Biomedical subjects

Hui Zeng

Publications and source records attributed to Hui Zeng.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Robotic Needle Insertion for CT-guided Percutaneous Biopsy of Thoracoabdominal Lesions: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Trial.

Purpose To compare safety and feasibility between a novel CT-guided robotic system and the conventional freehand technique for puncture biopsy of thoracoabdominal lesions. Materials and Methods In this prospective multicenter randomized trial, individuals with suspected lesions were enrolled between July 2023 and April 2024 across three university teaching hospitals and randomized to the robot-assisted group (n = 82) or the freehand group (n = 83). Procedure outcomes included the technical success rate, targeting error, number of CT scans and needle adjustments, puncture time, and complications. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Results A total of 165 participants (mean age, 60 years ± 10 [SD]; 83 male) were included. Compared with the freehand group, the robot-assisted group demonstrated a higher technical success rate (97.56% [80 of 82] vs 62.65% [52 of 83], P < .001), lower targeting error (mean Euclidean deviation: 1.7 mm ± 1.1 vs 4.5 mm ± 3.9, P < .001), and fewer CT scans (mean, 4.3 ± 1.9 vs 5.2 ± 2.3; P = .002) and needle adjustments (mean, 0.7 ± 0.7 vs 1.6 ± 1.6; P = .003). Despite differences in geometric precision, both groups achieved 100% (82 of 82 and 83 of 83) diagnostic yield. The median puncture time was comparable between groups (5.5 minutes ± 4.3 vs 4.8 minutes ± 7.0, P = .50). During lung biopsies, the robot-assisted approach yielded fewer complications compared with the freehand approach (4.88% [four of 82] vs 16.87% [14 of 83], P = .014). Conclusion Compared with the freehand approach, robot-assisted biopsy yielded greater precision and reduced adjustments and complications while demonstrating noninferior diagnostic efficacy and comparable duration. Keywords: Robotic Needle Insertion, Biopsy, Thoracoabdominal Lesions, Robot-assisted Biopsy, CT-guided Intervention, Percutaneous Needle Biopsy, Randomized Controlled Trial, Algorithm Development, CT, Clinical Testing, Interventional-Body, Biopsy/Needle Aspiration, Percutaneous, Thorax, Abdomen/GI, Liver, Lung, Kidney ©RSNA, 2026.

Humans↗

PubMed2004

Transcription factor Gfi1 regulates self-renewal and engraftment of hematopoietic stem cells.

The generation of all blood cells depends on the ability of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for self-renewal and multilineage differentiation. We show here that the transcription factor Gfi1 is expressed in HSCs and in more mature cells such as common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) and granulo/monocytic progenitors, but is absent in common myeloid progenitors and megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitors. When Gfi1 is deleted in mice, HSC frequencies are significantly reduced and CLPs all but disappear from the bone marrow. This specific requirement of Gfi1 for the maintenance of HSC numbers is cell autonomous. Transplantation of Gfi1-deficient bone marrow results in a compromised radioprotection and lower numbers of colony forming units in the spleen of wild-type recipients. Strikingly, Gfi1-/- bone marrow cells are severely impaired in competitive long-term reconstituting abilities after transplantation and show a surprisingly high proportion of actively cycling HSCs, suggesting that Gfi1 restrains proliferation of HSCs and thereby regulates their self-renewal and long-term engraftment abilities.

Alleles↗

PubMed2004

STAT signaling underlies difference between flagellin-induced and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced epithelial gene expression.

Both bacterial flagellin and the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) are potent activators of intestinal epithelial cell pro-inflammatory gene expression in general; nonetheless, there seem to be distinct differences in the specific patterns of gene expression induced by these agonists. The goal of this study was to define one such difference and elucidate the signaling mechanism responsible for such differential gene induction by these agonists. We observed that expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase is substantially induced by flagellin but only minimally expressed in response to TNFalpha. This difference seemed to be underlain by differential induction of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) activation in that, whereas flagellin and TNFalpha seemed to be equipotent activators of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappaB, flagellin induced substantially higher levels of STAT-1 and -3 tyrosine phosphorylation. Such flagellin-induced STAT activation exhibited delayed kinetics and was ablated by treatment with cycloheximide. Flagellin-induced activation of STAT-3 was abolished via neutralizing antibodies to interleukin (IL)-6, but not interferon (IFN)beta nor IFNgamma; none of these neutralizing antibodies had any effect on flagellin-induced STAT-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Flagellin induced substantially more IL-6 expression than did TNFalpha, but neither agonist elicited detectable levels of IFN expression. Flagellin-induced expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase but not IL-6, was abolished by blocking STAT activation with AG490, and was reduced by blocking STAT-3 activation with anti-IL-6. Together, these results indicate that epithelial cell induction of flagellin-specific gene expression is mediated, in part, by STAT activation that results from autocrine activation via IL-6.

Autocrine Communication↗

PubMed2004

Immunophenotyping of acute leukemia using an integrated piezoelectric immunosensor array.

Immunophenotyping evaluation is of particular importance for the clinical diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of acute leukemia. In this paper, an integrated piezoelectric immunosensor array has been developed for the first time to detect the differentiated leukocyte antigens for immunophenotyping of acute leukemia. The probes (crystals) of the array were fabricated with plasma-polymerized n-butylamine film and nanometer-sized gold particles on which the Fab'-SH fragments obtained by the reduction of leukemic lineage-associated monoclonal antibodies (markers) were subsequently immobilized. Investigation results showed that the developed immunosensor array could rapidly identify normal cells from leukemic blasts and define the leukemic blasts within certain phenotypic groups (lineages) by only one analysis of the sample purified or unpurified. It permits the detection of unpurified leukocytes in the dynamic concentration range of 2 orders of magnitude (10(4)-10(6) cells mL(-1)). Up to 17 successive assay cycles with retentive sensitivity were achieved for the probes regenerated with 8 M urea. Moreover, the piezoelectric immunoassay system was applied to evaluate a number of practical specimens with immunophenotyping results in acceptable agreement with those clinically classified. The newly proposed multiparameter analysis technique provides a rapid, simple, and direct alternative tool for clinical immunophenotyping of acute leukemia.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

[Evaluation of transvaginal ultrasonography-color Doppler energy imaging in surveillance of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) and color Doppler energy imaging (CDE) have been already applied in ultrasonography diagnosis extensively, but articles about the methods in surveillance of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation are few. The objective of this study was to evaluate TVS-CDE in surveillance of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation. METHODS: Fifty-four cases of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation, which were doubted as recurrent malignant tumors in clinic, were scanned with transabdominal ultrasonography (TAS), TVS, and TVS-CDE. The results were compared with that of pathology. Then their sensitivity, specificity,and accuracy were calculated, and the accuracy was compared by Chi-square test. RESULTS: Forty-three cases were diagnosed as malignant tumors by TAS; Forty-six cases were diagnosed as malignant tumors by TVS,and the positions, sizes, characteristics of the recurrent malignant tumors could be depicted visually. Forty-seven cases were diagnosed as malignant tumors by TVS-CDE; Not only the blood flow characteristics of masses,but also more diagnostic information than TVS were provided. The sensitivity was 81.3%, 91.7%, and 95.9%, respectively; the specificity was 33.3%,66.7%, and 83.3%, respectively; the accuracy was 75.9%, 88.9%, and 94.4%, respectively. Obviously, the accuracy of both TVS and TVS-CDE was higher than that of TAS(P< 0.05), but the accuracy of TVS and TVS-CDE was similar (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: TVS-CDE is helpful in the diagnosis of gynecologic malignant masses. It will be more effective in surveillance of recurrent gynecologic malignant tumors if it combined with CDE.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Current situation and some intending problems of landscape spatial dynamic model].

Along with the rapid development of remote sensing, geographic information system, computer and other supporting technologies, model approach has become the major method of landscape dynamic study. Based on literature review, this paper analyzed the current situation and some intending problems of the development of landscape spatial dynamic model. Three kinds of models, i. e., stochastic landscape model, neighborhood rule model and landscape process model (including percolation model, individual-based landscape model and spatial ecosystem model) were mainly introduced, and their development status, existing problems and related improvement work were analyzed. The development of model test technologies, such as verification analysis, validation analysis, and sensitivity analysis, were also analyzed. Finally, this paper summed up six major problems that should be dealt with in the future development of the landscape spatial dynamic models. These problems included model arithmetic optimization, scale conversion, model complication and predigesting, model test and assessment, bringing forward of general model, and integration of the traditional model with social-economic factors.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

[Application of a new type of piezo-electric immunosensor in immunology classification for acute leukemias].

The aim of this study was to apply a new type piezo-electric immunosensor in immunology classification for acute leukemia. Based on the plasma-polymerized film and the nanogold particles self-assembly technology, a new type piezo-electric immunosensor was firstly developed to absorb and fix the monoclonal antibodies for detecting leukemia cell antigens in patient blood samples. The results showed that the positive rate of detection with this method was quite close to that with the fluoroimmunoassay which are commonly used in clinic work. There was no significant difference between the positive rates (chi(2) = 3.4, P > 0.05). It is concluded that this piezo-electric immunosensor detection has many advantages, such as convenient operation, real time operation and control, qualitative detection, and less cost. This method can be used for acute leukemia immunology classification.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2003

Flagellin is the major proinflammatory determinant of enteropathogenic Salmonella.

The gastroenteritis-causing pathogen Salmonella typhimurium induces profound transcriptional changes in intestinal epithelia resulting in the recruitment of neutrophils whose presence is the histopathologic hallmark of salmonellosis. Here we used cDNA microarray expression profiling to define the molecular determinants that mediate such changes in model intestinal epithelia. Enteropathogenic Salmonella induced a classical proinflammatory gene expression program similar to that activated by the canonical proinflammatory agonist TNF-alpha. Nonproinflammatory bacteria, both commensals (Escherichia coli) and systemic pathogens (S. typhi), did not activate this expression profile. While S. typhimurium strains lacking the SPI-1-encoded type III system were fully proinflammatory, strains lacking the genes for the flagellar structural component flagellin were nearly devoid of proinflammatory signaling. Lastly, the epithelial proinflammatory response could be largely recapitulated by basolateral addition of purified flagellin. Thus, S. typhimurium flagellin is the major molecular trigger by which this pathogen activates gut epithelial proinflammatory gene expression.

Cell Line↗

PubMed2003

TLR5-mediated activation of p38 MAPK regulates epithelial IL-8 expression via posttranscriptional mechanism.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) activate antimicrobial gene expression in response to detection of specific bacterial products. Relatively little is known about TLR5, the only TLR thought to be preferentially expressed by epithelial cells, beyond that it confers activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in a MyD-88 dependent manner in response to flagellin. Because TLRs, in general, are also thought to signal through members of the MAPK family, we examined flagellin-induced MAPK activation (via examining its phosphorylation status) and its subsequent role in expression of the chemokine IL-8 in polarized intestinal epithelia. Flagellin, like other proinflammatory stimuli (TNF-alpha, Salmonella typhimurium), activated p38 MAPK in a TLR5-dependent manner, whereas aflagellate bacteria or EGF did not activate this kinase. Although ERK1 and -2 were also observed to be activated in response to flagellin, their activation was not restricted to proinflammatory stimuli because they were also potently activated by aflagellate bacteria (S. typhimurium or Escherichia coli) and EGF (neither of which activate NF-kappaB in these cells). Pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK (by SB-203580) potently (IC50 = 10 nM) reduced expression of IL-8 protein (maximal inhibition, 75%) but had no effect on NF-kappaB activation, only slightly attenuated upregulation of IL-8 mRNA levels in response to flagellin, and did not effect IL-8 mRNA stability. Together, these results indicate that epithelial TLR5 mediates p38 activation and subsequently regulates flagellin-induced IL-8 expression independently of NF-kappaB, probably by influencing IL-8 mRNA translation.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on biological characteristics of osteoblasts.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the effects of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on biological characteristics of rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro. METHODS: The osteoblasts isolated from a Sprague-Dawley rat and cultured in vitro were treated with different concentrations of bFGF (5-50 ng/ml) respectively. At 24 hours after treatment, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen was measured with immunocytochemistry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) was detected to observe the effects of bFGF on growth and differentiation of osteoblasts. RESULTS: bFGF (5-50 ng/ml) could obviously promote the growth of osteoblasts. The intracellular expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA increased significantly, but the intracellular ALP content decreased. CONCLUSIONS: bFGF can obviously stimulate the proliferation of osteoblasts and promote the synthesis of TGF-beta(1), but cannot promote the differentiation of osteoblasts.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

PubMed2003

Treatment of femoral neck fracture with muscle-bone flap of both tensor fasciae latae and sartorius.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of muscular pedicle bone grafts with sartorius or tensor fasciae latae and sartorius in fresh transcervical or subcapital fractures of the femoral neck. METHODS: Thirty cases of fresh transcervical and subcapital fractures of the femoral neck were treated by the tail breakable screws and sartorius pedicle bone grafts (single muscular pedicle, SMP group). The other 23 cases were treated by cannulated pressure screws and bone grafts with the muscular pedicles of both sartorius and tensor fasciae latae (double muscular pedicles, DMP group). RESULTS: Fifty-two cases were followed up for 3 to 5 years (mean, 4 years). In SMP group, ten cases showed poor therapeutic results. Excellent therapeutic effects were achieved in all cases of DMP group. CONCLUSIONS: The transcervical or subcapital fractures of the femoral neck can be treated by double muscular pedicles bone graft. The bone graft with double muscular pedicles is more effective than single sartorius muscular pedicles for fresh transcervical and subcapital fractures of the femoral neck during short and medium terms.

Bone Transplantation↗

PubMed2003

[Study of preoperative MRI staging of tongue carcinoma in relation to pathological findings].

OBJECTIVE: To study the features of tongue carcinoma in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the value of MRI in the preoperative clinical staging of malignancy. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with tongue carcinoma underwent MRI examination, the findings of which were analyzed for staging of the tumors in comparison with the pathological findings. RESULTS: MRI showed good performance in displaying tumor invasion, invasion depth and extension but failed in distinguishing and qualitative identification of the lymph nodes less than 1 cm. The sensitivity of MRI for clinical staging of T1, T2, T3, and T4 primary tumors, in accordance with tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging system, was 100%, 83.3%, 90.9% and 82.6% with specificity of 73.5%, 83.5%, 63.6% and 82.6%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for diagnosis of the lymph nodes were 60.8%, 75.0%, 77.8% and 76.2%, respectively. The sensitivity of MRI for the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging was 100%, 85.7%, 92.3% and 88.9%, respectively for stage I, II, III and IV tumors, with specificity of 66.7%, 76.3%, 76.9% and 77.8%, respectively. Lymph nodes metastasis occurred in 0%, 37.5%, 81.6% and 88.2% of the cases with tumor invasion depth of less than 3, 3-6, 6-9 and more than 9 mm respectively, without any significant differences between the latter 2 groups of cases (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: MRI offers important evidence for TNM and AJCC staging of tongue carcinoma, and the MRI features in conjunction with clinical manifestations and tumor invasion depth are instrumental in improving the accuracy of preoperative staging of the tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

[Pulmonary manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of pulmonary Wegener's granulomatosis. METHODS: The data of 20 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis diagnosed during the last 20 years were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Twelve patients (60%) with Wegener's granulomatosis presented with symptoms of respiratory system including cough, purulent sputum, bloody sputum, hemoptysis or dyspnea. In 5 of the 12 patients, the pulmonary symptoms presented as the initial manifestations. (2) Chest radiography demonstrated that Wegener's granulomatosis could involve multiple lung fields, either unilateral or bilateral in the lung lobes, but bilateral lung involvement (8/12) was more common. The lesions included nodules, masses, thick or thin wall cavities, or infiltrates. (3) Multiple biopsies for histologic study were done in 14 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Wegener's granulomatosis has different radiographic manifestations and is difficult to differentiate from pulmonary abscess, tuberculosis, pneumonia or lung cancer. Repeated and multiple biopsies are essential to confirm the diagnosis.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Cutting edge: Salmonella AvrA effector inhibits the key proinflammatory, anti-apoptotic NF-kappa B pathway.

Secreted prokaryotic effector proteins have evolved to modulate the cellular functions of specific eukaryotic hosts. Generally, these proteins are considered virulence factors that facilitate parasitism. However, in certain plant and insect eukaryotic/prokaryotic relationships, effector proteins are involved in the establishment of commensal or symbiotic interactions. In this study, we report that the AvrA protein from Salmonella typhimurium, a common enteropathogen of humans, is an effector molecule that inhibits activation of the key proinflammatory NF-kappaB transcription factor and augments apoptosis in human epithelial cells. This activity is similar but mechanistically distinct from that described for YopJ, an AvrA homolog expressed by the bacterial pathogen Yersinia. We suggest that AvrA may limit virulence in vertebrates in a manner analogous to avirulence factors in plants, and as such, is the first bacterial effector from a mammalian pathogen that has been ascribed such a function.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2002

Inflammatory reactions and severe neutropenia in mice lacking the transcriptional repressor Gfi1.

The transcriptional repressor Gfi1 is a nuclear zinc-finger protein expressed in T-cell precursors in the thymus and in activated mature T lymphocytes. Previous experiments have shown that Gfi1 is involved in T-cell lymphomagenesis and in the development of T-cell progenitors. Here we show that Gfi1 is also expressed outside the lymphoid system in granulocytes and activated macrophages, cells that mediate innate immunity (that is, non-specific immunity). We have generated Gfi1-deficient mice (Gfi1-/-) and show that these animals are severely neutropenic and accumulate immature monocytic cells in blood and bone marrow. Their myeloid precursor cells are unable to differentiate into granulocytes upon stimulation with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) but can develop into mature macrophages. We found that Gfi1-/- macrophages produce enhanced levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-1beta, when stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and that Gfi1-/- mice succumb to low doses of this endotoxin that are tolerated by wildtype mice. We conclude that Gfi1 influences the differentiation of myeloid precursors into granulocytes or monocytes and acts in limiting the inflammatory immune response.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

The molecular characterization of maize B chromosome specific AFLPs.

The origin and evolution of B chromosomes could be explained by the specific DNA sequence on them. But the specific sequences known were quite limited. To investigate maize B chromosome sqicific DNA sequeces, maize genomes with and without B chromosomes were analyzed by AFLP. Only 5 markers were found specific to genomes with B chromosomes among about 2000 AFLP markers. Southern hybridization and sequence analysis revealed that only the sequence of M8-2D was a B chromosome specific sequence. This sequence contained the telomeric repeat unit AGG

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2002

[Landscape pattern analysis based on boundary characteristics].

Through boundary number to the length distribution spectrum analysis, the relationships between boundary number-length and fragmentation of landscape and element were discussed. Landscape pattern indices such as diversity, evenness, heterogeneity, and spatial complicity were calculated based on boundary number and cumulative length, and these indices were compared with those based on element area proportion. The results indicated that the fast urbanization process caused complication of boundary element distribution pattern and simplification of layer structure. The distribution function parameter alpha could reflect landscape fragmentation properly, and the landscape pattern indices based on boundary characteristics was an useful supplement for traditional pattern analysis.

Agriculture↗