[Phagocytosis of platelet in coronary heart disease with blood-stasis syndrome]

Thirty six healthy people and 64 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with blood-stasis syndrome (BSS) were studied on the phagocytosis of platelets under electron microscope. The results showed that the number of latex particles which were phagocytized by platelet and the number of platelets which phagocytized the latex particles were all decreased markedly in CHD patients with BSS. It also showed that most of the platelets with active phagocytosis were in moderate-size. The proportion of big platelets and the platelets containing a large number of glycogen particles were much more in CHD patients with BSS. The platelets in CHD patients change their shapes readily with active exocytosis and aggregation. Therefore, it was considered that the abnormalities of some roles of platelets might be the basic changes in CHD with BSS.

The cytoprotective effect of Trolox demonstrated with three types of human cells

Trolox, a hydrophilic analogue of alpha-tocopherol, was reported to scavenge peroxyl radicals better than vitamin E in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles and in liposomes. However, it was not known if Trolox protects human cells against oxyradical damage or if it acts as an antioxidant there. Here we demonstrate that Trolox prolonged substantially the survival of human ventricular myocytes and hepatocyte against oxyradicals generated with xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine, and prevented lysis of red cells exposed to an azo-initiator (2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane) HCl). Note that Trolox did not inhibit xanthine oxidase. In each cell type, the protection by Trolox was dose dependent and surpassed those given by such water-soluble antioxidants as ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, and (or) catalase, each examined at or near its optimal level in the same system. Using hepatocytes as a model, we further observed that Trolox reduced markedly the quantity of phospholipid conjugated dienes (a chemical imprint of oxyradical damage) in cells despite their exposure to oxyradicals. These data suggested that Trolox behaves as an antioxidant in cells as illustrated in hepatocytes.

Furanose ring anomerization: kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the D-2-pentuloses by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy

The tautomeric compositions of D-erythro-2-pentulose (D-ribulose) and D-threo-2-pentulose (D-xylulose) in aqueous solution have been studied by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy at various temperatures using 2-13C-substituted compounds. The alpha-furanose, beta-furanose, and acyclic carbonyl (keto) forms were detected at all temperatures, whereas the acyclic hydrate (gem-diol) form was not observed. The percentage of keto form increased with increasing temperature, at the expense of the furanose forms. Thermodynamic (delta G0, delta H0, delta S0) and kinetic parameters for the interconversion of alpha- and beta-furanoses with the acyclic carbonyl form were determined and compared with those determined under similar conditions for the structurally-related aldotetrofuranoses. The ring-opening rate constant (kopen) measured by 13C saturation-transfer n.m.r. spectroscopy in 50mM sodium acetate (pH 4.0) at 55 degrees were as follows: beta-threofuranose (0.65 s-1) greater than alpha-erythrofuranose (0.51 s-1) greater than beta-erythrofuranose (0.37 s-1) approximately beta-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.35 s-1) greater than alpha-threofuranose (0.25 s-1) greater than alpha-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.20 s-1) approximately alpha-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.18 s-1) approximately beta-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.18 s-1). Within each structural type the pentulofuranose anomer having O-2 and O-3 cis (O-1 and O-2 cis in aldotetrofuranoses) opens faster than, or at a similar rate to, the alternative anomer having these oxygen atoms trans. Ring-closing rate constants (kclose), calculated from kopen and Keq, decrease in the order beta-erythrofuranose (15 s-1) greater than beta-threofuranose (12 s-1) greater than alpha-erythrofuranose (9.9 s-1) greater than alpha-threofuranose (6.2 s-1) greater than beta-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.71 s-1) greater than alpha-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.38 s-1) greater than alpha-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.13 s-1) approximately beta-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.13 s-1). Replacement of H-1 in aldotetrofuranoses by a hydroxymethyl group (i.e., conversion to 2-pentuloses) significantly decreases the ring-opening and ring-closing rate constants of furanose anomerization.

The modified superior based pharyngeal flap. Part I. Surgical technique

The superior based pharyngeal flap operation for the correction of velopharyngeal incompetence is perhaps the most commonly employed operation used today in a majority of cleft palate centers. However, inconsistent results with this operation are commonplace. This is believed by most to be due to poor control of the lateral portals. Herein is a report of our approach to improve lateral portal control.

The modified superior based pharyngeal flap technique. Part II. An anatomic study

There is little in the literature on the topographic and/or applied surgical anatomy related to superior based pharyngeal flap surgery. Herein we report on the applied surgical anatomy of pharyngeal flap surgery, especially as it applies to critical anatomic relationships to vessels, muscles, and nerves.

A short, highly repetitive element in intron -1 of the human c-Ha-ras gene acts as a block to transcriptional readthrough by a viral promoter

We have identified a short, highly repetitive element within intron -1 of the human c-Ha-ras gene. This element was found to be transcribed in both orientations and to be homologous to heterogeneous nonpolyadenylated transcripts. The repetitive element blocked transcriptional readthrough from a strong upstream viral promoter but allowed unimpaired readthrough from the c-Has-ras promoter. We suggest that it may serve to prevent excessive transcription into the coding region of the gene under such circumstances as viral insertion.

[Speech outcome after early or delayed hard palate closure]

Delayed hard palate closure (after age 6-7) was widely used for palatal repair in cleft palate children from 1976 to 1982. Since 1982, the approach has been revised into early complete closure of the soft and hard palate (before age 2). The articulation skills of 60 children with cleft lip and palate (age 3-5:11) who underwent early complete palate closure were compared with 47 children of similar age with soft palate closure only. The results indicated that the early complete closure group had more children with adequate articulation skills than the delayed hard palate closure group. Detailed analysis of the articulation patterns in each group revealed that the articulation substitution patterns made by the early complete closure group followed the trends of developmental articulation patterns, i.e. unaspirated, stopping and fronting phonological features. On the contrary, the articulation substitution patterns made by the delayed hard palate closure group were more related to structural deficits, i.e. compensatory articulation. Age 3-5 is a critical period for articulation maturation. We advocate that the complete palatal closure should be achieved before age 2 in order to equip cleft palate children with an equally normal oral structures to enhance speech/language development in a normal learning process during this critical period.

[Construction of the human cytomegalovirus B gene clone and its restriction site analysis by computer]

We constructed two clones of the human cytomegalovirus strain AD169, using the plasmid pBR322 and the recipient bacterium Escherichia coli strain HB101. The human cytomegalovirus B gene was isolated from the recombinant plasmid pAT153 that contained the 20.7-kb Hind III F fragment of the human cytomegalovirus genome. The recombinant plasmid pAT153 was digested with BamHI and a 8.5-kb fragment was isolated and ligated with BamHI-digested pBR322 to form the recombinant plasmid pB1. pB1 was further digested with BamHI-Hind III and a 5.1-kb fragment was isolated, and ligated with BamHI-Hind III digested pBR322 to form the recombinant plasmid pBH1. The human cytomegalovirus B gene sequence was analysed by Beckman Microgenie Systems. The results indicated that the human cytomegalovirus B gene could be further digested by 13 kinds of restrict endonucleases. The size of the restrict fragments was between 22 base pairs to 2.9 kilobase pairs. The construction of the expression plasmid that contained human cytomegalovirus B gene is now in progress.

HincII polymorphism at the D10S95 locus

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Evoked response narrow-band noise masking patterns in the chinchilla

Narrow-band noise masking patterns were measured at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz in the chinchilla using the auditory evoked response from the inferior colliculus. At low masker levels, the masking profiles were symmetrical and centered on the masker. However, as masker level increased, the masking profiles spread predominantly toward the high frequencies. The masking profiles obtained at 0.5 and 1 kHz, exhibited a broad plateau extending 1-2 octaves above the masker at the highest masker level (70 dB SPL) whereas those obtained at 2 and 4 kHz showed a peak. In contrast to tone-on-tone masking profiles, none of the narrow-band noise masking profiles contained a low-threshold notch on the high frequency side of the masker. The evoked response masking profiles obtained in the chinchilla were slightly wider, but qualitatively similar to those measured psychophysically in humans. Thus, the evoked response narrow-band noise masking profiles may provide a convenient way of evaluating the spread of masking in difficult-to-test subjects.

The placement of screws above the zygomaticofrontal suture

The use of plates in the zygomaticofrontal (ZF) region for stabilization of zygoma fractures necessitates use of screw holes. This anatomic study was done to assess where these holes can be safely placed. A study of 20 adult skulls showed that when drilling perpendicular to the bone above the ZF suture, the cranial cavity can be entered as low as 12 mm above it (average, 15 mm). Therefore, when drilling more than 12 mm over the ZF suture, the surgeon should angle the drill at an acute angle to the forehead to prevent cranial encroachment. In addition there is great variability of depth of bone around the ZF suture. When drilling perpendicularly on the frontal bone in the first centimeter above the ZF suture, the orbital cavity will always be entered.

Cerebellar evoked potential elicited by stimulation of C-fiber in saphenous nerve of cat

Stimulation of the saphenous nerve above C-fiber threshold strength evoked a field potential which consisted of an early component with latency of 11.8 +/- 3.5 ms and a late component with latency of 312.1 +/- 17.5 ms on the cerebellar cortex. After the A-fibers in saphenous nerve were blocked by the polarizing current selectivity, the stimulation at C-fiber suprathreshold elicited a C-fiber cerebellar evoked potential (C-CEP) with latency of 134.2 +/- 18.4 ms. C-CEP had the maximal amplitude on the vermian lobule VI of the contra- and ipsilateral cerebellar cortex and its phases reversed in the deep layer of this area. It was suggested that the selective C-fiber input could reach the cerebellar cortex and elicit a characteristic evoked potential. However, when A- and C-fiber inputs were elicited simultaneously, C-CEP might be inhibited by the A-fiber input.

Programmable optical threshold logic implementation with an optoelectronic circuit

We demonstrate optical binary threshold logic by using an optoelectronic circuit. This threshold gate is in itself a logical complete set owing to the availability of both positive and negative weights and threshold. Furthermore, the weights and the threshold are optically addressed, thereby providing real-time operation. Experimental results demonstrate AND, OR, and MAJORITY functions and three other arbitrary logic functions for three input signals with a single gate. Applications in neural computing and two-dimensional parallel logic processing are discussed.

The role of the c-fms oncogene in the regulation of HL-60 cell differentiation

Human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA (phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate), 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3(1-alpha-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, hrGM-CSF (human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and into granulocytes by DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). We found that the differentiation of HL-60 cells into macrophages was accompanied by transcription of the c-fms oncogene, which was assessed by a modified PCR (polymerase-chain reaction) method. After treatment with a c-fms anti-sense oligomer, the PMA and hrGM-CSF induced macrophage differentiation of HL-60 cells was significantly inhibited, whereas either 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3 induced macrophage or DMSO and hrGM-CSF induced granulocytic differentiation was not inhibited. Furthermore, we treated the HL-60 cells with M-CSF (macrophage-colony stimulating factor or CSF-1) anti-sense N degrees 2 (see Figure 1) in the presence of PMA, hrGM-CSF, 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3 and DMSO. The results showed that this treatment leads to a significant inhibition of PMA and hrGM-CSF-induced macrophage differentiation, but has no influence on the 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3-induced macrophage differentiation and DMSO-induced granulocytic differentiation. It was further demonstrated that the M-CSF (or CSF-1) and c-fms antisense oligomers acted synergistically on inhibition of macrophage formation induced by PMA and hrGM-CSF, but had no inhibitory effect on the macrophage formation induced by 1-alpha-25-(OH)2D3. Thus we concluded firstly, that HL-60 cells differentiate into macrophages along two different pathways: one is involved in the action of the c-fms oncogene and the other is not. Secondly, an autocrine circuit of M-CSF (or CSF-1) action may exist in the macrophage formation induced by PMA and hrGM-CSF.

[Transformation and identification of recombinant plasmid pAT153 containing HCMV gene Hind III F fragment and its clinical application]

Transformation of the recombinant plasmid pAT153 containing human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gene Hind III F fragment into E.coli strain HB 101 was made by the CaCl2 method with a 24% of transformation efficiency. The bacterial colonies containing the recombinant plasmid were selected in colony hybridization with 32P-labelled HCMV Hind III F fragment. The recombinant plasmid was isolated by the modified alkaline lysis method which is characterized by high quality, great quantity, and time-saving. HCMV Hind III F fragment has no homology to the other herpes virus. The 32P-labelled HCMV Hind III F fragment probe could detect 0.25 pg homological sequences of HCMV DNA. The use of this probe allows the detection of HCMV in clinical specimens with the advantages of quickness, good sensitivity and specificity.

Imaging 2-D objects with a grating interferometer: two methods

Grating interferometric imaging has some unique advantages. The theory developed has been for 1-D objects only. The 2-D imaging methods reported are either complex or have low SNR. Two new methods for 2-D interferometric imaging are presented in this paper. The first is that an object composed of discrete points is imaged with a grating interferometer composed of three or more 1-D grating interferometers of which the grating line directions are different. The second is that a 2-D continuous distribution object is imaged with a 1-D grating interferometer by sampling line byline. These two methods are simple and may be practical for real time processing.

Periodontal conditions in elderly people of Shanghai, People's Republic of China, in 1986

In a stratified multi-stage random sample, 1600 persons of 60 years and older in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, were investigated for periodontal conditions using the CPITN method. Periodontal conditions seemed to deteriorate steadily but rather slowly with increasing age. In the older age groups, there was a trend for an increased proportion of both subjects and sextants scoring CPITN code 4 (deep pockets). The increase in tooth loss with increasing age was more clearly visible: increasing percentages of edentulousness and decreasing mean numbers of teeth remaining in dentate subjects.

Negative regulation of the human epsilon-globin gene by transcriptional interference: role of an Alu repetitive element

The human epsilon-globin gene has a number of alternative transcription initiation sites which correspond with regions of DNase I hypersensitivity upstream of the canonical cap site. Transcripts originating from the promoters located -4.3/-4.5 and -1.48 kilobase pairs (kbp) and -900 and -200 base pairs (bp) upstream of the major epsilon-globin cap site can, at certain stages of erythroid differentiation, extend through the gene and are polyadenylated. The 350-bp PolIII transcripts, originating within the Alu repetitive element -2.2 kbp upstream of the cap site, extend in the opposite direction from the gene, are nonpolyadenylated, nucleus confined, and are detectable only in mature K562 cells or mature embryonic red blood cells where the epsilon-globin major cap site is maximally transcribed. Fragments containing the promoters located between -4.5 and -4.3 kbp upstream of the gene down regulate transcription from the epsilon-globin gene 20- to 30-fold in a transient expression assay in which both erythroid and nonerythroid cell lines were used. This occurs only when the direction of transcription from the -4.3/-4.5-kbp promoters is towards the gene, and we hypothesize that down regulation is caused by transcriptional interference. Fragments containing the Alu repetitive element -2.2 kbp upstream of the gene can overcome down regulation of the epsilon-globin gene by the -4.5-kbp element when interposed in the direct orientation between this element and the epsilon-globin gene.

[Significance of cold pressor on identifying individuals susceptible to primary hypertension]

133 students, 74 males and 59 females, aged from 6 to 13 years, were given cold pressor test. When cold stimulation was performed, the increased systolic pressures in the hypertensive group, borderline hypertensive group, family hypertensive history group, obese group, and control group were 3.56 +/- 1.34, 2.62 +/- 1.11, 2.59 +/- 1.17, 2.50 +/- 0.97, and 2.19 +/- 0.78 (Kpa) respectively, and the increased diastolic pressures were 4.11 +/- 1.38, 3.25 +/- 1.26, 2.86 +/- 1.32, 3.35 +/- 1.25, and 2.98 +/- 1.04 (Kpa) respectively. The positive percentage were 71%, 31%, 31%, 38%, and 10% respectively. The positive percentage and the increment extent of systolic and diastolic pressure during cold pressor test in the hypertensive group were much more higher than those in the control group (P less than 0.001). Similarly, the positive percentages of cold pressor test, in the borderline hypertensive group, family hypertensive history and obese groups were also higher than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that cold pressor test may be significant for identifying susceptible children to primary hypertension.

Glucose metabolic rate in normals and schizophrenics during the Continuous Performance Test assessed by positron emission tomography

Local cerebral uptake of glucose labelled with fluorine-18 was measured by positron emission tomography in 13 patients with schizophrenia and 37 right-handed volunteers. Patients received no medication for a minimum of 31 days and a mean of 30 weeks. The subjects were administered the labelled deoxyglucose just after the beginning of a 32-minute sequence of blurred numbers as visual stimuli for the Continuous Performance Test. In normal controls, task performance was associated with increases in glucose metabolic rate in the right frontal and right temporoparietal regions; occipital rates were unchanged. Patients with schizophrenia showed both absolutely and relatively reduced metabolic rates in the frontal cortex and in the temporoparietal regions compared with normal controls.

Synchrotron white beam topographic imaging in grazing bragg-laue geometries

The technique of synchrotron white beam topographic imaging in grazing Bragg-Laue geometries has been developed at the Stony Brook synchrotron topography station (beamline X-19C) at the National Synchrotron Light Source. This technique enables both general quality characterization and imaging of defects in subsurface regions of thickness which can range from hundreds of angstroms to hundreds of micrometers as determined by the effective penetration depth of the x rays. This penetration depth, which is shown in most cases to be determined by the kinematical theory of x-ray diffraction, can be conveniently varied in a controlled manner by simple manipulation of the diffraction geometry, thereby enabling a depth profiling of the defect content. The fundamentals of the technique are described, and its advantages and disadvantages compared to existing techniques are discussed. Brief examples of the application of the technique in the characterization of defects in both single crystals and heteroepitaxial systems are given, and the general applicability of the technique is discussed.