Skeletal maturity of the hand and wrist in Chinese children in Changsha assessed by TW2 method

Skeletal maturity of 2122 normal children aged 2-20 years in the southern Chinese city of Changsha have been assessed by the TW2 score method. These mean bone ages are lower than the British standards up to puberty and thereafter higher than the British standards.

[The beneficial effect of qigong on the ventricular function and microcirculation in deficiency of heart-energy hypertensive patients]

Ultrasonic cardiogram was performed on 120 aged subjects. Experiment showed that the left ventricular function in the hypertensive aged group (n = 80) was lower than that in the aged group (n = 40), while the left ventricular function in the deficiency of heart-energy hypertensive patients (n = 46) was the lowest in the non-deficiency of heart-energy hypertensive patients (n = 34). After practising Qigong for 1 year, the cardiac output (CO) was increased, the total peripheral resistance (TPR) was decreased, ejection fraction (EF) mitral valve diastolic closing velocity and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mvcf) tended to be increased. The results indicated that Qigong had a regulatory effect on haemodynamic alteration as well as on improvement of left ventricular function. Nailfold microcirculation detection of 120 aged subjects was made. It found that hypertension had an accelerating effect on the disturbance of microcirculation. The incidence of disturbance of microcirculation was 73.91% in the deficiency of heart-energy hypertensive patients, after 1 year Qigong practice, the incidence of disturbance of microcirculation was 39.13% (P less than 0.01). The result suggested that Qigong had an effect to improve the disturbance of microcirculation. The above data indicate that Qigong can benefit heart-energy and regulate the blood channel.

Modulation of N-nitrosomethylurea induced mammary tumorigenesis by dietary fat and voluntary exercise

The effect of dietary fat and exercise on N-nitrosomethylurea [NMU:CAS:684-93-5]-induced mammary tumorigenesis in female F344 rats was investigated. Rats were fed the NIH-07 diet until NMU administration on day 50 of age, when they were transferred to four treatment groups. Three sedentary groups were fed either high-fat (20% wt/wt), medium fat (10%) or low fat (5%) diets (HF, MF, LF, respectively), and a fourth group was fed a HF diet but allowed free access to an activity wheel (HFEX). Tumor yields among the three sedentary groups were significantly greater in the HF and MF groups when compared to the LF group. Voluntary exercise reduced tumor yields and delayed time of tumor appearance in HFEX animals to levels similar to those found in LF sedentary animals. Animals with voluntary access to exercise wheels averaged between 1.03 and 2.85 miles/day, consumed more food (+ 18%) and exhibited greater weight gain (+ 13%) than their sedentary counterparts. No differences in weight gains were detected among the HF, MF, and LF groups, despite widely varying amounts of fat intake. Body composition studies indicated that body fat content was not influenced by the quantity of fat consumed in the diet, but was significantly reduced by voluntary exercise (-20%). Since exercise and fat intake have been associated with alterations in endocrine status, circulating bioactive and immunoactive prolactin were assessed at termination. No significant changes were found in either form of prolactin among the four experimental groups, casting doubt on mediation by this pituitary hormone.

Free radicals-induced abnormal chondrocytes, matrix and mineralization.A new concept of Kaschin-Beck's disease

Free radical generating substances, including fulvic acids, mycotoxins, Fe(II), etc attack chondrocytes, causing dedifferentiation. The dedifferentiated cells synthesize and secrete abnormal collagens rich in type I instead of the normal type II. These substances also directly attack collagens in the extracellular matrix. The abnormal collagens make the matrix change from hydroxyapatite crystallization inhibiting to promoting, and give crystals of low crystallinity, high aggregation and small size. This study leads to a new concept of the development of Kaschin-Beck's Disease (KBD).

Toxicity studies of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene. II. Chronic feeding studies

The antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were fed in the diet to male F344 rats in two chronic feeding studies. In one study, feeding BHT for 76 wk at concentrations ranging from 100 to 6000 ppm produced no increase in neoplasms at any site. In a second study, feeding 12,000 ppm BHT for 110 wk had no neoplastic effect at any site, whereas feeding BHA at 12,000 ppm resulted in a small increase in squamous cell papillomas of the non-glandular squamous portion of the stomach.

The rapid determination of the ABO group from body fluids (or stains) by dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) using enzyme-labeled monoclonal antibodies

Using ABH enzyme-labeled monoclonal antibodies, the authors could rapidly detect the ABO group from body fluids and body fluid stains by the dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA). In this test, the antigen was immobilized on nitrocellulose paper; the entire piece of paper was coated with an appropriate dilution of enzyme-labeled McAb directly against the antigen of interest; and, finally, 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) substrate solution was added. The site of a positive reaction is clearly visible as a brown spot. We analyzed 521 samples and got satisfactory results. We also analyzed 99 practical case samples by this method and achieved the same results as those obtained by other researchers using other methods. This method is accurate, simple, direct, rapid, and sensitive; it also produces easily observed results, requires no equipment, and can be completed in 30 min. The test proved to be clearly more sensitive for the detection of the ABO blood group in secretor saliva than the conventional hemagglutination inhibition test. Also saliva diluted 10(-4) to 10(-5) and the ABO group of nonsecretor saliva and urine could be easily detected by this method.

Carcinogenicity tests of fecapentaene-12 in mice and rats

Fecapentaenes, a class of direct-acting bacterial mutagens, have been isolated from the feces and intestinal tract of humans on a Western meat-containing diet. Two bioassays to test pure fecapentaene-12 (FP-12) for carcinogenicity were performed. FP-12 in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution was injected i.p. into newborn ICR/MA mice on days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14 and 21. The mice killed after 21 months had neoplasms in liver, lung, glandular stomach and subcutaneous fibrosarcoma. Intrarectal (i.r.) infusion of FP-12 in an aqueous vehicle into male F344 rats for 71 weeks, and killing the rats after 21 weeks more, displayed no evidence of neoplasia associated with FP-12 exposure. The positive control, N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU), given i.r. as 4 2-mg doses in 2 weeks, as expected, yielded multiple colonic neoplasms in less than 11 months. Fecapentaene may exert its effect in bacteria and in newborn mice through the generation of hydroxy radicals. However, adult rodent and human colon may have adequate biochemical defense mechanisms against low level, even continuous exposures to chemicals like FP-12, and thus be at low risk of neoplasia, as was found.

[Influence of qigong therapy upon serum HDL-C in hypertensive patients]

The serum HDL-C concentration of 100 hypertensive patients had been measured. The results showed that the mean levels of cholesterol (Tc), triglyceride (Tg), LDL-C and AI (AI-Tc-HDL-C/HDL-C) in the serum of male hypertensive patients (n = 100) all were significantly higher than those of male normotensive subjects (n = 50), while the mean levels of serum HDL-C, HDL-C/Tc and HDL-C/LDL-C of male hypertensive patients all were significantly lower than those of male normotensive subjects. The 100 hypertensive patients were also divided randomly into Qigong group (Qigong with regularly antihypertensive drug taking, n = 50) and control group (with regularly antihypertensive drug taking only, n = 50). After one year treatment, in Qigong group, the levels of Tc, Tg, LDL-C and AI were decreased; while the levels of HDL-C, HDL-C/Tc and HDL-C/LDL-C were significant increased. In control group, however, no significant changes were found. The differences between the two groups both were statistically significant (P less than 0.05-0.001). The above results indicated that Qigong practising could elevate serum levels of HDL-C and regulatory metabolism of lipid.

[Development and application of hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibody against poly-human serum albumin]

Two hybridomas which secrete monoclonal antibody (McAb) against polymerized human serum albumin (PHSA) were obtained by the fusion of SP2/0 myeloma cell with immune murine spleen cells. One of the McAb was identified as mouse IgG1, the other was IgM. The titers of these purified McAb was 1:16 364 with passive hemagglutination assay (PHA). After labelling with 125I by chloramine-T method, a solid phase radioimmune assay for detecting the PHSA has yielded in 21 positive results, out of 126 HBsAg positive sera, but 53 HBsAg negative sera were all negative. At present we have not seen any report of PHSA present in circulation. PHSA may be as a bridge bind receptor between HBV and hepatocytes and then initiate infection. The appearance of PHSA in HBsAg positive sera could be the result of the damage of the liver during virus infection. More work should be done for this explanation.

Inhibition of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced DNA adduct formation and tumorigenicity in the lung of F344 rats by dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate

F344 rats fed diets containing phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC, 3 mumol/g diet), a cruciferous vegetable component, before and during treatment with the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), developed about 50% fewer lung tumors than NNK-treated rats fed control diets. NNK-induced liver and nasal cavity tumors in rats were, however, not affected by this dietary treatment. The effects of PEITC diets on the formation of DNA adducts by NNK were also investigated in these target tissues. DNA methylation and pyridyloxobutylation by NNK were both decreased by 50% in lung of rats fed PEITC diets compared to that of rats fed control diets, but the levels of DNA methylation were not affected in liver and nasal mucosa. These results correlated with those from the carcinogenicity bioassay, suggesting that DNA alkylations could be used as indicators for screening inhibitors of NNK tumorigenesis. A slight increase in the number of tumors of the exocrine pancreas was observed in PEITC-fed rats with or without NNK treatments. However, these incidences were not statistically significant when compared to the control groups. The potential toxicity of PEITC at concentrations ranging from 0.75 mumol to 6 mumol/g diet was evaluated in a 13-week study. The only toxicity caused by this treatment was minimal fatty metamorphosis in the liver. Considering the widespread human exposure to NNK through tobacco use, it is of practical importance to demonstrate inhibition of lung tumors induced by this carcinogen. These results provide a basis for studies designed to discover agents of better efficacy for the prevention of NNK-induced tumorigenesis.

Mutagenicity and tumorigenicity of dihydrodiols, diol epoxides, and other derivatives of benzo(f)quinoline and benzo(h)quinoline

The mutagenic activities of benzo[f]quinoline, benzo[h]quinoline, and a number of their derivatives, including dihydrodiols, K-region oxides, diol epoxides, and tetrahydroepoxides, were assessed in strain TA 100 of Salmonella typhimurium. The dihydrodiol derivatives of benzo[f]quinoline and benzo[h]quinoline were also tested for tumorigenic activity in newborn mice. Benzo[f]quinoline was metabolically activated in the presence of rat liver S-9 preparation to products mutagenic to the bacterial system to a greater extent than was benzo[h]quinoline. However, trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[f]quinoline was less mutagenic compared to trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[h]quinoline in the presence of rat liver homogenate. The data on the mutagenic activity of the dihydrodiol derivatives of benzoquinolines were consistent with the intrinsic mutagenicity of the corresponding epoxide derivatives, in that the bay-region diol epoxides and tetrahydroepoxide of benzo[h]quinoline exhibited considerably higher mutagenic activities compared to those of the corresponding derivatives of benzo[f]quinoline at equivalent doses. The K-region oxides of benzo[f]quinoline and benzo[h]quinoline were significantly less mutagenic than their corresponding bay-region diol epoxide and tetrahydroepoxide derivatives. The demonstration that benzo[f]quinoline is significantly more mutagenic than trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[f]quinoline, a precursor to the weakly mutagenic bay-region diol epoxide, suggests that the bay-region diol epoxide formation is not the principal pathway for the metabolic activation of benzo[f]quinoline to a mutagen. On the other hand, the isomeric benzo[h]quinoline appears to exert its mutagenic effect via the formation of its bay-region diol epoxide. These results indicate that the position of a nitrogen heteroatom in phenanthrene (the analogous carbocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) not only has a marked effect on the mutagenic activities of the diol epoxide derivatives, but also can alter the metabolic activation pathways of the parent hydrocarbon. Benzo[f]quinoline, benzo[h]quinoline, and their dihydrodiol derivatives were not tumorigenic in newborn mice.

Effects of dietary sinigrin or indole-3-carbinol on O6-methylguanine-DNA-transmethylase activity and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced DNA methylation and tumorigenicity in F344 rats

The effects of dietary sinigrin and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on DNA methylation and O6-methylguanine--DNA-transmethylase activity, factors which may be of importance in the induction of tumorigenicity by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), were investigated. Additionally, the effects of dietary sinigrin on NNK tumorigenicity were assessed in a two-year bioassay in F344 rats. DNA methylation in target tissues of NNK tumorigenesis was examined in F344 rats administered [3H-CH3]NNK (0.6 mg/kg, four doses) s.c. and fed control or experimental diets for two weeks. Dietary sinigrin at a concentration of 3 mumol/g diet decreased 7-methylguanine formation in hepatic DNA, but had no effect on 7-methylguanine levels of lung or nasal mucosa DNA. Dietary I3C at a concentration of 30 mumol/g diet increased 7-methylguanine levels in hepatic DNA, but decreased DNA methylation in lung and nasal mucosa. No effects on O6-methylguanine--DNA-transmethylase activity were observed in tissue extracts derived from the livers, lungs and nasal mucosae of rats fed diets containing sinigrin or I3C. These results suggested that dietary sinigrin might reduce the incidence of NNK-induced hepatic tumors with no effect on NNK tumorigenesis of the lung and nasal cavity, whereas I3C might increase hepatic tumor incidence and reduce NNK tumorigenesis of the lung and nasal cavity. The bioassay results showed that dietary sinigrin had no effect on NNK tumorigenesis in these target tissues. However, dietary sinigrin plus NNK resulted in a significant incidence of pancreatic tumors, a rare occurrence in F344 rats. While the results from DNA methylation studies are in agreement with the bioassay data for lung and nasal cavity, the absence of any inhibitory effect of dietary sinigrin on NNK hepatic tumorigenesis indicates that factors other than DNA methylation and O6-methylguanine repair should be considered in assessing the effects of dietary compounds on NNK hepatic tumorigenesis. The contrary effects on NNK-induced hepatic DNA methylation by sinigrin and I3C, two major components of cruciferous vegetables, demonstrate the complexities of dietary modulation of carcinogenesis.

Influence of dietary fat, caloric restriction, and voluntary exercise on N-nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats

The effect of dietary fat, energy restriction, and exercise on N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU:CAS:684-93-5)-induced mammary tumorigenesis in female F344 rats was investigated. Rats were fed the NIH-07 diet until N-nitrosomethylurea administration on Day 50 of age, when they were transferred to six treatment groups. Three sedentary groups were fed either high-fat (20%, w/w), medium-fat (10%), or low-fat (5%) diets ad libitum (HFAL, MFAL, LFAL, respectively); two sedentary groups were fed high fat and medium fat diets restricted to 75% of the food consumed by their ad libitum counterparts (HFR, MFR), and one group was fed a HFAL diet but allowed free access to an activity wheel (HFEX). Tumor yields among the three ad libitum sedentary groups were significantly greater in the HFAL and MFAL groups when compared to the LFAL group. Dietary restriction reduced tumor yields by more than 90% of ad libitum controls regardless of fat intake. Voluntary exercise reduced tumor yields and delayed time of tumor appearance in HFEX animals to levels similar to those found in LFAL animals. Animals with voluntary access to exercise wheels averaged between 1.03 and 2.85 miles/day, consumed more food (+18%), and exhibited greater weight gain (+13%) than their sedentary counterparts. Restricted animals exhibited significantly decreased body weight gains (-15%) compared to their ad libitum counterparts, but no differences in weight gains were detected among the HFAL, MFAL, and LFAL groups, despite widely varying amounts of fat intake. Body composition studies indicated that body fat content was not influenced by the quantity of fat consumed in the diet, but was significantly reduced by caloric restriction (-20 to 26%) and exercise (-20%). While the precise mechanisms underlying the tumor-promoting effects of HFAL diets and the antipromoting effects of energy restriction and exercise remain to be elucidated, available evidence suggests that these effects are not due to alterations in energy homeostasis per se, but may instead be exerted indirectly, and perhaps independently via endocrine, paracrine, or neurohormonal mechanisms.

Carcinogenicity of quinoline, 4- and 8-methylquinoline and benzoquinolines in newborn mice and rats

The relative tumorigenic activity of quinoline, 4-methylquinoline, 8-methylquinoline, and all three isomeric benzoquinolines was evaluated in newborn CD-1 mice and Sprague-Dawley rats. In the newborn-mouse bioassay, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mumol of each compound in dimethylsulphoxide was administered by ip injection on days 1, 8 and 15 of life, respectively. The bioassay was terminated when the mice were 1 yr old. The incidence of liver tumours observed for those male mice treated with either quinoline or 4-methylquinoline was greater than 78%. 8-Methylquinoline, naphthalene, benzo[f]quinoline, benzo[h]quinoline and phenanthridine did not exhibit significant tumorigenic activity in this bioassay. In contrast to these results, none of these compounds induced a significant incidence of liver tumours in female mice. Each of these aza-arenes was administered to newborn Sprague-Dawley rats by supra-scapular injections of 200 mumol/kg body weight in dimethylsulphoxide on the first day of life, 100 mumol weekly at wk 2-7, and 20 mumol at wk 8. This bioassay was terminated when the rats were 78 wk old. No significant difference in tumour incidence was observed between the pups that had been treated with these aza-arenes and the controls. These data indicate that quinoline and 4-methylquinoline are more potent tumorigens than any of the three isomers of benzoquinoline evaluated in this study. In contrast to the potent hepatocarcinogenic activity observed for both quinoline and 4-methylquinoline in newborn mice, no significant tumorigenic activity was observed with these aza-arenes in newborn rats.

Effect of restricted caloric intake on azoxymethane-induced colon tumor incidence in male F344 rats

The effect of 30% caloric restriction on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis was investigated in male F344 rats. Starting at 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed ad libitum a high-fat (23.5%) semipurified diet. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks). Four days after the second AOM injection, groups of animals were continued on high-fat diet and fed ad libitum (ad libitum group) whereas other groups were restricted to 70% of total calories (calorie-restricted group) consumed by the ad libitum group, but received same amounts of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Thirty-two weeks after AOM injections, all animals were necropsied. The animals in the calorie-restricted group developed significantly fewer colon tumors and had a lower colon tumor incidence than did the rats in the ad libitum group. The size of colon tumors was also reduced in the calorie-restricted group.

Comparison of stomach cancer induced in rats by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine or N-propyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and N-propyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (PNNG) were administered to male F344 rats at a single dose of 200 mg/kg by gavage and the animals were observed for 110 weeks. The results revealed that PNNG was a weaker carcinogen for the stomach than MNNG under these conditions. After MNNG, the mortality of animals was higher and their average survival time was shorter than after PNNG. Neoplasms were induced in both the forestomach and glandular stomach by both agents. The incidence of forestomach tumors was high: 85% with MNNG, 64% with PNNG, but with PNNG a greater proportion of the forestomach neoplasms were benign. The incidence of neoplasms of the glandular stomach was 18% with PNNG as compared to 65% with MNNG. Intestinal metaplasia appeared in the glandular stomach after exposure to either MNNG or PNNG. There was also a high incidence in untreated control rats. Most glandular stomach neoplasms were composed of both gastric-type and intestinal-type epithelial elements. Only 3 cases of adenocarcinomas were composed solely of intestinal-type cells. These findings suggest that intestinal metaplasia may not necessarily be a preneoplastic stage.

Induction of colon cancer in inbred Syrian hamsters by intrarectal administration of benzo[alpha]pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

Large bowel neoplasms were induced in male Syrian hamsters of the inbred strain BIO15.16 by intrarectal instillation of benzo[alpha]pyrene (BP), 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Groups of hamsters were given 0.8 mg BP once weekly for 30 weeks, 0.8 mg 3-MC twice weekly for 30 weeks, or 0.8 mg MNU once weekly for 15 weeks. The experiment was terminated after 1 year. The incidences of colon neoplasms were 6% with BP exposure, 20% with 3-MC and 95% with MNU. The colon neoplasms induced by BP and 3-MC were mostly adenocarcinomas. In the group given MNU, adenocarcinomas were also produced but a substantial incidence of squamous cell carcinomas was found. These results demonstrate that the colonic mucosa of this strain of hamster is quite susceptible to cancer induction.