Biomedical subjects

Jianping Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Jianping Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Effectiveness of grief interventions in underrepresented regions: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis.

Background: Most evidence on grief and bereavement interventions originates from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations, raising concerns about the generalizability and cultural relevance of existing findings in diverse global contexts. Individuals confronted with the death of a close person, particularly in cases of sudden or potentially traumatic loss, may be at increased risk of adverse psychological and physical health outcomes, highlighting the importance of effective interventions. This study aimed to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of grief interventions in underrepresented regions.Method: A systematic search of Web of Science, APA PsycInfo, and Scopus, supplemented by manual reference checks, identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting bereaved individuals in underrepresented regions. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate overall and subgroup effects based on control type, loss type, and intervention characteristics.Results: Fourteen RCTs comprising 1122 participants were included. Grief interventions demonstrated a significant moderate-to-large effect compared to control conditions (SMD = -0.74, 95% CI [-1.01, -0.47]). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (I² = 77%). No significant subgroup differences were identified.Conclusion: Grief interventions show promising effectiveness across diverse cultural and geographical contexts. However, the limited and heterogeneous evidence base highlights the need for more high-quality RCTs and for the development of culturally sensitive and contextually grounded approaches to mental health care in underrepresented regions.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Frequent epigenetic inactivation of spleen tyrosine kinase gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of present study was to investigate the methylation and expression status of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate this information for its ability to predict disease prognosis. E-cadherin and TIMP-3 methylation was also analyzed here as control because both were associated with poor prognosis in some types of tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We analyzed the methylation status of SYK, E-cadherin, and TIMP-3 in 124 cases of HCC and assessed the correlation of such methylations with clinicopathologic variables and prognosis after tumor resection. RESULTS: We found that SYK, E-cadherin, and TIMP-3 genes were methylated in 27%, 27%, and 42% of HCC neoplastic tissues, respectively. The loss of SYK mRNA or Syk protein expression was highly correlated with SYK gene methylation. The patients with methylated SYK in neoplastic tissues had a significantly lower overall survival rate after hepatectomy than those with unmethylated SYK. No significant difference in overall survival rates, however, was found between groups of patients with methylated and unmethylated E-cadherin or TIMP-3. Patients with negative Syk protein expression had a significantly lower overall survival rate than those with positive Syk protein expression. Multivariate analyses indicated that factors affecting overall survival were tumor-node-metastasis stage, Child-Pugh classification, SYK methylation, or Syk protein status. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that SYK methylation and loss of Syk expression in HCC neoplastic tissues are independent biomarkers of poor patient outcome and that determination of SYK methylation or Syk expression status may offer guidance for selecting appropriate treatments.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Local structure of beta-hairpin isotopomers by FTIR, 2D IR, and ab initio theory.

The 12-residue tryptophan zipper beta-hairpin (SWTWENGKWTWK) and two (13)C-isotopomers were examined in the amide-I region using FTIR and femtosecond two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopies. Spectroscopic features of the labeled transitions with (13)C-substituted amide unit present in the terminal or turn region of the hairpin, including their frequency shifts and distributions, line broadenings, orientations, and anharmonicities of diagonal peaks, allow the peptide local structure and local environment to be examined. The results suggest a larger structure fluctuation in the terminal region than in the turn region as a result of the side chain effect and solvent-peptide interaction. The results also suggest that the uncoupled amide-I modes are not degenerate and that this is likely to be a common situation for solvated polypeptides. In addition, the amide-I states in the terminal and turn regions were found to be delocalized over several neighboring amide units. Cross-peaks between the various labeled and unlabeled structural regions were clearly observed in the 2D IR correlation spectra, allowing them to be characterized for monitoring structural changes. These results illustrate the sensitivity of 2D IR to the local environment of solvated peptides. The simulated 1D and 2D IR spectra of the hairpin, obtained by using the vibrational exciton model incorporating coupling constants from quantum chemical computations and semiempirical calculations, were found to reproduce the essential features of the experimental results.

Amides↗

PubMed2006

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy displays signatures of structural ordering in peptide aggregates.

In the presence of lipid bilayers, the hexapeptide AcWL(5) forms membrane-bound aggregates dominated by beta-secondary structure and is thus a useful model for the onset of peptide aggregation in membrane environments. Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra in the amide I region for aggregates of AcWL(5) peptides with single isotopic labels provide new insight into the residue-level structural ordering of the aggregated peptides. Separation of spectral information along two axes provides clear indications of the band frequencies and relative intensities, which together are an indication of extended amide coupling networks across structural regions of a particular size. The lowered anharmonicities, relative to free peptide, and the narrow, homogeneous lineshapes of the 2D IR peaks indicate the delocalization of vibrational modes through an ordered structure whose flexibility varies with relative peptide concentration. Crosspeaks between delocalized transitions can be used to estimate the strength of the coupling interactions between neighboring residues. The sensitivity of 2D IR spectra to residue-level structural ordering shows that 2D IR spectroscopy is a powerful technique for probing structures formed during the onset of peptide aggregation.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Anharmonicity of amide modes.

The principal contributions to the anharmonic coupling of amide vibrations are explored with the objective of comparing recent experiments with density functional theory and evaluating simple models of mode coupling. Experimental information obtained by means of two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D IR) is reasonably well predicted by the computed one- and two-quantum anharmonic modes of amide-A, -I, and -II types in mono-, di- and tripeptides. The expansion of the vibrational energy up to the cubic and quartic coupling of harmonic modes suggested criteria to assess how localized are the forces determining the anharmonicity. The off-diagonal anharmonicity between an amide-A and one other amide mode was shown to be mainly determined by forces involving only these two modes, whereas the off-diagonal anharmonicity of two amide-I modes in peptides depended significantly on forces due to motions other than those of the amide-I type. Both the diagonal and off-diagonal anharmonicities exhibit sensitivity to peptide structures. These results should prove useful in linking 2D IR experimental results to secondary structure. Further, the results are used to evaluate the vibrational exciton model for the mixed-mode anharmonicities of the amide-I transitions.

Amides↗

PubMed2006

Role of the luxS quorum-sensing system in biofilm formation and virulence of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Nosocomial infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis are characterized by biofilm formation on implanted medical devices. Quorum-sensing regulation plays a major role in the biofilm development of many bacterial pathogens. Here, we describe luxS, a quorum-sensing system in staphylococci that has a significant impact on biofilm development and virulence. We constructed an isogenic DeltaluxS mutant strain of a biofilm-forming clinical isolate of S. epidermidis and demonstrated that luxS signaling is functional in S. epidermidis. The mutant strain showed increased biofilm formation in vitro and enhanced virulence in a rat model of biofilm-associated infection. Genetic complementation and addition of autoinducer 2-containing culture filtrate restored the wild-type phenotype, demonstrating that luxS repressed biofilm formation through a cell-cell signaling mechanism based on autoinducer 2 secretion. Enhanced production of the biofilm exopolysaccharide polysaccharide intercellular adhesin in the mutant strain is presumably the major cause of the observed phenotype. The agr quorum-sensing system has previously been shown to impact biofilm development and biofilm-associated infection in a way similar to that of luxS, although by regulation of different factors. Our study indicates a general scheme of quorum-sensing regulation of biofilm development in staphylococci, which contrasts with that observed in many other bacterial pathogens.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Ru-Catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-ketoesters with CeCl3.7H2O as additive.

[reaction: see text] An efficient asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-ketoesters is reported with use of a catalyst prepared from [Ru((S)-3)(benzene)Cl]Cl and CeCl(3).7H(2)O. Alpha-hydroxy esters are obtained in up to 96% ee. The addition of CeCl(3).7H(2)O not only improves the enantioselectivity, but also enhances the stability of the catalyst. As a result, the hydrogenation of methyl benzoylformate affords the product with 92% ee with a substrate/catalyst ratio of 10 000. Hydrolysis of 2 provides the final compound with 83% yield at 99% ee after a single recrystallization from 1,2-dichloroethylene.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

The safety and efficacy of stapled hemorrhoidectomy in the treatment of hemorrhoids: a systematic review and meta-analysis of ten randomized control trials.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy outcomes of stapled hemorrhoidectomy (PPH) with Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy (MMH) in the treatment of severe hemorrhoids. METHODS: A meta-analysis pooled the effects of the safety and efficacy outcomes on PPH, and MMH in ten randomized control trials was presented using a fixed effects model or a random effects model (via RevMan Version 4.2). RESULTS: There was reasonably clear evidence in favor of PPH for operating time, length of hospital stay, pain, anal discharge, and patient satisfaction. However, skin tags and prolapse occurred at higher rates in the PPH group. PPH was not more superior than MMH as to postoperative bleeding, urinary retention, difficulty in defecating, anal fissure and stenosis, sphincter damage, resumption of normal activities, incontinence, pruritus, anal resting and squeeze pressures, and analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: PPH may be at least as safe as MMH. However, the efficacy of PPH compared with MMH could not be determined absolutely. More rigorous studies with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes need to be conducted.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗

PubMed2005

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy of the alanine dipeptide in aqueous solution.

The linear-infrared and two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectra in the amide-I' region of the alanine dipeptide and its (13)C isotopomers in aqueous solution (D(2)O) are reported. The two amide-I' IR transitions have been assigned unambiguously by using (13)C isotopic substitution of the carbonyl group; the amide unit at the acetyl end shows a lower transition frequency in the unlabeled species. The ratio of their transition dipole strengths remains almost unchanged upon (13)C substitution, indicating the absence of intensity transfer between two vibrators. The 2D IR cross peaks directly associated with intramode coupling in this case show a small off-diagonal anharmonicity (0.2 +/- 0.2 cm(-1)), leading to a small coupling constant (1.5 +/- 0.5 cm(-1)). The coupling and the 2D IR spectra in two different polarizations (zzzz and zxxz) are as expected for a polyproline-II (PP(II))-like conformation for dialanine, with the backbone dihedral angles (phi, psi) determined to be in the range of (-70 degrees +/- 25 degrees, +120 degrees +/- 25 degrees). Ab initio DFT calculations and normal mode decoupling analysis in the Ramachandran subspace in the neighborhood of PP(II) conformation confirm the presence of a region where the coupling is vanishingly small and support these experimental findings. The relationship between the coupling and off-diagonal anharmonicity is consolidated by examining the distribution of the latter from an ensemble averaged Hamiltonian incorporating uncorrelated diagonal frequency distributions and a small coupling (<2 cm(-1)); it is found that the most probable value for the off-diagonal anharmonicity falls into the range of experimental observations. Further, incorporating DFT results, the simulated linear-IR and 2D IR can reproduce the essential features of the measurements, including the transition frequency positions and apparent peak intensities. All the experimental results and simulations are consistent with a PP(II)-like conformation for the alanine dipeptide in aqueous solution, in which two amide-I' modes are highly localized and whose frequency distributions are uncorrelated.

Alanine↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis of functional microcapsules containing suspensions responsive to electric fields.

A sort of functional microcapsules, which contain a suspension responsive to electric fields, is prepared by in situ polymerization of urea and formaldehyde. The suspension is made up of pigment phthalocyanine green (PPG) and tetrachloroethylene. In order to solve the particles' separation from the suspension during the microencapsulation and to obtain microcapsules applying to electronic ink display, the dispersibility of the particles, the contact angles between the particles and the tetrachloroethylene, and the influences of different emulsifiers on the microencapsulation are investigated. It is found that the dispersion extent and lipophilicity of the PPG particles are improved due to their surface modification with octadecylamine. The contact angles between the modified PPG particles and the tetrachloroethylene increase, and the PPG particles modified with 2 wt% octadecylamine have the best affinity for tetrachloroethylene. The interfacial tension between C(2)Cl(4) and H(2)O with urea-formaldehyde prepolymer descends from 43 to 35 mN/m, which indicates that the polymer has certain surface activity. However, water-soluble emulsifiers have an important influence during the microencapsulation because they can absorb on the surfaces of internal phase and prevent the resin of urea-formaldehyde from depositing there. From the SEM images of shell surface and cross section, the microcapsules have relatively smooth surfaces and the average thickness is about 4.5 mum. When the microcapsules are prepared with agitation rates of 1000 and 600 rpm, the mean diameters of the obtained microcapsules are 11 and 155 mum, respectively. The particles in the capsules move toward positive electrode with a responsive time of several hundred milliseconds while providing an electric field.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Conversion of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains from commensal to invasive by expression of the ica locus encoding production of biofilm exopolysaccharide.

To test if biofilm formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis is dependent on the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin, whose biosynthesis is driven by the ica locus, a plasmid containing the ica locus was transferred to three ica-negative strains. Using in vitro biofilm assays and a rat central venous catheter infection model, we confirmed the importance of the ica locus for biofilm production and pathogenesis of S. epidermidis.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Differential regulation of interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-7 and IRF-9 gene expression in the central nervous system during viral infection.

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are a family of transcription factors involved in the regulation of the interferons (IFNs) and other genes that may have an essential role in antiviral defense in the central nervous system, although this is currently not well defined. Therefore, we examined the regulation of IRF gene expression in the brain during viral infection. Several IRF genes (IRF-2, -3, -5, -7, and -9) were expressed at low levels in the brain of uninfected mice. Following intracranial infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), expression of the IRF-7 and IRF-9 genes increased significantly by day 2. IRF-7 and IRF-9 gene expression in the brain was widespread at sites of LCMV infection, with the highest levels in infiltrating mononuclear cells, microglia/macrophages, and neurons. IRF-7 and IRF-9 gene expression was increased in LCMV-infected brain from IFN-gamma knockout (KO) but not IFN-alpha/betaR KO animals. In the brain, spleen, and liver or cultured glial and spleen cells, IRF-7 but not IRF-9 gene expression increased with delayed kinetics in the absence of STAT1 but not STAT2 following LCMV infection or IFN-alpha treatment, respectively. The stimulation of IRF-7 gene expression by IFN-alpha in glial cell culture was prevented by cycloheximide. Thus, (i) many of the IRF genes were expressed constitutively in the mouse brain; (ii) the IRF-7 and IRF-9 genes were upregulated during viral infection, a process dependent on IFN-alpha/beta but not IFN-gamma; and (iii) IRF-7 but not IRF-9 gene expression can be stimulated in a STAT1-independent but STAT2-dependent fashion via unidentified indirect pathways coupled to the activation of the IFN-alpha/beta receptor.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Innate STAT1-dependent genomic response of neurons to the antiviral cytokine alpha interferon.

Alpha/beta interferons (IFNs-alpha/beta) are cytokines that play an essential role in the host defense against viral infection. Our previous studies have shown that the key IFN signaling molecule STAT1 is highly elevated and activated in central nervous system neurons during viral infection and in transgenic mice with astrocyte production of IFN-alpha (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]-IFN-alpha), suggesting that neurons are a very responsive target cell population for IFNs. To elucidate the genomic response of neurons to IFN-alpha, we undertook studies both in vitro and in vivo. Gene chip analysis was applied to RNA from IFN-alpha-treated or untreated primary cortical neuronal cultures derived from embryonic day 15 fetal wild-type or STAT1 knockout (KO) mice. The expression of 51 known and 5 unknown genes was increased significantly by more than twofold after exposure of wild-type but not STAT1 KO neurons to IFN-alpha. Some more highly expressed genes included IFN-induced 15-kDa protein, ubiquitin-specific protease 18, glucocorticoid attenuated response genes, IFN-induced GTPases, and the chemokine CXCL10. For several of these genes, the gene chip findings were confirmed by RNase protection assays. In addition, examination of the expression of some of these selected genes revealed that they were increased in neurons in the brain of either GFAP-IFN-alpha mice or mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. In conclusion, our study revealed a robust STAT1-dependent genomic response of neurons to IFN-alpha, highlighting an innate potential of these cells to defend against viral infection in the brain.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The assignment of the different infrared continuum absorbance changes observed in the 3000-1800-cm(-1) region during the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle.

The bleach continuum in the 1900-1800-cm(-1) region was reported during the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) and was assigned to the dissociation of a polarizable proton chain during the proton release step. More recently, a broad band pass filter was used and additional infrared continua have been reported: a bleach at >2700 cm(-1), a bleach in the 2500-2150-cm(-1) region, and an absorptive behavior in the 2100-1800-cm(-1) region. To fully understand the importance of the hydrogen-bonded chains in the mechanism of the proton transport in bR, a detailed study is carried out here. Comparisons are made between the time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy experiments on wild-type bR and its E204Q mutant (which has no early proton release), and between the changes in the continua observed in thermally or photothermally heated water (using visible light-absorbing dye) and those observed during the photocycle. The results strongly suggest that, except for the weak bleach in the 1900-1800-cm(-1) region and >2500 cm(-1), there are other infrared continua observed during the bR photocycle, which are inseparable from the changes in the absorption of the solvent water molecules that are photothermally excited via the nonradiative relaxation of the photoexcited retinal chromophore. A possible structure of the hydrogen-bonded system, giving rise to the observed bleach in the 1900-1800-cm(-1) region and the role of the polarizable proton in the proton transport is discussed.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

PubMed2004

Vibrational coupling, isotopic editing, and beta-sheet structure in a membrane-bound polypeptide.

The N-acetylated hexapeptide WLLLLL (AcWL5) partitions into lipid membranes and is believed to assemble into an antiparallel beta-sheet. As a test of this structural assignment, the peptide bonds of residues 2-6 were labeled with (13)C and allowed to adsorb onto a supported lipid membrane. Peptides bound to the membrane were examined for evidence of coupling between the labeled vibrational modes in adjacent beta-strands with internal reflection infrared spectroscopy. Experimental results indicate that the amide I absorption band in D(2)O (i.e., amide I') attributable to (13)C is selectively enhanced when the label is at any one of several positions along the peptide backbone. Simulations employing an excitonic model with through-bond and through-space interactions were performed on AcWL5 models in parallel and antiparallel beta-sheet configurations. The simulations yield spectra in good agreement with the experimental results, accounting for the enhancement of both (13)C band intensities and band frequencies. They also yield insight into the physical origin and structure selectivity of the distinctive amide I' band shapes that arise in isotopically edited spectra. It is concluded that the beta-sheet formed by membrane-bound AcWL5 is indeed antiparallel, and the enhancement of (13)C bands in the infrared spectra of these peptides is caused by both interstrand and intrastrand coupling to (12)C modes.

Amides↗

PubMed2004

Inducible production of interferon-gamma in the developing brain causes cerebellar dysplasia with activation of the Sonic hedgehog pathway.

Here we examined the role of interferon (IFN)-gamma in regulating the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway and cerebellar development in bigenic mice with temporal control of IFN-gamma gene expression driven by a tetracycline-controllable promoter. In IFN-gamma-expressing but not age-matched non-IFN-gamma-expressing bigenic or control mice, development of the cerebellum was severely affected with the persistence and extensive proliferation of the external granule neuron layer (EGL) and infiltration with modest numbers of T-lymphocytes. Following induction of IFN-gamma transgene expression, both total and tyrosine-phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1 (the major transcriptional factor for IFN-gamma), phosphorylated STAT3 and STAT5, and expression of a number of IFN-gamma-regulated genes were significantly increased in cerebellum. In the cerebellum from IFN-gamma-expressing but not age-matched non-IFN-gamma-expressing mice, the level of Shh and Gli-1 but not Patched (Ptch) 1 RNA was increased as was the 19-kDa signaling product of the Shh precursor protein. In situ localization studies revealed ectopic expression of the Shh gene by the granule neurons. We conclude that IFN-gamma directly affects the proliferation and fate of EGL neurons in the cerebellum by activating the Shh pathway and stimulating an autocrine growth response by these cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Psychometric properties and normative data of the Eating Disorder Inventory among 12 to 18 year old Chinese girls in Hong Kong.

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) among Chinese adolescent girls in Hong Kong. We also attempted to provide normative data for the EDI among 12- to 18-year-old Chinese girls in Hong Kong. Two thousand two hundred and fifty-six high school girls between the age of 12 and 18 years participated in this study. Subjects completed the questionnaire package anonymously at their schools. Findings indicate that the internal consistency estimates for the eight EDI scales were in the acceptable range, with alpha ranging from 0.68 for Perfectionism to 0.87 for Body Dissatisfaction. With the exception of a few items, the item-total correlations were also acceptable for the eight scales. Findings of the principal components analysis support the original eight clinically derived EDI constructs. Group comparison analyses reveal significant age differences and race differences in several EDI scales. EDI percentile scores are presented for girls 12-13 and 14-18 years of age in the present study. This study provides further empirical support to the transcultural validity of the EDI. It also highlights the importance of establishing age- and race-specific norms for the inventory.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Dual-frequency 2D-IR spectroscopy heterodyned photon echo of the peptide bond.

The structure fluctuations of the peptide bond interacting with solvent are examined through the coupling and correlations of the frequency distributions of amide I and amide II transitions. The fluctuations of the two modes are anticorrelated as a result of the solvent-induced changes in the mixing of the dominant valence-bond structures of the peptide. Significant anharmonic coupling of the two modes is seen. The results are the application of a new approach to two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy in which the pulse sequences used to produce the vibrational echoes incorporate two frequencies. This dual-frequency arrangement greatly extends the capabilities of 2D-IR spectroscopy by allowing the coupling between widely separated modes to be characterized in analogy with heteronuclear NMR. The experiment exposes the cross peaks, representing the mode coupling, free of the interference of the strong diagonal peaks that typically dominate 2D-IR spectroscopy. The alignment and dephasing of coupled transitions, in this example the amide I and amide II transition dipoles, is also determined by these experiments.

Amides↗