[The effect of EBCI Iontophoresis on orthodontic tooth movement in rabbits]

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of EBC ionophoresis on increasing the rate of tooth movement in rabbits.21 rabbits,in whose lower incisors the standard orthodontic appliances were placed,were divided into 3 groups at rendom which separately received iontoporesis of EBC,iontophosesis and injection of physiological saline at the submucosal area of the lower incisors.The results showed that the animals with EBC iontophoresis obtained tooth movement rate of 4.275+/-0.1214(mm) and the animals with NaCl iontophoresis and injection were respectively 3.337+/-0.4626(mm) and 2.178+/-0.2922(mm).The histological observation had also found the evidence of the ability of EBC to stimulate osteoclasts in preiodontal pression side and osteoblasts in tension.This study suggested that iontophoresis of EBC could play an important role in reconstructing the periodontum and speeding the tooth movement in rabbits.

Membrane affinity chromatography used for the separation of trypsin inhibitor

Polysulphone (PS) was chemically modified by acrylation-amination and by chloromethylation-amination, respectively. An ultrafiltration membrane of chemically modified polysulphone (CMPS) was prepared by the phase inversion method. Trypsin was then covalently bonded onto the CMPS membrane by diazotization. The activity of immobilized trypsin reaches up to 10200 U/g; 15 mg trypsin was immobilized on 1 g CMPS membrane. Separation of soybean trypsin inhibitor was carried out on the affinity membrane, yielding 6.5 mg pure trypsin inhibitor in one run. The enzyme membrane has good activity and stability.

Attachment of Trypanosoma cruzi to host cells: a monoclonal antibody recognizes a trypomastigote stage-specific epitope on the gp 83 required for parasite attachment

A set of monoclonal antibodies against the purified surface gp 83 of T. cruzi trypomastigotes was produced and the ability of these monoclonals to inhibit the attachment of trypomastigotes to heart myoblasts was investigated. Western blots of solubilized trypomastigotes, epimastigotes or amastigotes probed with this set of monoclonal antibodies show that the gp 83 is present in invasive trypomastigotes, but not in non-invasive epimastigotes or amastigotes. One monoclonal antibody (Mab 4A4) from this set inhibits the attachment of trypomastigotes to heart myoblasts, whereas the others (MAbs 2H6, 4B9, 2D11) do not. These results show that the Mab 4A4 recognizes an epitope on the gp 83 of invasive trypomastigotes required for parasite binding to host cells.

Comparison of incidence, mortality and treatment of acute myocardial infarction in hospitals in Japan and China

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most intractable diseases and is increasing rapidly in Japan and China. Two hospitals in Japan and China, the Critical Care Center of Kurume University Hospital and the Chinese Beijing 309 Hospital in China (abbreviated to Beijing 309 Hospital) were compared. The incidence, mortality and treatment of AMI were investigated in both hospitals from 1989 to 1991. The incidence of AMI for all patients admitted during the three years was 5% in Kurume University Hospital and 4.7% in Beijing 309 Hospital, which are similar rates. The average age of the patients in Beijing 309 Hospital was younger (58 +/- 13) than in Kurume University Hospital (64 +/- 11). The mortality rate in Kurume University Hospital was slightly lower than the rate in Beijing 309 Hospital (8.1% vs 8.9%). Thrombolytic therapy was actively performed in both hospitals. In Kurume University Hospital, urokinase (UK: 71.4%) or recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA: 28.6%) was administered by intravenous (85.7%) and intracoronary percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization (PTCR: 14.3%) injection. In Beijing 309 Hospital, UK (32.7%) or snake poison enzyme (SPE: 62.3%) was administered by intravenous (85.8%) or intra-aortic (14.2%) injection. Rt-PA was only used in Japan and SPE was only used in China, but both had very strong fibrinolytic effects and resulted in high success rates of coronary reperfusion. The incidence of direct coronary intervention with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) for cardiogenic shock was much higher at Kurume University Hospital than at Beijing 309 Hospital.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Metabolic regulation of pigment formation of Onosma paniculatum cultured cells

The pigment yields of Onosma paniculatum callus and suspension cultured cells were increased 5.5 and 8.1 fold of that of the control respectively, when 10(-5) M of copper ion was added into the medium. The pigments synthesis was also stimulated greatly when 10(-5) M of L-phenylalanine was added into the medium and the cells were cultured for twenty-one days. The maximum yield of pigments was obtained when 10(-6) M of ascorbic acid was added to the medium.

Metabolic rate modification of nitrotriazole radiosensitizers by sulfur substitution of side chain

The pharmacokinetic properties and radiosensitizing activities in vitro and in vivo of a series of 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole (NTA) derivatives with a -CH2(C = Y)NH(CH2)nZCH3 (Y, Z = O or S; n = 2 or 3) group in the side chain at N-1 position of NTA were investigated with respect, particularly, to the effects of sulfur substitution in the side chain of NTA. The sulfur substitution for an oxygen atom in the side chain NTA radiosensitizers increased the rho value, but gave rise to little effect on the one-electron reduction potential. The derivatives bearing a thioether group (-CH2SCH3) in the side chain were slightly less effective both in vitro on hypoxic EMT6/KU cells and in vivo on SCCVII tumors than their oxygen analogs (-CH2OCH3). The thioether compounds tended to metabolize rapidly. The thioamide compound showed high sensitizing activity in vitro, but metabolized very slow.

Characteristics of physiological tremor in five fingers and evaluations of fatigue of fingers in typing

Physiological tremor, which is the invisible mechanical vibration of body part, was measured for five fingers. It was obtained that the power spectrum always has two peaks at 10 and 25Hz for each of the five fingers. The peaks were considered to be generated in the following two loop systems: The component of the lower frequency originated from the central nervous system as a long loop, and that of the higher frequency originated from the muscle-spine loop system as a short loop. The total power, which was the sum of power spectra ranging from 1.5 to 50Hz, was defined as an evaluation index, and it showed characteristic results for the five fingers. The muscular load produced by two hours of typing work was responsible mainly for the increase of total power and for the change of peak frequencies. The mechanism for the change of the power spectrum due to muscular load was well explained by the two-loop theory. It was found that the fatigue of the fingers due to muscular load could be evaluated by the total power.

Noble metal abundances in an Early Archean impact deposit

We report detailed analyses on the concentrations of the noble metals Pd, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au in an early Archean spherule bed (S4) of probable impact origin from the lower Fig Tree Group, Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Compared to other sedimentary deposits of known or suspected impact origin, some noble metals are present in exceptionally high concentrations. Noble metal abundances are fractionated relative to abundances in chondrites with ratios of Os/Ir, Pt/Ir, Pd/Ir, and Au/Ir at only 80, 80, 41, and 2% of these values in CI chondrites. Although an extraterrestrial source is favored for the noble metal enrichment, the most plausible cause of the fractionation is by regional hydrothermal/metasomatic alteration.

Identification and cloning of a granule autoantigen (carboxypeptidase-H) associated with type I diabetes

Using serum from a prediabetic patient as a probe, we screened 0.5 x 10(6) recombinants from a rat islet lambda gt11 expression library. One plaque-producing antigen reactive with this prediabetic serum was identified, subcloned, and sequenced. Analysis of the sequence reveals that the clone encodes a 136-amino acid fragment of carboxypeptidase-H (enkephalin convertase). Carboxypeptidase-H is a molecule expressed within islet secretory granules and neurendocrine cells. The patient whose antibodies recognize this recombinant molecule (termed DG-1) was negative for anti-DG-1 antibodies in 1984, developed the antibodies by 1986, and remained positive until the development of diabetes in 1988. To date, serum from 5 of 20 cytoplasmic islet cell antibody-positive relatives reacted with the expressed protein, while none of 14 control sera reacted. On Western blotting, the initial patient's serum used for the screening reacts with a 52-kDa antigen corresponding to the mol wt of the membrane form of carboxypeptidase-N. The current study has identified carboxypeptidase-H as an autoantigen recognized by serum of pretype I diabetes, and the methodology used should aid in identification of additional autoantigens associated with type I diabetes.

[A study of textile noise influence on maternal function and embryo-growth]

Ninety hundred seventy-eight female textile workers exposed to noise (greater than or equal to 85 dB (A)) were recruited as the subjects of observation group, and 402 nonexposed female workers were chosen as the controls (less than 75 dB (A)). According to noise level, the observation group was subdivided into three groups: group 1, 100-104 dB (A), 416 workers; group 2, 95-99 dB, (A), 310 workers; group 3, 85-94 dB (A), 252 workers. Non-conditional logistic regression model was used to exclude the effect of mixed factors, such as age and working life. The result showed that noise-exposure could have some adverse effect on reproductive function of women and embryo growth. The workers exposed to noise had significantly increased incidence rates for irregular menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea, lumbago, hypertension in pregnancy, threatened abortion, spontaneous abortion, premature labour, dystocia and low birth weight of newborns. When the noise intensity heightened, the sorts of abnormal function of reproduction increased and the risk of incidence raised too. These demonstrated a dose-response relationship between the noise intensity and incidence rate. The noise-working life had significant effects on the incidence of hypertension in pregnancy and prematurity. Although the age had some influence, it was not statistically significant. In terms of the maternal function and embryo growth, the factors in order of risk are: noise intensity greater than working life greater than age.

An antihypertensive factor in the erythrocytes of essential hypertensive subjects--effects on blood pressure and calcium uptake by vascular tissue in rats

An extract prepared from the erythrocytes of essential hypertensive subjects was found to significantly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) in spontaneously (SHR) and renal hypertensive rats (RHR) following a single intravenous or intraperitoneal injection: The maximum SBP reduction was 42.8 mmHg in SHR and 38.3 mmHg in RHR. In contrast, this hypertensive factor (AHF) had little effect on normotensive Wistar Kyoto and Wistar rats. AHF was also found to significantly suppress Ca2+ uptake by vascular smooth muscle in the mesenteric artery and aorta of hypertensive and normotensive rats (P less than 0.05, respectively). Furthermore, AHF prepared from the erythrocytes of normotensive subjects was shown to have a similar effect.

[Radioimmunoassay of serum myelin basic protein]

Using purified human brain myelin basic protein (MBP) to raise antiserum in rabbits and to prepare 125I-labelled MBP (chloramine-T method), We have established a high specific, precise and sensitive double-antibody radioimmunoassay for the measurement of human serum MBP. The sensitivity was 0.5 ng/ml. In the present study, the serum samples of thirty patients with various neurological diseases were detected. An important clinical implication is that serum MBP level should serve as an index for the damage degree of central neurological diseases.

Evidence of an EGF/TGE-alpha--independent pathway for estrogen-regulated cell proliferation

To elucidate the relationship between epidermal growth factor (EGF)/transforming growth factor (TGF-alpha) and estradiol-17 beta (E) in cell proliferation, we examined their effects on the breast cancer cell line, CAMA-1. While E was able to consistently induce cell proliferation under a variety of experimental conditions, EGF/TGF-alpha was without effect. Despite the presence of the receptor (EGFR) gene, mature EGFR protein and mRNA were not detected by radioreceptor assay, 35S Met-labelling, and the Intron Differential RNA/PCR method under conditions in which cells remain responsive to E. Furthermore, TGF-alpha is not an autocrine factor in CAMA-1 cells. We demonstrated unequivocally that EGF/TGF-alpha interaction with EGFR is not an obligatory event in mediating estrogen-stimulated cell proliferation.

A fluorinated 2-nitroimidazole, KU-2285, as a new hypoxic cell radiosensitizer

To develop new hypoxic cell radiosensitizers, we incorporated fluorine atoms into the side chain of the 2-nitroimidazole. Of the resulting compounds, KU-2285 (a 2-nitroimidazole with an N1-substituent of CH2CF2CONHCH2-CH2OH) was considered the most useful as a hypoxic cell radiosensitizer. In this study, its in vivo radiosensitizing activity and acute toxicity were compared with those of etanidazole. The reduction potentials of KU-2285 and etanidazole were -0.96 V and -1.05 V vs Ag/Ag+ in N,N-dimethylformamide, respectively, and their respective octanol/water partition coefficients were 0.25 and 0.040. The in vivo radiosensitizing activity of KU-2285 was found to be similar to that of etanidazole at the same administration dose when assayed by an in vivo-in vitro assay, a growth delay assay, and a tumor control assay using SCC VII tumor or transplanted mammary tumor in C3H/He mice. Although the radiosensitizing activity of etanidazole was reduced when it was administered orally, there was no significant difference in the radiosensitizing activity of KU-2285 whether it was administered intravenously, intraperitoneally, or orally. The acute toxicity measured as the LD50/7 in 8-week-old female C3H/HeJ mice was found to be 2.4 g/kg (intravenously), 2.1 g/kg (intraperitonealy), and 4.25 g/kg (orally) for KU-2285, whereas it was 4.75 g/kg (intravenously) for etanidazole.

Reproductive factors and colorectal cancer risk among Chinese females

We report results from a population-based case-control study of colorectal cancer among Chinese women in western North America (NA) and the People's Republic of China (China). A common protocol was used to assess reproductive characteristics and hormone use of 395 Chinese women (189 from NA and 206 from China) with cancer of the colon or rectum and of 1112 age-matched Chinese controls (494 from NA and 618 from China). In NA, risks for cancers of both the colon and rectum were lower among parous compared to nulliparous women (odds ratio for colorectal cancer, 0.6, P = 0.08), but the trend in risk was not smooth with increasing number of livebirths. This association with parity was absent for both cancer sites in China. There were no consistent patterns in the relationships between other reproductive factors (including age at menarche, age at first livebirth, menopausal status) and risk of colon and rectal cancer on either continent.

[Status of Yunnan drug banxia and its botanical origin]

L. Yunnan, the medicinal material Banxia recorded in The Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (1985 ed.) is called "Dizhu Banxia" (stem tuber of Pinellia ternata). Besides, "Shanzhu Banxia" (stem tuber of Arisaema yunnanense, A. bathycoleum, A. saxatile and A. prazeri) is also used medically as Banxia, while "Gouzhua Banxia" (stem tuber of Arisaema franchetianum, A. likiangense and Pinellia pedatisecta) is not.

Purification of Trypanosoma cruzi surface proteins involved in adhesion to host cells

We have identified four surface 83 kDa proteins of pI values 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 in T. cruzi trypomastigotes which specifically bind to rat heart myoblasts. These proteins were purified by isoelectric focusing and anion-exchange chromatography in an FPLC system. These 83 kDa proteins inhibit the attachment of trypomastigotes to myoblasts in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that these trypomastigote proteins mediate the attachment of trypomastigotes to heart myoblasts.

[Inhibitory effect of secretin on gastric motility in isolated vascular perfused rat stomach]

Effect of secretin on gastric motility was studied on the preparation of isolated vascular perfused rat stomach. The results showed: (1) Secretin markedly inhibited spontaneous as well as pentagastrin stimulated antral motility. (2) Antisecretin serum completely abolished the inhibitory effect of secretin on antral motility. (3) Antisomatostatin serum and indomethacin blocked the inhibitory effect on antral motility induced by secretin. The results indicated that the inhibitory effect of secretin might be produced through direct action of secretin on secretin receptors and mediated partially by the local somatostatin and prostaglandin in gastric antrum.

[The measurement of p30 level in the normal human seminal plasma by the Beckman immunochemistry system using anti-30 serum]

This paper is the first report about the measurement of p30 level in the normal human seminal plasma by the Beckman immunochemistry system (ICS) using anti-p30 serum. The p30 levels of 108 samples of normal human seminal plasma were measured. The range of p30 level was 0.2996-4.3913 mg/ml. The square root transformation statistical analysis indicated that the coefficient of skewness was 0.0237 the coefficient of kurtosis was -0.8854, the p30 level in normal human seminal plasma fitted the square root normal distribution, the mean was 1.6236 mg/ml and the standard deviation was 0.1641 mg/ml.

[Anti-anaphylactic pharmacological action of water-soluble constituents of Ginkgo biloba L. episperm]

Water-soluble constituents of Ginkgo biloba episperm 100 or 200 mg/kg po given to mice inhibited passive cutaneous allergic response and the same dose given to rats ip inhibited mast cell degranulation. It antagonized the contractile effect of isolated guinea pig ileum smooth muscles induced by the antigen. It inhibited the deliverance of SRS-A from anaphylactic lung of guinea pig.

Diet, physical activity, and colorectal cancer among Chinese in North America and China

In a population-based case-control study of colorectal cancer among Chinese men and women in western North America and the People's Republic of China, a common protocol was used to assess past life-style characteristics of 905 cases diagnosed during 1981-1986 and 2,488 controls. Risks for cancers of both the colon and rectum increased with increased food energy from fat, protein, carbohydrate, and all energy sources combined, for both sexes and on both continents. Yet, in multivariate analysis, colorectal cancer risk was significantly associated only with saturated fat; no relationships were seen with other dietary sources of energy. Colon cancer risk was elevated among men employed in sedentary occupations. On both continents and in both sexes, risks for cancers of both the colon and rectum increased with increasing time spent sitting. Further, the association between colorectal cancer risk and saturated fat was stronger among the sedentary than among the active. Risk among sedentary Chinese Americans of either sex increased more than fourfold from the lowest to the highest category of saturated fat intake. Among migrants to North America, risk increased with increasing years lived in North America. These observations suggest (a) that colorectal cancer risk increases with duration of exposure to a sedentary life-style and a diet rich in saturated fat; (b) that higher incidence among Chinese-American men relative to women is due to longer duration of these habits among men, who have lived longer in North America; and (c) that higher risk among Chinese Americans of both sexes relative to risk among the general population in China is due to differences in such habits. Attributable risk calculations suggest that, if these associations are causal, saturated fat intakes exceeding 10 g/day, particularly in combination with physical inactivity, could account for 60% of colorectal cancer incidence among Chinese-American men and 40% among Chinese-American women.