Studies on the role of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in rat corpus luteum of pregnancy

Luteal development and demise are characterized by substantial tissue destruction and remodeling, which is associated with local production of plasminogen activation. Recently we reported involvement of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in luteolysis in rhesus monkeys. In this study, we further investigated changes in expression of both tPA and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity during various developmental stages of rat corpus luteum (CL) of pregnancy and their possible physiological roles in luteolysis. Rat CL or dispersed luteal cells in vitro are capable of producing both tPA and uPA, and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, in a stage-dependent manner. However, only tPA activity significantly increases in late phases of CL development. Furthermore, the increase in tPA activity in the CL is well correlated with a sharp decrease in luteal progesterone production. Addition of exogenous tPA to the luteal culture considerably decreases progesterone production. In contrast, immunoneutralization of endogenously produced tPA activity by inclusion of tPA monoclonal antibody in the culture results in a significant increase in luteal progesterone production. It is therefore suggested that tPA may also be involved in suppression of rat luteal function. This hypothesis is further supported by the findings that interferon-gamma significantly inhibits luteal basal and hCG-stimulated progesterone production and also stimulates basal and hCG-induced tPA activity. On the basis of the data provided in this study and similar findings in monkeys, we conclude that endogenously produced tPA in late phase of CL development may regulate luteal regression through local autocrine or paracrine action.

Trichomonas vaginalis and cervical cancer. A prospective study in China

The relationship between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and cervical cancer was investigated prospectively in a cohort of 16,797 women aged 25 years or more who were followed from 1974 to 1985 within the framework of a cervical screening program in Jingan, China. Personal interviews were conducted by trained interviewers when the women first entered the screening program. At initial screening, 421 (2.51%) women had a positive cytologic diagnosis of T. vaginalis infection. Ninety-nine incident cases of pathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma were identified from the cohort, with a total of 140,018 person-years of observation. T. vaginalis infection was found to contribute to the risk of cervical cancer, as determined by crude estimates and after adjustment for potential confounding effects. In a multiple proportional hazards model, the relative risk for cervical cancer was 3.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.5 to 7.4) among women with T. vaginalis infection. Furthermore, in the multivariate analysis, increased risk of cervical cancer was associated with the following factors: number of extramarital sexual partners of both the subjects and their spouses, cigarette smoking, and irregular menstruation. Having a large number of negative Pap smears was associated with lower risk. This study suggests that there might be an association between T. vaginalis infection and the risk of cervical cancer, but only 4 to 5% of cervical cancer in Chinese women may be attributable to T. vaginalis infection.

[Experimental study on anti-duck hepatitis B viral effect of Phyllanthus urinaria of different areas and combined therapy with other drugs]

The duck hepatitis B virus model was treated with phyllanthus urinaria of different area and combined with Sophora flavesceus as well as ciprofloxacin once a day for one month, the results indicated: Guangxi and Yunnan Phyllanthus could lower the serum DHBV DNA significantly (P < 0.05), but Chongqing Phyllanthus couldn't. And the amount of serum DHBV DNA rose a week after stopping of Yunnan Phyllanthus. The antiviral effect of Guangxi Phyllanthus combined with ciprofloxacin seems to be strengthened (P < 0.05).

Molecular detection of pre-ATL state among healthy HTLV-1 carriers in an endemic area of Japan

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) usually develops after age 40 in Japan, suggesting a long latency since HTLV-I is considered to be transmitted mainly from mothers to babies via breast milk. Our previous studies had suggested that HTLV-I carriers who have a monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA in the peripheral blood cells, designated pre-ATL, account for about 2% of healthy carriers and are at high risk of developing ATL. Their ages ranged from 32 to 80 (median 57). Nevertheless, many cases of pre-ATL showed a long-lasting carrier state (10-year probability around 90%). In the present investigation we conducted a large-scale molecular detection of monoclonal integration in a population (481 cases) of healthy carriers with ages ranging from 16 to 82 (median 49) for the purpose of clarifying the earliest onset of this pre-ATL state. Southern-blot analysis of DNA extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed 6 cases (1.2%) with a monoclonal band. All of these 6 were older than 40; no single positive case was found in 220 carriers under age 40. These results indicate that the molecularly detectable pre-ATL state also develops after a long latency. Thus the pre-ATL state seems to be a subtype of ATL showing an extremely indolent course of disease development, but not merely an early phase of all subtypes of ATL. We propose that, in order to reveal a promoter(s) responsible for the development of ATL from the pre-ATL state, intensive epidemiological investigation of life style, eating habits, occupation and exposure to carcinogens must be conducted on this unique group prone to ATL. It is also important to perform such an epidemiological study on the general population of carriers by paying special attention to the first 3-4 decades of each carrier's life in Japan and by comparing the data with those from carriers in different geographical areas of the world.

A neuromagnetic study of acupuncturing LI-4 (Hegu)

The brain magnetic fields evoked by acupuncturing LI-4(Hegu) were measured by using SQUID (superconductive Quantum Interference Device) Biomagnetometer, and the morphological characters of these biomagnetic fields were examined in 12 subjects. The observed phenomenon of the LI-4(Hegu)'s projection area overlapping on the jaw's and face's projection area suggests that excitation of LI-4 (Hegu)'s projection area activated by acupuncturing LI-4(Hegu) could inhibit action of the jaw's and face's projection through the overlapping area, and this is the reason why the acupuncturing LI-4(Hegu) could effectively case pains in the treatment of dental pain.

Plasma endothelin levels in cirrhotic patients and their correlation with atrial natriuretic peptide

Plasma levels of endothelin (ET) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 11 healthy volunteers and 34 patients with liver cirrhosis. The results revealed that mean ET plasma level was significantly lower in 34 cirrhotic patients than in normal subjects (40.21 +/- 4.38 ng/L vs 84.55 +/- 7.88 ng/L, P < 0.01). Plasma ET was 32.17 +/- 3.98 ng/L in 23 cirrhosis patients with ascites compared with 57.0 +/- 9.0 ng/L in patients without ascites (P < 0.01). Moreover, it is apparent that plasma levels of ET decreased with the increase of ascites volume, and increased after the disappearance of ascites. But plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in cirrhotic patients were markedly higher than those in the controls (830.12 +/- 72.18 ng/L vs 439.45 +/- 50.18 ng/L, P < 0.01). In patients with ascites, ET plasma levels were inversely correlated to ANP. The results suggest that deficiency of circulating ET might be one of the important factors involved in sodium and water retention in cirrhosis.

[Effects of maternal intravenous glucose administration at term or shortly before cesarean section on fetus]

In order to investigate the effects of maternal intravenous glucose administration on fetus, two groups of pregnant women were observed. In the first group, 33 cases in late pregnancy, who received 50% glucose 80ml by intravenously injection. The mean fetal heart rate and fetal movements were found to be increased, maternal and fetal blood glucose levels elevated; umbilical artery pH decreased after the administrations as compared with the control group. The results indicated that a single injection of glucose at term had no adverse effect on fetus. In the second group 23 cases who received glucose 10% 400ml by intravenous drops shortly before CS, subclinical fetal acidosis was mated. Therefore, glucose given in this way should be employed cautiously, and rapid intravenous infusion should be avoided.

[Protective action of taurine on ischemia-reperfusion liver injury in rats and its mechanism]

The protective effect of taurine on ischemia-reperfusion damages of rat perfused liver and its possible mechanism were investigated. Reflow with 20 mmol/L taurine markedly ameliorated reperfusion injury of post-ischemic liver as evidenced by reduction of lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial calcium overload in hepatocytes, as well as leakage of intracellular LDH and protein. Furthermore, taurine could significantly suppress in vitro LPO formation of hepatocyte plasma membrane induced by generating system of free radicals, inhibit calcium uptake and promote calcium release by mitochondria in addition to a membrane stabilizing action on rat isolated hepatic lysosome. The results demonstrated that taurine possesses significant protective efficacy on ischemia-reperfusion liver damage, and that the mechanism of its anti-hepatic injury may be mainly related to inhibiting LPO formation, regulating cellular calcium homeostasis and stabilizing biological membrane.

[Pathogenetic significance of endothelin in experimental liver necrosis]

The changes in rat plasma level of endothelin-ir (ET-ir) during CCl4-induced hepatic necrosis and the therapeutic action of ET-antiserum (ET-Ab) were observed. The plasma level of ET-ir in rats with liver necrosis was significantly elevated (17.7 +/- 2.6 ng/L vs control 9.5 +/- 1.6 ng/L, P < 0.05). The plasma level of ET was markedly decreased by using ET-Ab, simultaneously the calcium overload in liver attenuated, the formation of liver lipid peroxidation product decreased, and activities of plasma ALT and LDH were also reduced. The results indicate that ET-Ab effectively alleviated the CCl4-induced damage to liver, and suggest that ET might be one of important humoral factors involved in liver necrosis.

[Prediction and prevention of hypertension syndrome of pregnancy]

Analysis of mean artery pressure (MAP-2) according to the differentiation of symptom complex of TCM can predict the occurrence of hypertension syndrome of pregnancy (HSP) at patients' first visit to hospital during their middle gestational period (less than 24 pregnant weeks). 424 pregnant women (MAP-2 greater than or equal to 12kPa) were divided into 4 groups and given preventive treatment as follows: (1) The control group, 122 women, no drugs were given; (2) the Theragan group, 102 women; (3) the TCM (A) group, 100 women, those with Liver-Kidney deficiency of Yin or no apparent signs were given Qiju Dihuang Wan, and those with Spleen-Kidney deficiency of Yang were given Shenqiwan; (4) the TCM(B) group, 100 women, were given Salvia miltiorrhiza plus (A) group's drugs. The results of prediction: (1) The occurrence rate of HSP in the MAP-2 less than 12kPa group was 10. 5%; in the MAP-2 greater than or equal to 12kPa group, 49.2%. The difference was significant. (2) The rate of deficiency of Yin in the MAP-2 greater than or equal to 12kPa was significantly higher than in the MAP-2 less than 12kPa. The rate of HSP in the deficiency of Yin was higher than in the nondeficiency of Yin. The rate of HSP increased to 70. 7% in the MAP-2 greater than or equal to 12kPa with deficiency of Yin. The results of prevention: (1) The occurrence rates of HSP in 4 groups were 49.2%, 30.4%, 15% and 14% respectively. (2) There was no side effect for mother and infant after preventive treatment. No eclampsia occurred.

Glomerular macrophage proliferation in experimental immune complex nephritis

In immune complex nephritis, glomerular hypercellularity is known to result from the proliferation of intrinsic cells and from the infiltration of mononuclear cells, primarily macrophages. An immunohistochemical double-labeling procedure was used to determine whether macrophages were among the cells which may undergo mitosis within the glomerular tuft. The monoclonal antibody ED1 served as a macrophage marker; cells in the S-phase of mitosis were recognized by uptake of bromodeoxyuridine. Glomerular proliferation was studied in chronic serum sickness of LEW rats, an animal model of immune complex nephritis for which the relationship between immunopathology and pathophysiology has been well described. In normal glomeruli, resident mesangial macrophages accounted for an unexpectedly large proportion (greater than or equal to one-third) of the total mitotic activity. In immune complex glomerulonephritis, the rate of glomerular macrophage proliferation increased rapidly just at the onset of proteinuria and remained high throughout the remaining course of disease. Glomerular macrophages from rats with proliferative nephritis also divided more vigorously than normal in short term culture in vitro, while persistently expressing abnormal surface marker phenotypes. The proliferation of mesangial macrophages appears to be a prominent feature of the normal process of glomerular cell renewal. In hypercellular glomeruli, vigorous local proliferation could greatly amplify the potential of macrophages to cause damage.

Activation of a membrane-associated phosphatidylinositol kinase through tyrosine-protein phosphorylation by naphthoquinones and orthovanadate

We have previously reported that several naphthoquinones stimulated tyrosine-specific protein phosphorylation in isolated rat liver membranes. Our more recent study demonstrated a similar effect by orthovanadate, which concomitantly stimulated phosphorylation of protein-tyrosine and phosphatidylinositol (Ptd-Ins). Results presented here show a simultaneous increase in PtdIns phosphorylation along with stimulation of tyrosine-protein phosphorylation by naphthoquinones. This PtdIns kinase resembles the type I PtdIns kinase in that it was insensitive to adenosine inhibition. The product, nevertheless, comigrated with a PtdIns-4-phosphate standard in TLC using three different solvent systems. Stimulation of PtdIns phosphorylation by vanadate or naphthoquinones could be achieved in the following preparations: intact rat liver membranes, Triton X-100-solubilized membranes, solubilized membranes partially purified by Sephacryl chromatography, solubilized membranes purified by wheat germ agglutinin chromatography. The naphthoquinone or vanadate-activated PtdIns kinase activity could be isolated by antiphosphotyrosine antibody-agarose affinity chromatography. The relative potencies of a series of ring-substituted naphthoquinones in the stimulation of tyrosine-protein phosphorylation, PtdIns kinase activity, dithiothreitol-dependent oxygen consumption, and cytochrome c reduction were highly correlated. We conclude that oxidant(s) produced by redox cycling of naphthoquinones stimulated an adenosine-insensitive PtdIns kinase through tyrosine phosphorylation of the enzyme.

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase C4

LDH-C4, the testis-specific isozymes of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), is the predominant LDH isozyme in mammalian spermatozoa. Nine monoclonal antibodies against mouse LDH-C4 have been developed. These antibodies were tested for cross reactivity with LDH-C4 from human testis and with LDH-1-5 from mouse and human testes by immunoelectrophoresis, bio-dot, and western blot assays. The results showed that all monoclonal antibodies were specific to LDH-C4 only: they did not react with LDH-1-5 from mice, nor from humans. The immunologic localization of the monoclonal antibodies on capacitated sperm was observed by indirect immunofluorescent assay. On mouse sperm the antibodies were bound to the tail only, but on human sperm eight antibodies were bound to the postacrosome, some to the neck and to the mid-piece. Most of the antibodies belonged to the Ig G class.

[Expression of interleukin 2(IL-2) receptor and proliferative response to rIL-2 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with malignant diseases]

Expression of IL-2 receptor and proliferative response to rIL-2 of PBMC were studied in 48 patients with malignant diseases and in 50 normal subjects. Having been activated by PHA, PBMC from cancer patients had about the same percentage of Tac positive cells as compared with the normal subjects. However, resting and Con A-activated PBMC showed a significantly weaker proliferative response to rIL-2 in cancer patients than in normal subjects (P less than 0.001-0.005). The decrease in PBMC proliferative response to rIL-2 in patients with malignant diseases might be due to a defect in the formation of high affinity IL-2 receptors.

[Experimental study of a decoction of yiguan jian]

In this paper, the decoction of Yiguan Jian is reported to have significant fatigue-resisting, hypoxia-resisting, antiinflammatory, sedative, analgesic, extracorporal bacterio-static actions, and also to strengthen the phagocytosis of Phagocytes. Besides, the drug can antagonize acetylcholine-induced spasm of isolated intestinal muscles in rabbits. The decoction has proved safe for use. This study provides some experimental basis for clinical use in nourishing yin, invigorating the liver and treating many diseases.

[Restriction map of E. coli shuttle plasmid (p# GTE5) with secretive function]

The shuttle plasmid (p# GTE5) DNA with secretive function was extracted by the alkali lysozyme method from E. coli RRI strain. Its molecular weight is 4.5 Md and DNA size is 6.9 Kb. Restriction fragments of plasmid was obtained by single and double enzymes complete digestion using five different restriction endonucleases. The restriction map of shuttle plasmid (p# GTE5) was established for the enzymes EcoRI, BglII, pstI, PvuII, and TaqI.

[Influence of emotional stress and behavior during acute myocardial infarction on prognosis]

Seventeen cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with emotional stress (group A) and 54 cases with basically stable emotion (group B) were compared with respect to three major complications (arrhythmia, cardiac insufficiency of grade 3 and 4 and cardiogenic shock) and therapeutic effect. The results showed that the incidences of the three complications in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (P less than 0.05), and the clinical condition was more serious in the former group. Response to narcotics showed that number of patients requiring more than 3 injections of either dolantine 50 mg or morphine 5 mg was significantly greater in group A than in group B (P less than 0.001). Sigma ST was not found to be significantly different between the two groups. However, the duration of elevation of ST segment was significantly longer in group A than in group B (P less than 0.01). It is suggested that relief of myocardial ischemia is slow in group A. There were five patients in group A with extended infarct size and died during the acute stage. None in the group B showed extension of infarction. The mortality rate in group A significantly higher than that in group B (53% VS 3.7%, P less than 0.001) and it bears no relation with sex, age and the site of infarction on admission. The greater the emotional upheaval the more unfavorable the prognosis. It is shown that excessive emotional stress is an important risk factor of AMI and aggressive measures are required to prevent worsening of the condition.