[Quality of tuberous root of Liriope spicata (Thunb.) Lour. var. prolifera Y.T.Ma and Ophiopogon japonicus (L.F.) Ker-Gawl.--comparison of immune function]

This paper deals with comparative study on the immune function of the tuberous root of Liriope spicata var. prolifera and Ophiopogon japonicus. The results showed that the aqueous extract of both species mentioned above could increase obviously the spleen weight (immunity organ) of mice, enhance the clearance rate of iv charcoal particles in mice and antagonize remarkably the leukopenia caused by cyclophosphamide.

[Studies on the quality of fructus Cnidii--comparison of antibacterial action]

Comparative studies on antibacterial and antifungal action of the fruits of C. monnieri from four habitats and two other species of Cnidium showed they had inhibitory potency to some bacterial and fungi in vitro. C. monnieri and C. salium were more effective than C. dahuricum in antibacterial activities. C. monnieri had higher antifungal effect than C. salium and C. dahuricum.

[Textual and herbal studies on shashen and qini (Adenophora spp.)]

This paper reports the origins of the Chinese traditional drugs nanshashen and beishashen, as well as the original plants of shashen, xingyeshashen, xiyeshasen and qini recorded in the bencaological works of the past dynasties. Our study shows that shashen is Adenophora stricta, both xingyeshashen and qini are A. hunanensis and xiyeshashen is A. paniculata.

[Survey of an outbreak of mycoplasmal pneumonia firstly discovered in Zhejiang Province]

An exceptional outbreak of mycoplasmal pneumonia in a factory of prisoners, Juzhou city, Zhejiang province, during November to December, 1985 was reported. In the course of the epidemic 102 cases were infected, with an attack rate of 3.3 per cent, but the attack rate in the outbreak point was 29.1 per cent. All cases were not dead. This outbreak was diagnosed as mycoplasmal pneumonia by clinical observation, X ray examination serological test and epidemiological survey. The sources of infection were 3 sporadic patients. The epidemic was quickly controlled by using comprehensive preventive measures.

[Investigation on resources of the Chinese drug beimu in Gansu Province]

Based on a resources investigation and taxonomic research on the medicinal plants of Fritillaria from Gansu Province. Nine species one variety and one cultivation variety have been reported. Records and distribution of the species, together with a key for the species and a key for the powdered drug have been furnished as well.

[Various methods for purification of urine Tamm-Horsfall protein]

The measurements of serum, urine Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) and its antibody are essential to the early diagnosis of tubulointerstitial diseases and acute rejection after renal transplantation. The purification of THP proves to be the key procedure for the production of diagnostic kit. Once, twice and three times salt precipitation with 0.58 mol/L NaCl and chromatography with Sephadax G-200 were adopted to purify urine THP. Enzyme immunoassay was used to detect the antigenicity of the products, SDS-PAGE to determine the molecular weight (MW) and the electrophoretic purity (EP), Beckman DU-7 model spectrophotometer to scan the ultraviolet absorption spectrum. Evaluation of the four methods was based on the purity and the antigenicity of the produced THP, the output, the complexity of procedure, and the cost of required materials. Results show that the MW of THP is 93.0 kd; the ultraviolet absorption maximum is at lambda = 278 nm; the outputs are 7.5, 5.5, 3.8, and 0.4 mg/L; the concentrations of THP with antigenicity are 65%, 75%, 98% and 100%, respectively, and the EPs of three times salt precipitation and chromatography are better. It is concluded that three times salt precipitation should be recommended because of its excellence in purity and antigenicity of the produced THP, the simplicity of manipulation, and the cheapness of the materials needed.

Deletions and a translocation interrupt a cloned gene at the neurofibromatosis type 1 locus

Three new neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) mutations have been detected and characterized. Pulsed-field gel and Southern blot analyses reveal the mutations to be deletions of 190, 40, and 11 kb of DNA. The 11 kb deletion does not contain any of the previously characterized genes that lie between two NF1 translocation breakpoints, but it does include a portion of a rodent/human conserved DNA sequence previously shown to span one of the translocation breakpoints. By screening cDNA libraries with the conserved sequence, we identified a number of cDNA clones from the translocation breakpoint region (TBR), one of which hybridizes to an approximately 11 kb mRNA. The TBR gene crosses at least one of the chromosome 17 translocation breakpoints found in NF1 patients. Furthermore, the newly characterized NF1 deletions remove internal exons of the TBR gene. Although these mutations might act by compromising regulatory elements affecting some other gene, these findings strongly suggest that the TBR gene is the NF1 gene.

[Analysis of essential oils in roots and fruits of Angelica in Northeast China]

The essential oils of roots and fruits of five species of Angelica have been examined and analysed by GC-MS-DS; 59 chemical compounds are reported, of which alpha-pinene, myrcene and p-cymene are common to all five species. This paper provides a scientific basis for developing the resources of this genus in the Northeast.

[Studies on blood galactokinase of patients with presenile and senile cataracts]

Whole blood galactokinase (GK) activities were determined in 278 individuals including 77 patients with senile cataracts, 60 with presenile cataracts and 141 normal controls. No significant difference was found among the GK levels of the three groups. The frequency of GK heterozygocity in the presenile cataract group, however, was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P less than 0.01), suggesting that even a partial decrease in GK activity might facilitate cataract formation in relatively early stages of life. The intake of milk and its products should be limited, both in GK homo- and heterozygotes.

[Chemical constituents of Isodon parvifolia (Batalin) Hara]

Twelve compounds were isolated from the leaves and stems of Isodon parvifolia. This paper deals with the isolation and identification of two diterpenes epinodosinol (I), lasiodonin (II) and two triterpenes alpha-amyrin (XI a) and beta-amyrin (XI b).

[Analgesic and sedative effects of the Chinese drug rhizoma Paridis]

The analgesic and sedative actions of Chinese drug Rhizoma Paridis are reported. All of the 6 experimented species and varieties in common use are obviously effective. Among them Paris polyphylla var. chinensis, P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis are stronger in analgesic action. Sedative action of P. fargesii, P. polyphylla var. chinensis, P. thibetica is also strong. In addition, pariphyllin A and gracillin were also used in the experiment.

A Motion Stereo Method Based on Coarse-to-Fine Control Strategy

This correspondence presents a motion stereo method based on coarse-to-fine control strategy. A camera sliding straight takes images that form a set of stereo pairs. The matching proceeds from the shortest baseline pair to the longest baseline pair, using the disparity map already obtained to guide in searching for the next pair.