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Biomedical subjects

Bin Yan

Publications and source records attributed to Bin Yan.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The antidepressant effect of ethanol extract of radix puerariae in mice exposed to cerebral ischemia reperfusion.

In our pilot study, the depressive-like behaviors of mice exposed to cerebral ischemia reperfusion (CIR) were observed and the antidepressant effects of radix puerariae (RP; root of the Pueraria plant) extract in CIR mice were assessed because it was speculated that the neuronal damage caused by CIR played an important role in the development of poststroke depression (a common and severe complication after stroke) and the RP extract was reported to exhibit effect of neuronal protection from cerebral ischemia damage. Our studies above indicated that the RP extract markedly shortened the increased immobility time induced by CIR of male mice in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), indicating a possible antidepressant activity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to confirm the putative antidepressant effect of RP extract (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg, administered orally 24 h after the CIR) on reserpine-induced symptoms. To get further insight into the mode of antidepressant action of RP extract, biochemical examination was conducted concomitantly to examine possible involvement of the brain monoamine systems in the behavioral syndromes observed. In CIR mice, pronounced low levels of norepinephrine (NE) and 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC, a metabolite of dopamine) in the hippocampus or striatum were detected, which were reversed by RP extract, whereas no significant change of serotonin (5-HT) was detected in either CIR or RP extract-treated mice. The data suggested that the disturbance of NE and DA systems in hippocampus and striatum played more important roles in the development of depressive-like behavior of CIR mice than 5-HT system did, and RP extract ameliorated the abnormal symptoms caused by CIR, which may throw new lights on the treatment of poststroke depression.

Animals↗

[Cloning, expression and purification of rabbit metallothionein-I gene in Escherichia coli].

The cDNA encoding the rabbit metallothionein-I was amplified by RT-PCR from the rabbit liver induced by cadmium and cloned into prokaryotic fusion expression vector pQE40. Then it was transformed into Escherichia coli M15. Positive expression clones were detected by colony blotting. Target protein solubility was determined by Western blotting analysis. The optimal induction condition of the level of protein expression with IPTG induction was established by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and ImageMaster VDS software analysis. The fusion protein can be purified from lysates with Ni-NTA agarose. We found that the fusion protein with apparent molecular weight 32 KD existed in two ways: soluble and insoluble in Escherichia coli. After 1 mM IPTG induction, the level of expression of the fusion protein increased with the prolongation of induction time and reached a peak in 9 h by ImageMaster VDS software analysis, accounting for 57.4% of all the insoluble protein. The purified fusion protein was obtained by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. This fusion protein can be used in further studies on the preparation of MT-I protein and development of protein product.

Animals↗

[Study on the cost of expanded programme on immunization in areas with different economic levels].

OBJECTIVE: The expanded programme on immunization (EPI) is an important part of the social commonwealth projects providing health care service by the government, which benefits communities. Government has the responsibility for EPI's financing which should be covered by the national budget. It is essential that the cost of EPI service be scientifically estimated to provide propriety information for policy makers. METHODS: This study, using the cost accounting theory of health economics, to calculate EPI service cost at different levels. 3 provinces, 3 prefectures, 9 counties, 18 towns and 12 villages were selected from three provinces Guizhou, Heilongjiang and Zhejiang from the western, central and eastern regions of the country. RESULTS: The average costs for one EPI-targeted child in Guizhou, Heilongjiang and Zhejiang, were 15.68 Yuan, 29.00 Yuan and 31.09 Yuan, and the costs for one dose were 10.99 Yuan, 18.64 Yuan and 16.51 Yuan, respectively. The costs for complete immunization program for one child were 131.88 Yuan, 242.32 Yuan and 280.67 Yuan, respectively. The main factors affecting the cost would include the average personnel cost (salary and benefit cost) by different economic levels of areas, the number of EPI items developed, and the number of total doses for one child. CONCLUSION: (1) Obvious differences were found between different areas. (2) The proportion of the cost was not reasonably set because of the shortage of input. (3) Guideline for different areas to compensate the working item cost according to the number of the items should be formulated.

China↗

[Indole butyric acid activates Ca2+-ATPase in Malus hupehensis Rhed. roots by protein phosphorylation].

The effect of IBA on protein kinase and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of Malus hupehensis Rhed. roots were studied by adding 3, 3', 4', 5, 7-pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin), a protein kinase inhibitor, and IBA into the Hagland nutrient solution at different time. The results showed that membrane protein phosphorylation in roots occurred mainly on the serine residues. After treatment of Malus hupehensis Rhed.roots with 100 mumol/L IBA, the activity of protein kinase and Ca(2+)-ATPase increased several dozens of times in 2-3 h and then decreased rapidly after they reached the vertex. The protein kinase activity changes earlier than that of Ca(2+)-ATPase. Quercetin not only inhibits the protein kinase activity, but also weakens the activation of Ca(2+)-ATPase by IBA markedly. It is suggested that Ca(2+)-ATPase may be a member of IBA signal transduction in M. hupehensis roots and IBA activates Ca(2+)-ATPase activity through protein phosphorylation.

Calcium-Transporting ATPases↗

The PIM-2 kinase phosphorylates BAD on serine 112 and reverses BAD-induced cell death.

Hematopoietic growth factors mediate the survival and proliferation of blood-forming cells, but the mechanisms through which these proteins produce their effects are incompletely known. Recent studies have identified the pim family of kinases as mediators of cytokine-dependent survival signals. Several studies have identified substrates for the pim-1 kinase, but little is known about the other family members, pim-2 and pim-3. We have investigated potential functions for the pim-2 kinase in factor-dependent murine hematopoietic cells. We find that pim-2 mRNA and protein expression are regulated by cytokines similarly to pim-1. Three PIM-2 protein isoforms are produced in cytokine-treated cells. All three forms are active kinases, and the short (PIM-2(34 kDa)) form is the most active at enhancing survival of FDCP1 cells after cytokine withdrawal. This pro-survival function involves inhibition of apoptosis and caspase activation. Enforced expression of PIM-2(34 kDa) kinase does not appear to regulate expression of BCL-2, BCL-xL, BIM, or BAX proteins. However, the kinase can phosphorylate the pro-apoptotic protein BAD on serine 112, which accounts in part for its ability to reverse Bad-induced cell death. Our results indicate that pim-2 functions similarly to pim-1 as a pro-survival kinase and suggest that BAD is a legitimate PIM-2 substrate.

Animals↗

Construction of a genetically engineered microorganism for CO2 fixation using a Rhodopseudomonas/Escherichia coli shuttle vector.

The CO2 fixation ability of Rhodopseudomonas palustris DH was enhanced by introducing the recombinant plasmid pMG-CBBM containing the form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) gene (cbbM) isolated from Rps. palustris NO. 7. Sequencing of a 3.0-kb PstI fragment containing the cbbM gene revealed an open reading frame encoding 461 amino acids, homologous to known cbbM genes, with a ribosome binding site upstream of cbbM and a terminator downstream of cbbM, without promoter. pMG-CBBM, a Rhodopseudomonas/Escherichia coli shuttle expression plasmid, was derived from the Rhodopseudomonas/E. coli shuttle cloning vector pMG105, by inserting the promoter of the pckA gene and the cbbM gene into its multiple cloning site. Plasmid pMG-CBBM was transformed into Rps. palustris DH by electroporation, and was stably maintained when transformants were grown either photoheterotrophically or photolithoautotrophically in the absence of antibiotics. This is the first report of an expression plasmid containing a Rps. palustris-specific promoter that allows stable expression of a foreign gene in the absence of antibiotic selection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Unlocking the molecular structure of fungal melanin using 13C biosynthetic labeling and solid-state NMR.

Melanins are enigmatic pigments found in all biological kingdoms that are associated with a variety of functions, including microbial virulence. Despite being ubiquitous in nature, melanin pigments have long resisted atomic-level structural examination because of their insolubility and amorphous organization. Cryptococcus neoformans is a human pathogenic fungus that melanizes only when provided with exogenous substrate, thus offering a unique system for exploring questions related to melanin structure at the molecular level. We have exploited the requirement for exogenous substrate in melanin synthesis as well as the capabilities of high-resolution solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to establish the predominantly aliphatic composition of l-dopa melanin and to introduce (13)C labels that permit the identification of proximal carbons in the developing biopolymer. By swelling solid melanin samples in organic solvents and using two-dimensional heteronuclear NMR in conjunction with magic-angle spinning, we have identified chemical bonding patterns typical of alkane, alkene, alcohol, ketone, ester, and indole functional groups. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of a novel approach to determining the structure of melanin using metabolic labeling and NMR spectroscopy.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Decolorization of azo dyes by Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

Rhodobacter sphaeroides AS1.1737 decolorized more than 90% of several azo dyes (200 mg dyes l(-1)) in 24 h. The optimal culture conditions were: anaerobic illumination (1990 1x), peptone as carbon source, temperature 35-40 degrees C and pH 7-8. Intracellular crude enzyme from this strain had azoreductase activity, optimized temperature as 45-50 degrees C, and decolorization kinetics which were consistent with a ping-pong mechanism.

Azo Compounds↗

Increased resistance of tumor cells to hyperthermia mediated by integrin-linked kinase.

PURPOSE: Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a serine-threonine kinase associated with anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenic transformation. Previous studies indicate that overexpression of ILK is common among several types of tumors, and it is involved in the regulation of tumor cell survival under stress. In this study, we examined the effects of ILK expression on tumor cellular response to hyperthermia. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We used an adenovirus-mediated approach to overexpress the ILK gene in a prostate cancer cell line and examine its effects on heat stress-induced cell death. Clonogenic survival, as well as apoptosis, was evaluated in cells that overexpress ILK. In addition, the ability to form tumors in vivo was examined in syngeneic hosts. Finally, potential molecular mechanisms of ILK-mediated resistance to heat were examined by determining the status of a variety of signal transduction pathways. RESULTS: ILK overexpression made tumor cells significantly more resistant to the cell-killing effects of hyperthermia. This was correlated at the molecular level with the down-regulation of hyperthermia-induced activation of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun-NH(2)-terminal kinase, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activities, and caspase 9. The overexpression of ILK was also shown to induce a more rapid tumor growth in a murine prostate cancer cell line CONCLUSION: ILK plays an important role in tumor growth and tumor response to hyperthermia treatment.

Adenoviridae↗

United membrane biological reactor in the treatment of wastewater.

The united membrane biological reactor( UMBR) was studied for the treatment of some simulate and municipal wastewater. The removal efficiency for COD and turbidity are greater than 80% and 99% respectively. Effluent COD is less than 100 mg/L while turbidity less than 5. The removal of LAS in bath wastewater is greater than 70%. In treatment of dinning-hall wastewater, removal of fatty oil is greater than 90%, and its concentration in effluent is less than 5 mg/L. The match of biological reactor and the membrane separation component were calculated. The stable performance of wastewater treatment can be maintained by the optimization of operation conditions and the cleanout of membranes.

Bioreactors↗

[Regulation by ovarian hormones of alpha 1,3-fucosyltransferase gene (FUT9) expression in human endometrium].

Recently it was found that alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase (FUT9) was an essential enzyme involved in the synthesis of Le(X) oligosaccharide. In this article, the expression of FUT9 gene at different hormonal levels and the regulating mechanism of Le(X) synthesis in human endometrium were investigated by using RT-PCR Immuno histochemistry staining and Western blotting. FUT9 mRNA was detected with human endometrium, and the levels of mRNA in secretory endometrium and in proliferative endometrium from patients who had taken mifepristone before operation, were higher than tha t of proliferative endometrium (P<0.01). Le(X) antigen was mainly located on the surface of epithelium. The floating level of Le(X) antigen expression was similar to that of FUT9 gene. There were three (33 kD, 35 kD and 85 kD) LeX carrying proteins expressed in human endometrium, mifepristone treatment made 35 kD b and disappear. The results indicate that FUT9 gene is obviously expressed in human endometrium and can be upregulated by progesterone, and ovary hormones regulate the expression of Le(X) at the level of transcription.

Administration, Oral↗