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Biomedical subjects

Min Zheng

Publications and source records attributed to Min Zheng.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

[Effect of methylmercury on expression of immediate early gene c-jun mRNA in rat brain].

In order to probe into the early prediction molecular index and the signal transduction molecular mechanism of methyl mercury chloride (MMC) neurotoxicity, the expression of c-jun mRNA in rat brains induced by different concentration MMC for different times were observed by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods (the control group was physiological saline of 0.9%, the concentrations of expose groups were 0.05, 0.5, 5 mg x kg(-1) respectively, the sampling times were 20, 60, 240, 1440 min). The result showed the expression of c-jun mRNA in rat brains was prior to the accumulation of mercury, and the expression of c-jun mRNA in rat brains could early predict the neurotoxicity of MMC. IEG (c-jun) participated in the toxicity process of injury by MMC.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Mutation analysis of keratin 9 gene in a pedigree with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma].

OBJECTIVE: To identify mutations of keratin 9 (KRT9) gene in a big Chinese family with epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma(EPPK) combined with knuckle-pad-like lesions and nail lesions. METHODS: Genomic DNA from peripheral blood of all available members in this family and 50 unrelated healthy individuals was used for amplification of the whole coding sequence and the intron-exon boundaries of KRT9 gene by PCR; The mutation was detected by direct sequence analysis and identified by restriction endonuclease Dde I. RESULTS: A mutation of AAT>AGT at codon 160 (N160S) was found in all patients but not in unaffected family members and 50 controls. CONCLUSION: The mutation of AAT>AGT at codon 160 (N160S) is the disease-causing mutation in this Chinese pedigree with EPPK.

Asian People↗
PubMed2004

[Studies on Smads at transcription level in liver fibrosis of mice with Schistosomiasis japonica].

OBJECTIVE: To study Smads involved in TGF-beta signal transduction at the transcription level during the development of liver fibrosis in BALB/c mice infected by Schistosoma japonicum. METHODS: BALB/c mice infected with cercariae of S. japonicum were used as liver fibrosis models. Liver specimens were harvested at 8, 12, 16 and 24 weeks after infection and normal control were sacrificed at the 24th week. A part of the liver specimens were preserved for pathologic examination and the other part was frozen for the detection of mRNA level of Smad 2, Smad 3, Smad 4 and Smad 7. RESULTS: The level of Smad 3 mRNA was significantly higher than that of control at the later stage, while the mRNA level of Smad 2 decreased at 12 and at 24 weeks, respectively. No significant difference in the mRNA level of Smad 4 and Smad 7 was observed between the infection group and the control. CONCLUSION: Smad 3 may induce the development of liver fibrosis in mice infected by S. japonicum while Smad 2 may induce the development of liver fibrosis at early stage and inhibit it at later stage.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Screening of flocculant-producing microorganisms and flocculating activity.

A strain saccharomycete STSM-1 with high flocculanting activity was isolated from activated sludge with conventional methods. The high production rate and the low cost STSM-1 medium was obtained by selecting different kinds of media, carbon source, nitrogen source and inorganic salt ion. The best flocculant-producing conditions were found by changing medium initial pH, culture temperature and ventilation flow. The best flocculating effect was obtained by changing positive ion types, density and concentration of flocculant.

Cost Control↗
PubMed2003

[Migration and differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the rat brain].

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent tissue stem cells that can be induced in vitro to differentiate into a variety of cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. MSCs are useful vehicles for both cell and gene therapy for a variety of diseases. Here, we injected human MSCs with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) into the striatum of Parkinson disease (PD) rat and examined their survival, migration, differentiation, and the behavior changes in PD rats, which will provide a theoretical foundation and technical method for clinic PD therapy by stem cells. The results showed that human bone marrow MSCs can survive in rat brain for a long time (exceeding 70 d). MSCs were found in multiple areas of the rat brain including the striatum, the corpus callosum, contralateral cortex and even the brain vascular wall. Immunocytochemical staining suggested that implanted cells expressed human neurofilament (NF), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP). At the same time, remission in abnormal behavior of the PD rats appeared. Rotation scores decreased gradually from 8.86+/-2.09 r/min pre-transplantation to 4.87+/-2.06 r/min 90 d post-transplantation (statistic result showed P<0.05).

Animals↗
PubMed2003

K-ras gene mutation in the diagnosis of ultrasound guided fine-needle biopsy of pancreatic masses.

AIM: To investigate the utility of K-ras mutation analysis of ultrasound guided fine-needle aspirate biopsy of pancreatic masses. METHODS: Sixty-six ultrasound guided fine-needle biopsies were evaluated by cytology, histology and k-ras mutation. The mutation at codon 12 of the k-ras oncogene was detected by artificial restriction fragment length polymorphisms using Bst NI approach. RESULTS: The presence of malignant cells was reported in 40 of 54 pancreatic carcinomas and K-ras mutations were detected in 45 of the 54 FNABs of pancreatic carcinomas. The sensitivity of cytology and k-ras mutation were 74 % and 83 %, respectively. The specialty of cytology and k-ras mutation were both 100 %. The sensitivity and specialty of k-ras mutation combined with cytology were 83 % and 100 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: High diagnostic accuracy with acceptable discomfort of FNAB make it useful in diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Ultrasound guided fine-needle biopsy is a safe and feasible method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic carcinoma has the highest K-ras mutation rate among all solid tumors. The mutation rate of k-ras is about 80-100 %. The usage of mutation of codon 12 of k-ras oncogene combined with cytology is a good alternative for evaluation of pancreatic masses.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Diagnostic value of platelet derived growth factor-BB, transforming growth factor-beta1, matrix metalloproteinase-1, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells for hepatic fibrosis.

AIM: Noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis has become the focus because of the limited biopsy, especially in the surveillance of treatment and in screening hepatic fibrosis. Recently, regulatory elements involved in liver fibrosis, such as platelet derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), have been studied extensively. To determine whether these factors or enzymes could be used as the indices for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis, we investigated them by means of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. METHODS: Serum samples from sixty patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and twenty healthy blood donors were assayed to determine the level of PDGF-BB, TGF-beta1, MMP-1, and TIMP-1 with ELISA, and HA, PCIII, C-IV, and LN level with RIA. The message RNA (mRNA) expression of TIMP-1 and MMP-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization. Liver biopsy was performed in all patients. The biopsy samples were histopathologically examined. The trial was double-blind controlled. RESULTS: The serum level of PDGF-BB, TIMP-1, the ratio of TIMP-1 and MMP-1 (TIMP-1/MMP-1), mRNA expression of TIMP-1 (TIMP-1mRNA), and the ratio of TIMP-1mRNA and MMP-1mRNA (TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA) in patients was significantly higher than those in the healthy blood donors (t=2.514-11.435, P=0.000-0.016). The serum level of PDGF-BB, TIMP-1, TIMP-1/MMP-1, and TIMP-1mRNA was positively correlated with fibrosis stage and inflammation grade (r=0.239-0.565, P=0.000-0.033), while the serum level of MMP-1 was negatively correlated with fibrosis stage and inflammation grade, and TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA was positively correlated with inflammation grade. Through the analysis by ROC curve, serum PDGF-BB was the most valuable marker, and its sensitivity was the highest among the nine indices. The markers with the highest specificity were TIMP-1mRNA and TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA in PBMCs. The area under the curve (AUC) of PDGF-BB, TIMP-1mRNA, TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA, TIMP-1/MMP-1, HA, PCIII, TIMP-1, C-IV, and LN was 0.985, 0.876, 0.792, 0.748, 0.728, 0.727, 0.726, 0.583, and 0.463, respectively. The sensitivity and the specificity in the parallel test was 99.0% and 95.0% when serum PDGF-BB, TIMP-1mRNA and TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA was detected simultaneously. CONCLUSION: Serum level of PDGF-BB, TIMP-1mRNA, TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA in PBMCs, and serum level of TIMP-1 and TIMP-1/MMP-1 can be used as the indices for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis, but the former three are more useful. The combination of serum PDGF-BB, TIMP-1mRNA and TIMP-1mRNA/MMP-1mRNA in PBMCs is even more efficient in screening liver fibrosis.

Becaplermin↗
PubMed2003

[Factors related to collagen gel contraction in hair follicle organotypic culture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of rat tail collagen, hair follicle dermal papilla cells and hair follicle epithelium cells on collagen gel contraction in organotypic culture. METHODS: The hair follicle organotypic culture was prepared with different concentrations of rat tail collagen, different number of dermal papilla cells and hair follicle epithelium cells in DMEM medium, after cultured for 10 days the diameter of collagen gel was measured. RESULT: The concentration of rat tail collagen, hair follicle dermal papilla cells and hair follicle epithelium cells significantly influenced on collagen gel contraction in organotypic culture (P<0.01). The contraction of collagen gel was negatively related to the concentration of rat tail collagen, while the concentration of dermal papilla cells and hair follicle epithelium cells was positively related to the contraction of collagen gel. CONCLUSION: The key factor influencing collagen gel contraction in organotypic culture is the concentration of rat tail collagen, hair follicle dermal papilla cells and hair follicle epithelium cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Histological and ultrastructural changes of dog skin following hair removal by laser].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cutaneous histological and ultrastructural changes of dogs following hair removal by Alexandrite laser. METHODS: Seven healthy dogs with dark hair were treated for hair removal with the Alexandrite laser and skin biopsies were taken after 0.5 h, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 30 days. Specimens were examined with light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. RESULT: Laser-treated specimens showed widespread coagulation and charring subcutaneous hair shafts. These obviously damaged follicles were randomly dispersed among intact follicles within the same treatment sites. Microscopic changes were also seen in the basal epidermis where melanin was concentrated. A low level of inflammatory response was seen up to 10 days followed laser treatment. The efficiency in higher fluence test area was better than the lower one; the degree of damaged follicles with double pulse was similar to that with single pulse. CONCLUSION: Alexandrite laser irradiation results in selective damage to follicles and microscopic changes in the basal epidermis. Alexandrite laser hair removal does not lead to scar formation; the efficiency of laser hair removal is fluence-depent; the degree of damaged follicles with double pulse is not different with single one; the cooled hand piece can minimize epidermal injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Determination of serum fibrosis indexes in patients with chronic hepatitis and its significance.

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen (PCIII), laminin (LN), type IV collagen (IV-C) and hepatic fibrosis and to determine their value in clinical practice. METHODS: 2600 serum samples from chronic hepatitis patients were assayed for fibrosis indexes including HA, PCIII, LN and IV-C with RIA. Liver biopsy was performed in 280 of those patients and the biopsy material was examined histopathologically. The inflammation grade of the liver, stage of fibrosis and degree of chronic hepatitis were recorded and were compared with fibrotic indexes. RESULTS: Among 2600 chronic hepatitis patients, every fibrotic index had a significant correlation with the inflammation grade, fibrosis staging and the degree of chronic hepatitis (P < 0.01). The coefficient correlation of the results of histopathological examinations to HA was 0.544, 0.548 and 0.468 respectively, that to PCIII, 0.495, 0.424 and 0.335, that to LN, 0.214, 0.204 and 0.184, and that to IV-C, 0.406, 0.404 and 0.412, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum fibrosis indexes are fairly well correlated with the inflammation grade of the liver, fibrosis staging and the degree of chronic hepatitis. However, as diagnostic markers, they should be considered in combination with liver function tests, ultrasonography and clinical manifestations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Experimental study of myocardial protective effect of cardiac arrest versus beating heart during open heart surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the myocardial protective effects of beating heart versus heart arrest in goats undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: Eighteen healthy and homologous goats were randomly divided into three groups: groupI (n=6), with intermittent cold crystalloid cardioplegia; group II (n=6), with continuous warm blood cardioplegia; group III (n=6), with beating heart. Animals in group II and group III were operated with mild hypothermic CPB. The changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) in the myocardium of the right ventricles and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in venous blood were measured respectively. The myocardial tissues were examined for ultrastructural changes. RESULTS: In group I, contents of MDA and ANP rose significantly during CPB, especially when blood was reperfused routinely. While in group II and group III, the levels were lower than those in group I at the same time points. There was no difference in the values between group II and group III. Ultrastructural changes were distinctly seen in group I, while they were mild in group II and group III. CONCLUSION: Continuous warm blood cardioplegia to keep the heart beating during operation can prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury and protect heart better.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Prognostic relevance of MAGE-A4 tumor antigen expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: a tissue microarray study.

TAAs of the MAGE family are mostly studied as targets of specific immune responses. Their potential relevance as tumor markers has also been underlined. We used a MAb, 57B, recognizing MAGE-A4 protein in paraffin-embedded sections, to evaluate its expression in bladder cancers by employing TMA including 2,317 samples from 1,849 patients. In 2,090/2,317 cases (90.2%), immunostaining yielded interpretable results. Since for some patients more than 1 sample was available, only interpretable first biopsies (n = 1,628) were considered. MAGE-A4 protein was expressed at significantly (p < 0.001) higher frequency in squamous (25/55, 45.5%) than in adeno (4/15, 26.7%), sarcomatoid (4/14, 28.6%), small cell (5/20, 25%) or transitional cell (281/1,522, 18.5%) carcinomas. In TCCs, overall MAGE-A4 positivity was significantly correlated with invasive phenotype (p < 0.001) and high tumor grade (p < 0.0001). Clinical data from 908 TCC patients were retrospectively evaluated, revealing that strong 57B staining was highly significantly associated with decreased tumor-specific survival (p < 0.0001). These data suggest that evaluation of MAGE-A4 protein expression is useful in the identification of groups of TCCs characterized by severe prognosis, thus possibly providing indications for early MAGE TAA-targeted immunotherapy.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2002

Fluorescence investigation of model compounds for light-emitting alternating copolymers in heterogeneous environments.

In this paper, the fluorescence spectra of the model compounds M(TPA-PPV) and M(TPA-PAV) of novel light-emitting alternating copolymers, were studied and the effect of KNO3 on the interaction between the model compounds and the ionic micelle-water interface was also investigated. The following is found: (i) the fluorescence changes of M(TPA-PPV) are related to the state of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution: (ii) an aggregated state can be formed in M(TPA-PAV) solution at low concentration of CTAB; (iii) higher concentrations of KNO3 may affect the interaction between the model compounds and the ionic micelle-water interface.

Air↗
PubMed2002

Identification and characterization of a new member of serpin family- HongrES1 in rat epididymis.

A full length cDNA named HongrES1 was isolated and cloned by screening rat epididymis cDNA library using a mouse EST as a probe and 5'RACE followed. It contained 1590bp nucleotides and its predicted protein had 415 amino acid residues including a serpin (serine protease inhibitor) conserved domain. Tissue distribution pattern showed it was specifically expressed in adult rat epididymis; moreover, in situ hybridyzation indicated this gene was expressed in a limited region of the cauda epididymis near vas deference. Such kind of expression pattern sugested that HongrES1 had potential function in male reproduction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Quantitative analysis of transforming growth factor beta 1 mRNA in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

AIM: To investigate the expression of the transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-beta 1) mRNA in different stages of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and its clinical value. METHODS: One hundred and seven male alcoholics were grouped by clinical findings into four groups: alcohol abusers without liver impairment (n =22), alcoholic steatosis (n =30); alcoholic hepatitis (n=31); and alcoholic cirrhosis(n=24). Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as samples the gene expression of TGF-beta 1 was examined quantitatively by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and dot blot. There are 34 healthy subjects served as control. RESULTS: The expression of TGF-beta 1 from all ALD patients was significantly greater than that in controls (1.320 +/- 1.162 vs 0.808 +/- 0.276, P<0.001). The differences of the expressions were significant between the patients from each groups (alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis) and the controls (1.168 +/- 0.852, 1.462 +/- 1.657, 1.329 +/- 0.610 vs 0.808 +/- 0.276, P<0.050). No significant differences of TGF -beta 1 mRNA expression were observed between alcohol abusers without liver impairment and controls. The expressions in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis were significantly greater than that in alcohol abusers respectively (1.462 +/- 1.657, 1.329 +/- 0.610 vs 0.841 +/- 0.706, P<0.050). No significant differences of TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression were observed between alcoholic fatty liver men and alcohol abusers. CONCLUSION: TGF-beta 1 expression level can be a risk factor for alcoholic liver disease and might be related to the inflammatory activity and fibrosis of the liver in patients.

Humans↗