Biomedical subjects

Y Ge

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ge.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Co-transduction of cDNAs for c-kit and steel factor into single CD34+ cord blood cells further enhances the growth of erythroid and multipotential progenitors.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the c-kit encoded tyrosine kinase receptor and its ligand, steel factor (SLF), are critical for normal blood cell development. We have reported that transduction of the c-kit gene into single hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC), CD34(+++) cells, from cord blood (CB) enhances erythroid colony formation via a SLF-dependent mechanism. We therefore decided to evaluate the impact on cell proliferation of co-transducing c-kit and SLF cDNAs into these cells. CD34(+++) cells were sorted as a population or as 1 cell/well for cells expressing the highest levels of CD34 and different levels of c-kit. Cells were then prestimulated with granulocyte macrophage (GM)-colony stimulating factor (CSF), interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, erythropoietin (Epo) in the presence and absence of various concentrations of SLF. Cells were then transduced with SLF and/or c-kit cDNAs, and then assayed for colony formation with the same cytokine combination. At a single cell level, co-transduction with c-kit and SLF genes significantly enhanced colony formation compared with individual gene transduction, especially by erythroid and multipotential progenitors that responded to stimulation by added cytokines. Little or no growth was seen with the c-kit- and/or SLF-transduced cells without addition of cytokines. The degree of enhancement effected by co-transduction inversely correlated with the degree of expression of c-kit protein before transduction. Optimal enhancing effects were noted in CD34(+++) kit(Lo/-) cells co-transduced with both c-kit and SLF cDNAs. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain (RT-PCR) analysis of SLF mRNA expression in CD34(+++) cells and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) measurement of secreted SLF protein demonstrated that the transduced SLF cDNA was expressed and soluble SLF was released in medium cultured with SLF gene transduced MACS-separated CD34(+) cells in the presence, but not in the absence, of IL-3, GM-CSF, IL-6, and Epo. These results demonstrate the enhancement of the proliferation of growth factor responsive HPC that express transduced c-kit and SLF genes.

Antigens, CD34↗

PubMed2000

Brain atrophy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis: longitudinal quantitative analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine annual rates of volumetric changes in the whole-brain parenchyma of patients with relapsing-remitting and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) and test the hypothesis that these changes correlate with clinical disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A computer-assisted segmentation technique with thin-section magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used in 36 patients with MS (27 relapsing-remitting, nine secondary progressive) and in 20 control subjects to quantify brain and cerebrospinal fluid volumes. To determine the degree of brain atrophy, the percentage brain parenchyma volume (PBV) relative to that of intracranial contents was calculated. RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, the PBV was smaller in the MS group than in the control group (P = .007); brain parenchyma volumes were similar. The median rate of brain volume loss was 17.3 mL per year in patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 23.6 mL per year in those with secondary progressive MS. There was a negative correlation between brain atrophy and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in patients with secondary progressive MS (r = -0.69, P = .004) and no correlation in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. T2 lesion volume did not correlate with brain atrophy in either group. CONCLUSION: The correlation between brain atrophy and EDSS score was better in patients with secondary progressive MS than in those with relapsing-remitting MS.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Study on polymorphism of MICA exon 5 microsatellite in Shanghai Han population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the polymorphism distribution of MICA gene exon 5 microsatellite in Shanghai Han population and study the relationship of MICA gene and its closely linked gene HLA B. METHODS: The microsatellite polymorphism of MICA exon 5 in 175 unrelated healthy individuals were investigated using PCR-heteroduplex analysis. RESULTS: (1)There are 5 alleles of the microsatellite polymorphism in exon 5 of the MICA gene in Shanghai Han population, the gene frequency of MICA*A5 is the highest(39.14%), the next is MICA*A5.1(22.29%). (2)There is strong linkage disequilibrium between the HLA-B and MICA STR loci, e.g. MICA*A5 and HLA-B15, MICA*A4 and HLA-B27. CONCLUSION: The polymorphism distribution of MICA gene and the linkage disequilibrium between MICA and HLA-B have deviations in different ethnic groups.

China↗

PubMed1999

Binuclear metal centers in plant purple acid phosphatases: Fe-Mn in sweet potato and Fe-Zn in soybean.

Purple acid phosphatases comprise a family of binuclear metal-containing acid hydrolases, representatives of which have been found in animals, plants, and fungi. The goal of this study was to characterize purple acid phosphatases from sweet potato tubers and soybean seeds and to establish their relationship with the only well-characterized plant purple acid phosphatase, the FeIII-ZnII-containing red kidney bean enzyme. Metal analysis indicated the presence in the purified sweet potato enzyme of 1.0 g-atom of iron, 0.6-0.7 g-atom of manganese, and small amounts of zinc and copper. The soybean enzyme contained 0.8-0.9 g-atom of iron, 0.7-0.8 g-atom of zinc per subunit, and small amounts of manganese, copper, and magnesium. Both enzymes exhibited visible absorption maxima at 550-560 nm, with molar absorption coefficients of 3200 and 3300 M(-1) cm(-1), respectively, very similar to the red kidney bean enzyme. Substrate specificities were markedly different from those of the red kidney bean enzyme. A cloning strategy was developed based on N-terminal sequences of the sweet potato and soybean enzymes and short sequences around the conserved metal ligands of the mammalian and red kidney bean enzymes. Three sequences were obtained, one from soybean and two from sweet potato. All three showed extensive sequence identity (>66%) with red kidney bean purple acid phosphatase, and all of the metal ligands were conserved. The combined results establish that these enzymes are binuclear metalloenzymes: Fe-Mn in the sweet potato enzyme and Fe-Zn in soybean. The sweet potato enzyme is the first well-defined example of an Fe-Mn binuclear center in a protein.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1999

Anti-tumor activity of human T cells expressing the CC49-zeta chimeric immune receptor.

A chimeric immune receptor consisting of an extracellular antigen-binding domain derived from the CC49 humanized single-chain antibody, linked to the CD3zeta signaling domain of the T cell receptor, was generated (CC49-zeta). This receptor binds to TAG-72, a mucin antigen expressed by most human adenocarcinomas. CC49-zeta was expressed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and induced cytokine production on stimulation. Human T cells expressing CC49-zeta recognized and killed tumor cell lines and primary tumor cells expressing TAG-72. CC49-zeta T cells did not mediate bystander killing of TAG-72-negative cells. In addition, CC49-zeta T cells not only killed FasL-positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, but also survived in their presence, and were immunoprotective in intraperitoneal and subcutaneous murine tumor xenograft models with TAG-72-positive human tumor cells. Finally, receptor-positive T cells were still effective in killing TAG-72-positive targets in the presence of physiological levels of soluble TAG-72, and did not induce killing of TAG-72-negative cells under the same conditions. This approach is being currently being utilized in a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of colon cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Coimmobilization of glucoamylase and glucose isomerase by molecular deposition technique for one-step conversion of dextrin to fructose.

Glucose isomerase was immobilized by itself with adsorption and coimmobilized with glucoamylase by molecular deposition technique using macroporous trimethylamine polystyrene beads. Approximately 77.5% of the enzyme added was immobilized. The pH-activity curve of the immobilized glucose isomerase was broadened, resulting in 75% retention of its maximum activity at pH 6.2. The Km of the immobilized glucose isomerase was 1.28-fold that of the soluble one. When the two enzymes were immobilized together, the system was found capable of functioning at pH 6.0 to produce fructose from starch and dextrin. At this pH, the total fructose output of the coimmobilized enzyme system after 24 h was 1.9 times that of the free enzyme system.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗

PubMed1999

Usefulness of diffusion-weighted MRI with echo-planar technique in the evaluation of cellularity in gliomas.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique in depicting the tumor cellularity and grading of gliomas. Twenty consecutive patients (13 men and 7 women, ranging in age from 13 to 69 years) with histologically proven gliomas were examined using a 1.5 T superconducting imager. Tumor cellularity, analyzed with National Institutes of Health Image 1.60 software on a Macintosh computer, was compared with the minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the signal intensity on the T2-weighted images. The relationship of the minimum ADC to the tumor grade was also evaluated. Tumor cellularity correlated well with the minimum ADC value of the gliomas (P = 0.007), but not with the signal intensity on the T2-weighted images. The minimum ADC of the high-grade gliomas was significantly higher than that of the low-grade gliomas. Diffusion-weighted MRI with EPI is a useful technique for assessing the tumor cellularity and grading of gliomas. This information is not obtained with conventional MRI and is useful for the diagnosis and characterization of gliomas.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

In vitro susceptibility to pexiganan of bacteria isolated from infected diabetic foot ulcers.

During two clinical trials involving the treatment of 835 outpatients with infected diabetic foot ulcers, 2515 bacterial isolates, including 2337 aerobes and 178 anaerobes, were grown from cultures of the ulcers. The in vitro susceptibility of these isolates was determined to pexiganan, a peptide anti-infective evaluated in these clinical trials, and to other classes of antibiotics. Pexiganan demonstrated broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes. The MIC90 values for the most common species among 1735 Gram-positive aerobes isolated, such as Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Group A streptococci, and Group B streptococci, were 16 micrograms/mL or less. Of 602 Gram-negative aerobes tested, the MIC90 values for pexiganan were 16 micrograms/mL or less for Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, and Flavobacterium species. Pexiganan had a MIC90 of 4 to 16 micrograms/mL against the anaerobic isolates of Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, Clostridium, and Prevotella species. Importantly, pexiganan did not exhibit cross-resistance with other commonly used antibiotics, including beta-lactams, quinolones, macrolides, and lincosamides. The broad spectrum in vitro antimicrobial activity of pexiganan against clinical isolates from infected diabetic foot ulcers supports its potential as a local therapy for infected diabetic foot ulcers.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Ikaros sets thresholds for T cell activation and regulates chromosome propagation.

T cell activation involves the sustained accumulation of T cell receptor (TCR) and IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) mediated signaling events that promote cell cycle entry and progression. The Ikaros family of nuclear factors regulate this process by providing thresholds overcome by receptor signaling. T cells with reduced levels of Ikaros activity require fewer TCR engagement events for activation, exhibit a greater proliferative response to IL-2, and are less sensitive to inhibitors of TCR and IL-2R signaling. Upon T cell activation, Ikaros proteins localize in a higher-order chromatin structure where they colocalize with components of the DNA replication machinery. Proliferating T cells with reduced Ikaros activity display chromosome abnormalities. We propose that participation of Ikaros in higher-order chromatin structures controls cell cycle transitions and restricts DNA replication.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

In vitro antibacterial properties of pexiganan, an analog of magainin.

Pexiganan, a 22-amino-acid antimicrobial peptide, is an analog of the magainin peptides isolated from the skin of the African clawed frog. Pexiganan exhibited in vitro broad-spectrum antibacterial activity when it was tested against 3,109 clinical isolates of gram-positive and gram-negative, anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. The pexiganan MIC at which 90% of isolates are inhibited (MIC90) was 32 micrograms/ml or less for Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus faecium, Corynebacterium spp., Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Stenotrophomonas spp., certain species of the family Enterobacteriaceae, Bacteroides spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., and Propionibacterium spp. Comparison of the MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of pexiganan for 143 isolates representing 32 species demonstrated that for 92% of the isolates tested, MBCs were the same or within 1 twofold difference of the MICs, consistent with a bactericidal mechanism of action. Killing curve analysis showed that pexiganan killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa rapidly, with 10(6) organisms/ml eliminated within 20 min of treatment with 16 micrograms of pexiganan per ml. No evidence of cross-resistance to a number of other antibiotic classes was observed, as determined by the equivalence of the MIC50s and the MIC90s of pexiganan for strains resistant to oxacillin, cefazolin, cefoxitin, imipenem, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and clindamicin versus those for strains susceptible to these antimicrobial agents. Attempts to generate resistance in several bacterial species through repeated passage with subinhibitory concentrations of pexiganan were unsuccessful. In conclusion, pexiganan exhibits properties in vitro which make it an attractive candidate for development as a topical antimicrobial agent.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed1999

Syndecan-4 core protein is sufficient for the assembly of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers.

The formation of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers on fibronectin is dependent on signaling through (&bgr;)1 integrins and the heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecan-4, and we have analyzed the requirement of the glycosaminoglycan chains of syndecan-4 during these events. Chinese hamster ovary cells with mutations in key enzymes of the glycanation process do not synthesize glycosaminoglycan chains and are unable to assemble actin stress fibers and focal contacts when cultured on fibronectin. Transfection of the mutant cells with a cDNA that encodes the core protein of chicken syndecan-4 leads to the production of unglycanated core protein. The overexpression of syndecan-4 core protein in these mutant cells increases cell spreading and is sufficient for these cells to assemble actin stress fibers and focal adhesions similar to wild-type cells seeded on fibronectin and vitronectin matrices. Syndecan-4 core protein colocalizes to focal contacts in mutant cells that have been transfected with the syndecan-4 core protein cDNA. These data indicate an essential role for the core protein of syndecan-4 in the generation of signals leading to actin stress fiber and focal contact assembly.

Actins↗

PubMed1999

Treatment of congenital aneurysms of the left atrium and left atrial appendage.

We report 2 cases of congenital aneurysm, 1 of the left atrium and 1 of the left atrial appendage. The patients were 14 and 27 years of age, respectively. Their common symptoms were paroxysmal palpitations and dyspnea. Diagnoses were suggested by chest radiographic films that revealed prominent convexity at the upper left border of the heart and were confirmed by echocardiography, which demonstrated a large cystic mass attached to the left atrium in each case. Aneurysmectomy was performed through a median sternotomy or a left thoracotomy, with cardiopulmonary bypass in 1 patient and without it in the other. Both patients were discharged, free of symptoms, in sinus rhythm. We conclude that echocardiography can provide a clear diagnosis and that aneurysmectomy is the treatment of choice.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Contrast enhancement of intracranial lesions: conventional T1-weighted spin-echo versus fast spin-echo MR imaging techniques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The T1-weighted fast spin-echo (T1-FSE) MR imaging sequence is not used routinely, since the speed advantage is not as dramatic as it is in T2-weighted imaging. We evaluated the T1-FSE sequence to determine whether this technique can replace the conventional T1-weighted spin-echo (T1-SE) sequence for routine contrast-enhanced imaging. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with intracranial enhancing lesions underwent both T1-SE and T1-FSE sequences in a random order after administration of contrast agent. Acquisition time was 55 seconds for the T1-FSE sequence and 2 minutes 38 seconds for the SE sequence. The conspicuity of enhancing lesions, peritumoral edema, and gray-to-white matter contrast as well as motion and flow artifacts were analyzed. Signal-to-noise ratios of enhancing lesions, gray matter, and white matter as well as contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of enhancing lesions, with gray matter with white matter as the standard, were calculated. RESULTS: The conspicuity of enhancing lesions was better on T1-FSE sequences than on T1-SE sequences, although the difference in the CNRs of enhancing lesions did not reach significance. Images obtained with the T1-FSE sequence showed less flow and motion artifacts than did those obtained with the T1-SE sequence. The conspicuity of peritumoral edema and gray-to-white matter contrast was lower on the T1-FSE images than on the T1-SE images. CONCLUSION: The T1-FSE sequence reduces imaging time and has the potential to replace the conventional T1-SE sequence for the evaluation of enhancing lesions in the brain when time is a consideration.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

[Comparative studies on five pretreatment methods in the determination of elements in plant standard sample by ICP-AES].

Direct determination of the contents of 19 major or trace elements: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Si, Al, Fe, P, Sr, Ti, Mn, Zn, Pb, B, Ba, Cu, Li, V and Ni in plant samples by ICP-AES are reported in this paper. The solution of plant standard sample GBW07603 was prepared by five pretreatment methods: dry-ashing, HNO3 + H2SO4 + HClO4, H2SO4 + H2O, HNO3 + H2SO4 + HClO4 + HF and ashing + NaOH method. Suitable pretreatment methods were found for the determination of the elements by comparing standard deviations and relative errors of the results, thus providing a scientific basis for the selection of suitable pretreatment of chemical element analysis in plants.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

PubMed1998

Beta-chemokines are released from HIV-1-specific cytolytic T-cell granules complexed to proteoglycans.

CD8+ lymphocytes are believed to be important in host defence against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1, inhibiting HIV-1 replication through both cytolytic and non-cytolytic pathways. The cytolytic pathway involves calcium-dependent exocytosis of perforin and granzyme proteases, as well as Fas-mediated programmed cell death, whereas the noncytolytic pathway involves the release of chemokines that prevent viral entry. Using granzyme A as a marker of cytolytic granule proteins, and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and RANTES as markers of HIV-1 inhibitory chemokines, we show that these two very different mediators of viral inhibition are both localized in the cytolytic granules of HIV-1-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Following antigen-specific activation, these mediators are secreted together, facilitating both lysis of virion-producing cells and the inhibition of free virus. In addition, RANTES, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta are secreted by CTL as a macromolecular complex containing sulphated proteoglycans. This association appears to have a functional significance, because heparan sulphate facilitates RANTES inhibition of HIV-1 infection of monocytes.

Cell Line, Transformed↗

PubMed1998

Transduction of recombinant human erythropoietin receptor cDNA into daughter progenitors derived from single CD34(3+) cord blood cells changes the differentiation profile of daughter progenitors.

In this study, we tested the capacity to change the differentiation profile of progenitor cells by retroviral-mediated transduction of EpoR cDNA into one of the paired daughter cells derived from single CD34(3+) CB cells. Our results show that for the non-viral-treated daughter cells, the majority (99.6%) formed the same colony type. However, with cells transduced with viral vectors, 7.1% of the daughter cells transduced with the EpoR cDNA formed either a burst forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) or a colony-forming unit-granulocyte, macrophage, erythroid, megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM) colony compared to the other daughter cell transduced with viral supernatant lacking EpoR cDNA, which formed either a colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) or a high proliferative potential-colony forming cell (HPP-CFC) colony. Expression of the transduced EpoR cDNA was confirmed in individual colonies by RT-PCR analysis. These results substantiate in a more rigorous fashion our previous results that it is possible to change the Epo-responsive differentiation profile of progenitor cells by transduction into these cells of an EpoR cDNA and this change was apparent only in daughter cells derived from single CD34(3+) kit+ cells transduced with EpoR cDNA.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed1998

Involvement of H-ras in erythroid differentiation of TF1 and human umbilical cord blood CD34 cells.

To investigate the role of the ras gene in erythroid differentiation, a human erythroleukemic cell line, TF1, was transduced with a selectable retroviral vector carrying a mammalian wild type H-ras gene or a cytoplasmic dominant negative RAS1 gene. Transduction of TF1 cells with the wild type H-ras gene resulted in changes of cell types and up-regulation of erythroid-specific gene expression similar to that seen in differentiating erythroid cells. The number of red blood cell containing colonies derived from TF1 cells transduced with wild type H-ras cDNA was significantly increased and the cells in the colonies were more hemoglobinized as estimated by a deeper red color compared to those colony cells from mock or dominant negative RAS1 gene transduced TF1 cells, suggesting increased erythroid differentiation of TF1 cells after transduction of wild type H-ras in vitro. The mRNA levels of beta- and gamma-, but not alpha-, globin genes were significantly higher in H-ras transduced TF1 cells than those in TF1 cells transduced with mock or dominant negative RAS1 gene. Moreover, a 4kb pre-mRNA of the Erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) was highly expressed only in H-ras transduced TF1 cells. Additionally, human umbilical cord blood (CB) CD34 cells which are highly enriched for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were transduced with the same retroviral vectors to evaluate in normal primary cells the activities of H-ras in erythroid differentiation. Increased numbers of erythroid cell containing colonies (BFU-E and CFU-GEMM) were observed in CD34 cells transduced with the H-ras cDNA, compared to that from mock transduced cells. These data suggest a possible role for ras in erythroid differentiation.

Antigens, CD34↗

PubMed1998

Virtual MRI endoscopy of the intracranial cerebrospinal fluid spaces.

We used constructive interference in steady state (CISS) 3D Fourier transform (3DFT) MRI data sets to obtain three-dimensional (3D) virtual MRI endoscopic views of the intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces, processing them with a commercially available perspective endoscopic algorithm. We investigated the potential of the intracranial virtual MRI endoscopy applied to visualisation of the pathology in 13 patients with surgically confirmed trigeminal neuralgia (3), hemifacial spasm (3), acoustic neuroma (3), suprasellar germinoma (1), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (1), lateral ventricle nodules (1) and pituitary dwarfism (1). All images were acquired using a 1.5-T imager employing a circular polarised head coil. The CISS-3DFT data sets were transferred to a workstation for processing with the perspective endoscopic algorithm. Postprocessing for virtual MRI endoscopy was possible for all data sets. The lesions in 12 patients, and their complex anatomical relationships with the surrounding structures, were well seen on the 3D images. A small acoustic neuroma in the internal auditory meatus was not seen using virtual endoscopy. Although virtual MRI endoscopy has limitations, it provides 3D images which cannot be acquired using any other procedure.

Adolescent↗