Comparative dose-response studies of organophosphorus ester-induced delayed neuropathy in rats and hens administered mipafox.

A single injection of mipafox was administered to both Long-Evans hooded rats and White Leghorn hens in dosages which inhibited the activity of brain neurotoxic esterase 30-50%, 60-80%, or greater than 80% four hr after intoxication. All animals were monitored for clinical evidence of organophosphorus induced delayed neuropathy for 21 days, euthanatized, and regions of the nervous system were histologically evaluated. Only hens manifested clinical signs of neuropathy; however, light and electron microscopic lesions were present in the nervous systems of both species. In rats, these lesions were well developed in only the highest dosage group and confined to the rostral level of the fasciculus gracilis in the medulla oblongata. Swollen axons containing a single vacuole filled with flocculent material were the most prominent lesion in rats. Hens manifested more extensive and varied fiber breakdown in multiple spinal cord tracts, with the intensity of degeneration increasing with increasing dosages of mipafox. Both marked Wallerian-like degeneration and swollen axons filled with aggregates of cellular debris were observed in the nervous systems of hens. This study indicates that both rats and hens are susceptible to OPIDN. However, there are qualitative and quantitative differences in both clinical manifestations and histologic appearances between the two species.     

The affinity glycated hemoglobin in a family with hereditary spherocytosis and in other non-hemoglobinopathic hemolytic anemias

The glycated hemoglobin (GHb) is lowered by hemolytic anemia. The cation-exchange HbA1 has been shown to be lowered by hereditary spherocytosis (HS). The HbA1, however, can be increased by elevations of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). The affinity GHb, a parameter related to, but not identical with, the HbA1, and unaffected by HbF, has been shown to be low in hemoglobinopathies but not, to our knowledge, in HS and other non-hemoglobinopathic hemolytic anemias. Therefore, the affinity GHb and HbF was determined in four members of an HS family and in nine other cases of non-hemoglobinopathic hemolytic anemia, including three autoimmune hemolytic anemias, four red cell fragmentation syndromes (two "Waring blender" syndromes, one thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in association with tumor, and one case of disseminated intravascular coagulation), and two red cell membrane defects: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and another case of hereditary spherocytosis. The GHb for these nine cases was 3.6 +/- 1.7 percent (normal 6.0 +/- 2.0 percent; p less than 0.001). The reticulocyte count, available in four cases, was 0.23 +/- 0.14 and correlated negatively with the GHb. The average GHb in the HS family was 3.9 +/- 0.8 percent, which was significantly less than the normal of 6.0 +/- 2.0 percent (p less than 0.001); the HbF was less than 1.0 percent. It is concluded that the GHb is diminished in hemolytic anemias not associated with hemoglobinopathies and that this lowering reflects the shortened red cell life span in these processes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of low GHb in hemolytic anemia not associated with hemoglobinopathy, by the affinity chromatographic technique, as opposed to the cation-exchange chromatographic technique.     

Human-Type Blood Factors in Gibbons, with Special Reference to the Multiplicity of Serological Specificities of Human Type M Blood

The human-type blood groups of 20 gibbons of subspecies Hylobates lar lar and of four gibbons of subspecies Hylobates lar pileatus have been determined. Differences in distribution of the ABO blood groups and MN types were observed for the two subspecies, but all 24 gibbons were of Rh-Hr type Rh^Gi. All the animals also lack both factors I and i. By absorption experiments anti-M reagents were shown to contain antibodies of at least three distinct M specificities; one M specificity is shared by all gibbon red cells, a second is absent from all gibbon red cells, while a third is shared only by gibbons red cells of type (M)^Gi and type (MN)^Gi. The theoretical and practical significance of the multiplicity of M factors in human M blood are pointed out.     

Isolation and characterization of a newly identified Haemophilus species from cats: "Haemophilus felis".

A gram-negative coccobacillus was isolated from the lower respiratory tract of a cat with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The isolate required CO2 and V factor for growth and was initially identified as Haemophilus paraphrophilus on the basis of its nutritional requirements, colony morphology, and some biochemical tests. Because of the host specificity of Haemophilus species and discrepancies in catalase, oxidase, and hemolytic activities, additional testing was done. Extensive biochemical testing, G+C content, and DNA reassociation studies indicated that the organism was distinct from other Haemophilus species. Therefore, the organism was identified as a previously unrecognized Haemophilus species and was tentatively named "Haemophilus felis." Bacteria identical to the original isolate were isolated from the nasopharynxes of 6 of 28 apparently normal cats, indicating that H. felis or H. felis-like organisms may be common members of the feline upper respiratory tract flora.     

回春液补肾助阳药效学的实验研究

回春液由人参、鹿茸、貂鞭等名贵中药组成。有补肾助阳,填精益气等功效。药效学研究证实,该药有促进幼鼠发育及增加去势大鼠前列腺——精液囊的重量,亦显著增加小鼠血红蛋白的含量,表明回春液有雄性激素样作用。     

高中生饮酒行为的相关因素分析

青少年饮酒问题正日益引起社会的关注。相关研究显示，影响青少年饮酒行为的主要因素有以下几类：父母饮酒行为及其对子女饮酒的态度、朋友饮酒行为及其对同伴饮酒的态度、学习成绩以及性别和经济状况。尽管这些研究在饮酒行为影响因素方面进行了探讨，但大多局限于讨论单一因素或少数几个因素的影响，对于各因素在预测饮酒行为中的相对重要性很少涉及。另一方面，美国和欧洲的许多研究表明文化变迁对人们的饮酒行为有着重要影响。我国自改革开放以来，文化变迁非常显著，     

The influence of cultural orientation,alcohol expectancies and self‐efficacy on adolescent drinking behavior in Beijing

Objective We hypothesized that the drinking behavior of adolescents in China is influenced by expectancies and self‐efficacy and that adolescents' cultural orientation towards western versus traditional Chinese values influences expectancies, self‐efficacy and drinking behavior, with western values leading to more dysfunctional patterns of beliefs and drinking, and that these beliefs are influenced by students' gender and school environment. Methods A total of 1020 high school students from Beijing completed the Chinese Adolescent Alcohol Expectancy, the Chinese Cultural Orientation and the Chinese Self‐regulation Self‐efficacy questionnaires. Results Results generally confirmed our hypotheses. Higher negative expectancies and higher self‐efficacy reduced the likelihood of drinking significantly. Higher positive expectancies increased the likelihood of regular drinking but not occasional drinking. Having western cultural orientation increased the likelihood of drinking. Higher levels of western cultural orientation also increased positive expectancies, lowered negative expectancies and lowered self‐efficacy. Having more western (less traditional) views towards traditional Chinese values decreased positive and negative expectancies. Gender influenced beliefs, with males having higher positive and lower negative expectancies, lower self‐efficacy and more traditional cultural orientation. Students in key and general schools had less traditional cultural orientation and key school students had higher self‐efficacy. Conclusions Results indicate that cultural orientation influences adolescent drinking and this influence is mediated partially through cultural orientation influences on adolescent drinking expectancies and self‐efficacy. Having more western and less traditional Chinese cultural orientation leads to more drinking, lower self‐efficacy for regulating drinking and more risk‐promoting alcohol expectancies.     

Nylon-fiber-induced neutrophil fragmentation

We have investigated the effects of mechanical elution of neutrophils from nylon-wool fiber (NWF) using the scanning electron microscope and biochemical analysis of elution fractions. We have determined that mechanical removal of neutrophils from nylon-wool fiber disrupts neutrophils adherent to nylon-wool fiber and augments release of granules, release of peripheral cytoplasmic fragments, and release of lactic dehydrogenase, a soluble cytoplasmic enzyme. Mechanical shearing of the adherent cell, and not adherence per se, causes the fragmentation. The extent of fragmentation is proportional to the NWF surface area available to neutrophils and is maximal at the temperature for optimal adherence and spreading. Agents that decrease cell spreading (n-ethylmaleimide and cold) diminish fragmentation. Cytochalasin B, an agent that destabilizes the neutrophil cortex, increases fragmentation. Fragmentation may be an important contributing cause of the abnormal morphology, function, and in vivo survival of nylon-wool-fiber procured human neutrophils. The prevention of fragmentation would appear to be necessary to insure the procurement of optimally functioning cells. Elution of NWF-adherent neutrophils in the cold might be a practical way to diminish neutrophil damage during clinical filtration leukapheresis.