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Biomedical subjects

S G Liu

Publications and source records attributed to S G Liu.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Molecular limits to the quantum confinement model in diamond clusters.

The electronic structure of monodispersed, hydrogen-passivated diamond clusters (diamondoids) in the gas phase has been studied with x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The data show that the bulk-related unoccupied states do not exhibit any quantum confinement. Additionally, density of states below the bulk absorption edge appears, consisting of features correlated to CH and CH2 hydrogen surface termination, resulting in an effective redshift of the lowest unoccupied states. The results contradict the commonly used and very successful quantum confinement model for semiconductors, which predicts increasing band edge blueshifts with decreasing particle size. Our findings indicate that in the ultimate size limit for nanocrystals a more molecular description is necessary.

Journal Article↗

Isolation and structure of higher diamondoids, nanometer-sized diamond molecules.

We exploited the exceptional thermal stability and diverse molecular shapes of higher diamondoids (C22 and higher polymantanes) to isolate them from petroleum. Molecules containing 4 to 11 diamond-crystal cages were isolated and crystallized, and we obtained single-crystal x-ray structures for representatives from three families. Rigidity, strength, remarkable assortments of three- dimensional shapes, including resolvable chiral forms, and multiple, readily derivatizable attachment sites make them valuable nanometer-size molecular building blocks.

Journal Article↗

Characterization of the upstream mouse Cbfa1/Runx2 promoter.

Cbfa1 (or Runx2/AML-3/PEPB2alpha) is a transcriptional activator of osteoblastic differentiation. To investigate the regulation of Cbfa1 expression, we isolated and characterized a portion of the 5'-flanking region of the Cbfa1 gene containing its "bone-related" or P1 promoter and exon 1. We identified additional coding sequence in exon 1 and splice donor sites that potentially give rise to a novel Cbfa1 isoform containing an 18 amino acid insert. In addition, primer extension mapping identified in the Cbfa1 promoter a minor mRNA start site located approximately 0.8 kb 5' upstream of the ATG encoding the MASN/p57 isoform and approximately 0.4 kb upstream of the previously reported start site. A luciferase reporter construct containing 1.4 kb of the mouse Cbfa1 promoter was analyzed in Ros 17/2.8 and MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell lines that express high levels of Cbfa1 transcripts. The activity of this construct was also examined in non-osteoblastic Cos-7 and NIH3T3 cells that do not express Cbfa1 and mesenchymal-derived cell lines, including CH3T101/2, C2C12, and L929 cells, that express low levels of mature Cbfa1 transcripts. The 1.4 kb 5' flanking sequence of the Cbfa1 gene directed high levels of transcriptional activity in Ros 17/2.8 and MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts compared to non-osteoblasts Cos-7 cells, but this construct also exhibited high levels of expression in C310T1/2, L929, and C2C12 cells as well as NIH3T3 cells. In addition, Cbfa1 mRNA expression, but not the activity of the Cbfa1 promoter, was upregulated in a dose-dependent manner in pluripotent mesenchymal C2C12 by bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). These data indicate that Cbfa1 is expressed in osteogenic as well as non-osteogenic cells and that the regulation of Cbfa1 expression is complex, possibly involving both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Additional studies are needed to further characterize important regulatory elements and to identify additional regions of the promoter and/or post-transcriptional events responsible for the cell-type restricted regulation of Cbfa1 expression.

3T3 Cells↗

Carcinogenesis or tumourigenicity testing of animal cell lines for vaccine preparation by colony formation on soft agar and by agglutination under plant lectins.

The carcinogenic or tumourigenic testing of seven animal kidney cell lines (F-81, CRFK, MDCK, Vero, Vero-2 cell line, MA-104 and BHK-21) established in China, were carried out in more than 700 nude mice for colony formation in soft agar and for agglutination under different density of plant lectins. Tests showed that there were correlation between cell line chromosome number variations and anchorage independence in soft agar, agglutinability under lectins and tumour-forming ability in nude mice. Since testing in vitro was more economical, simpler and faster and thus thought to be more reliable, we recommend measuring agglutinability, followed by anchorage independence or analysis of karyotype as the initial means for monitoring tumourigenicity of animal cell lines in nude mice.

Agar↗

[Analyses of chromosomal karyotypes and cytogenetic variations of animal cell lines].

After the master cell stock(mcs) and working cell bank of more than 30 different strains of 7 animal kidney cell lines (F-81 or CRFK cell line, MDCK cell line, Vero or Vero-2 cell line, MA-104 cell line and BHK-21 cell line) were established in China, the chromosomal number variations and structural aberrations of the above lines, primary feline or canine kidney cell (FKC or CKC) and HeLa cell line were investigated and their karyotypes of routine or Giemsa chromosomal bands were analyzed. The carcinogenesis or tumorigenicity testing of these cells in about 700 nude mice and for colony formation in soft agar (SA) and for agglutination under different concentration of plant lectins was carried out. Both tumorigenicity-negative strains of F-81, CRFK, Vero or Vero-2 lines and very-low-tumorigenicity strains of MDCK line were successfully selected and evaluated for the production of canine or feline combination viral vaccines, which are free of infectious agents, and described with respect to cytogenetic characteristics and tumorigenicity. Rate of modal chromosome number represents the ratio of cell number having modal chromosome number to all the split cell number analyzed at random. Rate of difference represents the ratio of difference of the rate of modal chromosome number between mcs (master cell stock) + n and mcs passages. The chromosomal analysis results showed that the ratio of difference of the rate of modal chromosome number between mcs + n and mcs passages was not more than 5%-15% and the structure aberrations was generally 0%-3%, not more than 5%-10%, thus the hereditary character of cell lines is comparatively stable without significant difference between different passages. The genetic characteristics of chromosomal number of cell lines determines their tumorigenicity, but it is species specific. Experimental models were established for the researches on the prevention and prophylaxis of malignant tumors or cancers and their genetically biological characteristics. Tests showed that there was correlation among cell line chromosome number variations, anchorage independence in soft agar, agglutination under plant lectins and tumor-forming ability in nude mice. Since testing in vitro is more economic, simpler, faster, and is thought to be reliable, we recommend plant lectins followed by SA or analysis of karyotypes as the initial means for monitoring tumorigenicity of animal cell line in nude mice.

Animals↗

Ion recognition at the interface of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of bis-thioctic ester derivatives of oligo(ethyleneglycols).

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of bis-thioctic ester derivatives of oligoethylene glycols were prepared. When the number of (-CH2-CH2-O-)n units in these podands was either five or six, the corresponding SAMs showed ion binding properties and selectivities similar to those exhibited by 15-crown-5 or 18-crown-6 in aqueous solution, respectively. Impedance data for the SAMs as a function of metal ion concentrations were fitted by using a Langmuir isotherm to determine the association constants (Ka) with the different ions. The SAM derived from the n = 5 compound is selective for Na+ while that with n = 6 is selective for K+. Results presented here confirm the formation of ion recognition domains during self-assembly of acyclic polyethylene glycol derivatives on gold surfaces; this suggests that surface-confined pseudocrown ether structures are formed.

Journal Article↗

[Derivative-ratio derivative spectrum method for determining nitrate and nitrite radicals (NO3- and NO2-) in environmental water].

A derivative-ratio derivative spectrum method was devised for resolving the interference of two components in a two-component mixture measured in derivative spectrum method. The ratio derivative spectrum was obtained from the derivative absorption spectrum of the mixture divided by a derivative absorption spectrum of one of the components. The derivative of ratio derivative spectrum against wavelength resulted in the derivative-ratio derivative spectrum that was determined by the concentration of one component of the mixture. The results suggest that this method is better than ratio derivative spectrum method and it can be applied for determining nitrate and nitrite (NO3- and NO2-) in environment water samples. Being simple and stable, it can eliminate the influence of the interfering materials, giving a recovery rate of more than 96.7%.

Nitrates↗

[Gene analysis of blast resistance in an indica variety Digu].

Digu is one of the important genetic resources in rice breeding for resistance to blast disease in China. In this study, the disease resistance identification in the parental varieties and the population F1, F2 and B1F1 from the crosses involving Digu and four susceptible varieties was carried out by inoculation with two Chinese blast strains, ZB13, and ZB15. The results demonstrated that Digu had one dominant gene Pi-d(t) to ZB13, which had been reported by Li SG. The F2 populations of Digu and other ten different varieties with known resistance genes were inoculated with strains ZB13 and the results further demonstrated that blast resistance of Digu to strain ZB13 was controlled by one dominant resistance gene.

Disease Susceptibility↗

[Studies of the origin of malignant rhabdoid tumor(MRT)--experimental researches on the MRT evolving in nude mice inoculated with violently variable HeLa cells].

Under the prerequisite that the incidence of cancer or tumor in negatively-controlled nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with feline or canine kidney cell cultures purified in vitro at passage 3 or higher (the modal chromosome number of FKC on passage 3 was 38 of diploid at the rate of 80%) was 0%(0/22) and 0%(0/10) respectively, and the incidence of progressively negative growing tumor in controlled nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with repeatedly-frozen- and thawed-HeLa cell cultures of X strain was 20%(1/5), the negative growing malignant tumor (MT) was found in half of the nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with HeLa cell cultures of H strain(with modal chromosome number of 78 +/- 2 of sub-tetraploid at the rate of 40%), the progressively-growing malignant tumor was found in all the other 40 nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with HeLa cell cultures of other strains, with the incidence of MT in nude mice with KB strain (with modal chromosome number of 60 +/- 3 of hyperdiploid at the rate of 72%-76%) 10/10, the incidence of poorly-differentiated MT originated from epithelia in nude mice with X strain (with modal chromosomal number of 62 +/- 3 of hyperdiploid at the rate of 69%) 25/25, and the incidence of MRT in nude mice with in vitro cultured tumor cell NM20/X strain (with modal chromosome number of 68 +/- 3 of both hyperdiploid and subtetraploid at the rate of 52%) 5/5. After being continuously cultivated for 20 passages in vitro, HeLa cell of X strain was subcutaneously inoculated into nude mice and cultivated for 1 passage in vivo within 15 days, and then the developed growing MT was collected as HeLa cell of NM20/X strain on passage 0 and continuously cultivated for 11 passages to prepare for transplanting into nude mice again. Therefore, the highly variable strain of HeLa cells can be successfully selected by alternate cultivation in vitro and in vivo. Occasionally in another experiment, the progressively-growing MRT was found in all the 4 nude mice of one test group inoculated subcutaneously with 0.17 ml cell-cultures of super-high density containing 12.75 x 10(7) HeLa cells of KB strain on passages 10-11(with the rate of chromosome aberration high to 20% on passages 10-11 including 18% dicentric chromosome and 2% breakage chromosome). Although the incidence of MRT in nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with violently variable HeLa cells of NM20/X strain on passage 11, HeLa cells of KB strain on passages 10-11 reaches 100%(5/5) & 100%(4/4) respectively, yet it is requested that the inoculated live cell number is huge (5-12 x 10(7) cells per nude mouse), the tumor emerges immediately, develops violently, grows very fast, and has an extremely aggressive malignancy, the tumor is rich in the blood vessel giving a full supply of blood for it, and the mean value of major diameter X minor diameter of the tumor is essentially up to the standard of 30 mm x 20 mm in 16-22 days after the inoculation of the cells into the nude mice. The first finding of MRT in model animals provides an opportunity for answering the origin problem of MRT. Based on this reason, human uterus vertical epithelium may be an original tissue of MRT, thus opening up a new era for the research of MRT origin. It is also concluded as follows: 1. Cellular tumorigenicity is different among differently-karyotypic cells. 2. Highly variable strain of tumor cell line can be selected quickly and successfully in nude mouse. 3. Cellular tumorigenicity may be increased if chromosome aberration is very high. 4. The genetic characteristics of chromosomes of HeLa cells determines their tumorigenicity, chromosome number variation of HeLa cells has positive relationship with their carcinogenesis or tumorigenicity, and the turn of HeLa cells concerning their tumorigenicity from weak to strong is KB, X and NM20/X strains (excluding H strain, in which tumorigenicity remains to be determined by further experiments) respectively.

Animals↗

Malariotherapy for HIV patients.

The objective of this study was to determine whether HIV patients who undergo malariotherapy experience beneficial immunological change without iatrogenic complications. In an approved, prospective study, asymptomatic. HIV-positive patients were inoculated with P. vivax malaria and the malaria infection was allowed to run a predetermined course according to standard malariotherapy protocols and was cured with chloroquine. After termination of the malaria, the patients have been followed for 2 years with clinical and immunological monitoring. In the first two HIV-positive patients, CD4 counts rose significantly from pre-malaria measurements and remain at normal levels 2 years later without further treatment of any kind. During this time, the patients remained clinically well. An additional six HIV-positive patients were treated with malariotherapy and have remained clinically well during the first 6 months after treatment. These initial studies demonstrate malariotherapy results in an increase in CD4 counts of HIV-positive patients. Furthermore, these increases persist beyond the presence of malaria, for at least 2 years.

Adult↗

[Study on geographic distribution of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis with trend-surface analysis].

The Trend-surface Analysis method was used to study the geographic distribution of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence in China. The prevalence data used in this article was cited from Nation-wide Tuberculosis Surveys in 1979 and 1990. The results showed that smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence had obvious characteristics of geographic distribution and the characteristics had been changed within 11 years. In a word, the smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence distribution tallies with their quality of tuberculosis control.

China↗

[Protection of Vibrio cholerae from heating and chlorination by chitin].

El Tor Vibrio cholerae and non-01 V. cholerae absorbed onto chitin particles could not only multiply in vitro, but also could partly survive with heating at 65-75 degrees C for 60-160 sec (7/40) or with 3.8-15 ppm of effective chlorine for 10 min (24/29). None of those unabsorbed onto chitin could survive at the above temperature, and only very few of those could survive with the above concentration of effective chlorine. These findings are conducive to the control of cholera transmission caused by the crustacean contaminated with chitin.

Animals↗

[Genomic cloning of Fasciola hepatica secretory antigens in Escherichia coli].

This paper reported the immunoscreening of three recombinants expressing secretory antigens from the genomic DNA library of F. hepatica and the primary study of expression of the three recombinants. To construct the genomic DNA library, DNA from the adult F. hepatica was cut with Sau3AI to an average length of about 2.0 kb and inserted into the BamHI site of the expression vector pUC18, the size of the genomic DNA library of F. hepatica being 1.5 x 10(5) recombinants. Three recombinants expressing antigenic determinants of F. hepatica pFH16, pFH23, pFH48 were detected through primary screening and rescreening with F. hepatica infected rabbit serum (1:50) preabsorbed to remove antibodies to E. coli and SPA-HRP (1:40). The test of the ability of expressing fusion proteins showed pFH16 > pFH48 > pFH23. These studies provide the possibility of further research on the expression of recombinant antigenic genes, the immunity of their expressed products and the protection of animals.

Animals↗