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Biomedical subjects

X Che

Publications and source records attributed to X Che.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Expression of elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in SARS-CoV-infected ACE2+ cells in SARS patients: relation to the acute lung injury and pathogenesis of SARS.

The authors have previously shown that acute lung injury (ALI) produces a wide spectrum of pathological processes in patients who die of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and that the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) nucleoprotein is detectable in the lungs, and other organs and tissues, in these patients. In the present study, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) assays were used to analyse the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), SARS-CoV spike (S) protein, and some pro-inflammatory cytokines (PICs) including MCP-1, TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 in autopsy tissues from four patients who died of SARS. SARS-CoV S protein and its RNA were only detected in ACE2+ cells in the lungs and other organs, indicating that ACE2-expressing cells are the primary targets for SARS-CoV infection in vivo in humans. High levels of PICs were expressed in the SARS-CoV-infected ACE2+ cells, but not in the uninfected cells. These results suggest that cells infected by SARS-CoV produce elevated levels of PICs which may cause immuno-mediated damage to the lungs and other organs, resulting in ALI and, subsequently, multi-organ dysfunction. Therefore application of PIC antagonists may reduce the severity and mortality of SARS.

Acute Disease↗

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expressed in neurons and astrocytes during focal ischemia in mice.

Focal cerebral ischemia elicits an inflammatory response characterized by the infiltration and accumulation of leukocytes, as well as the secretion of inflammatory mediators (Clark et al., Brain Res. Bull., 35 (1994) 387-392; Garcia et al., Am. J. Pathol., 144 (1994) 188-199; Wang et al., J. Neurochem. 71 (1998) 1194-1204). Leukocytes eliminate microbial invaders and necrotizing tissue debris, and can also turn against surrounding healthy tissue and exacerbate tissue injury (Furie and Randolph, Am. J. Pathol., 146 (1995) 1287-1301; Kochanek and Hallenbeck, Stroke 23 (1992) 1367-1379). Inflammatory mediators are considered to play an important role in attracting and stimulating leukocytes (Weiss, N. Engl. J. Med., 320 (1989) 365-376). Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) functions as an inflammatory mediator, whose source and role in focal cerebral ischemia is worth studying. MCP-1, a potent chemoattractant factor, may play an important role in ischemia-induced inflammatory response. The aim of the present study is to determine the time course and cell type of MCP-1 protein expression after permanent focal ischemia in mice. ELISA and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of MCP-1 protein after 0 h, 2 h, 4 h, 12 h, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days and 7 days of middle cerebral artery occlusion (n=3-5 in each group). Double-labeled fluorescent staining was used to examine the cellular localization of MCP-1. The results demonstrated that MCP-1 expression was mainly observed in the ischemic core after 12 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion, then gradually increased and extended to the ischemic perifocal area. MCP-1 expression peaked at 2 days and 3 days, and gradually decreased after 5 days of MCAO. Double-labeled immunostaining for MCP-1 and neuron specific enolase (NSE) or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) showed that MCP-1 positive neurons were observed as early as 12 h of ischemia, while MCP-1 positive astrocytes were observed after 2 days of ischemia. These results support the functional role of MCP-1 in ischemic brain injury and reveal a distinct temporal and spatial expression of MCP-1 in cells believed to be neurons and astrocytes.

Animals↗

5'-coterminal subgenomic RNAs in citrus tristeza virus-infected cells.

Three unusual 5' coterminal positive-stranded subgenomic (sg) RNAs, two of about 0.8 kb and one of 10 kb (designated LMT1, LMT2, and LaMT, respectively), from Citrus spp. plants and Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts infected with Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) were characterized. The 5' termini of the LMT RNAs were mapped by runoff reverse transcription and found to correspond with the 5' terminus of the genomic RNA. The LMT 5'-coterminal sgRNAs consisted of two modal lengths of 744--746 and 842--854 nts. The 3' of the LaMT RNAs terminated near the junction of ORF 1b and ORF 2 (p33). None of the 5' sgRNAs had detectable amounts of corresponding negative-sense RNAs, as occurs with the genomic and 3' coterminal subgenomic RNAs of CTV. The abundance of the short and long 5' sgRNAs differed considerably in infected cells. The LMT RNAs were considerably more abundant than the genomic RNAs, while the larger LaMT RNA accumulated to much lower levels. The kinetics of accumulation of LMT1 and LMT2 in synchronously infected protoplasts differed. The larger RNA, LMT1, accumulated earlier with a strong hybridization signal at 2 days postinfection, a time when only traces of genomic and 3' sgRNAs were detected. The lack of corresponding RNAs, that could be 3' cleavage products corresponding to the 5' coterminal sgRNAs and the lack of complementary negative strands, suggest that these sgRNAs were produced by termination during the synthesis of the genomic positive strands.

Base Sequence↗

Clinical importance of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels in gastric cancer.

Although serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 are commonly measured before surgery for gastric carcinoma, this clinical significance is not fully understood. We evaluated a total of 549 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy. Levels of CEA and CA19-9 were measured preoperatively in all patients. We retrospectively analyzed correlations between CEA or CA19-9 and clinicopathologic features, and estimated the prognostic utility of the tumor markers by analyzing clinicopathologic characteristics of the carcinoma as a function of seropositivity or negativity of the antigens in combination or by raising the levels. The positivity rates of CEA (> or =5 ng/mL) and CA19-9 (> or =37 U/mL) were 19.5% and 18%, respectively. Serum CEA and CA19-9 positivity significantly correlated with depth of invasion, hepatic metastasis, and curativity. Forty-nine patients positive for both CEA and CA19-9 had significantly higher frequencies of lymph node metastasis, deeper invasion by the tumor, lower rates of curative resection (p < 0.01), and higher rates of hepatic metastasis (p < 0.05) than 377 patients with normal levels of CEA and CA19-9. Surgical outcomes of patients who were CEA- and CA19-9-positive were poorer than those of patients with normal CEA and CA19-9 levels (p < 0.01). Significant correlation was found between serum CEA and CA19-9 level (p < 0.001, r = 0.24). Doubling the threshold level of serum positivity to 10 ng/mL (CEA) and 74 U/mL (CA19-9) improved the prognostic value of these factors. However, multivariate analysis using Cox's hazards model revealed that only CEA positivity using the doubled threshold value (10 ng/mL) (p = 0.04, hazard ratio = 1.7), nodal involvement (p = 0.01, hazard ratio = 1.9), and depth of invasion (p = 0.02 hazard ratio = 1.5) significantly predicted prognosis. Carcinoembryonic antigen positivity using the doubled threshold level (10 ng/mL) was an important prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer.

Aged↗

[Laser-induced fluorescence detection in micro-column separation].

Laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIFD) has been used extensively in micro-column separation due to its high sensitivity and selectivity. A review is presented on the present status and the trends of development of LIF detector with 52 references cited. The detection cells of the LIFD are mainly discussed.

Amino Acids↗

[Study on the characters of hydrogen bonds in protein and nucleic acid of the breast cancer tissues].

Some remarkable spectral differences are observed between the normal breast tissues and breast cancer tissues, including those of association pattern and degree of the hydrogen bonds in the protein and nucleic acid biomacromolecules. These differences are found in the relative intensity, absorption position and shape of the characteristic bands: (1) amide I band, stretching vibration bands of N-H group and C-O(H) in the residues of some amino-acids, and (2) the relative intensity of asymmetric stretching vibration of the phosphodiester group in nucleic acid. The hydrogen bond is the major force which maintain and promote the formation of the high structure of protein and nucleic acid. It is possible to diagnose the breast cancer and forecast the possibility of canceration using above spectral characters of the hydrogen bond with other spectral characters.

Amides↗

[Prognosis of patients with primary liver carcinoma treated with local resection].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the prognosis of primary liver carcinoma treated with local resection and factors affecting prognosis. METHODS: The data on 130 patients who had been treated from October 1989 to October 1995 were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Curative local resection was performed in 130 patients. Death rate of operation was 0.7%, and the incidence of complications 16.1% (n = 18). The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 82.1%, 60.6% ,48.2%, respectively. Involvement of blood vessels or liver capsules as well as the increase of AST before operation are the significant factors affecting prognosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Local resection is a method characterized by little damage, less bleeding, less complication and good prognosis.

Adult↗

Prognostic value of intratumoral natural killer cells in gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Natural killer (NK) cells are a group of effector cells that act nonspecifically against tumor cells. The correlation between intratumoral NK cell infiltration and clinicopathologic features remains unclear. METHODS: The authors selected 146 patients with gastric carcinoma who underwent gastrectomy at Kagoshima University Hospital between 1985-1995. Immunohistochemical staining with the CD57 antibody was performed for the evaluation of NK cell infiltration. A total of 25 areas containing CD57 positive cells were selected and the number of NK cells were counted (magnification, x200). The patients were divided into 2 groups: patients with a high level of NK infiltration (n = 39) (>25 NK cells/25 high-power fields [HPF]) and patients with a low level of NK infiltration (n = 107) (<25 NK cells/25 HPF). Intratumoral lymphocytic infiltration also was counted in 25 areas at a magnification of x200. Patients were classified into a high infiltrating lymphocyte (IL) group (n = 69) (>150 cells/HPF) and a low IL group (n = 77) (<150 cells/HPF). The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze surgical outcome. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic factors. RESULTS: Patients with a high level of NK infiltration had a higher rate of early gastric carcinoma, fewer metastases to the lymph nodes (P < 0.01), and less lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05) than patients with a low level of NK infiltration. NK cell infiltration also was found to correlate with depth of invasion, clinical stage, and venous invasion. There was no correlation between NK cells and lymphocytic infiltration (P = 0.07; correlation coefficient = 0.15). The 5-year survival rate of patients with a high rate of NK infiltration was 78%, which was significantly better than that of patients with a low level of NK infiltration (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis did not show NK cell infiltration to be a significant prognostic factor. Combination analysis of the number of NK cells and lymphocytic infiltration was shown to be an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.02; hazard ratio = 1.32). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a high level of NK infiltration were found to have a better prognosis than those with a low level of NK infiltration. Combination analysis with lymphocytic infiltration may provide useful information regarding the immunologic condition of patients with gastric carcinoma.

Adult↗

Down-regulation of E-cadherin by antisense oligonucleotide enhances basement membrane invasion of pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Pancreatic carcinoma shows a marked invasiveness around tissues lymph node and/or hematogenous metastases resulting in poor prognoses of the patients. We examined on whether E-cadherin is associated with these malignant behaviors of pancreatic carcinoma cells using a human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line, JHP-1. Immunohistochemically, E-cadherin expression of JHP-1 cells was remarkably inhibited by treatment with E-cadherin antisense oligonucleotide. By invasion-MTT assay, JHP-1 cells treated with E-cadherin antisense oligonucleotide showed a significant increase of invasiveness compared to those treated with the control oligonucleotide (P < 0.001), whereas the proliferation of JHP-1 cells was not affected by the presence of either E-cadherin antisense or control oligonucleotide. Thus, down-regulation of E-cadherin of pancreatic carcinoma cells induced the invasiveness into the basement membrane. These results suggest that the reduction in E-cadherin expression plays a key role not only in detachment of cell-cell adhesion but also in invasion and metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

D-RNA molecules associated with subisolates of the VT strain of citrus tristeza virus which induce different seedling-yellows reactions.

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) strains were previously catalogued as seedling-yellows (SY) and non-SY (nSY) types, according to their yellowing and stunting effects on indicator seedlings. Among subisolates of the VT strain, which were selected from chronically infected Alemow plants, there was a correlation between the presence of 2.4-, 2.7- and 4.5-kb D-RNAs, and SY and nSY reactions, respectively. Similarly, plants infected with Mor-T subisolates, which cause SY, contained D-RNAs of 2.6 to 2.8 kb, while nSY subisolates from recovered sour orange tissue contained a major D-RNA of 5.1 kb. Plants harboring the 2.7-kb D-RNA were protected against challenge inoculation with a subisolate harboring the 4.5-kb D-RNA. This study suggests that the nSY reaction results either from the absence of SY gene(s) in the genomes of certain CTV strains or through the suppression of the effects of SY gene(s) by D-RNAs with 5' parts larger than 4000nt.

Citrus↗

[The application quantitative structure-retention relationship of GC to aid MS qualitative analysis].

In this paper, a method, based on the prediction of the Kovats retention indices of related polysubstituted alkylbenzenes from the indices of benzene, monsubstituted alkylbenzenes and disubstituted alkylbenzenes, was used to aid qualitative analysis with mass spectrometry alone. A disproportinated aromatic product and the basic compounds of alkylbenzene were analyzed with gas chromatography isothermally at 100 degrees C separately. In order to cut down the analysis time and increase the resolution, the disproportionated aromatic product was analyzed using temperature programming with gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS). The Kovats retention indices of the basic compounds were determined and those of the polysubstituted alkylbenzenes were predicted with the method which was proposed by us previously. The isomers of polysubstituted alkylbenzenes have similar mass spectra, so they can not be identified unambiguously by MS alone. For the differences of the Kovats retention index between isomers of polysubstituted alkylbenzenes are larger, it can be identified by matching the experimental retention indices with the predicted ones. The positional isomers of polysubstituted alkylbenzenes which are very difficult to be interpreted by MS alone have been identified explicitly.

Alkanesulfonic Acids↗

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with the cellular tumor vaccines generated by in vitro modification of tumor cells with non gene transfer approaches.

Anti-tumor immune responses are mediated primarily by T cells. Down regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and the molecules that costimulate the immune responses is associated with defective signaling of tumor cells for T cell activation. In vitro fusion of autologous tumor cells with antigen presenting cells (APCs) or treatment of tumor cells with a combination of cytokines significantly increased the expression of MHC class I and adhesion molecules on tumor cell surfaces that costimulate host immune responses. The hybrid cells generated by fusion of tumor cells with APCs and the tumor cells treated in vitro with a combination of cytokines and pre-incubated with a bispecific monoclonal antibody (bi-Mab) cross-linking antigen on tumor cells to CD28 on T cells, become immunogenic and able to stimulate naive T cells with generation of tumor specific cytotoxic T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Immunization with the modified tumor cells elicits an immune response mediated by both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. This response protected against a parental tumor cell challenge and cured established tumors. The approach was effective in both low immunogenic and non-immunogenic tumor systems. Modification of tumor cells with tumor:APC fusion or the two-step procedure may provide a strategy for development of tumor vaccines that is effective for cancer immunotherapy.

Animals↗

Tumor angiogenesis related to growth pattern and lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between angiogenesis and tumor growth pattern as well as the lymph node metastasis to reveal the significance of vascularity in the early stage of gastric cancer. METHODS: 97 specimens from patients with early gastric cancer were studied by immunohistochemical method using anti-factor VIII related antigen antibody. RESULTS: Microvessel count was related to tumor growth pattern. The mean vessel count was higher in superficially spreading and penetrating types of tumors. Lymph node metastasis was correlated to microvessel count. Tumors with lymph node metastasis had higher microvessel counts than those without lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: In the early stage of gastric carcinoma, angiogenesis is correlated with tumor growth pattern and lymph node metastasis. Identification of tumors with high density of vascularization is beneficial for closer follow-up and adjuvant therapy.

Adult↗

Expression of thymidine phosphorylase is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and has angiogenic activity. In this study, we investigated the expression of dThdPase in ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and examined the correlation between dThdPase expression and clinicopathological factors and clinical outcome. dThdPase expression was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in the cytoplasm of tumor cells in 59% of the 54 patients studied. The expression of dThdPase correlated significantly with a poor prognosis (P=0.013). Significant correlations were also observed between dThdPase expression and extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion and the presence of postoperative hepatic metastases (P=0.05 and 0.03, respectively). The average microvessel count in dThdPase-positive tumors was significantly higher than that in dThdPase-negative tumors (P < 0.0001). These findings suggest that dThdPase expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma enhances the abilities of tumor invasion and/or metastasis through its angiogenic properties.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Comparison of p53 expression in proximal and distal gastric cancer: histopathologic correlation and prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: The overexpression of p53 has been found to be correlated with prognosis of some carcinomas, including gastric cancer, but no studies have reported on its relationship to the location of gastric cancer. In the present study, we compared the p53 expression of proximal and distal gastric cancer concerning histopathology and prognosis. METHODS: A total of 170 tumors in the patients with proximal (80 cases) and distal (90 cases) gastric cancer were studied by immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: p53 immunopositivity was detected in 28.8% of all tumors. The p53-positive expression in proximal gastric cancer was higher than in distal gastric cancer (38.8% vs. 20.0%, p < 0.05). A 5-year survival analysis showed that there is no significant difference between tumors that are p53 positive and p53 negative. No correlation was found between p53 expression and histopathology of gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: p53 nuclear staining is not useful as a prognostic indicator or as a parameter in gastric cancer.

Adult↗

[The study of relation of the retention indices of n-alkenes with their molecular structure].

When the difference values between the retention indices of homologous series of n-alkenes and that of n-alkanes with the same carbon number were plotted with the number of carbon atoms in the molecule, it can be seen that the curve is nearly an exponential curve. We proposed an accurate formula to predict the retention indices of homologous series of n-alkenes. The retention indices of a total of 99 C12-C16 n-alkenes on capillary columns with stationary phase of Squalane, PFE and PEG-4000 were calculated. The standard deviations of the retention indices were +/-0.9-+/-1.5 index units. When the retention indices of n-alkenes with the same carbon numbers and the same geometric structure were plotted with the positions of the double bond in the molecule, it can be seen that the curve is also approximately an exponential curve. Therefore, we put forward an exact formula to predict the retention indices of the n-alkenes. The universality of the formula is demonstrated by predicting a total of 178 retention indices of C15-C18 n-alkenes on capillary columns with stationary phases of C87 hydrocarbon, Apiezonl L, CW-20M. The standard deviations of retention indices were +/-0.9-+/-1.2 index units.

English Abstract↗

Inhibition of human melanoma growth and metastasis in vivo by anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody.

CD44 is a M(r) 90,000 surface glycoprotein believed to be involved in cell adhesion and migration. We investigated the role of CD44 in tumor growth and metastasis using human melanoma cell lines SMMU-1 and SMMU-2. Both SMMU-1 and SMMU-2 form tumors in the s.c. tissues when injected s.c. in SCID mice but only SMMU-2 metastasizes. Approximately one-half of SCID mice receiving injections of SMMU-2 s.c. develop metastatic tumors. SMMU-2 but not SMMU-1 expresses high levels of the hematopoietic form of CD44 and binds fluorescence-conjugated hyaluronic acid in vitro. GKW.A2 is a monoclonal antibody specific for human CD44 that can completely inhibit the binding of hyaluronic acid to SMMU-2 tumor cells in vitro. Moreover, in vivo injection of GKW.A3 inhibited the growth and metastatic potential of SMMU-2 tumor cells. Administration of GKW.A3 i.v. 1 week after s.c. tumor injection did not inhibit local tumor development but inhibited the formation of metastatic tumors and prolonged animal survival. Therefore, interactions between CD44 on tumor cells and its ligands in vivo may be necessary for tumor growth and metastasis.

Animals↗