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Biomedical subjects

Lei Xu

Publications and source records attributed to Lei Xu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Switching the recognition preference of rhodamine B spirolactam by replacing one atom: design of rhodamine B thiohydrazide for recognition of Hg(II) in aqueous solution.

A new chemosensor based on rhodamine B thiohydrazide is described. Chemosensor B was found to show a reversible dual chromo- and fluorogenic response toward Hg2+ in aqueous solution in a highly selective and sensitive manner. This was suggested to result from the coordination of Hg2+ at the N, S binding sites in B to open its spiro ring.

Binding Sites↗

Unidirectional high intensity narrow-linewidth lasing from a planar random microcavity laser.

Lasing was achieved in a new type of random laser: the planar random microcavity laser. The laser consists of a planar microcavity with a random gain layer. Optical confinement by the two-dimensional random cavity and the one-dimensional planar microcavity drastically reduces the number of resonant modes. As a result, the laser output is highly directional (the divergence angle is 1.68 degrees) with an extremely narrow-linewidth and ultralow threshold. All these phenomena are explained in terms of the coupling of random cavity modes and planar microcavity modes. The results demonstrate an important step towards applications of random lasers.

Journal Article↗

The vascular endothelial growth factor expression and vascular regeneration in infarcted myocardium by skeletal muscle satellite cells.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction results in tissue necrosis, leading to cell loss and ultimately to cardiac failure. Implantation of skeletal muscle satellite cells into the scar area may compensate for the cell loss and provides a new strategy for infarct therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a promising reagent for inducing myocardial angiogenesis. Skeletal myoblast transplantation has been shown to improve cardiac function in chronic heart failure models by regenerating muscle. We hypothesized that VEGF expression and vascular regeneration increased in infarcted myocardium by skeletal muscle satellite cells, which can promote vascular producing and improve survival environment in infarcted myocardium. METHODS: The skeletal muscle satellite cells were implanted into the infarcted myocardium in a model through ligated left anterior artery in Louis Inbrad Strain rat. Specimens were got for identifying the expression of VEGF and the density of vascular by immunochemical method at two weeks after implantation. RESULTS: The proliferation and differentiation of the skeletal muscle satellite cell was very well. The expression of VEGF was higher in the implanted group (146.83 +/- 2.49) than that in the control group (134.26 +/- 6.84) (P < 0.05). The vascular density in the implanted group (13.00 +/- 1.51) was also higher than that in the control (10.68 +/- 1.79) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The implanted satellite cell could excrete growth factor that would induce angiogenesis and improve cell survival environment in infarcted myocardium.

Animals↗

HPLC study of tissue distribution of loganin in rats.

A rapid, sensitive and selective high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for determination of loganin in rat tissues. Samples were prepared based on a simple protein precipitation. Separation of loganin was achieved on a reversed-phase C(18) column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (16:84, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 236 nm and the temperature of the column was kept at 30 degrees C. The method was applied to study tissue distribution of loganin in rats after a single administration of loganin at a dose of 20 mg/kg. The highest level was observed in kidney, then in stomach, lung and small intestine. The lowest level was found in brain. The peak levels were attained at 90 min in most tissues. It was indicated that kidney was the major distribution tissue of loganin in rats, and that loganin had difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier. It was also found there was no long-term accumulation of loganin in rat tissues.

Animals↗

Expression of cytokines in acute heart transplantation rejection.

The expression and changes of local cytokines network were detected in heart transplantation in rats, so as to determine the role of cytokines in the acute rejection of rats of heart transplantation. Allografts were divided into 4 groups (n=12 in each group): group A (control), group B (IL-2 monoclonal antibody-treated), group C (CsA-treated) and group D (IL-2 monoclonal antibody+CsA-treated). Hearts from DA rats were transplanted into a cervical location in Wistar recipients. The local expression of IL-1beta, IL-2, CD25, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, 1L-10, TNFalpha and INFgamma was detected at day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that the survival time of allografts was 8.3+/-1.7, 29.2+/-7.1 (P<0.05), 26.4+/-5.7 (P<0.05) and 55.0+/-10.6 (P<0.01) days respectively in groups A, B, C and D. The expression of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-10 and IFNgamma was up-regulated, and that of IL-2, CD25, IL-5, IL-6 and TNFalpha was significantly inhibited in group A; The expression of IL-10, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10 and IFNgamma was up-regulated, and that of IL-2, L-4 and TNFalpha was significantly down-regulated in group B; The expression of IL-1beta, IL-2, CD25, IL-5, TNFalpha and IFNgamma was up-regulated, and that of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 was significantly down-regulated in group C; The expression of IL-14, 11-5, IL-6 and 11-10 was up-regulated, and that of IL-10, IL-2, CD25, TNFalpha and IFNgamma was significantly down-regulated in group D. In conclusion, cytokines play an important role in the development of acute transplantation rejection. Different cytokines play different roles in different local environments.

Animals↗

Inhibition of SIRT1 catalytic activity increases p53 acetylation but does not alter cell survival following DNA damage.

Human SIRT1 is an enzyme that deacetylates the p53 tumor suppressor protein and has been suggested to modulate p53-dependent functions including DNA damage-induced cell death. In this report, we used EX-527, a novel, potent, and specific small-molecule inhibitor of SIRT1 catalytic activity to examine the role of SIRT1 in p53 acetylation and cell survival after DNA damage. Treatment with EX-527 dramatically increased acetylation at lysine 382 of p53 after different types of DNA damage in primary human mammary epithelial cells and several cell lines. Significantly, inhibition of SIRT1 catalytic activity by EX-527 had no effect on cell growth, viability, or p53-controlled gene expression in cells treated with etoposide. Acetyl-p53 was also increased by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) class I/II inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). EX-527 and TSA acted synergistically to increase acetyl-p53 levels, confirming that p53 acetylation is regulated by both SIRT1 and HDACs. While TSA alone reduced cell survival after DNA damage, the combination of EX-527 and TSA had no further effect on cell viability and growth. These results show that, although SIRT1 deacetylates p53, this does not play a role in cell survival following DNA damage in certain cell lines and primary human mammary epithelial cells.

Acetylation↗

Research on the protection effect of pioglitazone for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has markedly increased. Insulin resistance has been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. This study was aimed at observing the relationship between insulin resistance and NAFLD, and evaluating the role of pioglitazone (PGZ) acting as insulin-sensitizing agents in the prevention and treatment of rat fatty liver induced by high fat feeding. METHODS: The rats were separated randomly into 6 groups: model group I were fed high fat diet for 8 weeks, PGZ prevention group were given PGZ 4 mg/(kg.d) simultaneously, while control group I were fed normal food for 8 weeks; model group II were fed high fat diet for 16 weeks, PGZ treatment group were given PGZ 4 mg/(kg.d) orally simultaneous with high fat diet for 8 weeks after high fat feeding for 8 weeks, control group II were fed normal food for 16 weeks. The rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks and 16 weeks respectively. Liver weight, body weight, serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting plasma insulin (FINS), HOMA (homeostasis model assessment) insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and the liver histology of rats of all groups were assayed. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, the liver in model group I showed typical steatosis, accompanied with mild to moderate lobular inflammatory cell infiltration, liver indexes and serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TNF-alpha were significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with control group I. Whereas, the degree of hepatic injury was attenuated in PGZ prevention group, liver indexes and serum levels of ALT, ALP were significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with model group I. After 16 weeks, notable steatosis, and lobular inflammation were observed in model group II rat liver, while the degree of hepatic injury was attenuated in the PGZ treatment group. Liver index, serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, FINS and HOMA-IR were significantly increased (P<0.05) in model group II compared with control group II. Whereas, in PGZ treatment group, serum levels of AST and FINS showed decreasing tendency, liver indexes, serum levels of ALT, ALP, TNF-alpha and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased compared with model group II. CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance plays a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in rats. Pioglitazone can attenuate insulin resistance and biochemical and histological injury in high fat-induced fatty liver in rats.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Expression of p53, p16 and COX-2 in pancreatic cancer with tissue microarray.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer development and progression is driven by the accumulation of genetic changes. In this study we constructed tissue microarray containing specimens from pancreatic cancer, adjacent non-cancer tissue and normal tissue to survey the expression of p53, p16 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). METHODS: Tissue microarray containing 337 specimens from different stages of pancreatic cancer, adjacent non-cancer tissue and normal tissues was constructed, and the expression of p53, p16 and COX-2 was assayed by immunohistochemistry to consecutive formalin-fixed tissue microarray sections. RESULTS: The expression of p53, p16 and COX-2 was significantly higher in tumorous tissues than in non-tumorous ones. A significant relationship was observed between p53 and COX-2, or p16 and COX-2. But no obvious correlation was seen between p53 and p16 expressions. Logistic regression analysis showed p53 and COX-2 as dependent predictors in pancreatic carcinogenesis, and a reciprocal relationship to neoplastic progression between p53 and COX-2. CONCLUSION: Combination analysis of p53 and COX-2 may be useful in predicting pancreatic carcinogenesis.

Adolescent↗

[Expressions of Her-2, EGFR, PS-2 and ER in breast cancer and their clinical implications].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expressions of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), presenilin 2 (PS-2) and estrogen receptor (ER) in breast cancer and discuss their clinical implications. METHODS: The expressions of Her-2, EGFR, PS-2 and ER were measured immunohistochemically in 108 patients with breast cancer. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of Her-2, EGFR, PS-2 and ER were 37.0%, 40.7%, 57.4% and 53.7% respectively in the breast cancer patients. The expression of Her-2 was not correlated with EGFR, but inversely correlated with PS-2 and ER. The expressions of Her-2 and EGFR, PS-2, ER were correlated with the histological grades (P<0.05), and Her-2, EGFR and ER expressions with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The expressions of Her-2, EGFR, PS-2 and ER did not correlate to the pathological types, patient's age and tumor size (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Expressions of Her-2 and EGFR often suggests an unfavorable prognosis while expressions of PS-2 and ER suggest a more favorable one. Expressions of Her-2, EGFR, PS-2 and ER are useful prognostic factors in breast cancer patients.

Adult↗

[Effects of overexpression of human pol-beta on cellular response to DNA damage].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological effects of overexpression of the human DNA polymerase (pol-beta) on cellular response to DNA damage. METHODS: The cell strain HLFbeta from the stable overexpression of the human pol-beta was contaminated with methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) for investigating the effects of the pol-beta on the cellular responses to DNA damage on the aspects such as the DNA damage, the cell cycle and the induced mutation rate. RESULTS: The cell HLFbeta from the stable overexpression of the human pol-beta was obtained through the screening. The cellular response to DNA damage of HLFbeta induced by the MMS in the intermediate and high dosage group (ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 mmol/L) was significantly lower than that in the control group. The analysis for the cell cycle distribution showed that both the two types of cells contaminated by MMS had retardation at G(2) phase. In the HLFbeta group, the cells had the obvious G(2) phase retardation and 49.0% of the cells were retarded at G(1) phase as well when the MMS was increased to 0.5 mmol/L while in the control, only 20.1% of the cells were retarded at the G(1) phase when the same dosage of MMS was administered. Moreover, the MMS-induced mutagenesis in HLFbeta was increased from 4.5 x 10(-6) to 8.2 x 10(-6), significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High Pol-beta level decreases cellular DNA damage induced by MMS. Nevertheless, the overexpression of Pol-beta can also increase error-prone DNA synthesis during DNA repair process.

Cell Cycle↗

[Experimental study of the facial nerve paralysis induced by herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of Bell palsy induced by type I herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) infection and to assess the role and site of HSV-1 in the pathogenesis of facial paralysis. METHODS: Fifty-three female Balb/c mice four-week-old weighted 16-18 g were studied. After scratching the surface of bilateral auricles with a 26-gauge needle, 25 microL HSV-1 with a titer of 6. 7 x 10(7) PFU/ml was inoculated into the right auricle, and the same volume of PBS was placed in the left. As a control, PBS was placed on the bilateral auricles of 4 mice. The HSV-1 DNA in bilateral facial nerve, bilateral brainstem, bilateral trigeminal carrier ganglion, bilateral brain, and blood at different stage was examined with polymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-seven animals (75.51%) appeared different degree facial paralysis among the 49 inoculated animals. Fourteen facial paralysis (37.84%) were on the right, 3 (8.11%) on the left, and 20 (54.05%) on the bilateral side. Six animals with facial palsy were recovered during 3-13 days, the average recovery time was 7.83 days. CONCLUSIONS: The existence of HSV-1 in the brainstem and the cerebral cortex is significant for facial paralysis.

Animals↗

[Clinical study of mechanical ventilation in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the application of mechanical ventilation in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE), and compare the changes in hemodynamics between continuous positive airway pressure proportional pressure support (CPAP-PPS) with continuous positive airway pressure-pressure support ventilation (CPAP-PSV). METHODS: Non-invasive and invasive ventilation were performed in 77 ACPE patients. At the initiation of invasive ventilation and the phase of low assist ventilation in 61 patients who were treated with mechanical ventilation longer than 24 hours, hemodynamics was monitored by partial CO(2) rebreathing method (non-invasive cardiac output, NICO) cardiopulmonary management system, and then compared the changes in the two kinds of ventilation under medicinal intervention. RESULTS: Among 33 of 61 ACPE patients underwent non-invasive ventilation, 24 were successful, and the ratio was 72.7%. Among 33 patients with invasive ventilation (including 5 in whom ventilation was switched to non-invasive mode), 11 failed. Biphasic positive airway pressure/pressure support ventilation (BIPAP/PSV) was used in pressure controlled ventilation, with high pressure (Phigh) 16-24 cm H(2)O (1 cm H(2)O=0.098 kPa), time of high pressure (Thigh) 1.5 seconds, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) 6-15 cm H(2)O, fractional concentration of inspired oxygen (FiO(2)) 0.5, cardiac output (CO)/cardiac index (CI) was significantly improved compared with those of initial ventilation in successful ones in invasive group, and the improvement was more significant in PPS compared with PSV in low assist ventilation (all P<0.001). Those in whom invasive ventilation was failed had a low CI (<1.5 L.min(-1).m(-2)) even under drug intervention. CONCLUSION: Hemodynamic monitoring should be performed when medicinal intervention and non-invasive/invasive ventilation are given to ACPE patients. Pressure controlled ventilation is recommended, and PEEP should be individualized (normally 6-15 cm H(2)O). Spontaneous ventilation should be restored as soon as possible, CPAP-PPS mode is practicable in patients in whom weaning of mechanical ventilation is difficult.

Acute Disease↗

[Study of continuous hemodynamics monitoring techniques in patients with mechanical ventilation].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the relativity among three kinds of continuous hemodynamics monitoring techniques: thermodilution via Swan-Ganz catheter, pulse contour analysis method (PiCCO), partial CO(2) rebreathing method (non invasive cardiac output, NICO), in patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS: In 13 patients with respiratory failure due to different causes, hemodynamics were continuously monitored with Swan-Ganz catheterization, PiCCO, NICO simultaneously. The therapeutic measures and the type of ventilator were similar. Data were collected at the same time points to compare the relativity among these three kinds of monitor. RESULTS: Linear relative analysis showed a good relativity in PiCCO/Swan-Ganz (r=0.883), NICO/Swan-Ganz (r=0.853) and PiCCO/NICO (r=0.857) in cardiac index (CI). CONCLUSION: PiCCO and NICO can be used as reliable measure to monitor ventilated patients bedside in intensive care unit (ICU), thus offering an assistance to optimize therapeutic strategy.

Aged↗

[Effect on hemodynamics during different modes of low assist ventilation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect on mechanical ventilation with biphasic positive airway pressure (BIPAP), pressure support ventilation (PSV) and proportional pressure support (PPS) modes on hemodynamics in patients with either normal cardiac function or impaired cardiac function in order to optimize the time to wean mechanical ventilation in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction. METHODS: Non-invasive cardiac output (NICO) monitoring was instituted in patients 32 with respiratory failure due to different causes, when spontaneous respiration was restored, and they were separated into two groups depending on whether the cardiac index (CI) was normal (CI> or =2.0 L.min(-1).m(-2)) or not (CI<2.0 L.min(-1).m(-2)). The effects of BIPAP, PSV and PPS modes on changes in hemodynamics were compared between two groups. RESULTS: (1) In patients with normal cardiac function, CO, CI, stroke volume (SV), pulmonary capillary blood flow (PCBF) were significant higher in PSV and PPS modes than BIPAP mode, and they were highest with PPS mode, but no significant difference compared with PSV. Surround vascular resistance (SVR) was reduced significantly in PPS mode compared with BIPAP, but no significant difference was found compared with PSV. (2) In patients with cardiac dysfunction, CO, CI increased gradually when ventilated in BIPAP, PSV, PPS modes and significant difference was found among three groups. In PPS mode, CO and CI were highest. (3) The trends of peak airway pressure (Ppeak) and mean airway pressure (Pmean) were degressive in three groups. In both normal cardiac function group and cardiac dysfunction group, significant difference was found in PSV and PPS modes compared with BIPAP. Ppeak was lowest in PPS mode in cardiac dysfunction group, and there was significant difference compared with the other groups. (4) The ventilated time was significant reduced in PPS mode compared with PSV. (5) In normal cardiac function group, instinct positive end expiratory pressure (PEEPi) showed degressive trend among three different modes, and it was lowest in PPS mode, with significant difference compared with the other two groups. CONCLUSION: In PPS mode, the effect to hemodynamics in patients with severe cardiac dysfunction is minimal, so it is suitable as a weaning mode in this groups of patients.

Adult↗

Dynamics of the guest-host orientational interaction in dye-doped liquid-crystalline materials.

We present a comprehensive study on the dynamics of laser-induced molecular reorientation in a dye-doped liquid crystalline (LC) medium that exhibits significant enhancement of the optical Kerr nonlinearity due to guest-host interaction. Using various techniques, we separately characterized the dynamical responses of the relevant molecular species present in the medium following photoexcitation and, thus, were able to follow the transient process in which photoexcitation of the dye molecules exert through guest-host interaction a net torque on the host LC material, leading to the observed enhanced optical Kerr nonlinearity. Experimental results agree quantitatively with the time-dependent theory based on a mean-field model of the guest-host interaction.

Journal Article↗

Correction for broadening in Doppler blood flow spectrum estimated using wavelet transform.

The conventionally used spectral estimation technique for Doppler blood flow signal analysis is short-time Fourier transform (STFT). But this method requires stationarity of the signal during the window interval. Wavelet transform (WT), which has a flexible time-frequency window, is particularly suitable for nonstationary signals. In recently years, the WT has been used to investigate its advantages and limitations for the analysis of Doppler blood flow signals. In these studies, the estimated spectral width of Doppler blood flow signals using the WT might include significant window and nonstationarity broadening errors. These broadening errors of the time-varying spectrum were clearly undesirable since it would tend to mask the effect of flow disturbance on the spectra width. In this paper, a closed form expression for window and nonstationary root-mean-squared (rms) spectral width is given when using the WT to estimate the Doppler blood flow spectrum. The increases in the rms spectral width can be calculated and then the spectral width estimation based on the WT can be corrected.

Algorithms↗