Manual versus electric vacuum aspiration for first-trimester abortion: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

As an alternative to electric vacuum aspirations (EVA), there is an increasing interest in using manual vacuum aspiration (MVA).

OBJECTIVE

To compare the safety, efficacy and acceptability of MVA with those of EVA for first-trimester abortion.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Chinese Biomedical Database in all language, together with reference lists of retrieved papers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials comparing MVA with EVA for first-trimester abortion were included. The outcomes are complete abortion rate, uterine perforation rate, blood loss, pain perception and acceptability.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently extracted the data. Results from the trials were combined to calculate relative risks (RRs) or risk differences for dichotomous outcomes and weighted mean differences (WMDs) for continuous outcomes, together with 95% CIs.

MAIN RESULTS

Ten trials were included, involving 1660 women. Generally, the methodological quality was poor. There were no statistically significant differences, comparing MVA with EVA, in complete abortion rate (RR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.02) and participants' satisfaction (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.87-1.20). In participants with less than 50 days of gestational age, less blood loss (WMD -1.84; 95% CI -2.45 to -1.23) and less severe pain perception (RR 0.04; 95% CI 0.01-0.12) were reported during the MVA procedure, whereas the operation time was shorter (WMD 0.32; 95% CI 0.02-0.63) in the EVA procedure.

AUTHOR'S CONCLUSIONS

There is some evidence that MVA is as effective and acceptable as EVA and might be safer than EVA.

Inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of hepatitis B virus polymerase by β-l-D4A-TP

β-L-enantiomer of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate (β-L-D4A-TP) has previously been proven to inhibit the replication of viral DNA in the Hep G2 2.2.15 cells and in transgenic mouse harboring 1.3-fold-overlength genome of Hepatitis B virus (HBV). To study the inhibition mechanism of the nucleoside analog β-L-D4A-TP, a polymerase reaction in vitro with the recombinant HBV nucleocapsids was conducted to determine the exact mode of inhibition of the HBV replication by β-L-D4A-TP. The HBV viral DNA and viral DNA-polymerase complex formed in the polymerase reaction were assayed. The results of this study showed that β-L-D4A-TP inhibited the replication of HBV DNA by inactivating the reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The kinetics of β-L-D4A-TP inhibition of the RT activity was the result of an apparent competitive inhibition with dATP.

LAI inversion algorithm based on directional reflectance kernels

Leaf area index (LAI) is an important ecological and environmental parameter. A new LAI algorithm is developed using the principles of ground LAI measurements based on canopy gap fraction. First, the relationship between LAI and gap fraction at various zenith angles is derived from the definition of LAI. Then, the directional gap fraction is acquired from a remote sensing bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) product. This acquisition is obtained by using a kernel driven model and a large-scale directional gap fraction algorithm. The algorithm has been applied to estimate a LAI distribution in China in mid-July 2002. The ground data acquired from two field experiments in Changbai Mountain and Qilian Mountain were used to validate the algorithm. To resolve the scale discrepancy between high resolution ground observations and low resolution remote sensing data, two TM images with a resolution approaching the size of ground plots were used to relate the coarse resolution LAI map to ground measurements. First, an empirical relationship between the measured LAI and a vegetation index was established. Next, a high resolution LAI map was generated using the relationship. The LAI value of a low resolution pixel was calculated from the area-weighted sum of high resolution LAIs composing the low resolution pixel. The results of this comparison showed that the inversion algorithm has an accuracy of 82%. Factors that may influence the accuracy are also discussed in this paper.

Application of a new leaf area index algorithm to China's landmass using MODIS data for carbon cycle research

An operational system was developed for mapping the leaf area index (LAI) for carbon cycle models from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. The LAI retrieval algorithm is based on Deng et al. [2006. Algorithm for global leaf area index retrieval using satellite imagery. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 44, 2219-2229], which uses the 4-scale radiative transfer model [Chen, J.M., Leblancs, 1997. A 4-scale bidirectional reflection model based on canopy architecture. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 35, 1316-1337] to simulate the relationship of LAI with vegetated surface reflectance measured from space for various spectral bands and solar and view angles. This algorithm has been integrated to the MODISoft platform, a software system designed for processing MODIS data, to generate 250 m, 500 m and 1 km resolution LAI products covering all of China from MODIS MOD02 or MOD09 products. The multi-temporal interpolation method was implemented to remove the residual cloud and other noise in the final LAI product so that it can be directly used in carbon models without further processing. The retrieval uncertainties from land cover data were evaluated using five different data sets available in China. The results showed that mean LAI discrepancies can reach 27%. The current product was also compared with the NASA MODIS MOD15 LAI product to determine the agreement and disagreement of two different product series. LAI values in the MODIS product were found to be 21% larger than those in the new product. These LAI products were compared against ground TRAC measurements in forests in Qilian Mountain and Changbaishan. On average, the new LAI product agrees with the field measurement in Changbaishan within 2%, but the MODIS product is positively biased by about 20%. In Qilian Mountain, where forests are sparse, the new product is lower than field measurements by about 38%, while the MODIS product is larger by about 65%.

A Satellite RNA of Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Mitovirus 3a in Hypovirulent Isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

ABSTRACT Two genetically distinct double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) elements were identified in hypovirulent isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the causal agent of dollar spot of turfgrass. The large dsRNA (L-dsRNA) was consistently present in all hypovirulent isolates, whereas the small dsRNA (S-dsRNA) was found only in some hypovirulent isolates. Virulence comparisons revealed that there was no significant difference between isolates containing one or both dsRNAs. Therefore, the L-dsRNA appears to be the genetic determinant of hypovirulence, while the S-dsRNA is not essential for hypovirulence in S. homoeocarpa. The L-dsRNA in hypovirulent isolate Sh12B of S. homoeocarpa was previously characterized as a fungal mitochondrial virus and designated Ophiostoma novo-ulmi mitovirus 3a-Sh12B (OnuMV3a-Sh12B) because it was conspecific with O. novo-ulmi mitovirus 3a-Ld from O. novo-ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. In the present study, the nucleotide sequences of the S-dsRNAs (738 to 767 nucleotides) in hypovirulent isolates Sh12B, Sh279B, and Sh286B were determined. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that the S-dsRNA was not derived from the OnuMV3a dsRNA and it could not encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These results are consistent with biological data that the S-dsRNA was always associated with the L-dsRNA and was never found independently. Therefore, the S-dsRNA can be regarded as a satellite RNA of OnuMV3a in S. homoeocarpa. Northern blotting analysis indicated that nucleic acid extracts from isolate Sh12B of S. homoeocarpa contained more single (+) stranded RNA than dsRNA for this satellite RNA. The 5'- and 3'-terminal sequences of the positive strand of the S-dsRNA each could be folded into a stem-loop structure and the terminal 21 nucleotides were complementary to each other, potentially forming a panhandle structure.

Hypovirulence-Associated Double-Stranded RNA from Sclerotinia homoeocarpa Is Conspecific with Ophiostoma novo-ulmi Mitovirus 3a-Ld

ABSTRACT The nucleotide sequence of the hypovirulence-associated double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in hypovirulent isolate Sh12B of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the causal agent of dollar spot of turf grass, was determined. This large dsRNA (L-dsRNA) is 2,632 bp long and is A and U rich (61.0% A+U residues). One strand of this dsRNA contains an open reading frame (ORF) with the potential to encode a protein of 720 amino acids. This ORF contains 12 UGA codons, predicted to encode tryptophan in ascomycete mitochondria, and has a codon bias typical of mitochondrial genes, which is consistent with a mitochondrial localization of this dsRNA. The amino acid sequence contains conserved motifs typical of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). Sequence analyses of the nucleotide and RdRp-like protein revealed that the L-dsRNA is homologous with previously characterized mitochondrial viruses and dsRNAs from other phytopathogenic fungi, and shares 92.4% nucleotide and 95.1% amino acid sequence identities with the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi mitovirus 3a-Ld from Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. The results indicate that these two dsRNAs are conspecific. This is the first report that a hypovirulence-associated dsRNA virus naturally occurs in two taxonomically distinct fungi, and indicates that horizontal transmission of this dsRNA virus may have occurred between these fungi.

Up-regulation of Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase Signaling in plcg1 Gene Null Fibroblasts

Phospholipase C-gamma1(PLC-gamma1) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase(PI-3K) play crucial role in growth factor-induced cell growth and proliferation. To investigate the complementary mechanism of PLC-gamma1 in cell growth and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced mitogenic signaling, PLC-gamma1 deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts(PLC-gamma1(-/-)) and its wild type(PLC-gamma1(+/+)) were exposed to U73122, a phospholipase C-specific inhibitor, or wortmannin, a PI-3K inhibitor then the clonogenicity, viability, EGF-induced DNA synthesis of the two cell lines were determined by cloning formation, MTT method and (3)H -thymidine incorporation assay. Results showed that either U73122 or wortmannin inhibited PLC-gamma1(-/-) and PLC-gamma1(+/+) cells in terms of EGF-induced DNA synthesis, cloning formation and cell viability, but PLC-gamma1(-/-) cells were more dependent on PI-3K and less dependent on PLC compared with wild types. The PLC-gamma1 signaling pathway of PLC-gamma1(-/-) cells might be complemented by PI-3K pathway, because after EGF stimulation, the tyrosine phospholation of p85alpha PI-3K increased significantly in PLC-gamma1(-/-), but not in PLC-gamma2(-/-), as Western blotting showed that there was neither complementary PLC-gamma2 expression in PLC-gamma1(-/-) cells, nor other PLC isozymes such as PLC-beta and PLC-delta. These results suggest the redundancy of EGF-mediated signaling and the complementary mechanism of PLC-gamma1 pathway.

[The existing state and methodological development of measurement of lipid peroxide in biotic system]

The mechanisms of lipid peroxide (LPO) genesis in biotic system and the measurement of LPO were reviewed briefly. Emphasis was focused on the prevailing methods of LPO measurement, their advantage and disadvantage. Base on the discussion, the authors suggested that 2 or more than 2 methods for LPO measurement should be carried out simultaneously.

[The identification of flos magnoliae by TLC]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a TLC identification method for Flos Magnoliae.

METHOD

Selecting optimum TLC conditions.

RESULTS

A TLC identification method of Flos Magnoliae has been established.

CONCLUSION

The method is simple, accurate and reliable.

Drug offenders in Taiwan and the United States: a cross-cultural analysis

Using data collected from nationwide surveys of drug-using offenders in the United States and Taiwan, this article compares offender differences with respect to socio-demographic characteristics, childhood experiences, drug use and treatment patterns, and criminal histories. The results suggest that the experiences of U.S. drug-using offenders are more complex, with multiple routes and consequences of drug use, while the social constructionist view is more appropriate to explain the experience of Taiwanese drug-using offenders. Overall, U.S. drug-using offenders reported earlier drug and criminal involvement, experienced more prior arrests, and committed more non-drug-related crimes. Family problems were more prevalent among U.S. drug-using offenders than Taiwanese drug-using offenders. Drug-using offenders in the U.S. also reported using a variety of different drugs and participating in multiple treatment programs. The major agents supplying illicit drugs were known dealers, and friends or acquaintances of U.S. and Taiwanese drug-using offenders, respectively. The article concludes that to effectively eliminate the problem of drug misuse, the Taiwanese government should focus on treatment instead of imprisonment, while the U.S. should target troubled teens and families.

Treatment of neovascular glaucoma using trabeculectomy combined with implantation of silicon rubber slice

PURPOSE

To observe clinical effect of treatment for neovascular glaucoma using trabeculectomy combined with implantation of silicon rubber slice.

METHODS

28 cases(28 eyes) with neovascular glaucoma were performed trabeculectomy combined with a piece of 3 x 5 mm silicon rubber implantation, and their lowing intraocular pressure effect was observed.

RESULTS

All patients were follow-up for 9-24 months (mean: 18.3 months). The average intraocular pressure at last visit was 21.65 mmHg (rang: 17.30-28.97 mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). The symptom of eye pain was disappeared after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Trabeculectomy with a piece of silicon rubber implantation is ideal therapy for neovascular glaucoma.

Direct incorporation of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine into exopolymers by Gluconacetobacter xylinus (=Acetobacter xylinum) ATCC 10245: production of chitosan-cellulose and chitin-cellulose exopolymers

Gluconacetobacter xylinus (=Acetobacter xylinum) ATCC 10245 incorporated 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose (glucosamine) and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (N-acetylglucosamine), but not 3-O-methyl-D-glucose or 2-deoxy-D-glucose into exopolymers. Incorporation was confirmed by gas chromatography with and without mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The average molar percentage of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine in the exopolymers was about 18%.

[Effect of inorganic arsenic on gap junctional intercellular communication between human skin fibroblasts]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of inorganic arsenic on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between human skin fibroblasts.

METHODS

GJIC between human skin fibroblasts was detected by the scrape loading/dye transfer assay.

RESULTS

Arsenite at concentrations from 0.005 micromol/L to 5.0 micromol/L significantly inhibited the dye transfer between human skin fibroblasts in a dose dependent manner. The dye transfer between human skin fibroblasts was also inhibited by arsenate, while the dose-dependent effects were not observed. Further study found that arsenite at concentrations of 0.5 micromol/L and 5.0 micromol/L significantly increased protein kinase C (PKC) activities in cells, especially in the membrane fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Arsenite and arsenate significantly inhibited GJIC between human skin fibroblasts, suggesting that inorganic arsenic may play an important role in the process of tumor promotion. Furthermore, PKC activation may be involved in the mechanisms of GJIC inhibition by inorganic arsenic.

Microcalorimetric study of the toxic effect of sodium selenite on the mitochondria metabolism of Carassius auratus liver

The fundamental thermogenesis curves of the metabolic process of liver mitochondria from Carassius auratus and the toxic effect of Na2SeO3 on it were studied by using an LKB-2277 bioactivity monitor, ampoule method, at 28 degrees C. From the thermogenesis curves, the thermokinetic equations were established under different conditions. The kinetics show that a low concentration of Na2SeO3 (1-4 mg/L) had promoting action on the metabolism process of Carassius aurantus liver mitochondria, but that a high concentration of Na2SeO3 (8-16 mg/L) inhibited the mitochondria metabolism.

[Analysis of amino acids, vitamins and inorganic elements in Dictyophora indusiata]

Fifteen amino acids(total content: 13.37 mg.100 ml-1), 12 inorganic elements(Zn 37.3 micrograms.g-1, Mn 56.9 micrograms.g-1, Cr 4.88 micrograms.g-1, Fe 370 micrograms.g-1, Se 0.81 microgram.g-1, Cu 28.2 micrograms.g-1, Co 0.78 microgram.g-1, Ni 2.09 micrograms.g-1, etc.), and vitamin E(73.2 micrograms.g-1) in Dictyophora indusiata were determined. Seven amino acids, including valine 0.61, leucine 1.04, isoleucine 0.66, threonine 0.74, methionine 0.20, lysine 0.52, and pheuylalanine 0.64(mg.100 mg-1), were found to be essential. The possible medical significance of Dictyophora indusiata is discussed.

[Determination of extraction separation of Pd(II), U(VI) and Mo(VI) in PEG-Na2SO4-PAR system using spectrophotometry]

In polyethylene glycol-2000(PEG)-sodium sulfate (Na2SO4)-4-(2-Pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) system the extraction separation behaviour of the complexes of Pd(II), U(VI), Mo(VI) and La(III) was investigated. The results indicated that the complexes of Pd(II) and U(VI) with PAR were almost completely extracted by the PEG phase, La(III) was partly extracted, while Mo(VI) was not extracted from the aqueous solution of pH 4.5-7.5. So Mo(VI) was quantitatively separated from the mixed solution of Mo(VI), Pd(II) and U(VI) ions. The extraction mechanism for PEG phase was studied preliminarily.

Spin-locking mechanism of spin I = 3/2 quadrupolar nuclei undergo magic angle spinning

The spin-locking mechanism of the spin I = 3/2 quadrupolar nuclei under magic angle spinning (MAS) has been theoretically and experimentally investigated, and the criterion of adiabatic passage around zero-crossings of the quadrupole splitting was inferred from the time-dependent Shrödinger equation in this article. The theory, numerical simulations, and experiments conducted in this work all indicated that second-order quadrupole interaction and off-resonance play important roles in the spin-locking of the quadrupolar nuclei, and they were responsible for the great loss of the spin-locking signals. The spin-locking for a spin I = 3/2 nucleus might be achieved by minimizing the effect of the second-order quadrupole interaction by using a radio frequency (RF) offset. This offset was realized by setting the RF to the opposite position of the isotropic second-order quadrupolar shift of single quantum coherences.

A study of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells using single cell polymerase chain reaction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of Hodgkin/Reed-Stemberg (H/R-S) cells found in patients with various types of Hodgkin's disease (HD).

METHODS

H/R-S cells were micropicked from frozen sections of tissues affected by HD. The DNA from these cells was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using immunoglobulin heavy chain gene FR III a/JH primers and light chain gene family-specific primers.

RESULTS

A total of 52/135 (35.8%) isolated cells showed the specific products in the reactions. IgH and V kappa 4 rearrangements were repeatedly found in many cells from a lymphocyte predominance type sample; repeated V kappa 4 and individual IgH/V kappa 2,4 rearrangements and individual IgH, V lambda 3/ V kappa 4 rearrangements were found in two different cases of the nodular sclerosis type; repeated IgH/ V lambda 3 and individual V lambda 2,4 rearrangements, repeated V kappa 2,4 rearrangements, repeated V kappa 4 and individual IgH/ V kappa 3 rearrangements, repeated IgH and individual V kappa 3/ V lambda 4 rearrangements were detected in 3 cases of the mixed cellularity type. Repeated and individual IgH rearrangements were found in other 2 cases.

CONCLUSION

The H/R-S cells isolated from the lymphocyte predominance subtypes of HD have IgH and V lambda 4 gene rearrangements. This suggests that the lymphocyte predominance type is a proliferation of neoplastic B cells. The cells isolated from the mixed cellularity and nodular sclerosis types derive from B lineage cells at various stages of differentiation because of the presence of their IgH, kappa and/or lambda gene rearrangements. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the lambda gene rearrangement was detected in H/R-S cells.

Biosynthesis of novel exopolymers by Aureobasidium pullulans

Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 42023 was cultured under aerobic conditions with glucose, mannose, and glucose analogs as energy sources. The exopolymer extracts produced under these conditions were composed of glucose and mannose. The molar ratio of glucose to mannose in the exopolymer extract and the molecular weight of the exopolymer varied depending on the energy source and culture time. The glucose content of exopolymer extracts formed with glucose and mannose as the carbon sources was between 91 and 87%. The molecular weight decreased from 3.5 x 10(6) to 2.12 x 10(6) to 0.85 x 10(6) to 0.77 x 10(6) with culture time. As the culture time increased, the glucose content of the exopolymer extract formed with glucosamine decreased from 55 +/- 3 to 29 +/- 2 mol%, and the molecular weight increased from 2.73 x 10(6) to 4.86 x 10(6). There was no evidence that glucosamine was directly incorporated into exopolymers. The molar ratios of glucose to mannose in exopolymer extracts ranged from 87 +/- 3:13 +/- 3 to 28 +/- 2:72 +/- 2 and were affected by the energy source added. On the basis of the results of an enzyme hydrolysis analysis of the exopolymer extracts and the compositional changes observed, mannose (a repeating unit) was substituted for glucose, which gave rise to a new family of exopolymer analogs.

[Study on bacterial strains in conjunctival sac before and after intraocular surgery]

PURPOSE

To investigate the changes of bacterial strains in the conjunctival sac before and after intraocular surgery, as well as clinical effects of preoperative antibiotic agents.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty-three eyes with intraocular surgery included 68 eyes with cataract surgery, 39 eyes with glaucoma surgery, 20 eyes with retinal detachment surgery and 6 eyes with vitretomy. Bacterial culture and pharmacologic sensitivity test were performed on the conjunctival smear from the 133 eyes with intraocular surgery before and after the operation and the anterior chamber aspirate from the 68 eyes with cataract surgery after the operation.

RESULTS

At the time of admission, 61 eyes(45.8%) of 133 eyes with intraocular surgery were culture-positive conjunctival smears with the following identified: Staphlococcus aureus: 23 eyes; Staphlococcus epidermidis: 25 eyes; Gram-positive rods: 13 eyes. 8 eyes(6%) had culture-positive conjunctival smears before disinfection, (Staphlococcus aureus: 3 eyes; Staphlococcus epidermidis: 5 eyes). One eye(1.5%) had culture-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis in anterior chamber aspirate of 68 eyes with cataract surgery at conclusion of surgery. Also, 4 eyes(3%) were culture-positive conjunctival smears after surgery. All the bacterial strains of the group were sensitive to Tobramycin, Gentamycin, Cephradinum(Velosel), Vancomycinum and Rifampin, but they were resistance to Tetracyclinum, Chloromycetin, Erythromycin and Ofloxacin. Eye Science 1999; 15: 267-269.

CONCLUSION

In order to prevent bacterial endophthalmitis after intraocular surgery, installation of an useful antibiotic eye drop before the surgery is important.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Adina rubella (II)]

Three constituents were isolated from Adina rubella. Their structures were identified as beta-sitosterol, quinovic acid, 3-oxo-urs-12-ene-27, 28-dioic acid.

Ring-opening bulk polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate catalyzed by lipase Novozym 435

The affects of lipase concentration on ring-opening bulk polymerizations of epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate were studied by using Novozym 435 (immobilized form of lipase B from Candida antarctica) as biocatalyst. The polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone was carried out in bulk at 70 degrees C. Three lipase concentrations of 9.77, 1.80 and 0.50 mg/mmol epsilon-CL were used in the experiment. The results showed that increasing the lipase concentration used in the polymerization system resulted in an increased rate of monomer consumption. For an enzyme concentration of 9.8 mg lipase per mmol monomer, an 80% monomer conversion was achieved in a 4-h time period, while for the lower enzyme concentration of 1.8 mg lipase per mmol monomer, 48 h were needed to reach monomer conversion. Linear relationships between Mn and monomer conversions were observed in all three enzyme concentrations, suggesting that the product molecular weight may be controlled by the stoichiometry of the reactants for these systems. At the same monomer conversion level, however, Mn decreased with increasing enzyme concentration. After correcting for the amount of monomer consumed in initiation, the plot of ln[([M]o - [M]i)/([Mt] - [M]i)] versus reaction time was found to be linear, suggesting that the monomer consumption followed a first-order rate law and no chain termination occurred. For the TMC systems, the polymerization was carried out in bulk at 55 degrees C. Similar to the epsilon-CL systems, increasing the Novozym 435 concentration from 8.3 to 23.6 mg/mmol TMC increased the rate of monomer conversion. Unlike the epsilon-CL systems, however, nonlinear relationships were obtained between Mn and monomer conversion, indicating that possible chain transfer and/or slow initiation had taken place in these systems. Consistent with the above result, nonlinear behavior was observed for the plot of ln[[M]o/[M]t] versus reaction time.

[Chemical constituents of Scolopendra negrocapitis]

The chemical constituent of Scolopendra negrocapitis Zhang et Wang were systematically analyzed and compared with S. subspinipes mutilans L. Koch. The results showed the lipid content was 18.7%, protein was 63.4% and total amino acid was 11.9%; S. negrocapitis contained the same twelve fat acids (the content of unsaturated fat acid was nearly 64% in its fat acids), twenty one amino acids and twelve trace elements as S. subspinipes mutilans had. The protein of S. negrocapitis showed forteen bands as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. S. negrocapitis and S. subspinipes mutilans have the same main chemical composition. The contents of compositions are different. S. negrocapitis is worth as the nature resources of medicinal centepede.

[A clinicopathological study of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease.

METHODS

Eleven samples of paraffin embedded lymph node and one of frozen lymph node from nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease patients were studied. HE staining, immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD19, CD20, CD30, CD45RB, kappa and lambda light chain and single L&H cell polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease was established by the identification of characteristic L&H cells in the nodular small lymphocytes and histiocytes background. L&H cells expressed CD19(10/12), CD20(12/12), CD45RB(12/12) and kappa light chain (11/12). IgH and V kappa 4 family gene rearrangements were detected in the single L&H cell. Eight of the patients survived more than 5 years.

CONCLUSION

Nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease has a very slow disease course and a better prognosis. It is a malignant lymphoma derived from B cells.