Perinatal management of twin pregnancy.

Perinatal management of twin pregnancy. Of 104 cases, 38 (ie, 36.53%) experienced premature delivery (controls: 4.32%). In instances of threatened premature delivery, 28 cases (26.92%) underwent ligation of the cervix. EPH gestosis occurred in 62 cases--a high incidence rate of 59.61% (controls: 12.9%). Forty-nine cases (47.11%) were complicated by anemia (controls: 8.36%). There were 57 cases of SFD infants, again a high 27.40% incidence rate (controls: 5.94%). Apgar scores of 7 or less at 1 minute after birth indicated that of the 208 neonates, the second-born twin only in 20 cases (9.61%); both infants in 14 cases (6.73%); and, the first-born only in 3 cases (1.44%), developed asphyxia neonatorum. Given the high incidence of premature and immature infants in cases of twins, caution should be employed against threatened premature delivery from around the 28th week of gestation onwards. Ligation of the cervix with ritodrine administration should be performed following admission to hospital, and EPH gestosis, anemia and IUGR should be carefully monitored.


Within-pair similarity in MZ and DZ twins from birth to eighteen years of age. This study is based on 145 pairs of twins included in a longitudinal study of a cohort of singletons born in 1953 and living in the Stockholm metropolitan area in 1963. Of these 145 pairs, 28 were classified as MZ, 103 as DZ and 14 pairs could not be classified. School achievement and ability test results have been collected for this group as well as data for the boys from physical and mental examinations on enrollment to military service. The purpose of this study was to compare within-pair similarity for MZ and DZ twins from birth onwards. There seems to be a divergent trend over time for MZ twin pairs to become more similar and DZ twin pairs to become less similar in height growth, school achievement and verbal ability. This is in accordance with previous research in this field. In relating similarity within pairs to birthweight, we found a drop in within-pair similarity for low birthweight MZ and DZ twin pairs (both twins < or = 2.500 g), but not for normal weight twin pairs. A discussion is initiated concerning methodological implications of these results.


Twinning rates in Japan, 1951-1990.

Twinning rates in Japan, 1951-1990. Twinning rates in all of Japan for 1951-1968 and 1974-1990 were analyzed using data from vital statistics of Japan. The twinning rate per 1,000 births was 6.43 in 1951 and remained nearly constant until 1968, then decreased to 5.79 in 1974 and gradually increased to 7.00 in 1990. The MZ twinning rate increased slightly up to 1966, but decreased thereafter, whereas the DZ rate declined over the entire period. As for maternal age, the DZ rate increased up to the age group 35-39 and decreased thereafter. The same tendency is seen in the MZ rate, but the maternal age effect is less marked than in DZ twins. The same tendency is also seen in the overall rate for 1975-1985. As for geographical variations, the MZ and DZ rates were computed in each prefecture for 1955-1959 and in 1974. The DZ rate increased from a low level in the southwest Japan to a high level in the northeast for both periods, whereas the MZ rate was rather constant in 1974 throughout Japan. As for seasonal variation, the highest rates per 1,000 births for MZ(4.56) and DZ(2.20) twins were seen in April, with the lowest rate in September (3.69) for MZ twins and in July (1.71) for DZ twins.


Intrapair differences of physical aging and longevity in identical twins. The genetic and environmental contributions to physical aging (hair graying, balding, presbyopia) and longevity (age at death) were examined by within-pair comparison in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins in later adulthood. Physical aging was investigated on 135 pairs of adult twins aged over 50. Hair graying and hair loss (baldness) showed significantly higher rates of concordance in the MZ twins than in the DZ twins. The intrapair difference of the degree of hair graying was negligible in 79%, slight in 15% and striking in 5% among the MZ pairs; while negligible in 40%, slight in 50% and striking in 10% among the DZ pairs. The intrapair difference of the degree of hair loss was negligible in 92%, slight in 8% (and striking in none) among the MZ pairs; while negligible in 69%, slight in 25% and striking in 6% among the DZ pairs. The age at onset of presbyopia showed a slightly higher rate of concordance in the MZ than in the DZ pairs. Longevity (age at death) was surveyed on 184 pairs of twins who died at over 40 years of age. The intrapair difference of longevity was 6.65 +/- 5.6 years (maximum 18.0; minimum 0.04) in the MZ pairs, and 8.66 +/- 7.2 years (maximum 18.6; minimum 2.9) in the DZ pairs. The MZ pairs showed a slightly smaller within-pair difference of longevity than the DZ pairs.


Risk factors for cognitive aging in adult twins. Monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins in later adulthood were studied in order to examine genetic and environmental contributions to the decline of cognitive performance. In this study, 118 twin pairs took a comprehensive medical examination at a university hospital. Cognitive function was measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). The intraclass correlation coefficients on Digit Span (D) and Digit Symbol (DS) subtests of the WAIS did not show any significant difference between MZ and DZ twins although Block Design (BD) showed a significant difference. The values of the intraclass correlation coefficients were mostly around 0.5 and showed significant within-pair similarity of test scores. The mean score of D, DS and BD declined with advancing age. The intraclass correlation coefficients for D, DS and BD were around 0.2 in the MZ twins reared apart, and around 0.6 in the MZ twins reared together. These results indicated a significant environmental influence on cognitive aging in later adulthood.


Perinatal mortality and prevalence of major congenital malformations of twins in Taipei city. In order to examine perinatal mortality and prevalence of major congenital malformations in twins, deliveries in four teaching hospitals in Taipei City were studied. Among a total of 73,264 deliveries from October 1985 to June 1989, there were 844 pairs of twins. The zygosity of the twin pairs was determined by sex, placentation and 12 red blood cell antigens. There were 482 MZ and 252 DZ twin pairs identified, but the zygosity of a further 110 twin pairs was indeterminable due to lack of information on plancentation and/or blood types. A total of 4,573 singletons delivered in one study hospital from July 1986 to June 1987 were also studied as controls. The perinatal mortality rate was 7.5% for MZ twins, 1.4% for DZ twins, and 0.7% for singletons. The concordance rate of perinatal death was significantly higher in MZ (60%) than in DZ (0%) twins. The prevalence of major congenital malformations was 2.7% for MZ twins, 1.0% for DZ twins, and 0.6% for singletons. The concordance rate of major congenital malformations was 18% for MZ twins, but no DZ pair was concordant in any major congenital malformation. The concordance rate of facial clefts was 29% for MZ twins. There were 2 sets of conjoined twins giving a prevalence rate of 2.7 per 100,000 deliveries. These findings showing the prevalence of perinatal mortality and major congenital malformation to be highest in MZ twins, intermediate in DZ twins and lowest in singletons, suggest the importance of intrauterine environments in the determination of perinatal mortality and congenital malformations.


Secular trend and associated factors of twinning in Taiwan. Delivery records of public hospitals and local health centers were analyzed to investigate the secular trend of multiple births from 1955 to 1990 in Taiwan. Twinning rates decreased gradually from the late 1950s to 1973, slightly increased and remained stable from 1974 to 1980, and then increased strikingly from 1981 to 1990. During the study period, MZ rates were consistently higher than DZ rates except in 1986 when a higher DZ rate was observed. The highest MZ rate of 7.7 per 1,000 deliveries was observed in 1985, while the highest DZ rate of 4.6 per 1,000 deliveries was observed in 1986. The triplet incidence rate also declined from the early 1960s to 1973 and then increased markedly from 1974 to 1990. A case-control study including 482 MZ and 252 DZ twin pairs and 1,496 singletons was carried out in four teaching hospitals in Taipei City between October 1985 and June 1989 to examine factors related to twinning. The zygosity of twin pairs was determined by sex, placentation and red blood cell antigens. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the higher the maternal age, the lower the MZ and DZ rates, while the higher the parity, the higher the rates. There was no association of paternal age or of maternal educational level with twinning rates.


Improvement of ocular blood flow with dopamine antagonists on ocular-hypertensive rabbit eyes. The eyedrops of the ocular-hypotensive dopamine antagonists, trifluperidol, moperone, lenperone, and spiperone, were instilled into an ocular-hypertensive rabbit eye. The blood flows in the choroid, retina, iris root-ciliary body, and iris were measured with colored microspheres at various time periods. It was found that all these dopamine antagonists, at a concentration of 0.5%, increased the blood flow in all eye tissues. Dopamine, at a concentration of 3%, produced a biphasic action by decreasing the blood flow initially at 30 min, then increasing it at 120 min and thereafter. But 1.5% dopamine produced a monophasic action which increased the blood flow after 180 min. Since dopamine antagonists are not cholinergics or adrenolytics, they are not supposed to produce the side effects induced by pilocarpine or timolol. It is hoped that they can become satisfactory drugs for glaucoma and ocular hypertension.


Induction of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 2B1 by dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate in rats. Dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate (dimethyl-4,4'-dimethyloxy-5,6,5',6'-dimethylene-dioxy-di phe nyl-2,2'- bicarboxylate, DDB), a synthetic mimic of the natural product schizandrin C, is used in China as a hepatoprotective agent to improve the liver functions of patients with hepatitis or under cancer chemotherapy. In this study, we investigated the effects of DDB on liver microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes. When male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a daily intragastric dose of DDB (200 mg.kg-1) for 3 d, the microsomal pentoxyresorufin dealkylase activity and P-450 2B1 protein levels were markedly increased. The fold increase was lower than that by phenobarbital (75 mg.kg-1, ip once daily x 3 d). The level of P-450 2B1 mRNA was elevated by DDB but the magnitude of the elevation was much less than that caused by phenobarbital. DDB also increased the rates of testosterone hydroxylation at positions 16 beta, 16 alpha, 6 beta, and 2 beta as well as the rate of ethoxyresorufin dealkylation, suggesting moderate increases in the levels of P-450 3A and P-450 1A1 in addition to the huge increase in P-450 2B1. The level of glutathione S-transferase was also slightly increased, but the levels of P-450 2E1 and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase were not changed. The results indicate that DDB is an inducer of P-450 2B1.


Effects of rifampicin on pharmacokinetics of isoniazid and its metabolite acetylhydrazine in rats. After i.v. and i.p. injections of isoniazid (Iso) 40 mg.kg-1 to male Wistar rats, the plasma levels of Iso, acetylisoniazid (AcIso), and acetylhydrazine (AcHz) were determined by spectrophotometric method and gas chromatography. The results suggested that the pharmacokinetic behavior of Iso in rats belonged to a 2-compartment model. The plasma levels of AcHz in rifampicin (Rif 30 mg.kg-1)-pretreated rats were lowered vs the control (P < 0.05 or < 0.01). The T1/2 of AcHz was shortened by Rif (control group 3.3 h, Rif-pretreated group 1.4 h) after i.v. injection of AcHz 10 mg.kg-1 to rats and the results showed that AcHz was converted to its active metabolites quickly by increasing the oxidative elimination rate of AcHz, which is related to the higher incidence of liver necrosis caused by Iso and Rif in combination.


Effects of mebendazole, albendazole, and praziquantel on alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and adenosine triphosphatase of Echinococcus granulosus cysts harbored in mice. Mice infected with protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus for 12-14 months were treated ig with mebendazole (Meb) 25-50 mg.kg-1 x d-1 for 7-14 d, albendazole (Alb) 200 mg.kg-1 x d-1, cr praziquantel (Pra) 500 mg.kg-1 x d-1 for 14 d. The mice were killed 24 h after the last medication, and acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) including (Na, K, Mg)-ATPase, (Na, K)-ATPase, and (Mg)-ATPase were determined and compared with those of untreated control group. The results showed that ACP activities of cyst wall in treated groups were lower than the control group. Whereas AKP activity of cyst wall in Pra group increased markedly, this is not the case in Meb and Alb groups. Three ATPase activities of cyst wall were inhibited in both Meb and Alb groups, Meb being more potent. No apparent changes in the ATPase activities were seen in Pra group.


[Timed dose-response relationship analysis of pressor and hypotensive action of drugs]. The graded and timed dose-response relationship (TDRR) of pressor and hypotensive action by i.v. norepinephrine (NE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) respectively were studied in 13 male rabbits. The arterial blood pressure was dose-dependently raised by NE 0.98-125 micrograms.kg-1 and lowered by SNP 7.81-500 micrograms.kg-1 (F test, P < 0.01). The comparisons between dose groups showed that the latency and duration of both NE and SNP action were dose-dependent (P < 0.01), and the data were nonlinear least-square fit to the hyperbolic 4-parameter model II (HFPM): Y = cs + 1/(magnitude of ln X - a)s + b, weighting the square error inversely with the square of Sx. In duration data, the regression equation was Y = 462.9906/(6.6924 - ln X) 0.9701 - 24.3335 for NE and Y = 374935.1632/(12.8573 - ln X)3.3975 - 3.139 for SNP action, while in latency, Y = 345.5548/(ln X + 7.8428)2.4056 + 3.9809 and Y = 17.9595/(ln X - 0.4898)0.5763 + 1.4768 for NE and SNP, respectively. Moreover, the positive correlation was found between the peak-reaching time or average rising rate of the drug actions and the dose groups (P < 0.01). The results proved that the hyperbolic type of TDRR existed in the pressor and hypotensive action by iv drugs, and the HFPM was the common mathematical model to fit different TDRR data.


[Effect of ketanserin on arterial baroreflex-blood pressure control in conscious hypertensive rats]. The effect of ketanserin on arterial baroreflex-blood pressure control (ABR-BP) were studied in conscious freely-moving spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and renovascular hypertensive rats (RVHR). The ABR-BP was measured by using a new method comparing with the pressor responses (in area) to angiotensin II before and after blocking the baroreflex efferent pathway by guanethidine and methyl atropine. It was found that ketanserin enhanced markedly the ABR-BP in both groups of hypertensive rats (SHR: 51% to 74%; RVHR: 59% to 77%). This suggests that the enhancement of ABR-BP may be involved in the anti-hypertensive effects of ketanserin.


[Comparative effects of Panax notoginseng saponins, verapamil, and norepinephrine on cerebral circulation in anesthetized rats and rabbits]. In urethane-anesthetized New Zealand rabbits, mean blood pressure (MBP) and cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) fell by 27-47% and 11-17% (P < 0.05), respectively after Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) 20-80 mg.kg-1 i.v. Verapamil (Ver) 30 micrograms.kg-1 i.v. showed similar effects, but norepinephrine (NE) 30 micrograms.kg-1 i.v. showed opposite effects. PNS and Ver reduced the MBP and CVR in sodium pentobarbital-anesthetized Wistar rats. The actions of PNS and Ver on cerebral blood flow (CBF) were related to the animal species, i.e. PNS increased CBF in rats but reduced that in rabbits, Ver increased CBF in rabbits but had no effects on that in rats. In isolated ring segments of New Zealand rabbit basilar arteries, PNS 1 and 3 mg.ml-1 non-competitively inhibited the contractions induced by KCl with the pD2' value 2.69 +/- 0.20 (-lg g.ml-1). The results indicate that PNS and Ver are vasodilators of brain blood vessel, which would be beneficial to cerebral circulation, while NE is a vasoconstrictor of brain blood vessel.


[Effects of tetramethylpyrazine on rabbit basilar artery ring and canine vertebroarterial circulation]. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) inhibited the contraction of rabbit basilar artery and mesenteric arteries caused by KCl with an IC50 of 1.3 mmol.L-1 and 7.5 mmol.L-1 (P < 0.01). The contraction of the rabbit basilar and mesenteric artery ring evoked by KCl, CaCl2 and norepinephrine was inhibited noncompetitively by TMP with the pD2' values of 2.18 +/- 0.16 and 1.83 +/- 0.18 (P < 0.01), 2.13 +/- 0.12 and 2.08 +/- 0.12 (P > 0.05), 3.08 +/- 0.16 and 2.57 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.01), respectively. The contraction of rabbit basilar artery and saphenous veins evoked by 5-HT was also inhibited by TMP with an IC50 of 0.22 mmol.L-1 and 2.2 mmol.L-1 (P < 0.01), respectively. TMP antagonized the myogenic activity of rat portal vein strips. TMP increased canine vertebroarterial blood flow and had no effect on femoral artery blood pressure. The results suggested that TMP may block the calcium channel, inhibit the contraction of rabbit basilar artery, and improve the canine vertebroarterial circulation selectively.


[Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of diltiazem floating tablets]. Floating tablet is a new type of delayed-action preparations. The present study was aimed at pharmacokinetic and hemodynamic effects of diltiazem floating tablet in 8 healthy volunteers. Each subject received po 90 mg diltiazem floating and normal tablets in a crossover design. For floating tablets the T1/2 (6.4 +/- 4.4 h) and Cmax (56 +/- 23 ng.ml-1) were longer and lower than those of normal tablets (2.3 +/- 1.1 h and 96 +/- 30 ng.ml-1, P < 0.01), respectively. AUC of the 2 forms were similar, suggesting that they had same bioavailability. Diltiazem lowered the blood pressure of the subjects. Although there was no significant difference between the 2 formulations in maximal decreases of systolic and diastolic blood pressures, the duration of hypotension was longer with floating tablets than that with normal ones. There was a positive correlation between diltiazem concentration and its hypotensive action. Thus, administration of floating tablets twice a day may be effective in controlling the blood pressure of hypertensive patients.


[Anti-lipid peroxidation and protective effects of phenytoin sodium on ischemic myocardium of mice]. Isoproterenol (Iso, 20 mg.kg-1 x d-1 x 2 d) induced widespread and severe myocardial damages at ultrastructural level, decreased the myocardial Se-glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, increased the serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) concentration and myocardial malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Phenytoin sodium (Phe) 15 or 30 mg.kg-1 ip pretreatment diminished the CPK release and MDA production, protected the Se-GSH-Px activity in the Iso-induced damage of mouse heart. The pretreatment with 30 mg.kg-1 abated the reduction of SOD activity. However, Phe 15 mg.kg-1 did not show such an effect. Phe (15 or 30 mg.kg-1) reduced the ultrastructural cardiotoxicity of Iso, and the membrane structure of ischemic myocardium was protected. The protective effects of verapamil pretreatment 3 mg.kg-1 ip were weaker than those of Phe on ultrastructural changes, but biochemical changes were similar to those of Phe. The results suggested that Phe possessed anti-lipid peroxidation and protective effects on ischemic myocardium.


[Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on monophasic action potentials of heart and automaticity and contractility of isolated atria]. The effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on monophasic action potentials (MAP) recorded from the myocardial surface by means of contact electrode were studied in 30 open-chest rabbits. The MAPA was increased and MAPD50, MAPD90 were prolonged with PNS (100, 200 mg.kg-1, iv), while the Vmax remained unchanged. PNS (300-1200 micrograms.ml-1) inhibited the automaticity of isolated guinea pig right atria and the contractility of the left atria. The positive inotropic action of ouabain (0.2 mumol.L-1) on isolated guinea pig left atria was decreased in the presence of PNS 300 micrograms.ml-1.


[Antitumor activities of 4 derivatives of artemisic acid and artemisinin B in vitro]. The cytotoxicities of 2 derivatives of artemisinin B and 2 derivatives of artemisic acid (designated as Compound A, B, C, and D) were investigated, using trypan blue dye exclusion test and colony-forming units assay. At the concentration of 5 micrograms.ml-1, the inhibition rates of these 4 compounds against murine leukemia cell line P388 were > 85%. When tested against human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 at 25 micrograms.ml-1, the inhibition rates of Compound A, B, C, and D were found to be 92.3%, 96.9%, 84%, and 82.1%, respectively, and 27%, 8%, 37.8%, 1.7% against normal human embryonic lung cell line WI-38, respectively. These 4 compounds all showed an inhibition rate of 100% against human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 at 50 micrograms.ml-1.


[Pharmacokinetics of cytotoxin 14 from Naja naja atra venom]. The pharmacokinetics of cytotoxin 14 (CT 14) from Naja naja atra venom was studied with biotin-avidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The plasma concentration-time curve of CT 14 after bolus i.v. 0.2 mg.kg-1 into rabbits was found to fit a two-compartment open model. T1/2 alpha was 5.8 +/- 0.6 min and T1/2 beta was 3.5 +/- 0.2 h. A rapid absorption was seen after im injection (0.5 mg.kg-1) to rabbits. The peak level was 260 +/- 90 ng.ml-1 and Tpeak was 13.6 +/- 2.4 min. The absolute bioavailability was 34 +/- 9%. It was shown that CT 14 was absorbed by gut. The peak level was 75 +/- 15 ng.ml-1 after a gastric gavage of 50 mg.kg-1 to rats.


Drug prevention in a community setting: a longitudinal study of the relative effectiveness of a three-year primary prevention program in boys & girls clubs across the nation. Tested the effectiveness of a youth drug prevention program in a community setting. Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Stay SMART program, adapted from a school-based personal and social competence drug prevention program, was offered, with and without a 2-year booster program, to 13-year-old members of Boys & Girls Clubs. Over 27 months, (a) 5 Boys & Girls Clubs offered the Stay SMART program, (b) 5 Boys & Girls Clubs offered the Stay SMART program with the booster programs, and (c) 4 Boys & Girls Clubs served as a control group. The Stay SMART program alone and the Stay SMART program with the booster programs showed effects for marijuana-related behavior, cigarette-related behavior, alcohol-related behavior, overall drug-related behavior, and knowledge concerning drug use. The Stay SMART program with the booster programs produced additional effects for alcohol attitudes and marijuana attitudes after each year of booster programs. Results suggest that a school-based personal and social competence program can be adapted effectively to a community setting and that booster programs might enhance program effects. Implications for alternative community models of prevention are discussed.


Mental health status among Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, and non-Hispanic whites. Compared mental health characteristics of island Puerto Ricans to three groups from the Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study: Mexican American immigrants, U.S.-born Mexican Americans, and Non-Hispanic whites. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to obtain both diagnostic and symptom scale information about affective disorders, alcohol abuse/dependence, somatization, phobic disorder, and psychotic disorder. Mexican American immigrants had the fewest mental health problems of all groups. Puerto Ricans had more somatization disorder, but less affective and alcohol disorders than U.S.-born Mexican Americans or non-Hispanic whites. Results are considered in the light of selection factors, relative disadvantage of groups and methodological problems.


The relationship between social support and maternal behaviors and attitudes: a meta-analytic review. Used meta-analysis to analyze 66 studies that evaluated the relationship between social support available to the mother and maternal behaviors and attitudes. Investigators sampled relatively homogeneous populations of white, middle-class, married mothers of young children without physical or mental disabilities. A variety of instruments were used to assess key study variables. Significant correlations existed between both emotional and material support and maternal behaviors. Implications of these findings for funding of family support programs and for professionals working with mothers are discussed.


Life stress, social support, and locus of control during early adolescence: interactive effects. Examined the relationships between negative events, locus of control, social support, and psychological adjustment in an early adolescent sample. Of interest were the potential stress-buffering effects of social support and the conjunctive effects of social support and locus of control upon adjustment. Family support was positively related to adjustment in several domains, whereas school support was only related to school competence. Peer support was positively related to peer competence and anxiety, and negatively related to school competence. Examination of the buffering hypothesis suggested that both family and school support served to moderate the relationship between negative events and school competence. Conjunctive effects were also detected in that school support buffered number of negative events best for those individuals with an internal locus of control for successes.


Residential and community treatment services utilized by a sample of youth with severe emotional disturbances. Analyzed case records to determine the costs and service usage patterns for a group of 25 youth randomly selected from the case load of a regional mental health agency. Study participants had extensive histories of publicly supported psychiatric hospitalizations. An average of 36.2 contacts per youth (905 total contacts) with human services providers were documented. Approximately 2 out of every 5 contacts resulted in out-of-home placements. The estimated cost of providing services to the 25 youth exceeded 3 million dollars. The types and costs of treatment services provided to study participants are discussed.


Determinants of hemodynamic results of balloon dilation of aortic recoarctation. Between October 1982 and May 1990, balloon dilation of aortic recoarctation was attempted in 27 patients. In 1 case dilation was not performed owing to suspected aortic perforation. The remaining 26 patients had 30 procedures. The age at the first dilation ranged between 2.6 months and 18.3 years. After dilation, systolic gradient decreased from 49 +/- 17 mm Hg to 20 +/- 17 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). A reduction of gradient to less than or equal to 20 mm Hg occurred after the first dilation in 17 of 26 (65%) patients. Residual gradients between 25 and 80 mm Hg were present in the remaining 9 patients. During follow-up of 2 months to 6.7 years, 5 of 17 patients with a good initial result developed further recoarctation (2 had successful redilation, 2 had reoperation, and 1 is awaiting repeat dilation). Of 9 patients with gradients greater than 20 mm Hg after the first dilation, 1 had successful redilation and 3 had reoperation. The remaining 5 patients are being managed conservatively. 2 patients developed aneurysms after dilation (1 immediately and the other at 2 months). In all, 15 patients (58%) had a good, and 11 (42%) a poor late hemodynamic result. Aortic diameters at different levels of the aortic arch and at the reconstructed isthmus (normalized to the aorta at the level of the diaphragm) were significantly higher in the group with a good late result than in that with a poor one. Balloon/aortic diameter ratio at diaphragm level also had a significant influence on the late results.


Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: increase in gradient after exercise. To define alterations in the magnitude of the left ventricular outflow tract gradient during supine exercise, 10 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy were studied under basal conditions and during exercise and recovery with simultaneous invasive hemodynamic measurements, particularly of the peak to peak systolic pressure gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract. Basal outflow pressure gradient ranged from 0 to 89 mm Hg (average 37.4 +/- 9.6). No increase was observed during 5 min of exercise (average 29.6 +/- 10 mm Hg, range 0 to 91; p = NS), even though arterial blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac index increased significantly in association with a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. However, a rapid and highly significant increase in left ventricular outflow gradient occurred after exercise was completed (average 83.5 +/- 11.4 mm Hg, range 10 to 130; p less than 0.001), while arterial blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac index closely approached basal levels and total peripheral vascular resistance increased. In contrast to previous assumptions regarding the behavior of the outflow gradient in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, obstruction to left ventricular outflow increases after rather than during supine exercise. Rapid changes in preload during recovery represent the most likely explanation for the postexercise development of outflow obstruction. New considerations regarding the mechanisms of sudden cardiac death and the therapeutic approach in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy may result from this pathophysiologic observation.


Is it practical to screen for familial vesicoureteral reflux within a private pediatric practice? A prospective study was established within a private pediatric practice to identify the incidence and severity of vesicoureteral reflux in the siblings of patients known to have reflux. Twenty-four siblings of 18 children with reflux were studied. Eleven of these siblings were found to have reflux for an incidence of 46%. The risk of reflux in siblings of known children with reflux is thus significant and, at least in this study, compares with the risk of reflux after urinary tract infection. The outcome of the sibling group is discussed, along with our thoughts on the possible modes of inheritance of this disorder.


Benign vaginal polyp: a histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study of 20 polyps with comparison to normal vaginal subepithelial layer. Twenty benign vaginal polyps from 18 patients, together with sections from normal vaginal epithelium, were studied histologically, histochemically using elastic van Gieson stain and immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against vimentin, desmin and actin. The striking finding was the similarity, both histologically and immunohistochemically, of the stroma of vaginal polyps to that of the loose subepithelial layer found in normal vagina. The important difference was the marked degeneration of the elastic tissue, increased number of stellate and giant fibroblasts and subepithelial condensation of fibroblasts in the polyps. These findings support the hypothesis that vaginal polyps may represent a reactive hyperplasia of the loose subepithelial zone of the vaginal wall.


Glaucoma filtering surgery with postoperative 5-fluorouracil in patients with intraocular inflammatory disease. Twenty-one eyes of 18 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma and intraocular inflammatory disease had glaucoma filtering surgery with postoperative subconjunctival 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Follow-up for eyes in which intraocular pressure was controlled ranged from 6 to 53 months (mean, 34 months; median, 35 months). Fifteen of 21 eyes (71%) had controlled intraocular pressure (21 mmHg or less). Control was achieved in 9 of 10 (90%) phakic eyes and in 6 of 11 (55%) aphakic or pseudophakic eyes with or without glaucoma medication. Four of six filter failures had a second filtering procedure with 5-FU, and of these four procedures, three were successful. Cataract progression occurred in 9 of 10 phakic eyes, leading to cataract surgery in 7 eyes. Other complications included corneal epithelial defects in 13 eyes, bleb leaks in 3 eyes, choroidal effusions in 13 eyes, 1 choroidal hemorrhage, 1 serous retinal detachment and macular retinal pigment epithelial disturbance associated with hypotony and choroidal effusion. Filtering surgery with postoperative subconjunctival 5-FU can successfully control intraocular pressure in eyes with ocular inflammatory disease.


Breakage of an embolized intravascular catheter fragment: a complication of nonsurgical transvenous retrieval. The use of permanently implantable central venous catheters may be complicated by catheter fracture and embolism. Nonsurgical retrieval of embolized catheter fragments is well established, and complications are rarely noted. We report a case in which the retrieval technique led to further fracture of a silicone rubber (Silastic) catheter and embolization to the lung. Silastic catheters may be prone to this complication, and appropriate caution during recovery of such catheter fragments is recommended.


Stereotactic localization mammography: interpreting the check film. Stereotactic mammography is used to ensure accurate needle placement when localizing nonpalpable breast lesions. Once the localization needle is inserted into the breast, it is recommended that its position should be checked with a further stereo-image film. The interpretation of these check films can prove difficult. This paper describes how to detect and correct needle placement errors on check stereo-image films obtained during stereotactic localization procedures. The data presented relate directly to the CGR Stereotix and do not apply to the Siemens stereotactic equipment. The results are presented in a series of diagrams demonstrating the various types of errors in needle placement. Errors in needle depth produce particularly subtle signs.


Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the liver: imaging findings with pathologic correlation. Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm that has nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose on the basis of biopsy results. Radiologists may suggest the diagnosis of this slowly progressive neoplasm by recognizing its characteristic radiologic features. We correlated images from CT (13), sonography (nine), and MR (six) with pathologic findings in resected whole livers (eight) and biopsy specimens (five) from 13 patients 25-58 years old. Gross pathologic examination showed a repetitive pattern of multiple solid tumor nodules, in a predominantly peripheral distribution, with coalescence as individual nodules exceeded 4 cm. Tumor nodules had a hyperemic rim. Lesions adjacent to the capsule often produced capsular retraction. These findings correlated well with imaging findings. On CT, the lesions were of low attenuation, peripherally based, and with capsular retraction or flattening in nine (69%) of 13 patients. Unenhanced CT scans showed superior conspicuity over contrast-enhanced CT scans (9/13, 69%) and showed the extent of lesions more accurately in all cases (13/13, 100%). In nine patients, lesions had a peripheral enhancement pattern of alternating attenuation values correlating with the hyperemic rim at pathologic evaluation. On sonograms, the tumors were solid and predominantly hypoechoic. On MR, tumor signal was low on T1-weighted and high on T2-weighted images, with a low-signal halo present around many of the lesions. CT, sonographic, or MR findings of coalescent peripheral hepatic masses with capsular retraction are highly suggestive of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.


Mechanical force, manually assisted short lever chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic mechanical force, manually assisted short lever adjusting is a spinoff of the specific toggle recoil adjusting techniques, which were based on the original chiropractic subluxation theory propounded by Daniel David Palmer in 1895. This article reviews: a) the principles of the chiropractic subluxation complex from the standpoint of its historical origin and present-day scientific status; b) the purpose and objectives of specific spinal manipulative techniques; c) the use of mechanical adjusting instruments to effect a velocity/direction controlled adjustive thrust; and d) an assessment of scientific and clinical data relating to the biomechanical and neurological aspects of mechanical force, manually assisted short lever adjusting. Prime sources were from the National Library of Medicine's on-line Index Medicus database, the Chirolars Research Resource Retrieval database, the Chiropractic Research Abstract Collection and the Chiropractic Library Consortium's reference works. Direct search of other nonindexed chiropractic sources was limited to those available in the collection of the National Institute of Chiropractic Research. Early information never documented by publication was obtained by written personal communication. The principal author selected articles reporting data (as opposed to anecdotal reports) from conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals. Data quality was assessed based on experimental conditions such as sample size, study design and statistical analysis. While mechanical force, manually assisted short lever adjusting seemingly is capable of beneficially altering the cause/effect relationship of spinal subluxations, more research in the nature of controlled clinical trials is needed to ascertain its benefits in the chiropractic treatment of specific conditions. Basic research is needed in order to establish the scientific basis for the chiropractic subluxation syndrome regardless of the technique employed.


The cranial base in subjects with dental and skeletal Class II. The aim of this study was to test to what extent the cranial base variations may be involved in Class II facial organization. Using Bonferonni probabilities, cranial base size and shape, and facial divergence were compared in two groups: an experimental group of 45 subjects with dental and skeletal Class II and an homologous control group of 41 subjects with a natural Class I ideal occlusion. In all individuals of the experimental group the Class II molar relationship was at least equal to the width of one premolar and the ANB angle was greater than the value of the mean +2 standard deviations of the ANB in the control group. Spacing and crowding was less than 2 mm at each arch in both groups; all subjects were between 10 and 12 years old. The anterior part of the cranial base (SN length and SNBa angle) was identical in the two groups, but in Class II, cranial base flexure (BaSN angle) was more obtuse (P less than 0.05) and posterior cranial base angle (SBaN) was more acute (P less than 0.01). These variations co-existed in the same group with a more retruded position of the condylar neck in the face (P less than 0.01) favouring per se a post-normal relationship of the mandible to the maxilla. The increased extension of the saddle angle in Class II could not be considered here as related to an hyperdivergent facial pattern since facial divergence was unchanged in Class II. Saddle angle and divergence correlated in Class I (r = 0.40; P less than 0.01), but not in Class II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Septic arthritis: a rare cause of drooping shoulder. Drooping shoulder, or inferior subluxation of the glenohumeral joint, must be differentiated from true dislocation of the humeral head. In some instances, widening of the glenohumeral joint can be attributed to a large volume of intra-articular fluid. Three patients with septic arthritis leading to drooping shoulder are described, representing the largest series with this development reported to date.


Sickle cell vaso-occlusive pain crisis in adults: alternative strategies for management in the emergency department. The gene for sickle cell disease is carried by 8% of the African-American population in the United States. The primary care physician is often called upon to recognize and treat one of the major sequelae of sickle cell disease--vaso-occlusive pain crisis. An injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has recently become available and may offer some improvement in outcome of vaso-occlusive pain crises. We present five case reports reviewing various current therapeutic options, including newer pharmacologic agents, and comment on alternatives to impatient management of pain crises. The use of the emergency department short-term observation unit as an alternative to hospitalization is discussed.


Treatment of advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck with alternating chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For patients with advanced, unresectable squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck, radiotherapy is the standard treatment but has poor results. We therefore designed a randomized trial to determine whether alternating chemotherapy with radiotherapy would improve the survival of such patients. Patients in the trial had biopsy-confirmed unresectable, previously untreated Stage III or IV, squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx. They were randomly assigned to chemotherapy consisting of four cycles of intravenous cisplatin (20 mg per square meter of body-surface area per day for five consecutive days) and fluorouracil (200 mg per square meter per day for five consecutive days) alternating with radiotherapy in three two-week courses (20 Gy per course; 2 Gy per day, five days per week), or to radiotherapy alone (up to 70 Gy; 2 Gy per day, five days per week). The 80 patients given chemotherapy alternating with radiotherapy and the 77 given radiotherapy alone were comparable in terms of age, sex, performance status, disease stage, and site of the primary tumor. Complete responses were obtained in 42 percent of the patients in the combined-therapy group and 22 percent of those in the radiotherapy group (P = 0.037). The median survival was 16.5 months in the combined-therapy group and 11.7 months in the radiotherapy group (P less than 0.05); the 3-year survival was 41 percent and 23 percent, respectively. Severe mucositis occurred in 19 percent of the patients in the combined-therapy group and 18 percent of those in the radiotherapy group. In patients with advanced unresectable squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck, chemotherapy alternating with radiotherapy increases the median survival and doubles the probability of survival for three years as compared with radiotherapy alone. However, since local disease cannot be controlled in over half the patients who receive the combined treatment and since almost two thirds die within three years, further improvements in management are necessary.


Incidence and other aspects of the epidemiology of schizophrenia in Denmark, 1971-87. All Danish psychiatric patients admitted to hospital for the first time in the period 1969-88 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia given at least once during the period were included in the study. More than 8500 patients were examined in the Danish nationwide psychiatric register. First-admission rates decreased by approximately 50% irrespective of mode of calculation and increase in SMR. The use of in-patient care was unchanged despite a reduction in available beds of more than 40% in the study period.


A critical appraisal of 98.6 degrees F, the upper limit of the normal body temperature, and other legacies of Carl Reinhold August Wunderlich. To evaluate critically Carl Wunderlich's axioms on clinical thermometry. Descriptive analysis of baseline oral temperature data from volunteers participating in Shigella vaccine trials conducted at the University of Maryland Center for Vaccine Development, Baltimore. Inpatient clinical research unit. One hundred forty-eight healthy men and women aged 18 through 40 years. Oral temperatures were measured one to four times daily for 3 consecutive days using an electronic digital thermometer. Our findings conflicted with Wunderlich's in that 36.8 degrees C (98.2 degrees F) rather than 37.0 degrees C (98.6 degrees F) was the mean oral temperature of our subjects; 37.7 degrees C (99.9 degrees F) rather than 38.0 degrees C (100.4 degrees F) was the upper limit of the normal temperature range; maximum temperatures, like mean temperatures, varied with time of day; and men and women exhibited comparable thermal variability. Our data corroborated Wunderlich's in that mean temperature varied diurnally, with a 6 AM nadir, a 4 to 6 PM zenith, and a mean amplitude of variability of 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F); women had slightly higher normal temperatures than men; and there was a trend toward higher temperatures among black than among white subjects. Thirty-seven degrees centigrade (98.6 degrees F) should be abandoned as a concept relevant to clinical thermometry; 37.2 degrees C (98.9 degrees F) in the early morning and 37.7 degrees C (99.9 degrees F) overall should be regarded as the upper limit of the normal oral temperature range in healthy adults aged 40 years or younger, and several of Wunderlich's other cherished dictums should be revised.


New technology in U.S. Army health care: the role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In the near future, laparoscopic cholecystectomy could become one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in U.S. military hospitals. To determine the best way to implement this new technology in the U.S. Army Health Services Command (HSC), we have assessed the safety, efficacy, and health consequences of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Approximately 2,800 open cholecystectomies are performed annually in HSC hospitals, 11% of them on active duty personnel. If cholecystectomies were performed using laparoscopic surgical techniques on active duty patients who meet currently accepted indications, 3,360 personnel duty days lost to convalescence and 7,048 days of limited duty (time on physical profiles) would be recouped. Applying the procedure to other beneficiaries (dependents and retired service members) would result in a potential annual savings of 11,000 hospital bed days. If implemented using stringent criteria for training and certification, these savings could be achieved with no increase in patient morbidity or mortality and with significant improvement in patient outcome.


Causes of trauma in broilers arriving dead at poultry processing plants. A post mortem examination was made on 1324 broiler carcases which arrived dead after being transported to six processing plants. The carcases were dissected and evaluated for trauma and obvious cause of death. Of the birds sent to the plants on the day of collection 0.19 per cent arrived dead and 35 per cent of these were thought to have died as a result of trauma. Haemorrhage associated with dislocation of the femur at the hip was the most common cause of trauma. Ruptured livers and crushed heads were other important traumatic injuries.


[The reproductive potential of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreb) and of the tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus Pall.) under the conditions of the elevated radiation background of Bryansk Province]. The continuous irradiation (connected with the accident on the Chernobyl atomic power plant) by cesium-137 of the dominant species of rodents (Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus oeconomus) in the forests of Bryansk Province had a deteriorating effect on the state of reproductive organs and on the course of embryogenesis, stimulated the reproduction cycle but inhibited the rate of sexual maturation and increased the death-rate of young animals. These effects resulted in significant ageing of the population. But all these phenomena provoked by radiation are within the limits of rodents adaptive capacities.


[The cardiosynchronous phenomena of the work of the brain: the psychophysiological aspects]. The review is devoted to the heartbeat-related components of EEG and to the heartbeat-related oscillation of performance measures and the cortical evoked potentials. The studies of these phenomena are carried out within the Laceys' hypothesis elaboration as well as in the field of the exploration of visceral self-perception. The data obtained in these studies indicate that there are elements of the time-locking with heart rate, probably unrelated to cardiovascular regulation, in functioning of the highest brain structures. The problems in the interpretation of some of heartbeat-related phenomena of brain functioning and their possible participation in the mechanisms of the psychophysiological interaction are discussed.


[The action of defoliants on the energetics of rat liver mitochondria in vitro]. The effect of defoliants butyphos (I), dropp (II), butylcaptacs (III), hinazopin (IV), syhat (V), tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (VI), etrel (VII), gemetrel (VIII), allyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide (IX), 1-amino-cyclopropan-1-carbonate (ACPC) (X) at various concentrations (1 x 10(-5)-2 x 10(-4) M) on respiration, oxidative phosphorylation (OP) and permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane from rat liver has been studied. It has been established that some of the compounds uncouple OP by increasing the inner mitochondrial membrane permeability for H+ (II) inhibit the respiration in V3 condition and induce less selective permeability for a number of ions (I, III). The other defoliants either induce respiration generally in metabolic states 3 and 4 (IV, VI, IX) or have no effect on the respiration and OP (V, VII, VIII, X). On the whole a good correlation between the common toxicity of the studied preparation (LD50) and their mitochondrial effect has been revealed, therefore the latter can be considered as intracellular "targets" involved in the realization of pesticide action.


[The characteristics of lactate oxidation in the tissue mitochondria of rats of different ages]. The parameters of respiration (V3, V4) and phosphorylation (the respiration control, ADP/O) have been studied using lactate as a substrate (obligatory with NAD addition) close by meaning to pyruvate on the liver and heart mitochondrion and homogenates of newborn rats. In 20-days and adult rats the mitochondria and homogenates oxidize the lactate (with NAD) with higher rate V4 but with lower value of respiration control as compared with the newborn animals. Simultaneously, a high activity of mitochondrial NADH-oxidase, oxidizing NADH, formed in the reaction of lactate dehydrogenase not connected with ATP synthesis. The role of mitochondrial NADH-oxidase are discussed as a factor increasing lactate oxidation, removing tissue lactate and activating the age dependent energy metabolism.


[The biological indication of the radiation load in forest communities of small mammals]. The content of cesium-137 in the organisms of different species of small mammals in forests of Bryansk Province five years later the Chernobyl accident varies to a great extent within some modal value n.10(-6)-n.10(-7) Cu/kg. Gamma-radiation is about 200 mcR/h. The revealed radiation level results in increased mortality during embryonal and postnatal periods, as during these periods a very intensive process of radiocesium accumulation in the animal organism takes place. Statistically valid differences of young and old animals ratio with the asymmetrical deviation towards old age groups have been found on the polluted territory at the end of summer season.


[The mechanisms of the manifestation of the genotoxic effects of binase]. The high concentrations of commercial sample of Bacillus intermedius 7P ribonuclease (binase) showed a weak mutagenic effect in Ames test and Ara-test. It has been established that binase induces the SOS-functions of microbial cell and prophage induction. The way of exogenic enzyme action through activation of RecA protein is proposed.


[The effect of metal ions on the synthesis of extracellular enzymes by sporulating bacteria]. The action of metal ions which are present in nutritious medium on the synthesis of extracellular enzymes by sporulating bacteria is analysed. An important role of these ions in post-secretory modification of protein molecules and formation of functionally active molecules of enzyme is shown. The effect of metal ions on some cell envelope properties and extracellular enzyme secretion is under discussion.


[Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors of microbial origin]. The data on spreading of inhibitors of alpha-glucosidases with microbial origin are given. Physiochemical characteristics of acorbose--a known inhibitor of alpha-glucosidases--and new inhibitor isolated from Streptomyces sp. are given in detail.


[Restriction endonucleases: the detection of new producer strains and the isolation of enzyme preparations]. The method for analysis of microorganisms for the presence of the modification-restriction systems has been developed. The method has permitted to detect more than 10 new producing strains of restrictases including microorganisms of Rhizobium genus. Some of them are promising for practical use. It has been shown that using selection of clones the strain productivity can be increased. The purification process for the majority of restrictases has been proposed. Some physical and catalytic properties of new enzymes have been studied.


[Extracellular ribonuclease from Bacillus pumilus]. The extracellular ribonuclease (RNAse Bp) was isolated from the cultural medium filtrate of Bacillus pumilus by ammonium sulfate precipitation and two stages of ion-exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl- and phospho-cellulose columns. The amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid residue have been determined. The kinetic parameters of cleavage reaction of synthetic polynucleotides have been measured. According to their structural homology RNAse Bp has been shown to be similar to RNAses Ba and Bi. Catalytic properties of the enzyme are very close to RNAse Bi.


[The cloning and expression of the RNAse structural gene of Bacillus intermedius]. The structure gene of extracellular alkaline ribonuclease Bacillus intermedius (binase) has been cloned in E. coli cells in composition of pMT 316 plasmid carrying the inhibitor gene (barstar of barnase--binase structure homologue. The possibility to use such vector has been proved during the barstar action on binase catalytic activity. Using biochemical immunochemical analysis the expression of binase gene in E. coli cells has been confirmed. The recombinant clone E. coli which contains both plasmids simultaneously--carrying gene for barster and for benase has been produced. The given vector is suggested to be used for cloning of inhibitor gene to obtain a viable producer of alkaline intracellular ribonuclease.


[The possible role of endogenous nucleases in the structural organization of chromatin]. Two fractions of rat liver nuclei with different buoyant density have been obtained. The electrophoretic analysis of the oligonucleosome patterns of DNA out of nuclei of these two fractions revealed different levels of activity in endonucleases. In case of inhibition during the extraction of activity in Ca, Mg-dependent endonucleases, the average size of high polymeric DNA is larger for nuclei with bigger buoyant density (fraction I) than for nuclei with smaller ones (fraction II). This finding is evidence of in situ existence of two pools of liver nuclei with different endogenic nuclease activities. In nuclear chromatin fraction I DNA is torsionally stressed; in fraction II it is relaxed that correlates with larger activity of endonucleases and smaller buoyant density of this fraction. A hypothesis on a possible role of endonucleases in chromatin structure organization has been put forward. According to this hypothesis a modulation of activity in nuclear endonucleases can determine different packaging and activity of chromatin from different pools of cellular nuclei.


[The isolation of nucleases Sm1 and Sm2 in preparative amounts and a study of their antigenicity]. Two enzyme forms of endonuclease (Sm 1 and Sm 2) strain B10M1 in 60 and 100 mg respectively have been isolated from the culture fluid Serratia marcescens. The chromatographic and electrophoretic properties and N-terminal amino acid residues are different for both enzymes. The purification procedure consists of dialysis and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE- and phosphocellulose. The yield of nucleases Sm1 and Sm2 are 14% and 28% respectively. The antigenic differences of nucleases Sm1 and Sm2 have been found by cross immunoenzyme analysis.


[The heat denaturation of bacterial ribonuclease studied by infrared spectroscopy]. The thermal denaturation of bacterial ribonuclease in the interval of pH 2.5-7.0 has been investigated by means of infra-red spectroscopy method. The protein melting for pH 2.5 begins at the temperature 25 degrees C and is accompanied by secondary protein structure reconstruction, partially destroying native beta-structure and leading to new denatured conformation appearance of different types of beta-turns. Spectral changes for pH 3.5 and 7.0 are significantly less in the same frequency areas. At the temperature more than 50 degrees C protein aggregation takes place with inter-molecule-beta-form formation.


[New data on the potentials and prospects for the use of immobilized enzymes in medicine]. The data on the completing level of a number of medical preparations on the basis of immobilized proteins, in particular, on the basis of enzymes are given. The firms and companies which successfully cooperate in the field of development of commercial programs for such preparations are listed. On the basis of own study a possibility to create some effective antitumor compounds in the next future is shown. The urgent and prospective application of the immobilized enzymes instead of the native ones in the medicine is grounded.


[Nuclease conjugates with ligand-free serum albumin]. In order to obtain nuclease and human serum albumin (HSA) conjugates with a high enzyme content it is proposed to use a ligand-free HSA. The ligands are removed with the help of a strong anion exchanger. A two-stage procedure of conjugate preparation is proposed. It consists in the complexation of ligand-free HSA and enzyme and subsequent co-condensation of protein molecules of the poly-complex with the aid of glutaric aldehyde. When the conjugates are administered to rabbits intravenously, the RNAase activity is manifested in blood for 3-5 days. Moreover, in the case of conjugates with a molecular weight of 80 kDa, the prolongation time is greater than for conjugate with a higher molecular weight.


[The comparative characteristics of the biological and immunomodulating activities of enzyme preparations of microbial origin]. A number of enzyme preparations of microbial origin such as immunomodulators and immunostimulators have been studied in vitro according to reactions of rosette technique of cell (ROC) active and general, adhesion, activation of a complement and also the spontaneous activity and phagocytosis of neutrophils have been determined. The enzyme preparations of microbial origin have been shown to be capable of causing immunomodulation and of influencing the specific and nonspecific immune response. Unlike the enzymes of animal origin the enzymes of microbial origin are effective in smaller concentrations. The studied preparations modulate the immune response differently according to ROC, adhesion. Each of preparations has specific features of biological activity--bacterio-stationary in reaction to a certain group of microorganisms and some specific features of reaction with cell and levels of immune reactions.


[The isolation of highly purified bacillary ribonucleases from recombinant strains of Escherichia coli]. Active and inactive highly purified extracellular alkaline ribonucleases (barnase) from recombinant Escherichia coli have been prepared according to the industrial technology of Bacillus intermedius ribonuclease purification. Electrophoretic parameters and ultraviolet spectra characterize these preparations as homogeneous proteins. Immunochemical test system of identification of inactive RNAse for its purification has been worked out.


[The modification of a radiation lesion in animals with an aqueous extract of Hypericum perforatum L. 1]. The preparation of Hypericum perforatum L. has been shown to possess radioprotective properties. The effect found depends on the time of its taking and its concentration. A statistically reliable protection of marrow and the mucus of the thin intestine of mice from X-rays is observed.


[The cytomorphological evaluation of the effect of Bacillus intermedius RNAse on the organs of experimental animals]. Cytomorphological changes in organs of experimental animals after RNAse Bacillus intermedius treatment have been studied. It has been found that RNAse stimulates elements of lympho- and homopies of thymus and spleen and increases stromal reaction and functional activity of liver. The caused effects don't depend on catalytic enzyme activity.


[The histological evaluation of the effect of Bacillus intermedius RNAse on the organs of immunogenesis in laboratory animals]. Histological changes in organs of immunogenesis of experimental animals after RNAse Bacillus intermedius treatment have been studied. The effect of RNAse on organs is revealed in activation of both cell and humoral immunity and factors of nonspecific resistance at early stage of reaction. The inhibition of immunological reactions and factors of nonspecific resistance takes place at later stages of enzyme action. The caused effects don't depend on catalytic enzyme activity.


[The antiviral action of a modified bacterial ribonuclease]. The antiviral activity of a bacterial ribonuclease conjugate with chitosane of Kamchatka crab (in a form of water soluble chito-oligosaccharides) has been studied. The conjugate inhibitory activity for A and B viruses as well as to Sindbis arbovirus in tissue cultures is shown. The preparation efficiency at intramuscular and intranasal administration was observed at experimental influenza infection of white mice.


[The modification of a radiation lesion in animals with an aqueous extract of Hypericum perforatum L. 2]. The preparation Hypericum perforatum L. has been shown to decrease the intensity level of enzymatic and non-enzymatic processes of lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes in vitro and in vivo. In the mucus of the this intestine in vivo the increase of the number of non-enzymatic SH-groups is observed. Possible mechanisms of radioprotective action of the preparation is under discussion.


[The effect of Bacillus intermedius RNAse on the multiplication of Candida tropicalis yeasts]. The effect of Bacillus intermedius RNAse on the reproduction of Candida tropicalis and synthesis of the main biopolymers in the yeast cells. It has been found that stimulating action of the enzyme appears at the concentration of 10(-5)-10(-6) mg/ml and does not depend on the physiological state of the sowing culture. The connection between the increase of the ionic penetration and stimulation of the RNA and proteins synthesis in the yeast cells subjected to the RNAse action is shown. The mechanism of chromatine-associated RNA-polymerase activation is suggested to include the alteration of the ionic penetration of cells under the RNAse action.


[The effect of sex steroid hormones on interhemispheric asymmetry in rats]. The effect of gonadectomy and sex-steroid hormones treatment on functional interhemispheric asymmetry to the reaction of pain cry avoidance of another species (emotional reactions) and motor and exploratory activity of open-field behavior in Wistar rats of 3 months old has been investigated. A spreading depression technique for hemisphere inactivation has been used. The hemispheric asymmetry of the reactions in intact rats was characterized by sex dimorphism; the left hemisphere dominated to a great extent in males than in females under the control of emotional reactions; in motor and exploratory activity in open-field behavior of rats the left hemisphere dominated in males and the right one--in female. In both sexes the neonatal gonadectomy levelled the interhemispheric differences in reactions under investigation. The following treatment of females with estradiol and males with testosterone didn't restore the asymmetry. After the castration at the age of 3 months the correlation between the size and direction of interhemispheric differences became reverse. The treatment of females with testosterone and males with estradiol both castrated in adulthood restored the interhemispheric asymmetry in males and had no effect in females. The treatment of intact rats with hormones of opposite sex led to the enhancement of left hemisphere dominance in motor and exploratory activity in males and levelled the asymmetry in females. It has been shown that in adult rats sex-steroids effect predominantly the right hemisphere.


[Development of the larvae inside the body of the itch mites Sarcoptes scabiei (L.) (Sarcoptidae) and the ontogenetic level of eclosion in mites of the order Acariformes]. Several larvae-containing females of Sarcoptes have been found in skin biopsy of heavily infected Rangifer tarandas L. A. viviparity hypothesis is disproved. The larvae in the body of egg-containing dead females of the human Sarcoptes were obtained by incubation in the suspended water drop. Embryogenesis types as well as eclosion stage in Acariformes are discussed. The term "postmortal pregnancy" is proposed.


[The effect of physicochemical environmental factors on the growth of gram-positive bacterial dissociants]. The growth of R-, S- and M (g)-dissociants of Streptococcus lactis, Bacillus coagulans, Rhodococcus rubropertinctus under the action of some physico-chemical factors: temperature, pH, ultraviolet (UV) rays, high concentration of NaCl and storage have been compared. R-variants gain selective advantage under the influence of UV-irradiation, high temperature and storage; S-variants--at decreasing of active pH of medium; M (g)-variants--at decreasing of growth temperature, high values of pH, increased NaCl concentration. The dissociation has been concluded to enlarge the limits of the species survival.


[The genetic-demographic approach in anthropological research. XI. The structure of the reproductive behavior of Khakass families]. A detailed analysis of chronological intervals typical of reproduction process has been carried out in rural Khakassian populations to reveal the mechanisms of natural selection and gene drift. It is shown that the process of reproduction is connected with cultural traditions and economical activity of a population under study. The main characteristics of reproductive family behavior (the whole number of children and sex ratio, birth interval ect.) play a very important role in family and kin relationships, age, sex and marriage-migration structure of the population.


[The mechanisms of the porphyrin conformation of normal blood hemoglobin and in pathology]. The spectra of resonance Raman scattering of blood in norm and under pathology (myocardial infarction and sepsis), as well after artificial hemotransfusion or UV photomodification have been studied. It has been shown that under heart pathology the structure of hemoglobin porphyrin macrocycle of erythrocytes changes, the size of porphyrin "nucleus" increases. The opposite conditions are observed at blood sepsis. It has been found that the traditional methods in tissue restoration, hemotransfusion and UV photomodification of blood don't result in complete restoration of hemoporphyrin molecule.


[The intracellular pH of the peripheral blood lymphocytes in cattle during the development of leukemia]. The intracellular pH distribution of peripheral cattle lymphocytes has been studied in normal state and at six stages of the development of bovine leukosis by the dye microfluorimetry of single cells. It has been shown that the increase of mean intracellular pH value occurs as well some distribution parameters, such as pH range and asymmetry change during the disease process. Probable reasons responsible for the observed modification of the distribution pattern are discussed.


[The taxonomic status of the Tuva vole Alticola (A.) tuvinicus Ognev (Mammalia: Arvicolinae)]. Some forms united under species Alticola tuvinicus s. lato (4 samples), A. semicanus (1 sample), A. argentatus (8 samples) are compared by 16 characters by means of principal component method and canonical analysis. Species distinctness of A. semicanus is confirmed. Specific status of the form olchonensis is supposed. The results concerning tuvinicus s. str. and kosogol are not clear-cut: these forms may be well differentiated subspecies within either A. tuvinicus s. lato or A. argentatus.


[An ethological approach in the study of nonverbal communication in man and chimpanzee]. The nonverbal communication of man and chimpanzee has been studied. Sexual dimorphism of nonverbal communication patterns, which is connected with the definite contexts of behavior are revealed. Possible ways of evolution in communication systems i shown. This analysis will permit to apply the data of ethological investigation of nonverbal behavior as sexual marker in diagnosis of different groups of mentally ill patients.


[The effect of newly synthesized psychotropic preparations on the "open field" behavior of rats]. The results of effect of some new synthesized psychotropic drugs of nootropic series on rats' behavior in "open field" are given. The increase of locomotive activity and decrease of emotional tension correlated with the rise of rats' ability to learning during working-out of avoidance reaction in shuttle-box, e.i. conditionally reflectory memory. It has been concluded that the study of dynamics of behavioral reactions in "open field" may be used for testing of new synthesized psychotropic drugs of nootropic series.


[The biological action of chromium in relation to its valency]. The biological action of chromium in the human or animal organism depends on valency: normal physiological activity is displayed at the expense of CrIII, but toxic activity is more characteristic of CrVI. In the digestive tract and pulmonary tissue CrVI may restore in CrIII.


[The role of the hemopoiesis-inducing microenvironment in the mechanisms of the regeneration of hemopoiesis after cytostatic exposure]. On the model of adriamycine-induced hemopoiesis hypoplasia it has been shown that the accelerated differentiation of hemopoietic precursors regeneration is of great importance in regeneration of hemopoiesis. This differentiation is provided by preceded recovery of bone marrow structural-functional organization. The important role in regeneration of hemopoiesis belongs to hemopoietic microenvironmental elements which express its induced influence by the increase of colony-stimulating and erythropoietic activities, interleukin-1 and interleukin-3 production.


[The sexual behavior of the primates].

[The sexual behavior of the primates]. The article presents the review of modern data of the field and laboratory investigations of primate sexual behavior, cyclicity, reproductive strategies and copulation in different primates taxa: strepsirrhini, platyrrhyni, catarrhini. The specific character, progressiveness and adaptation of some reproductive models are discussed by the authors. A problem of connection between dominance and reproductive success is also discussed, the role of sexual teaching in postnatal ontogenesis, age and hormonal status for expression of sexual behavior are analysed. Some forms of sexual declinations in primates are considered.


[The clinico-biological aspects of transsexualism]. A complex constitutional-endocrinological investigation of persons of both sexes with clinical diagnosis of transsexualism (TS) has been held. On the basis of original data some peculiarities of somato- and cerebrotypes of transsexuals have been revealed, the formation of these peculiarities is significantly connected with the action of sexual hormones. A disturbance in ratio of male and female sexual hormones in the direction of predominance of the hormones corresponding to the patient's sexual autoidentification despite their biological sex has been marked. It gives possibility to consider that TS pathogenesis is undoubtedly connected with inborn pathology of hormonal homeostasis. The results of multi-disciplinary approach to study of TS are being discussed. An assumption about the role of disturbance in the system of "hormones-brain" in the TS origin is given.


[The immunomodulating properties of erythrocytes induced by physical factors]. It is shown that the action of ultraviolet rays (UVR) or magnetic field (MF) on the erythrocytes of intact Wistar rats by weight 140-170 g induces the property to stimulate the immune response on sheep's T-dependent antigen-erythrocytes and on bull serum albumin in allogenic transference. The most expressed immune stimulated effect is induced by the heavy erythrocytes, which are effected by magnetic field. The warming and vibration don't induce the immunomodulating characteristics in erythrocytes. By spleen cells sticking to glass, the modified UVR and MF, the heavy erythrocytes induce factors (differentiated in mass), which stimulate the development of immune response to T-dependent antigens of sheep's erythrocytes and of bull serum albumin. These factors depress the function of antigen-specific T-suppressors and induce the immune-suppressive characteristics in light erythrocytes.


[Response of human vascular endothelium to angiogenic fibroblast growth factor: role of 2 lipocortins/annexins]. We are interested in whether lipocortins/annexins are involved in the response of human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) to angiogenic bFGF. Previously, a lipocortin/annexin of type I (p34) and a lipocortin/annexin of type VI were found to be associated with plasma membranes of HUVEC. Here we show that: i) phorbol ester PMA, a known activator of protein kinase C, possesses the property of acting synergistically with bFGF to stimulate DNA-primary initiation activity; ii) p69 is only detectable in membrane preparations from G1 phase HUVEC, whereas p34 is found to be present in membranes of G1 and S phase HUVEC; iii) the combination of bFGF and PMA induces an increased phosphorylation of p69 in late G1 phase. In contrast, phosphorylation of p34 occurs only in the S phase when HUVEC are treated with bFGF for an appreciable time lag (> or = 30 min) at 37 degrees C; iv)p69-enriched extracts from bFGF/PMA-treated HUVEC are found to be capable of enhancing the phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-catalyzed production of arachidonic acid in vitro; v) the DNA-synthetic response to bFGF plus PMA is consequent on stimulation of PLA2 and arachidonate production in late G1. These results suggest that p69 is directly connected to the mitogenic signal mechanism of bFGF in late G1, whereas p34 is associated with the endocytic process of this factor in S phase.


[Contribution of expert systems in clinical practice: apropos of the Penelope experience, an expert system in assisted diagnosis and therapy of ovarian adenocarcinoma]. An expert system (ES) for Diagnosis and Therapy of ovarian adenocarcinoma has been developed at the Institut Gustave-Roussy. From surgical and histological results, clinical examination and additional investigative reports, the system presents a synthesis and then determines the stage of the disease. The system than proposes therapeutic indications adapted to the characteristics of the illness and of the patient, and edits a report at the end of the ES consultation. This experience allowed us to specify the field of ES applications in oncology. As tools for diagnosis and therapy, they cannot act as a substitute for the know-how of the physician, as too many medical decisions remain difficult to formalize in the ES. On the other hand the use of artificial intelligence techniques appears to be useful for establishing coherent data bases, which are necessary pre-requisites for clinical research in oncology. The integration of the system in the Hospital Information System is the guarantee of its use in current clinical practice.


[Intra-alveolar hemorrhage during treatments of acute leukemia]. Intra-alveolar haemorrhages represent frequent and severe complications in acute leukaemia treated with chemotherapy. Thrombocytopenia with or without associated haemostasis disorder in association with infectious or toxic lesions of the alveolar membrane (related to radio- or chemotherapy) represent the major promoting factors. Presence of intra-alveolar haemorrhage is mainly suspected on X-ray chest roentgenogram and can be confirmed by bronchoalveolar fluid examination demonstrating an excess of siderophages. Prevention of this complication is based upon reduction of risk factors. Platelet transfusions and careful introduction of steroids are proposed in certain cases.


[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and combined conservative treatment of soft tissue sarcoma in the adult]. Between 1980 and 1990, 64 adults with a locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma, but without metastasis, were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before conservative local treatment. Tumour localizations were limbs in 26 patients (40.6%) and other parts of the body in 38 patients (59.4%). Moreover, 27 patients had bone and/or vasculo-nervous axis involvement. Response to chemotherapy was > or = 50% for 23 patients (37.7%) with 3 complete remissions, < 50% for 36 patients and only 2 tumours progressed during chemotherapy. Conservative surgery was thus carried out for 51 patients (79.7%), 11 received external radiotherapy only. At the end of treatment, 49 patients (76.5%) were in complete remission. With a median follow-up of 76 months (range: 25 to 147), 25 patients are alive with no evolutive disease. For the whole population, the actuarial 5-year overall survival is 33.8%. Among the patients who were in complete remission at the end of therapy, 15 developed local recurrences (with metastasis for 7 patients) and 10 became metastatic. Actuarial 5-year overall survival for this subset of patients is 44.8%.


Pattern of malignant lymphomas in Rwanda. The pattern of 115 cases of malignant lymphomas diagnosed in the years 1979-1987 is presented using the updated Kiel's classification for non Hodgkin's lymphomas and after application of monoclonal antibodies L 26 and UCHL1 for the identification of B and T lymphocytes. Ninety-six cases (83.5%) were non Hodgkin's lymphomas and 19 cases (16.5%) Hodgkin's disease. Among non Hodgkin's lymphomas, B-cell lymphomas were predominant with a total number of 91 cases (94.8%). An analysis of B-cell lymphomas showed the following relevant features: a high frequency of lymphoplasmacytic/oid immunocytoma, a low frequency of Burkitt's lymphoma with a predominance of abdominal localisations, a high frequency of extranodal lymphomas (47.3%) and high grade lymphomas (48.4%); a 65% increase in high grade and extranodal lymphomas and a 76% increase in Burkitt's lymphomas and immunoblastic lymphomas in the period 1984-87 compared to the period 1979-83. For T-cell lymphomas, relevant features were the presence of one case of pleomorphic T-large cell lymphoma or adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma and the fact that four out of five cases were large cell (high grade) lymphomas. More than 50% (57.9%) of Hodgkin's disease were of mixed cellularity type, only 15.8% being of nodular sclerosing type. The disease seemed to affect adolescents and young adults, more than 80% (83.3%) being aged 15-40 years. These features are compared to those observed by other authors and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.


[Current epidemiology of cancers in Cameroon (Central Africa)]. From 1986 to 1991, about 1,000 cases of cancers were diagnosed histologically every year in Cameroon. During this period, investigations showed that only 1 cancer out of 10 is diagnosed histologically. Thus, nearly 10,000 new cases of cancers are expected yearly in Cameroon where a population of 12,000,000 inhabitants is found leading to an incidence of about 100/100,000. Forty-nine percent of patients are female and 51% males. Twelve per cent of patients are less than 20 years old and 60% are between 40 and 70 years. Liver cancer is at the top of the list of cancers, representing 20%, followed by skin cancer (15%), breast cancer (11%) and cancer of the cervix (11%). For men, liver cancer is the most frequent, while cancers of the breast and uterine cervix predominate in women.


[Comprehensive "4-step analgesic ladder" therapy in treating cancer-related pain-analysis of 486 cases]. This analysis indicated that patients with cancer-related pain account for 71.0% in author's material. After the TCM treatment, the effective rate were 91.6% in hepatocarcinoma-related pain; 86.1% in colon-rectal cancer-related pain; 68.2% in malignant lymphoma-related pain; 100% in irradiation-related pain of esophageal cancer, lung cancer, post-operative breast cancer. Results of "four-step analgesic ladder" showed that 52.1% of pain could be relieved by Step I (TCM therapy); if Step II (indomethacin) or III (phenylbutazone) was added, the rate of pain relief reached as high as 96.5%; and only 3.5% need to be treated by Step IV (Opioids). With less side-effects and addiction of opioids and other narcotics, the "four-step analgesic ladder" therapy seems to be more suitable for cancer pain relief in China.


[Clinical and experimental study on shen-qi injection with chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant tumor of digestive tract]. Shen-Qi (Ginseng-Astragalus) injection was used with chemotherapy in the treatment of 176 cases of malignant tumor of the digestive tract. Results showed that Shen-Qi injection could reduce the toxic effects produced by chemical agents and increase the patient's body weight, as compared with that treated by chemotherapy alone (P < 0.001). It could protect the body's hematopoietic function. In Shen-Qi injection with chemotherapy group; the WBC count changed insignificantly but in chemotherapy group the WBC count reduced markedly, in which the rate of chemotherapy failure was 26.5% the difference between these two groups appeared to be significant (P < 0.01). Shen-Qi injection could increase the cellular immunologic function of the body, including phagocytic index and percentage of phagocytes, T lymphocyte transformation rate(cpm) as well as esterase stain. Further more, Shen-Qi injection could promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis and reduce the whole blood specific viscosity (P < 0.05). In the animal experiment, the total number of bone marrow cells and karyocytes of combined treatment group was found to be higher (P < 0.001) and the average weight of thymus was heavier (P < 0.05) than that in chemotherapy group. Shen-Qi injection could also prolong the survival time and increase the tumor inhibiting rate of experimental mice.


[Histopathology of spleen deficiency syndrome of chronic atrophic gastritis and its ultrastructural changes]. Pathologic change of gastric mucosa in 247 CAG patients of Spleen Qi (Yang) Deficiency (QYD) and Spleen-Stomach Yin Deficiency(YD) Syndrome were observed. The surface of gastric antrum mucosa of 26 patients with scanning electron microscope as well as the gastric mucosa of 34 patients with transmission electron microscope was observed for their intracellular structure. It was found that the CSAG and CAG I of Spleen QYD amounted to 165 cases (66.8%), and CAG II and III of Spleen-Stomach YD amounted to 34 cases (64.2%). It denoted that the Spleen QYD belonged to mild case, while the Spleen-Stomach YD belonged to severe case. The mitochondria of all kinds of gastric antrum mucosa cells showed retrograded degeneration, the pathologic basis of Spleen Deficiency of CAG, those of Spleen-Stomach QD had sparse broken and swollen mitochondria (82.3%), while the 53.3% of Spleen-Stomach YD displayed vacuolation as its predominant change. The different severity of retrograde degeneration and damage of mitochondria yielded various stage in atrophy of gastric mucosa which was the basis of Syndromes evolution from Defi. to QYD and then YD. Inflammatory change of the gastric mucosa was predominant in Spleen-Stomach YD (45.3%), and far less in QYD (27.1%), P < 0.01.


[Treatment of chronic gastritis with traditional Chinese medicine--yingwei tablet]. A prospective controlled study on the treatment of 60 cases chronic gastritis with TCM Yingwei tablet as well as Sucrafati and Doperidone tablets from Oct. 1990 to Sep. 1991 were done. 30 patients in each group. The cases in treated group took Yingwei tablet while that in control group took Sucrafati and Doperidone tablets. Before and after treatment, the patients were examined by gastroscope, pathology and Helicobacter pylori. The results showed that total effective rate, the gastroscopically effective rate, the pathological cure rate, the cure rate of gastric mucosa atrophy and the effective rate of bacteriocidal effect against Helicobacter pylori in treated group and control group was 96.7% and 73.3%; 80% and 70%; 36.7% and 20%; 38% and 9%; 60% and 23.0%, respectively, all of the above-mentioned differences between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05-0.01). Therefore Yingwei tablet is an effective drug for various kind of chronic gastritis.


[Treatment of intestinal metaplasia and atypical hyperplasia of gastric mucosa with xiao wei yan powder]. 138 cases of intestinal metaplasia (IM) and 104 cases of atypical hyperplasia (AH) of the gastric mucosa of chronic gastritis treated with Xiao Wei Yan Powder (XWYP) were reported. The diagnoses were based on the pathological examination of gastric antrum biopsy specimens. The cases were randomly divided into treated group and control group. The XWYP contained Smilax glabrae, Hedyotis diffusae, Taraxacum mongolicum, Caesalpinia sappan, Paeonia alba, Cyperus rotundus, Bletilla striata, Glycyrrhiza uralensis etc., and was prepared in powder form, taken orally 5-7g tid. After 2-4 months of administration, gastroscopic and pathological examinations were repeated. In treated group, the total effective rate of IM was 91.3% and that of the AH was 92.16%, while in control group, they were 21.3% and 14.46% respectively (P < 0.01). It denoated that XWYP had marked therapeutic effects for IM and AH. The animal experiments revealed no toxic effect, so safety guarantee was provided for its clinical application.


[Treatment of esophageal precancerous lesion with cang dou pill]. In this report, 648 cases of marked epithelium hyperplasia diagnosed with esophageal exfoliative cytology were studied clinically in the high incidence areas (Cixian and Shexian) of esophageal cancer. All these cases were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group. For two years, the former had been given Cang Dou Pill and the latter the placebo. The results reexamined by the cyto-smears showed that the incidence of the esophageal cancer in therapeutic and control group were 1.5% and 4.2% respectively. A significant difference existed between the two groups (P < 0.005). And the reverse rate of marked hyperplasia in the treated and control group were 79.5% and 50.2% respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). These results showed that Cang Dou Pill, to some extent, has anti-cancer activity.


[Immunological and hematopoietic effect of Codonopsis pilosula on cancer patients during radiotherapy]. Codonopsis pilosula was used as an adjuvant in 76 cancer patients during radiotherapy and its protective effect on hematopoietic and immunologic function was studied. (1) No influence on Hb and WBC of the patients with radiotherapy. (2) It could reduce the immunosuppressive effect of radiotherapy on delayed hypersensitive reaction, the lymphocyte response to PHA and IL-2. (3) No difference between treated and control groups in most humoral immune indices such as IgG, IgA and C3, but had slight increase in IgM in treated patients, while significant decrease in control.


[Combined therapy of brain metastasis in lung cancer]. 68 cases of brain metastasis in lung cancer were treated from June 1987 to Dec. 1990. They were randomly divided into 2 groups. The first group was solely treated by radiotherapy and the second one, by radiotherapy adding with the intravenous injection of the 10% Brucea javanica emulsion. The results showed that the living quality and the prolonged median survival of the patients in the second group (15 months) were much better than those in the first group (10 months). The 10% Brucea javanica emulsion has synergetic with radiotherapy in treating brain metastasis in lung cancer.


[Anti-tumour study of combined therapy of yi kang ling with chemotherapeutic agents]. Result of animal experiment proved that Yi Kang Ling, a TCM compound preparation, could markedly inhibit the growth of implanted tumour in mice. The inhibiting effect to the experimental tumour of combined therapy of Yi Kang Ling and the chemotherapeutic agents-CTX or MMC was better than that using singly. The Yi Kang Ling could alleviate toxicity of chemotherapy which caused the weight loss of mice. It could markedly increase the immune organs' weight, raise the phagocytosis of abdominal macrophage and promote the formation of serum hemolysin inhibited by CTX. The experimental result revealed that the combined therapy of Yi Kang Ling and the chemotherapeutical agents could enhance anti-tumour effect and lower the toxicity of chemotherapy. Toxicological experiment showed that the Yi Kang Ling did not have any toxic effect against organism.


[Effect of yizhiling granule on experimental pathological model of Alzheimer's disease]. Alzheimer's disease is an important problem of gerontology which manifested as serious loss of memory, especially of recent memory, decrease of brain weight. The pathological model of the disease in mice was made with administration of AlCl3 and then Yizhiling Granule was given to treat it. In the experiment of one trial passive avoidance response there were significant difference between the normal group and the model group (P < 0.01) and significant difference between the treated group and the model group (P < 0.05-0.01); as for fresh brain weight, the treated group was significantly different from the normal group (P < 0.01) and model group (P < 0.05). They indicate that Yizhiling Granule could improve memory and increase brain weight. This research seems to provide experimental basis for treatment of the disease.


A case-control study of breast cancer in Tianjin, China. In a population-based case-control study of breast cancer in Tianjin, China, involving 300 cases and 300 population controls interviewed during 1985-1986, a number of strong risk factors were identified. Although average age at menarche was late by Western standards in this developing country (14.4 years), it was clearly related to risk. Women with their first menstrual period at age 12 years or earlier had 80% greater risk than women who started at age 17 years or later. Age at first full-term pregnancy was also strongly related to risk, with women whose first birth after age 30 years having 3.2 times the risk of women whose first birth was under age 20 years. Other established breast cancer risk factors in Western populations (family history of breast cancer, a history of benign breast disease, and use of oral contraceptives late in reproductive life) were also risk factors in this population. Parity and duration of lactation were both strongly protective against breast cancer development in univariate analyses. These two variables were highly correlated with each other and with age at first full-term pregnancy. Although the effects of each variable dissipated somewhat in multivariate analysis, our data strongly suggest that both parity and lactation independently contribute to breast cancer risk.


Risk factors for oral and pharyngeal cancer in Shanghai, with emphasis on diet. A population-based case-control study of oral and pharyngeal cancer was conducted in Shanghai, China, from 1988 to 1990, in which 204 (115 male, 89 female) incident cases and 414 (269 male, 145 female) controls were interviewed. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as occupational exposures to asbestos and to petroleum products and the use of kerosene stoves in cooking, were associated with increased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer. In addition, more cases than controls reported having chronic oral diseases and false teeth. Dietary intakes of 42 major foods and selected salt-preserved or deep-fried foods during the past 10 years, ignoring any recent changes, were measured by a structured quantitative food questionnaire. After adjusting for known etiological factors, risks decreased with increasing intake of fruits, particularly oranges and tangerines, and some vegetables, including dark yellow vegetables and Chinese white radish. Men in the highest tertile of intake of these fruits and vegetables had about 30-50% the risk of those in the lowest tertile, with a less pronounced effect among women. A new finding was an excess risk associated with high consumption of salt-preserved meat and fish. The findings from this study provide further evidence that dietary factors play an important role in the development of oral and pharyngeal cancer.


Antibodies to Helicobacter pylori and pepsinogen levels in children from Costa Rica: comparison of two areas with different risks for stomach cancer. In children and adolescents from two areas of Costa Rica with contrasting gastric cancer risks, two factors suspected to be linked to the natural history of the disease were tested: serum antibodies to Helicobacter pylori and serum pepsinogen levels. One hundred fifty-five subjects from the high-risk area of Turrubares were compared to 127 from the low-risk area of Hojancha. No significant differences were found in the prevalence of IgG or IgA antibodies to Helicobacter pylori between the two regions. The prevalence of IgG was 65.8% in the high-risk area and 72.4 in the low-risk area, and that of IgA was 43% in both areas. The levels of pepsinogen, especially pepsinogen C, were significantly elevated in subjects with H. pylori antibodies in their serum. The mean levels of pepsinogen C in those negative, positive, and strong positive for H. pylori antibodies were 8.7, 14.3, and 21.1 ng/ml. These findings suggest that H. pylori-associated gastritis, predominantly of antral localization, is very prevalent in Costa Rican children and adolescents. Such gastritis might be associated with a high prevalence of intestinal metaplasia and a high gastric cancer risk in the inland, but not the coastal rural populations. H. pylori may therefore be an insufficient cause whose role in gastric carcinogenesis is contingent upon the presence of other factors.


N-nitrosoproline excretion by rural Nebraskans drinking water of varied nitrate content. The N-nitrosoproline (NPRO) test for in vivo nitrosation was applied in a study of 44 rural Nebraska men drinking high- or low-nitrate water from private wells. The subjects followed diets low in NPRO and nitrate for 5 days. On days 4 and 5 they avoided ascorbate-rich foods. Urine was collected for 24 h on day 4 while the subjects followed normal activities and on day 5 after an overnight fast and taking 500 mg L-proline. We determined NPRO, nitrate, creatinine, and specific gravity in the urines, and nitrite and nitrate in single saliva specimens collected on days 4 and 5. Results for all variables were separated into those above and below the median values and were analyzed by univariate and multivariate consideration of the contingency tables. Nitrate concentration in drinking water (> or = or < 10 ppm nitrate-nitrogen) was significantly associated with both day 4 and day 5 NPRO (> or = or < 1.5 micrograms/day; P < 0.04); and with urine nitrate (> or = or < 1.5 mmol/day), saliva nitrite (> or = or < 5 mg/liter), and saliva nitrate (> or = or < 25 mg/liter) (P < or = 0.002). Urine nitrate was significantly (P < or = 0.03) associated with both day 4 and day 5 NPRO, with odds ratios of 4.2 and 5.4, respectively. Creatinine was positively associated with NPRO on day 4 (P = 0.04). These findings, like those of a recent study in Denmark, showed an association between nitrate intake in water and NPRO formation. Their significance for people drinking high-nitrate water remains to be determined.


Micronuclei in esophageal cells of Chinese youths in a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in China. An epidemiologic survey among 538 young persons between 15 and 26 years of age in a high-risk area for esophageal cancer in the People's Republic of China revealed a high prevalence of esophagitis. Histologically confirmed very mild, mild, and moderate esophagitis was observed in 31.6%, 10.7%, and 1.1% of 354 male and 30.4%, 4.3%, and 1.1% of 184 female subjects. The prevalence of micronuclei in esophageal smears was assayed in a subsample to investigate its possible association with esophagitis and with risk factors for esophageal lesions. Of the 186 subjects, 2.7% had mild or moderate esophagitis, 19.9% had very mild esophagitis, and 77.4% were normal. The frequency distribution of micronucleated cells in the esophageal mucosa was similar for the three diagnostic groups. Mean percentages of micronucleated cells did not differ by diagnosis of esophagitis, household status, current smoking status, presence of oral leukoplakia, or consumption of burning hot beverages or fresh fruit. Higher mean percentages were observed in the older age group of both sexes, but the difference was not statistically significant. The results suggest that if esophagitis is considered an important precursor state in the development of esophageal cancer, the scoring of micronuclei does not appear to be an efficient test for mild forms of esophagitis.