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Biomedical subjects

X Du

Publications and source records attributed to X Du.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Inside-out integrin signalling.

Integrins are expressed by virtually all cells and play key roles in a range of cellular processes. Changes in the integrin surface repertoire provide a means of altering the strength and ligand preferences of cell adhesion. Recent research has examined the affinity modulation of integrins, a rapid and versatile mechanism of cell adhesion regulation. Studies with a prototype, alpha IIb beta 3, indicate that intracellular events influence the conformation and ligand-binding affinity of the extracellular domain of integrins. This 'inside-out' signal transduction appears to be mediated through the integrin cytoplasmic domains. In addition, in some cases affinity modulation of integrins may be cell-type specific. The clarification of the mechanisms of integrin affinity modulation should help explain rapid changes in cell adhesion that occur during cell migration, aggregation and the cell cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Protective effects of berberine and phentolamine on myocardial reoxygenation damage.

The protective effects of berberine and phentolamine against anoxia and reoxygenation damage in isolated rat hearts have been investigated. Incorporation of berberine (24.5 mumol/L) in both anoxic and aerobic perfusion media resulted in a significant reduction of CPK release during the reoxygenation period, and the ultrastructural damage was reduced as compared with the control group; the myocytes in the berberine-treated group displayed mild intracellular edema, well-registered myofibrils without contracted bands, and swollen mitochondria with partially broken cristae but without dense bodies. Berberine did not inhibit calcium and sodium accumulation or magnesium and potassium loss. Treatment with phentolamine (6.6 mumol/L), an alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist, had similar effects, though the CPK release profile was shifted to the right and downwards. These results suggest that although berberine and phentolamine have some beneficial effects on myocardial reoxygenation injury, they may not abolish the injury. Therefore alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation may not be the major mechanism behind the injury.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1992

[A histochemical study of saikosaponins].

The root of Bupleurum chinese and B.scorzonerifolium was examined histochemically in order to clarify the distribution of saikosaponins in various tissues and parts of the root. By means of qualitative and quantitative analyses, saikosaponins, the bioactive principles in the root, were found to be abundant in the cortex outside the cambium and very little in the xylem of the root. It was also found that the thinner root hairs had the highest contents of saikosaponins, but decreased towards the thicker root head.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1992

Polymorphism of platelet glycoprotein Ib associated with variability of the 85-kDa macroglycopeptide region.

Polymorphism of platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib (GP Ib) has been described in both normal and functionally abnormal platelets. In this report we have investigated the polymorphism in one Australian Caucasian family with normal platelet function in which the following phenotypes were found: father, BC; mother, CD; son, BC; and daughter, BD; thus establishing a genetic basis for this phenomenon. The daughter's phenotype BD is highly distinctive due to the double-band pattern obtained by gel analysis. Platelets from the daughter were digested with either trypsin or elastase and the GP Ib cleavage products were examined by immunoprecipitation with anti-GP Ib-IX complex monoclonal antibodies against each of the major tryptic domains. On the basis of these studies, we have determined that the GPIb polymorphism in this family resides in the 85-kDa, macroglycopeptide region of the alpha-chain of GP Ib and not in either the 45-kDa, N-terminal region of GP Ib alpha or the membrane-associated region of the complex.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Effect on anti-aging and treating yang deficiency of kidney with huanshao dan capsules. A clinical report of 309 cases].

In this study, with various dosages of huanshao dan capsules, an old Chinese medicine formula, the authors treated the patients with Yang-deficiency of kidney for 1.5-3 months and compared the effects of huanshao dan with those of watered pills and placebo. The analyses of Ridit's showed not only the scores of symptoms of the great-dose huanshao dan group (group 2), the great-dose watered pill group (group 3), the small-dose watered pill group (group 4) and but even the short-treating course group (group 5) were remarkably improved after treatment (P less than 0.001, P less than 0.01); but the group 6 have not any difference after treatment. However, the functions of liver and kidney, the level of cholesterol, the concentration of blood sugar, blood pressure and heart rate remained the same after treatment. The scores of the ability of prompt memory as well as serum lipid peroxide, serum adrenocortical hormone, cellular immunological function, index of glycoprotein and T3, T4 had similar changes. Our data suggested that both huanshao dan and watered pills were beneficial for anti-aging process and there was no noticeable difference between the two drugs.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Dynamic variation of saikosaponin contents].

In this paper both the cultivated and wild Bupleurum chinense and B. scorzonerifolium from northeast China of different growing periods and ages were analyzed for the contents of saikosaponins a and d by HPLC and total saikosaponins by spectrophotometry. The results indicated that the saikosaponin content of B. chinense was higher than that of B. scorzonerifolium, and that the saikosaponin contents of the cultivated species were higher than or almost equal to those of the wild ones. It was also found that both the cultivated and wild B. chinense and B. scorzonerifolium featured the highest contents of saikosaponins in the nutrition-growing period.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed1990

The reaction of singlet oxygen with proteins, with special reference to crystallins.

Photosensitized oxidation of the eye lens proteins, the crystallins, is thought to lead to protein crosslinks and high molecular weight aggregates. Such protein modifications may be important factors in the formation of lens opacities or cataracts. We focus attention here on type 2 photo-oxidation involving the reaction of singlet oxygen (1O2) with crystallins and some "control" proteins. We find that: (1) trp residues are oxidized to N-formyl kynurenine and related products, but this in itself does not lead to the production of high molecular weight protein aggregates of the protein; (2) tyr residues react with 1O2 but we do not detect dihydroxyphenylalanine or bityrosine nor are protein crosslinks formed as a result; (3) oxidation of his residues appears necessary for high molecular weight protein covalent aggregates to form. Proteins devoid of his, e.g. melittin or bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, do not form high molecular weight products upon reaction with 1O2. Prior reaction and blocking of his inhibits the crosslinking reactions. (4) The oxidized protein is seen to be more acidic than the parent and has an altered tertiary structure. (5) Among the crystallins, reactivity towards 1O2 varies in the order gamma greater than beta greater than alpha and also gamma A/E greater than gamma D greater than gamma B crystallin.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

[Damage to cochleae in newborn guinea pigs by 80dB white noise].

Two groups of guinea pigs (the newborn and the adult) were exposed to 80dB SPL white noise for 72 hours. The effects were observed with E CochG, surface preparation, scanning electron microscopy and histochemical techniques. The results showed that: 1. the response threshold of the newborn was elevated after exposure; 2. the rate of OHC loss was higher in cochleas of the newborn than those of the adult; 3. OHC damage was mainly found in the fourth turn of cochlea of the newborn; 4. the LDH activity decreased in the newborn. It seems that the white noise could damage the hair cell function and structure in the newborn guinea pigs which are more susceptible to noise than the adult ones. The different susceptibility might be related to the degree of development and maturity of the cochleas.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Glycoprotein Ib and glycoprotein IX are fully complexed in the intact platelet membrane.

Two new murine monoclonal antibodies, AK 1 and SZ 1, reactive with the human platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex have been produced by the hybridoma technique. Both AK 1 and SZ 1 immunoprecipitated the GP Ib-IX complex from Triton X-100-solubilized, periodate-labeled platelets. With trypsinized, labeled platelets, AK 1, SZ 1, and FMC 25 (epitope on GP IX) immunoprecipitated a membrane-bound proteolytic fragment of the GP Ib-IX complex consisting of GP IX and an congruent to 25,000 mol wt remnant of the alpha-chain of GP lb disulfide-linked to the beta-subunit. Unexpectedly, although AK 1 and SZ 1 immunoprecipitated purified GP Ib-IX complex, neither antibody immunoprecipitated the individual components of this complex, GP Ib or GP IX. When GP Ib and GP IX were recombined, however, AK 1 and SZ 1 again immunoprecipitated the reformed complex, strongly suggesting that both antibodies were recognizing an epitope present only on the intact complex. Cross-blocking studies indicated that AK 1 and SZ 1 recognized a very similar or identical epitope that was proximal to the epitope for FMC 25. Both AK 1 and SZ 1 bound to a similar number of binding sites (congruent to 25,000) on intact platelets as monoclonal antibodies directed against either GP lb or GP IX. The combined data suggests that GP lb and GP IX are fully complexed in the intact platelet membrane.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗