[Diagnosis and treatment of blowout fracture of the orbit]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the diagnosis and treatment of blowout fracture of the orbit.

METHODS

78 cases with blowout fracture of the orbit seen in 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. In different years, different methods of examinations were used. There were 16 cases who had undertaken X-ray examinations, 31 cases, ultrasonographic examinations and 72 cases, CT.

RESULTS

The positive rate of the CT examinations with blowout fracture of the orbit was 100%, CT having the tendency to eventually replace the X-ray. Ultrasonography shows only changes of intraorbital tissue, providing an auxiliary method for diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

With the progress of modern photographic methods, blowout fracture of the orbit is known more deeply and the advance helps in the improvement of the treatment of the disease.

[Effect of electric field on erythrocyte sedimentation rate. VI--dependence of electric field pattern]

An automatic analyzer of RBC rheological parameters and a microscopic morphological observation technique were employed to investigate the effect of three electric field patterns on erythrocyte sedimentation and aggregation in a physiological saline solution and in autologous plasma, respectively. Experimental results indicate that in a physiological saline solution: 1) Erythrocytes present a lightly aggregation and settle faster by an alternative current electric field; 2) There exists no erythrocyte aggregation by a direct current electric field of constant current and the enhancement of erythrocyte sedimentation is caused only by the action of electric force; 3) Time courses of erythrocyte sedimentation fit well with an exponential type curve by a direct current electric field of constant voltage, and this exponential type sedimentation curve is not caused by erythrocyte aggregation but caused by the decrease of circuit current with time duration. Also shown by experimental results is that the above three electric field patterns all affect the erythrocyte sedimentation in antologous plasma in different contents, which predicts some change in erythrocyte aggregation behavior in autologous plasma by an external electric field.

[Component analysis on polysaccharides in exocarp of Ginkgo biloba]

This paper reports the content and component analysis on polysaccharides in exocarp of Ginkgo biloba. The results show that the content of total saccharides is 89.7%; content of polysaccharides is 84.6%; content of reductic saccharides is 5.1%; the polysaccharides are composed of glucose, fructose, galactose and rhamnose.

[A follow-up survey of results of lacrimal gland surgery of pleomorphic adenoma]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the causes of recurrence and malignant change of pleomorphic adenoma (benign mixed tumour) of lacrimal gland.

METHODS

42 cases with the adenoma were followed postoperatively, the follow-up periods ranging from 0.5 to 17.0 years.

RESULTS

In the follow-up, 34 cases had no recurrence or malignant change, and 8 cases had recurrences. Of the cases with recurrences, 7 cases had undergone several times of surgeries, because of incomplete resection of the tumor leading to recurrence.

CONCLUSION

The key points to obtain success of the surgery and to decrease the rate of recurrence are complete removal of the tumor in its capsule in the initial surgery, and avoidance of aspiration or biopsy made before the operation.

[Investigation on the viscoelastic properties of hepatocytes and their relavances to cytoskeleton structure]

Using micropipette aspiration technique, the authors investigated the viscoelastic properties of human fetal hepatocytes (HFH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. And further, the effects of two cytoskeleton interferents, cytochalasin D and colchicine on the viscoelastic properties of HFHs were investigated. The results showed: the elastic coefficients K1 and K2 of HCC cells were significantly higher than those of HFHs; the action of cytochalasin D led to an obvious decrease in elastic coefficients K1, K2 as well as the viscous coefficient mu of HFHs; under the action of colchicine, the K1 value of HFHs increased while the K2 and mu values decreased obviously or tended to decrease. A brief discussion was presented about these results.

[Photographic diagnosis for common intraorbital tumors]

OBJECTIVE

To compare and analyze the modern photographic methods used for localization and analysis of the nature of intraorbital tumors.

METHODS

B-scan, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to examine six types of common intraorbital tumor (20 cases for each type).

RESULTS

Each method can locate and show the nature of the lesions, and B-scan has a better value to display internal structure and dynamics of orbital lesions. CT can discover the lesions and exactly show their locations, while MRI is more valuable to display the optic nerve tumor and the extension of intraorbital tumor to extraorbital regions.

CONCLUSIONS

All the above methods can locate and show the nature of intraorbital tumors, and each has its own special defects and advantages which can be complementary to one another.

[Quadrant pattern visual evoked potential in normal eyes]

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to approach the difference in pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) among quadrants of the normal eye.

METHODS

Quadrant transient PVEP method was used to record quadrant PVEP for 70 eyes of 35 normal subjects.

RESULTS

The latency of P100 in lower temporal and lower nasal fields was significantly shorter than that in upper temporal and upper nasal fields; the amplitude of P100 in lower temporal and lower nasal fields was significantly higher than that in upper temporal and upper nasal fields. Generally, in lower field, the P100's latency is shorter and its amplitude higher.

CONCLUSION

The difference in P100 between upper and lower field of normal person is possibly related to the fact that the lower field is used more frequently than the upper in ordinary human or animal life, and to the differences in distribution of retinal ganglion cells and in retina-cortex pathway between the upper and lower retina.

[Orbital exenteration associated with cavity reconstruction]

OBJECTIVE

A surgery was designed for the cosmetic improvement after orbital exenteration.

METHODS

Exenteration associated with simultaneous or secondary orbital reconstruction was performed on 22 patients, including transplantation of temporalis muscle in 11 cases, temporoparietal fascia with vascular pedicle in 10 cases and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap in one case.

RESULTS

Except 7 patients who needed palpebral resection and orthopedic operation the second time, all of them were fitted well with ocular prostheses postoperatively and obtained satisfactory cosmetic results.

CONCLUSION

Among the three methods of orbital reconstruction, the temporoparietal fascia transplantation is the best.

Effects of hepatic stimulator substance, herbal medicine, selenium/vitamin E, and ciprofloxacin on cirrhosis in the rat

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Cirrhosis is a potentially lethal condition for which there is no proven effective therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of hepatic stimulator substance, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, selenium plus vitamin E, and ciprofloxacin treatment on biochemical and histological features of fibrosis in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)/ethanol-induced cirrhosis.

METHODS

One hundred twenty adult Wistar rats were divided into six study groups (20 rats/group): healthy controls, CCl4/ethanol-injured rats left untreated, and CCl4/ethanol-injured rats treated for 4 weeks with either hepatic stimulator substance, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, a combination of selenium plus vitamin E, or ciprofloxacin. After the 4-week treatment, rats were killed and the following parameters of hepatic fibrosis were determined: hepatic hydroxyproline and proline levels, serum hyaluronic acid concentrations, and histological staining of hepatic tissue.

RESULTS

Hepatic fibrosis was significantly improved in all four treated groups compared with the untreated CCl4/ethanol-injured controls. Improvements were most striking in the groups treated with traditional Chinese herbal medicine and ciprofloxacin.

CONCLUSIONS

The data indicate that hepatic stimulator substance, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, selenium plus vitamin E, and ciprofloxacin significantly decrease the amount of hepatic fibrosis caused by CCl4/ethanol injury in rats.

Natriuresis caused by blood volume expansion in dogs is not mediated by the renal nerves

The influence of renal denervation on the renal response to rapid blood volume expansion was investigated by measurement of urine volume, sodium and osmolar excretion rates, sodium p-aminohippurate and free water clearances, and systemic haemodynamic and plasma hormone (atrial natriuretic peptide, arginine vasopressin and plasma renin activity (PRA)) changes in ten control and ten renal-denervated chloralose-anaesthetized mongrel dogs. Following renal denervation, blood volume expansion caused a similar increase in sodium excretion to that in the control group. Renal denervation resulted in systemic vasodilatation and decreased PRA. During fluid loading the right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were significantly higher in the control group. In the control group, volume expansion caused a large fall in PRA, whereas in the renal-denervated dogs, PRA remained suppressed. We conclude, from the fact that natriuresis is preserved after renal denervation, that this response is not mediated by a reflex with efferent limb in the renal nerves.

Annexin VI overexpression targeted to heart alters cardiomyocyte function in transgenic mice

Annexin VI is a member of a family of Ca(2+)-dependent phospholipid-binding proteins that is expressed in many tissues, including the heart. It is a regulator of membrane-associated events, including the skeletal muscle ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel and the cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The potential roles of annexin VI in Ca2+ signaling in cardiac myocytes were evaluated by targeting its overexpression to the hearts of transgenic mice. Expression of full-length human annexin VI cDNA was targeted to the heart using the alpha-myosin heavy chain gene promoter (Subramaniam, A., W. K. Jones, J. Gulick, S. Wert, J. Neumann, and J. Robbins. J. Biol. Chem. 266: 24613-24620, 1991). Five transgenic lines exhibited at least 10-fold overexpression of annexin VI protein in both atria and ventricles. Pathological evaluation indicated mice overexpressing annexin VI had enlarged dilated hearts, acute diffuse myocarditis, lymphocytic infiltration, moderate to severe fibrosis throughout the heart, and mild fibrosis around the pulmonary veins of the lungs. Contractile mechanics of cardiomyocytes isolated from hearts of transgenic animals showed frequency-dependent reduced percent shortening and decreased rates of contraction and relaxation compared with control animals. Cardiomyocytes isolated from transgenic animals had lower basal levels of intracellular free Ca2+ and a reduced rise in free Ca2+ following depolarization. After stimulation, intracellular free Ca2+ returned to basal levels faster in transgenic cells than in cells from control animals. These data demonstrate that the overexpression of annexin VI in the heart disrupts normal Ca2+ homeostasis and suggests that this dysfunction may be due to annexin VI regulation of pumps and/or exchangers in the membranes of cardiomyocytes.

[Projections from pontine pneumotaxic center to medullary Bötzinger complex in cats]

Experiments were done on 33 adults cats. After injection of WGA-HRP (5%, 30-60 nl) into the Bötzinger complex, labelled cells were observed in the lateral parabrachial nucleus and the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus. Injection into control sites failed to label the cells in the above two nuclei. Ninety-one respiratory related neurons recorded from the pneumotaxic center were tested by electrical stimulation of the Bötzinger complex. Thirteen neurons (14.3%, inspiratory 11, phase-spanning 2) could be antidromically activated. Results of the present study showed that neurons in the pneumotaxic center sent axons to the Bötzinger complex concerning respiratory control.

[Diagnosis and management of tumors with orbito-cranial access]

To identify the characteristics and extent of orbitocranial tumor for the selection of operative methods, 64 patients with the tumor were studied with clinical materials, primarily CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances. The lesions were found in the orbit, cranium and orbito-cranium boundary parts and their diagnoses in regard to localization and identification could be made. Based on the preoperative diagnosis of an orbito-cranial tumor, its location, character, secondary changes and operation(s) in the past, a surgical approach was designed. The resection of a tumor could be completed in once or in several times of operation. 64 operations were performed on 53 patients and other therapies were given to the other 11 patients. The operative methods included orbitotomy via anterior route, 21 times via lateral route and 30 times via transcranial route. The operative results suggest that the transcranial route be complicated and have more complications; preoperatively, the operative indication be strictly selected and intraoperatively, ophthalmologists closely cooperate with neurological surgeons.

[Detection of p53 mutation using PCR-SSCP silver staining method]

A simple and sensitive technique to detect point mutation of the p53 gene using silver staining method for single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSCP) is reported. In this study, the aberrations of the p53 gene (exon 6-8) in clinical specimens of primary cervical carcinoma were examined. Of 27 tumor tissues 2 samples showed mutations of p53 exon 7. Absence of abnormal bands in the p53 exon 6-8 in all ten normal cervical tissues. It appears that inactivation of p53 gene by point mutation is infrequent in clinical samples of human cervical carcinomas.

Immunization of mice with recombinant Sjc26GST induces a pronounced anti-fecundity effect after experimental infection with Chinese Schistosoma japonicum

We report the cloning, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), of a cDNA encoding a Schistosoma japonicum (Chinese) 26 kDa glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (Sjc26GST), expression of the cDNA, affinity purification of the recombinant GST and its vaccine efficacy in outbred NIH mice using Freund's as adjuvant. The most striking feature of the vaccination experiments was the pronounced reduction in the number of eggs in the livers and spleens of immunized mice. A relatively low but significant level of protection in terms of reduced worm viability against challenge infection was also observed. Further, the level of anti-Sjc26GST antibody in immunized mice was significantly higher than in control mice at week 6 post-challenge infection. These results closely mirror the protection conferred by immunization of animals with the 28 kDa GST of S. mansoni (Sm28) where a reduction in worm viability, worm fecundity and egg-hatching ability have been reported following challenge with S. mansoni. In terms of developing a vaccine against schistosomiasis japonica, immunization with Sjc26GST can provide two complementary goals in human or animal populations--some reduction in worm burden following exposure to infection or reinfection, and an anti-disease effect through reduction of pathology by a decrease in worm fecundity, with this direct effect also affecting the transmission of S. japonicum.

Observation on 108 normal ophthalmic arteries in 80 patients by digital subtraction angiography

By digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the authors made observations on 108 normal ophthalmic arteries in 80 patients with regard to the origins, courses, branching, morphology and anastomoses of the vessels. The merits and demerits of DSA in observing the ophthalmic artery were discussed.

[Expression of HPV16E6 gene and preparation of monoclonal antibody against the expression product]

The recombinant plasmid PAS1-HPV16E6 containing the HPV16E6 gene was expressed in E. coli AR120 under nalidixic acid induction. A 19KD expression protein was isolated, purified and identified. Mice were immunized with the purified E6 expression protein. A murine hybridoma, RAC6, was obtained by fusing splenic cells from an immunized BABL/c mouse with mouse myeloma cell line SP2/0-Ag14 cells, followed by screening in HAT medium, cloning and recloning in methyl cellulose. The hybridoma RAC6 stably produces specific monoclonal antibody against the E6 expression protein.

Design of Flexible Grinding Wheel With Variable Hub Thickness

In this paper, various Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) grinding wheels designed to suppress chatter are statically and dynamically analyzed and compared by means of the Finite Element Method (FEM). As a result of these analyses, a flexible wheel with a variable thickness hub is proposed. Theoretically, the new wheel should suppress chatter and thus be a major step forward in grinding wheel design.

NMR solution structure of an alpha-bungarotoxin/nicotinic receptor peptide complex

We report the two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization of the stoichiometric complex formed between the snake venom-derived long alpha-neurotoxin, alpha-bungarotoxin (BGTX), and a synthetic dodecapeptide (alpha 185-196) corresponding to a functionally important region on the alpha-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) obtained from Torpedo californica electric organ tissue. BGTX has been widely used as the classic nicotinic competitive antagonist for the skeletal muscle type of nAChR which is found in the avian, amphibian, and mammalian neuromuscular junction. The receptor dodecapeptide (alpha 185-196) binds BGTX with micromolar affinity and has been shown to represent the major determinant of BGTX binding to the isolated alpha-subunit. Previous studies involving covalent modification of the native nAChR from Torpedo membranes with a variety of affinity reagents indicate that several residues contained within the dodecapeptide sequence (namely, Tyr-190, Cys-192, and Cys-193) apparently contribute directly to the formation of the cholinergic ligand binding site. The NMR-derived solution structure of the BGTX/receptor peptide complex defines a relatively extended conformation for a major segment of the "bound" dodecapeptide. These structural studies also reveal a previously unpredicted receptor binding cleft within BGTX and suggest that BGTX undergoes a conformational change upon peptide binding. If, as we hypothesize, the identified intermolecular contacts in the BGTX/receptor peptide complex describe a portion of the contact zone between BGTX and native receptor, then the structural data would suggest that alpha-subunit residues 186-190 are on the extracellular surface of the receptor.

[Studies on the descending projections from the pontine pneumotaxic region to the nucleus raphe magnus in cats]

Experiments were done on 23 pentobarbital anesthetized adult cats. 67 units recorded from the parabrachial and Kölliker-Fuse nuclear complex (NPBM-KF) could be antidromically activated by electrical stimulation of nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). Of the 67 units, 7 were respiratory related units (6 inspiratory, 1 expiratory). These comprise 8% of the 87 respiratory units examined. The antidromic latencies ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 ms. After injection of WGA-HRP (wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase) into the NRM, many retrogradely labelled neurons were observed in the NPBM-KF. These results showed that neurons in the NPBM-KF sent axonal projections to the NRM, which may be involved in the control of respiration as well as nociception.

[14C]-glucose metabolism of Oncomelania snails

To elucidate the importance of glucose metabolism in Oncomelania snails, uniformly labelled D (14C)-glucose [(U-14C)-glucose] has been used as a tracer for observing glucose uptake, incorporation into macromolecules and the activity of enzymes involved in its metabolic pathway. Radioactivity of Oncomelania increased with time of exposure (3, 6, 12 and 24 h) to [(U-14C)-glucose] solution. In snails treated with 2 ppm bromoacetamide for 24 h, the radioactivity of soft tissues was markedly less than that of normal snails. Oncomelania can synthesize glycogen from absorbed glucose, and the absorbed (U-14C)-glucose may be incorporated into nucleic acid, protein and lipid, with 14CO2 excreted as an end metabolic product. 6-phosphoglucose dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activities were demonstrated by the reduction of NADP and determination of 14CO2 from (1-14C)-glucose, respectively. The results indicate that there exists a phosphopentose pathway in Oncomelania.