A new approach to 4-alkylthio-1,3-dithiole-2-thione: an unusual reaction of a zinc complex of 1,3-dithole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate

[see reaction]. A new and facile approach to 4-alkylthio-1,3-dithiole-2-thione starting from easily accessible reactants was described. This approach was based on the unusual reaction of a zinc complex of 1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-dithiolate with electrophilic reagents in the presence of 3-picolyl chloride hydrochloride/or 4-picolyl chloride hydrochloride/or pyridine hydrochloride.

[Relations of electrolytes to the by-product CHCl3 produced in electrochemical disinfection]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relation of electrolytes(NaCl, Na2SO4) to the by-product CHCl3 produced in the electrochemical disinfection process.

METHODS

Taking filtering water, we used the graphite and Ti (matrix)-Ti as electrodes, adjusted the current sample for analysis in different time, and determined the production of CHCl3 under different conditions.

RESULTS

Na2SO4 had no effect on the production of CHCl3 in the electrolysis(P > 0.05). but NaCl had the effect and the higher the concentration of Cl- was, the more the production of CHCl3 increased. The production of CHCl3 increased with the length of electrolysis time, and it exceeded the national standard after 10 minutes' electrolysis using Ti (matrix)-Ti as electrodes. When graphite was used as electrodes, the production of CHCl3 was much less.

CONCLUSION

Na2SO4 has no effect on the production of CHCl3. Our suggestion is that graphite should be used as the electrodes for electrochemical disinfection of drinking water.

Risk factors for nodal recurrence after lymphadenectomy for melanoma

BACKGROUND

The risk and outcome of regional failure after elective and therapeutic lymph node dissection (ELND/TLND) for microscopically and macroscopically involved lymph nodes without adjuvant radiotherapy were evaluated.

METHODS

Retrospective melanoma database review of 338 patients (ELND 85, TLND 253) from 1970 to 1996 with pathologically involved lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Regional recurrence occurred in 14% of patients treated with ELND (n = 12) and 28% of patients treated with TLND (n = 72; P = .009). Risk factors associated with nodal recurrence were advanced age, primary lesion in the head and neck region, depth of the primary lesion, number of involved lymph nodes, and extracapsular extension (ECE). For each nodal basin, the ELND group had a lower incidence of recurrence than the TLND group. The TLND group had larger lymph nodes, greater number of involved lymph nodes, and a higher incidence of ECE. The 10-year disease-specific survival was 51% vs. 30% for ELND and TLND, respectively (P = .0005). Nodal basin failure was predictive of distant metastasis, with 87% developing distant disease compared with 54% of patients without nodal recurrence (P < .0001). Of six patients who underwent a second dissection after isolated nodal recurrence, five patients have had a median disease-free interval of 79 months.

CONCLUSIONS

After ELND or TLND, patients who have a large tumor burden (thick primary melanoma, multiply involved lymph nodes, ECE), advanced age, and a primary lesion located in the head and neck have a significantly increased likelihood of relapse and a decreased survival. Few patients present with an isolated nodal recurrence, but the majority can be salvaged by a second dissection.

Chromosomal composition of micronuclei in mouse NIH 3T3 cells treated with acrylamide, extract of Tripterygium hypoglaucum (level) hutch, mitomycin C and colchicine, detected by multicolor FISH with centromeric and telomeric DNA probes

The chromosomal composition of micronuclei (MN) induced by the model mutagens mitomycin (MMC) and colchicine (COL) as well as by acrylamide (AA) and the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium hypoglaucum (level) hutch (THH) in NIH 3T3 cells was analyzed by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using DNA probes for the centromere repeated minor satellite DNA and the telomeric hexamer repeat (TTAGGG). The majority of MN (78.6%) from treatment with MMC (0.1 microg/ml) did not show centromeric signals, reflecting the clastogenic action of MMC. Following treatment with COL (0.1 microg/ml), 74.5% of the MN showed centromeric signals and several telomeric signals, indicating that MN induced by this well-known aneugen were mainly composed of whole chromosomes. After treatment with AA (100, 200 and 400 microg/ml) both MN containing whole chromosomes and MN containing acentric fragments were found to increase in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating that AA is not only a clastogen but also an aneugen. THH induced a high frequency of MN harboring whole chromosomes at all concentrations tested (5, 10 and 20 microl/ml) and produced a dose-dependent increase in fragment-containing MN, indicating that THH has both aneugenic and clastogenic potential.

HUman MicroNucleus project: international database comparison for results with the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in human lymphocytes: I. Effect of laboratory protocol, scoring criteria, and host factors on the frequency of micronuclei

Micronucleus (MN) expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes is well established as a standard method for monitoring chromosome damage in human populations. The first results of an analysis of pooled data from laboratories using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and participating in the HUMN (HUman MicroNucleus project) international collaborative study are presented. The effects of laboratory protocol, scoring criteria, and host factors on baseline micronucleated binucleate cell (MNC) frequency are evaluated, and a reference range of "normal" values against which future studies may be compared is provided. Primary data from historical records were submitted by 25 laboratories distributed in 16 countries. This resulted in a database of nearly 7000 subjects. Potentially significant differences were present in the methods used by participating laboratories, such as in the type of culture medium, the concentration of cytochalasin-B, the percentage of fetal calf serum, and in the culture method. Differences in criteria for scoring micronuclei were also evident. The overall median MNC frequency in nonexposed (i.e., normal) subjects was 6.5 per thousand and the interquartile range was between 3 and 12 per thousand. An increase in MNC frequency with age was evident in all but two laboratories. The effect of gender, although not so evident in all databases, was also present, with females having a 19% higher level of MNC frequency (95% confidence interval: 14-24%). Statistical analyses were performed using random-effects models for correlated data. Our best model, which included exposure to genotoxic factors, host factors, methods, and scoring criteria, explained 75% of the total variance, with the largest contribution attributable to laboratory methods.

[The influence of hTGFbeta(1) gene transfection on the proliferation of NIH 3T3 fibroblast]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of hTGFbeta(1) ene transfection on the proliferation of in vitro cultured NIH 3T3 fibroblast.

METHODS

Lipofictin mediated co-transfected method was employed to transfect hTGFbeta(1) plasmid DNA into NIH 3T3 fibroblasts of the rats. Cell growth counting method, MTT, flow cytometry (FCM) and soft agar clone forming method were adopted to examine the biology of the transfected cells.

RESULTS

(1) Fibroblast growth slowed down after hTGFbeta(1) transfection, especially on 4th to 6th days after the transfection, which was accompanied by decreased synthesis of DNA as indicated by the increase of G(1) phase percentage (from 39.9% to 66.2% P < 0.05) and the decrease of S phase percentage (from 40.2% to 26.8%, P < 0.05); (2) There was no evident change of all the phases in a cell cycle in the blank load transfection group and in control group. (3) There was a good correlation between MTT and cell counting method (co-efficient 0.992) (4) The formation rate of the soft agar clone of fibroblast decreased from 1.18% to 0.55% (P < 0.05) after hTGFbeta(1) transfection.

CONCLUSION

hTGFbeta(1) gene transfection could inhibit fibroblast proliferation, which might be related to the interference of TGFbeta(1) with the DNA synthesis of fibroblasts.

New method for preparation of coumarins and quinolinones via Pd-catalyzed intramolecular hydroarylation of C-C triple bonds

A new and general method has been developed for preparation of coumarins and quinolinones by intramolecular hydroarylation of alkynes. Various aryl alkynoates and alkynanilides undergo fast intramolecular reaction at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)(2) in a mixed solvent containing trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), affording coumarins and quinolinones in moderate to excellent yields with more than 1000 turnover numbers (TON) to Pd. The methodology proved to tolerate a number of functional groups such as Br and CHO. On the basis of isotope experiments, a possible mechanism involving ethynyl chelation-assisted electrophilic metalation of aromatic C-H bonds by in-situ generated cationic Pd(II) species has been discussed. Also the involvement of vinylcationic species has been suggested.

[The effect of hyperoxic solution on acute myocardial hypoxia in scalded rabbits]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of hyperoxic solution on acute myocardial hypoxia in scalded rabbits.

METHODS

Rabbits inflicted with 30% TBSA III degree scald injury and/or acute myocardial ischemia were employed as the model. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e. scalded rabbits treated with hyperoxic solution (A), scalded rabbits treated with normal saline (B), scalded rabbits without any treatment (C(b)) and normal healthy rabbits (C(h)). The cardiac function, blood rheology, blood gas analysis and the ratio of infarction to ischemic areas were dynamically monitored.

RESULTS

(1) The cardiac function of the rabbits in B group was evidently worse than that in C(h) group (P < 0.01) and A group (P < 0.05). (2) The whole blood viscosity in A, C(b) and especially B groups was obviously increased compared with that in C(h) group (P < 0.05). While the viscosity in A group was much lower than that in B group (P < 0.01), it was similar to that in C(b) group (P > 0.05). (3) The PO(2) in A group was significantly higher than that in B and C (C(b), C(h)) groups (P < 0.01). (4) The ratio of infarction to ischemic areas in A group was remarkably lower than that in B group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The hyperoxic solution may exert beneficial effects on acute myocardial ischemia in scalded rabbits. The mechanism might be related to the immediate correction of hypoxia in vital organs with simultaneous lowering of blood viscosity and the establishment of myocardial collateral circulation after the infusion of hyperoxic solution.

[Simultaneous spectrophotometric determination of trace ferrum and cobalt with 5-Br-PADAP and Tween-80]

A new simultaneous method for the determination of ferrum and cobalt with 5-Br-PADAP by spectrophotometry in the presence of Twen-80 is studied. The results showed that in pH = 3.4 HAc-NaAc buffer medium, ferrum and cobalt can formed colored complexes with 5-Br-PADAP. Its maximum absorption wavelengths are at 585 nm. Beer's law is obeyed for the concentration of ferrum in the range of 0-10 micrograms.25 mL-1 and 0-12 micrograms.25 mL-1 of cobalt. The apparent molar absorptivities are epsilon 585Fe = 7.18 x 10(4) and epsilon 585Co = 9.27 x 10(4) respectively. This method has been applied to the determination of ferrum and cobalt in water sample with satisfactory results.

Pd-catalyzed selective addition of heteroaromatic C-H bonds to C-C triple bonds under mild conditions

Simple heteroarenes such as pyrroles and indoles undergo addition reactions to C-C triple bonds in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd(OAc)(2) under very mild conditions, affording cis-heteroarylalkenes in most cases. The cleavage of aromatic C-H bonds is the possible rate-determining step in CH(2)Cl(2), and the addition of heteroaromatic C-H bonds to C-C triple bonds is in a trans-fashion.

p53 and P-glycoprotein expression are significant prognostic markers in advanced head and neck cancer treated with chemo/radiotherapy

The development of biological markers of response to chemo- and radiotherapy to judge benefit to risk ratios for toxic treatments is still at an experimental stage. Tumour cell death is largely by apoptosis and the p53 gene has a major influence on this. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) accumulation has been correlated with treatment failure in several types of cancer. p53 and P-gp expression were studied in 111 advanced head and neck cancers treated with radiotherapy and up to four courses of synchronous or sequential chemotherapy. The probability of survival at 5 years for patients in the trial as a whole was 27.7%, while the cohort used for this marker project was 29.4%. Among the subjects used for the marker study at the time of analysis, 13 remained disease-free and 18 were alive. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess p53 and P-gp expression; 27/111 (24%) head and neck cancers demonstrated p53/P-gp expression and 33/111 (30%) were both p53- and P-gp- negative. In univariate analysis, both p53 and P-gp expression were associated with reduced disease-free and overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed tumour size, p53, and P-gp expression as the most powerful pretreatment prognosticators in the study cohort. Long-term follow-up results suggest that p53 and P-gp co-expression predicts the biological behaviour or the outcome following chemo/radiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer.

p53 and P-glycoprotein expression are significant prognostic markers in advanced head and neck cancer treated with chemo/radiotherapy

The development of biological markers of response to chemo- and radiotherapy to judge benefit to risk ratios for toxic treatments is still at an experimental stage. Tumour cell death is largely by apoptosis and the p53 gene has a major influence on this. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) accumulation has been correlated with treatment failure in several types of cancer. p53 and P-gp expression were studied in 111 advanced head and neck cancers treated with radiotherapy and up to four courses of synchronous or sequential chemotherapy. The probability of survival at 5 years for patients in the trial as a whole was 27.7%, while the cohort used for this marker project was 29.4%. Among the subjects used for the marker study at the time of analysis, 13 remained disease-free and 18 were alive. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess p53 and P-gp expression; 27/111 (24%) head and neck cancers demonstrated p53/P-gp expression and 33/111 (30%) were both p53- and P-gp- negative. In univariate analysis, both p53 and P-gp expression were associated with reduced disease-free and overall survival. Multivariate analysis revealed tumour size, p53, and P-gp expression as the most powerful pretreatment prognosticators in the study cohort. Long-term follow-up results suggest that p53 and P-gp co-expression predicts the biological behaviour or the outcome following chemo/radiotherapy in advanced head and neck cancer.

Efficient activation of aromatic C-H bonds for addition to C-C multiple bonds

Efficient electrophilic metalation of aromatic C-H bonds leading to new C-C bond formation through regio- and stereoselective addition to alkynes and alkenes has been realized by a catalytic amount (0.02 to 5 mole percent) of palladium(II) or platinum(II) compounds in a mixed solvent containing trifluoroacetic acid at room temperature. Various arenes undergo unexpected selective trans hydroarylation to terminal or internal C&cjs0812;C bonds inter- and intramolecularly with high efficiency (up to a turnover number of 4500 for palladium), especially for electron-rich arenes, giving thermodynamically unfavorable cis-alkenes, and the oxygen- and nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The simplicity, generality, and efficiency of this process should be very attractive to the possible industrial application for the functionalization of arenes.

[Hemorrhagic shock increases the occurrence of bacterial translocation]

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether hemorrhagic shock (HS) increases the occurrence of bacterial translocation (BT).

METHODS

100 patients were divided into 4 groups: control group (group I, 34 patients); group with hemorrhagic shock (HS) caused by closed blunt abdominal trauma (group II, 23); group caused by closed blunt abdominal trauma without HS (group III 15); and group with HS caused by intra-abdominal viscus hemorrhage (group IV 28). Preoperative and postoperative samples were taken from peripheral blood, visceral peritoneal swab, portal vein blood, ileal mesenteric lymph node, liver and spleen biopsy respectively for aerobic and anaerobic culture.

RESULTS

The positive culture rates of these groups were 6%, 65%, 13%, 68% respectively. The difference between the control and experimental groups was significant(P < 0.05). The difference was also significant between group I and II and between I and IV (P < 0.01), whereas it was not significant between I and III, and between II and IV (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HS increases the occurrence of BT.

Nodal basin recurrence following lymph node dissection for melanoma: implications for adjuvant radiotherapy

PURPOSE

To analyze patterns of failure in malignant melanoma patients with lymph node involvement who underwent complete lymph node dissection (LND) of the nodal basin. To determine prognostic factors predictive of local recurrence in the lymph node basin in order to select patients who may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective analysis of 338 patients undergoing complete LND for melanoma between 1970 and 1996 who had pathologically involved lymph nodes was performed. Mean follow-up from the time of LND was 54 months (range: 12-306 months). Lymph node basins dissected included the neck (56 patients), axilla (160 patients), and groin (122 patients). Two hundred fifty-three patients (75%) underwent therapeutic LND for clinically involved nodes, while 85 patients (25%) had elective dissections. Forty-four percent of patients received adjuvant systemic therapy. No patients received adjuvant radiotherapy to the lymph node basin.

RESULTS

Overall and disease-specific survival for all patients at 10 years was 30% and 36%, respectively. Overall nodal basin recurrence was 30% at 10 years. Mean time to nodal basin recurrence was 12 months (range: 2-78 months). Site of nodal involvement was prognostic with 43%, 28%, and 23% nodal basin recurrence at 10 years with cervical, axillary, and inguinal involvement, respectively (p = 0.008). Extracapsular extension (ECE) led to a 10-year nodal basin failure rate of 63% vs. 23% without ECE (p < 0.0001). Patients undergoing a therapeutic dissection for clinically involved nodes had a 36% failure rate in the nodal basin at 10 years, compared to 16% for patients found to have involved nodes after elective dissection (p = 0.002). Lymph nodes larger than 6 cm led to a failure rate of 80% compared to 42% for nodes 3-6 cm and 24% for nodes less than 3 cm (p < 0.001). The number of lymph nodes involved also predicted for nodal basin failure with 25%, 46%, and 63% failure rates at 10 years for 1-3, 4-10, and > 10 nodes involved (p = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in nodal basin control in patients with synchronous or metachronous lymph node metastases, nor in patients receiving or not receiving adjuvant systemic therapy. Nodal basin failure was predictive of distant metastasis with 87% of patients with nodal basin recurrence developing distant disease compared to 54% of patients without nodal failure (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, number of positive nodes and type of dissection (elective vs. therapeutic) were significant predictors of overall and disease-specific survival. Size of the largest lymph node was also predictive of disease-specific survival. Site of nodal involvement and ECE were significant predictors of nodal basin failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Malignant melanoma patients with nodal involvement have a significant risk of nodal basin failure after LND if they have cervical involvement, ECE, >3 positive lymph nodes, clinically involved nodes, or any node larger than 3 cm. Patients with these risk factors should be considered for adjuvant radiotherapy to the lymph node basin to reduce the incidence of nodal basin recurrence. Patients with nodal basin failure are at higher risk of developing distant metastases.

[Experience in the management of severe inhalation injury]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize our clinical experiences in the treatment of severe inhalation injury accompanying extensive burn.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 30 cases of inhalation injury (1980-1996) was done, the cure rate, mortality, effective treatments and lessons of failure were summarized.

RESULTS

As soon as the diagnosis was defined, tracheostomy should be done immediately, followed by oxygen therapy, tracheo-bronchial lavage, aspiration, and clearance of airway secretion. If there was pulmonary edema or severe bronchospasm, cortical hormone was used for a short time, in addition, the patients were encouraged to cough, breathe deeply, and change postures, as well as patted on the back and also positioned to facilitate posture drainage, etc. These measures were effective. In this series, there were thirty cases of severe inhalation injury. Fourteen patients(46.6%) were cured, sixteen patients died(53.3%). The result was basically satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to increase the cure rate of severe inhalation injury, and the treatment should be carried out conscientiously as early as possible, and great attention should be paid to prevent various complications.

[Effects of PCMV4-hTGF beta 1 as nucleic acid vaccine on II* burn wound healing and postburn scarring in rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the gene expression of PCMV4-hTGF beta 1 as nucleic acid vaccine regulation and the effects on burn wound healing and scarring in rats and study the feasibility of gene therapy in burns.

METHODS

Sixty wistar rats were divided into three groups: 1. burn + nucleic acid vaccine; 2. nucleic acid vaccine only(control); 3. burn only(control). ELISA was used to determine the dynamic changes in anti-TGF beta 1 neutralizing antibody in serum; determination of the quantities of DNA retained in muscles by Southern blot and in situ hybridization; observation of the ratio in collagen I/III during the wound healing by special stain method.

RESULTS

The level of anti-TGF beta 1 antibody in serum reached the peak at the third week after naked DNA was injected, and a slight drop in the 4th week. TGF beta 1 plasmid DNA could be detected 5 minute after injection, and lasted 3 hours. In situ hybridization showed a positive staining in muscle fibers 5 days after injection. During the day 0-day 9, the wound healing speed in vaccine group was faster than control, and after day 10, no significant difference was found between groups, but the ratio of collagen I/III was reduced remarkably in vaccine group.

CONCLUSION

Injection of PCMV4-hTGF beta 1 in rats can really cause general immune response reaction. It was showed that PCMV4-hTGF beta 1 was similar to TGF beta 1, and it had the effect of stimulating of epidermic cells to accelerate wound healing at early stage, and at later stage, it was similar to anti-TGF beta 1 neutralizing antibody, having the effect of inhibiting hyperplasia of scar. So it is confirmed that PCMV4-hTGF beta 1 as nucleic acid vaccine has the effect of promoting healing of burn wound and controlling the formation of scar.

Synaptic organization and neurotransmitters in the rat accessory olfactory bulb

The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is the first relay station in the vomeronasal system and may play a critical role in processing pheromone signals. The AOB shows similar but less distinct lamination compared with the main olfactory bulb (MOB). In this study, synaptic organization of the AOB was analyzed in slice preparations from adult rats by using both field potential and patch-clamp recordings. Stimulation of the vomeronasal nerve (VN) evoked field potentials that showed characteristic patterns in different layers of the AOB. Current source density (CSD) analysis of the field potentials revealed spatiotemporally separated loci of inward current (sinks) that represented sequential activation of different neuronal components: VN activity (period I), synaptic excitation of mitral cell apical dendrites (period II), and activation of granule cells by mitral cell basal dendrites (period III). Stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract also evoked field potentials in the AOB, which indicated antidromic activation of the mitral cells (period I and II) followed by activation of granule cells (period III). Whole cell patch recordings from mitral and granule cells of the AOB supported that mitral cells are excited by VN terminals and subsequently activate granule cells through dendrodendritic synapses. Both CSD analysis and patch recordings provided evidence that glutamate is the neurotransmitter at the vomeronasal receptor neuron; mitral cell synapses and both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors are involved. We also demonstrated electrophysiologically that reciprocal interaction between mitral and granule cells in the AOB is through the dendrodendritic reciprocal synapses. The neurotransmitter at the mitral-to-granule synapses is glutamate and at the granule-to-mitral synapse is gamma-aminobutyric acid. The synaptic interactions among receptor cell terminals, mitral cells, and granule cells in the AOB are therefore similar to those in the MOB, suggesting that processing of chemosensory information in the AOB shares similarities with that in the MOB.

Neurogenesis and migration of receptor neurons in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium in the opossum, Monodelphis domestica

The sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) contains primary chemosensory receptor neurons that project to the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). In the present study, neurogenesis and cell migration in the sensory epithelium of the VNO were analyzed in opossums (Monodelphis domestica) by using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling. 1) In the VNO of normal adult opossums, BrdU labeled a small number of cells localized in the basal region of the sensory epithelium. After 1 or 2 weeks of survival, the labeled cells appeared in the receptor cell layers and became receptor neurons, as indicated by coexpression of the G proteins G(i alpha2) or G(o alpha). 2) In the VNO in which the receptor neurons had been destroyed by removing the AOB, the number of BrdU-labeled cells in the reconstituting sensory epithelium was greatly increased compared with that in the intact VNO. The labeled cells were also located in the basal region of the sensory epithelium. 3) In the developing VNO (at postnatal day 10), more cells in the basal region of the sensory epithelium were labeled than in the adult VNO, indicating rapid cell proliferation; and there appeared to be more labeled cells in the basal region near the margins of the sensory epithelium where it meets the nonsensory epithelium. These observations demonstrate that, in the opossum VNO, there is a population of proliferating cells in the basal region close to the basal lamina in the sensory epithelium. The newly generated neurons in the basal region migrate vertically into the receptor cell layer.

Heterogeneity in the accessory olfactory system

The mammalian accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is chemoarchitecturally heterogeneous in that it stains differentially with a number of markers; the receptor cells that project to the AOB are similarly heterogeneous. What is the significance of this heterogeneity? We have found that the AOB of the gray, short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, stains differentially with a number of 'markers': antibodies to olfactory marker protein (OMP) and the alpha subunit of the G protein Gi2, the lectin of Vicia villosa and NADPH-diaphorase. These markers stain the rostral AOB more strongly than the caudal AOB whereas, the G protein subunit G(o) alpha is located predominantly in the posterior subdivision of the AOB. This heterogeneity in the chemoarchitecture of the AOB may reflect a fundamental organizational dichotomy within the vomeronasal system that corresponds to a functional dichotomy. The vomeronasal sensory epithelium also exhibits a chemoarchitectural heterogeneity: receptor cells in the basal third are G(o) alpha-immunoreactive whereas the cells in the middle third are Gi2 alpha-immunoreactive. Tracing studies using WGA-HRP demonstrate that the neurons in the middle third of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium project their axons to the anterior AOB whereas those in the basal third appear to project to the posterior AOB.

[The effect of ultrapure hyaluronic acid with different molecular weights on the healing of porcine full thickness skin wound]

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an extracellular matrix having a high molecular weight. This study is to investigate (1) whether the ultrapure HA had effect on the healing of full thickness skin wounds in animals, and (2) the relation between the effect of HA and the size of the molecular weight of HA. The ultrapure HA with different molecular weights and HA with intermediate molecular weight were applied topically to the wounds from removal of full thickness of skin and topical application of normal saline was used as control. At 21st, day after the topical application, the tensile strength was reduced in wounds of groups of HA with high and intermediate molecular weights, but not in the group of low molecular weight. Using laser-Doppler scanning of the dynamic changes of the wound perfusion, in the 3rd day the blood supply to the wound was reduced in HA groups of high and intermediate molecular weights, but at the 7th day, the blood supply of all wounds in the two groups was increased. The study revealed that HA with different molecular weights had different actions on the contraction of wounds, the angiogenesis of the granulation tissues and the healing strength of the wounds. It was indicated that hyaluronan could be used for wound treatment or as a carrier, but its accurate composition must be carefully noted.