Lysophosphatidylcholine is involved in the antigenicity of oxidized LDL

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is formed by hydrolysis of PC in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and cell membranes by phospholipase A2 or by oxidation. Oxidized (ox) LDL activates endothelial cells, an effect mimicked by LPC. oxLDL also has the capacity to activate T and B cells, and antibody titers to oxLDL are related to the degree of atherosclerosis. The antigen in oxLDL responsible for its immune-stimulatory capacity is not well characterized, and we hypothesized that LPC was involved. We demonstrate herein the presence of antibodies against LPC, both of the IgG and IgM isotype, in 210 healthy individuals. This antibody reactivity was not specifically related to oxidation of the fatty acid moiety in LPC, since LPC containing only palmitic acid showed antibody titers equivalent to those of LPC containing unsaturated fatty acids. Antibody titers to PC were low compared with LPC, and hydrolysis of PC at the sn-2 position is thus essential for immune reactivity. There was a close correlation between anti-oxLDL and anti-LPC antibodies. Furthermore, LPC competitively inhibited anti-oxLDL reactivity, which indicates that LPC may explain a significant part of the immune-stimulatory properties of oxLDL. LPC, being a lipid, is not likely to be an antigen itself. Instead, LPC could form immunogenic complexes with peptides, which may induce and potentiate immune reactions in the vessel wall. This study adds to the evidence that LPC is an important component of oxLDL and emphasizes the potential role of phospholipase A2 in atherosclerosis.     

Giant cell tumor of lumbar vertebra. A case report with 13-year followup

A combined one stage anterior and posterior approach was used to excise a giant cell tumor involving the second lumbar vertebra. The tumor involved the anterior and posterior elements of the vertebra. A wide excision was feasible with immediate stabilization using the Luque instrumentation posteriorly and fibular strut grafts supporting the vertebral bodies anteriorly. The followup period was 13 years. There is no recurrence, and the patient has no symptoms of disease, and the fibular grafts are fully incorporated.     

Cloning and characterization of the nuclear gene and cDNAs for triosephosphate isomerase of the marine red alga Gracilaria verrucosa

cDNAs and an intronless single-copy nuclear gene (TPI1) encoding triosephosphate isomerase have been cloned and sequenced from the marine red alga Gracilaria verrucosa. The predicted amino-acid sequence of TPI1 is readily alignable with those of other known TPIs; 26 of 27 active-site residues and 19 of 26 intersubunit-contact residues are identical between TPIs of G. verrucosa and/or animals and green plants. A partial cDNA sequence of a second TPI gene (TPI2), presumably encoding plastid-localized TPI, was recovered by PCR and demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis to be red algal; no TP12 cDNA or genomic clones could be recovered. Genomic Southern analysis demonstrated that at least two TPI-like genes are present in the nuclear DNA of G. verrucosa.     

Relationship between mutagenic effects of drinking water and incidence of liver cancer in Fusui County--a prevalent area

Relationship between mutagenic activity of drinking water and incidence of liver cancer was studied in Fusui County with micronucleus technique in the root tips of vicia faba. Results showed there existed substance that caused chromosome aberration in the drinking pond water of Fusui County. Micronucleus effects on the root tips of vicia faba induced by the substance in different kinds of drinking water coincided with the incidence of liver cancer (r = 0.86, P < 0.05). It suggested the existence of these chemical mutants in the water may be one of the important factors that caused high incidence of liver cancer. It provided experimental evidence for the etiological theory of liver cancer caused by the pollution of drinking water.     

Decreased drug accumulation without increased drug efflux in a novel MRP-overexpressing multidrug-resistant cell line

KB/7D cells represent a multidrug-resistant subclone of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma KB cells generated by continuous exposure to the topoisomerase II inhibitor VP-16 (etoposide). KB/7D cells also show cross-resistance to doxorubicin and vincristine. Phenotypic traits of the cell line include a 2-fold decrease in topoisomerase II levels and a decrease in the uptake of VP-16 without an increase in the rate of drug efflux or expression of P-glycoprotein, suggesting a novel mechanism associated with the uptake of anticancer drugs. This study demonstrated that the multidrug-resistance associated protein (MRP) is overexpressed in KB/7D cells, and that the loss of resistance in revertant cells correlates with the loss of MRP. The resistance to VP-16 and doxorubicin could be overcome, partially, and resistance to vincristine could be overcome completely, by the L-enantiomer of verapamil, but not by the D-enantiomer or by BIBW 22 (4-[N-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propyl)-ethanolamino]-2,7-bis[cis-2,6-++ +dimethylmorpholino)-6-phenylpteridin), an inhibitor of MDR-1. L-Verapamil was shown to be significantly more potent than D-verapamil in modulating the accumulation defect in KB/7D cells towards doxorubicin, as measured by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, and towards VP-16, as measured by increases in protein-linked DNA strand breaks. This suggests that KB/7D cells are multidrug resistant due to decreases in topoisomerase II levels and the overexpression of MRP, that MRP leads to a decrease in drug accumulation, and that L-verapamil can modulate the MRP-associated accumulation defect and drug-resistance phenotype. This contrasts with previous studies that suggest that MRP causes multidrug resistance by exporting cytotoxic drugs out of the cell and that did not show modulation of MRP by verapamil.     

Hybrid verrucous squamous cell carcinoma of sinonasal tract: a case report

Verrucous carcinoma is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma and should be distinguished from benign papilloma and well-differentiated nonverrucous squamous cell carcinoma. It is rare tumor of the sinonasal tract. Occasionally, conventional squamous cell carcinomatous components may be seen in verrucous carcinoma. This entity is called a hybrid verrucous squamous cell carcinoma. We report a case of hybrid verrucous squamous cell carcinoma occurring in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus of a 67-year-old male. The removed mass shows the typical feature of verrucous carcinoma, but focally conventional squamous cell carcinomatous area is also noted. The treatment of this case follows verrucous carcinoma, but close follow up is mandatory because it may potentially spread to regional lymph nodes in contrast to pure form of verrucous carcinoma.     

蚁群算法用于TSP的并行策略及模型*

蚁群算法是一种元启发式算法,其经典应用是解决旅行商问题。该算法有着先天的并行特性。介绍了该算法的两种并行实现策略,给出了蚁群算法的并行实现模型,分析了该算法并行实现需要解决的问题。     

人血清白蛋白对模拟宫腔液中铜的光电响应特性的影响

用动电位伏安法，动电位光电流测量，表面膜的阴极还原和XRD分析等手段研究了铜在含或不含人血清白蛋白的模拟宫腔液（pH=7)中的电化学和光电化学行为，在不含白蛋白的模拟宫腔液中，铜电极表面生成的Cu2O呈n型光响应；一定量白蛋白存在时使Cu2O的光响应从n型转为p型，Cu2O在模拟宫腔液中呈n型光响应可归因于氯离子对Cu2O的掺杂，白蛋白排斥氯离子对Cu2O的掺杂，使其光响应从n型转为p型。     

高铁酸钾去除饮用水源中盐酸四环素试验研究

利用提纯后的次氯酸钠溶液、硝酸铁、氢氧化钾制备高铁酸钾。并采用高铁酸钾氧化去除水中盐酸四环素（TC）,初步探讨了高铁酸钾去除TC的效果,研究了高铁酸钾投加量、pH值、氧化时间等对去除效率的影响。结果表明,高铁酸钾可以有效快速地去除水中的TC,在一定范围内,高铁酸钾投加越多,TC去除率越高,反应越快。pH值对反应影响较大,最优pH值范围为9～10。降解反应主要发生在前60S,在之后的10-20min内高铁酸钾与TC持续反应,TC得到进一步的降解。当高铁酸钾与TC摩尔比为1：1和1：5时,反应60S后的TC去除率约为100％。但反应液TOC下降幅度不大,说明大部分的TC仅转化为中间产物,未得到彻底矿化。     

高取代度羧甲基松木纤维素制备工艺优化及表征

以松木纤维素为原料,氯乙酸钠为醚化剂,采用浓碱预处理,醚化过程中两次加碱法制备高取代度羧甲基松木纤维素。以单因素实验的方法对反应条件进行优化,探讨了浓碱预处理及醚化两阶段中碱浓度、温度、处理时间、固液比及醚化剂用量各因素对产品取代度的影响。结果表明其制备最佳工艺为：浓碱预处理为NaOH质量分数40%,固液比1g∶35mL,温度30℃,时间1.5h;醚化阶段工艺为NaOH的用量2g,氯乙酸钠的用量4.3g,固液比1g∶20mL。第一阶段加入质量分数50%的碱剂和70%的氯乙酸钠,温度35℃、时间1.5h,第二阶段加入剩余的碱剂和醚化剂,温度75℃、时间2h,在此条件下制得取代度高达1.237的羧甲基松木纤维素,并采用红外光谱和XRD对产物结构进行了表征。