[Hepatic albumin's mRNA in nephrotic syndrome rats treated with Chinese herbs]

It was found in our previous studies that two Chinese herbs, Astragali and Angelica (A & A), with a high protein diet could protect the decrease of serum albumin and markedly increase the synthesis rate of protein by 18N-glycine metabolic study in nephrotic rats. A further experiment was designed to investigate the effects of A&A and high protein intake on the level of hepatic albumin's mRNA in nephrotic rats. Male S. D. rats were divided into 3 groups: high protein diet alone (39.7% HP); HP with nephrotic syndrome (HPN); and HPN with therapy (HPNT). Nephrotic syndrome in rat was induced by accelerated nephrotoxic nephritis, withfed A&A (2 g of each in 3 ml) daily for 14 days. At the 15th day, the serum and liver were collected and the level of serum albumin and mRNA were measured with biochemistry, Northern blot, dot blot hybridization and quantity in laser density screening. The level of serum albumin in HPNT was higher than that of HPN (3.7 +/- 0.1 vs 2.9 +/- 0.29, P < 0.01) with an unchanged urinary output. The level of hepatic albumin mRNA in HPNT was higher than HPN (2.56 +/- 0.24 vs 1.7 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01) and HP (2.56 +/- 0.24 vs 1.25 +/- 0.24, P < 0.01). We conclude that in a molecular biologic level A&A combined with high protein intake could increase the albumin synthesis in the liver of nephrotic rat.

Epidemiological survey of primary angle-closure glaucoma in Doumen

PURPOSE

To determine the prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) in Doumen Countty, Guangdong province.

METHODS

Four villages from eight districts in doumen were selected by stratified, cluster and random sampling. Of a total of 1055 people aged 45 years or over, 932 (88.62%) were examined. The examination and diagnostic criterion were similar to those of shunyi survey.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PACG in subjects over 45 year of eye is 0.64%, in those over 50 years of age is 0.85% in Doumen, which is significantly lower than the corresponding figure of 1.99% in shunyi (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study identifies the prevalence of PACG in Doumen is lower than in Shunyi.

[An epidemiological survey of primary angle-closure glaucoma in Doumen county Guangdong]

A comparison between the results of an epidemiological study of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) in Doumen County, Guangdong in 1990 and those of a similar study in Shunyi County, Beijing in 1985 was reported. The prevalence of PACG in subjects over 45 years old was 0.64% and that, over 50 years, 0.85% in Doumen, while that, over 50 years, 1.99% in Shunyi (P < 0.05). There was significant difference in the prevalence of PACG between the two counties and the difference was discussed.

Myasthenia gravis-like syndrome induced by expression of interferon gamma in the neuromuscular junction

Abnormal humoral responses toward motor end plate constituents in muscle induce myasthenia gravis (MG). To study the etiology of this disease, and whether it could be induced by host defense molecules, we examined the consequences of interferon (IFN) gamma production within the neuromuscular junction of transgenic mice. The transgenic mice exhibited gradually increasing muscular weakness, flaccid paralysis, and functional disruption of the neuromuscular junction that was reversed after administration of an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, features which are strikingly similar to human MG. Furthermore, histological examination revealed infiltration of mononuclear cells and autoantibody deposition at motor end plates. Immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that a previously unidentified 87-kD target antigen was recognized by sera from transgenic mice and also by sera from the majority of human MG patients studied. These results suggest that expression of IFN-gamma at motor end plates provokes an autoimmune humoral response, similar to human MG, thus linking the expression of this factor with development of this disease.

The relationship of dietary animal protein and electrolytes to blood pressure: a study on three Chinese populations

The relationship of diet to blood pressure was studied in a total of 705 men and women aged 40-59 from three Chinese population samples having different mean blood pressure and dietary sodium and animal protein intake. Two groups were farmers from Shanxi in northern China, and Guangxi in southern China, and the third were fishermen from Zhejiang, eastern China. Three 24-hour dietary recalls were done for each participant. Serum and overnight urine amino acids were measured in random subsamples. Determination of electrolytes in three 24-hour urine specimens was done in an additional sample of 59 men in each population. Results of multiple or stepwise regression showed: 1) in the pooled group, individual intake of sodium was positively associated with systolic blood pressure; 2) when stratifying by median calcium intake, a positive association of dietary sodium or sodium/potassium was found only in the group with calcium intake lower than the median; 3) daily intake of animal protein, urinary sulphate and certain serum and urine amino acids formed from protein metabolism, were inversely associated with blood pressure.

Diurnal blood pressure variation and dietary salt in spontaneously hypertensive rats

We have previously reported that high dietary salt exposure significantly increases daytime mean arterial pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) but not in normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. In the present study, we used a telemetry monitoring system to evaluate the effects of high dietary salt exposure on diurnal variation of mean arterial pressure and heart rate in SHR and WKY rats. After implantation of a radio frequency transducer, SHR and WKY rats were maintained on either high (8%) or basal (1%) salt diets. Hemodynamic values were then analyzed for diurnal variation with the use of a nonlinear data-fitting program. After 2 weeks of dietary exposure, high salt-fed SHR had significantly greater 24-hour mean arterial pressure (156 +/- 3 mmHg) than SHR receiving basal (135 +/- 2 mmHg) and WKY rats receiving high (100 +/- 2 mmHg) or basal (100 +/- 1 mmHg) salt diets. Rhythm analysis indicated significant increases in both daytime and nighttime mean arterial pressure during high salt exposure in SHR. In WKY rats, high salt exposure increased nighttime but not daytime mean arterial pressure, with no net effect on 24-hour mean arterial pressure. High dietary salt exposure significantly decreased heart rate in both SHR and WKY rats, and it did not significantly alter the pattern of diurnal blood pressure or heart rate variation. These results indicate that WKY rats manifest an acute sensitivity to salt ingestion but have compensatory mechanisms sufficient to prevent sustained increases in mean arterial pressure; such mechanisms are lacking in SHR.

Enrichment of DNA fragments for deleted sequences in human genome with nuclease S1 digestion and PCR amplification

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Toxicity and toxicokinetics of MeISP in isolated rat hepatocytes

Toxicity and toxicokinetics of a new organophosphorus insecticide, MeISP, in isolated rat hepatocytes were studied. It was found that at the final concentration of 1.5 mmol/L, MeISP can (1) result in an increase of leakage of intracellular enzymes, alanine amino-transferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), beta-glucuronidase (beta-GDase) and acid phosphatase (AcP) to the medium in a dose-dependent fashion; (2) give rise to obvious plasma membrane blebbing; (3) rapidly deplete the intracellular GSH and (4) almost completely inhibit the protein synthesis and gluconeogenesis from sodium pyruvate. The kinetics study showed that at the final concentration of 15 mumol/L, MeISP is rapidly metabolized and this process fits the one-compartment model. The metabolism of MeISP in the hepatocytes with phenobarbital-induced microsomal enzymes is accelerated. These results indicate that (1) MeISP has obvious toxicity to isolated rat hepatocytes and isolated hepatocytes provide a suitable system to examine the toxic effects of xenobiotics at the cellular level and (2) MeISP is metabolized mainly by microsomal enzymes.

[An experimental study on cultivation of human trigeminal ganglionic cell in vitro and its sensitivity to infection of herpes simplex virus type 1]

We firstly report an experimental study on the sensitivity of primary cultural human trigeminal ganglionic cells infected by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in different time-points. The results indicate that the neuron of human trigeminal ganglia is the most sensitive cell type, the antigen of HSV-1 replicates rapidly within the cytoplasm and cell nucleus, the fibroblasts and glia cells are infected partly by the virus. Therefore, perhaps the neuron is the main harboring cell type.

Postnatal anti-interferon-gamma treatment prevents pancreatic inflammation in transgenic mice with beta-cell expression of interferon-gamma

beta-Cell-targeted expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) leads to pancreatitis and immune sensitization to beta-cells. This transgenic model is used to explore the possible role of locally produced IFN-gamma in loss of tolerance to beta-cell-specific antigens in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The aim of the present study was to test if postnatal treatment with antibodies against IFN-gamma could inhibit morphological changes in the IFN-gamma transgenic pancreas, even though the transgene is expressed during embryogenesis. Treatment with a monoclonal rat anti-mouse IFN-gamma antibody for 6 weeks, starting from 5 to 7 days of age, completely inhibited IFN-gamma-induced morphological changes in the pancreas, and only a modest inflammatory reaction emerged after prolonged treatment for 12 weeks. The lack of morphological changes may reflect the ability of nonterminally differentiated neonatal pancreatic cells to compensate for transgene-induced pathological alterations occurring in utero prior to the antibody treatment. We conclude that inflammation and altered pancreas morphology in the transgenic mice is the result of the biological actions of IFN-gamma and not by disrupted islet development due to transgene overexpression in the pancreatic beta-cells. Furthermore, our treatment schedule can serve as a model for future intervention studies in the transgenic mice, elaborating the role of IFN-gamma in localized inflammatory reactions, IDDM in particular.

[Comparative study of single strand conformation polymorphism of 4.5S RNA gene in enterobacteria]

A recently developed technique, non-isotopic single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP), was applied to study the conserved feature of 4.5S RNA gene in enterobacteria. The 4.5S RNA gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, using the template DNA extracted respectively from five strains of Escherichia coli and three strains of different genera in Enterobacteriaceae, i.e. Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter aerogenes. The PCR products were then carried out SSCP analysis. The experimental results showed that there seemed to be no detectable differences in the size and single strand conformation of 4.5S RNA genes from above strains, except the negative strand conformation of Enterobacter aerogenes. Thus it can be seen that the secondary structures of 4.5S RNA gene in enterobacteria are quite conservative.

Relative estimates of combination weights, decision criteria, and internal noise based on correlation coefficients

A means by which relative combination weights may be determined is described for a signal detection model in which the decision variable is a weighted linear combination of several independent, normally distributed random variables, Xi's. The first theorem presents the correlation between the binary response variables--signal versus no signal--and the component Xi. The second theorem presents a parallel result for the case that additive internal noise is present. Thus in psychophysical experiments, the relative combination weights may be obtained by correlating the observers' responses and the input random variables. Third, three numerical methods which allow the evaluation of the relative magnitude of the decision criterion and the variance of a hypothetical additive internal noise are considered.

[Restriction endonuclease analysis of Pomona serogroup of Leptospira interrogans]

Restriction Endonuclease Analysis (REA) was performed on DNAs from the type strains of the Pomona serogroup of Leptospira interrogans by using EcoRI and HhaI restriction enzyme, and the electrophoretic patterns obtained were compared with patterns obtained from 27 isolates from pig kidneys collected at abattoirs in Victoria, which belong to Pomona serogroup previous identified by MAT. All of the isolates were identified as serovar Pomona.

An experimental study on acupuncture anti-hemorrhagic shock

The effect of acupuncture at Neiguan (P 6) on regulating hemorrhagic shock in 90 rabbits was observed. All the results suggested that acupuncture at Neiguan could raise blood pressure, protect cardiac pump function, correct the disturbance of secretion and metabolism of humoral factors, reduce blood adhesion to normal level and thus achieve anti-hemorrhagic shock. This study has provided scientific basis for expounding the mechanism of acupuncture in anti-shock.

[The comparative analysis of the complications of extracapsular cataract extraction with and without posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation]

Three-hundred and fourteen eyes that underwent extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) were analyzed. ECCE with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation (PC IOL) was performed in 168 eyes and ECCE alone was performed in 146 eyes. The complications and visual acuity were compared in the two groups. The PC IOL group showed a low incidence of complications. In addition, vitreous loss occurred in 2.38%, cystoid macular edema occurred in 0.6%, and visual acuity recovered to 0.5 or better in 97.62% of the eyes. The incidence of complications in the ECCE group was slightly higher. The postoperative visual acuity in the ECCE group was lower than that in PC IOL group.

[Survey and analysis on correlative factors with CHD in 12,468 pupils in Yimeng mountain area]

The risk factors correlated with congenital heart diseases (CHD) in 12,468 pupils in Yimeng mountain area were surveyed and analysed. The morbidity rate of CHD was 3.05%, which was higher than those of other heart diseases; ventricular septal defect (VSD) was more frequent than other types of CHD. The frequency in pupils in city is higher than in rural areas. In 38 cases with CHD, through analysis (1:1) on the risk of single factor and the progressive regression analysis on compound factors, the results showed that the age of pregnant women (> or = 35 years), the job of mother (chemical worker), the history of coryza in pregnancy (within 3 months), the season of birth (August, September), and the family history of malformation are notably correlated with CHD.

Mutagenicity of the human carcinogen treosulphan, and its hydrolysis product, dl-1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane in mammalian cells

The cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of the human carcinogen, treosulphan, and its hydrolysis product, dl-1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB), were studied in Chinese hamster ovary, AS52, cells. Treosulphan (0.1-1.0 mM) is toxic and mutagenic at the gpt locus. A strong pH dependence was noted. DEB is cytotoxic and mutagenic at a much lower dose (0.025 mM), but these effects were not affected by pH. The results suggest that the toxic and mutagenic effects of treosulphan are mediated by its hydrolysis product DEB, and that the conversion of treosulphan to DEB is highly pH-dependent.

Thermophilic aerobic process for the treatment of slaughterhouse effluents with protein recovery

A pig slaughterhouse effluent was submitted to laboratory runs in order to assess the potential of the thermophilic aerobic process for the treatment of slaughterhouse and meat processing industry effluents with protein recovery. Experiments were conducted at 45 degrees C, 52 degrees C and 58 degrees C with solids retention times of 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 h in a semi-continuously fed bioreactor. At 45 degrees C and 52 degrees C, over 90% of the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was removed at all retention times investigated. At 58 degrees C, COD decreased by 86%, with the exception of the 6-h retention time. A biomass containing 70% Gross Protein (GP) was recovered. The optimal specific productivity of GP (0.434 mgGP mgCOD(-1) h(-1)) occurred at 52 degrees C with a 6-h retention time. Biokinetic parameters were evaluated by fitting to appropriate mathematical models. Analysis of the GP composition confirmed that the amino acid levels in the recovered biomass meet most animal requirements.

The effect of sodium selenite on cell proliferation and transformation of primary rat tracheal epithelial cells

The effects of sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on cell proliferation and the development of preneoplastic transformed variants were studied in primary cultures of rat tracheal epithelial cells. Results revealed a biphasic effect of Na2SeO3 on cell proliferation: at concentrations between 6 x 10(-8) and 6 x 10(-6) M, it stimulated and at concentrations of approximately 2 x 10(-5) and above it inhibited cell proliferation (presumably due to toxicity). Nontoxic concentrations of Na2SeO3 (6 x 10(-8) -6 x 10(-7) M) significantly reduced the spontaneous transformation frequency. Transformation induced by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) was effectively inhibited by nontoxic as well as toxic concentrations of Na2SeO3. Treatment of cultures with Na2SeO3 after cessation of NNK exposure, i.e. during the selection period, also significantly reduced the transformation frequency. These experiments show that the inhibition of transformation by Na2SeO3 is not the result of an antiproliferative effect. They further indicate that the inhibitory effect occurs even when the chemical treatment occurs during the 'postinitiation' phase. Thus the inhibition of transformation by Na2SeO3 cannot solely be explained by its effects on drug metabolism.

[The preparation and identification of anti-idiotypic antibody against Plasmodium vivax at erythrocytic stages]

Through hypotonic dialyzing and gel filtration on Sephadex G200, 6H7G11 McAb-IgM (Mouse IgM) was successfully purified. Anti-6H7G11Id (Ab2) was induced in rabbit. This Ab2 was identified by agar diffusion, ELISA and competitive assays. The results showed that the Ab2 was able to combine respective Ab1 (6H7G11McAb), and the binding between Ab2 and Ab1 could be inhibited by Plasmodium vivax (P.v) antigen. Meantime, by using Ab2 thus prepared to immunize BALB/c mice, the anti-6H7G11Id (Ab3 or Ab1') was obtained with specificity of Ab1. It was revealed that the Ab2 thus prepared could mimic the antigenic determinant of P.v, and it belongs to the cross-reacted idiotype.

Cellular uptake and subcellular distribution of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides into cultured cells

A phosphorothioate oligonucleotide that has been employed to inhibit HIV-1 viral expression in chronically infected H9 cells was examined for cellular uptake and subcellular distribution. The relationship between extracellular oligonucleotide concentration and the distribution and accumulation into subcellular organelles is important to the design, potential side effects, and understanding of a therapeutically useful antisense oligonucleotide. These studies employed uptake of both 35S- and fluorescence-labeled phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Experiments with V79, HeLa, H9, and fresh human peripheral blood monocytes indicate that accumulations of oligonucleotide inside cells exceeds the concentration of oligonucleotide in culture media by over 100 times following 1 h of exposure at 37 degrees C. Uptake is more efficient at low concentrations, suggesting a saturable process. The total oligonucleotide that remains in cells begins to reach a plateau after 45-60 min, indicating either that efflux pathways exist or that uptake is saturable. Subcellular fractionation studies with 35S-labeled phosphorothioate demonstrate the oligonucleotide is sequestered into both the nuclei and the mitochondria of cultured HeLa cells in a time-dependent manner. The subcellular fractionation was examined with fluorescence-labeled phosphorothioate by both confocal and fluorescence microscopy, which confirmed the rate and localization of oligonucleotide into cultured cells. Finally, cellular uptake is not uniform for all cells in a nonsynchronous culture.

Evaluation of a lens opacities classification system II (LOCS II) in the survey population-based sample

In the field work of population-based research, 3 groups of eyes were graded by 2 observers in LOCS II. The reproducibility of LOCS II was evaluated by agreements (85%-100%) and k values (0.661-1) obtained in our study. The satisfying results show that LOCS II is not only easy to be learned and to be applied consistently by different observers, but also good reproducibility in the field work. The longitudinal cataract study is going to be performed in our plan.

Polyneuropathy syndromes associated with serum antibodies to sulfatide and myelin-associated glycoprotein

We studied a series of 64 patients with sensory +/- motor peripheral neuropathies by comparing clinical and physiologic features to serum antibody reactivity against compounds containing sulfated carbohydrate moieties. We determined antibody reactivity by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using purified glycolipids and glycoproteins as antigens, and we used high-performance thin-layer chromatography and Western blotting to test the specificity of results. Twelve patients with high titers of IgM antibodies directed against the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) had sensory-motor polyneuropathies with physiologic evidence of demyelination. IgM antibody reactivity to MAG was associated with an IgM serum M protein in five patients. Eight other patients, most with sensory greater than motor polyneuropathies, had high titers of antibody reactivity to sulfatide but not of IgM to MAG. Two had an associated IgM paraprotein. None of the patients with selective serum antisulfatide activity had predominantly demyelinating features on physiologic testing. We conclude that (1) high ELISA titers of antibodies to MAG may be more common than previously suspected in patients with chronic demyelinating sensory-motor neuropathies, and (2) the presence of high titers of antisulfatide antibodies in serum may provide clues to the pathogenesis of otherwise idiopathic, axonal, predominantly sensory neuropathies.

[The role of beta-endorphin and pain perception in silent myocardial ischemia]

Plasma beta-endorphin (beta-END) levels were measured before, after exercise tests and at the onset of spontaneous angina in 23 anginal patients (group 1), 23 patients with silent myocardial ischemia (group 2) and 15 healthy volunteers (group 3). The pain perception in three groups was also measured. Before and after exercise, the concentration of beta-END in group 1 was significantly lower than that in group 2 and group 3. The concentration of beta-END during onset of spontaneous angina was also lower than that of angina-free period in group 1. There was no significant difference of beta-END between group 2 and 3. The values of the pain threshold and tolerance in group 1 were lower than those of group 2 and 3. These data suggested that plasma levels of beta-END may be related to occurrence of angina. The anginal patients had a hypersensitivity and hypotolerance for pain. A positive correlation was found between plasma beta-END and pain threshold, the levels of beta-END might affect the pain perception during the onset of myocardial ischemia.