PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

X Xing

Publications and source records attributed to X Xing.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A novel synthesis of enantiomerically pure 5,5,5,5',5',5'-hexafluoroleucine.

[reaction in text] A novel, short, and efficient synthesis of (S)-5,5,5,5',5',5'-hexafluoroleucine (6) in greater than 99% ee starting from the protected oxazolidine aldehyde 1 is described. The enantiomeric excess of the product was calculated from an NMR analysis of a dipeptide formed by reaction with a protected L-serine derivative. Furthermore, a racemic sample of N-acylated hexafluoroleucine was enzymatically resolved by treatment with porcine kidney acylase I and was found to have the same optical rotation as a synthetic sample of 6.

Amidohydrolases↗

The ets protein PEA3 suppresses HER-2/neu overexpression and inhibits tumorigenesis.

Because HER-2/neu overexpression is important in cancer development, we looked for a method of suppressing the cell transformation mediated by HER-2/neu overexpression. We have identified that the DNA-binding protein PEA3, which is encoded by a previously isolated gene of the ets family, specifically targeted a DNA sequence on the HER-2/neu promoter and downregulated the promoter activity. Expression of PEA3 resulted in preferential inhibition of cell growth and tumor development of HER-2/neu-overexpressing cancer cells. This is a new approach to targeting HER-2/neu overexpression and also provides a rationale to the design for repressors of diseases caused by overexpression of pathogenic genes.

3T3 Cells↗

[Bone marrow transplantation for beta-thalassemia major].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for thalassemia major. METHODS: Bone marrow transplantation was performed on a 4-year-old patient with beta-thalassemia major, whose gene mutation was CD41-42/654. The donor was his brother. In the 850ml bone marrow, the nucleated cells were 5.6x10(8)/kg, CD(+)(34) cells 7.8 x 10(6)/kg, and colony-forming-unit-granulocyte-macrophages(CFU-GM) 5.7x10(5)/kg. HLA was one site mismatched, while RBC type matched. Pre-transplant conditions included Busulfan 16mg/kg, cyclophosphamide 200mg/kg and lymphoglobuline 88mg/kg. Cyclosporine and methotrexate were used for prevention of graft-versus-host disease(GVHD). RESULTS: After transplantation, the patient had grade II acute GVHD and cytomegalovirus(CMV) interstitial pneumonia; he was cured. White blood cells(WBC) and neutrophil granulocytes recovered to 1.1 x 10(9)/L and 0.4 x10(9)/L respectively on day 14 post transplantation. WBC was 4.5 x 10(9)/L on day 18, and descended for a time during treating interstitial pneumonia with Ganciclovir. Platelet(Plt) exceeded 50 x 10(9)/L on day 86 and recovered to normal 5 mothers and a half post transplantation. Hb reached 106g/L on day 128. The patient received the last blood transfusion on day 103. Before transplantation, the patient had to receive 200ml blood infusion per month for maintaining Hb 60-90g/L; after transplantation, his Hb kept up >110g/L for 6 months without blood transfusion. The gene type had changed to donor's CD41-42/N heterozygen. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on successful transplantation of bone marrow stem cell for thalassemia major in China, suggesting a new way to treat the disease and to expand the use of BMT. For treatment of CMV interstitial pneumonia post-transplantation, Ganciclovir should be dose enough and be used for at least 2 months.

Child, Preschool↗

Cell culture of biopsied endometriomas after danazol/hormonal therapy: a study of growth features and fertility effects.

The growth features of cells from endometriomas biopsied from patients who had been treated with Danazol or with hormones have not been studied in vitro. Danazol is a versatile drug and despite its recognised efficacy in controlling endometriosis, little is known about is cytotoxicity and mechanism of action. Culture of the biopsied endometriomas permitted qualitative cytotoxic assessments by way of comparison with cultured normal uterine endometrial cells treated in vitro with Danazol. The growth characteristics were studied in monolayer and collagen gel cultures. Cytopathology was characterised by light and electron microscopy. Since endometriosis is associated with infertility in women, data from in vitro fertilisation (IVF) were analysed with respect to treatment modalities as compared with cases suffering fallopian occlusion. Danazol reduced pregnancy chances. Two factors may be responsible: (a) altered follicle development resulting in poor oocyte quality (b) reduced nidation because of long-lasting endometrial cytotoxicity. The experimental findings reported here support the latter explanation. Consequently, Danazol therapy should be conditional; patients wishing to achieve pregnancy should preferably receive hormonal therapy.

Cells, Cultured↗

Normal changes in spinal bone mineral density in a Chinese population: assessment by quantitative computed tomography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

This study was designed to determine age- and gender-based normative values for spinal bone mineral density (BMD) in a Chinese population. In addition, we compared our data with those of other countries and populations. Four hundred and forty-three healthy Chinese subjects, aged 10-79 years (189 males, mean age 46.9 years; 254 females, mean age 45.7 years) were recruited for BMD assessment. BMD was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), including posteroanterior DXA (PA-DXA), lateral DXA (L-DXA) and midlateral DXA (mL-DXA). For both genders, BMD values peaked in the 10-19 year age group when measured by QCT, and in the 30-39 year age group when measured by PA-DXA. BMD values decreased with age after reaching peak bone density in males and females for all measurements, except for PA-DXA in males. Male BMD values by DXA tended to increase beginning with the 60-69 age group through the 70-79 age group whether by PA-DXA, or L-DXA and mL-DXA. However, male QCT data showed stable BMD values among these two older groups. Comparative results showed female QCT data were higher in the 20-39 age group and lower after the 40-49 age group compared with American females. The peak BMD value by PA-DXA in Chinese females was reached in the same age group as American and European females and was similar in magnitude (p > 0.05). However, the peak BMD value for Chinese females was reached earlier and was significantly higher than that observed in Japanese females (p < 0.001). We conclude that the age group in which the peak BMD values are reached is different depending on the technique used, as is the calculated age-related rate of bone loss. It can be speculated that such differences reflect different timing for bone maturation in cancellous and cortical bone.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Preclinical and clinical study of HER-2/neu-targeting cancer gene therapy.

Cationic liposomes have been used in many gene therapy approaches. The advantages of low toxicity, lack of immunological response, and easy preparation using cationic liposomes make multiple administrations possible, which may overcome the disadvantage of low transfection efficiency. Cationic liposomes, therefore, provide a promising procedure for delivering a therapeutic gene into cancer patients. Amplification or overexpression of the HER-2/neu oncogene is frequently found in breast and ovarian cancers and correlates with poor clinical prognosis. We have found that the adenovirus 5 E1A and the nontransforming simian virus 40 (SV40) large-T antigen mutant can inhibit HER-2/neu overexpression and reverse the HER-2/neu-mediated malignant phenotypes. By using the cationic liposome 3beta[N-(N',N'dimethylamino)ethanecarbamoyl]-cholesterol (DC-Chol), we successfully transferred E1A and/or large-T mutant into established orthotopic breast and ovarian cancer models. The survival of a treated group of mice was significantly prolonged and the expression of HER-2/neu oncogene was down-regulated in vivo. A subsequent toxicity assay indicated that no significant toxicity was associated with the liposome-DNA complex administration even when we used ten times the dose needed to achieve a therapeutic effect. Based on these data, a phase I clinical trial of DC-Chol-mediated E1A gene therapy for ovarian and breast cancers that overexpress HER-2/neu has been initiated in our institute. In this article, we will review the development of HER-2/neu-targeting gene therapy using cationic liposomes.

Journal Article↗

DNA ligase gene disruptions can depress viral growth and replication in poxvirus-infected cells.

Poxvirus-encoded DNA ligases are assumed to play a role in viral DNA replication; however mutational inactivation of vaccinia ligase has not been reported to affect viral growth rates in culture. This communication re-examines this surprising aspect of poxviral biology using both Shope fibroma virus (SFV) and vaccinia virus. SFV and vaccinia ligase deficiencies create essentially identical phenotypes. In particular, ligase-deficient SFV strains are mildly UV sensitive and etoposide resistant, phenotypes previously shown to characterize ligase-deficient vaccinia strains. Moreover, we find that ligase mutations can inhibit the growth of both SFV and vaccinia virus in vitro. The poor growth observed in the absence of a viral ligase is correlated with a two- to tenfold reduction in viral and extragenomic DNA synthesis. This phenotype is host dependent. No differences in viral growth or DNA yield were seen when vaccinia strains were cultured on rabbit (SIRC) cells, but ligase deficiencies reduced growth and DNA yields when vaccinia was plated on BSC-40 cells or SFV on SIRC cells. Despite these replicative defects, mutational inactivation of SFV ligase produced no detectable increase in the number of viral DNA breaks and had no effect on virus-catalyzed extragenomic DNA recombination or UV repair. We conclude that poxviral ligases do play a role in viral DNA replication, but the replicative defect is obscured in some cell lines.

Animals↗

Safety study and characterization of E1A-liposome complex gene-delivery protocol in an ovarian cancer model.

A phase I clinical trial of E1A-liposome complex is currently ongoing in patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast or ovarian cancers. To optimize the E1A-liposome complex for a further stage of clinical trial, several aspects of the current protocol have been examined in an animal model. In the orthotopic ovarian cancer model, different doses of lipid in the the E1A-liposome complex, which is currently used in clinical trials, were tested for the in vivo gene-transfer efficacy and tumor-suppression function. A lowered lipid dose--1/13 of the previous amount--produced gene expression level and E1A tumor-suppression efficacy similar to that of the original protocol. Mini-E1A, an E1A construct without its immortalization domain and yet capable of repressing HER-2/neu, was proved to be as potent as E1A in suppressing tumor development in vivo. These changes in the E1A-liposome complex will significantly reduce any potential adverse effects caused by lipid vector and E1A DNA. To examine further whether residual E1A DNA may still exist in normal organs after the E1A-liposome treatment, PCR was used to detect E1A DNA in mice that survived for 1 1/2 years after the last treatment. E1A DNA was detected only in the lungs and kidneys, but not in livers, hearts, spleens, brains, uterus or the ovaries. Furthermore, resistance of the E1A DNA extracted from tissues to the digestion of Dpnl restriction enzyme, which can cleave the methylated E1A plasmid DNA generated by methylation-competent bacteria, suggested integration of E1A DNA into the chromosome of the lungs and kidneys. Experimental results presented here provide important information for safety concerns and for the design of future phase II and phase III trials.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

[Clinical application of photodynamic therapy combined with non-coherent light (red light) for treatment of port-wine stains].

OBJECTIVE: This is to report the clinical application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with non-coherent light (red light) for the treatment of port wine stains (PWS). METHODS: Eleven cases with PWS have been treated with PDT combined with non-coherent light since Dec. 1995. RESULTS: The facial lesions of PWS in the 11 cases disappeared completely without any scarring. CONCLUSION: PDT combined with red light that has strong skin-penetrating ability and irradiation just after intravenous injection of photosensitizing drugs are effective to embolize the malformative vasculature in pink lesions, especially in dark purple lesions and purple lesions with proliferation.

Adolescent↗

[The effect of palate repair on middle ear function].

By means of acoustic impedance and otoscopic examinations the middle ear function and incidence of secretory otitis media (SOM) were demonstrated in 43 cases of cleft palate children pre- and post palatal closure. The results showed that 61.36% of the 86 ears had SOM prior to palatal closure and there was no difference between cleft types (P > 0.05). The patient with the age of 9 years or less have higher incidence of SOM than the older ones (P < 0.05). The study indicated that the middle ear status can be improved by palatal surgery for the cleft palate children.

Adolescent↗

[Ultrasound bone measurement of the tibia: comparison with vertebral dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and appendicular single photon absorptiometry].

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasonic techniques have been used to assess the mechanical properties of bone. Recently, a new ultrasonic bone instrument, which measured the SOS (speed of sound) at the tibial shaft, has been introduced (Sound Scan 2000, Myriad Ultrasound Systems Ltd.). The aim of this work was to investigate the correlation of tibial SOS with bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: The tibial SOS was measured in 213 healthy women (aged 22-83 years) and 56 female primary osteoporosis with vertebral fractures (aged 53-82 years). Values of SOS were compared with BMD assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at spine and hip sites and single photon absorptiometry (SPA) at the distal forearm. RESULTS: Tibial SOS correlated more closely with the BMD of lumbar, hip and forearm (r = 0.387-0.928, P < 0.001). The tibia SOS values and the BMD values measured by the DEXA and SPA were negatively correlated to age and years since menopause. In particular, they were obviously lower in the group of 50 years old. The tibial SOS of vertebral fracture group was significantly lower than that of well-matched non-fracture-group (n = 104, aged 51-84 years). CONCLUSIONS: Tibial SOS was significantly correlated with BMD measured by DEXA or SPA respectively and able to discriminate patients with vertebral fracture from the age-matched controls.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

LDL oxidation by activated monocytes: characterization of the oxidized LDL and requirement for transition metal ions.

Monocytes can be activated by incubation with opsonized zymosan (Zop), and under these conditions can oxidize low density lipoprotein (LDL). We have characterized the biochemical changes in the lipoprotein after this oxidation. We found that monocyte-oxidized LDL has increased mobility on agarose gels, increased absorbance at 234 nm, increased content of lysophosphatidylcholine, and fluorescence at 430 nm when excited at 350 nm. All these features were somewhat less pronounced in monocyte-oxidized LDL than in LDL oxidized by 5 micrometer CuSO4. Under appropriate conditions, Zop-stimulated monocytes oxidized LDL to a form recognized by macrophage scavenger receptors. Monocytes stimulated by Zop produced superoxide and also oxidized LDL, whereas monocytes stimulated by phorbol ester produced slightly more superoxide but did not oxidize LDL. We found that the chelators EDTA and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid inhibited LDL oxidation by Zop-stimulated monocytes, implying a requirement for transition metal ions. We found that Zop contained approximately 5 nmol iron per mg, probably as Fe3+. Zop stripped of its iron supported superoxide production by monocytes, but did not support LDL oxidation. Furthermore, Fe2+ appeared in the medium when monocytes were incubated with Zop, but not with iron-stripped Zop. Taken together, these results imply that monocytes stimulated by Zop are able to oxidize LDL only because of contaminating iron in the commercial zymosan preparations. and requirement for transition metal ions.

Cells, Cultured↗

Analysis of a temperature-sensitive vaccinia virus mutant in the viral mRNA capping enzyme isolated by clustered charge-to-alanine mutagenesis and transient dominant selection.

We have previously reported the successful development of a targeted genetic method for the creation of temperature-sensitive vaccinia virus mutants [D. E. Hassett and R. C. Condit (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91, 4554-4558]. This method has now been applied to the large subunit of the multifunctional vaccinia virus capping enzyme, encoded by gene D1R. Ten clustered charge-to-alanine mutations were created in a cloned copy of D1R. Four of these mutations were successfully transferred into the viral genome using transient dominant selection, and each of these four mutations yielded viruses with plaque phenotypes different from that of wild-type virus. Two of the mutant viruses, 516 and 793, were temperature sensitive in a plaque assay. Mutant 793 was also temperature sensitive in a one-step growth experiment. Phenotypic characterization of the 793 virus under both permissive and nonpermissive conditions revealed nearly normal patterns of viral protein and mRNA synthesis. Under nonpermissive conditions the 793 virus was defective in telomere resolution and blocked at an intermediate stage of viral morphogenesis. In vitro assays of various capping enzyme activities revealed that in permeabilized virions, enzyme guanylylate intermediate formation was reduced and methyltransferase activity was thermolabile, while in solubilized virion extracts enzyme guanylylate activity was reduced and both guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase activities were absent. Thus, the 793 mutation affects at least two separate enzymatic activities of the capping enzyme, guanylyltransferase and methyltransferase, and when incorporated into the virus genome, the mutation yields a virus that is temperature sensitive for growth, telomere resolution, and virion morphogenesis.

Alanine↗

Safety studies of the intraperitoneal injection of E1A--liposome complex in mice.

The HER-2/neu (also called c-erbB-2) proto-oncogene is overexpressed in many human cancer cells, including those of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. We have previously shown that adenovirus 5 E1A inhibits HER-2/neu transcription and functions as a tumor suppressor gene in HER-2/neu-overexpressing cancer cells. Liposome-mediated E1A gene transfer suppresses tumor development and prolongs survival of tumor-bearing mice. In support of a phase I clinical trial of an E1A-liposome complex administered to patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast of ovarian cancer, we conducted a series of studies to evaluate the safety of intraperitoneal injection of E1A in normal mice. The cumulative doses used were from five to 40 times the DNA-lipid starting dose proposed for the phase I clinical trial. In this dosing range, the administration of the E1A-liposome complex had no adverse effects on renal, hepatic and hematological parameters studied. No major organ pathologic changes were observed. We concluded that intraperitoneal administration of E1A-liposome complex at the proposed dose would not be expected to produce significant toxicity. The E1A-liposome clinical trial was recently approved by the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee and Food and Drug Administration for a phase I trial in patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing breast and ovarian cancer.

Adenoviridae↗

[Diagnosis and treatment of hepatic tuberculoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for hepatic tuberculoma. METHOD: Eight cases with hepatic tuberculoma confirmed pathologically were reported and analyzed. RESULTS: Five of the eight cases were misdiagnosed as other types of hepatic tumor, and only 3 cases correctly diagnosed preoperatively. All cases underwent segmentectomy or local resection, and no relapse was found after four-year follow-up in seven cases. CONCLUSIONS: The cases with hepatic occupying-space lesions who had tuberculosis history should be suspected of being hepatic tuberculoma; The aspiration liver biopsy guided by B-mode ultrasound and CT scan can provide correct diagnosis; The segmentectomy and local resection are effective and practicable for treatment of hepatic tuberculoma, and the antituberculosis drugs should be administrated postoperatively so as to strengthen the therapeutic effect.

Adult↗

[Studies on the antimould activity of compound TBZ and its application in paint].

The compound TBZ is a new antimould agent, which contains mainly [2-(4-thiazolyl) benzoimidazole (TBZ)], ethanoic acid and propionic acid. It was shown in laboratory experiment that the compound TBZ had excellent mycostatic effect on all the 10 fungi tested with 70% of the mycostatic zones larger than 6.0 cm. It had obvious inhibitary activity on Alternaria Nees and Aureobasidium Pullulans isolated from mouldy wall. In laboratory condition the surface of fibreboard painted with compound TBZ did not become mouldy in 120 days, while the 20% of that coated with TBZ directly mixed in the paint became mouldy. In practical use, the antimould effect of the wall painted with compound TBZ could maintain more than two years.

Alternaria↗