Biomedical subjects

C H Liu

Publications and source records attributed to C H Liu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Repellent and insecticidal activities of essential oils from Artemisia princeps and Cinnamomum camphora and their effect on seed germination of wheat and broad bean.

Repellent and insecticidal activities of essential oils extracted from leaves of Artemisia princeps Pamp and seeds of Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl. against storage pests Sitophillus oryzae L. and Bruchus rugimanus Bohem were investigated. Results showed that the two individual oils displayed good, but their mixture (1:1) exhibited much better repellent activities at concentrations from 250 to 1000 microg g(-1) and insecticidal actions at concentrations 1000 microg g(-1) against the test beetles S. oryzae and B. rugimanus. Oils from A. princeps and C. camphora applied individually were significantly toxic to seed germination of wheat at 500 microg ml(-1). However, no toxic effects were found when the two oils were mixed (1:1 w/w) at the same concentration. These observations indicated that the mixture of the two plant-derived oils had a synergic effect and could be used in the control of storage pests.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Ileal herniation into a sigmoid colon epiploic fat foramen extrasigmoid hernia.

Internal abdominal hernia (IAH) is defined as protrusion of viscus through a peritoneal or mesenteric aperture, leading to its encapsulation within another compartment in the abdominal cavity. Herein we report a rare case of small bowel obstruction due to herniation with incarceration of a loop of ileum into a foramen formed by the epiploic fat of the sigmoid colon due to a non-specific inflammatory process; this may be defined as extrasigmoid hernia. To our knowledge, there has been no previous report of this type of IAH in the English literature. In summary, an acute intestinal obstruction with strangulation in the absence of an external hernia without previous operation suggests the possibility of internal hernia, especially if the patient has a history of intermittent abdominal distress.

Hernia↗

PubMed2004

Stored of Hsp72/Hsp73 in germinal vesicle-stage mouse oocytes.

Heat-shock proteins (hsps) Hsp72 and Hsp73 are the stored maternal proteins found in mouse oocytes. Both hsps appear in mouse oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase II (M-II)-stages as previously demonstrated by immunoblotting analysis. In this report, we further determined the presences of Hsp72/Hsp73 proteins in mouse embryos at stages of 2-pronucleus, arrested 1-cell, 2-cell, arrested 2-cell, 4-cell, arrested 4-cell, 8-cell to morula and blastocyst. Except for the blastocyst stage, the Hsp72/Hsp73 proteins were detectable in most embryo stages. The concentration of Hsp72/Hsp73 in GV-stage oocytes was higher than that in M-II-stage oocytes, and in any stages of embryos before implantation. A dramatical increase in Hsp72/Hsp73 expression was found at the 2-cell stage. Together with these findings, we speculated that hsps accumulated or stored earlier in the GV-stage mouse oocytes to protect the oocytes against environmental influences acting on ovary, and hsps may be required for zygotic gene activation and provided a protective effect against apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Absolute configuration of keisslone, a new antimicrobial metabolite from Keissleriella sp. YS4108, a marine filamentous fungus.

In order to purify enough material for establishing the absolute stereochemistry of the new antifungal metabolite 3,6,8-trihydroxy-3-[3,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-3(E)-heptenyl]-2,3-dihydronaphthalen-1(4H)-one produced by Keissleriella sp., a marine filamentous fungus (strain number: YS 4108), a repeated growth and fractionation of the fungal culture was performed to give instead a new antimicrobial metabolite, keisslone (1), the structure of which was elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses including homo- and hetero-nuclear correlation NMR experiments (HMQC, COSY, NOESY and HMBC). The absolute configuration of metabolite 1 was determined mainly by its CD data and NOESY spectrum. The compound 1 was shown to be inhibitory against the human pathogenic fungi Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus niger with MICs of 50, 70, 40 microg/mL, respectively. In order to purify enough material for establishing the absolute stereochemistry of the new antifungal metabolite 3,6,8-trihydroxy-3-[3,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-3(E)-heptenyl]-2,3-dihydronaphthalen-1(4 H)-one produced by Keissleriella sp., a marine filamentous fungus (strain number: YS 4108), a repeated growth and fractionation of the fungal culture was performed to give instead a new antimicrobial metabolite, keisslone (1), the structure of which was elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses including homo- and hetero-nuclear correlation NMR experiments (HMQC, COSY, NOESY and HMBC). The absolute configuration of metabolite 1 was determined mainly by its CD data and NOESY spectrum. The compound 1 was shown to be inhibitory against the human pathogenic fungi Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Aspergillus niger with MICs of 50, 70, 40 microg/mL, respectively.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2003

Detection of glutamate in the eye by Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy is used to detect glutamate in the eye. Glutamate, a by-product of nerve cell death, is an indicator of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. The Raman spectra of ex vivo whole porcine eyes and individual components (lens, cornea, vitreous) are measured and characterized. Monosodium glutamate is injected into the eyes to simulate disease conditions, and the contribution to the Raman spectrum due to the presence of glutamate is identified. The Raman spectra from the native eye is dominated by vibrational modes from proteins in the lens. An optical system is designed to optimize collection of signal from the vitreous, where the glutamate is located, and reduce the Raman from the lens. Two vibrational fingerprints of monosodium glutamate are detected at 1369 and 1422 cm(-1), although the concentrations are much above physiological concentrations.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Heritability of subclinical atherosclerosis in Latino families ascertained through a hypertensive parent.

Although clinical coronary heart disease and many cardiovascular risk factors are well known to aggregate within families, the heritability of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is less well documented. We report IMT heritability estimates in Mexican American, Salvadoran American, or Guatemalan American (all referred to as Latino) families ascertained through a hypertensive proband. IMT and cardiovascular risk factors (age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index, lipids, fasting glucose, and insulin sensitivity) were measured in 204 adult offspring of 69 hypertensive probands, along with 82 parents (54 probands and 28 spouses). In the offspring, variance component analysis revealed a heritability for IMT of 64% (P< 0.0001) after adjustment for significant cardiovascular risk factors. Genetic factors accounted for 50% of the total variation in IMT, whereas significant cardiovascular risk factors explained 22% (14% were due to age). For offspring and parents combined, adjusted IMT heritability was less, 34% (P=0.0005), with genetic factors accounting for 18% of the total IMT variation, whereas significant cardiovascular risk factors explained 46% (38% were due to age). We conclude that variation in common carotid artery IMT is heritable in Latino families with a hypertensive proband. Heritability is particularly evident in younger family members, suggesting that acquired factors contribute progressively to IMT variability with aging.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Antifungal metabolite with a new carbon skeleton from Keissleriella sp. YS4108, a marine filamentous fungus.

In addition to four known metabolites (4-acetyl-6,8-dihydroxy-5-methylisocoumarin, 6,8-dihydroxy-3-methylisocoumarin, 6,8-dihydroxy-3,5,7-trimethylisocoumarin and 3,3'-oxy-(5-methyl)-phenol), bioassay-guided fractionation of the culture of Keissleriella sp., a marine filamentous fungus (strain number: YS 4108), afforded an antifungal metabolite with a new carbon skeleton whose structure was elucidated spectrometrically as 3,6,8-trihydroxy-3-[3,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-3(E)-heptenyl]-2,3-dihydronaphthalen-1(4H)-one. In vitro antifungal assays of all isolates revealed that the new metabolite and 3,3'-oxybis[5-methylphenol] were inhibitory to the growth of the human pathogenic fungi Candida albicans, Tricophyton rubrum and Aspergillus niger with MICs of the former being 40, 20 and 80 microg/ml, and those of the latter 10, 30 and 50 microg/ml, respectively.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2002

Production of duck-chicken chimeras by transferring early blastodermal cells.

Duck blastodermal cells isolated from Stage X embryos of Maya ducks were injected into subgerminal cavity of recipient Stage X chicken embryos treated with gamma-irradiation or untreated. Eleven somatic chimeras were obtained based on plumage color and were raised to sexual maturity. To test for germline chimerism, progeny tests were performed by mating the chimeras with Maya ducks. A total of 622 eggs was collected and incubated. Fertility rate and hatchability were 2.9% (18/622) and 1.0% (6/622), respectively. The six duck hatchlings were from Chimera 9801 and were considered to be derived from the germ cells developed from the donor Maya blastodermal cells, indicating that Chimera 9801 is a germline chimera.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Analysis of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates by capillary zone electrophoresis with large-volume sample stacking.

A systematic investigation of optimal conditions for determining the homologues of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) using the large-volume sample stacking technique was presented. The most effective sample stacking and separation conditions was 20 mM borate buffer with 30% acetonitrile at pH 9.0, and the sample hydrodynamic injection of up to 90 s at 4 p.s.i. (1 p.s.i. = 6,892.86 Pa) (around 711 nl). Under such conditions, approximately a 100-fold enrichment factor was achieved based on peak heights. The reproducibility of migration time and quantitative results of stacking CZE can be improved by using internal standards. Quantitation limits of the homologues of LAS were 0.002-0.01 mg/l under these enrichment conditions. The analysis of real samples of laundry and dishwashing detergents was performed. The established high-performance liquid chromatography method was applied to evaluate the stacking CZE method, and compatible results were obtained.

Benzenesulfonates↗

PubMed2001

Determination of naphthalenesulfonic acid isomers by large-volume on-line derivatization and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

This work presents a modified method to analyze polar and water-soluble naphthalene monosulfonic acid (NS) isomers in industrial effluents and river water samples. The method involves extraction of samples by a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer solid-phase extraction cartridge, and on-line derivatization in the GC injection port using a large-volume (10 microl) sample injection with tetrabutylammonium salts. The analytes were then identified and quantitatively determined by GC-MS. The large-volume injection-port derivatization technique provides sensitivity, fast and reproducible results for NS isomers, to quantitation at 0.05 microg/l in 200 ml of water sample. Enhanced extracted mass chromatograms of molecular ion and [M-56]+ ion of butylated NS isomers by electron impact ionization MS allows us to determine residues at trace levels in environmental samples. Recoveries of the NS isomers in spiked water samples ranged from 70 to 82% with RSDs around 10%. Naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid was found as a major pollutant and propagated in surface water and industrial effluents.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed2001

Antifungal activity of Artemisia annua endophyte cultures against phytopathogenic fungi.

Artemisia annua, well recognized for its production of antimalarial drug artemisinin, is seldom attacked by any of phytopathogenic fungi, which could be partially associated with the presence of endophytes. Present investigation is aiming at disclosing whether the endophytes inside A. annua produce antifungal substances. A total of 39 endophytes were isolated and fermented, and the ferment broth was evaluated in vitro for the antifungal activity against crop-threatening fungi Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, Rhizoctonia cerealis, Helminthosporium sativum, Fusarium graminearum, Gerlachia nivalis and Phytophthora capsici. These plant pathogens are still causing wheat take-all, sharp eyespot, common rot, scab, snow mould, and pepper phytophthora blight, respectively. Out of 39 endophytes investigated, 21 can produce in vitro substances that are inhibitory to all or a few of the tested phytopathogens whereas the rest yielded nothing active. Moreover, the most active broth of endophyte IV403 was extracted with EtOAc and n-butanol, and comparisons of the antifungal activity of the extracts indicated that the major active metabolites were EtOAc-extractable.

Actinomycetales↗

PubMed2001

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 is sufficient to induce tumorigenesis in transgenic mice.

The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 gene encodes an inducible prostaglandin synthase enzyme that is overexpressed in adenocarcinomas and other tumors. Deletion of the murine Cox-2 gene in Min mice reduced the incidence of intestinal tumors, suggesting that it is required for tumorigenesis. However, it is not known if overexpression of Cox-2 is sufficient to induce tumorigenic transformation. We have derived transgenic mice that overexpress the human COX-2 gene in the mammary glands using the murine mammary tumor virus promoter. The human Cox-2 mRNA and protein are expressed in mammary glands of female transgenic mice and were strongly induced during pregnancy and lactation. Female virgin Cox-2 transgenic mice showed precocious lobuloalveolar differentiation and enhanced expression of the beta-casein gene, which was inhibited by the Cox inhibitor indomethacin. Mammary gland involution was delayed in Cox-2 transgenic mice with a decrease in apoptotic index of mammary epithelial cells. Multiparous but not virgin females exhibited a greatly exaggerated incidence of focal mammary gland hyperplasia, dysplasia, and transformation into metastatic tumors. Cox-2-induced tumor tissue expressed reduced levels of the proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl-x(L) and an increase in the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, suggesting that decreased apoptosis of mammary epithelial cells contributes to tumorigenesis. These data indicate that enhanced Cox-2 expression is sufficient to induce mammary gland tumorigenesis. Therefore, inhibition of Cox-2 may represent a mechanism-based chemopreventive approach for carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A macrophage protein, Ym1, transiently expressed during inflammation is a novel mammalian lectin.

Oral infections of mice with Trichinella spiralis induce activation of peritoneal exudate cells to transiently express and secrete a crystallizable protein Ym1. Purification of Ym1 to homogeneity was achieved. It is a single chain polypeptide (45 kDa) with a strong tendency to crystallize at its isoelectric point (pI 5.7). Co-expression of Ym1 with Mac-1 and scavenger receptor pinpoints macrophages as its main producer. Protein microsequencing data provide information required for full-length cDNA cloning from libraries constructed from activated peritoneal exudate cells. A single open reading frame of 398 amino acids with a leader peptide (21 residues) typical of secretory protein was deduced and later deposited in GenBank (accession number M94584) in 1992. By means of surface plasmon resonance analyses, Ym1 has been shown to exhibit binding specificity to saccharides with a free amine group, such as GlcN, GalN, or GlcN polymers, but it failed to bind to other saccharides. The interaction is pH-dependent but Ca2+ and Mg2+ ion-independent. The binding avidity of Ym1 to GlcN oligosaccharides was enhanced by more than 1000-fold due to the clustering effect. Specific binding of Ym1 to heparin suggests that heparin/heparan sulfate may be its physiological ligand in vivo during inflammation and/or tissue remodeling. Although it shares approximately 30% homology with microbial chitinases, no chitinase activity was found associated with Ym1. Genomic Southern blot analyses suggest that Ym1 may represent a member of a novel lectin gene family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Cochlear vertebral entrapment syndrome: a case report.

The authors describe a patient with isolated involvement of vestibulocochlear nerve by a huge vascular loop from vertebral dolichoectasia. No other neurological deficit was found except for unilateral hearing loss. Abnormal brainstem auditory evoked potential study indicated a retrocochlear lesion. The brain computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies demonstrated an abnormally enhanced vascular lesion impinged on the left porus acusticus with a displacement of the brainstem to the right. There was no infarction in the brainstem. A cerebral angiography demonstrated a megadolichoectatic horizontal loop at the intracranial portion of the left vertebral artery. There was no thrombus or atherosclerosis in the vertebrobasilar system. A mechanical compression by a vascular loop is the only possible pathogenesis for hearing loss. The authors diagnose this condition as cochlear vertebral entrapment syndrome.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

N-WASP deficiency reveals distinct pathways for cell surface projections and microbial actin-based motility.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family of molecules integrates upstream signalling events with changes in the actin cytoskeleton. N-WASP has been implicated both in the formation of cell-surface projections (filopodia) required for cell movement and in the actin-based motility of intracellular pathogens. To examine N-WASP function we have used homologous recombination to inactivate the gene encoding murine N-WASP. Whereas N-WASP-deficient embryos survive beyond gastrulation and initiate organogenesis, they have marked developmental delay and die before embryonic day 12. N-WASP is not required for the actin-based movement of the intracellular pathogen Listeria but is absolutely required for the motility of Shigella and vaccinia virus. Despite these distinct defects in bacterial and viral motility, N-WASP-deficient fibroblasts spread by using lamellipodia and can protrude filopodia. These results imply a crucial and non-redundant role for N-WASP in murine embryogenesis and in the actin-based motility of certain pathogens but not in the general formation of actin-containing structures.

Actins↗

PubMed2001

Biotreatment of hydrogen sulfide- and ammonia-containing waste gases by fluidized bed bioreactor.

Gas mixtures of H2S and NH3 are the focus of this study of research concerning gases generated from animal husbandry and treatments of anaerobic wastewater lagoons. A heterotrophic microflora (a mixture of Pseudomonas putida for H2S and Arthrobacter oxydans for NH3) was immobilized with Ca-alginate and packed into a fluidized bed reactor to simultaneously decompose H2S and NH3. This bioreactor was continuously supplied with H2S and NH3 separately or together at various ratios. The removal efficiency, removal rate, and metabolic product of the bioreactor were studied. The results showed that the efficiency remained above 95% when the inlet H2S concentration was below 30 ppm at 36 L/hr. Furthermore, the apparent maximum removal and the apparent half-saturation constant were 7.0 x 10(-8) g-S/cell/day and 76.2 ppm, respectively, in this study. The element sulfur as a main product prevented acidification of the biofilter, which maintained the stability of the operation. As for NH3, the greater than 90% removal rate was achieved as long as the inlet concentration was controlled below 100 ppm at a flow rate of 27 L/hr. In the NH3 inlet, the apparent maximum removal and the apparent half-saturation constant were 1.88 x 10(-6) g-N/cell/day and 30.5 ppm, respectively. Kinetic analysis showed that 60 ppm of NH3 significantly suppressed the H2S removal by Pseudomonas putida, but H2S in the range of 5-60 ppm did not affect NH3 removal by Arthrobacter oxydans. Results from bioaerosol analysis in the bioreactor suggest that the co-immobilized cell technique applied for gas removal creates less environmental impact.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2001

Feasibility of fluidized-bed bioreactor for remediating waste gas containing H2S or NH3.

Pseudomonas putida for H2S and Arthrobacter oxydans for NH3 were immobilized with Ca-alginate and packed inside glass columns to form fluidized-bed bioreactors. The feasibility of the lab-scale bioreactor for the treatment of H2S or NH3 was examined. Phosphate salt, being added to the nutrient solution as buffer solution, may chelate with Ca2+ in the Ca-alginate beads, resulting in the disintegration of gel structure. When the buffer capacity of the phosphate solution was over the critical point of 33.5 mM/pH, all calcium ions in the bead were released and beads were broken. Increasing liquid flowrate and inlet gas concentration favored to H2S and NH3 removal. Carbon source addition was essential and facilitated malodorous removal for this system. Removal capacity increased with inlet concentration. However, increasing pattern was dependent of H2S or NH3. The result clearly indicated that bioreactor was suitable to be applied for the industry of livestock farm for removing wastegas containing H2S or NH3.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2001

Ammonia removal from composting leachate using zeolite. I. Characterization of the zeolite.

The effects of ammonium concentrations, contact time, and zeolite particle sizes on the ammonium adsorption capacities of a Canadian zeolite were studied using batch experiments. Both the rates and capacities of ammonium adsorption increased with increased concentrations of ammonium in solution. Ammonium adsorption increased significantly with decreasing zeolite particle size for all tests and the adsorption capacities ranged from 14.35-17.81 mg N/g. Also, ammonia adsorption increased with contact time, and it occurred rapidly at the beginning of contact, and then gradually decreased as time progressed. Langmuir isotherm best describes the equilibrium of ammonia adsorption on zeolite. Particle diffusion was the rate-controlling mechanism for the first 4 h of contact. In spite of competition potassium ions, zeolite has shown a great potential for ammonia removal from composting leachates.

Adsorption↗