[AFLP markers of restoring genes of the wild-abortive hybrid rice]

Fertile and sterile pools were set up by bulked segregant analysis (BSA) based on the selection for the highly fertile and highly sterile plants of Shanyou 63 F2 population. The AFLP analysis of the two pools indicated that 64 primer combinations amplified 3,477 stable and clear bands. Exception of the combination E-AGC/M-CAA, all primer combinations had not detected polymorphism between the two pools. It was proved by investigation of two parents, individuals of F2 segregant population, backbone sterile lines and restorer lines that the polymorphic fragment AP1 generated from the primer E-AGC/M-CAA was associated with the restoring gene. AP1 was a single copy detected by Southern blot hybridization. The distance between AP1 and the restoring gene was 4.76 cM.

[Detection of viral aetiology in cerebral spinal fluid samples from 580 clinical cases]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the viral aetiology in cerebral spinal fluid (Csf) from 580 cases of CNS infection or FUO in Yuedong district from 1990 to 1997.

METHODS

Virus isolation was done with Hep-2 and BHK-21 cells.

RESULTS

21 virus types of 5 kinds of viruses were isolated from 113 samples (19.5%). Clinically diagnosed diseases included viral encephalitis 17.8% (43/242), intracranial infection 20.2% (47/233), paralytic diseases 24.3% (9/37), FUO 37.5% (9/24), convulsion 16.0% (4/25), Guillain-Barre syndrome 5.3% (1/19). Virus infection included 11 cases of Poliovirus (constitutional ratio 0.0973, including 1 Polio-I, 8 Polio-II, 2 Polio-III); 54 cases of Coxsackie virus (0.477 9, including 11 CoxA24, 10 CoxBl, 2 Cox134, 3 CoxB5); 15 cases of ECHO virus (0.1327, including 4 ECHO-24, 3 ECRO-7, 2 ECHO-12 and each one of ECHO-3, 11,14,15,27,32); 25 cases of Enterovirus (0.2213, including 14 EV-70, 11 EV-71); 8 cases of Adenovirus (0.070 8, including 3 Adv-2, 3 Adv-3 and 2 Adv7). Results of different age groups indicated there was significant difference (P < 0.05) in virus detection rate in two age groups. Virus positive rates in different years were 1990-1991 14.2% (15/106), 1992-1993 14.1%(23/163), 1994-1995 26.1% (36/138), 1996-1997 22.5% (39/173), that showed a significant difference (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Virus infection rate of CNS diseases and FUO showed an a ascending trend, and the different virus types and kinds were isolated in different periods.

[Insulin secretion and resistance during pregnancy in women with glucose intolerance]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether insulin secretion and resistance are different in glucose tolerant and intolerant women with normal pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI) during late pregnancy and to find out if there is association between gestational diabetes and insulin resistance syndrome.

METHODS

On the basis of a 4-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), 32 gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients, 21 gestational impaired glucose tolerant (GIGT) patients, and 50 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) cases were selected from uncomplicated pregnant women. Those had normal pre-pregnant BMI who had a 1-hour 50-g glucose-screening test (> or = 7.2 mmol/L), performed between 24-28 weeks of gestation. During the OGTT, several indexes of insulin resistance, insulin secretion, lipid metabolism were measured in addition to the standard glucose measurements.

RESULTS

Glucose area under curve (GAUC), insulin area under curve (IAUC), insulin sensitivity index (ISI) transformed to natural logarithm and triglycerides (TG) are all significantly higher (P < 0.05) in GDM women. The means of these indexes in GDM group are 26.3 mmol/L.h-1, 276.5 mU/L.h-1, 4.2 and 3.2 mmol/L, respeetively. On the other hand, however, the differences of these indexes (except TG) between GIGT and NGT women are not statistically significant. The ratio of IAUC/GAUC has an increasing trend from GDM group, GIGT group to NGT group (10.5, 11.4 and 11.7, respectively), but the difference is not statistically significant. Multiple correlation coefficient study demonstrated that ISI is significantly positively correlated with GAUC, IAUC and TG (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with NGT women, GDM women has impaired insulin secretion, abnormally increased insulin resistance, and relatively dyslipidemia. GDM seems to be a component of the syndrome of insulin resistance that provides an excellent model for study and prevention in a relatively young aged group.

Effects of a calcimimetic compound and naturally activating mutations on the human Ca2+ receptor and on Ca2+ receptor/metabotropic glutamate chimeric receptors

Naturally occurring mutations identified in subjects with autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH) and the calcimimetic compound, R-568, have both been reported to increase Ca2+ sensitivity of the Ca2+ receptor (CaR). To gain insight into their mechanism of action, we studied interactions between four different ADH mutations located in the amino-terminal extracellular domain (ECD) and R-568. We found that R-568 increased the sensitivity of three of the ADH mutant receptors, but the Leu125Pro mutant appeared to be maximally left-shifted in that neither R-568 addition nor combining other ADH mutations with Leu125Pro gave increases in sensitivity comparable to those seen with the three other ADH mutations studied. We also made use of truncation and deletion mutants of the CaR and CaR/metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 (mGluR1) chimeras to study both the site of action of R-568 and the effect of the Leu125Pro activating mutation. R-568 was effective in receptor constructs containing the seven transmembrane domain (7TM) of the CaR, but not in those containing the mGluR1 7TM. R-568, moreover, imparted Ca2+ responsiveness to CaR constructs lacking all or part of the CaR ECD. The Leu125Pro mutation in contrast conferred no or minimal increase in Ca2+ responsiveness to CaR constructs lacking part of the CaR ECD but showed a striking increase in basal activity in the context of chimeras containing an mGluR1 7TM. Our results localize the site of action of NPS-568 specifically to the CaR 7TM. Our results with the Leu125Pro mutant, furthermore, suggest that the mGluR1 7TM domain may be more permissive for activation than the 7TM domain of the CaR.

A novel pharmacological approach to treating cardiac ischemia. Binary conjugates of A1 and A3 adenosine receptor agonists

Adenosine released during cardiac ischemia exerts a potent, protective effect in the heart via activation of A(1) or A(3) receptors. However, the interaction between the two cardioprotective adenosine receptors and the question of which receptor is the more important anti-ischemic receptor remain largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that activation of both receptors exerted a cardioprotective effect that was significantly greater than activation of either receptor individually. This was accomplished by using a novel design in which new binary conjugates of adenosine A(1) and A(3) receptor agonists were synthesized and tested in a novel cardiac myocyte model of adenosine-elicited cardioprotection. Binary drugs having mixed selectivity for both A(1) and A(3) receptors were created through the covalent linking of functionalized congeners of adenosine agonists, each being selective for either the A(1) or A(3) receptor subtype. MRS 1740 and MRS 1741, thiourea-linked, regioisomers of a binary conjugate, were highly potent and selective in radioligand binding assays for A(1) and A(3) receptors (K(i) values of 0.7-3.5 nm) versus A(2A) receptors. The myocyte models utilized cultured chick embryo cells, either ventricular cells expressing native adenosine A(1) and A(3) receptors, or engineered atrial cells, in which either human A(3) receptors alone or both human A(1) and A(3) receptors were expressed. The binary agonist MRS 1741 coactivated A(1) and A(3) receptors simultaneously, with full cardioprotection (EC(50) approximately 0.1 nm) dependent on expression of both receptors. Thus, co-activation of both adenosine A(1) and A(3) receptors by the binary A(1)/A(3) agonists represents a novel general cardioprotective approach for the treatment of myocardial ischemia.

[Establishment and application of Z-HL16C cell line]

OBJECTIVE

Human embryonic lung fibroblasts at 8th passage was presented to us by the Institute of Virology. At its 16th passage,under the culture condition of our laboratory, the lung fibroblasts changed into epithelial like cells. We attempted to establish a cell line and applied it for virus isolation.

METHODS

The cells were continuously passaged, cloned, the cell morphology, growth capacity and chromosome number were determined.

RESULTS

The cell size appeared uniform, cell boundary was distinct, the cell recovery rate after frozen storing was above 90%. The cell replicated permanently and now it has been passaged 136 times. The chromosome number has changed from 46 to 110. We named this cell line the ZHL16C. It proved to be sensitive to these viruses tested: enteroviruses (Polio, Cox, Echo), influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, measles virus, herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses, cytomegalovirus, rubella virus and respiratory syncytial virus. When using Z-HL16C cell to isolate virus from 29 adenovirus swab samples collected from 29 soldiers with epidemic high fever in a new military, adenovirus type 3,7 coxsackie virus types B1, B5, B5, B5, B5 were isolated.

CONCLUSIONS

The cell line HL16C has been stably established, it has a broad spectrum in sensitivity for viruses.

Generation of the enol of methyl mandelate by flash photolysis of methyl phenyldiazoacetate in aqueous solution and study of rates of ketonization of this enol in that medium

Flash photolysis of methyl phenyldiazoacetate in aqueous solution produced phenylcarbomethoxycarbene, whose hydration generated a short-lived transient species that was identified as the enol isomer of methyl mandelate. This assignment is supported by the shape of the rate profile for decay of the enol transient, through ketonization to its carbonyl isomer, as well as by solvent isotope effects and the form of acid-base catalysis of the ketonization reaction. Comparison of the present results with previously published information on the enol of mandelic acid shows some interesting and readily understandable similarities and differences.

Selective A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists: water-soluble 3, 5-diacyl-1,2,4-trialkylpyridinium salts and their oxidative generation from dihydropyridine precursors

A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists are sought for their potential antiinflammatory, antiasthmatic, and antiischemic properties. We have found that 3,5-diacyl-1,2,4-trialkyl-6-phenylpyridinium derivatives constitute a novel class of selective A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists. The structure-activity relationships of this class of antagonists, incorporating the 3-thioester, have been explored. The most potent analogue in this group was 2, 4-diethyl-1-methyl-3-(ethylsulfanylcarbonyl)-5-ethyloxycarbonyl -6-phe nylpyridinium iodide (11), which had an equilibrium inhibition constant (K(i)) value of 219 nM at human A(3) receptors (binding of [(125)I]AB-MECA (N(6)-(4-amino-3-iodobenzyl)-5'-N-methylcarbamoyladenosine)) expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and >10 microM at rat brain A(1) and A(2A) receptors and at recombinant human A(2B) receptors. Compound 11 could be generated through oxidation of the corresponding 3,5-diacyl-1,2,4-trialkyl-6-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine, 24, with iodine or in the presence of rat brain homogenates. A 6-cyclopentyl analogue was shown to increase affinity at human A(3) receptors upon oxidation from the 1-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine analogue, 25, to the corresponding pyridinium derivative, 23 (K(i) 695 nM), suggesting a prodrug scheme. Homologation of the N-methylpyridinium derivatives to N-ethyl and N-propyl at the 1-position caused a progressive reduction in the affinity at A(3) receptors. Modifications of the alkyl groups at the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-positions failed to improve potency in binding at A(3) receptors. The pyridinium antagonists are not as potent as other recently reported, selective A(3) receptor antagonists; however, they display uniquely high water solubility (43 mM for 11). Compound 11 antagonized the inhibition of adenylate cyclase elicited by IB-MECA in CHO cells expressing the human A(3) adenosine receptor, with a K(B) value of 399 nM, and did not act as an agonist, demonstrating that the pyridinium salts are pure antagonists.

[Effects of yi qi tong mai oral liquid on acute myocardial ischemia in dogs]

The objective of this study was to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Yi Qi Tong Mai Oral Liquid (YQTMOL) on acute myocardial ischemia. The models of ischemia were made, in which the anterior coronary arteries of anesthetized dogs were ligated. Four groups of dogs were examined and compared. We determined the extent of their myocardial ischemia and infarction by means of epicardial mapping and N-BT staining. The results showed that in the treatment groups, the increase of sigma-ST was inhibited 30-180 minutes after the oral administration of YQTMOL(compared with control group, P < 0.01), and the sigma-ST was decreased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in the group dosed with YQTMOL (10 g/kg), the ratios of "area of infarction/heart weight" and "area of infarction/ventricle weight" both decreased (compared with control group, P < 0.05). These findings indicated that YQTMOL reduced the area of myocardial ischemia and the degree of myocardial infarction in dogs, so it could be effective for the prevention and treatment of acute myocardial ischemia.

[CT in diagnosis of tuberculosis of liver and spleen]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze CT findings of hepatospleeno-tuberculosis and to explore the characteristics for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.

METHODS

CT scans were performed in fifteen patients. There were nine men and six women, the age ranging from 18 to 60 years old. All patients were diagnosed clinically, one of which was confirmed by pathology after surgery, two of which were confirmed by pathology through CT-guided biopsy.

RESULTS

All cases were concurrent with two or more other tuberculosis. Disseminated milliary, small nodules and small saccular foci were present in livers of 8 cases and spleens of 5, and isolated low dense lesion in liver of 1 case, diffuse calcifications in liver and spleen of another 1.

CONCLUSIONS

When disseminated milliary, small nodules and small saccular foci are found by CT in liver or spleen and tuberculous lesions are present in other tissues, diagnosis of liver and/or spleen tuberculosis should be considered.

[CT images in differentiating tuberculous nodules from lung cancers with diameters less than 2 cm]

OBJECTIVE

To find out the CT characteristics of tuberculous nodules and lung cancers with diameters less than 2 cm, and to evaluate their value in differentiating the two diseases.

METHOD

The CT images in thirty patients with tuberculous nodules and forty lung cancer patients with lesions less than 2 cm in diameter were compared.

RESULTS

Smooth or clear edge, non-lobulation, small cavity, calcification, pleural thicking and adhesion, satellitic nidus and perifocal inflammation were found predominant in tuberculous nodules with short-term dynamic changes in shapes, while shaggy border, shallow lobulation, vacuolus sign, air-bronchogram and typical pleural indentation were predominant in lung cancers without dynamic changes in shapes.

CONCLUSION

Thin-slice CT scanning can provide useful images, which by short-term observations are important for differentiating these diseases.

Blood-brain barrier equilibration of codeine in rats studied with microdialysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to investigate the distribution of codeine across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in rats by microdialysis (MD).

METHODS

Rats were administered intravenous infusion of codeine in doses of (1) 10 mg/kg, (2) 20 mg/kg for 10 min, and (3) an exponential infusion for 2 h aiming at a plasma concentration of 2500 ng/ml, in a crossover design (n = 6). Microdialysis was used to determine codeine unbound concentrations in blood and brain extracellular fluid (ECF). Total brain tissue and plasma concentrations were also determined. Nalorphine was used as a calibrator for measurement of in vivo recovery.

RESULTS

Relative recovery and retrodialysis loss of codeine and nalorphine were similar both in vitro and in vivo. Codeine was rapidly transported into the brain ECF with identical influx and efflux clearance across the BBB. The AUC ratios of brain to blood were 0.99 +/- 0.25 and 0.95 +/- 0.16 for Dose 1 and 2, respectively. The Css ratio of brain to blood was 1.06 +/- 0.12 for the exponential infusion. The half-lives were 25 +/- 4 min, 22 +/- 2 min in blood and 27 +/- 5 min, 25 +/- 5 min in brain for Dose 1 and Dose 2, respectively. Total brain tissue concentrations were 3.6 +/- 1.2-fold higher than the unbound concentrations in brain. Codeine was demethylated to morphine with an unbound AUCblood,morphine/AUCblood,codeine ratio of 7.7 +/- 5.1% in blood. No morphine was detected in brain MD, but total concentrations were possible to measure.

CONCLUSIONS

Codeine rapidly reached a distributional equilibrium with equal unbound concentrations in blood and brain. The brain transport of codeine did not show any dose-dependency.

[Extraction, purification and ascertainment of anti-hepatoma active principles for targeted preparation of radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii]

The extraction, purification, pharmacological experiments and chemical analysis of anti-hepatoma active principles of Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii have been studied. The results show that the medicinal material Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii is efficacious in inhibiting hepatoma, and the active principles are mainly made up of poisonous ester alkaloids. The liver targeting delivery system will be the first choice for its anti-hepatoma preparation, and the effective component AY3a is fit for the preparation of targeted microspheres.

[Study on enterovirus aetiology of CNS infection in Shantou]

Enterovirus isolation and serological assay were done in 236 cases of CNS infection in Shantou. 62 strains of virus (from 55 cases) were isolated from 257 samples of 236 cases (24.1%). 48 cases were positive among 57 cases (84.2%) by serological assay. 78 cases were positive for virus isolation and/or serological assay (33.1%). Virus infection included 33 cases of poliovirus (including 6 polio-I, 18 polio-II, 4 polio-III, 5 mixed infections), 21 cases of Coxsackie virus (including 6 CoxA24,7 CoxB1,2 CoxB4 and 6 CoxB5), 11 cases of ECHO virus (including 5 ECHO-7,2 ECHO-24 and each one of ECHO-11, 12, 15, 27), 10 cases of Enterovirus (including 3 EV-70, 7 EV-71), and 3 cases of mixed viral infection.

Nonhistone protein reorganization in normal and hepatoma cells

Previously we described (Dong et al., 1990) a nuclear protein (mol. wt. 112 kD) which is expressed abundantly in hepatoma cells and also in hepatocyte cells committed to carcinogenesis. In this report, we further characterize its chemical properties and cellular localization in normal and hepatoma cells. 112 kD hepatoma-associate nonhistone protein is not a cytokeratin-related protein as described by Fukuda et al. (1991). Protein purification experiments revealed that 112 kD protein is a dimer of 56 kD polypeptide present in normal rat liver nuclei. Intranuclear distribution pattern indicated that 112 kD nonhistone protein localizes exclusively in hepatoma nuclear matrix. The data from this study suggest that dimerization of 56 kD nonhistone protein is involved in nuclear matrix reorganization during neoplastic transformation.

Glucocorticoids coordinately regulate type I collagen pro alpha 1 promoter activity through both the glucocorticoid and transforming growth factor beta response elements: a novel mechanism of glucocorticoid regulation of eukaryotic genes

Glucocorticoids have previously have shown to decrease Type I collagen synthesis in vivo and in fibroblast cell culture. Several studies have demonstrated that glucocorticoids decrease Type I procollagen gene expression. These latter studies have included uridine incorporation into pro alpha 1 (I) and pro alpha 2 (I) mRNAs and nuclear run-off experiments. Using the ColCat 3.6 plasmid, which contains part of the 5' flanking region of the pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene and the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, the present studies demonstrate by stable transfection of fetal rat skin fibroblasts that dexamethasone down regulates the promoter activity of the pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene. The glucocorticoid-mediated down-regulation of procollagen gene expression was demonstrated using the ColCat 3.6, 2.4, 1.7, or 0.9 plasmid. In addition, competitive oligonucleotide transfection experiments and site specific mutation of the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) in the whole ColCat 3.6 plasmid did not eliminate the effect. The possibility existed that another cis-element in the 5' flanking region of the pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene was also required for the collagen glucocorticoid-mediated down-regulation of procollagen gene expression, since TGF-beta has been shown to stimulate in a decrease of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) secretion into the media. Gel mobility studies demonstrated that glucocorticoid treatment of rat skin fibroblasts decreased glucocorticoid receptor binding to the GRE and TGF-beta activator protein to the TGF-beta element which were brought back to control values by coordinate exogenous TGF-beta treatment. Thus the interaction of these TGF-beta molecules with cellular membrane receptors and subsequent transduction is dramatically decreased resulting in less signals to regulate collagen gene expression. These data indicate that glucocorticoids coordinately regulate procollagen gene expression through both the GRE and TGF-beta elements. Depression of procollagen gene expression by glucocorticoids through the TGF-beta element is mediated by decreased TGF-beta secretion, possibly involving a secondary effect on regulatory protein(s) encoded by noncollagenous protein gene(s). The present studies provide the basis for a novel mechanism of glucocorticoid-mediator regulation of eukaryotic genes containing the TGF-beta element.

An activated mutant of the alpha subunit of G(o) increases neurite outgrowth via protein kinase C

The GTP-binding protein, G(o), is present at very high concentration in the neuronal growth cone membrane. The expression of activated mutants of the a subunit of G(o) increases neurite outgrowth. To determine the intracellular mechanism for this outgrowth, we have examined activated alpha o-dependent outgrowth in the presence of agents which modulate different signal transduction cascades. Activation of protein kinase C with phorbol esters or with diacylglycerol prevents the alpha o-dependent increase in neurite extension. Inhibition of protein kinase C with staurosporine, with H7, or with long-term, high dose phorbol ester treatment resulted in greater neurite elongation, and no further increase after activated alpha o transfection. The protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, also blocked the effect of activated alpha o. In contrast, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and agents which alter cAMP levels did not alter activated alpha o-dependent neurite extension. We tested a number of compounds which alter intracellular calcium levels. TMB-8 and thapsigargin prevented an increase in outgrowth by activated alpha o, but diltiazem, Bay K8644 and dantrolene had no effect on activated alpha o-dependent outgrowth. These studies suggest that activated alpha o increases neurite outgrowth by inhibiting protein kinase C and by modulating intracellular calcium release.

Bleomycin stimulates pro-alpha 1 (I) collagen promoter through transforming growth factor beta response element by intracellular and extracellular signaling

The role of transforming growth factor beta as a mediator of the fibrogenic effect of bleomycin in lung has been investigated at the transcriptional level. Several constructs containing the rat pro-alpha 1 (I) collagen promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene were transfected into rat lung fibroblasts. Both bleomycin and transforming growth factor beta 1 increased promoter activity in fibroblasts transfected with constructs containing the transforming growth factor beta response element. Fibroblasts transfected with a deletion construct that lacks this response element did not respond to either bleomycin or transforming growth factor beta 1. Anti-transforming growth factor beta 1-neutralizing antibodies did not block the increase in promoter activity induced by bleomycin, suggesting intracellular signaling. Mutation of the transforming growth factor beta response element greatly reduced the bleomycin effect, which also infers intracellular signaling. In addition, plasmin added to the media greatly enhanced bleomycin stimulation of promoter activity demonstrating that transforming growth factor beta mediates the bleomycin effect through extracellular signaling.

Percutaneous transseptal balloon valvuloplasty for dilating mitral valve stenosis (report of 200 cases)

Two hundred cases with mitral valve stenosis were treated by percutaneous single balloon (Inoue balloon) valvuloplasty at our institute from May 1988 to July 1992. The subjects included 137 females and 63 males with a mean age of 36.5 +/- 8.8 years (15-58 years). Hemodynamic and left ventriculographic findings were evaluated immediately before and after the procedure, and the results showed that the mean left atrial pressure was reduced from 25.08 +/- 9.13 mmHg to 10.64 +/- 4.10 mmHg (P < 0.001), the pressure gradient across the mitral valve was reduced from 25.49 +/- 10.22 mmHg to 6.71 +/- 4.87 mmHg (P < 0.001), and systolic pulmonary pressure was reduced from 52.78 +/- 21.42 mmHg to 38.56 +/- 16.47 mmHg (P < 0.001). At the same time, cardiac output and mitral orifice area were increased from 3.84 +/- 0.11 L/min to 4.66 +/- 0.28 L/min (P < 0.001) and from 1.08 +/- 0.28 cm2 to 2.20 +/- 0.47 cm2 (P < 0.001) respectively. Follow-up of 6-48 months (median 24 months) in 50 nonselective patients showed a symptomatic improvement rate of 100%. Percutaneous transseptal balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) proved to be a highly effective and safe nonsurgical method that can yield very good results in relieving symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis, with minimal morbidity and no mortality in this group. PBMV works by splitting the adhered mitral commissures toward the mitral annulus.

A case-control study of dietary factors in patients with lung cancer

A case-control study was designed to investigate association of dietary factors with the risk of lung cancer in Sichuan, China. The cases consisted of 135 patients with preinvasive lung cancer which had been confirmed with histopathology, fiber bronchoscope, CT and X-ray film in three provincial hospitals in the recent one year. Controls were healthy subjects who went to one of these hospitals for health check-up; patients with pulmonary diseases was excluded. Controls were matched to cases for sex and age with a ratio of 1:1. Nutrient intakes, the eating habit and other relevant factors were investigated. The data analyzed with the conditional logistic regression model indicated that dietary beta-carotene intakes had a significantly inverse association with the risk of lung cancer. Vitamin C had a less significantly inverse association with the risk. Association of protein, fat, energy, retinol intakes or diet-balance index with the risk was not significant. Association of tea, alcohol, garlic or mushroom, respectively, with the risk was also not observed. Consumption of more processed foods and deep-fried foods were found to be risk factors. Smoking and air pollution from coal burning stoves were also observed as independent risk factors of lung cancer in the present study. The mental stress incidence in the case was significantly higher than that in the control.

Studies on the photochemical and photocytotoxic properties of the new PDT photosensitizer aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine

The properties of photosensitization of sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (ALSPC), a new photosensitizer of potential use in cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) was studied on both the molecular and cellular levels. The mechanism of ALSPC photosensitization on the molecular level was investigated by testing its efficiency of singlet oxygen (1O2) production, using the method of tryptophan degradation and that of ESR spectroscopy and observing the enhancing effect of D2O and the quenching effect of NaN3. Results of all these experiments confirmed the important role of the Type II or 1O2 mechanism in ALSPC photosensitization. In our in-vitro experiments, ALSPC's incorporation into cells and its photocytotoxic effect were investigated on a human liver cancer cell line. The cell incorporation was illustrated by the laser-excited fluorescence spectra emitted both from cell homogenate and cell monolayers incubated with ALSPC aqueous solution. The position of fluorescence peak observed, implied that ALSPC exists in the cells mainly as monomers. The efficiency of cell killing of ALSPC photosensitization was estimated by counting surviving cells with the method of trypan blue staining and by the method of radioisotope labelling. Experiments using the latter method also showed DNA damage caused by ALSPC photosensitization.

Survey of the use of epidural analgesia in China

It is generally believed that epidural blocks are most widely used in China. However, there is yet no substantial study in this respect. A nation-wide survey appears to be necessary. Questionnaires were sent to 237 hospitals located in 6 geographically wide-scattered areas and to some military hospitals as well. 90 answers were obtained with complete data necessary for this survey. There are 1,304,214 administrations of epidural blocks documented in these 90 hospitals. Of which 38.8% are lumbar, 32% lower thoracic, 23% middle thoracic, 4.6% upper thoracic and 1.6% cervical blocks. These data showed that operations from the neck down to the lower extremities were performed under epidural block without discrimination of puncture location. 98.33% of the blocks were satisfactory to meet the need of operations. Persisting paresthesia occurred in 0.013% of these cases. The incidence of accidental puncture of dura was 0.32%. About 2/3 of these dura punctured cases received 1-4 times of repuncture. No correlation was found between repuncture and development of total spinal anesthesia. Among the complications, incidence of respiratory depression was 0.54%. However, only 5% of these depressed cases needed intubation and artificial ventilation. No signs of dura puncture were noticed, but subarachnoid block did appear in 0.04 of cases. Incidence of total spinal anesthesia was 0.013%. Not all, but a little more than half (54.6%) of the total spinal cases needed intubation and artificial ventilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Experimental study on capacity of lung water regulation]

The capacity of the regulation of lung water after fluid overloading or blood letting was measured in 70 rabbits. Body fluid in the whole blood was increased in both overloading and blood letting. The lung blood volume was increased after crystalloid overloading, but statistically insignificant (P greater than 0.05). On the contrary, a very significant (P less than 0.01) increase of lung blood volume was observed in all animals overloaded with colloid fluids. Blood letting caused an insignificant (P greater than 0.05) decrease of lung blood volume. Total lung water was increased in either groups, but, it was statistically insignificant in crystalloid group and highly significant in crystalloid group. Colloid fluid overloading caused a marked increase (P less than 0.01) of extravascular lung water (EVLW). Interesting to note is that animals received crystalloid fluids amounted up to 3-fold of its blood volume did not show any significant (P greater than 0.05) increase of EVLW. It is concluded that the capacity of lung water regulation was extraordinary intact even after the overloading with crystalloids in an amount equivalent to 2.5-fold of its blood volume. This phenomenon was not seen in the colloids group.

[An experimental study on photosensitization of human liver cancer cells with sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (ALSPC)]

The photosensitizing effect of sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine to human liver cancer cells was studied by determining the kinetics of its cellular uptake, its state of aggregation therein and its photocytotoxicitic effect on these cells. Fluorescence methods were used to measure the cellular uptake in cell extracts and intact cells in monolayer. Results exhibited that the cellular uptake increases with the incubation time of ALSPC and saturates at 24 hrs. This relation was in coincidence with that between ALSPC's photocytotoxic effect and the ALSPC incubation time. Although the average ALSPC concentration in cells is higher than the incubation concentration of ALSPC, laser fluorescence, experiments showed that the fluorescence peak of ALSPC in cells incubated in higher concentration coincides with that of its aqueous solution of low concentration, suggesting that ALSPC in cancer cells exists in monomer state. Characteristics of the photodamaging effect of ALSPC to cancer cells were studied by both the method of typen blue staining and that of isotope labeling, which showed similar results. Results of the isotope labeling experiments implies that the DNA is damaged in ALSPC photosensitization. The photodamage on cells was also studied with 3 T 3 mouse cells (conversion), showing agreeable results to that with liver cancer cells, which suggests that ALSPC's photocytotoxic effect is nonselective to cell types.