Regulation of free choline in rat brain: dietary and pharmacological manipulations

The present study analyses, comparatively, the kinetics of free choline in the brain of rats during dietary and pharmacological manipulations. Low-choline diet halved the choline plasma level but did not cause significant changes of CSF choline. High-choline diet, hypoxia and treatment with nicotinamide increased brain choline availability through a central site of action and increased the CSF choline concentration. CSF choline concentrations were more effectively elevated by nicotinamide treatment (20-25 microM) than by acute choline administration (13-15 microM). Increases of CSF choline, due to brain choline mobilization, were consistently associated with a net release of choline from the brain as reflected by strongly negative arterio-venous differences (AVD) of brain choline. The balance between release and uptake of brain choline was controlled by the arterial plasma choline level in all treatment groups; however, the normal 'reversal point' of 15 microM--representing the plasma choline level where uptake and release of brain choline are balanced--was shifted to more than 40 microM by high-choline diet and nicotinamide. In conclusion, our data characterize the release of choline into the venous blood as an important component of brain choline homeostasis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the concentration of brain choline (e.g. as a precursor of acetylcholine) can be enhanced more efficiently by manipulating choline homeostatic mechanisms than by acute choline administration.     

Molecular analysis of cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Cellulose, an abundant, crystalline polysaccharide, is central to plant morphogenesis and to many industries. Chemical and ultrastructural analyses together with map-based cloning indicate that the RSW1 locus of Arabidopsis encodes the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase. The cloned gene complements the rsw1 mutant whose temperature-sensitive allele is changed in one amino acid. The mutant allele causes a specific reduction in cellulose synthesis, accumulation of noncrystalline beta-1,4-glucan, disassembly of cellulose synthase, and widespread morphological abnormalities. Microfibril crystallization may require proper assembly of the RSW1 gene product into synthase complexes whereas glucan biosynthesis per se does not.     

Effects of thymectomy and glucocorticoid therapy on peripheral lymphocytes in myasthenia gravis

Clinical manifestations and peripheral blood lymphocyte subset changes were studied in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) to elucidate the mechanism of clinical improvement following treatment, with thymectomy (Tx) or glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. The changes found were: 1. There was a significant increase in percentages of CD3+, CD29+ CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio and a significant decrease in percentages of CD8+ and CD16,56+ cells in patients who had never been treated with any immune therapy. 2. After Tx or GC therapy, CD3+ and CD4+, CD29+ cells were decreased, but the number CD19+ and CD16, CD56 cells did not change. 3. Tx had a special effect on CD8+ cells. In most of the patients who showed clinical improvement after Tx, CD8+ cells were increased and CD4/CD8 ratio wad decreased. 4. Anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChRAb) titers were markedly decreased after GC therapy. These results indicate that there were obvious abnormalities in cell-mediated immunity in addition to those in humoral immunity in myasthenia gravis. These abnormalities tended to be normalized after Tx or GC therapy.     

CHOP vs. ProMACE-CytaBOM in the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: long-term results of a multicenter randomized trial.(PETHEMA: Spanish Cooperative Group for the Study of Hematological Malignancies Treatment, Spanish Society of Hematology)

From May 1985 to May 1989, 175 patients with previously untreated aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were randomized to receive CHOP or ProMACE-CytaBOM. Eligibility criteria included follicular large-cell diffuse small cleaved-cell, diffuse mixed, diffuse large-cell and immunoblastic lymphoma with an Ann Arbor stage II, III or IV. One hundred and forty-eight patients were evaluable. There were no significant differences between the 2 treatments in response rate (83.5% [57.5% CR] for CHOP vs. 88% [62% CR] for ProMACE-CytaBOM), time to treatment failure (29% vs. 31% at 5 yr), or overall survival (42% in both groups at 5 yr). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between the 2 regimens when response rates and outcome were analyzed for different prognostic subgroups. Toxicity was not significantly different between the 2 regimens, although only 1 patient died as result of treatment-related toxicity in the CHOP arm compared to 6 patient in the ProMACE-CytaBOM group (p = 0.126). In conclusion, in this study ProMACE-CytaBOM has not proved to be superior to CHOP in aggressive lymphomas. This trial gives support to the notion that CHOP still is the standard chemotherapy for aggressive lymphomas, and that new treatment approaches for these lymphomas should be compared to CHOP.     

Perfection of methodical approaches to designing vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis

Nine female patients with a urethral diverticulum were admitted to our center over a six period: The clinical symptomatology was not specific. The diagnosis has been performed by voiding and retrograde cysto-uretrogram. The surgical treatment consisted in the excision of the diverticula, with the patient in the supine position. No perioperative morbidity was observed.     

网带式连续烧结炉炉温及网带速度微机控制系统

本文介绍一个基于ＳＴＤ总线的单片机网带式连续烧结炉炉温及网带速度控制系统，详细叙述了系统的硬件结构和控制算法。     

钢铁厂材料核算决策支持系统

本文介绍了钢铁厂材料核算系统的决策支持系统，描述了系统结构，模型自动生成方法，并用层次分析法说明钢铁厂材料采购的决策过程。     

如何正确地提高轧机工作机座的刚度

本文着重分析和讨论了提高轧机工作机座刚度的三种途径：　合理提高零部件刚度、短应力线机座、预应力机座。指出某些错误概念与问题，阐述了如何正确地提高轧机工作座的刚度。