilated newborns]

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation between end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2) and partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in ventilated newborns.

METHODS

Thirty-one ventilated newborn underwent mainstream PetCO2 monitoring; meanwhile, arterial blood gas analysis was performed. The correlation and consistency between PetCO2 and PaCO2 were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 85 end-tidal and arterial CO2 pairs were obtained from 31 ventilated newborns. The mean PetCO2 (41±10 mm Hg) was significantly lower than the corresponding mean PaCO2 (46±11 mm Hg) (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (r=0.92, P<0.01). The overall PetCO2 bias was 5.1±4.3 mm Hg (95% limits of consistency, -3.3 to 13.6 mmHg), and 5% (4/85) of the points were beyond the 95%CI. When the oxygenation index (OI) was less than 300 mm Hg (n=48), there was a significant positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (r=0.85, P<0.01); the PetCO2 bias was 5.9±4.3 mm Hg (95% limits of consistency, -2.6 to 14.5 mm Hg), and 4.2% (2/48) of the points were beyond the 95%CI. When the OI was more than 300 mm Hg (n=37), there was also a significant positive correlation between PetCO2 and PaCO2 (r=0.91, P<0.01); the PetCO2 bias was 4.1±4.1 mm Hg (95% limits of consistency, -3.9 to 12.1 mm Hg), and 5% (2/37) of the points were beyond the 95%CI.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a good correlation and consistency between PetCO2 and PaCO2 in ventilated newborns.

Diphenyleneiodonium protects preoligodendrocytes against endotoxin-activated microglial NADPH oxidase-generated peroxynitrite in a neonatal rat model of periventricular leukomalacia

The contribution of microglial activation to preoligodendroglial (preOL) damage in the central nervous system (CNS) is considered to be one of the principal causes of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) pathogenesis. The present study explores the effect of diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), a NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor, on protection of preOLs from bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial toxicity in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, preOLs co-cultured with microglia exhibited increased preOL apoptosis, accompanied by overproduction of superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) and the formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) after LPS exposure. LPS also significantly up-regulated accumulation of activated microglial NOX subunits p67-phox and gp91-phox in the plasma membrane. Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) (10μm) was found to significantly attenuate up-regulation of this NOX activity. In vivo, DPI was administered (1mg/kg/day) by subcutaneous injection for 3 days to two-day-old neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to intracerebral injection of LPS. Treatment with DPI within 24h of LPS injection significantly ameliorated white matter injury, decreasing preOL loss, O(2)(-) generation, and ONOO(-) formation, and inhibiting p67-phox, gp91-phox synthesis and p67phox membrane translocation in microglia. These results indicated that LPS-induced preOL apoptosis may have been mediated by microglia-derived ONOO(-). DPI prevented this LPS-induced brain injury, most likely by inhibiting ONOO(-) formation via NOX, thereby preventing preOL loss and immature white matter injury.

Electron spin resonance study of polycrystalline La(0.75)(Ca(x)Sr(1-x))(0.25)MnO(3) (x = 0, 0.45, 1)

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of polycrystalline La(0.75)(Ca(x)Sr(1-x))(0.25)MnO(3) (x = 0, 0.45, 1) were studied within the temperature range 110 K≤T≤470 K. The temperature dependence of the ESR intensity for the samples is described by a thermally activated model in the paramagnetic regime. It is found that the activation energy in the orthorhombic phase is higher than that in the rhombohedral phase for La(0.75)(Ca(0.45)Sr(0.55))(0.25)MnO(3). It is suggested that a higher energy is required to destroy the correlated polarons due to the fact that correlated polarons only exist in the orthorhombic phase. This proposition is confirmed by the analysis of the ESR linewidth data, which can be well fitted by the model of adiabatic hopping motion of small polarons. In addition, it is found that, at a fixed temperature, the linewidth decreases with increasing Sr doping, which reveals that the structural tolerance factor has a significant effect on the linewidth.

[The construction and identification of siRNA expression vector against hypoxia inducible factor -1 alpha in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have suggested that under hypoxic conditions hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) contributes to the progression of neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage (NPH) by increasing the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) gene. RNA interference (RNAi) refers to the process of sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene-silencing mediated by double-stranded RNA. This new gene-silencing technique has recently been shown to be a powerful approach for studying gene function. The aim of this study was to construct the small interfering RNA (siRNA) eukaryotic expression vectors specific to human HIF-1 alpha gene (pSIREN-Shuttle HIF-1 alpha siRNAin order to observe its silencing effect on HIF-1 alpha under hypoxic conditions.

METHODS

Six potential siRNA target sites (a-fspecific to human HIF-1 alpha gene were designed and synthesized to two complementary oligonucleotides (A-F) for each siRNA target site. Using a gene recombination technique, the recombinant expression vectors (A-F') were constructed by cloning the double strands oligonucleotide into RNAi-Ready pSIREN vector. The recombinant vectors were then transfected into the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). After 48 hrs of culture, the cells were treated with CoCl2 (100 mu M) for 3 hrs. Expression of HIF-1 alpha mRNA and protein was detected using RT-PCR and Western blot. ET-1 level in cell culture supernates was detected using ELISA.

RESULTS

The recombinant HIF-1 alpha siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors A'-F'respectively aiming at sites (a-f) were constructed successfully. Compared to the non-transfection group, liposome-mediated gene transfection of pSIREN-Shuttle HIF-1 alpha siRNA expression vectors into HUVECs obviously down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1 alpha, and partly decreased the ET-1 level in the B' and D' transfection groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The specific pSIREN-Shuttle HIF-1 alpha siRNA expression vectors B' and D' aiming at b and d sites can inhibit the expression of HIF-1 alpha, thus decreasing the level of its target gene ET-1. This may be helpful to study the relationship between HIF-1 alpha and neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage in vivo in future.

[Effect of NADPH oxidase on hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and endothelin-1 expression in human umbilical endothelial cells and its possible mechanism]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of NADPH oxidase on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and endothelin (ET)-1 expression in human umbilical endothelia cells (HUVECs) and its possible mechanism.

METHODS

Twenty-five bottles of HUVECs culture fluid were randomly assigned into five groups: group A (normoxic control), group B (hypoxic), group C (NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin + normoxic), group D (H2O2 which can degrade HIF-1alpha rapidly+hypoxic) and group E (H2O2+apocynin+normoxic), with five bottles in each group. The culture supernates were collected and the total protein was extracted 3 hrs after treatment. Western Blot and ELISA were used to detect the HIF-1alpha protein expression in HUVECs and the ET-1 level in the culture supernates respectively.

RESULTS

There was a lower expression of HIF-1alpha protein (0.336 +/- 0.012) and lower ET-1 levels (5.87 +/- 2.22 pg/mL) in group A. The HIF-1alpha protein expression in groups B and C (0.773 +/- 0.018 and 0.888 +/- 0.022) and ET-1 levels (95.38 +/- 8.06 and 33.67 +/- 4.21 pg/mL) were noticeably higher than in group A (P < 0.05). The groups D and E had the HIF-1alpha protein expression levels similar to group A, but the ET-1 levels in group D (108.43 +/- 8.38 pg/mL) and group E (109.66 +/- 5.80 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoxia or apocynin can increase the HIF-1alpha and ET-1 expression in HUVECs. H2O2 can inhibit the HIF-1alpha expression but increase the ET-1levels. It is speculated that NADPH oxidase as an oxygen sensor regulates the HIF-1alpha expression by changing the intracellular redox reaction and that except HIF-1, H2O2 might contribute to ET-1 synthesis and release.

Therapeutic efficacy of hepatitis B surface antigen-antibodies-recombinant DNA composite in HBsAg transgenic mice

Therapeutic efficacy of HBsAg-anti-HBs-recombinant DNA harboring hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene complex was compared with three other therapeutic vaccine candidates (recombinant HBsAg, HBsAg complexed to anti-HBs antibodies and naked plasmid DNA encoding the HBV S gene). After four injections at 3-week intervals, the most pronounced decrease of serum HBsAg, the highest titer of anti-HBs response, the highest level of interferon-gamma produced by splenocytes and potent cytotoxicity T cell response were observed in the HBsAg-anti HBs-sDNA immunized group. Reduced expression of HBsAg in hepatocytes was also shown. The therapeutic mechanism of HBsAg-anti-HBs-DNA was speculated as modulation of HBsAg presentation via both endogenous and exogenous pathways.

Effect of plasmid DNA on immunogenicity of HBsAg-anti-HBs complex

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) complexed with anti-HBs is more immunogenic than HBsAg alone in mice. This complex is usually used with alum as an adjuvant, which can enhance humoral response but inhibits cell-mediated immune responses. To improve the immunogenicity of HBsAg-anti-HBs, we immunized mice with a combination of this immunogenic complex and pCMVHBs, a plasmid encoding HBsAg, or the vector pCMV. Both plasmids enhanced the anti-HBs response induced by the immunogenic complex. We found 20 microg of plasmid or vector enhanced the anti-HBs response in all mice, whereas 1 microg was less effective. Splenocytes from different immunized groups were stimulated with HBsAg in vitro, and the highest level of IL-2 detected in the supernatant was found in mice immunized with HBsAg-anti-HBs plus pCMVHBs. A plasmid (pcDNA3c191) encoding core protein of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was used as an adjuvant to the immunogenic complex. A preliminary result showed that pcDNA3c191 not only enhanced the immunogenicity of HBsAg-anti-HBs, but also induced anti-HCV core antibodies. Immunization using a plasmid DNA encoding one viral antigen in combination with antigen and antibody complex of another microbial origin could be a new approach to the development of multivalent vaccines.

[Changes in densities of hypothalamic mu opioid receptor during cupric acete-induced preovulatory lh surge in rabbit]

Decrease in activity of hypothalamic beta-endorphin (beta-EP) is an important factor for inducing the preovulatory LH surge. To study whether hypothalamic mu opioid receptor is involved in this process, changes in densities of hypothalamic mu opioid receptors were observed in this study by autoradiography and image process during cupric acetate (CuAC)-induced preovulatory LH surge in rabbits. New Zealand female rabbits were injected 1% CuAC 0.9 ml or saline 0.9 ml and sacrificed at different times after the injection. The densities of mu opioid receptor in the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and the medial preoptic area (MPO) were measured. A transient increase in densities of MPO mu opioid receptor were observed 1 h after CuAC injection (P < 0.05). The densities of MPO mu opioid receptor decreased significantly before the onset of the LH surge (P < 0.05) and remained at a low level during the surge. The change in densities of mu opioid receptor in the MBH was similar to those in the MPO. No change was observed in the saline control group. There was a negative correlation between the changes in densities of MBH mu opioid receptor and serum LH levels in the process of LH surge. The results suggest that the decrease of hypothalamic mu opioid receptor may be involved in the preovulatory LH surge.

[Increase of mu opioid receptor density in rat central nervous system following formalin nociception and its enhancement by electroacupuncture]

Using receptor autoradiography it was found: (1) After formalin injection in the rat hind paw, the mu opioid receptor density was significantly increased in certain central areas related to antinociception, i.e., the caudate nucleus, nucleus accumbens, amygdaloid nucleus, periaqueductal gray, interpeduncular nucleus, nucleus raphe magnus and spinal dorsal horn. (2) In addition to most of above mentioned central areas, in rat whose noxious responses were inhibited by electroacupuncture, there was a significant increase of receptor density in the cingulate cortex, septal area, preoptic area, superior central nucleus, superior colliculus and medial geniculate body. In comparison with the rats with formalin injection alone, the receptor density in the interpeduncular nucleus, the ventrolateral part of the caudal periaqueductal gray and spinal dorsal horn of the lumbar enlargement was further increased in the rats showing electroacupuncture analgesia. The above results provide further evidence supporting the postulation that noxious stimulation is capable of activating endogenous opioid peptidergic system which is further enhanced by electroacupuncture.

[Morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) potentiates noxious stimulus-evoked Fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord]

The effect of morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) on noxious stimulus-evoked Fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord were assessed by ABC method. It was found that a dose-dependent increase of Fos-like immunoreactive neurons could be induced by M3G intrathecal injection followed by formaline injection into hindpaw. With high dosage M3G (1.1 x 10(-7) mole), dense Fos-like labelling was found in the superficial and the deep dorsal horn bilaterally, While with low dosage M3G (5.4 x 10(-8) and 1.1 x 10(-8) mole), most of the positively labelled neurons were only found in laminae I and II of the ipsilateral dorsal horn to the injured paw. The above results revealed that M3G exerts a potentiating effect on the noxious stimulus-evoked Fos protein-like immunoreactivity in the rat spinal cord.

[Microinjection of opioid antagonist into periaqueductal gray blocks formalin-induced alterations of substance P in spinal dorsal horn]

Using formalin injected into the rat's hind paw as nociceptive stimulation, the effect of naloxone and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) antiserum microinjected into the periaqueductal gray (PAG) on the level of substance P like immunoreactivity (SPLI) of the spinal dorsal horn was observed. After formalin injection, a significant increase in SPLI was found as compared with the control (P < 0.01). After naloxone or beta-EP antiserum microinjection, SPLI level in the dorsal horn was decreased (P < 0.05). It is thus suggested that nociceptive stimulation induce the release of beta-EP in the PAG, which, in turn, modulate SP release in the spinal dorsal horn.

[Changes of central glucose metabolism following caudate stimulation produced analgesia in the rat--an autoradiographic deoxyglucose A study]

Sokoloff's 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiographic technique was used to identify changes of glucose metabolic rate in the rat brain following unilateral stimulation of the head of the caudate nucleus. The results were as follows. The local glucose metabolic rate after noxious stimulation was increased in the somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex, ventroposterior and parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus, septal area, habenular nucleus, head of caudate nucleus, periaqueductal gray (PAG) and dorsal raphe nucleus (P < 0.05). After stimulating the head of the caudate nucleus, the local glucose metabolic rate of nucleus raphe magnus (rm) and nucleus paragigantocellularis (pgcl) was increased significantly and that of the PAG and dorsal raphe nucleus had a tendency to increase, while stimulation of the head of caudate nucleus could partially abolish the increased glucose metabolic rate in the somatosensory cortex, cingulate cortex, ventroposterior and parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus, septal area and habenular nucleus as induced by noxious stimulation. These results suggest that caudate stimulation is able to depress the activation of some brain structures related to nociception and to activate those related to antinociception. The pgcl, rm, PAG and dorsal raphe nucleus might be the key structures participating in the caudate stimulation produced analgesia.

The size of the hepatitis delta agent

The size of the hepatitis delta virus was determined by filtration of infectious plasma through polycarbonate membranes and the inoculation of filtrates into chimpanzees. Chimpanzees inoculated with filtrates of 50 nm and 30 nm, but not 15 nm filters, developed delta hepatitis. The minimum size of infectious hepatitis delta virus was estimated to be approximately 30 nm, which is consistent with measurements of particles thought to be the virus.

Determining the size of non-A, non-B hepatitis virus by filtration

The approximate size of the H strain of non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis virus was determined by filtration through polycarbonate membranes. The accuracy and reproducibility of such filtrations were monitored by filtering selected reference viruses. These studies indicate that strain H, representative of the principal blood-borne NANB hepatitis virus, is 30-60 nm in diameter. It is therefore highly unlikely that NANB hepatitis virus is a retrovirus, as has been suggested.

Serum interferon in systemic lupus erythematosus

Serum interferon levels were estimated in 67 samples obtained from 47 patients with SLE. Levels were increased in 70% of the samples and 72% of the patients. In the patients with active disease 81% had increased interferon levels, while in the group with clinically quiescent disease 10% had increased levels. In 20 patients retested 3 1/2 months after treatment the changes in interferon levels tended to parallel the changes in clinical disease activity in 80% of cases. Patients with active skin lesions, arthritis, and renal or haematopoietic involvement tended especially to have increased interferon levels. Interferon levels were directly related to ANA titre and inversely related to serum C3 levels, but not related to serum levels of circulating immune complexes or immunoglobulin. The interferon was shown to be of type alpha. The interferon level can be regarded as one of several parameters reflecting disease activity and may also be related to the prognosis. As it is possible that interferon may be a direct mediator of the pathophysiology of auto-immune disease, we do not recommend the use of interferon or its inducers in the therapy of SLE.

The spectrum of complement-fixing antinuclear antibodies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Sera from 230 hepatocellular carcinoma patients were tested for antinuclear antibodies by anticomplement immunofluorescence in 16 types of transformed, diploid or primary cells of human, monkey, chimpanzee or rat origin. As controls, we tested 85 sera from patients with chronic liver diseases, 48 sera from patients with nonhepatic cancers and 164 sera of normal controls. Exactly 11.2% of all cancer patients but only 3.6% of noncancer patients had complement-fixing antinuclear antibody that reacted with all substrates. Only sera from hepatocellular carcinoma reacted with subsets of the tumor cell substrates. These sera reacted with hepatocellular carcinoma cells and nonhepatic cancer cells (antitumor) or only with one or more of the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, PLC/PRF/5, Hep3B and Mahlavu, that were derived from HBsAg-positive patients (antihepatocellular carcinoma). Three of these reacted only with hepatitis B virus DNA-positive cells (PLC/PRF/5 and Hep3B) that contained "hepatitis B-associated nuclear antigen," 1 reacted only with hepatitis B virus DNA-negative Mahlavu cells, 1 reacted with PLC/PRF/5 and Mahlavu and 3 reacted with all 3 cells. The nuclear antigen in Mahlavu was expressed as a homogeneous fluorescence that spared the nucleoli, was present in a lower percentage of cells than hepatitis B-associated nuclear antigen and was more thermostable than hepatitis B-associated nuclear antigen. However, it resembled hepatitis B-associated nuclear antigen in kinetics of expression and susceptibility to digestion with DNase, RNase and proteinase K. The nature of the nuclear antigens in the hepatocellular carcinoma cells is poorly understood but one possibility is that they may represent the expression of viral or tumor-related genes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activity of trigeminothalamic neurons in medullary dorsal horn of awake monkeys trained in a thermal discrimination task

We analyzed the activity of 51 trigeminothalamic neurons in the medullary dorsal horn (trigeminal nucleus caudalis) of monkeys during the performance of behavioral tasks requiring the monkeys to discriminate innocuous and noxious thermal stimuli applied to the face and to detect the onset of visual stimuli. Static properties of trigeminothalamic neurons in behaving monkeys were similar to those in anesthetized monkeys. Responses to passively presented mechanical and thermal stimuli, receptive-field properties, and conduction velocities did not differ in the awake and anesthetized states. For most wide dynamic range and nociceptive-specific trigeminothalamic neurons, there was a negative correlation between the magnitude of thermally evoked activity and behavioral latencies to discriminate 47 and 49 degrees C stimuli. Thus, both groups of neurons provide information that could be used by the monkey to discriminate noxious thermal stimuli. The magnitude of thermal responses of trigeminothalamic neurons was modulated by the behavioral significance of the stimulus. Behaviorally relevant thermal stimuli presented during the thermal discrimination task produced a greater neuronal response than equivalent irrelevant thermal stimuli presented between behavioral trials or presented while the monkey performed the visual detection task. Neurons whose activity is modulated by behavioral state are likely to be involved in discrimination of thermal stimuli, since the activity of these neurons correlates with the behavioral response to the stimuli and information from the modulated neurons is sent to the thalamus. Some trigeminothalamic neurons that exhibited somatosensory responses also responded to behaviorally relevant stimuli and events associated with trial initiation and receipt of reward in the behavioral tasks. Similar events outside a behavioral task evoked no neuronal responses. These task-related responses were similar to those described previously for medullary dorsal horn neurons not identified as to projection sites (14).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Activity of opioid peptidergic system in acupuncture analgesia

To study the relationship between the opioid peptidergic system (OPS) and acupuncture analgesia (AA), observations have been made both at presynaptic levels and receptor sites in our college since 1975. It was found that AA could be reversed by naloxone in rabbits and in man. The opioid peptide activity increased in human cerebrospinal fluid and in the perfusate from certain brain areas during AA, as revealed by radio-receptor assay. The results indicate that OPS takes an active part in AA. To study further the activity of OPS, experiments were done at the level of nerve cells on rabbits's central gray (PAG). By using multimicropipettes for extracellular recording and iontophoresis of drugs, it was found that opiates produced a naloxone reversible inhibition on the spontaneous discharge of certain neurones. Such neurones were distributed mostly in the ventral part of the PAG. Similar to iontophoretic opiates, electroacupuncture (EA) had an inhibitory effect on PAG neurones and the inhibition could be reversed by iontophoretic naloxone. A correlation existed between the effects of EA and opiates (P less than 0.0174). EA and opiates also showed similar inhibitory effect on nociceptive response of PAG neurones. It was postulated that acupuncture signals activate the brain OPS to exert a double control over the transmission of pain sensation in the PAG, i.e., to block the conveyance of nociceptive impulses at situ and at other relay stations through inhibitory systems. In addition to the PAG, most brain areas important in AA are interrelated to OPS, and the interaction between opioid peptides and opiate receptors in these areas perform an analgesic function as a whole.

Synergism between metoclopramide and electroacupuncture analgesia

Animal experiments revealed that the activity of the cholinergic system in certain brain areas enhanced acupuncture analgesia (AA) while that of the dopaminergic system attenuated it. Metoclopramide, having antidopamine and anticholinesterase actions, was found to be synergic with AA both in the laboratory and in the clinics. Patients having taken metoclopramide reported better analgesic effect during thyroidectomy under acupuncture anesthesia. The results suggest that metoclopramide can be used as an adjuvant to improve AA.