Biomedical subjects

Ning Tao

Publications and source records attributed to Ning Tao.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Hepatitis C databases, principles and utility to researchers.

Part of the effort to develop hepatitis C-specific drugs a nd vaccines is the study of genetic variability of allpublicly available HCV sequences. Three HCV databases are currently available to aid this effort and to provide additional insight into the basic biology, immunology, and evolution of the virus. The Japanese HCV database (http://s2as02.genes.nig.ac.jp) gives access to a genomic mapping of sequences as well as their phylogenetic relationships. The European HCV database (http://euhcvdb.ibcp.fr) offers access to a computer-annotated set of sequences and molecular models of HCV proteins and focuses on protein sequence, structure and function analysis. The HCV database at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the United States (http://hcv.lanl.gov) provides access to a manually annotated sequence database and a database of immunological epitopes which contains concise descriptions of experimental results. In this paper, we briefly describe each of these databases and their associated websites and tools, and give some examples of their use in furthering HCV research.

Biomedical Research↗

PubMed2005

Los alamos hepatitis C immunology database.

The Los Alamos Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Sequence Database (http://hcv.lanl.gov or http://hcv-db.org) was officially launched in September 2003. The sister HCV Immunology Database was made public in September 2004. The HCV Immunology Database is based on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Immunology Database. The HCV Immunology Database contains a curated inventory of immunological epitopes in HCV and their interaction with the immune system, with associated retrieval and analysis tools. This article describes in detail the types of data and services that the new database offers, the tools provided and the database framework. The data and some of the HCV database tools are available for download for non-commercial use.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

[cDNA microarray to identify the significance of DNA replication and damage repair genes associated with benzene poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To screen DNA replication, and damage repair genes associated with benzene poisoning by using gene expression profile analysis. METHODS: Leucocytes in peripheral blood of seven patients and seven normal controls were collected and total RNA was extracted. The cDNA probes were prepared by labeling cell RNA with Cy3-dUTP and Cy5-dUTP with reverse transcription. The arrays with 141 genes were hybridized against the cDNA probe mixture, and the fluorescent signals were scanned. RESULTS: Twenty five differentially expressed genes were screened out. Among these genes, 16 genes were up-regulated and 9 down-regulated. They were DNA replication genes such as PRIM2A, ORC1L etc; DNA synthesis, recombination and repair genes such as POLK etc; DNA damage signaling/repair proteins and DNA ligases such as RECQL, PRKDC, G22P1, ERCC3, ERCC1, CRY1, CHES1, BRCA2, APEX etc; proteins involved in recombination such as RECQL; and other DNA synthesis, recombination, and repair proteins such as SKIV2L, RBMS1, SON, SET. CONCLUSIONS: Some DNA replication, and damage repair genes associated with benzene poisoning show differential expression, which provides the basis for screening biomarkers of benzene poisoning.

Benzene↗

PubMed2005

[Differentially expressed genes of cell signal transduction associated with benzene poisoning by cDNA microarray].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the differential expression of cell signal transduction genes associated with benzene poisoning, and to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of blood system damage induced by benzene. METHODS: Peripheral white blood cell gene expression profile of 7 benzene poisoning patients, including one aplastic anemia, was determined by cDNA microarray. Seven chips from normal workers were served as controls. Cluster analysis of gene expression profile was performed. RESULTS: Among the 4265 target genes, 176 genes associated with cell signal transduction were differentially expressed. 35 up-regulated genes including PTPRC, STAT4, IFITM1 etc were found in at least 6 pieces of microarray; 45 down-regulated genes including ARHB, PPP3CB, CDC37 etc were found in at least 5 pieces of microarray. CONCLUSION: cDNA microarray technology is an effective technique for screening the differentially expressed genes of cell signal transduction. Disorder in cell signal transduction may play certain role in the pathogenic mechanism of benzene poisoning.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2005

[cDNA microarray and cluster analysis to identify the significance of immune genes associated with benzene poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To delineate the immune regulatory pathway of benzene poisoning by using gene expression profile analysis. METHODS: Peripheral white blood cell gene expression profile of 7 benzene poisoning patients, including one aplastic anemia, was determined by microarray. Seven chips from normal workers were served as controls. Cluster analysis of gene expression profile was performed. Differentially expressed immune genes associated with benzene poisoning were determined. RESULTS: Among the 2 779 target genes, 38 genes differentially expressed were identified, including 10 up-regulated genes such as CD59, TRA@, MCP etc, and 14 down-regulated genes such as HLA-DMB, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DPB1, ITGB2, PFC etc. Cluster analysis showed that the expression profiles of 38 genes were associated with benzene poisoning. CONCLUSION: Differentially expressed immune genes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of benzene poisoning.

Benzene↗

PubMed2004

Cross-sectional study of cardiovascular effects of carbon disulfide among Chinese workers of a viscose factory.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study investigates the cardiovascular effects among Chinese workers who were occupationally exposed to carbon disulfide (CS2), and evaluates the protective value of the current Chinese Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) of CS2 against cardiovascular effects. METHODS: The measurements of exposure were performed by personal sampling and gas chromatography. The biological monitoring was performed by HPLC. Three hundred and sixty-seven exposed workers and 125 reference workers (never exposed to CS2,) were included in this study. The exposed workers were divided into 2 sub-groups according to their cumulative exposure indices, the cut-off point being at 100 which means 10 years exposure to the Chinese Maximum Allowable Concentration in the workplace (10 mg/m3). All subjects were examined using a self-administered questionnaire including medical and job history, clinical complaints in the previous three months, and underwent a clinical check-up and a 12 lead electrocardiography (ECG) at rest, coded according to the Minnesota code. Blood pressure (BP) was recorded and blood samples were collected for lipid measurements. RESULTS: The personal monitoring showed that the exposures levels (15.47 +/- 2.34 mg/m3) were below the Threshold Limit Value (TLV, 31 mg/m3), and most of the samples analyzed still showed higher values than the Chinese MAC (10 mg/m3). Clinical complaints and abnormal electrocardiograms were not significantly increased in exposed workers. No significant effect of CS2 on blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol or triglycerides was found. Further studies are recommended to elucidate the mechanism of cardiac intoxication after CS2 exposure. CONCLUSION: This study showed that Chinese workers exposed to CS2 did not have more clinical complaints, nor more ECG abnormalities than controls and no adverse effects were found in their lipids at an exposure level below the current TLV. The present results indicate that differences of health effects reported worldwide are possibly due to different exposure levels. They also indicate that the current Chinese MAC (10 mg/m3) sufficiently protects workers against negative cardiovascular effects.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

[Study of ceratocystis fimbriata toxins determination from sweet potato by high performance thin-layer chromatography].

The extract solution from Sweet Potato was washed with 5% Na2CO3 and followed with distilled water and dried with dehydrated sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). The ether extract was evaporated and the residue (crude sample) was dissolved in a small volume of chloroform-soluble solution and was spotted on a silica gel G thin-layer plate developed with different solvent systems. Pure ipomeamarone and ipomeamaronol were used as standards. The resolution was the best in the solvent system of petroleum ether-ethylacetate at 20 degrees C. The separated spots were scanned by CS-930 TLC scanner at 520 nm and quantitative determination by external standard calibration. Ipomeamarone was detected by high performance thin-layer chromatography and the limits of detection were 0.002 microgram for pure and 0.01 microgram for crude sample.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗

PubMed2002

[An investigation on dust exposure level in workers of geological prospecting occupation].

OBJECTIVE: To make sure of the harmfulness degree of the dust in geological prospecting occupation. METHODS: The determination of respirable dust, total dust and the free silica concentrations was carried out at different working spots exposed to dust. Personal sampling equipment was used to collect the respirable dust. The data of respirable dust concentration in the research was compared to the historical data. RESULTS: As for respirable dust concentration level, 47.95% of 765 silica dust spots of geological prospecting occupation in 9 provinces(autonomous regions) were beyond the criteria. The profession and work type of the highest dust concentration was chiseling and sampling of geological prospecting [from 1996-2000, the dust concentration was (6.15 +/- 3.12) mg/m3]. The ratio of respirable dust to total dust was high in geological prospecting workers. The FSiO2 contentin dust to which geological prospecting workers exposed was high too. CONCLUSIONS: The respirable dust concentration of some types of work in geological prospecting occupation was obviously higher than the national criteria, especially in chiseling, sampling and drilling workers.

Dust↗