[Determination of primaquine and hepatic targeting neoglycoalbumin-primaquine in whole blood and liver of mouse by normalphase high-performance liquid chromatography]

We have developed a method to estimate primaquine (PQ) and hepatic targeting antimalarial agent neoglycoalbumin-primaquine (NGA PQ) in whole blood and liver of mice by sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography. The primaquine was extracted out with ether from the basified biological samples in the PQ diphosphate group or from the samples which were acidic hydrolyzed then basified in NGA-PQ group. The extracts were evaporated under N2 then dissolved in the mobile phase. A linear chain analogue of primaquine was used as the internal standard. The samples were injected into the normal phase silica column with chloroform: methanol:ammonia solution (86.8:12.5:0.7,V/V/V) as mobile phase and detected at 254 nm. The average recovery of the method was 100.09 +/- 3.46 (mean +/- s)%; the CV of within-day and between-day were 2.7%-6.13% (n = 5) and 8.32%-13.56% (n = 9) respectively; in PQ group and NGA-PQ group, the PQ concentrations ranged from 10-20,000 ng/ml blood or 1g. liver respectively, and they all yielded a good linear relationship with the peak height ratios. No endogeneous interference was found in chromatograms of biological samples.

[Careful dissection of the pelvic plexus helps alleviate urinary retention following radical hysterectomy]

Radical hysterectomy remains to be the treatment of choice for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. As pelvic nerve plexuses are distributed in the operative field, damage to the plexuses is likely to occur, which is responsible for the post-operative atonia of the urinary bladder and urinary retention. To reduce the incidence of this postoperative complication, the composition and distribution of the pelvic nerve plexuses in relation to the utero-sacral ligament and cardinal ligament of the uterus and paravaginal tissues were carefully dissected on 11 adult female cadavers. Based on the anatomic study, due precautions were made to avoid damage to the pelvic nerve plexuses during pelvic dissection for radical hysterectomy. As a result, the duration of postoperative urinary retention was significantly reduced while the 5- and 10-year survival rates remained unchanged.

Primitive fossil rodent from Inner Mongolia and its implications for mammalian phylogeny

The evolutionary origin of rodents is obscured by the group's sudden and highly transformed first appearance in the fossil record in the latest Paleocene. We report here the discovery of nearly complete dental remains of an extraordinary new primitive rodent from strata of transitional Paleocene-Eocene age in Inner Mongolia, China. The strikingly conservative morphological features of this taxon, Tribosphenomys minutus, gen. et sp. nov., substantially modify previous ideas about the ancestral rodent morphotype, which in turn has important implications for understanding the origin of rodents and their relationship to other eutherian mammals. This new fossil, in conjunction with recent morphological and molecular evidence confirming rodent monophyly, indicates the need for a reassessment of phylogenetic affinities among gliriform eutherians. Our results indicate a sister-group position of the new taxon to other rodents, and support the alliance of lagomorphs (rabbits) and rodents (cohort Glires). They also suggest that paraphyly of an extinct assemblage, the 'Eurymylidae', and reveal an unexpectedly complex pattern of character evolution near the ancestry of Rodentia.

Bone marrow characterization in the lumbar spine with inner volume spectroscopic CPMG imaging studies

The authors describe new magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic and postprocessing methods for characterizing major proton peaks and their spectral T2 values in many small voxels throughout extensive regions of bone marrow within the adult lumbar spine. The techniques are based on spectroscopic interrogation of 128 voxels along columns oriented through the spine at eight TE values. Mean fat content measurements, based on quantification of the proton peaks of water and saturated fat (-CH2-)n, corrected for T2 decay, ranged from 40% to 60%. The mean T2 value of the lipid peak, 113 msec +/- 21, was significantly longer (P < .001) than that of water (71 msec +/- 14). The techniques combine features of MR spectroscopy and imaging most suited for spatially efficient coverage of bone marrow at spectral resolutions sufficient for intra-voxel fat or water content measurements. The methods introduced provide a practical, quantitative means for characterizing vertebral marrow in diseases affecting marrow cellularity.

Carbohydrate drinks and cycling performance

We compared the effects of similarly tasting orange flavored drinks containing 0% (P), 6.4% (E1), and 10% (E2) carbohydrate (CHO) using 12 well-trained cyclists (VO2max = 5.0 l/min-1) on metabolic responses to exercise (EX) and a sprint type performance ride (PR). Each subject completed 3 separate 2 h EX bouts at 65% VO2max followed by a PR identified as the time in sec to complete 500 revolutions at a constant belt resistance of 29.4 N (ANOVA*). The CHO feedings or placebo of 3 ml/kg body weight were given double blind and counter-balanced at 0 min and every 20 min thereafter during EX. Blood samples were drawn and core temperature (Tr) was recorded at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min of EX and 1 min post PR. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose (G) and lactate [LA-]. Blood G at 0 min were similar; however, at 120 min, G was 3.96 mM for P*, 4.57 mM for E1, and 4.77 mM for E2. Blood [LA-] remained similar throughout EX averaging (P, 2.6 mM; E1, 2.9 mM; E2, 2.5 mM). Tr at 120 min was also similar (P, 38.5 degrees C; E1, 38.6 degrees C; E2, 38.3 degrees C). Mean PR times for P(264.4 s)**, E1 (255.3 s)*, E2 (252.4 s)* indicate consumption of a CHO drink during EX improves PR. Furthermore, a 10% CHO drink improves PR more than a 6.4% CHO drink.

Synthesis of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-L-glucose and positron emission tomography studies in monkeys

2-[18F]Fluoro-2-deoxy-L-glucose was synthesized from its trifluoromethanesulfonyl precursor. The precursor was prepared by selective acetylation and triflation of L-mannose. L-Mannose was first treated with acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of perchloric acid and then reacted with phosphorus tribromide followed by aqueous sodium acetate to produce pure 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-a-L-mannopyranose in 32% yield. This compound was treated with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride and pyridine in methylene chloride to form 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-O-tritrifluoromethanesulfonyl-a-L-mannopyra nose in 77% yield. Nucleophilic substitution of the triflate with 18F-in the presence of Kryptofix 2,2,2 followed by acid hydrolysis produced 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-L-glucose with a radiochemical yield of 20-30% (EOS) within 90 min. Biodistribution studies in rats and PET imaging in Rhesus monkeys demonstrated that this sugar analog distributes in the extracellular space of most organs but is excluded from the CNS.

Liver tissue damage by ultrasound in combination with the photosensitizing drug, Photofrin II

We have investigated whether ablation of normal rat liver by ultrasound can be enhanced after administration of a photosensitizing agent (Photofrin II). After laparotomy and administration of Photofrin II (30 mg/kg), ultrasound (210 kHz, 1.3 W/cm2) was directed directly to the surface of the liver for a total duration of 3 min by a plane type unfocused transducer (6 mm x 6 mm). The depth of tissue damage was histologically compared to rats exposed to ultrasound alone. The mean maximum lesion depth on rats applied with ultrasound and Photofrin II was 5.7 +/- 0.9 mm (mean +/- SD) whereas in rats treated with ultrasound alone this was 3.0 +/- 0.4 mm. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The present study suggests the possible use of a photosensitizing agent as an enhancer for the treatment of liver tumors by ultrasound.

Genotype effects of Brassica napus on its reproductive behavior after pollination with B. juncea

To investigate the cause of variation in the interspecific crossability of Brassica napus, three different genotypes were studied in respect of their reproductive behavior after pollination with B. juncea. There were great differences among maternal genotypes in allowing foreign pollen to germinate on and penetrate into their stigmas, leading to a wide diversity of interspecific fertilization. The division of the hybrid primary endosperm nucleus and zygote appeared normal in all combinations of crosses. While the abundant free nuclei of the endosperm developed properly and never became cellular, the embryos degenerated as early as 10 days after pollination when the cultivar Rucabo, which had the highest fertilization record with species of B. juncea, was involved. When 81007 was used as female parent, the endosperm grew a little but the embryo halted at the heart-torpedo stage. Lack of nourishment might be responsible for the observed embryo abortion. Among the sic hybrid combinations, the cross 84014A x Changyang hunagjie was the only one where endosperm tissue was observable and an abnormal embryo occurred prior to cellular endosperm formation. Apart from the three typical embryological features, significant variation was also demonstrated among each of the cross combinations. Genetic diversity appears to exist not only between varieties, but also within cultivars. In addition, methods for developing interspecific crossable lines are discussed.

Modeling lag phase of nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum toxigenesis in cooked turkey and chicken breast as affected by temperature, sodium lactate, sodium chloride and spore inoculum

The length of the lag phase (LP) of toxigenesis in commercially cooked turkey meat stored under vacuum was determined as affected by 0, 1.2, 2 and 3% sodium lactate (L), 0, 1 and 2% NaCl (S), spore (pool of nonproteolytic B and E strains: B2, B17, B197, B706, E211, E250, E KA-2 and E Beluga) inoculum (I) of 10(-2) to 10(4), storage temperature (T) of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 30 degrees C and their interactions. The time from inoculation to the detection of first toxic sample was defined as LP. Using regression analysis the following model predictive of LP of C. botulinum toxigenesis in the cooked turkey breast was derived: Log(1/LP) = -2.2877 -0.1235(S) -0.2174(L) +0.4391(square root of T) +0.0204(square root of T) (I). The model explained 94.5% of the variation in results, in which square root of T was the most influential factor (65%), followed by L (21.2%), interaction of I and square root of T (4.9%) and S (3.4%). The model predicted LPs longer than those observed in 28.3% of the comparisons, but only in 1% of the comparisons when the lower limit of the 90% confidence interval of LP was used. Similar trends on the effect of L on C. botulinum were observed in an inoculated chicken meat study. This study demonstrated quantitatively that increasing L and S concentrations and lowering of T had a beneficial effect on delaying toxigenesis.

Boy with a chromosome del (3)(q12q23) and blepharophimosis syndrome

We report on a 6-year-old boy with de novo 46,XY,del(3)(q12q23) and bilateral blepharophimosis, ptosis, epicanthus inversus, in addition to multiple other anomalies. Since 4 previously reported cases of interstitial deletion of 3q involving 3q23 band are clinically similar, we propose this blepharophimosis sequence due to 3q23 deletion as a further "contiguous gene syndrome."

Two patients with chromosome 6q terminal deletions with breakpoints at q24.3 and q25.3

We report on 2 patients with de novo terminal deletion of 6q. The first was a 4-month-old boy whose karyotype was 46,XY,del(6)(q24.3); the second a 2-year-old girl whose karyotype was 46, XX, del(6)(q25.3). The main anomalies in both patients included mental retardation, minor craniofacial and cerebral anomalies, and cardiac defects. The characteristic manifestations were imperforate anus in the first patient, and retinitis proliferans and a triatrial heart in the other. Comparison of clinical findings of our 2 patients with those of 18 previously reported patients with similar phenotypes suggests that terminal deletion of the 6q23 or 6q25 band is critical in producing the main anomalies of del(6q) syndrome.

[The absorption of Fe, Zn, Cu in siwu, sijunzi, and Liuwei dihuang decoction by small intestine in rats]

In this study the absorption of Fe, Zn and Cu in decoctions of siwu decoction, sijunzi decoction and liuwei dihuang decoction by the small intestine in anesthetized rats was observed. The experimental results showed that the absorption of Cu and Fe from siwu decoction was much higher than that from other decoctions which might be related to the hematopoietic function of Cu and Fe rich in the decoction.

[Determination of glycyrrhetinic acid in radix Glycyrrhizae by TLC densitometry]

A TLC densitometric method for the determination of glycyrrhetinic acid in Radix Glycyrrhizae is described. The method is accurate, sensitive and simple. The recovery of glycyrrhetinic acid is 98.30% and the coefficient of variation of five samplings is 2.20%.

Effects of the heat-tonification method on the surface temperature of the body observed by infra-red thermography

With the infra-red thermography, 73 tests of the effect of Heat-Tonification maneuvers on body surface temperature were made. The experiments showed that application of Heat-Tonification produced marked elevation of temperature at the site of puncture, over the face and the front of the neck. The differences between pre- and post-needling temperatures were statistically significant (P less than 0.02 and P less than 0.01). Furthermore, 44.8% of the tests showed elevation of temperature over the trunk and extremities, and the distribution of temperature elevation followed the course of the meridians mostly. The findings demonstrated that the Heat-Tonification method mobilized Qi and activated Blood through influence over the vegetative nervous system that led to readjustment of blood circulation.