Bocdene and Mocdene Derivatives of Catechols and Catecholamines

[reaction in text] Catechols react chemoselectively, in the presence of either alcohols, 1,2-diols, or simple phenols, with tert-butyl propynoate and with methyl propynoate to give 2-Boc-ethylidene (Bocdene) and 2-Moc-ethylidene (Mocdene) acetals, respectively, in 96-100% yields within 30 min at room temperature, provided that 150 mol % of DMAP is added. Cleavage of these acetals with pyrrolidine readily takes place (at room temperature!) in 95-100% yields. By taking advantage of the features of Bocdene acetals, novel catecholamine-related phosphate mimetics have been prepared.

Monitoring of Lactobacillus fermentation process by using ion chromatography with a series piezoelectric quartz crystal detector

A new method monitoring Lactobacillus fermentation process, which combines ion chromatography (IC) with a series piezoelectric quartz crystal (SPQC) technique, is presented in this paper. Monitoring of the fermentation process was realized by examining the rate of production of lactic acid. An automatic membrane dialyser was used for the pretreatment of the sample in on-line monitoring. A mixture of p-hydroxybenzoic acid and N,N-diethylethanolamine was adopted as mobile phase and its flow rate was 0.8 ml/min. The effects of some fermentation conditions were also discussed in detail. Accordingly, the optimal fermentation conditions were obtained. This method is simple and convenient while the results obtained are accurate and reliable.

[Inhibition of voltage-activated outward delayed rectifier potassium channel currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons of rats by lead]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of lead on voltage-activated outward delayed rectifier potassium channel currents in acute isolated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of adult rats.

METHODS

Patch clamp technique was employed to record the whole cell of DRG in adult rats.

RESULTS

In the experiments, delayed rectifier (IK) potassium currents channel was recorded and activation was voltage-dependent. The threshold concentration of lead (Pb2+) for IK was 1 mumol/L, which reduced potassium current by (8.6 +/- 0.8)%, 4 mumol/L of Pb2+ reduced the current by (38.6 +/- 6.2)%, and 8 mumol/L of Pb2+ reduced the current by (63.0 +/- 5.1)%. The action of lead was rapid and its effect would be reversed rapidly to various extent by washing.

CONCLUSION

Higher outward delayed rectifier potassium channel currents, which could be reversed.

The cross-cultural generalizability of Axis-II constructs: an evaluation of two personality disorder assessment instruments in the People's Republic of China

We examined the reliability, cross-instrument validity, and factor structure of Chinese adaptations of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-4+; N = 1,926) and Personality Disorders Interview (PDI-IV; N = 525) in psychiatric patients. Comparisons with data from Western countries suggest that the psychometric properties of these two instruments are comparable across cultures. Low to modest agreement between the PDQ-4+ and PDI-IV was observed for both dimensional and categorical personality disorder evaluations. When the PDI-IV was used as the diagnostic standard, the PDQ-4+ showed higher sensitivity than specificity, and higher negative predictive power than positive predictive power. Factor analyses of both instruments replicated the four-factor structure O'Connor and Dyce (1998) found in Western samples. Results suggested that conceptions and measures of DSM-IV personality disorders are cross-culturally generalizable to Chinese psychiatric populations.

Reliability assessment of soluble c-erbB-2 concentrations in the saliva of healthy women and men

BACKGROUND

The protein c-erb B-2, also known as Her2/neu, is a prognostic breast cancer marker assayed in tissue biopsy specimens from women diagnosed with malignant tumors. Current studies suggest that soluble fragments of the c-erb B-2 oncogene may be released from the cell surface and become detectable in patients with a carcinoma of the breast. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to assay soluble c-erb B-2 protein in the saliva of healthy men and women to determine the reliability of the assay.

METHODS

To determine the diagnostic utility of this oncogene, we assayed the soluble form of the c-erb B-2 protein in the saliva with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study population consisted of 10 healthy women and 9 healthy men who were serially sampled for saliva 3 times a day for a 5-day period. Saliva was collected from each subject at 9 AM, 4 PM, and 9 PM during the 5-day period.

RESULTS

We found the presence of c-erb B-2 protein in the saliva of both groups of subjects. The salivary levels of c-erb B-2 were not significantly different when compared for gender differences. Likewise, the results suggest that sampling during various times of the day for salivary c-erb B-2 levels has no effect on marker concentration. Reliability analyses showed that supervised salivary collections were more reliable than unsupervised collections.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this pilot study suggest that the assay for salivary c-erb B-2 protein is reliable and might have potential use in the initial detection and follow-up screening for the recurrence of breast cancer in both men and women.

The Predissociation of the 1(3)Sigma(-)(g) State of (7)Li(2)

The predissociation of the 1(3)Sigma(-)(g) v >/= 10 levels of (7)Li(2) has been observed by pulsed and continuous-wave perturbation-facilitated optical-optical double-resonance spectroscopy (PFOODR). Our ab initio calculation shows that the inner wall of the 1(3)Sigma(-)(g) potential intersects the 1(3)Pi(g) repulsive potential at internuclear distance R = 2.00 Å. The predissociation is due to a DeltaS = 0, DeltaLambda = +/-1 rotational-electronic interaction with the repulsive 1(3)Pi(g) state. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Bone grafting in cementless total hip replacement for congenital dysplasia of the hip

We reviewed 27 cementless primary total hip replacements in patients with osteoarthrosis secondary to congenital dysplasia of the hip. Autogenous bone grafting was used as augmentation. On average the follow-up period was 9 years. Two hips were revised and three acetabular components were considered loose. In hips with loose cups the average graft coverage was significantly greater than in stable hips. The use of a cementless acetabular component is encouraging for reconstruction, although extensive grafting should be avoided. Our study suggests that cementless reconstruction in dysplastic hips yields a satisfactory outcome.

Probing superconducting phase fluctuations from the current noise spectrum of pseudogapped metal-superconductor tunnel junctions

We study the current noise spectra of a tunnel junction of a metal with strong pairing phase fluctuation and a superconductor. It is shown that there is a characteristic peak in the noise spectrum at the intrinsic Josephson frequency omega(J) = 2eV when omega(J) is smaller than the pairing gap but larger than the pairing scattering rate. In the presence of an ac voltage, the tunneling current noise shows a series of characteristic peaks with increasing dc voltage. Experimental observation of these peaks will give direct evidence of the pair fluctuation in the normal state of high- T(c) superconductors and the pair decay rate can be estimated from the half width of the peaks.

[Cloning and expression of otsA gene in E. coli]

1.5 kb of otsA gene encoding trehalose synthase has been cloned by PCR amplification. The DNA fragment was ligated to multi-copy vector and transformed to otsBA deleted and otsA deficient strains of E. coli separately. The transformants exhibited growth as well as the otsBA+ wild type on medium containing 0.5 mol/L NaCl. Trehalose was synthesized and accumulated in the transformed cells under osmotic pressure, which was determined by thin layer chromatograph. The results confirmed that otsA gene was functionally expressed in the recipient strains. These studies suggested that engineering otsA gene and trehalose accumulation into crop plants may improve drought and salinity tolerance.

[Treatment of hemangioma in oral and maxillofacial region with pingyangmycin injection]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the indication and result in hemangioma in oral and maxillofacial region with Pingyangmycin injection.

METHODS

1282 patients (554 males and 728 females) with hemangioma in oral and maxillofacial region have been treated in our hospital during the 10-year period from May 1990 to March 1999. The patients range between 0.5-84 years old. Lip, cheek and tongue were usually involved. 1211 patients were treated with injection of Pingyangmycin(about 0.89 mg/ml) and dexamethasone (about 0.55 mg/ml), 1 time/1-2 weeks.

RESULTS

The curative rates of cavernous hemangioma and strawberry hemangioma were 93.87% and 84.90%, but that of plexiform hemangioma was 22.22% and those of portwine stain and central hemangioma of the jaws were 0%, respectively. Serious complications associated with Pingyangmycin injection, such as pulmonary fibrosis were not seen.

CONCLUSION

Injection of Pingyangmycin is selective primary method for cavernous and strawberry hemangioma treatment.

In vitro evolution of a ribozyme that contains 5-bromouridine

The Tetrahymena group I ribozyme was modified by replacing all 99 component uridine residues with 5-bromouridine. This resulted in a 13-fold reduction in catalytic efficiency in the RNA-catalyzed phosphoester-transfer reaction compared to the behavior of the unmodified ribozyme. A population of 10(13) variant ribozymes was constructed, each containing 5-bromouridine in place of uridine. Five successive 'generations' of in vitro evolution were carried out, selecting for improved phosphoester transferase activity. The evolved molecules exhibited a 27-fold increase in catalytic efficiency compared to the wild-type bromouridine-containing ribozyme, even exceeding that of the wild-type ribozyme in the non-brominated form. Three specific mutations were found to be responsible for this altered behavior. These mutations enhanced activity in the context of 5-bromouridine, but were detrimental in the context of unmodified uridine. The evolved RNAs not only tolerated but came to exploit the presence of the nucleotide analogue in carrying out their catalytic function.

Serial measurement of polyethylene wear of well-fixed cementless metal-backed acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty: an over 10 year follow-up study

Serial radiographic measurements of polyethylene wear were performed in 38 hips (33 patients) with primary cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA). The average follow-up period was 131.8 months. All prostheses were assessed as radiographically stable at the latest follow-up. A two-dimensional method was used to calculate the relative migration of the femoral head center to the cup center. The average total linear wear and wear rate were 1.22 mm and 0.11 mm/year, respectively. The degree of wear in the first 2 postoperative years accounted for nearly 40% of the total wear at the end of the study (average follow up: 131.8 +/- 10.0 months, +/-SD). The migration of the femoral head at an average period of 3. 4 months after operation accounted for 56% of the amount of wear in the first 2 years. Wear rate decreased gradually with time and stabilized after the fourth year. However, in 2 patients, a progressive increase in the wear rate was associated with severe osteolysis and failure of THA. Both creep and wear contributed to the femoral penetration into the polyethylene liner. The influence of creep cannot be ruled out, especially in the early period after operation. Polyethylene wear is a multifactorial process, and the study of individual wear patterns might be useful in identifying patients who are at risk of late failure of THA.

In vitro evolution of a ribozyme that contains 5-bromouridine

The Tetrahymena group I ribozyme was modified by replacing all 99 component uridine residues with 5-bromouridine. This resulted in a 13-fold reduction in catalytic efficiency in the RNA-catalyzed phosphoester-transfer reaction compared to the behavior of the unmodified ribozyme. A population of 10(13) variant ribozymes was constructed, each containing 5-bromouridine in place of uridine. Five successive 'generations' of in vitro evolution were carried out, selecting for improved phosphoester transferase activity. The evolved molecules exhibited a 27-fold increase in catalytic efficiency compared to the wild-type bromouridine-containing ribozyme, even exceeding that of the wild-type ribozyme in the non-brominated form. Three specific mutations were found to be responsible for this altered behavior. These mutations enhanced activity in the context of 5-bromouridine, but were detrimental in the context of unmodified uridine. The evolved RNAs not only tolerated but came to exploit the presence of the nucleotide analogue in carrying out their catalytic function.

Exact solution of the specific-heat-phonon spectrum inversion from the Mobius inverse formula

The application of the Mobius inversion formula to the specific-heat-phonon spectrum inversion problem (SPI) initially appeared promising [N.X. Chen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 64, 1193 (1990); J. Maddox, Nature (London) 344, 377 (1990)]. However, no one has previously been able to obtain the exact Debye spectrum with the correct cut-off factor and frequency dependence from the Mobius formula. The main difficulty arises from the fact that the Mobius function &mgr;(n) is not completely known for large n in practice. In this paper, some exact solutions of SPI are obtained by using the Mobius inversion formula, most importantly the Debye spectrum as a special case, and the problem of the unknown Mobius function &mgr;(n) for large n is avoided. It is shown that the Mobius inversion formula can be useful for exact solutions to spectral inversion problems.

Salmonella enterica serovar typhi uses type IVB pili to enter human intestinal epithelial cells

DNA sequencing upstream of the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi pilV and rci genes previously identified in the ca. 118-kb major pathogenicity island (X.-L. Zhang, C. Morris, and J. Hackett, Gene 202:139-146, 1997) identified a further 10 pil genes apparently forming a pil operon. The product of the pilS gene, prePilS protein (a putative type IVB structural prepilin) was purified, and an anti-prePilS antiserum was raised in mice. Mutants of serovar Typhi either lacking the whole pil operon or with an insertion mutation in the pilS gene were constructed, as was a strain in which the pilN to pilV genes were driven by the tac promoter. The pil(+) strains synthesized type IVB pili, as judged by (i) visualization in the electron microscope of thin pili in culture supernatants of one such strain and (ii) the presence of PilS protein (smaller than the prePilS protein by removal of the leader peptide) on immunoblotting of material pelleted by high-speed centrifugation of either the culture supernatant or sonicates of pil(+) strains. Control pil mutants did not express the PilS protein. A pilS mutant of serovar Typhi entered human intestinal INT407 cells in culture to levels only 5 to 25% of those of the wild-type strain, and serovar Typhi entry was strongly inhibited by soluble prePilS protein (50% inhibition of entry at 1.4 microM prePilS).

The presence of soluble c-erbB-2 in saliva and serum among women with breast carcinoma: a preliminary study

The protein c-erbB-2, also known as Her2/neu, is a prognostic breast cancer marker assayed in tissue biopsies from women diagnosed with malignant tumors. Present studies suggest that soluble fragments of the c-erbB-2 oncogene may be released from the cell surface and become detectable in patients with carcinoma of the breast. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to assay the c-erbB-2 protein in the saliva and serum of women with and without carcinoma of the breast and to determine whether the protein possesses any diagnostic value. To determine the diagnostic utility of this oncogene, the soluble form of the c-erbB-2 protein was assayed in the saliva and serum using ELISA in three different groups of women. The three groups consisted of 57 healthy women, 41 women with benign breast lesions, and 30 women diagnosed with breast cancer. To compare the relative diagnostic utility of the c-erbB-2 protein, CA 15-3 was also measured. The CA 15-3 measurements served as a "gold standard" by which to compare the c-erbB-2 protein's diagnostic effectiveness. We found c-erbB-2 protein in the saliva and serum of all three groups of women. The salivary and serological levels of c-erbB-2 in the cancer patients, however, were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the salivary and serum levels of healthy controls and benign tumor patients. Additionally, the c-erbB-2 protein was found to be equal to or to surpass the ability of CA 15-3 to detect patients with carcinoma. The results of the pilot study suggest that the c-erbB-2 protein may have potential use in the initial detection and/or follow-up screening for the recurrence of breast cancer in women.

[Effects of phoxim and fenvalerate on TTX-S and TTX-R sodium channels in the DRG neurons of adult rat]

OBJECTIVE

To study the joint neurotoxic effects of phoxim (Pho) and fenvalerate (Fen) on tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) and tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Na(+) currents in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of adult rat.

METHODS

Whole cell patch clamp technique was used to test the effects of Pho and Fen on TTX-S and TTX-R sodium currents in DRG neurons.

RESULTS

The inactivation of TTX-R sodium channel was obviously slowed down by Fen. The tau(Na) of peak currents at doses of 10, 50 and 100 micromol/L Fen and control groups were (8.10 +/- 2.41) ms, (11.78 +/- 2.76) ms, P < 0.01, (8.76 +/-1.94) ms, P < 0.05 and (6.41 +/- 1.32) ms respectively. The inactivation of TTX-R sodium channel tail currents was also significantly delayed by Fen. The tau(Na) of the tail currents at doses of 10, 50, 100 micromol/L Fen and control groups were 6.11 +/- 0.52 (P < 0.05), 7.82 +/- 0.82 (P < 0.05), 7.23 +/- 1.09 (P < 0.05) and (4.91 +/- 0.97) ms separately. As compared with TTX-R sodium channel, the TTX-S sodium channel was less responsive to Fen exposure, which only led to slowly decay TTX-S sodium tail currents. There was no any effect of Pho on the TTX-S and TTX-R sodium channels. The mixed treatment of a Pho and Fen did not show joint effect on the sodium currents.

CONCLUSION

Both the peak and tail currents are changed by Fen, however, Fen has more remarkable effects on TTX-R than on TTX-S sodium channel. The combined exposure to Pho and Fen shows no joint effect on the sodium channel.

Characterization of the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase gene of Spodoptera litura multinucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

The ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase (EGT) gene of Spodoptera litura multinucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV), Guangzhouisolate was sequenced. The open reading frame of the gene is 1530 nucleotides long, encoding a putative protein of 509 amino acids with Mr of 58,500. The 5' noncoding region has a TATA box. A polyadenylation signal, AATAAA, is contained downstream of the translation stop codon. A putative signal peptide is present at the N-terminus of the protein. Homology comparison with other baculovirus egt genes showed that these genes are highly conserved. The SpltMNPV egt gene is closely related to that of Spodoptera littoralis nucleopolyhedrovirus (SliNPV) with the identities of 84% in nucleotide and 91% in amino acid, respectively. In this study, an alignment of amino acid sequences has been made and a tentative phylogenetic tree of twelve baculovirus egts is presented.

[Production and some properties of a thermophilic protease from Bacillus stearothermophilus WF146]

The factors affecting Bacillus stearothermophilus WF146 for thermophilic protease producing have been investigated, more than 600 units of enzyme in 1 mL of fermented culture could be achieved under suitable condition. The protease had a molecular weight around 34 kD estimated by SDS-PAGE, and functioned optimally at pH 8.0 and 80 degrees C, respectively. In addition, the enzyme exhibited high temperature tolerance and was stable at a wide range of pH, and Ca2+ played a key role for the stability of the enzyme. While the protease activity of the enzyme was strongly inhibited by PMSF, DFP and IAA, and was not affected by DTT.

The 2(3)Delta(g) State of (7)Li(2)

Using pulsed perturbation-facilitated optical-optical double resonance (PFOODR) spectroscopy, the 2(3)Delta(g) state of (7)Li(2) (electronic configuration (varsigma(g)2s) (4ddelta(g)), effective principal quantum number n* = 4.101) has been observed and assigned. Molecular constants and a RKR potential energy curve were obtained. The major molecular constants are Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Sorption and desorption of Eu and Yb on alumina: mechanisms and effect of fulvic acid

The effects of pH, ionic strength and FA (fulvic acid) on the sorption and desorption of Eu(III) and Yb(III) on alumina were respectively investigated by using batch technique and radiotracers 152 + 154Eu and 169Yb. The distribution coefficients for sorption and desorption of Eu on alumina at pH 4.4, 4.6 and 5.7 in 1 mol/l NaCl solutions as a function of solid phase concentration were determined in the presence or absence of FA. The effects of pH, FA and ionic strength on the distribution coefficients for sorption and desorption of Yb on alumina were determined in 0.01-2.0 mol/l NaNO3. It was found that pH and FA influenced the sorption of Eu(III) and Yb(III) on alumina greatly. A surface hydrolysis model can satisfactorily and qualitatively explain the observations on bare alumina. The competition among the complexations of surface free hydroxyl groups, soluble and sorbed fulvic acids can satisfactorily and qualitatively explain the observations on the coated alumina.

Synergistic enhancement of collagenous protein synthesis by human gingival fibroblasts exposed to nifedipine and interleukin-1-beta in vitro

Gingival overgrowth commonly occurs coincident to therapy with calcium channel blockers. The biologic mechanism for this condition is unknown; however, many clinicians suggest that poor oral hygiene may contribute to development of the overgrowth. This study tests the hypothesis that collagenous protein synthesis by gingival fibroblasts is synergistically enhanced when they are exposed to both nifedipine (N) and the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1-beta, a cytokine expressed in inflamed gingiva. Human gingival fibroblasts were isolated from biopsies of normal gingiva and cells separated into two groups. Group 1 was exposed to media containing 0, 5, 50, or 500 pg/ml IL-1-beta, or 10(-7) M N for 7 days; Group 2 was exposed to those concentrations of IL-1-beta +10(-7) M N. [3H]-proline was added to the medium for the final 24 h. Cells and matrix were harvested and radioactivity determined by liquid scintillation analysis. Means (d.p.m./10(3) cells) were compared by factorial ANOVA and Scheffé comparisons. Collagenous protein synthesis was significantly reduced by 5 pg/ml IL-1-beta +10(-7) M N and enhanced by 500 pg/ml IL-1-beta +10(-7) M N as compared to N or IL-1-beta alone. Thus, patients may be more susceptible to gingival overgrowth coincident to nifedipine therapy as a result of the synergistic enhancement of connective tissue synthesis by these agents.

Primary structure of open reading frame 2 and 3 of the hepatitis E virus isolated from Morocco

The nucleotide sequence from position 5,014 to 7,186 of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) genome was determined using a set of 10 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments amplified directly from a pool of fecal specimens obtained from patients with well-documented epidemic HEV infection in Morocco. This sequence contains the 3'-terminal region of open reading frame 1 (ORF1), full length ORF2 and ORF3, and a portion of the 3'-noncoding region. The HEV Morocco nucleotide sequence was compared with the corresponding sequences of 13 HEV strains. A region of ORF2 that overlaps with ORF3 was found to be the most conserved region of ORF2, whereas a protein segment encoded by this region was found to be the most variable. Theoretical RNA secondary structure analysis predicted that this region may be folded into a strong secondary structure that may constrain nucleotide sequence variability. In addition, the nucleotide sequence comparison revealed that the HEV Morocco sequence is most homologous to the sequences of the HEV Asian strains compared with the HEV Mexico, swine, and US strains. Phylogenetic analysis performed on the entire ORF2 and ORF3 sequences and on a small fragment of ORF2 allowed classification of the HEV Morocco strain together with a few other known African strains as a separate subtype within the Asian-African genotype.

8-10svarsigma, 8-10dvarsigma (1)Sigma(+)(g), and 10-15dpi (1)Pi(g) Rydberg States of Na(2)

With a sensitive space-charge-limited diode ionization detector, we studied 8-10svarsigma, 8-10dvarsigma (1)Sigma(+)(g), and 10-15dpi (1)Pi(g) Rydberg states of Na(2) and obtained their molecular constants for the first time. It is the first successful example of a diode ionization detector that is used in a pulsed OODR molecular spectroscopy experiment. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

[Sequence analysis of the mutated AOX2 promoter region in the Pichia pastoris]

Spontaneous revertants of the AOX1-defective P. pastoris strain have been isolated, which were identified as phenotypically utilize methanol to grow as the wild type. The promoter region of the AOX2 gene from the revertant has been obtained by PCR amplification, and the DNA fragment is 1022 base pair in size. By the analysis of sequencing result and compared with the AOX2 gene sequences recorded in Gene Bank, two point mutations which at positions of -529 and -255(relative to the translation initiation codon) respectively, have been found. Since the positions are located in the AOX2 upstream repression sequences, the mutations may act interfere the repressor to combine with the functional sequences, and increase transcriptional activity. The above result implicated that the P. pastoris' ability to utilize methanol could be increased through modification the upper stream transcriptional regulation region in the AOX2 gene.

[Vector construction for embryonic stem cell gene targeting of site specific point mutation mouse coagulation factor IX gene]

OBJECTIVE

To construct the recombinant vectors for embryonic stem(ES) cell gene targeting which contain the mouse coagulation factor IX (F IX) gene modified by PCR site-directed mutagenesis.

METHODS

Three site specific point mutations were introduced into exon 8 of mouse F IX gene respectively. The replacement targeting vectors were constructed and transfected into ES cells. The drug-resistant cell clones were picked after drug selection.

RESULTS

The construction of targeting vectors was successful and several drug-resistant ES cell clones were gained.

CONCLUSION

The site specific point mutation system can modify human gene in vitro more accurately. It is useful in the setting up of animal models.

The 6svarsigma, 6dvarsigma, and 7dvarsigma Rydberg (1)Sigma(+)(g) States and Two Doubly Excited (1)Sigma(+)(g) States of Na(2)

Five highly excited (1)Sigma(+)(g) states of Na(2) were observed for the first time by pulsed optical-optical double resonance (OODR) fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. Three of the five states are assigned to the 6svarsigma (1)Sigma(+)(g), 6dvarsigma (1)Sigma(+)(g), and 7dvarsigma (1)Sigma(+)(g) Rydberg states. The other two states are assigned to doubly excited (1)Sigma(+)(g) states. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

[Clinical study on tangshen mixture in treating diabetic nephropathy]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of Tangshen Mixture (TSM) on the serum glucose, quantity of proteinuria per 24 h, hypercoagulative status and oxidative injury in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODS

Ninety-three patients with DN were randomly divided into treated group and control group. 48 patients in the former were treated with insulin and TSM, while the latter was treated with insulin alone. Before and after treatment, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2 h after meal blood glucose (PBG), 24 h urinary albumin (24 h-pro), endothelin (ET), alpha-granule membrane glycoprotein-140 (GMP-140), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (ESOD), lipid peroxidase (LPO) were measured.

RESULTS

After two months treatment, compared with the control group the levels of ET and GMP-140, LPO, and 24 h-pro lowered obviously (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the level of ESOD increased (P < 0.05) in the treated group, no obvious change was found in control grout after treatment.

CONCLUSION

TSM could improve the hypercoagulative status, alleviate the renal free radical disturbances, and reduce the urinary protein loss.

Protein recovery from several paper types used to collect gingival crevicular fluid

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency of protein elution from several types of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collection papers when the volume of the inoculated protein and the elution methods were constant. Various concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 14C-BSA were placed onto strips of Whatman #1 [W1], Whatman 3 MM chromatographic [W3], Periopaper (ProFlow) [P] and Periopaper (Harco) [H], and recovered proteins measured following a non-optimized centrifugal elution technique. There were significant differences in % recovery of BSA and 14C-BSA from the papers, which was dependent on both the type of paper and the concentration of the inoculated protein; that is, proteins at the lowest concentrations were less efficiently eluted from GCF collection papers than those at higher concentrations. Equations for regression lines of elution efficiency were quadratic. Thus, our data suggest significant differences in the efficiency for elution of BSA from absorbent papers when the volume of the inoculated fluid and the elution technique were constant. Previous variable or conflicting experimental data between research groups may have resulted from incomplete elution of proteins from GCF collection papers, possibly due to entrapment within, or binding of GCF proteins to the paper.

Vascular endothelial growth factors and progression of periodontal diseases

BACKGROUND

Tissues become hemorrhagic and edematous coincident to periodontal diseases; however, there is little information concerning the biologic mechanisms which may produce these changes. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a macromolecule which enhances blood vessel growth and permeability. However, there is no information concerning gingival VEGF concentrations within normal or diseased gingiva. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in gingival concentrations of VEGF during initiation and progression of periodontal diseases and compare them to changes in the number of blood vessel profiles and concentration of recognized markers of periodontal disease severity (interleukin-6[IL-6]).

METHODS

Normal (non-hemorrhagic gingiva adjacent to a < or =3 mm gingival sulcus) and inflamed gingiva (hemorrhagic gingiva adjacent to a < or =3 mm, 4 to 6 mm, or >6 mm periodontal pocket) were studied. VEGF and IL-6 concentrations were assessed by ELISA and the number of blood vessels determined by histomorphometric techniques. Data were placed into one of the following groups: < or =3 mm, normal; < or =3 mm, diseased; 4 to 6 mm, diseased; and >6 mm, diseased. These groups were compared by factorial ANOVA and Scheffe comparisons. In addition, groups were compared by simple and multiple regression and regression ANOVA to determine possible correlations between them.

RESULTS

VEGF and IL-6 concentrations were significantly lower within normal than within diseased gingiva. The number of blood vessel profiles and mean IL-6 concentrations were highest in diseased tissues adjacent to >6 mm sulci and were significantly correlated with sulcular depth (P <0.001). In contrast, VEGF concentrations were highest within diseased gingiva adjacent to 4 to 6 mm periodontal pockets (P <0.001) and were not correlated with sulcular depth.

CONCLUSIONS

VEGF may be a factor in initiation and progression of gingivitis to periodontitis, possibly by promoting expansion of the vascular network coincident to progression of the inflammation.

Prevention of baculovirus-induced apoptosis of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (Hi5) cells by the p35 gene of Trichoplusia ni multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

A typical apoptosis of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 (Hi5) cells induced by Heliothis armigera single capsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) infection was completely suppressed by coinfection with Trichoplusia ni multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus polyhedron-negative recombinant (TnMNPV-SVI- G) (OCC-) at a low multiplicity of infection (6.5 x 10(-2)). To determine whether TnMNPV p35 alone was sufficient to inhibit the apoptosis, two recombinant plasmids containing the early promoter of p35, or the very late promoter of TnMNPV polh were constructed to study p35 function by transient expression assay. It was shown that expression of p35 alone could partially prevent HaSNPV-induced apoptosis but did not facilitate HaSNPV replication in Hi5 cells. The data suggests that both P35 of TnMNPV and other unknown gene products are required for the suppression of apoptosis and facilitation of HaSNPV replication in Hi5 cells.

Digital speckle correlation method based on wavelet-packet noise-reduction processing

Despite the advantages of being highly sensitive and nondestructive, the digital speckle correlation method (DSCM) may have difficulties in detecting tiny defects such as delaminations in multilayer ceramic capacitors. This is because the presence of background noise always complicates the data processing. We present a new algorithm, which employs the wavelet-packet noise-reduction process together with the improved DSCM, to improve data processing. Both the computational error and the noise are shown to be reduced successfully by this new algorithm. The accuracy (or precision) of the improved DSCM is increased after operation of the wavelet-packet noise-reduction process. The most important feature of this new algorithm is that it can extract a small hillock signal from a large noisy background in a DSCM deformation result. This helps to save time in the detection of tiny defects, such as delamination, in a miniaturized electronic component.

[Neuroendocrine mechanisms of impact by experimental stress on plasma glucose level in STZ KM mice]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the neuroendocrine mechanisms of effects by experimental stress on plasma glucose level in streptozotocin induced mice(STZ mice).

METHODS

Forty STZ mice were divided randomly into Group A (STZ mice, stress) and Group B (STZ mice, no stress), and 20 normal KM mice in Group C (normal mice, stress) and Group D (normal mice, no stress). Group A and Group C were exposed to multiple stressors (restrain, rotation, crowding) for 6 weeks. Before and after the experiment, blood glucose(BG) levels were measured. By the end of experiment, blood and hypothalamus samples were collected to measure plasma insulin(I) concentrations, insulin sensitivity index(ISI), plasma norepinphine(NE), epinphin(EPI) and beta endorphin(beta-EP) concentrations.

RESULTS

After stress, the BG levels significantly increased and I concentrations decreased in Group A. Group A showed a greater decrease of ISI than that in Group B. There was significant difference in plasma NE and EPI concentrations among groups, and Group A showed marked increase. There was no significant difference in beta-EP concentrations among groups. There were low to moderate correlations among these variables after stress.

CONCLUSION

The STZ mice likely have altered adrenergic sensitivity to stress, which might play a leading role in the neuroendocrine mechanism of hyperglycemia of STZ mice after stress. The beta-EP might participate in this process of regulating glucose metabolism.

DNA structure and transcription

Regulation of transcription occurs through complex interactions of RNA polymerase and accessory proteins with specific DNA sequences and with each other. The DNA template topology influences the interaction of RNA polymerase with the promoter and its response to repressors, activators and the intracellular milieu through the formation of altered DNA structures or of nucleoprotein complexes. Recent developments on the role of DNA structures in transcription regulation are discussed.

[Effect of ginseng injection in treating congestive heart failure and its influence on thyroid hormones]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of Ginseng injection on congestive heart failure (CHF) and its influence on thyroid hormones.

METHODS

Fifty-four Patients of CHF were divided into two groups. On the basis of conventional treatment of western medicine, the Ginseng injection was given to the treated group additionally. Blood level of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of all patients were determined before and after treatment by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

There were significant difference between the treated group and the control group in cure rate and mean course of therapy. The levels of T3 and T4 of all patients were lower than those of the normal control before treatment, and rT3 were higher. Two weeks after treatment, T3 and T4 level in all patients increased significantly and rT3 level significantly decreased(P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Ginseng injection has a good effect on patients with CHF. It also has regulatory effect on thyroid hormones.

Expression of neurotrophins in the adult spinal cord in vivo

Potential roles of trophins in the normal and injured spinal cord are largely undefined. However, a number of recent studies suggest that adult spinal cord expresses neurotrophin receptors and responds to the neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin 3 (NT3), particularly after injury. The data indicate that trophins may enhance regrowth after damage and may represent a new therapeutic approach to injury. Neurotrophins are reportedly present in the spinal cord, but the cellular localization is unknown. This information is critical to begin delineating mechanisms of actions. To approach this problem, we examined whether spinal cord glia express BDNF and NT3 in vivo and have begun to define cellular distribution. Specific antibodies directed against the neurotrophins were utilized to visualize neurotrophin protein. Initial studies indicated that small cells in the white matter of adult rat spinal cord express BDNF and NT3. Large neurotrophin-positive neurons were also identified in the ventral cord. To identify the neurotrophin-positive cells, co-localization studies were performed utilizing neurotrophin polyclonal antisera together with monoclonal antibodies directed against the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In the white matter of adult spinal cord, GFAP-positive and GFAP-negative cells expressed BDNF and NT3. Our study suggests that astrocyte and non-astrocyte cells provide trophic support to the adult spinal cord.

[Spectroscopic study of the 1pig Rydberg states of Na2]

Six highly excited 1pig states of the Na2 molecule have been investigated by optical-optical double resonance (OODR) flourescence excitation spectroscopy. Absolute vibrational numberings are determined and molecular constants and RKR potential curves are obtained. The lowest 10 1pig states have been relabeled according to the hydrogenic nllambda characters of the Rydberg orbital and classified into core-penetrating and core-nonpenetrating Rydberg states.

[The application of ion detection in the study of spectroscopy of Na2]

Ion detection technique has been successfully used in the study of Rydberg states of Na2 by pulse optical-optical double resonance. High-lying Rydberg states near ionization limit have been observed and high sensitive and high gain spectra have been obtained. This technique is very useful for molecular spectroscopy.

Induction of alpha1-tubulin gene expression during development and regeneration of the fish central nervous system

The alpha1- and alpha2-tubulin encoding genes were cloned from a goldfish genomic DNA library. alpha1- and alpha2-tubulin RNA expression was examined in developing and adult retinas. These studies demonstrated increased alpha1-tubulin RNA in presumptive ganglion cells that grow axons early in retinal development and in adult retinal ganglion cells whose optic axons had been damaged. The alpha2-tubulin RNA was undetectable in developing retina and constitutively expressed in adult retinal ganglion cells regardless of optic nerve crush. To determine if these changes in alpha1-tubulin RNA reflected changes in alpha1-tubulin promoter activity, we introduced into zebrafish embryos and adult goldfish retinal explants expression vectors harboring the alpha1-tubulin gene's promoter. These studies showed that the alpha1-tubulin promoter confers a developmentally regulated, neuron-restricted pattern of reporter gene expression in vivo and its activity is increased in adult retinal neurons induced to regenerate their axons. Promoter deletions defined regions of alpha1-tubulin DNA necessary for this pattern of expression. These results suggest that DNA sequences necessary for alpha1-tubulin gene induction during central nervous system development and regeneration are contained within the alpha1-tubulin gene's 5'-flanking DNA and that this promoter will be useful for identifying these elements and their DNA binding proteins.

The ovo gene required for cuticle formation and oogenesis in flies is involved in hair formation and spermatogenesis in mice

The Drosophila svb/ovo gene gives rise to differentially expressed transcripts encoding a zinc finger protein. svb/ovo has two distinct genetic functions: shavenbaby (svb) is required for proper formation of extracellular projections that are produced by certain epidermal cells in late-stage differentiation; ovo is required for survival and differentiation of female germ cells. We cloned a mouse gene, movo1 encoding a nuclear transcription factor that is highly similar to its fly counterpart in its zinc-finger sequences. In mice, the gene is expressed in skin, where it localizes to the differentiating cells of epidermis and hair follicles, and in testes, where it is present in spermatocytes and spermatids. Using gene targeting, we show that movo1 is required for proper development of both hair and sperm. movo1(-/-) mice are small, produce aberrant hairs, and display hypogenitalism, with a reduced ability to reproduce. These mice also develop abnormalities in kidney, where movo1 is also expressed. Our findings reveal remarkable parallels between mice and flies in epidermal appendage formation and in germ-cell maturation. Furthermore, they uncover a phenotype similar to that of Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a human disorder that maps to the same locus as human ovo1.

Sequence-dependent extrusion of a small DNA hairpin at the N4 virion RNA polymerase promoters

Bacteriophage N4 virion RNA polymerase promoters contain five to seven-base inverted repeats separated by three bases and centered at position -12 from the site of transcription initiation. We have previously shown that these inverted repeats extrude as hairpins at physiological superhelical densities in a Mg(II)-dependent manner. Mg(II)-dependent hairpin extrusion at promoters P1 and P2 displays quantitative differences in reactivity to structural probes at different DNA superhelical densities, with extrusion at P2 being more favored at low superhelical density. Analyses of mutant promoters using structure-specific probes revealed that specific sequences, at the closing base-pair of the hairpin and at the loop (i.e. 5'-C-GXA-G-3' where X=G, A, T), are required for extrusion of the small promoter hairpins at physiological superhelical density. The sequence-dependent requirements for extrusion of the small N4 promoter hairpins may be generally applicable for other such sequences found both in prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes.

[Isolation and identification of Agrobacterium spp. from cherry crown galls and their sensitivities to agrocin 84]

Crown galls were sampled from cherry yards of Shandong, Hebei, and Liaoning provinces. 46 pathogenic strains were isolated. Physiological and biochemical tests revealed that 4 strains were Agrobacterium tumefaciens(bio. 1) and that the other 42 strains were A. rhizogenes (bio. 2), according to the classifications and nomenclatures of the genus Agrobacterium and the species revised by Sawada et al and Bouzar. The Ti plasmids of all strains were nopaline type. All strains were sensitive to agrocin 84, which suggested that crown gall disease of cherry could be controlled by K84 strain.

Neutralization of different geographic strains of the hepatitis E virus with anti-hepatitis E virus-positive serum samples obtained from different sources

A recently developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based cell culture neutralization assay was used to investigate cross-neutralization of known hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains obtained from various HEV-endemic regions of the world with different anti-HEV-positive serum samples. Serum specimens obtained from cynomolgus macaques experimentally infected with strains from Burma, Mexico, or Pakistan cross-neutralized the infectivity of each strain as well as an isolate from Morocco. Serum samples obtained either from infected patients who reside in HEV-endemic regions of the world or from U.S. residents who became infected while traveling to such regions also neutralized all four strains. In contrast, antibodies obtained from rabbits immunized with full-length Burma strain ORF2 protein neutralized only the Burma and Pakistan strains, not the Mexico or Morocco strains. In addition, antibodies obtained from guinea pigs immunized with an N-terminal truncated Burma strain ORF2 protein neutralized each strain except the Morocco strain. These data strongly suggest that antibodies elicited during an HEV infection demonstrate broad HEV neutralizing activity, whereas antibodies elicited after immunization with recombinant Burma ORF2 protein demonstrate a more limited ability to neutralize various HEV strains obtained from different regions of the world endemic for the disease.

Sequence and DNA structural determinants of N4 virion RNA polymerase-promoter recognition

Coliphage N4-coded, virion-encapsidated RNA polymerase (vRNAP) is able to bind to and transcribe promoter-containing double-stranded DNAs when the template is supercoiled and Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein (Eco SSB) is present. We report that vRNAP-promoter recognition and activity on these templates require specific sequences and a hairpin structure on the template strand. Hairpin extrusion, induced by Mg(II) and physiological superhelical density, is essential to provide the correct DNA structure for polymerase recognition, as mutant promoters that do not form hairpins show reduced in vitro activity. Therefore, a supercoil-induced DNA structural transition regulates N4 vRNAP transcription. Eco SSB activates transcription at physiological superhelical densities by stabilizing the template-strand hairpin. Specific sequences at the promoters are conserved to provide proper contacts for vRNAP, to support hairpin extrusion, or both. We propose a model for in vivo utilization of the vRNAP promoters, and discuss the roles of DNA supercoiling and Eco SSB in promoter activation.

[Molecular marker as an indicator in presaging prognosis of human lung adenocarcinoma]

The paper discusses 93 cases of human lung adenocarcinoma in terms of molecular-epidemiology. The relationship between p21 protein and p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was analysed by immunohischemical methods. Prognosis by Cox model was used for prosnosis prediction of adenocarcinoma in human lung. Results showed that the prognosis of adenocarcinoma was poor when of p21 protein expression was positive and the relative ratio was 2.08. However, p53 protein expression was not related to the prognosis of adenocarcinoma. The higher the positive rate of PCNA was, the poorer the prognosis of adenocarcinoma oppeared, with a ratio of 3.27.