Characterization of a Cold-Regulated Wheat Gene Related to Arabidopsis cor47

The cDNA clone pWG1 represents a gene, designated cor39, from Triticum aestivum L. cv Winoka (a winter wheat) that is related to a cold-regulated Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Heyn) gene, cor47. In vitro transcription/translation experiments in conjunction with DNA sequence analysis indicated that cor39 encodes a hydrophilic polypeptide of 39 kD (isoelectric point of 7.5), designated COR39. The polypeptide is composed primarily of two sequences, each of which is repeated six times. One sequence, which is lysine rich, occurs in COR47 (the polypeptide encoded by Arabidopsis cor47) and group II LEA proteins, polypeptides hypothesized to have roles in desiccation and drought tolerance (J. Baker, C. Steele, L. Dure III [1988] Plant Mol Biol 11: 277-291). The second sequence, which is glycine rich, occurs in some, but not all, group II LEA proteins. Southern analysis indicated that wheat has a number of loci related to cor39. Transcripts of about 3.3, 1.5, and 0.8 kb that hybridize with cor39 were found to accumulate in leaf, root, and crown tissues of cold-acclimated plants; they accumulated rapidly in response to low temperature and returned quickly to low levels when plants were returned to normal growth temperature. Transcripts hybridizing with cor39 were present at relatively high levels in wheat seeds and accumulated in plants in response to exogenous application of ABA and water stress. The similarities in expression of wheat and Arabidopsis cor genes and possible functional relationships among COR39, COR47, and LEA proteins are discussed.

[An experimental study of the antitumor activity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in human tongue carcinoma in vitro]

In the present paper tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from lymph nodes of human tongue carcinoma patients were obtained by discontinuous density gradients centrifugation and used in experimental treatment. The results showed that 1.3 x 10(8) TIL/g lymph node tissue were gotten by the above method. TIL activated by rIL-2 exhibited higher cytotoxicity to Tca8113 cell line than the same patient's LAK cells (81.48% and 24.69% respectively). There was significantly difference in the cytotoxicity between two groups (P < 0.01), indicating that TIL were the best source of adoptive immunotherapy.

[The antitumor effect of DNL/rIL-2 and Pingyangmycin on human tongue carcinoma(Tca 8113) transplanted to Nude Mice]

We have tried to find out if the combination of DNL/rIL-2 and antitumor drug is able to induce a synergistic increase in the antitumor therapeutic effect.DNL were obtained from the patients who suffered from primary tongue cancer were been performed operation of radical neck dissection.When the ratio of the effectors to the targets was 5:1 with local administration,rIL-2 5x10(5)Kg/d and PYM 5mg kg/d ip administration,the inhibitory rate of tumor growth was 86%.The results showed a significant rate increase when compared with the therpeutic effect obtained by DNL/rIL-2,or PYM alone (P<0.05).In addition,we used Burgi formula to evaluated the antitumor effect of DNL/rIL-2 combined with PYM.The q value was 1.46.These results suggest that immunotherapy and chemotherapy perhaps function synergistically.

Membrane affinity chromatography used for the separation of trypsin inhibitor

Polysulphone (PS) was chemically modified by acrylation-amination and by chloromethylation-amination, respectively. An ultrafiltration membrane of chemically modified polysulphone (CMPS) was prepared by the phase inversion method. Trypsin was then covalently bonded onto the CMPS membrane by diazotization. The activity of immobilized trypsin reaches up to 10200 U/g; 15 mg trypsin was immobilized on 1 g CMPS membrane. Separation of soybean trypsin inhibitor was carried out on the affinity membrane, yielding 6.5 mg pure trypsin inhibitor in one run. The enzyme membrane has good activity and stability.

Alternative splicing of beta-tropomyosin pre-mRNA: cis-acting elements and cellular factors that block the use of a skeletal muscle exon in nonmuscle cells

The rat beta-tropomyosin (beta-TM) gene encodes both skeletal muscle beta-TM and fibroblast TM-1 by an alternative RNA-splicing mechanism. This gene contains 11 exons. Exons 1-5, 8, and 9 are common to all mRNAs expressed from the gene. Exons 6 and 11 are used in fibroblasts as well as smooth muscle cells, whereas exons 7 and 10 are used in skeletal muscle cells. In this study we have carried out an extensive mutational analysis to identify cis-acting elements that block the use of the skeletal muscle-specific exon 7 in nonmuscle cells. These studies localize the critical elements for regulated alternative splicing to sequences within exon 7 and the adjacent upstream intron. In addition, mutations that inactivate the 5'- or 3'-splice sites of exon 6 do not result in the use of the skeletal muscle-specific exon 7 in nonmuscle cells, suggesting that splice-site selection in vivo is not regulated by a simple cis-acting competition mechanism but, rather, by a mechanism that inhibits the use of exon 7 in certain cellular environments. In support of this hypothesis we have identified sequence-specific RNA-binding proteins in HeLa cell nuclear extracts using native gel electrophoresis and binding competition assays. Mutations in the pre-mRNA that result in the use of the skeletal muscle exon in vivo also disrupt the binding of these proteins to the RNA in vitro. We propose that the binding of these proteins to the pre-mRNA is involved in regulated alternative splicing and that this interaction is required for blocking the use of the skeletal muscle exon in nonmuscle cells.

Tension pneumocephalus following ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a case report

A case of tension pneumocephalus following suboccipital craniectomy and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery for obstructive hydrocephalus due to the presence of a cerebellopontine (CP) angle tumor is reported. The air entries were found on both sides of the frontal skull base. The formation of the fistula may have been either due to congenital bony defects or chronically elevated intracranial pressure. Iopamidol computed tomographic (CT) cisternogram was one of the diagnostic tools. Direct surgical repair of those bony-dural defects was mandatory in the prevention of the recurrence of the pneumocephalus.

Correlates of liver cancer mortality in China

To provide clues to the causes of liver cancer in China, we studied the correlation of certain dietary and biochemical markers with liver cancer mortality across 65 Chinese counties. Mortality rates were significantly linked to the county-wide prevalence of hepatitis-B surface antigen positivity. Rates were also higher in counties with high plasma levels of total cholesterol and high consumption of liquor, rapeseed oil, and mouldy corn, while inverse associations were observed for wheat consumption. All of the observed associations, except those with cholesterol and rapeseed oil, were more pronounced in men than in women. No significant correlations with liver cancer mortality were found for consumption of several other foods; plasma levels of retinol, beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, zinc and ferritin; or urine levels of aflatoxin B1. Although causal inferences cannot be derived, this ecological study suggests that chronic infection with hepatitis-B virus contributes to the substantial variation in liver cancer mortality in China, and provides leads for further studies into the role of dietary and nutritional determinants.

[T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of patients with bone tumors]

Peripheral blood T-cell subsets of 54 patients with malignant or benign bone and soft tissue tumors and 20 age-and sex-matched normal controls were studied by using monoclonal antibodies. T-cell subsets were also studied before and after operation in ten patients with osteosarcoma. The number of T cells (OKT 11) and OKT 4 cells significantly decreased in malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. The number of OKT 8 cells increased. Statistically significant decrease in the T4/T8 ratio and the number of macrophage were also found in malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. In giant cell tumor of bone, the number of T cells and OKT 4 cells were also statistically decreased. But, the number of OKT 8 cells and macrophage remained unchanged. The ratio of T 4/T 8 was nearly normal. There was no difference in T cell subsets between benign bone tumors and normal controls. In malignant bone tumors, the number of T cells and T 4/T 8 ratio in some degree may be as a predictor for prognosis.

A case-control study of cancer of the esophagus and gastric cardia in Linxian

A case-control study involving interviews with 1,244 patients (758 males and 486 females) with cancer of the esophagus or gastric cardia and 1,314 population-based controls (789 males, 525 females) was carried out in Linxian, a rural county in North Central China with one of the world's highest mortality rates for these tumors. Cancer risks tended to rise with increasing intake of wheat and corn, but no association was found with adult intake of pickled vegetables, the leading a priori suspect, and risks were not elevated among those consuming low quantities of fresh vegetables or fruits. Few differences in preparation or storage of food or water were detected, although cancer patients reported less fluid intake than controls. Few persons reported drinking alcoholic beverages. Smoking was reported by 61% of the male cases and was a mild risk factor, related more to cancer of the cardia than of the esophagus. The risk was increased by 70% among those whose parents had esophageal or stomach cancer, but only slightly among those whose spouses had such cancers, suggesting that exposure early in life and/or genetic effects may be involved.

Canine distemper virus in coyotes: a serologic survey

Serum samples from 228 coyotes were selected randomly from a serum bank assembled from Texas from 1975 to 1984 and were evaluated serologically for neutralizing antibodies against canine distemper virus (CDV). One hundred and twenty-eight (56%) of the 228 coyotes had antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:5 against CDV (seropositive). The serologic prevalence (seroprevalence) of antibodies against CDV infection was higher in the spring (62%) than in the fall (40%). The seroprevalence of CDV in various age groups was different; 25 of 101 coyotes (25%) were seropositive at less than 1 year of age, 35 of 52 (67%) were positive between 1 and 2 years of age, and 68 of 75 (91%) were positive at greater than or equal to 2 years of age. The results indicated that CDV was enzootic in coyote populations of southern Texas, with an increasing number of seropositive coyotes noted annually. The sex of the coyote did not appear to be related to the seroprevalence against CDV.

Synthesis of methyl O-(3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1----6)-O-beta-D- galactopyranosyl-(1----6)-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside and related N.M.R. studies

Sequential tritylation, benzoylation, and detritylation of methyl 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside gave crystalline methyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-galactopyranoside (9), which was used as the initial nucleophile in the synthesis of the target oligosaccharide (16). Treatment of 9 with 2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-6-O-bromoacetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide gave the corresponding disaccharide derivative 13, having a selectively removable blocking group at O-6'. Debromoacetylation of 13 afforded the disaccharide nucleophile 14 which, when treated with 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide, gave the fully protected trisaccharide 15. Debenzoylation of 15 gave the title glycoside 16. Condensation reactions were performed with silver trifluoromethane-sulfonate as a promoter in the presence of sym-collidine under base-deficient conditions, and gave excellent yields of the desired beta(trans)-products. Analyses of the 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra, as well as determination of the JCF and JHF coupling constants, were made by using various one- and two-dimensional n.m.r. techniques.