Wounding Nicotiana tabacum Leaves Causes a Decline in Endogenous Indole-3-Acetic Acid

We have previously observed that auxin can act as a repressor of the wound-inducible activation of a chimeric potato proteinase inhibitor II-CAT chimeric gene (pin2-CAT) in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) callus and in whole plants. Therefore, this study was designed to examine endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in plant tissues both before and after wounding. Endogenous IAA was measured in whole plant tissues by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using an isotope dilution technique. (13)C-Labeled IAA was used as an internal standard. The endogenous levels of IAA declined two- to threefold within 6 hours after a wound. The kinetics of auxin decline are consistent with the kinetics of activation of the pin2-CAT construction in the foliage of transgenic tobacco.

[Effects of ginseng on hepatocellular carcinoma in rats induced by diethylnitrosamine--a further study]

The curative effects of Panax ginseng on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) were further studied. The size of cancerous nodes was quantitatively measured by image analysis instrument. The hepatocellular hyperplastic foci were quantitatively analysed with gamma-GT stain under microspectrophotometer. Pathological changes of hepatocytes were observed under light and electron microscope. The results of the investigation indicated that ginseng had significant inhibitory effect on HCC in rats induced by DEN and prolonged the survival time of the rats with HCC. The mechanism of inhibition of the development of HCC by ginseng was also preliminarily approached.

[Analysis of Trace elements in processed products of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit]

This article reports the detecting result of trace elements in processed products of Pinellia ternata and of the contents of As, Hg, Pb in the products processed with sulfur. The result shows that all the processing procedures are necessary and safe.

Three New Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans from Kadsura longipedunculata

Five dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans were isolated from the stems of KADSURA LONGIPEDUNCULATA collected in Guangxi province. Three of them are new compounds, named benzoyl-, isovaleroyl-, and isobutyroylbinankadsurin A. Binankadsurin A was isolated from nature for the first time. The absolute configuration of isovaleroyloxokadsurane, a spirobenzofuranoid lignan from K. COCCINEA, was confirmed by chemical correlation with isovaleroylbinankadsurin A.

Elastography: a quantitative method for imaging the elasticity of biological tissues

We describe a new method for quantitative imaging of strain and elastic modulus distributions in soft tissues. The method is based on external tissue compression, with subsequent computation of the strain profile along the transducer axis, which is derived from cross-correlation analysis of pre- and post-compression A-line pairs. The strain profile can then be converted to an elastic modulus profile by measuring the stresses applied by the compressing device and applying certain corrections for the nonuniform stress field. We report initial results of several phantom and excised animal tissue experiments which demonstrate the ability of this technique to quantitatively image strain and elastic modulus distributions with good resolution, sensitivity and with diminished speckle. We discuss several potential clinical uses of this technique.

Elastography: a quantitative method for imaging the elasticity of biological tissues

We describe a new method for quantitative imaging of strain and elastic modulus distributions in soft tissues. The method is based on external tissue compression, with subsequent computation of the strain profile along the transducer axis, which is derived from cross-correlation analysis of pre- and post-compression A-line pairs. The strain profile can then be converted to an elastic modulus profile by measuring the stresses applied by the compressing device and applying certain corrections for the nonuniform stress field. We report initial results of several phantom and excised animal tissue experiments which demonstrate the ability of this technique to quantitatively image strain and elastic modulus distributions with good resolution, sensitivity and with diminished speckle. We discuss several potential clinical uses of this technique.

[Anti-tumor effect of Cetraria laevigata Rassad. polysaccharides]

The anti-tumor effect of Cetraria laevigata polysaccharides has been investigated in mice using sarcoma 180; Ehrlich ascitic tumor, cervical carcinoma u-14 and leukemia L7217. The results show that Cetraria laevigata polysaccharides may inhibit the growth of sarcoma 180, Ehrlich ascitic tumor and cervical carcinoma u-14 in mice at a dose of 200mg/kg ip (1/5 LD50). However, the survival time of leukemia L7217 wasn't prolonged. The reticuloendothelial system phagocytic function in mice was increased at ip doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg (1/10 and 1/20 LD50).

Single frequency operation of an injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser in high noise and vibration environments

We report on an experimental demonstration of single frequency operation of an injection-seeded Nd:YAG laser in a high noise and vibration environment.

[An experimental study on hepatic arterial embolization with 131I-MMC-GM]

We designed a new gelatin microsphere (GM, 65 micron in diameter), which could combine with mitomycin C and 131I. The test in vitro showed that the GM had excellent drug release effect. Hepatic arterial embolization was carried out in 6 dogs with 131I-MMC-GM. The dogs survived from 4 to 28 days before being killed. Scintigraphy indicated that high radioactivity was concentrated in the liver, but was very low in the blood and thyroid. Pathologic study found that the GM was trapped in hepatic arterioles. The GM was eliminated by foreign body giant cells and the lumen of arterioles was occupied by granulations 14-28 days after operation. 131I-MMC-GM is a multiple anticancer agent which can exert triple action of targeting chemotherapy, internal radiotherapy and arterial embolization.

[Germination temperature of seeds of medicinal plants]

According to our experiments in the last ten years, the germination behaviour of the seeds of medicinal plants may be classified into five types by different temperature requirements for germination: (1) low temperature type; (2) middle temperature type; (3) high temperature type; (4) alternating temperature type; (5) wide ranging temperature type. This classification is helpful for cultivators to determine the time of sowing.

[Toxic principles of Oxytropis glabra DC]

Eight alkaloids were isolated from Oxytropis glabra and identified as anagirine, thermopsine, N-methylcytisine, sparteine, baptifoline, adenine, dictamnine and ethyl allophanate respectively by spectral analysis and physicochemical methods. All these alkaloids were isolated from this genus for the first time and ethyl allophanate was found in nature for the first time.

[Relationship between the bacterial resistance induced by rifamdin and the RNA polymerase]

The results of our experiment in vitro showed that the activity of standard RNA polymerase decreased while the concentration of RFD and RFP increased, indicating that the target site of action of RFD was similar to that of RFP on RNA polymerase. Incorporation of [3H] UR into the RNA of sensitive cells of S. sureus and E. coli was strongly inhibited by RFD, but RFD did not affect the resistant strains. In purified DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of sensitive and resistant strains, the enzyme activity of sensitive E. coli a S. aureus strains was inhibited by RFD, but RFD did not inhibit that of the resistant strains (except the P. vulgaris). It can be concluded that a decreased susceptibility of RNA polymerase to RFD as well as a decreased permeability of bacterial envelope may induce bacterial resistance to the drug.

[Studies on monoclonal antibody against recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor]

Three hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (McAb) against recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) have been established by fusing mouse myeloma SP 2/0 cells with spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse immunized with rhG-CSF. Ascites was produced from BALB/c mice by injecting substrain 2D4-B4 hybridoma cells intraperitoneally. The antibody was purified either by the caprylic acid-ammonium sulfate method or by euglobulin precipitation. The caprylic acid-ammonium sulfate method was superior to euglobulin precipitation in terms of purification and recovery of IgG. The 2D4-B4 McAb was determined to belong to the IgG3 subclass with a molecular weight of about 172,400 It was proved by Western Blot to react specifically with rhG-CSF. The stability and affinity of the McAb were analyzed as well. The potential clinical and experimental applications of this McAb are discussed.

[Pharmacological variations of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer during processing]

Based on a comparative study on the documentation concerning the pharmacological actions of the red ginseng and the white ginseng, it has been found out that in promoting blood circulation, anti-thrombosis, fibrin dissolving activity, phagocytosis of reticular endothelium and anti-decrepit function on the red ginseng is stronger than the white one.

A Chinese female postnuptial leaving home model--a procedure for analyzing main parameters alpha and beta in the setting up, testing and estimation of the model

"The first section of this article...sets up a model for leaving home after marriage that is suited to China's situation. The second section performs a statistical test and verification of the formulated model for leaving home after marriage. The third section...proposes a method for analyzing the main parameters...in the model...." The model is set up along the lines of the Brass-Gompertz relational fertility model.

Analysis of DNA restriction fragments greater than 5.7 Mb in size from the centromeric region of human chromosomes

Pulsed electrophoresis was used to study the organization of the human centromeric region. Genomic DNA was digested with rare-cutting enzymes. DNA fragments from 0.2 to greater than 5.7 Mb were separated by electrophoresis and hybridized with alphoid and simple DNA repeats. Rare-cutting enzymes (Mlu I, Nar I, Not I, Nru I, Sal I, Sfi I, Sst II) demonstrated fewer restriction sites at centromeric regions than elsewhere in the genome. The enzyme Not I had the fewest restriction sites at centromeric regions. As much as 70% of these sequences from the centromeric region are present in Not I DNA fragments greater than 5.7 and estimated to be as large as 10 Mb in size. Other repetitive sequences such as short interspersed repeated segments (SINEs), long interspersed repeated segments (LINEs), ribosomal DNA, and mini-satellite DNA that are not enriched at the centromeric region, are not enriched in Not I fragments of greater than 5.7 Mb in size.