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Biomedical subjects

Min Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Min Liu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Working to prevent HIV/STIs among women in the sex industry in a rural town of Hainan, China.

We evaluated a two-phase HIV/STIs prevention intervention for female sex workers in a resource-limited rural town in Hainan Province, China. The primary intervention strategy, conducted from 1997 to 2000, was a condom promotion campaign conducted through outreach to sex workers. Four serial cross-sectional surveys were carried out before and after the intervention. Over a period of 2 years, reported condom use during the most recent sexual encounter increased from about 50% to more than 70%; and condom use in more than 50% of sexual acts during the past 6 months increased from less than 40% to near 80% of respondents. Controlling for education, ethnicity and age, reading of educational materials (our intervention variable) was a significant contributor to a higher knowledge score, motivation to use condoms, and reported condom use. This study demonstrates that outreach to female sex workers, if appropriately tailored to local settings, can increase condom use in a resource-limited rural area.

Condoms↗
PubMed2006

Presence of HBsAg, HBcAg, and HBVDNA in ovary and ovum of the patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence and distribution of Hepatitis B virus antigen (HBVAg) and Hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBVDNA) in ovary with chronic hepatitis B virus. STUDY DESIGN: The immunohistochemistry method and in situ hybridization method were used to detect the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAg), and HBVDNA in ovary of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. RESULTS: HBsAg presented in the ovum-granular cell and interstitial cell of ovary. HBsAg located in the cytomembrane and cytoplasm. HBcAg presented in the ovum-granular cell-interstitial cell and endothelium cell of interstitial blood vessel of ovary, and the HBcAg may present in the ovum at different stage. HBcAg was situated at the cytomembrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus. HBVDNA was detected in the ovum at different stage as HBcAg and in granular cell, interstitial cell of ovary. In the same ovary tissue, HBVDNA was positive in some ova, but it was weakly positive or negative in other ova. HBVDNA distributed mainly in nucleus, but also can be detected in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: HBV could infect the ovum at different stage and replicate in it. This may be an important mechanism of HBV vertical transmission.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Assessing core clinical competencies required of medical graduates in Taiwan.

Medical students are assumed to be competent to provide basic patient care independently on graduation. However, there is a gap between what students are expected to learn and what they have actually learned. This may be due to the lack of clearly defined learning objectives, well-organized curriculum, and properly administered assessment. In an attempt to tackle this problem, we conducted a three-step study. Firstly, we identified the core clinical competencies required of medical graduates in Taiwan. Secondly, we incorporated these clinical competencies into a new medical curriculum. Finally, we identified the most appropriate assessment methods for each clinical competency. In 2004, a set of minimally required clinical competencies for medical undergraduates in Taiwan was developed, which included 92 clinical skills, four communication skills, and seven kinds of attitudes. In order to prepare 3rd and 4th year medical students at Kaohsiung Medical University (KMU) for later clinical work, the medical curriculum committee integrated the teaching and assessment of the core clinical skills identified previously into relevant organ-system blocks of the new curriculum. To identify appropriate assessment methods for each clinical skill, a structured questionnaire of assessment methods based on the Toolbox of Assessment Methods (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) and The Scottish Doctor (Scottish Deans' Medical Curriculum Group) was developed and distributed to 40 senior clinical faculty members at KMU. Simulations and Models, Standardized Patient Examination (SP), and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) were suggested to be most suitable to assess two-thirds of the core clinical skills. These assessment methods are commonly used in American and European medical schools. We believe that the implementation of the new curriculum at KMU accompanied by the use of Simulations and Models, SP, OSCE, and other teaching and assessment methods will help 3rd and 4th year students to prepare better for clinical practice in clerkships.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2006

MKK3/6-p38 MAPK signaling is required for IL-1beta and TNF-alpha-induced RANKL expression in bone marrow stromal cells.

Coupled bone turnover is directed by the expression of receptor-activated NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG). Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induce RANKL expression in bone marrow stromal cells. Here, we report that IL-1beta and TNF-alpha-induced RANKL requires p38 mitogen-activating protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation for maximal expression. Real-time PCR was used to assess the p38 contribution toward IL-1beta and TNF-alpha-induced RANKL mRNA expression. Steady-state RANKL RNA levels were increased approximately 17-fold by IL-1beta treatment and subsequently reduced approximately 70%-90% when p38 MAPK was inhibited with SB203580. RANKL mRNA stability data indicated that p38 MAPK did not alter the rate of mRNA decay in IL-1beta-induced cells. Using a RANKL-luciferase cell line receptor containing a 120-kB segment of the 5' flanking region of the RANKL gene, reporter expression was stimulated 4-5-fold by IL-1beta or TNF-alpha treatment. IL-1beta-induced RANKL reporter expression was completely blocked with specific p38 inhibitors as well as dominant negative mutant constructs of MAPK kinase-3 and -6. In addition, blocking p38 signaling in bone marrow stromal cells partially inhibited IL-1beta and TNF-alpha-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Results from these studies indicate that p38 MAPK is a major signaling pathway involved in IL-1beta and TNF-alpha-induced RANKL expression in bone marrow stromal cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Changes in soleus muscle function and fiber morphology with one week of locomotor training in spinal cord contusion injured rats.

The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) to examine skeletal muscle function in a rat model of midthoracic contusion spinal cord injury (SCI) and (2) to evaluate the therapeutic influence of a short bout (1 week) of treadmill locomotor training on soleus muscle function (peak force, fatigability, contractile properties, fiber types), size (fiber area), and motor deficit and recovery (BBB scores) after SCI. The rats were injured with a moderate T8 spinal cord contusion and were assigned to either receive treadmill locomotor training (TM), starting 1 week after SCI for 5 consecutive days (20 min/trial, 2 trials/day) or not to receive any exercise intervention (no TM). Locomotor training resulted in a significant improvement in overall locomotor function (32% improvement in BBB scores) when compared to no TM. Also, the injured animals that trained for 1 week had 38% greater peak soleus tetanic forces (p < 0.05), a 9% decrease in muscle fatigue (p < 0.05), 23% larger muscle fiber CSA (p < 0.05), and decreased immunoexpression of fast heavy chain fiber types than did rats receiving no TM. In addition, there was a good correlation (0.704) between the BBB scores of injured animals and peak soleus muscle force regardless of group assignment. No significant differences were seen in twitch or time to peak tension values across groups. Collectively, these results indicate that 1 week of treadmill locomotor training, initiated early after SCI, can significantly improve motor recovery following SCI. The magnitude of these changes is remarkable considering the relatively short training interval and clearly illustrates the potential that initiating treadmill locomotor training shortly after injury may have on countering some of the functional deficits resulting from SCI.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Application of cell penetrating peptide in magnetic resonance imaging of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Tracking the distribution and differentiation of stem cells by high-resolution imaging techniques would have significant clinical and research implications. In this study, a model cell-penetrating peptide was used to carry gadolinium particles for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow and identified by osteogenic differentiation in vitro. The cell-penetrating peptide labeled with fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC) and gadolinium was synthesized by a solid-phase peptide synthesis method. Fluorescein imaging analysis confirmed that this new peptide could internalize into the cytoplasm and nucleus at room temperature, 4 degrees and 37 degrees . Gadolinium were efficiently internalized into mesenchymal stem cells by the peptide in a time or concentration-dependent manner, resulting in intercellular shortening of longitudinal relaxation enhancements, which were obviously detected by 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Cytotoxicity assay and flow cytometric analysis showed that the intercellular contrast medium incorporation did not affect cell viability at the tested concentrations. The in vitro experiment results suggested that the new constructed peptides could be a vector for tracking MSCs.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Orally bioavailable GSK-3alpha/beta dual inhibitor increases markers of cellular differentiation in vitro and bone mass in vivo.

UNLABELLED: GSK-3, a component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, is implicated in regulation of bone mass. The effect of a small molecule GSK-3 inhibitor was evaluated in pre-osteoblasts and in osteopenic rats. GSK-3 inhibitor induced osteoblast differentiation in vitro and increased markers of bone formation in vitro and in vivo with concomitant increased bone mass and strength in rats. INTRODUCTION: Inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase -3 (GSK-3) leads to stabilization, accumulation, and translocation of beta-catenin into the nucleus to activate downstream Wnt target genes. To examine whether GSK-3 directly regulates bone formation and mass we evaluated the effect of 603281-31-8, a small molecule GSK-3 alpha/beta dual inhibitor in preosteoblastic cells and in osteopenic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells were treated with GSK-3 inhibitor (603281-31-8) and assayed for beta-catenin levels, activity of Wnt-responsive promoter, expression of mRNA for bone formation, and adipogenic markers and alkaline phosphatase activity. In vivo, 6-month-old rats were ovariectomized (OVX), allowed to lose bone for 1 month, and treated with GSK-3 inhibitor at 3 mg/kg/day orally for 60 days. At the end of treatment, BMD was measured by DXA, bone formation rate by histomorphometry, vertebral strength (failure in compression), and the expression levels of osteoblast-related genes by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Treatment of C3H10T1/2 cells with the GSK-3 inhibitor increased the levels of beta-catenin accompanied by activation of Wnt-responsive TBE6-luciferase reporter gene. This was associated with an increased expression of mRNA for bone sialoprotein (1.4-fold), collagen alpha1 (I) (approximately 2-fold), osteocalcin (1.2-fold), collagen alpha1(V) (1.5-fold), alkaline phosphatase (approximately 160-fold), and runx2 (1.6-fold), markers of the osteoblast phenotype and bone formation activity. Alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression paralleled alkaline phosphatase activity. The mRNA levels of collagens alpha1 (I), alpha1 (V), biglycan, osteonectin, and runx-2 increased on treatment with the GSK-3 inhibitor in rat femur compared with the OVX control. DXA analyses revealed significant increases in BMC and BMD in cancellous and cortical bone of OVX rats treated with GSK-3 inhibitor. This was associated with increased strength (peak load, energy, and stiffness) assessed by lumbar vertebra load to failure in compression. Histomorphometric analyses showed that 603281-31-8 robustly increased bone formation but did not exclude a small effect on osteoclasts (resorption). CONCLUSIONS: An orally active, small molecule GSK-3 inhibitor induced osteoblast differentiation and increased markers of bone formation in vitro, and increased markers of bone formation, bone mass, and strength in vivo, consistent with a role for the canonical Wnt pathway in osteogenesis.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

[Expression of caspase-8 after brain injury from fluid percussion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To provide the evidence of the relationship between brain injury and the time of injury. METHODS: Rats were contused on brain by fluid percussion, then were killed after injury for 15 min, 30 min, 1,3,6,12 h, and 1,4,7,14 d respectively. The expression of caspase-8 were detected by immunohistochemical technology on rat brain section and the results were assessed by image analysis system in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and hippocampus. RESULTS: The expression of caspase-8 in cortex and hippocampus could be detected in 30 min after injury, increased significantly in 3h, reached apex in 1d after injury, remained 4d before decreased. In addition, the expression of caspase-8 can be detected in 1h after injury and reached apex in 1d after injury, and remained 4d then reduced. CONCLUSION: It seems that the expression of caspase-8 should be a useful target for diagnosis of early brain injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Screening and identification of therapeutic effect evaluation antigens of angiostrongyliasis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify antigens which may help evaluate the therapeutic effect of angiostrongyliasis from adult worm antigen of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. METHODS: The adult worm antigens of A. cantonensis were analyzed by Western blotting with the sera of rats infected with A. cantonensis before and after treatment. The sera of rats were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The antigens with relative molecular mass between 38,000 and 78,000 reacted not only with the sera of rats before treatment, but also with that after treatment. The antigens with M(r) between 190,000 and 17,000 reacted with the sera of rats before treatment but not with that after treatment; those with M(r) between 32,000 and 24,000 antigens strongly reacted with the former, but the reaction became much weakened with the latter. The AC32-IgG antibody appeared earlier than the AC-IgG, and disappeared rapidly after treatment. Six of the 10 treated rats became negative for AC-IgG as found by ELISA. CONCLUSION: The antigens of adult worm antigen of A. cantonensis with M(r) of 190,000, 32,000, 24,000, 17,000 and 16,000 may serve as candidate antigens for therapeutic effect evaluation of angiostrongyliasis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis↗
PubMed2006

[Apoptosis of mesenchymal cell line MBA-1 induced by core binding factor alpha 1].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of two core binding factors alpha 1 (Cbfa1) isfroms (Cbfa1/P56 and Cbfa1/P57) on the apoptosis of mesenchymal cell line MBA-1. METHODS: The two Cbfal isfroms were transiently transfected into MBA-1 cells, then the changes of apoptosis rate were observed by flow cytometer. The protein expressions of Cbfa1, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and caspase-9, cytochrome-C and TNF-alpha were determined by Western immunoblot. RESULTS: After the transient transfection with the two isforms of Cbfa1, MBA-1, the cells apoptotic rates increased, and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, the expressions of cytochrome-C, caspase-3, caspase-9, and TNF-alpha were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Cbfa1 can promote the apoptosis in mesenchymal cell line MBA-1. Bax/Bcl-2, cytochrome-C, caspase-9, caspase-3, and TNF-alpha are also involved in the apoptosis pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in suspended particulate matters from the Yangtze estuarine and coastal areas].

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in suspended particulate matters (SPMs) from the Yangtze estuary and coastal areas were determined with GC-ECD. The results show that concentrations of PCBs range from 2.5 - 51.5 ng/g, with an average of 13.2 ng/g. PCBs concentrations are higher in SPMs than in surface sediments at most of sampling stations. It was also found that the distribution of PCBs had no significant relationship with grain size and organic matter. In addition, the congeners of PCBs were characterized by less chlorinated compounds, with 2 - 5CB accounting for 74.9% - 100% except at Donghai site, and 2CB was dominant among the congeners of PCBs in all samples, which maybe be related to the history of production and use for PCBs in China. But it was different from the surface sediments that dominated by 3CB, which showed that there was new inputs recently. Compared with the concentration levels of PCBs at other estuarine and coastal areas, it was shown that there existed a moderate level of contamination in the study area.

China↗
PubMed2006

[A study on expression of caspase-8 in organs of rats after electrical injury at antemortem or postmortem].

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to detect the expression of caspase-8 in organs of rats after The electrical injury so as to elucidate whether caspase-8 is useful in identifying electrical lesion. METHODS: experiment included two parts. In the first part (the antemortem electrical injury part), thirty-five healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 5 per group), i. e. the group of rats subjected to instantaneous electrothanasia; the groups of rats subjected to cervical dislocation at 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h after electrical injury; the sham group and the normal control group. In the second part (the postmortem electrical injury part), twenty-five healthy male SD rats wererandomly divided into five groups (n=5 per group), i. e. the groups of rats electrically injured just after death, and at 15 min, 30 min, 60 min after death; and the postmortem sham group. All experimental rats were given respectively an electric shock with two metal clamps that were connected with two poles of 220 V alternating current by clamping the rats' left hind limbs and right forelimbs. The rats of sham group after death were clamped but not electrified. The brain, lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, the muscle of electrified limb, the cutis of electrified limb of all experimental rats and those organs of control groups were dissected to detect the expression of caspase-8 by immunohistochemistry staining, and the staining intensities were assessed by image analysis system. RESULTS: In the antemortem electrical injury groups, the expression of caspase-8 was positive in brain, heart, liver and kidney; the strongest staining intensity appeard at 4 h after electrical injury and decreased at 8 h after electrical injury. In the group of rats electrically injuryed just after death, the expression of caspase-8 was faint, and the expression of caspase-8 in spleen, lung, muscle and cutis was negative in the other groups. The expression of caspase-8 in all detected organs was negative in the other rats that were electrified after death. CONCLUSION: Caspase-8 can be regarded as an index in identifying electrical injury and distinguishing between antemortem and postmortem electrical injuryies.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Effect of new qingkailing injection on cerebral edema following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of New Qingkailing injection (NQKLI) on cerebral edema following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) induced by collagenase VII in rats. METHODS: After being established into ICH model by collagenase VII, rats were treated with NQKLI by intraperitoneal injection. Forty-eight hrs later, brain contents of water was detected with wet and dry method, calcium content in brain was detected by atomic spectrophotometer, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in brain tissue was determined by liquid competitive ibhibitory immunoassay, and serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. RESULTS: NQKLI reduced the contents of water, calcium and TNF-alpha content of brain tissue and serum MMP-9 in rats with ICH. CONCLUSION: NQKLI could alleviate both vasogenic and cytotoxic cerebral edema by prohibiting calcium over-load, protecting basilar membrane and eliminating inflammation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[A survey of cognition and utilization of fluoride toothpaste and associated factors].

OBJECTIVE: To survey the situation of cognition and utilization of fluoride toothpaste and associated factors amongst elementary and middle school students in Haidian district, Beijing. METHODS: Sample of students was recruited by a multistage, stratified, and probability proportional to size sampling procedure. Self-administered structured questionnaires were used to collect information concerning the knowledge of, attitudes to and utilization of fluoride toothpaste and associated factors. A total of 1 557 students completed the questionnaire effectively. RESULTS: The percent age of students who used fluoride toothpaste when brushing their teeth were 87.8%. More than 60% of students knew that fluoride toothpaste could prevent dental caries by strengthening the out layer of tooth surface. 41.6% of the students doubted about the harmless of fluoride toothpaste even to be used properly. Advertisement was the main source of information about the fluoride toothpaste. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of students using fluoride toothpaste was high and the majority of them knew that fluoride toothpaste could prevent caries. The oral health education programme concerning the optimal use of fluoride in dental caries prevention is highly recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Expression of c-fos protein after muscle contusion in experimental rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the expression of c-Fos protooncogene and skeleton muscle contusion of rats, and to search for a sensitive marker of timing for skeleton muscle contusion. METHODS: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into control group and experimental groups. The expression of c-fos was microscopically observed by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: With the time prolonged the c-fos positive intensity and area were increased. Positive expression of c-fos protein appeared at 15 min after skeleton muscle contusion, and reached to the peak at 1h after skeleton muscle contusion, then decreased gradually and returned to the normal level on 1d after skeleton muscle contusion. CONCLUSION: The detection of the expression of c-fos protein could be a sensitive marker for timing skeleton muscle contusion.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Relationship between the injury time and DNA fragmentation and its quantity in rat brain].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of DNA fragmentation and its quantity along with the time of injury in nerve cells after brain contusion. METHODS: The model of brain contusion caused by free drop hammer was established. TUNEL and Feulgen's DNA staining conjoined with image analysis technique were used for exploration. RESULTS: With the gradually rising of DNA fragmentation, DNA quantity was declining in the brain tissue after contusion. CONCLUSION: TUNEL and Feulgen's DNA staining conjoined with image analysis technique could be utilized in the timing of brain injury and provide a new approach for this issue.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Observation the electroporation of blood cells in vitro by scanning electron microscope].

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes on cell membrane in blood cells after they were been electrified. METHODS: Blood were electrified for 5, 10, 20, 30 s, 1 min respectively, and Scanning electron microscope was used to detect the changes on their cell membranes. RESULTS: Pores were detected both on electrified erythrocytes and leukocytes with round or ellipse shapes. The erythrocytes often have one or more pores while the leukocytes often have more pores looked like cribble. The rates of perforated cells were increased with the prolonging time of electrification, 5 s with 6% and 1 min increased to 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Alternating current can cause the cell perforating, and the rates of perforated cell were increased with the prolonging time of electrification.

Adult↗