Volume 94  ·   Issue 01  ·  1981

The tegumental surface of the Chinese (mainland) strain of the adult Schistosoma japonicum is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dorsal surface of the male bears ridges and pits but no bosses or spines, presenting a sponge-like appearance. Many spines cover the inner surfaces of both the oral and ventral suckers. The lining of the gynecophoric canal is covered with spines of various sizes. The male gonopore is seen as a raised lip at the anterior end of the gynecophoric canal. The tegument of the female is ridged and pitted and possesses fewer minute spines at the posterior end. There are two types of sensory organelles on the surface of S. japonicum, one consisting of the papilla-like elevations with openings located around the lateral edge of the gynecophoric folds, the other being sensory bulbs with a central cilium particularly abundant at the anterior part and the suckers.

Assessment of the index of selectivity of proteinuria helps doctors gain a clear insight into the degree of renal damage, predicts patient prognosis and serves as a guide to the proper medication. 27 patients with nephrotic syndrome were observed in this study. Renal clearance rates of transferrin, immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M were analysed in 19. Selectivity was compared and studied by various pairing systems according to the relation with the 3 proteins of different molecular size and also to assess the role the 3 proteins played in connection with the results of treatment, choice of drugs and prognosis.

Through twin study the author shows that myopia is a polygenic, multifactor inheritance influenced by genetics and environment. He stresses prophylaxis and treatment of myopia, sidestepping bioengineering.

This article presents a comparison of 4 barium preparations showing that HSB-200 barium preparation is the best Chinese one for the purpose, surpassing some foreign preparations in Performance.

Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) determinations are performed on 20 normal adults and 39 patients with acute leukemia in different stages. The results show that cAMP levels are markedly low in the pretreatment and nonremission groups and elevated approximately to normal range in the remission group. In the relapse group, the reason for the cAMP levels not decreasing significantly may be scantiness of peripheral leukemic cells. cAMP level changes are closely related to the number of peripheral leukemic cells. This study provides some information concerning investigation of the basic leukemic mechanism. cAMP level changes in different leukemic stages may also be used as an indicator of prognosis and an aid in evaluating chemotherapeutic effect.

This paper reports a case of Sjögren's syndrome with myocarditis successfully treated mainly by traditional Chinese medicine.

Immunologic study was carried out in 81 cases of psoriasis and it was found that cell mediated immunity (LTT, ERFT, OT and SD-SK reactions) was decreased, but there was no apparent change in IgA, IgG and IgM serum content. The patients were treated with human transfer factor (TF) hypodermically once weekly. One ampoule was administered each time in the first 2 injections followed by 2 ampoules each time, for a course of 5-21 weeks, generally 6-10 weeks. The total rate of effectiveness was 69.1% and that of marked effectiveness 42%. Clinical effect seemed better in patients with low cell mediated immunity (CMI). After treatment, there was some increase in cellular immunity (e.g. increased OT and SD-SK test reactions). There were no side reactions other than some local pain at the injection site.

This paper describes the effect of Radix Astragali seu Hedysari (RAH) 黄芪 on the interferon system in mice and human beings and the comparative efficacy of human interferon (IF) and combined IF-RAH treatment in prophylaxis of the common cold. Our data indicate that RAH can stimulate the IF induction system in mice and human beings, as well as the superinduction system in human diploid cell cultures. This herb possesses the capacity of inhibiting cell RNA metabolism and prolonging the life-span of some human lung diploid cell strains. Field studies among 1,137 volunteers have shown that the efficacy of combined low-titer IF and RAH in prevention of the common cold is better than that of IF alone.

163 previously untreated acute leukemia patients ranging in age from 11 to 59 years were randomized to receive BCG, measles vaccine, or both in combination shortly after they were started on induction chemotherapeutic regimens, while 58 who received chemotherapy alone served as controls. In the group of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 41 (85.4%) of 48 treated with chemo-immunotherapy and 13 (81.3%) of 16 treated with chemotherapy alone achieved complete remissions. The difference was not statistically significant (p>0.5). In the group of acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), 62 (53.9%) of 115 patients treated with chemo-immunotherapy and 13 (31.0%) of 42 treated with chemotherapy alone achieved complete remissions. The difference in remission rate between the 2 groups was statistically significant (p<0.025). The use of both BCG and measles vaccine in combination with chemotherapy was significantly more effective in inducing remissions than either alone.

The pathologic features of 65 cases of insulinoma were described, including electron microscopic studies in 6 recent cases. The presence of psammoma bodies in 10 cases and amyloid deposits in stroma in 24 cases is of particular interest. Under electron microscope, the amyloid deposits in 1 case displayed randomly orientated fibrils containing few mesenchymal cells. Bundles of fibrils in different sizes and orientations were also seen in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells, but no direct connection was observed between the intra- and extracellular fibrils. Typical β-cell secretory granules were found in all tumors examined with an electron microscope, the quantity of which varied greatly in different tumors and even in different parts and cells of the same tumor, 17 patients with microscopic evidences of invasion of tumor capsule, blood vessels, nerves and fatty tissues are alive and well 2.3-16.5 years postoperatively, a fact confirming that the presence of metastasis is the only reliable diagnostic criterion for malignancy in insulinoma.