Increased interleukin-1beta converting enzyme expression and activity in Alzheimer disease.

Increased expression of interleukin-1 in Alzheimer disease (AD) has been implicated as a driving force in neurodegenerative cascades that underlie the formation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the spread of these neuropathological lesions across cerebral cortical regions, and the accompanying neuronal cell injury and loss. The beta isoform of interleukin-1 is generated from an inactive, 33-kDa precursor through the action of a specific interleukin-1beta converting enzyme (ICE), also known as caspase-1. We used mesial temporal tissue (hippocampus and parahippocampal cortex) obtained postmortem from Alzheimer and control patients for determinations of endogenous tissue ICE activity and for Western immunoblot analysis of tissue ICE concentrations.

New concepts and advances of immobilization of long bones.

Objective: To present some new concepts in the treatment of fractures and bone defects of long bones with internal fixation.

Methods: Animal experiments, mechanical tests and clinical analyses were done.

Results And Conclusions: Reduction of fracture should be perfect, bone defect can be reconstructed by intramedullary and extramedullary bone graft.

[Effects of excess fluoride on bone turnover under conditions of diet with different calcium contents].

Objective: To study the effects of excess fluoride on bone turnover under conditions of diet containing different amount of calcium.

Methods: The experiment was performed on rats raised on a balanced diet with adequate calcium or a monotonous diet with low calcium and given amount of fluoride in their drinking water (F, 100 mg/L) for 2 months or 1 year.

Results: Osteomalacia, osteoporosis and accelerated bone turnover were observed with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (BGP) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in rats fed on low calcium diet and fluoridized water for 2 months.

[Effects of NPY microionophoresis on the units in nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) responsive to baro- and chemoreceptor].

This experiment is designed to study the effects of NPY microionophoresis on the units in NTS responsive to baro- and chemoreceptor activiation at cellular level. In the experiment, it examined 62 units with spontaneous discharge in NTS. Among them, 34 were excited and 19 were inhibited by NPY microionophoresis.

[Effect of jishentang on renal lesions in diabetic rats].

Objective: To observe the ameliorative effect of Jishentang (JST) on renal lesions in experimental diabetic rats.

Methods: The diabetic rats were randomly divided into three groups: group with out treatment, group with enalapril treatment (the dose of enalapril was 1 mg/kg.d) and group with JST treatment (the dose of JST was 22.

Low-dose whole-body irradiation induces alteration of protein expression in mouse splenocytes.

In previous studies, the stimulatory effect on immunological function and adaptive response in splenocytes were found after exposure of mice to low-dose whole-body irradiation (LD-WBI). Protein synthesis was found to be required for these responses. The present study, therefore, attempts to investigate the protein changes in mouse splenocytes after exposure to LD-WBI.

[Close injury of the tendon at wrist].

Because of the complicated causes and variable clinical signs, closed injury of tendons at wrist is difficult to diagnosis and treat. Twenty-six cases of tendon ruptur were reported. Among them, 11 cases were caused by bone fracture or dislocation, 8 cases were caused by rheumatoid synovitis, 5 cases were caused by synovial tuberculosis, and 2 cases caused by other.

[Determination enzyme protein of CK-MB m-AST and ChE by immunological methods and survey of its applying values].

In recent decades, because considerable progress has been made due to rapid developments in basic theory and techniques in molecular biology and immunology, the determination of trace enzyme proteins is not difficult. We measured the serum concentration of Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) mitochondria aspartate aminotransferase (m-AST) and cholinesterase (ChE) immunologically and compared these findings with those of an assay of enzyme activity. Purification of enzyme protein and preparation of serum antibodies monoclonal antibodies established the immunological assay methods.

Protective effects of extracted human-liver RNA, a known interferon inducer, against radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in male mice.

Cells in vitro or in vivo pre-exposed to low-dose radiation (LDR) or low concentrations of chemical mutagens became more resistant to large-dose radiation-induced DNA or chromosome damage. This was known as radio-adaptive response, for which the exact mechanism was unclear. However, multiple cellular and molecular responses to LDR have been documented, for instance, the induction of some cytokines such as interferon (IFN).

Alterations in rat pancreatic islet beta cells induced by Keshan disease pathogenic factors: protective action of selenium and vitamin E.

Keshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy occurring in certain areas of China. A combined deficiency of selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) has been implicated in the development of KD. In this study, morphological and functional alterations in the islet beta cells of rats fed grain from an endemic area with KD were investigated.

Effect of sublethal X-irradiation on follicular trapping of immune complexes in the mouse lymph node.

In one set of experiments, the effect of sublethal X-irradiation on the 24 h localization of subcutaneously injected immune complexes in the lymph node follicles was studied in mice which were given HRP-anti-HRP complexes into the rear footpad at 1-3 weeks after irradiation and killed 1 day later. The 24 h follicular localization of injected immune complexes in draining popliteal nodes was severely impaired at 7 days after irradiation, at which time residual follicles were markedly depleted of B lymphocytes. In following weeks, residual follicles began to be repopulated, and the 24 h follicular localization of immune complexes became restored.

[Studies on mutagenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adduct].

Mutagenic effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adduct was studied to explore mechanism of carcinogenecity of PAH. Adduct was formed by chemical group protection and nucleophilic displacement methods with modification of deoxyadenosine by PAH-dihydrodiol epoxide. Partial analogous sequence of human protooncogene ras (H-ras) containing mutagenic hotspot 61 codon (CAG) was synthesized by a DNA assembler and DNA was duplicated with a template of partial analogous sequence containing adduct protooncogene.

[Anticarcinogenic effect and hormonal effect of Cordyceps militaris Link].

Cordyceps militaris (CML) has been found good for inhibiting the growth of tumor, prolonging the survival period of mice implanted with S180, inhibiting the growth and metastasis of Lewis pneumonic cancer in the implanted mice, increasing the plasm content of cortisol and testosterone in normal rats, and elevating the weight of sexual organs in normal and castrated rats. CML exerts a malehormone-like effect.

[Isolation and structure elucidation of cirensenosides Q and R].

Two new saponins (cirensenoside Q and R) were isolated from the leaves of Oplopanax elatus. Their structures were elucidated as follows: Q, gypsogenin 3-O-beta-glucopyranosyl-28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside; R, 3 beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-23-al-28-oic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-beta-D- glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

[Study on the incidence of thyroid disease in Dun Hua District of Chang Bai mountain area, Jilin Province].

Dun Hua is a district where endemic goiter has been prevalent. Residents commenced to eat iodined salt ten years ago. We studied 469 people in this district and discovered that the incidence of endemic goiter had somehow come down but still kept 10.

[Ultrastructural study of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte in tissues of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

By transmission electron microscopy tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues of 14 cases was studied. The results showed that the infiltrating lymphocyte in varying degrees eristed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. Most of them were present in a motionless state, and the others showed the feature of activated metrocyte and closely contracted with cancer cells and resulted in distinct morphological changes both the cancer cells and themselves.

[Effects of overdose fluoride on metabolism of extracellular matrix collagen and proteoglycan in condylar cartilage].

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of chronic fluorosis on the metabolism of extracellular matrix in the development of rabbit condylar cartilage using the technique of pathology, biochemistry and radiographs. The results demonstrated that collagen content of condylar cartilage and the bone under condylar cartilage decreased (P < 0.01), and the proteoglycar contents increased significantly during the process of fluorosis (P < 0.

[Experimental research of the influences on the development of the hip joints with excavated acetabula].

There are still arguments about the operation excavated acetabula treatments for the congenital dislocation of the hip. To inquire into the influences on the development of the hip joints with excavated acetabula size, we divided 60 two-month-old chickens into three groups which were given incised dislocation and then reduction partly excavated the cartilages of the acetabula and excavated them totally to the left hips respectively. Contrasting observation of all the experimental chickens was taken on the right ones of their own.

Analysis of thymoma excision in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of myasthenia gravis (MG) with thymoma and the effect of tracheostomy at the early stage after operation.

Methods: Thymoma excision and selective tracheostomy were performed on 46 patients with MG from March 1983 to December 1994.

Results: There were 15 patients with benign thymomas and 31 patients with malignant thymomas.

Thymocyte apoptosis in response to low-dose radiation.

Thymocyte apoptosis was assessed by counting apoptotic bodies with flow cytometry (FCM) and measuring DNA fragmentation with fluorescence spectrophotometry (FSP). J-shaped dose-response curves were obtained after both whole-body irradiation (WBI) of mice and in vitro irradiation of EL4 cells with doses ranging from 0.025 to 4 Gy X-rays.

Cervical lymph node metastatic patterns of squamous carcinomas in the upper aerodigestive tract.

The radical neck dissection specimens of 384 ethnically Chinese patients with different primary squamous carcinomas in the head and neck region were studied. Over 50 per cent of the specimens showed metastatic disease at one level in the neck. For oral cavity carcinoma, the levels of metastasis frequently involved were I, II and III while for carcinoma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx the levels were II, III and IV.

[Monoclonal antibodies against transitional cell carcinoma assay tumor associated antigens in different grades bladder cancer patients].

Monoclonal antibodies (McAb) 19A211, M344 against transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) was used to assay the tumor associated antigens on paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 51 different grades bladder cancer patients with immunohistochemical stain method. The positive rates of 19A211, M344 antigens expression were 82.4% and 88.

[Clinical analysis of surgical treatment for 86 patients with localized small-cell lung cancer].

To assess the value of surgical treatment followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for localized small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), the results of treatment in 86 SCLC patients since 1990 were reviewed. Of 86 patients, 19 patients received pneumonectomy, 53 lobectomy, 6 wedge resection and 8 segmental resection. Postoperative pathologic staging revealed 24 in stage I, 36 in stage II, and 26 in stage III.

[Absorption, tissue distribution, and excretion of zinc acexamate in rats].

Unlabelled: beta = 11.6 h. The bioavailability was about 52.

Cardiovascular effects of total soyasaponin in central nervous system and its relationship with monoamine transmitters.

Aim: To study the cardiovascular effect of total soyabeans saponins (TS) in brain and its relationship with monoamines.

Methods: After injection of TS (75 micrograms) into ventriculus lateralis cerebri (VLC) the changes of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were observed and the contents of monoamines both in peripheral blood and brain (telencephalon, diencephalon, brainstem) were measured respectively by HPLC-ECD and fluorophotometry.

Results: After injection of TS into VLC, BP rise from 11.