[Extra-capsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in cases with cataract and a small pupil with synechiae]

OBJECTIVE

To introduce a new surgical technique for cataract with a small synechia pupil and evaluate its effects.

METHODS

43 eyes of 40 patients were operated on and followed up for 3-30 months. Surgical procedures included iridectomy, separating the posterior synechiae, straight cutting of upper iris and making 3 little cuts at inferior pupillary margin, extracapsular cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation, and at last suturing the iris cuts to form a round pupil.

RESULTS

Postoperatively, all 43 eyes had 3-4 mm basically round pupil and 42 eyes (97.7%) had improved vision. Of the 32 eyes followed up for more than three months, 22 eyes (68.8%) obtained visual acuities 0.5 or better, 10 eyes (31.2%) had visual acuities worse than 0.4 which were attributed to posterior segment abnormalities. Intraoperatively, no posterior capsular rupture was seen, and postoperatively, no severe complications were found.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that patients with cataract and a small synechia pupil obtain improved vision and round pupil without unacceptable risk by means of the surgical technique mentioned in this paper.

Prevention of disability and rehabilitation--results from a collaborative project in China

Eight different geographical districts in China varying in urban and rural characteristics from 6 provinces and 2 municipalities were selected as pilot areas of the project. The interventions included early detection and treatment of neuritis, self-care training, adapted footwear, surgery, comprehensive treatment of complicated ulcers, and prostheses. Main changes in eye, hand and foot impairments between baseline assessment and assessment at 2 years have been presented in this paper.

Complementary and mutually exclusive activities of decapentaplegic and wingless organize axial patterning during Drosophila leg development

Growth and patterning of the Drosophila leg are organized by three secreted proteins: Hedgehog (Hh), Wingless (Wg), and Decapentaplegic (Dpp). Hh is secreted by posterior cells; it acts at short range to induce dorsal anterior cells to secrete Dpp and ventral anterior cells to secrete Wg. Here we show that the complementary patterns of dpp and wg expression are maintained by mutual repression: Dpp signaling blocks wg transcription, whereas Wg signaling attenuates dpp transcription. We also show that this mutual repression is essential for normal axial patterning because it ensures that the dorsalizing and ventralizing activities of Dpp and Wg are restricted to opposite sides of the leg primordium and meet only at the center of the primordium to distalize the appendage.

[Studies on the metabolites of tetramethylpyrazine in human urine]

Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), an active ingredient in Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Wallich Franch), a traditional Chinese herb, has been widely used especially in the treatment of patients with cerebral ischemic diseases in China. TMP was reported to have a short half-life time because of its rapid metabolism in the liver. In this paper we studied its metabolites in human urine with GC/MS after oral administration of TMP. Three metabolites were found in the water soluble acidic fraction of the urine and the main metabolite was identified to be 3,.5,6-trimethylpyrazinecarboxylic acid.

Toxigenic molds in water-damaged buildings: dechlorogriseofulvins from Memnoniella echinata

An investigation of a cluster of cases of pulmonary hemosiderosis in infants in Cleveland, OH, led to the isolation of many isolates of Stachybotrys atra and two isolates of a related toxigenic fungus, Memnoniella echinata. M. echinata produces two cytotoxic trichothecene mycotoxins, trichodermol (1a) and trichodermin (1b), as well as several griseofulvins. Dechlorogriseofulvin (2a) and epidechlorogriseofulvin (2b) were the major compounds isolated. This is the first report of a fungus outside the Penicillium genus producing griseofulvins.

[Dexamethasone's effect on glutamate receptor in experimental hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury]

In order to probe into dexamethasone's effect on glutamate receptor (Glu R) in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) of newborn, we established newborn pigs' model of HIE to investigate Glu R in their forebrain crude synaptic membrane and the effect of dexamethasone in different HIE times and different dosages on the changes of Glu R. This study included five groups: HIE group (no medication); dexamethasone treatment group (10 mg/kg before HIE); dexamethasone treatment group (10 mg/kg after HIE); dexamethasone treatment group (5 mg/kg before HIE); dexamethasone treatment group (5 mg/kg after HIE). The results showed that the mean receptor density (Bmax) of dexamethasone treatment group (10 mg/kg before HIE) was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P < 0.05), but there was no statistic difference in the affinity of Glu R between all the experimental groups. These findings suggested that the preventive use of dexamethasone in large dosage would reduce the binding of Glu, and could possibly protect the brain tissues from damage in HIE.

A model for acute carbon monoxide poisoning in conscious rats

These experiments were designed to establish an animal model of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in awake habituated rats. On the day before exposure, under a brief anesthesia, a Levine preparation (unilateral common carotid artery occlusion) was performed on group 1 (n = 8) and 2 (n = 28), but not on group 3 rats (n = 8). Group 1 rats were exposed to air as control. Groups 2 and 3 rats were exposed to 0.27% CO in air for 60 min [carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) = 70%] followed by a 2-day recovery in air. The Levine preparation per se did not induce any detectable physiologic effects on group 1 rats. Identical cardiovascular and metabolic responses to CO occurred in groups 2 and 3. After the CO exposure, all group 3 rats lived for 2 days with normal neurologic index (NI). In group 2 (n = 25 post-CO), 84% of the rats showed increased NI and edema of the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere, and 76% of the rats died 8.7 +/- 1.7 h after the CO exposure. NI correlated with the brain edema (rs = 0.748, P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with the survival time after the CO exposure (rs = -0.777, P < 0.001). We therefore may conclude that exposure of the Levine-prepared rats to 0.27% CO in air for 60 min will provide a valuable model for testing of different treatments for CO poisoning.

[Restriction fragment length polymorphism assays of clinical isolated human cytomegalovirus strain genomic DNA]

Ten clinical isolated strains of Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were obtained from 73 urine specimens of different people. Isolations from urine were carried out in human embryolung fibroblasts. Viral isolates were passaged four times. HCMV DNAs of laboratory strain AD169 and 10 clinical isolated strains were extracted with Hirt method, digested with each of the restriction enzymes EcoRI, Hind II. Comparison of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of AD169 and isolated strains were made by hybridizing digested DNA with 32P labeled with HCMV Hind II cloned subgenomic fragments as the probe (pCM1035, pCM1015). pCM1035 is located in the joining region between the long(L) and short (S) unique sequences of the virus (L-S junction) pCM1015 is located in the terminal sequences of the virus. The results showed the genomic high degree of homology existed among all strains and the variable restriction site was in the L-S junction and terminal portion. The RFLP patterns of the clinical isolates which did not have relation in epidemiology were different, but the patterns of clinical isolates related in epidemiology were quite similar. Polymorphism frequently occurred in this case of EcoRI digested fragment hybridized with the probe of pCM1035. Southern hybridization of HCMV isolations is useful to researches into the molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of HCMV infection.

[Preliminary investigation of Helicobacter pylori infection in Linqu County of Shandong province]

A preliminary epidemiological investigation of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection was performed with 13C-urea breathing test for 218 residents at the age from 40 to 69 years in a high risk area of gatric cancer, Linqu County of Shandong province. Our results show an overall HP infection rate of 71.10%, or 69.49% for men and 73.00% for women. The HP infection rate in the group of serious chronic atrophic gastritis was significantly higher than that of mild chronic atrophic gatritis (P < 0.05). The HP positive group also has a higher rate of complaining about gastric discomfort than the HP negative group (P < 0.02).

Allotetraploid hybrids between citrus and seven related genera produced by somatic hybridization

We have developed an efficient protoplast-fusion method to produce somatic hybrid allopolyploid plants that combine Citrus with seven related genera, including four that are sexually incompatible. In this paper we report the creation of 18 new allotetraploid hybrids of Citrus, including ten among sexually incompatible related genera, that may have direct cultivar potential as improved citrus rootstocks. All hybrids were confirmed by cytological and RAPD analyses. If fertile, the attributes of these hybrids may be amenable to further genetic manipulation by breeding at the tetraploid level. Wide somatic hybridization of Citrus via protoplast fusion bypasses biological barriers to the natural allopolyploidization of Citrus, and creates new evolutionary opportunities that would be difficult or impossible to achieve by natural or conventional hybridization.

Population toxicokinetics of tetrachloroethylene

In assessing the distribution and metabolism of toxic compounds in the body, measurements are not always feasible for ethical or technical reasons. Computer modeling offers a reasonable alternative, but the variability and complexity of biological systems pose unique challenges in model building and adjustment. Recent tools from population pharmacokinetics, Bayesian statistical inference, and physiological modeling can be brought together to solve these problems. As an example, we modeled the distribution and metabolism of tetrachloroethylene (PERC) in humans. We derive statistical distributions for the parameters of a physiological model of PERC, on the basis of data from Monster et al. (1979). The model adequately fits both prior physiological information and experimental data. An estimate of the relationship between PERC exposure and fraction metabolized is obtained. Our median population estimate for the fraction of inhaled tetrachloroethylene that is metabolized, at exposure levels exceeding current occupational standards, is 1.5% [95% confidence interval (0.52%, 4.1%)]. At levels approaching ambient inhalation exposure (0.001 ppm), the median estimate of the fraction metabolized is much higher, at 36% [95% confidence interval (15%, 58%)]. This disproportionality should be taken into account when deriving safe exposure limits for tetrachloroethylene and deserves to be verified by further experiments.

Phacoemulsification and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of phacoemulsification and PMMA posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.

METHODS

The surgery was performed on 74 eyes of 67 patients with senile, complicated and congenital cataracts.

RESULTS

Post-operatively, the visual acuities with spherical correction or without correction were 0.5 or better in 80.5% at one week and with correction, in 97.6% at three months. The mean astigmatism was 1.90 +/- 1.15 D at one week and 0.93 +/- 0.55 D at three months which were respectively less than that in the control group with a 10-12 mm large incision (P < 0.001), but almost the same as that in the control group with a small incision and manual nucleus division technique (P > 0.05). The main complications were iris bite in 6 eyes, capsular rupture in 2 eyes and aseptic hypopyon in one eye. The selection of cases, surgical techniques and management of intraoperative complications were discussed.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that phacoemulsification be applied extensively. However, that it has more complications and risk must be emphasized for a beginner.

Schistosoma mansoni: the glucose transport protein SGTP4 is present in tegumental multilamellar bodies, discoid bodies, and the surface lipid bilayers

Schistosomes metabolize large quantities of glucose obtained from the host serum by facilitated diffusion through the tegument. Here we have used rabbit antibodies affinity purified against the carboxyl terminus of a facilitated glucose transporter, SGTP4, to localize the antigen in both schistosomula and adults. By ultrastructural immunocytochemical analysis, SGTP4 was localized to both lipid bilayers that cover the tegumental surface of adults and schistosomula. In the inner bilayer of adults, SGTP4 was apparently oriented with the carboxyl terminus on the internal side of the bilayer. SGTP4 was also present in the discoid and multilamellar bodies in adults and the membranous bodies in schistosomula. Finally, the affinity purified antibodies against SGTP4 bound nonspecifically to the head glands and postacetabular glands in schistosomula. The localization of the antigen in the two surface lipid bilayers suggests that SGTP4 may be responsible for transporting glucose from mammalian host serum into the tegument.

[Accommodation in pseudophakic eyes with monofocal posterior chamber intraocular lens]

OBJECTIVE

To study the accommodative problem of pseudophakic eyes with commonly implanted monofocal posterior chamber intraocular lens (PC-IOL).

METHODS

Slataper's method, dynamic retinoscopy and pattern-visual evoked potentials were used to measure the accommodative power in 120 pseudophakic eyes (101 patients) with monofocal PC-IOL.

RESULTS

The mean accommodative power was 2.15 +/- 0.76 D. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that the apparent accommodation is positively correlated with the corrected distant vision and the distantly corrected near vision, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The apparent accommodation of pseudophakic eyes does exist, but it is a false one. The result of accommodative power measured by dynamic retinoscopy is the most objective and precise. The central visual efficiency and the applicable range of accommodation in pseudophakic eyes with low myopia (-1.00 D) are better than that in emmetropic pseudophakic eyes.

Occurrence of conjugated cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid in bovine milk: effects of feed and dietary regimen

Twenty-eight lactating cows were used to study the effects of different diets and different dietary regimens on the variation of cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid in milk. Cows were divided into three groups and assigned to dietary treatments differing in the ratio of forage to concentrate. The control group was fed a diet with an average ratio of forage to concentrate of 50:50. The two trial groups were fed a trial diet either in restricted or nonrestricted amounts. Variation of cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid in milk was substantial (2.5 to 17.7 mg/g of fat). Cows fed restricted amounts of the trial diet, which contained a lower forage to concentrate ratio than did the control diet, exhibited, on average, the highest concentration (11.28 mg/g of fat). For cows fed for ad libitum consumption, the trial diet did not differ significantly from the control diet (6.6 vs. 5.0 mg/g of fat). The concentration of cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid and trans-11-C18:1 was positively correlated. Therefore, conjugated linoleic acid in bovine milk, if considered to be beneficial, could be increased through a suitable dietary regimen.

Low frequency electron paramagnetic resonance investigation on metabolism of chromium (VI) by whole live mice

Detection of Cr(V) in the reduction of Cr(VI) by whole live mice and its characterization were carried out by low frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Intravenous injection of Cr(VI) to mice generated Cr(V). The Cr(V) was found predominantly in the liver with a small amount in the blood. Liver homogenates from Cr(VI) treated mice generated essentially the same Cr(V) spectrum as that obtained from the whole live mice. This Cr(V) species was identified to be a Cr(V)-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) (P)H complex with an oxygen bond to Cr(V). Pretreatment of the mice with ascorbic acid and glutathione reduced the Cr(V) formation, while pretreatment with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) enhanced it. Metal chelators, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 1,10-phenanthroline, and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) inhibited the intensity of the Cr(V) signal. The results suggest that Cr(V) generated in the whole body of a live animal is a Cr(V)-NAD(P)H complex and NAD(P)H/flavoenzymes and not glutathione or ascorbate as the major one-electron Cr(VI) reductant responsible for observed formation of Cr(V)-NAD(P)H complex in vivo.

Measurement of PO2 in liver using EPR oximetry

With the use of India ink and lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc) as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry probes, the PO2 of the liver was investigated in mice. Because India ink was taken up by the Kupffer cells of the liver, the EPR signal of the India ink reflected the average PO2 in phagocytic vesicles of these cells. The mean value of PO2 in the Kupffer cells measured by India ink was 15.3 +/- 4.4 Torr in unanesthetized animals. LiPc was administered as a macroscopic crystal and therefore reflected the PO2 of the overall liver. The PO2 measured by LiPc was 23.4 +/- 4.4 Torr, which is consistent with the median value of 23.5 Torr reported previously with the use of an oxygen electrode. Anesthesia (injection of 60 mg/kg ip pentobarbital sodium) decreased the average PO2 in both Kupffer cells and the overall liver. The effects of perturbing the blood flow were studied by reversible blockage of the portal vein and hepatic artery in anesthetized mice; the PO2 in both Kupffer cells (measured with India ink) and in overall liver (measured with LiPc) decreased with obstruction of the blood flow and returned toward normal with reperfusion. These results indicate that the PO2 in different locations in the liver can be significantly different under both normal conditions and after perturbation by either anesthesia or ischemia. These results also demonstrate that EPR oximetry can provide sensitive measurements of PO2 in the liver in vivo under various conditions.

Liver injury model in mice induced by a cellular immunologic mechanism--delayed-type hypersensitivity-induced liver injury to picryl chloride and phenotype of effector cell

Liver injury was induced in BALB/c mice by local delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to picryl chloride (PC1). Distinct changes of biochemical parameters were observed including the elevation of serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, increase of liver lipid peroxides, as well as decrease of serum alkaline phosphatase. Damage was confirmed by histopathological findings such as hepatocellular necrosis, granulocyte infiltration, and fatty degeneration. The liver injury was passively transferred into naive syngeneic mice by infusing spleen cells from immune mice. The capacity of the splenocytes to induce liver injury in recipient mice was almost completely abolished by pretreatment of the cells with anti-Thy 1.2 or anti-CD4, but not anti-CD8 antibody. These findings suggest that the production of liver injury by a local DTH mechanism is possible and the subpopulation of T cells, Thy-1.2+, L3T4+, and Lyt-2- cells, is at least one of the effector cells that mediate the injury.

Use of nitroxides for assessing perfusion, oxygenation, and viability of tissues: in vivo EPR and MRI studies

Relative perfusion, pO2, and bioreduction were measured simultaneously in vivo in tissues in mice by following changes in the intensity and shape of the EPR spectra of nitroxides injected directly into the tissues, using low frequency (1.1 GHz) localized EPR spectroscopy. Using normal and blood flow restricted gastrocnemius muscles it was shown that the decrease of the EPR signals of the nitroxides in tissues was due principally to perfusion, which redistributed the nitroxides. Changes in pO2 were reflected by changes of the linewidth; only a perdeuterated nitroxide with a narrow line was an adequate indicator for this parameter. This technique was applied experimental murine tumors (MTG-B and RIF-1) to determine the perfusion and pO2 in these relatively hypoxic model tumor systems. Using the paramagnetic properties of the nitroxides to enhance T1-weighted MR images, heterogeneity in perfusion in individual tumors was demonstrated

Alpha-interferon for chronic active hepatitis B in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

OBJECTIVES

A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of alpha-interferon treatment in chronic active hepatitis B in anti-HIV-positive patients.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with chronic active hepatitis (23 men and 2 women, mean age: 33 years) were included in the study. Viral infections were acquired by intravenous drug addiction in 2, homosexual relations in 22, and multiple heterosexual contacts in one. The mean CD4 cell count was 480 +/- 234/mL, 7 patients had p24 antigenemia, but none belonged to class C of the CDC classification. All patients were serum HBs Ag and HBV DNA-positive, and delta antigen and antibody negative. Patients received a 6-month course of alpha-interferon 2a, 6 MU subcutaneously three times per week. The mean follow-up after treatment was 15 months. Eighteen patients with serum anti-HIV antibodies, HBsAg and HBV DNA-positive, and chronic active hepatitis, who were not treated with interferon, were included as controls (mean follow-up: 29 months).

RESULTS

Nine of the 25 patients (36%) lost serum HBV DNA (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 months after the beginning of treatment in 1, 4, 1, 2 and 1 cases, respectively), and were considered responders. Only one of the responders developed serum anti-HBe during follow-up, despite the disappearance of HBe Ag in 2 and of HBs Ag in one. Loss of HBV DNA was not clearly associated with the immune status, since 3 of the 9 responders had p24 antigenemia and the 9 responders had a lower mean CD4 count (283 +/- 246/mm3) than non responders (454 +/- 437/mm3, NS). Three of the 18 patients (16.7%) in the control group had spontaneous loss of serum HBV DNA during follow-up. Thus, there was a 2.15-fold increase in HBV DNA loss in the anti-HIV-positive patients who received alpha-interferon, compared to those who did not.

CONCLUSION

In HIV-positive patients treated with alpha-interferon, the rate of HBV DNA loss was not clearly different from that reported in immunocompetent patients. As severe HBV-related liver disease has previously been described in anti-HIV positive patients, at least in drug users, these results suggest that this treatment may be proposed whatever the immune status, at least in the absence of AIDS.