[Synthesis of delta virus cDNA of China Sichuan strain]

delta virus cDNA of China Sichuan strain, 1.2 kb in length, was synthesized by extraction of RNA from liver tissue in a patient with subacute severe hepatitis, followed by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The result was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization using 32P and biotin labelled delta virus cDNA (HN88, cloned in USA) probes respectively.

[Effect of liuwei dihuang decoction and its compatible prescriptions on lipid peroxide and lipofuscin]

Our experiment has shown that liuwei dihuang Decoction can decrease the contents of lipid peroxide in the serum as well as lipofuscin in the liver of the older mice to the level of the younger ones, while the two compatible prescriptions derived from the decoction, "Three invigorators" and "Three purges", cannot produce the same effect. All the three forms of prescription have no action on the lipofuscin in the heart.

[Anticancer element selenium in liuwei dihuang decoction]

The contents of selenium in Liuwei Dihuang decoction (six traditional Chinese drugs and their decoction, five decoctions in different compatible ways, a complex decoction of all crude drugs) have been determined by fluorescence spectrophotometric method. The result shows that element selenium is rich in Dihuang. The dissolution ratio of selenium in decoctions of each single crude drug is about 30-40%.

[Experimental study of the treatment of avascular osteonecrosis]

The results of treating avascular necrosis of the femoral head of 32 mongrel dogs with 4 different methods were compared. The treating methods differed only in the type of tissues transplanted into the femoral head specimens: (1) with blood vessel and muscle pedicled bone graft, (2) with muscle pedicled bone graft, (3) with vascular bundle transplant and (4) with free bone-piece graft. The results showed that graft of type 1 or 2 or 3 transplantation brought about new bone formation and dead bone replacement in different degrees and varying activity, obviously more potent in those with type 1 and 2 than those with type 3. While those with type 4 showed little living activity and the grafted bone-piece remained dead. These differences may be based on the facts that transplants type 1 & 2 carry with them living tissues, active bone-forming cells and many other bone growth stuffs and factors necessary for conduction and induction for new bone formation, in addition to blood supply. While type 4 transplant can meet nutritional needs of metabolism and tissue growth only. Accordingly, transplantation of type 1 or 2 graft could be a preferable choice of treating clinical cases with femoral head necrosis.

[The three dimensional structures of the external collector channels in human adult eyes]

The three dimensional structures of external collector channels in 13 human adult eyes were studied by the ABS (allylcyanide, butadiene and stryrolene) cast technique under the scanning electron microscope. The beginning sites of external collector channels are of 4 types: (1) the cone type, (2) the hook type, (3) the V type, and (4) the arch type. By the characteristics of the inner surface, the external collector channels are again of 2 types: (1) the smooth type, and (2) the rugous type. Impressions of the endothelial cell nuclei at the beginning sites and narrow annuli at the root of the collector branches were also observed. The probable significance of the morphological structures were discussed.

[Prenatal sex identification with biotinylated human Y-specific DNA probe]

Using biotinylated human Y-specific DNA probe PHY2.1 and Cos 84, we carried out Southern and dot hybridization with human DNA from artificially aborted chorionic villi, and with DNA of peripheral lymphocytes from normal male and female. The results show that PHY2.1 may be applied in prenatal sex identification both by Southern and by dot hybridization but with Cos 84, only Southern hybridization could be used.

[Production and characterization of anti-human hepatocellular carcinoma monoclonal antibodies]

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, QGY-7703, derived from a Chinese patient, was used to immunize the BALB/c mice. Fifteen hybridomas producing McAb that reacted with QGY-7703 cells were isolated from 858 hybridomas created in three cell fusions. In further studies two McAb, namely, AQGY1 and A-QGY2, were selected which specifically stained HCC cells grown in vitro. The reactivity of these McAb was not removed by the absorption by homogenates of the normal liver, but was by homogenates of HCC cells. A-QGY1 and A-QGY2 also reacted definitely with HCC cells in liver tissues of HCC patients, but neither with other cells in the tissues nor with nontransformed liver tissues of the same patients. Furthermore these two McAb stained the adult or fetal liver tissues, nor all of the other normal or tumor tissues that had been tested. Blocking and absorbing experiments revealed that A-QGY1 and AQGY2 antigens had no immunohomogenicity with antigens such as HBsAg, HBcAg, HBeAg, AFP and CEA. The specificity of these two McAb may be used potentially for the sero diagnosis, histologic identification, radioimmunoimaging and destruction of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Inhibitory effect of liuwei dihuang decoction on induced mutation and spontaneous tumor]

Anti-mutagenic activity was evaluated with micronuclear test. It appeared to be same between the result of mice treated with 10 g/kg Liuwei Dihuang decoction (LWDHd) for 3 days and that with 34.5 g/kg for 10 days. All the permillages of micronuclear appearance of treated groups were less than that of controls. The intercept (A) value of dose-effect curve were 12.7 and 9.4 as treated with cyclophosphamide (Cy) alone, but 1.2 and 3.2 as orally administered with LWDHd before injecting Cy. It showed that LWDHd could inhibite mutagenic activity of Cy. The affection of LWDHd on spontaneous tumorigenesis was observed in LACA mice. The tumor incidence rate was 9.0% in the control mice observed for 60 weeks, but 5.0% in the animal feeding LWDHd in food. The tumor incidence rate of big dose group was 1.0% and the difference was significant between it and that of the control (P less than 0.01).

[Experimental study relating to the anti-cancer effect of doxifluridine]

We investigated the anti-cancer effect of Doxifluridine (5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine: 5'-DFUR) on an experimentally prepared tumor bearing mouse.

METHOD

A 20-methylcholanthrene induced squamous cell cancer was prepared on the skin of ddN female mouse and 5'-DFUR was administered orally by catheter (90 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg, 210 mg/kg and physiological saline 0.5 ml/body). The each group consisted of 10 mice. Oral medications were performed once a day for one week (6 days continuous duration) and these medications were continued during a total period of four weeks. Once a week, the general condition of the animals was checked and at the same time, the size (length x width) of the tumor was measured, and the anti-cancer effect was determined.

RESULT

It was noted between the control and 5'-DFUR medication group that there was a marked effectiveness on the rate of decrease in size and disappear of the squamous cell cancer according to the medication of 5'-DFUR. It regarded to the amount of 5'-DFUR, that there was a significant difference in the anti-cancer effect between 90 mg/kg and 210 mg/kg groups and between 150 mg/kg or 210 mg/kg and control groups. However, the difference could not be observed between 90 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg groups and between 150 mg/kg and 210 mg/kg groups.

[Primary serologic investigation of HBV-like virus existence in domestic animals and fowls]

Using the reagent kits for detecting human HBV, primary serologic investigation was made in 6 kinds of domestic animals and fowls (total 673) by ELISA, spot hybridization and immuno-electronmicroscopy. The results showed that some sera samples of pigs, rabbits, chicken and geese were HBsAg, HBeAg positive and positive for spot hybridization by using 3(2)P-HBV-DNA probe, which suggested that HBV-like viruses might exist in those domestic animals and fowls. HBV-like virus particles were seen in one pig serum sample which was HBsAg positive. The particles could be divided into three forms in shape, large spherical particle (40-55nm), small spherical particle (20-30nm) and short filament particle. The further studies are needed.

[Comparative analysis of alkaloid components in cultured and planted Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit]

This article presents a study on the comparative analysis of alkaloid components in cultured and planted Pinellia ternata by TLC and TLCS. It was found that their absorption spectra were identical and their chromatograms were very similar to each other. The content of total alkaloid was 0.48% (cultured) and 0.137% (planted). The relative contents of other components in percentage (cultured/planted) were 116.14, 34.47, 83.82, 93.12, 101.79, and 121.73% respectively.

Triterpenoid Saponins from Anemone flaccida

From the rhizome of ANEMONE FLACCIDA Fr. Schmidt, used in Chinese folk medicine, four saponins of oleanolic acid-A,B,C,D were isolated. By means of spectroscopy and chemical transformation, saponins A, B, and D were identified as 3- O-[alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha- L-arabinopyrasyl]-oleanolic acid, 3- O-[alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- D-xylopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid, and 3- O-[alpha- L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- D-glucopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid. These three saponins are known compounds but isolated from ANEMONE plants for the first time. Saponin C was elucidated as 3- O-[beta- D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- D-xylopyranosy1]-oleanolic acid, which has not been reported in the literature before, and is named as flaccidoside I.

[Prevention of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension with "qi-xue" injection]

Effects of "Qi-Xue" injection (Panax ginseng, Astragalus monogholicus, Angelica sinensis), verapamil (Vp, calcium antagonist) and their combination on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and heart function were studied in rats exposed to chronic hypoxia. Male Wistar rats were divided into sea level (n = 9), hypoxic (n = 8). Chinese herbs (n = 15), Vp (n = 20) and herbs + Vp (n = 18) groups. All the rats, except the SL group, were placed in a hypobaric chamber simulating an altitude of 5000 m above sea level for 15 days. During this time, the aforementioned drugs were given i.p. bid every day. It was found that apparent increase of PAP and decrease of IC-R (index of contractility of right ventricle) were induced by hypoxia without significant change of CAP, HR or left ventricular function. Both "Qi-Xue" injection and Vp minimized the increase in PAP due to hypoxia, with the former being more effective than the latter. "Qi-Xue" injection also attenuated IC-R decrease and kept it in the normal range. No appreciable differences were observed between the effect of "Qi-Xue" and its combination with Vp. It is suggested that "Qi-Xue" injection might prevent the development of severe hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by improving heart function.

[Pharmacologic studies on qiongjiang wine]

In this article, preliminary pharmacologic studies of Qiongjiang wine are reported a comparison of this wine with Guilingji wine is made. The results show that Qiongjiang wine has the action of roborant and sex hormones. It can improve the phagocytic function of macrophage in the abdominal cavity of mice. No toxic response has been found in acute toxicity test.

A familial chromosomal translocation t(6q;7q) with habitual abortions

A familial balanced translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 6 and 7 is described. The break points are localized to 6q27 and 7q23. No phenotypical abnormalities were found in any of the three carriers, but spontaneous abortions were frequent and might be associated with the translocation due to unbalanced segregation.

[Changes in blood zinc and copper and their clinical significance in patients undergoing open-heart surgery]

The levels of zinc and copper in the serum, plasma, erythrocyte and urine were determined in 17 cases undergoing open-heart surgery. Samples were taken daily before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass operations for 9 days. Mean plasma zinc dropped significantly 30 minutes after perfusion and reached its lowest level on the first postoperative day and remained lower than the preoperative level until the seventh postoperative day. Mean urinary zinc excretion was high on the day of operation and showed a peak value 2 hours after operation. A transient decrease of plasma copper occurred after 30 minutes of perfusion. However, it returned to the preoperative level by the first or second postoperative day followed by a persistent rise to a level significantly higher than preoperative levels from the third to the ninth day. Urinary copper excretion presented the same trend as urinary zinc excretion. The results suggest that a severe loss of zinc and copper occurs in the patients undergoing open-heart surgery and a rational supply of zinc and copper is necessary.