[Sodium channel blocking effect of scorpion venom on cultured mouse myocardiocytes]

Myocardiocytes of mice were cultured. Action potentials were recorded with microelectrodes inside the cells. Scorpion venom from Buthus martensii Karsch 3.75 or 7.5 micrograms.ml-1 decreased the duration of action potential and all of the depolarization concerned parameters of myocardiocytes. The Vmax, TP, APA behaved apparently in a dosage-dependent way. Restoration happened after washing out. Tetrodotoxin 2.5 micrograms.ml-1 acted in a similar way. Nimodipine 3.0 micrograms.ml-1 led to a decrease in action potential duration. BaCl2 0.1 mmol.L-1 elongated the action potential duration, while decreased the parameters concerned with depolarization. These results indicate that the scorpion venom has Na+ channel blocking action.

[A stick type filter unit for prevention of biohazard in a research laboratory]

It is important to prevent unexpected laboratory infections in a biosafety area. It is recommended that extreme caution should be used when handling needles and syringes to avoid autoinoculation, and that needles and syringes should be used only when there is no alternative. To remove cells and cell debris, a disk-type microfilter unit, which is recommended using a needle, has been used for filtrating supernatant from HIV-1-infected cell cultures. We compared a stick-type microfilter unit, which can be used without a needle, with a disk-type one for their safety and recovery of human immunodeficiency virus particle after filtration. To confirm the right of our comparison, we observed the filter electron microscopically for the virus particles and virus suspensions were carried out and discussed. In conclusion, the stick-type filter should be improved, since the filter unit is inferior to the disk-type filter unit in purification of the virus, but for the safety is superior to the disk-type.

[Antioxidative action of soyasaponin monomers I, A1, A2, and their inhibitory effects on action potential and beating of myocardiocytes in culture]

Ventricular myocardiocytes from newborn Wistar rats were cultured. Soyasaponin monomers I, A1, A2 2 micrograms.ml-1 added to the culture medium, like nimodipine 1.25 microgram.ml-1, decreased the number of spontaneously beating clusters and the action potential parameters of myocardiocytes, which restored after washing out and were reversed by Ca2+ 80 micrograms.ml-1 or epinephrine 10 micrograms.ml-1, indicating the Ca2+ channel blockade action of the saponin monomers. Adding xanthine 0.42 mmol.L-1 and xanthine oxidase 5.4 nmol.L-1 into culture medium led to the increase of free radical content of the myocardiocytes and the decrease of action potential parameters, which were reversed by I 2 micrograms.ml-1, indicating the antioxidative action of saponin monomer I.

[Immunoscintigraphy of human pancreatic cancer an experimental study]

A monoclonal antibody against human pancreatic carcinoma APCA-1, was developed. By immunohistochemical staining, it had pretty good reactivity to carcinoma of the pancreas, bile duct and gall bladder. Their positive rates were 94.1%, 80% and 75%, respectively. It cross reacted weakly with normal epithelial cells of the pancreas, gall bladder and bile duct in relatively low frequency. Immunoscintigraphy was performed in nude mice with xenograft of human pancreatic cancer using 131I-labeled APCA. Good radio-imaging of the tumor xenograft was achieved. The ratio of radioactivity of each gram of tumor tissue to total radioactivity reached 5.1%, 6.9% and 6.2% at 72,120 and 168 hr respectively.

Activation of the hydroxylase of sMMO from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) by hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can activate the non-heme binuclear iron-containing hydroxylase of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath) in the catalysis of oxidation of methane and other sMMO substrates. The reductase, protein B, O2 and NADH are normally required for catalytic activity, but can be replaced by H2O2 serving as the source of both oxygen and electrons for the reaction. Similar results have been observed in a different strain of MMO from Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b (Andersson, K.K., Froland, W.A., Lee, S.-K. and Lipscomb, J.D. (1991) New J. Chem. 15, 410-415). The Km,app for H2O2 was found to be 66 mM. Labelled oxygen experiments show that the oxygen atom in the product in the peroxide driven system is derived from H2O2 and not O2. Using C2-C5 alkanes and 2-butene as substrates it was shown that the product distribution differed in the complete sMMO and H2O2-driven systems, indicating that more than one pathway is available to the enzyme. Protein B, which is required for catalytic activity in the complete system, was found to be an inhibitor of the hydroxylase/H2O2 system. It was also observed that protein B not only affected the activity, but also the selectivity of carbon hydroxylation with 2-methylbutane as substrate.

A common ATP requirement for open complex formation and transcription at promoters containing initiator or TATA elements

The involvement of ATP during transcription initiation from three basic types of RNA polymerase II promoters was investigated. Hydrolysis of the beta-gamma bond of ATP was found to be required for transcription at TATA, initiator, and initiator + TATA promoters. For all three promoters, ATP is required to melt the transcription start site region during formation of a functional open transcription complex. The use of ATP to open the DNA strands occurs rapidly. The resulting open complex is transient, since the start site re-closes rapidly upon initiation. The requirements for efficient open complex formation were similar to those for transcription in that both upstream elements and a basal element, either TATA or initiator, were necessary. The results further suggest that TATA-dependent and initiator-dependent preinitiation complex assembly pathways converge, prior to a step in which the strands are rapidly opened in the presence of ATP, to form analogous open complexes.

[Anti-free-radical damaging action of panaxadiol saponins and panaxatriol saponins on the myocardial contractibility of the isolated rat working heart]

Rats were free-radical-damaged by xanthine 6.4 mg.100g-1.d-1 and xanthine oxidase 0.1U.100g-1d-1 to cause significant decrease in the cardiac functional parameters. Panaxatriol saponins 10mg.100g-1.d-1 converted all the indices toward normal without exception. Panaxadiol saponins were more effective than panaxatriol saponins.

Copper and iron are mobilized following myocardial ischemia: possible predictive criteria for tissue injury

Direct evidence for substantial mobilization of copper in the coronary flow immediately following prolonged, but not short, cardiac ischemia is presented. In the first coronary flow fraction (CFF) of reperfusion (0.15 ml), after 35 min of ischemia, the level of copper (as well as of iron) was 8- to 9-fold higher than the preischemic value. The levels in subsequent CFFs decreased and reached the preischemic value, indicating that both metals appear in a burst at the resumption of coronary flow. When the first CFF was used in a reaction mixture containing ascorbate and salicylate, the latter underwent chemical hydroxylation and was converted to its dihydroxybenzoate derivatives. Likewise, this CFF promoted the ascorbate-driven DNA degradation. Subsequent 150 CFFs were serially collected and demonstrated low activities. Following 18 min of ischemia, the copper level in the first CFF of reperfusion was only 15% over the preischemic value. In contrast, the mobilization of iron into coronary flow was significant but markedly lower than after 35 min. The levels of copper and the redox activity of the first CFF correlated well with the degree of loss of cardiac function, after 18 and 35 min of ischemia, respectively. After 18 min of ischemia, cardiac function was about 50% and the damage is considered reversible, whereas after 35 min the functional loss exceeded 80% and is considered irreversible. These results are in accord with the causative role that copper and iron can play in heart injury following ischemia, by virtue of their capacity to catalyze the production of hydroxyl radicals, and could lead to the development of new modalities for intervention in tissue injury.

Structural and functional relationships of human DNA polymerases

A continuing theme of our laboratory has been the understanding of human DNA polymerases at the structural level. We have purified DNA polymerases delta, epsilon and alpha from human placenta. Monoclonal antibodies to these polymerases were isolated and used as tools to study their immunochemical relationships. These studies have shown that while DNA polymerases delta, epsilon and alpha are discrete proteins, they must share common structural features by virtue of the ability of several of our monoclonal antibodies to exhibit cross-reactivity. A second approach we have taken is the molecular cloning of human DNA polymerase delta and epsilon. We have cloned the DNA polymerase delta cDNA, and this has allowed us to compare its primary structure to those of human polymerase alpha and other members of this polymerase family. Multiple sequence alignments have revealed that human DNA polymerase delta is also closely related to the herpes virus family of DNA polymerases. In situ hybridization has shown that the human DNA polymerase delta gene is localized to chromosome 19 q13.3-q13.4. In order to further determine the functional regions of the DNA polymerase delta structure we are currently expressing human pol delta in E. coli and baculovirus systems. Other work in our laboratory is directed toward examining the expression of DNA polymerase delta during the cell cycle.

Parathyroid hormone inhibits immunoglobulin production without affecting cell growth in human B cells

The effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on immunoglobulin (Ig) production and proliferation in the human B-cell lines CBL, SKW, and CESS was studied. PTH inhibited Ig production from all the B-cell lines in a dose-dependent manner during 5 days of culture. As little as 0.1 ng/ml was inhibitory. PTH also inhibited Ig production from cell lines stimulated by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), interleukin 2 (IL-2), and IL-6. This inhibition was not due to decreased cell growth since proliferation was not affected and cell viability was always greater than 98%. In contrast to PTH, inactivated PTH or triiodothyronine failed to affect Ig production. Inhibition by PTH was blocked by anti-PTH serum, but not by control serum. Of the various cytokines tested, IL-4 reduced the PTH-induced inhibition of Ig production, whereas other cytokines, including IL-1 beta, IL-3, IL-5, interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), IFN-gamma, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), failed to do so. The reducing effect of IL-4 was blocked by anti-IL-4 antibody but not by control antibody. Moreover, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, but not GM-CSF, overcame the reducing effect of IL-4. PTH also inhibited IgG, IgM, and IgA production by tonsillar B cells stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I (SAC) and IL-6 without affecting proliferation. This inhibition was blocked by anti-IL-4 antibody but not by control antibody. These results indicate that, in addition to its regulatory effect on calcium metabolism, PTH also acts as an immunoregulatory factor, and that it interacts with the cytokine, IL-4.

The chirality of ground DNA knots and links

The chirality of ground DNA knots and links is described and characterized in terms of color symmetry groups (CSG), i.e. color symmetry groups I and II, which correspond to topochirality (topological chirality) and topoachirality (topological achirality) which bear an uncanny resemblance to point groups I (proper) and point groups II (improper) used for testing geochirality (geometrical chirality) and geoachirality (geometrical achirality), respectively. By regarding these two crossing modes in mirror images as white and black vertices, DNA knots and links with minimal crossings can be mapped to vertex-bicolored graphs under a working hypothesis that DNA knots and links exist in ground states with minimal energy m0. The color symmetry group of a vertex-bicolored graph G is defined as the set of all permutations and permutation asymmetrizations of the vertices of G that preserve its topology (connectivity), where asymmetrization, denoted as (a), is the operation of changing vertices' colors, and a permutation followed by an (a) is a permutation asymmetrization. The color symmetry groups I contains only permutations, whereas color symmetry groups II comprise permutation asymmetrizations as well as permutations. Four DNA knots and links in nature are analyzed and tabulated consisely. In addition, the well-known figure-of-eight knot and Borromean rings are discussed in much the same way.

Influences of ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rb3 on electric and contractile activities of normal and damaged cultured myocardiocytes

Free radical damage to the cultured myocardiocytes of Wistar rat was induced by adding xanthine 0.42 mmol.L-1 and xanthine oxidase 5.3 nmol.L-1 to the culture medium. 30 micrograms.ml-1 of Rb1, Rb2 or Rb3 extracted from the leaf and stem of Panax ginseng C A Meyer restored the action potentials (AP) of free radical damaged cells to normal, indicating their antioxidative action. On normal myocardial cells, Rb1, Rb2, Rb3 20 micrograms.ml-1 inhibited the AP and spontaneous contractility, (suggesting the Ca channel blockade action of panaxadiol saponins). The degrees of their inhibitory effects were found to be Rb1 > Rb2 > Rb3. Their effects against X-XO were basically the same.

Insights on monoclonal antibodies to kininogens' heavy chain which influence kininogens' binding to platelets

Purified domains of low molecular weight kininogen (LK) can be used directly to determine the epitopes of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that have been shown to influence kininogen function. LK, purified from plasma by carboxymethyl-papain-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography and kaolin adsorption, was digested by trypsin and chymotrypsin. The domains of LK were then separated by gel filtration followed by carboxymethyl-papain-Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Using the purified domains of LK's heavy chain, the regions on kininogens' heavy chain which various monoclonal antibodies are directed to were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. MAb 2B5 which neutralized kininogens' ability to inhibit calpain cross-reacted with domains 2 and 3. MAb HKH8 which reacted with kininogens' domain 1 and 2 was found to inhibit 125I-HK binding to platelets. At two-fold molar excess, mAb HKH8 was a better inhibitor of 125I-HK binding to platelets than higher concentrations, where the antibody was shown to cause increased binding to platelets. Alternatively, HKH8 F(ab')2 completely inhibited 125I-HK binding to platelets even at high concentrations of antibody. These studies indicate that purified domains of kininogens' heavy chain can be used to rapidly localize epitopes for antibodies. Further, mAb HKH8 should be a valuable probe to understand the mechanisms of kininogens' binding to platelets.

Regulated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in normal human osteoblastic cells

An influx of monocytes is observed in many different physiological and pathophysiological states, including bone remodeling and injury. These cells appear at early stages of bone formation and repair and persist throughout the later stages. In experiments described here, unstimulated normal human osteoblastic cells did not produce detectable levels of monocyte chemotactic activity. However, interleukin-1 (IL-1)-stimulated normal human osteoblastic cells produced a chemoattractant that is similar to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) at the levels of mRNA expression, protein production, and chemotactic activity. Northern blot analysis indicates that IL-1 elicits a dose-dependent increase in MCP-1 mRNA in normal human osteoblastic cells. Two proteins of M(r) 9,000 and M(r) 13,000 were specifically immunoprecipitated with MCP-1 antiserum from IL-1-stimulated normal human osteoblastic cells. Monocyte chemotactic activity from IL-1-treated cells was blocked by MCP-1 antiserum. These studies establish that normal human osteoblastic cells can be induced to produce monocyte chemoattractants and that this is accounted for by the induced expression of MCP-1.

Surgical approach to segment I for malignant tumors of the liver

Seven complete and 13 partial resections of segment I (caudate lobe) were performed for malignant tumors. In all except one instance, removal of segment I was combined with other types of hepatic resection for technical or carcinologic reasons. Six were iterative hepatic resections for recurrent hepatic metastases. In two, the future remaining left lobe was hypertrophied by right portal venous embolization preoperatively. Hepatectomies were performed with intermittent portal triad clamping (mean total duration of 63 minutes, range of 20 to 120 minutes) and after preparation for total vascular exclusion. Associated partial resection of the inferior vena cava was necessary in three instances. Mean duration of operation was 285 minutes (range of 60 to 540 minutes) and mean blood loss was 1,749 milliliters (range of 200 to 5,200 milliliters). There was no postoperative mortality and the morbidity rate was low. Surprisingly, we discovered retrospectively that free margins were small (less than 5 millimeters) in 83 percent of the patients. Regardless of limited free margins and six iterative hepatectomies, eight patients were free of disease with a mean follow-up examination period of 19.2 months. Technical problems were different for each patient and a patient by patient adaptation was necessary. Left, right and central approaches were used accordingly. If resection of segment I associated with a right or left hepatectomy can be currently considered as a standard hepatic resection, isolated complete resection of segment I remains a real technical challenge.

Inhibition of ongoing immunoglobulin production by eosinophil cationic protein

The effect of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) upon ongoing immunoglobulin (Ig) production and proliferation in human B cells was studied. ECP inhibited Ig production by the human lymphoblastoid cell lines, CBL and GM-1056, in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, proliferation was not affected. This ECP-induced inhibition of Ig production was specific, since inhibition was blocked by anti-ECP serum but not by control serum. Interleukin (IL)-4 did not affect Ig production by CBL or GM-1056 cells; however, IL-4 reversed ECP-induced inhibition of Ig production and this reverse was blocked by anti-IL-4 antibody but not by control antibody. In contrast, other cytokines, including IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-alpha, and IFN-gamma, failed to reverse inhibition. ECP also inhibited spontaneous Ig production (IgM, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, and IgA) by tonsillar large activated B cells without affecting proliferation. This inhibition was also blocked by anti-ECP serum but not by control serum and was reversed by IL-4 specifically. These results indicate that ECP may play an important role in B cell responses.

[The toxicity of herbicide Asulam]

We conducted a series of toxicity tests and short-term mutagenic assays of Asulam and 40% (W/V) sodium Asulam. It was found that the LD50 of Asulam with acute oral toxicity was 30000 mg/kg for mice, and the LD50 of sodium Asulam for mice and rats were equal (8250 mg/kg). The cumulative coefficient of sodium Asulam in Wistar rats was 9.42. None died from sodium Asulam absorbed via skin. Negative results were obtained in Ames test, Bacillus subtilis repair test and the micronucleus test. There was no significant difference between the control group and the treated groups in the chromosomal aberration rates of spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes of mice testis. The results indicated that Asulam should be regarded as a substance of low toxicity and low accumulation. No mutagenicity was observed in our experiment.

Longitudinal effect of tiludronate on bone mineral density, resonant frequency, and strength in monkeys

The effect of Tiludronate on bone was studied in 72 growing monkeys (Papio papio), 36 males and 36 females, aged 4-7 years. They were randomly allocated into four groups (18 animals per group, 9 males and 9 females): group I, controls; group II, 10 mg/kg/day; group III, 20 mg/kg/day; and group IV, 40 mg/kg/day of Tiludronate. A total of 12 animals (6 males and 6 females) in each group were sacrificed at the end of treatment (1 year) and 6 animals (3 males and 3 females) per group 1 year later. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-photon absorptiometry. Biomechanical properties were evaluated by an impact torsion test and by resonant frequency analysis. Bone mineral measurements indicated that at the end of 1 year of treatment BMD was significantly higher, especially at the distal epiphysis of the radius, than in controls. No significant differences between groups were found in BMD 1 year after stopping treatment. Biomechanical analyses indicated that torsional stiffness increased after treatment. No differences between groups were found 1 year after stopping treatment. Results of resonant frequencies indicated an increased calculated transversal stiffness after treatment and 1 year later and an increased buckling strength 1 year after stopping treatment. In conclusion, the results on the effect of Tiludronate in growing monkeys indicate a profound effect of this drug on bone density and biomechanical properties. The biomechanical results indicate that this drug is safe, with conservation of bone strength despite a change in intrinsic mechanical properties of the bone.

[Salvia miltiorrhizae in the treatment of the viral myocarditis]

In Order to evaluate the effect of Salvia miltiorrhizae (SM) on the acute viral myocarditis (AVM), 60 children with AVM were studied. The patients were divided in random into two groups, group 1 treated with vit. C, ATP, CoA (n = 30), group II with SM plus vit. C, ATP, CoA (n = 30). The levels of plasma lipid peroxide (LPO), erythrocyte membrane microviscosity (EMMV), LDH, CPK, GOT and ECG in each patient were determined before and after one course of treatments respectively. The results revealed that before treatment the levels of plasma LPO and EMMV in both groups increased significantly compared with those of normal controls (n = 30, P < 0.01) respectively. There was a close correlation between LPO and EMMV (r = 0.6774, P < 0.01) and a close correlation between LPO and LDH (r = 0.5703, P < 0.01). After one course, the levels of plasma LPO and EMMV in both groups decreased significantly (compared with those before treatment, P < 0.01, respectively). But the LPO level and EMMV in group I were much higher than those in normal controls yet (P < 0.05, respectively). And LDH, GOT and ECG in nearly half of the patients in group I did not recover after one course while most patients in group II recovered. The results suggested that free radical plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AVM. SM as a good antioxidant, could protect myocardium from repairing membrane damage and clearing away free radical. This provided a new approach to treatment of viral myocarditis.

Eosinophil cationic protein inhibits immunoglobulin production and proliferation in vitro in human plasma cells

The effect of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) on immunoglobulin (Ig) production by and proliferation of human plasma cells was studied. ECP inhibited Ig production by and proliferation of the human plasma cell lines, IM-9 and AF-10, in a dose-dependent fashion. As little as 0.05 ng/ml ECP was found to be inhibitory, and the maximal inhibition was achieved at doses of 0.1-0.5 ng/ml ECP. This inhibition was not due to cytotoxicity, since viability was always greater than 98%. Kinetic experiments demonstrated that inhibition was observable after 24 hr of culture with ECP and that the inhibitory effect of ECP was reversible. The inhibitory effect of ECP could be blocked by anti-ECP serum, but not by control serum. Of the various cytokines tested, including interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-alpha, IFN-gamma, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and erythropoietin (Epo), IL-6 reversed the inhibition, while other cytokines failed to do so. ECP also inhibited Ig (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgM, and IgA) production by and proliferation of PCA-1+ plasma cells generated in vitro with a similar dose-response pattern. This inhibition also was blocked by anti-ECP serum but not by control serum, and was restored by IL-6. These results suggest that ECP may interact with IL-6 in controlling plasma cell responses.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 regulates adhesion molecule expression and cytokine production in human monocytes

Monocytes play a critical role in defending the host against foreign organisms and in regulating the behavior of other cells. Monocytes circulate as nonadherent cells in the blood and migrate as adherent cells through tissues. Adhesion molecules mediate not only cell adhesion, but also migration, phagocytosis, and many other adhesion-dependent functions. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is thought to be responsible for monocyte recruitment in acute inflammatory conditions and may be an important mediator in chronic inflammation. In this study, immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to determine whether MCP-1 can regulate the cell surface expression of adhesion molecules, particularly beta-2 and alpha-4 integrins and the leukocyte adhesion molecule-1. We found that MCP-1 induced expression of CD11c (p150,95 alpha-subunit) and CD11b (Mac-1 alpha-subunit), and caused little or no change of CD11a (lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 alpha-subunit), very late activation Ag-4, or leukocyte adhesion molecule-1. We demonstrated that antibodies to beta-2 and alpha-4 integrins inhibited MCP-1-induced monocyte chemotaxis. We also showed that MCP-1 is capable of inducing IL-1 and IL-6, but not TNF production of monocytes. These results indicate that MCP-1 is not only a chemoattractant but also a novel cytokine with the capacity to regulate several parameters of monocyte function.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 regulates adhesion molecule expression and cytokine production in human monocytes

Monocytes play a critical role in defending the host against foreign organisms and in regulating the behavior of other cells. Monocytes circulate as nonadherent cells in the blood and migrate as adherent cells through tissues. Adhesion molecules mediate not only cell adhesion, but also migration, phagocytosis, and many other adhesion-dependent functions. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is thought to be responsible for monocyte recruitment in acute inflammatory conditions and may be an important mediator in chronic inflammation. In this study, immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to determine whether MCP-1 can regulate the cell surface expression of adhesion molecules, particularly beta-2 and alpha-4 integrins and the leukocyte adhesion molecule-1. We found that MCP-1 induced expression of CD11c (p150,95 alpha-subunit) and CD11b (Mac-1 alpha-subunit), and caused little or no change of CD11a (lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 alpha-subunit), very late activation Ag-4, or leukocyte adhesion molecule-1. We demonstrated that antibodies to beta-2 and alpha-4 integrins inhibited MCP-1-induced monocyte chemotaxis. We also showed that MCP-1 is capable of inducing IL-1 and IL-6, but not TNF production of monocytes. These results indicate that MCP-1 is not only a chemoattractant but also a novel cytokine with the capacity to regulate several parameters of monocyte function.

Screening and confirmation of drugs in urine: interference of hordenine with the immunoassays and thin layer chromatography methods

Hordenine cross-reacted with various enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA) kits used for the screening of urine samples. Morphine-ELISA kit was most sensitive, whereas etorphine- and buprenorphine-ELISA kits were least sensitive to hordenine cross-reactivity. Hordenine also interfered with the thin layer chromatography of oxymorphone, hydromorphone and apomorphine. The major source of hordenine in humans is beer brewed from barley, whereas the major source of hordenine in horses is canary grass or barley. Therefore, the presence of hordenine in the urine of humans consuming beer or in the urine of horses consuming canary grass may give false positive values when the immunoassay and TLC methods are used for the screening of the urine sample. In order to distinguish hordenine from the opiate drugs, simple and sensitive gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed in this study.

Effects of copper and selenium on electric parameters of cultured myocardial cells damaged by xanthine-xanthine oxidase

Addition of xanthine 0.42 mmol.L-1 and xanthine oxidase 5.3 nmol.L-1 (X-XO) to the culture medium increased the amplitude of ESR spectra of myocardial cells, demonstrating an increase in free radical contents; diminished the action potential parameters significantly and reduced the input impedances from 0.34 +/- 0.11 to 0.24 +/- 0.1 M omega, expressing a typical electrical appearance of membrane damage. Supplying Cu 62.5 ng.ml-1 and/or Se 173 ng.ml-1 to the medium brought all of the electric parameters and the free radical content of myocardial cells back to normal. The results indicate that both the two trace elements are able to scavenge free radicals, thus antagonizing X-XO, which induces damage to myocardial cells.

[Ca2+ channel blocking effect of panaxadiol saponins and panaxatriol saponins of cultured cardiac cells]

It was found that PDS and PTS decreased the action potential parameters of the cultured myocardiocytes in a dosage-dependent way. The effects of PDS 1000 micrograms/ml, PTS 200 micrograms/ml were in correspondence with the known Ca2+ channel blocker Mn2+ 0.05 micrograms/ml. Washing out, administration of epinephrine 10 micrograms/ml or Ca2+ 80 micrograms/ml were able to reverse the action potential from inhibition. The above results indicate that both PDS and PTS have Ca2+ channel blockade action.

Initial characterization of the carbohydrate structure of MCP-1

MCP-1 is the principle monocyte chemoattractant produced by tumor cells in vitro. We previously identified different isoforms of MCP-1. Here we report that two predominant isoforms of MCP-1 (13 kD and 9 kD) can be distinguished by lectin binding. The results indicate that the disaccharide galactose-beta 1-3D-N-acetyl galactosamine is present on the 13 kD MCP-1 isoform but not the 9 kD isoform. Glycosylation of the 13 kD MCP-1 isoform does not appear to significantly change its antigenic properties and also does not affect its capacity to induce monocyte migration.

[Effects of liuwei dihuang decoction and its compositions on blood sugar and glycogen in mice]

We have studied the effects of liuwei dihuang decoction (LDD) and its compositions on blood sugar and glycogen in mice, and found that sanbu, shanzhuyu-danpi and shanyao-fuling matched pairs can reduce the level of blood sugar, while LDD, sanbu, shudi-zexie and shanzhuyu-danpi matched pairs can increase the content of glycogen in liver. The present study is only a preliminary research on the effects of LDD and its compositions on the metabolism of sugar in the body.

[Effects of panaxadiol and panaxatriol saponins on action potentials of normal and xanthine-xanthine oxidase damaged cultured myocardial cells]

Wistar rat myocardial cells were cultured. PDS 20-80 micrograms.ml-1; PTS 1.25-20 micrograms.ml-1 dose-dependently decreased their action potential parameters, indicating the possibility of being concerned in the blockage of Ca channel. After the free radical damage was induced by xanthine 0.42 mmol.L-1--xanthine oxidase 5.3 nmol.L-1 (X-XO). All the action potential parameters of the cardiac cells decreased without exception. Both PDA and PTS antagonized the electrical appearance of membrane damage induced by X-XO, suggesting that both PDS and PTS protect the myocardial cells from oxidative damage.

[Effects of microinjection of tutin into nucleus tractus solitarius region on the morphology of neural tissue of this area in rabbit]

Four hours after unilateral microinjection of tutin (10 micrograms) into the NTS region, the nervous tissue surrounding the center of microinjection showed the following morphologic changes: 1. Under the light microscopic examination (n = 5), the neuronal body showed chromatolysis and the nuclear basophilia enhanced in about 17% of the neurons, the lacunae of neuropil distended and gave a "spongy" appearance. The neurons with lesion mingled with the normal ones in the absence of distinct demarcation. 2. Under the electron microscopic examination (n = 3), the cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum distended, and the nuclear electron density increased on account of the increased nuclear chromatin in the affected cells. The organelles of dendrites decreased or disappeared; the neuroglia looked edematous. There were only a few axons which looked edematous in the neuropil. Microinjection of the same volume (1 microliter) of NS into the other side of NTS region in the same rabbit didn't show any sign of damage as those described above. Thus, our preliminary results suggest that tutin might damage the soma and dendrites of some neurons, and therefore, it might be a neuroexcitotoxin.

[Effect of liuwei dihuang decoction and its compatible prescriptions on lipid peroxide and lipofuscin]

Our experiment has shown that liuwei dihuang Decoction can decrease the contents of lipid peroxide in the serum as well as lipofuscin in the liver of the older mice to the level of the younger ones, while the two compatible prescriptions derived from the decoction, "Three invigorators" and "Three purges", cannot produce the same effect. All the three forms of prescription have no action on the lipofuscin in the heart.

Association of HLA antigens with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in a Han Chinese population

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, or the uveomeningitis syndrome, is one of the most commonly identified types of endogenous uveitis diagnosed in China. Because its incidence is higher in Orientals than in whites, immunogenetic background [corrected] may be an important factor in its incidence. We performed HLA-A, -B, and -DR typing on 25 patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome and on 65 healthy control subjects from the Han Chinese population. The results showed that HLA-DR4 and -Dw53 were closely associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome (P less than .001 [relative risk = 16.0] and P less than .001 [relative risk = 34.2], respectively). This association is similar to that reported in patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in Japan, suggesting that DR4 and DRw53 may play important roles in the development of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome in Oriental populations.

NMR imaging study of the pharmacodynamics of polylysine-gadolinium-DTPA in the rabbit and the rat

The pharmacodynamics of polylysine-(Gd-DTPA) (Schering, Berlin, Germany), a new blood pooling contrast agent for MRI, were studied in the rabbit and the rat. Polylysine-(Gd-DTPA) is a compound with high LD50. Due to its high molecular weight (50.000) and physico-chemical properties, it remains in the vascular system; during the first hour, the plasma level is three times higher than for Gd-DTPA. MRI was performed at 1.5 T using a SE sequence with TR/TE = 300/15 or 20 msec. Signal intensities of muscle, liver and kidney were measured before and after intravenous injection of the contrast agent (0.1 mmol/kg) during 8 hours in the rat (n = 3) and up to 2 wk in the rabbit (n = 3). A dose response study in three additional rabbits confirmed that the 0.1 mmol/kg dose was optimal. The pharmacodynamics results show that the effects of polylysine-(Gd-DTPA) are similar in both the rabbit and the rat. The liver signal is enhanced by about 60% immediately after injection in both species. This enhanced signal decays to half its maximal value in about one hour, which makes the contrast agent useful for clinical applications at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. In the kidney medulla and cortex the signals are enhanced by much larger factors (about 3 to 4); it takes at least one day for the kidney to clear the contrast agent in both species.

[Posterior scleral reinforcement operation in the high myopia with macular degeneration]

The authors performed posterior scleral reinforcement operation on 23 cases of high myopia with macular degeneration. One eye underwent surgery and the another eye served as control. Follow-up period ranged from 3 to 24 months. It was found that the corrected vision and refractive degree of the operated eye maintained the original levels and that the control eyes tend to become worse during the follow-up periods. It was also observed that the blood circulation of the macular area of operated eye seemed to be improved, and the bioelectricity was activated. No serious complications were found. Therefore the authors pointed out, for high myopia patients, if the condition advanced constantly, the posterior scleral reinforcement operation is a method of choice before other better therapeutic methods are established.

[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the ovary--report of 5 cases]

Five cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the ovary (OPNHL) are reported. All were B cell lymphomas (1 small cleaved, 2 non-cleaved and 2 cleaved non-cleaved lymphoma) and treated with operation combined with chemotherapy, 2 of whom also received radiotherapy. One case died 15 months after operation, 4 are still alive, and 2 of these 4 have survived for over 3 years. The clinical manifestations of OPNHL are similar to those of ovarian carcinoma, therefore, it is difficult to diagnose this disease before operation. Histologically, it is important to differentiate OPNHL from granulosa cell tumor and dysgerminoma. Debulking operation should be attempted and timely chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy given for better results even for advanced ovarian lymphoma.

Post-translational modification of a monocyte-specific chemoattractant synthesized by glioma, osteosarcoma, and vascular smooth muscle cells

Chemotaxis is an important step in monocyte recruitment in inflammation, wound healing, and tumor growth. We reported previously that monocyte chemotactic activity secreted by malignant cells and normal smooth muscle cells is associated with a protein or family of proteins that are related to the monocyte-specific smooth muscle cell-derived chemotactic factor (SMC-CF) (Graves, D. T., Jiang, Y. L., Williamson, M. J., and Valente, A. J. (1989) Science 245, 1490-1493). Similar monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCP-1) produced by U-105MG human glioma cells have also been identified (Yoshimura, T., Robinson, E. A., Tanaka, S., Appella, E., Kuratsu, J., and Leonard, E. J. (1989) J. Exp. Med. 169, 1449-1459). We now report that the MCP-1 gene is expressed in MG-63 human osteosarcoma and vascular smooth muscle cells and that SMC-CF antiserum specifically immunoprecipitates proteins synthesized by U-105MG glioma cells. Experiments were undertaken to elucidate the processing pathway of MCP-1/SMC-CF-like proteins in each of these cell types. These experiments demonstrate that larger MCP-1/SMC-CF-like proteins are derived from a Mr = 9000 precursor. Post-translational modification involves the addition of O-linked carbohydrates and sialic acid residues. Differences in carbohydrate processing account for the heterogeneity in MCP-1/SMC-CF-like proteins produced by different cell types. Secretion of these proteins occurs rapidly following processing events in the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi compartment.

Protective action of selenium and manganese on xanthine and xanthine oxidase induced oxidative damage to cultured heart cells

Ventricular myocytes from neonatal Wistar rats were cultured with 80% Dulbecoo's modified Eagle medium and 20% fetal bovine serum. An appropriate amount of xanthine and xanthine oxidase was added to the culture medium to increase the content of free radicals in cardiac cells. Variation in action potential and input impedance of cardiac myocytes indicated the oxidative damage to the membrane. The ultrastructure of heart cells, characteristically the myofilaments and mitochondria, was damaged. Electron spin resonance measurement demonstrated that xanthine and xanthine oxidase elevated the free radical content, while selenium (Se) and manganese (Mn) reduced the free radicals in cultured heart cells. Supplementation of 0.173 microgram/ml Se and 0.1 microgram/ml Mn into the culture medium separately or simultaneously antagonized the damage induced by xanthine and xanthine oxidase. The possible mechanism might be the production of superoxide anion free radical leading to free radical damage to cardiac cells. Se and Mn might play a role as scavengers through glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase respectively and thus protect cardiac cells from free radical damage.

Relationship between hormone profiles and the restoration of spermatogenesis in men treated with gossypol

Gossypol acetic acid was administered orally to 35 male volunteers at a dose of 20 mg once a day for 52-70 days in the loading phase and twice a week for 22 months in the maintenance phase. Sperm counts and the serum concentrations of LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone and oestradiol were monitored regularly during treatment and for a follow-up period of 12 months. At around 90 days after treatment, all treated participants approached or attained azoospermia and remained at this level throughout the maintenance phase. By the end of the follow-up phase, eight treated men were still azoospermic, while sperm counts in the other 27 men were restored to normal levels. The only hormone that changed significantly during and after the treatment was FSH. From the 6th month of the treatment to the end of the follow-up phase, serum concentrations of FSH in the eight participants that reached irreversible azoospermia were significantly higher than in the other 27 men or in controls. It is suggested that monitoring of FSH levels might be of diagnostic use for identifying those participants with irreversible azoospermia during gossypol treatment.