Selectively cytotoxic diterpenes from Euphorbia poisonii

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the latex of Euphorbia poisonii Pax. (Euphorbiaceae) led to the isolation and characterization of a new tigliane diterpene, 12-deoxyphorbol 13-(9,10-methylene)undecanoate (3), together with five known diterpenes (1,2,4-6). When evaluated for cytotoxicity in a panel of six human solid tumor cell lines, the diterpene esters, 1-3, 5, and 6, were selectively cytotoxic for the human kidney carcinoma (A-498) cell line with potencies for 2 and 3 exceeding that of adriamycin by ten thousand times. Details of the isolations, structural analyses, and cytotoxic activities are described.

[Inhibitory action of Chinese compound prescription for reinforcing vital energy and invigorating blood circulation on cancer cell multiplication]

Experiments have proved that the Chinese compound prescription for reinforcing vital energy and invigorating blood circulation markedly helps to improve the morphology of cancer cell nucleolus and membrane surface microvillus, amend the composition of microtubulin and facilitate intercellular gap junctional communication. Cell cycle kinetics shows that the multiplication of cancer cells in human stomach is checked mainly at G2M stage.

Mapping of 29 YAC clones and identification of 3 YACs spanning the translocation t(3;8)(p14.2;q24.1) breakpoint at 8q24.1 in hereditary renal cell carcinoma

The constitutional balanced translocation (3;8)(p14.2:q24.1) has been described in a family in which a arge number of individuals developed renal cell carcinoma RCC) at an early age. The translocation event in which genes from the 3p14.2 and the 8q24.1 sites are brought in close proximity is considered a critical, initial step for the development and progression of RCC. Even though the 3p14.2 breakpoint region has been cloned, a gene has not yet been identified, which may be responsible for either the initiation or progression of hereditary RCC. As a crucial step toward cloning the 3;8 breakpoint at the 8q24.1 site, we have mapped a series of YACs which surround this region by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Three YACs have been identified that span the 8q24.1 breakpoint region. One of these YACs is approximately 180 kb in length, and has been used to initiate construction of a high resolution cosmid contig. Several cosmids have been isolated which have been positioned in relation to the 8q24.1 breakpoint region. In addition, we have positioned 26 other YACs in relation to the 3;8 translocation breakpoint. These results provide a basis for the isolation of genes surrounding 3;8 RCC translocation breakpoint region at 8q24.1.

3p21 is a recurrent treatment-related breakpoint in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia

In this study we report 11 cases with chromosome abnormalities involving 3p21. Nine cases were diagnosed as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and two as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Six of nine MDS cases were secondary to a primary malignant disease. In two patients, AML was secondary to breast cancer and polycythemia vera (PV). Seven of eleven patients had a history of intensive polychemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for 3.5 to 5 years. The mean interval from initial therapy to secondary disease was 13.2 years. Complex chromosomal aberrations were found in all 11 cases. Band 3p21 was involved in translocations in 9 patients and in deletions in 2 patients. A t(3;16)(p21;p13) was found in two cases. Additional abnormalities frequently included a -5, -7, as well as deletions or rearrangements of these 2 chromosomes. Data reported in this paper suggest that 3p21 is a recurrent treatment-related breakpoint in MDS and AML and is likely to contain a gene involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Reflux related symptoms in patients with normal oesophageal exposure to acid

Several studies, using pH monitoring with event markers, have identified patients with normal oesophageal exposure to acid despite an apparent relation between symptoms and reflux episodes. In this series of 771 consecutive patients referred for 24 hour oesophageal pH monitoring, a probability calculation was used to evaluate the relation between symptoms and reflux episodes. Oesophageal exposure to acid was normal in 462 of 771 recordings (59.9%); despite this, 70.8% (327 of 462) of these patients used at least once the event marker. In 96 patients (12.5% of total patients) with normal oesophageal exposure to acid, there was a statistically significant association between symptoms and reflux episodes. The symptom cluster of such patients was similar to that usually seen in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, but symptoms like belching, bloating, and nausea were common thus overlapping with the symptom pattern of functional dyspepsia. In these patients both the duration and the minimum pH of reflux episodes (either symptom related or asymptomatic) were significantly shorter and higher, respectively, when compared with those of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. These results are consistent with the idea that oesophageal hypersensitivity to acid is the underlying pathophysiological feature of this syndrome.

[Analysis of the multidrug resistance MDR1 gene expression in clinical leukemia with RT-PCR]

The method of reverse transcription coupled with polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been used to detect multidrug resistance gene MDR1 expression in 73 leukemia patients. Specificity of MDR1 PCR product was identified by a probe labelled with biotin. In this paper, beta 2M mRNA (a 120bp of PCR product) was selected as an internal control for semi-quantitative analysis of MDR1 mRNA (a 157bp of PCR product). Detection of MDR1 expression was positive in 31 of the 73 patients with leukemia. The percentage of MDR1+ and the value of MDR1/beta 2M in the relapsed acute leukemia and CML in blast crisis were 76.00% and 0.798 +/- 0.266, they were significantly higher than those in newly diagnosed acute leukemia (25.00% and 0.386 +/- 0.128) and complete remission leukemia (25.00% and 0.151 +/- 0.059), MDR1/beta 2M in newly diagnosed was significantly higher than that in complete remission. We found that MDR1 gene expression correlated well with response to chemotherapy in 53 cases of acute leukemia. The refractory rate in patients with MDR1+ was 75.00%, while it was 15.00% in MDR1- (P < 0.01). We thought that the determination of MDR1 expression level in acute leukemia could provide a valuble information for designing chemotherapeutic regimen in individual patient, and a high level of MDR1 expression correlated closely with drug resistance in clinical leukemia chemotherapy.

[Serum anti-subtypical Klebsiella pneumoniae antibodies in ankylosing spondylitis]

This study was performed in order to probe the possible pathogenesis of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). 34 anti-KP antibody positive serum samples, including 26 patients with AS, 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 2 healthy individuals, were selected to detect anti-subtypical KP antibodies by using an immunoblotting technique. The results showed that the number of antigenic bands to KP on nitrocellulose membrane was higher in AS patients than in RA patients and healthy individuals. Patients with AS had common antibodies response to KP components weight 64,600 (80.7%), 48,200 (61.5%) and 36,000 (65.4%), patients with RA and healthy individuals had anti-36,000 (75%) and anti-30,000 (50%) antibodies. Human anti-HLA-B27 serum and rabbit antisera against KP-derived synthetic peptide containing the hexapeptide sequence shared by HLA-B27 were able to cross react with 64,600 and 48,200 KP components. Our findings suggest that KP might play a role in the pathogenesis of AS by molecular mimicry between it and HLA-B27.

A Conducting Polymer Film Stronger Than Aluminum

Polythiophene (Pth) was electrochemically deposited onto stainless steel substrate from freshly distilled boron fluoride-ethyl ether containing 10 millimoles of thiophene per liter. The free-standing Pth film obtained at an applied potential of 1.3 volts (versus Ag/AgCl) had a conductivity of 48.7 siemens per centimeter. Its tensile strength (1200 to 1300 kilograms per square centimeter) was greater than that of aluminium (1000 to 1100 kilograms per square centimeter). This Pth film behaves like a metal sheet and can be easily cut into various structures with a knife or a pair of scissors.

[Surgical treatment of benign stenosis of the esophagus]

From Nov. 1972 to 1983 Oct., 88 patients with benign stenosis of the esophagus were operated on. The youngest patients was 18 months, and the oldest 63 years. From corrosive injury of esophagus to operation, the shortest period was 13 days and longest 10 years (mean 120 days). In 85 patients, transverse colon was used to replace the esophagus substernally. In 2 patients, reconstruction was done by gastric tube. One patient used transverse colon and part of descending colon. Preoperative gastrostomy was made in 5 patients. There was no operative mortality. One patient developed anastomotic stenosis postoperatively. He refused reoperation and died. The remaining patients survived with a normal life. For the reconstruction of esophagus, problems such as choice of grafts, time of operation, resection of scar or not, and place of anastomosis were discussed.

[Reconfirmation of golgiphobic dendrites of the motoneurons in rat spinal cord]

With CB-HRP method (injections into 5 muscles of anterior and posterior extremities) and Golgi technique, the corresponding sections of spinal cords were observed on same aged rats of the identical parent rats. Comparing the cell numbers of the lateral groups of anterior horns, the former (CB-HRP) revealed twice as many as the cell numbers of the latter (Golgi). As to the surface densities of the white matter dendrites (WMD) in the lateral funiculi from the neurons of the lateral groups of the anterior horns, the density revealed by injection of CB-HRP to the tibialis anterior is 2-9 times more than that in Golgi sections. All of WMD revealed in CB-HRP sections could extend into the peripheral portions of the lateral funiculi, and quite a few of them even form a subpial marginal plexus, that is one example of Golgiphobic dendrites (GBD). For labeled medial cell groups of the anterior horn with CB-HRP, their dendrites could reach to the ependymal layer of the central canal (another GBD). These two types of GBD were not present on the Golgi material. The significance of GBD was also discussed.

Properties of Kv2.1 K+ channels expressed in transfected mammalian cells

We have transiently expressed the rat Kv2.1 K+ channel polypeptide (pKv2.1) at high levels by transfection of mammalian COS-1 cells. Kv2.1-transfected cells express a molecular mass of 108 kDa pKv2.1, larger than the size of the core polypeptide (95 kDa) predicted from the deduced primary sequence and of pKv2.1 synthesized in cell free or Xenopus oocyte translation systems. The increased size of pKv2.1 in COS-1 cells is due to a posttranslational modification that occurs early (t1/2 = 5 min) in the biosynthetic transport through the endomembrane system, presumably while the protein resides in the endoplasmic reticulum. The increased size is entirely due to phosphorylation, based on in vivo 32P-labeling and sensitivity to alkaline phosphatase digestion. Immunofluorescent localization of pKv2.1 shows intense surface labeling; no intracellular pools of retained protein are apparent. Immunogold electron microscopy confirms that the expressed polypeptide is found on the cell surface in small clusters or patches of 10-15 gold particles. Cells expressing pKv2.1 exhibit large, voltage-dependent outward currents. The pharmacological properties of the expressed Kv2.1 currents are virtually indistinguishable from those described previously in Xenopus oocytes microinjected with Kv2.1 cRNA, but differences in voltage-dependent properties were observed. High level of expression of functional pKv2.1 in these cells points to the utility of this system for the rapid biochemical, cell biological and electrophysiological analysis of altered forms of pKv2.1, and other members of the K+ channel gene family.

Demonstration of i(17q) in metaphase and interphase of malignant hematopoietic cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization

In 10 patients with various hematopoietic disorders, i(17q) has been studied by the technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) both in metaphase and interphase cells using an alpha-satellite centromere-specific probe #17. We observed some minor quantitative differences between metaphase and interphase cells with regard to the incidence of i(17q) in individual cases and considerable heteromorphism of the size of signal of i(17q) among different cases. Our results suggest that formation of i(17q) results from a break in the p-arm proximal to the centromere and that the breakpoints vary from case to case.

Effects of sterigmatocystin and T-2 toxin on the induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary cultures of human gastric epithelial cells

Primary cultures of human gastric epithelial cells were tested for induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) by sterigmatocystin (ST) and T-2 toxin. Autoradiographic results indicated that ST (10(-6)-10(-4)M) induced UDS in the presence of S9 activation system. The repair rates were 24-91% (net grains > or = 3) and 2-71% (net grains > or = 5). T-2 toxin did not induce UDS in this study.

[Fetal heart rate monitoring in the prenatal diagnosis of cord position abnormalities]

External monitorings of fetal heart rate in 2,628 cases of cord around the neck and funis presentation from June 1985 to June 1991 were analysed. The positive rate was 81.66% and the pseudo-negative rate 18.34%. 1,680 cases (63.93%) with variable deceleration were observed. Among them V wave was seen in 745 monitorings (28.53%), mostly due to umbilical compression: U wave in 238 monitorings (9.06%), mostly due to intrauterine asphyxia; and W wave in 223 monitorings (8.49%), more due to cord compression and funis presentation but also due to acute fetal intrauterine anoxia, rebound acceleration and rebound deceleration wave was observed in 316 monitorings (12.02%), more due to cord compression. The remaining 158 monitorings (6.01%) showed mixed waves. There were 51 perinatal deaths including 6 fetal, 5 still births, and 40 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 19.41%. The relationship among the monitor waves, the fetal growth, umbilical cord, nature of the amnionic fluid, Apgar score, etc, immediately after delivery was analyzed and the clinical significance was discussed. It was suggested that Nipple Stimulation Contraction Stress Test (NS-CST) or Contraction Stress Test (CST) could be used as a good method for prenatal diagnosis.

Translocation (2;4)(p23;q25): an additional case of a new recurrent anomaly in acute myeloid leukemia

A second case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a t(2;4)(p23;q25) as the sole anomaly is reported. Our case had a de novo AML (M2); the case previously described had AML (M2) post-MDS. It is suggested that t(2;4)(p23;q25) is a new, recurrent, but rare anomaly in AML.

Identification of some marker chromosomes in acute leukemias by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Four patients with acute leukemia are presented in whom conventional karyotypic analysis had revealed complex numerical and structural changes including unidentifiable (marker) chromosomes. It is demonstrated that the application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) may contribute to the identification of such anomalies.

[An epidemiological investigation on an outbreak of non-A, non-B hepatitis occurring after a dinner party]

This paper reports an investigation on an outbreak of Non-A, Non-B hepatitis occurred after a dinner party. The attack rate was 25.89%. The ratio of male to female was 1.48 to 1. Two patients were suffering from fulminant hepatitis. The attack rates showed no significant difference among various age groups. Thirty-three percent of the patients had jaundice and 50% had fever. The results indicated that this outbreak was probably related to some food taken during the party.

China's first total care unit for the spinal cord injured

Before discussing China's first total care unit for the spinal cord injured, it is important, though difficult due to lack of an epidemiological study, to give the incidence of spinal cord injury in China. The only seriously conducted study of this kind was that from the Beijing Area (Spinal Cord Injury Investigating Group in Beijing, 1988). Some of the results will be presented below.