[The relationship between prognosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma and Langerhans cell]

The operative tumor specimen of esophageal squamous carcinoma were studied with immunohistochemical (ABC) method S-100 protein staining. Under the light microscopy, we observed the morphology, number and distribution of Langerhan's cells (LC) in different portion of the tumor mass and its relationship with the pathological staging in 167 cases. We observed also the relationship between LC and the postoperative survival period in 127 cases followed for more than 3 years. These results suggested found that positive relation between the number of LC in the cancer nest and in the lymphfollicle with the increasing of TNM classification. The number of LC in the cancer nest significantly increased in state III and IV cases than II cases. On the contrary, the number of LC in the peritumor and interstitial tissue decreased while the TNM classification was increasing. These findings suggested that the survival period was shorter in patients whose LC had increased in the cancer nest, whereas the survival period would be longer in those patients whose LC had increased in the tissue around the tumor mass, in the mucosa near the tumor as well as in the interstitial tissue. These two points might be used as an immunological para-meter for the assessment of the prognosis.

[Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced pulmonary inflammatory response and effects of TNF in immunocompromised host (ICH)]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the pulmonary inflammatory response and TNF-mediated effects in ICH.

METHODS

ICH models of guinea pigs were induced successfully by receiving daily intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide (15mg.kg-1.d-1) plus daily subcutaneous injection of cortisone acetate (100mg.kg-1.d-1) for a total of 7 consecutive days. On the day after the final dose of drugs, guinea pigs were challenged intratracheally with LPS (200 micrograms/animal) and were lavaged before and 1, 3, 5, 8, 24 hours after challenged, respectively.

RESULTS

Five hours after LPS challenged, total counts of bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) cells and the proportion of PMN increased significantly. Although the counts of both PAM and PMN increased, the proportion of PAM decreased gradually accompanied by increase of the proportion of PMNs. Hematoxylin eosin stained lung sections after challenged with LPS showed an acute intraalveolar inflammatory response. After intra-tracheal injection of LPS, the TNF level in BALF progressively increased. Both the TNF level and PMN count started to increase at 1 hour after LPS challenge, peaked at 5 hours. The TNF level in serum did not increase markedly after intratracheal injection of LPS. In the development of an inflammatory response, a large amount of TNF were released in BALF, the level of TNF in BALF was closely matched the influx of PMN.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggested that TNF was one of the cytokines which mediated influx of PMNs and inflammation. High level of TNF released in BALF of ICH could induce the lung injury. The systemic inflammatory response of ICH was involving immunosuppressed state after intratracheal injection of LPS, however, strong intraalveolar inflammatory response still occurred, which reflected the phenomenon of "compartmentalization" in inflammatory response.

The use of micromachined surfaces to investigate the cell behavioural factors essential to osseointegration

OBJECTIVE

Although currently available implants can be used to achieve osseointegration under well-defined conditions, a greater understanding of cell behaviour is required to improve the designs and embark on actual tissue engineering.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We employed micromachined substrata to investigate some of the main behavioural responses of osteoblasts from rat fetal calvaria to surface topography. In particular, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), differential interference contrast microscopy, time-lapse cinemicrography, immunofluorescence, digital radiography and image analysis were used to investigate cell adhesion, cell shape and cytoskeleton distribution, tissue organization, cell differentiation, and microenvironment.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

A grooved surface permitted the attachment of more cells than a smooth one. Cell shape and cytoskeleton were strikingly influenced as early as 20 min after cell attachment, when the cytoskeleton begins to align with the topography. Some grooved surfaces appeared to promote osteogenesis in vitro as assessed by the production of bone-like nodules. Moreover, these nodules align with the topography in vitro, and preliminary results indicate that bone-like tissue also aligns with grooves when such surfaces are implanted in vivo.

[Thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma: report of 8 patients]

Eight patients with esophageal carcinoma were treated by VATS in our hospital since March 1995. Of the 8 patients, 2 had lower-middle segment esophageal carcinoma and 6 middle segment. The operations performed on seven patients were successful except one that had to be changed to thoractomy as a result of invasion of tumor. Techniques of VATS in treating esophageal carcinoma and indication were discussed.

[Basic study on evaluation of the fundus with monochromatic photography]

By using the monochromatic fundus photographic system we developed, fundus pictures of 93 normal subjects were taken under the illumination of 10 lights with varying wavelengths. A densitometer was used for evaluating these photographic results. Optimal illumination lights were selected respectively for photography of different layers of fundus details. The results showed that the degrees of contrast at the macula, optic nerve fiber layer, physiological cup of papilla, retinal artery and vein, optic nerve head, choroid striae are the highest under the illumination of light with wavelength 478nm, 478nm, 530nm, 570nm, 628nm and 628nm respectively. The visibility of nerve fiber layer in the subjects over 50 years old is the highest under the illumination of light with a wavelength of 530nm. However, the degrees of contrast of all their fundus structural details, especially the macula and nerve fiber layer, are lower than those of subjects under 50 years old photographed with the corresponding lights with optimal wavelengths (P < 0.01).

Biological activity assays of cell-free reassembled nuclei--injecting cell-free reassembled nuclei into unfertilized eggs can induce the eggs to cleave and reconstitute asters, and the injected nuclei undergo cell cycle changes

Nucleus may reassemble spontaneously in cell-free mixture of HeLa metaphase chromosomes, Xenopus egg extracts and ATP-regenerating system, and the nucleus shows some biological activities. It is found that, after being injected into unfertilized mature eggs, the cell-free reassembled nuclei can cause the eggs to cleave and reconstitute asters in their cytoplasm, and the injected nuclei undergo changes in response to cell cycle regulators stored in the eggs, and that reinjecting cytostatic factors (CSF) into the eggs can stabilize the eggs in mitotic phase, cause the nuclei disassembly and chromatin condensation to chromosomes.

[The distribution of SbV nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2) in host cell]

The distribution of SbV nsP2 has been observed by means of immunolabelling electron microscopy. The results showed that SbV nsP2 existed both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus of host cell. When the cDNA of SbV nsP2 was transfected in host cell, the nsP2 also accumulates in the nucleus.

Effects of FMLP and LPS on [Ca2+]i of peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leukocytes following onset of inflammation

Because a general study of activated neutrophils may have relevance to periodontal diseases and accompanying inflammation, we studied a function of mouse polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) that exude into the peritoneal cavity in response to inflammation caused by i.p. injection of 2% casein. The effects of E. coli-lipopolysaccharide (E-LPS) and a chemotactic factor, N-formyl-N-methionyl-N-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP), on the level of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in these PMNs were examined. From analysis made with a laser cytometer (ACAS 570), the PMNs in exudates harvested 3-9 h after the onset of inflammation were shown to undergo [Ca2+]i elevation in response to 10(-6) M FMLP. The peak concentration of [Ca2+]i elicited by FMLP was highest in exudate cells 6 h after casein injection. In addition, about 65% of the PMNs in the 3-h exudate were FMLP sensitive displaying an elevated [Ca2+]i, whereas more than 85% of them in 6- and 9-h exudates became FMLP sensitive. Also, the maximum level of [Ca2+]i after FMLP stimulation was potentiated by pretreatment of the cells with E-LPS (0.2 microgram/ml). The present study suggests that PMNs induced by casein injection and appearing in mouse peritoneal exudate at different times possess significantly different ability to undergo [Ca2+]i elevation, and different susceptibility toward a chemotactic factor, FMLP.

Lack of effect of recombinant platelet-derived growth factor on human neutrophil function

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been reported to induce chemotaxis, degranulation, and superoxide anion generation, and to increase the expression of CD11b/CD18 in human neutrophils; hence, it has been proposed as an important regulator of neutrophil function. Most of the studies on PDGF, however, have been complicated by the use of nonrecombinant PDGF or the use of mixed leukocyte cell preparations. Assessment of the effects of recombinant human PDGF-AB or -BB which display agonist activity against both PDGF receptor subtypes failed to demonstrate any effect of this peptide on neutrophil shape change, respiratory burst activity, CD11/CD18, or CD62-L expression, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation, or phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. This apparent lack of effect of PDGF was consistent with our findings that neutrophils display no specific 125I-PDGF-AB or -BB binding and lack detectable mRNA for PDGF alpha-receptor and beta-receptors. These data indicate that human neutrophils do not possess functional PDGF receptors and question previous reports of a functional effect of this peptide in these cells.

Lack of effect of recombinant platelet-derived growth factor on human neutrophil function

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been reported to induce chemotaxis, degranulation, and superoxide anion generation, and to increase the expression of CD11b/CD18 in human neutrophils; hence, it has been proposed as an important regulator of neutrophil function. Most of the studies on PDGF, however, have been complicated by the use of nonrecombinant PDGF or the use of mixed leukocyte cell preparations. Assessment of the effects of recombinant human PDGF-AB or -BB which display agonist activity against both PDGF receptor subtypes failed to demonstrate any effect of this peptide on neutrophil shape change, respiratory burst activity, CD11/CD18, or CD62-L expression, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate accumulation, or phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. This apparent lack of effect of PDGF was consistent with our findings that neutrophils display no specific 125I-PDGF-AB or -BB binding and lack detectable mRNA for PDGF alpha-receptor and beta-receptors. These data indicate that human neutrophils do not possess functional PDGF receptors and question previous reports of a functional effect of this peptide in these cells.

Diagnostic imaging of the larynx: autofluorescence of laryngeal tumours using the helium-cadmium laser

The use of tissue autofluorescence for the detection and localization of cancer of the larynx is described. In this pilot study, eight patients with probable carcinoma of the vocal folds underwent laryngoscopy in which the tissue autofluorescence spectra of normal and pathologically confirmed tumour tissue were acquired in vivo. Fluorescence images of the suspect areas were also acquired using the LIFE system (Xillix Technologies Corp.). The results suggest that the autofluorescence properties of laryngeal tissue, under 442 nm illumination, are similar to those of bronchial tissue and that the LIFE system has the potential to increase the accuracy of staging of cancer of the larynx and also to allow earlier diagnosis of tumours and their recurrence.

Optical properties of normal and carcinomatous bronchial tissue

To understand better the optical characteristics and autofluorescence properties of normal and carcinomatous bronchial tissue, we measured the absorption coefficient, scattering coefficient, and anisotropy factor from 400 to 700 nm. We made the measurements by using an integrating sphere with a collimated white-light beam to measure total reflectance and transmittance of samples. The unscattered transmittance of the samples was measured through polarized on-axis light detection. The inverse adding-doubling solution was utilized to solve the equation of radiative transfer and to determine the absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient. The scattering coefficient and anisotropy factor were derived from the unscattered transmittance of the sample and the reduced scattering coefficient. The measured parameters allow us to simulate photon propagation in normal bronchial and tumoral tissue by using Monte Carlo modeling.

[Nuclear reconstitution around purified HeLa chromosomes in a cell-free system from Xenopus eggs]

Activated Xenopus egg extracts are capable of reconstituting nucleus around the added DNA or chromatin. To understand better the nuclear reconstitution process and the structure of the assembled nucleus, we have developed a cell-free system using activated Xenopus egg extracts and metaphase chromosomes of HeLa cells. We demonstrate that the extracts are efficient promoting the decondensation of the metaphase chromosomes and the nuclear reconstitution around the chromosomes, and that the nuclear reconstitution is a precise process. The reassembled nucleus possesses a typical nuclear envelope, pore complexes, nuclear lamina, nuclear matrix, chromatin, etc., as shown by electron microscopy, embedment and embedment-free electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence method. We also found that the annulate lamellae directly take part in nuclear envelope and pore complex reconstitution by fusing with the double membrane, having reassembled on the surface of chromatin/chromosomes.

Regulation of inhibin secretion in human placental cell culture by epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factors, and activin

In this study, the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha), TGF beta 1, and activin-A on inhibin secretion were investigated in primary culture of human placental cells. Immunoreactive inhibin in the culture medium was measured by immunoenzymatic assay. EGF stimulated testosterone-induced inhibin secretion in placental cells. Although testosterone alone induced only a slight enhancement of inhibin release in the culture, treatment of trophoblast cells with EGF and testosterone caused a significant increase in inhibin secretion, with immunoreactive inhibin levels much higher than those of testosterone or EGF alone. TGF alpha combined with human placental lactogen (hPL) had a stimulatory effect on inhibin secretion in placental cell culture. Simple addition of either TGF alpha or hPL to the culture did not show any effect on inhibin secretion in placental cells. A remarkable augmentation of inhibin secretion was obtained after the trophoblasts were exposed to both TGF alpha and hPL simultaneously. TGF beta 1 and activin-A showed synergistic effects to suppress inhibin secretion in placental cells. TGF beta 1 alone did not show any action on inhibin secretion, and activin-A alone induced a small decrease in inhibin release in the culture. In the presence of activin-A, addition of TGF beta 1 to the culture induced a profound decrease in immunoreactive inhibin levels in the medium. Activin-A could also suppress hCG-induced inhibin secretion in placental cells. Addition of hCG alone resulted in a small, but not significant, increase in inhibin release in the cultured cells, whereas the presence of activin-A combined with hCG in the culture conversely decreased inhibin secretion in the culture, with immunoreactive inhibin levels significantly lower than those in the presence of hCG or activin-A alone. These findings suggest that EGF and TGF alpha, alone or in combination with other hormones, may be stimulators, and TGF beta and activin may act as suppressors of inhibin secretion in human placental cells.

Prostaglandins stimulate the secretion of inhibin from human placental cells

In this study, the effects of prostaglandins (PGs) on inhibin secretion were investigated in primary culture of human placental cells. Isolated trophoblast cells were cultured for 2-5 days with PGE1, PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGF2 alpha, and thromboxane B2. Inhibin levels in the culture medium were measured by immunoenzymatic assay. PGs significantly stimulated inhibin secretion in the cell culture. The addition of PGs (1 nM to 10 microM) to the culture resulted in dose-dependent increases in inhibin levels in the medium. At a dose of 10 microM, inhibin levels in the medium were increased by 35.2-172.5% compared to the control value. Compared with the efficacies of these PGs, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha enhanced inhibin secretion more potently than other tested PGs. A close correlation between the effects of PGs and the number of trophoblasts seeded in the culture was observed, with an optimal response of the cells to PGs at 1.0-2.0 x 10(6) cells/well. Time-course studies showed that a significant increment in inhibin levels in the PG-treated culture occurred after 48-120 h, but not during the first 24 h, of the culture, indicating a possible involvement of PGs in inhibin biosynthesis in the cells. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) could enhance PG-stimulated inhibin releases in the cell culture. Treatment with EGF (100 ng/mL) increased inhibin in the medium by 83.3% (ED50) in the presence of PGE2 or by 70.3% (ED50) in the presence of PGF2 alpha compared to the control values. The addition of 8-bromo-cAMP (100 microM) and cholera toxin (1000 ng/mL) to the culture also enhanced basal and PG-induced inhibin secretion, but the addition of the 4-bromo-calcium ionophore A23187 (1 microM) did not alter inhibin releases, suggesting that the stimulatory effects of PGs on inhibin secretion in placental cells may be mediated through the cAMP pathway. In the cell cultures treated with PGE and PGF2 alpha, there was no change in cell growth or intracellular DNA content, as measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and DNA determination with fluorescence spectrophotometry. Morphological studies showed that PGE2 alpha (1 microM), alone or combined with EGF (100 ng/mL), significantly accelerated the process of differentiation from cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblasts, indicating that the actions of PGs may be related to their effects on syncytial transformation, rather than cellular proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A fundus photographic method with narrow spectral band luminance

We perfected the narrow spectral band fundus photographic system using interference filters at the wavelengths of 417, 478, 500, 530, 547, 570, 589, 607, 628 and 648 nm. Tests about the light penetration of filters and exposure of various brand films were made on this system. Studies of the contrast of fundal tissues and structures under the different narrow spectral band light were made on 43 Chinese fellow eyes. The results indicates that the interference filters of 570 nm have the highest light penetration. Kodak and Gongyuan films (make in China) are the optimal ones. Narrow spectral band fundus photography can eliminate the chromatic aberration and therefore improve the documentation of fundal details, enhance the contrast of pictures as compared with routine white light fundus photography.

Effect of epidermal growth factor on inhibin secretion in human placental cell culture

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on inhibin secretion was investigated in a primary culture of human placental cells. Dissociated cells were cultured with EGF, FSH, 8-Br-cAMP, and two agents known to increase intracellular cAMP. Inhibin level in the culture medium was measured by immunoenzymatic assay. Addition of EGF (0.1-1000 ng/ml) in the cell culture induced a dose-dependent increase of inhibin levels in the medium after 2 days of culture. Greater response of placental cells to EGF in the inhibin secretion occurred at the doses of 10-1000 ng/ml, where inhibin levels in the medium increased by 84.9-111.5% compared to the control (P < 0.01). FSH stimulated the inhibin secretion in the placental cells. EGF combined with FSH resulted in a greater response of placental cells in inhibin secretion. Addition of FSH (30 ng/ml) and EGF (0.1-1000 ng/ml) in the culture induced inhibin levels significantly higher than that of either FSH alone or EGF alone (P < 0.01). The effect of EGF on inhibin secretion was closely correlated with the seeding density of trophoblasts and the time course of culture. Obvious effect of EGF was found at the number of 1-2 x 10(6) cells per well and after 36-48 h of culture. Addition of 8-Br-cAMP, cholera toxin, or forskolin in the culture increased the inhibin levels more than 6-fold, 5-fold, and 2-fold, compared to the controls, respectively. When EGF combined with one of these agents was added in the culture, the inhibin in the medium increased to a level higher than those with the individual agents alone. EGF resulted in an increase in basal and cAMP induced human CG secretions in the trophoblasts in a similar manner as in the inhibin secretion. However, the effect of EGF on the proliferation of trophoblasts was not observed by measurements of the cell growth with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and DNA content in the cells with fluorescence spectrophotometry. Morphological study showed that EGF induced trophoblasts to differentiate and form syncytium. These data suggest that EGF stimulates inhibin secretion in human placental cells in vitro. EGF and its interaction with other hormones or growth factors may play an important role in the complicated hormonal regulation during human pregnancy.

Prenatal identification of a 45,X/46,Xder(Y) mosaicism and confirmation by high resolution cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization

A 45,X/46,Xder(Y) mosaicism detected prenatally was shown to have a rare Y inversion-duplication or Y/Y translocation which can only be identified by a combination of high resolution cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The present data indicate the usefulness and importance of chromosome-specific probes in the identification and characterization of chromosome rearrangements.

[Protective effects of Panax quinquefolium saponin on oxidative damage of cultured rat cardiac cells]

When cultured cardiac cells of rats were exposed to X-XOD containing medium, the absolute values of electronic parameters were decreased the percentage of beating clusters reduced and the microscopic structure destroyed. PQS significantly converted all the indices, which shows that PQS can protect the cells from oxidative damage.

Changes in bioactive and immunoactive inhibin levels around human labor

The changes in bioinhibin (B-inhibin) and immunoinhibin (I-inhibin) levels were studied in the serum of healthy term pregnant women by ovine pituitary cell culture and immunoenzymatic assay systems before and 24 h after delivery. In the maternal serum, a sharp decline in both B-inhibin and I-inhibin levels was observed within first 6 h after delivery. B-inhibin and I-inhibin in maternal serum were 3.45 +/- 0.25 and 3.77 +/- 0.43 U/mL, respectively, before labor and decreased by 35.82% and 38.89% 30 min after labor. One hour after delivery, B-inhibin and I-inhibin were reduced by 56.74% and 61.48%, respectively. After 6 h, B-inhibin and I-inhibin levels were lowered by 93.86% and 78.90%, respectively. Twenty-four hours later, both inhibins were nearly undetectable. In the retroplacental serum, B-inhibin and I-inhibin were 4.92 +/- 0.34 and 10.13 +/- 1.16 U/mL, respectively, i.e. 42.48% and 168.60% higher than the levels of B-inhibin (P less than 0.05) and I-inhibin (P less than 0.001) in maternal serum before delivery. In the umbilical cord serum, the B-inhibin concentration was 0.75 +/- 0.16 U/mL, whereas the I-inhibin concentration was 9.58 +/- 0.75 U/mL, which was much higher than that of B-inhibin (P less than 0.001). No difference was found in B-inhibin or I-inhibin levels in the serum samples collected separately from umbilical arteries and veins (P greater than 0.05). In addition, inhibin levels were measured in amniotic fluid and placental extract. In amniotic fluid, B-inhibin and I-inhibin concentrations were 2.37 +/- 0.35 and 8.01 +/- 0.55 U/mL, respectively. In the comparison, B-inhibin in amniotic fluid was 31.3% lower than that in maternal serum before delivery (P less than 0.05), but I-inhibin was 112.5% higher than that in the maternal serum (P less than 0.001). In the placental extract, the B-inhibin concentration was 12.80 +/- 0.35 U/g tissue, while the I-inhibin concentration was 33.86 +/- 2.93 U/g tissue, which was more than twice as high as the B-inhibin level (P less than 0.001). Our data provide further evidence that inhibin may be mainly produced in the placenta during pregnancy.

Inhibin production and secretion in human placental cells cultured in vitro

In this study, human trophoblast cells were isolated from term placentas by trypsin-DNase digestion and Percoll gradient centrifugation. After the cells were cultured in vitro, bioactive inhibin and immunoreactive inhibin were measured in the culture medium and cellular lysate by an ovine pituitary cell culture system and an immunoenzymatic assay. The trophoblast cells were capable of producing inhibin, as indicated by the observation that enhancement of inhibin content and secretion was dependent upon the cell number and time in culture. High levels of inhibin were observed in the culture medium and the cellular lysate with cell numbers of over 1 x 10(6) cells/well, whereas the inhibin levels decreased until they were nearly undetectable when the cell number was less than 0.25 x 10(6) cells/well. In the culture medium, a sharp increase of inhibin levels was observed after 2 days of culture. Bio-inhibin and immuno-inhibin concentrations in the culture medium increased tenfold and fourfold, respectively, from day 2 to day 4. The peak level of bio-inhibin (3.5 U/mL) occurred on day 4 and that of immuno-inhibin (3.55 U/mL) on day 6. In contrast, the maximal level of bio-inhibin (4.45 U/mL) and immuno-inhibin (4.25 U/mL) in the cellular lysate was observed on day 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A study on the diagnosis of drowning by examination of lung chlorophyll(a) of planktons with a spectrofluorophotometer

An investigation on the diagnosis of drowning by analysis of chlorophyll(a) (Chl.(a)) of planktons in the lung sample with a spectrofluorophotometer (SFPM) is reported. The diagnostic criteria or main points of death by drowning are suggested are according to our experimental studies. Meanwhile two cases of submersion in water were investigated and the causes of death were diagnosed correctly. It is concluded that examination of lung Chl.(a) of planktons could be used as a reliable diagnostic method in forensic practice.