Effects of preventive acupuncture on streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia in rats

BACKGROUND

Diabetes prevention has received increasing attention recently. Clinical and experimental studies showed that acupuncture could produce hypoglycemic effect. However, little is known about the effectiveness of acupuncture in diabetes prevention.

AIM

To investigate the preventive effects of acupuncture on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

METHODS

Hyperglycemia was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg). Rats were randomly divided into six groups (no.=8 each group): control, diabetes, preventive acupuncture plus STZ injection, STZ injection plus therapeutic acupuncture, STZ injection plus preventive and therapeutic acupuncture, and preventive and therapeutic acupuncture control. Body weight, blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant enzymes were measured by routine standard methods. Histological analysis of pancreatic islets was conducted.

RESULTS

Preventive acupuncture significantly relieved hyperglycemia, insulin deficiency, weight loss, and pancreatic islet damage in rats with STZ injection; it also significantly reduced serum lipid peroxidation and enhanced superoxide dismutase in the serum and the pancreas without significantly affecting serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Therapeutic acupuncture exhibited a hypoglycemic effect in the late stage, but did not significantly improve other parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that preventive acupuncture is beneficial to the control of STZ-induced hyperglycemia in rats.

Human papilloma virus screening by hybrid capture II in Chinese women of Jiangsu Province

OBJECTIVE

To survey Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection in Chinese Women of Jiangsu Province and discuss the relationship between HPV and the biology of cervical cancer.

METHODS

Two thousand, one hundred and fifty-three sexually active women (including 66 cases of cervical cancer) were selected for high-risk human papilloma virus DNA test with Hybrid Capture II (HCII).

RESULTS

The overall HPV prevalence was 32.6% (701/2153) with higher positive rates in cervical carcinoma and Cervical Interstitial Neoplasia (CIN) [93.9% and 54.6%] respectively. For women aged 40-59 years, the overall high-risk HPV prevalence was higher than those of other age groups. Compared with CIN I, the positivity rate and viral load of HPV DNA in CIN III is much higher (80.2% vs. 29.9%, 11.89 vs. 0.53). Ninety-four per cent (64/66) of patients with Cervical cancer were detected to be HPV positive. There was no significant difference in HPV DNA among each clinical stage and pathologic grade. But the positive rates and the value of HPV DNA were higher in the patients with cervical interstitial incursion. Eighty per cent of patients (20/25) could become negative within six months after operation.

CONCLUSIONS

High-risk HPV DNA test is effective in screening for cervical diseases. HCII is an effective method to detect HPV DNA.

Enhanced fluorescence from CdTe quantum dots self-assembled on the surface of silver nanoparticles

This paper presents an investigation on the fluorescent properties of semiconductor CdTe quantum dots (QDs) self-assembled on the surface of PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)-capped silver nanoparticles (NPs) by the ligand field effect. A significant 2.5-fold enhancement in the integrated fluorescence intensities, red shift of fluorescence peak, and obvious decrease of lifetime were observed in the CdTe QDs assembled on the Ag NPs in comparison with the pure CdTe QDs. The fluorescence enhancement factor and red shift were found to depend on the Ag NP concentration. The fluorescence enhancement was attributed to a highly localized electromagnetic field on the Ag NPs generated by the surface plasma and the change in the surface trap state of the CdTe QDs originating from plasma oscillations in the Ag NPs. It is first proposed that the surface passivation of CdTe QDs is also an important factor for metal-enhanced fluorescence. The surface defects of CdTe QDs can be modified by the Cd-O coordination interaction between the CdTe QDs and PVP molecules, which will cause the trap state density and luminescence lifetime to decrease. The surface passivation of CdTe QDs can also improve fluorescence quantum yield and lead to the red shift of the fluorescence peak. Compared with previous reports, the occurrence of the self-assembly of CdTe QDs on the surface of PVP-capped Ag NPs is fairly simple and easy. From a practical point of view, the combination of CdTe QDs with Ag NPs may lead to the fluorescence enhancement, which could be utilized in a variety of chemical and biological detection applications.

A clinical study of 115 patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type

AIMS

To investigate the clinicopathological features, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors in patients with extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 115 patients diagnosed with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type who were admitted to our hospital between January 1991 and June 2006.

RESULTS

In total, 107 patients were available for follow-up. After the completion of treatment, 48 patients (44.9%) achieved a complete remission. By the end of the follow-up period, 60 patients (56.1%) had died from local recurrence or metastases. The mean survival duration was 70.0 months, the median survival duration was 42 months, and the 5-year survival rate was 39.4%. The mean survival durations of the three treatment groups of chemoradiotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative treatment were 91.6, 60.1 and 17.6 months, respectively. The median survival durations were 72.0, 42.0 and 10 months, respectively. Patients treated with > 50 Gy had better local control and survival than the < 50 Gy group. However, there was no significant difference between patients having fewer than four cycles of chemotherapy and patients having more than four cycles. Multifactor Cox regression model analysis showed that B symptoms, gender, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, disease stage and therapy were all independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The prognosis of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type is poor and significantly influenced by B symptoms, gender, IPI score, clinical staging and the method of treatment. Chemoradiotherapy should be the first choice for treatment.

[Nitric oxide synthetase and carbon monoxide decrease in the penile corpus cavernous of hyper homocysteine rats]

OBJECTIVE

To detect the levels of nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and carbon monoxide (CO) in the penile corpus cavernous of adult male Wistar rats with high homocysteine (Hhcy) and to explore the relationship of NOS and CO levels with erectile dysfunction.

METHODS

Twenty Wistar rats were equally and randomly divided into a control and an Hhcy group and fed on normal diet and normal diet with 3.0% methionine respectively. Four weeks later, the levels of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernous were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and that of serum homocysteine by the cycle enzyme method.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the levels of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernous were significantly lower in the Hhcy group, (6.45 +/- 1.12) nmol/(g x min) vs (10.77 +/- 0.60) nmol/(g x min) and (10.60 +/- 0.92) micromol/L vs (13.36 +/- 0.44) micromol/L, while that of homocysteine was significantly higher, (22.32 +/- 1.65) micromol/L) vs (4.90 +/- 1.73) micromol/L.

CONCLUSION

Four-week diet with methionine can cause Hhcy and significantly decreased levels of NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernous in Wistar rats. Hhcy is an independent risk factor of erectile dysfunction.

A widely tunable dual-wavelength CW Ti:sapphire laser with collinear output

We report a collinear output and tunable dual-wavelength CW Ti:sapphire laser with a simple cavity configuration. The wavelength splitting range is easily tuned from 10 nm to 110 nm, which provides 56 THz bandwidth for terahertz generation. The total output power of two colors with the spatial mode of TEM(00) is between 700 mW and 300 mW, for small and large wavelength splittings, respectively, under 5 W argon-ion laser pumping.

Upconversion luminescence of CdTe nanocrystals by use of near-infrared femtosecond laser excitation

We study the steady-state and time-resolved luminescent properties of CdTe nanocrystals by one- and two-photon excitation with a femtosecond laser. We observe that 1208 nm excitation causes a shift of the emission peak of about 20 nm to the infrared compared with 400 nm laser excitation. It is found that upconversion luminescence is composed of a photoinduced trapping and a band edge excitonic state and produces the observation of biexponential decay kinetics. We conclude that the redshift of the emission peak is caused by the relative change in luminescence intensity between excitonic and trapping states.

Human periodontal ligament cells express osteoblastic phenotypes under intermittent force loading in vitro

Mechanical strain applied to bone leads to bone remodeling. In the oral cavity, it is unclear how such mechanical force applied to move teeth orthodontically induces alveolar bone remodeling. It is known that osteoclasts are the only cells that are responsible for bone resorption, while the formation and activity of osteoclasts are regulated by osteoblasts. So it is believed that osteoblasts play an important role not only in bone formation but in bone remodeling as well. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of mechanical force on human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells and whether they express osteoblastic characters in vitro.

METHODS

Human PDL cells cultured in vitro were loaded with intermittently stretching force for 24 hours. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OCN) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were detected at mRNA and protein levels at 0, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th, 24th hours after intermittent force loading.

RESULTS

Without any stimulation, ALP and OPG mRNA expressions were detected in human PDL cells by in-situ hybridization, but not that of OCN mRNA. ALP mRNA signal was up-regulated and that of OPG was down-regulated by mechanical force within 24 hours. OCN mRNA expression was induced by mechanical force in the late phase of the 24-hours loading cycle. The changes in secreted proteins showed similar results with those seen at the mRNA level.

CONCLUSION

Human PDL cells express osteoblastic phenotypes under intermittent force loading and play a role in alveolar bone remodeling.

The expression of osteoprotegerin and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand in human periodontal ligament cells cultured with and without 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG), are important bone metabolism molecules, which directly control osteoclastogenesis. Periodontal ligament (PDL) cells play a vital role in maintaining the homeostasis of periodontal tissues, releasing cytokines to affect bone metabolism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of OPG and RANKL in cultured human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) derived from permanent teeth and the expression change after stimulation by 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1alpha,25(OH)(2)vitD(3)), a kind of bone resorption promoter. HPDLCs were cultured in the presence or absence of 10(-8)M 1alpha,25(OH)(2)vitD(3) in vitro. The expression of mRNA for OPG and RANKL in hPDLCs during 6 days' culture was examined using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The level of secreted OPG protein in the culture medium during 6 days' culture was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). The result showed that OPG and RANKL were expressed by hPDLCs. OPG expression was down-regulated by 10(-8)M 1alpha,25(OH)(2)vitD(3) in a time-dependent manner, while RANKL mRNA was up-regulated. The ratio of OPG/RANKL was decreased. In conclusion, our findings suggest that hPDLCs may regulate the alveolar bone metabolism through the OPG/RANKL system.

Immunogenicity of a recombinant fusion protein of tandem repeat epitopes of foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia 1 for guinea pigs

In this study, the sequences of capsid protein VPI regions of YNAs1.1 and YNAs1.2 isolates of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were analyzed and a peptide containing amino acids (aa) 133-158 of VP1 and aa 20-34 of VP4 of FMDV type Asia I was assumed to contain B and T cell epitopes, because it is hypervariable and includes a cell attachment site RGD located in the G-H loop. The DNA fragments encoding aa 133-158 of VP1 and aa 20-34 of VP4 of FMDV type Asia 1 were chemically synthesized and ligated into a tandem repeat of aa 133-158-20 approximately 34-133-158. In order to enhance its immunogenicity, the tandem repeat was inserted downstream of the beta-galactosidase gene in the expression vector pWR590. This insertion yielded a recombinant expression vector pAS1 encoding the fusion protein. The latter reacted with sera from FMDV type Asia 1-infected animals in vitro and elicited high levels of neutralizing antibodies in guinea pigs. The T cell proliferation in immunized animals increased following stimulation with the fusion protein. It is reported for the first time that a recombinant fusion protein vaccine was produced using B and T cell epitopes of FMDV type Asia 1 and that this fusion protein was immunogenic. The fusion protein reported here can serve as a candidate of fusion epitopes for design of a vaccine against FMDV type Asia 1.

A recombinant fusion protein and DNA vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease virus type Asia 1 infection in guinea pigs

On the basis of amino acid (aa) sequence of the tandem repeat 133-158-20-34-133-158 which consisted of aa 133-158 of VP1 and aa 20-34 of VP4 of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) type Asia 1 a recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pAS1-P encoding a fusion protein and eukaryotic expression vectors pAS1-E and pAS1-EdeltaCpG-ODN representing DNA vaccines were constructed. Guinea pigs immunized with these vaccines showed both neutralizing antibody and T cell proliferation responses. FMDV challenge tests for the first time showed that the recombinant fusion protein and pAS1-E and pAS1-EdeltaCpG-ODN vaccines protected 86%, 60% and 43% of guinea pigs from FMDV type Asia1 challenge, respectively. The results also indicated that the immune response of animals treated with the vector pAS1-E containing an oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), which consisted of immunostimulatory cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) motifs, was augmented by CpG ODN.

A serologically identified tumor antigen encoded by a homeobox gene promotes growth of ovarian epithelial cells

Ovarian carcinomas are thought to arise from cells of the ovarian surface epithelium by mechanisms that are poorly understood. Molecules associated with neoplasia are potentially immunogenic, but few ovarian tumor antigens have been identified. Because ovarian carcinomas can elicit humoral responses in patients, we searched for novel tumor antigens by immunoscreening a cDNA expression library with ovarian cancer patient serum. Seven clones corresponding to the homeobox gene HOXB7 were isolated. ELISAs using purified recombinant HOXB7 protein revealed significant serologic reactivity to HOXB7 in 13 of 39 ovarian cancer patients and in only one of 29 healthy women (P < 0.0001). Ovarian carcinomas were found to express HOXB7 at markedly higher levels than normal ovarian surface epithelium, suggesting that immunogenicity of HOXB7 in patients could be associated with its elevated expression in ovarian carcinomas. Overexpression of HOXB7 in immortalized normal ovarian surface epithelial cells dramatically enhanced cellular proliferation. Furthermore, HOXB7 overexpression increased intracellular accumulation and secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor, a potent angiogenic and mitogenic factor. These results reveal HOXB7 as a tumor antigen whose up-regulated expression could play a significant role in promoting growth and development of ovarian carcinomas.

[The genetic analysis of amplitude of progesterone secretion in serial blood collection from tail in min sows]

28 adult Min sows (3-7 parities), represented 9 sire families were selected to conduct the continual blood collection from the tail for two hours at the interval of ten minutes between 9:00-11:00 in the morning on the sixth day after the last mating. The content of progesterone was assayed by radio-immunological assay. The amplitudes of the secretion of progesterone were generated by the procedure of HORM fft. exe complied by the author. It is difficult to get a reasonable conclusion from the content analysis, because the content varied widely between different points of blood collection in single sow. After Fourier conversion, the heritability of amplitude for the fifth partial wave was high (h2 = 0.932); middle for the basal, 2nd and 3rd partial waves; lower for others. This supported the idea that prolific sows had more active secretion of progesterone in luteal cells. The coexist of low and high heritability components in amplitude of progesterone secretion showed that the activities of progesterone secretion were influenced by both the genetics and environments. The genetic correlation of basal, 1st, 5th partial waves were negative, the others were positive, with the litter size and litter size alive. It showed that the reproductive performance of Min pigs were not expressed perfectly, as the balance of secretion of progesterone did not reach the best. The genetic correlation of all partial waves with duration of estrus was negative which supported that the progesterone suppresses the estrus. The genetic correlation of 3rd, 5th partial waves were stronger than others, but selection for 5th partial wave would make high responses than the 3rd wave, because the genetic correlation of 3rd partial wave with litter size and litter size alive was positive, therefore, the more appropriats method of selection for progesterone was adopted, the better results would be achieved in the improvement of indirect selection response for litter size.

A prospective study of vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus

AIM: To prospectively study the mechanism of mother to infant transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV).

METHODS: Using a nested PCR for detection of HCV RNA and the second generation ELISA for detection of anti-HCV, 13 pregnant women who suffered from post transfusion hepatitis C (PT-HCV) and their 15 babies were studied to evaluate mother to infant transmission of HCV.

RESULTS: The total infection rate of HCV was 86.7% in the babies, including one case of clinical HCV (7.7%), three subclinical cases of HCV (23.1%), and nine inapparent cases of HCV (69.2%). The positive rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA declined with the age of the babies, to 7.7% for anti-HCV and 15.4% for HCV RNA at the age of three years.

CONCLUSION: Babies born to mothers infected with HCV were vertically infected with HCV at a high rate, but the consequences were not serious. Four fetuses born, born through induced labor to mothers positive for anti-HCV and HCV, were all infected by HCV, suggesting that the mother to infant transmission of HCV mainly occurred in the uterus.

Tracer and electrical coupling of rat suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons

Whole-cell recording from single neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus with an electrode containing the tracer neurobiotin resulted in the staining of multiple neurons in 30% of the cases. Typically, one neuron was darkly stained with dendritic processes and an axon clearly visible while other neurons were lightly stained. The darkly-stained cells were identified as the recorded neuron and tracer-coupled to one to five lightly stained neurons. The resting membrane potential, input membrane conductance, membrane capacitance, the decay time constant and the maximum H-current amplitude of the recorded neurons with tracer-coupled cells were not significantly different from those of neurons not showing tracer coupling. Stimulation of the preoptic area activated an antidromic action potential or an all-or-none small slow inward current in some neurons when the synaptic transmission was blocked by a calcium-free/Mn2+ solution. The small slow inward current did not "collide" with an orthodromically activated action spike suggesting that the current represents the signal from an electrotonically-coupled neuron. In addition, the frequency of biphasic field currents from a neighbouring cell firing were increased by depolarization and decreased by hyperpolarization of the recorded cell. These data demonstrate a chemical and electrical low-resistance coupling of suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons, which could be important in synthesizing the suprachiasmatic nucleus circadian rhythm.

[Clinical study of zhinu-I,-II in treating 61 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]

The article studied 61 patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, they were classified and treated with Chinese herbal medicine Zhinu (ZN) -I, -II, in comparison with 30 cases of patients treated with prednisone. The results showed that the effect of prednisone was more effective than ZN- I, -II in four weeks (P < 0.05). On the contrary, follow up for 12 months, the effect of ZN-I, -II were more effective than prednisone (P < 0.05) and the possibility of recurrence was lower (P < 0.01). In addition, blood platelet counts of the patients treated with ZN-I, -II increased slower, but lasting for longer term. The conclusion indicated that the ZN-I, -II were safe and effective. There was no obvious side effects.

Microscopic observations on livers of rabbits and dogs infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and early treatment with artemether or praziquantel

To study the histopathological change of the liver of the hosts treated with artemether (Art) or praziquantel (Pra) in early stage after infection with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae.

METHODS

Dogs infected once with schistosome cercariae were treated ig with Art 10 mg.kg-1 or Art capsule (ArtC) 15 mg.kg-1 on d 7, or praziquantel (Pra) 30-40 mg.kg-1 on d 21 after infection, followed by the repeated dosing once every 1 or 2 wk for 2-4 times. In rabbits, infected with 48-52 schistosome cercariae once every other day for 5 times, were treated ig with Art 10 mg.kg-1 or Pra 30 mg.kg-1 was started on d 7 or on d 21 after the first infection, followed by the repeated dosing every 1 or 2 wk for 2-3 times.

RESULTS

After above mentioned dogs or rabbits were treated ig with Art, ArtC or Pra, the female worm reduction rates were 92.1%-100%. Histopathological examination showed that the reduction rates of total granuloma in the liver sections of the dogs and rabbits were 70.9%-97.3% and 76.5%-97.4%, respectively. Meantime, the structure of the hepatic lobules was normal with normal arrangement of the liver bundle.

CONCLUSIONS

Early treatment with Art or Pra exhibited a promising effect of protection of the liver of the dogs and rabbits infected with schistosome cercariae. Early treatment of infection with schistosome cercariae kills the Female worms before oviposition. Thus, the host will be protected from the damage caused by schistosome eggs. Promising results were obtained when mice and rabbits received an early treatment with artemether (Art) or praziquantel (Pra). This work was to study the liver infected with cercariae and treated by intragastric gavage (ig) with Art, Art capsule (ArtC) or Pra in early stage after infection.

Differential metabolism of exogenous platelet-activating factor by glandular epithelial and stromal cells of rabbit endometrium

Significant changes in platelet-activating factor (PAF; 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) concentration have been observed in rabbit endometrium during the preimplantation period, but, under in vitro conditions, constitutive PAF biosynthesis by isolated endometrial tissues was not easily demonstrable. Relative changes in enzymes involved in the synthesis and metabolism of PAF in the tissues may account for this disparity. In addition, during this period of preimplantation, marked changes in PAF receptor concentration have been noted. The present study examines the factors that may modulate the metabolism of exogenous [3H]PAF in the endometrium of rabbits on day 6 of pregnancy. Since preferential [3H]PAF binding in situ by the glandular epithelial, but not by the stromal, cells was demonstrated, their cell-specific metabolism of exogenous [3H]PAF was also examined. After entry into the endometrial cell, [3H]PAF was rapidly metabolized by the sequential action of cytosolic Ca(2+)-independent acetylhydrolase to [3H]lyso-PAF and this was in turn acylated by membrane-associated transacylase to [3H]alkylacyl-glycerylphosphorylcholine. PAF resynthesis was not observed and, in stromal cells, there was a significant build-up of [3H]lyso-PAF, suggesting that lyso-PAF:acetyl-CoA acetyl-transferase may be a limiting factor. In the glandular epithelial cells, however, there was a significant accumulation of a neutral lipid without a significant build-up of [3H]lyso-PAF or [3H]PAF. The neutral lipid co-migrated with the product of phospholipase C-catalysed metabolism of PAF and authentic 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-glycerol. In addition, the elution times of phospholipase C digestion of C18 PAF and the neutral lipid produced by cellular metabolism of [3H]PAF, determined by gas chromatography/flame ionization detection, were similar. It seems that it is the synthesis of the neutral lipid from reacetylated [3H]lyso-PAF that prevented [3H]PAF accumulation under in vitro conditions. This is the first documentation of the synthesis of this lipid in the mammalian uterus. The lipid may serve as the precursor for de novo PAF synthesis in the glandular epithelial cells during endometrial proliferation.

Experimental studies on early treatment of schistosomal infection with artemether

An early treatment with artemether given in appropriate regimens was tested in mice, rabbits and dogs for prevention purposes. Artemether was administered intragastrically (ig) to the hosts on day 7 after infection with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae at a single dose, and the same dose of artemether was repeated every 1 or 2 weeks for 2-4 times. As a result, most of the female worms were killed before their oviposition with female worm reduction rates of 90-100%, resulting in protection of the host from damage induced by schistosome eggs. When rabbits were treated ig with artemether 10 mg kg-1 on day 7 after infection, followed by repeated dosing every week for 4 times, some parameters related to acute schistosomiasis, such as temperature, eosinophil count and eggs in the feces were negative, and low specific antigen and antibody levels in serum were seen. Further study showed that the appropriate regimens of Artemether were also effective in early treatment of reinfection with cercariae. When rabbits infected with 48-52 cercariae once every other day for 5 times were treated ig with artemether 15 mg kg-1, followed by repeated dosing every 1 or 2 week for 2- 3 times, the female worm reduction rates were 92.1-98.4%. Histopathological examination of the livers showed that the above-mentioned early treatment with Artemether exhibited a promising protective effect on dogs and rabbits. The major features included normal appearance of the liver resembling those of uninfected dogs and rabbits; few or no dispersed miliary egg tubercles appeared on the surface of the liver; the structure of the hepatic lobules was normal with normal arrangement of the liver bundles; few or no eggs appeared in the portal vein area and there was apparent diminution of total egg granuloma, comprising inflammatory, fibrous or scarred egg granuloma. On the basis of above-mentioned results, early treatment with Artemether could be recommended for field trial for controlling acute schistosomiasis, reducing infection rate and intensity of infection.

Discovery and study of Leishmania turanica for the first time in China

Reported are the results of multidisciplinary studies on Leishmania turanica, which was isolated from the auricular tissues of naturally infected great gerbils in Xinjiang, China. Discussed are the biology of the parasite, its molecular biology, its pathogenicity in rodents and humans and its vectors. This was the first time that L. turanica had been reported in China. L. turanica is highly pathogenic in BALB/c mice, with the resulting systemic infection being lethal, and it causes dermal lesions in Meriones unguiculatus. L. turanica parasitizes the macrophages in the interstitium of the testes of Cricetulus barabensis, and entirely destroys the Leydig's cells of severely infected animals. Inoculation of L. turanica can induce simian and human cutaneous leishmaniasis. The cell membrane and flagella of the promastigotes of L. turanica have rather active ACPase. The major vectors of L. turanica were Phlebotomus mongolensis and P. andrejevi.

Effects of benzimidazole compounds on mice infected with secondary cysts of Echinococcus granulosus

The effects of mebendazole (Meb), albendazole (Alb) and albendazole sulfoxide (AlbSO) on metacestodes of Echinococcus granulosus have been studied. The results show that Meb and Alb exhibit less effect on protoscoleces in vitro, but in vivo the protoscolicidal effect of Meb is higher than that of Alb. Both Meb and Alb are efficacious in the treatment of mice infected with secondary cysts of E. granulosus. In terms of the minimal effective dose required, the occurrence of collapsed and shrunk cysts after treatment, the drug-induced damage on the germinal layer and the relationship between the drug content in the cyst wall and the damage of germinal layer, the effect of Meb on metacestodes of E. granulosus is higher than that of Alb. The results also indicated that lower drug absorption rate and thickening of the adventitia during longer disease course are the two major factors affecting the efficacy of Meb and Alb, hence suggesting that increase of Meb absorption may be expected to raise the therapeutic effect of the drug. Finally, Alb is not only metabolized to AlbSo and AlbSP in vivo, but also metabolized by the cysts exposed to Alb in vitro. Experimental chemotherapy showed that AlbSO is the major effective metabolite of Alb, and its curative dose is only one half of the parent compound.