Regionally selective decreases in cerebral glucose metabolism in a mouse model of phenylketonuria

Impairment of cognitive function is characteristic of untreated phenylketonuria in humans and in the pah(enu2) mouse model of phenylketonuria. We measured regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose in the adult male pah(enu2) mouse to determine the effect of PKU on functional activity in brain and to discern what, if any, brain areas are affected. Our results demonstrate selective decreases (17-21%) in regions thought to be involved in executive function. Regions most significantly affected include prelimbic, anterior cingulate, orbital frontal and perirhinal cortex. Sensory and motor areas of cortex and hippocampus were remarkably unaffected.

A null mutation for Fmr1 in female mice: effects on regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose and relationship to behavior

As a measure of functional activity we determined regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMR(glc)) in adult, female wild type and fragile X (Fmr1 null) mice homozygous and heterozygous for the null mutation. To ascertain if the sexes differ with respect to the severity of the effects of the mutation we compared our results with results of our previous study on male Fmr1 null mice [Qin M, Kang J, Smith CB (2002) Increased rates of cerebral glucose metabolism in a mouse model of fragile X mental retardation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:15758-15763.]. In contrast to the male Fmr1 null mouse, rCMR(glc) was unchanged in the homozygous female except in the dorsal raphe where rCMR(glc) was increased by 36%. There were no differences in rCMR(glc) between heterozygous and wild type female mice. We compared male and female mice for effects of the null mutation on behavior. We found that the female Fmr1 null mouse is similar to the male with deficits in performance on a passive avoidance task, general hyperactivity, and increased susceptibility to audiogenic seizures. Both homozygous and heterozygous female mice exhibited hyperactivity and increased susceptibility to seizures, whereas only the homozygous mice had a deficit on the passive avoidance test. Male Fmr1 null mice had a tendency for lower anxiety-like behavior in an open field, whereas this was not evident in females. Compared with male wild type, male Fmr1 null mice also had a diminished acoustic startle response at higher stimulus intensities, whereas all three female genotypes had responses similar to those of male Fmr1 null mice. Whether estrogen affords female Fmr1 null mice some protection from the effects of the mutation remains to be determined.

Comparison of the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis between the elderly Chinese population in Beijing and whites in the United States: The Beijing Osteoarthritis Study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of radiographic and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a population-based sample of elderly subjects in Beijing, China and compare it with that reported in the Framingham (Massachusetts) OA Study.

METHODS

We recruited a sample of persons age > or = 60, using door-to-door enumeration in randomly selected neighborhoods in Beijing. Subjects completed a home interview including questions on knee symptoms and a hospital examination including knee radiographs obtained during weight bearing. The protocol was identical to that used in the Framingham OA Study. A reader read intermingled Beijing and Framingham Study films to ensure high reliability. We defined a subject as having radiographic knee OA when the Kellgren/Lawrence grade was > or = 2 in at least 1 knee. Symptomatic knee OA was recorded as present when knee pain was reported and the symptomatic knee had radiographic OA. We estimated the prevalence of these entities in elderly subjects in Beijing and compared it with OA prevalence in Framingham, using an age-standardized prevalence ratio.

RESULTS

Of 2,180 age-eligible Beijing subjects contacted, knee radiographs were obtained in 1,787 (82.0%). The prevalence of radiographic knee OA was 42.8% in women and 21.5% in men. Symptomatic knee OA occurred in 15.0% of women and 5.6% of men. Compared with women of the same age in Framingham, women in Beijing had a higher prevalence of radiographic knee OA (prevalence ratio 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.31-1.60) and of symptomatic knee OA (prevalence ratio 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.16-1.75). The prevalence of knee OA in Chinese men was similar to that in their white US counterparts (for radiographic OA, prevalence ratio 0.90; for symptomatic OA, prevalence ratio 1.02).

CONCLUSION

Using identical methods and definitions to evaluate the prevalence of OA across populations, we found, surprisingly, that older Chinese women have a higher prevalence of knee OA than women in Framingham, Massachusetts. The prevalence in men was comparable. Possible explanations for these differences range from genetic differences to heavy physical activity among Chinese.

Dendritic cells generated in vivo by a chimeric hematopoietic growth factor, progenipoietin-4, demonstrate potent immunological function

Recently, a dual receptor agonist for human Flt3 and G-CSF receptors, progenipoietin-4 (ProGP-4), was shown to be highly effective in expanding DC in vivo. In this study, we examined the immunological activity of ProGP-4-generated dendritic cell (DC) in an HLA-A2.1 transgenic mouse system. ProGP-4 DC were found to be approximately equivalent in presenting a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) peptide to a CTL line in vitro compared with bone marrow (BM)-derived DC and >20-fold more efficient than macrophages or B cells, and >100-fold better than BM-DC, macrophages, or B cells at presenting PADRE, a universal helper T cell epitope, to a T cell clone. The heightened epitope presentation by ProGP-4 DC was paralleled in vivo inasmuch as a >6-fold increase in CTL induction was observed compared with other APC populations following ex vivo loading with peptide. The in vitro and in vivo CTL responses stimulated by ProGP-4 DC could be further augmented by either culturing with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or co-loading with PADRE. Collectively, our results indicate that peptide-loaded ProGP-4-generated DC demonstrate potent antigenicity and immunogenicity for CTL, making them an attractive component of epitope-based vaccines.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in human papillomavirus type-16 infected oral cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to determine the genes required for head and neck cancer development.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Differential mRNA display analysis was performed using human papillomavirus Type-16 infected immortalized human oral keratinocytes (HOK-16B) and its benzo(a)pyrene-exposed tumorigenic derivative (HOK-16B-BaP-T).

RESULTS

Twenty-one differentially expressed cDNA clones were identified between the 2 cell lines. Clone 4 with no known homology showed lower expression in tumorigenic cells compared with either normal or immortalized oral keratinocytes. Clone 6 expression was elevated in several head and neck cancer cells, in addition to Burkitt's lymphoma Raji harboring latent Epstein-Barr virus.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggested that clone 6 may be involved in the oncogenic transformation whereas clone 4 may potentially function as a tumor suppressor gene.

SIGNIFICANCE

Differential mRNA analysis using the in vitro oral carcinogenesis model may help to identify important genetic markers for the early detection and progression of head and neck cancer.

Efficacy trial of Vi polysaccharide vaccine against typhoid fever in south-western China

OBJECTIVE

To test the efficacy of locally produced Vi vaccine over a time period of longer than one year.

METHODS

A double-blinded, randomized field trial was performed in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south-western China, using 30 micrograms doses of locally produced Vi. Enrolled subjects were 3-50 years of age, although the majority (92%) were school-aged children, who have the highest rate of typhoid fever in this setting. A total of 131,271 people were systematically allocated a single dose of 30 micrograms of Vi polysaccharide or saline placebo. The study population was followed for 19 months, with passive surveillance conducted in the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health and Anti-epidemic Centre (HAEC). Clinically suspected cases of typhoid fever were confirmed by blood culture, or by serological reaction with O-antigen (Widal tests).

FINDINGS

After 19 months, there were 23 culture-confirmed cases of typhoid fever in the placebo group versus 7 cases in the Vi group (Protective efficacy (PE) = 69%; 95% CI = 28%, 87%). Most of the isolates were from school-aged children: 22 cases in the placebo group versus 6 in the Vi group (PE = 72%; 95% CI = 32%, 82%). No serious post-injection reactions were observed. The locally produced Vi polysaccharide vaccine showed levels of protective efficacy similar to those for Vi vaccine produced in industrial countries.

CONCLUSION

The slightly higher dose of vaccine did not seem to alter efficacy significantly in China.

[Analysis on maternal deaths from pregnancy complicated with acute abdominal diseases in Shanghai during 1989-1998]

OBJECTIVE

To raise the vigilance for pregnancy complicated with acute abdominal diseases and to reduce the maternal mortality rate.

METHODS

A retrospective study was done.

RESULTS

(1) The maternal mortality of pregnancy complicated with acute abdominal diseases was 1.31/10(5) in the period of 1989-1993, which was significantly higher than that in the period of 1994-1998 (0.71/10(5)). (2) The main cause of maternal deaths was misdiagnosis and the rate of misdiagnosis was 72.7%. (3) Among the acute abdominal diseases, pregnancy complicated with pancreatitis ranked the first that accounted for 54.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

For the purpose of reducing the mortality rate of pregnancy complicated with acute abdominal diseases, the correct diagnosis and proper treatment especially for those with acute pancreatitis are important.

[Primary approach on midgastric-transverse band modifying the distribution of food between proximal and distal stomach]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the physiological function of the midgastric-transverse band (MTB) in the modification of intragastric food distribution in digestive period.

METHODS

18 healthy subjects(HS) and 18 patients with functional dyspepsia(FD) participated in this study. After fasting over 8 hours all subjects took 150 ml of milk (777 J) mixed with 150 g Magnesium Sulfate, and laid supinely on 30 degrees angle with horizontal line, X-ray films were taken at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the meal, respectively. Analyzed parameters included the width of MTB, the total, proximal and distal gastric area (TGA, PGA and DGA), the ratio of proximal and distal stomach during every 30 minutes period, the correlation between MTB and PGA, MTB and DGA.

RESULTS

(1) There was significant difference of MTB and DGA in every period postprandially (P < 0.05 or 0.01), by contrast, there were no significant differences of TGA or PGA between HS and FD except at TGA 90 min (P < 0.05). (2) There were close correlation between MTB and PGA at 0 (P < 0.01), 30 (P < 0.01), 60 min (P < 0.01) after the meal in HS, but only at 0 min (P < 0.01) in FD. Also close correlations between MTB and DGA at 60 (P < 0.01) and 90 min (P < 0.01) in HS, but in FD. (3) the ratios of PGA from 0-30 min and 60-90 min in FD significantly decreased respectively, however the other ratios were shown no significant difference between HS and FD during each period. (4) there were close correlations between PGA and MTB at 0, 30, 60 min after the meal in HS, however except 0 min there were no correlations in FD. By contrast, between DGA and MTB there were close correlations at 60, or 90 min in HS, no correlation in FD at any time point.

CONCLUSIONS

MTB may play an important role in modifying intragastric food distribution in HS, while the dysfunction of MTB may result in the distal gastric overloading in FD, the mechanism of MTB needs further studies.

[Study on the extraction of isofavones in rhizoma belamcandae]

In orthogonal tests, five factors were evaluted which were ethanol concentration, ethanol quantity, diameter of drug powder, reflux time and repetition times. Consideration of industrial produce, the optimal extraction was A2B2C3D2E2. That is 4-20 meshes drug powder refluxed with 70% ethanol which was 6 times weight of powder for 1 hour, repeated 2 times.

SRL1: a new locus specific to the phyB-signaling pathway in Arabidopsis

As part of an effort to isolate new Arabidopsis mutants specifically defective in responsiveness to red light, we identified srl1 (short hypocotyl in red light) by screening an EMS-mutagenized M2 population derived from a phytochrome B (phyB)-overexpressor line (ABO). The srl1 mutant shows enhanced responsiveness to continuous red but not far-red light, in both wild-type and ABO backgrounds, consistent with involvement in the phyB-signaling pathway but not that of phyA. The hypersensitive phenotype of srl1 is not due to overexpression of endogenous phyA or phyB, and the locus maps to the center of chromosome 2, distinct from any other known photomorphogenic mutants. srl1 seedlings display enhancement of several phyB-mediated responses, including shorter hypocotyls, more expanded cotyledons, shorter petioles and modestly higher levels of CAB gene expression under red light than the wild type. Double mutant analyses show that the hypersensitive phenotype of srl1 is completely phyB-dependent. The data suggest, therefore, that SRL1 may encode a negatively acting component specific to the phyB-signaling pathway.

Characterization of an in situ IFN-gamma ELISA assay which is able to detect specific peptide responses from freshly isolated splenocytes induced by DNA minigene immunization

An in situ IFN-gamma ELISA assay has been developed and optimized for both freshly isolated and peptide-restimulated splenocytes. This assay is based on the ELISPOT assay, but utilizes a soluble chromagen, making it readily adaptable to high-throughput analysis. We show that in both the primary and restimulation assays this technique is more sensitive than either a traditional supernatant ELISA or the 51Cr-release assay, in that responses are observed in the in situ ELISA that are not detectable in these other assays. On a per-cell basis, the sensitivity of the in situ ELISA is approximately one IFN-gamma secreting cell/10(4) plated cells. The in situ IFN-gamma ELISA was utilized to describe the kinetics of the IFN-gamma response to DNA vaccination with pMin.1. For freshly isolated splenocytes, the peak response for all the peptides tested was observed from 10 to 12 days after immunization, with responses seen to some peptides as early as 7 days. When a 6-day in vitro peptide restimulation step was added, responses were seen for all the peptides tested after 7 days of in vivo immunization. This data demonstrates that a single intramuscular administration of a DNA vaccine can induce T-cell responses that can be detected in freshly isolated splenocytes.

[Analysis on maternal deaths of cesarean section in Shanghai]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the causes of maternal deaths of cesarean section and the potential risks of it.

METHODS

A retrospective study on maternal deaths of cesarean section from 1978 to 1997 was carried out.

RESULTS

(1) The rate of cesarean section in 1978-1987 was 15.55% (258,158/1,659,892), which was significantly lower than that of 29.39% (365,376/1,243,337) in 1988-1997 (P < 0.01). (2) During the 20 years there were 430 cases of maternal deaths in Shanghai. Among them, 150 cases were maternal death after cesarean section which accounted for 34.88%. (3) Maternal mortality rate of cesarean section cases was 24.05/10(5)(150/623,534) which significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of vaginal delivery, 12.28/10(5)(280/2,279,695). The relative risk of maternal deaths in cesarean section group increased when the cesarean section rate was over 30.00%. (4) The rank order of maternal deaths of cesarean section was as follows: PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension), Cardiac diseases, embolisms, haemorrhage, hepatic diseases, and infections. (5) The relative risk of PIH death either for cesarean section or for vaginal delivery was significantly decreased in 1988-1997, compared to the former 10 years. (6) Of 150 cases of maternal deaths of cesarean section, 43 cases (28.67%) were related to the cesarean section with embolism ranking the first, haemorrage the second and infection the third.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to reduce maternal mortality of cesarean section, it is important to pay attention to (1) the prevention and treatment of PIH, heart diseases and embolisms, (2) the indications of cesarean section, (3) improvement of the quality of cesarean section, and (4) pre- and post-operational management.

[Bone mineral analysis of whole body in 292 normal subjects assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry]

OBJECTIVE

To understand whole body bone mineral changes in normal subjects.

METHODS

Bone mineral was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 292 normal subjects aged 10-79, including 152 females and 140 males. They were divided into age-groups by decade.

RESULTS

In males, peak value ages of total bone mineral content(TBMC), total bone mineral density(TBMD), anteroposterior spine BMD(L2-4 BMD) were in the 30-39, 20-39, 20-29 age-groups respectively. In females, they were all in the 30-39 age-group. Peak values of TBMC, TBMD, L2-4BMD were higher in males than those in females. Loss of bone mineral for females was more pronounced than that for males. There was a tendency of increased BMD among the 70-79 age-group for males. Loss of L2-4 BMD was more pronounced than TBMD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the normal bone mineral data of whole body for males and females, and the characteristic of changes.

[A light and scanning electron microscopic study of primary teeth in hypophosphatasia]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the features of primary tooth structure in hypophosphatasia.

METHODS

Three primary teeth from two patients at age of 3 yr-6 month and 4 yr-2 month, who were diagnosed hypophosphatasia. The structural changes of these teeth were examined by light microscopy, polarizing microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

The complete absence of cementum was a prominent feature in all the teeth, three small island-shape cementun areas were found in scanning electron microscopy. A large number of resorptions were found on the root surfaces, particularly near apical portions of roots. The main findings included disturbances of dentin mineralization, hypoplasia or aplasia of root cementum and external resorption of root dentin.

CONCLUSION

The hypoplasia or aplasia of root cementum was thought to be the prime etiological factor in the early loss of primary teeth.

[A primary clinical study of HRV analysis of nonlinear dynamics]

We observed the changes of nonlinear dynamic parameters in the patients with diabetes and old myocardial infarction with the methods of nonlinear dynamics. The results indicate that the correlation dimension of the patients with old myocardial infarction is higher than that of the normal, their Lyapunov exponent is lower than the normal's; that the correlation dimension of the patients with diabetes is also higher than that of the normal, their Lyapunov exponent is lower than the normal's; and that the values of the entropy of the two patient groups are basically identical to the entropy of the normal. Therefore the correlation dimension can indicate the changes in the function of autonomic nerve of the patients with diabetes and old myocardial infarction.

Comparison of bone mass in forearm, lumbar vertebra and hip by single and/or dual energy X-ray absorptiometry

OBJECTIVE

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in normal Chinese women with single X-ray absorptiometry (SXA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). These two methods were compared to evaluate the sensitivity in reflecting bone loss.

METHODS

Measurements were performed in 300 women aged 20 to approximately 79 (5 for each age). The 8mm distal, 1/4 distal, ultra distal site of the nondominant forearm were measured with SXA; the AP spine (L2-4), right femoral neck (Neck), Ward's triangle (Ward) and trochantor (Troch) were measured with DEXA. Ten women had 5 repeated measurements to evaluate the reproducibility of the equipments.

RESULTS

The BMD peak for Neck and Ward was found between age 20 to approximately 29, for ultra distal and L2-4 at age 30 to approximately 39, for 8mm distal, 1/4 distal and Troch at age 40 to approximately 49. After reaching the peak values, BMD at all sites decreased with increasing age. The highest rate of yearly loss of BMD was at 8mm distal. Results of measurement showed significant correlation between SXA and DEXA. Comparing with premenopausal women, the bone loss rate in postmenopausal women was faster and highest up to 11 to approximately 15 years and the highest rate was at the Ward.

CONCLUSION

The present study gives the normal values of BMD at seven sites for normal Chinese women. The ages of BMD peak were different at seven sites. The yearly loss of BMD was highest at 8mm distal, it seemed to be the sensitive region for bone loss with age. The postmenopausal women had highly significantly loss bone mass than the premenopausal women. Comparing with premenopause, postmenopause BMD for Ward's triangle with DEXA seemed to be most sensitive to the effect of menopause.

poc1: an Arabidopsis mutant perturbed in phytochrome signaling because of a T DNA insertion in the promoter of PIF3, a gene encoding a phytochrome-interacting bHLH protein

The phytochrome family of informational photoreceptors has a central role in regulating light-responsive gene expression, but the mechanism of intracellular signal transduction has remained elusive. In a genetic screen for T DNA-tagged Arabidopsis mutants affected in early signaling intermediates, we identified poc1 (photocurrent 1), which exhibits enhanced responsiveness to red light. This phenotype is absent in a phyB (phytochrome B) null mutant background, indicating that the poc1 mutation enhances phyB signal transduction. The T DNA insertion in poc1 was found to be located in the promoter region of PIF3, a gene encoding a basic helix-loop-helix protein. The mutant phenotype seems to result from insertion-induced overexpression of this gene in red-light-grown seedlings, consistent with PIF3 functioning as a positively acting signaling intermediate. These findings, combined with data from a separate yeast two-hybrid screen that identified PIF3 as a phytochrome-interacting factor necessary for normal signaling, provide evidence that phytochrome signal transduction may include a direct pathway to photoresponsive nuclear genes via physical interaction of the photoreceptor molecules with the potential transcriptional regulator PIF3.

Utilization of MHC class I transgenic mice for development of minigene DNA vaccines encoding multiple HLA-restricted CTL epitopes

We engineered a multiepitope DNA minigene encoding nine dominant HLA-A2.1- and A11-restricted epitopes from the polymerase, envelope, and core proteins of hepatitis B virus and HIV, together with the PADRE (pan-DR epitope) universal Th cell epitope and an endoplasmic reticulum-translocating signal sequence. Immunization of HLA transgenic mice with this construct resulted in: 1) simultaneous CTL induction against all nine CTL epitopes despite their varying MHC binding affinities; 2) CTL responses that were equivalent in magnitude to those induced against a lipopeptide known be immunogenic in humans; 3) induction of memory CTLs up to 4 mo after a single DNA injection; 4) higher epitope-specific CTL responses than immunization with DNA encoding whole protein; and 5) a correlation between the immunogenicity of DNA-encoded epitopes in vivo and the in vitro responses of specific CTL lines against minigene DNA-transfected target cells. Examination of potential variables in minigene construct design revealed that removal of the PADRE Th cell epitope or the signal sequence, and changing the position of selected epitopes, affected the magnitude and frequency of CTL responses. Our results demonstrate the simultaneous induction of broad CTL responses in vivo against multiple dominant HLA-restricted epitopes using a minigene DNA vaccine and underline the utility of HLA transgenic mice in development and optimization of vaccine constructs for human use.

[Analysis of Lyapunov exponents of heart rate variability in diabetics]

This paper presents an analysis of Lyapunov exponents of ten normal persons and ten patients with diabetes mellitus by the definition of the Lyapunov exponents, the length evolution and the area evolution. The results show that the Lyapunov exponent of diabetic is clearly lower than that of normal. It can indicate the diabetic with less number of electrocardiographic data.

[Primary study on HRV analysis of nonlinear dynamics in animal experiment]

The purpose of this study was to address the relationship between the parameters of nonlinear dynamics and functions of heart. We adopted the methods of nonlinear dynamics in observing the changes of the parameters of nonlinear dynamics under the conditions that sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve of heart exists singly as well as the coronary artery is narrowed. The results showed that in case the sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve was cut off the correlation dimension and entropy were lower than the normals, and in case the coronary artery was seriously narrowed the correlation dimension, entropy and laypunav exponent were also lower than the normals. The conclusion is that the parameters of nolinear dynamics can indicate the changes of the functions of autonomic nerve under the above conditions.

Normal changes in spinal bone mineral density in a Chinese population: assessment by quantitative computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

This study was designed to determine age- and gender-based normative values for spinal bone mineral density (BMD) in a Chinese population. In addition, we compared our data with those of other countries and populations. Four hundred and forty-three healthy Chinese subjects, aged 10-79 years (189 males, mean age 46.9 years; 254 females, mean age 45.7 years) were recruited for BMD assessment. BMD was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), including posteroanterior DXA (PA-DXA), lateral DXA (L-DXA) and midlateral DXA (mL-DXA). For both genders, BMD values peaked in the 10-19 year age group when measured by QCT, and in the 30-39 year age group when measured by PA-DXA. BMD values decreased with age after reaching peak bone density in males and females for all measurements, except for PA-DXA in males. Male BMD values by DXA tended to increase beginning with the 60-69 age group through the 70-79 age group whether by PA-DXA, or L-DXA and mL-DXA. However, male QCT data showed stable BMD values among these two older groups. Comparative results showed female QCT data were higher in the 20-39 age group and lower after the 40-49 age group compared with American females. The peak BMD value by PA-DXA in Chinese females was reached in the same age group as American and European females and was similar in magnitude (p > 0.05). However, the peak BMD value for Chinese females was reached earlier and was significantly higher than that observed in Japanese females (p < 0.001). We conclude that the age group in which the peak BMD values are reached is different depending on the technique used, as is the calculated age-related rate of bone loss. It can be speculated that such differences reflect different timing for bone maturation in cancellous and cortical bone.

[Implementing a relatively rigorous algorithm of dynamic EIT problem on the modified FEM model]

We deduced a relatively rigorous algorithm of dynamic EIT problem-general inverse algorithm, and implemented it on the computer FEM model. Images which can show the changing of the resistivity(i.e. dynamic resistivity images) were gained. Also we modified the ordinary FEM model according to the characteristic of the EIT problem and implemented the general inverse algorithm on the modified model. The ill-posed condition of the forward matrix based on the modified model was fairly improved. It can be seen from the results that the general inverse algorithm with modified FEM model is an algorithm better than the back-projection algorithm in terms of object locating, image definition, and the ability of dealing with complex object and noise.

[Anatomy of Aconitum finetianum Hand.-Mazz]

The primary xylem of plump taproot of Aconitum finetianum is the diarch with xylem in the center. In the action of the secondary structure of the herb, the meristem is first produced in the secondary phloem, then the anomalous cambium is produced in the secondary xylem forms a new and splits into anomalous structure. In the action of anomalous structure of the herb, the meristem in the secondary phloem sinks inwardly from many sites, and forms many rings with the anomalous cambium. One of these rings forms a special endodermis and the protostele turns into the schizogenous stele.

Overexpressed phytochrome C has similar photosensory specificity to phytochrome B but a distinctive capacity to enhance primary leaf expansion

Phytochrome C (phyC) is a low-abundance member of the five-membered phytochrome family of photoreceptors in Arabidopsis. Towards developing an understanding of the photosensory and physiological functions of phyC, transgenic Arabidopsis plants were generated that over-express cDNA-encoded phyC and seedling responses to continuous white, red, or far-red light (Wc, Rc or FRc, respectively) were examined. Transgenic seedlings over-expressing phyC displayed enhanced inhibition of hypocotyl elongation in Rc, but were unchanged in responsiveness to FRc relative to wild-type. These data indicate that phyC has photosensory specificity that is similar to that of phyB and thus distinct from that of phyA. phyC overexpressors with levels only 3 to 4 times the level of endogenous phyC exhibited enhanced primary leaf expansion in Wc. This is in contrast to phyA or phyB overexpressors which respectively have levels that are 500- and 100-fold that of overexpressed phyC but showed no enhancement of primary leaf expansion. Therefore, phyC may have some physiological roles that are different to those of phyA and phyB in the control of seedling responses to light signals.

[Surgical treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis with sputum long-term Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the importance of surgical treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis with sputum long-term Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive.

METHOD

Sixty-five patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who failed antituberculosis chemotherapy received lung resection or thoracoplasty.

RESULT

Sputum negative conversion was found in sixty-three patients without recurrence during 1-3 year follow-up, while sputum positive conversion was found only in one case during the period of follow-up. Among all the patients, one died of respiratory failure after the operation, three complicated with empyema and recovered from operating again.

CONCLUSION

Surgical operation is still important for treating pulmonary tuberculosis patients with sputum long-term Mycobacterium tuberculosis positive.