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C Du

Publications and source records attributed to C Du.

118 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Genomic organization of the human retinoblastoma gene.

Sequence analysis of the human retinoblastoma gene cDNA revealed the presence of repeated elements in the form of direct repeats, inverted repeats and dyad symmetries. The clustering of the dyad symmetrical elements in some exons, #16 and #17, coincides with the hot spots for structural aberrations of the RB-1 locus previously observed in tumors. The RB-1 gene is divided into at least 27 exons distributed over 200 kbp. Three potential Sp1 binding sites are presented within 600 bp upstream of the translation start site. A DNA fragment containing these Sp1 sites ligated to a promotorless CAT gene can promote its transcription in transfected cell culture.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Spinal cord influences on the colonic myoelectrical activity of fed and fasted rats.

1. The myoelectrical activity of the large intestine of fed and fasted rats was recorded with chronically implanted nichrome wire electrodes after destruction of the spinal cord, after spinal cord transection, and after spinal anaesthesia. 2. After spinal cord ablation, the cyclical organization of the colonic electrical spiking activity, as well as the gastrocolic reflex and accompanying postprandial enhancement of the cyclical pattern of activity, persisted on the proximal and distal colon. On the transverse colon, however, the spiking activity was considerably increased. This latter effect obliterated the gastrocolic response due to feeding but not the subsequent postprandial enhancement of the cyclical pattern of activity. 3. After spinal cord transection, the level of spiking activity also increased on both the transverse and distal colon, but no major changes in cyclical activity or in postprandial responses were recorded. 4. Spinal anaesthesia produced by intrathecal lidocaine increased the motility of the transverse colon to a level which masked the gastrocolic reflex. 5. These results suggest a prevertebral ganglia and/or a local control mechanism for the cyclical organization of the spiking activity of the colon. The central control mechanisms involve mostly spinal inhibitory influences on the transverse colon and supraspinal inhibitory influences on the distal colon.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1987

Occupational exposure to benzene in China.

Of a total of 528,729 workers exposed to benzene or benzene mixtures in China, 508,818 (96.23%) were examined. Altogether 2,676 cases of benzene poisoning were found, a prevalence of 0.15%. A higher prevalence of benzene poisoning was found in the cities of Hangjou, Hefei, Nanjing, Shenyang, and Xian. The geometric mean concentration of benzene in 50,255 workplaces was 18.1 mg/m3 but 64.6% of the workplaces had less than 40 mg/m3. There was a positive correlation between the prevalence of benzene poisoning and the concentration in shoemaking factories. The prevalence of benzene induced aplastic anaemia in shoemakers was about 5.8 times that occurring in the general population. The results of this investigation show the need for a practicable hygiene standard to prevent benzene poisoning.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Peripheral versus central components of the effects of dermorphin on intestinal motility in the fed rat.

The effects of subcutaneous (s.c.), intraperitoneal (i.p.), intrathecal (i.t.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of dermorphin (DER) on intestinal myoelectrical activity were examined in fed rats with chronically implanted electrodes on the small and large bowel. DER s.c. restored the 'fasting' pattern of duodenal activity, i.e., the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC), corresponding to an inhibition by about 40% of the fed pattern for 120 min at a dose as small as 0.5 nM per rat. DER i.p. strongly inhibited (about 65%) the fed pattern for 120 min. A fasting pattern lasting 80 min, or a marked inhibition lasting 150 min were recorded after 0.5 nM DER i.t. or i.c.v., respectively. On the contrary, the colonic pattern of activity was inhibited by DER whatever the route used, although the duration of inhibition was different from each other. For both the small and large intestine, similar doses of DER were more efficient by i.c.v. than by i.t. routes, and by i.p. than by s.c. routes. A plurality of sites of action is suggested, including local receptors which are activated, particularly at the duodenal level by i.p. DER (0.5 nM). The supraspinal component of the immediate effects of i.c.v. DER (0.1 nM) were demonstrated by a preferential effect on the colon that was even more intense than after i.t. DER.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

In vivo modulation of intestinal motility and sites of opioid effects in the rat.

The effects of subcutaneous (s.c.), intrathecal (i.t.) and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of fentanyl and D-Ala2,D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) on intestinal myoelectrical activity were examined in fed rats. In rats with chronically implanted electrodes on the small and large bowel, i.c.v. fentanyl and DADLE restored the 'fasted' pattern of duodenal activity, i.e. the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) for 8-12 h at a dose as small as 1 nM/kg. In addition, the colonic pattern of activity evaluated as the number of migrating spike bursts (MSB) per min was nearly halved for 1 h following i.c.v. fentanyl (10 nM/kg). Pretreatment with naloxone, but not methylnaloxone prevented these effects on the small and large bowel. Fentanyl (100 nM/kg s.c.) significantly reduced small and large bowel motility, but DADLE (100 nM/kg s.c.) which induced a transient 'fasted pattern' on the duodenum strongly stimulated colonic motor activity. Pretreatment with methylnaloxone prevented the inhibitory effects of s.c. fentanyl but not the colonic excitatory effects of DADLE. The i.t. administration of fentanyl and DADLE did not modify the activity pattern of the bowel. Again, i.t. DADLE stimulated the colon, even after methylnaloxone treatment and at doses 100 times less than the smallest active s.c. dose. The long-lasting changes in small bowel motility and the important delay following DADLE and fentanyl i.c.v., reinforces the hypothesis of a central opioid control of the gastrointestinal motor pattern with possible involvement of released substances.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphological behaviour of osteoblasts on diamond-like carbon coating and amorphous C-N film in organ culture.

Similar to diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating, amorphous carbon nitride (C-N) films can be extremely hard and wear-resistant. They may serve as candidates for the solution to the problem of aseptic loosening of total hip replacements. Morphological behaviour of osteoblasts on silicon, DLC-coated silicon and amorphous C-N film-deposited silicon in organ culture was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Cells on the silicon wafers were able to attach, but were unable to follow this attachment with spreading. In contrast, the cells attached, spread and proliferated on the DLC coatings and amorphous C-N films without apparent impairment of cell physiology. The morphological development of cells on the coatings and films was similar to that of cells in the control. The preliminary results support the biocompatibility of DLC coating and are encouraging for the potential biomedical applications of amorphous C-N film.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Non-invasive image acquisition and advanced processing in optical bioimaging.

Light is a most versatile tool for investigating biological systems and phenomena; the range, non-destructiveness, spatial discrimination and speed of optical imaging are all important for investigating structure and function at the cellular, tissue or even whole organism level. In live biological imaging, where the technological requirements are heightened, other features of light, such as coherence and wavelength, are used to generate the additional contrast and resolution needed. We report here recent improvements in our ability to image biological specimens optically, focusing on (a) spectral resolution and the related image processing issues, and (b) tomographic three-dimensional fluorescence imaging in vivo.

Fluorescence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Structural basis of IAP recognition by Smac/DIABLO.

Apoptosis is an essential process in the development and homeostasis of all metazoans. The inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) proteins suppress cell death by inhibiting the activity of caspases; this inhibition is performed by the zinc-binding BIR domains of the IAP proteins. The mitochondrial protein Smac/DIABLO promotes apoptosis by eliminating the inhibitory effect of IAPs through physical interactions. Amino-terminal sequences in Smac/DIABLO are required for this function, as mutation of the very first amino acid leads to loss of interaction with IAPs and concomitant loss of Smac/DIABLO function. Here we report the high-resolution crystal structure of Smac/DIABLO complexed with the third BIR domain (BIR3) of XIAP. Our results show that the N-terminal four residues (Ala-Val-Pro-Ile) in Smac/DIABLO recognize a surface groove on BIR3, with the first residue Ala binding a hydrophobic pocket and making five hydrogen bonds to neighbouring residues on BIR3. These observations provide a structural explanation for the roles of the Smac N terminus as well as the conserved N-terminal sequences in the Drosophila proteins Hid/Grim/Reaper. In conjunction with other observations, our results reveal how Smac may relieve IAP inhibition of caspase-9 activity. In addition to explaining a number of biological observations, our structural analysis identifies potential targets for drug screening.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of vascular compression in trigeminal neuralgia by 3D time-of-flight MRA.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess the usefulness of 3D images in the preoperative evaluation of 16 patients with surgically confirmed trigeminal neuralgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The axial source images from 3D TOF MRA were evaluated for a total of 32 sides by two observers in a blinded manner, focusing on the presence of the neurovascular compression and the identification of compressing vessels. All 3D images including coronal orientation and gadolinium-enhanced images were reviewed retrospectively by another two observers together with the surgical findings. RESULTS: In the blinded study with axial 3D images, the sensitivity was 75 and 75% with a specificity of 75 and 69% for observers A and B, respectively. By reviewing the coronal images, the relationship between trigeminal nerve and vessels became clearer, especially in sandwich-type compression. With gadolinium-enhanced images, three vessels that were not shown in the nonenhanced images could be identified. On the asymptomatic side, vascular compression could not be excluded retrospectively in five cases. CONCLUSION: Nonenhanced axial images may not display small arteries or veins that are compressing the trigeminal nerve. Gadolinium enhancement will be necessary for those patients without demonstrable compression on nonenhanced examination. Coronal images are also helpful in the evaluation of vascular compression.

Adult↗