[Abortion induced by drug with the addition of Shenghua Decoction: an analysis of 100 cases].
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Abortion, Induced↗
Biomedical subjects
Hong Xu
Publications and source records attributed to Hong Xu.
Antiarrhythmic effect of endothelin-A receptor antagonist on acute ischemic arrhythmia in isolated rat heart.
AIM: To observe the effects of endothelin receptor subtype A (ETA) and B (ETB) antagonists on acute ischemic arrhythmia in isolated rat heart, and to determine whether endogenous endothelin (ET) was implicated in the pathophysiological process of arrhythmia induced by acute myocardial ischemia. METHODS: Fifty-three SD male rats were randomized into 8 groups. Heart was isolated and perfused in Langendorff mode and acute ischemia model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The effects of ETA receptor antagonist PD156707 and ETB receptor antagonist IRL1038 on arrhythmia, heart function, the myocardial activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the content of melondialdehyde (MDA) during the acute 60-min ischemic phase were analyzed. RESULTS: Pretreatment with PD156707 (20-500 nmol/L) dose-dependently improved the ischemic isolated heart function, enhanced SOD activity and decreased MDA content in the ischemic myocardium, and suppressed the acute ischemic arrhythmia. Conversely pretreatment with IRL1038 did not change the heart function, SOD activity, MDA content, and the acute ischemic arrhythmia significantly as compared with the occlusion control. CONCLUSION: ETA receptor antagonist effectively improved heart function, enhanced anti-oxidative function of the myocardium and reduced arrhythmia during the acute ischemic phase in isolated rat hearts, while ETB receptor antagonist did not exert protective effects, suggesting that endogenous ET-1, acting through ETA receptor, may be one of the factors implicated in arrhythmia and impairment to heart function during the acute ischemic phase.
Animals↗
[Construction of shuttle expression vector and expression of thymosin alpha 1 in Synechococcus sp. PCC7942].
The shutter expression vector pPREUT was constructed from the plasmid pPRS-1 containing the endogenous small plasmid of Plectonema boryanum. The expression elements such as heat shock gene groESL promoter, foreign gene Ub-thymosin alpha 1, rbcS polyA terminator and Kanamycin resistance gene were all included. The shutter plasmid pPREUT was directly transferred into Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. The transformants were obtained through Kanamycin screening. Southern blotting analysis showed that the shutter plasmid have been transferred into Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. After induction by heat shock(42 degrees C) for 30 min, the foreign protein UB-T alpha 1 was expressed efficiently, which reached 7.5% of total amount protein.
Cyanobacteria↗
[Clinical analysis of 15 cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis].
OBJECTIVE: To facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary sarcoidosis. METHOD: The clinical data of 15 cases of pulmonary sarcoidosis were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among these patients, 7 were identified with respiratory symptoms as the initial clinical representations, and 6 patients initially presented extrapulmonary symptoms, with 2 patients having no discomfort. Chest X-ray and lung CT scan results of 13 cases showed symmetrical lymph node enlargement in the bilateral lung hilus and mediastinum. Twelve patients had increased serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels, and 10 had increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, with only 1 case showing positive result in purified protein derivative skin test. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary sarcoidosis has atypical clinical symptoms, and the diagnosis should be reached by a careful evaluation of the clinical representations in conjunction with X-ray, CT, and laboratory test results.
Adolescent↗
The characterization of Ca(2+)-calmodulin independent phosphorylation of myosin light chains by a fragment from myosin light chain kinase.
A constitutively active myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) fragment (MLCKF) was found to phosphorylate myosin light chains (MLC(20)) in a Ca(2+)-CaM independent way more effectively than the intact MLCK. The MLCKF was prepared by tryptic digestion of MLCK. Western blot was used to demonstrate the homogeneity of trypsin-digested MLCKF and intact MLCK. Phosphorylation of MLC(20) was detected by Gly-PAGE and Scoin Image Software, and Mg(2+)-ATPase activity of myosin was measured with spectrophotometry. Our results indicated that Ca(2+)-CaM independent phosphorylation of myosin (CIPM) by MLCKF was more efficient than CIPM by MLCK and less efficient than Ca(2+)-CaM dependent phosphorylation of myosin (CDPM) by MLCK in phosphorylating MLC(20) and stimulating myosin Mg(2+)-ATPase activity; both CIPM by MLCKF and CIPM by MLCK were less influenced by the rise of incubation-temperature, the prolonging of incubation-time, the increase of ionic strength of KCl and less sensitive to MLCK inhibitor ML-9 1-(5-chloronaphthalene-1-sulfonyl) -1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine than CDPM by MLCK. The differences were statistically significant ((P)<0.01, or (P)<0.05). The results may be valuable to further investigating the mechanisms of sustained tension characterized by less energy consumption.
Blotting, Western↗
[Validation of cDNA microarray technology].
cDNA microarray is a technological approach that has the potential to globally measure changes in mRNA expression levels. Self-comparison experiments with the same kind of tissue and differential expression experiments with the different kinds of tissue have been done to verify the reproducibility and the accuracy of this technique. The parameter of the reliability and the reproducibility of the microarray data were analyzed by correlation coefficient (R), coefficient of variation (CV) and false positive rate (FPR) etc. Meanwhile, the error resource also has been inspected. These results showed that generally the correlation coefficient of data from this cDNA microarray system was more than 0.9, the coefficient of variation was about 15%, and the false positive rate was below 3%. The result proves the accuracy of the cDNA microarray data. Consistence rate (CR) was advanced here as a new parameter to evaluate the reproducibility of two replicate experiments. It has some advantages over correlation coefficient and coefficient of variation. The influence of some important factors in the experiments, such as different concentration of spotted DNA, mRNA and total RNA, different batches of slides and different processes of labeling, have been investigated by comparing the results. It was shown that most of the false position produced by the experiment system could be reduced by replicate experiments.
Humans↗
[Progress on study and treatment of infantile enuresis].
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Acupuncture Therapy↗
[Influenza surveillance program in 2002-2003, in China].
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of influenza viruses from April 2002 to June 2003. METHODS: Subtypes were identified by HI test, HA gene was amplified by RT-PCR and the nucleotide sequences of HA gene were analyzed. RESULTS: During the period of April 2002 to June 2003, a total number of 16 135 throat swab specimens were collected in 23 provinces, metropolitan areas and municipalities with 1 113 strains identified as influenza viruses positive, by the Chinese National Influenza Center. The rate of isolation was 6.9%. Of the 1 113 strains, 66 strains were influenza A-H1N1, 544 strains were influenza A-H3N2 viruses while 98 and 405 strains belonged to B/Yamagata and B/Victoria viruses with the rates of isolation on each subtype were 5.9%, 48.9%, 8.8% and 36.4%, respectively. Majority of influenza A (H3N2) viruses were isolated in the epidemic period of December 2002 and January 2003 as well as in the non-epidemic period. Different to influenza A-H3N2, most of the B/Victoria viruses were isolated in winter. The HA1 gene of B type strains belonged to B/Victoria lineage. Sequence analysis indicated that there were variations in influenza type in this epidemic season. CONCLUSIONS: Although influenza A subtype H1N1 and H3N2 as well as B type viruses were co-circulating in our country, the influenza A (H3N2) and B/Victoria isolates were found the predominant strains in the period of this study which were different from the previous years. The fact that the increase of proportion on B/Victoria and its widespread in many areas suggested there had been a change of epidemiological features caused by influenza viruses in China. It seemed important to pay more attention to the variation of HA gene in influenza A type (H3N2) strains.
China↗
[Effect of hepatitis B vaccine immunization on HBV associated nephritis in children].
OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B has been extensively prevalent in China and hepatitis B virus associated nephritis (HBV-GN) has been one of the common renal damages secondary to HBV infection in Chinese children. Regular vaccination against hepatitis B has been carried out nation-wide in China since January 1st, 1992. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of regular vaccination against hepatitis B virus on the incidence of childhood HBV-GN and membranous nephropathy (MN). METHODS: Retrospective analysis on the results of renal biopsy in 727 patients (from Nov. 1979 to March 2002) was carried out. The patients were first divided into two groups according to the date when the patients were seen. Group A patients were seen from Nov. 1979 through Dec. 1991; Group B patients were seen from Jan. 1992 through March 2002. Group B patients were further divided into 5 subgroups (Group B(1) to B(5)), with a 2-year interval after 1992. Secondly, each of these groups and subgroups were again divided into two groups, vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. RESULTS: In 727 renal biopsies, 64 cases (8.80%) met HBV-GN diagnostic criteria. Twenty-eight cases were diagnosed as HBV-GN in Group A (211 cases), accounting for 13.27%, while there were 36 cases with HBV-GN in 516 renal biopsies of Group B, accounting for 6.98% (chi(2) = 7.397 and P < 0.01). The frequency in Group B was significantly lower. Prevalence rate (from Group A to Group B(5)) was 13.3% (28/211), 13.0% (9/69), 7.3% (6/82), 6.3% (4/64), 4.9% (4/82), 5.9% (13/219), respectively, which showed a tendency of decline. Only 8 cases of HBV-GN occurred in vaccinated group (231 cases), accounting for 3.5%, while 48 cases of HBV-GN were seen in unvaccinated group (381 cases), accounting for 12.6% (chi(2) = 14.44 and P < 0.001), vaccination history was unknown in 115 of the 727 cases. In 727 renal biopsies, pathological type of 46 cases (6.3%) was membranous nephropathy and all of them had HBV-GN. Six cases of MN occurred in vaccinated group, accounting for 2.60%, while 40 cases with membranous nephropathy were found in unvaccinated group, accounting for 10.5% (chi(2) = 12.92 and P < 0.001). On the other hand, in vaccinated group there still were 8 cases of HBV-GN whose serum markers of HBV were positive. Two of their mothers had apparent evidence of hepatitis B virus infection. CONCLUSION: The frequency of HBV-GN has decreased significantly after vaccination against hepatitis B virus was routinely carried out since 1992; at the same time, childhood membranous nephropathy might be decreasing gradually, too. The cause of individual cases of HBV-GN who has be vaccinated was probably due to maternal-infant transmission and immunization failure. Attention should be paid to interruption of maternal-infant transmission and serological follow-up should be performed in high-risk newborns after vaccination to further lower the incidence of hepatitis B virus associated nephritis.
Child↗
[Pre-operation application of recombinant human growth hormone for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and hypoproteinemia].
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of pre-operation use of recombinant human growth Sixty patients with hormone (rhGH) for liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and hypoproteinemia. METHODS: Sixty patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension and hypoproteinemia (child's class B) were randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and rhGH group (n = 30). The patients in the rhGH group were given subcutaneously growth hormone at a dose of 4 i.u. per day for five days before operation. All patients were given the same parenteral nutrition before operation. The levels of albumin, globulin, prealbumin, and blood sugar were measured before and 3, 4, and 5 days after given the hormone. Results The prealbumin increased 3 days after given the hormone (P < 0.05), while the albumin increased 5 days after given the hormone (P < 0.05). The general condition and the quality of life of the patients receiving the hormone improved. No side effects had been found. The blood sugar and globulin did not change over time in both groups. CONCLUSION: The pre-operation use of the recombinant human growth hormone may benefit to the alleviation of hypoproteinemia and to the improvement of the quality of life of the patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension and hypoproteinemia when combined with the use of parenteral nutrition.
Adult↗
[Expression of a DNA fragment encoding the active domain of human TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand in pichia pastoris].
Human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of ligands which has been reported in 1995. The TRAIL protein induces apoptosis of certain types of target cells, such as transformed cells that include but are not limited to cancer cells and virus-infected cells but the normal cells. It is a type II transmembrane protein and the extracellular domain of TRAIL is the functional domain in induction of cell apoptosis. A gene fragment encoding for the active domain of TRAIL was modified with oligo-nucleotide directed mutagenesis according to the characters of Pichia pastoris expressing vector. Arginine at the position of 149 corresponding to the amino acid residue 531 which might be a potential Kex2 protease processing sites was substituted with Lysine to prevent the expressed protein from the digestion by the protease. After proved with DNA sequencing. the modified gene fragment coding soluble TRAIL domain was inserted into the Pichia pastoris expression vector pPIC9K in the same reading frame with alpha-factor secreting signal peptide. The recombinant plasmid pPIC9K - TRAIL was transferred into P. pastoris cell by spheroplast transformation. The recombinant yeasts were identified by antibiotic G418 and Southern dot blot. The transformants (His+ Mut(s)) containing multi-copy gene fragment of TRAIL were selected with increasing concentration of G418 and induced with 0.5% methanol in shaking flask to expression the active domain of TRAIL. After inducing for 3 - 4 days, the proteins in the culture supernatant was assayed with SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Two expressed protein bands whose appearant molecular weight were 19kD and 38kD, respectively, could be specifically recognized by polyclonal antibodies against human TRAIL. The 38kD protein might be a dimers of TRAIL in the culture supernatant. The amount of expressed foreign protein made up to 36% of the total proteins in the culture suprenatant. Biological activity assay, in vitro, indicated that the expressed protein could induce tumor cells apoptosis.
Apoptosis↗
Identification of the amino acid residues in trichosanthin crucial for IgE response.
Trichosanthin (TCS) is the major effective component from Chinese herb Trichosanthes kirilowii. TCS has been approved to be effective in clinical treatment of HIV infection and leukemia, but its allergenicity has limited its clinical usage. To identify amino acid residues in TCS with an important role in IgE induction, TCS-specific IgE mAb (TE1) was used to serve as a probe and TE1 epitope was determined by a random phage-peptide library. Based on phage peptide sequences, TE1 epitope was predicted at amino acid residues 169-174 (QQIGKR) of TCS protein. Based on modeling data, two amino acids (Lys173 and Arg174) on TCS were considered to have a crucial role in binding to TE1. After lysine 173 and arginine 174 were mutated to glycine, the mutant TCS protein specifically lost the binding activity to TE1 mAb and exhibited reduced IgE induction in the immunized mice. The data showed that the IgE epitope of TCS was determined and shown to play a critical role in induction of IgE, and the modification of IgE-epitope may be a useful strategy to reduce the allergenicity of an allergen.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The presence of chlorophyll b in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 disturbs tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and enhances chlorophyll degradation.
Both chlorophyll (Chl) a and b accumulate in the light in a Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strain that expresses higher plant genes coding for a light-harvesting complex II protein and Chl a oxygenase. This cyanobacterial strain also lacks photosystem (PS) I and cannot synthesize Chl in darkness because of the lack of chlL. When this PS I-less/chlL(-)/lhcb(+)/cao(+) strain was grown in darkness, small amounts of two unusual tetrapyrroles, protochlorophyllide (PChlide) b and pheophorbide (pheide) b, were identified. Accumulation of PChlide b trailed that of PChlide a by several days, suggesting that PChlide a is an inefficient substrate of Chl a oxygenase. The presence of pheide b in this organism suggests a breakdown of Chl b via a pathway that does not involve conversion to a-type pigments. When the PS I-less/chlL(-) control strain was grown in darkness, Chl degradation was much slower than in the PS I-less/chlL(-)/lhcb(+)/cao(+) strain, suggesting that the presence of Chl b leads to more rapid turnover of Chl-binding proteins and/or a more active Chl degradation pathway. Levels and biosynthesis kinetics of Chl and of its biosynthetic intermediates are very different in the PS I-less/chlL(-)/lhcb(+)/cao(+) strain versus in the control. Moreover, when grown in darkness for 14 days, upon the addition of delta-aminolevulinic acid, the level of magnesium-protoporphyrin IX increased 60-fold in the PS I-less/chlL(-)/lhcb(+)/cao(+) strain (only approximately 2-fold in the PS I-less/chlL(-) control strain), whereas the PChlide and protoheme levels remained fairly constant. We propose that a b-type PChlide, Chl, or pheide in the PS I-less/chlL(-)/lhcb(+)/cao(+) strain may bind to tetrapyrrole biosynthesis regulatory protein(s) (for example, the small Cab-like proteins) and thus affect the regulation of this pathway.
Chlorophyll↗
Discovery and analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma genes using cDNA microarrays.
PURPOSE: Microarray analysis on a genomic scale was used to profile changes in gene expression accompanying hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Gene expression profiles of liver tissues from twelve hepatocellular carcinoma samples relative to the gene expression profile of the normal liver tissue were analyzed using 4096 chips and 12800 chips. The results of microarray experiments were verified by the Northern blot technique. RESULTS: A group of 1,820 genes with altered expression were identified in more than 50% of the patients examined. This highly concordant expression profile included human genes encoding proteins involved in the function of peroxisomes, serum control, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogenesis, cell growth and differentiation, metastasis, the function of the immune system, apoptosis, and remodeling of the cytoskeleton. CONCLUSIONS: The newly identified genes afford a quantitative view of the changes that accompany liver cancer at the genomic level, enable deeper insights into the molecular basis of disease, and provide an extensive list of potential early-onset molecular markers for improved diagnosis.
Adult↗
[Value of three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography in diagnosis and planning endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular diseases].
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of three-dimensional (3D) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in diagnosis and planning endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. METHODS: Standard DSA and 3D-DSA were performed in 40 adult patients (aged 21 approximately 74 years) suspected to be with cerebrovascular diseases. The schemes of endovascular treatment were worked out according to the results of 3D-DSA. RESULTS: Positive rate of standard DSA and 3D-DSA were 85.0% and 95.0% respectively in diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases. 100% occlusion was achieved in 11 patients with intracranial aneurysms and in 7 patients with arteriovenous malformations, and 100% recanalization was achieved in 9 patients with ischemic stroke. Temporary complications were found in 3 of all patients (7.9%). CONCLUSIONS: 3D-DSA is an ideal tool superior to standard DSA in diagnosis of cerebrovascular diseases and has potential value for evaluating endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.
Adult↗
Human receptors for sweet and umami taste.
The three members of the T1R class of taste-specific G protein-coupled receptors have been hypothesized to function in combination as heterodimeric sweet taste receptors. Here we show that human T1R2/T1R3 recognizes diverse natural and synthetic sweeteners. In contrast, human T1R1/T1R3 responds to the umami taste stimulus l-glutamate, and this response is enhanced by 5'-ribonucleotides, a hallmark of umami taste. The ligand specificities of rat T1R2/T1R3 and T1R1/T1R3 correspond to those of their human counterparts. These findings implicate the T1Rs in umami taste and suggest that sweet and umami taste receptors share a common subunit.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
CD8(+), alphabeta-TCR(+), and gammadelta-TCR(+) cells in the recipient hematopoietic environment mediate resistance to engraftment of allogeneic donor bone marrow.
Historically, conditioning for engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells has been nonspecific. In the present study, we characterized which cells in the recipient hematopoietic microenvironment prevent allogeneic marrow engraftment. Mice defective in production of alphabeta-TCR(+), gammadelta-TCR(+), alphabeta- plus gammadelta-TCR(+), CD8(+), or CD4(+) cells were transplanted with MHC-disparate allogeneic bone marrow. Conditioning with 500 cGy total body irradiation (TBI) plus a single dose of cyclophosphamide (CyP) on day +2 establishes chimerism in normal recipients. When mice were conditioned with 300 cGy TBI plus a single dose of CyP on day +2, all engrafted, except wild-type controls and those defective in production of CD4(+) T cells. Mice lacking both alphabeta- and gammadelta-TCR(+) cells engrafted without conditioning, suggesting that both alphabeta- and gammadelta-TCR T cells in the host play critical and nonredundant roles in preventing engraftment of allogeneic bone marrow. CD8 knockout (KO) mice engrafted without TBI, but only if they received CyP on day +2 relative to the marrow infusion, showing that a CD8(-) cell was targeted by the CyP conditioning. The CD8(+) cell effector function is mechanistically different from that for conventional T cells, and independent of CD4(+) T helper cells because CD4 KO mice require substantially higher levels of conditioning than the other KO phenotypes. These results suggest that a number of cell populations with different mechanisms of action mediate resistance to engraftment of allogeneic marrow. Targeting of specific recipient cellular populations may permit conditioning approaches to allow mixed chimerism with minimal morbidity and could potentially avoid the requirement for myelotoxic agents altogether.
Animals↗
Small Cab-like proteins regulating tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
In the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 five open reading frames (scpA-scpE) have been identified that code for single-helix proteins resembling helices I and III of chlorophyll a/b-binding (Cab) antenna proteins from higher plants. They have been named SCPs (small Cab-like proteins). Deletion of a single scp gene in a wild-type or in a photosystem I-less (PS I-less) strain has little effect. However, the effects of functional deletion of scpB or scpE were remarkable under conditions where chlorophyll availability was limited. When cells of a strain lacking PS I and chlL (coding for a polypeptide needed for light-independent protochlorophyllide reduction) were grown in darkness, the phycobilin and protochlorophyllide levels decreased upon deletion of scpB or scpE and the protoheme level was reduced in the strain lacking scpE. Addition of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in darkness drastically increased the level of Mg-protoporphyrin IX and Mg-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester in the PS I-less/ch/L-/scpE- strain, whereas PChlide accumulated in the PS I-less/chlL-/scpB- strain. In the PS I-less/chlL- control strain ALA supplementation did not lead to large changes in the levels of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis intermediates. We propose that ScpE and ScpB regulate tetrapyrrole biosynthesis as a function of pigment availability. This regulation occurs primarily at an early step of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, prior to ALA. In view of the conserved nature of chlorophyll-binding sites in these proteins, it seems likely that regulation by SCPs occurs as a function of chlorophyll availability, with SCPs activating chlorophyll biosynthesis steps when they do not have pigments bound.
Algal Proteins↗