A Novel Computer-Vision Approach Assisted by 2D-Wavelet Transform and Locality Sensitive Discriminant Analysis for Concrete Crack Detection

This study proposes FastCrackNet, a computationally efficient crack-detection approach. Instead of a computationally costly convolutional neural network (CNN), this technique uses an effective, fully connected network, which is coupled with a 2D-wavelet image transform for analyzing and a locality sensitive discriminant analysis (LSDA) for reducing the number of features. The algorithm described here is used to detect tiny concrete cracks in two noisy adverse conditions and image shadows. By combining wavelet-based feature extraction, feature reduction, and a rapid classifier based on deep learning, this technique surpasses other image classifiers in terms of speed, performance, and resilience. In order to evaluate the accuracy and speed of FastCrackNet, two prominent pre-trained CNN architectures, namely GoogleNet and Xception, are employed. Findings reveal that FastCrackNet has better speed and accuracy than the other models. This study establishes performance and computational thresholds for classifying photos in difficult conditions. In terms of classification efficiency, FastCrackNet outperformed GoogleNet and the Xception model by more than 60 and 80 times, respectively. Furthermore, FastCrackNet's dependability was proved by its robustness and stability in the presence of uncertainties produced by network characteristics and input images, such as input image size, batch size, and input image dimensions.

[Pediatric pancreatic lesions: a clinicopathological analysis of 42 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of pancreatic lesions in children. Methods: The clinicopathological data of pancreatic lesions in children were analyzed including 42 cases of pancreatic tumors diagnosed from January 2000 to May 2021 in Guangzhou Women's and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China. Histological and immunohistochemical assessments were performed. Related literature was reviewed. Results: The 42 pediatric patients with pancreatic lesions aged 1 day to 12 years (mean, 4.25 years). There were 23 males and 19 females. Clinical presentations included abdominal masses, abdominal pain, vomiting and persistent hypoglycemia after birth. Ultrasound and computerized tomography examination showed space-occupying pancreatic lesions in 31 cases, but no detectable pancreatic lesions in 11 cases. Histologically, among the 42 cases, 22 cases (52.4%) were neoplastic, including 18 cases of epithelial origin. Nine cases of pancreatoblastoma showed that the epithelial tumor cells were arranged in a trabecular pattern, with squamous nests. Six cases of solid-pseudopapillary tumors revealed hemorrhagic and necrotic cysts and monomorphic epithelioid cells arranged in solid sheets, nests or pseudopapillae. Two cases of neuroendocrine tumors showed tumor cells arranged in cords or nests; one case had a mitotic count of about 3/10 high power field, and a Ki-67 index of about 5%, which was consistent with G2 neuroendocrine tumor; the other case showed tumor cells with cytological atypia, brisk mitoses, about 25/10 HPF and a Ki-67 index of about 80%, consistent with small-cell type neuroendocrine carcinoma. The case of acinar cell carcinoma showed high cellularity, tumor cells in solid, cord-like or acinar-like arrangement with little stroma, and monotonous tumor cells with single distinct nucleolus. There were 4 cases of mesenchymal tumors, including 3 cases of Kaposi's hemangioendothelioma and 1 case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Among the 20 cases (47.6%) of non-neoplastic lesions, there were 11 cases of hyperinsulinism with ATP-sensitive potassium channel abnormality (HAPCA). Severn cases of diffuse type HAPCA in which the islets scattered between the pancreatic acinar tissue, enlarged, and prominent nuclei. Three cases of focal type HAPCA showed pancreatic islet hyperplasia in the form of nested nodules (0.6-1.5 cm). One case of atypical type HAPCA had extensive islet hyperplasia in pancreatic tissue, and scattered proliferation of nest-like nodules was noted. There were also 7 cases of pseudocyst and 2 cases of congenital cyst. Immunohistochemically, pancreatoblastomas were diffusely positive for CKpan, CK8/18, and β-catenin (nuclear staining of squamous nests only). Solid-pseudopapillary tumors expressed CD10, cyclin D1, CD99, vimentin, CD56, and β-catenin (nuclear staining). Neuroendocrine tumors were positive for CK, Syn, NSE, CgA, CD56, and β-catenin (membranous staining). The acinar cell carcinoma was positive for CK8/18, trypsin, and β-catenin (membranous staining). Conclusions: Pancreatic lesions in children have a wide range of histopathological types. HAPCA is the most common lesion of newborns. Pediatric pancreatic tumors are rare and mostly malignant. It is important to recognize them and make correct pathological diagnoses.

[Application of multidisciplinary treatment comprehensive management model for early-stage lung cancer]

Objective: To explore the application of multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) and comprehensive management model in the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer, and analyze its clinical value and the feasibility and significance of promotion. Methods: A retrospective study of 470 patients in Xijing Hospital who underwent surgery after MDT from January 8, 2018 to December 31, 2019. There were 172 males and 298 females, aged from 23 to 79 (54.46±11.08) years. Basic diagnosis and treatment information as well as postoperative pathology were analyzed, of which 441 cases were recommended for surgery by MDT and 29 cases were subjectively requested for surgery. The patients' general condition, preoperative diagnosis and pathological results were compared, and the specific content of the MDT and comprehensive management model were summarized. We also explored the value of MDT integrated management model in early stage lung cancer treatment in the context of the current lung cancer incidence in China. Results: Among 470 surgical patients, the majority of males had solid nodules (69/172,40.1%), and the majority of females had ground glass nodules (135/298,45.3%). The distribution of nodules showed a trend of more upper lobe(277/470)than lower lobe(161/470) and more right lung(276/470) than left lung(194/470). Among the 441 patients recommended for surgery, 98.11% of males (156/159) and 97.87% of females (276/282) showed malignant pathology after surgery. Adenocarcinoma was the main pathological type (93.59% of males, 146/156; 97.46% of females, 269/276). Among the malignant pathological results, carcinoma in situ (42.31% of males, 66/156; 47.10% of females, 130/276) and stage I lung cancer (50.64% of males, 79/156; 47.46% of females, 131/276) were the most common. In all patients, 1.89% of the males (3/159) and 2.13% of the females (6/282) recommended for surgery showed benign postoperative pathology, of which tuberculosis and fungal infection were the main pathological types (66.67% for each gender, males 2/3, females, 4/6). The postoperative pathology of 29 patients who subjectively requested surgery was also tuberculosis and fungal infection as the main pathological types (69.23% of males, 9/13; 68.75% of females, 11/16). The MDT comprehensive management model made full use of a variety of auxiliary diagnostic technologies and combined the experience advantages of multidisciplinary participation to make up for the limitations of single-diagnosis. The overall diagnosis coincidence rate reached 98.09%, with strong consistency (Kappa>0.81). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 97.96%, the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100%, and the average patient diagnosis and treatment cycle was 24.28-26.51 days. Conclusions: The MDT comprehensive management model meets the consensus requirements. It has great advantages in diagnostic efficiency and diagnosis and treatment cycle, and has a high promotion and application value for the diagnosis and treatment of early-stage lung cancer. At the same time, tuberculosis and fungal infection should be regarded as an important differential diagnosis item.

Directional massless Dirac fermions in a layered van der Waals material with one-dimensional long-range order

One or a few layers of van der Waals (vdW) materials are promising for applications in nanoscale electronics. Established properties include high mobility in graphene, a large direct gap in monolayer MoS₂, the quantum spin Hall effect in monolayer WTe₂ and so on. These exciting properties arise from electron quantum confinement in the two-dimensional limit. Here, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to reveal directional massless Dirac fermions due to one-dimensional confinement of carriers in the layered vdW material NbSi_0.45Te₂. The one-dimensional directional massless Dirac fermions are protected by non-symmorphic symmetry, and emerge from a stripe-like structural modulation with long-range translational symmetry only along the stripe direction as we show using scanning tunnelling microscopy. Our work not only provides a playground for investigating further the properties of directional massless Dirac fermions, but also introduces a unique component with one-dimensional long-range order for engineering nano-electronic devices based on heterostructures of vdW materials.

[Outcome of cochlear implantation in a patient with Chiari malformation type Ⅰ who presented with hearing loss]

Summary Chiari malformation type Ⅰ（CMI） is a disorder characterized by tonsilla cerebelli herniating into an underdeveloped posterior cranial fossa, hearing loss is often covered by more striking neurological symptoms. Hearing loss in this syndrome is not specific in terms of gender side, degree, age of onset, and progression. The hearing improvement after posterior fossa decompression is controversial on the basis of literature, while satisfactory result was obtained after cochlear implantation in the patient reported here, who was diagnosed as CMI with hearing loss as the main symptom. Therefore, after ensuring the integrity of the auditory pathway, cochlear implantation may be considered in CMI patients with bilateral severe or profound without other severe neurological symptoms.

[Therapeutic effect of Jin Long capsule combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on invasive breast cancer and the expression change of multidrug resistance proteins]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Jin Long Capsule (JLC) combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on the invasive breast cancer, and to explore the mechanism of JLC in inhibiting multidrug resistance of breast cancer. Methods: 200 patients were divided into experimental group and control group (100 cases per group). The control group used TEC regimen for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. And the experimental group was treated with TEC regimen combined with oral JLC. According to the Miller & Payne grading system (MP), the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was evaluated based on histopathological changes of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Adverse effect was evaluated according to the classification criteria of the National Cancer Institute of the United States-The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 3.0. The expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), glutathione thiol transferase (GST)-π and topoisomerase Ⅱα (TopoⅡα) in breast cancer tissues before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results: There were 83 effective cases (83%) in the experimental group, which was higher than that in the control group (65.0%, P<0.05). The incidence of leukopenia, gastrointestinal reactions and alopecia in grade 3 to 4 of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group (all P<0.05). The positive rates of P-gp, GST-π and TopoⅡα expression in the control group were 65.0% (65/100), 61.0% (61/100) and 69.0% (69/100), respectively, and they were 80.6% (75/93), 78.5% (73/93) and 37.6% (35/93) after chemotherapy. The positive rates of P-gp and GST-π expression were significantly higher than those before chemotherapy (both P<0.05), whereas the positive rate of TopoⅡα expression was significantly lower than that before chemotherapy (P<0.05). In the experimental group, the positive rates of P-gp, GST-π and TopoⅡα expression before chemotherapy were 62.0% (62/100), 63.0% (63/100) and 69.0% (69/100), respectively, while after chemotherapy, they were 68.2% (60/88), 67.0% (59/88) and 63.6% (56/88). There was no significant difference in the positive rates and expression intensity of P-gp, GST-π and TopoⅡα before and after the chemotherapy (P>0.05). Conclusion: Jin Long Capsule (JLC) can inhibit multidrug resistance, improve the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and reduce adverse reactions of breast cancer.

[Suture under tension across cartilage in the application of the crooked nose surgery]

Objective:Observing the effect of maintain tension across suture between cartilages to fix new nasal structure on balance the asymmetric strength of the two sides of the cartilage and the recurrence of the postoperative crooked nose.Method:A L-shaped struct made of the nasal septum cartilage were fixed to maintain tension across structure between cartilage during rhinoplasty in 39 patients with crooked nasal deformity. Of 21 cases were type I deviation, of 12 cases were C-shaped deviation,and of 6 cases were S-shaped deviation.Result:A 1-5 years follow-up were performed. The effects were divided into three degrees: 30 cases excellent (76.92%), 6 cases good (15.38%) and 3 cases acceptable (7.69%).The rate of excellent and good was 92.31%(36/39). The type I improvement rate was 80.3%,the rate of type C was 83.6% and the improvement rate of type S was 84.1%,the overall improvement rate was about 81.9%.Conclusion:Suture under tension across cartilage can fix reconstruction of nasal structure effectively,improve the postoperative effect, reduce recurrence of crooked nose. The operation is simple and is an essential part of the nasal deformity correction technique.

Anti-IL-33 antibody has a therapeutic effect in a murine model of allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

Interleukin (IL)-33 is involved in the Th2 immune response and could play an essential role in nasal allergy. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of anti-IL-33 for allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS

Twenty-four BALB/c mice were used. In group A (control group, n = 6), mice were sensitized and challenged with saline. Group B [ovalbumin (OVA) group, n = 6] mice received intraperitoneal and intranasal OVA challenge. In group C (control IgG group, n = 6), mice were injected intraperitoneally with rabbit control IgG before OVA challenge. In group D (anti-IL-33 group, n = 6), anti-IL-33 was injected before challenge. We evaluated the number of nose-scratching events and external morphology; serum total and OVA-specific IgE; number of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; histopathologic examination of nasal cavity; and IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BAL fluid.

RESULTS

Anti-IL-33 treatment significantly reduced the nose-scratching events and ameliorated skin denudation. Serum total and OVA-specific IgE was significantly decreased in group D. The number of eosinophils in BAL fluid was also significantly decreased. Eosinophilic infiltration in the nasal cavity was significantly decreased in group D. IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BAL fluid were also significantly decreased after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-IL-33 antibody has a therapeutic potential for experimental AR.

Artificial neural network analysis for reliability prediction of regional runoff utilization

Many factors in the reliability analysis of planning the regional rainwater utilization tank capacity need to be considered. Based on the historical daily rainfall data, the following four analyzing procedures will be conducted: the regional daily rainfall frequency, the amount of runoff, the water continuity, and the reliability. Thereafter, the suggested designed storage capacity can be obtained according to the conditions with the demand and supply reliability. By using the output data, two different types of artificial neural network models are used to build up small area rainfall-runoff supply systems for the simulation of reliability and the prediction model. They are also used for the testing of stability and learning speed assessment. Based on the result of this research, the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) model, using the Gaussian function that has a similar trend as the nature as basic function, has better stability than using the back-propagation neural network (BPNN) model. Despite the fact that RBFNN was more reliable than BPNN, it still made a conservative estimate for the actual monitoring data. The error rate of RBFNN was still higher than the correction of BPNN 4-3-1-1. This should have significant benefit in the future application of the instantaneous prediction or the development of related intelligent instantaneous control equipment.

A serosurvey of Orientia tsutsugamushi from patients with scrub typhus

Many countries where scrub typhus is endemic use their own cutoff values for antibody titres to differentiate between cured cases and current infections. To establish an antibody titre cutoff value, one needs to investigate the seroprevalence in endemic areas, and the duration of the increase in titre after complete cure. We conducted a follow-up study of anti-Orientia tsutsugamushi antibody titres using indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) and passive haemagglutination assays (PHA) in patients with scrub typhus. After the onset of symptoms, IgM antibody titres increased gradually over 2-3 weeks, peaked at about 4 weeks, and started to decrease rapidly between 4 and 5 weeks. At 1-year follow-up, the median IgM value was 1:10. Out of 77 patients who were tested at that time, 36 (47%) had IgM titres > or =1:20, and none had titres exceeding 1:80. Over the first 2 weeks, IgG antibody titres increased sharply, peaked at about 4 weeks and decreased rather gradually thereafter, with a median titre of 1:128 maintained up to the 18th month. At 1-year follow-up, five out of 77 patients (6.5%) had titres > or =1:1,024 and 57% had titres > or =1:128. Based on these results, a cutoff value of > or =1:160 for IgM antibody should differentiate between previous and current infections in endemic areas such as Korea and Japan, where scrub typhus occurs mainly in the autumn.

Influence of dietary solvents on strength of nanofill and ormocer composites

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of dietary solvents on the shear punch strength of nanofill (Filtek Supreme [FS], 3M-ESPE) and ormocer (Admira [AM], Voco) composites. The strength of these materials was also compared to a minifill composite (Z250 [ZT], 3M-ESPE), a compomer (F2000 [FT], 3M-ESPE) and a highly viscous glass ionomer cement (Ketac Molar Quick [KM], 3M-ESPE). Thirty-two specimens (8.7 mm diameter and 1-mm thick) of each material were made, randomly divided into four groups of eight and conditioned for one week as follows-Group 1 (control): distilled water at 37 degrees C; Group 2: 0.02M citric acid at 37 degrees C; Group 3: 50% ethanol-water solution at 37 degrees C and Group 4: heptane at 37 degrees C. After conditioning, the specimens were restrained with a torque of 2.5 Nm and subjected to shear punch strength testing using a 2-mm diameter punch at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute. The shear punch strength of the specimens was computed and data subjected to ANOVA/Scheffe's tests at significance level 0.05. With the exception of AM, the strength of all materials was not significantly influenced by dietary solvents. For AM, conditioning in heptane resulted in significantly higher shear strength values. The strength of the nanofill and ormocer composites was lower than the minifill composite but higher than the compomer and highly viscous glass ionomer cement investigated.

cDNA cloning and genomic structure of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) MHC class I gene

In order to provide data for studies on disease resistance, duck MHC class I cDNA (Anpl-MHC I) was cloned from a duck cDNA library and the genome structure was investigated. Anpl-MHC I genes encoded 344-355 amino acids. The genomic organization is composed of eight exons and seven introns. Based on the genetic distance, Anpl-MHC I cDNA from six individuals can be classified into four lineages (from Anpl-UAA to Anpl-UDA). A total of 28 amino acid positions in the peptide-binding domain (PBD) showed high scores by Wu-kabat index analysis. The Anpl-MHC amino acid sequence displayed seven critical HLA-A2amino acids that bind with antigen polypeptides, and have an 83.6-88.5% amino acid homology with each lineage, a 55.2-64.6% amino-acid homology with chicken MHC class I (B-FIV21, B-FIV2, Rfp-Y), and a 40.3-42.8% homology with mammalian MHC class I. Nested PCR detected that Anpl-MHC I can be expressed in the brain, heart, kidney, intestines and bursa. Compared with the human HLA-A2 tertiary structure of the PBD, Anpl-MHC I had an insertion or deletion variation in four domains (A-D). The phlyogenetic tree appears to branch in an order consistent with accepted evolutionary pathways.

Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis with subdural effusion: a case report

Haemophilus influenzae type b causes invasive infection in children under 2 years of age. The disease may be complicated with hearing impairment, lowered learning ability, and other neurologic sequelae. The incidence of invasive H. influenzae type b has declined dramatically after the introduction of routine administration of protein-conjugated H. influenzae type b vaccine in the United States and some other countries. Because of its low incidence in Taiwan, many clinicians are not familiar with the initial symptoms and management of H. influenzae type b. This case report describes a 7-month-old H. influenzae type b meningitis patient who had initial presentations of prolonged intermittent fever and vague neurologic signs. Left peripheral facial palsy with hearing loss in left ear and bilateral frontal subdural effusion developed during the first 5 days of cefotaxime therapy. Betamethasone was then given for 4 days to relieve the severe inflammation. Drug-induced fever was observed after 11 days of antibiotic use and subsided with prednisolone treatment. Left ear hearing impairment persisted during the follow-up period, but the children did not experience other significant development delay.

A preliminary study on electrically enhanced crossflow microfiltration of CMP (chemical-mechanical polishing) wastewater

Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is currently one of the main technologies used by wafer plants in the semiconductor industry. Normally, a large amount of de-ionized water should be used to wash out the abrasives adhered to the surface of wafers during the grinding process. Therefore, CMP wastewater not only has a great quantity but also contains very small size of suspended solids. Generally, these suspended solids would not settle. This phenomenon results in a low visibility of CMP wastewater. To solve this problem, a study on electrically enhanced crossflow microfiltration of CMP wastewater was conducted. Normally, the membrane of traditional dead-end filtration is easily blocked by the filter cake resulting in a small flux of filtrate. Therefore, the form of crossflow filtration (CFF) is used to reduce the blocking of the membrane. Furthermore, if CFF is accompanied by an external electric field, the negatively charged suspended solids in wastewater would move toward the positive electrode. Meanwhile, the flux of filtrate would increase. In this investigation, CMP wastewater was obtained from a wafer plant and characterized by various standard methods. Before testing, the CMP wastewater was pre-filtered using a 1.2 microm pore size filter. Then it was operated by a crossflow microfiltration (0.1 microm pore size) system under an appropriate crossflow velocity, filtration pressure, and electric potential. The filtrate was also characterized by various standard methods. Experimental results show that the filtrate has a turbidity of zero value. Thus, the filtrate could be reused for other purposes. However, the suspended solids of the CMP wastewater would be concentrated by this method. Therefore, the recovery of the suspended solids would be worth considering.

Microsomal monooxygenase activity in Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) exposed to a bleached kraft mill effluent using different exposure systems

Bleached kraft pulp and paper mill effluents (BKMEs) are known to have adverse effects on aquatic organisms. One of the effects of BKMEs is its ability to induce cytochrome P4501A activity in exposed fish. 7-Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity is the most common biomarker used to measure the mixed-function monooxygenase activity. In this study, Tilapia were exposed to BKMEs using different exposure systems and their hepatic EROD activity, as well as liver/somatic index (LSI), were determined. In the Phase I study, Tilapia treated with betaNF and a whole (100%) BKME using a static, non-renewal system exhibited statistically significant EROD induction, but LSI values were not altered. In the Phase II study, fish were either caged in the mill's fishpond with the whole effluent passing through or cultured in tanks receiving 100% of the BKME continuously using a flow-through system in the laboratory. Their EROD activities were then compared with the non-exposed fish (control). The EROD activities in both groups of fish were elevated significantly with the greatest induction being observed in the field-exposed group. The LSI values in all of the field-exposed fish were significantly greater than the control Tilapia. The EROD assay was sensitive in detecting biological changes in fish exposed to the BKME. Further studies are warranted to better understand the impacts of BKMEs on aquatic organisms in Taiwan.

On-line concentration of s-triazine herbicides in micellar electrokinetic chromatography using a cationic surfactant

On-line concentration of neutral species of s-triazine herbicides in micellar electrokinetic chromatography using tetradecylammonium bromide (TTAB) as a cationic surfactant was investigated. Factors affecting the stacking of analytes were examined. The results indicate that the stacking efficiency is markedly improved with addition of phosphate buffer in the sample matrix. It was found that, depending on the nature of the analytes, the most effective stacking of these analytes occurs when the ratio of the conductivity of buffer electrolyte to that of sample matrix is in the range 1.4-1.2, with sample matrix containing phosphate buffer. Micelle concentration in the separation buffer is also a crucial factor to enhance the stacking efficiency and detection sensitivity of analytes. Moreover, the stacking efficiency of each individual analyte depends on its binding constant to TTAB micelles. The concentration effect is primarily based on sweeping mechanism which is operated in a normal stacking mode with reversed electrode polarity in the presence of reversed electroosmotic flow. As a result of concentration enhancement, the detection limits of these herbicides can reach about 9-15 ng/ml with UV detection.

The promoter region of the CTLA4 gene is associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The CTLA4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4) gene encodes the T cell receptor involved in the control of T cell proliferation and mediates T cell apoptosis. C-T polymorphism is present at position -318 from the ATG start codon in the promoter region of the gene. We report a study on the polymorphism in 347 unrelated children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) (age at diagnosis 7.2+/-3.8 years) and their 260 healthy siblings as controls. Genotype C/C conferred a risk of type 1 DM (RR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.32-3.10, pc = 0.0033). The gene frequency of the C allele was higher in patients (RR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.28-2.84, pc = 0.0026). The gene frequency and phenotype frequency of the T allele were negatively associated with type 1 DM (RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.35-0.78, pc = 0.0026 and RR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.32-0.76, pc = 0.0022, respectively). The frequency of genotype C/T was lower in patients (RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.78, pc = 0.0051). This study demonstrates that nucleotide -318 C-T polymorphism of the CTLA4 gene is associated with type 1 DM. The promoter allele -318 C confers a risk of type 1 DM but allele -318 T confers protection against this disease.

Leukocytes expressing green fluorescent protein as novel reagents for adoptive cell transfer and bone marrow transplantation studies

Transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) were generated to provide a source of labeled leukocytes for cell transfer studies. The transgene comprises the GFP coding region under the transcriptional control of the chicken ss-actin promoter and human cytomegalovirus enhancer. Mice expressing this GFP transgene were generated in the B6D2 and in the 129SvEv backgrounds. Flow cytometric analysis of cells from the blood, spleen, and bone marrow of these transgenic mice revealed that most leukocytes, including dendritic cells and memory T cells, express GFP. In allogeneic cell transfers, donor GFP+ splenocytes were detected in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes of recipient mice within 2 hours after transfer and for at least 9 days thereafter. In syngeneic experiments using 129-derived GFP+ donor splenocytes, donor cells were detected in multiple tissues of 129 recipients from 2 hours to 3 weeks after transfer. In bone-marrow transplantation experiments using irradiated allogeneic recipients, the percent of GFP+ donor cells in recipients at 3 weeks was comparable to that seen in similar tissues of GFP+ donor mice. These data demonstrate that GFP+ transgenic mice provide a ready source of GFP-expressing primary cells that can be easily monitored after their transfer to recipient animals.

Lewis (FUT3) genotypes in Taiwanese, Thai, and Filipino populations

The Lewis (Le) blood type comprises two major antigens, Le(a) and Le(b), which are encoded by alpha (1,2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT2) and a (1,3/1,4)-fucosyl-transferase (FUT3). In this study, we analyzed the mutations of FUT3 in Taiwanese, Thai, and Filipino populations and correlated these with serologic phenotypes. One hundred and thirty-seven Taiwanese, 71 Thai, and 125 Filipino were studied unselectively. The frequency of the normal and four other mutant alleles for Taiwanese, Thai, and Filipino, respectively, were as follows: 187/274 (68.2%), 87/142 (61.3%), and 160/250 (64.0%) were wild type (Le); 14/274 (5.1%), 1/142 (0.7%), and 1/250 (0.4%) were a T202C/C314T mutation (le202,314); 35/274 (12.8%), 15/142 (10.6%), and 22/250 (8.8%) had the G508A mutation (le508); and 38/274 (13.9%), 39/142 (27.4%), and 67/250 (26.8%) carried the T1067A mutation (le1067). The le445 and le1007 were not detected in this study. Our result provided the first genetic data of the FUT3 gene in these three populations, and the frequency distribution of mutant alleles among Taiwanese, Thai, and Filipinos demonstrates a significant difference (P<0.001). In our study, the le202,314 mutation had considerable frequency in the Taiwanese, but the le1067 mutation had a higher frequency in Thai and Filipinos.

Molecular basis of Lewis blood type in Taiwanese

The Lewis (Le) histo-blood group system comprises two major antigens, Le(a) and Le(b) which are determined by alpha (1,2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT2) and alpha (1,3/1,4)-fucosyltransferase (FUT3). In this study, we analyzed the mutations of FUT2 and FUT3 genes in 101 Taiwanese by molecular biology method and compared them with their serologic phenotypes to explore their relationship. There is at least one wild allele of FUT2 and FUT3 genes in phenotype of Le (a-b+). The phenotypes of Le (a+b-) and Le (a+b+) are caused by mutations of both alleles of FUT2 gene and at least one wild allele of FUT3 gene. The genotypes of Le (a+b-) and Le (a+b+) are the same. Twenty cases are phenotype of Le (a-b-), which are caused by mutations of both alleles of FUT 2 gene and/or FUT 3 gene. Twelve cases were caused by both alleles mutations of FUT 3 gene only, while three cases were caused by mutations of both alleles of FUT2 gene and the rest of the cases were caused by mutations of both alleles of FUT2 and FUT3 genes. Our findings confirm that the Le histo-blood group is determined by the interaction of FUT 2 and FUT 3 genes. Our report is the first study of FUT 2 gene and FUT 3 gene in a Taiwanese population. We suggest that the genetic analysis of Le blood group should include FUT 2 and FUT 3 genes together.

Hereditary fructose intolerance presenting as Reye's-like syndrome: report of one case

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by catalytic deficiency of aldolase B (fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase). Herein we report on a case of hereditary fructose intolerance with initial presentation of episodic unconsciousness, seizure, hypoglycemia, hepatomegaly, and abnormal liver function since the patient was 11 months old. She was diagnosed as Reye's-like syndrome according to a liver biopsy done at 20 months of age. As she grew up, cold sweating, abdominal pain or gastrointestinal discomfort shortly after the intake of fruits was noted and she developed an aversion to fruits, vegetables and sweet-tasting foods. At 9 years of age, a fructose tolerance test signified a positive result that induced hypoglycemia, transient hypophosphatemia, hyperuricaemia, elevation of serum magnesium, and accumulation of lactic acid. Appropriate dietary management and precautions were recommended. The patient has been symptom-free and exhibited normal growth and development when followed up to 12 years of age.

G protein beta3 subunit variant and essential hypertension in Taiwan - a case-control study

Recent studies have shown that a C825T polymorphism of the gene encoding the G protein beta3 subunit contributes to the genesis of essential hypertension. However, the link between the gene and blood pressure is not consistently found in different populations. The aim of the present study is to investigate this issue in Taiwan. We analyzed the allelic status in 302 hypertensive (age, 60+/-11 years; male/female, 136/166) and 199 normotensive subjects (62+/-15 years; male/female, 90/109). Our result showed that the T allelic was more frequently seen in the hypertensive group than the normotensive, but the difference did not reach statistic significance (56.5 vs. 54.3%, P>0.1). Subsequent analysis demonstrated a similar trend in the female (58.7 vs. 53.7%, P>0.1) but a reverse trend in the male (53.7 vs. 55%, P>0.1). Another finding was that the T allele frequency in all the groups was over 50%, markedly higher than those reported in whites. In conclusion, the observation suggests that the polymorphism in the G protein gene is not likely to play an important role in the manifestation of high blood pressure in Taiwan.

Analysis of the mRNA transcripts of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene in the tissue of an SMA fetus and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of normals, carriers and SMA patients

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disorder characterized by degeneration of the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The gene most highly associated with SMA is the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. In this study, we present an analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the SMN gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in normal subjects, SMA carriers and patients from 20 SMA families. We found at least 6-8 different transcripts of SMN gene formed by alternative splicing involving exons 3, 5 and 7. We compared transcripts from the different types of SMA and found no definite differences in transcript patterns and amounts. Normal subjects with the telomeric SMN (SMN(T)) gene only had variable splicing resulting in several transcripts, the most dominant being a transcript containing all coding regions. However, SMA patients with the centromeric SMN (SMN(C)) gene only had a higher degree of splice variation and tended to show little or no exon 7. These results demonstrate that SMN(T) and SMN(C) genes participate in alternative splicing phenomena. The different splicing patterns support the view that the SMN(T) gene is responsible for SMA disease. We also analyzed the transcripts from several tissues of an SMA fetus who had a homozygous SMN(T) gene deletion. Different splicing patterns were also found in these tissues, and were similar to the splicing pattern of leukocytes. We compared the major transcripts from exons 4 to 8 of both the SMN(T) and SMN(C) genes and found that the relative proportion varied among normal subjects, SMA carriers and patients. This approach could be used as a novel diagnostic method. We suggest that analyzing the mRNA expression of the SMN gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells offers an apparently reliable technique for separating SMA patients, carriers, and normal individuals.

Low-order adaptive optics for free-space optoelectronic interconnects

The concept of adaptive optics for improving the cost-performance of free-space optoelectronic interconnects is discussed. Adaptive optics as a design option for optical interconnect systems is presented and discussed. A practical demonstrator that performs low-order correction was built and tested. Slowly varying misalignments, including thermal effects, were compensated for in a 622-Mbit/s free-space optical data link.

Association of CTLA4 gene A-G polymorphism with type 1 diabetes in Chinese children

OBJECTIVE

The CTLA4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4) gene encodes the T cell receptor involved in the control of T cell proliferation and mediates T cell apoptosis. Thus it is a strong candidate gene for T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. There is polymorphism at position 49 in exon 1 of the CTLA4 gene, providing a A-G exchange. This polymorphism is reportedly associated with type 1 diabetes in Caucasians but not in a small data set of Chinese. We wished to test this polymorphism in a larger and more homogeneous data set of Chinese children with type 1 diabetes and normal adult controls.

DESIGN

A population-based case-control study of a CTLA4 gene 49 A-G polymorphism was performed to look for an association with type 1 diabetes in Chinese children.

PATIENTS

We analysed this polymorphism in 253 unrelated children (128 boys) with type 1 diabetes (age at diagnosis 7.1 +/- 3.7 years) and 91 randomly selected normal adults. All individuals were Han Chinese.

RESULTS

The genotype and gene frequencies of children with type 1 diabetes differed significantly from those of adult controls (P = 0.0091 and P = 0.0051, respectively). Genotype CTLA4 49 G/G and G allele conferred a risk of type 1 diabetes (RR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.31-3.46, P = 0.0022; RR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.17-2.43, P = 0.0051, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that CTLA4 49 A-G polymorphism is associated with type 1 diabetes in Han Chinese children. The CTLA4 49 G allele confers an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.

Active management of a patient with endstage pulmonary emphysema using lung volume reduction surgery and intensive rehabilitation

INTRODUCTION

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) and pulmonary rehabilitation are newer options available in the treatment of advanced emphysema. We describe the progress of our first local patient to have undergone these 2 new treatment modalities.

CLINICAL PICTURE

A 65-year-old man with advanced emphysema, limited by crippling dyspnoea despite maximal medical therapy with inhaled bronchodilator therapy, methylxanthines and supplementary oxygen.

TREATMENT

Physical reconditioning with a 4-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme, followed by LVRS and a further 6-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation.

OUTCOME

Dramatic improvements in spirometric indices, arterial blood gases, exercise capacity and overall functional status. Improvements maintained at one-year follow up period.

CONCLUSIONS

LVRS with pulmonary rehabilitation is an exciting new treatment option in a select group of patients with advanced emphysema. Their role in improving overall performance status and quality of life should be considered in patients otherwise considered to have reached the limits of medical therapy.

Molecular characterization of secretor type alpha(1, 2)-fucosyltransferase gene deficiency in the Philippine population

We analyzed the seven mutations which are responsible for the deficiency of the secretor type alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene product, Se enzyme, in the Philippine population. One hundred and one unrelated Filipinos in Taiwan were studied. A new mutation, a 3-base pair deletion from nt 688 through 690, was found in two (0. 1%) of 202 chromosomes. The frequencies of six other mutated alleles were as follows: 71/202 (35.2%) were cDNA 385 A-->T missensed mutation (se2), 28/202 (13.9%) were C571T nonsense mutation (se3), 16/202 (7.9%) were G849A nonsense mutation (se4), 4/202 (1.9%) were G428A nonsense mutation (se1), and 81/202 (40.1%) were wild-type allele (Se). No C628T nonsense mutations (se5) or fusion genes of pseudogene and FUT2 gene (se 6) were found in this population. For the molecular basis of phenotype Le(a+ b-): eight cases had se2/se2, six cases had se2/se3, two cases had se3/se4, one case was homozygous of se4, one case was se3/se1, and two cases were se2/se7. For the Le(a+ b+) phenotype: four cases had se2/se2, two cases had se2/se3, one case was se3/se3, and one case was se2/se4. For the Le(a- b+) phenotype: 16 cases were Se/Se, 21 cases were Se/se2, six cases were Se/se3, five cases were Se/se4, and two cases had Se/se1. Our results suggest that the genotypes of the alpha(1, 2)-fucosyltransferase gene in phenotypes Le(a+ b+) and Le(a+ b-) are the same. Other factors that play important roles may cause the differences between these two phenotypes. Several hotspot mutations in the alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene are responsible for the nonsecretor phenotype.

Molecular analysis of secretor type alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase gene mutations in the Chinese and Thai populations

BACKGROUND

The human Lewis histo-blood group system belongs to a family of structurally related oligosaccharides. The mutations of fucosyltransferase genes alpha(1,2)-fucosyltransferase (FUT2 or Se) and alpha(1,3/1,4)-fucosyltransferase (FUT3 or Le), are responsible for the polymorphism of Lewis blood group phenotypes. However, a population study of the FUT2 mutation in Chinese and Thais has not yet been done, and there is some controversy about the phenotypes of Le(a+b+) and Le(a+b-).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

One hundred twentyfour Chinese and 70 Thais were phenotyped for Lea and Le(b). DNA samples were studied by polymerase chain reaction and then by a restriction enzyme digestion method to distinguish wild-type and six known mutations. Direct sequencing was done for controls and some uncertain cases.

RESULTS

A new mutation, C302T mutation, was found in 2 of 136 chromosomes in the Thai population; none were discovered in Chinese. The frequencies of the normal and six mutant alleles among Chinese and Thais, respectively, were as follows: 134 (54.0%) of 248 and 58 (41.4%) of 140 were wild-type (Se); 0 of 248 and 2 of 140 (both 1.4%) had the G428A mutation; 120 (48.4%) of 248 and 75 (53.6%) of 140 had the A385T mutation; 2 (0.81%) of 248 and 0 of 140 had the C571T mutation; and 1 (0.4%) of 248 and 3 (2.2%) of 140 had the G849A mutation. Only 1 Chinese (0.4%) of 248 had the C628T mutation, and none had fusion gene mutation.

CONCLUSION

The FUT2 genes encoding for the phenotypes Le(a+b+) and Le(a+b-) are the same. The function and character of the mutant enzyme may play an important role in the phenotype. The methods used in this study are clinically applicable in population studies of the FUT2 gene polymorphism to explore relationships among different ethnic groups and correlations between phenotype and genotype.

Prenatal prediction of spinal muscular atrophy in Chinese

We used linkage analysis, non-isotope SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism) and PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) for prenatal diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). A total of 26 cases from 20 SMA families (16, type 1 and 4) were evaluated. 5 out of 26 fetuses were affected and, following genetic counselling, the parents decided to terminate the pregnancies. Aborted fetal tissues were examined and the diagnosis was confirmed in each case. The 21 unaffected cases were either normals (12 cases) or carriers (9 cases). These children have been followed for six months to two and a half years. No false-negative or false-positive results on prenatal testing were found. We conclude that prenatal diagnosis of SMA is reliable and accurate.

Mutation analysis of the PTEN/MMAC1 gene in cancers of the digestive tract

The 10q23.3 gene PTEN (phosphatase and Tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) or MMAC1 (mutated in multiple advanced cancers 1) was recently reported to undergo frequent mutation, including mutations and deletions in multiple advanced cancers. This study showed that the aberrant transcripts of this gene are frequently found in cancers of the digestive tract, paired non-cancerous tissues and normal peripheral mononuclear cells. Sequence analysis of the aberrant transcripts revealed three types of deletions: (i) a deletion junction with a splicing-like donor or acceptor sequence; (ii) several-base homology near or between the donor acceptor site at the deletion junction; and (iii) deletion with insertion. From these results, it is suggested that aberrant transcripts of PTEN/MMAC1 found by nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction are a common (or natural) phenomenon unrelated to oncogenesis. The mechanism producing these aberrant transcripts needs further investigation. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing to analyse for small base changes of the genomic DNA of the PTEN/MMAC1 gene revealed no point mutations or small base changes.

Optoelectronic Systems Based on InGaAs- Complementary-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Smart-Pixel Arrays and Free-Space Optical Interconnects

Free-space optical interconnects have been identified as a potentially important technology for future massively parallel-computing systems. The development of optoelectronic smart pixels based on InGaAs/AlGaAs multiple-quantum-well modulators and detectors flip-chip solder-bump bonded onto complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuits and the design and construction of an experimental processor in which the devices are linked by free-space optical interconnects are described. For demonstrating the capabilities of the technology, a parallel data-sorting system has been identified as an effective demonstrator. By use of Batcher's bitonic sorting algorithm and exploitation of a perfect-shuffle optical interconnection, the system has the potential to perform a full sort on 1024, 16-bit words in less than 16 mus. We describe the design, testing, and characterization of the smart-pixel devices and free-space optical components. InGaAs-CMOS smart-pixel, chip-to-chip communication has been demonstrated at 50 Mbits/s. It is shown that the initial system specifications can be met by the component technologies.

The Gfi-1B proto-oncoprotein represses p21WAF1 and inhibits myeloid cell differentiation

Gfi-1 is a cellular proto-oncogene that was identified as a target of provirus integration in T-cell lymphoma lines selected for interleukin-2 (IL-2) independence in culture and in primary retrovirus-induced lymphomas. Gfi-1 encodes a zinc finger protein that functions as a transcriptional repressor. Here we show that Gfi-1B, a Gfi-1 related gene expressed in bone marrow and spleen, also encodes a transcriptional repressor. IL-6-induced G1 arrest and differentiation of the myelomonocytic cell line M1 were linked to the downregulation of Gfi-1B and the parallel induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1. Experiments addressing the potential mechanism of the apparent coordinate regulation of these genes revealed that Gfi-1B represses p21WAF1 directly by binding to a high-affinity site at -1518 to -1530 in the p21WAF1 promoter. Forced expression of Gfi-1B, but not of Gfi-1B deletion mutants lacking the repressor domain, blocked the IL-6-mediated induction of p21WAF1 and inhibited G1 arrest and differentiation. We conclude that Gfi-1B is a direct repressor of the p21WAF1 promoter, the first such repressor identified to date, and that sustained expression of Gfi-1B blocks IL-6-induced G1 arrest and differentiation of M1 cells perhaps because it prevents p21WAF1 induction by IL-6.

Molecular analysis of survival motor neuron (SMN) and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) genes of spinal muscular atrophy patients and their parents

We have assayed deletions of two candidate genes for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the survival motor neuron (SMN) and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) genes, in 101 patients from 86 Chinese SMA families. Deletions of exons 7 and 8 of the telomeric SMN gene were detected in 100%, 78.6%, 96.6%, and 16.7%, in type I, II, III, and adult-onset SMA patients, respectively. Deletion of exon 7 only was found in eight type II and one type III patient. One type II patient did not have a deletion of either exon 7 or 8. The prevalence of deletions of exons 5 and 6 of the NAIP gene were 22.5% and 2.4% in type I and II SMA patients, respectively. We also examined four polymorphisms of SMN genes and found that there were only two, SMN-2 and CBCD541-2, in Chinese subjects. In our study, analysis of the ratio of the telomeric to centromeric portion (T/C ratio) of the SMN gene after enzyme digestion was performed to differentiate carriers, normals, and SMA patients. We found the T/C ratio of exon 7 of the SMN gene differed significantly among the three groups, and may be used for carrier analysis. An asymptomatic individual with homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of the SMN gene showed no difference in microsatellite markers in the SMA-related 5q11.2-5q13.3. In conclusion, SMN deletion in clinically presumed child-onset SMA should be considered as confirmation of the diagnosis. However, adult-onset SMA, a heterogeneous disease with phenotypical similarities to child-onset SMA, may be caused by SMN or other gene(s).

Prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia in the Chinese

There is a high prevalence of thalassemia in the Taiwan area. Prenatal diagnosis of severe forms of thalassemia is important for the prevention of this disease. We performed prenatal diagnosis in 167 cases, of which 59 cases were diagnosed by chorionic villi biopsy, 91 cases by amniotic fluid analysis, and 17 cases by cord blood analysis. Hb Bart's hydrops was detected by amplifying the break junction area of the alpha-thalassemia-1 Southeast Asia (SEA)-type gene, and beta-thalassemia major was detected by using naturally occurring restriction sites and the amplified created restriction sites (ACRS) method. Screening for hemoglobin (Hb) Bart's hydrops revealed 26 cases of Hb Bart's hydrops, 67 cases of alpha-thalassemia-1 (including 6 Hb Bart's hydrops falsely diagnosed as alpha-thalassemia-1 from chorionic villi samples), and 38 normal cases. Screening for beta-thalassemia major revealed 8 cases of beta-thalassemia major, 17 cases of beta-thalassemia minor, and 11 normal cases. In cases of alpha-thalassemia, maternal tissue contamination in the chorionic villi samples occurred in the diagnosis of the carrier state and further amniotic fluid analysis will be necessary. There were no any false-positive or false-negative results in beta-thalassemia major screening. We conclude that prenatal diagnosis is a reliable and accurate screening method for thalassemia and may be valuable in other areas of high prevalence for thalassemia in Southeast Asia and in Southern China.

Multiplex mutagenically separated PCR: diagnosis of beta-thalassemia and hemoglobin variants

A rapid and simple method, termed multiplex mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR), was developed to detect several molecular defects in the hemoglobin gene in one PCR. This technique, in which different-size allele-specific primers were used, specifically amplified both normal and mutant alleles of the globin gene in the same reaction. Subsequent gel electrophoresis showed at least one of the two allelic products at the same locus or two of the several allelic products of different loci and provided a within-assay quality control for the exclusion of false-negative results. In our study, the four most common beta-thalassemia mutations, together with four other common hemoglobin variants in Chinese, were tested. Using multiplex MS-PCR 6 to 12 primers were added simultaneously into one reaction tube to identify one to four mutations. Not only is this multiplex MS-PCR method reliable and non-isotopic, the results can be obtained in less than one working day.

The effect of "chi-han (hot nature)" Chinese herbs on the secretion of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha by mononuclear cells

The effect of "chi-han (hot nature)" Chinese herbs on the secretion of the cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha was investigated by studying the in vitro effect of the "hot nature" Chinese herbs Radix aconiti, Evodia rutaecarpa, Zingiberis rhizoma, and Cortex cinnamomi. An ethanolic extract of each of these Chinese medicinal herbs was added to human peripheral mononuclear cell culture medium and allowed to react for various specified lengths of time. The culture medium supernatants were collected and tested for their cytokine levels at specified time intervals. We found different reaction patterns of cytokine secretion among these "hot nature" Chinese herbs. Radix aconiti extract showed an augmentative effect on the secretion of cytokines IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha with 20% to 50% concentrations of the pure herbal extract, especially when the reaction time was 18 or 24 hours. Evodia rutaecarpa extract showed a biphasic effect on the secretion of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha when the reaction time was 18 or 24 hours. The secretion of cytokines was stimulated by low concentrations of the herbal extract, but inhibited by higher concentrations of the extract. Zingiberis rhizoma extract also showed a biphasic effect on the secretion of cytokine IL-1 beta when the reaction time was 18 or 24 hours. As for Cortex cinnamomi extract, no significant augmentative effect on cytokine secretion was found in our study. In consideration of the pyrogenic property of cytokines, it would appear that "hot nature" Chinese herbs can be further divided into different subgroups with minute differences based on their different effects on cytokine secretion.

Molecular basis of spinal muscular atrophy in Chinese

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Influence of the host cell on the association of ICP4 and ICP0 with herpes simplex virus type 1

ICP4 and ICP0 are two immediate-early proteins of herpes simplex virus type 1 associated with the transcriptional activation of viral genes within infected cells. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that approximately 100-200 molecules each of ICP4 and ICP0 are associated with the tegument region of virions purified from Vero and HEp-2 cells (F. Yao and R. J. Courtney, 1989, J. Virol. 63, 3338-3344 and 1992, J. Virol. 66, 2709-2716). However, other studies have shown that ICP4 molecules are primarily associated with non-capsid-containing light (L) particles obtained from BHK-21 cells and purified by 5-15% continuous Ficoll gradients (J. McLauchlan and F. J. Rixon, 1992, J. Gen. Virol. 73, 269-276). To reconcile these findings with regard to the association of immediate-early protein with virions obtained from different cell lines, our studies have focused on determining if the host cell type influences the amounts of ICP4 and ICP0 associated with the capsid-containing heavy (H) virus particles (purified virions) compared to the amounts associated with L particles. Virus particles were purified from three different cell lines, Vero, HEp-2, and BHK-21 cells. The H and L virus particles were resolved on 5-15% Ficoll gradients. The results presented indicate that although ICP4 and ICP0 are readily detectable in H particles obtained from Vero and HEp-2 cells, minimal amounts of ICP4 and ICP0 are associated with H particles obtained from BHK-21 cells. The data suggest that the host cell may influence the relative amounts of ICP4 and ICP0 associated with the tegument region of virus particles. Finally, physical particle counts of the H and L particles also suggest that the host cell influences the relative number of L particles produced within the cell.

[The use of monoclonal antibodies for immunologic typing and prognosis prediction in acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia]

The immunologic phenotypes of 68 cases of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were analysed with a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The results showed that the frequencies of myeloid antigens expressed on ANLL cells are CD15 > CD33 > CD13 > CD14 and there were few cases expressing lymphoid antigens. The expression of myeloid antigen on leukemia cells is not only the evidence for diagnosis ANLL, but also is valuable predicting prognosis. In cases with the ratio of CD33/CD13 < 1, the complete remission (CR) rate was higher than those with CD33/CD13 > 1 (P < 0.05). Patients with expression of CD15 antigen on their leukemia cells appeared to be associated with long survival.

Purification and characterization of a novel glucooligosaccharide oxidase from Acremonium strictum T1

A novel glucooligosaccharide oxidase was purified 495-fold from wheat bran culture of a soil-isolated Acremonium strictum strain T1 with an overall yield of 21%. This enzyme was composed of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular mass of 61 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. Its isoelectric point was pH 4.3-4.5. This enzyme contained 1 mol of FAD per mol of enzyme and showed absorption maxima at 274, 379 and 444 nm. This enzyme was stable in the pH range of 5.0 to 11.0 with an optimal reaction pH of 10.0. The optimal reaction temperature was 50 degrees C. It was stable up to 50 degrees C for 1 h at pH 7.8. This enzyme oxidized those oligosaccharides with glucose residue on the reducing end and each sugar residue jointed by alpha or beta-1,4 glucosidic bond. The relative activity of this enzyme toward maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose, lactose, cellobiose and glucose was 100:94:74:46:66:56:64:47:59. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the discovery of an glucooligosaccharide oxidase as judged from enzyme substrate specificity.

High-yield extraction and purification of glutathione reductase from baker's yeast

Glutathione reductase was extracted from toluene-treated baker's yeast cells by a two-stage buffer autolysis method. The yeast cells were treated with toluene for 1 h at 40 degrees C. After removal of the toluene, the cells were then allowed to autolysis in buffer for 72 h at 4 degrees C. The cells were collected and resuspended in buffer. A second stage autolysis was carried out for another 96 h at 4 degrees C. The enzyme was purified to 786-fold from the second stage cell autolysate by using two steps of affinity chromatography with triazine dyes (Yellow H-E4G and Yellow H-E6G) coupled to Sepharose CL-4B. By using this simplified method, 1.44 mg (165 units/mg) of glutathione reductase was obtained from 65 g (wet weight) of yeast cells, equivalent to 80% enzyme recovery.