Anisodamine is an alkaloid extracted from the Tibetan plant “Anisodus tanguticus”. Since 1965 it has been used in China for the treatment of shock but the mechanisms of its action are not fully known. The present study was performed to determined the effect of anisodamine on the renal microcirculation and to examine the underlying mechanism of its actions. The addition of anisodamine (10−8 M to 10−3 M) to the kidney bath resulted in a significant and dose dependent dilation of all preglomerular vessels. The maximal dilation (about 30 % dilation) was found in the proximal interlobular artery. In contrast to preglomerular vessels anisodamine caused constriction of postglomerular vessels. The glomerular blood flow increased by about 50 % at anisodamine concentration of 10−3 M. Haloperidol, a dopamine receptor antagonist could abolish the renal vascular effect of anisodamine. It is suggested that anisodamine could improve renal function by the dilation of preglomerular vessels in combination with the constriction of postglomerular vessels, and the effect of anisodamine may be mediated by activation of the dopaminergic system.
The curative effects of Panax ginseng on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) were further studied. The size of cancerous nodes was quantitatively measured by image analysis instrument. The hepatocellular hyperplastic foci were quantitatively analysed with y-GT stain under microspectrophotometer. Pathological changes of hepatocytes were observed under light and electron microscope. The results of the investigation indicated that ginseng had significant inhibitory effect on HCC in rats induced by DEN and prolonged the survival time of the rats with HCC. The mechanism of inhibition of the development of HCC by ginseng was also preliminarily approached.
After [6,7-3H]-labelled norethisterone-3-oxime (NETO) and nore-thisterone-3-oxime acetate (NETO-AC) were given intravenously or orally througn a nasal tube with 1 mg of respective unlabelled steroid to Rhesus monkey, serum samples were collected at various periods, and radioactivity was counted with or without reverse-phase HPLC separation in advance. Pharmacokinetics of NETO and NETO-AC were compared with those of norethisterone (NET) and norethisterone acetate (NET-AC)-(respectively which were studied in a similar experimental design. The results indicated that the serum concentration-time curve of NETO and NET could be adequately described by a two-compartment model. Average t1/2ka, t1/2α and t1/2β with standard deviation for oral administration were 0.21±0.08 (h), 1.28±0.31 (h) and 10.0±U4.59 (h) for NET and 0.37±0.81 (h), 0.90±0.26 (h) and 8.55±2.21 (h) for NETO respectively. NETO metabolized to NET which had a similar serum profile with its precursor. NET-AC also met:-bolized to NET, but more rapidly. It disappeared from blood 8–12 h after nasal feeding. NETO-AC was non-detectable at all when given orally because it metabolized immediately and extensively in the animal body. Its major metabolites, NETO, NET and NET-AC already appealed in the first blood sample drawn 15 min after administration. NETO-AC, when injected intravenously, declined abruptly and could not be detected 4 h later. Among the metabolites, only the deacetylated products (NET and NETO) reached relatively higher levels and sustained longer in blood. The absolute bioavailability (x± Sx) for NETO was 39.14±11.40 (%) and 49.96±24.24 (%) for NETO-AC. No statistically significant differences between the main pharmacokinetic parameters of NETO and NET as well as NETO-AC and NET-AC were found.
The changes of the intracellular inositol-l,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) associated with the expression of the interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) were studied. In resting lymphocytes, IL-2 did not alter intracellular concentration of IP3, but Con A caused an increase in IP3 by 45%. In IL-2 sensitive T cells, which expressed IL-2R by 83 %, the change of intracellular IP3 was dependent upon IL-2 concentration. The IP3 increased at IL-2 concentrations of 10 and 50 U/ml, and the maximal response of 60 % was found at the concentration of 50 U/ml. At IL-2 concentration of 100 U/ml no increase in IP3 was observed. After binding of anti-Tac Me Ab to IL-2R of T lymphocytes the increase in IP3 at IL-2 concentrations of 10 and 50 U/ml was significantly attenuated. It has been suggested that IL-2 could induce the changes of intracellular IP3 of the human peripheral blood T cells, which is related to the IL-2 concentrations incubated with T cells and the expression of IL-2R on T lymphocyte.
In order to recognize correctly the images of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), in 410 subjects TEE was performed with uniplane or biplane transducer, and in 7 corpses the cardiac anatomic segments were observed, at various levels and in different directions. 9 transverse and 6 longitudinal views were compared with the corresponding cardiac anatomic segments. Based on this study, the authors reported the levels of segments, insertion depth, anatomic structure identification, image characteristics and clinical application of TEE, and the advantages of biplane TEE are discussed.
Before and after oral administration of ligustrazine controlled release capsule, pulmonary hemodynamics, right cardiac function, arterial blood gas and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1α were studied in 16 patients with advanced cor pulmonale. The decrease of pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, increase of cardiac output, improvement of right cardiac function and arterial blood gas were demonstrated after one course of treatment. The mechanism of these effects may be related to improvement of imbalance of TXB2/6-keto-PGF1α. These results were in agreement with those of intravenous administration of ligustrazine, but no adverse reactions were found.
This paper reports 30 cases of myasthenia gravis (MG) treated by thymectomy from 1965 to 1990 in our hospital. Of all the 30 cases of MG, peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulation was determined in 10, and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titer in 6, before and after operation. The results demonstrated the efficacy of thymectomy against MG. We considered that with application of hormone before and after operation to regulate immune function of the body, and/or with plasma exchange to remiss symptoms, all the patients with generalized MG may be indicated for treatment by thymectomy. Indication of treatment does not depend on age, sex and the course of the disease. But radical operation, proper anesthesia and appropriate use of antibiotics may ensure safety of the operation and its curative effect.
In in-vitro culture, we have found that corneal endothelial cells exhibited membranous growth character in tissue culture. The cells were polygonal in shape. When human corneal endothelium grew in single layer, we found the phenomenon of amitosis. Scanning electronmicroscopy showed the microvilli of endothelial cells in vitro were more than in vivo. Transmission electronmicroscopy demonstrated a lot of intercellular desmosome and many fibrillar structures accumulated into bundles, curly-hair-like in shape and distributed reticularly around the nucleus. The cells were rich in organelles. We have also discussed the regenerative ability and some biological characteristics of corneal endothelium. It may be suggested that human corneal endothelia exhibit the proliferative ability in some condition. However, their proliferative form remains to be further studied.
254 patients with cervical cancer were treated by radiotherapy from Jan 1979 to Dec 1984. All the patients were followed up at least for more than 3 years, of them 180 for over 5 years. According to various symptoms, picture of the tongue and pulse condition, the disease was classified into 4 types, namely: 1) deficiency of liver-yin and kidney-yin, 2) deficiency of splenic qi, 3) internal retention of damp-heat, and 4) stagnation of qi and blood or stagnation of liver qi, The survival rate of the various types was quite different. The patients of type 4 had the worst prognosis. The prognosis of patients with type 1 was significantly better than that of patients with type 4. The difference was of statistical significance (P< 0.01).
On the basis of the research on the relationship between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) a study of the effects of HCMV infection on the immunological pathogenesis of SLE was undertaken. Presented in this paper is a brief account of the study. It was found that SLE patients with active HCMV infection had significant higher level of serum interferon-α (IFN-α) than those without active HCMV infection, but the IFN-α induction capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SLE patients with active HCMV infection was evidently poorer than that from patients without it. There was not any statistically significant difference between the two SLE groups in the IFN-γ induction capacity of PBMC.