Structural requirements of Syk kinase for Fcgamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis

The tyrosine kinase Syk plays a critical role in the phagocytic pathway mediated by Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaR). In transfected COS1 cells co-expression of Syk enhances FcgammaR mediated phagocytosis. The other member of the Syk kinase family, the highly homologous tyrosine kinase Zap70, also plays a role in signaling by immunoglobulin gene family receptors, but does not increase the phagocytic efficiency of FcgammaRs. The homologous tandem SH2 and kinase domains of Syk and Zap70 are separated by a nonhomologous region referred to as the unique domain. Zap70's inability to enhance phagocytosis was not due to unique domain tyrosine 292, previously implicated in negative regulation of Zap70 function. We determined the regions of Syk important for its interaction with the phagocytic pathway. An intact kinase domain was required for Syk's effect on phagocytosis. Furthermore, the Syk variant SykB, lacking 23 amino acids in the unique region, signaled for phagocytosis as efficiently as did Syk. We then constructed exchange chimeras between Syk and Zap70 and determined the contributions of the SH2, unique and kinase domains to phagocytic signaling. Our data suggest that the Syk kinase domain, which has high intrinsic kinase activity, is important for facilitating phagocytic signaling by FcgammaRI and FcgammaRIIIA.

[Biological effects of space flight on purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacteria]

OBJECTIVE

To study biological effects of space flight on purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacteria.

METHODS

Two purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacteria, Rhodopseudomonas palustris H3 and Rhodobacter sphaeroides ZGY, were carried on satellite for 15 days and some of their biological effects were studied after recovery.

RESULTS

In space condition, survival rate of bacteria was promoted. The purification of organic wastewater, removal of nitrite, degradation of phenol and decolorization of acid red B were enhanced, and the resistance of both strains to medicine was stable.

CONCLUSION

The major morphological and physiological characteristics of loaded strains H3-S and ZGY-S were not changed after space flight.

Effects of social environment and worker mandibular glands on endocrine-mediated behavioral development in honey bees

Previous studies suggest that older honey bee workers possess an inhibitory signal that regulates behavioral development in younger bees. To study how this inhibitor is transmitted, bees were reared for 7 days in double-screen cages, single-screen cages, or unrestricted in a typical colony (control bees). Double-screen cages prevented physical contact with colony members while single-screen cages allowed only antennation and food exchange. Bees reared in double-screen cages showed accelerated endocrine and behavioral development; they had significantly higher rates of juvenile hormone biosynthesis and juvenile hormone titers than did control bees and also were more likely to become precocious foragers. Relative to the other two groups, bees reared in single-screen cages showed intermediate juvenile hormone biosynthesis rates and titers, and intermediate rates of behavioral development. These results indicate that physical contact is required for total inhibition. We also began to test the hypothesis that worker mandibular glands are the sources of an inhibitory signal. Old bees with mandibular glands removed were significantly less inhibitory towards young bees than were sham-operated and unoperated bees. These results suggest that an inhibitor is produced by the worker mandibular glands.

[Effect of radix Salviae miltiorrhizae on production of free radical products from lung during cardiopulmonary bypass operation]

Thirty patients of heart valve replacement were randomly divided into two groups, one as Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) treatment group and the other as control group. Blood samples were taken from right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA) before cardiopulmonary bypass operation (CPB) and 10 min, 45 min, 2 hours, 6 hours after the removal of the aortic cross-clamp to observe the level of peroxidation product and the changes in leucocyte count. The results showed that the number of leucocyte in LA was smaller than that in RA and the amount of peroxidation product in LA was higher than that in RA (P < 0.01-0.05) during the early phase of the lung reperfusion in control group. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the amount of peroxidation product and the number of leucocyte between LA and RA in RSM treatment group. The results demonstrated that RSM could markedly prevent the lung leucocyte aggregation and reduce the production of lung free radical products. It suggested that the effect of RSM of reducing the production of lung free radical products was related to its effect of preventing the lung leucocyte aggregation.

Seasonal changes in juvenile hormone titers and rates of biosynthesis in honey bees

Honey bee colonies can respond to changing environmental conditions by showing plasticity in age related division of labor, and these responses are associated with changes in juvenile hormone. The shift from nest tasks to foraging has been especially well characterized; foraging is associated with high juvenile hormone titers and high rates of juvenile hormone biosynthesis, and can be induced prematurely in young bees by juvenile hormone treatment or by a shortage of foragers. However, very few studies have been conducted that study plasticity in division of labor under naturally occurring changes in the environment. To gain further insight into how the environment and juvenile hormone influence foraging behavior, we measured juvenile hormone titers and rates of biosynthesis in workers during times of the year when colony activity in temperature climates is reduced: late fall, winter, and early spring. Juvenile hormone titers and rates of biosynthesis decreased in foragers in the fall as foraging diminished and bees became less active. This demonstration of a natural drop in juvenile hormone confirms and extends previous findings when bees were experimentally induced to revert from foraging to within-hive tasks. In addition, endocrine changes in foragers in the fall are part of a larger seasonally related phenomenon in which juvenile hormone levels in younger, pre-foraging bees also decline in the fall and then increase the following spring as colony activity increases. The seasonal decline in juvenile hormone in foragers was mimicked in summer by placing a honey bee colony in a cold room for 8 days. This suggests that seasonal changes in juvenile hormone are not related to photoperiod changes, but rather to changes in temperature and/or colony social structure that in turn influence endocrine and behavioral development. We also found that active foragers in the late winter and early spring had lower juvenile hormone levels than active foragers in late spring. In light of recent findings of a possible link between juvenile hormone and neuroanatomical plasticity in the bee brain, these results suggest that bees can forage with low juvenile hormone, after previous exposure to some threshold level of juvenile hormone leads to changes in brain structure.

Collective effect of a Chinese formula--a study of xiao-jian-zhong-tang

Components of a traditional Chinese medicine formula Xiao-Jian-Zhong-Tang were divided into three groups: (1) Radix Paeoniae Lactiflorae, (2) Radix Astragali, and (3) Cinnamon twig, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Fructus jujubae and Saccharum Granorum. Extracts of each group were injected into rats to observe the blood pressure wave spectrum changes at the caudate artery. The whole formula was also extracted and injected into rats to monitor blood pressure wave spectrum changes. Each group has its own effect on the Fourier components of the blood pressure wave. The meridian effects of these herbs are the same as described in the Chinese medical literature, if we consider each meridian in resonance with a specific Fourier component. The whole formula when injected into rats had an effect on the Fourier components of the blood pressure wave similar to the linear combination of individual effect of the three herb groups when used separately. This may be the fundamental idea behind formula construction.

Physiological correlates of division of labor among similarly aged honey bees

Hormone analyses and exocrine gland measurements were made to probe for physiological correlates of division of labor among similarly aged adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). Middle-age bees (ca. 2 weeks old) performing different tasks showed significant differences in both juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis rates and hemolymph titers; guards and undertakers had high JH, and wax producers and food storers, low JH. Guards and undertakers had similar hormone levels to foragers, even though they were 10 days younger than foragers. No differences in JH were detected among young bees (1-week-old queen attendants and nurses) or older bees (3-4 week-old pollen foragers, non-pollen foragers, and soldiers). Hypopharyngeal gland size was inversely correlated with worker age and rate of JH biosynthesis, but soldiers had significantly larger hypopharyngeal glands than did foragers, despite their similar age and JH level. Results from soldiers indicate that exocrine gland development is not always linked with age-related behavior and endocrine development; they also support the recent claim that soldiers constitute a group of older bees that are distinct from foragers. Hormonal analyses indicate that the current model of JH's role in honey bee division of labor needs to be expanded because high levels of JH are associated with several other tasks besides foraging. JH may be involved in the regulation of division of labor among similarly aged workers in addition to its role in age-related division of labor.

[Relation between neuroendocrine expression of prostatic carcinoma and prognosis]

To clarify the relationship between the neuroendocrine expression of prostatic carcinoma and prognosis, we studied immunohistochemically formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 30 cases of prostate cancer by means of neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation markers. The rate of NE positive-staining cases was 40% (12/30), and more than two kinds of NE markers were expressed in 9/12 cases. The NE markers were NSE (7 positive cases), Chromogranin-A (7), Calcitonin (2), Gastrin (2), hCG (4), S-100 Protein (2), Serotonin (3), EMA (23) and Lillie argentaffin staining (2). Follow-up of the 30 patients showed that NE negative tumors have a prognosis better than NE positive tumors (P < 0.005). Their poor prognosis is due to poor response to endocrine therapy, and the mechanism is that some neuropeptides secreted by NE cells affect the growth of tumor cells. Finally, how to improve the prognosis of the patients who have NE expression of their prostate cancer is discussed.

[Immunohistochemical detection of extracellular matrix in human breast carcinoma]

Immunohistochemical ABC method was used to study the distribution of fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN) and type I, III & IV collagens (Ic, IIIc, IVc) as well as estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER, PgR) in 20 breast carcinomas and 10 benign mammary lesions. LN and IVc were found in vascular and epithelial basement membranes (BMs), and FN was found in BMs and non-BMs. Ic and IIIc were only detected in stroma. LN, IVc and FN displayed continuous linear patterns in benign lesions where Ic and IIIc were sparsely and FN was intensively distributed. BMs in carcinomas were absent in varying degrees, Ic, IIIc and IVc exhibited heterogeneous staining and sparse FN distribution. No differences were noted in ECM staining patterns and ER & PgR levels in patients with and without lymph node metastases. The above data suggest that there is an obvious decrease of BM in breast cancer, and a heterogeneous change in Ic, IIIc and IVc due to stroma-tumor cell reactions, which may play important roles in limiting cancer growth. The immunodetection of BM changes in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma does not help to evaluate the metastatic potential of tumors and is unrelated to the levels of ER and PgR.

Honeybee colony integration: worker-worker interactions mediate hormonally regulated plasticity in division of labor

Adult workers in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies exhibit plasticity in hormonally regulated, age-based division of labor by altering their pattern of behavioral development in response to changes in colony conditions. One form of this plasticity is precocious development: levels of juvenile hormone increase prematurely and bees begin foraging as much as 2 weeks earlier than average. We used two experimental paradigms inspired by developmental biology to study how bees obtain information on changing colony needs that results in precocious foraging. An analog of "cell culture," with bees reared outside of colonies in different sized groups, revealed that worker-worker interactions exert quantitative effects on endocrine and behavioral development. "Transplants" of older bees to colonies otherwise lacking foragers demonstrated that worker-worker interactions also affect behavioral development in whole colonies. These results provide insights to a long-standing problem in the biology of social insects and further highlight similarities in the integration of activity that exist between individuals in insect colonies and cells in metazoans.

Reproduction in worker honey bees is associated with low juvenile hormone titers and rates of biosynthesis

Three experiments were performed to determine the role of juvenile hormone (JH) in worker reproduction in queenless colonies of honey bees. In Experiment 1, egg-laying workers had low hemolymph titers of JH, as did bees engaged in brood care, while foragers had significantly higher titers. Experiment 2 confirmed these findings by demonstrating that laying workers have significantly lower rates of JH biosynthesis than foragers do. In Experiment 3, ovary development was inhibited slightly by application of the JH analog methoprene to 1-day-old bees, but was not affected by application to older bees, at least some already displaying egg-laying behavior. These results, which are consistent with earlier findings for queen honey bees, are contrary to a common model of insect reproduction, in which elevated JH titers trigger ovary development, which then leads to oviposition. Previous experiments have demonstrated that JH regulates nonreproductive behavior in workers that is associated with colony division of labor; perhaps this function is incompatible with a traditional role for JH in reproduction.

[Splenic embolization therapy of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]

21 patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and 3 patients with Evan's syndrome underwent partial splenic embolization (PSE). 22 patients underwent PSE once, while 2 patients were treated twice, thus a total of 26 procedures were carried out. Follow-up 3 months after embolization was available in all the 24 patients for their response to embolization therapy. 16 patients (67%) achieved complete remission (platelets greater than 100 x 10(9)/L) and 4 (17%) partial remission (platelets greater than 84 x 10(9)/L) after splenic embolization. A total efficacy rate of 83% was observed. This response to embolization after transcatheter vessel occlusion 3 months after is similar to the reported results of splenectomy. Not only may the morbidity and mortality associated with surgical splenectomy be avoided, but also the noninfarcted spleen may continue to provide immunologic functions. The most important experience in this series, however, was the emphasis on partial (60-70%) rather than total splenic arterial embolization. The sequestration site of platelets was associated with the outcome of splenic embolization. More splenic sequestration sites were found in responders, to the therapy.

Studies on structures of some platinum complexes with 1,1-cyclopropanedicarboxylate

The crystal structures of [Pt(NH3)2CPrDCA].H2O (I), [Pt(CH3NH2)2CPrDCA] (II), and [Pt(dmbn) CPrDCA].2.5H2O (III) (where CPrDCA is 1,1-cyclopropanedicarboxylate; dmbn is 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-butyldiamine) are determined. Compound I crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with the cell dimensions: a = 6.517(2), b = 9.709(3), c = 14.205(5) A, Z = 4, R = 0.058. Compound II is monoclinic with space group P2(1)/n, a = 9.648(3), b = 8.720(2), c = 12.770(4) A, beta = 107.12(2), Z = 4, R = 0.059. Compound III belongs to the monoclinic system space group P2(1)/m with the cell dimensions: a = 6.494(1), b = 19.638(3), c = 6.606(1)A, beta = 94.44(1), Z = 2, R = 0.038. Electronic structures of the complexes are studied and the correlation between structure of the amine ligands and biological activity of the complexes is explored.

[Antimalarial action of alloxan and 5,6-diamino-2,4-dihydroxy-pyrimidine in Plasmodium berghei]

Three hours after iv administration of alloxan and 5,6-diamino-2,4-dihydroxy-pyrimidine to mice infected with chloroquine-sensitive (CS) and chloroquine-resistant (CR) strains of Plasmodium berghei, the 2 compounds showed remarkable antimalarial actions. Parasitemia in CS and CR infected mice were reduced by about 50%. Slight hemolysis was seen in mice treated with alloxan but not in mice treated with 5,6-diamino-2,4-dihydro-pyrimidine. Alloxan did not inhibit glutathione reductase activity and no alloxan-glutathione complex was produced. No relationship between the antimalarial effects of alloxan and hemolysis or GSH content were found. It is suggested that the antimalarial effects of the two agents may be due to the inhibition of dihydroorotic acid dehydrogenase.

[Pathologic analysis of 302 primary bronchogenic adenocarcinomas]

Pathomorphology of 302 primary bronchogenic adenocarcinomas resected in our hospital from 1957 to 1984 was studied. It consisted of 23.5% of the total lung cancers. Gross findings are: central type 15.9%, peripheral type 82.4%, and disseminated type. 1.7%. Cancerous cavity was observed in 13.2%. According to the histologic classification of lung tumor, WHO, 1981, adenocarcinoma was divided into four subtypes: 1. acinar adenocarcinoma (132 cases); 2. papillary adenocarcinoma (73 cases); 3. bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma (74 cases) and 4. solid carcinoma with mucus formation (23 cases). Among them, there were 16.6% of scar carcinoma and 1 case associated with asbestosis. 15 cases were studied by electron microscope. The 5-year survival rate was 19.6% (peripheral type 21.7%, central type 12.5% and disseminated type 0%). There was no significant difference in the prognoses of the histologic subtypes. The patients without metastasis to the hilum, mediastinum or positive stump had better prognosis. The relationship between adenocarcinoma and bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma is discussed.

[Pathological findings and prognosis in 202 patients with small cell lung cancer]

This paper presents the pathological findings of small cell carcinoma of lung of 202 patients treated by surgery in our department from 1957 to 1984. Small cell lung cancer comprises 15.7% of all lung cancers. Gross type: central type was 67.3% and peripheral type was 32.7%. According to the histological classification system for lung tumor, WHO, 1981, small cell carcinoma is divided into three subtypes: (1) oat cell carcinoma (118 cases), (2) intermediate cell type (55 cases), and (3) mixed oat cell carcinoma (29 cases). Electronic microscope examination was done in 3 cases. Neurogenic secretory bodies in the cytoplasm were found in 2 oat cell carcinoma, but not in the other intermediate cell type. The 5-year survival rate of small cell carcinoma was 22.4% among whom four survived over ten years. The 5-year survival rate of oat cell carcinoma, intermediate cell type and mixed oat cell carcinoma were 19%, 34.8% and 9.1%, respectively. The intermediate cell type was the best in the 3 types. The 5-year survival rate of the peripheral type was 30.4% which was higher than that of the central type (18.9%). The 5-year survival rate was 30.8% in patients without metastasis to the lymph nodes in the hilus or mediastinum, and 18% in those with metastasis. There were no differences in the prognosis of those whether the pleura were involved or the resection stump was positive.

[Hyperfunctioning parathyroid carcinoma]

Two cases of parathyroid carcinoma with hyperparathyroidism, a relatively rare endocrine tumor are reported. It accounts for approximately 1-4% of all cases of primary hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid crisis occurred for three times in one case. It is difficult to make an early diagnosis, frequently leading to misdiagnosis and wrong treatment. During operation iatrogenic implant or incomplete resection may occur, resulting in recurrence and repeated operations. It is important to differentiate from hypercalcemia caused by parathyroid adenoma. Neck mass, hypercalcemia usually above 14 mg%, severe decalcification and pathological fractures are characteristic. Fibrosis and inflammatory reaction of the tumor and metastases in the neck lymph nodes are commonly seen at operation. Histologically active tumor cell mitosis, capsular and vascular invasions usually exist. Local recurrences often occur after surgical treatment. If the surgeon can recognized the malignant change and give a curative resection in the initial operation, more gratifying results can be obtained.

[Bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma (clear cell adenocarcinoma)--report of 6 cases]

6 cases of bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma proven surgically and histologically were studied. Under the microscope, it was shown that the columnar tumor cells lined the inner alveolar walls and the bronchiolar epithelium revealed malignant changes. Diagnosis of bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinoma was established. Under the electron microscope, in addition to its adenocarcinomatous features, tongue-like protrusions were present on the cell surface and abundant round electron-dense granules were accumulated above the nuclei. These were in accordance with the characteristics of clear cell adenocarcinoma. In 4 cases, lamella bodies were present in a few tumor cells. It suggests that the clear cell adenocarcinoma be able to synthesize round electron-dense granules and lamella bodies.