Tagging and mapping the thermo-sensitive genic male-sterile gene in rice (Oryza sativa L.) with molecular markers

The thermo-sensititve genic male-sterile (TGMS) gene in rice can alter fertility in response to temperature and is useful in the two-line system of hybrid rice production. However, little is known about the TGMS gene at the molecular level. The objective of this study was to identify molecular markers tightly linked with the TGMS gene and to map the gene onto a specific rice chromosome. Bulked segregant analysis of an F2 population from 5460s (a TGMS mutant line) x 'Hong Wan 52' was used to identify RAPD markers linked to the rice TGMS gene. Four hundred RAPD primers were screened for polymorphisms between the parents and between two bulks representing fertile and sterile plants; of these, 4 primers produced polymorphic products. Most of the polymorphic fragments contained repetitive sequences. Only one singlecopy sequence fragment was found, a 1.2-kb fragment amplified by primer OPB-19 and subsequently named TGMS1.2. TGMS1.2 was mapped on chromosome 8 with a RIL population and confirmed by remapping with a DHL population. Segregation analysis using TGMS1.2 as a probe indicated that TGMS1.2 both consegregated and was lined with the TGMS gene in this population. It is located about 6.7 cM from the TGMS gene. As TGMS1.2 is linked to the TGMS gene, the TGMS gene must be located on chromosome 8.

Phosphatase activity toward abnormally phosphorylated tau: decrease in Alzheimer disease brain

Microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated and aggregated in affected neurons of Alzheimer disease brain. This hyperphosphorylated tau can be dephosphorylated at some of the abnormal phosphorylated sites by purified protein phosphatase-1, 2A, and 2B in vitro. In the present study, we have developed an assay to measure protein phosphatase activity toward tau-1 sites (Ser199/Ser202) using the hyperphosphorylated tau isolated from Alzheimer disease brain as substrate. Using this assay, we have identified that in normal brain, protein phosphatase-2A and 2B and, to a lesser extent, 1 are involved in the dephosphorylation of tau. The Km values of dephosphorylation of the hyperphosphorylated tau by protein phosphatase-2A and 2B are similar. The tau phosphatase activity is decreased by approximately 30% in brain of Alzheimer disease patients compared with those of age-matched controls. These findings suggest that a defect of protein phosphatase could be the cause of the abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau in Alzheimer disease.

The effects of an algal polysaccharide from Gloiopeltis tenax on transplantable tumors and immune activities in mice

Funoran (an algal polysaccharide from Gloiopeltis tenax) significantly inhibited the growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and solid Ehrlich, Meth-A fibrosarcoma, and Sarcoma-180 tumors. In tumor-bearing mice, funoran significantly induced the enhancement of delayed-type hypersensitivity response to sheep red blood cells. When given intraperitoneally, funoran increased the spleen weight of mice. Morphological observations indicated that funoran augmented the transformation from lymphocytes to plasma cells in the spleen. In addition, changes in the T-cell subsets in the spleen, thymus, and peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. The results showed that the percentages of L3T4+ and Lyt 2+ T-cells were markedly increased in the peripheral blood. The percentages of asialo CM1+ cells in the thymus and peripheral blood were also significantly increased. Our results suggest that the antitumor effect of funoran is related to the augmentation of T-helper, T-cytotoxic, and NK cells.

Dephosphorylation of Alzheimer paired helical filaments by protein phosphatase-2A and -2B

Microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated in the brain of patients with Alzheimer disease and in this form is the major protein subunit of the paired helical filaments (PHF), the most prominent lesion of the disease. In this study the dephosphorylation of sparingly soluble PHF, PHF II-tau by brain protein phosphatase (PP)-2A1 and PP-2B, and the resulting biochemical, biological, and structural alterations were investigated. Both of the phosphatases dephosphorylated PHF II-tau at the sites of Ser-199/Ser-202 and partially dephosphorylated it at Ser-396/Ser-404; in addition, PHF II-tau was dephosphorylated at Ser-46 by PP-2A1 and Ser-235 by PP-2B. The relative electrophoretic mobility of PHF II-tau increased after dephosphorylation by either enzyme. Divalent cations, manganese, and magnesium increased the activities of PP-2A1 and PP-2B toward PHF II-tau. Dephosphorylation both by PP-2B and PP-2A1 decreased the resistance of PHF II-tau to proteolysis by the brain calcium-activated neutral proteases (CANP). The ability of PHF II-tau to promote the in vitro microtubule assembly was restored after dephosphorylation by PP-2A1 and PP-2B. Microtubules assembled by the dephosphorylated PHF II-tau were structurally identical to those assembled by bovine tau used as a control. The dephosphorylation both by PP-2A1 and PP-2B caused dissociation of the tangles and the PHF; some of the PHF dissociated into straight protofilaments/subfilaments. Approximately 25% of the total tau was released from PHF on dephosphorylation by PP-2A1. These observations demonstrate that PHF II-tau is accessible to dephosphorylation by PP-2A1 and PP-2B, and dephosphorylation makes PHF dissociate, accessible to proteolysis by CANP, and biologically active in promoting the assembly of tubulin into microtubules.

Kinetic images of neuronal activity of the human brain based on the spatio-temporal MNLS inverse: a theoretical study

Prior work proved that it is possible to find a unique solution to the problem of defining the configuration of electric current underlying observed extracranial magnetic fields, if sufficient priori knowledge of the source configuration is available. This minimum-norm least-squares (MNLS) inverse solution for a magnetic source image (MSI) is extended here to include temporal as well as spatial parameters of the underlying current pattern. This capitalizes on the temporal resolution of magnetoencephalography (MEG), which is on the order of milliseconds. Other forms of functional brain imaging are far less sensitive to the rate of change of states of the brain. Influences on the quality of the resulting MSI by measurement noise and errors in determining the image surface are characterized. A new technique for reducing noise in the inverse problem is developed by taking into consideration the spatial and time-dependence of the noise detected by the sensors. This new approach to regularization reduces the contribution from noisy measurements to the inverse calculation, and therefore improves the stability of the inverse.

Semiautomatic evaluation of left ventricular diastolic function with cine magnetic resonance imaging

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Cine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a relatively new technique that can be used to study cardiac function with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, detailed functional analysis of the entire cardiac cycle with cine MR imaging is time consuming and labor intensive. We analyzed diastolic function using a semiautomatic routine that reduces the time necessary for analysis.

METHODS

Twenty subjects (10 normal control subjects and 10 patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction) were examined. Short-axis cine MR images were obtained at 32 phases of the cardiac cycle. A semiautomatic boundary-finding routine was used to determine left ventricular (LV) volumes at each phase. Volume-versus-time and first-derivative curves were created from these data. Several parameters derived from the MR imaging curves were used to characterize diastole.

RESULTS

Two parameters--the ratio of early peak filling rate to late peak filling rate and the percentage of filling during early diastole--perfectly distinguished subjects with LV diastolic dysfunction from the normal control subjects. The semiautomatic analysis method substantially reduced the time necessary for analyzing the MR imaging data, compared with manual analysis.

CONCLUSION

Cine MR imaging, especially with time-saving techniques such as our service automatic analysis method, has promise as a research and clinical tool in evaluating LV diastolic function.

An investigation of pedigrees of 110 patients with Graves' disease and the clinical significance of determinations of antithyroid antibodies of their first-degree relatives

Eight hundred and ten pedigree members of 110 patients with Graves' disease were studied. In 700 first-degree relatives, inquiry of medical history, physical examination (including eyes, thyroid, heart rate, etc), thyroid function tests (serum T3, T4 and TSH levels), determinations of thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and thyroid microsomal antibodies (TmAb) were performed. For male (female) probands, the incidence of Graves' disease in male (female) first-degree relatives were investigated and their serum TgAb and TmAb were analysed. The incidence of these two kinds of autoantibodies in the male (female) first-degree relatives of familial and nonfamilial Graves' disease were analysed. Eighteen persons with positive TgAb and TmAb from 5 pedigrees had been followed up one year after initial determinations. Our results suggest that the positive rates of TgAb and TmAb in the first-degree relatives of Graves' disease were coincident with the incidence of Graves' disease, and the positive results of TgAb and TmAb in the first-degree relatives of Graves' disease may be an indicator of pre-Graves' disease or pre-autoimmune thyroid diseases.

[Iatrogenic osteoporsis: six case reports]

Iatrogenic osteoporosis is a very common secondary osteoporosis is found in patients treated with large dosage of glucocorticosteroid of long duration. Six cases listed in this article including 2 cases of bronchial asthma, 2 cases of bronchial asthma, 2 cases of rheumatoid arthritis, 1 case of skin disease and 1 case of callagenosis (three male patients and three female patients). The age is from 27-46. The duration of treatment of primary disease with glucocorticosteroid is 1 to 3.5 years, with the average of 1.56 years. With the exception of one case treated with Dexamethasone one of 0.75g daily, the other 5 cases are treated with predinisone of 5-30mg daily. After they treated with hormone every other day and added Calcium and vitamin D and followed up 1 year, the mineral contents in the bone of all 6 patients are increased and the biochemistry indexes are improved.

[Effects of chloroform, chlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls on erythrocyte lipid peroxidation and membrane fluidity in poisoned rabbits]

Effects of three chlorinated compounds, i.e., chloroform, chlorobenzene and Aroclor 1254 (PCBs), on lipid peroxidation and membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in poisoned rabbits were studied. Results revealed daily intraperitoneal injection of peanut oil containing chlorinated compounds into rabbits showed nonenzymic promotion effects on its erythrocyte lipid peroxidation in varying degrees, but different effects on erythrocyte membrane fluidity, promoting by chloroform and inhibiting by Aroclor 1254. It suggested the constitutional characteristics of toxicant molecules also had effects on membrane fluidity. In addition, it was found there existed potential relationship between maintenance of cell morphology and membrane fluidity.

[Analytical study on processing of Rheum palmatum L. by HPLC]

This paper deals with the effect of processing on Rheum palmatum. A HPLC method for the determination of rhein in the drug processed five different ways has been established. The method is simple, specific and accurate. The recovery is 98.52% and relative standard deviation.

IL-1 induces intracisternal type A virus and retrovirus type C in pancreatic beta-cells of NOD mice

Recent observations have suggested a role for interleukin 1 (IL-1), a macrophage-derived cytokine, in the autoimmune beta-cell destruction, that is associated with type 1 diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effects of human recombinant IL-1 beta on pancreatic beta-cells from NOD and NON mice (diabetes-resistant NOD-related strain), focussing upon the appearance of intracisternal type A virus (IAP) and retrovirus type C. NOD mice pancreatic islets were incubated with or without IL-1 (0.1, 1, 10, 100 U/ml) for 10 days. Thereafter, the islets were examined using an electron microscope. When the islets of NOD mice were incubated with the IL-1 (10, 100 U/ml) under condition of high glucose, IAP and endogenous retrovirus type C frequently appeared in the beta-cells. Retrovirus type C was present as a cluster. In contrast, IAP and retrovirus type C were rarely found in beta-cells from the control group. When the islets of NON mice were incubated with or without IL-1 (10 U/ml) in the presence of high glucose, IAP was rarely found in beta-cells and retrovirus type C was undetectable in beta-cells. This study indicated that IL-1 is an important effector that leads to insulitis or aggravates insulitis in NOD mice.

[Determination of hesperidin in Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae by HPLC]

A HPLC method for the determination of hesperidin in Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae has been established in this report. The method is simple, specific and accurate. The recovery of hesperidin is 98.3% and relative standard deviation 0.2%.

[An experimental study on photosensitization of cultured human cells with hypocrellin A]

The photosensitive effects of hypocrellin A on cultured HeLa cells were studied by the methods of immunofluorescence cytochemistry, flow cytometry and others. The results showed that, in the presence of 3.66 mumol/L hypocrellin A, illumination of HeLa cells with visible light, the morphology was changed and the microvilli on the cells were disappeared; the proliferation of the cells decreased with increasing irradiated dose and this effect seemed more sensitive in tumor cells than in normal cells; the increased population of cycle cells at S phase but decreased at G1 phase were observed by FCM; the photodamage effect of hypocrellin A induced the sparse distribution of cytoplasmic microtubles and almost disappearance of the fluorescence intensity of MTOC, they were observed in HeLa cells as shown by immunofluoresent microscopy. All the aforesaid results indicated that photosensitization of hypocrellin A inhibits cells growth, resulting from the damage in cell membrane and cytoskeleton and S phase delay of the cell cycle.

[Analytical study on processing of Scutellaria baicalensis Georyl by HPLC]

This paper deal with the effect of processing on Scutellaria baicalensis. A HPLC method for the determination of baicalin in the drug processed in four different ways has been established. The method is simple, specific and accurate. The recovery is 99.5% and relative standard deviation 0.99%.

MNLS inverse discriminates between neuronal activity on opposite walls of a simulated sulcus of the brain

The minimum-norm least-squares inverse for magnetic field measurements is applied to a representation of a sulcus of the human brain, where one or both walls have regions of neuronal activity. Simulations indicate that the magnetic source image (MSI) is largely confined to the appropriate wall of the sulcus, even for a depth of 4 cm where the distance between walls is only 3 mm. Two nearly oppositely oriented dipoles located 3 mm apart are found to be distinguished. Influences on the quality of the MSI by measurement noise and inaccuracy in determining the image surface are discussed in detail.

The character of endogenous retrovirus in pancreatic beta-cells of NOD mice

The character of retrovirus type C in NOD mouse pancreatic-beta-cells was investigated. First, the in vitro response of retrovirus type C to glucose stimulation was examined. When the pancreatic islets of control NON mice were observed with an electron microscopy retrovirus types C could not be detected in the beta-cells with or without glucose stimulation. Retrovirus type C particles and intracisternal type A particles (IAPs) in NOD mouse pancreatic beta-cells increased by glucose stimulation, but the increase in retrovirus type C differed from that of IAPs. The clusters of retrovirus type C were found in some beta-cells, whereas IAPs were scattered in beta-cells. Next, we investigated the expression of retrovirus type C transcript in NOD mouse pancreatic islets. From polymerase chain reaction analysis using two primers of retrovirus type C designed from a conserved U3 region, a major product was found to be endogenous polytropic retrovirus (Pmv). The subcloned PCR probe and oligonucleotide probes specific for Pmv and modified polytropic retrovirus were used for Northern blot analysis. Pancreatic islets from NOD and NON mice (control mice) contained 8.4-kb and 3.0-kb Pmv transcripts. The quantity of transcripts of Pmv in NOD mouse pancreatic beta-cells were the same as that in NON mice. The transcript level of islets was much higher than those of thymus and liver. The appearance of retrovirus type C particles in beta-cells of NOD mice may involve the mechanisms by which diabetes is generated in NOD mice.

The effect of carbenoxolone on the peripheral metabolism of cortisol in human patients

Carbenoxolone in human patients induces a state that is similar to that seen in the syndrome of apparent mineralocorticoid excess. The mechanism in both the drug-induced and the naturally occurring disorder is thought to be the inhibition of a normal mechanism for preventing access of cortisol to the mineralocorticoid receptor, namely 11 beta-hydroxy dehydrogenation. We took the opportunity to study the effect of carbenoxolone on the peripheral metabolism of cortisol in the course of evaluating the drug's therapeutic effectiveness in pseudohypoaldosteronism. Carbenoxolone, at a dose that induces mineralocorticoid effects in patients with normally responsive mineralocorticoid receptor systems, did not lead to significant changes in the urinary cortisol: cortisone tetrahydrometabolite ratio. There was, however, a marked inhibition of ring A reduction of both cortisol and cortisone to tetrahydro metabolites. Urinary cortisol level was not significantly changed, but urinary cortisone level was decreased and the cortisol:cortisone ratio markedly increased. We conclude that the urinary cortisol:cortisone tetrahydrometabolite ratio is not necessarily a valid measure of effective inhibition of 11 beta-hydroxy dehydrogenation. A better measure of the inhibitory effect of carbenoxolone on 11 beta-hydroxy dehydrogenation is the urinary free cortisol:cortisone ratio.

[A comparative study on cholagogic effect of Artemisia]

The result suggests that the cholagogic effect of A. anethoides, A. haichowenesis and A. capillaris are not different significantly (P > 0.05), but the duration of action caused by anethoides and haichowenesis is longer than that caused capillaris. The cholagogic effect of A. capillaris collected in seedling, flower budding (beginning of autumn) and preflower periods were also investigated separately, and the preflower collection was found more cholagogic.

[Vitreo-retinal surgery for complicated retinal detachment]

93 eyes (93 patients) of complicated retinal detachment were treated with vitreo-retinal surgery. Among the series, 75 eyes were rhegmatogenous with PVR C3-D3 in 66 eyes (88.0%), while the remaining 18 eyes were traction induced. None of the cases had giant tears or complicating diabetes. On discharge from the hospital, the operation was effective in 62 cases (66.7%), in whom the retina was totally reattached or only a small amount of subretinal fluid remained. In a group of 40 eyes where the inert gas SF6 was used, the operation was effective in 30 cases (75.0%). 41 cases were followed up postoperatively for over 3 months, averaging 13.7 months, to find the operative results stable in 33 eyes (80.5%), with the visual acuity improved in 22 cases (66.7%), unchanged in 9 cases (27.3%), and decreased in 2 cases (6.0%). The operative procedures, the peeling of pre-retinal membrane, the effect of PVR severity on the operative results, and the promotion of operative efficacy by application of wide encircling buckle and inert gas tamponade were discussed.

Antitumor activity of a new low immunosuppressive derivative of podophyllotoxin (GP-11) and its mechanisms

The spin-labeled derivative of podophyllotoxin, N'-podophyllic acid-N-[3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl pyrrolinenyloxy)] semicarbazide (GP-11), was synthesized and tested for its antitumor activity against mouse transplantable tumors, Sarcoma-180, Hepatoma-A, P388 leukemia and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. At an equitoxic dose, the antitumor activity of GP-11 was similar to that of etoposide (VP-16). However, the immunosuppressive effects of GP-11 were weaker than that of VP-16. In vitro, GP-11 and VP-16 inhibited the proliferation of human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells and suppressed DNA and protein syntheses, but the effect of GP-11 and VP-16 on cell cycle progression was different. The mitotic index was increased by GP-11 and reduced by VP-16. On the basis of flow cytometric bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)/DNA analysis, GP-11 and VP-16 resulted in the accumulation of cells in the S and G2/M phases. G2/M arrest by GP-11 on cell cycle progression was stronger than that of VP-16, while S arrest was weaker than that of VP-16. After the removal of drugs, the arrest by GP-11 and VP-16 still existed and was irreversible. These results may provide insights into the structure-activity relationships and the design of novel derivatives of podophyllotoxin useful in cancer chemotherapy.

Minimum-norm least-squares estimation: magnetic source images for a spherical model head

This paper extends the minimum-norm least-squares inverse approach to a local spherical model for the conductivity geometry of the human head. In simulations of cortical activity of the human brain, the magnetic field pattern across the scalp is interpreted with prior knowledge of anatomy, and the properties of intraneuronal current flow to yield a unique magnetic source image across a portion of cerebral cortex. Influences on the quality of magnetic source images from the noise in measurements, the position error in determining the image surface, and the number of sensors are evaluated in detail.

The unique steroidogenesis of the aldosteronoma in the differential diagnosis of primary aldosteronism

18-Hydroxycortisol and 18-oxocortisol have been isolated from the urine of patients with aldosterone producing adrenocortical adenomas, but not from those with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism associated with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. These C-18 oxygenated cortisols are biosynthesized by the substitution of cortisol for the normal substrate, corticosterone, in the terminal oxidase system required for the biosynthesis of 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone. To make use of this biochemical difference between the two groups in the preoperative diagnosis of primary aldosteronism, we have developed and utilized a specific primary standard analytical method, stable isotope dilution mass fragmentography, for quantifying 18-hydroxycortisol and the tetrahydro metabolite of 18-oxocortisol in 24-h urine samples. The normal range by this technique of 4.6 +/- 1.8 micrograms/day tetrahydro 18-oxocortisol and 43 +/- 23 micrograms/day 18-hydroxycortisol in urine was lower and narrower than previous estimates using other methods. Excretion of the 18-oxocortisol metabolite ranged from 2-12 micrograms/day in bilateral hyperplasia and 17-1203 micrograms/day in typical adenomas. 18-Hydroxycortisol excretion similarly separated bilateral hyperplasia (23-59 micrograms/day) from typical adenomas (60-2750 micrograms/day). The cortisol C-18 oxidation pathway describes a unique steroidogenic mechanism in the aldosteronoma not present in idiopathic aldosteronism due to bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and as such provides a basis for the biochemical classification of primary aldosteronism and the differentiation of these two groups. This unique biochemistry was also observed in unilateral hyperplasia but not in the renin-dependent aldosteronoma.

Biochemical and morphological alterations of macrophages and spleen cells produced by antitumor polysaccharide from Acanthopanax obovatus roots

Acanthopanax obovatus polysaccharide (AOPS) administrated intraperitoneally (i.p.) resulted in the augmentation of phagocytosis and the chemiluminescence in peritoneal macrophages of mice. Binding of the third component of complement (C3) cleavage products to the receptors on peritoneal macrophages was enhanced by AOPS. The C3 conversion in human serum was increased by AOPS in vitro treatment. When given i.p., AOPS led to the enhancement of spleen weight, spleen cell number, and plaque-forming cells. It was also found that after in vivo administration AOPS not only enhanced the synthesis of DNA and protein but also promoted the mitogenic responses of spleen cells. The morphological observation of spleens indicated that AOPS augmented the transformation from lymphocytes to plasma cells. AOPS inhibited the growth of mouse solid Sarcoma-180 and prolonged the survival time significantly. These results suggest that AOPS is an effective biological response modifier and its antitumor activity is related to its immunopotentiating effects.

A cohort study in southern China of tin miners exposed to radon and radon decay products

Several studies of underground miners have demonstrated that exposure to radioactive radon gas (more precisely, 222Rn and its short-lived decay products) at levels historically found in mines increases the risk of lung cancer. Because of small numbers of lung cancers, previous studies have had limited power to evaluate temporal and other characteristics of patterns of risk. Herein we report on a historical cohort study of male employees of the Yunnan Tin Corporation in southern China. The cohort consists of 17,143 workers with 175,143 person-years of observation and 981 lung cancer events. Eighty percent of the workers were employed underground and exposed to radon. The excess relative risk increased linearly with exposure, rising 0.6% per working level month (95% confidence interval = 0.4-0.8). In the mines, workers were also exposed to arsenic-containing dusts. Adjustment for arsenic exposure, a known lung carcinogen, reduced the effect of radon exposure to 0.2% per working level month (95% confidence interval = 0.1-0.2). The excess relative risk/working level month declined significantly with attained age and with radon exposure rate as measured by the cumulative working level month divided by duration of exposure. It also declined significantly with years from last exposure and with time since exposure, but these declines were consistent only after adjustment for arsenic exposure. In this cohort, 41% of the underground workers were first exposed when < 15 y old; however, lung cancer risk did not vary consistently with age at first radon exposure. A joint analysis of radon exposure and smoking status (smoker vs. nonsmoker) rejected both an additive and a multiplicative association; the relationship was consistent with an intermediate association.