Wnt genes define distinct boundaries in the developing human brain: implications for human forebrain patterning

Understanding the factors that govern human forebrain regionalization along the dorsal-ventral and left-right (L-R) axes is likely to be relevant to a wide variety of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric conditions. Recent work in lower vertebrates has identified several critical signaling molecules involved in embryonic patterning along these axes. Among these are the Wingless-Int (WNT) proteins, involved in the formation of dorsal central nervous system (CNS) structures, as well as in visceral L-R asymmetry. We examined the expression of WNT2b and WNT7b in the human brain, because these genes have highly distinctive expression patterns in the embryonic mouse forebrain. In the human fetal telencephalon, WNT2b expression appears to define the cortical hem, a dorsal signaling center previously characterized in mouse, which is also confirmed by BMP7 expression. In diencephalon, WNT2b expression is restricted to medial dorsal structures, including the developing pineal gland and habenular nucleus, both implicated in CNS L-R asymmetry in lower organisms. At 5 weeks gestation, WNT7b is expressed in cerebral cortical and diencephalic progenitor cells. As the cortical plate develops, WNT7b expression shifts, demarcating deep layer neurons of the neocortex and the hippocampal formation. Spatial and temporal expression patterns show startling similarity between human and mouse, suggesting that the developmental roles of these WNT genes may be highly conserved, despite the far greater size and complexity of the human forebrain.

Cryptococcal meningitis in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Cryptococcal meningitis is an uncommon but often fatal complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report on a 13-year-old girl with SLE using high-dose prednisolone for several months, presented to us with low grade fever, intermittent vomiting and headache. Physical examination, including papilloedema and meningeal irritation, was unremarkable. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cryptococcal antigen titer was 1: 128 by latex agglutination method. CSF culture yielded Cryptococcus neoformans. We used amphotericin B deoxycholate (a cumulative dose of 1.95 gm) and fluconazole (200 mg day-1) for 6 weeks. Clinical response was good. Then, we continued fluconazole 200 mg per qd as suppressive therapy for thirty-four months. There were no neurological sequelae or relapse after 20-month follow-up. Timely diagnosis and effective antifungal therapy could improve the prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis in SLE patients.

[A clinicopathological study of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical features and the histogenesis of clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK).

METHODS

CCSK specimens from 45 pediatric cases, including 31 male and 14 female with an age range from 3 months to 12 years (mean of 3.2 years), were retrieved. Routine pathological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic methods were utilized to analyze the CCSK specimens.

RESULTS

35 of the 45 cases were followed from 6 to 192 months. 15 patients presented with bone metastases, 6 had lung or liver metastases, 8 recurred and 20 died. Age and clinical stage at diagnosis correlated with the rate of survival. Histologically, the classic pattern of CCSK consisted of cells with pale cytoplasm, fine nuclear chromatin and indistinct nucleoli separated by an arborizing fibrovascular stroma. Other patterns were identified, including myxoid, spindle, palisading, epithelioid, sclerosing, cellular, cystic, and angiectatic. All tumors contained multiple patterns. Immunohistochemically, all cases were positive for vimentin, but negative for EMA, CK, desmin, actin, S-100, NSE, CD99, CD34 and LCA. Electron microscopy of 9 cases showed features of primitive cell conjunction and few organelles.

CONCLUSION

CCSK is a common renal neoplasm of childhood. CCSK may arise from renal mesenchymal cells and has the propensity to metastasize to the bone with poor clinical outcome.

Thyroid hormone regulation of apoptotic tissue remodeling during anuran metamorphosis

Anuran metamorphosis involves systematic transformations of individual organs in a thyroid hormone (TH)-dependent manner. Morphological and cellular studies have shown that the removal of larval organs/tissues such the tail and the tadpole intestinal epithelium is through programmed cell death or apoptosis. Recent molecular investigations suggest that TH regulates metamorphosis by regulating target gene expression through thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), which are DNA-binding transcription factors. Cloning and characterization of TH response genes show that diverse groups of early response genes are induced by TH. The products of these TH response genes are believed to directly or indirectly affect the expression and/or functions of cell death genes, which are conserved at both sequence and function levels in different animal species. A major challenge for future research lies at determining the signaling pathways leading to the activation of apoptotic processes and whether different death genes are involved in the regulation of apoptosis in different tissues/organs to effect tissue-specific transformations.

Conformational study of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine adducts of recombinant gammaC-crystallin

N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine, an advanced glycation end product, is present in the human lens. The effects of CML formation on protein conformation and stability were studied using the recombinant gammaC-crystallin as a model. Conformational change was studied by spectroscopic measurements such as fluorescence and circular dichroism. Conformational stability was determined by unfolding with heat. The results indicated that no conformational change was observed due to CML formation, but conformational stability decreased. These observations can be explained in terms of the relatively stable structure of gamma-crystallin, especially when compared with other crystallins. The lens nucleus is rich in gamma-crystallin and its stable conformation can assist gamma-crystallin sustained insults and remain soluble.

A novel growth suppressor gene on chromosome 17p13.3 with a high frequency of mutation in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that there is a high frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 17p13.3 in hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC (M. Fujimori et al., Cancer Res., 51: 89-93, 1991; H. Nagai et al., Oncogene, 14: 2927-2933, 1997; V. Boige et al., Cancer Res., 57: 1986-1990, 1997; Z. Piao et al., Int. J. Cancer, 75: 29-33, 1998; and B. Charroux et al., J. Cell Biol., 148: 1177-1186, 2000)]. The minimum region of LOH on chromosome 17p13.3 in HCC has been defined within the region between D17S643 and D17S1574. Moreover, D17S926 in the minimum region of LOH has the highest frequency of LOH, and its sequencing analysis has been accomplished. In this region, 6 of 13 novel genes have been characterized (X. Zhao, D. Wan, M. He, Yu. Ye, Yi. He, L. Han, M. Guo, Y. Huang, W. Qin, M-W. Wang, W. Chong, J. Chen, L. Zhang, N. Yang, B. Xu, M. Wu, L. Zuo, and J. Gu. A high frequency LOH region on chromosome 17p13.3 in human HCC with densely clustered genes identified, submitted for publication). Here we describe the cloning and characterization of one of these novel genes, designated HCC suppressor 1 (HCCS1), located at this region. HCCS1 had 18 exons, and its full-length cDNA was 2.0 kb. The protein expression product of HCCS1 was located in mitochondria. HCCS1 had a high frequency of mutations in HCC samples, whereas no alteration has been found in matched noncancerous liver tissues. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significantly higher expression of HCCS1 in the noncancerous liver tissues (33 of 35 samples) than in the HCC samples (2 of 35 samples). Transfection of HCCS1 cDNA into the HCC cell line remarkably reduced the efficiency of its colony formation and inhibited tumor growth in nude mice. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest a potential role of HCCS1 as a HCC putative suppressor gene.

Gene expression of apolipoprotein(a) within the wall of human aorta and carotid arteries

Atherosclerosis is associated with arterial deposition of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and lipoprotein(a), Lp(a). Both lipoproteins have been detected in atherosclerotic vessels; however, while LDL has been shown to be only blood-derived, it is not clear whether Lp(a) is also produced within the vessel wall. In the present investigation we studied gene expression of apo(a) and apoB in human blood vessels. Aorta, carotid arteries and liver specimens from 29 adult and pediatric autopsy cases were studied by RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis with primers and probes specific for apo(a), apoB and GAPDH (a control housekeeping gene). The mRNA of apo(a), but not apoB, was found within the vessel wall in both adult atherosclerotic arterial vessels and in pediatric non atherosclerotic vessels. Neither apo(a) nor apoB mRNA was detected in femoral veins. To verify the nature of the detected transcripts, we cloned the 162 base pair (bp) RT-PCR product derived from the arterial wall total RNA. Nucleotide sequencing revealed 100% homology with the apo(a) gene. Thus, while LDL in atherosclerotic arteries is exclusively blood-derived, the accumulation of Lp(a) within the artery may be due in part to in situ production of apo(a) within the vessel wall.

[Removal of large acoustic neuroma via suboccipito-retrosigmoid approach with microsurgical technique]

OBJECTIVE

To probe the treatment effects of large acoustic neuroma (LAN) via a suboccipito-retrosigmoid microsurgical operation.

METHODS

216 patients with LAN in the cerebellar pons angle were confirmed by CT or MRI in our department. Each tumor (diameter > or = 31 mm) was removed via a suboccipito-retrosigmoid microsurgical approach. Treatment results were evaluated and the preoperative and postoperative function of the acoustic nerve or the facial nerve was compared separately.

RESULTS

The tumors were totally removed in 172 patients(79.6%), subtotally removed in 33 (15.3%), and partially removed in 11 (5.1%). Anatomic preservation of the acoustic nerve was achieved in 27 patients (12.5%), and functional preservation in 9 patients (Grade A, 4.2%) at discharge. Anatomic preservation of the facial nerve was achieved in 178 patients (82.4%) and functional preservation in 94 (House Grade, Grade I - II, 52.8%) at discharge. Follow-up observation (Median: 3.9 years) of 187 patients revealed good recovery in 128 patients (68.4%), fair recovery in 44 (23.5%), and poor recovery in 15 (8.0%). Late recurrence was noted in those with poor recovery (10 patients, 5.4%) (cured by second treatment).

CONCLUSIONS

It is a safe and effective way to remove LAN via suboccipito-retrosigmoid approach with microsurgical technique.

Detection of lipoprotein(a) in intraparenchymal cerebral vessels: correlation with vascular pathology and clinical history

Serum levels of lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), have been shown to be associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis (AS) and AS-related diseases such as myocardial and ischemic cerebral infarcts (ICI). Lp(a) has been detected in the vascular wall of the aorta and coronary vessels, and we documented the presence of apo(a) in cerebral vessels of the Circle of Willis, associated with AS changes. In this study we further investigated and characterized the biochemical nature of Lp(a) detected in both large and small cerebral parenchymal vessels. Autopsy specimens of cerebral vessels of 51 patients were examined by immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against apo(a), apoB, and plasminogen. Lp(a) was detected in cerebral capillaries and arterioles. All of the 8 patients with ICI expressed Lp(a) in parenchymal vessels, generally (6/8) in both capillaries and arterioles. Of 43 patients without ICI only 25 had Lp(a) detected. Among the patients without ICI, there was a slightly increased incidence of parenchymal Lp(a) in those patients who had severe hypoxic brain damage (12/20) compared to those patients without severe hypoxic damage (9/23). Thus, the presence of Lp(a) in small cerebral parenchymal vessels may reflect the role of Lp(a) in ICI.

Study on detecting antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in pooled serum of blood donors by Dot-IGSS

To prevent post-transfusion toxoplasmosis, the sera of blood donors, per six of which were mixed as a pool, were examined for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibiodies by Dot-immunogold silver staining (Dot-IGSS) with the single serum specimens examined simultaneously. The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of serum pool method were 92.31% and 99.96% respectively. The consistent rate between the two methods was 99.73% and kappa value was 0.947 (p<0.01). Considering the mean infection rate of Toxoplasma gondii being 4.86% in China, if the serum pool method be adoped, with pool size k=5, a 57% reduction in the number of tests, as well as the cost of the screen, can be expected. Beside the social benefit, consequent upon the interruption of the Toxoplasma gondii infection spread through blood transfusion also can be expected.

[Comparative analysis on the hearing ability of children in iodine deficiency areas born before and after iodine supplementation]

According to the detection of hearings ability of children in iodine deficiency areas who was born before and after iodine supplement, the effects of iodine supplement on hearing system development was evaluated.

METHOD

Hearing was tested by AS-72 type pure zone diagnostic audiometer(made in Denmark). Hearing of 11-14 years old students were tested before iodine supplement in iodine deficiency areas in 1984, the control was students living in non-iodine deficiency areas. Iodine salt (50 mg/kg) were supplied by the end of 1984, the hearings of children born after one year of iodine supplied were tested in 1999. The result showed that the average hearing threshold of students before iodine supplied in iodine deficiency areas was significance higher than of non-iodine deficiency areas. The hearing of children born after one year of iodine salt supplied in deficient areas had no significant difference from that of normal areas. The development of hearing system might be deteriorated by iodine deficiency during pregnant. It was able to meet the need of iodine that pregnant women ate 1:20 thousands iodine salt.

[Motor vehicle source contributions to air pollutants in Beijing]

Beijing's motor vehicle emission inventory based on GIS technology was developed, and used to estimate the contribution rate of different types of vehicles and different areas of vehicles to the total vehicular emissions in the urban area of Beijing. ISCST3, a gaussian dispersion air quality model, was modified at low wind speed condition, and then used to facilitate the study of the spatial and temporal distribution of CO and NOx concentrations in Beijing. It was shown that vehicle source emissions of CO and NOx accounted for 76.8% and 40.2%, respectively, of the total emissions in 1995. The simulation results also showed that emissions from the vehicle sources had contributed 76.5% and 68.4% of the total CO and NOx concentrations in urban atmosphere of Beijing in 1995, and were even higher at down-town and near the arteries. Therefore, strategies for CO and NOx pollution control will of necessity need to focus on the vehicle sources.

Application of a LRT model to acid rain control in China

For further control of acid rain and SO2 pollution in China, acid rain control zones and sulfur dioxide pollution control zones were designated where acid rain or serious SO2 pollution occurs or may occur. In this study, sulfur deposition in east China was computed through a policy-oriented, two-dimensional Eulerian model for long-range transport and deposition of SO2 and SO4(2-). The model predictions were in accordance with the wet deposition monitored. Results show that concentrations of SO2 and SO4(2-) are higher in north China than those in the south, and high deposition of sulfur occurs in most areas of North China, in the lower reaches of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River and around Chongqing and Guiyang in southwest China. Total emission of SO2 from the modeling region (from 19 degrees N to 42 degrees N, and from 104 degrees E to 124 degrees E) was about 20 million tons in 1995. The model predicts that 48% of this deposits within the region as dry deposition, 38% deposits as wet deposition, and only about 14% was transported out of the region. The modeling results of sulfur deposition were directly applied in designating acid rain control zones in China, and the emission-deposition relationship derived was also used to formulate middle- and long-range planning programs for regional acid rain control in China.

Mouse hepatitis virus type-2 infection in mice: an experimental model system of acute meningitis and hepatitis

Infection with mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) strain A59 produces acute hepatitis, encephalitis, and chronic demyelination in mice. However, little is known about a closely related strain, MHV-2, which is only weakly neurotropic. To better understand the molecular basis of neurotropism of MHVs, we compared the pathogenesis and genomic sequence of MHV-2 with that of MHV-A59. Intracerebral injection of MHV-2 into 4-week-old C57B1/6 mice produces acute meningitis and hepatitis without encephalitis or chronic inflammatory demyelination. Sequence comparison between MHV-2 and MHV-A59 reveals 94-98% sequence identity of the replicase gene, 83-95% sequence identity of genes 2a, 3, 5b, 6, and 7, and marked difference in the sequence of genes, 2b, 4, and 5a. This information provides the basis for further studies exploring the mechanism of viral neurotropism and virus-induced demyelination.

Health status and health-related quality of life in survivors of cancer in childhood in Latin America: a MISPHO feasibility study

Cancer is an increasing cause of disease-related death in childhood within developing countries, where the great majority of the world's children reside. The improving prospects for survival in such children, and the corresponding challenge of undertaking economic evaluations of related health interventions, provide a stimulus to study the health-status and health-related quality of life in survivors of cancer in childhood in Latin America. Spanish language versions of questionnaires for proxy assessors, based on the Health Utilities Index (HUI), were used to elicit responses from parents and physicians. The HUI is a family of multi-attribute, generic, preference-linked measures of health status and health-related quality of life that are reliable, responsive and valid, and have been used previously in pediatric oncology. Valid responses were received from 178 parents and 144 physicians in 6 centres in 4 countries (Cuba, Honduras, Colombia and Uruguay). For children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia the major morbidity burdens were in the attributes of emotion, cognition and pain. The overall burden of morbidity was greater in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In survivors of Hodgkin's disease and Wilms' tumor the attributes most affected were emotion and pain. In general, there was considerable agreement between the assessments provided independently by parents and physicians. This study demonstrates the feasibility of conducting such measurements in developing countries, and reveals similarities in health status and health-related quality of life to comparable populations in more privileged societies.

Spectroscopic analysis of lens recombinant betaB2- and gammaC-crystallin

PURPOSE

To compare the spectroscopic and unfolding properties of human lens [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin with those of [alpha]A-crystallin.

METHODS

Human lens [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin were cloned and measured spectroscopically. The unfolding curves in response to guanidine HCl (GdnHCl) and heat were also obtained by measuring Trp fluorescence emission intensity or emission maximum wavelength with increasing perturbation.

RESULTS

Very similar spectroscopic and unfolding properties were seen with [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin, but both demonstrated great differences compared with [alpha]A-crystallin. Unlike [alpha]A-crystallin, [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin showed very little binding to Bis-ANS (4,4'-dianilino-1,1'-binaphthalene-5,5'-disulfonic acid), a hydrophobic fluorescence probe. Both [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin were more resistant than [alpha]A-crystallin to GdnHCl-induced unfolding, but [alpha]A-crystallin was more resistant than [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin to heat induced unfolding.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that [beta]B2- and [gamma]C-crystallin showed more similar spectroscopic and unfolding properties with each other than each of them showed with [alpha]A-crystallin.

TACI-ligand interactions are required for T cell activation and collagen-induced arthritis in mice

Interactions of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily members B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) with their receptors-transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) and B cell maturation molecule (BCMA)-on B cells play an important role in the humoral immune response. Whereas BCMA is restricted to B cells, TACI is also expressed on activated T cells; we show here that TACI-Fc blocks the activation of T cells in vitro and inhibits antigen-specific T cell activation and priming in vivo. In a mouse model for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that involves both B and T cell components, TACI-Fc treatment substantially inhibited inflammation, bone and cartilage destruction and disease development. Thus, BLyS and/or APRIL are important not only for B cell function but for T cell-mediated immune responses. Inhibition of these ligands might have therapeutic benefits for autoimmune diseases, such as RA, that involve both B and T cells.

[Biodegradation of reactive turquoise blue]

In this study, the anaerobic degradation and the aerobic degradation of a kind of reactive dye--Reactive Turquoise Blue(RTB) were compared. The results proved that anaerobic sludge could only decompose RTB in the presence of glucose while aerobic sludge decomposed RTB with or without the presence of glucose (RTB of 20 mg/L was reduced by 37.4% through 24 hours' aerobic treatment with RTB as sole carbon source). The enhancement of glucose concentration was beneficial for both anaerobic and aerobic degradation of RTB: the anaerobic and the aerobic removal efficiencies were respectively 81.5% and 73.6% with RTB of 20 mg/L and glucose of 1200 mg/L. In the influent RTB concentration also had influence on the activity of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms. When glucose concentration was 800 mg/L or 1200 mg/L and RTB concentration was 20 mg/L to 100 mg/L, anaerobic removal efficiency of RTB was higher than aerobic removal efficiency by 4.9%-27.2%, which meant that anaerobic bacteria is more powerful than aerobic bacteria in terms of RTB removal.

Assessment of vehicular pollution in China

As the motor vehicle population in China continues to increase at an annual rate of approximately 15%, air pollution related to vehicular emissions has become the focus of attention, especially in large cities. There is an urgent need to identify the severity of this pollution in China. Based on an investigation into vehicle service characteristics, this study used a series of driving cycle tests of in-use Chinese motor vehicles for their emission factors in laboratories, which indicated that CO and HC emission factors are 5-10 times higher, and NOx 2-5 times higher, than levels in developed countries. The MOBILE5 model was adapted to the Chinese situation and used to calculate the emission of pollutants from motor vehicles. Results show that vehicle emission is concentrated in major cities, such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Tianjin. Motor vehicle emissions contribute a significant proportion of pollutants in those cities, with contribution rates of CO and NOx greater than 80% and 40%, respectively, in Beijing and Guangzhou. Urban air quality is far worse than the national ambient air quality standard. In conclusion, although China has a relatively small number of motor vehicles, most of them are concentrated within metropolitan areas, and their emissions are closely related to urban air pollution problems in large cities.

[Expression of human anti-HBsAg-interferon fusion protein in CHO cells]

OBJECTIVE

To study the possibility of expressing human anti-HBsAg-interferon fusion protein in CHO cells as a putative targeting drug for hepatitis B.

METHODS

Both the heavy and light chain genes of human anti-HBsAg antibody derived from a phage display library were fused with alpha-2b interferon (IFN-alpha-2b) gene in vitro by polymerase chain reaction. The IFN alpha-2b gene was placed at the C terminal and a 15 amino acid linker was introduced at the fusion site. The light chain-IFN expression plasmid pLIC was constructed with a mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1(+) and the heavy chain-IFN expression plasmid pFID was constructed with another mammalian expression vector pCdhfr1. These plasmids and the anti-HBsAg full-length light and heavy chain expression plasmids (pLIC and pHFD, respectively) were transfected into CHO (dhfr-) cells by the following three combinations:I, pLIC + pHFD;II, pLIC + pFID; III, pLFC + pFID. The cultured supernatant of the transfected cells was collected and assayed for IFN activity and HBsAg affinity.

RESULTS

The supernatant of combination I and II displayed IFN activity but only combination I supernatant exhibited HBsAg affinity.

CONCLUSIONS

The successful expression of a fusion protein with both HBsAg affinity and interferon activity may lead to a new way to make a targeting drug for hepatitis B.

[Effect of PAI-1 antisense RNA on vascular endothelial growth factor expression in aorta smooth muscle cells cultured in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) antisense RNA in regulating the expression of PAI-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aorta smooth muscle cells cultured in vitro.

METHODS

The second extron of PAI-1 was amplified with polymerase chain reaction(PCR), the production was inserted into eukaryotic cell expression vector pcDNA3.1 after it had been purified and cloned so as to construct PAI-1 antisense RNA recombination plasmid. The recombination plasmid was transfected into SMC. PAI-1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blod and ELISA; the effects of PAI-1 variation on VEGF was examined by immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

PAI-1 antigen was the lowest in cells on the third day after transfection; the expression of VEGF was also decreased. PAI-1 antigen gradually increased on the fifth day and VEGF increased correspondingly. On the seventh day, PAI-1 antigen and VEGF increased to nearly normal level.

CONCLUSION

PAI-1 antisense RNA can block the translation progress of PAI-1 proteins effectively and inhibit the expression of VEGF in aorta smooth muscle cells.

Relationship between gene polymorphism of the PAI-1 promoter and myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between gene polymorphism of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and myocardial infarction (MI) in Chinese.

METHODS

PAI-1 genotyping with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allele specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) was performed in 87 myocardial infarction patients and 92 unrelated healthy controls. All subjects' clinical features and PAI-1 activity were tested.

RESULTS

There were two polymorphisms within the promoter, a G/A single base substitution polymorphism upstream at -844 bp, and a single guanosine deletion/insertion 4G/5G polymorphism -675 bp upstream from the start of transcription. Significant differences between the patients and the controls were observed neither for the frequencies of the GG, GA and AA genotypes nor for the PAI-1 activities of these three types. But for the 4G/5G polymorphism, there were significant differences between patients and controls for the frequencies of the 4G/4G, 4G/5G and 5G/5G genotypes (P < 0.05). In the MI group, the PAI-1 activity of the 4G/4G type was significantly higher than that of the 5G/5G type (P < 0.05). Further more, a positive correlation between the glucose level and PAI-1 activity was found (r = 0.34, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that the 4G/5G gene polymorphism of PAI-1 is associated with myocardial infarction, that 4G/4G type is probably an important hereditary risk factor, and that glucose has functional importance in regulating PAI-1 activity.

Fibronectin regulates the activation of THP-1 cells by TGF-beta1

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

To determine how fibronectin regulates the immunomodulatory effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta on THP-1 cells.

MATERIAL OR SUBJECTS

THP-1 monocytic cell line.

TREATMENT

THP-1 cells were primed for 48 h in the presence or absence of 250 pM TGF-beta1.

METHODS

Assays or assessments carried out, together with statistical test applied.

RESULTS

We found that adherence to fibronectin dramatically modulates the effects of TGF-beta1 on the human monocytic cell line THP-1. TGF-beta did not significantly affect constitutive interleukin (IL)-8 secretion or IL-1beta-induced IL-8 secretion from suspended cells. In contrast, TGF-beta stimulated IL-8 secretion as well as augmented IL-1beta-induced IL-8 secretion from adherent cells. The differential effects of TGF-beta1 on IL-8 secretion from suspended and adherent cells could not be explained by differences in IL-1 receptor antagonist production. The effects of fibronectin on TGF-beta1 induced IL-8 secretion from THP-1 cells were mimicked by adhesion to immobilized anti-a4beta1 integrin antibody and to a fibronectin fragment containing the CS-1 domain.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that alpha4beta1-mediated adhesion to fibronectin may play a key role during inflammation by profoundly influencing the effects of TGF-beta1 on monocytes.

[Pharmacokinetic studies of 20(R)-ginsenoside RG3 in human volunteers]

AIM

To study the pharmacokinetics of 20 (R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (GRg3) in human.

METHODS

High-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection method was used in this study.

RESULTS

The pharmacokinetics of GRg3 in 14 healthy volunteers were investigated. After a single oral dose of 3.2 mg.kg-1 in 8 male volunteers, the plasma concentration-time course fitted well to a two-compartment open model, with the following pharmacokinetic parameters: Tmax(0.66 +/- 0.10) h, Cmax(16 +/- 6) ng.mL-1, T1/2 alpha(0.46 +/- 0.12) h, T1/2 beta(4.9 +/- 1.1) h, T1/2(Ka)(0.28 +/- 0.04) h, AUC0-infinity(77 +/- 26) ng.mL-1.h. No kinetic analysis was made after an oral dose of 0.8 mg.kg-1 GRg3 in 6 other volunteers because of the low concentration, but a good correlation between Cmax and dosage of the two groups was found.

CONCLUSION

The absorption of GRg3 was rapid in man, and its elimination was rapid after oral administration of ginsenoside Rg3. The pharmacokinetic results shows that it exhibited first order kinetic characteristics.

In vitro study of possible role of dietary fiber in lowering postprandial serum glucose

There have been many reports concerning the role of dietary fiber in lowering postprandial serum glucose, and the main mechanism was regarded as the viscosity of different dietary fibers in hampering diffusion of glucose and postponing absorption and digestion of carbohydrates. In this paper, two kinds of water-insoluble dietary fibers, water-insoluble dietary fiber of wheat bran and enzyme-resistant starch of maize amylose, and four kinds of water-soluble dietary fibers, water-soluble dietary fiber of wheat bran, carboxymethyl cellulose, guar gum, and xanthan gum, were used to investigate their postprandial serum glucose lowering mechanism in vitro. The results showed that these dietary fibers lowered postprandial serum glucose levels at least by three mechanisms. First, dietary fibers increase the viscosity of small intestine juice and hinder diffusion of glucose; second, they bind glucose and decrease the concentration of available glucose in the small intestine; and, third, they retard alpha-amylase action through capsuling starch and the enzyme and might directly inhibit the enzyme. All of these decreased the absorption rate of glucose and the concentration of postprandial serum glucose.

Source contributions to ambient concentrations of CO and NOX in the urban area of Beijing

An emission inventory based on GIS technology was developed in this study, and used to estimate the spatial distribution of the stationary and mobile sources in the urban area of Beijing. The stationary sources were divided into various types of finer classes depending on different usage, stack height and emission factors. The mobile sources were treated as both line sources and area sources. It was shown that total anthropogenic CO and NOX emissions had reached 1.4 million and 233 thousand tons, respectively, and vehicle sources emissions of CO and NOX accounted for 76.8% and 40.2%, respectively, of the total emissions in 1995. ISCST3, a Gaussian dispersion air quality model, was modified at low wind speed condition, and then used to facilitate the study of source contributions to ambient concentrations of CO and NOX in Beijing. The simulation results showed that emissions from the vehicle sources had contributed 76.5% and 68.4% of the total CO and NOX concentrations in urban atmosphere of Beijing in 1995, and were even higher in the city core (86.3% of the CO and 72.0% of the NOX). Therefore, strategies for CO and NOX pollution control will of necessity need to focus on the vehicle sources.

[Analysis on effect of inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for vehicle emission reduction]

An Inspection and maintenance(I/M) programme aims to ensure that motor vehicle emission control systems are functioning properly throughout the two stage idle test. Based on three factors including data from inspection, standard for inspection and failure rate, the effectiveness of the current I/M program was studied through the cumulative distributions. The disadvantages of the cutpoints, institution settings, management, and supervision was also analyzed. The fundamental law of emission limits was proposed.

Characterization of novel human hepatoma cell lines with stable hepatitis B virus secretion for evaluating new compounds against lamivudine- and penciclovir-resistant virus

L-Nucleoside analogs are new therapeutic agents for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. However, their clinical application was limited by the emergence of viral resistance. It is important to develop a new system to evaluate drug cross-resistance and to test new agents that may overcome resistant virus. In this report, three cell lines HepG2-WT10, HepG2-SM1, and HepG2-DM2 are presented; these cell lines were established by transfection of HepG2 cells with unique fully functional 1.1x hepatitis B virus (HBV) genomes: wild-type HBV-adr and its L526M and L526MM550V variants, respectively. We have demonstrated that these genomes have different susceptibilities to lamivudine [L(-)SddC] and penciclovir (PCV). By examining HBV RNA transcription, antigen expression, progeny DNA replication, and viral susceptibilities to L(-)SddC, PCV, and other nucleoside analogs, it is concluded that the cell lines are able to stably produce L(-)SddC- and PCV-sensitive and -resistant HBV virions. In addition, the relative susceptibilities of the wild-type and mutant HBV produced from the stably transfected cell lines to several anti-HBV nucleoside analogs were also examined and found to be about the same as those found by using a transient infection system. PMEA [9-(2-phosphonylmethoxytehyl)-adenine] and QYL685 are able to suppress L(-)SddC- and PCV-resistant HBV. In conclusion, this cell culture system is a novel and useful tool for evaluating anti-HBV compounds and biologics.

Modeling traffic-related air pollution in street canyons of Beijing

It is important to develop a general model to accurately simulate the air pollution in urban street areas. In this paper, the Operational Street Pollution Model (OSPM) initially developed in Denmark is tested with measured data from a relatively wide and open street in Beijing. Major factors influencing the dispersion, such as emission factors, stationary source emissions, and solar radiation, are analyzed. Results show that the model can reflect the basic dispersion pattern in the street but gives systematically higher concentrations. After modifications to estimate street-level wind speed in the model, performance is obviously improved.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a new neuron-specific homologue of rat polypyrimidine tract binding protein

Cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR) is a rare form of retinal degeneration and also one of the paraneoplastic neurologic disorders. Sera of CAR patients usually contain high titers of antibodies against retinal proteins, and CAR is believed to be an autoimmune disease. Using serum from a CAR patient as a molecular probe, a homologue of the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) was isolated from a cDNA library of rat neonatal retina. This homologue, named PTB-like protein (PTBLP), encodes a 532 amino acid residue protein and has 73.5 and 68.8% homology with PTB and with a regulator of differentiation 1, respectively. Functional domains in the PTB, such as nuclear localization signals and four RNA recognition motifs (RRMs), were highly conserved. The expression of PTBLP mRNA was observed in the retina and brain but not in liver, kidney, spleen, or lung. The expression of PTBLP protein in rat retina was distributed in most of the cells in the ganglion cell layer and some cells in the inner nuclear layer. The PTBLP protein was localized in the nuclei of these cells. These results suggest that PTBLP is a new member of the PTB gene family and a neuron-specific homologue.

Demyelination determinants map to the spike glycoprotein gene of coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus

Demyelination is the pathologic hallmark of the human immune-mediated neurologic disease multiple sclerosis, which may be triggered or exacerbated by viral infections. Several experimental animal models have been developed to study the mechanism of virus-induced demyelination, including coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) infection in mice. The envelope spike (S) glycoprotein of MHV contains determinants of properties essential for virus-host interactions. However, the molecular determinants of MHV-induced demyelination are still unknown. To investigate the mechanism of MHV-induced demyelination, we examined whether the S gene of MHV contains determinants of demyelination and whether demyelination is linked to viral persistence. Using targeted RNA recombination, we replaced the S gene of a demyelinating virus (MHV-A59) with the S gene of a closely related, nondemyelinating virus (MHV-2). Recombinant viruses containing an S gene derived from MHV-2 in an MHV-A59 background (Penn98-1 and Penn98-2) exhibited a persistence-positive, demyelination-negative phenotype. Thus, determinants of demyelination map to the S gene of MHV. Furthermore, viral persistence is insufficient to induce demyelination, although it may be a prerequisite for the development of demyelination.

Clinicopathological characteristics of atypical cystic duct (ACD) of the breast: assessment of ACD as a precancerous lesion

To clarify the clinicopathological features of an atypical cystic duct (ACD) as defined by Tsuchiya's criteria as a precancerous lesion of the breast, we used 200 whole mammary gland serial sections of breast cancer. Forty-four (22%) of the 200 breast cancer patients had ACD breast lesions. The frequency of patients with ACD increased in premenopausal women (P = 0.001). There was no correlation between the ACD-present group and the ACD-absent group for immunohistochemical status of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), p53, or c-erbB2; Ki-67 labeling index of cancer tissues; size of tumor, or lymph node metastases. A number of ACD lesions displayed continuity to cancer lesions. In 500 serial sections of a paraffin-embedded tissue of a ACD case at 3 microm intervals, an apparent transition from ACD into ductal carcinoma in situ was observed. Immunohistochemical analysis using alpha-smooth muscle actin showed that myoepithelial cells of ACD stained strongly, and their nuclei and cytoplasm were thinning. In 16 of the 44 (36%) ACD-present patients, carcinoma cells stained positive for p53. Within those 16 cases, 12 cases (75%) were positive for p53 in ACD lesions. There was a significant correlation between the expression of p53 protein in malignant cells and ACD (P = 0.001). All 44 ACD lesions had no staining of c-erbB2, regardless of staining in malignant lesions. The mean Ki-67 labeling index of ACD lesions was low (0.3%), suggesting that ACD had a low proliferative rate. We suggest that ACD is the precancerous breast lesion because of a histologic continuum between ACD and malignancy, and because of p53 protein expression in ACD.

In vitro evaluation of schedule-dependent interactions between docetaxel and doxorubicin against human breast and ovarian cancer cells

Docetaxel, a novel member of the taxoid family, has shown greater potency than paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced breast cancer and certain other solid tumors. The promising clinical activity of docetaxel has also promoted considerable interest in combining this drug with other antitumor agents. In this study, we assessed the cytotoxic interaction between docetaxel and doxorubicin administered at various schedules to human breast and ovarian cancer cells. Through a series of in vitro assays including DNA fragmentation analyses, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, and flow cytometric analyses, we found that the antagonistic interaction occurred when tumor cells were exposed to the two drugs simultaneously or exposed to doxorubicin before docetaxel. However, no antagonism was observed when docetaxel was added before doxorubicin. Further analyses demonstrated that doxorubicin could interfere with the cytotoxic effect of docetaxel on both mitotic arrest and apoptotic cell death. In addition, biochemical examinations revealed that docetaxel could induce phosphorylation of both bcl-2 and c-raf-1, but these changes were inhibited when tumor cells were pretreated or simultaneously treated with doxorubicin. These results indicate that the interaction between docetaxel and doxorubicin is highly schedule dependent. Exposure of tumor cells to doxorubicin before docetaxel could result in pronounced antagonism. The optimal schedule for this combination might be sequential exposure to docetaxel followed by doxorubicin.

[A clinical study on PA-MSHA vaccine used for adjuvant therapy of lymphoma and lung cancer]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pseudomonas aeruginosa MSHA vaccine (PA-MSHA vaccine) used as an immune modulator. The study was carried out after the design of a non-blind, randomized controlled trial. The malignant lymphoma patients were divided into experiment group (45 cases) and control group (43 cases). Likewise were distributed the lung cancer patients: 44 cases in experiment group and 45 cases in control group. The two experiment groups received chemotherapy + PA-MSHA vaccine. The two control groups were given chemotherapy alone. The results showed that the clinical efficacy rate was 95.56% for the exp. group and 69.77% (P < 0.01) for the control group of the malignant lymphoma cases; the clinical efficacy rate was 59.09% for the exp. group and 42.22% (P < 0.01) for the control group of the lung cancer cases. The infection rate was 17.78% for the exp. group and 37.21% (P < 0.05) for the control group of the malignant lymphoma cases; the infection rate was 15.91% for the exp. group and 40.00% (P < 0.05) for the control group of the lung cancer cases. The comprehensive immune effectiveness rates for the exp. group and control group of the malignant lymphoma cases were 77.78% and 23.26% (P < 0.01) respectively. The comprehensive immune effectiveness rates for the exp. group and control group of the lung cancer cases were 84.09% and 35.56% (P < 0.01) respectively. Adverse reactions were found in 5 cases, of which, one was given medical care while the others automatically recovered. These results indicate that PA-MSHA vaccine, as a new kind of immune modulator, can improve the effectiveness of treatment for tumor with low adverse reaction rate.

Health risks of rural water supply due to lack of proper sanitation in southeast Asian countries

A comparative study on the effects of lack of sanitation and inappropriate waste handling on water supply was carried out in several Southeast Asian countries that have problems such as inadequate water resources, water supply and sanitation. Though the degree and the cause varied in each country, all the countries investigated had problems arising from contamination of water resources. It was found that there are several sources of water contamination, such as human and animal excreta, solid wastes from nearby houses, graveyards, contaminated river flows, and large-scale landfills for big cities. It was revealed that even when water is clean at the point of production, it could be easily contaminated through broken pipelines or improperly maintained containers. It is still rare to put chlorine into piped water supply and both the inhabitants' and water engineers' understanding of the importance of disinfection should be reemphasised. Although it is urgent to provide piped water supply to those who have only contaminated water sources, such as surface water and dug wells, it is also important to protect these limited water sources from the above-mentioned contamination.

Unique 5'-end of a Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter-like mRNA expressed in rat skeletal muscle

Functional evidence presented by others indicates that rat slow-twitch skeletal muscle lacks typical Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter activity, as determined by loop diuretic-sensitive potassium transport. This report presents a unique 5' mRNA sequence of a Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter-like molecule expressed in the rat soleus muscle and the deduced N-terminus of the protein. In addition to its unique 5' mRNA sequence, the coding region of the N-terminus is quite short compared with other known Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporters. Nonetheless, the mRNA possesses conserved cotransporter-like membrane spanning domains, though one domains corresponding to a reported exon is divergent. Therefore, it appears that skeletal muscle does express a Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter-like mRNA that may code for a protein with atypical Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransporter properties.

[An investigation of malocclusion deformity of 2002 middle school students in Fuchuan Yao race autonomous county of Guangxi Zhuang race autonomous region]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the situation of maloccluson deformity which happens among the middle school students in Fuchuan Yao race autonomous county.

METHODS

2002 students (from 13 years old to 22 years old) were examined under natural light by using the way from Huang Jing fang, who edited a book called Oral Orthodontics.

RESULTS

The rates of malocclusion deformity were 45.4% and 28.9% respectively, when the ideal normal occlusion and individual normal occlusion were treated as the criteria.

CONCLUSION

Being compared with the relative reports, the results of the investigation show that the rate of malocclusion deformity is lower than that of the students in northern China.

Loss of the major isoform of phosphoglucomutase results in altered calcium homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) is a key enzyme in glucose metabolism, where it catalyzes the interconversion of glucose 1-phosphate (Glc-1-P) and glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6-P). In this study, we make the novel observation that PGM is also involved in the regulation of cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When a strain lacking the major isoform of PGM (pgm2Delta) was grown on media containing galactose as sole carbon source, its rate of Ca(2+) uptake was 5-fold higher than an isogenic wild-type strain. This increased rate of Ca(2+) uptake resulted in a 9-fold increase in the steady-state total cellular Ca(2+) level. The fraction of cellular Ca(2+) located in the exchangeable pool in the pgm2Delta strain was found to be as large as the exchangeable fraction observed in wild-type cells, suggesting that the depletion of Golgi Ca(2+) stores is not responsible for the increased rate of Ca(2+) uptake. We also found that growth of the pgm2Delta strain on galactose media is inhibited by 10 microM cyclosporin A, suggesting that activation of the calmodulin/calcineurin signaling pathway is required to activate the Ca(2+) transporters that sequester the increased cytosolic Ca(2+) load caused by this high rate of Ca(2+) uptake. We propose that these Ca(2+)-related alterations are attributable to a reduced metabolic flux between Glc-1-P and Glc-6-P due to a limitation of PGM enzymatic activity in the pgm2Delta strain. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found that this "metabolic bottleneck" resulted in an 8-fold increase in the Glc-1-P level compared with the wild-type strain, while the Glc-6-P and ATP levels were normal. These results suggest that Glc-1-P (or a related metabolite) may participate in the control of Ca(2+) uptake from the environment.

[Cloning and sequence analysis of E0 gene of hog cholera virus lapinized Chinese strain and virulent shimen strain]

According to the published nucleotide sequences of genome of hog cholera virus, one pair of specific primers were designed and synthesized. From the spleen of rabbits which were infected with HCLV and HCV Shimen strain infected pig blood, the two E0 genes were amplified by RT-PCR. The amplified fragments were cloned into pGEM-T vector and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence homologies of the E0 gene between HCLV and Shimen strain were 95.0% and 94.3%. There was 13 amino acid substitutions between them. One N-glycosylation site was missing from E0 gene of the Shimen strain. The nucleotide sequence homologies of the Shimen strain with the ALD, GPE-, Brescia and Alfort strains were 97.4%, 96.5%, 92.2% and 86.5%, respectively, the deduced amino acid sequence homologies were 97.4%, 96.0%, 95.2% and 92.5%, respectively. The nucleotide sequence homologies of E0 gene of the HCLV strain with the ALD, GPE-, Brescia and Alfort strains were 95.6%, 94.9%, 91.3% and 85.5%, respectively, the deduced amino acid sequence homologies were 93.4%, 92.5%, 91.6% and 90.7%, respectively. E0 gene from HCV was shown to be similar to a family of fungal and plant ribonuclease. The catalytically important residues were 28 to 40 and 71 to 89 of HCV E0 gene.

Human BAC ends quality assessment and sequence analyses

End sequences from bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) provide highly specific sequence markers in large-scale sequencing projects. To date, we have generated >300,000 end sequences from >186,000 human BAC clones with an average read length of >460 bp for a total of 141 Mb covering approximately 4.7% of the genome. Over 60% of the clones have BAC end sequences (BESs) from both ends representing more than fivefold coverage of the human genome by the paired-end clones. Our quality assessments and sequence analyses indicate that BESs from human BAC libraries developed at The California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and Roswell Park Cancer Institute have similar properties. The analyses have highlighted differences in insert size for different segments of the CalTech library. Problems with the fidelity of tracking of sequence data back to physical clones have been observed in some subsets of the overall BES dataset. The annotation results of BESs for the contents of available genomic sequences, sequence tagged sites, expressed sequence tags, protein encoding regions, and repeats indicate that this resource will be valuable in many areas of genome research.