Relationship of molecular radical anion abundance and calculated lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies for polychlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzodioxins in electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry: evidence for negative metastable ions

Relationships were found between experimentally measured molecular radical anion abundances and calculated lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies (epsilon LUMO) for polychlorodibenzofurans and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins. Anion abundances were measured using standard mass spectrometric techniques, while epsilon LUMO were calculated by the 'Complete Neglect of Differential Overlap' method. Polychlorodibenzofurans with calculated epsilon LUMO greater than or equal to 1.6 eV show 0% molecular radical anion and those with epsilon LUMO less than or equal to 1.4 eV show greater than or equal to 80% molecular radical anion abundance. Similarly, the molecular radical anion is absent for polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins with calculated epsilon LUMO greater than or equal to 2.0 eV. A trend towards greater molecular radical ion relative abundance appears for 2.0 eV greater than or equal to epsilon LUMO greater than or equal to 1.0 eV and a maximum is reached around 1 eV, whereupon the molecular ion abundance diminishes with lower epsilon LUMO. B/E linked scan analysis indicates that chlorodioxins with epsilon LUMO less than 1 eV give increasing amounts of metastable anions.

The clinical utility of microalbuminuria in nephrotic syndrome with complete remission, isolated microscopic hematuria and renal transplantation donors

Using urinary microalbumin radioimmunoassay, we evaluated the clinical utility of microalbumin excretion in nephrotic syndrome with complete remission, isolated microscopic hematuria and kidney donors in reanl transplantation. The highest value in normal controls was 10.86 μg/min, and the upper normal level was set to 15 μg/min. The range of microalbuminuria in patients with nephrotic syndrome with complete remission was 1.67 μg/min to 32.5 μg/min. There was no significant correlation between the recurrence rate and microlbuminuria level in nephrotic syndrome with complete remission. The range of microalbuminuria levels in isolated microscopic hematuric patients was between 2.37μg/min and 103.2 μg/min. There was no singificant correlation between the amount of the red blood cells in urine and the level of microalbuminuria in the isolated microscopic hematuric patients. Most renal transplantation donors showed a normal range of microalbuminuria after nephrectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of urinary microalbuminuria in diseases other than diabetes. We concluded that further extensive and specific study will be required to determine the clinical utility of microalbuminuria.

Diet and high risk of stomach cancer in Shandong, China

A case-control investigation involving interviews with 564 stomach cancer patients and 1131 population-based controls was conducted to evaluate reasons for the exceptionally high rates of stomach cancer in Linqu, a rural county in Shandong Province in northeast China. Daily consumption of sour pancakes, a fermented indigenous staple, was associated with a 30% increase in risk. Risks of stomach cancer were also increased by 2- to 3-fold among persons with prior chronic gastritis or gastric ulcer, by 80% among those with stomach cancer in a family member, by 50% among men who smoked one or more packs of cigarettes/day, by 40% among those who preferred salty foods, and by 50% among families with moldy grain supplies. In contrast, risks tended to decrease in proportion to increasing consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. This protective effect was more pronounced for vegetables, with those in the highest quartile of intake at less than one-half the risk of those in the lowest. Stomach cancer risks also declined with increasing dietary intake of carotene, vitamin C, and calcium, but not retinol. These findings provide leads to dietary factors that contribute to the high rates in Linqu, where stomach cancer is the leading cause of cancer and has not yet begun to decline as in other parts of the world.

Isolation and properties of the pituitary gonadotropin from silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

The gonadotropin of silver carp (scGTH) was purified from the pituitary glands in a yield of 8.4 mg/g through extraction with 6% ammonium acetate (pH 5.1)-40% ethanol followed by 80% ethanol precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel filtration. The molecular weight of scGTH is about 32,000 as estimated by gel filtration. Leucine and serine were the two N-termini of scGTH. The amino acid composition of scGTH is rich in aspartic acid/asparagine, glutamic acid/glutamine, valine, proline and half cystine. Its carbohydrate content is 22.2%. Biologically, scGTH significantly stimulated the steroidogenesis in carp testis and ovary in vitro and induced the ovulation in loaches. It also stimulated the 32P-phosphate uptake into 1-day-old chicken testis. Immunologically, scGTH could cross-react with the antiserum against cGTH and vice versa. In both cases parallel displacement curves were displayed.

Changes of plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity during hemodialysis

Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometer in normal subjects and in patients with end stage renal failure, serially during a routine hemodialysis. Patients on maintenance hemodialysis tended to be associated with elevated plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity versus normal subjects. Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was significantly elevated in patients with chronic renal failure after 5 hours of hemodialysis(p<.001). Plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity corrected for hemoconcentration was also significantly increased(p<.05). There was a significant correlation between the increase in plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme activity after 5 hours of hemodialysis and the decrease in white blood cell count at one hour of hemodialysis (r = 0.51, p<.05). It is suggested that plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme analysis may prove to be a method for assessing transient pulmonary dysfunction during hemodialysis.

Monte Carlo dosimetry for 125I and 60Co in eye plaque therapy

Monte Carlo calculations of radiation dosimetry using MORSE code are performed for 125I and 60Co point sources in a cylindrical head phantom that simulates the geometry of eye plaque therapy for choroidal melanoma. We obtain the dose variation in the eye at submillimeter intervals over distances as close as 1 mm and up to 2.5 cm from the source. The calculations for 125I are performed for the phantom media of water, protein, and a homogenized protein-water mixture simulating the composition of the eye. Relative dose functions for 125I for these phantom media are fitted to second-degree polynomials. Agreement is found with published results. The relative dose function for 60Co at eye position in the water head phantom is fitted to a third-degree polynomial and compared with that for 60Co at the center of a large water sphere. A boundary effect due to the head phantom-air interface on the dose distribution for 60Co is demonstrated. The dose falloff with distance is faster for the eye geometry compared with the bulk geometry. We also show that the relative dose distributions within the tumor are comparable for 125I and 60Co by comparing their relative dose functions. This result is consistent with the success of clinical trials of large melanoma treatments with 125I plaques.

Isolation and characterization of three forms of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland of the horse

Three isoforms of equine luteinizing hormone (eLH-A, eLH-B and eLH-C) have been isolated from horse pituitary glands. Separation was achieved on the basis of charge heterogeneity by ion-exchange chromatography. These charge differences were apparent after final purification, as determined by electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide disc gels (RF = 0.14, 0.19 and 0.26 for eLH-A, -B and -C, respectively). Apparent size differences were also noted between the isohormones by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Ve/Vo ratios for eLH-A, -B and -C were 1.72, 1.54 and 1.47, respectively. All 3 isoforms were found to contain an equivalent amount of hexose (9.0-9.2%). Isohormones eLH-B and eLH-C, however, possess more sialic acid than eLH-A (6.6-6.7%, vs. 4.5%). The eLH-A and eLH-B preparations contain a similar amount of hexosamine, which is slightly lower than the amount of eLH-C (8.8-9.1% vs. 11.2%). No differences were noted between the isohormones by rat Leydig cell LH bioassay, equine testis LH radioreceptor assay (RRA) or calf testis follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) RRA. Slight, but nonsignificant, variations were noted between preparations in an eLH radioimmunoassay (RIA). Although chemical variations were detected between the eLH isoforms, no significant differences were observed in in vitro biological and immunological activities. The differences detected in sialic acid content raises the possibility that differences in in vivo clearance rates may exist.

Isolation and properties of sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) pituitary prolactin

Sea turtle prolactin (PRL) was isolated in a highly purified state from sea turtle pituitary side fractions obtained from other studies and some of its biological, chemical, and immunological properties were determined. Sea turtle PRL is a protein of 22-24 kDa [sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]. Its sole amino terminal amino acid residue is leucine. The amino acid composition of sea turtle PRL is similar to ovine PRL and is characterized by a high content of aspartic acid (20 residues), glutamic acid (34 residues), serine (19 residues), and leucine (24 residues). It possess three disulfide bonds and 2 tryptophan residues which is also characteristic of many species of PRL. As with PRLs of other species, it displayed multiple stained bands in disc gel electrophoresis, at pH 8.3. Biologically, sea turtle PRL was active in pigeon crop-sac assay but the dose-response characteristics were nonparallel when compared to ovine PRL. An antiserum against sea turtle PRL was raised in rabbit and a homologous radioimmunoassay was developed with a sensitivity of 2.8 ng for sea turtle PRL. Sea turtle gonadotropins did not cross-react, but sea turtle growth hormone showed a 5% cross-reactivity. Pituitary extracts from other species of turtles displayed parallel inhibition curves to the sea turtle PRL. Extracts and prolactin preparations from several birds, snakes, alligator, and marsupials cross-reacted, but in a nonparallel fashion. Bullfrog pituitary extract and Tilapia PRL showed no cross-reaction at high doses. Several purified mammalian PRLs (pig, sheep, human, horse, dog) showed minimal or no ability to cross-react in the RIA.

Characterization of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in patients with beta 2-glycoprotein I (apolipoprotein H) deficiency

The fasting plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins were evaluated in 5 subjects with undetectable levels of the plasma protein beta 2-glycoprotein I (apolipoprotein H). Family studies confirmed an autosomal co-dominant inheritance pattern for the concentrations of apo H. The total lack of this protein is rare and less than 0.3% of clinic patients demonstrated levels undetectable by radial immunodiffusion. Plasma lipoprotein evaluation in these subjects with beta 2-glycoprotein I absence by analytical ultracentrifugation and compositional analysis demonstrated low concentrations of HDL2b and HDL3. More striking, however, was the lack of a consistent marked effect on the plasma lipoproteins as is found in other apolipoprotein deficiency states. We conclude that the lack of apolipoprotein H does not result in a significant perturbation of normal lipoprotein metabolism as reflected by analysis of fasting plasma lipoproteins. Further study is required to evaluate the role of this glycoprotein in the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins.

Chemical, biological and immunological properties of pituitary gonadotropins from the donkey (Equus asinus): comparison with the horse (Equus caballus)

Donkey gonadotropins (donkey luteinizing hormone, dLH; donkey follicle-stimulating hormone, dFSH) have been isolated in purified form from 191 donkey pituitaries using essentially the same procedures previously employed for the purification of equine gonadotropins. Chemically, dLH and dFSH were observed to be similar to equine LH (eLH) and FSH (eFSH) in fractionation behavior and glycoprotein nature. Two forms of the dFSH molecule were observed, as is the case for eFSH. Donkey LH had significantly less total carbohydrate (13.5%) and sialic acid (1.9%) than eLH (26.7% and 5.8%, respectively). Carbohydrate (17-21%) and sialic acid (2.4%) content of the two dFSH preparations closely resembled that of eFSH. A slightly higher tyrosine content in the donkey gonadotropins was noted in a comparison of amino acid compositions. Immunologically, in a heterologous FSH radioimmunoassay (RIA), dFSH preparations were equal to or twice as active as eFSH preparations. However, in homologous RIAs for equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), eFSH and eLH, both the dLH and dFSH preparations were considerably less active than the equine gonadotropins, and their inhibition curves were all nonparallel. Biologically, in the Steelman-Pohley assay both dFSH preparations were equipotent and as potent as eFSH (approximately 40 times NIH-FSH-S12). In the Sertoli cell assay for cAMP (FSH assay) and the Leydig cell assay for testosterone (LH assay), both dFSH and dLH were 2- or 6-fold more active than eFSH and eLH, respectively. In rat and equine testis FSH homologous radioreceptor assays, dFSH preparations were as active and up to 6-fold more active than eFSH. In contrast, dLH was 10-fold less active than eLH in the equine LH homologous radioreceptor assay. Unlike eLH, dLH was found to possess little intrinsic FSH activity or FSH inhibitory activity, and the small amount of FSH activity observed was most likely due to FSH contamination. Therefore, eLH behaves much like eCG (pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin, PMSG) which also possesses both LH and FSH activity. In contrast, dLH behaves more like donkey chorionic gonadotropin (dCG) which possesses only a low degree of FSH activity.

Development and characterization of a homologous radioimmunoassay for equine prolactin

A specific and sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay has been developed for equine prolactin, suitable for measuring prolactin concentrations in serum of horses. The sensitivity of the assay ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 ng/ml and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation averaged 6.9 and 15.4%, respectively, for five doses of hormone. Cross-reactivity with other mammalian and nonmammalian prolactins and growth hormones was less than 20 and 0.3%, respectively. Cross-reactivity with equine growth hormone was less than 0.07%. Equine serum and pituitary extracts showed parallel dilution-response curves with equine prolactin. The percentage recovery of exogenous equine prolactin in serum was 89%. Preliminary analysis of several physiological samples (stallions, pregnant, and nonpregnant mares) yielded values from 0.6 to 12.0 ng/ml.

The mutagenicity of nitrite-treated aqueous extract of Piper betle L

Betel quid is chewed as a masticatory material by people in certain areas of Asia. The quid chewing has been related to oral cancer by epidemiological study. The mutagenic components in the aqueous extracts of betel quid ingredients were studied. Only nitrite-treated aqueous extract of Piper betle L fruits, leaves or rhizoma were demonstrated to exhibit a mutagenic response, using Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA1535 in the Ames test. When the aqueous extract of the fruit was nitrosated, the greatest number of mutagenic substances were formed at pH 3. The formation of mutagens was enhanced by increasing the temperature from 5 to 95 degrees C. Maximum production of the mutagens occurred within 15 min when nitrosation was conducted at 35 degrees C. The mutagenic components in nitrite-treated aqueous extract of Piper betle L fruit were found to be N-nitrosopiperidine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, N-nitrosomorpholine, and other compounds, as determined by gas chromatography-thermal energy analyzer.

Microsurgical tubal anastomosis: a controlled trial in four Asian centers

An international program to determine the reversibility of female sterilization in Asia using microsurgical technique was established in 1980. One hundred eleven of 219 patients (51%) conceived following tubal anastomosis; of these, 79 delivered living children. The overall cumulative probability of conception at the end of follow-up, as determined by life-table analysis, was 63%. A decreased pregnancy rate was associated with anastomosis of tubes sterilized by electrocautery methods.

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema following blood transfusion

Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and acute respiratory failure were found to develop after blood transfusion. Pulmonary antiographic studies and hemodynamic measurements were performed in the presence of pulmonary edema. Normal wedge pressure was observed at the time of angiographic studies, and contrast material appeared to extravasate across the alveolocapillary membrane into the alveoli. The mechanisms of acute injury to the alveolocapillary membranes and of pulmonary edema secondary to reactions to transfusion are discussed.

Localization of parathyroid adenomas by cervical esophagram

By using a standardized method of cervical esophagraphy, parathyroid adenomas were successfully localized preoperatively in 19 of 20 consecutive patients with hyperparathyrodism. Two of the 19 patients had a second adenoma which was not demonstrated. The esophagrams were performed in the frontal projection with a 105-mm camera by utilizing rapid sequential filming. Film exposure was synchronized so that roentgenograms were obtained with the esophagus maximally distended. A persistent indentation of the esophagus present on multiple films was compatible with parathyroid enlargement. Our results suggest that cervical esophagrams are useful in the preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas.

Use of the AFCRL line parameters compilation to test the performance of an infrared spectrometer system

The resolution and the frequency accuracy of a spectrum and the abundance of an absorbing gas can be obtained by ratioing observed and calculated spectra. Line positions (to +/-0.002 cm(-1)), spectral resolution (0.075 +/- 0.003 cm(-1)), and a CO abundance [(2.35 +/- 0.23) x 10(-2)atm-cm (STP)] have been found by comparing an observed CO spectrum with a spectrum calculated from the AFCRL line parameter listing.

Cytogenetic effects of cyclamates on human cells in vitro

Chromosome studies on human cells in vitro have shown that the artificial sweeteners, sodium and calcium cyclamate, can induce chromosome breaks in vitro in human cells, in both leukocyte and monolayer cultures.

A serological survey of rodent plague in Taiwan and offshore islands

Serological surveys were made on individual sera of small animals trapped on Taiwan and offshore islands. The animals were shrews of the species Suncus murinus, and rats of the species Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus. The tests showed that on MaKung in the Peng-hu Islands (Pescadores), 66% of the shrews, 30% of the R. rattus and 15% of the R. norvegicus had passive haemagglutination titres with fraction 1 antigens in the range of 1:16 to 1:256, indicative of previous plague infections. These observations supplement recent findings in Viet-Nam and confirm that plague is endemic not only in rats but also is shrews in the coastal provinces of South China.