A very promising glutamate decarboxylase electrode, which has linear response range of 5.6 × 10™5 ™ 1.2 × 10™2 mol/L, Nernstian slope of 50 mV/decade, detection limit of 3.2 ×10™5 mol/L and response time less than 3 min, has been designed to observe and evaluate quantitatively the effect of magnetized water on enzyme activities by potentiometric enzyme electrode method. It was found that the activity of glutamate decarboxylase can increase by 30 % in magnetized water. The mechanism of increased enzyme activity was discussed in the present paper. Such a new finding will probably lead to some new explanations for the physiological and biological mechanism of the effect of magnetized water on living organisms, thus providing a new approach to the study of the effect of magnetized water.
After the leukemic cell lines were treated with monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) and interferon (IFN-α), the changes of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the corresponding leukemic cell lines were measured by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that when the ratio of antigen to antibody was 80 to 1, the cAMP levels in the leukemic cell lines were obviously higher than those in the controls while the cGMP levels were obviously lower after being treated with the corresponding McAbs for 16–24 h (P<0.001). The average level of intracellular cAMP was remarkably increased and that of cGMP underwent no significant changes in the leukemic cell lines after treatment with IFN-α.
The effects of acute and chronic cigarette smoking on the metabolism of exogenous arachidonic acid (AA) and angiotensin I (AI) in perfused isolated rat lungs were studied. The results showed that acute cigarette smoking did not alter the contents of 6-keto-PGF1α (the stable metabolite of PGI2) and TXB2 (the stable metabolite of TXA2) in the effluent and the increment of pulmonary artery pressure (†Ppa) caused by AA. The conversion of A I into A II was significantly increased (P<0.01), while the †Pp a, induced by A I injection was obviously decreased as compared with controls (P<0.05). After cigarette smoke exposure for 30 days, the †Pp a caused by AA or A I did, not differ from that of controls, but the contents of 6-ketoPGF1α and A II increased more markedly than those in non-smoking rats,(P< 0.05). It is suggested that acute and chronic cigarette smoking in rats can promote the lung function of converting A I into A II, chronic smoking can increase the lung function of metabolizing AA into PGI2.
The experiments were performed on 55 rabbits vagotomied, anesthetized with urethane and immobilized with flaxedil. Injection of L-glutamate (L-glu) into the locus coeruleus complex (Lc-Sc) area led to a marked increase in respiratory frequency (RF) and phrenic nerve discharge rate (phr. d) (16±3.5% and 6.5±2.5%;P<0.01 andP<0.05, respectively), a decrease in inspiratory and expiratory duration, and no obvious change in blood pressure (Bp) was observed. While prazosin (0.5 μg/μl), yohimbin (4 (μg/μl) and propranolol (2μg/μl) were preinjected into the nuclei tractus solitraii (NTS) respectively, the above-mentioned effects of L-glu on respiration was blocked. These results indicate that the excitation of neurons in the Lc-Sc can induce an increase in RF and phr d and the excitative effect of L-glu on RF was mediated by α1,α2 and β-receptors in the NTS, while the effect on phrd was mediated differently.
Elevation of blood pressure (BP) and blood viscosity (BV) was induced in unanesthetized Wistar rats by fixing and hanging. Electroacupuncture of “Zusanli” acupoint or microinjection of GABA (60 μg/10μl) into theN ventricle of the brain could lower the high BP and BV induced by fixedhanging, which could be blocked by a microinjection of GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (60 μg/10 μl). The results showed that the depressant effect of electroacupuncture of “Zusanli” acupoint on high BP and blood hyperviscosity induced by fixed-hanging might be mediated by the activation of GABAA receptors in the brain.
Since 1990, 20 diagnostically confirmed phenylketonuria (PKU) patients have been screened with a tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) loading test, in which plasma phenylalanine and urinary pterin metabolites were investigated, and activity of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) was determined as well. The results showed that there was no statistical difference between the concentrations of plasma phenylalanine before and after BH4 (20mg/kg) administration in all patients, and values of urinary neopterin and biopterin were within the range of classic PKU. All patients but one had normal activity of DHPR in red cells. This suggests that incidence of BH4 deficiency in PKU patients amounts to five percent (l/20) which is almost the same as reported abroad.
We utillized a combined stimulation test using insulin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone and levodopa to assess multiple pituitary hormones including growth hormone, thyrotropin, prolactin and gonadotropins in 32 children of short stature and 18 girls with early appearance of puberty. It was found that this combined stimulation test can assess multiple hormone responses with satisfactory results in a single 90-min test. Compared with any of those laborious classic stimulation tests alone, it is easier to be carried out and willingly accepted by children.
We determined maternal and neonatal umbilical artery serum concentrations of fibronectin (Fn) in 15 pregnant women with idiopathic IUGR (Intrauterine growth retardation) and 17 normal pregnant women at the time of delivery, by use of a rate nephelometric procedure. The results showed that the maternal serum levels of Fn in pregnant women with idiopathic IUGR were significantly higher than those in normal pregnant women at the time of delivery (P<0.01), but umbilical artery serum concentrations in the two groups were not significantly different (P>0.05), suggesting that the significant increase in maternal serum levels of Fn appeared to be related to uteroplacental vascular endothelial cell lesion, formation of microthrombi and deficiency of placental perfusion.
The monocrofaline-induced structural changes of small pulmonary arteries in rat and their relationship with pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy were observed by determining the right ventricular systolic pressure, and by light and electron microscope and morphometry. One to 38 days after last injection of monocrotaline (MCT), a medial thickening and lumen marrrowing of the circular muscular arteries (CMA), accompanying terminal (TB) and respiratory bronchioles (RB), were found. And there after the lumen of CMA, accompanying TB, became dilated, and its medial thickness (MT) decreased, whereas the histopathologic changes of the partially muscular arteries (PMA), accompanying RB, became severe, their MT increased continuously, and finally reached the peak value on Day 50. At the first day after last MCT treatment, inflammation and muscularization were found in PMA and nonmuscular arteries (NMA), and became more severe with the cause of disease. Therefore, the intra-acinar pulmonary arteries, both CMA and PMA, increased in number while the NMA decreased in number significantly because of the structural remodeling. Four days after MCT treatment, the right ventricular systolic pressure began to rise, and reached its peak value on Day 50. Eight days after MCT injection, right ventricular hypertrophy developed, and became most significant from Day 23 to Day 30. The results suggest that structural remodeling, i.e. muscularization, of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries plays an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy.
The results of chromosme analysis of 5 cases from our genetic counseling showed that among these patients, 4 had two or more repeated spontaneous abortions. Structural abnormalities with the karyotypes 46, XX, t(1;11)(q42;q13), 46, XY, t(l7:19)(q21;pl3.3), 46.XY, t(4;5)(p13;q35) were reported for the first time in the literature abroad. The karyotypes 46, XX, t(l6;18)(q24;q21), 46,XX, t(3;8)(p21;q24.3) were reported for the first time in the literature at home, A discussion is made on the origin of chromosome aberration and the cause of repeated spontaneous abortions.
To characterize and compare the pathologic, hemodynamic and electrocardiographic changes of both transeatheter laser and electrical energy on ventricle, 33 subendocardial myocardium lesions were induced at energy 60, 120 and 240 Joules by either transcatheter laser irradiation or electrical shock in 7 anesthetized dogs. The following results were observed: 1) Both laser and electrical ablation on myocardium created nonhomogeneous myocardium injury, but laser ablation caused mainly focal tissue vaporization and necrosis, while electrical shock induced widespread tissue degenerations; 2) Both laser and electrical induced-lesion dimensions increased parallel to the total dosage of energy; 3) Laser ablation caused mainly (90%) single ventricular premature beats and 86 % of them occurred within the first minute after energy discharged, while ventricular tachycardias were found in any electrical energy groups; ventricular fibrillations occurring during laser and electrical ablation were 5 % and 13 % respectively (P< 0.01): 4) A decrease in aortic blood pressure and an increase in central verous pressure induced by laser ablation were significantly less than that produced by the same amount of electrical energy (P<0.0l). Our preliminary results have shown that transeatheter laser ablation has great potential for becoming a practical method in the management of refractory tachycardias.
A technique of sutureless trachea anastomosis in rabbits using carbon dioxide laser was reported herein. In 6 rabbits with laserassisted trachea anastomoses, only one was found to have slight anastomotic stenosis after operation, whereas 6 rabbits with conventional sutures all were found to have anastomotic stenosis. Results show that laser-assisted trachea anastomosis has certain advantages over the conventional suturing technique, thereby finding wide application in clinical tracheal reconstruction and lung transplantation.
7 eases of 11 peripheral nerve defects (5 median nerves, 5 ulnar nerves, and 1 radial nerve) were repaired through artery-including silicone tubing. The nerves have gaps within 3 cm in 9, and 3 to 5 cm in 2. Repairing the defect’s location, 4 of them were below the axilla; 1 at the upper 1/3 part of the forearm and 6 at the lower part of the forearm. The duration of injuries was from 4 to 7 months, except one case lasting over a year. Six patients with 9 nerves involved had adequate follow-up of 6 to 9 months. One patient with 2 nerves was lost to follow-up. The results were excellent in 5 nerves (M4S3), good in 2 (M3S3), and poor in 2 (M1S1).
A report on the results of surgical treatment of 5 cases of DCRV and its associated anomaly was presented in this paper. No definite diagnosis of DCRV was made prior to operation. It was found that 2 cases had DCRV as an isolated anomaly, another 2 had the disease associated with VSD, and the remaining 1 had DCRV with right ventricle to left artrium cannulation. Museular membrane septum type was found in 3 cases, and muscular bundle type 2.4 cases diagnosed as having DCRV or DCRV with other heart anomalies during operation were treated properly and discharged fully recovered. 1 case died of acute heart insufficiency. Pathologic anatomy and physiology, associated anomalies of DCRV, and some experience with the operative approach were discussed in this article.
The effects of acute intragastric administration of ethanol on hemodynamics and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction were studied in spontaneously breathing dogs. The dogs were given 0.5 g/kg of 10 % ethanol (v/v) in 5 min. Hemodynamic measurements were obtained before and 30 min after ingestion of ethanol. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance increased markedly after ingestion of ethanol, and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was augmented significantly by ethanol as well. Diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC), a lipooxygenase inhibitor, inhibited these effects of ethanol in a dosage of 200 mg/kg. The above findings suggest that ethanol can induce pulmonary vasoconstriction, which may be predominantly mediated by leukotrienes (LTs).