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Biomedical subjects

Min Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Min Jin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Integrated miRNA-mRNA profiling reveals candidate regulatory relationships associated with high-fat diet-induced muscle lipid deposition in black seabream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii).

High-fat diets are increasingly used in aquaculture due to their protein-sparing effects; however, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of fish muscle in response to high-fat diets (HFD) remain unclear. In this study, juvenile black seabream were fed either a normal-fat diet (NFD) or a HFD to investigate the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network associated with diet-induced muscle lipid deposition. Oil Red O staining and biochemical analysis showed that high-fat diet feeding markedly increased lipid droplet accumulation and crude lipid content in muscle, indicating significant induction of muscle lipid deposition. Integrated mRNA and miRNA expression profiling revealed substantial transcriptomic and post-transcriptional responses to high-fat diet challenge. A total of 271 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 120 upregulated and 151 downregulated genes. Through combined target prediction and expression correlation analysis, thirteen candidate inverse miRNA-mRNA relationships were subsequently identified, and RT-qPCR supported the expression patterns of selected miRNAs and mRNAs. These pairs included miR-499-x-dmgdh, miR-499-y-gatm, miR-727-y-ass1, miR-4649-x-foxo4, miR-9129-z-myl7, and several novel miRNA-mediated interactions involving adk, chst11, lypla2, frem2, kcnc4, wars1, bag2, and capn2. Functional analysis suggested that these regulatory pairs were mainly associated with metabolic adaptation, structural remodeling, and cellular stress responses. In particular, gatm, dmgdh, ass1, and adk were associated with energy metabolism-related processes, including pathways previously linked to Ampk regulation, whereas myl7, frem2, and kcnc4 may contribute to muscle structural maintenance and excitability regulation. Overall, this study provides candidate miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships potentially involved in high-fat diet-induced muscle lipid deposition and adaptive remodeling in black seabream, offering a basis for future functional studies on muscle metabolism and quality regulation in marine fish.

Animals↗

A novel Alteromonas phage with tail fiber containing six potential iron-binding domains.

Viruses play a vital role in regulating microbial communities, contributing to biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and essential metals. Alteromonas is widespread and plays an essential role in marine microbial ecology. However, there is limited knowledge about the interactions of Alteromonas and its viruses (alterophages). This study isolated a novel podovirus, vB_AmeP-R22Y (R22Y), which infects Alteromonas marina SW-47 (T). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that R22Y represented a novel viral genus within the Schitoviridae family. R22Y exhibited a broad host range and a relatively large burst size, exerting an important impact on the adaptability and dynamics of host populations. Two auxiliary metabolic genes, encoding Acyl carrier protein and AAA domain-containing protein, were predicted in R22Y, which may potentially assist in host fatty acid metabolism and VB12 biosynthesis, respectively. Remarkably, the prediction of the R22Y tail fiber structure revealed six conserved histidine residues (HxH motifs) that could potentially bind iron ions, suggesting that alterophages may function as organic iron-binding ligands in the marine environment. Our isolation and characterization of R22Y complements the Trojan Horse hypothesis, proposes the possible role of alterophages for marine iron biogeochemical cycling, and provides new insights into phage-host interactions in the iron-limited ocean.IMPORTANCEIron (Fe), as an essential micronutrient, is often a limiting factor for microbial growth in marine ecosystems. The Trojan Horse hypothesis suggests that iron in the phage tail fibers is recognized by the host's siderophore-bound iron receptor, enabling the phage to attach and initiate infection. The potential role of phages as iron-binding ligands has significant implications for oceanic trace metal biogeochemistry. In this study, we isolated a new phage R22Y with the potential to bind iron ions, using Alteromonas, a major siderophore producer, as the host. The tail fiber structure of R22Y exhibits six conserved HxH motifs, suggesting that each phage could potentially bind up to 36 iron ions. R22Y may contribute to colloidal organically complexed dissolved iron in the marine environment. This finding provides further insights into the Trojan Horse hypothesis, suggesting that alterophages may act as natural iron-binding ligands in the marine environment.

Bacteriophages↗

In vitro screening of traditionally used medicinal plants in China against enteroviruses.

AIM: To search for new antiviral agents from traditional Chinese medicine, specifically anti-enteroviruses agents. METHODS: The aqueous extracts (AE) of more than 100 traditionally used medicinal plants in China were evaluated for their in vitro anti-Coxsackie virus B3 activities with a MTT-based colorimetric assay. RESULTS: The test for AE of 16 plants exhibited anti-Coxsackie virus B3 activities at different magnitudes of potency. They can inhibit three steps (inactivation, adsorption and replication) during the infection. Among the 16 plants, Sargentodoxa cuneata (Oliv.) Rehd. et Wils., Sophora tonkinensis Gapnep., Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Spatholobus suberectus Dunn. and Cyrtomium fortunei J. sm. also have activity against other enterovirus, including Coxsackie virus B5, Polio virus I, Echo virus 9 and Echo virus 29. Cell cytotoxic assay demonstrated that all tested AE had CC50 values higher than their EC50 values. CONCLUSION: The sixteen traditionally used medicinal plants in China possessed antiviral activity, and some of them merit further investigations.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal↗

The Rab11-FIP1/RCP gene codes for multiple protein transcripts related to the plasma membrane recycling system.

Rab11a is a member of the Rab11 small GTPase family, and plays an important role in plasma membrane recycling. Rab11-Family Interacting Protein 1 (Rab11-FIP1) binds to Rab11 through a carboxyl-terminal amphipathic alpha helix. We have identified eight alternatively spliced Rab11-FIP1 gene transcripts from human chromosome 8. Among them, Rab11-FIP1A-D have carboxyl terminal Rab11 binding domains, while Rab11-FIP1E-H do not contain the Rab11 binding domain. While Rab11-FIP1B and F gene transcripts are ubiquitous, other Rab11-FIP1 transcripts demonstrate more limited patterns of expression in human tissue cDNAs. EGFP-Rab11-FIP1A-D proteins over-expressed in HeLa cells targeted to Rab11a-containing membranes, while EGFP-Rab11-FIP1E/F and H proteins did not localize with recycling system membranes. However, transferrin trafficking was not significantly altered in HeLa cells over-expressing expressing any of the EGFP-Rab11-FIP1 proteins. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies specific for Rab11-FIP1B and Rab11-FIP1C/RCP demonstrated that Rab11-FIP1B and Rab11-FIP1C/RCP are expressed endogenously. Strikingly, endogenous staining for Rab11-FIP1C/RCP only partially co-localized with EGFP-Rab11-FIP1A, EGFP-Rab11-FIP1B, and EGFP-Rab11a in the perinuclear region, indicating that Rab11-FIP1C/RCP resides in a differentiable subcellular compartment within the plasma membrane recycling system compared with Rab11-FIP1A and Rab11-FIP1B. These data suggest that Rab11-FIP1 proteins may play coordinated roles in regulating plasma membrane recycling with regional specificity within the Rab11a-containing recycling system.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Homocysteine stimulates nuclear factor kappaB activity and interleukin-6 expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.

It has been reported that chronic inflammation of the vessel wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is regarded as an important modulator of inflammatory events occurring during all stages of atherogenesis. Although many factors that induce IL-6 expression have been identified, the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) on the expression of IL-6 in atherogenesis and the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of Hcy in IL-6 expression in rat aorta vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). After VSMCs were incubated with Hcy for various time periods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and semi-quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to measure the expression of IL-6. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to examine nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity. Hcy (0.01-0.25 mmol/l) significantly increased the expression of IL-6 mRNA and protein in rat VSMCs. The increase in IL-6 expression was associated with the activation of NF-kappaB. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) suppressed Hcy-induced IL-6 release, a finding compatible with involvement of reactive oxygen species as second messengers in cytokine production mediated by Hcy. The present study has clearly demonstrated the ability of Hcy to elicit an inflammatory response in rat VSMCs by stimulation of IL-6 production and activation of NF-kappaB. Inflammation activation on vessel walls by elevation of Hcy may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

[Intraoperative angiography in treatment of neurovascular disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of intraoperative angiography in treatment of cerebrovascular disorders. METHODS: Between July 2003 and July 2005, 38 consecutive patients of cerebrovascular disorders, 21 males and 17 females, aged 33.7, 27 with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with a nidus 2 - 8 cm in diameter among which 7 had a diameter >or= 6 cm, and 11 cases with aneurysms among which 3 cases being with an aneurysm >or= 2.5 cm in diameter, and 4 being at the Hunt-Hess grade 1, 4 at the grade 2, and 3 at the grade 3 preoperatively, underwent cerebrovascular surgery assisted with intraoperative angiography. After intubation was achieved and general anesthesia was administrated, a catheter was inserted into the right femoral artery to the intracranial artery related to the surgery. When the lesion was managed, such as the AVMs were resected or the aneurysm was clipped, intraoperative angiography was performed so as to monitor the surgical process. RESULTS: Nine of the 38 patients underwent emergency operation because of acute intracranial hemorrhage without preoperative angiography and intraoperative angiography conformed the diagnosis of AVM in 7 of them and the diagnosis of aneurysms in the other 2 patients. Intraoperative angiography showed that satisfying management was achieved in 36 of the 38 patients (94.7%), and residue of ophthalmic artery aneurysm was seen in 1 patient which underwent clip adjustment later. Only 1 patient with posterior fossa AVM had residual AVM that was resected later. There was no operation mortality, no unexpected major artery occlusion, and no complication attributable to angiography. Intraoperative angiography lasted 53.4 minutes (20 - 125 minutes). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative angiography is able to detect unexpected residual aneurysm, AVM nidus, and major artery occlusion, helps modify the technical faults, thus preventing re-operation, and decreases the complication rate in cerebrovascular surgery.

Adolescent↗

Development and application of a novel and effective screening method for aerobic denitrifying bacteria.

Herein we describe a novel and effective screening method for aerobic denitrifying bacteria. For this procedure, we utilized KCN to inhibit the electron transference from Cytaa3 to oxygen in the bacteria respiratory chain. We employed a 3-h aeration operation cycle and intermittent rotations. The resultant bacterial suspensions were plated on a KCN-screening medium and incubated aerobically. Single colonies were selected and incubated in an aerobic culture medium. Culture nitrate and nitrite levels were determined over time, and ultimately four bacterial strains that performed denitrifying under aerobic conditions were identified by this method. Of these, strain Y2-1-1 demonstrated the best aerobic denitrifying ability. In a 5-day test, the NO3--N of the aerobic culture medium was reduced from 282.0+/-8.3 mg L(-1) to 149.2+/-17.1 mg L(-1), with little nitrite or N2O production. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and the 16S rRNA gene sequence homology comparison data for this strain were consistent with the classification of the genus Pseudomonas. We named this strain Pseudomonas sp. Y2-1-1.

Aerobiosis↗

High-throughput identification of clinical pathogenic fungi by hybridization to an oligonucleotide microarray.

Here we report the development of an oligonucleotide microarray method that can identify fungal pathogens in a single reaction. Specific oligonucleotide probes targeted to internal transcribed spacer 2 were designed and synthesized. Fungal DNA was amplified by universal primers, and the PCR product was hybridized with the oligonucleotide microarray. A series of specific hybridization profiles corresponding to species were obtained. The 122 strains of fungal pathogens, including standard and clinically isolated strains, used to test the specificity, stability, and sensitivity of the microarray system belonged to 20 species representing 8 genera. We found that the microarray system can successfully discriminate among the fungal pathogens to the species level, with high specificity and stability. The sensitivity was 15 pg/ml of DNA. This oligonucleotide microarray system represents a rapid, simple, and reliable alternative to conventional methods of identifying common clinical fungal isolates.

DNA, Fungal↗

[Clinical value of preoperative comprehensive evaluation of cataract surgery in age-related cataract].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical results, the selection of time and procedures of surgery and preoperative evaluation of the phacoemulsification or small incision cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation (PSI) in senile cataract patients with cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The authors performed a retrospective study in 218 senior patients (255 eyes) with cardiovascular disease, which were treated by PSI in the past 5 years. RESULTS: Thirteen cases (14 eyes) did not have PSI due to surgical contraindication or impossible to tolerate the operation or impossible to obtain an improvement of visual acuity after operation. Two hundred and five cases (241 eyes) with cardiovascular disease were treated with PSI. After follow up for 1 - 18 months (mean 6.3 months), 165 cases (193 eyes) had a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) equal or more than 20/60 (80.5%); 32 cases (39 eyes) had BCVA of 20/400 or less than 20/60 (15.6%); and 8 cases (9 eyes) had BCVA less than 20/400 (3.9%). There were no severe complications during the operation. One case developed inhalation pneumonia postoperatively and was transferred to internal medicine for rescue. CONCLUSIONS: Senile cataract patients with cardiovascular disease must be evaluated before performing PSI. The advantages of general hospital should be utilized to treat patients with cardiovascular disease before, during and after the operation. The use of sedatives, adrenalin and steroids must be individualized; high-risk patients should be monitored by EKG and supplied by constant inhalation of low dose oxygen to minimize the surgical risk. In senile cataract patients with cardiovascular disease and IV grade or more lens nucleus, small incision cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation is better than phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation.

Aged↗

[Correlation between plasma level of homocysteine and cerebral large-artery atherosclerosis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify whether high level of plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for potential cerebral large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis determined by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: 276 adult patients with ischemic stroke experienced DSA were selected, and 224 patients with potential large-artery atherosclerotic stenosis (grade > 50%, not less than one of vascular) and 52 controls without stenosis or mild grade (grade < or = 50%) were included. Plasma homocysteine level was analyzed and conventional risk factors of cerebral stroke such as sex and age, hypertension, diabetes, long-smoking, long-alcohol and plasma levels of triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein was evaluated in 276 subjects. RESULTS: The proportion of subjects with high level of plasma homocysteine (> 15 micromol/L) was significantly higher in patients with potential atherosclerotic stenosis than those without (38.8% versus 15.4%; OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.57 - 7.77, P = 0.001). Based on multivariable stepwise logistic regression model, the odds ratio of homocysteine levels was 4.10 (95% CI 1.80 - 9.32, P = 0.001) with additional adjustment for conventional risk factors. The effect of homocysteine was more pronounced in the presence of hypertension (OR = 4.89), old age (OR = 4.79) and low level of plasma high density lipoprotein (OR = 10.46). CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that high level of plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cerebral large-artery atherosclerosis. The effect of homocysteine is more pronounced in the presence of other risk factors of ischemic stroke.

Adolescent↗

AKAP350 modulates microtubule dynamics.

AKAP350 is a multiply spliced type II protein kinase A-anchoring protein that localizes to the centrosomes in most cells and the Golgi apparatus in epithelial cells. Multiple studies suggest that AKAP350 is involved in microtubule nucleation at the centrosome. Our previous studies demonstrated that AKAP350 was necessary for the maintenance of Golgi apparatus integrity. These data suggested that AKAP350 might be necessary for normal cytoskeletal interactions with the Golgi. To examine the relationship of AKAP350 with the microtubule cytoskeleton, we analyzed the effect of the depletion of AKAP350 on microtubule regrowth after nocodazole treatment in HeLa cells. The decrease in AKAP350 expression with short interfering RNA induced a delay in microtubule elongation with no effect on microtubule aster formation. In contrast, overexpression of the centrosomal targeting domain of AKAP350 elicited alterations in aster formation, but did not affect microtubule elongation. RNA interference for AKAP350 also induced an increase in cdc42 activity during microtubule regrowth. Our data suggest that AKAP350 has a role in the remodeling of the microtubule cytoskeleton.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

A novel membrane bioreactor enhanced by effective microorganisms for the treatment of domestic wastewater.

The activated sludge membrane bioreactor (MBR) has been shown to have some advantages for the processing and reclamation of domestic wastewater. We hypothesized that certain microorganisms, chosen for their abilities to decompose the chemical components of raw sewage, would, when coupled with the MBR, significantly improve the stability and efficiency of this system. We selected environmental bacterial strains which oxidize ammonia and nitrites and produce protease, amylase, and cellulase for the development and testing of a novel biologically enhanced MBR (eMBR). We compared the eMBR with the activated sludge MBR. With the eMBR, the average values of effluent quality were: chemical oxygen demand (COD), 40 mg/l(average efficiency of removal 90.0%); and NH(4) (+)-N, 0.66 mg/l(average efficiency of removal 99.4%). Effluent qualities met the standard and were stable during the entire 90 days of this study. For the activated sludge MBR, the COD removal rate was 91.7%, and the NH(4) (+)-N removal (94.8%) was less than that of the eMBR. Start-up time for the eMBR was only 24-48 h, much shorter than the 7-8 days required to initiate function of the standard MBR. The biomass concentrations of total heterotrophic bacteria and autotrophic bacteria in the eMBR did not fluctuate significantly during the course of the study. Various kinds of microorganisms will establish an ecological balance in the reactor. Compared with the activated sludge MBR, the eMBR not only produced an excellent and stable quality of effluent but also resulted in a shorter time to start-up and significantly improved the efficiency of NH(4) (+)-N removal.

Bacteria↗

Two estrogen replacement therapies differentially regulate expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta in the hippocampus and cortex of ovariectomized rat.

As estrogens have been implicated in altered cognitive function associated with menopause, the purpose of the present study was to determine the regulatory effects of different estrogen preparations on the expression of estrogen receptor subtypes in the hippocampus and cortex of ovariectomized rats. The expression of estrogen receptor mRNA and protein was determined with RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Two estrogen reagents, Premarin and Progynova, were used in the present study. Premarin, a conjugated equine estrogen, down-regulated ER alpha expression in the hippocampus and cortex of ovariectomized rats and had no effect on levels of ER beta expression in the same two regions. However, Progynova (valerate estradiol) was shown to up-regulate ER beta expression in the hippocampus and cortex and had no effect on the levels of ER alpha expression. Our present data suggest that different estrogen reagents used in estrogen replacement therapy could have different regulatory effects on the expression of estrogen receptor subtypes, which might, at least in part, explain why clinically, different estrogen preparations have distinct estrogenic effects on target organs.

Animals↗

Excretion and detection of SARS coronavirus and its nucleic acid from digestive system.

AIM: To study whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) could be excreted from digestive system. METHODS: Cell culture and semi-nested RT-PCR were used to detect SARS-CoV and its RNA from 21 stool and urine samples, and a kind of electropositive filter media particles was used to concentrate the virus in 10 sewage samples from two hospitals receiving SARS patients in Beijing in China. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that there was no live SARS-CoV in all samples collected, but the RNA of SARS-CoV could be detected in seven stool samples from SARS patients with any one of the symptoms of fever, malaise, cough, or dyspnea, in 10 sewage samples before disinfection and 3 samples after disinfection from the two hospitals. The RNA could not be detected in urine and stool samples from patients recovered from SARS. CONCLUSION: Nucleic acid of SARS-CoV can be excreted through the stool of patients into sewage system, and the possibility of SARS-CoV transmitting through digestive system cannot be excluded.

Digestive System↗

Study on the resistance of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus.

In this study, the persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was observed in feces, urine and water. In addition, the inactivation of SARS-CoV in wastewater with sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide was also studied. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the virus could only persist for 2 days in hospital wastewater, domestic sewage and dechlorinated tap water, while 3 days in feces, 14 days in PBS and 17 days in urine at 20 degrees C. However, at 4 degrees C, the SARS-CoV could persist for 14 days in wastewater and at least 17 days in feces or urine. SARS-CoV is more susceptible to disinfectants than Escherichia coli and f2 phage. Free chlorine was found to inactivate SARS-CoV better than chlorine dioxide. Free residue chlorine over 0.5 mg/L for chlorine or 2.19 mg/L for chlorine dioxide in wastewater ensures complete inactivation of SARS-CoV while it does not inactivate completely E. coli and f2 phage.

Chlorine↗

Concentration and detection of SARS coronavirus in sewage from Xiao Tang Shan Hospital and the 309th Hospital.

The transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is associated with close contact to SARS patients and droplet secretions of those patients. The finding of positive RT-PCR results from stools of SARS patients suggests that stools of SARS patients or sewage containing stools of patients could transmit SARS-CoV. We used a novel style of electropositive filter media particle to concentrate the SARS-CoV from the sewage of two hospitals receiving SARS patients in Beijing. We also used cell culture, RT-PCR and gene sequencing to detect and identify the viruses from sewage. No infectious SARS-CoV contamination was found in any of the samples collected, but the nucleic acid of SARS-CoV could be detected in the sewage from the two hospitals before disinfection. While the RNA was only detected in three samples from the 309th Hospital, the others were negative after disinfection. These findings provide strong evidence that SARS-CoV can be excreted through the stool/urine of patients into sewage system, thus making the sewage system a possible route of transmission.

China↗

Assessment of Rab11-FIP2 interacting proteins in vitro.

Members of the Rab family of small GTPases are involved in multiple trafficking events in both endocytotic and biosynthetic pathways. To understand more fully the regulation of these events, a concerted effort is underway to ascertain the binding partners and regulators of Rabs. Here, we describe methods to assess binding of Rab11a with Rab11-FIP2 and other Rab11-FIPs utilizing a modified far-Western approach. We then broaden this application to assess binding of Rab11-FIP2 with myosin Vb and homodimerization of Rab11-FIP2.

Animals↗