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Biomedical subjects

W Y Yang

Publications and source records attributed to W Y Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Pollutants in incineration flue gas.

Previous studies have shown that pollutants from incineration include heavy metals, organic compounds, particulate and acid gas. However, most studies on a single pollutant, it is rare for a study to concentrate on all possible pollutants and the relations between these pollutants under various incineration conditions. The objective of this work was to experimentally study the effect of different operating conditions on the pollutants emitted during incineration and the relations between these pollutants. The operating conditions of the experiments included the temperature of the combustion chamber and the species of organics. The findings indicated that the concentration of hydrogen chloride (HCl) in the presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was higher than that of sodium chloride (NaCl). Regardless of what Cl-containing feedstock was added, the concentration of chromium (Cr) was constant. When organic chloride was added, Cr was the main metallic element which influenced the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). On the other hand, when inorganic chloride (NaCl) was added, lead (Pb) was the major element.

Air Pollutants↗

Novel antitumor artemisinin derivatives targeting G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Modification of artemisinin structure led us to the discovery of a novel class of antitumor compounds. These artemisinin derivatives containing cyano and aryl groups showed potent antiproliferative effect in vitro against P388 and A549 cells. This activity was reflected in P388 murine leukemia by an accumulation of cells in G1 phase, and induction of apoptosis.

Animals↗

Giant cell reparative granuloma of the temporal bone.

Giant cell reparative granuloma (GCRG) is an uncommon non-neoplastic lesion that typically occurs in the mandible and maxilla: however, its involvement with the temporal bone is rare. It is usually misdiagnosed as a giant cell tumor. Although regarded as a benign process, GCRG may be locally aggressive. In this paper, we describe two cases of GCRG of the temporal bone and review the pertinent literature published in English. The clinical course, histological evaluation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of GCRG of the temporal bone were investigated.

Adolescent↗

Functional complementation by wheat eIF2alpha in the yeast GCN2-mediated pathway.

Translational control by specific eIF2alpha phosphorylation on serine 51 has been characterized in all eukaryotes with the significant exception of plants. In order to evaluate the capability of plant eIF2alpha to functionally control translation, the wild type (51S) and a nonphosphorylatable mutant (51A) of wheat eIF2alpha were expressed in a yeast genetic system. Expression of either wheat protein did not handicap growth under conditions that repress the eIF2alpha phosphorylation pathway. However, under conditions that induce specific eIF2alpha phosphorylation only strains expressing wheat 51S were able to grow between 2 and 4 days. Growth was dependent upon activity of yeast eIF2alpha kinase GCN2 and resulted in the increased translation of GCN4. The association between plant eIF2alpha and yeast eIF2B is supported by their specific coimmunoprecipitation from transgenic yeast cells. These data support the similarity among eukaryotic translational initiation processes and strengthen the concept that plants may contain an eIF2alpha phosphorylation pathway.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

[Culture of human nasal respiratory epithelial cells in serum free medium supplemented with hormones and growth factors and measurement of human nasal ciliary motility using videomicroscopy].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a culture model of human nasal respiratory epithelial cells and a method of measuring human nasal ciliary motility. METHOD: The human nasal respiratory epithelial cells were detached with collagenase and cultured in serum free medium supplemented with hormones and growth factors, the ciliary beat frequency was measured by videomicroscopy. RESULT: After inoculation, cells cultured with this method adhered in 24 hours, confluented in 6-8 days and lived for 16 days. During that time ciliary beating was active, both acidic and neutral mucoitin granules were rich in goblet cells and all chromosome of 23 pairs were normal, the ciliary beat frequency in 29 subjects' nasal mucosa was (411 +/- 24) beats/min (mean +/- s). CONCLUSION: A culture model of human nasal respiratory epithelial cells in serum free medium supplemented with hormones and growth factors and a method of measuring human nasal ciliary motility was successfully established.

Cells, Cultured↗

Specific in vitro phosphorylation of plant eIF2alpha by eukaryotic eIF2alpha kinases.

Phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha) is known to be an important translational control mechanism in all eukaryotes with the major exception of plants. Regulation of mammalian and yeast eIF2alpha activity is directly governed by specific phosphorylation on Ser-51. We now demonstrate that recombinant wheat wild-type (51S) but not mutant 51-Ala (51A) protein is phosphorylated by human PKR and yeast GCN2, which are defined eIF2alpha kinases. Further, only wheat wild-type eIF2alpha is a substrate for plant-encoded, double-stranded RNA-dependent kinase (pPKR) activity. Plant PKR and GCN2 phosphorylate recombinant yeast eIF2alpha 51S but not the 51A mutant demonstrating that pPKR has recognition site capability similar to established eIF2alpha kinases. A truncated version of wild-type wheat eIF2alpha containing 51S but not the KGYID motif is not phosphorylated by either hPKR or pPKR suggesting that this putative eIF2alpha kinase docking domain is essential for phosphorylation. Taken together, these results demonstrate the homology among eukaryotic eIF2alpha species and eIF2alpha kinases and support the presence of a plant eIF2alpha phosphorylation pathway.

Eukaryotic Cells↗

Identification of the open reading frame for the Pseudomonas putida D-hydantoinase gene and expression of the gene in Escherichia coli.

A DNA fragment containing the gene for D-hydantoinase was cloned from Pseudomonas putida CCRC 12857 into Escherichia coli. The cloned gene contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 1485 nucleotides encoding a protein of 53.4 kDa in which the carboxyl terminal end is longer than that previously deduced from strain DSM 84. This ORF was verified by amino acid sequencing of amino and carboxyl termini, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and amino acid sequence comparison. Deletion analysis revealed that 32 amino acids from the carboxyl terminal end were essential for D-hydantoinase activity. Tagging of six consecutive histidyl residues to the amino terminus or to the carboxyl terminus of the enzyme did not significantly affect D-hydantoinase activity. Under the control of T5lac promoter and lactose induction, the D-hydantoinase activity of transformed E. coli reached 200 U l-1 which is about 20-fold higher than that of gene donor strain.

Amidohydrolases↗

Prevalence of diabetes and its risk factors in China, 1994. National Diabetes Prevention and Control Cooperative Group.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and its risk factors in the Chinese population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a population-based cross-sectional study of 224,251 residents aged 25-64 years in 19 provinces and areas, including cities and rural areas of the north, south, east, and middle part of China. RESULTS: Using the 1985 World Health Organization criteria, the prevalence of diabetes and IGT was 2.5 and 3.2%, respectively, in 213,515 subjects aged 25-64 years. Two thirds (70.3%) of the cases had newly recognized diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes in China is about three times higher than it was 10 years ago. On average, subjects with diabetes are older, have higher personal annual incomes, and more often have a family history of diabetes. They also have higher mean BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and a greater prevalence of hypertension. They perform less physical activity and have less education than people with normal oral glucose tolerance test results. Multiple logistic stepwise regression analysis shows that age, BMI (or WHR), family history of diabetes, hypertension, less physical activity, and higher annual income are independent risk factors of NIDDM, and that low education is also an independent risk factor of NIDDM in people with higher personal annual income. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes in China is increasing with economic development and changes from traditional to modernized lifestyle, especially where people had lower level of education and socioeconomic development. Therefore, Chinese people should attempt to retain certain features of their traditional lifestyle (physical activity, healthy food, moderate body weight). Increased knowledge of risk factors for diabetes may help to prevent a further rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes in China.

Adult↗

Effects of diet and exercise in preventing NIDDM in people with impaired glucose tolerance. The Da Qing IGT and Diabetes Study.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) have a high risk of developing NIDDM. The purpose of this study was to determine whether diet and exercise interventions in those with IGT may delay the development of NIDDM, i.e., reduce the incidence of NIDDM, and thereby reduce the overall incidence of diabetic complications, such as cardiovascular, renal, and retinal disease, and the excess mortality attributable to these complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In 1986, 110,660 men and women from 33 health care clinics in the city of Da Qing, China, were screened for IGT and NIDDM. Of these individuals, 577 were classified (using World Health Organization criteria) as having IGT. Subjects were randomized by clinic into a clinical trial, either to a control group or to one of three active treatment groups: diet only, exercise only, or diet plus exercise. Follow-up evaluation examinations were conducted at 2-year intervals over a 6-year period to identify subjects who developed NIDDM. Cox's proportional hazard analysis was used to determine if the incidence of NIDDM varied by treatment assignment. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of diabetes at 6 years was 67.7% (95% CI, 59.8-75.2) in the control group compared with 43.8% (95% CI, 35.5-52.3) in the diet group, 41.1% (95% CI, 33.4-49.4) in the exercise group, and 46.0% (95% CI, 37.3-54.7) in the diet-plus-exercise group (P < 0.05). When analyzed by clinic, each of the active intervention groups differed significantly from the control clinics (P < 0.05). The relative decrease in rate of development of diabetes in the active treatment groups was similar when subjects were stratified as lean or overweight (BMI < or > or = 25 kg/m2). In a proportional hazards analysis adjusted for differences in baseline BMI and fasting glucose, the diet, exercise, and diet-plus-exercise interventions were associated with 31% (P < 0.03), 46% (P < 0.0005), and 42% (P < 0.005) reductions in risk of developing diabetes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diet and/or exercise interventions led to a significant decrease in the incidence of diabetes over a 6-year period among those with IGT.

Adult↗

[Preliminary study on pathophysiology of liver-qi deficiency syndrome].

The authors advocate a program for diagnosing Liver-Qi Deficiency Syndrome (LQDS) based on the TCM theory and clinical practice. Through investigation, LQDS was found to be widely existed as latent period or as external manifestation, which occupied 18.85% in Qi Deficiency Syndrome. The subjects were divided into four groups including normal group, Spleen-Qi Deficiency Syndrome (SQDS) group, LQDS with Liver diseases (LD) and LQDS with non-Liver diseases (NLD) group. In order to explore the essence, the simultaneous determinations were done on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isoenzyme, dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H), trace element Zn and Cu, and other serological indexes such as GPT, TP, Alb, A/G, etc. The results were, the content of LDH and trace element Zn in both LQDS-NLD and SQDS were significantly lower than that of normal group. D beta H reflecting sympathetic nerve function in LQDS-NLD was significantly higher than that of both normal and SQDS group; comparing LQDS-LD and LQDS-NLD group, the content of GPT, LDH, LDH5 and trace element Cu in former was significantly higher than that of the latter, but the content of TP, Alb, A/G, D beta H and Zn in former was remarkably lower than that of the latter. In order to avoid confusion, in studying this syndrome, one should distinguish LD and NLD.

Adult↗

[Characterization of a fluorouracil-resistant human gastric carcinoma cell line and its morphological behavior].

A fluorouracil (FU)-resistant human carcinoma cell line (SGC-7901/R) was established in culture by progressively increasing the concentration of FU from 50 ng.ml-1 to 2.5 mg.ml-1. The cell line has been successfully subcultured for more than 150 passages during more than 2 years. Its degree of FU resistance was 139-fold vs that of FU sensitive cell line (SGC-7901/S), and the resistant phenotype was stable when cells were cultured for 23 passages in FU-free medium. The doubling time was 17.3 and 25.6 h for resistant cells and parental cells, respectively. Swiss (nu/nu) nude mice were used for the in vivo experiment, the FU-resistant cell line also exhibited resistance to FU and cross-resistance to mitomycin C. FU inhibited markedly the incorporation of [3H]UR into sensitive cells and only showed a 31.6% inhibition with FU 100 micrograms.ml-1 in resistant cells. For the incorporation of [3H]TdR into DNA, inhibitory rates were seen with different concentrations of FU in resistant cells. By morphologic observation, SGC-7901/R cells showed little secretion but without any tendency to glandular pattern. Their nuclei were allotype with enlarged perinuclear space and a few intranuclear pseudoinclusions. The mitotic phase of cells was found frequently. The phenotype of resistant cell line can be deduced more malignant than that of parental cell line.

Animals↗

[Effects of sex hormones on plasma lipoproteins in middle older age non-diabetes, diabetes and coronary heart disease].

We has observed the effects of sex hormones on plasma lipoproteins by analysing 165 patients of non-diabetes mellitus (NDM), diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the elder than 45 years. Of these subjects, NDM were 54, DM 47, CHD 48 and DM with CHD 16. The result statistically showed that is a significant difference in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and Apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) between male and female subjects in NDM group and general population (P = 0.0001, 0.003 and P = 0.009, 0.002 respectively), but this statistically significant difference could not be observed between male and female patients in groups of DM, CHD and DM with CHD. After adjusting multiple factors of age, body mass index (BMI), estradiol (E2), fasting plasma insulin (FINS), fasting blood glucose (FBS) by the stepwise procedure analysis, the levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1 have significantly negative association with the level of testosterone (T) (P = 0.0012 and 0.0040), however, have no association with E2. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) have no association with T and E2. The result suggests that T should be an independent risk factor which reduces HDL-C level.

Age Factors↗

Right gastroepiploic artery: an alternative arterial conduit for coronary artery bypass.

From September 1990 to February 1991, 15 cases of myocardial revascularization with the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) combined with arterial or venous grafts were performed at VGH-Taipei. All were males, ranging in age from 49 to 64 years (mean age 61.2 +/- 4.6 years). The mean number of distal anastmoses including vein grafts was 3.6 +/- 0.7 and the mean number of graft was 3.1 +/- 0.3 per patient. The mean aortic clamp time was 123.6 +/- 24.0 minutes and the mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 176 +/- 35 minutes. There was one mortality (6.7%). The other 14 patients are alive without angina. Studied within 3 postoperative months, graft early patency was 100% (6/6) in GEA graft. GEA graft should be a third available arterial conduit for coronary artery bypass.

Aged↗

[Repair of cerebrospinal rhinorrhea].

The present paper describes a new method for repairing the CSF rhinorrhea from the sella turcica using frontal muscle--galea aponeurotica--periosteum flap with blood vessel pedicle through cranial-nasal approach. This new method possesses the following advantages: short approach, clear field of vision, nose injury, few complications and less cosmetic influence. The flap, led into the sphenoid sinus Via the frontal sinus or the anterior cranial base and nasal roof, Survived and grew well due to its sufficient circulation and strong resistance to infection. For all the five cases described in this paper, among which three had accepted two or three repairs before, the CSF rhinorrhea ceased after only one procedure.

Adult↗

[Antitumor activities of 4 derivatives of artemisic acid and artemisinin B in vitro].

The cytotoxicities of 2 derivatives of artemisinin B and 2 derivatives of artemisic acid (designated as Compound A, B, C, and D) were investigated, using trypan blue dye exclusion test and colony-forming units assay. At the concentration of 5 micrograms.ml-1, the inhibition rates of these 4 compounds against murine leukemia cell line P388 were > 85%. When tested against human hepatoma cell line SMMC-7721 at 25 micrograms.ml-1, the inhibition rates of Compound A, B, C, and D were found to be 92.3%, 96.9%, 84%, and 82.1%, respectively, and 27%, 8%, 37.8%, 1.7% against normal human embryonic lung cell line WI-38, respectively. These 4 compounds all showed an inhibition rate of 100% against human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 at 50 micrograms.ml-1.

Animals↗

A new autoperfusion technique for aortic reconstruction of suprarenal aortic aneurysm.

Visceral ischemia is a serious factor in the postoperative morbidity and mortality of suprarenal aortic reconstruction. We reported two patients of suprarenal aortic aneurysm involving visceral arteries, who received successful Dacron graft replacement by using Pruitt-Inahara balloon catheters as an autoperfusion for preservation of the visceral organs. No visceral organ ischemia occurred postoperatively except in patient 2 who had preoperative chronic renal failure and persistent renal failure after the operation. The renal function recovered gradually during the follow-up period. Both patients are doing well at the present time. The new autoperfusion technique can directly deliver normothermic blood from the arterial cannula at proximal aorta to the individual visceral arteries by using the balloon perfusion catheters. It is simple, safe, easily instituted and the used products are readily obtainable. It allows the surgeon to provide an effective protection of visceral organs for the suprarenal aortic reconstruction.

Aged↗