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Biomedical subjects

J L Liu

Publications and source records attributed to J L Liu.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Effect of nylestriol on postmenopausal uterine endometrium].

Curettage was performed in 139 postmenopausal women before as well as 6 months, 12 months and 36 months after Nylestiol (CEE3) therapy, for totally 205 times. It was found that CEE3 could induce endometrial proliferation and uterine breakthrough bleeding, much greater in women using 2 mg of CEE3 than in those using 1 mg. Ciliated cell were present in the proliferative endometrium after CEE3. The endometrial tissues obtained in curettage in women after 12 months' therapy was similar to that of 6 months' therapy. No more endometrium was obtained after 36 months' therapy. Provera were given for women who had proliferative endometrium after 6-12 months' therapy with CEE3 1-2 mg/2w. There were no changes of endometrium. This suggested that further study the interval and dosage of provera should be given with CEE3.

Aged↗

Marek disease virus encodes a basic-leucine zipper gene resembling the fos/jun oncogenes that is highly expressed in lymphoblastoid tumors.

Marek disease virus (MDV) is a herpesvirus of chickens that induces T lymphomas within 3 weeks of infection. The short latency and polyclonal nature of MDV-induced tumors have suggested that the virus may encode one or more direct-acting oncogenes. To date, however, no MDV-specific tumor antigens or candidate transforming genes have been demonstrated. In this paper, we report the identification of a MDV gene encoding a protein with homology to the leucine-zipper class of nuclear oncogenes. It also contains a proline-rich domain characteristic of another class of transcription factors. This gene, designated meq, maps to the long repeat of MDV and is one of the few genes that are highly expressed in MDV-induced T-cell tumors. To our knowledge, a herpesvirus gene closely related to the fos/jun family of oncogenes has not been reported previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Antimutagenic effect of eight natural foods on moldy foods in a high liver cancer incidence area.

Ames test procedures were used to test 8 natural food extracts for their antimutagenic activity against the mutagenic activity induced in S. typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) or metabolic extracts from A. versicolor or A. ochraceus. The tested substances were extracted repeatedly with acetone. The revertants induced by AFB1, metabolic extracts of A. versicolor or A. ochraceus were significantly decreased when extracts of the 8 natural foods were added to the media. The results showed that these extracts had marked inhibitory effects on the mutagenic activity induced by AFB1 or metabolic extracts of the two molds and also suggested that antimutagenic substances were present in these natural foods. These experiments provide a scientific basis for the study of food substances for the prevention of carcinogenesis. It is considered that these 8 natural food extracts produce marked antimutagenic effects and are practically valuable in the field of chemoprophylaxis of liver cancer in humans.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Monoclonal antibodies recognizing normal and retrovirus-transformed chicken hematopoietic cells.

The avian hematopoietic system has long been an invaluable model to study the mechanisms of cell growth and differentiation. We have developed six MAbs against either chicken embryonic hematopoietic precursor cells or retrovirus-transformed cells. MAbs Mo1, Mo2, and Mo3 recognized transformation-associated markers expressed in AMV-transformed nonproducer cell line-BM2. Not only were these markers expressed 7 to 10 folds higher on BM2 than on normal monocytic cells, but their expression was drastically reduced when BM2 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages by PMA. The control of marker expression is associated with v-myb-transforming cascade, since another monocytic lineage-specific oncogene, v-myc, did not enhance the expression of these markers. MAb Em1 detected a marker that is normally present in 20% of the cells from the 30/50% interface of a discontinuous percoll gradient of normal 4-day-embryo yolk sac. Its expression is also found in AEV-transformed cells and MSB1 cells. The epitope for Em1 was exposed after neuraminidase treatment on erythroleukemia cell line 6C2, which suggested that sialylation and/or glycosylation is pivotal in regulating the expression of specific markers in differentiation pathways during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis. MAb Em2 recognized proliferating hematopoietic cells after the fourth day of embryogenesis. MAb Em3, on the other hand, is presumed to be specific for an oncofetal antigen expressed in various transformed cells but only in 10% of the cells from 30/50% interface of a discontinuous percoll gradient of normal 4-day-embryo yolk sac. These MAbs will be useful for dissecting the expression of differentiation markers within normal versus abnormal differentiation pathways in molecular terms.

Animals↗

Characterization of a major member of the rat pregnancy-specific glycoprotein family.

The gene encoding the human pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) belongs to a gene subfamily, comprised of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and PSG subgroups, within the immunoglobulin superfamily. To study the functional roles of PSG during development in an animal model, we isolated and characterized a near full-length cDNA (rnCGM6) encoding a PSG-related protein from a rat placental cDNA library. rnCGM6 is 2,068 bp in length and contains an open reading frame that encodes a 475-amino-acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 53 kD. The 5' noncoding sequence is 173 nucleotides, and primer-extension experiments demonstrate that the transcriptional initiation site is located 22-24 nucleotides further upstream. The 3' noncoding sequence contains 470 nucleotides which is followed by a poly(A) tail. In contrast to human PSGs, which contain one immunoglobulin variable-like and two to three immunoglobulin constant-like protein domains, rnCGM6 contains three immunoglobulin variable-like domains and one immunoglobulin constant-like domain. rnCGM6 contains six potential N-linked glycosylation sites and, in its carboxyl-terminal domain, a tyrosine protein kinase phosphorylation site. The tyrosine phosphorylation site is conserved among all rat and human PSG members. rnCGM6 hybridized with a major 2.5-kb and two minor 3.0- and 3.5-kb mRNAs, all primarily expressed in the rat placenta. Ribonuclease protection analysis, using probes specific to the 5', middle, and 3' regions of rnCGM6, and the 5' region of a previously identified cDNA, rnCGM1, mainly yielded fully-protected fragments indicating relatively low sequence similarity among rat PSG-related proteins. Northern hybridization and ribonuclease protection assays also suggest that rnCGM6 may be the major PSG member in rat.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Effect of norepinephrine on the frontal neuron activity related to delayed discrimination task in monkeys].

To study the role of norepinephrine (NE) in the cognitive function of the brain, the effects of NE, tolazoline (TOL) and propranolol (PR) on the activity of frontal neurons were examined in 3 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) during the performance of a delayed visual discrimination go/no-go task. Of the 230 task-related neurons recorded from the area medial to the superior ramus of the arcuate sulcus, 159 neurons were tested with NE applied microiontophoretically. Of these tested neurons, 11 neurons were related to starting period, 28 neurons to cue period, 66 neurons to delay period and 54 neurons to response period. About 2/3 of these neurons increased in discharge rate in the task, and the rest decreased. For most of the neurons with decrease of discharge rate in the delay period, the discharge rate was further decreased during application of NE. During application of TOL or PR, the discharge rate was increased and the effect of NE was antagonized. The present results suggest that NE may play a role in the cognitive function of the frontal neurons, particularly in attention and short-term memory, and may be involved in the inhibitory process of the neuronal activities.

Animals↗

Prospective double-blind study of CEE3 in peri- and postmenopausal women: effects on bone loss and lipoprotein lipids.

A prospective double-blind study was carried out in 136 women 0.5 to 21 years since menopause (YSM) in order to demonstrate the effects of a long-acting estriol derivative-Nylestriol (CEE3) on bone loss and lipoprotein lipids. They were orally administered at 2 mg of CEE3 or placebo every 2 weeks. Among 90 subjects who finished 1 year of medication, 49 received CEE3 and 41 placebo. The results were: 1. Serum ALP, Ca/Cr and Hop/Cr in fasting urine decreased in 3 months (P < 0.05); 2. Menopause-related reduction of forearm bone density was restrained; 3. LDL-C decreased in 3 months and HDL-C increased in 6 months (P < 0.05), with no significant changes in TC and TG; 4. Side effects were mild. 1/3 of those with intact uterus had spotting and another 1/3 had moderate withdrawal bleeding after the addition of medroxyprogesterone acetate at the end of 12 months of CEE3 therapy. This study demonstrates that CEE3 is effective and acceptable for preventing osteoporosis and lipoprotein lipids disorder in postmenopausal women. Long-term application awaits further studies.

Administration, Oral↗

[Clinical analysis of radiation optic neuropathy].

As a result of enhanced cure rate and survival time of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated by radiotherapy, sequelae of radiation injury to the optic nerve are becoming important, of which the authors report 5 cases (6 eyes) observed in the past 2 years. The diagnoses were based on rapid visual deterioration or blindness in one or both eyes, with visual field defects, signs of papillary ischemic optic atrophy under fluorescein angiography, normal ERG but reduced amplitude and prolonged latency or even extinction of VEP, onset of the malady within 7 years after the initial session of radiotherapy, and survival of the patient over 1 year with no signs of NPC recurrence or metastasis. Good vision was saved in 2 eyes treated with hyperbaric oxygen.

Adult↗

Cross-linking of surface Ig receptors on murine B lymphocytes stimulates the expression of nuclear tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-response element-binding proteins.

Cross-linking of sIg on primary B lymphocytes leads to increased nuclear DNA-binding activity specific for the tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-response element (TRE), as judged by gel mobility shift assays. Stimulation of B cells to enter S phase of the cell cycle by treatment with the combination of phorbol ester plus calcium ionophore also stimulated nuclear TRE-binding activity within 2 h, with maximal expression at 4 h; however, phorbol ester and calcium ionophore were not as effective in stimulating binding activity when examined separately. Stimulated nuclear expression of TRE-binding activity appears to require protein synthesis. Fos- and Jun/AP-1-related proteins participate directly in the identified nucleoprotein complex, as shown by the ability of c-fos- and c-jun-specific antisera to either alter or completely abolish electrophoretic migration of the complex in native gels. Further, UV photo-cross-linking studies identified two major TRE-binding protein species, whose sizes correspond to TRE-binding proteins derived from HeLa cell nuclear extracts. The results suggest that in primary B cells nuclear TRE-binding activity represents a "downstream" signaling event that occurs subsequent to changes in protein kinase C activity and intracellular Ca2+ but that can be triggered "physiologically" through sIg.

Animals↗

Inducible nuclear expression of NF-kappa B in primary B cells stimulated through the surface Ig receptor.

Constitutive expression of NF-kappa B has been associated with developmental maturity in B cells on the basis of studies using continuously growing cell lines and plasmacytomas; however, little is known about the behavior of NF-kappa B in primary, mature B cells. In the present work, the regulation of NF-kappa B expression was studied by analyzing subcellular fractions of adult murine splenic B cells with the electrophoretic mobility shift assay using a kappa B-containing oligonucleotide. Although nuclear extracts from resting B cells contained kappa B-binding activity, additional kappa B-binding activity was present in cytosolic fractions in a form that became apparent after treatment with detergent. Competition analysis indicated that the DNA binding activity detected by electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay was specific for the kappa B motif, and UV photo-cross-linking showed the molecular size of kappa B-binding protein to be similar to that of the DNA binding subunit of NF-kappa B. Nuclear expression of kappa B-binding activity was markedly induced by treatment of B cells with phorbol ester or with LPS. Most notably, kappa B-binding activity was induced after surface IgR cross-linking, and the mechanism of this induction involved PKC. Further, anti-Ig-induced activity was superinduced in the presence of cycloheximide. These results indicate that nuclear NF-kappa B is rapidly induced as a result of B cell stimulation, and further suggest that NF-kappa B may play a specific role in mature B cells after ligand binding to surface Ig distinct from its postulated developmental role as a stage-specific factor involved in kappa-enhancer function.

Animals↗

Structural analysis and transcriptional mapping of the Marek's disease virus gene encoding pp38, an antigen associated with transformed cells.

The gene encoding a Marek's disease virus (MDV) pp38 phosphoprotein has been identified, sequenced, and localized to the BamHI H fragment to the left of the putative MDV origin of replication. The open reading frame was defined by sequencing of a lacZ-pp38 fusion protein gene from a lambda gt11 expression library. The entire open reading frame is 290 amino acids long and codes for a protein with a calculated molecular weight of 31,169, compared with the size of 38 kDa of the phosphorylated form estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. S1 nuclease protection analysis showed that the pp38 gene is transcribed leftward as an unspliced mRNA. On the basis of transcriptional mapping studies, the pp38 transcript is predicted to be about 1.8 kb in length without a poly(A) sequence. Its promoter-enhancer region overlaps that of the major rightward BamHI H 1.8-kb transcript implicated in tumor induction. This region contains Oct-1, Sp1, and CCAAT motifs as well as the putative origin of replication. The pp38 protein is the only presently known antigen that is consistently associated with the transformation state. It may play a significant role in MDV transformation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Effect of hypertonic NaCl solution on arterial pressure compensation after hemorrhage in rats].

Rats were bled within 5 min in lowering mean arterial pressure (MAP) to 25 mmHg and were subsequently infused intravenously with hypertonic (7.5% NaCl) or normal saline in a volume equal to 10% of the amount of the lost blood. Intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline significantly facilitated posthemorrhagic recovery of MAP, which was markedly attenuated by 6-hydroxydopamine or Captopril. When these two drugs were used together, the attenuation effect was complete. While hypertonic saline significantly increased plasma Na+ concentration, normal saline only gave rise to a decrease. Intracerebroventricular injection of hypertonic NaCl solution also facilitated the recovery of MAP significantly. These results suggest that after hemorrhage increased plasma Na+ concentration following i.v. of a small amount of hypertonic saline may act on the central nervous system and activate sympathetic nervous system and renin angiotensin system to facilitate a rapid recovery of MAP.

Animals↗

Locally optimum run-length compression of CT images without restriction on the pixel value.

Previously reported locally optimum run-length compression of CT images is only applicable to 12 bit images. In order to extend this method to images whose pixel values may vary from 8 bits per pixel to 16 bits per pixel, single byte coding is suggested. A search method is also suggested to make a reasonable determination of the length of non-compressible pixels. Experiments have shown that single byte coding is successful, giving compressed results which are comparable with previously reported results.

Image Processing, Computer-Assisted↗

Improvement in the locally optimum run-length compression of CT images.

In the locally optimum run-length compression of X-ray CT images, differential entropy is selected as the criterion for compression. The reported compressed results for 12 bit CT images are 8-9 bits per pixel, which are far from the differential entropies of the boundaries of the compression, from 5.5 to 6 bits per pixel. Our analysis shows that the compression strategy is defective and this is one reason why the compression cannot reach the boundary. Significant improvement has been achieved and the results challenge the selection of differential entropy as a 'theoretical bench mark' for compression.

Image Processing, Computer-Assisted↗

[A genetic and clinical study of retinoblastoma in twins].

A pair of monozygotic twins, confirmed by blood grouping (ABO, MN, Rh, P), serum typing (Hp, Gc), EsD phenotyping and HLA(A, B, Cw), both developed the "cat eye" 45 days after birth; the diagnosis of retinoblastoma (Rb) was established pathologically after enucleation. From data of 33 pairs of twins with Rb in literature of this century, the concordance rate of Rb twins and genetic index of Rb (76.56%) were calculated. In addition, the reliability of zygosity determination, the "mirror image" phenomenon, and the use of the second-mutation hypothesis of Knudson for cancer initiation were briefly discussed.

Diseases in Twins↗