Effects of recombinant cytokines on murine megakaryocyte colony formation in a serum-free fibrin clot culture system

A convenient serum-free fibrin clot culture system for murine megakaryocyte progenitor cells was developed. The culture and counting of colonies is much easier in this system, when compared with previously reported serum-free culture methods. Recombinant murine interleukin-3 (rmIL-3) stimulated megakaryocyte colony formation in a dose-dependent manner in this system. While recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) had no effect on megakaryocytopoiesis, recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) and recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhIL-6) augmented megakaryocyte colony formation stimulated by rmIL-3. The depletion of adherent cells and T cells from the cultured bone marrow did not eliminate the synergistic effect of rhEpo and rhIL-6.

Interim analysis of a randomized trial of radiation therapy of rectal cancer with/without WR-2721

The objectives of this randomized trial are to define the maximum tolerated dose of radiation therapy, at curative dose levels, that can be delivered following WR-2721, and to observe the anti-tumor effects and normal tissue responses. One hundred patients with inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent rectal cancer were stratified and randomized to radiation only, or WR-2721 and radiation. The entire pelvis is treated with 4 portals 4 times a week to a total of 4500 cGy (first level dose) in 5 weeks. WR-2721, 340 mg/m2 was given 15 minutes before radiation to the combination group. Subsequently, both groups received a conedown of 720 cGy in 4 days to 144(2) cm portals APPA, and if originally inoperable or unresectable 720 cGy in four days to second conedown of 64(2) cm. Patients were observed from 3 to 18 months (median = 12 months). No significant hypotension or hematologic toxicity occurred in the WR-2721 treated group. Mild to moderate emesis occurred in 80% of the courses. (No antiemetics were used.) Moderate or severe acute toxicities to normal tissues were observed less frequently in the WR-2721 arm. No moderate or severe late toxicities to the skin, mucous membrane, urinary bladder or intestine was observed in the WR-2721 group, however, 5 patients treated with radiation alone experienced moderate or severe late toxicity to these organs. No evidence of tumor protection was observed.

[Atmosphere pollution by sulfur dioxide during processing of zirantong]

This paper reports the colorimetric determination of total SO2 in Zirantong by the method of rosaniline hydrochlorid. Samper of processed Zirantong from the pharmacy have been analyzed and the quality specifications established. Optimum conditions for processing have been chosen and a procedure has been proposed for the recovery of the poisonous matter SO2 which is then transformed into a beneficial material.

Surgical technique for combined liver/intestine transplantation in rats

Simultaneous liver transplantation may reduce the risk of intestinal transplant rejection. We have recently developed two new models of combined liver/intestine transplantation (LIT) in the rat to study this phenomenon. Herein, we report our experience with LIT using a single donor (SD) or multiple donors (MD). Large volumes of fluid were required to prevent a drop in the mean arterial pressure during the anhepatic phase in the SD recipients. Many of the SD recipients died of intraoperative hypovolemic shock (57%). The MD recipients had a shorter anhepatic time (12 +/- 1 minutes vs. 17 +/- 2 minutes; P less than 0.01) and a shorter warm intestinal ischemia time (15 +/- 1 minutes vs. 32 +/- 2 minutes; P less than 0.01). Operative mortality rates were much lower in the MD recipients (10% vs. 68%; P less than 0.01). The long-term survival rate using MD was 71% at 1 month. Graft function was normal in the long-term survivors. LIT with MD provides a good model to study the immunological effects of multivisceral grafting.

Molecular basis of inherited medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency causing sudden child death

Deficiency of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) is an important cause of sudden death in children. The majority of surviving individuals with MCAD deficiency studied to date are homozygous for a single point mutation at bp 985 of the MCAD mRNA (A985G). We have now identified a four-base-pair deletion in exon 11 of one allele of the MCAD gene in an American child who died of MCAD deficiency. The deletion mutation results in a frameshift and premature termination codon in the mutant MCAD mRNA. The second mutant allele contained the common point mutation A985G, and thus the proband was a compound heterozygote. Protein immunoblot analysis of the child's liver proteins revealed that the mutant MCAD proteins were barely detectable. Allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization analysis performed on amplified exon 11 of the child's MCAD gene clearly identified both mutations. MCAD RFLP analysis of the patient's DNA revealed heterozygosity at the Taq I MCAD RFLP site, thus, the two mutations are associated with different haplotypes. Therefore, we have identified a new mutation in the MCAD gene and have developed a nucleic-acid-based screening approach which allows the post mortem identification of MCAD deficiency.

Mutations in the medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) gene

Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) catalyzes the first reaction of the beta-oxidation cycle for 4-10-carbon fatty acids. MCAD deficiency is one of the most frequent inborn metabolic disorders in populations of northwestern European origin. In the compilation of data from a worldwide study of 172 unrelated patients each representing an independent pedigree, a total of 8 different mutations have been identified. Among them, a single prevalent mutation, 985A-->G, was found in 90% of 344 variant alleles. 985A-->G causes glutamate substitution for lysine-304 in the mature MCAD subunit, which causes impairment of tetramer assembly and instability of the protein. Three of 7 rarer mutations have been identified in a few unrelated patients, while the remaining 4 have each been found in only a single pedigree. In addition to tabulating the mutations, the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene family, the structure of the MCAD gene and the evolution of 985A-->G mutation are briefly discussed.

Tunneling Spectroscopy of M3C60 Superconductors: The Energy Gap, Strong Coupling, and Superconductivity

Tunneling spectroscopy has been used to characterize the magnitude and temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gap (triangle up) for K(3)C(60) and Rb(3)C(60). At low temperature the reduced energy gap, 2triangle upkappaT(c) (where T(c) is the transition temperature) has a value of 5.3 +/- 0.2 and 5.2 +/- 0.3 for K(3)C(60) and Rb(3)C(60), respectively. The magnitude of the reduced gap for these materials is significantly larger than the value of 3.53 predicted by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. Hence, these results show that the pair-coupling interaction is strong in the M(3)C(60) superconductors. In addition, measurements of triangle up(T) for both K(3)C(60) and Rb(3)C(60) exhibit a similar mean-field temperature dependence. The characterization of triangle up and triangle up(T) for K(3)C(60) and Rb(3)C(60) provides essential constraints for theories evolving to describe superconductivity in the M(3)C(60) materials.

Esophageal diverticulum associated with carcinoma of the esophagus--a report of four cases

During a 25-year period, four patients with esophageal diverticulum associated with carcinoma of the esophagus underwent surgery. The results were satisfactory. The clinical features included a long history of diverticulum and the presence of a carcinoma of the esophagus in close proximity to the former. Inflammation within the diverticulum and in the mucosa around the diverticulum was noted. The closer the diverticulum to the carcinoma, the more severe the inflammation. Therefore, diverticulitis and esophagitis may be important factors leading to the development of carcinoma of the esophagus, and patients with esophageal diverticulum should be followed up regularly and the diverticulum resected as early as possible if inflammation within the diverticulum or peri-diverticular esophagitis is found.

[Drug identification and research on Fritillaria monantha Migo (pengze beimu) produced in Jiangxi Province]

This paper reports the drug identification and investigation on plant of Fritillaria monantha(Pengze Beimu) produced in Jiangxi Province. It has been found that F. monantha is a new distribution of genus Fritillaria in Jiangxi and a new variety of Chinese drug of beimu.

Inactivation of the elastase inhibitory activity of alpha 1 antitrypsin in fresh samples of synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The proteinase inhibitory ability of alpha 1 antitrypsin was measured in 23 samples of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid, eight osteoarthritic synovial fluids and nine normal control serum samples. For each sample a detailed kinetic analysis was performed with porcine pancreatic elastase as the target proteinase. Samples were stored for less than 24 hours at 4 degrees C before analysis, which does not significantly alter the proportion of inactive alpha 1 antitrypsin. In rheumatoid synovial fluid the elastase inhibitory ability was disproportionately depressed relative to the immunochemically determined concentrations of alpha 1 antitrypsin.

Cytogenetic studies on a human rectal carcinoma cell line (HR-8348)

Cytogenetic properties of a human rectal carcinoma cell line (HR-8348) established in China are described. The early (29th passage) and late (93rd passage) passage cells were used for chromosome analysis. HR-8348 was found to have an essentially triploid karyotype. This distribution of chromosome numbers was rather dispersed in early passage, whereas it was concentrated in the 65-70 range in late passage. G-banded karyotype analysis also showed that the numerical distribution of chromosomes was dispersed in early passage and was associated with more abnormal chromosomes. In late passage, the numerical distribution became more stable and the number of abnormal chromosomes was reduced. In 60 metaphases analyzed, 10 marker chromosomes were found. The frequencies of M1, M2 and M3 were 100% in both early and late passage cells. The morphological characteristics of these marker chromosomes and their possible origin and role in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma are discussed.

[Pharmacological study on anti-hepatitis effect of Cotinus coggygria Scop. Syrup]

This paper shows that the Cotinus coggygria syrup has the effect of protecting the liver from chemical damages, reducing tension of the choledochal sphincter, increasing the bile flow and raising the body immunity. The anti-hepatitis effect may be carried out through decreasing transaminase, normalizing functioning of the gallbladder, reducing icterus and enhancing the immunity of the body.

Effects of lactate on pathways of glycogen formation in the perfused rat liver

In order to investigate the roles of lactate as substrate and regulator of hepatic glycogen synthesis, two groups of rat livers were perfused with oxygenated blood for 2 h. The initial perfusate glucose and lactate concentrations of Group I and II were 245 +/- 6.8 and 254 +/- 12.9 mg/dl and 49 +/- 2.6 and 54 +/- 2.2 mg/dl respectively. Labelled glucose was added to the perfusate to assess direct glycogen formation. Either additional glucose (Group I) or lactate (Group II) was added (1 mg/min) to a recirculating liver-perfusion system. Initial lactate uptake and glucose formation was identical in the two groups of studies. For Group I, both glucose and lactate uptake by the liver fell to nearly zero, in spite of increasing glucose concentrations. However, with lactate infusion (Group II), its uptake by the liver was maintained at 0.89 +/- 0.14 mg/min after 120 min. In total, 6.2 +/- 0.7 mg (Group I) or 20.2 +/- 3.9 mg (Group II) of glycogen was formed, 4.0 +/- 0.7 mg or 9.2 +/- 2.0 mg by direct synthesis from glucose and 2.2 +/- 0.3 mg or 11.0 +/- 2.1 mg by gluconeogenic formation, in Groups I and II respectively. With the provision of additional lactate, its uptake by the perfused liver tripled, as did glycogen synthesis. Glucose production doubled when lactate was added instead of glucose. Gluconeogenic formation of glycogen increased by 400%. Surprisingly, direct synthesis from glucose also rose by 130%. These data indicate that continued lactate uptake by the liver with gluconeogenic glycogen formation determines the amount of glycogen formed not only by this route, but also by direct synthesis from glucose.

A novel micromanipulation technique for measuring the bursting strength of single mammalian cells

Information about the bursting strength of animal cells is essential if the mechanisms of cell damage in bioreactors are to be understood, and if cell mechanical properties are ever to be related to cell structure and physiology. We have developed a novel cell compression technique that makes it possible to directly measure the bursting strength of single mammalian cells, and to infer information about cell mechanical properties.

Augmentation of cellular immune function during the early phase of zidovudine treatment of AIDS patients

Twenty-five patients with AIDS in AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol 002 were treated with either low or high dosages of zidovudine. This resulted in moderate, transient increases by 10 and 20 weeks in lymphocyte blastogenesis and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production in vitro in response to phytohemagglutinin with and without recombinant interleukin-2. Immune responses to cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 1 antigens were augmented less frequently during therapy. Natural killer (NK) cell lysis of uninfected and human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells was also transiently increased by 10 and 20 weeks. IFN-gamma production, the only immune parameter directly associated with increases in numbers of CD4+ T cells, peaked at 10 weeks of treatment. The limited efficacy of zidovudine treatment in AIDS patients is associated with moderate, temporary increases in nonspecific and herpesvirus-specific T lymphocyte responses and NK cell function.

Treatment of small cell lung cancer

During a 28-year period, 110 patients with small cell lung cancer were treated at our hospital. Fifty-nine patients received surgery, and 58 patients (including 7 cases after exploratory thoracotomy) received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The 5-year survival rate of the surgically treated group was 17%, while none in the non-surgical group survived for more than 5 years.

[Clinical value of the Chengdu classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

Two hundred forty-nine cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) were reviewed by using the working classification of NHL (Chengdu, 1985). The results showed that the patients of 249 cases of NHL ranging in age from 5 to 76 years, with the mean age of 42 of the types were separated into three major prognostic groupings as follows: 1. low (41 of 249 cases, small lymphocytic 27 cases, lymphoplasmacytoid 2 cases, follicular cleaved 7 cases, follicular cleaved and noncleaved 5 cases); 2. intermediate (58 of 249 cases, diffuse cleaved 28 cases, diffuse cleaved and noncleaved 27 cases, follicular noncleaved 3 cases); and 3. high grade malignancy (150 of 249 cases, diffuse noncleaved 49 cases, lymphoblastic 41 cases, immunoblastic 13 cases, polymorphic 39 cases, clear cell 2 cases, histiocytic 6 cases). Each group was significantly different from the others (P less than 0.05). The prognosis of patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy like T-cell lymphoma (9 of 249 cases) was not more significant (P greater than 0.05) than that of patients with other polymorphic lymphoma (30 of 249 cases). The results showed this Chengdu classification of NHL is good for practice and usage in clinical evaluation and routine surgical pathology.