Alteration of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+1]) in hypoxia was studied with fluorescent probe, Fura-2 in cultured porcine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. It was found that hypoxia caused by bubbling the cell suspension with 100% N2 increased [Ca2+2] in endothelial cells by 90±20% (n=8,P<0.05), but didn’t affect that in a Ca2+-free buffer, La3+ (2×10−5 mol/L) inhibited the hypoxia-induced increment in [Ca2+]1, whereas verapamil (10−8 mol/L) didn’t. These findings suggest that hypoxia could induce Ca2+ influx in pulmonary arterial endochelial cells, which might play an important role in vascular response to hypoxia.
Nyquist velocity and transorifice pressure gradient dramatically influence color aliasing shape and accuracy of simple hemispherical flow convergence equation for calculation of flow rate. The present in vitro study was performed to determine whether the value of Nyquist velocity, at which the shape of proximal isovelocity surface is best fit for a given shape assumption in different orifice size, and the flow rate may be a determinable and orifice size independent function of clinically measurable peak velocity or transorifice pressure gradient. Steady flow was driven through circular discrete orifices with diameter of 3. 8 mm, 5.5 mm and 10 mm and flow rate ranging from 2.88 L/min to 8.2 8 L/min. For every flow rate, Doppler color encoded M-mode images through the center of flow convergence region were transferred into the microcomputer in their original digital format. The continuous wave Doppler traces of maximal velocity through the orifice were performed for the calculation of pressure gradient. Direct numerical spatial velocity measure using color pixel intensity was obtained from the transferred color encoded M-mode images with computer software. The shape of isovelocity surface was determined by the ratio of calculated flow rate with hemispherical flow convergence equation to the actual flow rate. Both the flow rate and orifice size influence the position of the velocity profile curve. The shape of isovelocity surface is not constant and changes with the velocities used for the calculation of flow rates for a given flow rate and orifice size or pressure gradient and also changes with the flow rate or transorifice pressure gradients for a constant Nyquist velocity and orifice size. It was found that for a given ratio of calculated flow rate to actual flow rate (0. 7 and 1) the velocities used for the calculation of flow rate with hemispherical flow convergence equation were correlated well with the pressure gradient for a given orifice size and the differences in velocities among different orifice sizes adjusted for the covariance pressure gradients were not statistically significant (P = 0.794 for ratio = 0.7 andP = 0.81 for ratio = l). Our present study provides an orifice size independent quantitative method with which to select the most suitable Nyquist velocity for applying simple hemispherical flow convergence equation according to clinically measurable pressure gradients ranging from 5.32 kPa to 26.60 kPa, and offers a correcting factor for the hemispherical flow convergence equation when pressure gradient is less than 5.32 kPa.
In order to search for effective drugs to reduce restenosis incidence after coronary angioplasty, we studied the effects of a Chinese herb, extract of Andrographis Paniculata Nees (APN), and Fish Oil (FO) on atherosclerotic stenosis and restenosis after experimental angioplasty. Preliminary results showed that APN can significantly alleviate atherosclerotic iliac artery stenosis induced by both deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet (control group, stenosis incidence 100 %, stenotic severe degree 60. 53±31. 03 %, of which 30 % arteries (6) are total occlusion; FO group: stenotic incidence and severe degree are 77 % and 53. 00±21.17 %, respectively, and in APN group they are 70 % and 25.39±10. 52 %, respectively,P<0. 01), and follow-up angiography 4 weeks after angioplasty showed that dilated iliac arteries in contrpol group all had severe restenosis, but in APN group no or only mild restenosis occurs, and in FO group restenosis is as severe as stenotic degree prior to angioplasty. These preliminary results suggest that APN and FO can significantly alleviate stenosis induced by deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet and restenosis after angioplasty, while the former has a more marked effect. The above findings lead the authors to conclude that APN may play an important role in preventing restenosis after coronary angioplasty, but FO may be useful in reducing the extent of of restenosis after coronary angioplasty.
Cardiac mitochondria of rabbit was prepared by differential centrifugation. Tetrahydroberberine (THB) 10 μmol/L innhibited isoproterenol 1 μmol/L induced45Ca uptake in the mitochondria by 48.58 %. The inhibition is concentrationdependent and may play an important role in the protection of mitochondrial function in cardiac ischemia and reperfusion injury.
This investigation revealed that the contents of A II and NE in plasma, heart and aorta and E content in plasma were significantly increased in SHR at the age of 12th week. At the same time the systolic blood pressure of SHR was much higher than that of the age-matched WKY. The intracerebroventricular administration of 6-OHDA in SHR at the age of 8th week not only prevented the development of hypertension, but also reduced the contents of NE and E in the brain regions, heart, aorta and plasma. Simultaneously A II content in heart, aorta and plasma was decreased. These results suggested that: 1, the renin-angiotensin system and peripheral sympatho-adrenal system are overactive in SHR, 2. the overactivity of peripheral sympatho-adrenal system is dependent on the central catecholaminergic neurons, and 3. the action of sympatho-adrenal system is partly responsible for the increase of A II content in plasma, heart and aorta in SHR.
To improve the sensitivity of detecting biotin-labeled DNA Probes, a new fluorescent substrate of alkaline phosphatase, 4-methylum belliferylphosphate (4-mup) was studied instead of conventional BCIP-NBT. The result of dot-blot hybridization demonstrates that this new substrate can be used for the colorimetric detection of biotin-labeled probes after hybridization to immobilized nucleic acids. The sensitivity is about one order of magnitude higher than that of BCIP-NBT system, and the time required for color development is very short, only about five min. It is suggested that the Bio-SA-Bio-AP-4-MUP colorimetric detection system can be widely used in gene diagnosis.
A staphylococus aureus protein A co-operated ELISA (SPA-ELISA) for the detection of anti-HCV-IgM has been established using HCV antigenic polypeptide, SPA-bearing germs and horseradish peroxidase labelled anti-human IgM. The specificity of SPA-ELISA has been confirmed by some substitution tests, blocking tests and destroying test with 2-mercaptoethanol. The results showed that the rate of anti-HCV-IgG in a group of patients with acute hepatitis and there were significant difference in anti-HCV-IgM was higher than that of anti-HCV-IgM detected rates between patients with acute hepatits and those with chronic hepatitis (32.26%,P<0.01). On the other hand, the positive rates of anti-HCV-IgM were 53.66 % and 63.41 % in transfusion associated hepatitis, 38.10 % and 42.86 % in sporadic hepatitis, 6.11 % and 16.33 % in people who have had active social activities, 40.00 % and 10.00% in a group of blood donors respectively. Furthermore, taking into account the characteristics of HCV polypeptide used, its easiness of manipulation, and elimination of the interference of anti-HCV-IgG in sera, the new SPA-ELISA is believed to be of practical value in clinical and epidemiological studies of hepatitis C.
In this study, the anti-idiotypic and anti-isotypic antibodies (McAbs) against IgM of the Patient with B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were purified from hybridoma ascites by n-Octoic acid precipitation method. The purified McAbs have high purifity and high antibody activity as evidenced by immunoelectrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and ELISA. Relative affinity of 11 McAbs was measured by using indirect ELISA and double antibody sandwich ELISA method. It was found that relative affinity of various McAbs to the same antigen was different. 11 McAbs could be divided into two groups by analysing their 50 % maximum binding. The relative affinity of 4 McAbs in the culture supernatants was consistent with that of McAbs in the purified ascites. Our experimental results provide an important basis for rational application of these McAbs.
Clinical and prognostic investigations were conducted in 46 cases of M2/t (8;21) leukemia and 29 cases of M2/NN patients. Results showed that most patients with M2/t(8;21) were young males with higher incidence of extramedullary infiltrations. Complete remission rate was higher but with earlier relaps. The prognosis of patients with M2/t(8;21) with loss of one sexual chromosome was poor.
In order to study the immune function of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), we assayed NK cell cytotoxicity against K562 targets in 40 patients on MHD, and the production of IL-2 and IFN in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after PHA stimulation, in contrast to those in normal controls. The results showed that NK cell activity and IL-2 and IFN levels were markedly lower in the patients than in the controls. Afeter a single dialysis, NK cell activity as well as IL-2 and IFN levels were elevated to different extent. But there was no significant change in patients after long-term dialysis. There was a positive correlation between the NK cell activity and IL-2 and IFN activity in the controls, but no such correlation was found in the patients on MHD. There was a positive correlation between the NK cell activity and IL-2 activity in patients after dialysis, suggesting that immune function were impaired in the patients on MHD, with a decline in the activity of NK cell and IL-2 and IFN, and a disorder of immune regulation cycle. These abnormal immune impairments in the patients could be partly corrected by hemodialysis. However, long-term hemodialysis is not much helpful in the improvement of patient’s immune function.
Platelet-activating factor (PAF) present in the blood of the patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease and asthma has been detected by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The patients with chronic pulmonary heart disease accompanied by carbon dioxide retention (PaCO2>6.67 kPa) have a higher level of PAF in blood (0. 75 ±0. 27 μg/ml) than those who have no carbon dioxide retention (PaCO2<6.67 kPa, PAF 0.41 ±0. 25 μg/ml) and those in the normal control group (0.45 ±0.20 μg/ml), withP<0.05 in all. The patients with asthma have a higher PAF in blood (0.83±0. 05 μg/ml) than those in the control group (P < 0.005). These findings suggest that PAF plays an important role in episodes of chronic pulmonary heart disease and asthma.
T cell subsets and immunoglobulin (Ig) were observed sequentially with the OKT monoclonal antibodies rosette test and the rate scattering turbidimetry in 13 patients who underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for rheumatic heart diseases (RHD) and congenital heart diseases (CHD), before and after operation. Compared with preoperative values, in the early period after CPB, T helper cells, T helper cells to T suppressor cells ratio and IgG decreased significantly; whereas T suppressor cells increased, in RHD and CHD. The T cell subsets returned to the preoperative levels two weeks after CPB in RHD and CHD. The IgG came back to the preoperative levels two weeks after CPB in RHD and only one week after CPB in CHD.
Abnormalities of haemorheology were found in animal and human recipients of kidney and/or pancreas allografts during rejection episodes.
Thirteen diabetic canines received solitary pancreatic transplantation and another 13 diabetic and uremic canines underwent combined pancreas and kidney transplantation. Determination of haemorheological parameters was performed before and after operation respectively. During rejection episodes of kidney or pancreas allografts, the values of plasma viscosity, blood reductive viscosity and fibrinogen were significantly higher than those without rejection.
On the basis of animal experiments, the determination of haemorheological parameters had been performed on 33 patients (30 receiving renal tramsplant, 2 pancreatic transplant alone and the remaining 1 conbined renal and pancreatic transplant). Consecutive mornitoring on these patients showed that a rise in the values of plasma viscosity, blood reductive viscosity and fibrinogen could be demonstrated during rejection episodes. The changes appeared one to three days prior to clinical manifestations and were in accordance with the termination of rejection. Our studies suggest that variation of haemorheological parameters are associated with rejection and the abnormal haemorheology may be an essential factor contributing to graft dysfunction. Moreover, the use of these assays will be beneficial to early diagnosis and better management of rejection in the future.
To investigate the incidence of child’s HCV infection in our area, 637 children with different background, including 65 posttransfusion cases, 419 hepatitis patients (250 cases of acute hepatitis A, 156 cases of chronic hepatitis B and 13 cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis), 50 infantile hepatitis syndrome (1HS) infants and 103 healthy day-cared children were tested for serum anti-HCV antibody (EIA) and HCV RNA (nested PCR). It was found that posttransfusion children had significantly higher anti-HCV positive rate (30. 8%) and HCV infection incidence (43.1%) than hepatitis patients (4.3% and 5.3%), IHS infants (6.0% and 8.0%) and daycared children (2.9% and 2.9%). 25 of 33 cases with posttransfusion hepatitis (PTH) developed hepatitis C, which was the leading cause of PTH (75.8%) and NANB PTH (25/30, 83.3%). The incidence of HCV infection in NANBH patients was 23.1% (3/13) which was apparently higher than that in day-cared children (P <0. 02) and lower than that in PTH patients (P<0. 001), but not statistically different from that in AHA and CHB patients (P>0. 05). Mother-infant paired study in IHS group showed that 4 pairs of mother-infant had HCV infection, one boy aged 8 months and his mother were anti-HCV positive, and another 3 pairs possessed HCV RNA in sera. 3 of 103 healthy day-cared children were found to have inapparent HCV infection, who were anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive.
Three patients with rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysm into the lung with formation of pseudoaneurysm were admitted to our hospital in 1991, of whom, 2 had ascending aortic aneurysms which ruptured into the right upper pulmonary lobe, and another one had descending aortic aneurysm rupuring into the left upper lobe. All 3 cases were misdiagnosed as having pulmonary carcinoma or mediastinal tumor by the other hospital as well as by us. Correct diagnosis was made by aortography or at exploratory thoracotomy. Our preliminary experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are presented in this paper.
The ultrastructure of macrophages in rabbits’ radius callus at the 14th and 31st day after fracture had been observed in the study. It was found that macrophages mostly appeared in the early stage callus where there were inflammation, clot, and bone chips. Commonly seen macrophages were active phagocytes with single nucleus, but they could evolve to form multinuclear marcophages or fuse into foreign body giant cells. We are therefore led to conclude that the functions performed by macrophages in healing callus are to phagocytize and digest damaged cellular fragments, small bone chips, clot and foreign body, to disrupt larger dead bone matrix extracellularly and to resorb them by microvilli-like processes on the surface of foreign body giant cells.
The correlative factors of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 287 endstage renal disease (ESRD), admitted from 1983 to 1992, were analyzed. 52% of patients had LVH including 54 % of patients on hemodialysis, 75 % of patients with peritoneal dialysis and 38 % of transplanted patients. Single factor analysis indicated that age, blood pressure, serum creatinine and BUN, hemoglobin, serum alkaline phosphatase, aortic valve disease and present DSRD therapy were related to LVH. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the most important factors which independently related to LVH in all patients studied, were management of present ESRD treatment, age, hypertension and high serum alkaline phosphatase. In a subset of patients with severe LVH, high serum alkaline phosphatase level, high systolic blood pressure and age were the predictive factors. In patients on dialysis, the most important variable were age and high serum alkaline phosphatase. Hypertension was the sole predictor of LVH in the transplant group.