[An observation of the percutaneous absorption of total alkaloids and terpenoid lactones of Tripterygium wilfordii]

The main ingredients of Tripterygium wilfordii are total alkaloids and terpenoid lactones. The authors studied the percutaneous absorption of these compounds on mice by means of ultravillet spectrophotometry. The results showed that these alksloids and lactones could pass through the skin of the mice. The rate of 12-hour percutaneous absorption was 13.40% for the former and 17.60% for the latter. After the application of Tripterygium wilfordii adhesive plaster to the human skin for 12 hours, the two ingredients were absorbed 17.34% and 22.13% respectively. This suggests that Tripterygium wilfordii can really be administered through the skin.

[Senility-preventing effect of erlingcankang decoction]

Experiments with Erlingcankang Decoction showed that when given to silk worms it could noticeably prolong the growth period of larvae and raise an average of 10-day survival of the male moths; when given to mice it could prolong their life; and when given to on old rats it could markedly raise the contents of SOD in the liver and red cells, lower the content of MAO-B in the brain, LF in the brain and adrenal gland and also LPO in the liver.

[Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty and laser iridectomy for plateau iris glaucoma]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of a combined laser technique for plateau iris glaucoma.

METHODS

20 cases (37 eyes) of early plateau iris glaucoma were treated by a laser technique that included argon laser peripheral iridoplasty and argon + Nd:YAG laser iridectomy.

RESULTS

The postoperative follow-up ranged from 8 months to 4 years and 7 months (30 eyes for more than 2 years, mean 2.7 years). 17 cases (32 eyes) obtained satisfactory effects, no acute-attacks were seen in the follow-up, intraocular pressure decreased from 5.8 +/- 1.04 kPa to below 2.74 kPa, peripheral anterior chamber depth increased, angle widened, the iris retracted away from the trabecular meshwork, thus further synechiae of chamber angle were prevented effectively, and the dark room provocative test results turned to negative in 86.7% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Argon laser peripheral iridoplasty combined argon + Nd:YAG laser iridectomy may be a safe and effective method for treatment of plateau iris glaucoma.

Lack of corneal toxicity of interferon Alpha-2b administered subconjunctivally after sclerectomy

PURPOSE

To evaluate the corneal toxicity of subconjunctival injection interferon alpha-2b at filtering bleb after sclerectomy in white rabbits.

METHODS

Eight rabbits which had been performed sclerectomy were randomly divided into two groups. Each group consisted of four rabbits. Eight eyes in group 1 were subconjunctivally received interferon alpha-2b 5 x 10(5) IU/0.2 ml into filtering bleb from the edge of the filtering site immediately after operation and every postoperative day. The other eight eyes in group 2 were injected with 0.2 ml normal saline. All of the eyes underwent daily examination by slip-lamp microscopy and direct ophthalmoloscopy. Sodium fluorescein was used to assess corneal epithelial integrity. On day 3, 4, 7 and 14, every two rabbits (group 1 and 2 each, respectively) were killed and removed cornea immediately to take examination of the viability of corneal endothelium by dual staining with typan blue and alizanin red S.

RESULTS

No sign of toxicity in corneal epithelium and endothelium were found following continuously injection interferon alpha-2b at filtering bleb 3-14 days totally for selected doses.

CONCLUSION

Subconjunctivally administered interferon alpha-2b at filtering bleb after glaucoma filtering surgery may be a safe drug-applied method.

The internal open reading frame within the nucleocapsid gene of mouse hepatitis virus encodes a structural protein that is not essential for viral replication

The coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) contains a large open reading frame embedded entirely within the 5' half of its nucleocapsid (N) gene. This internal gene (designated I) is in the +1 reading frame with respect to the N gene, and it encodes a mostly hydrophobic 23-kDa polypeptide. We have found that this protein is expressed in MHV-infected cells and that it is a previously unrecognized structural protein of the virion. To analyze the potential biological importance of the I gene, we disrupted its expression by site-directed mutagenesis using targeted RNA recombination. The start codon for I was replaced by a threonine codon, and a stop codon was introduced at a short interval downstream. Both alterations created silent changes in the N reading frame. In vitro translation studies showed that these mutations completely abolished synthesis of I protein, and immunological analysis of infected cell lysates confirmed this conclusion. The MHV I mutant was viable and grew to high titer. However, the I mutant had a reduced plaque size in comparison with its isogenic wild-type counterpart, suggesting that expression of I confers some minor growth advantage to the virus. The engineered mutations were stable during the course of experimental infection in mice, and the I mutant showed no significant differences from wild type in its ability to replicate in the brains or livers of infected animals. These results demonstrate that I protein is not essential for the replication of MHV either in tissue culture or in its natural host.

[Corneal astigmatism following trabeculectomy]

OBJECTIVE

The study was designed to investigate the change of corneal astigmatism following trabeculectomy.

METHODS

Before and after the operation at different periods, the corneal astigmatism of 42 eyes was evaluated by Topcon-OM-3 keratometer.

RESULTS

Almost the corneal astigmatism of all the cases was with-the-rule in the early stage after trabeculectomy. Among them, the astigmatism in 41.03% of cases was more than 2.00D, 3 months post-operatively 17.50% shifted towards against-the-rule, and 9.50% remained more than 2.00D which was induced by the surgery.

CONCLUSION

Trabeculectomy may cause certain with-the-rule corneal astigmatism. The corneal astigmatism in most of the cases may decrease as time passes by.

Combined argon and Nd: YAG laser peripheral iridectomy: A new approach in clinical practice

PURPOSE

To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combined argon and Nd: YAG laser peripheral iridectomy.

METHODS

151 cases (200 eyes) of primary angle-closure glaucoma and combined glaucoma were treated by combined procedure. Argon laser was the first used to create partial iridectomy in 2/3-3/4 thickness without penetrating pigmented epithelium, and then Nd: YAG laser was required to complete a patent iridectomy.

RESULTS

A successful iridectomy was achieved in all patients independent of any type of irides (100%). Iris penetration rate in one session presented in 95.0%. Complications appeared to be less common in our patients: iris bleeding was only seen in 5.0% cases; the postoperative inflammation was mild; corneal burns, localized lenticular opacities and closure of iridectomies were less frequent. The follow-up ranged from 3m to 6.5 years. The success rate in controlling IOP with/without medications were 99.0% except 2 eye failure. No attack occurred in 129 eyes with prophylactic laser therapy during the periods of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Combined procedure had much more advantage over either the argon or Nd: YAG laser iridectomy. It tended to be more preferable for Asian patients with heavily pigmented and thick irides.

Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody 225 up-regulates p27KIP1 and induces G1 arrest in prostatic cancer cell line DU145

Autocrine production of transforming growth factor alpha and overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may contribute to androgen-independent prostatic cancer growth at both primary and metastatic sites. Previously, we showed that human EGFR-blocking monoclonal antibody mAb225 inhibited the growth of DU145 human prostatic cancer cells. Here we explore the hypothesis that mAb225 may act by interfering with cell cycle traversal in these cells. Treatment with mAb225 induced G1 arrest, which was accompanied by a marked decrease in CDK2-, cyclin A-, and cyclin E-associated histone H1 kinase activities, and a sustained increase in cell cycle inhibitor p27KIP1. The increased p27KIP1 levels were attributable to elevation of both transcription and translation. CDK2 associated with p27KIP1 was increased in mAb225-treated DU145 cells. The retinoblastoma-related protein p130 remained hypophosphorylated in these retinoblastoma-negative cells. These studies demonstrate that the antiproliferative effect of EGFR blockade in DU145 cells may be mediated by up-regulation of p27KIP1 at both the mRNA and protein levels.

[The role of thermal injury on nitric oxide (NO) production by mouse macrophages and its possible mechanism]

To study the production NO by macrophages (M phi) after burn injury and the possible mechanism, we determined the NO production and the iNOS (inducible NO synthase) activity of peritoneal M phi (PM phi) in scald mouse, and the effect of iNOS specific blocker NMMA. Actinomycin D (AD) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), special inhibitor Genisteinon them in vitro. It was found that PM phi produced excessive NO in the early postburn phase and the iNOS activity was increased significantly, and there was a positive correlation between them. NMMA, AD as well as Genistein could inhibit the NO production, the activity of iNOS was decreased by both AD and Genistein. The results suggested that M phi was activated after thermal injury and it could produce NO excessively through initiating iNOS synthesis. PTK signal system was involved in the NO production by M phi via affecting the iNOS synthesis after burn injury.

Expression and activity of L-Myc in normal mouse development

To determine the role of L-Myc in normal mammalian development and its functional relationship to other members of the Myc family, we determined the normal patterns of L-myc gene expression in the developing mouse by RNA in situ hybridization and assessed the phenotypic impact of L-Myc deficiency produced through standard gene targeting methodology. L-myc transcripts were detected in the developing kidney and lung as well as in both the proliferative and the differentiative zones of the brain and neural tube. Despite significant expression of L-myc in developing mouse tissue, homozygous null L-myc mice were found to be viable, reproductively competent, and represented in expected frequencies from heterozygous matings. A detailed histological survey of embryonic and adult tissues, characterization of an embryonic neuronal marker, and measurement of cellular proliferation in situ did not reveal any congenital abnormalities. The lack of an apparent phenotype associated with L-Myc deficiency indicates that L-Myc is dispensable for gross morphological development and argues against a unique role for L-Myc in early central nervous system development as had been previously suggested. Although overlapping expression patterns among myc family members raise the possibility of complementation of L-Myc deficiency by other Myc oncoproteins, compensatory changes in the levels of c- and/or N-myc transcripts were not detected in homozygous null L-myc mice.

Analysis of glial fibrillary acidic protein, neurofilament protein, actin and heat shock proteins in human fetal brain during the second trimester

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the 66 kDa neurofilament protein (NF-66), actin, the 27 kDa heat shock protein (HSP27) and the 70 kDa constitutive heat shock protein (HSC70) were analyzed in human fetal brain during the second trimester, from 10 to 24 gestational weeks (GW). By immunohistochemistry, cell-type specific localization of GFAP and NF-66 in astrocytes and neurons, respectively, was confirmed. HSP27 was expressed mostly in the nuclear region of neurons and non-neuronal cells, and HSC70 was widely distributed throughout the tissue. By quantitative immunoblotting, GFAP was not detectable in gray matter of prefrontal cortex prior to 16 GW. Between 16 and 21 GW, the content of GFAP rose slowly. Thereafter, GFAP accumulated rapidly. The content of GFAP in different brain regions (prefrontal, parietal, and occipital cortices) differed significantly at 22 GW. In contrast, NF-66 was already highly expressed at 10 GW, slowly rose to maximal values by 18 GW, and thereafter remained stationary. In contrast to GFAP, the content of NF-66 was similar in different brain regions at 22 GW. Although actin was abundant throughout the second trimester, a sharp drop in its content in the prefrontal cortex was detected at 17 GW. To explain such a decrease, two heat shock proteins were analyzed. HSP27, known to modulate actin polymerization, was found to increase sharply at 16-17 GW. In contrast, HSC70 remained constant during the second trimester and was highly expressed in the fetal brain, at a level comparable to that in the adult brain.

[Combined argon and neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet laser peripheral iridectomy: a new approach in clinical practice]

Laser peripheral iridectomy was performed on 200 eyes (151 cases) with primary acute or chronic angle-closure glaucoma and partly with mixed glaucoma. Following argon laser creating an iridectomy in 2/3-3/4 iris thickness, neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG) laser shot was required to complete a patent iridectomy. This kind of procedure is simple and tends to be more preferable to Asian people with heavily pigmented and thick irides for which a perforation is difficult to be performed. The successful rate of performing a patent iris perforation was 100.0% and 95.0% of them were completed by once of shot. The intraoperative and postoperative complications of this combined procedure appeared to be significantly less than those of either one of them. 161 eyes were followed for more than 2 years. The objective criteria demonstrate that the long-term therapeutic effects of this combined technique are very good. It is recommended to use the procedure extensively in the out-patient clinics.

Experimental studies of the effect of Forskolin on the lowering of intraocular pressure

PURPOSE

To determine the effect of domestic Forskolin on lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbits.

METHODS

Measure the normal IOP and ocular hypertension by water load in rabbits using Perkins tonometer. Measure the adenylate cyclase (AC) activity by Ho & Sutherland's method.

RESULTS

The results show that Forskolin significantly lowered the normal IOP of rabbits and blocked the ocular hypertension induced by water load in rabbits (P < 0.01). The maximum decrease value of 2%, 1% and 0.5% of the Forskolin was 0.59, 0.36 and 0.19 kPa (1kPa = 7.5 mmHg), which showed the noticeable dose-effect relationship. Topical ocular application of Forskolin lowered IOP in half an hour, reached to a peak in 2-3 hours and remained significantly for 10 hours. The pupillary diameter did not change when IOP was reduced. The Forskolin had potent stimulative properties to AC. The greater the ability of the Forskolin to stimulate AC, the stronger the effect of IOP lowering.

CONCLUSIONS

The Forskolin had the effect on lowering the IOP of rabbits. The mechanism of IOP reduction by Forskolin is related to its AC activation.

Construction of murine coronavirus mutants containing interspecies chimeric nucleocapsid proteins

Targeted RNA recombination was used to construct mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) mutants containing chimeric nucleocapsid (N) protein genes in which segments of the bovine coronavirus N gene were substituted in place of their corresponding MHV sequences. This defined portions of the two N proteins that, despite evolutionary divergence, have remained functionally equivalent. These regions included most of the centrally located RNA-binding domain and two putative spacers that link the three domains of the N protein. By contrast, the amino terminus of N, the acidic carboxy-terminal domain, and a serine- and arginine-rich segment of the central domain could not be transferred from bovine coronavirus to MHV, presumably because these parts of the molecule participate in protein-protein interactions that are specific for each virus (or, possibly, each host). Our results demonstrate that targeted recombination can be used to make extensive substitutions in the coronavirus genome and can generate recombinants that could not otherwise be made between two viruses separated by a species barrier. The implications of these findings for N protein structure and function as well as for coronavirus RNA recombination are discussed.

Analysis of second-site revertants of a murine coronavirus nucleocapsid protein deletion mutant and construction of nucleocapsid protein mutants by targeted RNA recombination

The Alb4 mutant of the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is both temperature sensitive and thermolabile owing to a deletion in the gene encoding its nucleocapsid (N) protein. The deletion removes 29 amino acids that constitute a putative spacer region preceding the carboxyl-terminal domain of the protein. As a step toward understanding the structure and function of the MHV N protein, we isolated multiple independent revertants of Alb4 that totally or partially regained the ability to form large (wild-type-sized) plaques at the nonpermissive temperature. The N proteins of these revertant viruses concomitantly regained the ability to bind to RNA in vitro at a temperature that was restrictive for RNA binding by Alb4 N protein. Sequence analysis of the N genes of the revertants revealed that each contained a single second-site point mutation that compensated for the effects of the deletion. All reverting mutations were clustered within a stretch of 40 amino acids centered some 80 residues on the amino side of the Alb4 deletion, within a domain to which the RNA-binding activity of N had been previously mapped. By means of a targeted RNA recombination method that we have recently developed, two of the reverting mutations were introduced into a wild-type MHV genomic background. The resulting recombinants were stable and showed no gross phenotypic differences from the wild type. A detailed analysis of one, however, revealed that it was at a selective disadvantage with respect to the wild type.

[Evaluation of accuracy of measuring intraocular pressure by handheld non-contact applanation tonometer]

PURPOSE

To evaluate the accuracy of measuring intraocular pressure by handheld non-contact applanation tonometer.

METHOD

58 patients' (113 eyes) intraocular pressure were measured by Keeler, non-contact tonometer and R 900 Goldmann applanation tonometer and the results of measurement of intraocular pressure by the two kinds of tonometers were compared.

RESULT

The mean intraocular pressure measured by non-contact is 16.31 +/- 5.59 mmHg and 17.49 +/- 6.13 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.1333 kPa) by Goldmann applanation tonometer, respectively. There was no statistical significance to be found (P > 0.05) between the two methods. By linear correlation and regression analysis, a positive correlation was found between the two methods (r = 0.8942, b = 0.8154).

CONCLUSION

The handheld non-contact tonometer has the same accuracy and reliability of measurement of intraocular pressure comparing with Goldmann applanation tonometer, and it can be used in glaucoma clinic and screening.

[An experimental study on homoharringtonine and glaucoma surgery]

PURPOSE

To test the inhibiting effect of a Chinese herbal drug. Homoharringtonine (HH) on the wound healing process at the filtering site in an experimental model.

METHODS

Posterior sclerectomies were performed in 20 rabbits. Postoperatively one eye of each rabbit received subconjunctival injections of HH and fellow eye received saline injections in a randomized masked fashion.

RESULTS

14 days after operation, intraocular pressure decreased significantly compared with that of control (P < 0.05). The number of filtration blebs was greater than that of control (14/6). On pathological examination, the number of fibroblasts per square measure of cross section of tissue cut from filtration region that was diminished significantly compared with that of control (P < 0.01). There were no serious and permanent ocular toxic and side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that the HH can inhibit cicatrization at the glaucoma filtering site, promote the formation of filtering blebs and provide a sufficient evidence for the further clinical use of HH.

[The inhibitory effect of intraperitoneal hyperthermic and hypotonic chemotherapy on ascites cancer cells in mice]

To study the effect of inhibition of intraperitoneal hyperthermic hypotonic chemotherapy on the ascites cacer cells, LACA mice were given intraperitoneal injection of H22 cancer cells (2 x 10(7) tumor cell, each mouse). At 24 hours after the cancer injection, intraperitoneal simple hyperthermic (43 C) hypotonic fluid group (I), isotonic fluid group (II), cis-Diamminodichloroplatinum (DDP) group (IV) and hyperthermic hypotonic fluid perfusion combined with DDP group (V) were processed. The results showed that cancer cells in LACA mice peritoneal cavity were seriously damaged, the ascites growing was obviously inhibited, and the survival days of LACA mice were prolonged in all groups; however, the intraperitoneal hyperthermic hypotonic fluid perfusion with DDP group (V) presented greater effect compared with the other groups. This might be a new therapeutic procedure for the prevention and treatment of cancer ascites in the patients with digestive tract malignancies.

Mutagenesis of the genome of mouse hepatitis virus by targeted RNA recombination

Our laboratory has described a method for introducing site-specific mutations into the genome of the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) by RNA recombination between cotransfected genomic RNA and a synthetic subgenomic mRNA. By using a thermolabile N protein mutant of MHV as the recipient virus and synthetic RNA7 (the mRNA for the nucleocapsid protein N) as the donor, engineered recombinant viruses were selected as heat-stable progeny resulting from cotransfection. We have recently reported an optimization of the efficiency of targeted recombination in this process by using a synthetic defective interfering (DI) RNA in place of RNA7. The frequency of recombination is sufficiently high that recombinants can often be directly identified without employing a thermal selection. We present here a progress report on our use of this system to map MHV mutants and to construct N gene mutants which include (1) a mutant in which the internal open reading frame within the N gene (the I gene) has been disrupted, and (2) a series of recombinants in which portions of the MHV N gene have been replaced by the homologous regions from the N gene of bovine coronavirus. We also report on some mutants we have not been able to construct.

Effects of the seed sludge on the performance of UASB reactors for treatment of toxic wastewater

A comparative study of different sludges (anaerobic sewage sludge and anaerobic sewage sludge cultivated for 30 days) as the seed of UASB reactors for treatment of synthetic resin production wastewater was carried out on a laboratory scale. Significant differences in reactor performance were observed. With anaerobic sewage sludge seed, the reactor obtained a 71% COD removal efficiency and produced 2.94 dm3 biogas per dm3 wastewater under an organic loading rate of 4.5 kg COD m-3 day-1. The sludge in the reactor was diffuse and possessed poor settling ability, which led to effluent SS as high as 1200 mg dm-3. However, with anaerobic sewage sludge cultivated with synthetic substrate for 30 days as a seed, the same reactor gave 78% COD removal efficiency and produced 3.5 dm-3 biogas per dm3 wastewater at the same loading rate. Moreover, the sludge in the reactor was completely granulated and possessed good settling ability, which resulted in effluent SS as low as 200 mg dm-3. The granular sludge produced less biomass per gram COD removed than the diffused sludge. Anaerobic sewage sludge cultivated for a short time could form the nuclei of granules for the reactor, allowing granulation to proceed smoothly. Therefore, sludge nuclei are a prerequisite of sludge granulation in UASB reactors for treatment of toxic wastewater.

[A comparative study of homoharringtonine with 5-fluorouracil in filtering surgery]

With a prospective, randomized and double-masked control method, homoharringtonine(H.H) and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) were used in filtering surgery. We compared the effect and side effect of H.H with those of 5-FU. 24 eyes were in H.H group and 23 eyes in 5-FU group. An average follow-up of 18 months revealed: (1) the cumulative percentage of functioning bleb in H.H group (84.9%) was significantly higher than that in 5-FU group (62.2%) (P < 0.05); (2) the cumulative surgical success rate in H.H group (85.7%) was significantly higher than that in 5-FU group (61.1%) (P < 0.05); (3) the rate of corneal erosion in H.H group (20.8%) was significantly lower than that in 5-FU group (52.2%) (P < 0.05), the difference of other complications between H.H group and 5-FU group was not significant.

[Experimental study on cytoplasmic free calcium and antigen presentation function of peritoneal macrophage following severe scald]

A dynamic observation of cytoplasmic free calcium concentration (PM phi [Ca2+]i) and antigen presentation (AP) function was made in severely scalded mice. The results showed that [Ca2+]i of unstimulated PM phi in vitro increased significantly at 12, 24 and 72h postburn (PB), and the [Ca2+]i of PM phi stimulated by A23187 in vitro was also increased but not statistically significant at the same time points. These results suggested that PM phi was activated in vivo, even in a highly or over activated state. Severe scald caused the obvious depression of AP function of PM phi. This phenomenon, not only appearing very early but also persisting for a long time, might become the key factor of suppression of specific immune function PB. The changes in M phi activity in vivo might be the basic event of the M phi dysfunction after severe burns.

[Chemiluminescent immunoassay for anti-granulocyte antibody IgG]

In this paper is reported solid phase competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for anti-granulocyte antibody (AGAb) IgG with N-(4-amiobytul)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) labelled rabbit antibody IgG against granulocyte competing with the analyte and ABEI-CoCl2-H2O2 as the chemiluminescent system. The absolute limit of detection was 3.0 x 10(-14) mol ABEI/tube. One hundred and thirty one individuals were divided into three groups: leukocytopenic group (n = 58), control group (n = 41) and normal group (n = 32). Chemiluminescent index (CLI) was used as the diagnostic criterion for AGAb in serum. The results showed that the positive rate of the leukocytopenic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.005), and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the method were 43.1%, 90.2% and 62.6%, respectively.

Site-directed mutagenesis of the genome of mouse hepatitis virus by targeted RNA recombination

We have genetically characterized a nucleocapsid (N) protein mutant of the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). This mutant, designated Alb4, is both temperature-sensitive and thermolabile, and its N protein is smaller than wild-type N. Sequence analysis of the Alb4 N gene revealed that it contains an internal deletion of 87 nucleotides, producing an in-frame deletion of 29 amino acids. All of these properties of Alb4 made it ideal for use as a recipient in a targeted RNA recombination experiment in which the deletion in Alb4 was repaired by recombination with synthetic RNA7, the smallest MHV subgenomic mRNA. Progeny from a cotransfection of Alb4 genomic RNA and synthetic RNA7 were selected for thermal stability. PCR analysis of candidate recombinants showed that they had regained the material that is deleted in the Alb4 mutant. They also had acquired a five nucleotide insertion in the 3' untranslated region, which had been incorporated into the synthetic RNA7 as a molecular tag. The presence of the tag was directly verified, as well, by sequencing the genomic RNA of purified recombinant viruses. This provided a clear genetic proof that the Alb4 phenotype was due to the observed deletion in the N gene. In addition, these results demonstrated that it is possible to obtain stable, independently replicating progeny from recombination between coronaviral genomic RNA and a tailored, synthetic RNA species. To date, we have constructed three additional mutants by this procedure. For two of these, a second-site point mutation that reverts the Alb4 phenotype has been transduced into a wild type background, which does not contain the Alb4 deletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Narrow angle type of chronic simple glaucoma: a report of 9 cases]

Nine patients (16 eyes) with narrow angle type of chronic simple glaucoma were evaluated. Besides the general definition, narrow angle type of chronic simple glaucoma is a special type of primary open angle glaucoma which has a narrow and open angle on goniogscopy, no obvious difference on angle configuration at low or high IOP. Laser peripheral iridectomy may be a method of differential diagnosis in this type of glaucoma and may be relatively effective in preventing further attacks of acute angle closure glaucoma which is due to the lens continues to enlarge with age and causes pupillary block. The medical treatment is the first choice to deal with this type of glaucoma, while it can not be controlled, the filtering operations should be used in time.