[Optimization of technical parameters for processing radix Aconiti coreani]

Based on the determination of guanfu A, hypaconitine, and total alkaloids, along with the experiment of acute toxicity of sliced Radix Aconiti Coreani and in compliance with the quality standard stipulated in pharmacopeia-surface features cross section colour and odor of sliced Radix Aconiti Co-reani the technology of processing Radix Aconiti Coreani has been optimized to be steaming the drug for four hours.

Left ventricular size determined by electron beam computed tomography predicts significant coronary artery disease and events

A novel method in the measurement of left ventricular (LV) area using noncontrast electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) was introduced and studied as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for coronary artery disease. Larger LV area measured by noncontrast EBCT was significantly associated with angiographic coronary disease and was a better predictor of coronary disease events than log calcium score.

[Influence of processing on the content of hypaconitine in the roots of Aconitnum coreanum (Lévl.) Rapaics]

In this paper, the contents of hypaconitine in the roots of Aconitum coreanum and its processed products were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The result provides scientific basis for processing the roots of Aconitum coreanum.

T-cell oncogene rhombotin-2 interacts with retinoblastoma-binding protein 2

The LIM domain protein rhombotin-2 (RBTN-2/TTG-2/Lmo2) has distinct functions in erythropoiesis and in T-cell leukemogenesis. Additional functions for RBTN2 are indicated by its expression in non-hematopoietic tissues. These diverse functions of RBTN2 are presumed to be accomplished through physical interaction with different protein partners that bind the LIM domains of RBTN2. To identify these proteins which may modulate the activity of RBTN2, a human cDNA library was screened using the yeast two-hybrid assay. Using the RBTN2 LIM domain region as 'bait', the retinoblastoma-binding protein 2 (RBP2) was identified as a partner for RBTN2. The interaction between RBTN2 and RBP2 was confirmed using in vitro binding assays, and by co-immunoprecipitation of the two proteins. Deletion analysis showed the second LIM domain of RBTN2 was necessary and sufficient for binding to the last 69 amino acids of RBP2. The interaction between RBTN2 and RBP2 had a functional consequence: the combination of RBP2 and RBTN2 gave higher transcription in vitro, than RBTN2 alone. The interaction with RBP2 suggests two additional functions for RBTN2: (i) RBTN2 may directly affect the activity of RBP2, and/or (ii) RBTN2 may indirectly modulate the functions of the retinoblastoma protein by binding to RBP2.

[Effect of processing on toxcicity and analgesia of radix Aconiti coreani]

The experimental results showed that the Radix Aconiti Coreani and its processed products did not have remarkable toxic effect in p.o. But there was significant toxicity before processing and weakened toxicity after processing in i.p. In the skin test, the Radix Aconiti Coreani and its processed products showed no stimulating effect. The analgesic experiment showed that the Radix Aconiti Coreani and its steamed products could inhibit the pain. The products processed with bean curd and ginger-KAl(SO4)2.12H2O also could alleviate the pain induced by acetic acid, but no remarkable effect was observed in mice on the pain induced by hot plate.

T-cell proto-oncogene rhombotin-2 is a complex transcription regulator containing multiple activation and repression domains

The LIM domain protein rhombotin-2 (RBTN-2/TTG-2/LMO2) is involved in many processes, including leukemogenesis and erythropoiesis. It is thought that the principle role of RBTN-2 in these processes is to regulate transcription. To examine the potential for RBTN-2 to modulate transcription, we constructed RBTN-2/GAL4 DNA-binding domain fusion proteins and measured their ability to activate transcription of a reporter gene construct. From these studies we identified a transcription activation domain within the NH2 terminus of RBTN-2. This activation domain was further localized within a proline-rich 19-amino acid region. A second activation domain of 11 amino acids was also identified. This domain was located within the COOH terminus of RBTN-2, and functioned in mammalian cells but not in yeast. Furthermore, the two LIM domains of RBTN-2 were shown to function as transcription repression domains. Each individual LIM domain acted as an independent transcription repression domain on a heterologous activation domain. However, in context of full-length RBTN-2, the LIM domains selectively repressed the NH2-terminal activation domain, but had no effect on the COOH-terminal domain. Overall, these results demonstrate that the T-cell oncogene RBTN-2 is a complex transcription factor possessing multiple transcription regulatory modules, including two activation domains and two repression domains.

Elf-2, a rhombotin-2 binding ets transcription factor: discovery and potential role in T cell leukemia

Rhombotin-2 (RBTN-2) is a proto-oncogene only in the context of T lymphocytes. We postulated that the oncogenic effect of RBTN-2 in T cells is likely mediated by binding protein(s) with T cell-specific expression. By screening a T cell cDNA library, we identified a novel ets transcription factor that binds RBTN-2. This protein was named elf-2 because its DNA-binding domain is virtually identical to that of ets family member elf-1. Northern analyses showed similar levels of two elf-2 transcripts (3.5 kb and 3.8 kb) in all tissues except thymus. Thymocytes expressed four- to 10-fold greater amounts of the 3.5 kb transcript than other tissues. Sequence analyses of cDNA clones indicated that these transcripts encode proteins differing only at their amino termini, and likely represent alternatively spliced isoforms. These isoforms (elf-2a and elf-2b) contain identical RBTN-2 binding regions and DNA-binding domains. Elf-2b lacks a putative transactivation domain. The expression patterns suggest that RBTN-2 normally interacts equally with elf-2a and elf-2b. In contrast, when RBTN-2 is inappropriately expressed in T cells, RBTN-2 would interact predominantly with elf-2b; this interaction may lead to T cell proliferation.

[Processing technology of rhizoma Arisaematis (Pinellia pedatisecta Schott)]

Using the qualitative standard of Rhizoma Arisaematis stipulated in Pharmacopoeia and combining with the toxic reaction in experimental mice, the optimum amount of KAl(SO4)2.12H2O for eliminating the toxic reaction of Rhizoma Arisaematis was selected. Based on the comparison of experiments, two new technologies for processing Rhizoma Arisaematis have been established. Pilot production shows that these technologies are feasible for mass production.

[Effect of processing on the content of guanfu A in radix Aconiti coreani]

Quantitative determination of guanfu A in Radix Aconiti Coreani before and after processing has been made by dual-wavelength TLC-scanning. The results show that the content of guanfu A is about 0.144% before processing, and 0.106%-0.12% after steam processing (n = 4), which is greatly higher than other processed products. The average recovery rate is 97.64% (n = 5).

Expression of the proto-oncogene rhombotin-2 is identical to the acute phase response protein metallothionein, suggesting multiple functions

Rhombotin-2 (RBTN-2) is a LIM domain protein that, with the exception of thymocytes, is widely expressed during fetal development. Although RBTN-2 is crucial for normal erythropoiesis, the ectopic expression of RBTN-2 in T lymphocytes results in T-cell proliferation and leukemogenesis. Thus, while a proliferative function for RBTN-2 has been established in T-cells, neither its role in erythropoiesis nor its function(s) in other tissues are known. We have examined the expression and location of RBTN-2 in normal and malignant cells. Similar to fetal development, RBTN-2 RNA was detected in all normal adult tissues tested with the exception of colon and thymocytes. RBTN-2 RNA was not detected in all primary tumors and tumor cell lines, indicating RBTN-2 expression is not ubiquitous in proliferating cells. Using polyclonal antisera, RBTN-2 was detected predominantly in the nucleus of human hematopoietic cells. Significantly, human leukemic T cells with disruption of the RBTN-2 locus and thymocytes from transgenic mice with enforced expression of RBTN-2 showed similar nuclear location of RBTN-2 protein, consistent with the notion that RBTN-2 acts as a transcriptional regulator in T-cell proliferation. Surprisingly, in normal tissues, RBTN-2 showed a strikingly similar distribution to that of metallothionein-1, having both nuclear and cytoplasmic localization that suggested that RBTN-2 may be involved in the acute phase response. Indeed, similar to metallothionein-1, RBTN-2 mRNA was induced in thymocytes of mice exposed to zinc and in human thymocytes treated with the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. Since the LIM domain permits binding of multiple protein partners, the specific function of RBTN-2 may depend upon subcellular sequestration through interaction with different cofactors. Thus, in addition to its roles in erythropoiesis and T-cell leukemia, RBTN-2 may also be involved in the acute phase response.

Association of orogenic activity with the Ordovician radiation of marine life

The Ordovician radiation of marine life was among the most substantial pulses of diversification in Earth history and coincided in time with a major increase in the global level of orogenic activity. To investigate a possible causal link between these two patterns, the geographic distributions of 6576 individual appearances of Ordovician vician genera around the world were evaluated with respect to their proximity to probable centers of orogeny (foreland basins). Results indicate that these genera, which belonged to an array of higher taxa that diversified in the Middle and Late Ordovician (trilobites, brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, monoplacophorans), were far more diverse in, and adjacent to, foreland basins than they were in areas farther removed from orogenic activity (carbonate platforms). This suggests an association of orogeny with diversification at that time.

The effect of the static magnetic field on the response of radiation survey instruments

The effects on the response of eight radiation survey instruments in static magnetic fields up to 0.03 T (300 G) have been investigated. The instruments studied are the Xetex 303B Pacer, the Bicron Micro Rem survey meter, the Victoreen 450p survey meter, the Victoreen 440 survey meter, the SLAC orange meter, the Keithley 36150 survey meter, the Anderson-Braun neutron remmeter, and the Victoreen 488 neutron survey meter. The results show that the effect may depend on several factors such as instrument design, alignment of the instrument axis with the magnetic flux lines, whether the instrument is stationary or moving relative to the magnetic field, the direction of the movement relative to the magnetic flux lines, and the magnetic field intensity. Also presented are results of work to enhance magnetic shielding of some of the instruments.

[Anti-inflammatory effect of differently processed rhizoma Typhon] off

Rat was employed to study the anti-inflammatory effect of Rhizoma Typhon processed by different methods. The result showed that processed and raw Rhizoma Typhon had similar action. With the new processing method similar anti-inflammatory effect was obtained compared with the old processing method.

[Studies on sedative and anticonvulsion effects of differently processed rhizoma Typhon]

Mice were employed to study sedative and anticonvulsion effects of Rhizoma Typhon processed by different methods. The results showed that processed and raw Rhizoma Typhon had marked sedative effect and delayed convulsion time, caused by cardiazole and strychnine. Processed and raw Rhizoma Typhon had similar action. With the new processing method, similar sedative and anticonvulsion effects were obtained compared with the old processing method.

[Effects of processing methods on the amounts of volatile oil of nutmeg and on isolation and characterization of the volatile oil constituents]

In this paper, the authors investigated the effects of various processing methods, i.e., scalding in hot purified talc, simmering wrapped in flour in hot purified talc and stir-frying in smoking wheat bran, on nutmeg (Semen Myristicae) in terms of the quantities of the volatile oil. The experimental results revealed that the amounts of volatile oil contained in nutmeg vary remarkably with the lengths of cooking time and the fluctuation of temperature. Detected by GC-MS-computer, 32 compounds of nutmeg were characterized, and their contents were determined by GC respectively.