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Biomedical subjects

C M Wang

Publications and source records attributed to C M Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Alterations of mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells by arsenic in arsenical skin cancers.

We have studied the endemic occurrence of chronic arsenism in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan. The effects of arsenic on the mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from patients with arsenical skin cancers in that area were evaluated. The subjects enrolled in this study included patients with 1) Bowen's disease, 2) arsenical skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), 3) non-arsenical skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), 4) nasopharyngeal cancer and 5) healthy controls from endemic and non-endemic areas. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in MNC in all groups except the arsenical skin cancer group. However, when a low concentration of As2O3 (2.5 x 10(-7) M) was added to PHA-stimulated MNC, a tremendous amplification of the uptake of [3H]thymidine was noticed in patients with arsenical skin cancer. In this study, this phenomenon did not occur in cancers not related to arsenic. This result shows that arsenical carcinomas are hyperreactive to its specific etiology--arsenic. Arsenic seems to play a role as a co-stimulant of PHA similar to interleukin-1.

Arsenic

Molecular cloning and mapping of phenol degradation genes from Bacillus stearothermophilus FDTP-3 and their expression in Escherichia coli.

Two genes of the meta pathway of phenol degradation were cloned from a phenol-utilizing strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus and were mapped by subcloning and by use of a Tn5 insertion mutation. They code for phenol hydroxylase and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, respectively. The gene encoding catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, which is more thermostable than catechol 2,3-dioxygenase encoded by the other gene, shares rather limited homology with that from Pseudomonas putida.

Catechol 2,3-Dioxygenase

Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXXV. Effects of radioprotective Chinese traditional medicines on radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro.

The fluctuation of lipid peroxidation (LP) in 9 tissues was investigated in mice for 7 d after whole-body X-irradiation with a lethal dose of bone marrow death. LP increased significantly in bone marrow, thymus, spleen and liver following irradiation, and slightly in brain and testis, but not in blood plasma, submaxillary gland or kidney. The effects of 7 radioprotective Chinese traditional medicines (CTMs) and cysteamine (MEA) on the radiation-induced LP in 4 tissues were studied by i.p. injection before or after irradiation and their LP content in tissues was measured 2 d after irradiation. Most CTMs showed significant inhibition of radiation-induced LP in bone marrow and liver, especially when injected prior to irradiation. Some CTMs also showed such inhibition in spleen. MEA only inhibited the increase of LP in liver when injected before irradiation, but enhanced the increase of LP in spleen. None of these radioprotectors including MEA was recognized to inhibit radiation-induced LP in thymus. The in vitro experiments were carried out using mouse liver microsomal suspensions (MS). The MS were prepared from normal (non-irradiated) mice. Each of the 8 radioprotectors was added to MS before or after irradiation and then post-irradiation-incubated at 37 degrees C. All markedly inhibited radiation-induced LP if added before irradiation, but were slightly less effective if added after.

Animals

[Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXXIII. Protective mechanisms of various compounds against skin injury induced by radiation].

The radiation protective mechanisms on skin injury induced by soft X-irradiation were investigated by use of various radiation protective agents such as sulfur compounds (MEA, MEG, thiourea), nucleic acid constitutional compounds (adenosine, inosine), antioxidative compounds (sesamol, ferulic acid, ascorbic acid), crude drugs (Rosae Fructus, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, Trapae Fructus, Forsythiae Fructus, Aloe arborescens). Scavenge action of activated oxygen, inhibitory effect of lipid peroxidation, induction of antioxidative protein and protective effect against damage of deoxyribonucleic acid and superoxide dismutase by X-irradiation were evaluated as the radiation protective mechanisms, and relationship between these results and protective effect of skin injury induced by radiation was studied.

Adenosine

[Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXXIV. Survival effects of aqueous extracts of various Chinese traditional medicines on radiation injury].

In order to develop a nontoxic radioprotector, 60 kinds of Chinese traditional medicines were chosen, and their aqueous extracts tested for their survival effects against the lethal effect of X-irradiation in mice. Radiation factors used were as follows: soft X-rays, 2100R (5.418 x 10(-1) Ckg-1), 70 kVp, 10 mA, 10 mm acrylic filter, 70R (1.806 x 10(-2) Ckg-1)/min. Among 60 medicines tested by intraperitoneal injection immediately before the irradiation, 15 are shown to have the significant survival effect. These 15 effective medicines were also tested by intraperitoneal injection after the irradiation, and the survival effect was recognized in Keisi-syakuyaku-chimo-to, Keigai-rengyo-to, Simotu-to, Syakuyaku-kanzo-to and Hange-syasin-to. On the other hand, the survival effects of 25 medicines including the above-mentioned 15 medicines were investigated by the oral administration at various times before or after the irradiation. As the result of these studies, only Keigai-rengyo-to and Bukuryo-in are shown to have the significant survival effect when administered 2 h before the irradiation.

Administration, Oral

Electromyography interference pattern decomposition.

Decomposition of an interference pattern enables examination of individual electromyography (EMG) motor units and their firing rates at more than minimal contraction forces. In this decomposition method, significant events with a constant occurrence (near motor unit action potentials) can be enhanced, and unwanted events (distant motor unit action potentials, artifacts) eliminated, by calculating the average accumulated change while sliding a fixed-width window along the digitized EMG interference pattern. Nonparametric statistical methods are then applied to these data to determine which information is significant at the .05 level. The exact duration of significant information is identified without the need for arbitrary thresholds and filters to eliminate unwanted information. Events are then classified into groups of similar events by comparing: (1) correlation coefficients, (2) point-to-point differences, (3) amplitudes, and (4) areas. The classification is further refined by the use of firing-rate information.

Action Potentials

[Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXXII. Protective effects of methanol extracts of various Taiwan crude drugs on radiation injuries].

This study is to investigate radioprotective effects of 23 Taiwan crude drugs on X-ray induced bone marrow death and skin injury in mice. Each methanol extract of these Taiwan crude drugs was injected intraperitoneally into ICR male mice at 6 weeks of age before irradiation. Mice were whole-body irradiated with a soft X-ray generator. Radiation factors of the two screening tests used were as follows: 70 kVp, 10 mA, 10 mm acrylate filter, 70R/min, 2100R for survival test, and 30 kVp, 10 mA, 190R/min, 1100R for protective test on skin injury. As a result of these studies, the survival effect was recognized in Solani Incani Herba and Orthosiphi Aristati Herba. On the other hand, Mimosae Herba, Canarii Radix, Bombacis Radix, Arecae Fructus, Hedyotidis Diffusae Herba and Cynomorii Caulis were shown to have significant protective potency on skin injury.

Animals

[Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXIX. Protective effects of methanol extracts of various Chinese traditional medicines on skin injury induced by X-irradiation].

In order to investigate useful protective medicines for the relief of skin injury induced by irradiation, 60 methanol extracts of Chinese traditional medicines were used in the test of protective potency on skin injury. ICR male mice at 6 weeks of age were whole-body irradiated with 1100R by using a soft X-ray generator (30 kVp, 10 mA, 190 R/min). Each methanol extract of these medicines was injected intraperitoneally into mice before or after irradiation. The degrees of skin injury were determined by a score system of skin reaction within the observation period from 21st to 40th day after irradiation. Protective potency of each medicine on skin injury was calculated from the maximum mean scores of administrated group and un-administrated group. As a result of these studies, the protective potency was detected in Unsei-in, Kumibinro-to, Keisi-syakuyaku-chimo-to, Keigai-rengyo-to, Gosyuyu-to, Koso-san, Saiko-seikan-to, Syo-kankyo-to, Syo-saiko-to, Syoma-kakkon-to, Sen-kan-meimoku-to, Zokumei-to, Sokei-kakketu-to, Bokuryo-in, Mao-to and Rikkunsi-to by intraperitoneal injection before irradiation. Of these effective medicines, only Unsei-in and Mao-to are shown to have a significant protective effect by intraperitoneal injection after irradiation.

Animals

[Studies on chemical protectors against radiation. XXVII. Survival effects of methanol extracts of various Chinese traditional medicines on radiation injury].

The survival effect of mice irradiated with a lethal dose of X-ray was studied by use of 60 kinds of Chinese traditional medicines. Methanol extracts of these medicines were prepared, and then each extract injected intraperitoneally into male mice before or after whole-body irradiation. As a result of these studies, the survival effects with Ogi-kentyu-to, Simotu-to, Sessyo-in, Zokumei-to and Boi-ogi-to were observed by intraperitoneal injection before irradiation. Of these effective methanol extracts, only Zokumei-to was shown to have a significant survival effect by intraperitoneal injection after irradiation.

Animals

Adenosine inhibits epileptiform activity arising in hippocampal area CA3.

The ability of adenosine and structurally-related compounds to inhibit epileptiform activity induced by bicuculline in the CA3 region of the hippocampal slice of the rat was examined. Bath application of all purinoceptor agonists tested reduced the frequency of generation of burst potentials. Analysis of dose-response curves yielded the following IC50 values: adenosine, 1.5 microM; 2-chloroadenosine, 0.144 microM; 5'-(N-ethyl)carboxamidoadenosine, 30.2 nM; L-phenylisopropyladenosine, 12.1 nM; cyclohexyladenosine, 7.9 nM. Theophylline (30 microM) increased the rate of bursting and antagonized the effect of exogenous adenosine. Dipyridamole (0.03-1 microM) reduced the occurrence of burst firing. In slices untreated with bicuculline, theophylline (30 microM) and adenosine deaminase (10 micrograms ml-1) induced bursting activity. These results demonstrate that purinoceptor agonists can suppress epileptiform activity in the hippocampus and suggest that adenosine may act as an endogenous anticonvulsant.

Adenosine