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.

An approximate method for optimum independent culling level selection for n stages of selection with explicit solutions

An approximate method with explicit solutions to apply independent culling levels for multiple traits in n-stages of selection was developed. An approximate solution was found for sequentially selected traits. Two assumptions were necessary. The first was to assume that subsequent selection would not appreciably change the mean of traits already selected, and the second was to approximate the variance of a correlated trait in a selected population with an upward biased projection. The procedure was shown to give near optimal results regardless of selection intensity or genetic correlations if phenotypic correlations among traits were low. The procedure gave poor results only for certain sequences of selection when phenotypic correlations were high. However, in those cases good results were obtained using a different sequence of selection. With high correlations, the procedure is recommended only after comparing solutions and expected genetic gain for all sequences of selection. If the expected aggregate gain for the sequence of selection desired is less than that of another order, culling points associated with the optimal ordering must be determined. Genetic gain from use of culling points is independent of order of selection. The procedure is recommended for use with computer programs that attempt to find optimal culling points to reduce computational time and to check results.

[Studies on the antitumor antibiotic aclacinomycin A]

During the course of screening for new antitumor antibiotics, a new anthracycline antibiotic--aclacinomycin A was separated from the broth and mycelium of Streptomyces AC-57. The strain AC-57 was isolated from the soil collected in the Shanghai suburbs. According to its culture and physiological characteristics the producer was identified as Str. galilaeus AC-57. The broth and mycelium were extracted and treated with solvents as usual way. The aclacinomycin A was separated by silica-gel column chromatography eluted with chrolo-form-methanol. Aclacinomycin A, its aglycone and sugar components were identified by comparison of their physico-chemical and spectral data (MS, UV, IR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR) with authentic compound, purified from the market sample.

[Autologous mixed lymphoma reaction in patients with malignant lymphoma]

Human T cells can be induced to proliferate in vitro when they are cocultured with autologous Non-T cells. This phenomenon has been termed the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction, AMLR. In this study, AMLR was assessed in 14 untreated patients with lymphoma and 13 age-and-sex-matched healthy controls. This difference was significant (P less than 0.001), suggesting that patients with lymphoma may have impaired AMLR.

Activated macrophages in highly irradiated cercariae-induced immunity to Schistosoma japonicum in rats

The results of studies on the schistosomulicidal activity of activated peritoneal and alveolar macrophages (pM phi and aM phi) from rats immunized with highly irradiated (50 krad.) Schistosoma japonicum cercariae are reported. The authors have examined the activation of these macrophages in terms of spreading, adhesion and ingestion of sheep erythrocytes and pinocytosis of horse-radish peroxidase. Using three criteria, peritoneal macrophages and alveolar macrophages from immunized rats and from rats intraperitoneally injected with BCG were significantly more active than those from normal rats or rats stimulated with 10% proteose-peptone or 1% sodium thioglycolate. A significantly higher percentage of adhesion and ingestion was obtained with the sheep erythrocytes that were co-opsonized by heat-inactivated rat anti-sheep erythrocyte serum and fresh normal rat serum. Schistosomulicidal effects were observed with macrophages from irradiated cercariae-immunized rats in two activation systems: in vitro activation in the presence of macrophage-activating factor (MAF), and in vivo activation by the intraperitoneal challenge with sonicated cercarial antigens.

Schistosoma japonicum: some parameters affecting the development of protective immunity induced by a cryopreserved, irradiated schistosomula vaccine in guinea-pigs

Experiments were conducted in guinea-pigs to elucidate the parameters affecting the development of protective immunity against Schistosoma japonicum induced by a cryopreserved, irradiated schistosomula vaccine such as the number of immunizations, route of injection and the use of adjuvants. Results obtained indicated that the cryopreserved, irradiated schistosomula vaccine was effective by either intradermal or intramuscular injection. One intradermal injection with BCG adjuvant resulted in an average worm reduction of 50 x 24%, only a little lower than that of a non-cryopreserved, irradiated vaccine, 53 x 55%, with no statistically significant difference between the two. By intramuscular injection the worm reduction was lower (max. 40%) whether given with or without adjuvants or in 1 or 2 injections.

[The evaluation of thyroid suppression test in predicting the outcome of Graves' disease treated by short-term antithyroid drugs]

One hundred and fifteen new patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism were received thyroid suppression test after cessation of 6 month course of drug therapy. The results of follow up for another 12 months were that one of them had lost, 48 cases were in remission, and 66 cases had relapsed. The present study shows that thyroid suppression test, including the 4th, 6th and 24th hour suppression rates, is useful in predicting the outcome of drug therapy. The effect of 6th hour suppression rate is better than that of 24th and 4th hours, with 75.8% sensitivity, 75.0% specificity and 75.4% accuracy when 30% of thyroid suppression rate is as out-off point which is decided by ROC curve. It is suggested that 6 hour 30% suppression rate is better than the traditional 24 hour 50% suppression rate in the prediction of outcome of drug therapy.

[A preliminary study of the inhibiting mechanism of anisodamine on rabbit platelets activated by E. coli endotoxin]

Bacterial endotoxin binds to platelets and causes platelet aggregation, thrombocytopenia, increase in thromboxane A2 production, serotonin release and increase in the generation of platelet factor 3 procoagulant activity. These effects have been demonstrated in a variety of animal species. Much evidence has shown that such changes may participate in the pathogenesis of DIC and RDS in septic shock. The anisodamine (654) antishock effect has been studied from different angles for more than 20 years, with its effect on the cardiovascular system, including the microcirculation, being demonstrated. But few reports concerning its effect on platelet function have emerged. In this study, the effect of anisodamine on rabbit platelet aggregation, release, morphological changes, cellular cAMP, and membrane lipid fluidity induced by E. coli endotoxin were studied both in vivo and in vitro. After anisodamine intervention, all of these parameters improved to a certain extent. The possible protective mechanisms of anisodamine on platelets both in vivo and in vitro are discussed.

[Enhancing effect of chuangxinmycin on synthesis of enzymes in tryptophan synthesis pathway of chuangxinmycin-resistant mutant strain of E. coli]

Chuangxinmycin (CXM) and L-trp cause repression of trp-operon in wild strain of E. coli and indolepropanic acid (IPA) causes derepression of this strain. In CXM-resistant mutant strain, CXM and IPA both cause derepression, and interaction of CXM and IPA is competitive. However, L-trp results in neither repression nor derepression in the mutant, but it can counteract the activity of CXM or IPA. These results suggest that there are repression and derepression sites on repressor of E. coli. CXM can bind to both sites, but mainly to repression site. The structure of repression site of the CXM-resistant mutant is altered, so that CXM can not bind to the repression site and binds mainly to the derepression site, thus leading to the derepression of trp-operon.

[Separation of 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg2 and its 20(R) epimer by reversed phase low pressure column (Rp-18) chromatography]

20(S)-Ginsenoside-Rg2 and its 20(R) epimer were successfully separated using reversed-phase low pressure column (Rp-18) chromatography. The method has proved very convenient and rapid.