A study of clinical characteristics and treatment of Mooren's ulcer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics and to compare the effects of several therapies of Mooren's corneal ulcer.

METHODS

550 consecutive cases of Mooren's corneal ulcer inpatients were analysed, including the age, sex, laterality of the eye, ulcer location, perforative rate, cure rate of surgeries, recurrent rate, and the effects of conjunctiva excision, lamellar keratoplasty (LKP), LKP and plus cyclosporin A eye drop.

RESULTS

The average age of onset of the corneal ulcer was 48.4 years old, the ratio of the male to the female patients was 1:0.74, the bilateral disease was 30% of the total cases, 31.5% of the bilateral disease occurred in the younger group, and 68.5% of the bilateral ulcer occurred in the older group, ulcers located at the limbus of the palpebral fissure were 70% of the total cases, perforative rate was 13.3%, 43.2% of the perforation occurred in the younger group, and 56.8% of the perforation occurred in the older group, recurrent rate of the post-operation was 25.6%, the cure rate of the first procedure of LKP and plus cyclosporin A eye drop was 73.7%, the final cure rate was 95.6%, and the preservative rate of the corneal anatomical structure of the surgeries was 99.7%.

CONCLUSION

The study primarily provided the clinical characteristics of Mooren's corneal ulcer patients of China. The available data do not support the present concept of the classification of the two clinical types. The bilateral ulcer may be the malignant type of Mooren's ulcer. LKP and plus cyclosporin A eye drop was an effective treatment of Mooren's corneal ulcer.

[Study on chemical components of Momordica charantia]

The paper deals with the study of chemical constituents of the unmatured fruits of Chinese traditional medicine Momordica charantia L. which is usually used as green-stuff. There are two parts of the extracts obtained by ethanol precipitation, and four compounds obtained from the further isolation. They are identified as Vincine, Mycose, Momordicoside A and Momordicoside B.

Expression, characterization, processing and immunogenicity of an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus autoantigen, IA-2, in Sf-9 cells

Autoantibodies to a 64-kD protein and a 40-kD tryptic fragment from pancreatic islets have been detected at high frequency in the sera of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). IA-2, a newly isolated transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, is a major islet cell autoantigen in IDDM and the precursor of a 40-kD tryptic fragment. To express large quantities of recombinant IA-2 protein and analyse post-translational modifications we expressed full-length human IA-2 in baculovirus-infected Sf-9 cells. IA-2 expression was analysed by Western blot and by immunoprecipitation of 35S-methionine-radiolabelled proteins with rabbit antisera or IDDM sera. A 120-kD IA-2 protein was detected during the early, but not the late, phase of the infection. Pulse-chase experiments showed that the 120-kD protein was processed into fragments of 64 kD and smaller fragments of approximately 50 kD, 38 kD and 32 kD. The 64-kD fragment appeared as a doublet. Tunicamycin and PNGase F treatment down-shifted the 120-kD protein and the 64-kD doublet into lower molecular weight bands, suggesting that both were glycosylated. Trypsin treatment converted the 120-kD protein and the 64-kD doublet into a 40-kD fragment. Baculovirus-expressed IA-2 was as sensitive or slightly more sensitive than in vitro translated IA-2 in detecting autoantibodies to IA-2: 66% of sera from newly diagnosed IDDM patients reacted with baculovirus-expressed IA-2 compared with 59% of the same sera which reacted with in vitro translated IA-2. It is concluded that baculovirus-expressed IA-2 is a good source of autoantigen and that a number of lower molecular weight fragments with which IDDM autoantibodies react are derived from the 120-kD full-length IA-2 molecule.

Enhanced radioimmunotherapeutic efficacy of a monoclonal antibody cocktail against SMMC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma

The improved tumoricidal effect of the radioantibody mixture ("cocktail") has been reported recently for the treatment of colon tumor. In the present study, we demonstrated the enhanced radioimmunotherapeutic efficacy of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) cocktail against human hepatocellular carcinoma. Therapeutic efficacy was determined by measuring the change in tumor size over a period, determining the percentage of growth inhibition of each treatment at various times after radioantibody therapy. Radioimmunotherapy of SMMC-7721 human hepatoma xenografts in athymic nude mice with combination of 131I-labeled Hepama-1 and 131I-labeled 9403 mouse MAbs was more effective than using either Hepeam-1 or 9403 MAb alone The MAb cocktail could target a greater number of hepatoma cells and increase the magnitude of hepatoma cell uptake of radioantibodies. The in vitro results explain the enhanced effect of the MAb cocktail in in vivo model system.

Mutation in NS5 protein attenuates mouse neurovirulence of yellow fever 17D vaccine virus

The 17D-204 vaccine manufactured in South Africa (17D-204-SA) and a large plaque variant (17D-LP) derived from it were highly virulent in adult mice. The LD50 of 17D-LP virus was 0-2 p.f.u. for mice following intracerebral inoculation. In comparison, a medium plaque variant derived from 17D-LP, termed 17D-MP virus, was found to be attenuated in adult mice following the same route of inoculation (> 10(4) p.f.u./LD50). Replication of 17D-MP virus was decreased in infected mouse brains compared to 17D-LP virus. Also, 17D-MP virus was slightly temperature sensitive at 39.5 degrees C. Compared to its parent viruses, 17D-204-SA and 17D-LP, 17D-MP virus had one unique mutation at nt 8045 in the genome which resulted in a single amino acid substitution (Pro --> Ser) at residue 137 of the NS5 protein and appeared to be the mutation responsible for the attenuation of 17D-MP virus. This is the first time that altered virulence of a flavivirus caused by mutation in a non-structural protein gene, other than NS1, has been reported.

[Studies on the chemical components of Brucea javanica]

Three active components were isolated from treated dry-fruits of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr by chromatographic methods, and they were identified as Brusatol (I), Bruceine D (II), Bruceosidae A (III) by means of UV, IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR spectroscopic analysis methods.

The interrelationship between selective tau phosphorylation and microtubule association

The purpose of this study was to examine the modulation of tau phosphorylation mediated by protein kinase A, a kinase with low intrinsic activity, and by the constitutively active glycogen synthase kinase, as well as to examine the subsequent effects on tau-microtubule association in differentiated human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Activation of protein kinase A with forskolin and rolipram significantly increased tau phosphorylation at Ser262/356 only in the presence of okadaic acid, indicating that phosphates at these sites are normally turned over rapidly. In contrast, glycogen synthase kinase appears to maintain tau phosphorylation at Thr181 and Ser396/404 since inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase with lithium reduced phosphorylation at these sites. Lithium treatment also significantly decreased tau and tyrosinated alpha-tubulin levels. Perturbation of microtubules with nocodazole or taxol induced tau dephosphorylation at Tau-1 sites, Thr181 and Ser396/404, indicating that both constitutive kinase activity and microtubule state modulate tau phosphorylation at these sites. Nocodazole- or taxol-induced tau dephosphorylation was blocked by the protein phosphatase 2A/1 inhibitor okadaic acid, but not by the protein phosphatase 2B inhibitor cyclosporin A. In addition, osmotic stress, such as treatment with 20 mM NaCl, selectively increased tau phosphorylation at the Tau-1 epitope. To investigate the effect of phosphorylation on tau association with microtubules and microtubule stability in situ, a Triton X-100 extraction assay was utilized to separate the detergent-soluble cytosolic components from the detergent-insoluble cytoskeletal components. In control cells or cells treated with lithium very little tau was detected in the cytosolic fraction. Activation of protein kinase A in the presence of okadaic acid elevated tau levels in the detergent-soluble fraction, which contained all the tau phosphorylated at Ser262/356, and also decreased microtubule stability, as indicated by decreased acetylated alpha-tubulin levels. In conclusion, the phosphorylation state of tau in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells is regulated by glycogen synthase kinase, microtubule dynamics and osmotic stress at overlapping sites which apparently have little influence on tau-microtubule association. In contrast, phosphorylation of tau at Ser262/356 within the microtubule-binding, which was mediated in part by protein kinase A, prevented the association of tau with microtubules in situ.

Improved long-term survival for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a combination of surgery and intrahepatic arterial infusion of 131I-anti-HCC mAb. Phase I/II clinical trials

Resectional therapy has been accepted as the only curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, it is estimated that only 10% of HCC are resectable at the time of diagnosis. Cytoreduction and sequential resection offer a new hope for patients with unresectable HCC. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an attractive approach for cytoreduction. We have previously shown that intrahepatic arterial 131I-labelled anti-HCC monoclonal antibody (131I-Hepama-1 mAb) could be used safely in combination with hepatic artery ligation for treatment of unresectable HCC, and encouraging results have been achieved. In this paper, the long-term survival and the prognostic factors in HCC patients treated with radioimmunotherapy will be analysed. Sixty-five patients with surgically verified unresectable HCC were treated with hepatic artery ligation plus hepatic artery cannulation and infusion from 1990 to 1992. Thirty-two patients were enrolled in a phase I-II clinical trial with infusion of 131I-radiolabelled anti-HCC monoclonal antibody (Hepama-1 mAb) via the hepatic artery (the RIT group). Another 33 patients formed the group treated with intrahepatic-arterial chemotherapy (the non-RIT group). T cell subsets were measured in 24 patients and human anti-(murine Ig) antibody (HAMA) were monitored in the RIT group. The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in the RIT group than in the chemotherapy group, being 28.1% compared to 9.1% (P < 0.05); this was mainly a result of better cytoreduction and a higher sequential resection rate (53.1% compared to 9.1%). Significant prognostic factors in the RIT group included tumour capsule status and the number of tumour nodules. HAMA incidence and CD4+ T lymphocytes influenced short-term, but not long-term survival. It is suggested that intrahepatic-arterial RIT, using 131I-Hepama-1 mAb, combined with hepatic artery ligation might be an effective approach to improve long-term survival in some patients with unresectable HCC, which may successfully be made resectable by intra-arterial infusion of 131I-Hepama-1 mAb.

Flow relaxation is not ATP-mediated in the rabbit ear artery

ATP has been proposed to play a role in flow-induced dilation of blood vessels. Changes in flow would alter the concentration of ATP at lumenal endothelial P2Y receptors, occupation of which results in dilation. We tested the hypothesis that the lumenal release of ATP close its receptors on the endothelium and the subsequent influence of flow rate on its concentration at such receptors acts as a flow sensing system. The effect of the selective P2Y-purinoceptor antagonist reactive blue 2 on relaxation of the isolated rabbit ear resistance artery to flow, ATP and ACh was studied. We found that reactive blue 2 (100 micromol/L) significantly inhibited ATP-induced relaxation, but had no effect on equivalent relaxation induced by intraluminal flow (10-40 microl/min). It reduced ACh-induced relaxation to a less extent. These findings strongly suggest that flow-induced relaxation of the rabbit ear resistance artery can occur without the mediation of locally released ATP.

[PAH-DNA adduct in human lung cancer explants. A preliminary study]

OBJECTIVE

To study the influences of external exposure on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-DNA adduct formation in lung cancer patients.

METHODS

On the basis of pilot experiments in mice, 32P post-labeling assay developed by Randerath was used to measure PAH-DNA adduct in human lung tissue explants. Relative adduct label(RAL) value was employed as a measure of adduct formation. A case-control study was designed using age-, sex-, and residence-matched patients with lung cancer and benign pulmonary diseases.

RESULTS

Although the mean RAL value in male lung cancer patients was not significantly different from that in patients with benign diseases, patients who smoked cigarettes had significantly higher RAL value than those who did not smoke(27.62 x 10(-9) versus 11.42 x 10(-9), P = 0.0015). In contrast, in female lung cancer patients, the RAL value was significantly higher in patients with lung cancer than in those with benign lung diseases (13.59 x 10(-9) versus 7.9 x 10(-9), P < 0.05). Moreover, significant difference in RAL values existed between female smokers and non-smokers. Cooking affected female patients only. Higher RAL values were seen in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma than with adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05). RAL values were significantly higher in poorly differentiated than in well-differentiated lung cancers (P < 0.05). A significant increase in RAL values was observed in patients with lymph node metastasis as compared with those without lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

PAH-DNA adduct level in lung tissue explants can be taken as a measure of environmental exposure and it correlates with the histological type, degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis of lung cancer.

Yellow fever 17D vaccine virus isolated from healthy vaccinees accumulates very few mutations

The live attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccine strain 17D is one of the safest vaccines in use today with only 22 cases of reversion to virulence documented from over 300 million doses administered. We have isolated virus in cell culture from sera of six volunteers who received 17D vaccine and found that very few nucleotide mutations were detected in the consensus sequence of the entire genome of each of the serum viruses. Moreover, most of these mutations accumulated in the non-structural protein genes, especially the NS5 protein gene. Although no nucleotide change was identified in the structural protein genes of any of these six serum viruses, minor sequence heterogeneity existed in the serum virus population. Our results indicate that 17D vaccine virus accumulates mutations at a very low frequency and may explain in part the excellent safety record of 17D vaccine.

[Existence of IL-8 degrading protease and anti-IL-8 IgG in gingival crevicular fluid]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the nature of the IL-8 inhibitor(s) in gingival crevicul fluid (GCF).

METHODS

(1) 14 GCF samples were collected from 13 adult periodontitis (AP) patients, and 9 samples were taken from 8 healthy subjects. Each GCF sample was divided into two aliquots. A serine protease-specific inhibitor-PMSF was added to one aliquot and PBS added to the other aliquot as control. ELISA was used to measure IL-8 level in the samples. (2) 41 GCF samples were collected from 15 AP patients and indirect ELISA was performed to detect the anti-IL-8 IgG antibody.

RESULTS

(1) IL-8 level in the PMSF-added samples were significantly greater than that in the control group(3.01 mg/L +/- 5.79 mg/L vs 0.05 mg/L +/- 0.15 mg/L, P < 0.001). (2) The mean value of anti-IL-8 IgG in GCF was greater than that of negative control +3 x s.

CONCLUSION

A serine protease which can "cleave" IL-8 exists in GCF and GCF from AP sites contain auto-antibody against IL-8.

In vivo function of mutated spliced leader RNAs in Caenorhabditis elegans

The role of spliced leader RNA (SL RNA) in trans-splicing in Caenorhabditis elegans has been studied through a combination of in vitro mutagenesis and in vivo complementation of rrs-1 mutant nematodes, which lack endogenous SL1 RNA. Three classes of mutant SL1 RNAs have been found-those that rescue the lethal phenotype at low concentration of transforming DNA, those that rescue at high but not low concentration, and those that do not rescue at all. These studies showed that some mutations in the otherwise highly conserved 22-nt spliced leader are tolerated for splicing and post-splicing events. A longer spliced leader also can be tolerated but only when present in high copy number. Changes in the first 16 nucleotides result in the appearance of no SL RNA, consistent with the in vitro studies by others showing that the SL1 RNA promoter partly resides within the spliced leader sequence.

Methodological issues in assertive community treatment studies

Recent evaluations of ACT programs have produced equivocal findings, often leading to the invocation of methodological problems as responsible for the lack of positive results. This paper discusses issues of theory and methodology as they pertain to improving research of ACT, with particular attention paid to issues of sampling, process evaluation, measurement, and data analysis.

Assertive community treatment for patients with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorder: a clinical trial

Integrated mental health and substance abuse treatment within an assertive community treatment (ACT) approach was compared to that within a standard case management approach for 223 patients with dual disorders over three years. ACT patients showed greater improvements on some measures of substance abuse and quality of life, but the groups were equivalent on most measures, including stable community days, hospital days, psychiatric symptoms, and remission of substance use disorder.

[Determination of paeonol in jiawei xiaoyao granules by HPLC]

A HPLC method has been used for the determination of paeonol in Jiawei Xiaoyao Granules. The method is simple and accurate. The average recovery is 96.48% and relative standard deviation 1.11%. The method can be used for quantitative analysis of these granules.

EGF receptor regulation of cell motility: EGF induces disassembly of focal adhesions independently of the motility-associated PLCgamma signaling pathway

A current model of growth factor-induced cell motility invokes integration of diverse biophysical processes required for cell motility, including dynamic formation and disruption of cell/substratum attachments along with extension of membrane protrusions. To define how these biophysical events are actuated by biochemical signaling pathways, we investigate here whether epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces disruption of focal adhesions in fibroblasts. We find that EGF treatment of NR6 fibroblasts presenting full-length WT EGF receptors (EGFR) reduces the fraction of cells presenting focal adhesions from approximately 60% to approximately 30% within 10 minutes. The dose dependency of focal adhesion disassembly mirrors that for EGF-enhanced cell motility, being noted at 0.1 nM EGF. EGFR kinase activity is required as cells expressing two kinase-defective EGFR constructs retain their focal adhesions in the presence of EGF. The short-term (30 minutes) disassembly of focal adhesions is reflected in decreased adhesiveness of EGF-treated cells to substratum. We further examine here known motility-associated pathways to determine whether these contribute to EGF-induced effects. We have previously demonstrated that phospholipase C(gamma) (PLCgamma) activation and mobilization of gelsolin from a plasma membrane-bound state are required for EGFR-mediated cell motility. In contrast, we find here that short-term focal adhesion disassembly is induced by a signaling-restricted truncated EGFR (c'973) which fails to activate PLCgamma or mobilize gelsolin. The PLC inhibitor U73122 has no effect on this process, nor is the actin severing capacity of gelsolin required as EGF treatment reduces focal adhesions in gelsolin-devoid fibroblasts, further supporting the contention that focal adhesion disassembly is signaled by a pathway distinct from that involving PLCgamma. Because both WT and c'973 EGFR activate the erk MAP kinase pathway, we additionally explore here this signaling pathway, not previously associated with growth factor-induced cell motility. Levels of the MEK inhibitor PD98059 that block EGF-induced mitogenesis and MAP kinase phosphorylation also abrogate EGF-induced focal adhesion disassembly and cell motility. In summary, we characterize for the first time the ability of EGFR kinase activity to directly stimulate focal adhesion disassembly and cell/substratum detachment, in relation to its ability to stimulate migration. Furthermore, we propose a model of EGF-induced motogenic cell responses in which the PLCgamma pathway stimulating cell motility is distinct from the MAP kinase-dependent signaling pathway leading to disassembly and reorganization of cell-substratum adhesion.

A novel method for diabetes diagnosis based on electronic nose

A novel non-invasive method for diabetes diagnosis based on an electronic nose is proposed in this paper. The principles of the method and results of clinical experiments are presented. These results show the convenience, painlessness and non-invasiveness of the method.

Job terminations among persons with severe mental illness participating in supported employment

For persons with psychiatric disabilities, maintaining a job is often more difficult than acquiring a job. A large proportion of jobs end unsatisfactorily. This study explored job terminations among 63 persons with severe mental illness who participated in competitive jobs through supported employment programs. More than half of the job terminations were unsatisfactory, defined as the client quitting without having other job plans or being fired. Baseline ratings of demographic and clinical characteristics, preemployment skills training, and early ratings of job satisfaction and work environment did not predict unsatisfactory terminations. Clients with better work histories were less likely to experience unsatisfactory terminations. In addition, unsatisfactory terminations were associated retrospectively with multiple problems on the job that were related to interpersonal functioning, mental illness, dissatisfaction with jobs, quality of work, medical illnesses, dependability, and substance abuse. These results suggest that supported employment programs need to address job maintenance with interventions that identify and address different types of difficulties as they arise on the job.

MR image-guided portal verification for brain treatment field

PURPOSE

To investigate a method for the generation of digitally reconstructed radiographs directly from MR images (DRR-MRI) to guide a computerized portal verification procedure.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Several major steps were developed to perform an MR image-guided portal verification procedure. Initially, a wavelet-based multiresolution adaptive thresholding method was used to segment the skin slice-by-slice in MR brain axial images. Some selected anatomical structures, such as target volume and critical organs, were then manually identified and were reassigned to relatively higher intensities. Interslice information was interpolated with a directional method to achieve comparable display resolution in three dimensions. Next, a ray-tracing method was used to generate a DRR-MRI image at the planned treatment position, and the ray tracing was simply performed on summation of voxels along the ray. The skin and its relative positions were also projected to the DRR-MRI and were used to guide the search of similar features in the portal image. A Canny edge detector was used to enhance the brain contour in both portal and simulation images. The skin in the brain portal image was then extracted using a knowledge-based searching technique. Finally, a Chamfer matching technique was used to correlate features between DRR-MRI and portal image.

RESULTS

The MR image-guided portal verification method was evaluated using a brain phantom case and a clinical patient case. Both DRR-CT and DRR-MRI were generated using CT and MR phantom images with the same beam orientation and then compared. The matching result indicated that the maximum deviation of internal structures was less than 1 mm. The segmented results for brain MR slice images indicated that a wavelet-based image segmentation technique provided a reasonable estimation for the brain skin. For the clinical patient case with a given portal field, the MR image-guided verification method provided an excellent match between features in both DRR-MRI and portal image. Moreover, target volume could be accurately visualized in the DRR-MRI and mapped over to the corresponding portal image for treatment verification. The accuracy of DRR-MRI was also examined by comparing it to the corresponding simulation image. The matching results indicated that the maximum deviation of anatomical features was less than 2.5 mm.

CONCLUSION

A method for MR image-guided portal verification of brain treatment field was developed. Although the radiographic appearance in the DRR-MRI is different from that in the portal image, DRR-MRI provides essential anatomical features (landmarks and target volume) as well as their relative locations to be used as references for computerized portal verification.

Benefits and costs of supported employment from three perspectives

Administrators, consumers, and policy makers are increasingly interested in supported employment as a way of helping persons with severe mental illness get and keep competitive jobs. However, in an atmosphere of increased expectations for performance and declining public financing, administrators want to know the costs and benefits of different approaches before they reallocate scarce treatment or rehabilitative dollars. This article discusses the net benefits of two approaches to supported employment that were compared in a randomized trial: Individual Placement and Support (IPS) and Group Skills Training (GST). The authors analyze costs and benefits from societal, government, and consumer perspectives. Although a previous analysis showed that IPS participants were significantly more likely to find work, worked more hours, and had higher earnings, net benefits of the two programs were not significantly different. The authors also discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of cost-benefit analysis in mental health care and suggest future directions for policy and research.

Preventive effect of artemether on schistosome infection

OBJECTIVE

To study the preventive effect of artemether (Art) in protecting the people from schistosome infection during flood fighting in schistosomiasis endemic area of Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province.

METHODS

From mid July to mid August in 1996, the water level in Poyang Lake rose due to torrential rains and 2 embankments, Zhedi and Jiangtongdi, which appeared in dangerous situation and were selected as the pilot spots. After those who went to fight against flood arrived at the pilots their sera were collected within 48 hours and were examined with indirect hemagglutination test (IHA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and McAb-ELISA. Individuals with negative outcome in the 3 tests were then selected as the study subjects and were allocated randomly to the Art or the control group. The first dose of Art given to the individuals contacted with the infested water within 11-15 days was 6 mg/kg. If the individual continually contacted the infested water, the same dose of Art was given once every 15 days. After the individuals withdrew from the pilot, one more dose of Art was administered 7-15 days later. Placebo (starch) was given to individuals in the control group at the same period as in artemether group. Stool examinations were made in both groups 40-50 days after the last medication for evaluation of the preventive effect of artemether. Double blind method was used in the administration of both artemether and placebo.

RESULTS

In Zhedi pilot, the individuals fought against flood for about 1 month. In Art group, 99 individuals receiving 3 doses of the drug completed the stool examination with egg-positive rate of 4% and no acute schistosomiasis was seen. In the control group, among 110 people who completed the observation, 44 were egg-positive with an infection rate of 40%, and 29 were identified as having acute schistosomiasis. In Jiangtondi, the studied individuals contacted the infested water for only about 4 hours. But in the control group 4 out of 102 individuals were egg-positive, while none of the 103 individuals in Art group receiving 2 doses of the drug showed schistosome infection. No apparent side effect was seen in the people treated with artemether.

CONCLUSION

After oral Art was given to the people fighting against flood in schistosomiasis endemic area of Poyang Lake, it was shown that the oral Art has a promising effect on controlling acute schistosomiasis and reducing the infection rate.

Hyperbaric oxygen and basic fibroblast growth factor promote growth of irradiated bone

PURPOSE

The goal of the current experiment is to test for protective effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on bone growth.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Control C3H mice received hind leg irradiation at 0, 10, 20, or 30 Gy. HBO-treated groups received radiation 1, 5, or 9 weeks before beginning HBO. The remaining groups began bFGF +/- HBO 1 or 5 weeks after 30 Gy. HBO treatments were given 5 days per week for 4 weeks at 2 ATA for 3 h/day. bFGF was given intravenously at 6 microg twice a week for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

HBO improved bone growth after radiation in the 10 and 20 Gy groups. At 18 weeks control tibia length discrepancy is 0.0, 4.2, 8.2, and 10.7% after 0, 10, 20, and 30 Gy, respectively. HBO beginning in week 1, 5, or 9 following 10 Gy decreased these discrepancies to 2.0% (p < 0.05), 1.8% (p < 0.05), and 2.4% (p < 0.05), respectively. After 20 Gy, HBO decreased these discrepancies to 7.0% (p = ns), 4.9% (p < 0.05), and 3.6% (p < 0.05), respectively. At 30 Gy, HBO alone had no effect on bone shortening. bFGF improved tibia length discrepancy with or without HBO. At 18 weeks length discrepancies were 6.5% (p < 0.05) and 7.3 (p < 0.05), and after bFGF alone were 6.8% (p < 0.05) and 7.3% (p < 0.05) for treatment beginning in week 1 or 5, respectively. Tibial growth at 18 and 33 weeks following radiation were similar.

CONCLUSION

Radiation effects on bone growth can be significant reduced by HBO after 10 or 20 Gy, but not after 30 Gy. At 30 Gy bFGF still significantly reduced the degree of bone shortening, but HBO provided no added benefit to bFGF therapy.

[Effects of hairy root huangqi on hemopoietic function]

The effects of hairy root Huangqi on hemopoietic system were studied in this paper. The oral administration of 5-20 g/kg hairy root Huangqi per day for 5-12 days could increase the count of RBC and reticulocytes in mice with hemorrhagic anemia, raise the hemoglobin, RBC and hematocrit in mice with hemolytic anemia, enhance the number of WBC and nucleared cells in bone marrow of mice treated with cyclophosphamidum or x-rays. The experiments showed that hairy root Huangqi promoted the hemopoietic function. The effects were similer to those of natural Huangqi.

[Study on the extraction method and the opimun factor for Paeonia suffruticosa]

The optimun extraction process were selected from three extraction methods according to the content of paeonol and it UV characters. Futhermore, the conditions of extraction process selected were studied with orthogonal test. The result showed that the yield of paeonol is 73.7%, RSD 2.93% (n = 3).

Micronuclei in nasal mucosa, oral mucosa and lymphocytes in students exposed to formaldehyde vapor in anatomy class

The frequency of micronuclei (MN) in cells of the nasal mucosa, oral mucosa and in lymphocytes was evaluated for 25 students in anatomy classes exposed to formaldehyde (FA) over an 8-week period. Each student served as his or her own control. The time-weighted average concentration (TWA) of formaldehyde in anatomical laboratories and in students' dormitories was 0.508 +/- 0.299 mg/m3 and 0.012 +/- 0.0025 mg/m3, respectively. A higher frequency of micronuclei was observed in nasal and oral exfoliative cells after formaldehyde exposure (3.85 +/- 1.48 vs 1.20 +/- 0.676 and 0.857 +/- 0.558 vs 0.568 +/- 0.317, paired-t test: P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). No significant increase in the frequency of lymphocyte micronuclei was found after formaldehyde exposure (P > 0.05). The present study shows that nasal mucosa cells exposed through respiration are the chief target of FA-induced genotoxic effects.

[Determination of geniposide and paeoniflorin in Jiawei Xiaoyao Pills by HPLC]

The geniposide and paeoniflorin in Jiaowei Xiaoyao Pills were separated and determined by HPLC, with a C18 column and a mixture of CH3CN-0.1% H3PO4(13:87) as mobile phase. The method is simple, rapid and accurate. The components have a good linearity, and the average recovery with RSD(n = 5) is 101.81% + 2.38% for geniposide and 98.75% + 1.95% for paeoniflorin.

[Quantitative assessment of allospecific interleukin-2-secreting helper T lymphocyte in cord blood with limiting dilution assay]

OBJECTIVE

In order to investigate whether cord blood transplantation could induce severe graft versus host disease (GVHD) similar to that in bone marrow transplantation.

METHODS

The frequency of allospecific IL-2-secreting helper T lymphocyte (AIHTL) in 17 cord blood and 14 adult peripherial blood samples were detected by limiting dilution assay.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference between the cord blood and adult peripheral blood AIHTLs was revealed.

CONCLUSION

Alloreactivity of cord blood was the same as that of adult blood. HLA typing and powerful immunosuppressive therapy should be adopted to reduce the incidence of GVHD in cord blood transplantation.

Detection of Babesia bovis using a DIG-labeled DNA probe

A plasmid DNA containing the inserted Babesia bovis cDNA clone designated c51A was used to prepare a DNA probe for B. bovis. The purified 0.6 kb specific DNA fragment was labeled by DIG DNA labeling. After denaturation, the probe was hybridised with the blotted target DNA extracted from bovine red blood cells infected with B. bovis or other protozoa or bovine red blood cells plus extra white blood cells. It was found that the probe produced from purified 0.6 kb DNA fragment could detect sample of B. bovis DNA equivalent to 0.015 microliter of 10% whole infected blood. Compared to the same DNA fragment labeled with photobiotin, this new probe is more sensitive giving a darker hybridization signal, a lighter hybridization background and without any non-specific reactions. These results indicated that this DIG-labeled B. bovis C5lA probe could provide a sensitive and specific method to diagnose clinically suspected B. bovis infections and distinguish B. bovis DNA from other haemoprotozoan infections.

[The evidence for existence of interleukin 8 inhibitor and its biological activity in gingival crevicular fluid]

In order to confirm the existence of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) inhibitor and its biological activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), this study examined the GCF taken from 7 adult periodontitis (AP) patients. In neutralization test of IL-8, the results showed that the mean level of IL-8 was less than 1 ng/ml, which had been added into the GCF before ELESAs was performed to measure the amount of IL-8 in GCF. The mean level of IL-8 in the GCF of AP group was significantly lower than that of healthy group (P < 0.001). In biological activity test of IL-8 inhibitor, using pooled GCF taken from 8 AP patients (23 teeth), the results showed that the GCF (without recombinant human IL-8, rhIL-8) caused more white blood cell (WBC) migration than blank control group (physiological saline) did. When the amount of rhIL-8 increased in GCF from 0.1 microgram to 1 microgram, the WBC count increased by 18.6% which was less than the increase rate (49.1%) in control group with same dose of IL-8. In the saline group containing rhIL-8, the WBC chemotactic response appeared as an inverted "V"-shape curve. All these data suggested that 1. Certain kinds of IL-8 inhibitor exist in GCF which can "cleave" IL-8. 2. The level of IL-8 inhibitor(s) increases significantly in the GCF from periodontitis sites. 3. The GCF of adult periodontitis patient has strong chemotactic effects on WBC. IL-8 inhibitor(s) in GCF can slightly suppress the chemotactic effect induced by IL-8. When assessing the role of IL-8 in pathophysiology, the high and low dose of IL-8 might have different sense.

Autoantibodies to IA-2 and IA-2 beta in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus recognize conformational epitopes: location of the 37- and 40-kDa fragments determined

IA-2 and IA-2 beta are major autoantigens in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and the precursors, respectively, of a 40-and 37-kDa tryptic fragment that reacts with IDDM sera. In the present study, by amino acid sequencing of recombinant IA-2 and IA-2 beta, we determined the tryptic cleavage sites involved in the generation of these fragments. Both cleavage sites are immediately after an arginine residue at position 653 for IA-2 and position 679 for IA-2 beta. The resulting tryptic fragments are 326 and 307 amino acids in length and retain their ability to react with IDDM sera. In contrast to IA-2 and IA-2 beta, other members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family (i.e., RPTP kappa, RPTPmu, NU-3, SHP, and 3CH134) are completely susceptible to digestion by trypsin. Sequence analysis revealed five conserved cysteine residues in IA-2 and IA-2 beta that are not present in other PTPs. Reduction and alkylation of IA-2 and IA-2 beta recombinant proteins resulted in loss of both resistance to digestion by trypsin and reactivity with autoantibodies in IDDM sera. It is concluded that disulfide bond formation plays a critical role in the maintenance of antigenic structure and that the autoantibodies to IA-2/IA-2 beta in IDDM sera recognize conformational epitopes.

Autoantibodies to IA-2 and IA-2 beta in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus recognize conformational epitopes: location of the 37- and 40-kDa fragments determined

IA-2 and IA-2 beta are major autoantigens in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and the precursors, respectively, of a 40-and 37-kDa tryptic fragment that reacts with IDDM sera. In the present study, by amino acid sequencing of recombinant IA-2 and IA-2 beta, we determined the tryptic cleavage sites involved in the generation of these fragments. Both cleavage sites are immediately after an arginine residue at position 653 for IA-2 and position 679 for IA-2 beta. The resulting tryptic fragments are 326 and 307 amino acids in length and retain their ability to react with IDDM sera. In contrast to IA-2 and IA-2 beta, other members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family (i.e., RPTP kappa, RPTPmu, NU-3, SHP, and 3CH134) are completely susceptible to digestion by trypsin. Sequence analysis revealed five conserved cysteine residues in IA-2 and IA-2 beta that are not present in other PTPs. Reduction and alkylation of IA-2 and IA-2 beta recombinant proteins resulted in loss of both resistance to digestion by trypsin and reactivity with autoantibodies in IDDM sera. It is concluded that disulfide bond formation plays a critical role in the maintenance of antigenic structure and that the autoantibodies to IA-2/IA-2 beta in IDDM sera recognize conformational epitopes.

Association of cortactin with developing neuromuscular specializations

During the development of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), motoneurons grow to the muscle cell and the nerve-muscle contact triggers the development of both presynaptic specialization, consisting of clusters of synaptic vesicles (SVs), and postsynaptic specialization, consisting of clusters of synaptic vesicles (SVs), and postsynaptic specialization, consisting of clusters of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). Previous studies have shown that the activation of tyrosine kinases and the local assembly of an actin-based cytoskeletal specialization are involved in the development of both types of specializations. To understand the link between tyrosine phosphorylation and the assembly of the cytoskeleton, we examined the localization of cortactin in relationship to synaptic development. Cortactin is a 80/85 kD F-actin binding protein and is a substrate for tyrosine kinases. It contains a proline-rich motif and an SH3 domain and is localized at sites of active F-actin assembly. Using a monoclonal antibody against cortactin, its localization at developing NMJs in culture was observed. To understand the spatial and temporal relationship between cortactin and developing synaptic structures, cultured muscle cells and spinal neurons from Xenopus embryos were treated with beads coated with heparin-binding growth-associated molecule to induce the formation of AChR clusters and SV clusters and the localization of cortactin was followed by immunofluorescence. In untreated muscle cells, cortactin is often co-localized with spontaneously formed AChR clusters. After cells were treated with beads, cortactin became localized at bead-induced AChR clusters at their earliest appearance (1 h after the addition of beads). This association was most reliably detected at the early stage of the clustering process. On the presynaptic side, cortactin localization could be detected as early as 10 min after the bead-neurite contact was established. Cortactin-enriched contacts later showed concentration of F-actin (at 1 h) and clusters of SVs (at 24 h). These data suggest that cortactin mediates the local assembly of the cytoskeletal specialization triggered by the synaptogenic signal on both nerve and muscle.

Cytokine rescue from glucocorticoid induced apoptosis in T cells is mediated through inhibition of IkappaBalpha

We previously reported that dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, causes apoptosis in mature Th cell lines, and that this induction of cell death is prevented by specific cytokines, namely, by IL-2 in Th1 cells and by IL-4 in Th2 cells. We now show that this differential rescue by specific cytokines in Th cells correlates with the level of IkappaBalpha that is regulated by DEX and cytokines. In both cell types the cellular levels of IkappaBalpha mRNA and protein were evaluated by DEX treatment. Interestingly, the DEX-mediated IkappaBalpha induction was completely inhibited by IL-2, but not IL-4, in Th1 cells, while the reverse profile was seen in Th2 cells. In both cell types, the cytokine that inhibits the induction of IkappaBalpha by DEX, also rescues these cells from DEX-induced apoptosis, although the rescue cytokine is different in Th1 and Th2 cells. Our results imply that T cells need to maintain a certain level of NF-kappaB transcriptional activity in order to survive; up- or down-regulation of nuclear NF kappaB through modulation of IkappaBalpha expression by cytokines or DEX may lead to cell survival or cell death, respectively.

[Inclusion body myositis: clinical and myopathological features]

Inclusion body myositis has been recognized as a major form of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. An old male patient with insidious onset and slowly progressive muscular weakness and artrophy has been reported in this article. The duration of symptom before biopsy was 23 years. The first symptom was dysphagia, and muscular weakness developed seven years later. Muscular atrophy was predominant symmetrically and proximally, particularly the quadriceps femoris muscles. Cervical and abdominal muscles were also affected. Myalgia was absent. Electromyogrophy showed myopathic alterations. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, creatine kinase, immunoglobulins G increased slightly or moderately. Rheumatoid factor was positive, and he had been diagnosed as having rheumatoid arthritis for 23 years. Inclusion body myositis was ultimately diagnosed based on the muscle biopsy which showed mononuclear cell invasion of nonnecrotic muscle fibers, the characteristic rimmed vacuoles in cryostat sections and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies consisted of plenty of tubulofilaments by electron microscope.

Alkoxy propane prodrugs of foscarnet: effect of alkyl chain length on in vitro antiviral activity in cells infected with HIV-1, HSV-1 and HCMV

The identification of more effective and less toxic foscarnet (PFA) analogs for antiviral therapy would be useful. We recently synthesized 1-O-octadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphonoformic acid (ODG-PFA) and noted a 93-fold increase in its anti-HCMV activity relative to PFA. In addition, the antiviral activity of ODG-PFA in herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infected cells was increased 40-fold relative to PFA (Hostetler et al., 1996. Antiviral Res. 31, 59). To evaluate structure-activity relationships further, we synthesized alkoxypropyl esters of foscarnet with varying alkyl chain lengths and degrees of saturation. These compounds were tested in vitro for activity and selectivity in comparison with PFA and ODG-PFA in cells infected with HCMV, HSV-1 or HIV-1. Antiviral activity was strongly dependent on chain length with alkyl ethers 14-18 carbon atoms long exhibiting the greatest antiviral activity against HCMV and HSV-1. In HIV-infected HT4-6C cells, optimal activity was observed at 18-22 carbon chain lengths. The antiviral activities of 1-octadecyloxypropane-3-PFA and 1-docosyloxypropane-3-PFA were 135- and 338-fold greater than that of PFA in HT4-6C cells infected with HIV-1. This also represents a 2.6-6-fold improvement in antiviral activity over ODG-PFA, the previously reported analog.

Properties of solutions for a chemotaxis system

We investigate mathematically the system of equations proposed by Chaplain and Stuart, to describe the chemotactic response of endothelial cells under the angiogenesis stimulus. In particular, we characterize the steady state endothelial cell density function, and give conditions on the chemotactic parameter k and cell proliferation parameter b that ensure that migration/ proliferation either does or does not occur in steady state. The time dependent problem is also treated.

[Determination of R- and S-mephenytoin in human urine by gas chromatography]

The levels of R- and S-mephenytoin in human urine were determined by chiral capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The conditions of the chromatography and detection included a chiral capillary column (Chirasil-Val, 25 m x 0.25 mm i.d., Alltech), column temperature (T) 190 degrees C, injector T 220 degrees C, detector T 240 degrees C, and the flow-rates of 0.85, 3.5 and 120 mL/min for nitrogen, hydrogen and air respectively. Based on the above conditions, the satisfactory separation of R- and S-mephenytoin was gained, and other interference from urine sample was not found. The linear curves for both tested compounds ranged between 12.5 and 2500 microg/L, with a minimum detectable concentration of about 6 microg/L. Because of its simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity and accuracy, this method has been extensively used for testing metabolic ability of S-mephenytoin polymorphic oxidation in the Chinese populations and for the determination of the activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP2C19 using mephenytoin S/R ratio of the urine samples of subjects as an indicator.

Ceramide selectively decreases tau levels in differentiated PC12 cells through modulation of calpain I

Ceramide has been recently proposed to be a signal mediator in several important physiological processes including apoptosis, cellular growth, and differentiation. Because the microtubule-associated protein tau plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of neuronal morphology, the effects of ceramide on tau were examined. Treatment of differentiated PC12 cells with the cell-permeable ceramide derivative N-acetylsphingosine (C2) resulted in a significant reduction in tau levels. Significant decreases in tau levels were also observed when the cells were treated with another ceramide derivative, N-hexanoylsphingosine (C6). In addition, C2 treatment increased the levels of a calpain-derived spectrin breakdown product but did not alter the levels of two cytoskeletal proteins, alpha-actin and alpha-tubulin. Because both tau and spectrin are proteolyzed in vitro by the calcium-activated cysteine protease calpain, the effects of ceramide analogues on the activity of this protease were examined. Treatment of PC12 cells with C2 enhanced calcium-stimulated proteolytic activity significantly, as revealed by monitoring the hydrolysis of the membrane-permeable calpain-selective fluorescence probe N-succinyl-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-valyl-L-tyrosine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin . This activity increase was not due to a direct effect of C2 on calpains, because C2 did not alter the activities of purified calpain I or II. In addition, C2 treatment of PC12 cells resulted in a significant increase in the levels of calpain I and, to a lesser extent, the levels of calpastatin (an endogenous calpain inhibitor protein), whereas the levels of calpain II were not changed. Moreover, treatment of the cells with the synthetic calpain-specific inhibitor N-carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-tyrosine diazomethyl ketone blocked the C2-induced decreases in tau levels. These results indicate that tau levels are regulated in response to a physiological factor and, thus, have implications for ceramide-mediated changes in normal and pathological neuronal processes.

[Effects of different components of serum from radiation, burn and combined radiation-burn injury on L-type calcium channel of cultured myocardial cells]

The effects of different components of serum from radiation, burn and combined radiation-burn injury on the activity of L-type calcium channel in cultured myocardial cells were investigated in this study. The results revealed that the serum from different injury groups could all activate the L-type calcium channel of cultured myocardial cells. These changes altered the calcium level in cells, which might be an important cause of dysfunction in cardiovascular system. Among the components of postinjury serum, the effect of high molecular components (> 8-10 kD) was not significant, whereas low molecule (< 8-10kD) and lipid components were the major effective components. The low molecule of postinjury serum affected not only on the opening activity of L-type channel, but also on the state of molecular movement in the membrane. The effect of serum lipids from injury groups could be depressed by SOD, which suggests that there may be free radical reactions during the serum lipids effect on calcium channel. The effects of serum and its components from combined radiation-burn group were the most intensive, and those from radiation injury were the weakest. The nature of the toxic material in serum remains to be further investigated.

Work and nonvocational domains of functioning in persons with severe mental illness: a longitudinal analysis

In this study we sought to understand the relationship between obtaining competitive employment and changes in nonvocational domains of functioning (symptoms, substance abuse, hospitalizations, self-esteem, quality of life) in persons with severe mental illness. A group of 143 unemployed patients participating in a study of vocational rehabilitation programs were assessed in nonvocational areas of functioning at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months later. Statistical analyses examined the relationship between work status at the follow-up assessments and nonvocational functioning, controlling for baseline levels of nonvocational variables. Patients who were working at follow-up tended to have lower symptoms (particularly thought disorder and affect on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale), higher Global Assessment Scores, better self-esteem, and more satisfaction with their finances and vocational services than unemployed patients. Employment is associated with better functioning in a range of different nonvocational domains, even after controlling for baseline levels of functioning.

Housing status among formerly homeless dually diagnosed adults

OBJECTIVE

Residential outcomes of homeless adults with severe mental illness and a substance use disorder were studied over 18 months during which participants received integrated dual diagnosis services and housing supports based on a continuum model.

METHODS

Interviews with 158 participants at baseline and at six-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups assessed housing status, residential history, substance abuse and progress toward recovery, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life. Complete data were available for 122 participants. If participants lived continuously in high-quality housing with no housing loss or nights of homelessness during the final six months of the study, they were classified as having stable housing.

RESULTS

Of the 122 participants for whom complete data were available, 64 (52 percent) achieved stable housing. Most participants who achieved stable housing first entered staffed and supervised housing and then moved to independent arrangements by the end of the study. Stable housing during the final evaluation period was associated with lower substance use, greater progress toward substance abuse recovery, and higher quality of life. Final housing status was not predicted by baseline variables but was predicted by progress toward recovery during months 0 to 6 and 6 to 12 and by less severe drug use during months 6 to 12. Participants who abused no illicit drugs during months 6 to 12 were almost three times as likely to achieve stable housing as those who abused illicit drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Housing stability is strongly mediated by substance abuse and progress toward recovery. Nevertheless, when formerly homeless persons with dual diagnoses are provided integrated dual diagnosis treatment, they can gradually achieve stable housing.

Environmental regulation of fimbrial gene expression in Porphyromonas gingivalis

Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae are an important virulence factor involved in attachment and invasion. Fimbrillin, encoded by the fimA gene, is the major subunit protein of the fimbriae. To elucidate the influence of environmental signals on the expression of the fimA gene, a strain of P. gingivalis (designated PLE) containing a chromosomal transcriptional fusion between a promoterless lacZ gene and the fimA promoter region was constructed. Promoter activity was assessed by measurement of beta-galactosidase activity of PLE. An 11-fold increase in activity of fimA promoter was found as growth temperature declined from 39 to 34 degrees C. Promoter activity decreased by approximately 50% in response to hemin limitation and upon culture on solid medium. In addition, the presence of serum or saliva in the growth medium decreased fimA promoter activity by similar amounts. A correlation between fimA promoter activity and phenotypic properties dependent upon fimbriae was established. P. gingivalis grown at 34 degrees C, compared to 39 degrees C, showed an increased ability to adhere to Streptococcus gordonii and to invade primary cultures of gingival epithelial cells. These studies indicate that expression of the P. gingivalis fimA gene is regulated at the transcriptional level in response to several environmental conditions and that altered fimA expression can also modulate the adherence and invasion abilities of P. gingivalis.

[Interleukin-8, a regulator of inflammation in gingival crevicular fluid]

The role of interleuking-8 (IL-8), a neutrophil-attracting and-activating cytokine, was investigated in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-8 in GCF collected from 54 adult periodontitis (AP) patients (105 teeth) and 24 healthy subjects (54 teeth). The results showed that 1. The role of IL-8 was dependent upon the concentration of IL-8 in GCF. IL-8, in the low concentration (< or = 30 micrograms/L), was positively correlated with bleeding index (r = 0.36, P < 0.01). While in the high concentration (> 30 micrograms/L), was negatively correlated with bleeding index and probing depth (r = -0.54 and r = -0.65 respectively, P < 0.01). In the majority of periodontitis sites (91%), the concentration of IL-8 in GCF were lower than 30 microliters/L. IL-8 most likely acted as pro-inflammatory factor in these teeth. 2. IL-8 was a two-way regulator of inflammation, pro-inflammation and anti-inflammation. The threshold of IL-8 between inducing and suppressing inflammation was approximately 30 micrograms/L. Within the confined range, IL-8 concentration greater than 30 micrograms/L could be inflammation suppressive, while a less-than-30 micrograms/L concentration of IL-8 might become inflammation inducing.

Antigenic variants of yellow fever virus with an altered neurovirulence phenotype in mice

The live-attenuated yellow fever (YF) vaccine virus, strain 17D-204, has long been known to consist of a heterologous population of virions. Gould et al. (J. Gen. Virol. 70, 1889-1894 (1989)) previously demonstrated that variant viruses exhibiting a YF wild-type-specific envelope (E) protein epitope are present at low frequency in the vaccine pool and were able to isolate representative virus variants with and without this epitope, designated 17D(+wt) and 17D(-wt), respectively. These variants were employed here in an investigation of YF virus pathogenesis in the mouse model. Both the 17D-204 parent and the 17D(+wt) variant viruses were lethal for adult outbred mice by the intracerebral route of inoculation. However, the 17D(-wt) variant was significantly attenuated (18% mortality rate) and replicated to much lower titer in the brains of infected mice. A single amino acid substitution in the envelope (E) protein at E-240 (Ala-->Val) was identified as responsible for the restricted replication of the 17D(-wt) variant in vivo. The 17D(+wt) variant has an additional second-site mutation, believed to encode a reversion to the neurovirulence phenotype of the 17D-204 parent virus. The amino acid substitution in the E protein at E-173 (Thr-->Ile) of the 17D(+wt) variant which results in the appearance of the wild-type-specific epitope or nucleotide changes in the 5' and 3' noncoding regions of the virus are proposed as a candidates.

A mitosis-specific phosphorylation of the gap junction protein connexin43 in human vascular cells: biochemical characterization and localization

Western blotting studies revealed that connexin43 (Cx43), one of the major gap junction proteins in human vascular endothelial cells, is posttranslationally modified during mitosis. This mitosis-specific modification results in a Cx43 species that migrates as a single protein band and was designated Cx43(m). Cx43(m) was shown to be the result of additional Ser/Thr phosphorylation as indicated by: (a) the increased gel mobility induced by both alkaline phosphatase and the Ser/ Thr-specific protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) and (b) the removal of virtually all (32)P(i) from Cx43(m) by PP2A. Immunofluorescent confocal microscopy of mitotic cells revealed that Cx43 is intracellularly located, while in nonmitotic cells Cx43 is located at regions of cell-cell contact. Dye coupling studies revealed that mitotic endothelial cells were uncoupled from each other and from nonmitotic cells. After cytokinesis, sister cells resumed cell coupling independent of de novo protein synthesis. The mitosis-specific phosphorylation of Cx43 correlates with the transient loss of gap junction intercellular communication and redistribution of Cx43, suggesting that a protein kinase that regulates gap junctions is active in M-phase.

[Preventive effect of gubao on hydrocortisone-induced osteoporosis in rats]

The antagonistic effect of Gubao (consisting of Herba Epimedii, Radix Astragali, etc.) on hydrocortisone-induced osteoporosis in rats was observed in quantitative bone histomorphometry study with stereological method. The results of experiment show that Gubao helps to reduce trbecular bone resorption and increase bone formation in ratsuith hydrocortisone-induced osteoporosis. It is suggested that Gubao is useful in preventing glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

Cues intrinsic to the spinal cord determine the pattern and timing of primary afferent growth

We have used organotypic cultures of embryonic rat spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) to study the development of central projections of primary sensory afferent axons that express calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In vivo, small- and medium-diameter CGRP-positive primary afferents terminate in laminae I, II, and V of the spinal cord and do not enter the ventral horn. A similar pattern of CGRP-positive axonal projections was observed in spinal cord slices of Day 16 embryos (E16) maintained in culture for 6 days. Both intact and dissociated DRG neurons showed the same pattern of central arborization, indicating that complex intercellular interactions between DRG neurons are not required for laminar specific targeting. Furthermore, targeting to the dorsal horn and avoidance of the ventral horn was observed in isolated dorsal and ventral hemicords, suggesting that separate mechanisms mediate the avoidance of CGRP-positive axons from the ventral horn and the elaboration of the afferent arbors within the dorsal horn. CGRP-positive afferents can grow into the dorsal horn only during a brief time window. Cultures of age-matched (isochronic) DRG and spinal cord from E14, E16, and E18 animals showed the characteristic pattern of CGRP-positive axon arborization, while cultures from E20 and neonatal animals did not. Heterochronic cultures indicate that it is the age of the spinal cord, and not the age of the DRG, that determines the ability of the CGRP-positive afferents to arborize within the dorsal horn. Together these results demonstrate that cues intrinsic to the spinal cord can direct sensory projections to appropriate locations in the spinal cord.

[Determination of taurine in Lycium barbarum L. by high performance liquid chromatography with OPA-urea pre-column derivatization]

Dried Lycium Barbarum L. is pretreated simply through shivering, homogenizing and centrifuging, and then the extract is passed through a cation-exchange column to exclude the interference of other amino acids. The effluent is derivatized prior to high performance liquid chromatographic separation on a Zorbax-C8 column. The derivatization reagents consist of A and B (1:9, V/V). A is 4% OPA solution in methanol (W/V); B is urea:sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) = 1:3 (W/V). The mobile phase is methanol:0.01 mol/L sodium acetate (pH 6.8) = 35:65 (V/V). The ultraviolet-visible detector is at 330 nm. 0.1-1.0 mmol/L taurine can be determined quantitatively. The recovery is 100.31% +/- 1.98%. Coefficient of variation is 1.94%.