Detection of DNA adducts in skin biopsies of coal tar-treated psoriasis patients: immunofluorescence and 32P postlabeling

A clinical therapy for psoriasis, a hyperproliferative disease of the skin, utilizes topical application of crude coal tar sometimes followed by UV irradiation (Goeckerman therapy). To investigate the formation of covalent DNA adducts resulting from this therapy, skin biopsies were obtained from treated patients and controls. Indirect immunofluorescence staining with antisera generated against benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-modified DNA was used to investigate cell-specific localization of adduct formation. Specific nuclear staining was detected in the epidermal cells of all biopsies from treated patients but not from control biopsies obtained from untreated individuals. 32P postlabeling of DNA isolated from the biopsies was used to determine the spectrum of hydrophobic adducts present. A pattern of multiple adducts was detected in the samples obtained from the treated patients but not from controls.

[Studies on the chemical composition of Lysimachia fortunei Maxim]

Two crystalline substances were isolated from the petroleum either extract of the herbal medicine Lysimachia fortunei: triacontanol and a mixture of the derivatives of the pigment 2,5-dihydroxyl-3-alkyl benzoquinone. Mass spectral examination of this pigment revealed the presence of embelin and its five homologues, of which three homologues possessing dodecane, tetradecane and hexadecane respectively in the alkyl side chain have not been reported so far.

[The killing action of a Chinese herbal mixture on human tumor cells in vitro and its effect on cell-cycle]

Previous studies had shown that injection of Chinese herbal mixture (ICHM) had antitumor and anti-metastatic actions on various transplantable animal tumors. In the present study, the authors observed the obvious killing actions of ICHM on human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 and breast cancer cell line MCF-7 in vitro. The IC50 were 0.02 g crude drug/ml and 0.018 g crude drug/ml respectively. The study of the effect of ICHM on the cell-cycle of BGC-823 cell showed that ICHM decreased the number of cells in S phase and increased the number of cells in G1 phase significantly. The results indicated that the BGC-823 cells was blocked on S phase by ICHM. Meanwhile, ICHM reduced 3H-TdR incorporation into DNA, the cpm value was much lower than that of the control.

[Analysis of the vascular morphology of the placenta in normal pregnancies and in intrauterine fetal growth retardation]

8% barium sulfate was used in 70 cases of placental angiography. The placentas were studied and classified, including normal placentas and intrauterine growth retarded fetus (IUGR) placentas. In 14 of 20 IUGR cases placental cotyledonic artery was thin and less-branched, while it was so in only 5 of the normal cases. (P less than 0.005) Cotyledon is the basic functional unit, so the thin and less-branched cotyledon leads to the shortage of blood supply for fetus and then influences fetal growth and development. Thus is revealed the relationship between IUGR fetus and placental vascular morphology.

NMR study on the major components in hematoporphyrin derivative YHPD

The hematoporphyrin derivative YHPD, a China-made product, has been clinically used in photodynamic therapy of tumors as a good photosensitizing drug. The NMR study on the structure of its major components is reported here. In terms of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) four major components A, B, C and D were isolated. The NMR results showed that the component A is O-acetylhematoporphyrin, B and C are two isomers of vinyldeuteroporphyrin. The spectra of 2-dimensional homonuclear correlation NMR, 2-dimensional NOE (nuclear overhauser enhancement), 13C-NMR and off-resonance as well as FAB (fast atom bombarding) mass spectrum of component D indicate that it is a protoporphyrin dimer linked by carbon-carbon bond. This finding may provide a chemical basis for understanding the difference in biological activity between YHPD and other foreign commercial HPD, as well as the composition of clinically used alkali-treated HPD and its effective component.

Effects of ginsenosides on release of [3H]norepinephrine from rat vas deferens and portal vein

The effects of ginsenosides (G) on the release of [3H]norepinephrine ([ 3H]NE) from the isolated rat vas deferens (RVD) and portal vein (RPV) preloaded with [3H]NE were studied, G (100 micrograms/ml) did not affect the spontaneous or high potassium (H-K+, 60 mmol/L)- and tyramine (Tyr 10 mumol/L)-evoked release of [3H]NE, but obviously blunted the phentolamine (Phe 10 mumol/L)-induced increase in [3H]NE release from RVD and enhanced the isoprenaline (Iso 0.1 mumol/L)-augmented [3H]NE release from RPV evoked by H-K+. It is still not known whether G can bind with adrenoceptors. We infer that G may act as a modulator in sensitizing both presynaptic alpha 2- and beta-receptors.

A study on serum cancer-suppressive peptide

A peptide which was isolated from serum of cancer-bearing mice has an activity to kill cancer cells in vitro, but little effect on bone marrow cells. This peptide was named Serum Cancer-Suppressive Peptide (SCSP). SCSP can be crystallized and still has the activity to kill the cancer cells. It consists of more than ten kinds of amino acids with molecular weight about 2000-3000 daltons estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An antiserum was prepared from rabbits immunized with SCSP and the corresponding IgG could be obtained from the antiserum. The titers of SCSP in some cells of the normal and cancer-bearing mice were estimated by passive hemagglutination method. The results showed that the SCSP titer in spleen is much higher than those in muscle, liver and ascites tumor cells. The results suggest that SCSP is probably produced by spleen cells.

Mosaicism or pseudomosaicism: the problem of hypermodal cells in amniotic fluid cell culture

A series of 2029 consecutive amniotic fluid specimens studied for prenatal genetic diagnosis were reviewed and reassessed so as to evaluate the frequency and clinical significance of hypermodal cells in amniotic fluid cell cultures. Hypermodal cells were defined as those with more than 46 chromosomes, and were characterized by an additional structurally normal or structurally abnormal chromosome. Of 2029 specimens, 47 (2.31 per cent) contained a total of 167 hypermodal cells. True fetal mosaicism was detected in three cases (0.14 per cent). All had hypermodal cells in more than one culture flask or colony which contained the same aberrant chromosome complement. In all but one case the babies were normal when only one cell was hypermodal, or when several cells were hypermodal but present in only one colony or one culture vessel. One case had an extra No. 20 chromosome in one cell. Although the child had multiple anomalies, they were not characteristic of trisomy 20, and subsequent chromosomal study on the baby postnatally revealed a 46,XX karyotype. The in situ coverslip technique is recommended as the preferred method for prenatal diagnosis, and it is useful as an aid in differentiating true mosaicism from pseudomosaicism.

Evaluation of inorganic pyrophosphate in amniotic fluid as a mode of prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta

Using a modified procedure by Solomons and Styner (1969), an evaluation of inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) was performed on the amniotic fluid of two fetuses at risk for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) at 14 1/2 weeks gestation. The parents of both cases had a previous child with OI, Type II. The normal control group at 14-16 weeks gestation had PPi values ranging from 22.0-59.2 micrograms/100 ml, with a mean of 38.6 +/- 9.51 micrograms/100 ml. In each at-risk fetus, the amniotic fluid PPi value was within normal range. The first baby was born phenotypically normal at term. Intrauterine radiographic and fetal sonograms were done on the second fetus at approximately 19 weeks gestation. Both showed evidence of OI, Type II. The pregnancy was terminated at 21 weeks. Radiologic studies of the aborted fetus were consistent with OI, Type II. Our results indicate that the evaluation of PPi levels in amniotic fluid is not the method of choice for prenatal diagnosis of OI.