Biomedical subjects

H Chen

Publications and source records attributed to H Chen.

At least 667 records · Page 37Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Morphology of the dorsal lingual papillae in the blackbuck, Antilope cervicapra.

The dorsal lingual surface of a blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The tongue was about 125 mm in length. There were about 30 vallate papillae on both sides. Filiform, conical, fungiform and vallate papillae were found. The filiform papillae were distributed over the entire dorsal surface of the tongue, excepted for the lingual torus where conical papillae were present. The fugiform papillae were present rounded bodies, and more densely distributed on the tip and ventral surface of ligual apex. No foliate papillae were seen on the dorsal surface. The vallate papillae were located on both sides of the midline in the caudal part. Each papilla was surrounded by a groove. These findings indicate that the tongue of the blackbuck is similar to that of the formosan and japanese serow.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

HIV infection of choroid plexus in AIDS and asymptomatic HIV-infected patients suggests that the choroid plexus may be a reservoir of productive infection.

The choroid plexus (CPx) may be an important site of viral dissemination since monocytes and dendritic cells in its stroma are infected with HIV in AIDS patients and since the ratio of CPx to brain infection is more than 2 : 1. In order to see if CPx infection also develops in asymptomatic (ASY) HIV-infected patients, we examined archival formalin-fixed brain and CPx from 14 AIDS and seven ASY cases, using routine histology, immunohistochemistry for HIV gp41, and DNA extraction and gene amplification for HIV DNA. Eight of 14 AIDS (57%) had HIV-positive cells in the CPx and four (29%) had HIV encephalitis. Two of seven ASY cases (29%) had HIV-positive cells in the CPx but none had HIV encephalitis. Extracted DNA from brain, CPx and systemic organs of five ASY cases was amplified by nested PCR with or without Southern blotting for HIV env gene. It was positive in systemic organs in five cases; in CPx in four cases; and in brain in one case. This study shows that the CPx is a site of HIV infection in ASY patients and that the frequency of CPx infection is higher than seen in brain in both AIDS and ASY cases. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the CPx may be a site for hematogeneous spread and a reservoir for HIV infection during the period of clinical latency.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1999

Nitric oxide derived from endothelial cells inhibits Na+/H+ exchange in rabbit platelets activated by thrombin.

AIM: To study the effect of nitric oxide (NO) derived from endothelial cells on Na+/H+ exchange in rabbit platelets activated by thrombin. METHODS: Intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and intracellular pH (pHi) were measured by the dual-wavelength fluorophotometer with the fluorescent probes Fura-2 and 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Effects of NO on rabbit platelets were tested by cultured bovine endothelial cells (BAEC). RESULTS: BAEC (0.1-1 x 10(9).L-1) inhibited thrombin (100 U.L-1)-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. This inhibiting effect was abolished by preincubating BAEC with NG-nitro-L-arginine 1 mmol.L-1. When the [Ca2+]i store was depleted with ionomycin in the presence of egtazic acid (EGTA), the increase in pHi induced by thrombin was inhibited. Refilling intracellular Ca2+ store partially reversed this effect. BAEC 2 x 10(8).L-1 inhibited thrombin (100 U.L-1)-induced elevation of pHi and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ store (P < 0.01). No direct effect of endothelial cells on unstimulated rabbit platelets was observed. CONCLUSION: NO derived from endothelial cells inhibited thrombin-induced rabbit platelet activation by inhibiting thrombin-induced [Ca2+]i mobilization and then inhibiting the consequent Na+/H+ exchange in rabbit platelets.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Danazol effects on human endometrial cells in vitro.

Although danazol has been reported to inhibit endometrial cell growth in vitro, it is difficult to accept that this is through direct inhibition of danazol on endometrial cells. This is because local danazol therapy improves endometriotic signs and symptoms without any disturbance in ovulation or the menstrual cycle. We have re-evaluated the effects of danazol on human endometrial cells by using normal human endometrial stromal cells and two cell lines derived from highly-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas. Danazol is difficult to dissolve in aqueous solutions, and undissolved danazol significantly inhibited endometrial cell growth even at less than 100 ng/ml. At 500 ng/ml of fully dissolved danazol, which is the therapeutic dose, danazol solution inhibited leukemic cell growth but not endometrial cell growth. Therefore, the action of danazol may be not an inhibitory effect but rather a regulatory function of endometrial cell growth.

Cell Division↗

PubMed1999

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and high-field nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of novel mixed diconjugates of the non-nucleoside human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor, efavirenz.

Efavirenz (Sustiva) is a potent and specific inhibitor of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and is approved for the treatment of HIV infection. The metabolism of efavirenz in different species has been described previously. Efavirenz is primarily metabolized in rats to the glucuronide conjugate of 8-OH efavirenz. Electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses of bile samples from rats dosed with either efavirenz or with 8-OH efavirenz revealed three polar metabolites, M9, M12, and M13, with pseudomolecular ions [M-H](-) at m/z 733, 602, and 749, respectively. The characteristic mass spectral fragmentation patterns obtained for metabolites M9 and M13 suggested that these were glutathione-sulfate diconjugates, and the presence of a glutathione moiety in metabolite M9 was confirmed by liquid chromatograpy/nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of bile extracts. Metabolite M12 was characterized by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry as a glucuronide-sulfate diconjugate. Unambiguous structures of M9, M12, and M13 were obtained from one-dimensional proton and carbon NMR as well as proton-proton (correlated spectroscopy, two-dimensional shift correlation), proton-carbon heteronuclear multiple quantum correlation, and long-range proton-carbon (heteronuclear multiple bond correlation) correlated two-dimensional NMR analyses of metabolites isolated from rat bile. The mass spectral and NMR analyses of M10, which was isolated from rat urine, suggested a cysteinylglycine-sulfate diconjugate. The isolation of these polar metabolites for further characterization by NMR was aided by mass spectral analyses of HPLC fractions and solid phase extraction extracts during the isolation steps. The complete characterization of these novel diconjugates demonstrates that further phase II metabolism of polar conjugates such as sulfates could take place in vivo.

Alkynes↗

PubMed1999

Synthesis and release of docosahexaenoic acid by the RPE cells of prcd-affected dogs.

PURPOSE: Dogs affected with progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd) have reduced levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) in their plasma and rod photoreceptor outer segments (ROS). Dietary supplementation of DHA has failed to increase the ROS DHA levels to that of unaffected control dogs. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that prcd-affected dogs have a reduced capacity for the synthesis and/or release of DHA in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS: RPE cells (first passage cultures) from prcd-affected and normal dogs were incubated with [3H]eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) for 24 and 72 hours. After incubation, the radiolabeled fatty acids in the cells and media were analyzed. RESULTS: DHA and all its metabolic intermediates were detected in RPE cells from prcd-affected and normal dogs. No significant difference was found in the amount of products (including DHA) synthesized between normal and affected RPE cells at either time point. In the culture media, RPE cells from prcd-affected dogs released significantly more DHA than cells from normal dogs after 72-hour incubation, but not after 24-hour incubation. CONCLUSIONS: RPE cells from prcd-affected dogs can synthesize and release DHA at least as efficiently as cells from normal dogs. Therefore, synthesis of DHA from its precursor and its release from RPE cells does not appear to contribute to the reduction in ROS DHA levels found in prcd-affected animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[A preliminary study on the genetic susceptibility of asthma in a Chinese population].

OBJECTIVE: To study the asthma genetic susceptibility by way of ccandidate region so as to accumulate data on the related loci in Chinese population and determine whether genetic susceptibility to asthma is linked to the chromosome region. METHODS: One hundred ninety-two samples from 32 families were collected from Zhaoan county in Fujian province. Two Rsa I polymorphic sites within uncoded region of the high-affinity IgE receptor beta chain gene (Fc(epsilon) RI-beta) located on chromosome 11q13 were detected by PCR/Rsa I restriction endonuclease digestion. The polymorphic markers D5S436 and D5S393 within chromosome 5q31-33 were amplified by PCR incorporated with radioactive isotope. The asthma family samples were compared with unrelated samples randomly selected from general population. RESULTS: Genotypes containing A allele within intron 2 polymorphic site of Fc(epsilon) RI-beta gene were associated with asthma (P<0.05,OR = 2.039). Significant difference in the level of total serum IgE was noted among three genotypes of intron 2 polymorphic site of Fc(epsilon) RI-beta gene (P<0.05). The association between A allele and elevated total serum IgE was also significant (P<0.05, RR = 1.361). No relationship between exon 7 polymorphic site of Fc epsilonRI-beta gene and asthma was shown. By sib-pair analysis, significant evidence for linkage to asthma was observed with D5S436 (P<0.05) but not with D5S393. No significant linkage to total serum IgE was identified with both of these markers. CONCLUSION: The above-accumulated data suggested that both Fc epsilonRI-beta gene and chromosome 5q31-33 could be very attractive candidate gene and region for further studies in Chinese population, and to confirm these preliminary results, more markers within these regions merit testing in additional population samples.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Catalysis of drug oxidation during embryogenesis in human hepatic tissues using imipramine as a model substrate.

We investigated the catalysis of drug monooxygenation by human embryonic hepatic tissues at a very early stage of gestation (days 52-59). Imipramine was used as a model substrate and the metabolites generated were identified and quantified by electrospray mass spectroscopy and HPLC. The primary metabolite generated was desipramine. It was reported previously from this and other laboratories that cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (CYP) 1A1, 1B1, 2E1, and 3A7 are each expressed in human embryonic hepatic tissues, and selective inhibitors were therefore used to elucidate their respective roles. Furafylline did not inhibit the reaction, supporting that CYP1A2 was not expressed in human embryonic hepatic tissues. Diethyldithiocarbamate also failed to inhibit the same reaction, suggesting that CYP2E1 did not play a significant role in catalyzing the reaction. Triacetyloleandomycin inhibited the reaction by approximately 90%, suggesting that CYP3A7 was primarily responsible for catalyzing the reaction. However, alpha-naphthoflavone inhibited the same reaction by approximately 70%, suggesting that CYP1A1 and/or CYP1B1 may also catalyze the reaction substantially. To explore this issue more, a cDNA-expressed human CYP3A7 (CYP3A7 SUPERSOMES) was incubated with alpha-naphthoflavone (1 microM). Generation of desipramine was inhibited by approximately 40 to 50%. The addition of the CYP3A subfamily selective inhibitor triacetyloleandomycin (1 microM) produced no statistically significant inhibition in reactions catalyzed by CYP1A1 or 1B1 SUPERSOMES. Taken together, the results indicated that CYP3A7 was the major if not sole isoform responsible for catalysis of the N-demethylation of imipramine in human hepatic tissues during embryogenesis.

Catalysis↗

PubMed1999

Identification and characterization of efavirenz metabolites by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and high field NMR: species differences in the metabolism of efavirenz.

Efavirenz (Sustiva, Fig. 1) is a potent and specific inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase approved for the treatment of HIV infection. To examine the potential differences in the metabolism among species, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry profiles of efavirenz metabolites in urine of rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, cynomolgus monkeys, and humans were obtained and compared. The metabolites of efavirenz were isolated, and structures were determined unequivocally by mass spectral and NMR analyses. Efavirenz was metabolized extensively by all the species as evidenced by the excretion of none or trace quantities of parent compound in urine. Significant species differences in the metabolism of efavirenz were observed. The major metabolite excreted in the urine of all species was the O-glucuronide conjugate (M1) of the 8-hydroxylated metabolite. Efavirenz was also metabolized by direct conjugation with glucuronic acid, forming the N-glucuronide (M2) in all five species. The sulfate conjugate of 8-OH efavirenz (M3) was found in the urine of rats and cynomolgus monkeys but not in humans. In addition to the aromatic ring-hydroxylated products, metabolites with a hydroxylated cyclopropane ring (at C14) were also isolated. GSH-related products of efavirenz were identified in rats and guinea pigs. The cysteinylglycine adduct (M10), formed from the GSH adduct (M9), was found in significant quantities in only rat and guinea pig urine and was not detected in other species. In vitro metabolism studies were conducted to show that the GSH adduct was produced from the cyclopropanol intermediate (M11) in the presence of only rat liver and kidney subcellular fractions and was not formed by similar preparations from humans or cynomolgus monkeys. These studies indicated the existence of a specific glutathione-S-transferase in rats capable of metabolizing the cyclopropanol metabolite (M11) to the GSH adduct, M9. The biotransformation pathways of efavirenz in different species were proposed based on some of the in vitro results.

Alkynes↗

PubMed1999

Effects of monoclonal antibody on colonization of Streptococcus sobrinus and development of dental caries in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of local application of monoclonal antibody (McAb) raised against the 210KD cell surface protein antigen (PAg) of Streptococcus sobrinus on the colonization of rats' teeth and the development of dental caries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: group 1 received McAb against PAg; group 2 received unrelated mice ascites; group 3 received pure buffered saline. The bacteria were applied 6 times to the occlusal surfaces of molars and to the labial surfaces of incisors. After three applications, streptomycin-resistant S. sobrinus 6715 was applied to the teeth and the rats were fed with caries-inducing diet 2000. The number of colonized S. sobrinus was counted on the streptomycin-supplemented mutans streptocci agar and expressed as a percentage of the total colonies on BHI agar. The presence of caries was examined and scored following Keyes' procedure. RESULTS: There were significantly lower levels of colonization by S. sobrinus on rats' teeth and lower mean caries scores on the teeth treated with McAb compared with those in the control groups. CONCLUSION: Local passive immunization with McAb against PAg may be an effective way to prevent colonization by implanted S. sobrinus and development of dental caries.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1999

The current management of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer constitutes 1% of solid organ malignancies. The majority of patients with thyroid carcinoma are cured with adequate surgical management. Table 6 summarizes our standard initial treatment of PTC, follicular cancers, MTC, Hürthle cell carcinomas, thyroid lymphoma, anaplastic carcinoma, and metastases to the thyroid. It is paramount that thyroidectomy be performed by an experienced surgeon to avoid morbidity that would compromise the quality of life in individuals anticipated to enjoy long-term survival.

Biopsy, Needle↗

PubMed1999

[Determination of trisomy 9p by molecular cytogenetic technology].

OBJECTIVE: To use molecular cytogenetic techniques for the determination of complex chromosomal aberrations that could not be distinguished by conventional cytogenetic method. METHODS: Chromosome painting, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and color banding chromosome analysis (RxFISH) were used to identify a case with chromosome 9 aberration by G-banding. RESULTS: The patient has a karyotype of 46,XX,9p+ by G-banding. Both chromosomes 9 were uniformly painted, including the extra segment on one of the 9p alleles. CGH revealed a duplication of the entire 9p short arm. After analysis with RxFISH the patient's karyotype could be accurately described as 46,XX,dup9p (p11-->p24::p24-->qter). CONCLUSION: The present report shows that some late technological developments in the field of cytogenetics can facilitate the study of the diseases linked to complex chromosomal aberrations and may find significant application in basic and clinical medical studies.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1999

[Cloning and sequences comparison of promoters from Aspergillus niger].

An Aspergillus niger (A. niger) genomic library was constructed in a promoter-trap vector, which contains a Hygromycin B (Hy) phosphotransferase-encoding gene (hph) and screened for DNA fragments with promoter activity by applying the sib selection procedure. A functional promoter PX27 was identified. Both DNA strands of this fragment were sequenced and showed no significant homology to the sequence already in the database. Comparison of the sequences of all known promoters from A. niger revealed a consensus CTTCTC, as a novel motif of the A. niger promoters.

Aspergillus niger↗

PubMed1999

Linkage analysis of 153 prostate cancer families over a 30-cM region containing the putative susceptibility locus HPCX.

Several genetic epidemiological studies have provided data to support the hypothesis that there are genes on the X chromosome that may contribute to prostate cancer susceptibility. A recent linkage study of 360 prostate cancer families described evidence for a prostate cancer predisposition gene, termed HPCX, which maps to Xq27-28. To confirm the potential contribution of this locus to prostate cancer susceptibility in an independent dataset, we studied 153 unrelated families who are participants in the University of Michigan Prostate Cancer Genetics Project. Families selected for this analysis have at least two living family members with prostate cancer that are related in a way that they could potentially share a common ancestral copy of an X chromosome. DNA samples were genotyped using a panel of seven polymorphic markers spanning 30 cM and containing the HPCX candidate region. The resulting data were analyzed using both nonparametric and parametric linkage methods. Analysis of all 153 families using multipoint non-parametric linkage (NPL) methods resulted in positive NPL Z-scores across the entire candidate interval (NPL Z-scores of 0.23-1.06, with corresponding one-sided Ps of 0.41 and 0.15, respectively). The 11 African-American families had negative NPL Z-scores across the same 30-cM interval. Analysis of the 140 Caucasian families produced a maximal NPL Z-score of 1.20, with a corresponding one-sided P of 0.12 at marker DXS1113. The subset of families with no evidence of male-to-male disease transmission and with early-onset prostate cancer (average age at diagnosis within a family < or = 65 years) contributed disproportionately to the evidence for linkage for the entire dataset in the HPCX candidate region (near marker DXS1113). In conclusion, this study of 153 families, each with two or more living members with prostate cancer, provides some additional support for the existence of a prostate cancer susceptibility gene at Xq27-28.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

Effects of spinach powder fat-soluble extract on proliferation of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Four kinds of assays were used to study the effect of a fat-soluble extract of spinach powder (SPFE) on the proliferation of human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (SGC-7901) in vitro. These studies included: (i) cell growth assay, (ii) colony forming assay, (iii) MTT colorimetric assay, and (iv) 3H-TdR incorporation assay. The concentrations of SPFE expressed as the level of beta-carotene in the medium were 2 x 10(-8), 2 x 10(-7) and 2 x 10(-6) mol/L beta-carotene in assay (i)-(iii), but 4 x 10(-8), 4 x 10(-7) and 4 x 10(-6) mol/L beta-carotene in assay (iv) respectively. The results indicated that SPFE inhibited the proliferation and colony forming ability of SGC-7901 cells. And in MTT assay, SPFE inhibited the viability of SGC-7901 cells, but no inhibitory effect of SPFE was observed on the viability of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of healthy people. Finally, in the 3H-TdR incorporation test, both SPFE and beta-carotene showed significant inhibitory effects on DNA synthesis in SGC-7901 cells, but SPFE was more effective than beta-carotene.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1999

[Measurement of boundary line of urinary bladder and peritoneum in abdominal wall and the application in performing cesarean section with urinary bladder reversal method].

OBJECTIVE: To provide the basic research data and clinical application in performing extraperitoneal cesarean section (CS) with urinary bladder reversal method. METHODS: The position and the surface projection of the vesico-peritoneal fold and the apex of the urinary bladder were measured in 107 cases of term pregnant women (37-42 weeks, aged 20-40). RESULTS: The distance from the bladder apex to the umbilicus and to the symphysis pubis were (14.1 +/- 3.4) cm and (6.8 +/- 1.4) cm respectively, while from the utero-vesical pouch to umbilicus and symphysis pubis were (15.8 +/- 3.9) cm and (4.9 +/- 1.5) cm respectively. During late pregnancy the projection of bladder apex was located at the point between the middle and the lower 1/3 of the line from umbilicus to symphysis pubis; while the utero-vesical pouch was located at the point between upper 3/4 and the lower 1/4 of the same line. The time interval from the start of operation to the delivery of baby was (14.56 +/- 6.3) min, and the total operation period was (45.5 +/- 9.3) min. The largest baby weighed 5,050 gm and there was no bladder injury. CONCLUSION: To define the position of vesical peritoneal fold would give benefit to the extraperitoneal CS with bladder reversal method which was performed under direct visualization and could avoid injury of bladder.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Apoptosis and necrosis of neuron after focal ischemia in brain of rats].

This article reports the apoptosis and necrosis of neurons following ischemia-reperfusion in the brain of rats. The focal ischemia model was established by occluding the middle cerebral artery for 2 h and reperfusing for 0.5-48 h. The neuronal changes were investigated by HE staining, TUNEL and agarose gel-electrophoresis. The foci of ischemia were in the preoptic area, striatum and cortex. At 0.5 h of reperfusion, there were quite a few apoptotic neurons in the preoptic ischemic focus, but only a few scattered apoptotic cells were seen in the striatum and cortex. During 3-6 h of reperfusion, the number of apoptotic cells increased and the necrotic cells appeared. The number of apoptotic cells reached a peak at 12-24 h and the in morphology varied, and they were mainly located in the inner boundary of infarct. At 48 h, the apoptotic cells decreased; and the necrotic cells increased. Agarose gel-electrophoresis showed the dense smear and ladder pattern of DNA fragments, the apoptosis and necrosis of neurons coexisted, and apoptosis contributed to the enlargement of the ischemic infarct.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[In vitro study on the effects of the novel retinoids combined with IFN-gamma on the proliferation and differentiation of fresh acute monocytic leukemic cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prospect for clinical use of novel retinoids YS 904012 and R 9158 in combination with IFN-gamma in inducing differentiation of acute monocytic leukemia. METHODS: The effects of novel retinoids with IFN-gamma on the differentiation and clonal proliferation of fresh leukemia cell from 6 monocytic leukemia patients were studied in vitro. Cell morphological examination, nitro tetrazolium blue reduction test and DCE, expression of CD14 and CD68 and CFU-L were used in the study. RESULTS: The primary leukemia cell, cultured with the combination of YS 904012 and IFN-gamma, became more mature in morphology. The NBT reduction rate and DCE were increased from 23.4% and 25.0% to 61.5% and 52.0%, respectively. The expression of CD14 and CD68 was increased. The growth of the leukemic colony in semi-solid culture was markedly inhibited. The activity of YS 904012 combined with IFN-gamma in inhibiting proliferation and inducing differentiation of monoblast was greater than that of R9158 or all-trans retinoic acid in combination with IFN-gamma (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The YS 904012 combined with IFN-gamma is worthy of further study for clinical differentiation therapy of acute monocytic leukemia.

Adult↗