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G Zeng

Publications and source records attributed to G Zeng.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Demonstration on Z-D phenomenon in the occurrence of infectious diseases].

A systematic analysis, including retrospective test by means of correlation analysis and extrapolation test was carried out to demonstrate a new hypothesis named Z-D phenomenon which states that the skew of a seasonal case distribution curve of an infectious disease may appear to be the omen of its epidemic trend in the following year. A total number of 353 data sets belong to 17 notifiable infectious diseases in 29 provinces and the whole nation were chosen. Data from retrospective test showed that 91.2% (322/353) of the correlation coefficients of between the skew of the seasonal distribution curve of the previous year and the morbidity variation of its following year were negative. The extrapolation test showed that 68.1% (203/295) of the data sets accorded with the actually epidemic situation at the level of r < -0.5. The results proved the existence of Z-D phenomenon may serve as an indicator for the purpose of forecasting. Using this systematic analysis, we found that Z-D phenomenon was more expressive in viral hepatitis, pertussis, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis and scarlet fever than in other diseases.

Bayes Theorem↗
PubMed1996

Endogenous TGF-beta activity is modified during cellular aging: effects on metalloproteinase and TIMP-1 expression.

In culture, nontransformed human diploid fibroblasts divide a limited number of times, resulting in a nonproliferating senescent cell culture which exhibits an altered pattern of gene expression. Previously we reported that an early event in the process of replicative senescence was an increase in the synthesis of two connective tissue degrading metalloproteinases, collagenase and stromelysin, and a decrease in the synthesis of the physiological inhibitor of those enzymes, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). The cytokine TGF-beta1 is known to regulate the expression of each of these three genes and to be synthesized and secreted by cultured human fibroblasts. This suggested the hypothesis that the age-specific modulation of collagenase, stromelysin, and TIMP-1 expression is the result of a change in TGF-beta1 activity during replicative senescence. To test this hypothesis, the responses of early, mid, and late passage (presenescent) fibroblast cell cultures to a TGF-beta neutralizing antibody were evaluated. In early passage cell cultures, exposure to TGF-beta neutralizing antibody resulted in a significant increase in the expression of collagenase and stromelysin and decreased TIMP-1 expression. The antibody did not affect expression of either of those genes by late passage cell cultures, although late passage cultures did respond to added TGF-beta1. Quantification of the levels of active TGF-beta, using a growth inhibition assay, indicates that the level of active TGF-beta1 is decreased during replicative senescence, supporting the conclusion that the modulation of collagenase, stromelysin, and TIMP-1 expression results from diminished TGF-beta activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Molecular cloning of cDNA for rat brain GD3-synthase.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the cDNA coding for rat GD3-synthase was determined for the first time using PCR and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedures. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 359 residues. The protein contains a potential transmembrane domain with a short N-terminus and such highly conserved regions as the sialylmotifs. An antisense oligonucleotide derived from the rat GD3-synthase cDNA was applied to the cultures of rat cerebellar neurons and results showed a decrease in the synthesis of ganglioside GD3, indicating that the expression of GD3-synthase was modulated by the antisense sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Insulin-stimulated production of nitric oxide is inhibited by wortmannin. Direct measurement in vascular endothelial cells.

Hypertension is associated with insulin-resistant states such as diabetes and obesity. Nitric oxide (NO) contributes to regulation of blood pressure. To gain insight into potential mechanisms linking hypertension with insulin resistance we directly measured and characterized NO production from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in response to insulin using an amperometric NO-selective electrode. Insulin stimulation of HUVEC resulted in rapid, dose-dependent production of NO with a maximal response of approximately 100 nM NO (200,000 cells in 2 ml media; ED50 approximately 500 nM insulin). Although HUVEC have many more IGF-1 receptors than insulin receptors (approximately 400,000, and approximately 40,000 per cell respectively), a maximally stimulating dose of IGF-1 generated a smaller response than insulin (40 nM NO; ED50 approximately 100 nM IGF-1). Stimulation of HUVEC with PDGF did not result in measurable NO production. The effects of insulin and IGF-1 were completely blocked by inhibitors of either tyrosine kinase (genestein) or nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME). Wortmannin (an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase [PI 3-kinase]) inhibited insulin-stimulated production of NO by approximately 50%. Since PI 3-kinase activity is required for insulin-stimulated glucose transport, our data suggest that NO is a novel effector of insulin signaling pathways that are also involved with glucose metabolism.

Androstadienes↗
PubMed1996

Association of a 14-3-3 protein with CMP-NeuAc:GM1 alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase.

CMP-NeuAc:GM1 alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase (ST-IV) was purified to homogeneity from rat brain. Microsequencing of the tryptic peptides derived from the purified enzyme revealed two amino acid sequences homologous to the 14-3-3 proteins. A polyclonal antibody was raised against purified ST-IV. A 33 kDa protein was co-immunoprecipitated from rat brain extracts with the anti-(ST-IV) antibody as detected by Western blot analysis. This protein was identified as a subtype of 14-3-3 family by an anti-(14-3-3) antibody. Screening of a rat brain lambda gt11 library using the anti-(ST-IV) antibody resulted in the identification of a cDNA clone coding for the subtype of 14-3-3 protein. These results indicate an association of the 14-3-3 protein with the sialyltransferase. Since the 14-3-3 protein has PKC inhibitor activities and the activity of sialyltransferases is, at least in part, regulated by PKC, the association of the 14-3-3 protein with ST-IV may indicate a role for this protein in the post-translational regulation of the sialyltransferase activity through the processes of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.

14-3-3 Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Differential regulation of collagenase and stromelysin mRNA in late passage cultures of human fibroblasts.

Nontransformed human fibroblast cell cultures have been extensively studied as an in vitro model for cellular senescence. Recently there has been considerable interest in using the human fibroblast in the identification of genes relevant to the process of replicative senescence. We demonstrated that in comparison with early passage cultures the expression of collagenase and stromelysin mRNAs and proteins was increased > 8 x in late passage cultures of human fibroblasts and, in addition, expression of Il-1 alpha, a cytokine that regulates collagenase and stromelysin expression, was also significantly increased in late passage cell cultures. These findings suggested the hypothesis that constitutive Il-1 alpha expression in late passage cells may coordinately regulate the age-associated increase in the expression of collagenase and stromelysin. To test this hypothesis we examined the effects of long-term Il-1 alpha treatment, serum starvation, and cycloheximide inhibition on collagenase and stromelysin mRNA levels in early and late passage human fibroblast cell cultures. Here we report that in late passage cell cultures, collagenase and stromelysin mRNAs respond differentially to Il-1 alpha, serum starvation, and cycloheximide addition. Continuous exposure to Il-1 alpha reduced the half-life of stromelysin mRNA but had little effect on the half-life of collagenase mRNA. In contrast to stromelysin, the collagenase mRNA level is dependent on serum factors. Collagenase is induced during recovery from cycloheximide inhibition, but stromelysin expression is not affected. These results establish that collagenase and stromelysin mRNAs are differentially regulated in both early and late passage human fibroblasts and suggest that the mechanisms responsible for the age-associated increase in the two mRNAs are different. In addition, these studies support the conclusion that continuous long-term exposure to Il-1 alpha, a condition that is characteristic of late passage cells, is not the factor responsible for the high levels of collagenase expression, but may be critical for stromelysin expression.

Blood↗
PubMed1996

Repressor for the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate regulon of Escherichia coli K-12: primary structure and identification of the DNA-binding domain.

The nucleotide sequence of the glpEGR operon of Escherichia coli was determined. The translational reading frame at the beginning, middle, and end of each gene was verified. The glpE gene encodes an acidic, cytoplasmic protein of 108 amino acids with a molecular weight of 12,082. The glpG gene encodes a basic, cytoplasmic membrane-associated protein of 276 amino acids with a molecular weight of 31,278. The functions of GlpE and GlpG are unknown. The glpR gene encodes the repressor for the glycerol 3-phosphate regulon, a protein predicted to contain 252 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 28,048. The amino acid sequence of the glp repressor was similar to several repressors of carbohydrate catabolic systems, including those of the glucitol (GutR), fucose (FucR), and deoxyribonucleoside (DeoR) systems of E. coli, as well as those of the lactose (LacR) and inositol (IolR) systems of gram-positive bacteria and agrocinopine (AccR) system of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. These repressors constitute a family of related proteins, all of which contain approximately 250 amino acids, possess a helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif near the amino terminus, and bind a sugar phosphate molecule as the inducing signal. The DNA recognition helix of the glp repressor and the nucleotide sequence of the glp operator were very similar to those of the deo system. The presumptive recognition helix of the glp repressor was changed by site-directed mutagenesis to match that of the deo repressor or, in a separate construct, to abolish DNA binding. Neither altered form of the glp repressor recognized the glp or deo operator, either in vivo or in vitro. However, both altered forms of the glp repressor were negatively dominant to the wild-type glp repressor, indicating that the inability to bind DNA with high affinity was due to alteration of the DNA-binding domain, not to an inability to oligomerize or instability of the altered repressors. For the first time, analysis of repressors with altered DNA-binding domains has verified the assignment of the helix-turn-helix motif of the transcriptional regulators in the deoR family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Regulation of glycolipid synthesis in HL-60 cells by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to glycosyltransferase sequences: effect on cellular differentiation.

Treatment of the human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine:beta-1,4-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase (GM2-synthase; EC 2.4.1.92) and CMP-sialic acid:alpha-2,8-sialyltransferase (GD3-synthase; EC 2.4.99.8) sequences effectively down-regulated the synthesis of more complex gangliosides in the ganglioside synthetic pathways after GM3, resulting in a remarkable increase in endogenous GM3 with concomitant decreases in more complex gangliosides. The treated cells underwent monocytic differentiation as judged by morphological changes, adherent ability, and nitroblue tetrazolium staining. These data provide evidence that the increased endogenous ganglioside GM3 may play an important role in regulating cellular differentiation and that the antisense DNA technique proves to be a powerful tool in manipulating glycolipid synthesis in the cell.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Breastfeeding practices in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Barriers to increased breastfeeding rates in Chengdu, Sichuan were investigated in 1992 and 1993. Responses of focus groups showed that ignorance about breastfeeding and belief that the mother's milk was inadequate, and lack of support from their families, places of employment, and the health system acted as barriers to the women's breastfeeding their infants up to the age of four to six months. Subsequently, 363 mothers of 4- to 12-month-old Chengdu infants were surveyed. Although most mothers in both studies said breastmilk was the best food for their infant up to age of four to six months, only about half of the mothers breastfed for longer than one month. Both studies showed that infants who roomed with their mothers after birth were more likely to have been put to their mother's breast earlier, fed colostrum, breastfed somewhat longer, and exclusively breastfed for a somewhat longer period, although their mothers' infant feeding knowledge did not differ. The researchers conclude that Chengdu health workers should teach parents and parents-to-be more about breastfeeding, and that rooming-in be expanded in Chengdu hospitals.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1995

Enhanced adeno-associated virus vector expression by adenovirus protein-cationic liposome complex. A novel and high efficient way to introduce foreign DNA into endothelial cells.

Adeno-associated virus vector (AAV), a non-pathogenic integrating vector, can integrate on chromosome 19 in humans. But its gene transfer efficiency is quite low. In this study we combined adenovirus (Adv-5) capsid protein or the Fiber protein of Adv with liposome, termed adenosome (adenovirus protein-cationic liposome complex). This complex can bring AAV/CMV-LacZ to the endothelial cells, and improve the efficiency of gene transfer. It may be a novel, specific, stable and safe gene delivery system and will be widely used in human gene therapy.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1995

Adenovirus mediated gene transfer of vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in vitro.

Introducing foreign gene(s) into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) is the pre-requirement of gene therapy for cardiovascular diseases. We have explored the use of adenoviral vectors (Adv-CMV/LacZ) to transfer LacZ gene into cultured VSMCs and ECs. Our results demonstrated that adenoviral vectors transferred foreign gene into VSMCs and ECs high-efficiently with dose-dependent response pattern. The frequencies of transfection reached 100% at the viral titer of 10(9) pfu/ml. Comparing the sensitivities of VSMCs and ECs to adenoviral vectors, we found that ECs were more sensitive than VSMCs, of which the frequencies of transfection in ECs reached 80% while in VSMCs only 40% for 8 hrs after transfection. In addition, the transfection of ECs and VSMCs with adenoviral vectors was partly blocked by monoclonal antibodies to Fiber and Core protein of the adenoviral capsid, but not by monoclonal antibody to Hexon protein. It is suggested transfection of ECs and VSMCs with adenovirus vectors is mediated by Fiber or Core protein of adenoviral capsid proteins.

Adenoviruses, Human↗
PubMed1995

[An epidemiological study on the characteristics of smoking behaviors among 910 young workers in Shangqiu City, Henan Province].

This paper dealt with an epidemiological investigation on the smoking behaviors of the young people in Shangqiu city, Henan province. The period of their working history was less than 5 years and their ages younger than 30 years. The interviewees were chosen from the hospitals, middle or professional schools, and large factories in the city. There were 587 males and 339 females included in this sample. Everyone was asked to complete the self-administered questionnaire in the workplace. The total number of sample was 926. The rate of respondence was 98.3%. Of the 926 questionnaires, 910 (98.3%) were identified as qualified. The investigation showed that the overall smoking rate was 32.1%, with male 64.2% and female 1.5%, respectively. The smoking rate of male was approaching the highest rate of adult males in our country, much higher than that of adolescents in school. The rates were parallelly increasing with years of working. About 50% of the young smokers began to be habitual since started their job, especially from the first four years of work. More than 80 percent of the smoking young workers were mild or light smokers, and did not smoke in "Ban Smoking Place". However, the most popular places for smoking were the place where there is a sign at their workplaces. They smoke most often with their colleagues and friends.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Expression of 72-kDa gelatinase and TIMP-2 in early and late passage human fibroblasts.

The expression and regulation of 72-kDa gelatinase and TIMP-2 were examined in cultures of early and late passage human fibroblasts. In contrast to collagenase expression, which was low in early passage cells and highly expressed in late passage fibroblasts, 72-kDa gelatinase mRNA expression was enhanced only slightly in late passage cultures and 72-kDa gelatinase protein expression was similar in early and late passage cultures. In contrast to published reports of decreased TIMP-1 expression, TIMP-2 mRNA and protein were increased in late passage cells. Exposure to Il-1 alpha increased the steady-state level of 72-kDa gelatinase mRNA by 3x in early passage cells but had no effect on late passage cells. Although Il-1 alpha had no significant effect on TIMP-2 mRNA or on expression of 72-kDa gelatinase, in either early or late passage cells, Il-1 alpha increased the level of a TIMP-2-72-kDa gelatinase complex. Using monoclonal antibodies to TIMP-2 and to 72-kDa gelatinase we detected two forms of TIMP-2. One form was complexed to 72-kDa gelatinase and migrated with an apparent molecular weight of 72 kDa and the other migrated at the expected molecular weight of 21 kDa. Autoradiography in conjunction with Western analysis confirmed that in the late passage cell medium the newly synthesized 72-kDa gelatinase-TIMP-2 complex was increased even though the expression of 72-kDa gelatinase did not change. The present results establish that the regulation of 72-kDa gelatinase and TIMP-2 in early and late passage cultures of human fibroblasts are different from collagenase and TIMP-1 regulation. Further, they establish that in late passage cultures the activity of 72-kDa gelatinase may be regulated through the formation of a denaturation-resistant complex.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗