[The endocrine abnormalities of depressive patients]

In the present study, the levels of the baseline cortisol, thyrotropin (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and growth hormone (GH) were determined in 64 depressive patients, 17 patients with other depressive disorders and 19 normal controls. Meanwhile, dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) were conducted. The baseline cortisol level at 23:00 in the depressive group (8.12 +/- 5.55 micrograms/dl) was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (4.80 +/- 2.10 micrograms/dl), and DST nonsuppression ratio in the depressive group (14.5%) was significantly higher than those in the other two groups (0%). There were not significantly differences in the levels of the baseline TSH, T3 and T4 between the three groups. There were not significantly differences in the baseline GH level between the three groups, but GH level in the depressive group at 90 min. after infusing insulin was significantly lower than that in the normal control group. The results showed the HPA axis hyperactivity, normal thyroid function and blunted GH response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia at 90 min. in ITT in the depressive patients.

Effect of irradiation on the prostaglandin system of human hypernephroma cells

Specific PGE1-, PGE2-, PGI2-binding sites and the eicosanoid production were investigated in cultured human hypernephroma cells. Low numbers of PGE1-, PGE2- as well as PGI2-high-affinity binding sites and high levels of PG-production were found as compared to normal kidney. Treatment with acetylsalicyclic acid (ASA) significantly (p less than 0.01) increased PGE1-, PGE2- and PGI2-binding sites and inhibited PG-formation. Following irradiation, PG-receptors and eicosanoid generation were significantly (p less than 0.01) diminished, however, were insignificantly lowered in the ASA-treated group. These findings suggest that ASA may modify the radioresponse of cultured hypernephroma cells by preventing the decrease of PG-receptors induced by irradiation.

Tissue-restricted accumulation of a ribosomal protein mRNA is not coordinated with rRNA transcription and precedes growth of the sea urchin pluteus larva

We have identified an mRNA that encodes a protein, SpS24, of the small ribosomal subunit in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. RNA blot and in situ hybridization analyses show that the SpS24 gene is active during early oogenesis, downregulated in the mature egg and during cleavage, and reactivated in the early blastula. The mRNA then increases in abundance at least 100-fold. Later in development, expression of SpS24 mRNA becomes restricted primarily to cells in the oral ectoderm and endoderm of the pluteus larva, and the message is undetectable in aboral ectoderm cells and most mesenchyme cells. To determine whether transcription of the ribosomal RNA genes occurs at a higher rate in oral ectoderm and endoderm tissues, a probe for the transcribed spacer was used in RNase protection and in situ hybridization assays. High concentrations of rRNA-processing intermediates were observed in unfertilized eggs and shown to reside primarily, if not exclusively, in the cytoplasm. The spatial and temporal distributions of these sequences strongly suggest that they are associated with heavy bodies. New embryonic rRNA transcripts are first detectable at the very early blastula stage. In later embryos, the content of this transcribed spacer sequence is similar in all but a few cells, which implies that they synthesize rRNA at a similar low rate. Comparison of available estimates of rRNA transcription rate with the potential rate of SpS24 protein synthesis, calculated from SpS24 mRNA prevalence, shows that oral ectoderm and endoderm cells have the capacity to synthesize 15- to 30-fold more SpS24 protein than is required to keep pace with rRNA synthesis in these cells. Because the sea urchin embryo develops from an egg to a pluteus larva in the absence of growth, this stockpiling of SpS24 mRNA anticipates rather than accompanies the onset of growth, which does not begin until after feeding. Upregulation of this gene is therefore part of the developmental program, rather than a physiological response to nutrient availability.

Cloning and partial sequencing of the porcine growth hormone (pGH) gene from pituitary gland

High molecular weight DNA was isolated from porcine pituitary gland, and a genomic library was constructed using lambda EMBL3 as cloning vector. Five positive clones were identified by in-situ hybridization with the full-length pGH cDNA as the probe. Dot-blot hybridization, restriction analysis, and Southern hybridization showed that one of the positive clones contained the entire pGH gene. A subclone that contained the upstream sequence from the SmaI site of pGH gene was identified, and part of it was sequenced. We also compared the sequence of our pGH gene with the corresponding sequence of the published pGH gene.

Effectiveness of palladium matrix modification for the determination of thallium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The effect of palladium matrix modification on the determination of thallium has been investigated. The effect of palladium combined either with ammonium nitrate or with magnesium nitrate on the sodium chloride interference was systematically studied and was compared with that of the classical sulfuric acid modifier. A combination of 6 micrograms palladium with 100 micrograms ammonium nitrate allows the direct determination of thallium in ten-fold diluted blood against matrix-free standards. The detection limit (3 sigma) in the undiluted blood was calculated to be 25 micrograms.1(-1). For the urine analysis the standard addition technique is recommended because a complete thallium recovery for all different urine samples studied was not always obtained.

Changes in the level of IL-2, T cell subsets and the function of T suppressor cells in patients with schistosomiasis japonica

The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, T cell subsets and the function of T suppressor cells (Ts) in patients with schistosomiasis japonica were investigated. It was found that the level of IL-2 induced by schistosomal antigens was significantly high and positively related to the percentage of CD4+ cells. In the groups of chronic and advanced schistosomiasis japonica, the level of IL-2 induced by schistosomal antigens was markedly lower than that in the group of acute schistosomiasis japonica, but significantly higher than that in the group of normal controls. The IL-2 level was negatively related to the percentage of CD8+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+. The level of IL-2 induced by PHA was greatly reduced in the group of advanced schistosomiasis japonica. The changes in the level of IL-2 and its relationship with T cell subsets and the function of Ts are also discussed.

Isolation of a cDNA clone encoding a human protein-tyrosine phosphatase with homology to the cytoskeletal-associated proteins band 4.1, ezrin, and talin

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR), from primers corresponding to conserved sequences within the catalytic domains of the protein-tyrosine phosphatases, was used to amplify protein-tyrosine phosphatase-related cDNAs from a HeLa cell library. After probing the same cDNA library with one of the PCR products, 10 positive clones were identified. The longest of these clones (3984 base pairs) contained 2739 base pairs of open reading frame and, after a stop codon, a 3' nontranslated segment of 1222 base pairs. A 4.3-kilobase transcript was detected by Northern blot analysis of HeLa cell poly(A)+ RNA. The open reading frame predicts a protein of 913 amino acids (approximately 104 kDa), termed PTPH1. The sequence of PTPH1 can be described in terms of three segments. (i) The N-terminal segment displays homology to the domains in the cytoskeletal-associated proteins band 4.1, ezrin, and talin that direct their association with proteins at the interface between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton in structures such as focal adhesions. (ii) There is a central segment bearing putative phosphorylation sites for protein-serine/threonine kinases. (iii) A segment that is homologous to the members of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase family is located at the C terminus. The structure is discussed in the light of the potential role of PTPH1 in controlling cytoskeletal integrity and the possibility that overexpression of PTPH1 may reverse transformation induced by oncogenic protein-tyrosine kinases, such as the members of the src family.

[Beta-glucuronidase activities assay in the ischemic brain in rats]

Beta-glucuronidase (beta G) being a kind of hydrolases in the lysosome, the change of beta G activities has been known to be related to the degree of the damage of tissues or cells and the permeability of the cellular membranes. This study aimed at investigating beta G activities in rat brains and their changes after incomplete brain ischemia. It was shown that the brain beta G activities increased one hour, three hours and six hours after the rat brain ischemia was produced in the experimental rat models. Especially six hours after the rat brain ischemia was effected brain oedema became markedly evident.

The effects of intraperitoneally administered phencyclidine on the central nervous system: behavioral and neurochemical studies

The effects of intraperitoneally (IP) injected phencyclidine (phencyclohexyl piperidine; PCP) on the metabolism of dopamine (DA) and cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) in the rat brain were investigated in connection with PCP-induced behavioral changes. The predominant behavior change elicited by 2.5 mg/kg PCP was locomotion, while with higher doses (5 and 10 mg/kg) sniffing, swaying and falling were observed in addition to the enhanced locomotor activity. Backpedaling and rotation were observed in 10 mg/kg PCP-treated rats. IP injection of PCP caused a dose-related increase in the levels of DA and 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the medial frontal cortex (MFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ant.CC) without any changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) or striatum. CCK-LI in the MFC, ant.CC and NAc was decreased in a dose-dependent manner following IP injection of PCP. These findings support the evidence that PCP selectively activates the mesocortical DA systems. Furthermore, our results indicate a functional relationship between the mesocortical DA neurons and intrinsic CCK containing cortical neurons, and the change in the activity of the intrinsic CCK-containing cortical neurons in these two areas, perhaps due to an alteration in DA transmission, might be involved in behavioral changes after PCP injection.

Liposome chromatography: liposomes immobilized in gel beads as a stationary phase for aqueous column chromatography

Liposomes have been used as a stationary phase for column chromatography with an aqueous mobile phase. They were immobilized in the pores of carrier gel beads by two methods: (A) hydrophobic ligands were coupled to the matrix of gel beads, which then were packed into a column and liposomes were applied and became associated with the ligands by hydrophobic interaction; and (B) phospholipids and detergent were dialysed in the presence of gel beads; many of the liposomes that formed in the pores of the beads were sterically immobilized by the gel matrix. Proteoliposomes containing red cell glucose transport protein in the lipid bilayers were immobilized in a column by method A. This column retained D-glucose longer than L-glucose. In contrast to L-glucose, D-glucose was transported into and out of the immobilized liposomes, causing an increased retention. Liposomes with (stearylamine)+ or (phosphatidylserine)- in their lipid bilayers were immobilized by method B and the gel beads were packed into a column. A protein of opposite charge was applied in excess. Under suitable conditions, the protein molecules became close-packed on the liposome surfaces. Ion-exchange chromatographic experiments with proteins showed that these sterically immobilized liposomes were also stable enough to be used as a stationary phase. The loss of lipids was 5-23% in the first run at high protein load and with sodium chloride gradient elution but was lower in subsequent runs. It is proposed that water-soluble molecules can be separated and their interactions with liposome surfaces studied by chromatography on immobilized liposomes in detergent-free aqueous solution. Membrane proteins can be inserted and ligands can be anchored in the lipid bilayers for chromatographic purposes.

Expression of two mRNAs encoding EGF-related proteins identifies subregions of sea urchin embryonic ectoderm

Many proteins containing domains related to epidermal growth factor (EGF) function in intercellular interactions that mediate specification of cell fate. We have used in situ hybridization to show that the expression of two EGF-related genes (SpEGF I and SpEGF II) is restricted to the same subset of ectodermal cells in sea urchin pluteus larvae. However, the concentration of EGF I mRNA in different epithelial cells of aboral ectoderm and postoral facial epithelium is constant while that of EGF II mRNA is highly modulated. RNase protection assays show that both genes are activated during the period when ectoderm funder cells are established, i.e., between fourth and fifth and between fifth and sixth cleavages for EGF I and EGF II, respectively. By mesenchyme blastula stage EGF I mRNA reaches maximum abundance (800-1000 copies/expressing cell) as a result of a high transcription rate, while EGF II mRNA peaks at about half that concentration by gastrula stage. EGF I expression begins at early stages of oogenesis while EGF II expression appears to be confined to embryogenesis.

Non-parametric estimation of age-related centiles over wide age ranges

A new method for estimating age-related centile curves has been developed, which is suitable for measurement covering a wide age range. The method was used to calculate weight centile curves of 8995 children from birth to 6 years obtained by the Collaborating Centre for Physical Growth and Psychosocial Development of Children in Shanghai, China.

Lipid-vesicle-surface chromatography

Egg-yolk phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) containing stearylamine cations or phosphatidylserine anions, were formed and entrapped in agarose gel beads (Sepharose 6B) by a dialysis procedure. On a column of entrapped phospholipid-stearylamine (4:1) (cationic) vesicles, 0.36 mg of ferritin was bound per mumol lipids at 0.05 M ionic strength and pH 7. About 30% of the vesicle surface thus became covered with ferritin. Only 0.04 mg of citraconylated myoglobin was bound per mumol lipids, as myoglobin is much smaller than ferritin. Haeme groups were readily inserted into the lipid bilayers. An excess amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) or ribonuclease A was applied to entrapped ionic vesicles and the bound proteins were eluted by increasing the ionic strength from 0.01 to 0.2 or 0.5 M. After three to five runs, 82-88% of the vesicles (the phospholipids) remained entrapped. The capacity of the cationic vesicle-column for BSA decreased more than did the amount of entrapped vesicles, which indicates a preferential loss of stearylamine. Ion-exchange experiments were done with human plasma and with BSA monomers and dimers on entrapped cationic vesicles. Plasma proteins could be separated. BSA dimers were eluted later than BSA monomers in a sodium chloride gradient and the separation was better than on DEAE-Sepharose. The contact area between the protein and the vesicle surface is important for the binding strength. Protein-vesicle surface interactions can be studied by chromatography on entrapped vesicles.

Age at first marriage and fertility in rural Anhui, China

This paper examines the changing nuptiality pattern of rural China, particularly rural Anhui in relation to the planned social changes since 1949 and their effect on fertility. The data are from the 1/1000 Fertility Survey of China, conducted by the Family Planning Commission in 1982. Before the family planning programme was introduced to rural Anhui (1972), the changing nuptiality pattern was indirectly affected by the planned social changes; after 1972, the substantial increase in age at first marriage was mainly due to the family planning programme. More recently, the centrally controlled social structure is loosening, due to the economic reform and the nuptiality pattern seems to join the 1972 trend, suggesting that the dramatic change of nuptiality pattern during the early 1970s to early 1980s was a temporary one. But its effect on fertility is clear, and the shortening interval between marriage and first birth may bring difficulties for future population control in rural China.

Signal-averaging electrocardiogram in patients with diabetes mellitus

In order to detect silent impairment of the heart due to diabetes mellitus, the signal-averaging electrocardiograms (ECG) of 21 healthy subjects and 22 diabetic patients without ventricular tachycardia were compared. The QRS duration in the signal-averaging ECG was longer in diabetic patients than in the normal subjects (87.3 ms vs. 114.5 ms, p less than 0.01). Moreover, late potentials in the terminal portion of the QRS complex were observed in 7 diabetic patients (32%), but in only one normal subject (5%, p less than 0.01). These findings suggested that patients with diabetes mellitus frequently have intraventricular conduction disturbances, presumably due to diabetic microangiopathy.

Unusual pattern of accumulation of mRNA encoding EGF-related protein in sea urchin embryos

A sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) messenger RNA encoding a protein (SpEGF2) related to epidermal growth factor (EGF) was identified. The full-length complementary DNA sequence predicts a protein with an unusually simple structure, including four tandem EGF-like repeats and a hydrophobic leader, but lacking a potential transmembrane domain. Sequence similarities suggest that the peptides are homologous to two peptides from a different sea urchin species, which cause a classic developmental defect, exogastrulation, when added to the seawater outside of embryos. The SpEGF2 messenger RNA begins to accumulate at blastula stage, and in pluteus larvae it is distributed in discrete regions of ectoderm that are not congruent with known histological borders. One region corresponds to that expressing the homeodomain-containing protein, SpHbox1. The structure of the SpEGF2 protein and the pattern of accumulation of its messenger RNA suggest that it may have important functions as a secreted factor during development of sea urchin embryos.

Structure and tissue-specific developmental expression of a sea urchin arylsulfatase gene

Arylsulfatases are a group of enzymes that remove sulfate moieties from a diverse set of substrates including glycoproteins, steroids, and cerebrosides. We have isolated recombinant cDNA clones corresponding to an arylsulfatase (SpARS) message that encodes an abundant protein of pluteus larvae of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Although vertebrate arylsulfatases have broad tissue distributions, in situ hybridization with a probe for SpARS shows that the sea urchin message accumulates in the embryo only in the single cell type of aboral ectoderm and its precursors. The message is first detectable by RNase protection assays around hatching blastula stage and accumulates through pluteus larva stage. The open reading frame of cDNA clones is 1701 nt long and encodes a deduced protein with a predicted molecular mass of 61 kDa. Analysis of corresponding genomic DNA clones reveals that the pre-mRNA contains six exons. Consistent with the fact that arylsulfatase enzyme activity is extracellular, this polypeptide has a hydrophobic leader sequence and three potential glycosylation sites. Furthermore, hybridization in situ shows that in blastulae arylsulfatase message is preferentially concentrated around nuclei at the basal sides of cells. The S. purpuratus sequence is very similar to that recently reported for the same enzyme from Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus and 30% of the amino acid residues are also identical to those of both human arylsulfatase C (steroid sulfatase) and arylsulfatase A. Sequence relationships among these four mRNAs suggest that, assuming equal rates of evolution, the duplication separating the human genes occurred at about the time of separation of the echinoderm and vertebrate lineages.

Entrapment of lipid vesicles and membrane protein-lipid vesicles in gel bead pores

Phospholipid vesicles were entrapped in gel beads of Sepharose 6B and Sephacryl S-1000 during vesicle preparation by dialysis. Egg-yolk phospholipids solubilized with cholate or octyl glucoside were dialysed together with gel beads for 2.5 days in a flat dialysis bag. Some vesicles were formed in gel bead pores and vesicles of sufficient size became trapped. Red cell membrane protein-phospholipid vesicles could be immobilized in the same way. Non-trapped vesicles were carefully removed by chromatographic procedures and by centrifugation. The amount of entrapped vesicles increased with the initial lipid concentration and was dependent on the relative sizes of vesicles and gel pores. The largest amount of trapped vesicles, corresponding to 9.5 mumol of phospholipids per ml gel, was achieved when Sepharose 6B gel beads were dialysed with cholate-solubilized lipids at a concentration of 50 mM. In this case the vesicles had an average diameter of 60 nm and an internal volume of 15 microliters/ml gel. The amount of vesicles trapped in Sephacryl S-1000 gel beads upon dialysis under the same conditions was smaller: 2.2 mumol of phospholipids per ml gel. Probably most of the gel pores were too large to trap such vesicles. Larger vesicles, with an average diameter of 230 nm, were entrapped in the Sephacryl S-1000 matrix in an amount corresponding to 3.0 mumol phospholipids per ml gel upon dialysis of the gel beads and octyl glucoside-solubilized lipids at a concentration of 20 mM. The internal volume of these vesicles was 22 microliters/ml gel. The yield of immobilized phospholipids was up to 19%. The entrapped vesicles were somewhat unstable: 9% of the phospholipids were released during 9 days of storage at 4 degrees C. By the dialysis entrapment method vesicles can be immobilized in the gel beads without using hydrophobic ligands or covalent coupling.

Vector U loop in patients with old myocardial infarction

The U loop of the vectorcardiogram was examined qualitatively and quantitatively in 100 normal subjects and 67 patients with old myocardial infarction, using a direct-writing vectorcardiograph with memory function. In the control group, the U loop was directed to the left, anteriorly and inferiorly, and it was inscribed counterclockwise in the horizontal plane. In patients with anterior myocardial infarction, the U loop tended to be displaced to the right, and in patients with inferior myocardial infarction to the right and superiorly. The shape of the U loop in patients was also different from that of normal subjects. The maximum U vector was significantly smaller in magnitude both in patients with anterior and inferior myocardial infarction than that of normal subjects (p less than 0.01). In patients with ventricular aneurysm, the magnitude of the maximum U vector was significantly smaller and its direction was displaced more to the right and posteriorly than those without aneurysm (p less than 0.01). In standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), observation of the U wave in patients with old myocardial infarction was difficult, especially in the limb lead, because of the small size of the U wave. Therefore, vectorcardiographic observation may be more useful than electrocardiographic observation for the analysis of the U wave in patients with old myocardial infarction.

Progressively restricted expression of a homeo box gene within the aboral ectoderm of developing sea urchin embryos

A homeo box-containing gene, Hbox1 is expressed in an unusual and highly conserved spatial pattern in embryos of two different species of sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Hybridization in situ shows that this mRNA accumulates initially throughout the aboral ectoderm; however, between blastula and pluteus stages, the region containing Hbox1 mRNA retracts gradually until only a small area around the vertex is labeled in pluteus larvae. Aboral ectoderm appears cytologically uniform and also accumulates uniform levels of other tissue-specific mRNAs. Therefore, the Hbox1 pattern reveals a previously unsuspected heterogeneity of aboral ectoderm cells and a polarity within this tissue. In S. purpuratus, the Hbox1 gene product probably is not involved in initial specification of cell fate, as this message does not achieve a significant fraction of its peak abundance until almost hatching blastula stage, well after the time aboral ectoderm cells have initiated a tissue-specific program of gene expression. RNA blot and RNase protection analyses revealed low levels of Hbox1 mRNA in all adult tissues examined. However, this message was not detectable in mature eggs, suggesting that the Hbox1 gene does not have a maternal function. In addition to highly conserved spatial and temporal patterns of expression, the homeo box genes of these two urchin species also are conserved highly in sequences outside the homeo domain, despite the divergence of these two species (30-45 my). Two notable features of the protein shared with several vertebrate homeo proteins are a short conserved sequence encoded by an exon upstream of that encoding the homeo domain and a large region of high serine and proline content.