Experiments were performed on 64 Sprague-Dawley rats under urethane anesthesia. Extracellular recording method was used to investigate the effect of aluminum (AL) microinjected into CA3 on long-term potentiation (LTP) in this area. The relationship between the inhibitory effect of Al and L-arginine-NO pathway was also studied. Microinjection of Al (0.5 mol/L, 1 μl) into CA3 could block the induction of LTP in CA3. Microinjection of Al (0.5 mol/L, 1 μl) into CA3 after LTP was induced could also decrease the amplitude of population spike (PS). The inhibitory effect of Al on LTP in CA3 could be enhanced by preinjection of N^G-nitro-L-arginine (0.3 mol/L, 1 μl). Preinjection of L-arginine (0.3 mol/L, 1 μl) into CA3 could antagonize the inhibitory effect of Al on LTP. These results suggest that Al could block the induction of LTP and decrease the amplitude of PS potentiated in CA3. The effect of Al might be antagonized by L-arginine-NO pathway.

Before and after general irradiation with⁶⁰Co-γ, mice were orally given Sheng Bai Solution (SBS) for one week. SBS alleviated the irradiation-induced reduction of bone marrow cell chromosome division index. The irradiationinduced decrease of marrow DNA amount, thymic and splenic fractions, and total leukocyte number were restored to some extent. SBS also helped to ameliorate general condition of patients.

Sixty-six cells were examined for chromosome length change, with half of them (33) in the early-metaphase and the other half in the pre-metaphase. The 22 couples of chromosomes (excluding sex chromosomes) in each cell were analyzed. The differences of chromosome length between the two phases were demonstrated and the correlation dimension of each chromosome was calculated. It was suggested that the mitosis of human chromosome possessed the feature of chaotic decrease. This offers a new approach to the research of the dynamic process of the mitosis.

In order to know the practical value of heat stress protein 70 (HSP70) and to know the changes of plasma free amino acids of workers with the induction of HSP70 by harmful factors, the amino acid composition of major HSP, HSP70 purified from the heated cultured human leukemia cancer cell line K562, rabbit liver, rat liver and heart, and mouse liver with two-step procedures of DE52-cellulose ion exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography on ATP-agarose was examined. The level of plasma free amino acids of workers with long-term exposure to heat, carbon monoxide and the combined effect of both heat and carbon monoxide was also investigated. The results showed that the three richest amino acids in HSP70 of all origins were Gly, Glu and Asp, except that of rat heart which was rich in Gly, Phe and Glu. Additionally, Lys, Val, Leu and Ala were also found very rich in HSP70 of all origins. Compared with controls, the most of plasma free amino acids tended to increase and free methionine and tryptophan were increased significantly (P<0. 05) after a long-term exposure to heat, carbon monoxide, and both. These findings suggested that further studies need to be done to find the substances or drugs which induce the synthesis of HSP70 and reduce the inhibition of synthesis of normal proteins for the purpose of protecting people with exposure to harmful factors against the damage of the factors.

To understand the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in immune response of the inner ear, inner ear immune response was induced in rats by inoculation of keyhole limpet hemocyanine (KLH) into the scala tympani of the animals who had been systemically sensitized. The expression of ICAM-1 in the inner ear was immunohistochemically examined. ICAM-1 was found in the epithelium of the spiral modiolar vein (SMV) with its collecting venules (CVs) as early as 6 h after challenge. Expression of ICAM-1 was observed on the epithelium of the endolymphatic sac (ES) and perisaccular region at 12 h. The intensity of ICAM-1 staining reached its peak within 24 - 48 h in these sites of the inner ear. By day 28, most specimens were devoid of appreciable staining for ICAM-1. Our study demonstrates that adhesion molecules play an important role in extravasation of inflammatory cells from the systemic circulation in the process of inner ear immune response. It also shows that cytokines that control expression of adhesion molecules may be released by cells outside ES, besides those cells in the ES.

Bioactive proteins from SD rat limb buds were extracted and purified. Fractions of 22 ku, 34 ku and 95 ku were proved to have neurotrophic activity to neurons, and the combined activity of these three fractions was the highest. So they were combinedly added into the culture medium of sensor neurons in dorsal root ganglia and motor neurons of anterior spinal cord from 2-week-old embryonic rats, and PBS was added as control. Phase-contrast microscopic and electron microscopic observations, and true cholinesterase measurements were performed to evaluate the survival and changes in growth, function, and ultrastructure of these cultured neurons. In the experimental group, it was found that the AchE activity was higher (P<0. 01), ultrastructural changes in mitochondria, Gorgi’s complex and other cell organs were milder than those in the control group. The results showed limb buds derived neurotrophins played an important role in maitaining the survival of the neurons and promoting the growth of axons. It was concluded that embryonic limb buds derived neurotrophins had high neurotrophic activities on neurons’ survival and axon growth.

In order to investigate the role played by platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in the pathogenesis of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis in rats repeatedly infected with mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), a rat MP infection model was developed by infecting rats with MP for 9 times during a period of 24 weeks with a technique of ultrasonic nebulizing inhalation. Then in situ hybridization was performed with PDGF-B chain cDNA probe and the results were quantitatively analyzed to measure the changes in PDGF-B chain mRNA expression in the lung tissue. The results showed that: (1) MP polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests showed positive results in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from all of the MP-infected rats (n = 4) while they were all negative in BALF from the control animals (n = 4,P<0. 05) and in BALF from those rats both infected with MP and, at the same time, treated with erythrornycin (n = 4,P<0. 05). Bacterial cultures of the bronchial and lung tissue were negative in all three groups. The observation under a transmission electron microscope indicated that the interalveolar septa were widened with increased amount of collagen in the MP-infected rats while there were no obvious abnormalities in the other two groups. (2) Strong positive expression of PDGF-B chain mRNA was found in the plasma of monocytes and macrophages located in the locally widened interalveolar septa and alveolar spaces in the lung tissue from the MP-infected animals with the integral optical densities being 37. 42±9. 05 (n = 4) which was significantly higher than the values of control group (0. 42±0. 08,n = 4,P<0. 01) and of the group with MP-infection plus erythromycin treatment (1.62±0.40,n = 4,P<0.01). These results suggest that PDGF-BB may be involved in the process of the development of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis caused by the repeated MP-infection. It may be an important growth factor for mediating the roles of monocytes and macrophages to promote the aggregation and proliferation of fibroblasts which can then secrete collagen in large quantity in the pulmonary interstitium.

To explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of portal hypertensive enteropathy (PHE), cirrhotic portal hypertension was induced in Wistar rats by subcutaneous administration of carbon tetrachloride. At the end of 12th week, NADPH-diaphorase staining was performed on ice frozen sections with the sample of fresh colonic tissues. NO synthase (NOS) activities and NOS mRNA expression of colonic tissues were investigated with chemoluminescence method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. After NADPH-diaphorase histochemical staining, the computer image analysis and pairedt test showed that NOS staining intensities of submucosal vascular endothelial cells and nerve fibers were all significantly higher in PHE group than those in normal group (P<0.01 andP<0.05, respectively), but the intensities of superficial epithelial cells were significantly lower than those of controls (P<0.01). Chemoluminescence method demonstrated that general NOS activity of colonic mucosa was significantly higher in PHE group than that in control group (P<0.01). Moreover, the degree of iNOS activity increase was greater than that of cNOS (104 % vs 35 %). RT-PCR revealed that NOS mRNA expressions were dramatically higher in PHE group than those in control group (P<0. 01). The results suggested that NO, with its property of vasodilatation, may be involved in the pathogenesis of vascular lesions of PHE in cirrhotic rats, and may also has something to do with mucosal lesions of colon in PHE.

In order to study the changes of nitric oxide (NO) in gastric wall in hypoxic neonatal rats, the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) of gastric wall was measured and the NADPH-diaphorase biochemistry test was taken to show the distribution of NOS in the gastric wall of neonatal rats. The results showed that compared with normal rats, NOS had no significant changes in the acute hypoxic rats (P>0.05). However, in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) neonatal rats, the activity of NOS was markedly increased (P<0.01), and the NOS positive reactive products were markedly increased in the gastric muscle, but no changes in the mucosal and submucosal layers were observed. The results suggest that the decreased gastric motivation and the gastric mucosal lesions caused by asphyxia are associated with the changes of NO in gastric wall.

Using the method of dual-wavelength measurement of platelet [Ca²⁺]_i and Fura-2 as the Ca²⁺ fluorophore probe, we measured the effect of acidic Mucopolysaccharide fromSticopus Japonicus Selenka (SJAMP) on platelet [Ca²⁺]_i. The results showed that the most significant increase in platelets [Ca²⁺]_i was seen when the concentration of SJAMP was 100μg/ml and the elevation of normal platelet [Ca²⁺]_i was 93.96 ± 10.24 nmol/L (n=10). In the presence of extracellular Ca²⁺ (1 mmol/L), the magnitude of platelet [Ca²⁺]_i response to SJAMP was increased and the [Ca²⁺]_i could reach 116.72±10. 66 nmol/L (n = 10). On the other hand, the magnitude of increased platelet [Ca²⁺]_i induced by SJAMP was smaller and the duration of [Ca²⁺]_i reaching the highest level was longer when compared with other platelet aggregation agents. In the mean time, if platelets were first incubated with cyclooxygenase inhibitor, the rise of [Ca²⁺]_i evoked by SJAMP was inhibited. The results indicated that the mechanism of the rise of [Ca²⁺]_i induced by SJAMP might be dependent upon the generation of prostaglandin endoperoxides and(or) TXA₂.

We observed the changes of parameters of coagulation and fibrinolytic system in order to understand the clinical implication of these variations in type I diabetic patients. Subjects consisted of 22 patients with type I diabetes mellitus and 25 healthy controls. Compared with the control, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time were shortened in the patients. The diabetic subjects also displayed higher levels of D-dimer, serum fibrin degradation products, median concentrations of fibrinogen (3. 99 vs 2. 96 g/L,P<0. 01) and von Willebrand factor (149 % vs 87 %,P<0.01). Levels of antithrombin activity or antigen were not different from control values. Simple linear regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between antithrombin activity and fast blood glucose. Diabetic patients with vascular complications had significantly higher levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer than those without diabetic angiopathy. Our data demonstrated that patients with type I diabetes mellitus had a hypercoagulable state. We believed the activation of coagulation might contribute to the vascular complications in diabetics.

Serum lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] concentration was determined in 42 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS) and the relationships between Lp (a) and plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, serum creatinine (Scr), albumin, urinary proteins (Upro) were also analyzed. The results showed that: (1) serum Lp(a) concentrations in the patients with NS were higher than those in healthy controls; (2) the levels of serum Lp(a) were correlated positively with total cholesterol (TO, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo-B), Upros (Upro). It is concluded that the NS patients had the potential risk of suffering from coronary artery disease, glomerular sclerosis and thrombosis. The remission of NS may partially decrease the serum Lp(a) levels. Further studies are needed to explore the prevention and treatment of dislipedemia in patients with NS.

To assess the efficacy and the optimum dose of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) on the anemia of premature, 45 preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 35 weeks and birth weight of less 1 800 g were randomly assigned to treatment group 1 (n = 15, receiving subcutaneous rhEpo 150 U/kg · time), treatment group 2 (n =15, receiving 250 U/kg · time), three times a week for 6 weeks, and control group (n =15, no treatment was given). All preterm infants received supplements of vitamin E (20 IU) and iron (20 mg) each day. Our results showed that postnatal decline of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) were lessened in the treatment groups, particularly in the group 2 and the differences were very significant (P<0.0001 for all). Treated infants had significantly higher reticulocyte counts (Ret) (P<0.0001 for all), but there was no significant difference between the two treatment groups (P > 0.05). Serum iron dropped significantly in the treatment groups as compared with control group (P<0.01 for all), but no dose-dependent relationship was observed in treated infants (P>0.05). After treatment, serum levels of erythropoietin was higher in group 2 than those in group 1 and control group (P<0.0001,P<0.01 andP<0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between group 1 and control group (P>0.05). No side effects related to rhEpo therapy were observed. Our study suggested that rhEpo therapy stimulates endogenous erythropoiesis and enhances Ret, Hct and level of Hb in a dose-dependent manner in premature infants. The therapy is more efficient when given in higher dosages.

The effect of serum of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) on expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B chain protein in vascular endothelial cells (VEC) was studied by immunocytochemical method. Meanwhile, the effects of the endothelial cell conditioned media (ECM) on expression of PDGF receptor mRNA in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and on cell cycle of VSMC were investigated by the methods of nucleic acid hybridization and flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that the serum of patients with KD induced the expression of PDGF-B chain protein significantly. ECM significantly promoted the expression of PDGF receptor mRNA and induced the proliferation of VSMC. These data suggest that the activation of PDGF-PDGF receptor may play a role in the pathogenesis of coronary complication of KD.

To investigate the cellular immunological changes in children with viral hepatitis, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), interferon α (IFN_α), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF_α) in supernatant of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 49 children with hepatitis At B or C were measured. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF_α in PBMCs of the 3 viral hepatitis groups were increased and the level of IFN_α decreased as compared with those of normal control group. But there were no significant differences among the 3 viral hepatitis groups. It was concluded that cellular immunological disorders were related to the onset and the induced damage of the viral hepatitis in children.

In order to delineate the infectious status of HGV in pediatric hematological patients and its clinical features, 38 children were studied for HGV by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). The overall positive rate was 23.68 %; the positive rate in 1–10 time transfusion recipients (mean 3. 26 times) was 3. 70 % while in over 10 time transfusion recipients (mean 20. 09 times) was 72. 73 %. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (P<0.001). All HGV positive children showed diminished immunity and most were single HGV infection with no clinical and biochemical evidences of acute hepatitis. Our results suggest that HGV is one of the main causes of post-transfusion hepatic virus infection and the prevalence is related to transfusion times. Hematological malignancy maybe the most susceptible confluence of HGV.

We evaluated preliminary success and patency of stenting for the treatment of radiation—induced arterial diseases. Thirteen stents were placed in 8 patients to treat occlusion (n = 3), aneurysm (n = l), residual stenosis (n = 2), multiple stenoses (n = 1), and delayed restenosis after previous balloon angioplasty (n = l). Interventional procedure was successfully performed in 8 patients for their arterial lesions after radiotherapy. Six patients underwent interventional procedure once or twice. Two patients underwent PTA 4 times. Five of these patients demonstrated primary patency with relief of clinical symptoms with a mean follow-up of 2 years (range: 8–60 months). Clinical improvement was noted in the other patients. Our results suggest that stent placement by single or multiple techniques may have immediate effect on arterial lesions caused by radiation and can be considered as a therapeutic option of choice in these cases.

Biodegradation of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics was observed through mixed culture of osteoclasts and TCP discsin vitro in this study. Osteoclasts were isolated from newborn SD rat’s marrow of long bone and cultured on TCP discs. The culture terminated at the 48th h and 96th h respectively. Under an inverted microscope, the osteoclasts imparted round or oval body with multinuclear and many thin processes. These cells were positively stained for tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP). Scanning electron microscope showed that many resorption lacunae on TCP disc surface and their diameters were smaller than 20 μm. Osteoclasts were located in the lacunae. At the 96th h, the resorption lacunae become larger and osteoclasts showed degeneration. It is suggested that osteoclasts possess ability to re-absorb TCP ceramics underin vitro culturing condition.

The embolization was used for the treatment of 10 patients with tumors and vascular lesions in the oral and maxillofacial region. The patients were diagnosed as having vascular deformity, hemangioma, hemangiofibroma and chemodectoma. The selective and superselective target artery embolization were conducted and the satisfactory results were achieved. The procedures, effects and precautions of the embolic therapy were also discussed.