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Biomedical subjects

Qiang Li

Publications and source records attributed to Qiang Li.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Correct conglutination deformities of the upper eyelid after double eyelid operation by relieving infraorbicularis oculi fat flap and infilling].

OBJECTIVE: Adhesive or too highly located folds upper eyelid and even blepharoptosis are common complications of double eyelid operation. To correct such deformities. METHOD: We shifted down the double eyelid line, removed adhesion thoroughly, relieved orbital fat and restarted the volume with infraorbicularis oculi fat flap. RESULT: We had treated 32 case in past two years. The results were satisfying. CONCLUSION: The method are acted easy and gained fine result, so behaving to extend application.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

[Mutation analysis of SRD5A2 gene in patients with hypospadias].

OBJECTIVE: To explore possible molecular mechanism of hypospadias and relationship of the mutation of SRD5A2 gene to hypospadias. METHODS: 96 blood samples from the patients with hypospadias were obtained and DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes. Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were performed to analyze the coding regions of SRD5A2 gene. RESULTS: 8 mutations were detected from 14 cases, including 5 missense mutations, 1 synonymous mutation, 1 nonsense mutation and 1 frameshift mutation. The mutations are in 1st, 4th and 5th exon. Gln6stop, His232His, Phe234Leu and frameshift mutations are novel. CONCLUSIONS: Exon 4 is a hot spot region of mutation within SRD5A2 gene, and about 10 percent of hypospadiac patients complicated with SRD5A2 dysfunction or deficiency.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2006

[Study on maternal health care status to agricultural and nomadic counties in Tibet Autonomous Region of China].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current situation of maternal health care and the association between maternal health care and relevant factors. METHODS: According to a cross sectional study design, 1512 mothers having children under 3 years old were drawn under stratified random sampling method and interviewed at their households in 15 counties, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. RESULTS: 77.6% of the pregnant women received at least one antenatal checkup with an average of 3.89 times while the rate of antenatal checkup over 5 times was 26.3%. The hospital delivery rate was 40.4% in this area. 83.9% of the women received education under the health care program during pregnancy and 66.2% of them were visited by health workers after delivery. Major factors of the antenatal checkups would include the resource of income, living in nomadic area, personal sanitation, antenatal health care education, mobilization of delivery at hospital, knowledge of antenatal health care etc. CONCLUSIONS: There had been great improvement in women's health care in this area as compared with the status in 1999, but the frequency of receiving antenatal checkup was still not enough and the rate of hospital delivery was also low as compared with 46 counties in western areas of China. Poor knowledge of health care during pregnancy seemed to be the major factor that limited the utilization of antenatal health care. Knowledge on health and common sense of health care should be disseminated to improve the antenatal care and to enhance the hospital delivery rate.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2006

[Amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection: a case report and review of the literatures].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection. METHODS: Case report and review of the related literatures. The clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, radiographic patterns, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection were described. RESULTS: A 58 year old male patient presented dyspnea after exertion. Pulmonary function showed decrease of the diffusing capacity, and CT showed interstitial changes and alveolar exudation. Foamy cells and Hypermastigotes were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. After cessation of amiodarone and the start of anti-parasite therapy, the symptoms relieved. CONCLUSIONS: Amiodarone pneumonitis with Hypermastigote lung infection is very rare. The infection may be due to decrease of local immunity caused by amiodarone pneumonitis.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed2006

[Construction and expression of a fusion protein of scFv against human acetylcholine receptor-human serum albumin in E. coli].

AIM: To prepare the fusion protein of a single chain variable fragment 637 (scFv637) against human acetylcholine receptor (AChR) and human serum albumin (HSA) to increase the stability of scFv637. METHODS: HSA gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into vector pHEN2 containing a scFv637 gene to construct recombinant vector pHEN2-scFv637-HSA and then transformed into E. coli HB2151 for expression. The expression of fusion protein in periplasm of E. coli was detected by dot hybridization. Relative molecular mass of fusion protein was checked by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. RESULTS: Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis showed that the size of HSA gene and fusion gene was about 1,770 bp and 7,054 bp, respectively. DNA sequencing proved that the nucleotide sequence of constructed scFv637-HSA gene was correct and it was cloned into the open reading frame (ORF) of pHEN2. scFv637-HSA fusion protein only existed in periplasm of E. coli HB2151 transformed with pHEN2-scFv637-HSA. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis indicated that relative molecular mass of fusion protein was about 95,900. CONCLUSION: The scFv637-HSA fusion protein can be successfully expressed in E. coli HB2151, which provides a sound basis for further research into its function and clinical application.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Integrating PET and CT information to improve diagnostic accuracy for lung nodules: A semiautomatic computer-aided method.

UNLABELLED: Our objective was to develop and evaluate 3 semiautomatic computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) schemes for distinguishing between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules by use of features extracted from CT, 18F-FDG PET, and both CT and 18F-FDG PET. METHODS: We retrospectively collected 92 consecutive cases of pulmonary nodules (<3 cm) in patients who underwent both thoracic CT and whole-body PET/CT. Forty-two of the nodules were malignant and 50 benign, as confirmed by pathologic examination and clinical follow-up. The interval between CT and PET was less than 1 mo. Four clinical parameters, including patient age, sex, smoking status, and history of previous malignancy, were used for the CAD schemes. Sixteen CT features based on size, shape, margin, and internal structure of nodules were independently rated subjectively by 2 chest radiologists. Four PET features were viewed on a PET/CT workstation. CAD schemes based on clinical parameters together with CT features, PET features, and both CT and PET features were then used to differentiate benign from malignant nodules. Finally, the output from the CAD schemes was evaluated by use of receiver-operating-characteristic analysis. RESULTS: When we used clinical parameters and CT features as input units (CAD scheme 1), the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (A(z) value) of the CAD scheme was 0.83. When we used clinical parameters and PET features as input units (CAD scheme 2), the A(z) value for the computer output was 0.91. However, when we used all data as input units (CAD scheme 3), the A(z) value for the computer output was 0.95. The performance of CAD scheme 3 was better than that of CAD scheme 1 or 2. A statistically significant difference existed between the A(z) values of CAD schemes 3 and 2 (P = 0.037) and between those of CAD schemes 3 and 1 (P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Our CAD scheme based on both PET and CT was better able to differentiate benign from malignant pulmonary nodules than were the CAD schemes based on PET alone and CT alone.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Insect community structure and its dynamics in Chinese prickly ash plantations at different altitudes in Yunnan Province].

With community character indices and principal component analysis, this paper studied the variation of insect community composition and structure in Chinese prickly ash plantations at four altitudes in Yunnan Province, and analyzed the temporal patterns of the variation and its affecting factors. The results showed that with the increase of altitude, the species diversity, abundance and evenness of the community decreased gradually, while the population number had a certain increase. Such a variation was more obvious with time. The factor dominating the variation was the gradual change of the species and individuals numbers of natural enemy sub-community to those of pest sub-community.

Altitude↗
PubMed2006

[Protective effects of recombinant intestinal trefoil factor against intestinal injuries induced by endotoxin in young rats].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of recombinant intestinal trefoil factor (rITF) against intestinal injuries and the possible mechanism by examining the changes of diamine oxidase (DAO) and TNF-alpha and the intestinal ultrastructural changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced intestinal injuries. METHODS: Ninety-six ten-day-old Wistar rats were randomly injected with either normal saline (1 mL/kg, Control group), LPS (1 mL/kg) or LPS (1 mL/kg) + rITF (0.1 mL) intraperioneally. At 2, 6, 24 and 72 hrs after administration plasma DAO activity was determined using absorption spectrometry; and the intestinal protein and mRNA expression of TNF-alpha were measured using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods. The intestinal ultrastructural changes were observed by electron microscopy. RESULTS: The plasma DAO activity in the LPS group began to increase at 2 hrs, peaked at 6 hrs and remained at significantly higher levels until 72 hrs after administration compared with the Control group (P < 0.01). The plasma DAO activity in the LPS + rITF group decreased noticeably compared with the LPS group at all time points (P < 0.01 or 0.05). A significant difference in the plasma DAO activity was only observed at 6 hrs after administration between the LPS + rITF and the Control group. The expression of TNF-alpha protein in the LPS group significantly increased at each time point, peaking at 6 hrs after LPS administration, with the IODT of TNF-alpha of 37,247.64 +/- 3,387.59 vs 6,191.02 +/- 482.32 (P < 0.01) compared with the Control group. rITF treatment decreased the expression of TNF-alpha protein although it remained significantly higher than in the Control group (P < 0.01). The TNF-alpha mRNA was weakly expressed in the Control group but strikingly increased after LPS injection (P < 0.01). Compared with the LPS group, the TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the LPS + rITF group decreased at all time points (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Vacuole changes of mitochodrium, cell nucleus condense, break and depletion of part of microvilli, and widen and disrupted tight junction were observed in the LPS group. The ultrastructural changes of intestinal tissues were improved in the LPS + rITF group. CONCLUSIONS: rITF can decrease the plasma DAO activity and inhibit the expression of TNF-alpha, resulting in a protective effect against intestinal injuries induced by LPS in young rats.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗
PubMed2006

[Study on the effects of mitochondrial pathways on apoptosis in colon carcinoma cells induced by tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of mitochondrial pathways on apoptosis in colon carcinoma cells induced by Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand and offer evidences for TRAIL application in clinic. METHODS: Apoptosis, integration of mitochondria (including DeltaPsim, cardiolipin), activity of Caspase-9 and release of cytochrome c in colon carcinoma cells SW1116 treated with TRAIL, were detected by means of flowcytometry, fluorometer method and western-blot at the different time point. RESULTS: After treated with TRAIL for 4 hours, the apoptosis index was 32.98%, and the damage of mitochondria occurred with DeltaPsim, cardiolipin decreased, and the activity of Caspase-9 and cytochrome c increased. The Caspase-9 activity at 24 hour was (48.12+/-2.21)micromol.L(-1).h(-1).mg(-1) protein. Mitochondrial damage induced by TRAIL could be inhibited by Caspase inhibitor Z-VAD. fmk. CONCLUSION: Mitochondrial pathways involved in the apoptosis of colon carcinoma cell induced by TRAIL. Cytochrome c was released and Caspase-9 was activated in the Caspase-dependent manner after the damage of mitochondrial.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

[The difference of nerve growth factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor between the sensitive and motor fibres regeneration].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) to promoting the sensitive and motor fibres regeneration. METHODS: Thirty two Sprague-Dawley rats with 10 mm gap of sciatic nerve were operated and bridged with the new double channel nerve conduit in rhomboid shape. They were randomly divided into two groups, with each in twelve animals. In the first group, 200 micro1 of chitin for medical use was injected into the conduit, and in the second group the two branches of the conduit contained 100 microl of the chitin and 5 microl NGF or CNTF. At twelve and sixteen weeks after the operation, we evaluated the sensitive and motor fibres of regenerative nerve with Holmes, Acetylcholinesterase and Carbonic anhydrase staining. RESULTS: After the twelve and sixteen weeks of the operation, there were not significant differences of the regenerative nerve fibres between two channels in the first groups. But in the second group, the number of the motor fibres of the regenerative nerve of CNTF branch channel was much more and distributed better than the others, while the number and density of sensitive fibres was inferior to NGF. The latency of compound muscle active potential and cortical somatosensory evoked potential of the nerve in the CNTF branch was shorter than the one in the NGF branch, but its amplitude was higher. CONCLUSIONS: The CNTF could significantly promote the regeneration of motor fibres and the NGF could promote better for the regeneration of sensitive fibres.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Twenty-year secular changes in sex specific lung cancer incidence rates in an urban Chinese population.

The objective of this study was to describe trends in the incidence rates of primary lung cancer in a geographically defined Chinese population. Primary lung cancer cases (N=40,022) diagnosed between 1981 and 2000 were identified by the Tianjin Cancer Registry. Age-specific and age-adjusted incidence rates to the world standard population were examined in both males and females. Age-period-cohort (APC) model and Poisson regression were used to assess the cohort effects and incidence trends. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates in the study period were: 66.2/100,000 and 45.2/100,000 in males; and 47.7/100,000 and 28.2/100,000 in females, respectively. The major birth cohort effect can be described as for those born before 1940, in every age group lung cancer incidence rate increased as the birth years advanced. For those born after 1940, age specific incidence rates decreased as the birth years advanced. Results from the Poisson regression analyses suggested a statistically significant increasing trend of incidence rates of lung cancer from 1981 to 1990 and changed little afterwards. Through first 10 years of the study period between 1981 and 2000, lung cancer incidence rates increased in both males and females. While the study results suggest that the age-adjusted incidence rates may have reached their peak and may even decline, as the Chinese population ages, and smoking prevalence remains high, the number of new lung cancer cases will continue to increase and overall burden of lung cancer will remain high.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Enhanced efficiency in cell killing at the penetration depths around the Bragg peak of a radioactive 9C-ion beam.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the potential importance of radioactive 9C-ion beam in cancer radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Human salivary gland (HSG) cells were exposed to a double-radiation-source 9C beam at different depths around the Bragg peak. Cell survival fraction was determined by standard clonogenic assay. For comparison, the same experiment was conducted for a therapeutic 12C beam. To determine relative biologic effectiveness (RBE) values, HSG cells were also irradiated with 60Co gamma-rays of fractionation scheme as the reference. RESULTS: The 9C beam was more efficient in cell killing at the depths around its Bragg peak than was the 12C beam, which corresponded to the 9C-ion stopping region and where delayed low-energy particles were emitted. The RBE value at 50% survival level for the 9C beam varied from 1.38 to 4.23. Compared with the 12C beam, the RBE values for the 9C beam were always higher; an increase in RBE by a factor of up to 1.87 has been observed at the depths distal to the Bragg peak. CONCLUSION: The potential advantage of radioactive 9C-ion beam in cancer therapy has been revealed at low dose rate in comparison with a therapeutic 12C beam. This observation, however, remains to be investigated at therapeutic dose rates in the future.

Carbon↗
PubMed2005

Interleukin-1beta induction of NFkappaB is partially regulated by H2O2-mediated activation of NFkappaB-inducing kinase.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been demonstrated to act as second messengers in a number of signal transduction pathways, including NFkappaB. However, the mechanism(s) by which ROS regulate NFkappaB remain unclear and controversial. In the present report, we describe a mechanism whereby interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) stimulation of NFkappaB is partially regulated by H2O2-mediated activation of NIK and subsequent NIK-mediated phosphorylation of IKKalpha. IL-1beta induced H2O2 production in MCF-7 cells and clearance of this ROS through the expression of GPx-1 reduced NFkappaB transcriptional activation by inhibiting NIK-mediated phosphorylation of IKKalpha. Although IKKalpha and IKKbeta were both involved in IL-1beta-mediated activation of NFkappaB, only the IKKalpha-dependent component was modulated by changes in H2O2 levels. Interestingly, in vitro reconstitution experiments demonstrated that NIK was activated by a very narrow range of H2O2 (1-10 microM), whereas higher concentrations (100 microM to 1 mM) inhibited NIK activity. Treatment of cells with the general Ser/Thr phosphatase inhibitor (okadaic acid) lead to activation of NFkappaB and enhanced NIK activity as a IKKalpha kinase, suggesting that ROS may directly regulate NIK through the inhibition of phosphatases. Recruitment of NIK to TRAF6 following IL-1beta stimulation was inhibited by H2O2 clearance and Rac1 siRNA, suggesting that Rac-dependent NADPH oxidase may be a source of ROS required for NIK activation. In summary, our studies have demonstrated that redox regulation of NIK by H2O2 is mechanistically important in IL-1beta induction of NFkappaB activation.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from mouse fetal bone marrow.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are defined as cells that can differentiate into multiple mesenchymal lineage cells. MSCs have some features (surface molecules and cytokine production, etc.) common to so-called traditional bone marrow (BM) stromal cells, which have the capacity to support hemopoiesis. In the present study, we isolated murine MSCs (mMSCs) from the fetal BM using an anti-PA6 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that is specific for bone marrow stromal cells. The mMSCs, called FMS/PA6-P cells, are adherent, fibroblastic, and extensively expanded and have the ability to differentiate not only into osteoblasts and adipocytes but also into vascular endothelial cells. The FMS/PA6-P cells produce a broad spectrum of cytokines and growth factors closely related to hemopoiesis and show good hemopoiesis-supporting capacity both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that they are a component of the hemopoietic stem cell niche in vivo. Interestingly, although the FMS/PA6-P cells express a high level of the PA6 molecule, which is reactive with anti-PA6 mAb, they gradually lose their ability to express this molecule during the course of differentiation into osteoblasts and adipocytes, indicating that the PA6 molecule might serve as a novel marker of mMSCs.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2005

Differences in hypothyroidism between lithium-free and -treated patients with bipolar disorders.

The majority of the previous studies of thyroid abnormalities in bipolar patients was conducted in populations containing various proportions of lithium-treated subjects. In the present study, we sought to determine whether there exist differences in hypothyroid profile between lithium-free and -treated bipolar patients. Bipolar patients never treated with lithium and carbamazepine (n=78) and those currently in lithium therapy (n=53) were included in this study. Serum concentrations of total thyroxine (T(4)), total triiodothyronine (T(3)), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were compared between lithium-free and -treated patients. The rate of hypothyroidism in lithium-free patients was significantly lower than those treated with lithium (6.3%-10.8% vs. 28.0%-32.1%). Significant changes in the three thyroid indices indicative of hypothyroidism were consistently associated with longer illness duration in lithium-free manic patients, but with greater severity of mania and more mood episodes in their lithium-treated counterparts. In lithium-free depressed patients, more episodes were associated with lower T(4) levels; whereas in their lithium-treated counterparts, longer illness duration was associated with higher TSH levels and females with lower T(3) levels. These results suggest that bipolar patients with and without lithium exposure differ in prevalence and association of hypothyroidism and may have different response to thyroid hormone therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Biodegradable and photocrosslinkable polyphosphoester hydrogel.

A new biodegradable, photocrosslinkable and multifunctional macromer, poly(6-aminohexyl propylene phosphate) (PPE-HA)-ACRL, was synthesized by conjugation of acrylate groups to the side chains of PPE-HA. By controlling the synthetic conditions, different weight fractions of acrylate in the macromers were achieved as confirmed by 1H NMR. The hydrogels obtained from PPE-HA-ACRL through photocrosslinking were dominantly elastic. With increasing acrylate contents in the macromers, the hydrogels exhibited a lower swelling ratio and higher mechanical strength. The hydrogels with different crosslinking densities lost between 4.3% and 37.4% of their mass in 84 days when incubated in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 degrees C. No significant cytotoxicity of the macromers against bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells from goat (GMSC) was observed at a concentration up to 10mg/ml. Finally, GMSCs encapsulated in the photopolymerized gel maintained their viability when cultured in osteogenic medium for three weeks. Clear mineralization in the hydrogel scaffold was revealed by Von Kossa staining. This study suggests the potential of these biodegradable and photocrosslinkable as injectable tissue engineering scaffolds.

Absorbable Implants↗
PubMed2005

Adjunctive herbal medicine with carbamazepine for bipolar disorders: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Chinese herbal medicines possess the therapeutic potential for mood disorders. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of the herbal medicine called Free and Easy Wanderer Plus (FEWP) as an adjunct to carbamazepine (CBZ) in patients with bipolar disorders. One hundred and twenty-four bipolar depressed and 111 manic patients were randomized to treatment with CBZ alone, CBZ plus FEWP, or equivalent placebo for 12 weeks. CBZ was initiated at 300mg/day and FEWP was given at a fixed dose of 36g/day. Efficacy measures included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale , Young Mania Rating Scale, Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S). CBZ monotherapy produced significantly greater improvement on manic measures at week 2 through endpoint and CGI-S of depression at endpoint compared to placebo. CBZ monotherapy also yielded significantly higher clinical response rates than placebo on bipolar depression (63.8% vs. 34.8%, p=0.044) and mania (87.8% vs. 57.1%, p=0.012). Compared to CBZ monotherapy, adjunctive FEWP with CBZ resulted in significantly better outcomes on the three measures of depression at week 4 and week 8 and significantly greater clinical response rate in depressed subjects (84.8% vs. 63.8%, p=0.032), but failed to produce significantly greater improvement on manic measures and the response rate in manic subjects. There was a lesser incidence of dizziness and fatigue in the combination therapy compared to CBZ monotherapy. These results suggest that adjunctive FEWP has additive beneficial effects in bipolar patients, particularly for those in depressive phase.

Adolescent↗