Observation of a resonance in Chi(1835) in J/psi --> gammapi+ pi- eta-

The decay channel J/psi --> gamma(pi)(+)pi(-)eta is analyzed using a sample of 5.8 x 10(7) J/psi events collected with the BESII detector. A resonance, the Chi(1835), is observed in the pi(+)pi(-)eta invariant-mass spectrum with a statistical significance of 7.7 sigma. A fit with a Breit-Wigner function yields a mass M = 1833.7 +/- 6.1(stat) +/- 2.7(syst) MeV/c(2), a width Tau = 67.7 +/- 20.3(stat) +/- 7.7(syst) MeV/c(2), and a product branching fraction B(J/psi --> gammaChi) . B(Chi --> pi(+)pi(-)eta) = [2.2 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.4(syst)] x 10(-4). The mass and width of the Chi(1835) are not compatible with any known meson resonance. Its properties are consistent with expectations for the state that produces the strong pp mass threshold enhancement observed in the J/psi --> gammapp process at BESII.

Observation of a threshold enhancement in the plambda invariant-mass spectrum

An enhancement near the m(p)+M(Lambda) mass threshold is observed in the combined pLambda and pLambda invariant-mass spectrum from J/psi-->pK(-)Lambda;+c.c. decays. It can be fit with an S-wave Breit-Wigner resonance with a mass m=2075+/-12(stat)+/-5(syst) MeV and a width of Gamma=90+/-35(stat)+/-9(syst) MeV; it can also be fit with a P-wave Breit-Wigner resonance. Evidence for a similar enhancement is also observed in psi(')-->pK(-)Lambda;+c.c. decays. The analysis is based on samples of 5.8x10(7)J/psi and 1.4x10(7)psi(') decays accumulated in the BES II detector at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider.

Observation of the decay psi(2S)-->K0SK0L

The decay psi(2S)-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L) is observed using psi(2S) data collected with the Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider; the branching fraction is determined to be B(psi(2S)-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L))=(5.24+/-0.47+/-0.48)x10(-5). Compared with J/psi-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L), the psi(2S) branching fraction is enhanced relative to the prediction of the perturbative QCD "12%" rule. The result, together with the branching fractions of psi(2S) decays to other pseudoscalar meson pairs (pi(+)pi(-) and K+K-), is used to investigate the relative phase between the three-gluon and the one-photon annihilation amplitudes of psi(2S) decays.

[Investigation on genotype constitution of different Plasmodium vivax isolates and its geographical distribution in China]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the population constitution and geographical distribution of Plasmodium vivax in China using molecular technique.

METHODS

Blood-spot filter paper samples with related epidemiological data were collected from vivax malaria patients living in malarious area of 10 provinces (autonomous region) in China. Semi-nested- or nested-allelic-specific PCR genotyping method was used to identify CSP genotypes, families and types of Plasmodium vivax of each isolate from these patients.

RESULTS

Of 384 field isolates of Plasmodium vivax, 258 temperate zone family strains were identified, including 14 allelic variant genotypes spreading among 10 sampling provinces; allelic variants sized less than 731 bp were only seen in 5 provinces in southern China; 79 tropical zone family strains including 5 genotypes were also distributed in 5 provinces of southern China south to 25 degrees N. lat; and 14 PV Type-2 strains including 2 genotypes were found in some areas of Hainan and Yunnan Provinces. In addition, 33 isolates from genotype-mixed infections were revealed.

CONCLUSION

At present, area north to 25 degrees N. lat. of the country is the sole area prevalent for Plasmodium vivax family strains of temperate zone; there is overlapping distribution of P. v. of temperate zone family and tropical zone family of this parasite in the southern China south to 25 degrees N. lat; where the most complex isolate constitution is in Yunnan and Hainan Provinces, and PV Type-2 strains have been found in some areas of the two provinces. Besides, there were 2 groups of genotype with distinct geographic distribution feature within the temperate zone family.

Overexpression of Hoxc13 in differentiating keratinocytes results in downregulation of a novel hair keratin gene cluster and alopecia

Studying the roles of Hox genes in normal and pathological development of skin and hair requires identification of downstream target genes in genetically defined animal models. We show that transgenic mice overexpressing Hoxc13 in differentiating keratinocytes of hair follicles develop alopecia, accompanied by a progressive pathological skin condition that resembles ichthyosis. Large-scale analysis of differential gene expression in postnatal skin of these mice identified 16 previously unknown and 13 known genes as presumptive Hoxc13 targets. The majority of these targets are downregulated and belong to a subgroup of genes that encode hair-specific keratin-associated proteins (KAPs). Genomic mapping using a mouse hamster radiation hybrid panel showed these genes to reside in a novel KAP gene cluster on mouse chromosome 16 in a region of conserved linkage with human chromosome 21q22.11. Furthermore, data obtained by Hoxc13/lacZ reporter gene analysis in mice that overexpress Hoxc13 suggest negative autoregulatory feedback control of Hoxc13 expression levels, thus providing an entry point for elucidating currently unknown mechanisms that are required for regulating quantitative levels of Hox gene expression. Combined, these results provide a framework for understanding molecular mechanisms of Hoxc13 function in hair growth and development.

Endemic goiter associated with high iodine intake

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the relation of iodine content of household water to thyroid size and urinary iodine excretion in an area with high iodine concentration in the water.

METHODS

The iodine content of household water and indicators of iodine status (thyroid size and urinary iodine level) were assessed in selected villages in Jiangsu Province, China.

RESULTS

Water iodine levels were positively correlated with urinary iodine levels and indicators of thyroid size at the township level.

CONCLUSIONS

Excess iodine in household water was the likely cause of endemic goiter and elevated urinary iodine levels in the study area. This finding affects public health policy on the institution of universal salt iodization for the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.

Carcinoma of the lung and multiple primary tumors

OBJECTIVE

To assess the incidence of multiple primary malignancies combined with lung and other organs.

METHODS

All patients who were consecutively treated for lung cancer from December 1964 to December 1992 were retrospectively analyzed regarding the occurrence of simultaneous primary tumor elsewhere in the body.

RESULTS

Of 1019 patients reviewed, 21 (2.1%) had associated carcinoma of other organs. In these 21 patients, the incidence of associated aerodigestive tract cancer was 71% and cancer of other organs was 29%. Five patients had simultaneous cancer with the lung cancer and 16 metachronous lung cancer associated with cancer of other organs.

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple primary tumors in patients with carcinoma of the lung is not a rare phenomenon. Surveillance programs for detection of second primary tumors should focus on this group of patients. Surgeons should be aware of the possibility of double cancer, and the patient's condition and stage of the carcinoma must be taken into consideration in the determination of operative indications and method.

[Mathematical models of cardiac myocytes and their applications in simulating electrophysiological activities]

Based on historical developments, the mathematical models of cardiac myocytes and their applications in simulating electrophysiological activities are summed up.

Left ventricular tachycardia originating near the left main coronary artery

Eight patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) underwent mapping and radiofrequency ablation. Mapping showed VT originating in the high posterolateral left ventricular outflow tract in proximity to the left main and proximal circumflex coronary arteries. Ablation was not attempted due to this proximity to the left main and proximal circumflex coronary arteries. Ablation was not attempted due to this proximity in 2 patients and limited in 1 patient. It was successful in VT suppression in 5 of 6 patients.

Randomized clinical trial comparing different iodine interventions in school children

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this trial was to compare three different iodine interventions.

DESIGN

School children aged 8-10 years were randomized into one of three groups: group A was provided with iodized salt by researchers with an iodine concentration of 25 ppm; group B purchased iodized salt from the market; and group C was similar to group B with the exception that they were given iodized oil capsules containing 400 mg iodine at the beginning of the study. Salt iodine content was measured bimonthly for 18 months and indicators of iodine deficiency were measured at baseline and 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after randomization.

RESULTS

The prevalence of abnormal thyroid volumes, based on the World Health Organization (WHO) body surface area reference >97th percentile, was 18% at baseline and declined to less than 5% by 12 months in groups A and C, and to 9% after 18 months in group B. Results for goitre by palpation were similar. The median urinary iodine was 94 microg l(-1) at baseline and increased in all groups to > 200 microg l(-1) at the 6-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population of school children with initially a low to moderate level of iodine deficiency, the group receiving salt with 25 ppm (group A) was not iodine deficient on all indicators after 18 months of study. When the iodine content of the salt varied, such as in group B, by 18 months thyroid sizes had not yet achieved normal status.

[Clinical application of esophageal manometry and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical application of esophageal manometry and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring.

METHODS

From 1990 to 1996, ambulatory esophageal manometry and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring were performed on 101 patients with different functional esophageal diseases, including Barrett's esophagus 54 patients non-cardiac chest pain (10) and post-cholecystectomy (37). Esophageal motility studies were made to compare the effects of different anti-reflux therapies, to identify primary esophageal motility disorders, to assess the effect of anti-acid drugs, and to study the relationship between esophageal motility disorder and other non-esophageal origin disease.

RESULTS

In this study, anti-reflux surgery was better than medical therapy in controlling gastroesophageal reflux (GER) for Barrett's esophagus. Esophageal manometry was the best method for detecting primary esophageal motility disease. Omeprazole was superior to cimetidine in terms of control of GER and reduction of gastric acidity. Cholecystectomy resulted in GER and many symptoms after surgery appeared to have an esophageal origin.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal manometry and 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring are the most sensitive and specialized methods for detecting esophageal motility disorders. They are superior to other routine diagnostic methods such as radiology and endoscopy.

Trypanosoma brucei poly(A) binding protein I cDNA cloning, expression, and binding to 5 untranslated region sequence elements

Poly(A) binding protein I (PABPI) is a highly conserved eukaryotic protein that binds mRNA poly(A) tails and functions in the regulation of translational efficiency and mRNA stability. As a first step in our investigation of the role(s) of mRNA poly(A) tails in posttranscriptional gene regulation in Trypanosoma brucei, we have cloned the cDNA encoding PABPI from this organism. The cDNA predicts a protein homologous to PABPI from other organisms and displaying conserved features of these proteins, including four RNA binding domains that span the N-terminal two-thirds of the protein. Comparison of northern blot data with the cDNA sequence indicates an unusually long 3' untranslated region (UTR) of approximately three kilobases. The 5 UTR contains both A-rich and AU repeat regions, the former being a ubiquitous property of PABPI 5' UTRs. T. brucei PABPI, expressed as a glutathione-S-transferase fusion protein, bound to RNA comprised of its full length 5' UTR in UV cross-linking experiments. This suggests that PABPI may play an autoregulatory role in its own expression. Competition experiments indicate that the A-rich region, but not the AU repeats, are involved in this binding.

[Antimutagenic mechanism of kiwifruit juice]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effects of kiwifruit juice on the mutagenicity induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) and the effects of biotransformation enzymes in rats.

METHODS

We measured the frequency of cells with micronuclei in binucleated lymphocytes and the activities of liver glutathione-S-transferase (GST), uridine diphosphate glucuronyltransfer (UDPGT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT).

RESULTS

Kiwifruit juice inhibited the frequency of cytokinesis-blocked cells with micronuclei (MN) induced by CP in rat peripheral blood lymphocytes, and increased significantly the activity of liver GST and UDPGT. The rate of MN cells was significantly correlated negatively with the activity of liver GST and UDPGT.

CONCLUSION

The effects of kiwifruit juice on anti-micronucleus formation may be related to the increased activities of detoxidation enzymes.

[Extended vertical partial laryngectomy for treatment of the glottic cancer with T3 category]

From June 1981 to December 1992, 32 patients of glottic cancer with T3 category were treated by extended vertical partial laryngectomy, i.e. vertical laryngectomy plus the resection of the arytenoid and part of the cricoid plate. The laryngeal defect was reconstructed by an osteomuscular flap. The 3- and 5-year survival rates were 78.1% and 73.9% respectively. The decannulation rate was 81.3%. The voice was satisfactory in 84.3%. All patients resumed mouth-food-taking. The authors conclude that selective glottic cancer of T3 category treated with extended vertical partial laryngectomy, which preserves the functions of the larynx and improves the quality of the life, is feasible and acceptable.

Modified fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation to accommodate noise in the input scene

A modified fringe-adjusted joint transform correlator is proposed that is able to accommodate noise in the input scene. The effect of noise in the input scene on the performance of the joint transform correlator is analyzed and quantified. When the target is embeddedin aseverely noise-corrupted input scene, it is shown that the proposed modified fringe-adjusted filter joint transform correlator delivers a better correlation performance and the capacity to accommodate this noise than does the fringe-adjusted filter-based correlator. When the power spectra of the input image and the reference image are subtracted from the power spectrum of the joint-input image, it is found that the noise effect on the output plane is independent of the objects in the input scene and originates from the convolution of the reference image and noise in the input scene.

Research on fermentation scale-up based on the OUR obtained from a shake flask

On the basis of determination of oxygen permeability Pm of gauze layers covered on a specially designed shake flask by the method of sulfite oxidation, the variations of gas-phase and liquid-phase oxygen concentration were measured during the course of fermentation and then the oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (KLa) could be determined too. Fermentation process and fermentor scale-up were carried out based on the (OUR)max obtained from the shake flask. Scale-up process was studied in different air flow rates and agitation speeds in a 2.5 L fermentor with the analyses by mass spectrometer and manual sampling, it was found that OUR and biomass obtained from the fermentor were quite close to that obtained from the shake flask, but quite different in KLa and CL.

Transseptal methods for percutaneous balloon valvoplasty simultaneously with radiofrequency catheter ablation

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvoplasty (PBMV) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) have been used in the treatment of mitral stenosis (MS) and supraventricular tachycardia. The techniques of PBMV and RFCA yield better results with the development of interventional cardiology, but there is no report about PBMV performed simultaneously with RFCA in the same patient. Seven patients with mitral stenosis and Wollf-Parkinson-White (W-P-W) Syndrome were successfully treated with PBMV and RFCA by transseptal methods. LA, LAP, mPG and mPA were decreased from 43.4 +/- 4.6mm, 21.8 +/- 6.8mmHg, 21 +/- 7.7mmHg and 45.7 +/- 16.5mmHg to 39.2 +/- 3.7mm (P < 0.05), 12.7 +/- 4.5mmHg, 12 +/- 3.7mmHg and 32.3 +/- 9mmHg (P < 0.01). MVA was increased from 0.96 +/- 0.33cm2 to 1.7 +/- 0.80cm2 (P < 0.01). delta wave disappeared in 12-lead surface EKG and SVT could not be induced in electrophysiological study after the treatment. The overall time of the procedure for this series was 93 +/- 34 minutes and fluoroscopy time was 23 +/- 7 minutes on the average. Radiofrequency energy applications were 3 +/- 2 times each procedure. PBMV and RFCA are safe and highly effective in the treatment of MS and W-P-W syndrome. The results in the present study proved the feasibility of the combined use of PBMV and RFCA. We prefer a first choice of PBMV and then RFCA in order to avoid aggravation of the hemodynamics due to mitral stenosis. The results also showed that of overall procedure and fluoroscopy only took a short time for this series. We suggest that it could be used as a routine method for the treatment of mitral stenosis complicated by W-P-W syndrome.