Involvement of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in AII-mediated enhanced expression of Gi proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells

We have previously demonstrated that angiotensin II increased Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 expression at both protein and mRNA levels in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). The present study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms responsible for AII-induced enhanced expression of Gi proteins. The levels of Gi protein were determinated by immunoblotting techniques using specific antibodies against Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3. AII treatment of VSMC increased the levels of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 proteins and actinomycin D, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis attenuated the AII-evoked enhanced expression of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 proteins. In addition, wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3-K), rapamycin, an inhibitor of p70(S6K) and PD 098059, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase were able to inhibit AII-induced enhanced expression of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 to various degrees. The attenuation of AII-evoked enhanced levels of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 by PD 098059 was concentration dependent. At 50 microM, PD 098059 was able to completely attenuate the enhanced levels of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 caused by AII treatment. These data suggest that the enhanced expression of Gi-proteins by AII treatment may be attributed to increased RNA synthesis of Gi-proteins, and MAPK kinase, PI-3-Kinase and p70(S6K) may be involved in AII-mediated increased expression of Gi-proteins in VSMC.

Angiotensinogen gene expression is stimulated by the cAMP-responsive element binding protein in opossum kidney cells

It has been reported previously that the addition of isoproterenol or forskolin stimulates the expression of the angiotensinogen (ANG) gene in opossum kidney (OK) 27 cells, an OK cell line with a fusion gene containing the 5'-flanking regulatory sequence of the rat ANG gene fused with a human growth hormone (hGH) gene as a reporter, pOGH (ANG N-1498/+18), permanently integrated into their genomes. To investigate whether the effect of isoproterenol or forskolin on the expression of the ANG gene is mediated via the nuclear 43-kD cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB), OK 27 cells were transiently transfected with an expression plasmid containing the cDNA for the 43-kD CREB (pRSV/CREB). The level of expression of the pOGH (ANG N-1498/+18) in OK 27 cells was estimated by the amount of immunoreactive hGH secreted into the culture medium. Transfection of pRSV/CREB alone stimulated the expression of pOGH (ANG N-1498/+18). The addition of isoproterenol or forskolin further enhanced the stimulatory effect of pRSV/ CREB on the expression of pOGH (ANG N-1498/+18). The enhancing effect of isoproterenol was inhibited by the presence of propranolol (an inhibitor of beta-adrenoceptors) and (R)-p-adenosine 3'5'-cyclic monophospho-orthioate (Rp)-cAMP (an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A I and II). Transfection of pRSV/CREB had no effect on the expression of thymidine kinase growth hormone in OK 13 cells, an OK cell line with a fusion gene containing the promoter/enhancer DNA sequence of the viral thymidine-kinase gene fused with an hGH gene as a reporter, thymidine kinase growth hormone, permanently integrated into their genomes. These studies demonstrate that isoproterenol stimulates the expression of ANG gene via the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A and probably via the interaction of the 43-kD CREB with the 5'-flanking region of the ANG gene. Our data indicate that the nuclear 43-kD CREB may have a modulatory role on the expression of the ANG gene in OK cells.

[DNA quantitative analysis of small bowel carcinoma and its clinical significance]

By using computer cytophotometric analysis, aneuploid as well as other 12 parameters of tissue DNA content were measured in 28 cases of small bowel cancer, 5 cases of intestinal adenoma, 6 cases of normal intestinal tissues. The number of aneuploid tumors in intestinal cancer was much higher than in intestinal adenoma. 7 DNA parameters (Entropy of DNA, 2CDI, DNA- grade of neoplasia, 5C Exceeding Rate, 9C Exceeding Rate, Diploid Deviation Quotient and Mean Ploidy) were the valuable indexes that could determine the quality of intestinal lesions, benign or malignant. DNA content didn't correlate with the clinically differentiated degree of pathological tissues, but aneuploid intestinal cancers had a higher malignant degree than non-aneuploid ones, and were more liable to invade and metastasize with low postoperative survival-rate and poor prognosis. 5 DNA parameters (DNA-Index, Medal Value, DNA-grade of neoplasia, Stemline Ploid and 9C Exceeding Rate) had close relation to the prognosis of intestinal cancer, possessing important value to the prognostic analysis of intestinal cancer.

[Study of p53 protein expression in cancers of small intestine and its relationship to clinical course and prognosis]

In order to study the relationship of p53 gene mutation with the occurrence and prognosis of cancer of small intestine, expression of p53 protein was examined. The results showed that p53 protein expression was high in 75% of small intestine cancer, and 21.1% positive in tissues close to cancer. In 7 cases of small intestinal adenoma only one was positive. Sixteen cases of normal tissue of intestine showed negative expression of p53 protein. The study also found that the degree of p53 protein expression was significantly correlated with the degree of tumor cell differention, invasion, metastasis and prognosis.

Bradyrhizobium liaoningense sp. nov., isolated from the root nodules of soybeans

Seventeen strains of extra-slowly growing (ESG) soybean rhizobia isolated from root nodules of Glycine soja and Glycine max growing in five provinces (Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Hubei, and Anhui) in the People's Republic of China were compared with 48 reference strains belonging to the genera Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, and Agrobacterium by performing a numerical analysis of 191 phenotypic features. Our results showed that all of the ESG strains examined clustered closely in the genus Bradyrhizobium but were separated from Bradyrhizobium japonicum at the species level and that they could be differentiated from Rhizobium and Agrobacterium species at the genus level. On the basis of the results of our numerical taxonomy analysis, a genomic DNA G & C content analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, a partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis, a serological analysis, an N and C content analysis, and an N/C ratio analysis of members of the three groups of soybean rhizobia, we propose the name Bradyrhizobium liaoningense sp. nov. for the ESG strains; the type strain of this species is strain 2281.

Alphamethrin-impregnated bed nets for malaria and mosquito control in China

A community-based intervention trial was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of alphamethrin-impregnated bed nets for control of Plasmodium vivax malaria and its vector in an area of moderate endemicity in southern Henan province, central China in 1990. Malaria incidence was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the comparison group (2.03 vs. 3.57 per 100 person-years at risk). The protective efficacy for malaria incidence was 43%. The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among children under 10 years old in the intervention group was about one-quarter of that in the comparison group (0.93% vs. 3.25% and 0.71% vs. 1.96% after one and 4 months use of impregnated nets, respectively). Alphamethrin-impregnated bed nets had a mass killing effect on vector mosquitoes. The outdoor person-biting density of Anopheles anthropophagus and A. sinensis decreased by 70.3% and 29.3% respectively. The density of these 2 mosquito species found resting inside treated nets was close to zero. No side effect was found among users of impregnated bed nets. Impregnation with alphamethrin was more effective on polyester than on cotton netting and residual effects lasted at least one year. Use of alphamethrin is less expensive than permethrin and deltamethrin.

[Cytological study on Eclipta prostrata L]

The authors report that the karyotype formula of Eclipta prostrata is K(2n) = 22 = 16m + 6sm, which belongs to "1A" of stebbins, the chromosome composition based on relative length is 2n = 22 = 10M2 + 12M1, and the total length of the chromosome is 29.3 microns. The chromosome volume of E. prostrata has also been calculated.

[Cytologic study of Bidens bipinnata L]

The author reports that the karyotype formula of Bidens bipinnata is K (2n) = 3X = 36 = 27m + 3sm + 6sm (SAT), which belongs to "2A", and that the chromosome composition based on relative length is 2n = 36 = 6L + 9M2 + 18M1 + 3S. The chromosome volume of B. bipinnata is also calculated.