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Biomedical subjects

Yue Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Yue Wang.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Comparison of Pb and Cd adsorption to the surface coatings and surficial sediments collected in Xianghai Wetland.

Surface coatings and surficial sediments were obtained in four natural waters in Xianghai Wetland in China to study the role of surface coatings and surficial sediments in controlling the transporting and cycling of heavy metals in aquatic environments. Pb and Cd adsorption to the surface coatings and surficial sediments were measured under controlled laboratory conditions(mineral salts solution with defined speciation, ionic strength 0.05 mol/L, 25 degrees C and pH 6.0 for surface coatings; and 0.005 mol/L CaCl2 solution, 25 degrees C and pH 6.0 for surficial sediments). The Langmuir adsorption isotherm was applied to estimate equilibrium coefficients of Pb and Cd adsorption to the surface coatings and surficial sediments, and the component analyses of surface coatings and surficial sediments were also carried out. Correlation analyses between the maximum adsorption of Pb and Cd (adsorption max ) and the components in the surface coatings and surficial sediments suggested that there was a statistically significant trend for Pb and Cd adsorption( adsorption max ) to the surface coatings to increase with increasing in contents of Fe and Mn oxides in the surface coatings and surficial sediments. And the metal adsorption abilities of surface coatings were much stronger than those of surficial sediments, highlighting that in the same water, i.e. at the same pH and initial metal concentrations, the metals (such as lead and cadmium) in supernatant were feasible to be adsorbed by surface coatings than surficial sediments. The more importance of surface coatings than surficial sediments for adsorbing and cycling of heavy metals in aquatic environments was evidenced.

Adsorption↗

[Clinical characteristics of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency and long term follow up results].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnosis and the treatment level of 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency. METHODS: 24 patients suffering from this disease were diagnosed and treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1978 to 2002. All the patients had comprehensive hormone assay and some had bone mineral density detection. RESULTS: 20 patients with complete combined defect in this study had typical clinical presentation of hypertension and hypokalemia and presented both karyotype 46, XX or 46, XY. All had female external genitalia and lacked spontaneous puberty. The circulating concentrations of cortisol and gonadal steroids were reduced and that of gonadotropin was elevated, whereas in the remaining 4 cases with partial combined deficiencies, adrenal corticotropic hormone stimulating test as well as the results of the sex hormone determination suggested that there was partial 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase enzyme activities in their adrenal glands or sexual glands. Long term follow up data showed that in most of the patients, small doses of dexamethasone (0.1 - 0.375 mg per day) could achieve good control of hypertension and correct hypokalemia, but in five patients other drugs were needed for normalization of blood pressure. With sex hormone replacement, the patients could keep adult female appearance, but did not have reproductive function. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical work it is necessary to enhance the recognition of partial combined 17alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency. Long term regulation treatment can achieve good control of blood pressure and rectify the low blood potassium.

Adolescent↗

[Comparison of clinical characteristics between hospital-acquired and community-acquired acute renal failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences between hospital-acquired acute renal failure (HA-ARF) and community-acquired acute renal failure (CA-ARF) in epidemiology, etiology and prognosis. METHODS: The diagnosis of ARF of patients diagnosed with ARF from ICD-9 codes, who were discharged from Peking University Third Hospital from January 1994 to December 2003, was reconfirmed and categorized by two nephrologists independently. The indexes of epidemiology, etiology and prognosis were studied. Single-variable analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate the correlation between clinical features and prognosis respectively. RESULTS: Two hundred and five cases were collected and all were reconfirmed. CA-ARF had a predominance of 59.5%. HA-ARF, however, increased by 1.06 times in last 5 years (P<0.05); 59.0% of HA-ARF was diagnosed in department of surgery while 70.5% of CA-ARF was in medical department (both P<0.05); 36.1% HA-ARF patients had two or more pathogenic causes, while 91.2% CA-ARF only had one cause (P<0.05); 49.4% HA-ARF developed after operation; 26.5% HA-ARF and 18.8% CA-ARF were drug-related (P>0.05); 24.1% HA-ARF and 12.3% CA-ARF were infection-related (P=0.028). Mortality and recovery rates were 62.7% and 20.6%, respectively, in HA-ARF while 23.0% and 67.2% in CA-ARF respectively (both P<0.01). The percentage of oliguria, multiple organ failure (MOF), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and use of mechanical ventilation were significantly higher in HA-ARF than in CA-ARF (all P<0.01). Acute tubule necrosis-injury severity score (ATN-ISS), acute pathological and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score were 0.54+/-0.24 and 19.6+/-4.9 in HA-ARF, while they were 0.27+/-0.18 and 15.7+/-5.6 in CA-ARF (both P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis identified that both MOF and SIRS were common independent risk factors for HA-ARF and CA-ARF, and oliguria and advanced age were respective independent risk factor for HA-ARF and CA-ARF. CONCLUSION: CA-ARF prevails in hospitalized Chinese patients during the last 10 years, but HA-ARF is increasing in incidence significantly during the last 5 years. The etiology is mostly simple and the prognosis is relatively good in CA-ARF, while the pathogenic cause is mostly complicated and the outcome is much poorer in HA-ARF.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Regulatory effect of e2, IL-6 and IL-8 on the growth of epithelial ovarian cancer cells.

To determine the regulatory effects of estrogen and cytokine IL-6 and IL-8 on the growth of epithelial ovarian cancer (OVCA), we first examined the status of estrogen receptors (ERalpha and ERbeta ), IL-6 receptor (IL-6Ralpha and gp130), and IL-8 receptor (IL-8RA and IL-8RB) on five epithelial OVCA cell lines by semiquantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Results showed that the expressions of these receptors were variable on the five cells. Those OVCA cells expressing the receptors were selected to study related molecular mechanism. MTT assay was performed to observe the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2), IL-6 and IL-8 on cell proliferation. We discovered that E2 markedly promoted the proliferation of CAOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cell in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Tamoxifen (Txf), an ER inhibitor, completely blocked the proliferation of the E2-induced cells, and IL-6- or/and IL-8-neutralizing antibody only showed partially blocking activity. IL-6 and IL-8 were able to significantly stimulate CAOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner, which had a potential synergistic effect on CAOV-3 cells but not on OVCAR-3 cells. The cell proliferation induced by these two cytokines was abolished completely by their specific neutralizing antibodies, partially by Txf, but not by unrelated goat IgG. Taken together, our results suggested that estrogen, IL-6 and IL-8 could modulate OVCA growth by forming a reciprocal cascade with amplifying effect.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

catena-Poly[[(di-2-pyridylamine)silver(I)]-mu-nicotinato] and catena-poly[[(di-2-pyridylamine)silver(I)]-mu-2,6-dihydroxybenzoato].

In catena-poly[[(di-2-pyridylamine-kappa(2)N,N')silver(I)]-mu-nicotinato-kappa(2)N:O], [Ag(C(6)H(4)NO(2))(C(10)H(9)N(3))](n), the Ag(I) atom is tetracoordinated by two N atoms from the di-2-pyridylamine (BPA) ligand [Ag-N = 2.3785 (18) and 2.3298 (18) angstroms] and by one N atom and one carboxylate O atom from nicotinate ligands [Ag-N = 2.2827 (15) angstroms and Ag-O = 2.3636 (14) angstroms]. Bridging by nicotinate N and O atoms generates a polymeric chain structure, which extends along [100]. The carboxyl O atom not bonded to the Ag atom takes part in an intrachain C-H...O hydrogen bond, further stabilizing the chain. Pairs of chains are linked by N-H...O hydrogen bonds to generate ribbons. There are no pi-pi interactions in this complex. In catena-poly[[(di-2-pyridylamine-kappa(2)N,N')silver(I)]-mu-2,6-dihydroxybenzoato-kappa(2)O(1):O(2)], [Ag(C(7)H(5)O(4))(C(10)H(9)N(3))](n), the Ag(I) atom has a distorted tetrahedral coordination, with three strong bonds to two pyridine N atoms from the BPA ligand [Ag-N = 2.286 (5) and 2.320 (5) angstroms] and to one carboxylate O atom from the 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate ligand [Ag-O = 2.222 (4) angstroms]; the fourth, weaker, Ag-atom coordination is to one of the phenol O atoms [Ag...O = 2.703 (4) angstroms] of an adjacent moiety, and this interaction generates a polymeric chain along [100]. Pairs of chains are linked about inversion centers by N-H...O hydrogen bonds to form ribbons, within which there are pi-pi interactions. The ribbons are linked about inversion centers by pairs of C-H...O hydrogen bonds and additional pi-pi interactions between inversion-related pairs of 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate ligands to generate a three-dimensional network.

Journal Article↗

Berberine is a novel cholesterol-lowering drug working through a unique mechanism distinct from statins.

We identify berberine (BBR), a compound isolated from a Chinese herb, as a new cholesterol-lowering drug. Oral administration of BBR in 32 hypercholesterolemic patients for 3 months reduced serum cholesterol by 29%, triglycerides by 35% and LDL-cholesterol by 25%. Treatment of hyperlipidemic hamsters with BBR reduced serum cholesterol by 40% and LDL-cholesterol by 42%, with a 3.5-fold increase in hepatic LDLR mRNA and a 2.6-fold increase in hepatic LDLR protein. Using human hepatoma cells, we show that BBR upregulates LDLR expression independent of sterol regulatory element binding proteins, but dependent on ERK activation. BBR elevates LDLR expression through a post-transcriptional mechanism that stabilizes the mRNA. Using a heterologous system with luciferase as a reporter, we further identify the 5' proximal section of the LDLR mRNA 3' untranslated region responsible for the regulatory effect of BBR. These findings show BBR as a new hypolipidemic drug with a mechanism of action different from that of statin drugs.

Animals↗

Evidence for tissue-directed immune responses: analysis of CD4- and CD8-dependent alloimmunity.

BACKGROUND: Transplant rejection has generally been considered a CD4 T-cell-dependent immune process. CD4-independent, CD8 T-cell rejection pathways have recently gained attention because of their relative resistance to immunosuppression. In the current study, the role of the allograft tissue in activation of these distinct pathways was examined by comparing host-immune responses with allogeneic pancreatic islets or hepatocytes transplanted across the same genetic disparity. METHODS: To compare activation of CD4-dependent versus CD8-dependent alloimmunity, islets or hepatocytes retrieved from FVB/N (H-2) mice were transplanted into CD8 or CD4 T-cell-reconstituted severe combined immunodeficiency mice, CD4 or CD8 knockout (KO) mice, and anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) or anti-CD8 mAb treated C57BL/6 mice (all H-2). The ability to immunomodulate CD4-dependent allograft rejection (in CD8 KO mice) was examined in the context of several mechanistically distinct immunotherapeutic strategies, including anti-CD4 mAb, donor-specific transfusion and anti-CD154 mAb, and anti-lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 mAb. RESULTS: The studies demonstrate that, whereas hepatocytes evoke alloreactive CD4-dependent and (CD4-independent) CD8 T-cell immune responses, allogeneic islets only activate CD4-dependent immune pathways. CD4-dependent host-immune responses initiated by pancreatic islet allografts were readily suppressed by a variety of short-term immunotherapies, whereas hepatocyte-initiated CD4-dependent alloimmune responses were not. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that immune characteristics of the specific allograft tissue uniquely influence the pattern of host immune responses such that the propensity to activate CD4- or CD8-dependent alloimmune responses can be distinguished. Furthermore, CD4-dependent immune responses activated by different tissues from the same donor strain are distinguished by their susceptibility to specific immunotherapy.

Animals↗

Evaluation of gene expression profile of keratinocytes in response to JP-8 jet fuel.

The skin is the principal barrier against any environmental insult. Therefore, there is a high risk for a large number of military and civilian personnel exposed to jet fuel JP-8 to suffer percutaneous absorption of this fuel. This paper reports the use of cDNA microarray to identify the gene expression profile in normal human epidermal keratinocytes exposed to JP-8 for 24-h and 7-day periods. The effects of JP-8 exposure on keratinocytes at these two different periods induced a set of genes with altered expression in response to this type of insult. Microarray data were visualized using a novel algorithm based on simple statistical analyses to reduce data dimensionality and identify subsets of discriminant genes. Predictive neural networks were built using a multiplayer perceptron to carry out a proper classification task in microarray data in the untreated versus JP-8-treated samples. The pattern of expressions in response to JP-8 provides evidences that detoxificant-related and cell growth regulator genes with the most variability in the level of expression may be useful genetic markers in adverse health effects of personnel exposed to JP-8. The approaches in our analysis provide a simple, safe, novel, and effective method that is reliable in identifying and analyzing gene expression in samples treated with JP-8 or over potential toxic agents. Gene expression data from these studies can be used to build accurate predictive models that separate different molecular profiles. The data establish the use and effectiveness of these approaches for future prospective studies.

Cell Survival↗

Serine protease inhibitor 2A is a protective factor for memory T cell development.

An essential event in the development of memory CD8(+) T lymphocytes is the escape of progenitors from programmed cell death, but how this is mediated is unclear. Here we report that the gene encoding serine protease inhibitor 2A (Spi2A), an inhibitor of lysosomal executioner proteases dependent on transcription factor NF-kappaB, is upregulated in memory cell precursors. Spi2A upregulation protected lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific memory progenitors from programmed cell death. Thus, Spi2A promotes the survival of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, allowing them to differentiate into memory CD8 T cells. These findings suggest a model in which commitment to the memory lineage is facilitated by the upregulation of protective genes.

Animals↗

Infusion of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor into the striatum of parkinsonian rats leads to in vitro proliferation and differentiation of adult neural progenitor cells.

This study investigated the proliferation and differentiation of adult neural progenitor cells (aNPCs) derived from the striatum and substantia nigra (SN) of parkinsonian rats. We found that aNPCs isolated from the two areas of parkinsonian rats readily formed nestin-enriched neurospheres in vitro and exhibited an ability to differentiate into either neurons or astrocytes. Injection of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) into the striatum of parkinsonian rats prior to the harvesting striatal aNPCs significantly increased the neurosphere formation rate and multiple differentiation capacity of these aNPCs when cultured in vitro. These data suggest that striatal and nigral adult NPCs in parkinsonian rats retain the abilities of proliferation and differentiation in vitro. In addition, exogenously applied growth factors could up-regulate the developmental potential of aNPCs. We conclude that our data supports the notion that endogenous cell replacement therapies may be useful for the future treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Animals↗

Serine protease inhibitor 2A inhibits caspase-independent cell death.

The release of cysteine cathepsins from the lysosome into the cytoplasm can trigger programs of cell death (PCD) that do not require caspase executioner proteases but instead are mediated by toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we show that a cytoplasmic inhibitor of papain-like cathepsins - Serine protease inhibitor 2A (Spi2A) - is required for the protection of cells from caspase-independent PCD triggered by tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In the absence of caspase activity, Spi2A suppressed PCD by inhibiting cathepsin B after it was released into the cytoplasm. Spi2A also directly protected against ROS-mediated PCD, which is consistent with a role in suppressing caspase-independent pathways of PCD. We conclude that inhibition of lysosomal executioner proteases by Spi2A is a physiological mechanism by which cells are protected from caspase-independent programmed cell death.

3T3 Cells↗

A mouse mammary tumor virus-like long terminal repeat superantigen in human breast cancer.

We previously reported a 660-bp mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-like env gene sequence in approximately 38% of human breast cancer DNA, but not in normal breasts or other tumors. This MMTV-like env gene sequence was expressed in 66% of the env gene-positive human breast cancers. An entire proviral structure was identified in human breast cancer DNA with high homology to MMTV and low homology to known human endogenous retrovirus. MMTV-like long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences were also detected in 41.5% of human breast cancers. They contain hormone-responsive elements, TEF-1 family elements, and the open reading frame for the superantigen (SAg). We have now amplified and sequenced MMTV-like sag sequences from 10 human breast cancers, and we found that they are highly homologous to those of MMTV. However, deletions and insertions at the COOH-terminal of sag were observed. The immune function of the human MMTV-like LTR SAg was also investigated. The sag gene was cloned and expressed in a human B-cell line (Ramos). T-cell proliferation and cytokine releasing assays were performed after cocultivation of T cells with irradiated Ramos SAg-expressing cells. The results indicate that expression of the human SAg stimulates T-cell activation in vitro, as the mouse SAg does. Because the T-cell responses in vitro are considered similar to those in vivo, these results suggest that the human LTR SAg might also play a role in human breast carcinogenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Involvement of Notch signaling in hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

During development of the nervous system, the fate of stem cells is regulated by a cell surface receptor called Notch. Notch is also present in the adult mammalian brain; however, because Notch null mice die during embryonic development, it has proven difficult to determine the functions of Notch. Here, we used Notch antisense transgenic mice that develop and reproduce normally, but exhibit reduced levels of Notch, to demonstrate a role for Notch signaling in synaptic plasticity. Mice with reduced Notch levels exhibit impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal CA1 synapses. A Notch ligand enhances LTP in normal mice and corrects the defect in LTP in Notch antisense transgenic mice. Levels of basal and stimulation-induced NF-kappa B activity were significantly decreased in mice with reduced Notch levels. These findings suggest an important role for Notch signaling in a form of synaptic plasticity known to be associated with learning and memory processes.

Animals↗

Tetradentate Schiff base platinum(II) complexes as new class of phosphorescent materials for high-efficiency and white-light electroluminescent devices.

The capabilities of readily prepared and sublimable Pt(II) Schiff base triplet emitters as OLED dopants have been examined; maximum luminous and power efficiencies and luminance of 31 cd A(-1), 14 lm W(-1), and 23,000 cd m(-2), respectively, and white EL (CIE: 0.33, 0.35) by simultaneous host/dopant emission, have been achieved.

Journal Article↗

Why don't they listen? Adherence to recommendations of infectious disease consultations.

The effectiveness of an infectious diseases (ID) consultation is dependent on adherence to the recommendations. To delineate the factors that affect adherence, we conducted a prospective cohort study of 465 consultations at 2 academic institutions in which we evaluated the consultation process, patient and consultant characteristics, types of recommendations, and compliance with recommendations. The overall compliance rate was 80%, with 85% adherence to crucial recommendations. Multivariate analysis revealed that adherence to ID recommendations was higher when the recommendations were therapeutic instead of diagnostic, when they related to a specific clinical question, when recommendations were deemed crucial by the ID service, if the primary service was medicine, and if the consultation note was legible and organized. Whether modification of consultant practice will lead to improved recommendation compliance and patient outcomes warrants further study.

Adolescent↗

An fMRI study with semantic access in low proficiency second language learners.

Brain activity was measured with fMRI in twelve 10- to 12-year-old Chinese children who began learning English when they were 8 years old in order to find out whether there is a common or a distinct neural semantic system for native language (L1) and second language (L2) in low proficiency bilingual subjects. Although they performed less well in L2 in the semantic decision task administered during fMRI measurement, these subjects showed similar robust activation, for both languages, in brain areas involved in semantic processing (e.g. the left inferior frontal cortex). Within-subject and group analyses revealed no significant difference in the activation patterns for L1 and L2 in these regions. These results suggest that at least at single-word level, there are shared neural substrates for semantic processing of L1 and L2 even when one is at a very low L2 proficiency level.

Brain↗

Hgc1, a novel hypha-specific G1 cyclin-related protein regulates Candida albicans hyphal morphogenesis.

The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans switches from yeast to hyphal growth when exposed to serum or phagocytosed. However, the importance of this morphological switch for virulence remains highly controversial due to the lack of a mutant that affects hyphal morphogenesis only. Although many genes specifically expressed in hyphal cells have been identified and shown to encode virulence factors, none is required for hyphal morphogenesis. Here we report the first hypha-specific gene identified, HGC1, which is essential for hyphal morphogenesis. Deletion of HGC1 abolished hyphal growth in all laboratory conditions tested and in the kidneys of systemically infected mice with markedly reduced virulence. HGC1 expression is co-regulated with other virulence genes such as HWP1 by the cAMP/protein kinase A signaling pathway and transcriptional repressor Tup1/Nrg1. Hgc1 is a G1 cyclin-related protein and co-precipitated with the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) CaCdc28. It has recently emerged that cyclin/Cdk complexes promote other forms of polarized cell growth such as tumor cell migration and neurite outgrowth. C. albicans seems to have adapted a conserved strategy to control specifically hyphal morphogenesis.

Actins↗