[Pharmacological functions of Chinese ant oral syrup]

Experiments show that Chinese Ant Oral Syrup has functions as calmatives, fatigue-resisting agents and androgen. Also it can cause thymic atrophy in small mice, increase their oxygen-deficient endurance under normal pressures, inhibit leucocyte-decrease induced by cyclophosphamidum. The syrup is slightly toxic.

A non-mammalian in vivo model for cellular and molecular analysis of glucose-mediated thickening of basement membranes

An increase of basement membrane thickness in renal glomeruli, blood vessels, and other tissues is a consistent pathological observation in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Although a number of pathological complications of the disease are thought to result from this structural abnormality in basement membranes, the mechanism(s) responsible for this glucose-mediated process remain unknown. The current study was designed to develop a non-mammalian in vivo epithelial/basement membrane model which would facilitate detailed analysis of the cellular and molecular processes which lead to thickening of basement membrane under hyperglycaemic conditions. The system developed utilizes the Cnidarian, Hydra vulgaris. Hydra lends itself to such studies because of (1) its simplified body structure which is composed of an epithelial bilayer with an intervening basement membrane (mesoglea) and (2) its extensive regenerative capacity which allows cell pellets (Hydra cell aggregates), formed from isolated Hydra cells, to develop into adult Hydra within 72-96 h. This process involves reformation of an epithelial bilayer and de novo biosynthesis of a basement membrane. Our studies indicate that exposure of developing Hydra cell aggregates to levels of D-glucose which mimic that observed in the human diabetic patient (15 mmol/l) induces a doubling of Hydra basement membrane thickness within 72-96 h of pellet formation. The same results were obtained using 15 mmol/l D-Ribose which is a highly efficient glycating agent. The data presented support the use of the Hydra cell aggregate system as a potentially powerful non-mammalian in vivo model to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) underlying glucose-mediated basement membrane thickening.

[Computerized expert system for the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine fetal distress]

A computerized expert system for the diagnosis and treatment of IFD on the basis of a mathematical model using Fuzzy Set Theory and employing the BASIC Language has been developed to provide a reliable modality for rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment of IFD. The system has been successfully checked in IBM-PC/XT and its compatible computers. Through its application in 300 cases prospectively, the accuracy rate was 92.7%.

The investigation of antiepileptic action of qingyangshen (QYS)--influences of QYS on the development of rat brain and memory behavior

As an anticonvulsant, the influences of Qingyangshen (QYS) on the development of brain and memory behavior were observed in four-week-old male rats. The dosage of QYS was 100 mg/kg/QOD and the period of administration was one month. The results showed that QYS had less influence on the development of body weight and brain wet weight in young-aged rats than diphenylhydantoin (DPH). However, QYS inhibited the establishment of passive avoidance conditional reflex and had influence on memory behavior in young-aged rats.

Pharmacokinetics and autoradiography of [3H] or [14C]stepholidine

After iv [3H]stepholidine (SPD) 12 MBq/kg, the concentration-time curve in rats was found to be a two-compartment open model. The distribution phase T1/2 alpha = 3.6 min, the elimination phase T1/2 beta = 168 min. The absorbed radioactivities of [3H] SPD in 15-30 min were 80-87%. The amounts of [3H]SPD bound to plasma protein, liver and kidney homogenates were estimated to be 37, 31, and 30%, respectively. During 3 d after ip [3H]SPD 50 MBq/kg, 56% of the radioactivity was excreted in urine and 5% in feces, thus, it suggested that [3H]SPD was mainly excreted by kidneys. After iv a single dose of [14C]SPD in mice, the whole-body autoradiography showed that [14C]SPD was rapidly distributed among various tissues. High radioactivities were found in kidneys, liver, brain, salivary glands, Harder's glands, heart blood and muscle at 2 min and intensively localized in kidneys and stomach mucosa at 30 min. The radioactivities in these tissues disappeared 4 and 8 h later, while that in intestine could not be detected 24 h later.

Selective sensitization by L-glutamate of baroreflex-mediated bradycardia following microinjection into the rostral ventrolateral medulla

This study examined the role of L-glutamate receptors in different sites in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL) on baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), sympathetic efferent discharge (SED) as well as baroreflex control of HR and SED. Depending on the site, the hemodynamic responses varied from an increase to a decrease in MAP which was accompanied by a similar or an opposite change in HR; the change in SED correlated positively with the change in MAP. Because injection of the test dose of glutamate (5 nM) into the deepest portion of the RVL produced the most pronounced increases in MAP, which was accompanied by a brisk bradycardia, we decided to investigate the nature of these responses. Dose-related sympathoexcitatory, pressor and bradycardic effects were obtained in response to 1, 3, 5 and 10 nM glutamate. The glutamate antagonist, glutamate diethylester (GDEE) abolished these responses and decreased baseline MAP, HR and SED. That glutamate-evoked bradycardia was baroreceptor-mediated was supported by: (1) the bradycardia was not only eliminated but was also converted to a small but significant tachycardic response in sinoaortic denervated rats and following cardiac muscarinic blockade; (2) glutamate substantially sensitized the baroreceptor HR and had no effect on SED response when tested by phenylephrine; and (3) GDEE abolished the sensitizing action of glutamate on the baroreflex control of HR. We conclude that glutamatergic pathways in the deepest portion of the RVL are tonically active and subserve sympathoexcitatory, pressor and tachycardic effects. Also, glutamate differentially sensitizes the baroreceptor reflex pathways that control HR by mainly activating the vagal component of the reflex, an effect which masks its tachycardic effect.

[Glycosylated hemoglobin in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus]

Blood glucose at fasting and 1, 2, and 3 hours after meals GHb (glycosylated hemoglobin) were determined in 66 subjects. Based on WHO criterion, 34 of them were diabetics, and 32 were nondiabetics, in whom impairing of glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes were ruled out. The results showed that the concentrations of blood glucose, at fasting, and 1, 2, and 3 hours after meals, blood glucose area, and GHb in diabetic patients were significantly higher than those in the controls. There was a significant positive correlation between GHb and blood glucose at fasting and 2 hours after meal, and between GHb and blood glucose area in all subjects. Relative sensitivity of GHb for detecting diabetes mellitus was 88%, and relative specificity was 93.75%.

[Constituents of the seed coat of Arachis hypogaea L]

From the seed coat of Arachis hypogaea two compounds were isolated. They were identified as the dimer of proanthocyanidin-A type(I) and D-(+)-catechin (II) on the basis of UV, IR, MS, CD, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and chemical evidences. It has been found that II is the effective constituent of this plant and I has some active effects as well.

[A simple useful rhinoresistometer: mechanical principle and clinical applications]

A new rhinoresistometer consisting of a pressure nozzle, a flow nozzle, a two-U-tube manometer and a X-Y chart recorder is introduced in this paper. Such an apparatus is simple in construction and easy to use. The expiratory transnasal pressure difference is measured by a U-tube manometer while the nasal airflow is measured by flowmeter. With this apparatus, the subject's nasal airway resistance can be evaluated accurately and the nasal airway resistance curves drawn automatically. The mechanical principle of the apparatus is described and the nasal airway resistances of 200 normal subjects are reported in this article.

Laboratory and clinical diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus infection after transplantation

Urine and blood specimens from 32 recipients of allograft organ transplant were investigated for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) by conventional cell culture, indirect immunofluorescent assay subsequent to the rapid cell culture and DNA-DNA hybridization. The results showed that the rapid cell culture technique might be the best method for rapid detection of active HCMV infection after transplantation because it possesses the advantages of simplicity, speediness, sensitiveness, and high reliability of detecting productive HCMV infection. The major symptoms were prolonged or intermittent fever unresponsive to antibiotics, dysfunction or loss of function of the transplanted organ, pulmonary infiltrates and leukopenia. As our results suggested, reactivation of a latent infection appears to be the most probable etiologic factor contributing to HCMV infection after transplantation.

New triple microbore cannula system for push-pull perfusion of brain nuclei of the rat

A new miniaturized triple-barreled cannula system has been developed for the push-pull perfusion of a circumscribed area of brain tissue and/or simultaneous microinjection of a drug or other chemical substance at the same site. A three-lumen, microbore glass capillary tube is drawn to a length of 10-15 mm with a tip diameter of 150-190 microM and connected by lengths of PE tubing to a multichannel peristaltic pump. An artificial CSF is then perfused through either one or two tubes at a rate of 5.0-10.0 microliters/min at a selected site. Thus, a pharmacological receptor agonist and/or antagonist, for example, can be delivered simultaneously to the tissue quantitatively to achieve steady-state levels over time. Alternatively, a single volume of a given drug can be micro-injected at the perfusion site during the course of a push-pull perfusion, simply by replacing one push channel with an injection tube. In both cases, aliquots of CSF perfusate from the pull channel(s) are collected on ice for assay by HPLC or other procedures. Because of the diminutive size of the triple-bore cannula system, it is now possible to perfuse an individual nucleus in the hypothalamus or lower brainstem not only with minimal cytopathological damage but also with a punctate dispersion of the perfusion medium. The large number of possible in vivo manipulations which can be undertaken using this cannula system is illustrated experimentally by recovery studies of [14C]glutamate and 45Ca from the nucleus tractus solitarius and hypothalamus of the rat.

[Biological characteristics of Psoralea corylifolia L]

A study has been made on the biological characteristics of Psoralea corylifolia under general cultivating conditions. To search for the laws of growth and development so as to facilitate further studies on the cultivating techniques for higher production of Psoralea corylifolia.

Presence of amino acids and insulin in a chemically defined medium improves development of 8-cell rat embryos in vitro and subsequent implantation in vivo

This study examined the effects of some components in a chemically defined medium on rat 8-cell embryo development in vitro. The basal medium was a modified culture medium for in vitro fertilization of rat oocytes, containing inorganic salts and energy substrates. After 36 h in culture, 28.8% of the 8-cell embryos developed into blastocysts in the basal medium. This percentage was increased by supplementing the basal medium with free amino acids, but not a premix of insulin/transferrin/selenium (ITS). However, ITS synergized the beneficial effect of amino acids. The beneficial effect of free amino acids could not be duplicated by bovine serum albumin. The synergistic action of ITS was primarily due to insulin. The removal of glucose and/or phosphate from the culture medium had no effect on embryo development in vitro. After transfer to unilaterally pregnant rats, 23.1% of the blastocysts formed in the basal medium developed to Day 18 fetuses, compared to 64.3% for those formed in the medium containing amino acids. These data indicate that the presence of amino acids in the culture medium is beneficial for embryo development in vitro and for implantation and fetal development following transfer to pregnant recipients.

Sequential anaerobic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol in freshwater sediments

2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) was anaerobically degraded in freshwater lake sediments. From observed intermediates in incubated sediment samples and from enrichment cultures, the following sequence of transformations was postulated. 2,4-DCP is dechlorinated to 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), 4-CP is dechlorinated to phenol, phenol is carboxylated to benzoate, and benzoate is degraded via acetate to methane and CO2; at least five different organisms are involved sequentially. The rate-limiting step was the transformation of 4-CP to phenol. Sediment-free enrichment cultures were obtained which catalyzed only the dechlorination of 2,4-DCP, the carboxylation of phenol, and the degradation of benzoate, respectively. Whereas the dechlorination of 2,4-DCP was not inhibited by H2, the dechlorination of 4-CP, and the transformation of phenol and benzoate were. Low concentrations of 4-CP inhibited phenol and benzoate degradation. Transformation rates and maximum concentrations allowing degradation were determined in both freshly collected sediments and in adapted samples: at 31 degrees C, which was the optimal temperature for the dechlorination, the average adaptation time for 2,4-DCP, 4-CP, phenol, and benzoate transformations were 7, 37, 11 and 2 days, respectively. The maximal observed transformation rates for these compounds in acclimated sediments were 300, 78, 2, 130, and 2,080 micromol/liter(-1)/day(-1), respectively. The highest concentrations which still allowed the transformation of the compound in acclimated sediments were 3.1 m/M 2,4-DCP, 3.1 mM 4-CP, 13 mM phenol, and greater than 52 mM benzoate. The corresponding values were lower for sediments which had not been adapted for the transformation steps.

Interactions of 7-[3-(4-[2,3-dimethylphenyl]piperazinyl)-propoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone binding in rat striatum: effects of lesions

7-[3-(4-[2,3-Dimethylphenyl]piperazinyl)propoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone (OPC-4392), a presynaptic dopamine autoreceptor agonist and postsynaptic D-2 receptor antagonist (Yasuda et al., Life Sci. 42: 1941-1954, 1988), was studied for its binding characteristics at 3H-SCH 23390-labeled dopamine D-1 receptors and 3H-spiperone-labeled dopamine D-2 receptors in rat striatum. The binding affinity of OPC-4392 for 3H-spiperone-labeled D-2 receptors was 500 times higher than for 3H-SCH 23390-labeled D-1 receptors. 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions of striatum and high-frequency current lesions of medial forebrain bundle did not affect the competition of OPC-4392 for 3H-spiperone binding. Kainic acid lesions of striatum significantly changed the one-site model fit to a two-site model fit of the competition curve of OPC-4392 for 3H-spiperone binding, suggesting that OPC-4392 competed with 3H-spiperone binding differently for postsynaptic dopamine D-2 receptors and for presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors.

[Quantitative assay method for total saponins in Panax quinquefolium Api]

This article adopts macro-reticular resins to separate and get rid of water soluble impurities such as carbohydrate in Panax quinquefolium so as to determine its total saponin content by spectrophotometry. This method also yields good results in determining the total saponins in P. ginseng ora solution. For the control or appraise of the quality of preparations containing P. quinquefolium or P. ginseng oral solutions this method has practice value.