[A bio-electrochemical theory in pathogenesis of dental caries]

Since the Bio-electrochemical theory in pathogenesis of dental caries was suggested by Huang (1990), many experimental proofs have obtained in studies of dental bio-electrical potential and dielectric properties of the tooth. Recently, the model of the electrochemical artificial dental caries that have directly proved Huang's theory was developed successfully in laboratory. This paper make a systematic exposition of the bio-electrochemical theory in pathogenesis of dental caries.

[Dose study of methyl carboprost suppository for planned delivery at term]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate clinical reasonable dose of methyl carboprost suppository (15-methyl-PGF2 alpha) for induction of labor.

METHOD

A total of 150 gravidas with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation, accepted for induction of labor, were randomly allocated into 3 groups: group 1, 15-methyl-PGF2 alpha 0.100 mg (n = 50); group 2, 0.125 mg (n = 50); and group 3, 0.200 mg (n = 50).

RESULTS

The success rates of induction were 90.0%, 94.0% and 100.0% for group 1, 2 and 3, respectively. As cervical Bishop score < or = 5, the cases needed oxytocin intravenous infusion during the active phase were 48.5%, 40.7% and 5.0%, respectively; cervical Bishop score > or = 6, the cases were 11.8%, 13.0% and 0.0%, respectively. There were 3 cases of precipitate delivery in group 2 and 3. No uterine hyperstimulation occurred in group 1 and 2, while 3 cases of uterine hyperstimulation in group 3.

CONCLUSION

(1) A single maximum dose of 15 methyl-PGF2 alpha for term labor induction should be < 0.200 mg. (2) The different dose was chosen according to cervical Bishop score, i.e. 0.200 mg or 0.125 mg for Bishop score < or = 5, and 0.100 mg for Bishop score > or = 6.

Pharmacological actions of melatonin in oxygen radical pathophysiology

Melatonin, the chief secretory product of the pineal gland, was recently found to be a free radical scavenger and antioxidant. This review briefly summarizes the published reports supporting this conclusion. Melatonin is believed to work via electron donation to directly detoxify free radicals such as the highly toxic hydroxyl radical. Additionally, in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, melatonin has been found to protect cells, tissues and organs against oxidative damage induced by a variety of free radical generating agents and processes, e.g., the carcinogen safrole, lipopolysaccharide, kainic acid, Fenton reagents, potassium cyanide, L-cysteine, excessive exercise, glutathione depletion, carbon tetrachloride, ischemia-reperfusion, MPTP, amyloid beta (25-35 amino acid residue) protein, and ionizing radiation. Melatonin as an antioxidant is effective in protecting nuclear DNA, membrane lipids and possibly cytosolic proteins from oxidative damage. Also, melatonin has been reported to alter the activities of enzymes which improve the total antioxidative defense capacity of the organism, i.e., superoxide dimutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and nitric oxide synthase. Most studies have used pharmacological concentrations or doses of melatonin to protect against free radical damage; in a few studies physiological levels of the indole have been shown to be beneficial against oxidative stress. Melatonin's function as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant is likely assisted by the ease with which it crosses morphophysiological barriers, e.g., the blood-brain barrier, and enters cells and subcellular compartments. Whether the quantity of melatonin produced in vertebrate species is sufficient to significantly influence the total antioxidative defense capacity of the organism remains unknown, but its pharmacological benefits seem assured considering the low toxicity of the molecule.

Expression of the spinach betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) gene in transgenic tobacco plants

Plasmid pLS9 contains a 1.5-kb of spinach cDNA including its complete open reading frame. The 1.5-kb BADH cDNA was cut from pLS9 using restriction enzyme and was inserted into the expression cassette of plasmid pYH between the CaMV 35S promoter and polyA signal sequence. The 35S-BADH cDNA-polyA fragment of pYH was cloned into a polylinker cloning site of the binary vector pBin19. The resulting plasmid pBinBADH-S was transferred to Agrobacterium tumefacies LBA4404. The tobacco plants were transformed with strain LBA4404 containing pBinBADH-S, and more than ninety kanamycin-resistant transformants were selected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection showed that more than 60% of the transformed tobacco plants contained the foreign BADH gene. The Western blot analysis, BADH enzymatic assay, specific stain for BADH activity, and the test for salt tolerance showed that BADH gene was normally expressed in the transgenic tobacco plants. The BADH enzymes also presented in chloroplasts and cytosol of the transgenic plants. The transgenic tobacco plants having strong expression of BADH gene had strong ability to tolerate high salt stress.

Induction of oxidative stress by chronic administration of sodium dichromate [chromium VI] and cadmium chloride [cadmium II] to rats

Recent studies have demonstrated that both chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) induce an oxidative stress, as determined by increased hepatic lipid peroxidation, hepatic glutathione depletion, hepatic nuclear DNA damage, and excretion of urinary lipid metabolites. However, whether chronic exposure to low levels of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) will produce an oxidative stress is not shown. The effects of oral, low (0.05 LD50) doses of sodium dichromate [Cr(VI); 2.5 mg/kg/d] and cadmium chloride [Cd(II); 4.4 mg/kg/d] in water on hepatic and brain mitochondrial and microsomal lipid peroxidation, excretion of urinary lipid metabolites including malondialdehyde, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone, and hepatic nuclear DNA-single strand breaks (SSB) were examined in female Sprague-Dawley rats over a period of 120 d. The animals were treated daily using an intragastric feeding needle. Maximum increases in hepatic and brain lipid peroxidation were observed between 60 and 75 d of treatment with both cations. Following Cr(VI) administration for 75 d, maximum increases in the urinary excretion of malondialdehyde, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone were 2.1-, 1.8-, 2.1-, and 2.1-fold, respectively, while under the same conditions involving Cd(II) administration approximately 1.8-, 1.5-, 1.9-, and 1.5-fold increases were observed, respectively, as compared to control values. Following administration of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) for 75 d, approximately 2.4- and 3.8-fold increases in hepatic nuclear DNA-SSB were observed, respectively, while approximately 1.3- and 2.0-fold increases in brain nuclear DNA-SSB were observed, respectively. The results clearly indicate that low dose chronic administration of sodium dichromate and cadmium chloride induces an oxidative stress resulting in tissue damaging effects that may contribute to the toxicity and carcinogenicity of these two cations.

Force-frequency response in isoproterenol-induced hypertrophied rat heart

Rate-dependent force production was investigated using small trabecular muscle from control and hypertrophied rat cardiac muscle. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by daily subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (0.3 mg/kg body weight) for 12 days. The force-frequency relationship, for the control rat myocardium, is clearly biphasic. A stepped increase in stimulation frequency from 0.1 to 0.5 Hz results in a decrease in contractile force (negative phase). However, at higher stimulation frequency above 0.5 Hz, an increased contractile force is revealed (positive phase). Membrane action potential duration (APD50) was used to reflect sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx. The frequency-dependent increase in APD50 and the ability of nifedipine, a sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, to eliminate the positive-force frequency response, indicate that sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx is important for force development at high stimulation frequency. Relative Ca2+ content of sarcoplasmic reticulum is estimated from rapid cooling contractures. The parallel change of rapid cooling contractures and twitch force suggests that the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content alters with varying frequencies of stimulation. Isoproterenol-induced hypertrophied muscle shows a greater contractile force, increased nifedipine-sensitive force development and prolonged APD50 compared to controls. These data suggest a greater availability of intracellular Ca2+ to activate contraction in hypertrophied muscle, possibly by amplified Ca2+ influx via L-type channel.

Iloperidone binding to human and rat dopamine and 5-HT receptors

Iloperidone (HP 873; 1-[4-[3-[4-(6-fluoro-1,2-benzisoxazol-3-yl)-1-piperidinyl]propoxy] -3- methoxyphenyl]ethanone) is a compound currently in clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia. Iloperidone displays affinity for dopamine D2 receptors and for 5-HT2A receptors and has a variety of in vivo activities suggestive of an atypical antipsychotic. Here we present an examination of the affinity of iloperidone to a variety of human and rat homologs of dopamine and 5-HT receptor subtypes. We employed receptor binding assays using membranes from cells stably expressing human dopamine D1, D2S, D2L, D3, D4 and D5 and 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors and rat 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors. Iloperidone displayed higher affinity for the dopamine D3 receptor (Ki = 7.1 nM) than for the dopamine D4 receptor (Ki = 25 nM). Iloperidone displayed high affinity for the 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors (Ki = 42.7 and 21.6 nM, respectively), and was found to have higher affinity for the 5-HT2A (Ki = 5.6 nM) than for the 5-HT2C receptor (Ki = 42.8 nM). The potential implications of this receptor binding profile are discussed in comparison with data for other antipsychotic compounds.

Purification and characterization of the DNA-binding protein DnrI, a transcriptional factor of daunorubicin biosynthesis in Streptomyces peucetius

The DnrI protein, essential for the biosynthesis of daunorubicin in Streptomyces peucetius, was purified almost to homogeneity from dnrI expression strains of Escherichia coll and S. peucetius through several steps of chromatography. The proteins purified from both organisms had identical chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour. Purified Histagged or native DnrI was used to conduct DNA-binding assays by gel mobility-shift analysis, and the results showed no significant difference in the DNA-binding activity of native or His-tagged proteins. DnrI binds specifically to DNA segments containing the intergenic regions separating the putative dnrG-dpsABCD and dpsEF operons, and the dnrC gene and dnrDKPSQ operon. DNase I footprinting assays indicated that the DNA-binding sites for DnrI extended from upstream of the -10 to -35 regions of the dnrG or dpsE promoters to include about 65 bp of the dnrG-dpsE intergenic region and about 80 bp of the dnrC-dnrD intergenic region. Both binding sites contain imperfect inverted repeat sequences of 6-10 bp with a 5'-TCGAG-3' consensus sequence that was present in 4 out of 10 other promoter regions in the cluster of daunorubicin biosynthesis genes.

Biocompatibility of sulphonated polyurethane surfaces

Surfaces of medical devices made of polymeric materials may promote thrombosis and inflammation. Therefore, in an attempt to produce surfaces which might diminish biomaterial-mediated thrombosis and inflammation, surface derivatization with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS) was carried out. The derivatization procedure generates free radicals which initiate the copolymerization of AMPS monomers directly to a polyurethane surface. In an in vitro blood loop study using non-anticoagulated human blood, the resulting AMPS-derivatized material completely abrogates the generation of fibrinopeptide A, decreases the production of beta-thromboglobulin and C3a, and decreases the adherence of platelets. The derivatized material also attracts fewer adherent neutrophils when implanted in mice. However, AMPS derivatization unexpectedly increases the recruitment of macrophages to implanted material and promotes the formation of adherent sleeve thrombi on central venous catheters indwelling in non-anticoagulated canine femoral veins. Thus, AMPS derivatization has highly variable effects on inflammatory and thrombotic systems. Further investigation is clearly required to determine the mechanisms underlying both desired and adverse effects.

[Studies on the time domain and power spectrum of high frequency ECG in normal mice]

The features of time domain and power spectrum of high frequency electrocardiogram (HF-ECG) were studied in normal Kunming mice using a microprocessor ECG system. The results were as follows (mean +/- SD): (1) P-R interval was 34.9 +/- 4.7 ms (n = 58), about one third of the cardiac cycle. (2) The duration and peak-to-peak amplitude of QRS complex were 9.2 +/- 1.2 ms and 1.456 +/- 0.480 mV (n = 74) respectively. (3) The duration and amplitude of T wave were 10.2 +/- 3.2 ms and 0.336 +/- 0.115 mV, respectively (n = 58). (4) Q-T interval was 19.4 +/- 3.2 ms (n = 58), about one fifth of the cardiac cycle. (5) The total number of notches and slurs of leads II of 73 mice were 3 and 26 respectively. (6) The relative power content of each frequency range was: 0-80 Hz: 45.48 +/- 15.32%; 80-200 Hz: 43.97 +/- 9.95%; 200-300 Hz: 8.89 +/- 7.83%; 300-1000 Hz: 1.66 +/- 2.74%; 80-1000 Hz: 54.52 +/- 15.32%.

Differentiation-associated overexpression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21waf-1 in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

p21waf-1 negatively regulates the cell cycle by inhibiting the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases. As p21waf-1 is a probable tumor suppressor, we sought to determine whether this cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor is abnormally regulated in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). An immunohistochemical technique was employed to assay p21waf-1 protein in SCCs chosen from sun-exposed and anogenital sites. We observed that p21waf-1 was greatly overexpressed in SCC versus adjacent benign epithelium. Furthermore, expression of p21waf-1 was consistently elevated in the superficial, differentiated cells versus basal keratinocytes. p21waf-1 expression correlated with the proliferative state of the cancers as measured by MIB-1 immunostaining. In vitro, keratinocytes grown in supplemented media upregulated p21waf-1 during differentiation, supporting our in vivo observations. We conclude that p21waf-1 overexpression is associated with differentiation in proliferating SCC but is not sufficient to suppress cancer development.

The accuracy of color Doppler flow imaging for the detection of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis in Chinese patients

To evaluate the ability of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) to detect deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which is difficult to diagnose clinically, 67 limbs of 60 patients who presented with clinical signs strongly indicative of DVT during the period between June 1988 and June 1992, were examined. The iliac, common femoral, and superficial femoral veins were assessed with the patient in the supine position, and the popliteal vein was examined with the patient prone. Gentle but firm compression with the transducer probe was used to test for the presence of DVT. Ascending contrast venograms were also obtained within 24 h after the ultrasound procedure, with venography being used as the standard for comparison with CDFI. DVT was identified in 63 limbs by contrast venography and in 62 limbs by CDFI. The sensitivity and specificity of CDFI were 98.4% and 100%, respectively, while the positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 80%, respectively. The thromboses were classified into three patterns: the filling type, the local type, and mural thrombus, detected in 63%, 27%, and 10%, of the limbs respectively, with the filling type being the most common in this series. The results of our study illustrated that CDFI is highly sensitive and specific for detecting symptomatic DVT and that it should be gradually substituted for venography in such patients.

Determinants of BDNF-induced hippocampal synaptic plasticity: role of the Trk B receptor and the kinetics of neurotrophin delivery

The neurotrophins are a class of signaling molecules known for their growth and survival-promoting activities during neuronal development. Recent studies suggest that the neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), can also dramatically influence synaptic transmission in the adult hippocampus. The experiments described in this paper indicate that ability of BDNF to potentiate synaptic transmission in the hippocampus relies on functional Trk B receptors. Moreover, the rate at which BDNF is applied to hippocampal synapses is also a potent determinant of whether synaptic potentiation will result. Hippocampal slices perfused with BDNF at a very slow flow rate (e.g., < or = 25 ml/hr) did not show synaptic potentiation. Increasing the rate of BDNF application resulted in synaptic potentiation in which the magnitude and onset kinetics of the potentiation were determined by the rate of BDNF delivery. Immunocytochemical analysis of BDNF detected with confocal microscopy confirmed these electrophysiological observations, indicating that the penetration of BDNF into hippocampal slices is influenced dramatically by the perfusion rate.

Role of an S4-S5 linker in sodium channel inactivation probed by mutagenesis and a peptide blocker

A pair of conserved methionine residues, located on the cytoplasmic linker between segments S4 and S5 in the fourth domain of human heart Na channels (hH1), plays a role in the kinetics and voltage dependence of inactivation. Substitution of these residues by either glutamine (M1651M1652/QQ) or alanine (MM/AA) increases the inactivation time constant (tau) at depolarized voltages, shifts steady-state inactivation (h infinity) in a depolarized direction, and decreases the time constant for recovery from inactivation. The data indicate that the mutations affect the rate constants for both binding and unbinding of a hypothetical inactivation particle from its binding site. Cytoplasmic application of the pentapeptide KIFMK in Na channels mutated to remove inactivation produces current decays resembling inactivation (Eaholtz, G., T. Scheuer, and W.A. Catterall. 1994. Neuron. 12: 1041-1048.). KIFMK produces a concentration-dependent, voltage-independent increase in the decay rate of MM/QQ and MM/AA currents at positive membrane potentials (Ki approximately 30 microM), while producing only a small increase in the decay rate of wild-type currents at a concentration of 200 microM. Although MM/QQ inactivates approximately 2.5-fold faster than MM/AA in the absence of peptide, the estimated rate constants for peptide block and unblock do not differ in these mutants. External Na+ ions antagonize the block by cytoplasmic KIFMK of MM/AA channels, but not the inactivation kinetics of this mutant in the absence of peptide. The effect of external [Na+] is interpreted as a voltage-dependent knock-off mechanism. The data provide evidence that KIFMK can only block channels when they are open and that peptide block does not mimic the inactivation process.

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma by in situ hybridization

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma frequently is associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The presence of HCV in hepatocellular carcinoma has been detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of antigenomic HCV RNA, a tissue-specific replicative form of the virus. Now, however, this method of detecting the presence of HCV has been invalidated by reports of antigenomic RNA in the blood or in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

METHODS

In situ hybridization of HCV RNA was conducted with digoxigenin-labeled cDNA from the core region on surgical specimens of noncancerous and cancerous areas from 12 patients with chronic hepatitis C with or without cirrhosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. Several control experiments were also performed, including RNase digestion before hybridization, hybridization with the use of a negative control, and immunohistochemical staining of HCV-core protein.

RESULTS

The in situ hybridization showed positive signals both in noncancerous and cancerous areas of the liver tissue in eight cases. Positive signals were confined to neoplastic cells and nonneoplastic hepatocytes. There were fewer HCV-positive cells in the cancerous area than in the surrounding noncancerous area.

CONCLUSIONS

In situ detection of HCV presents direct evidence of HCV infection in the neoplastic cells of hepatocellular carcinoma and suggests that neoplastic cells may lose their affinity for HCV in the course of malignant transformation.

Dopamine D2L receptor couples to G alpha i2 and G alpha i3 but not G alpha i1, leading to the inhibition of adenylate cyclase in transfected cell lines

Previously, we showed that both D2 and D4 dopamine receptors inhibited adenylate cyclase in a pertussis toxin (Ptx)-sensitive manner in the dopamine-producing MN9D cell line, whereas only D2 receptors did so in a fibroblast cell line, CCL1.3. Of the known Ptx-sensitive G proteins, MN9D cells expressed G alpha i2, G alpha oA and G alpha oB, whereas CCL1.3 cells expressed only G alpha i2. Here we cotransfected MN9D and CCL1.3 cells with either the long form of the D2 receptor (D2L) or the D4 receptor and a mutant Ptx-resistant G protein alpha-subunit. When cotransfected CCL1.3 cell lines were tested for the ability of Ptx to block receptor-mediated inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation, D2 receptors were found to couple to mutant G alpha i2 and G alpha i3 but not G alpha i1 or G alpha oA. D2 also coupled to mutant G alpha i2 but not G alpha oA in MN9D cells. In contrast, D4 receptors did not couple to either mutant G alpha i2 or G alpha oA subunits in MN9D cells. These data suggest that D4 receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase is not coupled via the same mechanisms used by D2 receptors. D2L receptors are capable of coupling to more than one G protein in the modulation of cyclic AMP.

Altered contractile function in isoproterenol-induced hypertrophied rat heart

OBJECTIVE

To study the calcium-dependent mechanisms contributing to altered contractile function in isoproterenol-induced ventricular hypertrophy of the rat heart.

DESIGN

The force-interval relationship, systemic evaluation of changed contractile force and calcium sensitivity of the myofilaments were investigated using small trabecular muscle from hearts with isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

METHODS

Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by daily subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol for 12 days. The calcium sensitivity of myofilaments was studied using non-ionic detergent (Triton-X-100)-skinned trabeculae. The contractile force was evaluated at various concentrations of extracellular calcium and muscle lengths. The force-interval relationship was used to reflect altered intracellular calcium handling.

RESULTS

The isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy was associated with significantly enhanced contractile force at various concentrations of extracellular calcium and muscle lengths. Also, an amplified force-interval relationship in hypertrophied muscle at long rest intervals was found. However, this study revealed no change in calcium sensitivity of myofilaments.

CONCLUSION

Altered intracellullar calcium handling contributes to enhanced contractile force in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Frequency-dependent inhibition of neurotransmitter release by besipirdine and HP 184

We have described the interaction of besipirdine (HP 749, N-(n-propyl)-N-(4-pyridinyl)-1H-indol-1-amine hydrochloride) with voltage-dependent Na+ channels (Tang et al., 1995, Br. J. Pharmacol. 116,2468). Here we describe studies with besipirdine and a related compound, HP 184 (N-(n-propyl)-3-fluoro-4-pyridinyl)-1H-3-methylindol-1-amine hydrochloride), showing that this interaction is voltage-dependent and leads to frequency-dependent inhibition of electrically stimulated neurotransmitter release. Thus, the inhibition of veratridine-induced increases in intracellular Ca2+ was enhanced by depolarization with KCl (IC50 shifted from 23.8 +/- 1.4 microM in 5 mM KCl to 7.3 +/- 1.2 microM in 15 mM KCl for besipirdine and from 58.2 +/- 1.3 microM for HP 184). Moreover, the enhancement of electrically stimulated [3H]norepinephrine release by besipirdine was diminished at higher frequencies of stimulation. As has been previously suggested for such compounds, we predict that besipirdine would act as a filter in the brain allowing signalling at low frequencies but blocking transmission at high frequencies.