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Biomedical subjects

S Wu

Publications and source records attributed to S Wu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Further evidence that the chromogranin B gene confers predisposition to schizophrenia: a family-based association study in Chinese.

The Chromogranin B (CHGB) gene has been proposed as a candidate gene for predisposition to schizophrenia due to its location on the genome, the evidence of genetic studies, and its functional role in schizophrenia. To investigate its association with schizophrenia using case-control analysis, we genotyped eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and performed transmission disequilibrium tests (TDT) using 192 Han Chinese trios. The G allele of IVS4 + 808A > G showed a trend of over-transmission from heterozygous parents to affected offspring (P = 0.06), although no significant over-transmission was found for individual markers. Furthermore, a significant transmission was observed for the common haplotype G-G-A-G-C (P = 0.0018). Overall, our results suggest that at least one locus in or close to the CHGB gene confers risk of the disorder and strengthen the evidence that CHGB is a promising susceptibility gene for schizophrenia in Chinese population.

Asian People↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis and characterization of aspartic acid complexes of antimony and bismuth triiodide.

New bioinorganic complexes of the aspartic acid with the antimony or bismuth triiodide were synthesized by a direct solid-solid reaction at room temperature. The formula of the complex is MI(3)[OOCCH(2)CH(NH(2))CO](2.5) x 2.5H(2)O (M = Sb, Bi). The complex may be a dimer with bridge structure. The crystal structure of the complexes belongs to a triclinic system. The lattice parameters are a = 0.9883 nm, b = 1.4284 nm, c = 2.0114 nm, alpha = 94.46 degrees , beta = 99.76 degrees and gamma = 100.1 degrees for the complex of antimony and a = 0.9756 nm, b = 1.4560 nm, c = 1.9875 nm, alpha = 94.18 degrees , beta = 97.25 degrees and gamma = 101.16 degrees for the complex of bismuth. The infrared spectra and thermal analyses can demonstrate the complex formation between the aspartic acid and the antimony or bismuth ion.

Antimony↗
PubMed2006

Experimental study on in vitro tumor cell killing by focused bi-frequency ultrasound activated hematoporphyrin derivatives.

OBJECTIVE: As ultrasound has become an important therapeutic technique on tumor, in order to find the cell-killing effect of focused bi-frequency ultrasound activated hematoporphyrin derivatives, experimental study was processed in vitro. METHODS: Tumor cells K562 and SW-480 were killed by focused bi-frequency ultrasound activated hematoporphyrin (Hp) derivatives under optimized ultrasonic parameters and the cell-killing effect was tested by MTT (Thiazolyl blue: 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) technique. RESULTS: The lower frequency (0.6 MHz) was better than the higher (1.1 MHz) in activating hematoporphyrin derivatives; the bi-frequency was better than mono-frequency, and the cell-killing efficiency was 2-3 times of sum of the two kinds of ultrasounds which constitute bi-frequency. Incubation for the 16 h was better than 4 h after the cells exposed to the ultrasound. CONCLUSION: The method of killing tumor cells by focused bi-frequency ultrasound activated hematoporphyrin derivatives is presented and evaluated in this paper.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Long-term results of surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot in adults.

BACKGROUND: The long-term results of patients with tetralogy of Fallot surgically treated in adulthood were evaluated to define the real benefit of surgical correction. METHODS: Between August 1990 and February 2004, 57 patients older than 18 years of age with tetralogy of Fallot received total correction. Forty-two patients (73.7 %) required transannular patch. RESULTS: Hospital and late mortality were 7.0 % (n = 4) and 5.7 % (n = 3), respectively. One patient was reoperated on to close residual ventricular septal defect. Four patients were lost. Of the remaining 49 patients, the mean follow-up was 65 +/- 38 months (range 11 - 173 months). Actuarial survival was 97.4 +/- 2.5 %, 91 +/- 7 % and 72.8 +/- 17.1 % at 5, 10 and 14 years, respectively. At the latest follow-up, 35 (76.1 %) of the surviving patients presently have NYHA functional class I ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The overall survival of surgically treated adult patients with tetralogy of Fallot is acceptable. The greatest benefit of total correction at this age is the functional improvement.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Coronary artery fistulae.

Coronary artery fistulae are abnormal communications between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or major vessel (vena cava, pulmonary veins, pulmonary artery). They are usually diagnosed by coronary arteriography. Clinical presentations are variable depending on the type of fistula, shunt volume, site of the shunt, and presence of other cardiac conditions. In this article, we review the literature regarding etiology, incidence, clinical manifestation, image studies, and management.

Arterio-Arterial Fistula↗
PubMed2006

Left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with renal artery stenosis.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been shown to be 3 times more prevalent in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) compared to essential hypertension, but factors that predict LVH in this population are not known. We identified 66 patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis and an interpretable electrocardiogram (ECG). LVH by either Cornell voltage-duration product or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria was present in 18 of the 66 patients (27%). The mean intra-aortic blood pressure was 100 +/- 14 mm Hg in patients with LVH, and 104 +/- 23 mm Hg in those without LVH (P = 0.37). The average stenosis by quantitative computerized angiography was 68 +/- 17% in patients with LVH, and 64 +/- 13% in those without LVH (P = 0.34). The mean translesional pressure gradient was 11 +/- 15 mm Hg in patients with LVH, and 13 +/- 20 mm Hg in those without LVH (P = 0.60). Using linear regression models, there was no correlation between intra-aortic blood pressure, percentage of stenosis, or translesional pressure gradient and either Cornell voltage-duration product or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria. In summary, LVH using ECG criteria was present in 27% of patients with unilateral RAS but was not associated with blood pressure at the time of the procedure or severity of renal artery stenosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Polymorphisms within the CTLA4 gene are associated with infant atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common childhood disorders. It can have a significant impact on the physical and psychological well-being of affected individuals. Although environmental triggers are important, AD also has a strong genetic component. Identifying genes associated with AD may help to understand better the basis of this disorder and its relationship with other allergic disorders such as asthma. OBJECTIVES: Polymorphisms in the gene encoding the inhibitory CTLA4 receptor, an important regulator of T cells, are associated with asthma as well as autoimmune disorders. We have now tested whether polymorphisms in the CTLA4 gene are also associated with early childhood AD. METHODS: A family-based cohort of 112 children and their parents was recruited from Western Sydney, Australia. All children were seen by a paediatric dermatologist and presented with AD within the first 3 years of life. Using the transmission disequilibrium test, individual and haplotypic associations with the +49 and CT60 polymorphisms in exon 1 and the 3' nontranslated DNA of the CTLA4 gene were tested. RESULTS: Single tests of association revealed significant association of the +49(A) [P = 0.037, odds ratio (OR) 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1-2.55] and borderline significance of the CT60(A) alleles (P = 0.055, OR 1.51, 95% CI 1-2.38). Significant association of the +49(A)/CT60(A) haplotype was detected (P = 0.002, OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.2-2.65). CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms within the gene encoding CTLA4 were associated with early onset infant AD. This is in agreement with findings from asthmatic cohorts, suggesting that the +49(A)/CT60(A) haplotype is a genetic risk factor common to asthma and AD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Gene and protein expression of protease-activated receptor 2 in structural and inflammatory cells in the nasal mucosa in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR 2) has been shown to be responsible for trypsin and mast cell tryptase-induced airway inflammation. Here, the present study aimed to explore the expression of PAR 2 in the nasal mucosa of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). METHODS: Study subjects were recruited for the study by medical history, physical examination and laboratory screening tests. Using immunohistochemistry, laser-assisted cell picking and subsequently real-time PCR, nasal mucosa biopsies of SAR patients were investigated for PAR 2 gene and protein expression in complex tissues of the nasal mucosa. RESULTS: Gene and protein expression of PAR 2 was firstly detected in nasal mucosa of SAR patients. The relative gene expression level of PAR 2 was significantly increased in complex tissues of the nasal mucosa of SAR (6.21+/-4.02 vs. controls: 1.38+/-0.86, P=0.004). Moreover, PAR 2 mRNA expression in epithelial cells (SAR: 4.78+/-4.64 vs. controls: 0.84+/-0.61, P=0.003) but not in mucus (SAR: 1.51+/-1.15 vs. controls: 1.35+/-1.02, P=0.78) and endothelial cells (SAR: 1.20+/-0.57 vs. controls: 1.73+/-1.30, P=0.5) was found to be significantly changed in the nasal mucosa in SAR. Using double immunohistochemistry the present study demonstrated that the total numbers of mast cells (P=0.0003) and eosinophils (P=0.03) and the numbers of eosinophils expressing PAR 2 (P=0.006) were significantly elevated in the nasal mucosa of SAR compared with the controls. CONCLUSION: The abundant presence and distribution of gene and protein expression of PAR 2 in different cell types in the nasal mucosa under normal situation, the increased expression of PAR 2 in epithelial cells and the increased number of eosinophils with PAR 2 suggest that PAR 2 may contribute to the pathogenesis of allergic diseases such as SAR.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Rebound intracranial hypertension after treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is characterized by orthostatic headache and the cause is usually cerebrospinal fluid leaks in spine level. Most patients with SIH have a benign course. Epidural blood patch (EBP) is the treatment of choice when initial conservative managements are ineffective. We reported a patient with SIH diagnosed by using magnetic resonance imaging and radionuclide cisternography. Acute rebound intracranial hypertension developed after EBP and was successfully treated with intravenous osmotic agent.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Anticancer activity of 5-benzylidene-2-phenylimino-1, 3-thiazolidin-4-one (BPT) analogs.

We recently identified two compounds of 5-benzylidene-2-phenylimino-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (BPT) analog, 5-(4-methylbenzylidene)-2-phenylamino-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (MMPT) and 5-(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-phenylimino-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (DBPT), that can effectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells but not in normal cells, independently of P-glycoprotein status. To further investigate the antitumor activity of BPT analogs, we obtained 18 commercially available analogs of BPT and synthesized 7 analogs in our lab, and analyzed their antitumor activity in various cancer cells, including paclitaxel- and vinorelbine-sensitive and -resistant human lung cancer cells. Two of the compounds were more potent than MMPT or DBPT in induction of apoptosis in certain cancer cell lines and remained tumor selective. Seven compounds did not induce any cytotoxic effects in any of the cell lines tested at the highest concentration tested (31 microM). The other compounds induced cytotoxic effects in some cancer cells but not in others or were less potent than MMPT and DBPT. Cell uptake studies showed that analogs that effectively induced cell killing in paclitaxel- and vinorelbine-resistant cells could be taken up easily by those cells despite their high levels of P-glycoprotein expression. These data further demonstrate that thiazolidinone analogs are not P-glycoprotein substrates and could be useful for treatment of P-glycoprotein overexpressing refractory cancers.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2005

Failure to find association between TRAR4 and schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population.

The TRAR4 gene locates in SCZD5 (MIM 603175), which a number of studies have linked with schizophrenia. One recent study suggested that three TRAR4 variants (M1: rs4305745, P=0.0014; M2: rs6903874, P=0.0026; M3: rs6937506, P=0.0052) in the 3'-UTR were associated with schizophrenia. To replicate these findings, we conducted a family-based association study within a sample of 235 Chinese Han trios. However, we didn't find significant evidence of preferential transmission of the three variants across all the trios (all P values>0.2). Thus, we conclude that TRAR4 is not a major or independent determinant in the occurrence of schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

JNK1-dependent antimitotic activity of thiazolidin compounds in human non-small-cell lung and colon cancer cells.

We recently identified two thiazolidin compounds, 5-[(4-methylphenyl)methylene]-2-(phenylamino)-4(5H)-thiazolone (MMPT) and 5-(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-2-(phenylimino)-1,3-thiazolidin (DBPT), that inhibit the growth of human non-small-cell lung and colon cancer cells independent of P-glycoprotein and p53 status. Here we further investigated the mechanism by which these thiazolidin compounds mediate their anticancer effects. Treatment of cancer cells with MMPT and DBPT led to a time-dependent accumulation of cells arrested in the G2/M phase with modulation of the expression of proteins such as cyclin B1, cdc25C, and phosphorylated histone H3. Moreover, treatment with MMPT and DBPT increased M-phase arrest with abnormal spindle formation. DBPT-mediated G2/M phase arrest and phosphorylation of cdc25C and histone H3 were abrogated when JNK activation was blocked either with SP600125, a specific JNK inhibitor, or a dominant-negative JNK1 gene. Moreover, DBPT-mediated microtubule disruption was also blocked by SP600125 treatment. Our results demonstrate that thiazolidin compounds can effectively induce G2/M arrest in cancer cells and that this G2/M arrest requires JNK activation.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2005

A study of PSORS1C1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Although genetic analyses have identified the HLA-Cw*0602 allele as the major risk allele for chronic plaque psoriasis in various ethnic groups, it has been proposed that the association of Cw*0602 is due to linkage disequilibrium and that other nearby genes are involved in susceptibility to psoriasis. The psoriasis susceptibility 1 candidate 1 (PSORS1C1, formerly SEEK1) gene, located 127 kb telomeric to the HLA-C locus, is considered to be one of the potential candidate genes of psoriasis. Up to the present, no association study of the PSORS1C1 gene has been conducted on Chinese patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether the genetic polymorphisms of the PSORS1C1 gene were associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in Chinese patients. METHODS: We investigated the PSORS1C1 gene for disease association by direct sequencing of the PSORS1C1 gene in 143 Chinese patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 188 control subjects. Genotyping for HLA-Cw*0602 and the alpha-helix coiled-coil rod homologue (C6orf18, formerly HCR) gene was also carried out using a sequence-based typing method. RESULTS: We identified 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the PSORS1C1 gene in our subjects; four of these SNPs cause amino acid change. We also detected poly(C) repeat variants from nucleotide positions 386-392 (poly(C)6-8). The poly(C) repeat polymorphisms cause a frame shift mutation. Another poly(C) repeat variant was also found at nucleotide positions 748-751. No significantly different allelic distributions of the PSORS1C1 SNPs or poly(C) repeat polymorphisms could be found between the patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and controls after correction for multiple testing. However, a significant increase of the Cw*0602 allele and tryptophan-tryptophan allele of the C6orf18 gene (HCR*WW) was found in patients with early onset psoriasis (21.9% vs. 4.8%, P < 10(-7)). Haplotype-based association analysis also showed a susceptibility haplotype carrying Cw*0602 and HCR*WW alleles in early onset Chinese patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the PSORS1C1 gene might not play an important role in the causation of chronic plaque psoriasis in Chinese people.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Transcriptional up-regulation of histamine receptor-1 in epithelial, mucus and inflammatory cells in perennial allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Histamine receptors play an important role in the pathogenesis of nasal allergy. Activation of histamine receptor 1 (H1R) and 2 (H2R) can cause allergic symptoms which can be blocked effectively by antihistamines. H1R and H2R transcript levels have been found to be up-regulated in perennial - but not in seasonal - allergic rhinitis (AR). The present study aimed to explore H1R and H2R expression in complex tissues of the nasal mucosa of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR). METHODS: Ten patients with PAR and 13 non-AR subjects were recruited for the study by medical history, physical examination and laboratory screening tests. In this study, we have analysed single cells dissected from the nasal mucosa biopsies by laser-assisted microdissection. H1R mRNA expression was analysed in different cell types such as epithelial, endothelial, mucus and inflammatory cells isolated from the nasal mucosa of PAR in comparison with non-AR subjects. RESULTS: H1R mRNA gene expression level was significantly increased in the nasal mucosa of PAR in comparison with non-AR (P<0.0001). H1R mRNA was significantly elevated in epithelial (P<0.001) and mucus cells (P<0.05) of PAR in comparison with non-AR whereas H1R gene expression levels in endothelial cells between both groups were not changed (P=0.23). Interestingly, inflammatory cells in the nasal mucosa of PAR patients were also strongly expressed H1R mRNA (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that PAR alters the expression of H1R mRNA in epithelial, mucus and inflammatory cells of the nasal mucosa and but not in endothelial cells. Therefore, epithelial, mucus and inflammatory cells may play an important role in histamine-mediated allergic airway inflammation in PAR.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Failure to confer cardioprotection and to increase the expression of heat-shock protein 70 by preconditioning with a kappa-opioid receptor agonist during ischaemia and reperfusion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of preconditioning on injury and expression of heat shock proteins 70 in diabetic rat hearts. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg kg(-1) streptozotocin. Daily subcutaneous injection of 4 IU insulin started 2 weeks after streptozotocin treatment for 4 weeks. Rats were preconditioned by intravenous injection of 10 mg kg(-1) U50,488H, a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist (U50,488H preconditioning). The effects of U50,488H preconditioning had previously been shown to be blocked by a selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine. Twenty-four hours later, rats were subjected to 30 min of regional ischaemia by occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by 4 h of reperfusion. Infarct size was determined at the end of reperfusion. Stress-inducible and constitutive heat shock proteins 70 were analysed at the end of ischaemia and reperfusion by Western blotting. RESULTS: Myocardial infarcts induced by ischaemia and reperfusion were greater in diabetic rats. U50,488H preconditioning significantly reduced the infarct size and increased the expression of stress-inducible heat-shock protein 70 in normal rats. The effects of U50,488H preconditioning were abolished in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, but restored by insulin replacement. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: In addition to a greater susceptibility to ischaemic insults, the delayed cardioprotection of U50,488H preconditioning was lost, which could at least partly be due to impaired synthesis of stress-inducible heat-shock protein 70 in diabetic rats.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗