Computer-aided 3-D reconstruction and measurement of the optic canal and intracanalicular structures

OBJECTIVE

To reconstruct the human optic canal and its inner structures, and to provide detailed knowledge of this region for optic nerve decompression for further understanding on the pathologic mechanisms of indirect optic nerve injury.

METHODS

Six optic canals and their inner structures were reconstructed using a computer-aided 3-dimensional reconstruction system. Quantitative measurement of the canal wall thickness, bony canal transverse area, optic nerve transverse area, dural sheath transverse area, subarachnoid space transverse area, and subarachnoid space volume were done by means of the computer morphometric analysis system. The detailed spatial relationship among intracanalicular structures were also carefully identified on the 3-D models.

RESULTS

The thinnest portion of the canal was the middle part of the medial wall (0.45 +/- 0.35 mm) and the narrowest space was in the middle part of the optic canal (the transverse area was 18.21 +/- 2.50 mm2). The volume of subarachnoid space which can be considered the compensatory space for distention incurred by the hemorrhage, optic nerve edema, or hematoma was 21.16 +/- 4.31 mm3. At the cranial opening, the middle part and orbital opening, its transverse area was 4.45 +/- 1.12 mm2, 2.68 +/- 1.32 mm2 and 1.23 +/- 0.83 mm2, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the compensatory space was limited, even a tiny amount of blood or swelling of the nerve may cause optic nerve compression. Because the narrowest space was in the middle part of the optic canal and the compensatory space for distention gradually decreases from cranial end to orbital end, the middle part and the anterior part of the optic canal and dural sheath are critical in optic nerve decompression.

Asymmetric expression of antivin/lefty1 in the early chick embryo

Mammalian lefty and zebrafish antivin, highly related to lefty, are shown to be expressed asymmetrically and involved in the specification of the left body side of early embryos. We isolated a chick homologue of the antivin/lefty1 cDNA and studied its expression pattern during early chick development. We found that antivin/lefty1 is expressed asymmetrically on the left side of the prospective floorplate, notochord and lateral plate mesoderm of the chick embryo.

C/EBPalpha is required to maintain postmitotic growth arrest in adipocytes

Terminal differentiation is often coupled with irreversible loss of proliferative potential. The CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) preferentially accumulates in postmitotic, differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes but declines during tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced dedifferentiation. We have discovered that this decline in C/EBPalpha correlates with an increased mitotic growth potential. In order to further investigate the antimitotic activity of C/EBPalpha, we introduced antisense C/EBPalpha RNA into 3T3-L1 cells to block endogenous C/EBPalpha expression. When treated according to the standard differentiation protocol, stable cells lines harboring antisense C/EBPalpha RNA did not differentiate into fat-laden adipocytes, consistent with previous findings (Lin F, Lane MD, Genes Dev 1992;6:533-544). We found that these undifferentiated cells expressing antisense-C/EBPalpha can reenter the cell cycle after mitogenic stimulation at a time in development when parental 3T3-L1 cells cannot. Moreover, the expression profiles of the growth-arrest-associated genes gas1 and gas2 revealed that the antisense C/EBPalpha-expressing cells withdrew from the cell cycle after the period of clonal expansion but failed to progress to the state of least proliferative potential characteristic of terminally differentiated adipocytes.

[Computer-aided 3-D reconstruction and measurement of optic canal and intracanalicular structures]

OBJECTIVE

To reconstruct the human optic canal and its inner structures, and to provide knowledge of this region in detail for optic nerve decompression and further understanding on the pathologic mechanisms of indirect optic nerve injury.

METHODS

6 optic canals and its inner structures were reconstructed by using a computer-aided 3-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction system. Quantitative measurement for the canal wall thickness, bony canal transverse area, optic nerve transverse area, dual sheath transverse area, subarachnoid space transverse area, and subarachnoid space volume were done by means of the computer morphometric analysis system. The detailed spatial relations among intracanalicular structures were also carefully identified on the 3-D models.

RESULTS

The thinnest portion of the canal was the middle part of the medial wall (0.45 +/- 0.35)mm, and the narrowest space was in the middle part of the optic canal [the transverse area was (18.21 +/- 2.50) mm(2)]. The volume of subarachnoid space which can be considered the compensatory space for distention incurred by the hemorrhage, optic nerve edema, or hematoma was (21.16 +/- 4.31) mm(3). At the cranial opening, the middle part and orbital opening, its transverse area was (4.45 +/- 1.12) mm(2), (2.68 +/- 1.32) mm(2), (1.23 +/- 0.83) mm(2), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In the middle part, the restraining of the bony canal on injured nerve may be the most powerful. Since the compensatory space was limited, even a tiny amount of blood or swelling of the nerve may cause optic compression. Because the compensatory space for distention gradually decreases from cranial end to orbital end, the middle part and the anterior part of the optic canal and dural sheath are critical in optic nerve decompression.

Stage-specific expression of alpha1,2-fucosyltransferase and alpha1, 3-fucosyltransferase (FT) during mouse embryogenesis

Lex [Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc] and Ley [Fucalpha1-2Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc] are both stage-specific embryonic antigens. Lex is first detected on the blastomeres of the 8-cell stage embryo, which correlates with the onset of blastomere compaction. Ley is highly expressed on the surface of the blastocyst, which has been shown to be involved in blastocyst attachment in the mouse. In the present study, mouse alpha1,2-FT (also known as FUT1) and alpha1,3-FT (also known as Fuc-TIV), which were responsible for Lex and Ley formation, were examined in preimplantation stage embryos by reverse transcription-PCR and in situ hybridization. alpha1,3-FT mRNA was detected in all embryos of preimplantation stage, while alpha1,2-FT mRNA emerged in the later stage embryos from 8-cell to 16-cell to the blastocyst. These results indicated the expression of Ley was regulated by alpha1,2-FT. In situ hybridization showed that these two enzyme mRNAs were detected only in morula and blastocyst stage embryos. The alpha1,2-FT and alpha1, 3-FT mRNAs were located in both the inner cell mass and the trophoblast cells. 2-Cell and 4-cell embryos were isolated from the oviduct and cultured in vitro to the 8-cell, morula and blastocyst stage. The expression of alpha1,2-FT and alpha1,3-FT were observed in these embryos developed in vitro; immunohistochemical analysis also showed that Ley expression was positive. These results suggested the stage-specific expression of Ley on the embryos was synthesized by endogenous alpha1,2-FT and alpha1,3-FT rather than transfer from other sources. In addition, the expression of alpha1, 2-FT was differentially regulated and the uterine factor was not prerequisite of the expression of Ley.

Functional genomics: expression analysis of Escherichia coli growing on minimal and rich media

DNA arrays of the entire set of Escherichia coli genes were used to measure the genomic expression patterns of cells growing in late logarithmic phase on minimal glucose medium and on Luria broth containing glucose. Ratios of the transcript levels for all 4,290 E. coli protein-encoding genes (cds) were obtained, and analysis of the expression ratio data indicated that the physiological state of the cells under the two growth conditions could be ascertained. The cells in the rich medium grew faster, and expression of the majority of the translation apparatus genes was significantly elevated under this growth condition, consistent with known patterns of growth rate-dependent regulation and increased rate of protein synthesis in rapidly growing cells. The cells grown on minimal medium showed significantly elevated expression of many genes involved in biosynthesis of building blocks, most notably the amino acid biosynthetic pathways. Nearly half of the known RpoS-dependent genes were expressed at significantly higher levels in minimal medium than in rich medium, and rpoS expression was similarly elevated. The role of RpoS regulation in these logarithmic phase cells was suggested by the functions of the RpoS dependent genes that were induced. The hallmark features of E. coli cells growing on glucose minimal medium appeared to be the formation and excretion of acetate, metabolism of the acetate, and protection of the cells from acid stress. A hypothesis invoking RpoS and UspA (universal stress protein, also significantly elevated in minimal glucose medium) as playing a role in coordinating these various aspects and consequences of glucose and acetate metabolism was generated. This experiment demonstrates that genomic expression assays can be applied in a meaningful way to the study of whole-bacterial-cell physiology for the generation of hypotheses and as a guide for more detailed studies of particular genes of interest.

Tin speciation in the femtogram range in open ocean seawater by gas chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using a shield torch at normal plasma conditions

A sensitive method for the determination of ultratrace organotin species in seawater is described. The merits and demerits of derivatization methods using Grignard reagent or sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt4) were evaluated in terms of derivatization efficiency, applicability to the programmed temperature vaporization (PTV) method, and procedural blanks. The sensitivity of the gas chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (GC/ICPMS) was improved by more than 100-fold by operating the shield torch at normal plasma conditions, compared with that obtained without using it. The absolute detection limit as tin reached subfemtogram (fg) levels. Furthermore, the detection limit in terms of relative concentration was improved 100-fold by using the PTV method, which enabled the injection of a large sample volume of as much as 100 microL without loss of analyte. When the organotin species in seawater were extracted into hexane with a preconcentration factor of 1000 after ethylation with NaBEt4 and a 100 microL aliquot of the extract was injected into the GC, the instrumental detection limit in relative concentration reached 0.01 pg/L in original seawater. Sources of contamination of organotin species during the sample preparation were examined, and a purification method of NaBEt4 was developed. Finally, the method was successfully applied to open ocean seawater samples containing organotin species at the level of 1-100 pg/L.

Computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction and measurement of the optic canal and intracanalicular structures

OBJECTIVE

To reconstruct the human optic canal and its inner structures and to provide detailed knowledge of this region for optic nerve decompression.

METHODS

Six optic canals and their inner structures were reconstructed using a computer-aided three-dimensional reconstruction system. Quantitative measurement of the canal wall thickness, bony canal transverse area, optic nerve transverse area, dural sheath transverse area, subarachnoid space transverse area, and subarachnoid space volume was done using the computer morphometric analysis system. The detailed spatial relationship among intracanalicular structures was also carefully identified on the three-dimensional models.

RESULTS

The thinnest portion of the canal was the middle part of the medial wall (0.45 +/- 0.14 mm) and the narrowest space was in the middle part of the optic canal (the transverse area was 18.21 +/- 1.20 mm2). The volume of subarachnoid space that can be considered the compensatory space for distention incurred by the hemorrhage, optic nerve edema, or hematoma was 21.16 +/- 4.31 mm3. At the cranial opening, the middle part, and the orbital opening, its transverse area was 4.45 +/- 0.46 mm2, 2.68 +/- 0.54 mm2, and 1.23 +/- 0.34 mm2 respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the compensatory space was limited, even a tiny amount of blood or swelling of the nerve may cause optic nerve compression. Because the compensatory space for distention gradually decreases from cranial end to orbital end, the middle part and the anterior part of the optic canal and dural sheath are critical in optic nerve decompression.

[Effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody on the progression of human gastric cancer orthotopic xenotransplanted into nude mice]

OBJECTIVE

To study the inhibiting effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer.

METHODS

The anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effect of anti-VEGF antibody, mitomycin C (MMC) were investigated by means of an orthotopic xenotransplanted model of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 in nude mice which had been randomly divided into 4 groups: control group receiving PBS, group receiving 50 microg/mice anti-VEGF antibody, group receiving 2 mg/kg MMC, and group receiving 50 microg/mice anti-VEGF antibody combined with 2 mg/kg MMC. Anti-VEGF antibody was given i.p. twice a week and MMC was administered i.p. once a week for 8 weeks from day 7 after transplantation. All animals were sacrificed at the end of 10 weeks. The tumor was weighted and the intra-tumoral microvessel density (MVD) was recorded, and the liver was histologically examined in order to discover micrometastasis.

RESULTS

Both anti-VEGF antibody and MMC showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of primary tumors; in the combination treatment group the inhibitory effect was more significant than single agent. Liver metastasis developed in 19 of 28 mice (67.9%) of the controls and in 6 of 11 mice (54.5%) receiving MMC. In contrast, liver metastasis occurred in 2 of 10 mice (20%) receiving anti-VEGF antibody and none receiving combination treatment. In addition, the MVD was less significant in the anti-VEGF antibody group and combination treatment group than other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Anti-VEGF may provide a new approach to the treatment of gastric cancer by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, and combination of anti-VEGF antibody with MMC could be more effective.

An estimation method for the semiparametric mixed effects model

A semiparametric mixed effects regression model is proposed for the analysis of clustered or longitudinal data with continuous, ordinal, or binary outcome. The common assumption of Gaussian random effects is relaxed by using a predictive recursion method (Newton and Zhang, 1999) to provide a nonparametric smooth density estimate. A new strategy is introduced to accelerate the algorithm. Parameter estimates are obtained by maximizing the marginal profile likelihood by Powell's conjugate direction search method. Monte Carlo results are presented to show that the method can improve the mean squared error of the fixed effects estimators when the random effects distribution is not Gaussian. The usefulness of visualizing the random effects density itself is illustrated in the analysis of data from the Wisconsin Sleep Survey. The proposed estimation procedure is computationally feasible for quite large data sets.

Cord blood is better than bone marrow for generating megakaryocytic progenitor cells

Thrombocytopenia remains an important problem for patients post high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The study of megakaryocytes, the direct precursors of platelets, has been hampered by their relatively low frequency in hematopoietic tissues. In an attempt to obtain a large number of functional megakaryocytic cells, we established a serum-free culture system to grow megakaryocytic progenitor cells derived from normal human bone marrow (BM) and cord blood (CB). Highly purified (purity >95%) CD34+ cells were obtained using magnetic cell sorting (MACS) followed by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). The cells were cultured in a serum-free culture system for 3 weeks in the presence of a single dose of MGDF (50 ng/mL). On days 0, 5, 8, 12, 14, 18, and 21 of culture, the cellularity and morphology were examined. Megakaryocytic cells were monitored by detecting the expression of GPIIIa (CD61), GPIIb/IIIa (CD41) and GPIb (CD42b), and the distribution of megakaryocyte (MK) ploidy was analyzed by two-color flow cytometry. MGDF alone induced maximal nucleated cell expansion at day 14, resulting in a 38.20+/-10.47-fold increase in cell number for CB and a 5.08+/-1.30-fold increase in cell number for BM. On day 14 of the culture, the percentage of CD41-/CD14- cells derived from CB reached 73.54%+/-6.01% giving an absolute number of CD41+/CD14- cells of 27.25+/-2.23 x 10(4)/mL (27,250-fold increase), whilst the percentage of CD41+/CD14- cells derived from BM was only 29.21%+/-5.63% with an absolute number of 1.36+/-0.26 x 10(4)/mL (680-fold increase). Increased expression of GPIIIa occurred the earliest in culture, followed by GPIIb/IIIa, and then GPIb. The majority (81.6%-92.6%) of megakaryocytes (CD41+ cells) on day 14 of culture were 2N, although we did detect some 4N, 8N and greater ploidy cells. In conclusion, CD34+ cells stimulated by MGDF alone generated highly enriched MK progenitor cells at day 14 of serum-free culture. CB stem and progenitor cells have a greater proliferative response to MGDF alone than those derived from BM and may, therefore, prove to be a better source of cells for MK expansion.

Reciprocal regulation of gadd45 by C/EBP alpha and c-Myc

The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP alpha) drives the differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 cells to adipocytes through transcriptional activation of phenotype-associated genes via proximal promoter elements. In addition, C/EBP alpha suppresses mitotic growth. We report here that C/EBP alpha directly regulates gadd45 through a C/EBP-binding site in the proximal promoter. A 3 basepair substitution, directed at the most conserved residues of the sequence, reduced C/EBP alpha-mediated transactivation and impaired binding of C/EBP alpha in adipocyte nuclear extracts. We also found that c-Myc antagonized C/EBP alpha-mediated transactivation of gadd45. Analysis of systematically altered forms of C/EBP alpha revealed that c-Myc antagonism targeted the antimitotic, transcriptional activation domain of C/EBP alpha. In addition, we localized the regulatory sequences in the gadd45 promoter that are required for c-Myc antagonism of C/EBP alpha transactivation. Our findings reveal that C/EBP alpha coordinates cellular differentiation and mitotic growth arrest through direct, coordinate regulation of phenotype-associated and growth-arrest-associated genes. In addition, our findings reveal that the reciprocal relation between C/EBP alpha and c-Myc in 3T3-L1 cells includes antagonistic transcriptional control of a growth-arrest-associated gene.

Gene therapy in allergic encephalomyelitis using myelin basic protein-specific T cells engineered to express latent transforming growth factor-beta1

A myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific BALB/c T helper 1 (Th1) clone was transduced with cDNA for murine latent transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) by coculture with fibroblasts producing a genetically engineered retrovirus. When SJL x BALB/c F1 mice, immunized 12-15 days earlier with proteolipid protein in complete Freund's adjuvant, were injected with 3 x 10(6) cells from MBP-activated untransduced cloned Th1 cells, the severity of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was slightly increased. In contrast, MBP-activated (but not resting) latent TGF-beta1-transduced T cells significantly delayed and ameliorated EAE development. This protective effect was negated by simultaneously injected anti-TGF-beta1. The transduced cells secreted 2-4 ng/ml of latent TGF-beta1 into their culture medium, whereas control cells secreted barely detectable amounts. mRNA profiles for tumor necrosis factor, lymphotoxin, and interferon-gamma were similar before and after transduction; interleukin-4 and -10 were absent. TGF-beta1-transduced and antigen-activated BALB/c Th1 clones, specific for hemocyanin or ovalbumin, did not ameliorate EAE. Spinal cords from mice, taken 12 days after receiving TGF-beta1-transduced, antigen-activated cells, contained detectable amounts of TGF-beta1 cDNA. We conclude that latent TGF-beta1-transduced, self-reactive T cell clones may be useful in the therapy of autoimmune diseases.

[Study on the design and application of the contact Nd:YAG laser scalper]

A method of designing the contact laser scalper is presented. The calculations using this method is in good agreement with the measured results in laboratory. Some operations on rabbits using the newly developed contact Nd:YAG laser scalper are performed and shown that the contact Nd:YAG laser is a promising medical equipment.

[A case report of dumbbell neurogenic tumor of the superior mediastinum]

A 15-year-old female was admitted because of the superior mediastinum mass on chest X-rays and sensory loss of ulnar side of the left arm. Computed tomographic scanning and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor was dumbbell-shaped and invaded the vertebral canal through the intervertebral foramen between C 7 and Th 1. At first laminectomy of vertebrae (C 6-Th 1) was made in a prone position and intra-spinal portion of the tumor was resected. Then the patient was placed in a supine position and the chest was opened by left hemicollar incision and sternotomy to the 2nd intercostal space. The tumor was divided into two parts at the level of 1st rib and completely removed. The pathological diagnosis was schwannoma. This procedure is safe and useful for dumbbell type tumor located in superior mediastinum, especially in case of large tumor from neck to the thoracic cavity.

[Prognostic value of tumor vascularity in gastric carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether tumor angiogenesis correlates with progression of gastric carcinoma.

METHOD

Microvessel counts (MVC) of 131 specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinoma were investigated by immunohistological staining with a monoclonal antibody against F-VIII RAg, counting the mean number of microvessels in the five areas of highest vascular density under 200 times magnification microscopy. Correlation among MVC, various clinicopathologic factors, and prognosis was studied.

RESULT

MVC increased with TNM stage, the MVC of patients with advanced stage disease was significantly higher than that of early stage patients (P < 0.01). MVC was significantly higher in tumors with deep penetration (P < 0.05), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis (P < 0.05) than in those without invasion and such metastasis. The recurrence rate after curative resection in hypervascular group (MVC > or 16) was 58.4%, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in the hypovascular group (MVC < 16). Moreover, the prognosis of patients with a high MVC was significantly poorer than that of those with a low MVC. The probability of 5 year survival rate was estimated by P = e(1.6231-0.1036 x MVC)/1 + e(1.6231-0.1036 x MVC). Multivariate analysis indicated that MVC is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION

Angiogenesis within gastric cancer is an indicator of tumor behavior and may identify patients at higher risk for recurrence and poorer prognosis.

A fast estimate of electrostatic group contributions to the free energy of protein-inhibitor binding

Dissecting ligand-protein binding free energies in individual contributions of protein residues (which are referred to here as 'group contributions') is of significant importance. For example, such contributions could help in estimating the corresponding mutational effects and in studies of drug resistance problems. However, the meaning of group contributions is not always uniquely defined and the approximations for rapid estimates of such contributions are not well developed. In this paper, the nature of group contributions to binding free energy is examined, focusing particularly on electrostatic contributions which are expected to be well behaved. This analysis examines different definitions of group contributions; the 'relaxed' group contributions that represent the change in binding energy upon mutation of the given residue to glycine, and the 'non-relaxed' group contributions that represent the scaled Coulomb interaction between the given residue and the ligand. Both contributions are defined and evaluated by the linear response approximation (LRA) of the PDLD/ S method. The present analysis considers the binding of pepstatin to endothiapepsin and 23 of its mutants as a test case for a neutral ligand. The 'non-relaxed' group contributions of 15 endothiapepsin residues show significant peaks in the 'electrostatic fingerprint'. The residues that contribute to the electrostatic fingerprint are located in the binding site of endothiapepsin. They include the aspartic dyad (Asp32, Asp215) with adjacent residues and the flap region. Twelve of these 15 residues have a heavy atom distance of <3.75 A to pepstatin. The contributions of 8 (10) of these 12 residues can be reconciled with the calculated 'relaxed' group contributions where one allows the protein and solvent (solvent only) to relax upon mutation of the given residue to glycine. On the other hand, it was found that residues at the second 'solvation shell' can have relaxed contributions that are not captured by the non-relaxed approach. Hence, whereas residues with significant non-relaxed electrostatic contributions are likely to contribute to binding, residues with small non-relaxed contributions may still affect the binding energy. At any rate, it is established here that even in the case of uncharged inhibitors it is possible to use the non-relaxed electrostatic fingerprint to detect 'hot' residues that are responsible for binding. This is significant since some versions of the non-relaxed approximation are faster by several orders of magnitude than more rigorous approaches. The general applicability of this approach is outlined, emphasizing its potential in studies of drug resistance where it is crucial to have a rapid way of anticipating the effect of mutation on both drug binding and catalysis.

UV photopolymer materials and technique for making laser glass

A technique and the materials required for making laser glass are described. The technique includes cleaning glass plates, coating UV photopolymer materials onto the glass plates, attaching a master hologram to the plates, using exposure to UV light to cure the coating, screen printing, vacuum film depositing, and covering the plates with a protective coating. The UV photopolymer material is composed of a photoinitiator, a monomer, an oligomer, and other additives. The experimental results show that the laser-glass products have a high resistance to alkali, acid, heating, and UV irradiation.

Conserved and sexually dimorphic behavioral responses to biogenic amines in decapitated Drosophila

A preparation of decapitated Drosophila melanogaster has been used for direct application of drugs to the nerve cord. Serotonin, dopamine, and octopamine stimulate locomotion and grooming, showing distinguishable effects that often are potentiated by addition of the vertebrate monoamine oxidase-inhibitor hydrazaline. Many of the hydrazaline-induced effects are sexually dimorphic, with males showing greater responses than females. Behaviors similar to those induced by dopamine can be induced by application of the vertebrate dopamine D2-like receptor agonist quinpirole, whose effects are also sexually dimorphic. In contrast, vertebrate D2-like and D1-like dopamine antagonists result in akinesic states, and D1-like agonists selectively stimulate grooming. These data indicate that Drosophila nerve cord amine receptors are coupled to reflexive behaviors similar to those stimulated by brain dopamine receptors in vertebrates.

Lyme borreliosis in transgenic mice tolerant to OspA from Borrelia burgdorferi 25015

Lyme borreliosis in transgenic mice tolerant to Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface protein A (OspA) from the weakly virulent B. burgdorferi 25015 was assessed because the response to OspA has been implicated in protective immunity and is suspected in disease pathogenesis. B. burgdorferi 25015 is infectious but does not cause significant arthritis in C3H/HeN mice. Tolerance of mice to B. burgdorferi N40 OspA had no effect on disease. Since B. burgdorferi N40 is more virulent than and genetically distinct from B. burgdorferi 25015, the generality of these findings was investigated. OspA-25015-transgenic mice were tolerant to OspA-25015 and did not develop OspA antibodies or cellular responses following immunization with OspA-25015. The development and resolution of Lyme arthritis was similar in transgenic and nontransgenic littermates, suggesting that ablation of the OspA-25015 response does not cause B. burgdorferi 25015 to become more arthritogenic.

Response of cultured cerebral artery smooth muscle cells to the nitric oxide vasodilators, nitroglycerin and sodium nitroprusside

We characterized the response of soluble guanylyl cyclase in smooth muscle cells cultured from cerebral vessels to the nitric oxide (NO)-producing vasodilators, nitroglycerin (NTG) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and determined the ability of these agents to induce tolerance. Smooth muscle cells were isolated from porcine basilar, anterior and middle cerebral, and internal carotid arteries. Following an initial series of experiments using NTG at various concentrations and times of exposure to determine conditions, concentration-response curves of intracellular guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) to NTG and SNP were determined in cells pretreated for 1 h with 100 mumol NTG to induce tolerance and compared with response curves in control cells. Basal cGMP levels were 2.1 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg cell protein (n = 16). Both NTG and SNP increased cGMP in nontolerant cells, and SNP was more effective. Maximum concentrations of SNP (1 mmol/L) increased cGMP to 163 +/- 5.9 pmol/mg versus 21 +/- 2.4 pmol/mg for 1 mmol/L NTG (p < 0.01). Cells made tolerant to NTG were unresponsive to NTG up to 1 mmol/L but remained responsive to SNP. However, the response curve to SNP was significantly depressed by approximately 25%. Following washout of NTG in tolerant cells, the response of cGMP to SNP returned to control within 12 h, while response to NTG required 36 h. Similar experiments were conducted in cells initially made tolerant to SNP. These results indicate that cerebral artery smooth muscle cells in culture express a functioning soluble guanylyl cyclase and the enzymes that are necessary to metabolize NTG to NO. Prolonged exposure of the cells to NTG induced tolerance as well as cross-tolerance to SNP.

[The Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spring complex in the treatment of experimental diabetes and its effect on blood rheology]

Experiments have revealed that in treating rats for diabetes induced by alloxan, the Selaginella tamariscina complex injection given intraperitoneally (25g/kg) for 12 days helps lower the levels of blood sugar and serum lipid peroxide, as well as increase the concentration of serum insulin. Histologic observation has shown that this injection could repair the structure of pancreatic inlet B cells injured by alloxan.

[Supervision and evaluation of vaccination coverage rates in Jiangsu province]

Comprehensively, this paper evaluated the actual vaccination coverage rates in Jiangsu province, using geometric averages to weigh vaccination coverage rates through a) regular and irregular investigation b) conventional report rates and c) registration rates of children at the right age of vaccination. Results showed that the comprehensive method of using vaccination coverage rates for evaluation was better than the conventioned index which had been used before.

[Prevention of epidural scar adhesion following lumb spine operation]

Four biomaterials including pork fat (PF), glutaradehyde crosslinked pork peritonium (GCP), glutaradehyde cross-linked human amnion (GCA) and freeze-dried human amnion (FDA) dura were compared for their ability to prevent the dura from adhesion in 24 dogs. Noncontiguous laminectomies were performed on each dog. Laminectomized areas where the above mentioned 4 materials put randomly were served as experimental groups while laminectomized areas with autologous fat transplants put in place were served as standard control and empty control was set with the area left untreated. The formation of fibrosis and the adhesion of the dura were evaluated at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 weeks after operation by using a double-blind protocol. Methods of observation included gross anatomical evaluation, histological evaluation, computer-assisted image analysis, fibroblasts counting and measurement of SCEP. The results showed: 1. The epidural scar arose from the raw surface of erector spinal muscles and the bony edges created by the procedure; 2. Putting a suitable obstructor between the dura and the erector spinae muscle would make dura be exempted from adhesion; 3. The interpositional membrane should be tucked in between the bony edges in close proximity to the bony surface without leaving any room; 4. GCA seems to be efficient in preventing dural adhesion and reducing the invasion of the scar tissue in the spinal canal.

[Solitary plasmacytomas of bone and extramedullary plasmacytomas]

Among plasma cell disorders, solitary plasmacytoma (solitary plasmacytoma of bone, SPB and extramedullary plasmacytoma, EMP) is rare as compared with multiple myeloma (MM). Furthermore, the relationship between solitary plasmacytoma and MM remains unclear. Between 1960 and 1994, 24 patients with SPB and 20 with EMP were treated. The criteria for diagnosis were: (1) no evidence of other lesions based on clinical and radiologic examinations; (2) biopsy evidence of a plasma cell neoplasm; (3) bone marrow biopsy specimen with negative findings (less than 10% plasma cells); (4) no anemia, hypercalcemia or renal involvement. The average follow-up period was 112 months (from 6 to 360 months). Fifty-four percent of patients with SBP and 40% of patients with EMP developed MM, however, there was no significant statistical difference between SPB and EMP (P > 0.05). We suggested that solitary plasmacytomas be classified as two types, latent and aggressive. The former was histologically well-differentiated plasmacytoma. The latter was poorly differentiated tumors which easily progress to MM. The treatment of choice is wide excision or thorough curettage, by cryogenic necrosis with liquid nitrogen or cautery of the bony wall with phenol and the cavity filled with bone grafts or cementation. All patients with apparently isolated plasmacytoma should receive local radiotherapy after operation. Adjuvant chemotherapy should be given if the tumour turns out to be poorly differentiated, in order to delay their progression to MM.