[Research on hallucinogenic drugs used in Shaman religious activities].

The development of medicine experienced a long history, and the origin of medicine is not appeared overnight. Due to the lack of historical data, the question of the origin of medicine has not been agreed upon. As an ancient primitive religion, Shamanism retains the use of hallucinogenic drugs in its early religious activities rather well, providing a guidance for exploring the cognition on drugs in early human. Through the review of the hallucinogenic plants used by shaman religious activities in different countries and areas, it was found that hallucinogenic drugs can be classified into two categories: single and mixed, which came mainly from plants and fungi, and the origin of hallucinogenic drugs has a high fitting degree with Shaman location. The study result suggests that, based on the worldwide research literature on the application of such hallucinogens with local characteristics in the shamanistic religious activities, it is very likely that important clues can be found to understand the facts of discovery and application of natural drugs, thus providing a new approach for the studies on the origin of drugs.

[A histopathologic study on lacrimal gland in Sjögren's syndrome].

Biopsy specimens of palpebral lacrimal glands from 15 cases of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Six cases without any symptoms or signs of dry eyes were used as the control. The main changes of SS included: (1) massive infiltration of lymphocytes; (2) atrophy of lacrimal glandular follicles and ducts in various degrees; (3) degeneration and necrosis of glandular epithelium; and (4) proliferation of connective tissue. Lymphatic infiltration indicates that the damage of the glandular tissue might be related to autoimmune pathogenesis. According to the histopathologic findings, the authors divide SS into three stages which are basically consistent with their clinical presentations.

Endolaser photocoagulation after vitrectomy on rabbit's eyes.

Ophthalmoscopic and histopathologic studies of endolaser photocoagulation after vitrectomy were carried out on rabbit's eyes. The endoprobe was connected to the Coherent "Novus 2,000" argon laser system. Under appropriate application the grayish white retinal lesions produced by argon green and argon all wavelength endolaser photocoagulation were similar ophthalmoscopically at a treatment power of 80-100 mw and exposure duration of 0.2s. Histopathologically, the characteristic changes of the retinal lesions produced by argon all wave-length were more significant than that produced by argon green endolaser photocoagulation. Scattered retinal photocoagulation can be done when the opaque medium is cleared on the operating table.

A clinical study on diabetic retinopathy.

A clinical research on the diabetic retinopathy(DR) is reported. In the 662 cases of diabetes mellitus examined, the prevalence of DR was 51.3%, of which 7.6% were preproliferative and 7% proliferative. The study showed that when the disease progressed to the preproliferative and proliferative DR, laser photocoagulation could be the best treatment of choice, and panretinal photocoagulation was also quite effective in the treatment of pregnant patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Choroidal osteoma. Clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up of five cases.

We studied the clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up of 5 patients with choroidal osteoma. All the patients but one were female. The choroidal lesions were unilateral in 3 patients and bilateral in 2. During the follow-up, the lesions enlarged somewhat, but the progression was very slow and inconspicuous. Clinical diagnosis and treatment are briefly discussed.

Effects of chondroitin sulfate on trabecular meshwork in rabbit eyes: an electron microscopic study.

The intraocular pressure of four New Zealand albino rabbit eyes was elevated when we replaced the aqueous humor of these eyes repeatedly with a chondroitin sulfate solution. Seen by electron microscopy, the trabecular meshwork of these eyes showed moderately increased collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and fine fibrils, and thickening of basement membrane. The amount of extracellular material present was markedly increased when compared with control eyes. Three types of basement membranes were noted. Compact multilaminated basement membrane and placoid accumulations of filamentous material with a granular background were found adjacent to the endothelial cells of the trabecular meshwork, and fine fibrils were observed around the angular aqueous veins. The ultrastructural alterations we observed were similar to those seen in some human glaucoma cases. The metabolism of trabecular meshwork cells may be affected by the long-term chondroitin sulfate treatment. As a result, extracellular matrix material appears to be accumulated in the trabecular meshwork, which may then contribute to an increased outflow resistance and a mild intraocular pressure elevation.

Effects of chondroitin sulfate on metabolism of trabecular meshwork.

Glycosaminoglycans are believed to play a role in the physiological functions of trabecular meshwork. The effects of chondroitin sulfate on the metabolism of trabecular meshwork were studied by replacing the aqueous humor in the right eye (experimental eye) of 12 albino rabbits with 0.3 ml of chondroitin-4-sulfate solution (10 mg ml-1 in glucose-supplemented phosphate buffered saline). The aqueous humor in the left eye (control eye) was replaced with the phosphate buffered saline-glucose solution in the same manner. The intracameral procedures were performed twice a week for four weeks (initial injection period), and then discontinued for another four weeks (resting period). No significant or prolonged increase in the intraocular pressure was observed during either period in any eyes. Subsequent intracameral injections performed after the resting period, however, caused an intraocular pressure elevation in 10 of the 12 experimental eyes. During this second injection period, the injections were carried out whenever the intraocular pressure of experimental eyes dropped to the control value. The pressure generally remained 5-10 mmHg above that of the control eyes for periods ranging from two days to four weeks. In the eyes with elevated intraocular pressure, light microscopy showed that the trabecular beams were compact and sclerotic and the intertrabecular spaces were narrower. Chamber angle tissues obtained from the eyes with elevated intraocular pressure incorporated more radioactive precursors into glycosaminoglycans than those from the control eyes. The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and the metabolism of trabecular meshwork seemed to be modified by the long-term chondroitin sulfate treatment.

Effects of chronic intracameral injections of chondroitin sulfate on cat eyes.

The effect of chondroitin sulfate on the metabolism of trabecular meshwork was studied by repeatedly injecting a chondroitin sulfate solution into the anterior chamber of cat (experimental) eyes for 28-29 weeks. The aqueous humor of the opposite (control) eyes were similarly replaced with a phosphate-buffered saline-glucose solution. The intraocular pressure of the experimental eyes was increased 4-7 mm Hg above that of the control eyes for a prolonged period of time. In addition, collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and basement membrane-like material were moderately increased in the trabecular meshwork of experimental eyes. Three forms of thickened basement membranes of endothelial cells were observed. The compact multilaminated basement membrane was formed concentrically around some of the trabecular beams. The discontinuous, thin basement membrane was seen among bundles of coarse collagen in association with long spacing collagen fibers. Also, fine filaments were noted streaming from the plasma membrane and basement membrane of endothelial cells of angular aqueous veins. Chondroitinase ABC was able to remove ground substance in the elastic fiber of the trabecular meshwork. Biochemically, the chamber angle tissues from these eyes showed a higher synthetic activity of glycosaminoglycans and proteins. Chondroitin sulfate appears to have a direct effect on trabecular meshwork and can influence the physiologic function of these cells.