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Biomedical subjects

G Y Yang

Publications and source records attributed to G Y Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Molecular tagging of stripe rust resistance gene YrZH84 in Chinese wheat line Zhou 8425B.

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (PST), is one of the most damaging diseases in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). With the objective of identifying and tagging new genes for resistance to stripe rust, F1, F2 and F3 populations from the cross Zhou 8425B/Chinese Spring were inoculated with Chinese PST isolate CYR32 in the greenhouse. A total of 790 SSR primers were used to test the parents and resistant and susceptible bulks. The resulting seven polymorphic markers on chromosome 7BL were used for genotyping F2 and F3 populations. Results indicated that Zhou 8425B carries a single dominant resistance gene, temporarily designated YrZH84, closely linked to SSR markers Xcfa2040-7B and Xbarc32-7B with genetic distances of 1.4 and 4.8 cM, respectively. In a seedling test with 25 PST isolates, the reaction patterns of YrZH84 were different from those of lines carrying Yr2 and Yr6. It was concluded that YrZH84 is probably a new stripe rust resistance gene.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Effects of angiopoietin-1 on vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in the mouse brain.

A better understanding of angiogenic factors and their effects on angiogenesis in brain is necessary to treat cerebral vascular disorders such as ischemic brain injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces angiogenesis and increases blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in adult mouse brain. The effect of angiopoietin-1 on BBB leakage during the angiogenesis process is unclear. We sought to identify the effects of combining VEGF with angiopoietin-1 on cerebral angiogenesis and BBB. Adult male CD-1 mice underwent AdFc (adenoviral vector control), AdAng-1, VEGF protein, VEGF protein plus AdAng-1, or saline (negative control) injection. Brain microvessels were counted using lectin staining on tissue sections after 2 weeks of adenoviral gene transfer. The presence of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) was determined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Microvessel count and augmented capillary diameter increased in mice treated with either VEGF protein or AdAng-1 plus VEGF protein compared to saline, AdFc, or AdAng-1 alone (p < 0.05). Double-labeled immunostaining demonstrated that ZO-1-positive staining was more complete on the microvessel wall in the AdAng-1 and AdAng-1 plus VEGF protein treated group compared to VEGF protein group. The results of ZO-1 expression from Western blot analysis paralleled that from immunohistochemistry (p < 0.05). We conclude that focal VEGF and angiopoietin-1 hyperstimulation in mouse brain increases microvessel density while maintaining ZO-1 protein expression, suggesting that angiopoietin-1 plays a role in synergistically inducing angiogenesis and BBB integrity.

Angiopoietin-1↗

Management of locoregional stage esophageal cancer: a single center experience.

Therapeutic options for locoregional esophageal cancer (EC) include primary surgery, neoadjuvant or definitive chemoradiation and systemic chemotherapy. The role of surgery in these multimodal strategies has recently been debated and definitive chemoradiation is being offered as an alternative to surgery at many centers. We examined our results with multimodal therapy and surgery in this patient population. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 172 patients with locoregional (AJCC stages I-III) EC treated at RPCI between February 14, 1990 and September 20, 2002. Median age was 65 years (range, 36-95); there were 136 male patients. There were 100 regional (stages IIB-III), 69 local (stages I-IIA) and three in situ cases. Initial therapy was either combined modality (n = 122) or single modality (surgery) (n = 50). There was 0%, 30-day, postoperative mortality. Median survival for all patients was 25.3 months and was better for local stage with surgery alone (75 months) than with neoadjuvant (35.7 months) or definitive chemoradiation (19.1 months, P < 0.001). Survival for patients with regional disease treated with surgery alone, neoadjuvant or definitive chemoradiation was 21.5, 24.4 and 11.8 months, respectively (P = not significant). The associations of prognostic factors with overall survival were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and 2-sided Wald's chi-square test. On multivariate analysis, carefully selected patients treated with surgery alone had better outcomes compared with those treated with definitive chemoradiation (P < 0.001). Patients with locoregional esophageal cancer who are eligible for surgical resection either alone or as a part of multimodal therapy may have better outcomes than those treated with non-surgical approaches.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cardiac function after chemoradiation for esophageal cancer: comparison of heart dose-volume histogram parameters to multiple gated acquisition scan changes.

In this paper we determine if preoperative chemoradiation for locally advanced esophageal cancer leads to changes in cardiac ejection fraction. This is a retrospective review of 20 patients treated at our institution for esophageal cancer between 2000 and 2002. Multiple gated acquisition cardiac scans were obtained before and after platinum-based chemoradiation (50.4 Gy). Dose-volume histograms for heart, left ventricle and left anterior descending artery were analyzed. Outcomes assessed included pre- and postchemoradiation ejection fraction ratio and percentage change in ejection fraction postchemoradiation. A statistically significant difference was found between median prechemoradiation ejection fraction (59%) and postchemoradiation ejection fraction (54%) (P = 0.01), but the magnitude of the difference was not clinically significant. Median percentage volume of heart receiving more than 20, 30 and 40 Gy were 61.5%, 58.5% and 53.5%, respectively. Our data showed a clinically insignificant decline in ejection fraction following chemoradiation for esophageal cancer. We did not observe statistically or clinically significant associations between radiation dose to heart, left ventricle or left anterior descending artery and postchemoradiation ejection fraction.

Aged↗

Regulation of antigen-specific versus by-stander IgE production after antigen sensitization.

IgE is critical in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders. In this report, we investigated the differential regulation of antigen-specific and by-stander IgE. Ovalbumin (OVA) immunization did not increase IgE producing cells in the spleen, but significantly enhanced the intracellular IgE content of all IgE+ cells. In contrast, OVA induced a significant increase of IgE+ cells in the draining lymph nodes (LN). Furthermore, OVA-specific IgE was detected only in the ex vivo cultures of the draining LN but not the spleen cells, while total IgE was increased in both cultures. These results indicated that antigen-specific IgE was mainly produced in the draining LN, while the spleen was a major source for by-stander IgE. Anti-IL-4, but not anti-IL-13, antibody blocked the expansion of IgE producing cells in the draining LN as well as systemic OVA-specific and total IgE levels, indicating IL-4 was important in both antigen-specific IgE generation and total IgE upregulation.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Overexpression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist reduces brain edema induced by intracerebral hemorrhage and thrombin.

Recent studies indicate that inflammatory reaction occurs around hematoma after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In this study the authors examine the hypothesis that overexpression of IL-1ra in the brain attenuate brain edema formation after ICH. Adenoviruses expressing IL-1ra (Ad.RSVIL-1ra) or LacZ (Ad.RSVLacZ) or saline were injected into the lateral ventricle. On the fifth day after virus injection, 100 microl of autologous blood or 5 U thrombin was infused into the right basal ganglia. Rats with ICH were killed 24 or 72 hours later for measurement of brain water content. Thrombin-treated rats were killed 24 hours later for edema measurements and an assessment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration by myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. Compared with control groups, Ad.RSVIL-1ra treated rats had less brain edema formation in the ipsilateral basal ganglia 3 days after ICH (81.5 +/- 0.3% compared with 83.4 +/- 0.4% and 83.3 +/- 0.5% in control animals). Ad.RSVIL-1ra treated rats had also less brain edema following thrombin injection. The reduction of brain edema induced by thrombin was involved in the reduction of PMNL infiltration in basal ganglia, as assessed by MPO assay. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of IL-1ra attenuated brain edema formation following ICH, perhaps by reduction of thrombin-induced brain inflammation.

Animals↗

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressed in neurons and astrocytes during focal ischemia in mice.

Focal cerebral ischemia elicits an inflammatory response characterized by the infiltration and accumulation of leukocytes, as well as the secretion of inflammatory mediators (Clark et al., Brain Res. Bull., 35 (1994) 387-392; Garcia et al., Am. J. Pathol., 144 (1994) 188-199; Wang et al., J. Neurochem. 71 (1998) 1194-1204). Leukocytes eliminate microbial invaders and necrotizing tissue debris, and can also turn against surrounding healthy tissue and exacerbate tissue injury (Furie and Randolph, Am. J. Pathol., 146 (1995) 1287-1301; Kochanek and Hallenbeck, Stroke 23 (1992) 1367-1379). Inflammatory mediators are considered to play an important role in attracting and stimulating leukocytes (Weiss, N. Engl. J. Med., 320 (1989) 365-376). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) functions as an inflammatory mediator, whose source and role in focal cerebral ischemia is worth studying. MCP-1, a potent chemoattractant factor, may play an important role in ischemia-induced inflammatory response. The aim of the present study is to determine the time course and cell type of MCP-1 protein expression after permanent focal ischemia in mice. ELISA and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of MCP-1 protein after 0 h, 2 h, 4 h, 12 h, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days and 7 days of middle cerebral artery occlusion (n=3-5 in each group). Double-labeled fluorescent staining was used to examine the cellular localization of MCP-1. The results demonstrated that MCP-1 expression was mainly observed in the ischemic core after 12 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion, then gradually increased and extended to the ischemic perifocal area. MCP-1 expression peaked at 2 days and 3 days, and gradually decreased after 5 days of MCAO. Double-labeled immunostaining for MCP-1 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) showed that MCP-1 positive neurons were observed as early as 12 h of ischemia, while MCP-1 positive astrocytes were observed after 2 days of ischemia. These results support the functional role of MCP-1 in ischemic brain injury and reveal a distinct temporal and spatial expression of MCP-1 in cells believed to be neurons and astrocytes.

Animals↗

Attenuation of ischemia-induced mouse brain injury by SAG, a redox-inducible antioxidant protein.

Cerebral ischemia resulting from a disruption of blood flow to the brain initiates a cascade of events that causes neuron death and leads to neurologic dysfunction. Reactive oxygen species are thought, at least in part, to mediate this disease process. The authors recently cloned and characterized an antioxidant protein, SAG (sensitive to apoptosis gene), that is redox inducible and protects cells from apoptosis induced by redox agents in a number of in vitro cell model systems. This study reports a neuroprotective role of SAG in ischemia/reperfusion-induced brain injury in an in vivo mouse model. SAG was expressed at a low level in brain tissue and was inducible after middle cerebral artery occlusion with peak expression at 6 to 12 hours. At the cellular level, SAG was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of neurons and astrocytes, revealed by double immunofluorescence. An injection of recombinant adenoviral vector carrying human SAG into mouse brain produced an overexpression of SAG protein in the injected areas. Transduction of AdCMVSAG (wild-type), but not AdCMVmSAG (mutant), nor the AdCMVlacZ control, protected brain cells from ischemic brain injury, as evidenced by significant reduction of the infarct areas where SAG was highly expressed. The result suggests a rather specific protective role of SAG in the current in vivo model. Mechanistically, SAG overexpression decreased reactive oxygen species production and reduced the number of apoptotic cells in the ischemic areas. Thus, antioxidant SAG appears to protect against reactive oxygen species-induced brain damage in mice. Identification of SAG as a neuroprotective molecule could lead to potential stroke therapies.

Adenoviridae↗

Reduction of inflammatory response in the mouse brain with adenoviral-mediated transforming growth factor-ss1 expression.

UNLABELLED: Background and Purpose-Chemokines have been shown to play an important role in leukocyte and monocyte/macrophage infiltration into ischemic regions. The purpose of this study is to identify whether overexpression of the active human transforming growth factor-ss1 (ahTGF-ss1) can downregulate expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and reduce ischemic brain injury. METHODS: -Overexpression of transforming growth factor-ss1 (TGF-ss1) was achieved through adenoviral gene transfer. Five days after adenoviral transduction, the mouse underwent 30 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 1 to 7 days of reperfusion. TGF-ss1, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and ICAM-1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. Infarct areas and volumes were measured by cresyl violet staining. RESULTS: -MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha expression is increased after middle cerebral artery occlusion, and double-labeled immunostaining revealed that MCP-1 is colocalized with neurons and astrocytes. Viral-mediated TGF-ss1 overexpression was significantly greater at measured time points, with a peak at 7 to 9 days. The expression of MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha, but not ICAM-1, was reduced in the mice overexpressing ahTGF-ss1 (P:<0.05). Furthermore, infarct volume was significantly reduced in the mice overexpressing ahTGF-ss1 (P:<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: -This study demonstrates that MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha expressed in the ischemic region may play an important role in attracting inflammatory cells. The reduction of MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha, but not ICAM-1, in the mice overexpressing ahTGF-ss1 suggests that the neuroprotective effect of TGF-ss1 may result from the inhibition of chemokines during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Adenoviridae↗

Attenuation of intracerebral hemorrhage and thrombin-induced brain edema by overexpression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist.

OBJECT: Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) attenuates the inflammatory reaction and brain injury that follows focal cerebral ischemia. Recently, an inflammatory reaction after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was identified. In this study the authors examine the hypothesis that overexpression of IL-1ra reduces brain injury (specifically edema formation) after ICH. METHODS: Adenoviruses expressing IL-1ra (Ad.RSVIL-1ra) or LacZ, a control protein (Ad.RSVlacZ), or saline were injected into the left lateral cerebral ventricle in rats. On the 5th day after virus injection, 100 microl of autologous blood or 5 U thrombin was infused into the right basal ganglia. Rats with ICH were killed 24 or 72 hours later for measurement of brain water and ion content. Thrombin-treated rats were killed 24 hours later for edema measurements and an assessment of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) infiltration by myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay, as well as histological evaluation. Compared with saline-treated and Ad.RSVlacZ-transduced controls, Ad.RSVIL-1ra-transduced rats had significantly attenuated edema in the ipsilateral basal ganglia 3 days after ICH (81.5 +/- 0.3% compared with 83.4 +/- 0.4% and 83.3 +/- 0.5% in control animals). Thrombin-induced brain edema was also reduced in Ad.RSVIL-1ra-treated rats (81.3 +/- 0.4% compared with 83.2 +/- 0.4% and 82.5 +/- 0.4% in control rats). The reduction in thrombin-induced edema was associated with a reduction in PMNL infiltration into the basal ganglia, as assessed by MPO assay (49% reduction) and histological examination. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of IL-1ra by using an adenovirus vector attenuated brain edema formation and thrombin-induced intracerebral inflammation following ICH. The reduction in ICH-induced edema with IL-1ra may result from reduction of thrombin-induced brain inflammation.

Animals↗

[Determination of polyphenols in tobacco by solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography].

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of polyphenols in tobacco was studied. Polyphenols can be extracted from tobacco sample by refluxing with 80% (volume fraction) methanol, then subjected to degrease by solid phase extraction with Sep-Pak-C18 column. Chlorogenic acid, rutin, scopoletin, caffeic acid, scopolin and other polyphenols can be separated on a Nova-Pak-C18 column (3.9 mm i.d. x 150 mm) gradiently eluted with methanol and 0.05 mol.L-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer solution as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 0.5 mL.min-1. Polyphenols were determined at the maximum wavelength of each polyphenol, for chlorogenic acid 326.1 nm, rutin 354.8 nm, scopoletin 344.0 nm, caffeic acid 323.7 nm and scopolin 365.2 nm by photodiode array detector. The main polyphenols in tobacco can be identified with UV spectroscopy. The recoveries of tobacco polyphenols were 94%-105%, and the relative standard deviations were 1.28%-1.49%. This method can be applied to the determination of polyphenols in tobacco with satisfactory results.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

[Effect of bushen huoxue decoction on in vitro fertilization and early embryonic development in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Bushen Huoxue decoction (BSHX) on female reproduction and elucidate its therapeutic mechanism to infertility. METHODS: The BSHX medicated serum of rabbit, as a supplement, was co-cultured with the sperm and ovum of non-copulated mice, and the 2-cell embryos of copulated female mice separately, to observe the changes of in vitro fertilization rate (IVF) and early embryogenesis rate. RESULTS: By co-cultured with BSHX medicated serum, IVF rate was increased obviously (P < 0.01), and the follow-up early embryogenesis rate at various period was promoted, particularly that of the 4-cell and 8-cell embryos (P < 0.05). No influence on developmental rate of in vitro 4-cell embryos obtained from the in vivo 2-cell embryos. But the development of the 8-cell embryos, morula, blastula and hatching were promoted significantly. CONCLUSION: BSHX could raise the fertilization rate and promote the early embryonic development.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of inhibition of carcinogenesis by tea.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) preparations have been shown to inhibit tumorigenesis at the initiation, promotion, and progression stages in different animal models. The anti-proliferative effects of tea polyphenols may be a key mechanism, especially in the NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis model with mice. Studies with cell lines have demonstrated that tea polyphenols inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. The effective concentrations used in these studies (20-100 microM) are usually higher than those observed in blood and tissues of humans and animals, which are in the low micromolar range. Glucuronide and sulfate conjugated and methylated catechins as well as ring fission products (due to intestinal microflora) have been observed in human plasma and urine. Purified green and black tea polyphenols inhibited the H-ras induced milogen-activated protein kinases, AP-1 activities, and the growth of 30.7b Ras 12 and BES21 cells. Among the catechins, both the galloyl structure on the B ring and the gallate moiety are important for the inhibition. Both (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theaflavin-3,3'-digallate inhibited the phosphorylation of c-jun and p44/42 (ERK 1/2). More mechanistic and human studies in these areas will help us to understand the possible inhibitory action of tea against carcinogenesis in humans.

Animals↗

Effect of black and green tea polyphenols on c-jun phosphorylation and H(2)O(2) production in transformed and non-transformed human bronchial cell lines: possible mechanisms of cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction.

The biological activities of theaflavin (TF), theaflavin gallate (TFG) and theaflavin digallate (TFdiG) from black tea and (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) and (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) from green tea were investigated using SV40-immortalized (33BES) and Ha-ras gene transformed (21BES) human bronchial epithelial cell lines. Growth inhibition and cell viability were measured by trypan blue dye exclusion assay following 24 h treatment with the tea polyphenols. TFdiG, EGC and EGCG displayed comparable inhibitory effects on the growth of 21BES cells, with estimated IC(50) values of 22-24 microM. TFG exhibited a lower inhibitory activity (IC(50) 37 microM) and TF was even less effective (IC(50) 47 microM) in this cell line. A similar effect was also observed in 33BES cells. These results suggest that the gallate structure of theaflavins is important for growth inhibition. Exposure of 21BES cells to 25 microM TFdiG, EGC and EGCG for 24 h led to induction of cell apoptosis/death as determined by the Annexin V apoptosis assay. With TFdiG treatment cell death occurred early, and quickly peaked at 8-12 h. Morphological observations showed that TFdiG-treated cells appeared irregular in shape, with cytoplasmic granules, suggesting a cytotoxic effect. On the other hand, EGC and EGCG showed a lag phase before a rapid increase in apoptosis between 16 and 24 h, without any marked morphological changes, which was similar to that induced by H(2)O(2). TFdiG, EGC and EGCG induced similar amounts of H(2)O(2) formation in 21BES cells. Exogenously added catalase significantly prevented EGC- and EGCG-induced cell apoptosis, but did not prevent TFdiG-induced cell death, suggesting that H(2)O(2) is involved in the apoptosis induced by EGCG and EGC, but not in TFdiG-induced cell death. EGCG and TFdiG were shown to decrease c-jun protein phosphorylation in 21BES cells. Such inhibition is expected to result in lowered AP-1 activity, which may contribute to the growth inhibitory activity of tea polyphenols.

Antioxidants↗

Molecular alterations of p73 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas: loss of heterozygosity occurs frequently; loss of imprinting and elevation of p73 expression may be related to defective p53.

p73 is structurally and functionally related to p53 and is possibly a tumor suppressor gene. Using 15 surgically resected frozen esophageal specimens containing both squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) and neighboring normal epithelia, we studied p73 gene alterations and mRNA expression. Loss of heterozygosity of the p73 loci was found in nine of 14 informative cases (64%). A polymorphism at codon 173 (Thr) of p73 was identified (eight samples had ACC and seven had ACT), but mutation was not detected in tumor samples. Nine of the 15 ESCC samples (60%) displayed significantly elevated expression of p73 over the neighboring normal epithelium; of these nine samples, four displayed loss of imprinting (LOI) and one switched the expressed allele. Hypermethylation of exon 1 of the p73 gene was not detected, using the bisulfite modification method, in normal or tumor samples. Twelve of the 15 (80%) ESCC samples contained p53 defects, including missense mutation, non-frameshift small deletion or insertion, non-detectable transcripts and protein accumulation. The ESCC samples with p53 defects were significantly correlated with those which had elevated expression of p73 (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.05). The results suggest that increased expression of p73, including that by LOI, could be a partial compensatory mechanism for defective p53.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases after permanent cerebral artery occlusion in mouse brain.

The purpose of this study was to examine the activation, topographic distribution, and cellular location of three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice. Phosphorylated MAPKs expression in the ischemic region was quantified using Western blot analysis and localized immunohistochemically using the diaminobenzide staining and double-labeled immunostaining. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2), p38 mitogen-activated protein (p38), and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase or stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) were initially activated at 30 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes, respectively, after focal cerebral ischemia. Peak expression represented a 2.7-fold, 3.7-fold, and 4.8-fold increase in each of these MAPKs, respectively. The immunohistochemical expressions of ERK1, ERK2, p38, and SAPK/JNK protein paralleled the Western blot analysis results. Double-labeled immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that the neurons and astrocytes expressed ERK1, ERK2, p38, and SAPK/JNK during the early time points after MCAO. The current results demonstrate that brain damage after ischemia rapidly triggers time-dependent ERK1, ERK2, p38, and SAPK/ JNK phosphorylation, and reveals that neurons and astrocytes are involved in the activation of the MAPK pathway. This very early expression of MAPKs suggests that MAPKs may be closely involved in signal transduction during cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗