A newly designed dual fiber optical sensor is reported. It can sense both oxygen and carbon dioxide in gas phase with one sensing layer made of immobilizing fluorescent dyes Pyrene Butyric Acid (PBA) and Hydroxy Pyrene Trisulphonate (HPTS) in the same matrix. Its resolution is 0.1% for carbon dioxide and 0.5% for oxygen in clinical detecting range.
Antigen-presenting capability and expression of HLA-II antigens on peripheral blood monocytes were analyzed by isotope incorporation technique and indirect immunofluorescence assay with monoclonal antibodies Tü22, Tü 36 and anti-Leu-M2 in patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukemias (AML, CML). All patients (17 AML and 13 CML) demonstrated impaired antigen-presenting capability of monocytes (P<0.00l), when compared with simultaneously studied controls, which were HLA-identical normal siblings of the patients. These patients also showed a markedly decreased proportion of MAC-120- and HLA-DQ-positive monocytes as compared with the controls (P<0.00l), while the percentage of HLA-DR-positive monocytes in the patients was similar to that observed in. the controls (P>0.05). These findings suggested, therefore, that impaired antigen-presenting capability of monocytes correlated with their decreased expression of HLA-DQ in patients with acute and chronic myeloid leukemias.
The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of normal rat hepatocytes and hepatocytes in the precancerous hyperplastic nodules as well as the cells of hepatocelluar carcinoma induced by Nitro-somorpholine in rats were observed with aid of AgNOR-staining and electron microscopy. The observation revealed that the number of Ag-gra-nules in the NORs of carcinoma cells was significantly more than that in the hyperplastic and normal hepatocytes. The ultrastructural observation of the nucleoli of interphase nuclei showed just the same result as the AgNOR-staining.
The alcian blue-PAS-ABC combined staining revealed a very marked infiltration of mast cells (MC) within the carcinoma tissue and in its surroundings in 4 animals, while oher 5 animals showed only a slight or no MC infiltration in the surroundings of carcinoma tissue. The observation of the phenotype of MC revealed that only one of the animals with carcinoma showed a relatively marked infiltraton of both mucosa mast cells (MMC) and connective tissue mast cells (CTMC), while all other rats showed mainly an infiltration of CTMC. The Ag-granules in the NORs of carcinoma cells of the carcinomas with more MC infiltration were less than that of carcinomas with only slight or without MC infiltration. The difference was statistically significant. The significance of above mentioned results was discussed and a relationship between MC and prognosis of liver carcinoma was suggested.
The plasmid series YEP5 1 Δ n bearing GAL10-SUC2 promoter combinations were constructed by inserting SUC2 gene with different upstream deletions downstream GAL10 promoter on YEP5 1. After transforming yeast cells S. cerevisiae, the invertases expressed by eacn of the transformants were measured and analysed by means of PAGE. The results showed that: 1) The SUC2 gene with upstream deletion to at -636bp expressed high level glycosylated form of invertase under glucose derepression, while SUC2 gene with more extensive deletions to -223 bp or more lost its response to glucose derepression; 2) Each part of GAL10-SUC2 promoter combination acted almost independently. All of the combinations showed no apparent coordinated promoter function under our experimental conditions; 3) Sequences between -89bp and -41bp of SUC2 upstream region are responsible for constitutive expression of nonglycosylated invertase. The two tracts of poly (dA-dT) of this region may serve as promoter elements.
In this study, porcine pulmonary artery segments (intact or denuded) and bronchial segments (with or without epithelium) were tested in organ bath. Hypoxia caused a bronchial epithelium dependent relaxation of intact or denuded pulmonary artery preconstricted with phenylephrine. Constriction in intact pulmorary artery coated with epithelium denuded bronchus was observed during hypoxia. The bronchial epithelium-dependent relaxation could be inhibited by indomethacin but not be blocked by the following agents: atropine, propranolol, gossypol, methylene blue and chlorpheniramine. The results suggested tnat HPV was endothelium-dependent. Hypoxia could cause the production of an epithelium-derived relaxing factor (EpDRF), which acted directly on smooth muscle. The effect of EpDRF was not mediated by pulmonary endothelium, but might be rslated to aracnidonic acid cyclooxygenase pathway.
The effect of hypoxia on the production and release of vasoactive substances from endothelial cells of pulmonary artery (PAECs) and aorta (AECs) was studied. The results indicated that the overall effect of tne long half-life vasoactive substances released from PAECs and AECs was vasoconstrictive. The long half-life lipid-soluble substances produced by PAECs and AECs were vasodilative, and did not change in hypoxia. However, the long half-life water-soluble heat-unstable and heat-stable ones were vasoconstrictive. Hypoxia could reduce the release of the former and promote that of the latter which might be peptides. The PAECs could release specific long half-life mediator which was pulmonary artery-constrictive, water-soluble, heat-unstable, and not related to hypoxia. Hypoxia inhibited the production of PGI2, a short half-life vasodilator, in PAECs, but not in AECs.
Intracellular recordings were performed on isolated preparations of toad dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Of the 87 neurons examined, 83 were of type A cells and 4 of type C cells. The conduction velocity (CV) of type A cells ranged from 2.55 to 35.19 m/s with a mean of 11.18±0.78 m/s (x ± s x), while that of type C cells ranged from 1.34 to 2.43 m/s with a mean of 2.11±0.22 m/s (x ± s x). On the basis of tne characteristics of Ap configuration, these 87 cells can be classified into three groups: H neuron (24/87); F neuron (50/87) and F-H neuron (13/87). The Sizes of DRG cells were examined by measuring of HRP labelled cells in part of the experiment. By comparing the size of F and H cell with tneir CV, we proposed a revised view which is against the public opinion concerning the relation between tne size and CV of DRG cells.
Monohalogenated methanes (methyl chloride, methyl bromide and methyl iodide) are mutagenic and carcinogenic. The possible mechanism of these effects, DNA methylation, was studied. DNA adducts from orgnas of F344 rats exposed to these chemicals were separated and identified with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gaschro-matography/massspectrometry (GC/ MS). DNA adducts, 7-methylguanine (7-MeG) and O6-Methylguanine(08-MeG), incorporation of14C into de novo synthesis of nucleobases could be observed in enzymatic DNA hydrolysates by HPLC and determination of the radioactivity in the fractions. The formation of DNA add,ue,ts in the studied organs was only quantitatively different. The formation of O6-MeG was further pioved by analysing the acidic hydrolysates using HPLC with non-radioactive O6MeG as internal standard. 7-MeG and 3-MeA were identified with GC/MS analysis.
We have successfully diagnosised 24 individuals of 5 haemophilia A pedigrees with RFLP linkage analysis and gene amplification in vitro (PCR) technique. Detecting with the I14-E18, we found the carriers of family A and B were not heterozygotes of Bcl I RFLP. They were homozygotes of 3.0 kb/3.0 kb and 2.3 kb/2.3 kb respectively, while the carriers of family C and D were heterozygotes of 3.0 kb/2.3 kb and 3.3 kb/2.3 kb respectively. So it could be made gene diagnosis with Bcl I RFLP in family C and D. In family D, pathologic gene was linked to 3.3 kb band. We have exactly made gene diagnosis 10 family A and B with RFLP linkage analysis after PCR. Our results showed that the carriers of family A and B all were heterozygotes of 142 bp/99 bp, In family A and B, pathologic FVI gene was linked to 142 bp fragment.
With Bg1 I/DX13, we made a RFLP linkage analysis of haemophilia A fetus at the early pregnant period, whose mother was heterozygote of 5.8 kb/2.8 kb, and the fetus was hemizygote of 2.8 kb/-. So it was very clear that the fetus was patient of haempphilia A. We suggested that the pregnant woman to induce abortion to prevent a sick baby from being born.
Sepsis is a major factor in the high mortality and morbidity following diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in patients with obstructive jaundice. The reasons for this increased susceptibility to infection are not fully understood. We therefore observed prospectively changes in immunological status of patients with obstructive jaundice in the perioperative period and studied immunological effects of parioperative arginine therapy. The results showed that there was a significant reduction in interleukin 2 (IL-2) production, interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) expression and lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mitogen in patients with obstructive jaundice compared with normal controls. After operation, the immune suppression in patients with obstructive jaundice was more significant. Arginine is a known T lymphocyte stimulator. Perioperative supplement with arginine significantly enhanced tne immune function of patients with obstructive jaundice, the mechanism being related to increased IL-2 production and IL-2R expression.
In order to find out the infectious rate of hepatitis C viris (HCV) among chronic liver diseases, we investigated antibodies against hepatitis C virus and HCVRNA by method of ELISA, R1BA and RT-PCR in 410 patients with chronic liver disease. The prevalence of HCV infection was found to be 4%. Whereas the positive rate of HBsAg and HBV-DNA of these cases was 69% and 58%, respectively. There is no statistical significance between HCV infectious rate of patients with positive and negative HBsAg. The relative low infectious rate of HCV infection among chronic hepatic diseases indicates that HBV infection plays a more important role in causing chronic hepatitis than that of HCV. Thus, special emphasis should be paid to the preventive and therapeutic measures against hepatitis B in China.
In this study peripheral blood mononuclear cells were tested for T lymphocytsubpopulations, interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and HLA-DR antigen by monoclonal antibodies in 14 LN patients. In comparison with normal controls, 14 LN patients showed a decrease of T4 lymphocyte (0.01<P<0.05) and increase of T8 cells (P<0.01) with reduction of T4/T8 ratio (P<0.0l). The expression of HLA-DR cells increased (P<0.0l), the expression of IL-2R activited by PHA significantly decreased (P<0.0l), while nonactivited IL-2R expression significantly increased (P<0.01). T4/T8 ratio was significantly correlated with activited IL-2R expression (P<0.01, r = 0.6599). The results indicated that there was a immunological defect in LN patients. The pathogenesis of LN might be heterogeneous.
Radioimmunoassay was employed to measure levonorgestrel levels in serum and uterine flushings in women using intrauterine device releasing both copper ions and levonorgestrel (LNG-Cu-IUD) after one-year insertion. In the meanwhile physical characteristics of cervical mucus have been observed in women using LNG-Cu-IUD and compared with those using Tcu-220c-IUD. The mean concentrations of levonorgestrel in serum and uterine flushings (5 ml) were 84.53 pg/ml and 266.93 pg/ml respectively. In LNG-Cu-IUD group, the cervical mucus lacking in ferny crystals had a viscosity significantly higher than that in Tcu-220c-IUD group, suggesting that the local high concentration of levonorgestrel changed the environment of the uterine cavity and the cervical mucus status.
The activity of interleukine 2 (IL-2) in culture supernatants of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) as well as cytotoxicity of LAK cells on cultured leukemic cells were determined by MTT colorimetry. The results showed that higher activity of IL-2 in culture supernatant of LAK and TIL cells was found it could be used to support the culture of IL-2 dependent cell lines. The significant cytotoxicity of LAK cells on leukemic cell lines could be found in vitro, and it was consistent with the ratio of effector cells to target cells. The number of living leukemic cells is consistently related with the concentration of formazan metabolite of MTT. It suggested that the numbers of living cells and cytotoxicity of LAK cells could be estimated by determination of formazan metabolite OD value.