Human antibodies reactive with beta-amyloid protein in Alzheimer's disease

Four human B cell lines established by Epstein-Barr viral transformation of B cells from a patient with a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were found to secrete antibodies that react with plaques and cerebrovascular blood vessels in AD brain in a staining profile characteristic of beta-amyloid protein (beta-AP) in AD brain. Two of these antibodies were shown to be reactive with a rare plaque in a normal brain. In these studies, immunofluorescence and avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase methodology were used to determine antibody reaction, and thioflavine S was used to double label amyloid and neurofibrillary tangles. The four antibodies also reacted with neurons in normal and AD brain. Absorption studies, dot immunoblots, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with beta-amyloid peptides 1-28 (beta-A1-28) and 1-40 (beta-A1-40) indicate the major determinant of the reactive epitope is located in the region of amino acids 1-28 of beta-AP. However, inhibition studies demonstrate a significant contribution to the antigenic determinant by the 29-40 region of the beta-A1-40. These antibodies represent the first human autoantibodies against beta-AP. The pathological significance of these autoantibodies is discussed.

[The number, distribution and effects of interleukin-2 receptor and CD4 antigens in benign and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases]

An analysis of immunophenotypes was made in benign and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases (35 cases) and short cultured lymphocytes of chronic tonsillitis (15 cases). The number, distribution and variation of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25) and CD4 positive cells in the above lesions were studied. The results showed that (1) there were more or less IL-2R+ and CD4+ cells presented in the tissues of benign lymphoproliferative lesions; (2) IL-2R antigen was also presented in some tumor and non-tumor cells with CD4+ reaction but it was not found in the cells with CD1+ or/and CD8+ reactions; (3) IL-2R and CD4 antigens were expressed in the proliferated lymphocytes stimulated by PHA. Although IL-2R antigen is not a specific marker to certain types of lymphocytes, it has some relations with immunophenotypes of lymphocytes. The functions and effects of IL-2, IL-2R and helper T lymphocytes were also discussed.

[A clinicopathological and immunohistochemical study of 49 cases of necrotizing lymphadenitis]

A clinicopathological and immunohistiochemical study of 49 cases of necrotizing lymphadenitis was made. Twenty-four patients were male and twenty-five female with the M:F ratio of 0.96:1. The patients ranged in age from 9 to 62 years with a mean of 26. Forty-nine patients had superficial lymphadenopathy, and twenty-two were accompanied by fever. The results also showed that there was multifoci necrosis present in the involved lymph nodes, particularly in the cortex or/and paracortex, with variable numbers of small lymphocytes, immunoblasts, histocytes and phagocytes, the latter with phagocytized nuclear debris derived from necrotizing T lymphocytes. However, granulocytes and plasmacytes were generally absent, and B lymphocytes rare. The pathogenesis of this disease remains unknown and the pathogen has not been found by Gram, Giemsa, PAS, Ziehl-Neelsen and Warthin-Starry stain. The diagnosis, differential diagnosis and etiology of this disease are discussed. We support the suggestion that this entity be called "Kikuchi-Fujimoto's disease" rather than "Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis".

Vaccination of bovines against Schistosomiasis japonica with cryopreserved-irradiated and freeze-thaw schistosomula

Four laboratory tests and one field trial with cryopreserved irradiated (CI) schistosomula vaccine and a freeze-thaw (F/T) vaccine against bovine Schistosomiasis japonica were carried out in 1979 and 1980 with the following results: (1) Single intradermal vaccination in buffalo calves each with 10,000 20 krad CI Schistosomula plus 1 ml BCG gave 62% worm reduction (P < 0.05). Using the same protocol 55% worm reduction (P < 0.01) was obtained in cattle. (2) Buffalo calves immunized twice, at a 1.5 month interval, with 10,000 and 20,000 CI schistosomula, respectively, resulted in a worm reduction 65%. (3) In a preliminary field trial with 10,000 CI schistosomula plus 1 ml BCG resulted in a worm reduction of 53% in buffalo calves. (4) Intradermal vaccination of 30,000 F/T schistosomula with 1 ml BCG was also tried in cattle and revealed a worm reduction of 57% but increasing the number of vaccinations did not improve the protective effect. (5) Evidence regarding the effects of immunization with CI vaccine in buffaloes and F/T vaccine in cattle, on the number of eggs and miracidia and that of female worms themselves was obtained. (6) Immune responses, cellular and humoral, elicited in buffaloes vaccinated with CI schistosomula were detected by means of Lymphocyte Transformation Assay and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Secreted extracellular domains of macrophage scavenger receptors form elongated trimers which specifically bind crocidolite asbestos

Macrophage scavenger receptors, which have been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis and other macrophage-mediated events, are trimeric integral membrane glycoproteins whose extracellular domains have been predicted to include alpha-helical coiled-coil, collagenous and globular structures. To elucidate further the structural and functional properties of these receptors, we generated transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells which express secreted extracellular domains of the type I and type II bovine scavenger receptors and developed a solid-phase bead-binding assay to assess their ligand-binding properties. The secreted receptors exhibited the distinctive high-affinity, broad polyanionic ligand-binding specificity and the pH dependence of binding which characterize the membrane-anchored cell-surface forms of the receptors. Both the type I and type II secreted receptors were trimeric glycoproteins comprising disulfide-linked dimers and noncovalently associated monomers. Gel filtration and glycerol-gradient centrifugation established that the type II trimers were highly elongated and did not associate into higher order oligomers at the low concentrations used in these experiments. Crocilodite asbestos, which is phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages and can cause asbestosis and mesothelioma, bound efficiently to secreted type I receptors and less well to the type II receptors. This binding was specific in that it was competed by a variety of well established scavenger receptor ligands but not by negative controls. These studies have identified a new type of insoluble scavenger receptor ligand, and have raised the possibility that scavenger receptors may play a role in mediating the physiological and pathological interactions of inspired particles with alveolar macrophages.

Protective effects of berberine and phentolamine on myocardial reoxygenation damage

The protective effects of berberine and phentolamine against anoxia and reoxygenation damage in isolated rat hearts have been investigated. Incorporation of berberine (24.5 mumol/L) in both anoxic and aerobic perfusion media resulted in a significant reduction of CPK release during the reoxygenation period, and the ultrastructural damage was reduced as compared with the control group; the myocytes in the berberine-treated group displayed mild intracellular edema, well-registered myofibrils without contracted bands, and swollen mitochondria with partially broken cristae but without dense bodies. Berberine did not inhibit calcium and sodium accumulation or magnesium and potassium loss. Treatment with phentolamine (6.6 mumol/L), an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, had similar effects, though the CPK release profile was shifted to the right and downwards. These results suggest that although berberine and phentolamine have some beneficial effects on myocardial reoxygenation injury, they may not abolish the injury. Therefore alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation may not be the major mechanism behind the injury.

Intracellular trafficking and the parasitophorous vacuole of Leishmania mexicana-infected macrophages

The continued success of Leishmania as an intramacrophage parasite is dependent on its ability to survive within an acidic intracellular compartment, resist degradation by lysosomal hydrolases, exploit the host cell as a source of nutrients, and avoid the macrophage's antigen-presenting capabilities. All these requirements are dependent on the properties of the parasitophorous vacuole in which Leishmania resides. This study shows that the vacuole possesses membrane proteins characteristic of a lysosome, and has MHC class II molecules. The trafficking of a variety of endocytic markers supports this finding. However, a temporal study up to 14 days post-infection indicates that, as it matures, the vacuole gains mannose 6-phosphate receptor, and becomes more accessible to endocytosed ligand, suggesting that the vacuole has functionally translocated from a lysosomal to late endosomal compartment. Endocytosed material was detected in the flagellar pocket and inside the amastigote, demonstrating parasite uptake of intra-vacuolar material. Careful analysis of amastigotes suggests that they avoid antigen presentation by their host cell by limiting the release of potential antigens. These findings significantly extend our understanding of the mechanisms employed by Leishmania to ensure its survival in the macrophage.

Origins for the Near-Earth Asteroids

Because of their short dynamical lifetimes, the population of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) must be resupplied. Two sources have been hypothesized: main-belt asteroids and extinct comet nuclei. The difficulty of making physical measurements for similar sized (diameter D less than 5 kilometers) main-belt asteroids and comet nuclei has limited comparative tests for distinguishing between these alternatives. A new survey of physical properties for D < 5 kilometers main-belt asteroids reveals that their spin rate and shape distributions are similar to those of NEAs, as is fully consistent with a main-belt origin for most NEAs. Physical data on comet nuclei are limited. If the existing sample is representative of the comet population, analysis of the asteroid and comet samples constrains the fraction of comet nuclei to between 0 and 40 percent of the total NEA population.

Ethacrynic acid inhibition of microtubule assembly in Vitro

Ethacrynic acid (ECA) is a sulfhydryl reactive diuretic drug. Recent studies show that ocular administration of ECA may have potential efficacy for treatment of glaucoma. ECA affects cell shape in cultured cells from the eye outflow pathway and the microtubule system is disrupted. We have studied the effect of ECA on microtubule protein (MTP) (tubulin and microtubule-associated proteins) and purified tubulin assembly. Fifty percent inhibition of MTP (1.8 mg/ml) assembly was found at 70 microM ECA in buffer and 410 microM ECA in 30% glycerol in buffer. If all sulfhydryl groups were attributed to tubulin, then approximately two sulfhydryls were blocked at 50% inhibition. Tubulin (2 mg/ml) assembly showed 50% inhibition at 175 microM ECA and approximately 2 sulfhydryl groups were lost. Increasing ECA preincubation times (0-60 min) with tubulin showed that the longer the preincubation time, the longer the lag time, and the slower the rate of assembly and that the percentage of inhibition was proportional to the ECA preincubation time. The number of blocked sulfhydryls also increased with preincubation time. Approximately two sulfhydryls were blocked at 50% inhibition of assembly. The critical concentration for assembly increased twofold when tubulin was preincubated with 0.1 mM ECA, suggesting a loss of active tubulin. Fifty percent inhibition of taxol-induced MTP and tubulin assembly occurred at 190 and 280 microM ECA, respectively, with 3.6 to 3.8 sulfhydryls blocked, respectively. Taxol protects microtubules from disassembly by ECA, suggesting that the ECA binding key sulfhydryls are blocked in the microtubule. These results suggest that ECA reacts slowly with tubulin and blocks sulfhydryl groups important for assembly. Microtubule-associated proteins and glycerol protect the sulfhydryls and so more ECA is necessary to inhibit assembly. Since the number of blocked sulfhydryls is greater at 50% inhibition for taxol-induced microtubules, sulfhydryl blocked tubulin incompetent to assemble under normal conditions may be induced to do so with taxol.

[Thin layer chromatography for identification of 9 species of traditional Chinese medicine in baihe gujin tang granules]

Baihe Gujin Tang granules are mainly composed of nine species of traditional Chinese medicine and other admixtures, so the composition is very complex. In order to confirm the presence of each traditional Chinese medicine in the preparation, a thin layer chromatographic method was developed successfully for analysis of Scrophulariae, Platycodon, Paeoniae and Glycyrrhizae.

Alternative partitioning of the genotype-by-environment interaction

Alternative methods for partitioning the genotype-by-environment interaction, for an arbitrary number of genotypes or environments, were examined. Partitioning of the interaction is important in order to determine the nature of the interaction. Two methods of partitioning were examined; both separated the interaction into two types: (1) due to heterogeneous variances or (2) due to imperfect correlations. Method 1 was based on heterogeneity among environments in the scaling of differences among genotypes. Method 2 was based on heterogeneity among genotypes in the scaling of differences among environments. Any remaining interaction arises from deviations from the perfect positive correlation of genotypic rankings among environments (Method 1) or of environmental rankings among genotypes (Method 2). Method 1 is more appropriate for random genotypes that are to be tested in either fixed or random environments. With Method 1, the interactions that arise mainly from heterogeneity of genotypic scaling among environments are generally unimportant. However, if environments are fixed and interactions are mainly due to imperfect correlations of rankings, specialized lines may be indicated for each environment. Method 2 is more useful in evaluating fixed genotypes for sensitivity to random environments. A partitioning of the interaction into that due to the type of interaction within each genotype was shown to be useful in that situation.

[A new method of enveloping volatile oils in Chinese medicinal herbs with beta-cyclodextrin]

A comparison has been made of the enveloping rate of volatile oil by three different methods with beta-cyclodextrin. The result indicates that the saturated water solution enveloping method is very close to the gas-liquid enveloping method, P greater than 0.05, but the liquid-liquid enveloping method is apparently higher than the saturated water solution enveloping method, P less than 0.01.

[Optimization of preparing technology for qiju dihuang oral liquid by orthogonal method]

L9(3)4 orthogonal experiment was performed to improve the clarity of Qiju Dihuang Oral Liquid. The result shows that the optimum pretreatment technology for the liquid includes alcohol concentration 75%, liquid pH 4.2 freezing temperature 3 degrees C and freezing time 48 hours.

Phagocytic killing of encapsulated and microencapsulated Staphylococcus aureus by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) is an important host defense against infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Using an in vitro assay, we compared the opsonic requirements for phagocytic killing of prototype strains of encapsulated (type 1) and microencapsulated (type 5 and type 8) S. aureus by human PMNs. More than 85% of broth-grown, logarithmic-phase type 5 and 8 S. aureus organisms were killed by PMNs incubated with fresh normal human, rabbit, or guinea pig serum with complement activity. Under similar conditions, the highly encapsulated type 1 strain was not killed. Both encapsulated and microencapsulated strains were opsonized for phagocytosis by heat-inactivated serum raised in rabbits to killed bacteria. Opsonization by homologous serum was required for phagocytosis of the type 1 strain. In contrast, microencapsulated type 5 and 8 S. aureus organisms were killed by heat-inactivated rabbit serum raised to type 5, type 8, or nonencapsulated isolates; this result suggested that antibodies to the capsule or to cell wall components other than the capsule could opsonize these organisms for phagocytosis. The specificity of the assay was confirmed with capsule type 5-specific monoclonal antibodies, which were opsonic only for the type 5 S. aureus isolate. These studies indicate that, unlike the highly encapsulated type 1 strain, broth-grown microencapsulated S. aureus strains do not resist opsonophagocytic killing in vitro by normal serum.

Selection index updating

When traits become evident at different ages or there are large differences in the costs of measuring various traits, selection by independent culling levels may give a higher aggregate economic return than index selection because not all traits need to be measured on all individuals. The problems with optimum independent culling selection is that general solutions are not possible and numerical integration is needed for specific cases. Recently, Xu and Muir (1991) developed a new independent culling level procedure by use of orthogonal transformation of the original characters. With their procedure, explicit solutions for optimum truncation points are possible without numerical integration. As such, the procedure is proficient for any number of stages, and generalized theoretical comparisons of alternative breeding strategies are possible. However, their procedure was limited to the case where selection is for one character at each stage. In this paper, our previous results are extended to the general case of multi-stage index selection, called selection index updating. This procedure is called selection index updating because as traits become available in latter stages, each subsequent index contains all of the traits available up to that stage.The procedure is to develop sequential indices for each stage such that correlations among indices at different stages are zero. Optimum culling points are obtained for the updating procedure by using Xu and Muir's (1991) iterative equations. Due to the property of orthogonality of the updated indices, aggregate gain can be partitioned into gains due to various stages of selection. Partitioning of aggregate economic gain is useful to breeders who desire to adjust individual trait selection intensity based on facilities available at that stage. Methods are discussed to modify the procedure to obtain maximum aggregate economic return per unit of cost associated with obtaining measures on each trait. An application of multi-stage selection is demonstrated using a set of data for Rhode Island Red layer type chickens. A second example demonstrates the use of multi-stage selection optimized with respect to aggregate economic gain and costs associated with obtaining measurements.

Cytogenetic studies on a human rectal carcinoma cell line (HR-8348)

Cytogenetic properties of a human rectal carcinoma cell line (HR-8348) established in China are described. The early (29th passage) and late (93rd passage) passage cells were used for chromosome analysis. HR-8348 was found to have an essentially triploid karyotype. This distribution of chromosome numbers was rather dispersed in early passage, whereas it was concentrated in the 65-70 range in late passage. G-banded karyotype analysis also showed that the numerical distribution of chromosomes was dispersed in early passage and was associated with more abnormal chromosomes. In late passage, the numerical distribution became more stable and the number of abnormal chromosomes was reduced. In 60 metaphases analyzed, 10 marker chromosomes were found. The frequencies of M1, M2 and M3 were 100% in both early and late passage cells. The morphological characteristics of these marker chromosomes and their possible origin and role in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma are discussed.

[Invasiveness and metastasis of tumor spheroid aggregates of human giant cell carcinoma (lung clone strain PLA801-95D) in vitro and in vivo]

Invasion modols of tumor spheroid aggregates in vitro and in vivo were established by using human giant cell carcinoma (lung strain PLA801-95D). PLA801-95D cells from monolayer cultures were suspended and allowed to form spheroid aggregates for 3 d on a gyratory shaker. In organ culture, PLA801-95D (0.2 mm in diameter) were confronted with 0.4 mm round precultured heart fragments (PHF), then co-cultured on a gyratory shaker. PLA801-95D cells showed a strong capacity of invasion in vitro. In vivo, PLA801-95D spheroids (0.3 mm in diameter) were transplanted subcutaneously into the auricles and flanks of BALB/c nude mice. No s. c. tumor growth was noted in the auricle 4 months after transplantation, but at the s. c. flank, tumors were found in 3 of 5 mice, with invasive growth seen at the site of transplantation. Metastases were found in regional drainage lymph nodes (axillary, submaxillary and inguinal lymph nodes) and in the lungs. PLA801-95D cells had high malignancy in vitro and in vivo. Both spheroid invasion models proved to be suitable for judging the malignancy of human tumor cells and for studying the mechanism of human tumor invasion.

[Evaluation of a logistic regression model in predicting the prognosis of Graves' disease treated by antithyroid drugs]

One hundred and twelve new cases of Graves' disease were treated by tapazole for 6 months and followed up for another 12 months. The initial dose was 30 mg/d. Clinical and biochemical euthyroidism was achieved within 1 to 3 months, then a maintenance was given until cessation of drugs at 6 months. One hundred and eleven cases completed the study. Remission and relapse were defined at the end of follow-up for 1 year according to the presence or absence of clinical manifestation of hyperthyroidism and the levels of T3 and T4. The results of the 12-month follow-up showed that 46 of 111 cases were in remission, and the remaining 65 cases suffered relapse. A logistic regression model with 4 variables was established, which included thyroid suppression rate and goitre size by palpation at the end of drug treatment, the level of T3 before therapy, and the patients' age. The model had 81.5% sensitivity, 84.8% specificity and 82.9% (92/111) accuracy in predicting the outcome of Graves' disease after withdrawal of drug for 1 year. The results were much better than any other univariate analysis in this study.

[Clinical value of the Chengdu classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas]

Two hundred forty-nine cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) were reviewed by using the working classification of NHL (Chengdu, 1985). The results showed that the patients of 249 cases of NHL ranging in age from 5 to 76 years, with the mean age of 42 of the types were separated into three major prognostic groupings as follows: 1. low (41 of 249 cases, small lymphocytic 27 cases, lymphoplasmacytoid 2 cases, follicular cleaved 7 cases, follicular cleaved and noncleaved 5 cases); 2. intermediate (58 of 249 cases, diffuse cleaved 28 cases, diffuse cleaved and noncleaved 27 cases, follicular noncleaved 3 cases); and 3. high grade malignancy (150 of 249 cases, diffuse noncleaved 49 cases, lymphoblastic 41 cases, immunoblastic 13 cases, polymorphic 39 cases, clear cell 2 cases, histiocytic 6 cases). Each group was significantly different from the others (P less than 0.05). The prognosis of patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy like T-cell lymphoma (9 of 249 cases) was not more significant (P greater than 0.05) than that of patients with other polymorphic lymphoma (30 of 249 cases). The results showed this Chengdu classification of NHL is good for practice and usage in clinical evaluation and routine surgical pathology.