Biomedical subjects

Minghua Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Minghua Zhang.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Dendritic cells fused with allogeneic breast cancer cell line induce tumor antigen-specific CTL responses against autologous breast cancer cells.

Dendritic cell (DC)/tumor cell fusion vaccine has been revealed as a promising tool for the antitumor immunotherapy. Previous research has shown that fusion hybrids of human DCs and autologous tumor cells can induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses against autologous tumor cells in animal models and human clinical trials. However, a major restriction factor for the clinical use is the difficulty for preparation of sufficient amount of autologous tumor cells especially for the patients with metastasis cancer whose primary tumor lesion is not clear or has been resected. In this study, allogeneic breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells were electrofused to autologous DCs from patient with breast cancer as a strategy to deliver shared breast cancer antigens to DCs. Fusion cells generated by autologous DCs and allogeneic MCF-7 were able to induce autologous T lymphocytes proliferation, high levels of IFN-gamma production and CTL responses. CTLs induced by DCs/allogeneic MCF-7 fusion cells were able to kill autologous breast cancer cells in an antigen specific and HLA restriction manner. Our study may provide the experiment basis for the use of allogeneic breast cancer cell line in the DC/tumor cell fusion cell vaccination strategy.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2006

Assessing the impact of leather industries on the quality of water discharged into the East China Sea from Wenzhou Watersheds.

Ammonium nitrogen and total germanium are among the main pollutants in the wastewater discharged from the leather industry. The intake of high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and/or total germanium harms human health and biological species, as is well documented in literature. This paper focuses on assessing the trends of ammonium nitrogen and total germanium concentrations through time in two watersheds (Aojiang and Oujiang) in the Wenzhou metropolitan area of Zhejiang Province and their relationships with the released wastewater using regression and correlation statistics. The paper also utilizes the integrated pollution index to evaluate water quality in the two watersheds. Preliminary results show that, from 1992 to 1998 in the Aojing watershed, the concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and total germanium increased 13 and 14 times, respectively, decreasing somewhat after 1998, while between 1992 and 1997 in the Oujiang watershed, the concentrations increased, then decreased after 1997. The concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and total germanium are positively related to the amount of released wastewater. The concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and total germanium exceeded water standards 12 and 3 times, respectively, in Pingyang county of the Aojiang watershed, 14 and 3.3 times in Lucheng District of the Oujiang watershed, and 14 and 3.8 times in the Ouhai Oujiang watershed, respectively. In Pingyang county of the Aojiang watershed, the water quality degraded from Type III in 1992 to over Type V in 2003, and in the Oujiang watershed, the water quality degraded from Type II to over Type IV in 1999, when they were compared with the water quality standards. The water quality slightly improved in 2003 for the Oujiang watershed. It appears that pollution did have a direct positive correlation with leather industry production in the Pingyang Aojing watershed, while there was a negative correlation between the two in the Oujiang watershed. In these two watersheds, the integrated pollution index did not appear to relate to population dynamics and agricultural production. This paper also discusses the current new methodologies and approaches adopted nationally and internationally to reduce the contaminants and purify the environment for maintaining a sustainable and healthier environment in Wenzhou.

China↗

PubMed2006

Assessing the impact of leather industry to water quality in the Aojing watershed in Zhejiang Province, China.

The development of the leather industry in the Aojiang watershed of Zhejiang province increased the release of waste water. In the waste water, ammonium nitrogen (NH(+) (4)-N) and germanium (Ge) are the main pollutants. In recent years, literature has documented that the intake of high concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and Ge harms human health and biological species. This paper focuses on assessing the trends of NH(+) (4)-N and Ge concentrations in the released waste water in Aojiang watershed and on understanding their relationships with the released waste water using regression and correlation statistics. The paper also utilizes the integrated pollution index to evaluate the water quality in the watershed. Preliminary results show that, from 1992 to 1998, the concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and total Ge increased 13 and 14 times, respectively, and they decreased somewhat after 1998. The concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and total Ge are positively correlated to the amount of released waste water. These concentrations of NH(+) (4)-N and Ge, respectively, exceed 12 and 3 times, of the water standards. The water quality in the watershed degraded from Type III in 1992 to over Type V in 2003 when they were compared with the national water quality standards. It appeared that the pollution had positive correlation with leather industry production. The degraded water has no doubt affected human health and the ecosystem health. These results can provide scientific information for the local government to reasonably adjust the industry structure and reduce the pollution to protect the environment.

China↗

PubMed2004

The metabolic disposition of aprepitant, a substance P receptor antagonist, in rats and dogs.

The absorption, metabolism, and excretion of [14C]aprepitant, a potent and selective human substance P receptor antagonist for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, was evaluated in rats and dogs. Aprepitant was metabolized extensively and no parent drug was detected in the urine of either species. The elimination of drug-related radioactivity, after i.v. or p.o. administration of [14C]aprepitant, was mainly via biliary excretion in rats and by way of both biliary and urinary excretion in dogs. Aprepitant was the major component in the plasma at the early time points (up to 8 h), and plasma metabolite profiles of aprepitant were qualitatively similar in rats and dogs. Several oxidative metabolites of aprepitant, derived from N-dealkylation, oxidation, and opening of the morpholine ring, were detected in the plasma. Glucuronidation represented an important pathway in the metabolism and excretion of aprepitant in rats and dogs. An acid-labile glucuronide of [14C]aprepitant accounted for approximately 18% of the oral dose in rat bile. The instability of this glucuronide, coupled with its presence in bile but absence in feces, suggested the potential for enterohepatic circulation of aprepitant via this conjugate. In dogs, the glucuronide of [14C]aprepitant, together with four glucuronides derived from phase I metabolites, were present as major metabolites in the bile, accounting collectively for approximately 14% of the radioactive dose over a 4- to 24-h period after i.v. dosing. Two very polar carboxylic acids, namely, 4-fluoro-alpha-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid and 4-fluoro-alpha-oxobenzeneacetic acid, were the predominant drug-related entities in rat and dog urine.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2004

[Prospect of the foveola formation in the bovine trabecular bone under fatigue process].

This study aims at the mechanism of foveola formation in bovine trabecular bone under fatigue process and its relation with biomechanical pathogenesis of senile osteoporosis. The scanning electron microscope equipped with fatigue stage was used to observe fatigue micro injury accumulation of cancellous bone. The massive foveola formation in the laminal bone of vertical trabeculae was found in the tensile fatigue test. There existed the collagen avulsion in the foveola. The massive foveola formation was also observed in the lamina bone of the horizontal trabeculae in the compressive fatigue test. The bone collagen fibers were protracted, debound with hydroxyapatite crystal, and then avulsed under tensile and bending stresses. Finally the retraction of the avulsed collagen fibers brought on the massive formation of foveolae in lamina bone. The mechanical capacity of bone also declined greatly. We infer that the direct mineralization of avulsed collagen and foveola in lamina bone would be one of the main processes of self repair in vivo, which brings on the increase in fragility and stiffness of trabeculae of senile osteoporotic bone along with the agelong accumulation of collagen fatigue injury and foveola formation in the lamina bone.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

[Association between pre-excitation syndrome and 7q3 D7S505 pseudonym gene].

OBJECTIVE: Pre-excitation syndrome is considered to be autosomal dominant hereditary disease. The objective of this study was to search the genetic foundation of the pre-excitation syndrome. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral lymphocytes obtained from 44 cases of patients with pre-excitation syndrome and 53 normal persons. Polymorphic short tandem repeats(STR) were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The genotype of each individual was determined by polymorphic STR including D7S505,D7S688,D7S483. Association analysis between the pre-excitation syndrome and the 3 STR (D7S505,D7S483 and D7S688) was tested by genotyping. RESULTS: The relative risk(RR) of alleles A2 A3 A4 and A6 of D7S505 were 1.051 6, 3.432,1.563 1 and 1.714 3 respectively all of which were more than 1, but only the RR of A3 had statistic significant difference, P < 0.05 after tested by kappa(2). It supposed that the distribution of allele A3(266 bp) of D7S505 in patients with pre-excitation syndrome was much higher than that in normal controls, which suggested that pre-excitation syndrome is associated with D7S505. Whereas, there were no significant difference in every allele of D7S483 between the pre-excitation syndrome and normal persons, which suggested that pre-excitation syndrome is not associated with D7S483. CONCLUSION: The pre-excitation syndrome is associated with D7S505,the result is the foundation of the molecular genetics of the disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[Computer-assisted planning for neurosurgery: a clinical study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of computer-assisted planning for neurosurgery (CAPN). METHODS: 100 groups of directional targets were randomly sampled. The targets' directional three-dimension coordinates measured with CAPN and those measured by traditional reading device were analyzed statistically. CAPN was actualized in 137 cases of stereotactic operation. RESULTS: The data measured with CAPN and those with traditional reading device were analyzed with two samples. The paired t test showed no statistically significantly difference between the data of targets measured by both methods (t < t(0.05/2,99)=1.984, P >< 0.05). Different kinds of operation based on CAPN were performed upon 137 cases success fully. CAPN was proved reliable. All operations were successful and the clinic effects satisfactory. CONCLUSION: CAPN is accurate and reliable, and has positive effect on the improvement of stereotactic neurosurgery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[The repair of bulky tissue defect of forearm with skin flaps].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the repairing methods of bulky tissue defect of forearm with flaps. METHODS: Twenty-one burned patients with wounds in the forearm were enrolled in this study. The injury causes were high-voltage electricity, hot press or crush injury. After local debridement, the forearm defects were repaired with pedicled complex flaps, latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous island flaps or large thoraco-abdominal flaps immediately. RESULTS: All the flaps survived very well with satisfactory results except for 1 patient in whom local ischemic necrosis and sub-flap infection at the distal end of the flap occurred. CONCLUSION: Early debridement followed by skin flaps with pedicles or musculocutaneous flaps transfer could be simple, safe and reliable treatment strategies in the management of bulky tissue defects of the forearm due to burn, electric injury, or other devastating injuries.

Adolescent↗