A quantitative method to measure telomerase activity by bioluminescence connected with telomeric repeat amplification protocol

Telomerase is expected to be a new biomarker for cancer diagnosis. The telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) is a sensitive method to detect telomerase activity. However, TRAP and its modified protocols are not always suitable for measuring telomerase activity of a large number of clinical samples to diagnosis cancer because these methods generally require a time-consuming detection step such as gel electrophoresis. To improve the procedure for mass diagnosis, we applied bioluminescence to replace the detection step. Telomerase activity is measured by evaluating the amount of inorganic pyrophosphate generated in PCR amplification of telomerase elongation product, with use of the sensitive enzymatic luminometric inorganic pyrophosphate detection assay (ELIDA). TRAP connected with ELIDA (TRAP-ELIDA) can quantitatively detect telomerase activity within linearity from 2 to 1000 cell equivalents. The ELIDA signals accorded with results of TRAP-SYBR green staining, and the results of ELIDA were significantly correlated to those of TRAP connected with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TRAP-ELISA) (r(2) = 0.992, P < 0.001). TRAP-ELIDA is a simple and sensitive method to quantify telomerase activity without time-consuming gel electrophoresis. Because TRAP-ELIDA measures telomerase activity with a luminometer, it could be applied to a large number of clinical samples at the same time.

[Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombospondin-1 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis]

OBJECTIVE

To detect the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and thrombospondin (TSP)-1 mRNA in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis.

METHODS

Thirty-two specimens of ovarian endometrioma, 12 red peritoneal lesion, 8 uterosacral ligament nodule, and 30 matched eutopic endometrium were biopsied from 38 patients with endometriosis, another 25 specimens of endometrium were biopsied from women without endometriosis. Reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern Blot analysis were utilized to examine VEGF mRNA and TSP-1 mRNA expression and their relative levels in the above endometrium.

RESULTS

Among endometriotic lesions, red peritoneal lesion expressed higher level of VEGF and lower level of TSP-1, whereas ovarian endometrioma expressed lower level VEGF and higher level of TSP-1. Eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis had higer level of VEGF expression and lower level of TSP-1 expression than women without endometriosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of VEGF and TSP-1 in endometriotic lesion appears to be associated with its neovalscualization extent. The imbalance in expression of VEGF and TSP-1 in endometrium might be related to the development of endometriosis and its biological behavior.

Synthesis, structure, electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry of hypervalent phosphorus(V) octaethylporphyrins and theoretical analysis of the nature of the PO bond in P(OEP)(CH(2)CH(3))(O)

A variety of phosphorus(V) octaethylporphyrin derivatives of the type [P(OEP)(X)(Y)](+)Z(-) (OEP: octaethylporphyrin) (X = CH(3), CH(2)CH(3), C(6)H(5), F; Y = CH(3), CH(2)CH(3), OH, OCH(3), OCH(2)CH(3), On-Pr, Oi-Pr, Osec-Bu, NHBu, NEt(2), Cl, F, O(-); Z = ClO(4), PF(6)) were prepared. X-ray crystallographic analysis of eleven compounds reveals that the degree of ruffling of the porphyrin core becomes greater and the average P-N bond distance becomes shorter as the axial ligands become more electronegative. Therefore, the electronic effect of the axial substituents plays a major role in determining the degree of ruffling although the steric effect of the substituents plays some role. A comparison of the (1)H NMR chemical shifts for the series of [P(OEP)(CH(2)CH(3))(Y)](+)Z(-) complexes with those of the corresponding arsenic porphyrins, which possess a planar core, indicates a much smaller ring current effect of the porphyrin core in the severely ruffled phosphorus porphyrins. The electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and ESR spectroscopy of the singly reduced compounds are also discussed. The OH protons of [P(OEP)(X)(OH)](+) are acidic enough to generate P(OEP)(X)(O) by treatment with aq dilute NaOH. X-ray analysis of P(OEP)(CH(2)CH(3))(O) reveals that the PO bond length is very short (1.475(7) A) and is comparable to that in triphenylphosphine oxide (1.483 A). The features of the quite unique hexacoordinate hypervalent compounds are investigated by density functional calculation of a model (Por)P(CH(2)CH(3))(O) and (Por)P(F)(O) (Por: unsubstituted porphyrin).

Electronic spectroscopy and excited state dynamics of the Al-H2/D2 complex

The electronic spectra of the Al-H2 and Al-D2 complexes are investigated in a collaborative experimental and theoretical study. The complexes were prepared in a pulsed supersonic beam and detected with laser fluorescence excitation spectroscopy. Transitions to bound vibrational levels in electronic states correlating with the excited-state Al(3d, 4p, 4d) + H2/D2 asymptotes were observed by monitoring emission from lower excited Al atomic levels, formed in the non-radiative decay of the excited complex. Fluorescence depletion has also been used to verify that the observed Al-H2 bands all involve the same molecular carrier. The bands have been assigned to the more strongly bound Al-oH2 and Al-pD2 nuclear spin modifications. In contrast to our previous observations for Al(5s)-H2 [X. Yang and P. J. Dagdigian, J. Chem. Phys., 1998, 109, 8920], for which only one potential energy surface (PES) emanates from the dissociation asymptote, the Lorentzian widths of the different vibrational bands in the 3d, 4p, 4d<--3p transitions vary widely, in some cases allowing resolution of the rotational structure of the bands. With the help of the calculated Al(3p)-oH2/pD2 dissociation energies, binding energies of the observed excited vibronic levels are reported. The mechanism of predissociation is investigated theoretically through ab initio calculation of C2 nu cuts of the excited PESs. It is concluded that predissociation occurs through coupling with the repulsive Al(4s)-H2 PES. With these calculations, a qualitative interpretation of the observed bands could be made.

The cross-sectional study of the health effects of occupational exposure to carbon disulfide in a Chinese viscose plant

This article presents results of carbon disulfide exposure assessment in a Chinese viscose rayon factory and represents the cross-sectional study beginning phase of the occupational epidemiological project. The authors measured external exposure levels to carbon disulfide at a Chinese viscose rayon factory and monitored results as internal exposure indexes by testing urine samples of workers exposed to carbon disulfide levels. The rate at which carbon disulfide is metabolized by exposed subjects was demonstrated by 2-thio-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) concentrations in urine of exposed subjects, which was studied to determine best time points for internal exposure sampling. Carbon disulfide concentrations in the air of the workplace were analyzed with gas chromatography with flame photometric detector (GC-FPD); presence of TTCA in urine samples of subjects was determined using a modified high-performance liquid chromatography method. Kinetics of TTCA excretion was studied by analysis at different time points during and after exposure of workers to carbon disulfide. A total of 155 personal samples were obtained. Carbon disulfide concentration at staple viscose hall was found to be 13.72 +/- 1.12 mg/m3 in terms of geometric mean and geometric standard deviation. Carbon disulfide concentration at filament spinning hall was found to be 20.05 +/- 1.33 mg/m3. TTCA values of subjects at staple spinning hall were 1.18 +/- 0.43 and 1.07 +/- 0.38 mg/g creatinine for subjects working at filament spinning hall. The best time for TTCA sampling is at the end of the exposure-working shift.

Improvement in holographic storage capacity by use of double-random phase encryption

We show that a double-random encryption technique can improve the storage capacity of an angular-multiplexed holographic memory system. In the holographic memory system, input binary images are encrypted into white-noise-like images by use of two random phase masks located at the input and the Fourier planes. These encrypted images are stored as holograms in a photorefractive medium by use of angular multiplexing. All the images are encrypted by different sets of random phase masks. Even when the angle separation between adjacent images is small enough to cause cross talk between adjacent images, original binary data can be recovered with the correct phase mask; the other reconstructed images remain white-noise-like images because incorrect masks are used. Therefore the capacity of the proposed system can be larger than that of a conventional holographic memory system without the random phase encryption technique. Numerical evaluation and experimental results are presented to confirm that the capacity of the system with random phase masks is larger than that of the conventional memory system.

[A lumped parameter model of the peripheral extra-corporeal circulation]

A three-element model of lumped parameter in peripheral extra-corporeal circulation of an animal has been proposed and set up according to the fluid network theory. GEAR method, appropriate for the computation of the rigid problems, was used to solve the ordinary differential equations, so that a good convergence of the solution to the equations has been achieved. Physiological data of a 20 kg dog, obtained from our animal experiments were used to calculate the pressure and flow rate of important organs. The results of the mathematical model and animal tests showed that the peripheral extra-corporeal circulation could supply enough blood to the important organs, e.g. heart and brain, when the natural heart beating stopped. The results from both theoretical and experiments are critical to the cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation for the animals as well as for human beings.

Three new sesquiterpene glycosides from Dendrobium nobile with immunomodulatory activity

Dendroside A (1) and dendronobilosides A and B (2 and 3), three new sesquiterpene glycosides, have been isolated from the stems of Dendrobium nobile, a plant used in Chinese traditional medicine. Their structures and stereochemistry were determined as 10beta,12,14-trihydroxyalloaromadendrane 14-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 10,12-dihydroxypicrotoxane 10,12-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), and 6alpha,10,12-trihydroxypicrotoxane 10-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical methods. Quantum chemistry calculations were used in support of the structural determination of 1. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to stimulate the proliferation of murine T and B lymphocytes in vitro, while compound 3 showed inhibitory activity in this same assay.

Internight reliability and benchmark values for computer analyses of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM EEG in normal young adult and elderly subjects

OBJECTIVE

To determine the reliability of computer measured non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM frequency bands in the 0.3-45 Hz range and to provide benchmark data for these measures in young normal (YN) and elderly normal (EN) subjects (Ss).

METHODS

Sleep EEG was recorded in 19 YN and 19 EN Ss on 4 non-consecutive baseline nights and simultaneously quantified as fast Fourier transform (FFT) power and 3 zero-cross period-amplitude (PA) measures: integrated amplitude, time in band and average wave amplitude.

RESULTS

The shapes of both the FFT and PA spectra differed among Ss but were highly consistent within individuals. Inter-night reliability of the separate frequency bands was correspondingly high. Despite substantial age effects, the reliability of computer-measured sleep EEG in the elderly equaled that of the YN Ss. Within both the YN and EN groups, the shapes of the NREM and REM spectral curves differed significantly. The NREM and REM also differed significantly in the two age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Computer-measured sleep EEG is highly reliable across non-consecutive nights in both young and elderly normal Ss. The trait-like stability of these measures suggests they are genetically determined. This possibility is supported by twin study data that show strong heritability for FFT-measured waking EEG. The different shapes of NREM and REM spectra add further evidence that these are fundamentally different states of brain organization. The age differences in spectral shape, along with PA data for wave incidence, demonstrate that age effects on sleep EEG are not caused by changes in skull impedance or other non-cerebral factors.

Phosphorylation of p90rsk during meiotic maturation and parthenogenetic activation of rat oocytes: correlation with MAP kinases

This paper reports on the activation of p90rsk during meiotic maturation and the inactivation of p90rsk after electrical parthenogenetic activation of rat oocytes. In addition, the correlation between p90rsk and MAP kinases after different treatments was studied. We assessed p90rsk activity by examining its electrophoretic mobility shift on SDS-PAGE and evaluated ERK1+2 activity by both mobility shift and a specific antibody against phospho-MAP kinase. The phosphorylation of p90rsk during rat oocyte maturation was a sequential process that may be divided into two stages: the first stage was partial phosphorylation, which was irrelevant with MAP kinases because p90rsk phosphorylation took place prior to activation of MAP kinases. The second stage inferred full activation occurred at the time when MAP kinases began to be activated (3 h after germinal visicle breakdown). Evidence for the involvement of MAP kinases in the p90rsk phosphorylation was further obtained by the following approaches: (1) okadaic acid (OA) accelerated the phosphorylation of both MAP kinases and p90rsk; (2) OA induced phosphorylation of both MAP kinases and p90rsk in the presence of IBMX; (3) when activation of MAP kinases was inhibited by cycloheximide, p90rsk phosphorylation was also abolished; (4) dephosphorylation of p90rsk began to take place at 3 h post-activation, temporally correlated with the completion of MAP kinase inactivation; (5) phosphorylation of both kinases was maintained in oocytes that failed to form pronuclei after stimulation; (6) OA abolished the dephosphorylation of both kinases after parthenogenetic activation. Our data suggest that MAP kinases are not required for early partial activation of p90rsk but are required for full activation of p90rsk during rat oocyte maturation, and that p90rsk dephosphorylation occurs following MAP kinase inactivation after parthenogenetic activation of rat oocytes.

Carbon disulfide exposure assessment in a Chinese viscose filament plant

Carbon disulfide is a well-known occupational hazard in the viscose industry, and studies have shown considerable health effects when workers are exposed to high concentrations of this reagent. At exposure levels below the TLV-TWA(31 mg/m3), findings remain contradictory, probably due to deficient exposure data. The present study tries to identify the occupational hazards and thoroughly assess the exposure levels in a Chinese viscose rayon plant.

METHODS

An industrial hygienic field survey and a sampling campaign were carried out, including multi-gas monitoring, on-line measurements, and stationary assessment in the spinning hall as well as personal exposure sampling for spinners (by charcoal tube absorbing and GC-FPD analysis). All data was introduced into Foxpro database, and analyzed by Epi info (6.04) and SPSS.

RESULTS

On-line measurement showed that the geometric mean (GM) of carbon disulfide exposure amounted to 12.73 mg/m3 in 'exposure' and 0.08 mg/m3 in 'non-exposure' worksites. These concentrations in the air were related to the subject's activities showing the highest levels when they had to open the shield windows of the spinning machines. Stationary exposure measurements of carbon disulfide in the spinning hall amounted to 23.29 mg/m3 GM (range 5.8-97.94 mg/m3). Personal exposure of spinners was about 17.3 mg/m3 GM. Comparing these methods, the personal exposure sampling could exactly express the exposure levels of the worker's contacting situation. The on-line measurement by multi-gas monitor might also be recommended to the factory as it has its own advantages of rapid and independent assessment, but it under-estimates the exposure level.

Secure optical memory system with polarization encryption

A novel secure holographic memory system with polarization encoding is proposed. Two-dimensional original data are encoded as a two-dimensional polarization distribution. The polarization state at each pixel is scrambled by a mask that changes the polarization state into a random state. The mask can rotate the direction of the principal axes of the elliptically polarized light and can change the phase retardation at each pixel. The light with the random polarization state is stored as a hologram that can produce the vector phase-conjugate beam. In the decryption the vector phase-conjugation readout can recover the original polarization state by use of the same mask used in the encryption. Experimental results of encryption and decryption with a bacteriorhodopsin film are presented.

[Study on FM100-HUE color vision in male workers exposed to lower concentration of carbon disulfide]

The effect of CS2 on color vision in workers exposed to CS2 was explored. The color discrimination in 191 exposed and 93 non-exposed male workers was studied by a Farnsworth Munsell 100-HUE (FM100-HUE) test. The results showed that the time weighted average (TWA) concentration of CS2, determined by Japan GC-17A gas chromatography, was (14.75 +/- 6.89) mg/m3 in a long rayon workshop and (16.30 +/- 5.42) mg/m3 in a short rayon workshop. Higher FM100-HUE color vision score was often in the exposed group (106.9) than in the controls (78.3). The discrimination to green and blue zone was also significantly impaired (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the color vision was disturbed in workers exposed to CS2. The workers should be followed by health surveillance.

A simple method for computer quantification of stage REM eye movement potentials

We describe a simple method for computer quantification of eye movement (EM) potentials during REM sleep. This method can be applied by investigators using either period-amplitude (PA) or Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) spectral EEG analysis without special hardware or computer programming. It provides good correlations with visual ratings of EM in baseline sleep and after administration of GABAergic hypnotics. We present baseline data for both PA and FFT measures for 16 normal subjects, studied for 5 consecutive nights. Both visually rated and computer-measured EM density (EMD) showed high night-to-night correlations across baseline and drug nights and the computer measures detected the EMD suppression that is produced by GABAergic drugs. Measurement of EM in addition to stage REM provides biologically significant information and application of this simple computer method, which does not require pattern recognition algorithms or special hardware, could provide reliable data that can be compared across laboratories.

[The effects of low birth weight, gestational age on lung function in childhood]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of low birth weight, gestational age on lung function in later childhood.

METHODS

Height, body weight and lung function were measured in a cohort of 35 children with low birth weight (aged 6 approximately 9 y) and 35 healthy controls matched for sex and age with normal birth weight. At the same time, we inquired their gestational age and passive smoking history. The correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between lung function in these children and birth weight and gestational age.

RESULTS

FVC, FEV(1), FEV(1)% pred, V(75), V(50), V(50%) Pred, (V(25%) Pred in children with low birth weight were significantly lower than those in children with normal birth weight (P < 0.05). The lung function statistically positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.245 approximately 0.365, P < 0.05), but not with gestational age (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Low birth weight was positively correlated with most lung function parameters in childhood.

[A cross-sectional study on the promotion and execution of "the practiced guidelines for the management of common malignant gynecological tumors"]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the promotion and execution of "the practice guidelines for the management of common malignant gynecological tumors (draft)" (guidelines).

METHODS

Cross sectional study was applied. All obstetricians and gynecologists (Obs/Gyns) who attended the Chinese Medical Association's Senior Workshop for Department Chairmen of Obstetrics and Gynecology were included.

RESULTS

Three hundred and fifty Obs/Gyns were inquired, while two hundred and eighty-one questionnaires were available. Ninety percent (253/281) of Obs/Gyns declared that they had read the guidelines, and 96.4% (271/281) of them thought it necessary to establish the guidelines. In those Obs/Gyns who read the guidelines, 87.7% (222/253) of them managed gynecological tumors according to the guidelines. In those who did not read the guidelines, most were obstetricians or worked in special hospitals, while all gynecological oncologists read the guidelines. In addition, there were still many suggestions on the guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The guidelines has been playing a role in the management of common malignant gynecological tumors and need to be revised regularly.

Brownian dynamics simulations of interaction between scorpion toxin Lq2 and potassium ion channel

The association of the scorpion toxin Lq2 and a potassium ion (K(+)) channel has been studied using the Brownian dynamics (BD) simulation method. All of the 22 available structures of Lq2 in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank (PDB) determined by NMR were considered during the simulation, which indicated that the conformation of Lq2 affects the binding between the two proteins significantly. Among the 22 structures of Lq2, only 4 structures dock in the binding site of the K(+) channel with a high probability and favorable electrostatic interactions. From the 4 candidates of the Lq2-K(+) channel binding models, we identified a good three-dimensional model of Lq2-K(+) channel complex through triplet contact analysis, electrostatic interaction energy estimation by BD simulation and structural refinement by molecular mechanics. Lq2 locates around the extracellular mouth of the K(+) channel and contacts the K(+) channel using its beta-sheet rather than its alpha-helix. Lys27, a conserved amino acid in the scorpion toxins, plugs the pore of the K(+) channel and forms three hydrogen bonds with the conserved residues Tyr78(A-C) and two hydrophobic contacts with Gly79 of the K(+) channel. In addition, eight hydrogen-bonds are formed between residues Arg25, Cys28, Lys31, Arg34 and Tyr36 of Lq2 and residues Pro55, Tyr78, Gly79, Asp80, and Tyr82 of K(+) channel. Many of them are formed by side chains of residues of Lq2 and backbone atoms of the K(+) channel. Thirteen hydrophobic contacts exist between residues Met29, Asn30, Lys31 and Tyr36 of Lq2 and residues Pro55, Ala58, Gly79, Asp80 and Tyr82 of the K(+) channel. These favorable interactions stabilize the association between the two proteins. These observations are in good agreement with the experimental results and can explain the binding phenomena between scorpion toxins and K(+) channels at the level of molecular structure. The consistency between the BD simulation and the experimental data indicates that our three-dimensional model of Lq2-K(+) channel complex is reasonable and can be used in further biological studies such as rational design of blocking agents of K(+) channels and mutagenesis in both toxins and K(+) channels.

Influence of flanking sequence context on the mutagenicity of acetylaminofluorene-derived DNA adducts in mammalian cells

Site-specifically modified oligodeoxynucleotides were used to explore the influence of neighboring base sequence context on the mutagenic potential of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene (dG-AAF) and N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-AF) in mammalian cells. Oligodeoxynucleotides ((5)(')TCCTCCTNXNCTCTC, where X is dG-AAF, dG-AF, or dG and N is C, A, G, or T) with different bases flanking the lesion were incorporated into a single-strand shuttle plasmid vector and used to establish the mutational frequency and specificity of dG-AAF and dG-AF adducts in simian kidney (COS-7) cells. Vectors containing dG-AAF promote preferential incorporation of dCMP at the site of the lesion; misincorporation of dAMP and dTMP also was observed. Mutational frequencies range from 11 to 23%. High mutational frequencies (18-23%) were observed when G or T was positioned 5' to dG-AAF and a lower frequency (11%) when C was 5' to the lesion. dCMP was predominantly incorporated opposite the dG-AF adduct when C, A, or T was 5' to the lesion; dAMP and dTMP were misincorporated at a frequency of 2-4%. With G 5' to the lesion, the overall mutational frequency for dG-AF ranged between 11 and 70%; the highest value occurred when C was the 3' flanking base, and the predominant mutation event was G --> T transversion (59%). We conclude from these experiments that dG-AAF and dG-AF promote G --> T transversions and G --> A transitions in mammalian cells. The mutational frequency and specificity of dG-AF vary significantly, depending on the nature of the bases flanking the lesion.

[Influence of moderate hypothermia on the contents of 6-KETO-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 in brain tissues after cardiac arrest and resuscitation in dogs]

To investigate the effect of moderate hypothermia of whole brain (30 degrees C to 32 degrees C) on the levels of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 in brain tissues after cardiac arrest and resuscitation. Twenty-one dogs were divided into four groups: Group A, nonischemic controls (n = 4); Group B, 15 minute cardiac arrest without reperfusion (n = 4); Group C, 15 minute cardiac arrest and standard resuscitation (n = 6); Group D, 15 minute cardiac arrest and moderate hypothermia (30 degrees C-32 degrees C). The results showed that as compared with those in Group A, the 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha levels remained substantially unchanged in Group C and D (P > 0.05), and the levels of TXB2 and TXB2/6-Keto-PGF1 alpha ratio increased significantly in Group C (P < 0.01), but both maintained basically stable in Group D (P > 0.05). In comparison with those in Group C, the levels of TXB2 and TXB2/6-Keto-PGF1 alpha ratio decreased dramatically (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the moderate hypothermia can depress the arachidonic acid metabolism and keep a certain balance between the activities of TXA2 and PGI2 during cerebral resuscitation.

Transcriptional analysis of Marek's disease virus glycoprotein D, I, and E genes: gD expression is undetectable in cell culture

The various alphaherpesviruses, including Marek's disease virus (MDV), have both common and unique features of gene content and expression. The entire MDV U(s) region has been sequenced in our laboratory (P. Brunovskis and L. F. Velicar, Virology 206:324-338, 1995). Genes encoding the MDV glycoprotein D (gD), glycoprotein I (gI), and glycoprotein E (gE) homologs have been found in this region, although no gG homolog was found. In this work, transcription of the tandem MDV gD, gI, and gE genes was studied and found to have both unique characteristics and also features in common with other alphaherpesviruses. MDV gD could not be immunoprecipitated from MDV GA-infected duck embryo fibroblast cells by antisera reactive to its TrpE fusion proteins, while gI and gE could be. When the gD gene was subjected to in vitro-coupled transcription-translation, the precursor polypeptide was produced and could be immunoprecipitated by anti-gD. Northern blot, reverse transcriptase PCR, and RNase protection analyses have shown that (i) no mRNA initiating directly from the gD gene could be detected; (ii) a large but low-abundance 7.5-kb transcript spanning five genes, including the one encoding gD, was seen on longer exposure; and (iii) transcription of the gI and gE genes formed an abundant bicistronic 3.5-kb mRNA, as well as an abundant 2.0-kb gE-specific mRNA. Therefore, the MDV gD gene expression is down-regulated at the transcription level in MDV-infected cell culture, which may be related to the cell-associated nature of MDV in fibroblast cells. Compared to the highly gD-dependent herpes simplex virus and the other extreme of the varicella-zoster virus which lacks the gD gene, MDV is an intermediate type of alphaherpesvirus.

C1q arrests the cell cycle progression of fibroblasts in G(1) phase: role of the cAMP/PKA-I pathway

C1q may participate in the loss of connective tissue occurring in chronic inflammatory lesions. The hypothesis of a detrimental role of C1q on cell proliferation was tested on primary cultures of human fibroblasts (HFs). C1q suppressed the DNA synthesis of HF in response to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) with an IC(50) of 20 microg/ml, and blocked 78% of the cycling cells in G(1) phase. The C1q block did not involve production of inhibitory prostaglandin by the cells. Given that C1q elicits signals of the adenylyl cyclase pathway in HF, we examined cAMP-dependent mechanisms to understand how C1q inhibited the PDGF response. Whereas the C1q block was enhanced by agonist dibutyryl-adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic mono-phosphate (db-cAMP), antagonist adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphorotioate triethylammonium salt (Rp-cAMP) minimized it. C1q increased the level of cAMP-dependent protein kinase I (PKA-I) 4.5-fold, without altering the activation of the extracellular-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway. These results demonstrate that the interactions of C1q with HF cause growth arrest at the G(1) phase through mechanisms associated with a PKA-I dependent pathway.

[Expression of monocyte chemotacticp protein-1 in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the endometrium of patients with and without endometriosis.

METHODS

A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was utilized to examine and quantitate MCP-1 mRNA expressions and levels in the eutopic endometrium. Thirty patients with endometriosis were included as study group, and 20 patients without endometriosis selected as control group.

RESULTS

26 (87%) of 30 samples of endometrium from patients with endometriosis expressed MCP-1 mRNA, 19 of which were strong expression, while 15 (75%) of 20 samples of endometrium from patients without endometriosis express MCP-1 mRNA (P > 0.05). When endometriosis were grouped by Revised American Fertility Society (RAFS) stages, there was no obvious correlation between stage and MCP-1 mRNA expression level (P > 0.05). Semi-quantitative PCR showed the expression level of MCP-1 in endometrium of patients with endometriosis were higher than those of patients without endometriosis (0.746 +/- 0.345 Vs 0.460 +/- 0.341 respectively, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The MCP-1 mRNA is over expressed in the eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis, which may play some roles on the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Phosphorylation of hepatic stimulator substance on mitogen-activated protein kinase in BEL-7402 hepatoma cells

OBJECTIVE

To obtain more insight into information of signal transduction of EGF-receptor-mediated pathway response to the stimulation of hepatic stimulator substance (HSS).

METHODS

HSS was extracted from weanling rat liver and partially purified. Bioactivity of HSS was confirmed with its ability to proliferate hepatoma cell in vitro. Meanwhile, a rat recombinant HSS vector was constructed and expressed in BL-21 E. Coli. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation marked by phosphorylation at Thr202/Tyr204 was determined by Western blot.

RESULTS

The molecular weight of the biochemically purified HSS was found identically to that of the recombined HSS as expressed in the prokaryotic cells. After the treatment of HSS, cellular MAPK phosphorylation was initiated obviously at 15 min and maintained to 30 min. In comparison with EGF, MAPK phosphorylation as stimulated by HSS appeared less intensive and later time-kinetics as well. The HSS induction on cellular MAPK phosphorylation was gradually inhibited by PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAPK kinase (MEK). A complete blockade was seen at 100 micromol/L of PD98059.

CONCLUSIONS

The involvement of HSS on MAPK activation implies that this liver-specific growth factor might take part in, either individually or as combined with other growth factors, the regulation of TPK signaling cascade during hepatocyte proliferation.

Secure optical storage that uses fully phase encryption

A secure holographic memory system that uses fully phase encryption is presented. Two-dimensional arrays of data are phase encoded. Each array is then transformed into a stationary white-noise-like pattern by use of a random-phase mask located at the input plane and another at the Fourier plane. This encrypted information is then stored holographically in a photorefractive LiNbO(3):Fe crystal. The original phase-encoded data can be recovered, by use of the two random-phase masks, with a phase-conjugate readout beam. This phase information can then be converted back to intensity information with an interferometer. Recording multiple images by use of angular multiplexing is demonstrated. The influence of a limited system bandwidth on the quality of reconstructed data is evaluated numerically. These computer simulation results show that a fully phase-based encryption system generally performs better than an amplitude-based encryption system when the system bandwidth is limited by a moderate amount.

Carbon disulfide at a Chinese viscose factory external and internal exposure assessment

This article presents the results of carbon disulfide exposure measurements in a Chinese viscose rayon factory. The objectives of the study were to identify the external exposure levels at a large factory and to investigate the 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) concentrations in the urine of the subjects who were exposed to carbon disulfide in the working place atmosphere. The metabolism of carbon disulfide in the exposed subjects was also studied in order to demonstrate the best points in time for the internal exposure sampling. The measurement of the amount of personal exposure to carbon disulfide in the air of the workplace was performed by GC-FPD; the presence of TTCA in the workers urine was analyzed by use of a modified HPLC method. The kinetics of TTCA excretion was studied by analyses at different time-points both during and after exposure to carbon disulfide in the subjects. A total of 155 personal samples were obtained. The carbon disulfide concentration in the staple viscose hall was 13.72 +/- 1.12 mg m-3 in terms of the geometric mean +/- geometric standard deviation, and was 20.05 +/- 1.33 mg m-3 in the filament spinning hall. The TTCA values in the subjects who worked in the staple spinning hall were 1.18 +/- 0.43 mg g-1 creatinine and 1.07 +/- 0.38 mg g-1 creatinine for subjects working in the filament spinning hall. The best time for TTCA sampling is at the end of the working shift, the TTCA excretion was stable for a period of 4-12 h after exposure of the subjects to the carbon disulfide. It might be that the Chinese have different anthropometric characteristics; a sampling bias may therefore appear among different races.