[Purification of 31/32 kDa proteins of adult Schistosoma japonicum and studies on their protective immunity]

Schistosoma japonicum adult worm 31/32 kDa proteins (Sj 31/32) were separated on polyacrylamide slab gels and purified by electrophoretic elution. These purified proteins were used to immunize mice in order to observe their protective immunity against challenge. The results of SDS-PAGE,EITB and ELISA indicated that the 31/32 kDa proteins separated and purified by means of these methods were pure and active. It was assumed that Sj 31/32 proteins could reduce worm burden and inhibit the fecundity of schistosome and formation of egg granuloma. The results suggested that 31/32 kDa S. japonicum proteins might be an important component of a multivalent vaccine against schistosomiasis japonica (Figs. 1-4).

[The effects of angiotensin II and other vasoactive agents on the blood flow in Yoshida ascites hepatoma]

The effects of angiotensin II and other six vasoactive agents on tissue blood flow of Yoshida rat ascites hepatoma AH109A and normal liver were measured by the hydrogen clearance method. The mean blood flow in the tumor peripheral part under normotensin was 11.9 +/- 8.2 ml/min/100 g tissue and was not influenced by tumor size. Tumor blood flow was more significantly increased in infusion angiotensin II than 0.5 mg/ml methoxamine; however, normal liver blood flow of tumor-bearing rats was unchanged in contrast to an increase seen in the tumor. A Pronounced reduction of tumor blood flow was found after administration of epinephrine, norepinephrine and ethylphenylephrine. In addition, metaraminol, phenylephrine as well as 1.0 and 2.5 mg/ml methoxamine were not found to significantly change the blood flow of the tumor.

Studies of the synthesis of biomarkers. XI. Synthesis of 4,5-secocholestane and 4-methyl-4,5-secocholestane

4,5-Secocholestane (1a) and 4-methyl-4,5-secocholestane (1b) were synthesized from cholesterol (2) in five and seven steps, respectively. The key intermediate, 5-oxo-4,5-secocholestan-4-al (7) was reduced by the Clemmensen method to afford 1a. Meanwhile, 7 underwent selective Wittig reaction, Clemmensen reduction, and hydrogenation to give another target molecule, 1b. The structure of an unknown biomarker was shown to be different from the proposed 1a by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric comparison.

Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of transition metal complexes with 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone

Complexes of CuII, NiII, CoII, ZnII, FeIII, CrIII, CdII, and MnII with the natural product 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone have been synthesized and the probable structures of these complexes have been proposed on the basis of elemental analyses, molecular weight determination, magnetic moments, and electronic and IR spectral data. The presence of coordinated and crystal water molecules was demonstrated by thermal studies. The antibacterial activity of the ligand and all the complexes has been determined on gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

[Three-dimensional microstructure and its significance of pseudotubular formation in the crescents of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis]

Tubuloid structure of the crescents in rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) was studied in order to detect its morphological features and functional significance by using three-dimensional microstructure method. The results showed that the tubuloid structure was actually pseudotubular formation in the crescents. Their inner lumens were communicating between the Bowman's capsular space and lumens of the renal tubules. It indicated that pseudotubular formation in the crescents may play an important role in repairing the damaged structure of those injured glomeruli.

Studies of the synthesis of biomarkers. X. Synthesis of 13,17-secodiacholestanes

13,17-Secodiacholestanes (6) were synthesized from cholesterol (1) in six steps. The key intermediates, (20R)- and (20S)-diacholest-13(17)-enes (3a and 3b), underwent ozonization and reduction to provide (20R)- and (20S)-13,17-secodiacholesta-13,17-dione (5a and 5b), respectively. On Clemmensen reduction, the diones (5a and 5b) yielded the target molecule 6. The structure of an unknown biomarker was shown to be different from the proposed 6 by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric comparison.

Occupational dimethylformamide exposure. 3. Health effects of dimethylformamide after occupational exposure at low concentrations

A factory survey was conducted in a plant where N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was in use during the production of polyurethane plastics and related materials. In all, 318 DMF-exposed workers (195 men and 123 women) and 143 non-exposed controls (67 men and 76 women) were examined for time-weighted average exposure (to DMF and other solvents by diffusive sampling), hematology, serum biochemistry, subjective symptoms, and clinical signs. Most of the exposed workers were exposed only to DMF, whereas others were exposed to a combination of DMF and toluene. DMF exposure in the former group was up to 7.0 ppm (geometric mean on a workshop basis), whereas it was up to 2.1 ppm in combination with 4.2 ppm toluene. Both hematology and serum biochemistry, results (including aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and amylase) were essentially comparable among the 3 groups. There was, however, a dose-dependent increase in subjective symptoms, especially during work, and in digestive system-related symptoms such as nausea and abdominal pain in the past 3-month period. The prevalence rate of alcohol intolerance complaints among male (assumedly) social drinkers was also elevated in relation to DMF dose.

[Cohort study of seroepidemiology on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome]

A cohort study of seroepidemiology on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) was carried out in two villages, Jiande County, Zhejiang Province. 1325 persons who had not had antibodies to HFRS in 1987 were interviewed and re-examined in 1988. Seroconversion to HFRS antibodies was found in 30 persons (2.26%). Among them, were two clinical cases with an incidence rate of 0.151% and the rate of inapparent infection was 2.12%. Ratio of apparent to inapparent infection was 1:14. No infection was observed in children aged 2-4 years and subjects aged 60 years and over. The rate was lower in 5-14 years age group (1.42%) than in those of 15-59 age groups (1.47-4.26%). The infection rate in males (2.57%) was slightly higher than in females (1.96%). Results of stratified analysis and logistic regression analysis showed that living in houses located at the village periphery, having straw stack out of the house and rearing cat were risk factors of HFRS infection and their ORs were 3.0932, 3.3629, and 4.9970 respectively. Antibodies and antigens of HFRS were detected in A. agrarius and R. norvegicus captured in the villages.

Distribution of hantavirus serotypes Hantaan and Seoul causing hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and identification by hemagglutination inhibition assay

An epidemiologic evaluation of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome from different locations in the People's Republic of China was conducted to define the prevalence of two Hantavirus serotypes, Seoul (SEO) and Hantaan (HTN). Serum specimens were collected between 5 and 14 days after the onset of illness and were tested for antibodies by both hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and plaque reduction neutralization (PRN). By the HI test, the geometric mean titer (GMT) of antibodies to SEO in the sera from individuals from Kaifeng City of Henan Province was five times higher than that to HTN. In contrast, by the HI test, the sera from individuals from Jiande County of Zhejiang Province had a GMT of antibodies to HTN that was seven times higher than that to SEO. In the sera from individuals from Shanghai, only a twofold difference was observed in HI antibody titers to the two hemagglutinins by the HI test, with that to HTN being higher than that to SEO. By the PRN test, the GMT ratios of antibody between HTN and SEO strains from individuals in Kaifeng, Jiande, and Shanghai were found to be 1:13, 14:1, and 2:1 respectively. A close correlation (r = 0.8219) and concordance rate (78.3%) were observed between the PRN and HI tests for the identification of the serotypes of individual cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The hantavirus serotypes from individuals in Kaifeng and Jiande were identified as predominantly SEO and HTN, respectively, and those from individuals in Shanghai had an indeterminant serotype defined by these two techniques. The HI test appears to be a simple and reliable way of determining the predominant hantavirus that causes HFRS in a given geographic area.

Transcoronary ethanol ablation of experimental ventricular tachycardia after epicardial ice mapping and localizing

Thirty-seven reproducible ventricular tachycardias (VTs) were induced in 19 dogs after the onset of myocardial infarction. The site of origin of VT was localized in 19 (59%) of 32 VTs by ice epicardial mapping. After 0.3-1.2 ml of 95% ethanol was injected into a small coronary artery supplying the arrhythmogenic area, VT was no longer inducible in 10 of 14 dogs. Intramyocardial ethanol (1-3 ml) was injected into the site of origin of VT in 9 dogs including 4 with VTs reinduced after intracoronary ethanol. Six of these VTs were not reinduced. Thus, the total efficacy rate was 84%. In 7 dogs, after injection of 0.4-1.2 ml (mean 0.5 ml) of 95% ethanol into a small normal coronary artery, the extent of the changes in ECG, CK-MB and pathology was found to be related to the size of myocardial damage and to the dose of ethanol. The smaller the dose of ethanol was given and the more distal the branch of coronary artery into which the ethanol was injected, the smaller the myocardial damage was. The data demonstrated that intracoronary or intramyocardial injection of ethanol may ablate the experimental VT induced by programmed heart stimulation in dogs after myocardial infarction, indicating that this approach may be useful and meaningful in some selected instances. However, it is necessary to limit the myocardial damage as far as possible.

Dissociation of tubular cell detachment and tubular cell death in clinical and experimental "acute tubular necrosis"

"Acute tubular necrosis" in humans is often characterized histologically by tubular cell loss and nonreplacement rather than by frank cellular necrosis. It has been assumed that tubular cells detach from the tubular basement membrane after the occurrence of irreversible cell injury and/or cell death. We examined voided urine from patients with native kidney and transplant kidney "acute tubular necrosis" and found significant tubular cell shedding with up to 100% viability of voided tubular cells, as determined by exclusion of trypan blue. Histochemical stains for the brush border enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and electron microscopy of cell isolates demonstrated that 30 to 100% of the voided cells were of proximal tubule origin. Moreover, epithelial cell cultures were readily established from noncontaminated voided specimens, and more than 80% of the cells in monolayers expressed gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in vitro. Electron microscopy of cell monolayers confirmed proximal tubular differentiation in the majority of cells in the monolayer, with the remainder having an appearance more consistent with distal origin. In rabbit models of acute ischemic (pedicle clamp) and toxic (HgCl2 and glycerol-induced) injury, tubular cell shedding was also significant, with a mean of 25 to 30% of the voided cells viable. Epithelial cells were successfully cultured and passed from animals with ischemic renal injury. In vitro studies were carried out in cultured human proximal tubular cells to assess suitability of this system for more direct study of the phenomenon of cell detachment in response to injury. We found significant changes in cell shape in response to exposure to anoxia and HgCl2 in these cultures, with extensive cell rounding and retraction at times when cell viability remained high. This in vitro system could prove useful for defining mechanisms of renal tubular cell detachment in response to injury and for examining potential interventions to prevent epithelial disruption and loss of functional integrity. These strategies may ultimately have clinical relevance in patients with "acute tubular necrosis".

[Clinical and experimental study on the treatment of children diarrhea by granule of children-diarrhea fast-stopping]

Granule of children-diarrhea fast-stopping is a proved recipe composed of seven medical herbs such as Poria cocos, haw charcoal, Euphorbia humifusa, etc. After more 20 years' clinical application of 419 cases, the total effective rate proved to be 96.4% and the cure rate 90%, much better than the control groups [TCM: gelian san and shenglingbaizhu san; WM: gentamycin and PPA]. It had the effect of fast-stopping diarrhea and shortening the recovery period. It also had excellent curative effect for acute and chronic diarrhea, for noninfective and infective diarrhea with virus or germs, and for the diarrhea due to moist heat and spleen weakness in TCM. Clinical tests and experiments showed that this medicine had no toxic or side effects. The diarrhea-cure mechanisms were (1) Inhibiting germs so as to eliminate pathogeny. (2) Adjusting and improving organism immunity function. (3) Accelerating the recovery of intestinal digestion and absorption functions. (4) Inhibiting intestinal movement.

Diarrhoea surveillance in children aged under 5 years in a rural area of Hebei Province, China

A surveillance of diarrhoeal diseases in children aged under five years was carried out from March 1986 to February 1987 in a rural area of Hebei Province, China. Using a cluster sampling method, 270 study children were selected from 30 villages to represent a population of 105,405. Parents noted episodes of diarrhoea in children on a calender using a given definition of diarrhoea. The findings were verified by trained village doctors and were recorded monthly in the county Health and Anti-epidemic Stations. Stools of diarrhoea-affected children were examined to detect causal agents of diarrhoea, once in each of four seasons of the year. Of the 270 children, 218 (80.74%) suffered from one or more than one attacks of diarrhoea with a 95% confidence interval between 75.94% and 85.54%. There was no death due to diarrhoea. The diarrhoeal incidence in children of 3-4-year age group was significantly less than that in the children of less than 3 years (p less than 0.05). In the children with diarrhoea, the number of mean episodes was 3.15 per child/year, and the total mean course of suffering was 14 days per child/year. The ratio of diarrhoeal episodes in spring, summer, autumn, and winter was about 2.5:5:2:1. July was the month of highest occurrence of diarrhoea (146; 21.28% of all episodes). The epidemiological parameters of the disease declined with the growing age of the children, and there was no gender-specific preponderance in the number of episodes. During the whole year, 21.7% of the diarrhoeal episodes were due to bacterial pathogens, 4% of the episodes were due to rotavirus, and 3.65% episodes were associated with the detection of Trichomonas hominis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Immunohistochemical study of folliculo-stellate cells in human adenohypophysis and in pituitary adenomas]

Significance of the appearance of folliculo-stellate cells (FSC) was studied in 59 human adenohypophyses and 58 pituitary adenomas after being stained with anti-S100 protein and 6 anti-pituitary hormone antibodies. S100 protein positive cells, stellate in shape with expending cytoplasmic processes among endocrine cells (EC) appeared in all the human adenohypophyses and had a tendency to be clustered in small groups characterized by gathering of 3 to 5 cells in the alveoli. Age or sex difference seemed to have no influence on the distributive density of FSC. FSC in the pituitary adenomas may be derived from two origins. One was the residue of normal pituitary tissue left in adenomas, and the other one seemed to be the chief component of the tumor, known as folliculo-stellate cell adenoma.

Schistosoma japonicum: an ultraviolet-attenuated cercarial vaccine applicable in the field for water buffaloes

Water buffaloes were vaccinated three times with 10,000 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae irradiated with ultraviolet (uv) light at a dose of 400 microW x min/cm2. The irradiation was performed with cheap, simple, and portable equipment in a rural area of Hubei Province (People's Republic of China). A challenge infection of 1000 untreated cercariae was given to six vaccinated and six naive control buffaloes, while two vaccinated animals were not challenged. The experiment was terminated 6 weeks after the challenge. Control animals had lost body weight and harbored a mean of 110 worms and 37 eggs per gram of liver. The vaccinated animals gained weight after the challenge and developed 89% resistance to infection with S. japonicum. Since schistosomiasis japonica is nowadays transmitted in China predominantly by domestic livestock, a uv-attenuated cercarial vaccine for bovines may contribute to the control of this disease.

Studies of the synthesis of biomarkers. VII. Synthesis of 5 alpha-(17R,20R)-14,15-secocholestane

5 alpha-(17R,20R)-14,15-Secocholestane (12) was synthesized from cholesterol (1) in 12 steps. The key intermediate, 5 alpha-cholest-14-en-3 beta-yl acetate (4), underwent ozonization, reduction, hydrolysis, and oxidation to provide 5 alpha-14,15-secocholesta-3,14,15-trione (8). One of the Clemmensen reduction products of 8 is 5 alpha(17R,20R)-14,15-secocholest-15-ol (11); treatment of the alcohol (11) with tosyl chloride and subsequent reduction with lithium aluminum hydride yielded the target molecule (12).

[Pathoanatomical and pathophysiological study of lung injury induced by activated complement in rat]

Acute lung injury induced by intravenous infusion of zymosan-activated plasma(ZAP) on Wistar rats was studied. A single infusion of ZAP resulted in an early occurrence of increased respiratory rate, decreased PaO2, elevated activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) in the arterial blood and lung tissue. The results showed that the content of copperzinic superoxide dismutase(Cu Zn SOD) in bronchiolar columnar epithelial cells was elevated. Histological and electron microscopic examination showed that there was an accumulation of neutrophils in pulmonary microvessels and capillaries, endothelial cell and epithelial cell injury, and pulmonary edema etc. The tight junctions both in the epithelium and endothelium showed alterations in substructure including discontinuity, irregularity, free ends and distention of meshes as early as 2 to 4 h. In later stage, the severity of damage of tight junctions increased, while the number of strands in endothelial junctions reduced. All the parameters in the control group did not change significantly. From the results, the authors consider that acute lung injury is intimately related to the neutrophils and oxygen free radicals, the pathological basis of early pulmonary edema is alterations in the tight junctions of the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium.

[The effects of angiotensin II and other noradrenergic vasoconstrictors on the blood flow in Yoshida rat ascites hepatoma AH 109 A at same electrode position]

The differing effects of angiotensin II (AT II) and five other vasoactive agents on the tissue blood flow in Yoshida rat ascites hepatoma AH 109 A were studied at the same electrode position by a hydrogen clearance method. The elevation of blood pressure by AT II resulted in a 3.4-fold increases in the tumor blood flow. However, when AT II was reinfused, it resulted in only 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 1.9 and 2.4-fold increases, respectively, after infusion of methoxamine, norepinephrine, metaraminol, epinephrine, and phenylephrine. A pronounced reduction and further reducing tendency in the tumor blood flow were found after administration of norepinephrine and epinephrine. In addition, metaraminol, phenylephrine, and methoxamine did not change significantly the blood flow of the tumor. The results of this present blood flow study further suggest that AT II acts more peripherally in the host vascular bed from which newly growing tumor vessels bud than other vasoconstrictors do.

Transient effects of subcutaneously administered prostaglandin E2 on cancellous and cortical bone in young adult dogs

The transient effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on cancellous and cortical bone in iliac crests and mid-tibial shafts of nine intact young adult dogs were evaluated following 31 days of treatment. Histomorphometric bone changes were characterized from in vivo fluorescent double-labeled undecalcified bone specimens. PGE2 caused an increase in cancellous bone remodeling evidence by increased in activation frequency; increased percent eroded and formation surfaces; increased mineral apposition and bone formation rates; and shortened resorption, formation, and total bone remodeling periods. Activated cancellous bone remodeling did not lead to decreased cancellous bone mass, indicating an imbalance between bone resorption and formation in favor of formation (activation----resorption----stimulated formation; A----R----F increases) at remodeling sites. The PGE2 treatment activated bone modeling in the formation mode (activation----formation; A----F) at the periosteal and endocortical surfaces and increased activation frequency of intracortical bone remodeling in the tibial shaft. Increased modeling activation converted quiescent bone surfaces to formation surfaces with stimulated osteoblastic activity (i.e., increased percent labeled periosteal and endocortical surfaces, mineral apposition rates, and woven and lamellar trabecular bone formation) leading to 9- to 26-fold increases in newly formed bone mass in subperiosteal, subendosteal, and marrow regions, compared to controls. However, increased intracortical bone remodelling elevated remodeling space (i.e., increased cortical porosity), producing a bone loss that partially offsets the bone gain. The combined events lead to a positive bone balance in PGE2-treated cortical bone, compared to a negative bone balance in control bones. Collectively our data suggest that in vivo PGE2 is a powerful activator of cancellous and cortical bone formation, which may be able to build a peak bone mass to prevent and/or correct the skeletal defects to cure osteoporosis.

[The investigation of the total amount of fluoride intake with correlative dental fluorosis polluted by burn coal in the epidemic fluorosis districts]

By means of the investigation in the five different townships with contrasting of the others, the main sources of fluorosis were found from pollution of the coal smoke, the content and total amount of fluoride intake from the maize and capsicum were calculated to be 74.35-94.72% by drying of the heat of burn coal and increased with the total amount of fluoride intake. The clear doses of the prevalence rates of dental fluorosis, the mean output of urinary fluoride and the total amount of fluoride intake--response relationship, showing a semilogarithmic positive correlation between 8 and 15 years of age. At the age the prevalence rates of bad incomplete teeth and milk-teeth showed a linear correlation with the total amount of fluoride intake and the mean output of urinary fluoride respectively. And seven regression equations were calculated. The question concerning the epidemic fluorosis districts caused by burn coal was discussed. We suggest that sick districts can be affirmed on the basis of the total amount of fluoride intake, the prevalence rates of dental fluorosis, bad incomplete teeth, milk-teeth and the mean output of urinary fluoride between 8 and 15 years of age.

Prophylactic effects of m-nisoldipine and nisoldipine on reperfusion arrhythmias exacerbated by free radical generating system in Langendorff heart of rat

Xanthine-xanthine oxidase (X-XOD, 500 mumol/L + 100 nmol/L) free radical generating system was perfused 10 min prior to coronary artery ligation until the end of the experiment. It exacerbated the reperfusion ventricular fibrillation, reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and increased the contents of malondialdehyde in Langendorff heart of rats. m-Nisoldipine or nisoldipine (0.05 mumol/L) was perfused 10 min prior to coronary artery ligation until the end of the experiment. They prevented reperfusion arrhythmias exacerbated by X-XOD and decreased the free radicals generated by X-XOD.

[A new drug delivery system in metastatic foci of cancer]

To improve the cancer chemotherapeutic effects on metastatic foci, we have developed a new drug delivery system based on two functional characteristics of the tumor vessels. Two functional characteristics of tumor vessel are summarized as follows: 1) A several-fold increase in tumor blood flow was brought about by angiotensin II-induced hypertension. The increase was selective and universal to the tumor vessels as long as the mean arterial blood pressure was kept under 150 mmHg. Such characterization was observed in micrometastatic foci. The concentration of anticancer drugs in tumor tissue could be increased by this function. Angiotensin-induced hypertension chemotherapy has been developed based on this characterization of tumor vessels. 2) Tumor blood flow almost decreased to zero when the mean arterial blood pressure was decreased to 60-65 mmHg by infusion of sodium nitroprusside. The stasis of tumor blood flow was also selective for the tumor tissues. The stasis suppressed a drug efflux from tumor tissues. By utilizing combination of these functional characteristics, we were able to enhance drug concentration X retention time in tumors remarkably. We named this drug delivery system "Flooding-the-castle chemotherapy". In these experiments, optimum blood pressures were kept under control by a computer system.

[Pharmacognostic studies on the Chinese drug guanzhong produced in East China]

By on-the-spot investigation we have checked up on 8 kinds of botanical origin of the Chinese traditional drug Guanzhong produced in East China and have given keys for their identification. The major tissue features of basal petioles and the external characteristics of the crude drugs have also been given.

Flurbiprofen enhances growth and cancellous and cortical bone accumulation in rapidly growing long bones

The effects of flurbiprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on bone growth was studied by static and dynamic histomorphometry in immature (28 days old) male Sprague-Dawley rats. Flurbiprofen at 0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mg/kg/d doses was given subcutaneously daily for 21 days. The 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg/d doses were most effective in stimulating longitudinal and radial bone growth and enhancing the accumulation of cancellous and cortical bone. Proximal tibial longitudinal bone growth rate, growth plate thickness, and periosteal bone formation rate were increased 30-40%, while cortical bone (tibial shaft) and cancellous bone (proximal tibial metaphysis) accumulated 12% and 90% more bone than controls, respectively. Enhanced accumulation of cortical bone was attributed to stimulated periosteal bone formation without accompanying marrow cavity enlargement. Enhanced accumulation of cancellous hard tissue was postulated to be due to reduced trabecular bone resorption and no effect on bone formation. The cell counts support these conclusions. There was a decrease in osteoclast numbers (-62 to -70%), an insignificant decrease in osteoblast numbers (-5 to -30%) per mm of bone surface and a decrease in osteoclast to osteoblast ratio (-35 to -56%). The findings presented are compatible with the conclusion that flurbiprofen, induced changes in rapidly growing long bones by reducing osteoclast activity and recruitment, stimulating longitudinal and radial growth, increasing the cortical bone mass by stimulated periosteal bone growth and depressed endosteal resorption, and increasing cancellous bone mass by depressed trabecular bone resorption without affecting bone formation.

Study and clinical application of a porcine biomembrane for the repair of dural defects

A biomembrane was developed from pig peritoneum treated with 0.65% glutaraldehyde. This was evaluated for use as a dural substitute in an animal model and in a patient population. After being treated with the glutaraldehyde solution, the biomembrane lost its antigenicity while its collagen underwent an irreversible cross-linking reaction, causing it to become a stable nonviable polymer resistant to absorption by the host. The biomembrane was used experimentally in 43 procedures on 20 dogs and was applied clinically in 614 patients. The results demonstrated that it is an acceptable material for the repair of dural defects, with the following advantages: 1) it is nontoxic to the body and brain tissues, with minimal tissue reaction; 2) its biophysical properties facilitate watertight closure with sutures; 3) its distensibility makes it suitable for decompressive surgical dural repair; and 4) its visceral surface is extremely smooth, causing virtually no adhesions with the brain tissue while the outer surface readily heals with the subcutaneous tissue.

Increased intratumor concentration of fluorescein-isothiocyanate-labeled neocarzinostatin in rats under angiotensin-induced hypertension

On the basis of the observation that the tumor tissue blood flow selectively increases under angiotensin (AT)-induced hypertension, the change of the drug concentration in the tumor and normal tissues was examined in male Donryu rats. The intratumor concentration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled neocarzinostatin was about 2-fold higher in the AT-induced hypertension group than in the control up to 20 min after the drug injection. In the normal organs or the uninvolved organs of the tumor-bearing rats, however, no clear increase was seen in the experimental group compared with the control, as anticipated from the observation of the tissue blood flow. The present study supports the hypothesis that the enhanced anticancer effect in chemotherapy under AT-induced hypertension formerly reported is due to the tumor-selective enhancement of the drug delivery.

Flurbiprofen-induced stimulation of periosteal bone formation and inhibition of bone resorption in older rats

The skeletal effects of flurbiprofen (Fb), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was studied by histomorphometry in 9-month-old retired female breeder, Sprague-Dawley rats. Flurbiprofen was given subcutaneously at 0, 0.2, 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, or 5 mg/kg/d for 21 days. Flurbiprofen had no effect on longitudinal growth, but stimulated radial growth (+200%) over controls. In the tibial shaft, Fb stimulated the mineral apposition rate (+25%), mineral bone formation rate (+100%), and periosteal labeling length (+64%) at the 2.5 and 5.0 mg Fb/kg dose levels, and had no effect on marrow cavity size compared to controls. However, these changes were insufficient to increase cortical bone mass. In the proximal tibial metaphysis, Fb suppressed osteoclasts/mm2 of metaphyseal tissue (-47%), osteoclasts/mm of bone surface (-46%), and the osteoclast/osteoblast ratio (-50%), increased the calcified cartilage core population (+100%), and had no effect on osteoblast numbers at all dose levels. There was an insignificant increase in metaphyseal cancellous bone mass. The current study leads to the conclusion that flurbiprofen-stimulated periosteal bone growth was due to direct stimulation of osteoblast recruitment and activity independent of longitudinal bone growth. Further, it confirms early findings in young rats that flurbiprofen induced depressed bone resorption without lowering bone formation. However, because of insufficient treatment time, the older rat did not accumulate bone as the young rats did.

The relationship between cations and blood pressure in the People's Republic of China

Blood pressure was measured in the north and in the south of the People's Republic of China in 1002 men and 1006 women. The 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and creatinine was measured, and the relationship between urinary cations and blood pressure was studied. Blood pressure and 24-hour sodium excretion were higher in northern China than in southern China. With some exceptions, a positive correlation was found between urinary sodium and blood pressure and a negative one between 24-hour urinary potassium excretion and blood pressure. Urinary calcium correlated negatively and urinary magnesium did not correlate significantly with blood pressure. The sodium/potassium ratio correlated positively with blood pressure, and the calcium/magnesium ratio, negatively. This study confirms the positive within-population relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure in Oriental populations.

Auditory evoked potentials in audiometric assessment of compensation and medicolegal patients

The clinical utility of auditory evoked potentials for validation of the pure tone audiogram in adult compensation claimants and medicolegal patients is examined. Large sample comparisons of evoked potential and conventional pure tone thresholds showed that the slow vertex response can estimate true hearing levels within 10 dB in almost all patients. Given adequate tester skills, it is the tool of choice, and it merits more widespread implementation. Properly used, it can improve and abbreviate the assessment battery for detection and quantification of nonorganic hearing loss. The 40-Hz middle latency response is useful as a secondary tool, but at present, cochlear nerve and brain stem potentials have limited audiometric value in this population.