Volume 111  ·   Issue 03  ·  1998

OBJECTIVE To understand the cellular genetic expression of the cell's population by studying the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of hippocampal neuron of Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS The postmortem human hippocampal tissues were divided into three groups, namely, the young, the elderly and the AD groups. Each group contained tissues from 10 patients. The study was conducted using image pattern analysis of the nucleoli-nucleoplasms ratio of the neurons of Nissl's stained pathological cerebral hippocampal tissues, the area of stain, and the integrating absorption of nucleoli of silver-stained NORs. RESULTS The nucleoli-nucleoplasms ratio of the neurons of Nissl's stained cerebral hippocampal tissues, the area of stain, and the integrating absorption of the nucleoli of hippocampal neuron were decreased in the elderly and the AD groups as compared with the young group. However, the area of stain and the integrating absorption of the nucleoli of the hippocampal neurons were relatively increased in the AD group in comparison with the elderly group. CONCLUSIONS Nissl's stain demonstrates the hypofunction of the hippocampal neurons in the elderly and the AD patients. The Silver stain of NORs shows the decline of rDNA transcription activity of the nucleoli of the hippocampal neurons in the elderly and the AD patients. However, the transcription activity of the nucleoli of the hippocampal neurons of AD patients was relatively improved, and the cellular genetic expression of the cell's population was relatively strengthened. These cellular morphological changes have probably reflected the cellular defensive system.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the incidence and predictive value of congenital hypertrophy of retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) in the Chinese familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients. METHODS Eleven FAP patients and 28 at risk relatives from 7 families were examined for CHRPE lesions. RESULTS CHRPE was present in all 11 FAP patients. Nine CHRPE lesions were found in 9 of the 28 at risk relatives. There were great intra and inter-familial variations of the CHRPE lesions. Two at risk relatives were diagnosed to have FAP only after our screening and subsequent proctosigmoidoscopy. Nine at risk relatives were put under high surveillance because of the presence of CHRPE. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of CHRPE in the FAP patients in our study is 100%. Eye examination for CHRPE for FAP patients and their at risk relatives is of very high value. A central FAP registry is thus recommended.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristic of motion perception (MP) of normal Chinese subjects. METHODS MPs were recorded from 56 normal subjects (112 eyes), age ranged from 11 to 68 years, and the MP software was controlled by PC compatible computer which appeared as the vertical bar targets in VGA screen. RESULTS The Mp rates were ascending gradually from 10 age-group to 30 age-group as the age increased in the 2 pixels (2P) horizontal motion, and the MP rates were decreasing gradually over 40 age-group, and the MP rates were not affected by the age in the 4 pixels (4P), 6 pixels (6P) horizontal motion and>40 Hz flick motion. There was no relation between the MP and the sex and the different eyes. CONCLUSIONS The characteristic of MP of the normal Chinese subjects was determined and the results provided the normal reference values.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of second cytoreductive surgery in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS From January 1989 to June 1994, second cytoreductive surgery was carried out on 33 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who either underwent unsatisfactory primary debulking operation or had recurrence. According to FIGO staging (1987), there were 5 patients in stage I, 2 in stage II, 25 in stage III, and 1 in stage IV. Pathological grading was G1 in 2 cases, G2 in 9, G3 in 19 and uncertain in 3. The 33 patients can be divided into 3 categories: I, nine patients who had unsatisfactory primary debulking operation with macroscopic residual>2 cm, and 1-2 courses of postoperative chemotherapy; II, 15 patients who had 6-8 courses of cisplatin-based postoperative chemotherapy and in whom recurrence was diagnosed after complete response for at least 3 months; and III, 9 patients who had the same treatment as category II and survived without cancer clinically for more than 6 months, and in whom recurrence was diagnosed during second-look laparotomy. All patients had been followed up for at least two years (27-168 months) dated from the primary debulking operation. RESULTS Fifteen cases had no macroscopic residuals (group A), 5 had residuals<2 cm (group B), and 13 had residuals>2 cm (group C). The medium survival time and two-year survival rate in groups A, B and C were 59.09, 20.6 and 8.29 months, and 93.3%, 20% and 7.69% respectively (P<0.001, A vs C; P<0.05, A vs B and B vs C). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that second cytoreductive surgery is of value, and the key to success is to eliminate any macroscopic residual focus, or at most, to leave only minimal residuals<2 cm. It is suggested that well-targeted multiple-route chemotherapy with sufficient courses before second cytoreductive surgery is important to achieving better results.

OBJECTIVE To investigate CD 80 expression on human tumor cell lines and establish stable CD 80 expression transfectants to illustrate CD 80 costimulation on the T cell proliferation and cytokine production. METHODS Raji, MDA-453, MCF-7, Hela, 3AO, MKN-45 and EBV transformed B cell were detected for CD 80 expression by RT-PCR. CD 80 cDNA subcloned to retrovirus vector pLXSN, with them stable CD 80 transfectanants were established. With specific mAb BB1 and FACS assay, the expression of CD 80 were detected. Anti-CD3 induced T lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2, IFN-r production were performed to evaluate CD 80 costimulatory activity in the presence of calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol ester PMA. RESULTS CD 80 (B7-1) expression of MDA-453, MCF-7, Hela, 3AO, MKN-45 was negative, and that of Raji and EBV transformed B cell was positive by RT-PCR and FACS methods. Cocultured with CD 80 transfected human breast carcinoma cell line MDA-453, anti-CD3 induced T cells proliferation and cytokine production were significantly increased in the presence of A23187 and PMA, but not with parental MDA-453. CONCLUSIONS CD 80 expression is absent on most human tumor cell line except for Raji and EBV transformed B cell. Full activation of T cell needs CD 80 costimulation. Influence of CD 80 costimulation on cytokine production is mainly regulated via IL-2 and IFN-r.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the growth of human lung cancer in vivo as well as in vitro. METHODS To examine the mRNA level of IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) in high-metastatic human lung giant cell carcinoma cell line PG by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess the existence of IL-6 receptor complex (including IL-6R and gp130) with the treatment of PG cells by use of recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6), recombinant human oncostatin M (rhOSM), and recombinant human leukemia inhibitory factor (rhLIF), respectively. To detect the expression of IL-6 by Northern blotting hybridization and bioactive assay. To identify the effect of IL-6 secreted by PG cells by use of IL-6 and IL-6R antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), and specific neutralizing antibody to IL-6. To document the influence of IL-6 on PG cells growth in vivo through the strategy of the transfection of expression vector inserted antisense IL-6 cDNA. RESULTS RT-PCR analysis revealed that PG cells expressed IL-6R mRNA. Any one of the recombinant cytokine IL-6, OSM and LIF stimulated the growth of PG cells in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrated IL-6 receptor complex exist in PG cells. At the same time, PG cells expressed IL-6 mRNA and secreted bioactive IL-6. Both IL-6 antisense ODNs and IL-6R ODNs inhibited PG cells proliferation. Treatment of PG cells with IL-6 antibodies reduced the growth of PG cells in vitro. PG cells transfected with IL-6 antisense expression vector showed a decreased growth in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS IL-6 functions as an autocrine growth stimulator for PG cells in vivo as well as in vitro.

OBJECTIVE To elucidate the transmission dynamic and epidemic trend of bancroftian filariasis occurred under the condition with no control measure taken 5 years after elimination of filariasis. METHODS A 10-year longitudinal observation (from 1984 to 1994) was made in Huayuan Village in Shengli Township of Tancheng County, which used to be a high bancroftian filariasis-endemic area in southern part of Shandong Province. RESULTS The microfilarial rate decreased from 0.56% before the study to 0.12% after the study and 8 out of the 9 previous microfilaria-positive cases became negative gradually. During the study period, 6 new microfilaremia cases were detected, 5 of which became negative naturally within 3 to 4 years. Eighty-eight point eight nine per cent of the detected patients with microfilaremia converted into IgG4-negative after 10 years. The natural infective rate of vectors decreased year by year and became zero by the tenth year of the study, the annual transmission potency decreased also from 3.47 to zero by the tenth year. CONCLUSIONS It showed that under the local natural environment the biting rate representing the vector density which was obtained by capture method was from 24.1 to 52.5 person/night among the residents who did not use mosquito nets, and 13.5 to 21 person/night among the residents who used mosquito nets. The microfilarial rate of 0.56% in population with the average microfilarial density of 6.6 to 20.7 capita/60 microliters ear blood of residual microfilaria-positive patients might be considered as the terminal threshold of transmission.

OBJECTIVE Epidemiologic studies in Caucasian populations suggested that symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurred at a prevalence of 1-10%. The condition has been increasingly recognised among the Chinese in Hong Kong. We therefore, summarize our experience with OSA at the Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong at Queen Mary Hospital from 1985-1996. METHODS All clinic records concerning demographic data, anthropometric data, clinical features, polysomnographic findings and treatment were reviewed. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-two patients were diagnosed to have OSA. Demographic and clinical features were similar to Caucasian data with a male predominance of 84%, a mean age of about 50 years, and obesity as a risk factor at a mean body mass index of 30.4, which was higher than that of the average local population, although lower than that of OSA patients in Caucasian series. About 27% of the patients have a body mass index (BMI) similar to or below the population average. Nearly all were habitual snorers, and the majority had excessive daytime sleepiness. On polysomnography, the mean apnea-hypopnea index was 38. Common associated medical conditions were hypertension (34%), diabetes mellitus (10%), ischemic heart disease (9%), hyperlipidemia (6%). Most patients were managed successfully with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Treatment with oral appliances for milder cases is being explored. CONCLUSIONS OSA has been increasingly recognised among Chinese adults in Hong Kong in the past decade. Demographic features were similar to Caucasian data. The majority of patients were overweight, although 27% were not, and further investigation on the contribution of faciomaxillary morphology to OSA in this group is warranted.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the longitudinal changes of macrophages and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive cells in the iris and ciliary body of Lewis rats after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed using monoclonal antibodies to monocytes and macrophages (ED1) and MHC class II-positive cells (OX6) on wholemounts of the iris and ciliary body in endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). RESULTS A network of macrophages (ED1+ cell) and MHC class II-positive cells, was present in the iris and ciliary body of normal Lewis rats. Most cells in the iris and ciliary body displayed dendritiform appearance. A severe involvement of the iris and ciliary body, as evidenced by a rapid influx of monocytes and macrophages and remarkable increase of MHC class II-positive cells, was observed after LPS injection. CONCLUSIONS A network of macrophages and MHC class II-positive cells in the iris and ciliary body may play an important role in immune surveillance. LPS injection induces a severe inflammation in the anterior segment of the eye, which may serve as a model for acute anterior uveitis in human.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6, 5',6-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxylate (HpPro) on patients with acute and chronic liver diseases. METHODS An open trial and a prospective randomized and controlled study were performed. The open trial consisted of 56 cases (16 cases of acute hepatitis, 20 cases of chronic hepatitis, 14 cases of liver cirrhosis and 6 cases of fatty liver). Controlled study consisted of 20 cases of Child A chronic hepatitis which were randomly treated with either HpPro or a mixture of known drugs which used as a liver protective agent in Indonesia as control for one week. The patients were then crossed over those two drugs in the next week. RESULTS In the open trial, after 4 weeks' treatment with HpPro 7.5 mg orally three times daily, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and fatty liver cases showed rapid decrease of SGOT and SGPT. In the liver cirrhosis cases, SGOT and SGPT were decreased slowly. In the controlled trial, nine patients received HpPro 7.5 mg three times daily orally and eleven were treated with a mixture of known drugs as the controls. After one week treatment, HpPro group clinically showed significant decrease of SGPT and SGOT levels compared to control group (P = 0.035). At the second week, HpPro group showed significant decrease of SGOT compared to control group (P = 0.038) but the decrease of SGPT was not significant (P = 0.096). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with HpPro is effective to reduce liver impairment in acute and chronic liver diseases on Indonesian patients. No side effect of HpPro was observed.

Secretion of pineal melatonin exhibits a diumal rhythm and a seasonal rhythm in humans. Night-time melatonin is high at 3-5 year-old and decreases with age. Many drugs and pathological conditions also change melatonin levels in the circulation. Melatonin has a mild sedative effect and has been used effectively in synchronizing the sleep-wake cycle of patients with sleep disorders. Immunoenhancing, anti-cancer, anti-aging and anti-oxidant effects of melatonin have been proposed. Recent studies suggest that melatonin receptors are present in central and peripheral tissues. The importance of melatonin receptors on the nervous, reproductive, immune and renal functions is implicated. Studies on the molecular biology, physiology and pathology of melatonin receptors in different tissues are progressing rapidly. The physiological and pathological changes in melatonin secretion, multifarious melatonin actions, and diverse melatonin receptors reported suggest that melatonin is a photoperiodic signal with clinical significance in humans.

Rheumatology was for a long time a highly neglected area of medicine in China. The first rheumatology unit in the department of medicine was established in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 1980. Prior to that, little was known about the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases in China.

Billroth I operation is the best procedure to do the subtotal gastrectomy for duodenal ulcer. It restores the gastroduodenal continuation and decreases complications. In the past, however, when there were too many scars in the ulcer, only Billroth II operation was performed.

The book of "Neonatal and Perinatal Screening--The Asian Pacific Perspective" is the proceedings of the Second Asian Pacific Regional Meeting of The International Society of Neonatal Screening (ISNA) which was held in Hong Kong from November 28 to December 1, 1995.

To explore the injury process of the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, the modified isolated liver perfusion (ILP) model with large doses of 5-Fu for chenmotherapy was established in rats.

Abstract of Current Chinese Medical Literature

Abstract of Current Chinese Medical Literature

Abstract of Current Chinese Medical Literature