Biomedical subjects

Yue Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Yue Wang.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A7 genetic polymorphisms are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in japanese patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

PURPOSE: Genetic polymorphisms of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A7 (UGT1A7), which detoxifies endogenous and environmental carcinogens, have been reported to be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in German populations. On the other hand, we reported that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) gene polymorphisms were associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC. In this study, we evaluated the association of both genes with the risk of HCC in Japanese HCV-infected patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Genetic polymorphisms of UGT1A7 and IL-1 beta were investigated in 280 Japanese patients (122 with HCC and 158 without HCC) with chronic HCV infections, by use of standard PCR-based genotyping techniques. RESULTS: We designated the UGT1A7*1 allele (a haplotype conferring higher activity) as H and the *2, *3, and *4 alleles (haplotypes conferring lower activity) as L. The proportions of UGT1A7 L/L and H/L alleles (genotypes) in patients with HCC (25% and 45%, respectively) were higher than those in patients without HCC (15% and 39%, respectively) with odds ratios of 2.73 (95% confidence interval, 1.40-5.35) and 1.80 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.09), respectively, compared with the UGT1A7 H/H alleles. Multivariate analyses revealed that UGT1A7 L/L and IL-1 beta/-31T/T-511C/C genotypes, the presence of cirrhosis, age >60 years, male sex, and alpha-fetoprotein >20 microg/ml were associated with the presence of HCC (odds ratios, 2.33, 2.67, 4.20, 3.12, 3.09, and 2.90, respectively). CONCLUSION: The UGT1A7 polymorphisms together with IL-1 beta were associated with the presence of HCC in Japanese HCV-infected patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Dual effects of ATP on rat hippocampal synaptic plasticity.

Although ATP is reported to modulate synaptic plasticity, the mechanism of action of ATP on synaptic transmission is not fully understood. Here we show that ATP enhances long-term potentiation (LTP), and P2X receptor antagonists inhibit this ATP effect, but do not affect paired pulse facilitation (PPF) in rat hippocampal slices. ATP rapidly increases intracellular calcium, and P2X receptor antagonists inhibit this increase in cultured dissociated neurons. These results indicate that ATP enhances LTP via activation of postsynaptic P2X receptors. A pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein inhibitor significantly attenuates PPF, although it does not affect LTP, indicating that presynaptic P2Y receptors also play an important role in neuronal plasticity. We conclude that ATP modulates synaptic plasticity via dual effects on pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2004

Two- and three-dimensional molecular organization of Schiff-base derivatives.

We have designed and synthesized a series of Schiff base derivatives, and studied their structural features in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) states by combining scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray diffraction experiments. The Schiff-base derivatives with short alkyl chains crystallize easily, which allows a detailed structural analysis by X-ray diffraction. Due to the strong adsorbate-substrate interactions, those bases with long alkyl chains easily form 2D assemblies on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The STM images indicate also that the introduction of two methoxy groups into the molecule can change the structure of these 2D assemblies as a result of the increased steric hindrances, for example: the Schiff-base derivative, bearing both methoxy groups and C16H33 tails, forms 2D Moiré patterns, and an alignment of pairing Schiff-base molecules may be easily resolved. Conversely, the Schiff base derivative, bearing solely C16H33 tails, forms 2D non-Moiré patterns. It is demonstrated that the 3D structural features result from the compromise of intermolecular interactions of different molecular moieties. However, there is one more factor, which also governs the 2D structure: the adsorbate-substrate interaction. The 3D crystal structure may thus help to understand many factors involved in the formation of 2D structures, and would be helpful for designing new molecular assemblies with tailoring functions.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

The clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese elderly patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies associated small vessel vasculitis.

BACKGROUND: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) are serological markers of ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis (AASV) which is one of common autoimmune diseases in Caucasian elderly population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese elderly patients with AASV. METHODS: One-hundred forty one Chinese patients with AASV over 65 years old, diagnosed between 1997 and 2001 in the Institute of Nephrology of Peking University First Hospital, were retrospectively studied and their clinical and pathological data were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients diagnosed with AASV patient increased chronologically with the yearly ratio in 2000 and 2001 significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in 1998 and before. Of the 141 patients, 72 were male and 69 were female with an average age of 68.2 years. 13 of the 141 were cytoplasmic ANCA (cANCA) positive and all recognized proteinase 3 (PR3). The other 128 were perinuclear ANCA (pANCA) positive and 120/128 recognized MPO, 8/128 recognized both PR3 and MPO. Less than 50% of the patients were correctly diagnosed within 3 months. Clinically, 78% of the patients had fever and fatigue, 52.5% had body weight loss, 96.4% had kidney involvement, of which 75% had elevated serum creatinine and 30.8% had acute renal failure. 76.6% had lung involvement, over half of them had hemoptysis or lung infiltrates. Other clinical manifestations included arthralgia (48.2%), muscle pain (39.7%), gastrointestinal symptoms (39.7%), eye involvement (28.3%) and ENT involvement (31.2%). In laboratory examinations, 94.4% of the patients had anemia, 62.4% had increased WBC count, 93.6% had increased ESR and 55.1% had increased CRP. CONCLUSIONS: More and more patients with AASV were diagnosed in Chinese elderly. Kidney was the most vulnerable organ to be involved and lung was the most important extra-renal organ to be affected. For elderly patients with multi-organ damage, an ANCA test should be performed in order to make an early diagnosis and start therapy in time.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Distinct efficacy of pre-differentiated versus intact fetal mesencephalon-derived human neural progenitor cells in alleviating rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Neural progenitor cells have shown the effectiveness in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, but the therapeutic efficacy remains variable. One of important factors that determine the efficacy is the necessity of pre-differentiation of progenitor cells into dopaminergic neurons before transplantation. This study therefore investigated the therapeutic efficacy of mesencephalon-derived human neural progenitor cells with or without the pre-differentiation in alleviating a rat model of Parkinson's disease. We found that a combination of 50 ng/ml fibroblast growth factor 8, 10 ng/ml glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and 10 microM forskolin facilitated the differentiation of human fetal mesencephalic progenitor cells into dopaminergic neurons in vitro. More importantly, after transplanted into the striatum of parkinsonian rats, only pre-differentiated grafts resulted in an elevated production of dopamine in the transplanted site and the amelioration of behavioral impairments of the parkinsonian rats. Unlike pre-differentiated progenitors, grafted intact progenitors rarely differentiated into dopaminergic neurons in vivo and emigrated actively away from the transplanted site. These data demonstrates the importance of pre-differentiation of human progenitor cells before transplantation in enhancing therapeutic potency for Parkinson's disease.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

PubMed2004

Evidence that muscarinic receptors are involved in nicotine-facilitated spatial memory.

A delayed nonmatching-to-position task (DNMPT) in a water maze (nine trials per day, 10 days) was used to investigate the role of muscarinic acetylcholinergic receptor (mAChR) in nicotine-facilitated spatial memory in Wistar rats. The index of spatial memory was determined by the number of correct choices made in choice swim (CS) and the time taken to complete the swim in the correct CS. Diazepam (6 mg kg(-1) ip, daily) significantly impaired choice accuracy and increased the swim time for correct CS. In contrast, when nicotine (2 mg kg(-1) sc, twice daily) and diazepam were administered simultaneously in the last three sessions of training, the choice accuracies of CS were similar to controls and significantly higher than in the diazepam group. However, the swim times for correct CS were longer in the nicotine+diazepam group than in controls. Atropine (30 mg kg(-1) ip, daily) significantly decreased the choice accuracies of CS. The choice accuracies of CS swim times for correct CS in the atropine group did not differ significantly from those in the nicotine+atropine group, in which nicotine (2 mg kg(-1) sc, twice daily) and atropine were given simultaneously. These results show that nicotine improves memory performance when the functions of mAChRs are normal; when the mAChRs are blocked, nicotine does not enhance spatial memory. Therefore, mAChRs are involved in the spatial memory-enhancing effect of nicotine.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Birthweight differences among infants of North African immigrants and Belgians in Belgium.

BACKGROUND: Infants of North African immigrants are reported to have higher birthweights than their Belgian counterparts. It is unclear what mechanism contributes to this difference. METHODS: Analyses were based on a hospital-based cohort of 1,162 women. RESULTS: Infants of North African immigrants were less likely to be born preterm, compared to infants of Belgian women. After adjusting for sociodemographic and maternal factors, the estimated difference in mean birthweight was 74 g (p=0.05). When limited to term births, this difference was 28 g (p=0.42). CONCLUSION: The difference in mean birthweight between North African and Belgian infants was explained by differences in preterm birth and other risk factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Global transcriptome analysis of the heat shock response of Shewanella oneidensis.

Shewanella oneidensis is an important model organism for bioremediation studies because of its diverse respiratory capabilities. However, the genetic basis and regulatory mechanisms underlying the ability of S. oneidensis to survive and adapt to various environmentally relevant stresses is poorly understood. To define this organism's molecular response to elevated growth temperatures, temporal gene expression profiles were examined in cells subjected to heat stress by using whole-genome DNA microarrays for S. oneidensis. Approximately 15% (n = 711) of the total predicted S. oneidensis genes (n = 4,648) represented on the microarray were significantly up- or downregulated (P < 0.05) over a 25-min period after shift to the heat shock temperature. As expected, the majority of the genes that showed homology to known chaperones and heat shock proteins in other organisms were highly induced. In addition, a number of predicted genes, including those encoding enzymes in glycolysis and the pentose cycle, serine proteases, transcriptional regulators (MerR, LysR, and TetR families), histidine kinases, and hypothetical proteins were induced. Genes encoding membrane proteins were differentially expressed, suggesting that cells possibly alter their membrane composition or structure in response to variations in growth temperature. A substantial number of the genes encoding ribosomal proteins displayed downregulated coexpression patterns in response to heat stress, as did genes encoding prophage and flagellar proteins. Finally, a putative regulatory site with high conservation to the Escherichia coli sigma32-binding consensus sequence was identified upstream of a number of heat-inducible genes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed2004

Mitotic rate and younger age are predictors of sentinel lymph node positivity: lessons learned from the generation of a probabilistic model.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy allows surgeons to identify patients with subclinical nodal involvement who may benefit from lymphadenectomy and, possibly, adjuvant therapy. Several factors have been variably, and sometimes discordantly, reported to have predictive value for SLN metastasis to best select which patients require SLN biopsy. METHODS: We reviewed 419 patients who underwent SLN biopsy for melanoma from a prospectively collected melanoma database. To derive a probabilistic model for the occurrence of a positive SLN, a multivariate logistic model was fit by using a stepwise variable selection method. The accuracy of each model was evaluated by using receiver operator characteristic curves. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, the number of mitoses per square millimeter, increasing Breslow depth, decreasing age, ulceration, and melanoma on the trunk showed a significant relationship to a positive SLN. Multivariate analysis revealed that once age, mitotic rate, and Breslow thickness were included, no other factor, including ulceration, was significantly associated with a positive SLN. The data suggest that younger patients with tumors <1 mm may still have a substantial risk for a positive SLN, especially if the mitotic rate is high. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to Breslow depth, mitoses per square millimeter and younger age were factors identified as independent predictors of a positive SLN. This model may identify patients with thin melanoma at sufficient risk for metastases to justify SLN biopsy.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Longitudinal effects of social support on the health and functioning of older women with heart disease.

This study examined the effects of: 1) four dimensions of social support, 2) the number of close social ties, and 3) marital status on the physical and psychological health and functioning of 471 women aged 60 years and over with heart disease. Linear mixed models were used to assess the impact of each baseline social relations predictor on health outcomes at four-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up intervals. A second set of models examined the association between change in support variables over time with concomitant change in health outcomes. Results indicated that baseline emotional/ informational support, positive social interaction, affectionate support, tangible support, number of close friends and relatives, and marital status all significantly predicted (p < .05) one or more health outcomes over time. Increases in positive social interaction and emotional support over time were significantly associated with concurrent improvement in all self-reported physical and psychological health outcomes. Interventions that enhance the availability of emotional/informational support and promote social interaction are needed for this population.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

[Evaluation of transvaginal ultrasonography-color Doppler energy imaging in surveillance of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) and color Doppler energy imaging (CDE) have been already applied in ultrasonography diagnosis extensively, but articles about the methods in surveillance of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation are few. The objective of this study was to evaluate TVS-CDE in surveillance of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation. METHODS: Fifty-four cases of gynecologic malignant tumors after operation, which were doubted as recurrent malignant tumors in clinic, were scanned with transabdominal ultrasonography (TAS), TVS, and TVS-CDE. The results were compared with that of pathology. Then their sensitivity, specificity,and accuracy were calculated, and the accuracy was compared by Chi-square test. RESULTS: Forty-three cases were diagnosed as malignant tumors by TAS; Forty-six cases were diagnosed as malignant tumors by TVS,and the positions, sizes, characteristics of the recurrent malignant tumors could be depicted visually. Forty-seven cases were diagnosed as malignant tumors by TVS-CDE; Not only the blood flow characteristics of masses,but also more diagnostic information than TVS were provided. The sensitivity was 81.3%, 91.7%, and 95.9%, respectively; the specificity was 33.3%,66.7%, and 83.3%, respectively; the accuracy was 75.9%, 88.9%, and 94.4%, respectively. Obviously, the accuracy of both TVS and TVS-CDE was higher than that of TAS(P< 0.05), but the accuracy of TVS and TVS-CDE was similar (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: TVS-CDE is helpful in the diagnosis of gynecologic malignant masses. It will be more effective in surveillance of recurrent gynecologic malignant tumors if it combined with CDE.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Experimental study on inhibitory effect of langchuangjing granule on lupoid change of kidney in lupus-prone mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of Langchuangjing Granule (LCJ) in inhibiting the lupoid change of kidney in lupus-prone mice. METHODS: Intervention therapy was applied to three group of BW female mice of lupus, 3 months in age, for 6-12 weeks with LCJ, prednisone and LCJ + prednisone respectively to observe the dynamic development of disease, changes of CD4+, CD8+ and CD54 expression, and the effect on pathology of renal corpuscles. RESULTS: Both western and Chinese medicines can partially improve the symptoms and plasma CD4+ and CD8+ distribution, inhibit the increase of serum ICAM-1 content and the high expression of CD54 in surface of lymphocyte of peripheral blood, suppress the atrophy of renal corpuscles and the proliferation of mesangial cell. The optimal effect was showed by the combination of LCJ and prednisone. CONCLUSION: LCJ could effectively control and improve the genesis and development of lupoid changes in model mice, and regulate the cellular immune function, inhibit the excessive immune reaction, and improve the pathology of lupoid nephritis, it could cooperate with western medicine to give full play of its effective role and show the superiority in treatment.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

[Molecular characterization of mutations and phenotype/genotype correlation in Chinese patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency].

To investigate characteristics of CYP21 mutations in Chinese patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) and the relationship between genotype and phenotype, a time saving, reliable molecular diagnosis method was developed. Eight patients with NC 21-OHD, 35 patients with classical ones and 34 normal controls were studied as followed: CYP21 gene was amplified into fragment 1 (exon1 --> exon3) and fragment 2 (exon3 --> exon10) through PCR with specific primers. The second round PCR was carried out using fragment 1 and 2 as template, and PCR products were digested by restrictive enzymes to analyze nine mutations, including Del, Exon3 Del8 bp, Q318X, R356W, Exon6Cluster, i2g, l172N, P30L and V281L. The most frequent mutation in 43 cases of Chinese 21-OHD was l172N (36.0%), followed by i2g (20.9%), Del (8.6%), P30L (7.0%), Q318X (7.0%), V281L (4.7%), R356W (2.3%), E6Cluster (2.3%) and Exon3 Del8 bp (1.2%). The most common CYP21 gene defect in salt wasting, simple virilizing and nonclassical form was Del (44.4%), l172N (44.2%) and P30L (37.5%) respectively. In addition, genotype was classified into three (severe, moderate and mild) groups according to the degree of 21-hydroxylase enzymatic compromise caused by the mutation. Age of first visit, basal 17-OHP, composition of disease subtype were significantly different among the three groups, P < 0.05. In conclusion, the most common mutations in Chinese 21-OHD were l172N, i2g and Del. The genotype of Chinese 21-OHD has strong correlation with the phenotype.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Value of transvaginal color Doppler flow imaging conjugated with multiple serum tumor markers in diagnosis of ovarian tumors].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of trasvaginal color Doppler flow imaging (TV-CDFI ) in combination with multiple serum tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian tumors. METHODS: A total of 74 patients with pelvic masses ( 30 cases with benign tumors, 44 cases with malignant tumors) were examined by TV-CDFI and the level of 7 serum tumor markers was also measured at same time. The above results were compared with the pathologic findings. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy for the TV-CDFI only, and 7 serum tumor markers measured were 90.5% and 59.5% respectively. If TV-CDFI combined with multiple serum tumor marker measurements, the diagnostic accuracy of 98.6% was achieved, whereby it was 97.7% for malignant tumors. CONCLUSION: TV-CDFI allows the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the majority of ovarian tumors, particularly in part of ovarian carcinoma at early stage. Combined with multiple serum tumor marker measurements, this method can improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity,hence it facilitates the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

[Growth inhibitory effect of adriamycin conjugated to single-chain antibody on human lung adenocarcinoma in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the growth inhibitory effect of adriamycin (ADM) conjugated to an anti-lung cancer single-chain antibody (ScFv) 2A7-1 on lung adenocarcinoma cell line A2 in vitro. METHODS: 2A7-1 cell culture medium was concentrated by ultra-filtration (with Amicon P10Z filter), and soluble ScFv was purified using RPAS purification kit. ADM was conjugated to 2A7-1 by glutaraldehyde. A(280) and A(490) of the conjugate 2A7-1-ADM were determined by spectrophotometry and the molar ratio of 2A7-1 to ADM was calculated. Immunoreactivity of the conjugate was detected by immunohistochemistry. Its growth inhibitory effect on lung adenocarcinoma cell line A2 was determined by colony formation assay in vitro. RESULTS: The molar ratio of 2A7-1 to ADM was 1:3.2. The conjugate strongly reacted with A2 cell. Its growth inhibitory effect on A2 cells was 4 times as potent as ADM. CONCLUSION: Adriamycin conjugated to anti-lung cancer single-chain antibody 2A7-1 has much higher cytotoxic activity than unconjugated adriamycin against human lung adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer and the role of estrogen receptor signaling.

Antiestrogens include agents such as tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, and fulvestrant. Currently, tamoxifen is the only drug approved for use in breast cancer chemoprevention, and it remains the treatment of choice for most women with hormone receptor positive, invasive breast carcinoma. While antiestrogens have been available since the early 1970s, we still do not fully understand their mechanisms of action and resistance. Essentially, two forms of antiestrogen resistance occur: de novo resistance and acquired resistance. Absence of estrogen receptor (ER) expression is the most common de novo resistance mechanism, whereas a complete loss of ER expression is not common in acquired resistance. Antiestrogen unresponsiveness appears to be the major acquired resistance phenotype, with a switch to an antiestrogen-stimulated growth being a minor phenotype. Since antiestrogens compete with estrogens for binding to ER, clinical response to antiestrogens may be affected by exogenous estrogenic exposures. Such exposures include estrogenic hormone replacement therapies and dietary and environmental exposures that directly or indirectly increase a tumor's estrogenic environment. Whether antiestrogen resistance can be conferred by a switch from predominantly ERalpha to ERbeta expression remains unanswered, but predicting response to antiestrogen therapy requires only measurement of ERalpha expression. The role of altered receptor coactivator or corepressor expression in antiestrogen resistance also is unclear, and understanding their roles may be confounded by their ubiquitous expression and functional redundancy. We have proposed a gene network approach to exploring the mechanistic aspects of antiestrogen resistance. Using transcriptome and proteome analyses, we have begun to identify candidate genes that comprise one component of a larger, putative gene network. These candidate genes include NFkappaB, interferon regulatory factor-1, nucleophosmin, and the X-box binding protein-1. The network also may involve signaling through ras and MAPK, implicating crosstalk with growth factors and cytokines. Ultimately, signaling affects the expression/function of the proliferation and/or apoptotic machineries.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2003

NF-kappaB protects from the lysosomal pathway of cell death.

The programme of gene expression induced by RelA/NF-kappaB transcription factors is critical to the control of cell survival. Ligation of 'death receptors' such as tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNF-R1) triggers apoptosis, as well as NF-kappaB, which counteracts this process by activating the transcription of anti-apoptotic genes. In addition to activating caspases, TNF-R1 stimulation causes the release of cathepsins, most notably cathepsin B, from the lysosome into the cytoplasm where they induce apoptosis. Here we report a mechanism by which NF-kappaB protects cells against TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis: inhibition of the lysosomal pathway of apoptosis. NF-kappaB can protect cells from death after TNF-R1 stimulation, by extinguishing cathepsin B activity in the cytosol. This activity of NF-kappaB is mediated, at least in part, by the upregulation of Serine protease inhibitor 2A (Spi2A), a potent inhibitor of cathepsin B. Indeed, Spi2A can substitute for NF-kappaB in suppressing the induction of cathepsin B activity in the cytosol. Thus, inhibition of cathepsin B by Spi2A is a mechanism by which NF-kappaB protects cells from lysosome-mediated apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

fMRI evidence for cortical modification during learning of Mandarin lexical tone.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging was employed before and after six native English speakers completed lexical tone training as part of a program to learn Mandarin as a second language. Language-related areas including Broca's area, Wernicke's area, auditory cortex, and supplementary motor regions were active in all subjects before and after training and did not vary in average location. Across all subjects, improvements in performance were associated with an increase in the spatial extent of activation in left superior temporal gyrus (Brodmann's area 22, putative Wernicke's area), the emergence of activity in adjacent Brodmann's area 42, and the emergence of activity in right inferior frontal gyrus (Brodmann's area 44), a homologue of putative Broca's area. These findings demonstrate a form of enrichment plasticity in which the early cortical effects of learning a tone-based second language involve both expansion of preexisting language-related areas and recruitment of additional cortical regions specialized for functions similar to the new language functions.

Cerebral Cortex↗