[Anti-invasion activity of several plant-originated anticancer drugs with different mechanism of action]

The antitumor and anti-invasion activities of taxol, harringtonine, homoharringtonine and camptothecin on highly metastatic melanoma B16-BL6 and human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells were reported in this paper. Results demonstrated that taxol, harringtonine, homoharringtonine and camptothecin exhibited significant inhibition of cell growth of B16-BL6 and HT-1080 cells. Taxol, harringtonine and homoharringtonine were also found to be effective for the inhibition of cell invasion and migration of B16-BL6 cells, but camptothecin showed basically no effect at the indicated concentration.

[Circadian rhythm of PGE2 level in plasma and condylar cartilage of young growing rats]

This paper reports the circadian rhythm of PEG2 level in plasma and condylar cartilage of young frowing rats. The samples were measured at 0:00, 4:00, 8:00, 12:00, 16:00, and 20:00 respectively. The count of PGE2 were determined by RIA and analysed with simple Cosinor and coordination. The results revealed: (1) The levels of PGE2 in plasma and condylar cartilage of young growing rats fluctuated in strong circadian rhythm; (2) The rhythm of PGE2 in plasma between 16:00 and 24:00 was significantly different from that between 4:00 and 12:00, so for analysing PGE2 level in plasma, one should proper sampling time or adjust it to circadian rhythm; (3) The circadian rhythm of PGE2 in condylar cartilage could provide important reference for reatments in dentistry and orthopaedics.

AutoPap system performance in screening for low prevalence and small cell abnormalities

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the design principles of the AutoPap System evaluation score by evaluating slides having a low prevalence of abnormal cells and small cell abnormalities and assessing the evaluation score as a diagnostic tool.

STUDY DESIGN

Data from two clinical studies conducted using the AutoPap System and data obtained from the evaluation score training slides were analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the evaluation score. The clinical studies included a prospective, intended-use study involving approximately 13,000 slides and a comprehensive sensitivity study using approximately 1,200 slides from five laboratories. The evaluation score training set consisted of 4,174 slides from 10 laboratories.

RESULTS

The robust design of the AutoPap evaluation score was demonstrated by similar detection capabilities and sensitivities to slides having either a low or high prevalence of abnormal cells. No significant difference in performance was detected between the small cell slides and the comparison groups of carcinoma in situ and invasive squamous carcinoma having normal-sized abnormal cells. In addition, the evaluation scores corresponded well to the diagnostic severity of the slides.

[Effects of AT-I on murine cytokins productions and NK cell activity in vivo]

Antitumor-I (AT-I) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which known to be combined with chemotherapeutic agent on antitumor effects. In this paper, the effections of AT-I on interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected and NK cell activity were observed in normal and tumor-bearing BALB/c mice in vivo. The results showed that AT-I could enhance IL-2 and IL-6 production in normal mice, and IL-2 product in tumor-bearing mice. The results suggest that AT-I at a appropriate dose could modulate immunofunctions, so known as a biological response modifier (BRM).

[Effects of AEA-I on murine IL-2 and IL-6 activities in vivo]

Antitumor-I (AT-I) is known as an effective traditional Chinese medicine to be used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents against tumor. It was demonstrated that AT-I could inhibit tumor growth and modulate IL-2, IL-6 and NK cell activities. In order to improve its preparation, we got the alcohol extract from AT-I (AEA-I) by using natural pharmaceutical alcohol extract method, and compared the effect of AEA-I on cytokins with that of AT-I. The results show that AEA-I has a good positive correlation with AT-I on IL-2 and IL-6 activities of mice in vivo.

Detection and localization of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in WHHL rabbit arteries

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is known to be a secretory product of activated macrophages. TNF-alpha activates endothelial cells, stimulates angiogenesis and induces proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Therefore, TNF-alpha has been suggested to be actively involved in the inflammatory events associated with atherosclerosis. Previous ultrastructural and immunocytochemical studies have shown that macrophages as well as SMCs are constituents of atherosclerotic lesions in the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit. Recently, we have shown that TNF-alpha mRNA levels in aorta of 18-month-old WHHL rabbits were significantly higher than that of 6-month-old WHHL rabbits and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits by quantitative RT-PCR [1]. However, it remains unclear as to the cell type(s) responsible for the increased TNF-alpha mRNA levels in atherosclerotic lesions. In this study, we provided evidence showing the expression of the TNF-alpha gene in the medial SMCs as well as cells of intimal lesions in arteries of WHHL rabbits by in situ transcription (IST). TNF-alpha protein was also detected in the cytoplasm of the intimal and medial SMCs and macrophages by immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against rabbit TNF-alpha. In contrast, the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein can not be detected in the arteries from healthy New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Our results suggest that the expression of TNF-alpha in both intimal and medial SMCs and macrophages is associated with the progression of atherosclerosis.

[Diagnostic value of color Doppler flow imaging in gestational trophoblastic diseases]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of color doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and pulsed doppler (PD) determinations in early diagnosis, evaluation of therapeutic effects and prediction of prognosis of gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD).

METHOD

CDFI and PD were performed in 55 cases of GTD and 30 normal pregnant women as controls.

RESULTS

The uterine muscular layer in GTD showed multicolored abundant blood flow and blood sinuses. Blood flow resistance was low with a resistance index (RI) less than 0.5. After chemotherapy the RI changed dramatically. Pathological evidences were found in surgical specimens of 8 patients. Findings of pelvic hysterography in 16 cases were in accordance with the results of CDFI and PD determinations.

CONCLUSION

CDFI and PD as new methods for early diagnosis of GTD can also be used to evaluate the chemotherapeutic results as well as to determine the prognosis of the disease.

Measurement by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNA in atherosclerotic arteries in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), produced by activated monocytes and other cells, has been proposed as a mediator of importance in atherosclerosis. In this study, we use a newly developed technique, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to measure the mRNA levels of TNF-alpha in arteries of Watanabe Heritable Hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits in relation to the progression of atherosclerosis. Co-amplification of known amounts of TNF-alpha RNA and TNF-alpha internal control RNA indicated that the quantitative RT-PCR method was quite reliable, with a < 5% difference between TNF-alpha mRNA levels deduced from the standard curve and actually loaded TNF-alpha mRNA. As another control, TNF-alpha mRNA levels in lipopolysaccharide-induced (LPS-induced) and uninduced monocytes were measured, and a 9.3-fold increase in the TNF-alpha mRNA levels was observed in LPS-induced monocytes. TNF-alpha mRNA levels in the aortic arches of healthy New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits was 0.0112 -/+ 0.0016 (SD) pg per ng tissue RNA. TNF-alpha mRNA levels in the aortic arches and descending thoracic aortas of 6-month-old WHHL rabbits were 0.0273 -/+ 0.0066 pg and 0.0176 -/+ 0.0013 pg per ng tissue RNA, respectively. TNF-alpha mRNA levels in the aortic arches and descending thoracic aortas of 18-month-old WHHL rabbits were much higher than in those of 6-month-old WHHL rabbits, with values of 0.2107 -/+ 0.0205 pg and 0.1043 -/+ 0.0196 pg per ng tissue RNA, respectively. These findings indicate that: a) Quantitative RT-PCR can be used to measure levels of small abundance RNA in normal and diseased tissues accurately; b) no significant increase in TNF-alpha mRNA levels was observed in the aortic arches and descending thoracic aortas of 6-month-old WHHL rabbits compared with those of NZW rabbits, although they had multiple raised intimal lesions; and c) a significantly elevated total tissue level of TNF-alpha mRNA is demonstrable late in the course of atherosclerosis in 18-month-old WHHL rabbits (Bonferroni method). These findings suggest that TNF-alpha might play an important role in the progression of advanced atherosclerosis, although total tissue levels of TNF-alpha mRNA are not unequivocally elevated earlier in the course of the disease.

[Radiologic study of ossifying fibroma of the facial and jaw bones]

83 cases with ossifying fibroma were diagnosed by clinical, histopathological and radiological criteria, and were analyzed radiologically. Four distinct radiographic patterns were identified according to the radiodensity and shape: (1) cystic radiolucent (42.2%), (2) ground-grass (7.2%), (3) sclerotic change (9.6%), (4) mixed change of radiolucent and radiopaque (41.0%). The lesions showed a growth pattern of round expanding in all directions with well-defined margin and frequent involvement of teeth. A preliminary analysis of the relationship among the clinical, radiological and histopathological manifestations was presented. The diagnostic criteria was proposed and differentiate diagnosis was discussed.

Molecular maturation of cell adhesion systems during mouse early development

During cleavage, the mouse embryo expresses a variety of cell adhesion systems on its cell surfaces. We have reviewed biogenetic and assembly criteria for the formation of the uvomorulin/catenin, tight junction and desmosome adhesion systems as the trophectoderm differentiates. Each system reveals different mechanisms regulating molecular maturation. Adhesion processes contribute to the generation of distinct tissues in the blastocyst by modifying the expression pattern of blastomeres entering the non-epithelial inner cell mass lineage. Cell adhesion also influences the spatial organisation, but rarely the timing of expression, of proteins involved in trophectoderm differentiation.

Supplemental microbial phytase improves bioavailability of dietary zinc to weanling pigs

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of supplemental microbial phytase on utilization of dietary zinc by weanling pigs. Experiment 1 was a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments with 24 pigs for 4 wk. Two levels of phytase activity (0 and 1350 units/g) and three levels of zinc (0, 30 and 60 mg/kg as ZnSO4.7H2O) were added to a corn-soybean meal basal diet. Weekly measures included growth performance, plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and plasma mineral concentrations. In Experiment 2, mineral balances were determined in 12 pigs fed the basal diet or the diet with added zinc (30 mg/kg) or phytase (1350 units/g). The results indicated that either supplemental phytase or supplemental zinc increased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and plasma zinc concentrations, but these increases were not additive. Supplemental phytase decreased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity in pigs supplemented with zinc. Supplemental phytase also significantly enhanced weight gain, feed intake, gain:feed ratio, plasma concentrations of inorganic phosphorus, and retention of phosphorus and calcium. Neither supplemental phytase nor zinc affected zinc retention. Supplementing corn-soybean meal diets with microbial phytase at 1350 units/g feed improves bioavailability of zinc as well as of phytate phosphorus to weanling pigs.

Organelle-specific phosphorylation. Identification of unique membrane phosphoproteins of the endoplasmic reticulum and endosomal apparatus

Highly purified endoplasmic reticulum fractions from rat liver and dog pancreas harbor membrane-associated kinases that phosphorylate integral membrane proteins of 90, 56, 35, and 15 kDa with [gamma-32P]GTP and of 90, 56, and 35 kDa with [gamma-32P]ATP. Of these, only the 35-kDa phosphoprotein was N-glycosylated. Screening of Golgi fractions, endosomes, plasma membranes, lysosomes, and mitochondria revealed phosphoproteins unique to each organelle. In particular, endosomes were found to harbor a 48-kDa extrinsic membrane protein and two or more integral membrane phosphoproteins of 30-35 kDa. None of these were N-glycosylated as judged by their insensitivity to digestion by N-glycosidase F and a lack of binding to concanavalin A or wheat germ agglutinin. Since the 30-35 kDa membrane phosphoproteins present in Golgi-free endosomal fractions were not detected in endosome-free, highly purified Golgi fractions and were found exclusively in horseradish peroxidase-containing endosomes as determined by the diaminobenzidine shift protocol, then these membrane phosphoproteins are unique to endosomes. Since membrane phosphoproteins unique to the endoplasmic reticulum have been shown to have important functional significance in calcium binding and as a membrane chaperone(s) (Wada, I., Rindress, D., Cameron, P.H., Ou, W.-J., Doherty, J.-J., II, Louvard, D., Bell, A.W., Dignard, D., Thomas, D.Y., and Bergeron, J.J.M. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 19599-19610; Ahluwalia, N., Bergeron, J.J.M., Wada, I., Degen, E., and Williams, D.B. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 10914-10918), then the unique endosomal phosphoproteins may serve equally important functions in addition to serving as novel markers for the organelle.

Prevention of tissue calcification on bioprosthetic heart valve by using epoxy compounds: a study of calcification tests in vitro and in vivo

Calcification is the principal cause of the clinical failures of the bioprosthetic heart valves fabricated from glutaraldehyde pretreated porcine aortic valves or bovine pericardium. In this paper, we compared the calcification on various types of bovine pericardiums pretreated with two hydrophilic epoxy compounds adding GA post-treatment (EP 1 and EP 2), glutaraldehyde (GA)- and nontreated pericardium (Fresh), respectively, by in vitro and in vivo tests. Significant decrease of calcification was found by pretreatment with both epoxy compounds rather than with glutaraldehyde: 0.250 +/- 0.001 (Fresh), 0.276 +/- 0.058 (EP 1), 0.302 +/- 0.071 (EP 2), and 0.478 +/- 0.172 (GA) micrograms (Ca)/mg (dried tissue), respectively, after 20 days dipping in a simulating serum solution in vitro; 115.13 +/- 60.11 (Fresh), 129.84 +/- 51.08 (EP 1), 167.39 +/- 20.81 (EP 2), and 205.19 +/- 16.86 (GA) micrograms/mg, respectively, after 3 months subcutaneous implantation in rabbits. The in vitro method for evaluating calcification designed by us gave the similar order among four samples with that obtained by in vivo test. Because the bovine pericardium pretreated with the epoxy compounds adding GA post-treatment possesses the greater tenacity than that pretreated only with epoxy compounds or GA, meanwhile the calcification is also significantly decreased with this pretreatment, it may be expected that the bovine pericardium with this pretreatment will have the greater anticalcification and durability in dynamic stress.

Haemocompatibility of polymer having phospholipid polar groups evaluated by monoclonal antibody method

The haemocompatibility of a polymer having the phospholipid polar group, poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC)-co-n-butyl methacrylate(BMA)), was evaluated by a monoclonal antibody SZ-21 (directing specifically against the membrane glycoprotein complex IIIa of human platelet) radioimmunoassay method. The study showed that poly(MPC-co-BMA) possessed better haemocompatibility than segmented polyurethane (SPEU). Radioactivity of platelets adhered (counts per min/cm) on a polyethylene (PE) tube coated with poly(MPC-co-BMA) was 19.51 +/- 5.58, with albumin; 20.05 +/- 7.29, with SPEU having sulphonated group; 76.10 +/- 18.9, with SPEU; 287.0 +/- 95.0, PE treated by plasma irradiation; 2091 +/- 261, and original PE was 1772 +/- 116. The results were further certified by scanning electron microscopic observations.

Targeting of gene expression to skeletal and cardiac muscle of trangenic animals

The tissue restricted and developmental potentiation of transcription by chicken alpha-skeletal actin promoter regions fused to the reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) were characterized in transgenic mice. Six of eight expressing transgenic mouse lines containing the chicken alpha-skeletal actin promoter fused to CAT resulted in preferential transgene transcription in skeletal muscle tissue, similar to the endogenous mouse alpha-skeletal actin gene. Two of the eight lines departed from the preferred pattern of skeletal muscle expression with primary expression of the transgene in the heart, a tissue containing primarily cardiac actin isoforms. Developmentally, a transition from embryonic heart to fetal and neonatal skeletal muscle expression was produced by the transgene promoter, a pattern of regulation similar to that of the endogenous alpha-skeletal actin gene. Instances of departure of transgene expression from the endogenous gene implied the existance of higher order muscle gene regulatory mechanisms.