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Biomedical subjects

T Feng

Publications and source records attributed to T Feng.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Clinical significance on protruded nucleus pulposus: a comparative study of 44 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and 73 asymptomatic control in tridimentional computed tomography].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the clinical significance of space occupation of lumbar protruded nucleus pulposus (PNP) in vertebral canal. METHODS: Materials of tridimentional ultrathin scanning computed tomography (CT), plain and flexion-extension dynamic radiograph on lumbar spine in 44 patients of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and 73 asymptomatic subjects (as control, including 22 cases with PNP but without symptoms) were observed, analysed and compared in volume, surface area, relative space occupation of PNP inside spinal canal, structure deformation and mobility of lumbar spine, and their difference and relevance. RESULTS: The rate of asymptomatic lumbar disc protrusion in the control group was up to 30.1%. The volume, surface area and relative space occupation of PNP inside spinal canal in the patients group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Although the structure was more deformed and mobility of lumbar spine more limited in the patients group before and after treatment than those in the control group, as compared with those subjects with asymptomatic PNP, the difference was insignificant. CONCLUSION: (1) Relative space occupation of PNP inside spinal canal could be usually digested by compensation system of spinal column, however, there is no final conclusion reached about the limit of compensation system; (2) Relatively bigger PNP may reduce the structure compensation capability of lumbar spine, which will result, sometimes, in a mechanical disorder of lumbar spine and nerve root irritation.

Adult↗

[Immunologic histochemical observation of anti-crypt keratin of cryptic epithelium of tonsilla in children with chronic tonsillitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate anti-crypt keratin (CK) immunologic histochemical changes in children with chronic tonsillitis. METHOD: Removed tonsilla were fixed by 10% formaldehyde. Immunologic histochemical method was used to determine the changes of anti-broad spectrum (KD 68, 56, 56, 50) CKSP. RESULT: In 230 cases, obvious keratosis was 90.9%, no keratosis was 9.1%, 3 cases were found with fungus filaments and bacteria in the bottom of crypts. Anti-broad spectrum and hypermolecule CK of tonsil cryptic epithelium were positive reaction, anti-broad spectrum CK of cryptic keratosis in all cases was positive reaction. CONCLUSION: During the period of episode, cryptic epitheliums of tonsilla was destroyed repeatly, therefore, immunoglobulin production was reduce. Because the immune function of tonsilla was reduced, bacteria and virus might be invade into organism. This reduplicative malignant circles must be interrupted or blocked only by tonsillectomy.

Adolescent↗

[Effect of artemether on enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism of Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of artemether on several enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism of Schistosoma japonicum. METHODS: Mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 4-5 weeks were administered intragastrically with artemether 300 mg/kg and killed 24-72 h after medication. The supernatant fluids of female and male worm homogenates were prepared for determining 9 essential enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism by using horizontal starchgel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The activities of 8 out of 9 enzymes (i.e. hexokinase, aldolase, glucosephophate isomerase, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and mannose-6-phosphate isomerase) in female worms from artemether-treated mice were obviously inhibited 24-72 h after treatment. In male worms, only aldolase, mannose-6-phosphate isomerase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were slightly inhibited. CONCLUSION: Artemether displayed apparent effects on the carbohydrate metabolism of female schistosomes.

Animals↗

[Allozyme-based genetic variation within an unstable "population" of Chinese Oncomelania hupensis (Gastropoda: Rissoacea: Pomatiopsidae)].

OBJECTIVE: To answer the following questions: 1. For Oncomelania snails collected two years apart from the same locality, has there been genetic divergence? 2. How much experimental error has there been in studying subsets of these populations? 3. As this is an unstable population, what has the net effect been on Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWe)? METHODS: Allozymes were studied using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. Data collected from numbers of experiments were compiled. Data from each collection were divided into two equal subsets based on chronology of the experiments. Thirty-four loci were studied using 72 to 180 snails per subset. RESULTS: The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 1.5-1.9. With each consecutive subset, the % polymorphic loci dropped from 38.2 to 17.6. The mean heterozygosity was very low: 0.033 to 0.049 and not significantly different from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Ten loci and 11 alleles exclusive to the first group were eliminated from the overall study reducing the number of polymorphic loci from 19 to 10. There were significant departures from HWe at five loci having a substantial number of individuals for each allele. Nei's and Wright's D were 0.003 +/- 0.001 and 0.054 +/- 0.006 respectively. CONCLUSION: 1. There were significant errors seen primarily in the results scored in the earliest experiments. 2. These earlier errors involving scoring difficult to resolve loci, and interpretation of rare alleles that were not found in later experiment had no significant effect on overall genetic distance. 3. The use of Wright's D for closely related populations is explained. Results with Nei's D indicated no significant difference among the four subunits; Wright's D yielded significant difference between the collections made two years apart, attributed to the annual flooding of the Yangtze River mixing snails from different localities. 4. Major polymorphic loci were not in Hwe as predicted using the unstable population model. 5. One must study 25 or more individuals to find relatively rare alleles and study population genetics.

Alleles↗

[Electrophoresis identification of four kinds of seed-fruit Chinese drugs and its adulterants].

OBJECTIVE: To identify four kinds of seed-fruit Chinese drugs and its adulterants by electrophoresis and to research the dyeing effect of Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250. METHOD: Gel electrophoresis of soluble protein. RESULTS: The electrophoretograms of the four kinds of Chinese drugs and its adulterants are remarkably different. CONCLUSION: The electrophoretograms can be used to differentiate the four kinds of Chinese drugs and its adulterants. Coomassie Brilliant Blue G-250 can be used in the electrophoresis identification.

Canavalia↗

Expression of osteopontin mRNA in normal and stone-forming rat kidney.

Human urine contains several macromolecules which inhibit calcium oxalate crystallization. Osteopontin (or uropontin), a secreted phosphoglycoprotein with the amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and high affinity to hydroxyapatite, is one such inhibitor. To investigate the action of this protein on renal stone formation, the expression osteopontin gene in normal and chemically induced urolithiasis rat kidney was compared at both mRNA and protein levels. Northern blot analysis shown a significant increase of osteopontin mRNA level in stone-forming rat kidney compared with normal ones. In an in situ hybridization study, we localized the transcripts of the osteopontin gene in epithelial cells of both distal and collective tubules, and found a remarkably strong signal in stone-forming rats. The amount and distribution of the protein in kidney from immunocytochemistry staining showed the same pattern as seen in situ hybridization. These findings indicate that osteopontin may be an important macromolecule in the normal endogenous defence against the formation of urinary calculi.

Animals↗

[Diagnostic significance of topical image of infrared thermograph on the patient with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation--a comparative study on 45 patients and 65 normal control].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse and explore the diagnostic significance of infrared thermography on the patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion. METHODS: Forty-five hospitalized cases under conservative treatment (mainly manipulation) and 65 controls were sequentially selected. Both groups were examined with infrared thermograph on lower back and lower extremities as well as physical examination before and after treatment. The study statistically analysed the temperature difference between the involved and healthy parts at different areas; and also compared the change of the temperature difference after the treatment to the decreasing scores of physical examination afterward. RESULTS: The statistic result showed that the temperature difference between two sides on patients group was significantly higher than those of control group. The further analysis shows that the temperature difference at posterior femur area in the patient's group correlated significantly to the severity of clinical signs caused by nerve root irritation. CONCLUSIONS: The thermograph could only be considered as a reference in the diagnosis of lumbar disc protrusion. It is helpful to discover the severity of radical signs according to the posterior femoral region of hypo- (or hyper) thermogram.

Adult↗

[Gas chromatographic determination of camphora, mentholum, isoborneol and borneol in Guanxingao].

Guanxingao is a kind of traditional Chinese rubber electuary medicine which is able to either cure or guard against coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. The contents of camphora, mentholum, isoborneol and borneol in Guanxingao are determined by gas chromatography. The purpose of the study is to detect and control the loss of the four volatile components through production and standing and to guarantee the curative effect. Chromatographic analysis was performed on a GC-4004 gas chromatograph(FID). The column was a 3 mm i.d. x 2 m stainless steel tube packed with 7% PEG-1500 on 100-110 mesh 102 non-silanized white support. The column and the FID temperatures were 115 degrees C and 180 degrees C respectively. H2 was the carrier gas, 30 mL/min. Internal standard method was used for the quantitative estimation with naphthalene as the internal standard. The linear ranges were at least within 50-450 mg/L (r = 0.9999, n = 4). The correction factors against naphthalene were 1.262-1.286 and the RSDs were 0.32%-1.5%(n = 12). The recoveries were 98.44%-101.9%. In comparison with the theoretical contents, the average loss percentages are 71.72% (camphora), 65.60% (mentholum) and 66.31% (isoborneol + borneol). The samples were pretreated by means of isothermal (35 degrees C) water-bath extraction with acetone for 6 times with four hours each.

Camphanes↗

Drug dependence during pregnancy. Effect of an on-site support group.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical and economic efficacy of an on-site support group for drug-abusing pregnant women enrolled in an urban, hospital-based obstetric clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Maternal and neonatal outcomes and medical cost data were compared for drug-abusing pregnant women who attended (n = 54) and did not attend (n = 67) a weekly substance abuse support group in the obstetric clinic. RESULTS: Clinical and economic outcomes were more favorable for support group attenders than nonattenders. Specifically, infants of support group attenders had higher birth weights and better 1-minute Apgar scores. In addition, average short-term medical care costs were nearly $1,000 (maternal) and > $1,500 (infant/neonatal) lower for support group attenders as compared to nonattenders. CONCLUSION: Support group attendance was associated with short-term clinical and economic benefits that are likely to translate into longer-term cost savings. The findings suggest that a weekly substance abuse support group can provide low-cost, well-accepted and effective therapeutic services for this high-risk population of women.

Adult↗

Anterior cranial base morphology in mice with midfacial retrusion.

The role of the anterior cranial base in the morphogenesis of class III malocclusions remains uncertain. This study was conducted to determine whether morphologic deficiencies occur in the anterior cranial base in the Brachyrrhine (Br) mouse mutant showing severe midfacial retrusion, which is characteristic of a class III malocclusion. Crania from three groups of C3H/Hej, 3H1 Br/+, and 3H1+/+ mice, each consisting of 15 animals, were collected at 1, 3, and 5 days of age (total = 135). The anterior cranial base from each specimen was subjected to computerized reconstruction and ten landmarks were digitized from each model. The landmark configurations were compared using Procrustes analysis. Significant differences between models were determined at each age. In order to localize differences between forms, average landmark configurations derived from Procrustes analysis were subjected to finite-element analysis. Size-change values for the 3H1 Br/+ animals showed magnitudes that increased in an anteroposterior direction when compared to the 3H1 +/+ and C3H/Hej animals at all ages. The largest values were located posteriorly along the ossifying front of the presphenoid. In five of six comparisons, the size-change values separated into two distinct clusters. The posterior region of the anterior cranial base was divisible into two subclusters, one located superiorly and the other inferiorly. These data suggest that midfacial retrusion in the Br mouse may be caused, in part, by growth deficiencies in the posterior region of the anterior cranial base, particularly the presphenoidal and sphenoethmoidal regions.

Aging↗

[Pathological basis for elevation of serum prostate specific antigen].

67 patients with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) over 4ng/ml were investigated pathologically. All the patients had prostatic lesions: prostate cancer (24) and benign prostatic lesions (43). The serum PSA was conspicuously higher in the carcinoma group than in the benign group (P < 0.01). When 10ng/ml was used as the low limit to detect prostate cancer, the sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 74.4% respectively. We suggest that the range of serum PSA from 4.0 to 10.0ng/ml should be considered dangerous in detecting prostate cancer. The epithelium-blood barrier lesion and epithelial hyperplasia of the prostate might be the pathological basis for the elevation of serum PSA.

Adult↗

[Established oneself the detection of serum prostate specific antigen and application in clinical practice].

Serum prostate specific antigen (PSA)-the biotinavidin enzyme immunoassay (BA-ELISA) was established and used in clinical practice. We assayed serum PSA in normal control and prostatic patients. If 10ng/ml was taken as the cutoff value, the positive rate of prostatic cancer was 62.96%. The results of determination showed: PSA serum levels of patients with complicated BPH (acute prostatitis and chronic prostatitis) were conspicuously higher than the noncomplicated BPH. In the BPH group, we simultaneously detected serum levels of PSA by BA-ELISA and Tandem-E PSA Immuno Enzy Metric Assay. The results suggested BA-ELISA technique is more sensitive and more economical than Tandem-E PSA Immuno Enzy Metric Assay for clinical use.

Aged↗

[Study on allele frequency in Oncomelania from the mainland of China].

Nine populations of Oncomelania, field-collected from Anhui, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan and Yunnan were studied by horizontal starch gel electrophoretic method with 24 enzyme systems (AAT, AcPH, AK, AO, APH, CK, EST, GDH, GPI, G6PD, HBD, ISDH, LAP, LDH, ME, MDH, MPI, NADD, OCT, PGM, 6PGD, SDH, SOD, XDH) analyzed. 40 loci and 117 alleles were detected in the Oncomelania. Both of GPI and PGM-I, with 7 alleles, were the most variable loci. 22 loci had more than 3 alleles each. Of 40 loci examined in the 24 isozyme systems, 14 were found to be polymorphic, the proportion of multilocus enzymes being 58.3%. Our results showed that the genetic polymorphism existing in the populations of Oncomelania in the mainland of China. PGM and MDH, were found in both the populations of Oncomelania and strains of Schistosoma japonicum in the mainland of China. The results provided a new idea for studying snails and Schistosoma. Also, we found that there might be some correlation between the polymorphic locus and the feature of the shell of Oncomelania snail.

Alleles↗

Substance abuse in pregnancy.

Substance abuse in pregnancy is a major area of interest for clinicians, researchers, and public health officials. Cigarettes have long been associated with poor reproductive outcomes. Smoking increases the relative risk of placenta previa to 2.6 and of sudden infant death syndrome to 2.2 in white infants. The risk-to-benefit ratio of nicotine replacement therapy is discussed. Alcohol use by pregnant women decreased from 32% to 20% between 1985 and 1988. The long-term sequelae of fetal alcohol syndrome in adolescents and adults are presented. Marijuana is probably the most common illicit drug used in pregnancy. Long-term follow-up showed no difference in outcome until 48 months. However, at 48 months, memory and verbal measures were affected by heavy prenatal marijuana use. Self-report of illicit drug use is inaccurate. Routine urine screening for cocaine can show marked variations by locality. Analysis of meconium, urine, and infant and maternal hair along with self-report provides the most accurate information on prenatal cocaine use. The increase in cost of caring for cocaine-exposed infants was estimated. Newborns reveal decreased habituation and increased neonatal stress measures. Long-term sequelae of prenatal cocaine use indicated that smaller head circumference persist and that head size is associated with Bayley mental developmental indexes. However, the Bayley scale measured no difference among the cocaine-exposed, alcohol-exposed, or control groups.

Adult↗

Gestational age-specific birthweights of twins versus singletons.

In order to more adequately characterize patterns of intrauterine growth retardation in twins, the mean birthweights of all nonanomalous white or black twins born between 24 and 41 weeks of gestation and surviving until discharge over an 11-year period (547 infants) and all similar singletons (19,072 infants) were compared by completed weeks of gestation. Between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation, the mean birthweights for the 547 twins and the 19,072 singletons were comparable and did not consistently differ statistically. From 36 to 41 weeks gestation, however, the difference became large, consistent, and statistically significant for each week at P less than 0.0001. This difference was present among all subgroups of twins, ie, in all males, females, blacks, and whites; it was still evident when the sample was further stratified by both race and sex (black males, white males, black females, white females). These data suggest a pattern of growth retardation in twins compared to singletons which is large, consistent, and statistically significant beginning at 36 weeks gestation. Clinically, these data also suggest the need for ultrasonic examination early in gestation (24-32 weeks) to document normal growth and to provide baseline data, and show the importance of such monitoring later in gestation, specifically after 36 weeks.

Baltimore↗

The interrelationship between salivary epidermal growth factor and the functional integrity of the esophageal mucosal barrier in the rat.

The role of salivary epidermal growth factor (sEGF) in the maintenance of the esophageal mucosal mucus coat and its permselective properties was investigated for this study. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley male rats underwent sialoadenectomy (SAD), while 18 others with sham operation served as a control. Nine SAD rats in each group received EGF in a dose of 15 micrograms/kg/d for five consecutive days prior to sacrifice. Esophageal mucosa dissected from the muscle layer was placed in the central port of a specially designed permeability chamber filled on both sides with equimolar solutions of NaCl or HCl (0.155 M). The rate of hydrogen ion diffusion from the mucosal to the serosal side was estimated by continuous recording of pH in the NaCl compartment. In addition, the mucosal mucus coat was evaluated by Alcian blue uptake methodology. SAD led to a 108% increase in the rate of permeability of the esophageal mucosa to hydrogen ion. Simultaneously, an 83% decrease in the mucus content on the surface of the esophageal mucosa was observed. A five-day supplementation of EGF substantially improved the permeability of esophageal mucosa (67%) and the mucous layer of esophagus (41%). sEGF seems to play an important physiological role in the maintenance of the functional integrity of the esophageal mucosa.

Animals↗

Pregnancy and addiction: outcomes and interventions.

Cocaine use by pregnant women has increased dramatically in recent years, resulting in well-documented consequences for mothers and offspring. However, even a once weekly peer-oriented intervention can have a positive impact on pregnancy outcome for drug-using women.

Adult↗