Valinomycin modifies phosphorescence quenching in cytochrome c oxidase

The spectrum of resting cytochrome c oxidase is modulated by valinomycin addition, which induces a red shift of the Soret band. The enzyme is known both to fluoresce and phosphorescence, effects which can be modulated by certain protein reagents and quenchers. Valinomycin had little effect upon fluorescence at 335 nm, whether excited at 295 nm or 280 nm (tryptophans or both tryptophans and tyrosines, respectively). Phosphorescence at 445 nm was slightly enhanced upon the binding of valinomycin to the enzyme, suggesting a small conformational change accompanying the spectral shift of the heme groups. The quenching by nitrite of the phosphorescence excited at 260 nm, but not that excited at 295 nm, was diminished by valinomycin. This suggests that the valinomycin-induced conformational change may involve (i) a change in the accessibility of tyrosines to the quencher and/or (ii) a change in distribution of distances and/or orientations between populations of tyrosines and tryptophans.

A CD44-like endothelial cell transmembrane glycoprotein (GP116) interacts with extracellular matrix and ankyrin

We used complementary biochemical and immunological techniques to establish that an endothelial cell transmembrane glycoprotein, GP116, is a CD44-like molecule and binds directly both to extracellular matrix components (e.g., hyaluronic acid) and to ankyrin. The specific characteristics of GP116 are as follows: (i) GP116 can be surface labeled with Na 125I and contains a wheat germ agglutinin-binding site(s), indicating that it has an extracellular domain; (ii) GP116 displays immunological cross-reactivity with a panel of CD44 antibodies, shares some peptide similarity with CD44, and has a similar 52-kDa precursor molecule, indicating that it is a CD44-like molecule; (iii) GP116 displays specific hyaluronic acid-binding properties, indicating that it is a hyaluronic acid receptor; (iv) GP116 can be phosphorylated by endogenous protein kinase C activated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and by exogenously added protein kinase C; and (v) GP116 and a 20-kDa tryptic polypeptide fragment of GP116 from the intracellular domain are capable of binding the membrane-cytoskeleton linker molecule, ankyrin. Furthermore, phosphorylation of GP116 by protein kinase C significantly enhances GP116 binding to ankyrin. Together, these findings strongly suggest that phosphorylation of the transmembrane glycoprotein GP116 (a CD44-like molecule) by protein kinase C is required for effective GP116-ankyrin interaction during endothelial cell adhesion events.

[Effects of mixture of Astragalus membranaceus, Fructus Ligustri lucidi and Eclipta prostrata on immune function in mice]

A Chinese medicine mixture containing Astragalus membranaceus, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Eclipta prostrata(AFE), was fed to mice 9g/kg, 20g/kg, respectively for seven days. Observe the effects of AFE on the immune function in mice. The experiment showed that the two dosages of AFE could obviously raise the conversion percentage of lymphocytes (P < 0.01) and serum IgG level (41%-47%) of the mice. The weights of the thymus and spleensed increased in the two groups compared with those in the normal control. The larger dosage of AFE could also raise activity of Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) obviously (P < 0.01). AFE turned out a resistance to the immunosuppressive effect caused by cyclophosphamide.

Biopathologic characteristics of DNA content in crypt cells of transitional mucosa adjacent to carcinomas of the rectum and rectosigmoid

The transitional mucosa (TM) adjacent to carcinomas of the large bowel shows histologic and mucin histochemical changes that may indicate premalignant change and may be of prognostic value after radical resection. In this study, 10 anterior resection specimens from patients with carcinomas of the rectum and rectosigmoid were used to compare the nuclear DNA content in TM with those in cancer tissue and with those in nontransitional mucosa (N-TM; i.e., uninvolved mucosa remote from tumors showing normal histologic and mucin histochemical features). The nuclear DNA content was assessed using DNA image cytometry on Feulgen-stained sections. As compared with N-TM, crypts in TM contained greater numbers of cells, were elongated, and were more likely to be branched with marked sialomucin secretion, accompanied by a marked reduction in the normal sulfomucin content. The mean nuclear DNA content in the upper, middle, and lower thirds of crypts was significantly higher in TM than in N-TM, and the nuclear DNA content in TM exhibited no correlation to that in tumors. The results suggest that TM adjacent to carcinomas of the rectum and rectosigmoid has higher proliferative activity, providing further evidence that TM may be an unstable premalignant change.

Effect of dietary electrolytes upon calcium excretion: the Yi People Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relations of dietary sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium with urinary calcium excretion.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional epidemiologic study of 417 Chinese men with a wide variation of electrolyte intakes.

METHODS

Three consecutive 24-h dietary recall data and three 24-h urinary samples were obtained on the same days. Urinary analyses included calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and creatinine. A fasting blood sample was obtained on the first morning, and serum analyses included electrolytes, creatinine and urea nitrogen. Correlation and regression analyses were used to examine the relation between electrolyte intake and calcium excretion.

RESULTS

Whilst urinary calcium was not related to dietary calcium, it was significantly correlated with dietary sodium and potassium. A linear relationship was seen between dietary sodium, potassium and urinary calcium. After adjustment for age, body mass index, serum creatinine, dietary calcium intake and other electrolytes, urinary calcium was positively related to dietary sodium and negatively related to dietary potassium. This relation was seen at different levels of dietary calcium intake. The relation between magnesium intake and calcium excretion was inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that sodium and potassium intake influence urinary calcium excretion in normotensive men.

Use of polymerase chain reaction for efficient cloning of dsRNA segments of infectious bursal disease virus

A method is described for efficient cloning of the large RNA segment of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) after reverse transcription and cDNA amplification. Complementary DNA segments of IBDV were prepared using reverse transcriptase and specific primers homologous to the conserved region at the 3' end of the IBDV sequence. The resulting cDNA segments were amplified using Taq DNA polymerase and a pair of specific primers. Three separate primer pairs were used for amplification, each yielding a cDNA fragment of the predicted size. The amplified products were directly used for cloning into a cloning vector, pCR1000. Three overlapping cDNA clones, containing the entire coding region of the large RNA segment of IBDV, were obtained. The identity of these clones was confirmed by hybridization with IBDV-specific probe, as well as by sequence analysis. By this method, approximately 3.2 kilobases of the large genome segments of two different strains of IBDV were cloned, and their complete nucleotide sequence was determined.

Direct injection analysis of carbamazepine and its active 10,11-epoxide metabolite in plasma by use of a semipermeable surface (SPS) silica column in LC

A semipermeable surface (SPS) silica column was applied for the simultaneous determination of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its active 10,11-epoxide metabolite (EPO) in plasma following direct injection in LC. The SPS packing material consists of an ODS ligand as the hydrophobic inner phase and a polyoxyethylene network as the hydrophilic outer phase. When a 5-microliters portion of intact plasma was injected onto the column using a mobile phase of phosphate buffer (pH 7.1, ionic strength 0.1)-acetonitrile (4:1, v/v), the plasma proteins were size-excluded, whereas the drug and its metabolite were retained and separated both from each other and from other commonly co-administered drugs such as phenobarbital (PB) and phenytoin (DPH). The calibration graphs (peak area vs concentration) of CBZ, EPO and PB were linear over the therapeutic range of plasma concentration (r greater than 0.998) with good relative standard deviations (RSD less than 3.98%, n = 5). The recoveries from plasma were almost complete (greater than 96.6%). The analysis time was 17 min. The method as developed was applied in studies on the time course of plasma concentrations of unchanged CBZ and EPO after i.v. administration of CBZ to the rat.

[Thin layer chromatographic studies on radix Ginseng, fructus Schisandrae and radix Salviae miltiorrhizae in yixinfumai granules]

The main constituents of Radix Ginseng, Fructus Schisandrae and Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae in Yixinfumai Granules were studied by TLC. It was found that ginsenoside got hydrolyzed while the drugs were being boiled together. The main constituents of Fructus Schisandrae were schizandrol A and B; and those of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae were tanshinone and protocatechuic aldehyde.

Transitional mucosa at anastomosis. A cause of local tumor recurrence in patients with rectal cancer after anterior resection

Transitional mucosa adjacent to colorectal cancers is essentially characterized by an excess of sialomucins at the expense of the normally predominant sulphomucins in epithelial cells lining the intestinal crypts which presents the early stage of oncogenic transformation of colorectal epithelium. The presence or absence of sialomucins at the resection margins was studied histochemically using the high iron diamine-alcian blue(HID-AB) stain in 64 rectal cancer patients in Dukes' B stage who underwent curative anterior resection. The correlation was revealed between the presence of sialomucins at the resection margins and subsequent development of local tumour recurrence. Fourteen of 27 patients (51.9%) with sialomucins predominant pattern at either resection margin developed local recurrence compared with 4 of 37 patients (10.8%) with sulphomucins predominant pattern (P less than 0.001). It is suggested that determination of the transitional mucosa around anastomosis in patients treated for the rectal carcinoma by anterior resection appears to identify those with a higher risk of local recurrence.

Migration, blood pressure pattern, and hypertension: the Yi Migrant Study

Rural-urban migration provides an ideal opportunity to examine the effects of environment and genes on blood pressure. The effect of migration on the Yi people of China was studied. The Yi people live in a remote mountain area in southwestern China. In 1989, blood pressure was measured in 14,505 persons (8,241 Yi farmers, 2,575 urban Yi migrants, and 3,689 Han urban residents) aged 15-89 years. Different patterns were seen for men and women. Among the men, Yi farmers had the lowest mean blood pressure, the least rise in blood pressure with age (systolic blood pressure, 0.13 mmHg/year; diastolic blood pressure, 0.23 mmHg/year), and the lowest prevalence of hypertension (0.66%). In contrast, both Yi migrant men and Han men had higher levels of mean blood pressure, rise in blood pressure with age (Yi migrants: systolic pressure, 0.33 mmHg/year; diastolic pressure, 0.33 mmHg/year; Han: systolic pressure, 0.36 mmHg/year; diastolic pressure, 0.23 mmHg/year), and prevalence of hypertension (Yi migrants, 4.25%; Han, 4.91%). Among the women, however, mean systolic pressure was higher in Yi farmers than in Yi migrants or in Han. Diastolic pressure was similar among the three groups. However, the Yi farmer women's age-related rise in blood pressure (systolic pressure, 0.06 mmHg/year; diastolic pressure, 0.14 mmHg/year) and their prevalence of hypertension (0.33%) were lower than those in the other two groups. Yi migrant women had an intermediate rise in blood pressure with age (systolic pressure, 0.37 mmHg/year; diastolic pressure, 0.23 mmHg/year) and prevalence of hypertension (2.40%). Han women had the greatest rise in blood pressure with age (systolic pressure, 0.56 mmHg/year; diastolic pressure, 0.36 mmHg/year) and the highest prevalence of hypertension (4.76%). For both men and women, the above differences were only partially explained by age, body mass index, heart rate, smoking, and alcohol use. This study, using standardized methods, demonstrates an important effect of migration on rise in blood pressure with age and on the prevalence of hypertension.

[The influence of Chinese Agkistrodon acutus enzyme (CAAE) on the functions of washed human platelets]

The effects of the activation and influence of CAAE on washed human platelets were investigated. Our findings were: (1) CAAE could induce aggregation and alpha-granule release reaction in the washed human platelet suspension; thus it could activate the platelets; (2) the aggregation effect of CAAE was inhibited by albumin and affected by Ca2+, Mg2+ concentration; (3) heparin and/or AT III did not inhibit the aggregation activation of CAAE, but alpha 2MG markedly inhibited it; (4) the aggregation activity of CAAE was associated with the serine protease activity. The mechanism of CAAE-induced aggregation mainly follows the prostaglandins-endoperoxides thromboxane A2 pathway.

[A dynamic change of serotypes of HFRS patients in mixed epidemic area]

In this paper, we have used HI assay in an observation of the dynamic changes of serotype of EHF patients in a mixed on demic area in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. The results showed that serotypes of EHF patients were strongly correlated with different endemic areas and had obvious seasonal fluctuation in the incidence of the disease. This further demonstrates that the difference between the two serotypes (Apodemus type and Rattus type) in different geographic areas.

Chromosome 9 deletion mapping reveals interferon alpha and interferon beta-1 gene deletions in human glial tumors

We have applied restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to a 30-member panel of primary glioma DNAs, which had been previously examined for loss of genetic information (C. D. James, E. Carlbom, J. P. Dumanski, M. Hansen, M. Nordenskjold, V. P. Collins, and W. K. Cavenee, Cancer Res., 48:5546-5551, 1988), to determine the frequency and sublocalization of loss of genetic information from chromosome 9. We have also utilized scanning densitometry for dosage determination of the 9p-localized interferon alpha and interferon beta-1 genes among these same tumors. Our results reveal the following: (a) for those cases in which loss has occurred, the region of common loss lies on the short (p) arm of the chromosome; (b) loss of genetic information from the short arm of chromosome 9 occurs frequently in glial tumors of intermediate (anaplastic, grade III) and high (glioblastoma, grade IV) histological malignancy (10 of 20 cases) but not in tumors of low (grade II) histological malignancy (0 of 10 cases); (c) tumors with 9p deletions are hemi- or nullizygous for interferon beta-1 and the interferon alpha gene cluster; (d) cases of interferon nullizygosity occur exclusively among tumors of highest histological malignancy (glioblastoma). These data, especially the determination of a region of nullizygosity, suggest proximity to or residence within a gene(s) whose function(s) is (are) critical to the suppression of the malignant evolution of glial tumors.

Effect of migration on blood pressure: the Yi People Study

The Yi People Study was conducted in Puge County, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. Four population groups were surveyed for risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Included were two groups of Yi farmers living either in a high mountainous area in extremely remote villages at or above 2,750 meters elevation, or in a mountainside area at about 1,800 meters elevation. A third study group consisted of Yi farmers who migrated to the county seat during the 1950s. Local residents of the county seat, the Han people, constituted the fourth group. Blood pressure rises very little with age after puberty in Yi farmers, but there was a trend of increasing blood pressure with age in Yi migrants and Han. Mean body mass index (kg/m2) and heart rate were higher in Yi migrants than in Yi farmers. For men, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were greater among Yi migrants than among Yi farmers. These differences persisted after adjusting for age and body mass index. Among women, after adjusting for age, BMI, and altitude, only diastolic blood pressure was lower among Yi farmers than Yi migrants. Yi migrants and Han had similar blood pressures. In 1986, a sample of men participated in more detailed studies of diet, serum, and urine. The proportion of energy from fat ranged from less than 10% among high-mountain Yi farmers to almost 40% among Yi migrants and Han. Compared with Yi farmers, Yi migrants consumed more sodium and less potassium, calcium, and magnesium, had lower serum potassium, and a greater sodium/potassium ratio. Urinary excretion of sodium, calcium, and the sodium/potassium ratio were all greater in Yi migrants than in Yi farmers, while the reverse was seen for potassium. These data suggest that changes in life-style, including dietary changes, contribute importantly to the higher blood pressure among Yi migrants.

Relation of electrolytes to blood pressure in men. The Yi people study

The relations of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium to blood pressure were investigated in four groups of men (119 high-mountain Yi farmers, 114 mountainside Yi farmers, 89 Yi migrants, and 97 Han people) with a wide range of electrolyte intake in Puge County, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. Electrolytes were measured in diet, serum, and urine. Sodium excretion was 73.9 mmol/24 hr in high-mountain Yi farmers, 117.9 mmol/24 hr in mountainside Yi farmers, 159.4 mmol/24 hr in Yi migrants, and 186.0 mmol/24 hr in the Han people. In ecological correlation analysis, dietary and urinary sodium were significantly and positively correlated with both systolic and diastolic pressure, whereas serum sodium showed no relation with blood pressure. In diet, serum, and urine, potassium was negatively related to systolic and diastolic pressure, whereas the sodium/potassium ratio showed a positive association. With regard to calcium, only urinary excretion was significantly and positively related to blood pressure. No relation was found between magnesium and blood pressure. Analyses at the individual level confirmed the results for sodium and potassium seen at the ecological level, but in addition, dietary calcium and magnesium were significantly and negatively correlated to both systolic and diastolic pressure, and urinary magnesium was inversely related to diastolic pressure. These relations persisted after controlling for age, body mass index (kg/m2), heart rate, alcohol, and total energy intake in multiple regression analysis performed separately for electrolytes in diet, serum, and urine. In multiple regression analysis, an increase in sodium intake of 100 mmol/day corresponded to an increase of 2.3 mm Hg systolic blood pressure and 1/8 mm Hg diastolic pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The cytochemical changes and the adherence of neutrophil during cross-linked agarose encapsulated activated charcoal hemoperfusion

After one hour cross-linked agarose encapsulated activated charcoal hemoperfusion, there was slight increase of total white cells and neutrophil count, but the neutrophil adherence was 16.87 +/- 5.26% and marked lower than that before hemoperfusion (59.91 +/- 5.26%, p less than 0.05). Using glassball hemoperfusion as control, the neutrophil adherence also decreased but not so obvious as the former. Adherence is a cell property that may affect granulocyte margination, diapedesis, chemotaxis and phagocytic function, so the above investigations showed that both the hemoperfusion process and the charcoal itself may reduce the host defence mechanism. There were no change of the peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase activities of neutrophils during one hour cross-linked agarose encapsulated activated charcoal hemoperfusion.

[Long-term prognosis after recovery from acute myocardial infarction]

754 cases of acute myocardial infarction survivors were followed up for 28 days to 14 years, the missing rate was 1.86%. The factors influencing long-term prognosis were analyzed. Single factor analysis revealed sex, occupation, age, amount of cigarette smoked, history of stroke, and COPD, complications of heart failure, and arrhythmia, stroke and COPD, heart rate higher than 110/min, lung rales, frequency of infarction, quit smoking after infarction exerted significant influence on over all and cardiac death rate. Multiple factors Cox model analysis revealed quit smoking, complications of stroke heart failure, arrhythmia and occupation were the independent predicting factors for over-all causes of death. Frequency of myocardial infarction, quit smoking, amount of cigarette smoked, occupation, stroke were the independent prognostic factors of cardiac death.

Loss of genetic information in central nervous system tumors common to children and young adults

The clonal loss of genetic information as revealed by the comparison of normal and tumor DNA restriction fragment length alleles has permitted the determination of the genomic positions of cancer-recessive mutations. Here we have applied this approach to the analysis of 19 central nervous system tumors that constitute four histologic groups and occur most frequently in children and young adults. The detectable loss of genetic information from cases of medulloblastoma (11 examined) indicates that among such tumors, loss occurs most frequently from the short arm of chromosome 17. For the ependymomas examined (four cases), chromosome 22 was the preferred site for detectable loss. Analysis of pilocytic astrocytomas of the cerebellum (three cases) failed to reveal genetic alterations of any type among such tumors, a finding unique to this histologic group. The single choroid plexus papilloma examined demonstrated loss of genetic information from chromosome 3. Among the 19 tumors, multiple cases of loss were observed from chromosomes 10, 11, 13, and 22, and from the short arm of chromosome 17. Therefore, with regard to the chromosomal locations of implied tumor suppressor genes, these results are consistent with those described for intracranial tumors occurring more commonly in adults of middle to advanced age.

[The clinical feature and angiographic diagnosis in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome]

Eight cases (9 limbs including 8 lower extremities and 1 upper extremity) of the Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS) are reported Among 8 cases, 7 cases were proved by surgery KTS is basically a sort of congenital venous dysplasia including venous atresia, aplasia, valvular anomalies, and external compression by a fibrovascular band or surrounded by a fibrous sheath. The basic clinical triad (vascular nevus, varicosities and limb hypertrophy) suggests the characteristic clinical diagnosis. KTS may be divided into four types. Orthodromic, deep venography is the most important examination in diagnosing KTS. Selective arteriography and direct puncture venography may be also used if necessary. The clinical features, angiographic characteristics, surgical problems, and the nomenclature, type and differential diagnosis of KTS were discussed.

[Prognostic factors in the acute stage of myocardial infarction: analysis of 893 cases]

The prognostic factors in the acute stage of 893 myocardial infarction patients, admitted during a period from 1970 to 1986, were analysed. The overall mortality was 15.6%, including 14.4% cardiac death and 1.1% non-cardiac death. Single factor analysis indicated that age, sex, occupation, history of hypertension, chest pain during the episode, systolic blood pressure, heart rate and site of infarction at the time of admission, presence of complications such as cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, stroke and monitoring in CCU or not were related to the overall mortality and cardiac death. Multiple factor logistic regression analysis indicated that for the overall mortality, the independent prognostic factors included presence of cardiogenic shock, heart rate and chest pain at the time of admission; for the cardiac death, the independent factors included age, occupation, history of hypertension, heart rate and chest pain at the time of admission, involvement of anterior wall and presence of cardiogenic shock and arrhythmias. Basing on the above findings we establish a risk factors predicting prognostic model of acute myocardial infarction in its acute stage.

[Relation of changes in plasma TXB2 PGF1alpha and differentiation of signs and symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine in severe icteric hepatitis]

Clinical observations and experimental studies were made in 52 cases of chronic cholestatic hepatitis, 30 cases of chronic severe hepatitis, 30 healthy control persons, and 30 animals with experimental intrahepatic cholestasis. The results were as follows: Plasma TXB2 and PGF1 alpha were higher than their normal values both in cases of chronic cholestatic hepatitis and in cases of chronic severe hepatitis (P less than 0.01), the ratio of TXB2 and PGF1 alpha was normal in cases of chronic severe hepatitis and lower than normal value in cases of chronic cholestatic hepatitis (P less than 0.01). The cases were divided into 4 types (hepatitis due to blood stasis and blood heat, blood stasis and blood heat accompanying symptoms of fluid retention in the epigastrium, damp-heat, and composite factors) according to differentiation of symptoms and signs on the basic theories of TCM. Significant difference was found in TXB2, PGF1 alpha, PGF1 alpha/TXB2 and bilirubin when compared with each other in the 4 types of hepatitis patients (P less than 0.01). Bilirubin, TXB2, PGF1 alpha and PGF1 alpha/TXB2 in the survivors became normal or close to normal after they were treated with blood-cooling and circulation-promoting Chinese herbal medicine and prescriptions by changing their dosages according to differentiation of symptoms and signs on the basic theories of TCM. The therapeutic effect of prescription II was more satisfactory than that of prescription I. Changes of plasma TXB2 and PGF1 alpha in the experimental animals were more significant than those both in the control group and in the group treated with prescriptions I and II (P less than 0.01), but in the liver only the ratio of TXB2 and PGF1 alpha was lower than that in normal animals (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sialomucin at the resection margins and likelihood of local recurrence of carcinoma of the rectum after anterior resection

The histochemical changes in mucin at the postoperative resection margins in carcinoma of the upper and middle third of the rectum after anterior resection were studied retrospectively in 52 patients. The sialomucinous change was most likely to occur at the intestinal margins of those patients who had tumour recurrence (P less than 0.001). The histological types of tumour, degree of differentiation, Dukes' stages and their distance from the anal verge were virtually the same in patients with and without tumour recurrence. By using high iron diamine-alcian blue staining technique we identified patients with higher risk conditions of tumour recurrence after anterior resection. This technique should increase the likelihood of a cure for patients with recurrent carcinoma of the rectum after anterior resection.