Upconversion-pumped blue laser in Tm:YAG

We have demonstrated an upconversion-pumped blue laser on the (1)G(4)-(3)H(6) band of Tm:YAG at cryogenic temperatures. Measurements were also made to assess the possibility of room-temperature upconversion-pumped lasers in Tm:YAG on both the (1)G(4) -(3)H(6) and the (1)D(2)-(3)F(4) bands.

Evidence from the anti-idiotypic network that the acetylcholine receptor is a rabies virus receptor

We have developed idiotype-anti-idiotype monoclonal antibodies that provide evidence for rabies virus binding to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Hybridoma cell lines 7.12 and 7.25 resulted after fusion of NS-1 myeloma cells with spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse immunized with rabies virus strain CVS. Antibody 7.12 reacted with viral glycoprotein and neutralized virus infectivity in vivo. It also neutralized infectivity in vitro when PC12 cells, which express neuronal AChR, but not CER cells or neuroblastoma cells (clone N18), which have no AChR, were used. Antibody 7.25 reacted with nucleocapsid protein. Anti-idiotypic monoclonal antibody B9 was produced from fusion of NS-1 cells with spleen cells from a mouse immunized with 7.12 Fab. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoprecipitation, B9 reacted with 7.12, polyclonal rabies virus immune dog serum, and purified AChR. The binding of B9 to 7.12 and immune dog serum was inhibited by AChR. B9 also inhibited the binding of 7.12 to rabies virus both in vitro and in vivo. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed that B9 reacted at neuromuscular junctions of mouse tissue. B9 also reacted in indirect immunofluorescence with distinct neurons in mouse and monkey brain tissue as well as with PC12 cells. B9 staining of neuronal elements in brain tissue of rabies virus-infected mice was greatly reduced. Rabies virus inhibited the binding of B9 to PC12 cells. Mice immunized with B9 developed low-titer rabies virus-neutralizing antibody. These mice were protected from lethal intramuscular rabies virus challenge. In contrast, anti-idiotypic antibody raised against nucleocapsid antibody 7.25 did not react with AChR.

High resistance to cucumber mosaic virus conferred by satellite RNA and coat protein in transgenic commercial tobacco cultivar G-140

A chimeric vector was constructed to express cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) satellite (Sat) RNA and coat protein (CP). Transgenic lines of tobacco cultivar G-140 expressing CP and Sat-RNA were obtained; these lines had high resistance to CMV. Fifty to 70% of the transgenic plants were symptomless 90 days after inoculation with 25-50 micrograms/ml of CMV. Resistance was about twice that conferred by the Sat-RNA or the CP gene alone in transformed plants.

Risk factors for febrile seizures in the People's Republic of China: a case control study

A case control study was conducted to investigate the association of family history of febrile seizures (FS) and history of maternal, pregnancy and delivery, and postnatal factors with FS. Information was gathered by door-to-door survey in six major cities in the People's Republic of China. Factors present before the date of onset of FS were assessed in 182 subjects and in an equal number of controls matched for age, sex, and geographic area. The odds ratio for risk of FS in children with a family history of FS in a first-degree relative was 10.0 (confidence interval 2.7-58.6), confirming other observations that familial factors are an important predisposing characteristic for FS. Maternal acute respiratory infection during the first trimester of pregnancy was slightly more frequent in children with FS (odds ratio, 1.9 confidence interval 1.0-3.9). None of the other examined pregnancy or delivery factors was associated with an increased risk, suggesting that birth history is not an important factor predisposing to FS.

[Effect of stress on spontaneously hypertension rats and mechanism of its action]

Social-psychological stress was closely related to psychosomatic diseases. Why could it cause the psychosomatic diseases and worsen some other diseases? No satisfied answer got yet. The blood pressure of SHR before and after laboratory stress were compared in this article and preliminarily studied the mechanisms of its action. It was found that stress state could expedite the onset of hypertension in SHR and worsened it continuously. After stress, the NE, E, and TC/HDL-C, TG all increased obviously. It indicated that social-psychological stress was closely related to essential hypertension.

Effect of treatment with nimodipine in patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension

This study shows that nimodipine significantly reduces levels of blood pressure in patients with mild and moderate essential hypertension. Hypotensive efficacy is less than with nifedipine, but side effects are light, and the drug is shown to reduce serum Na+ and cholesterol and there is regression of LVH (ECG).

Effects of D-timolol and L-timolol on ocular blood flow and intraocular pressure

Effects of D-timolol and L-timolol on IOP were compared with two rabbit models. When the drug solution was injected into vortex vein, 1% D-timolol produced ocular hypotension just like 0.5% L-timolol except D-timolol was less potent than L-timolol to lower the IOP. On the other hand, when 0.5% of D-timolol and L-timolol were instilled into the rabbit eye on IOP recovery model both agents showed equipotency to delayed the IOP recovery. Effects of D-timolol and L-timolol on ocular blood flow were also studied with two rabbit models. D-Timolol at 0.5% did not affect the ocular pulsatile blood flow measured with Langham's pneumatonometer whereas 0.5% L-timolol significantly suppressed it. D-Timolol (0.5%) was found to increase retinal and choroidal blood flows measured with laser Doppler method whereas L-timolol suppressed it. These results indicate that D-timolol though less potent than L-timolol to lower IOP, is superior over L-timolol to improve the blood flow in retina and choroid.

[Distribution and metabolism of calcium [3H]metronidazolamate in mice]

The blood radioactivity-time curve after iv calcium [3H]metronidazola-mate in mice was to be a diexponential model. It was rapidly distributed in various tissues. The highest radioactivities were found in liver and kidney, followed by lung, blood, heart, spleen, and the lowest in brain and testes. Bile and bone marrow contained only a slight radioactivity. In 7 d the cumulative excretion of radioactivity was 52 +/- 17% of the iv dose in urine and 10.3 +/- 2.4% in feces. The measurement by TLC and liquid scintillation counting of urine taken at 24 h after iv calcium [3H] metronidazolamate to mice revealed that approximately 77% of the total radioactivity in urine was excreted as the drug in unchanged form and 7% as its hydrolysate, metronidazole. Calcium [3H]metronidazolamate remained at a high level in blood on account of its longer T1/2 beta (34 h) and 20% were bound to plasma protein, thus making it available for longterm fractional radiotherapy of tumors.

[Primary study of histogenesis and diagnosis of synoviosarcoma]

Fourteen cases of synoviosarcoma were investigated by electron microscopy and immunohistochemical technique (PAP) using keratin and EMA as epithelial markers, vimentin as a mesenchymal marker. Of the 14 cases 9 were biphasic (BS) and 5 were monophasic synoviosarcoma (MS). In BS, epithelial-like cells, glandular, tubular of slit-like structures, junctional complex, microvilli at the luminar surface and basal lamellae at bottom could be easily seen. Spindle cells both in BS and MS were similar. These cells had somewhat similarity with epithelia-like cells, such as slender cell processes or microvilli, the external lamellae and cell junctions. The spindle cells also formed some slit-like structures. Collagenization was mild in matrix. Whether in BS or MS, epithelial or spindle cells, there were positive reactions for keratin, EMA and vimentin. The present study suggests that synoviosarcoma is neither a tumor of synovium origin nor a sarcoma of synovial differentiation, but a carcinosarcoma or adenosarcoma of soft tissues; the monophasic type is not a variant of fibrosarcoma either. It really is a distinct variant of synoviosarcoma. The expressions of both epithelial and mesenchymal features are useful criteria for diagnosis of synoviosarcoma.

[Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn contents of the maternal and umbilical cord serum in pregnancy-induced hypertension]

Calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc in the maternal and umbilical cord serum were measured in 106 patients suffering from pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and 106 controls. Mean maternal serum values of Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn in the PIH group were 2.460 mmol/L, 0.839 mmol/L, 35.094 mol/L and 8.408 mumol/L,respectively and were compared with the corresponding Values of 2.765 mmol/L, 0.834 mmol/L, 31.486 mumol/L, and 9.657 mumol/L in the controls. The Ca and Zn levels were lower and Cu higher in the PIH group (P less than 0.05 or P less than 0.01). No significant difference was found in the four elements in umbilical cord serum between the PIH cases and controls, indicating that the fetus can maintain an adequate Ca, Mg, Cu and Zn homeostasis even in pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, PIH cases had a lower Ca level in maternal serum than in umbilical cord serum. This study suggests that maternal serum Ca, Cu and Zn are related to PIH, and Ca might have a causal role in the development of PIH.

Effects of D-timolol on intraocular pressure (IOP), beta blocking activity, and the dynamic changes of drug concentrations in aqueous humor

L-timolol has been used successfully in the treatment of glaucoma. Because of its powerful beta blocking activity, however, more and more side effects have been reported. D-timolol, an optic isomer of L-timolol with much less beta blocking activity, was noted to have similar ocular hypotensive effects through inhibition of aqueous production as L-timolol. Thus, it is expected that D-timolol may reduce the side effects considerably if it is used in the clinics. In this study, we observed the ocular hypotensive effect of 0.5% D-timolol in normotensive and water-loaded rabbits as well as in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. A significant reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) which lasted at least six hours was observed. No side effects, either locally or systemically, were found. The concentration of D-timolol was traced in rabbits' aqueous humor after topical administration. The drug quickly appeared in the aqueous 30 minutes after instillation of 100 microliters 1% D-timolol. The peak concentration was 1916.5 ng/ml. It declined to a minimum in four hours, although the hypotensive effect could last at least six hours. For estimating the beta blocking potency of D-timolol, radioligand binding assay was employed to calculate the Ki value from isolated cell membrane of rabbits' lung. It showed that the beta blocking potency of D-timolol was much less than that obtained from L-timolol. It is concluded that D-timolol may be a valuable antiglaucoma agent comparable to L-timolol in lowering the IOP. The side effects induced by beta blocking agents we are using currently might be considerably reduced with D-timolol.

Calcified pericardial cyst--a case report and the roentgenologic and pathologic differentiation from other calcified mediastinal cysts

A case of calcified pericardial cyst is reported and is differentiated from calcified bronchogenic, enteric, thymic, terato-dermoid, and hydatid cysts by means of roentgenology and pathology.