In this study, two murine IgM-monoclonal antibodies (IgM-McAbs) against λ chain of myeloma protein from hybridoma ascites were purified by Sephadex G200 chromatography. The eluate of the first peak on absorption at 280 nm formed one precipitation band with rabbit anti-mouse IgM or anti-mouse immunoglobulin in agar gel double diffusion test; it also formed a detectable precipitation line in the IgM reaction area in immunoelectrophoresis. These findings showed that the eluate of the first peak on absorption at 280 nm contained purified IgM-McAbs. It was found in indirect ELISA that the immunoreactivity of the eluate of the first peak was four to five fold higher than that of the original ascites with equimolar protein concentration. Double antibody sandwich ELISA analyses of the immunoreactivity of HRP-conjugated IgM-monoclonal antibodies with λ chain denoted that the purified IgM-McAb-HRP-conjugate might be of practical value in quantitative as well as qualitative assay of λ chains.
The method usually applied for recording the electrical activity of single nerve fiber is extracellular recording on isolated single nerve fiber. It is difficult to obtain stable and satisfactory results from direct intracellular recording of single nerve fiber, except for some special biological materials, such as Loligo giant axon. We present in this paper a technique for recording intracellular resting membrane potential and action potential from single nerve fiber both in vitro and in situ, using glass microelectrode and a special mirror-base plate for fixing the preparation. Besides, we also report a method for labelling single nerve fiber by means of injection of HRP into the axon.
The stereological algorithms for the conversion of the profile-size frequency distribution (PSFD) observed in histological section to the spheresize frequency distribution (SSFD) in three-dimensional space was developed to a computer program and its practical application was described in this paper. The reconstructions of SSFD were based on the data of PSFD of A-and B-cells measured in sections of the pancreatic islets from ophiocephalus argus, toad, chicken, cat, rabbit and rat. The sizes of both profile and sphere were expressed by their caliper diameters. The experimental results showed that the patterns of SSFD of A-and B-cells from six animal species were somewhat different, and that all the peaks of them, however, occurred in the range from 6 to 12 Urn in caliper diameter.
Eight patients with retinoblastoma (RB) were studied by high resolution chromosome R-banding technique, and the esterase D was quantitatively determined in red blood cells of the patients. Among these patients, 2 showed 13q14 deletion mosaicism, 1 showed a monosomy 13ql4.1-q14.2, and the remaining 5 had normal karyotype. Our findings indicated that 1) the RB gene is located at 13q14.1. The result confirmed previous data; 2) 13q deletion is an important event in the development of RB; and 3) esterase D determination is an important diagnostic tool in the detection of 13q deletion, useful for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling.
As a preliminary step in joint Sino-American pneumoconiosis research efforts, a formal chest X-ray pneumoconiosis reading trial was conducted among Chinese and American radiologists. Tweleve Chinese readers from different institutions located in south central China used the 1986 Chinese Roentgenodiagnostic Criteria of Pneumoconioses. Three American radiologists, centified as NIOSH “B” readers, used the International Labour Office Classification of Pneumoconioses, The chest X-ray study set consisted of 150 posterior-anterior films. One-half were Chinese X-rays of silicaexposed workers, and the other half were American films of variously exposed workers but primarily coal miners. All readings were done independently. The results showed that the inter-reader variability among the Chinese was similar to that of the American readers, both being in an acceptable range. In addition, there was general agreement between the Chinese and American interpretations. For small opacity profusion, the Chinese readers tended to read slightly more diseases than their American counterparts, although there was exact agreement as to the major category in two-thirds of the films. Agreement for film quality, and pleural disease was less, but was not different from reported variation among American “B” readers. Overall, the results suggest that despite the use of two different classification systems, a valid correspondence exists between the Chinese and American Interpretations, which is suitable for use in epidemiologic research.
The level of interleukin-2 (IL-2) produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, T cell subsets and the function of T suppressor cells (Ts) in patients with schistosomiasis japonica were investigated. It was found that the level of IL-2 induced by schistosomal antigens was significantly high and positively related to the percentage of CD4+ cells. In the groups of chronic and advanced schistosomiasis japonica, the level of IL-2 induced by schistosomal antigens was markedly lower than that in the group of acute schistosomiasis japonica, but significantly higher than that in the group of normal controls. The IL-2 level was negatively related to the percentage of CD8+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+. The level of IL-2 induced by PHA was greatly reduced in the group of advanced schistosomiasis japonica. The changes in the level of IL-2 and its relationship with T cell subsets and the function of Ts are also discussed.
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in histological sections from 94 patients with ovarian malignancies were quantitated for their relation to the prognosis of the patients. It was found that the degree of lymphocyte infiltration directly affected the patients’ survival rate and also related to clinical staging of the patients, as well as grading and histologic typing of the tumor. T lymphocytes characterized by alpha-naphthyl acetate (ANAE) staining were the major cells in the stroma of ovarian malignancies. Ultrastructural study of TIL and cancer cells suggested that tumor cell degeneration is related to the effect of TIL.
110 cases of chronic renal failure (CRF) were randomly divided into two groups (I and II). No significant differences in renal function between the two groups were found before treatment. All patients were put on a low protein, low phosphorus and high caloric diet. Group I was treated with EAA in a routine dose while group II was given the same EAA in a much smaller dosage. The therapeutic effects observed in group II proved to be much better than in group I in almost all aspects surveyed (P< 0.001), including relief of symptoms, fall in Scr and BUN concentrations, favourable changes in amino acid profile, etc.
An experimental study of the effect of acute biliary hypertension on hemodynamics and activity of the major splanchnic nerve was conducted in Japanese big ear white rabbits. A catheter with an inflatable rubber bag fixed to its anterior end Was inserted into the extrahepatic biliary duct via the duodenum, and a biliary high pressure of 20 kPa (150 mmHg) was created and maintained for 2 h by inflating the bag with water. The right major splanchnic nerve was isolated and the impulse frequencies of the nerve were recorded during the study. Arterial blood pressure was also dynamically monitored. A significant fall of the arterial blood pressure (P< 0.0l) and an increase in impulse frequency of the nerve (P< 0.01) were found in this “simple type” acute biliary high pressure without infection. Biliary decompression immediately eliminated these abnormalities (P< 0.0l). The drop in blood pressure Was much less prominent if the right splanchnic nerve Was blocked prior to biliary high pressure.
In order to determine the concurrent expression of DR and CD antigen of T lymphocyte surface markers, the fluorescence-rosette double-labelling technique was developed by employing monoclonal antibody against HLA-DR and sensitized sheep erythrocytes with OKT series of monoclonal antibodies against cell surface antigen. Its reliability was evaluated by comparison with twostep isolating technique for determining DR antigen of activated T lymphocyte subsets in 30 healthy volunteers. The result showed there was no statistic difference between results determined with two methods. The double-labelling technique was characterized by its samplity, no injury for cellular activity and ability for analysing the expression of the single antigen and double antignes on cell surface concurrently.
By utilizing marine tumor models bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and ascitic Sarcoma-180 (S-180), we investigated the in vivo antitumor effects of QEQ or/and the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphomide (CY) and their influence on the splenic natural killer (NK) activity, macrophage-mediated tumor cytolysis (MTC) activity and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production level of different groups of TBM. The results demonstrate that Qigongemitted external Qi (QEQ) has inhibitory effects on tumor growth of tumor-bearing mice (TBM) and enhancing effects on antitumor immunologic functions of the tumor host simultaneously. Moreover, when used in combination with CY, QEQ can not only significantly increase the antitumor efficacy, but also markedly improve the compromised antitumor immunologic functions of the tumor host. Therefore, our findings suggest that in clinical practice of cancer treatment Qigong therapy in combination with conventional therapy (such as chemotherapy) is a treatment regimen worth recommending.
Glass microelectrode recording method was used to investigate the effect of injection of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) into nucleus accumbens, nucleus amygdalae or nucleus caudatus on unit discharges from pain-excitation neurons (PEN) in nucleus parafascicularis of the thalamus in rats. The results showed that: l) Injection of TRH into the nucleus accumbens resulted in a significant inhibition of pain discharges from PEN in nucleus parafascicularis, while injection of TRH into nucleus amygdalae, nucleus caudatus exerted no significant effect. 2) Pretreatment with atropine abolished the above-mentioned effect of TRH. 3) Pretreatment with haloperidol also abolished the above-mentioned inhibitory effect of TRH. 4) Pretreatment with naloxone, propranolol or phentolamine did not affect the inhibitory effect of TRH. These results suggested that nucleus accumbens might be a special area in response to TRH and the effect of TRH seems to be involved in both cholinergic M-receptor and dopaminergic receptor.
Binding, uptake and degradation of125I-labeled normal very low density lipoprotein(125I-n-VLDL) from normal swine plasma and125I-labeled β-migrating VLDL (125I-β-VLDL) from hypercholesterolemic rabbit plasma by peritoneal macrophages of mice rendered insulin-deficient by streptozotocin (250 mg/kg) were studied. It was found that the amount of binding, uptake and degradation of125I-n-VLDL by macrophages from the diabetic mice was 2-fold or 2.5-fold higher than by macrophages from normal mice, resulting from an increase in the binding capacity of VLDL receptors on the macrophages from the insulin-deficient rodents. In contrast, the binding, uptake and degradation of125I-β-VLDL by macrophages from diabetic mice were reduced to only about 45 % of normal levels because of a decrease in the number and affinity of the receptors for β-VLDL. These experimental results indicate that n-VLDL is more important than β-VLDL in the pathogenes is of atherosclerosis in insulin-dependent diabetes.