Some problems of future demographic processes in China

"In this paper, which is based on a projection model of rural-urban population dynamics established by the authors, we make use of the investigative data of the one percent national population sample of 1987 and analog calculations on almost 200 demographic parameters to clarify the problematic relations between some key issues in China's future demographic processes. We advance a number of suggestions for the reference of policy-makers and planners."

Detection of intrahepatic human islets following combined liver-islet allotransplantation

This article describes the localization of intact insulin-containing intrahepatic islets after combined liver-islet allotransplantation. The patient was a 36-year-old woman who underwent upper abdominal exenteration for neuroendocrine carcinoma; 289,000 islets were transplanted via portal vein infusion immediately after complete revascularization of the liver. Immunosuppression was with low-dose FK-506. OKT3 and steroids were used to treat one rejection episode 2 weeks after transplantation, but the patient subsequently developed multiple infections and died 109 days after transplantation. At autopsy, the transplanted liver did not show any sign of rejection and well-preserved islets were present in portal triads sampled from the anterior inferior edge of the right lobe. Immunohistochemical labeling confirmed the presence of insulin-containing cells. This finding indicated that human islets can survive after intrahepatic allotransplantation, despite positive cross-match with no HLA antigen match, suggesting that upper abdominal exenteration and liver transplantation may constitute a protective factor for the survival of allogeneic human islets.

Outcome of human islet isolation and allotransplantation in 20 consecutive cases

This report provides our initial experience on islet isolation and intrahepatic allotransplantation in 20 patients. In Group 1, 10 patients underwent combined liver-islet allotransplantation following upper-abdominal exenteration for cancer. One patient underwent pancreatic islet allograft after near total pancreatectomy for chronic pancreatitis. In Group 2, 3 Type I diabetic patients received a combined liver-islet allograft for cirrhosis and diabetes. In Group 3, 7 Type I diabetic patients received 8 combined cadaveric kidney-islet grafts (one retransplant) for end stage renal disease. The islets were separated by a modification of the automated method for human islet isolation and the preparations were infused into the portal vein. Immunosuppression was with FK-506 (Group 1) plus steroids (Groups 2 and 3). Six patients in Group 1 did not require insulin treatment for 5 to >16 mo. In Groups 2 and 3 none of the patients became insulin-independent, although ongoing C-peptide secretion, decreased insulin requirement and stabilization of diabetes were observed. Our results indicate that islet transplantation is most effective in pancreatectomy induced diabetes. However, rejection is still a major factor limiting the clinical application of islet transplantation in patients with Type I diabetes mellitus. Other factors such as steroid treatment may contribute to deteriorate islet engraftment and/or function.

Suppression of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth in nude mice by the wild-type p53 gene

Wild-type and mutant human p53 genes were transfected into the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE-3. Tumorigenicity in nude mice showed that the tumor resulting from the cells transfected with the wild-type p53 gene grew more slowly and was smaller than that from the cells transfected with mutant p53 gene and that from control CNE-3 cells. In contrast, the tumor from the cells transfected with the mutant p53 gene grew faster than that produced by cells transfected with the wild-type p53 gene and that produced by control CNE-3 cells. The results demonstrate that the wild-type p53 gene could inhibit the NPC cell growth in nude mice and the mutant p53 gene could enhance the NPC cell growth in nude mice. The p53 gene may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of NPC.

Detection of anti-Epstein-Barr-virus transactivator (ZEBRA) antibodies in sera from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous Herpes virus which causes infectious mononucleosis and is associated with such different neoplasms as Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV latently infects its target cells; nevertheless, evidence of viral replication in NPC tumours has been uncovered. Among the EBV transactivators, the ZEBRA protein plays a crucial role in switching the virus from a latent to a productive mode. ZEBRA protein was produced using a eukaryotic expression vector: the open reading frame containing the BZFLI cDNA has previously been inserted down-stream from the adenovirus major late promoter leading to expression of a 38-kDa nuclear protein. We performed serological studies by employing ZEBRA protein expressed in human cells for immunofluorescence and Western-blot assays. We were able to detect IgG anti-ZEBRA antibodies (IgG/ZEBRA) in 87% of NPC patients. These antibodies were absent in control sera; IgG/ZEBRA antibodies can be proposed as a useful marker for diagnosis of NPC tumors.

Salivary and serum IgA antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gp340: incidence and potential for virus neutralization

Human antibody responses to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) glycoprotein gp340 have been measured using purified preparations of the native molecule as the substrate in ELISAs. This glycoprotein is the dominant component of the EBV envelope and a major target for the virus-neutralizing antibody response. Healthy virus carriers (both Caucasian and Chinese) regularly show detectable anti-gp340 IgG in serum and, unexpectedly, 21-30% of these individuals are also serum anti-gp340 IgA positive. Chinese patients with the EBV-genome-positive malignancy nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) show elevated serum IgA antibodies to gp340 but, given the background of responses amongst healthy virus carriers, anti-gp340 IgA titres are a poorer diagnostic indicator of NPC than serum IgA antibodies detectable by immunofluorescence against the multicomponent EBV early antigen (EA). Salivary IgA antibody responses to gp340 are potentially important as a means of neutralizing orally-transmitted virus. We detected salivary IgA (but not IgG) to gp340 in a minority (12-19%) of healthy virus carriers and in a higher proportion (49%) of NPC patients. Even saliva samples chosen for their relatively high anti-gp340 IgA titres showed only weak neutralizing activity against transforming EBV preparations whether from B95.8 cell culture supernatant or from the throat washing of an infectious mononucleosis patient. We conclude that in healthy virus carriers, salivary IgA responses to gp340 are unlikely to provide effective local immunity against re-infection with a second EBV strain.

Diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by means of recombinant Epstein-Barr virus proteins

The immune response of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antigens is diagnostic of the tumour. Existing tests use EBV antigens produced in EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cells, but the virus replicates poorly in these cells. Serum samples from 18 patients diagnosed as having nasopharyngeal carcinoma were screened by western blot analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunofluorescence tests for antibodies to the EBV-coded alkaline deoxyribonuclease (DNase), thymidine kinase, and membrane antigen (gp340/220) produced in recombinant baculovirus or bovine papillomavirus systems. Each protein was a useful diagnostic marker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, although in the gp340/220 ELISAs there was substantial overlap for both IgG and IgA antibodies between serum samples from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and those from healthy donors seropositive for EBV. The EBV thymidine kinase was the most sensitive predictor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; all such samples showed both IgG and IgA antibody responses to this protein and all gave clearly distinct titres from those of the EBV-seropositive donors in the IgA test. Each of the recombinant systems described is suitable for use in large-scale screening programmes for the early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Isolation of Chinese hamster ovary cell lines producing Man3GlcNAc2 asparagine-linked glycans

Chinese hamster ovary lines with two mutations, one causing accumulation of Man5GlcNAc2-P-P-dolichol and a second resulting in defective N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I activity, synthesize asparagine-linked glycans with the structure Man3GlcNAc2. As a result, the asparagine-linked glycans produced by these lines are smaller and less heterogeneous than those produced by other currently available animal cell lines.

A Chinese female postnuptial leaving home model--a procedure for analyzing main parameters alpha and beta in the setting up, testing and estimation of the model

"The first section of this article...sets up a model for leaving home after marriage that is suited to China's situation. The second section performs a statistical test and verification of the formulated model for leaving home after marriage. The third section...proposes a method for analyzing the main parameters...in the model...." The model is set up along the lines of the Brass-Gompertz relational fertility model.

A seral epidemiological study of HIV transmitted through human seral gamma-globulin preparations

In order to study the potential risk of transferring HIV through human seral gamma-globulin preparations (immunoglobulin), indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA) and Western Blot (WB) assay were applied to 343 random samples (sera) with previous injection of imported human seral gamma-globulins (Ig) positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) antibodies between 1981-1987 for the detection of HIV antibodies. All results were negative and tests on all 23 controls who had previously received Ig made in China also gave negative results. However all 12 batches of imported Ig collected from the above-mentioned users, were positive for HIV antibodies when tested by WB and IFA. This study shows that under normal conditions, human seral gamma-globulin does not transmit HIV.

Pancreatic islet transplantation after upper abdominal exenteration and liver replacement

Nine patients who became diabetic after upper-abdominal exenteration and liver transplantation were given pancreatic islet-cell grafts obtained from the liver donor (eight cases), a third-party donor (one), or both (four). Two patients were diabetic when they died of infections after 48 and 109 days, as was a third patient who died of tumour recurrence after 178 days. The other 6 are alive 101-186 days postoperatively, and five are insulin-free or on insulin only during night-time parenteral alimentation. C-peptide increased 1.7 to 3.3 fold in response to intravenous glucose in these five patients who have had glycosylated haemoglobin in the high normal range. However, the kinetics of the C-peptide responses to intravenous glucose in all eight patients tested revealed an absent first-phase release and a delayed peak response consistent with transplantation and/or engraftment of a suboptimal islet cell mass. The longest survivor, who requires neither parenteral alimentation nor insulin, is the first unequivocal example of successful clinical islet-cell transplantation.

Linkage of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility locus to the HLA region

The frequency of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is nearly 100-fold higher in southern Chinese than in most European populations. Earlier studies have suggested that an increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is associated with specific haplotypes in the HLA region: relative risks slightly over twofold were found for haplotypes A2, Bw46 and the antigen B17. We now report a linkage study based on affected sib pairs which suggests that a gene closely linked to the HLA locus confers a greatly increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The maximum likelihood estimate is of a relative risk of approximately 21. The relationship between this suspected disease susceptibility gene (or genes) and known viral and environmental aetiological factors remains to be elucidated.

[Establishment and application of serologic diagnosis method in human immunodeficiency virus]

Using immunoenzymatic method (IE) for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) serologic detection, and comparing with indirect immunofluorescence method (IIF). This method had same specificity and reproducibility but more sensitivity than IIF. Because it is simple, practical and suitable, IE method can replace IIF as the HIV serologic screening method suited to base application. Using HIV-1 immunoenzymatic reagent kit in Ivory Coast obtained good results.

[Establishment of hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies against-p30 antigen]

BALB/c mice were immunized with the purified p30 antigen. SP2/0 myeloma cells and immune spleen cells were fused with 50% PEG (Sigma, MW 3,350-4,000). The cell fusion rate was 93.95%, and the antibody producing rate 21.01%. The technique of limiting dilution was used for cloning of the hybridoma cells. Two hybridoma cell lines E8 and G1 secreting McAb against p30 antigen were obtained. The number of chromosome of both E8 and G1 cell lines was 98.7 +/- 6.54 and 97.7 +/- 7.77, respectively. Results of the PAGE of the ascites generated by the hybridoma cell lines E8 and G1 showed a thick protein band at the gamma-region which was absent from the ascites generated by the SP 2/0 myeloma cells. The immunoglobulin of the McAb E8 and G1 belonged to IgG2 subclass. The results of the immunohistochemical method using the horseradish peroxidase conjugated antibody showed that both E8 and G1 McAb only reacted with epithelial cells of the normal human prostatic glands and their ducts, but did not cross-react with other thirty-four different kinds of normal human tissues. The results of inhibiting ELISA test showed that both E8 and G1 McAb were only inhibited by the human seminal plasma and p30, weakly inhibited by the adult male's urine, but were not inhibited by other eight different kinds of human body fluids and secretions as well as semen from eight different species of animals. It was concluded that McAb of E8 and G1 were organ and species specific.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Volatile nitrosamine levels and genotoxicity of food samples from high-risk areas for nasopharyngeal carcinoma before and after nitrosation

Traditional life-style, especially food habits, infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and genetic factors, have been associated with an increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). N-Nitroso compounds and other carcinogens either present in food or formed endogenously, as well as food constituents that activate EBV, have been suspected as etiological factors in NPC pathogenesis. For their characterization preserved food items, frequently consumed in NPC endemic areas in Tunisia, South China and Greenland, were sampled and screened for the presence of mutagens and volatile nitrosamines before and after nitrosation. Aqueous extracts as well as 2 organic extracts of the samples were assayed for genotoxicity in 2 Salmonella typhimurium strains and the SOS chromotest. The same extracts had previously been analyzed for volatile nitrosamines and for EBV-activating substances in Raji cells. In our study, 13 out of 16 food samples showed a weak, directly-acting genotoxicity in the SOS chromotest in at least one of the extracts, but only one sample from Greenland was found to be weakly mutagenic in Salmonella TA 98. Chemical nitrosation for 9 out of 15 samples of aqueous food extracts increased the genotoxic effect in the SOS chromotest. Levels of volatile nitrosamines were also elevated for 12 out of 15 samples; highest levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine were found in hard salted and dried fish from China (1,200 micrograms/kg) and highest N-nitrosopyrrolidine levels in a Tunisian spice (3,840 micrograms/kg). In non-nitrosated aqueous food extracts, the level of volatile nitrosamines and genotoxic activities were not correlated with the EBV-inducing activity of the same samples. After chemical nitrosation, EBV-inducing activity was decreased or showed no change and was not correlated with increases in either the genotoxicity or the nitrosamine levels. Our results suggest that EBV-activating compounds belong to a different class of substances. However, there was an association between the changes in genotoxicity and nitrosamine levels due to nitrosation.

Clinical analysis of four Chinese hemophiliacs with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now considered as the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A high risk of AIDS has been reported among patients with hemophilia who received lyophilized commercial factor VIII and IX concentrates of American origin. At a prevalent survey from September to December 1985, HIV antibodies were found in all four patients with hemophilia treated with the batch number W87307, 955 I.U. of American commercial factor VIII concentrate supplied by Armour Pharmaceutical Company, USA. One of the sero-positive patients developed AIDS-related complex (ARC) and died of cerebral hemorrhage. The other three sero-positive patients had abnormalities in cell-mediated immunity. Of them two developed left lumbosacral radiculopathy and hemorrhagic herpes zoster and one remained well so far.