Biomedical subjects

Z C Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Z C Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Effect of the protein kinase C inhibitor, staurosporine, on the high dose of methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization to dizocilpine (MK-801).

RATIONALE: In our preliminary study, methamphetamine (METH) at 2.5 mg/kg, but not at 1.0 mg/kg, induced a delayed increase in glutamate levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). We hypothesize that repeated increases in glutamate levels produces behavioral sensitization to a selective uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, dizocilpine (MK-801), and that an activation of protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role for this sensitization. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to confirm delayed increases in glutamate levels induced by a higher dose of METH (2.5 mg/kg), and to examine the effect of straurosporine, a PKC inhibitor, on the higher dose of METH-induced sensitization to dizocilpine. METHODS: The effects of METH on extracellular glutamate levels in the NAc were studied using in vivo microdialysis. Locomotor activity was measured by using an infrared sensor. RESULTS: METH at 2.5 mg/kg, but not at 1.0 mg/kg, induced delayed increases in glutamate levels. The acute administration of staurosporine did not affect the locomotor activity by a single injection of METH (2.5 mg/kg). Repeated METH administrations (2.5 mg/kg, once in every other day, for five times) developed behavioral sensitization to the locomotion-inducing effect of dizocilpine (0.2 mg/kg), a selective uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. Staurosporine (0.1 mg/kg), given 120 min later for every METH treatment, inhibited the development of behavioral sensitization to dizocilpine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the involvement of increased glutamate levels and an activation of PKC in delayed-induced synaptic and cellular plasticity underlying the higher dose of METH-induced behavioral sensitization to dizocilpine.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Abnormalities of the inactive X chromosome are a common feature of BRCA1 mutant and sporadic basal-like breast cancer.

As a clinical entity, breast cancer appears to be a series of subforms, each with a relatively specific molecular phenotype. Among the characteristics that differentiate these subforms are sex hormone receptor expression, HER2 expression, p53 mutation, high-grade histopathology, and particular gene expression array patterns. Sporadic basal-like breast cancer is one such form. It is a relatively common, high-grade, hormone receptor and HER2-expression-negative, p53 mutation-bearing tumor and is particularly lethal. Although wild type for BRCA1, it is a sporadic phenocopy of most cases of BRCA1(/) breast cancer. Not only do the cells of the two tumors resemble one another with respect to the above-noted characteristics, they also share a defect in the maintenance of an intact, inactive X chromosome (Xi). Other high-grade and most low-grade tumors are rarely defective at Xi. This evidence suggests that an Xi defect contributes to the evolution of both sporadic and BRCA1(/) basal-like breast tumors.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed2004

HLA-Cw0409N is associated with HLA-A2301 and HLA-B*4403-carrying haplotypes.

The associations of HLA-B*4402 and HLA-B*4403 with alleles of HLA-A and HLA-Cw were investigated in panels of HLA-B*4403 and HLA-B*4402 homozygous individuals and in selected individuals carrying HLA-Cw*04 and HLA-B*4403. Some of these individuals were genotyped and also carried (HLA-DRB1*0701, DQB1*02). Among the latter, we studied individuals carrying the conserved extended haplotype (CEH) [HLA-Cw*04, B*4403, FC31, DRB1*0701, DQB1*02]. Four different common (HLA-Cw*, B*44) haplotypes were identified that extended to the HLA-A locus: HLA-A*0201, Cw*0501, B*4402; HLA-A*2902, Cw*1601, B*4403; HLA-A*2301, Cw*0401, B*4403; and HLA-A*2301, Cw*0409N, B*4403. We identified eight unrelated examples of the allele HLA-Cw*0409N. HLA-A*2301 was associated with both HLA-Cw*0401 and HLA-Cw*0409N, suggesting that HLA-Cw*0409N may have arisen from a mutation in a CEH. We estimate that approximately 2 to 5 in 1000 Caucasian individuals carry the allele HLA-Cw*0409N, making it one of the most frequent null HLA alleles known to date. Our findings demonstrate the first example of three different HLA-Cw-determined subtypes of a common or CEH carrying a shared HLA-B allele, in this case HLA-B*4403.

Alleles↗

PubMed2002

T helper 1-type immunity to trophoblast antigens in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with polymorphism of the IL1B promoter region.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a common disorder during early gestation. Recent evidence suggests that T helper 1 (Th1)-type immunity is associated with unsuccessful pregnancy especially in women with RPL of otherwise unknown etiology, while Th2-type immunity is associated with pregnancy success. Interleukin (IL)-1 may influence Th1/Th2 immune responsiveness and has been implicated in the establishment of successful pregnancy. In the present study, we investigated polymorphism of the IL-1beta gene (IL1B) in women with a history of RPL. Significant increases in the frequencies of IL1B promoter region variants IL1-511C and IL1B-31T were found in women with a history of RPL. Increased frequencies of these two variants and their homozygotes were found only in cases having evidence of Th1 immunity to trophoblast as determined by IFN-gamma production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with a trophoblast cell-line extract. Significantly higher IFN-gamma production by PBMCs in response to trophoblast correlated with variant IL1B-511C and its homozygocity in women with RPL. These results suggest that variants -511C and -31T in the IL1B promoter region confer risk for RPL associated with Th1 immunity to trophoblast antigens.

Abortion, Habitual↗

PubMed2001

[Investigation of relationship between concentrated platelets and basic platelets in donors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the concentrated platelets and basic platelets of donors. METHODS: We observed the harvest rate of concentrated platelets of different basic platelets in donors from Changsha area and non-Changsha area. RESULTS: The number of concentrated platelets in Group B was higher than that in Group A (P < 0.01). The harvest rates were 65.4% and 67.5% respectively in donors from Changsha area and non-Changsha area. CONCLUSION: There is positiver relationship between the harvest rate of concentrated platelets and basic platelets, and the transportation of blood does not effect the harvest rate of platelets.

Blood Donors↗

PubMed2001

Evaluate multiple adverse events in crossover design bioequivalence clinical trials.

AIM: To establish a statistical model to appropriately evaluate the relationship between clinical adverse event and treatment. METHODS: By splitting the duration of each treatment period into several time intervals (use day as unit), a clinical adverse event was sampled in each time interval as presented or not presented. The number of presented cases was added for each time interval, and time of subjects spent in each time interval was cumulated as person days. The onset of a clinical adverse event and its duration were represented as repeatedly measured count data. By using the generalized linear mixed model with fixed- and random-effects, the relative rate of clinical adverse events relative to different treatments was modeled by the generalized estimate equation (GEE) technique. RESULTS: Example shows that not only the onset of adverse events, but also its duration and total person-days subjects spent in study would influence the relative rate of clinic adverse events. CONCLUSION: Our proposed approach is a good alternative and supplemental method for evaluating clinical adverse events.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed2000

[Induction of polyploid in the Pacific abalone by caffeine-heat shock treatments].

Polyploid of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai Ino, was induced by blocking Polar body I with caffeine-heat shock treatments. Fertilized eggs were treated with caffeine concentrations at: 2.5 mmol/L, 5 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L; heat shock temperatures at 24 degrees C, 26 degrees C, 28 degrees C, lasting for 10 min to 30 min, total 5 periods of time, beginning at 10 min post-fertilization. Both fertilizing and incubating at 21 degrees C sea water. The results of studies showed that the effective procedure for inducing triploid appeared to be 5 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L Caffeine concentration, heat shock temperature 26 degrees C, duration 10 min to 15 min, all beginning at 10 min after insemination. The percentage of triploid was 64.6%-77.8%, Comprehensive efficiency index of polyploid induction was 0.57-0.61. Under the condition of 5 mmol/L caffeine concentration and the temperature 26 degrees C for 30 min duration at 10 min post-fertilization, 2.8%-3.6% tetraploid embryos could be produced.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

[Surgical intervention in the treatment of skin defect of hell].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of different flaps in the treatment of skin defect of hell. METHODS: Forty-six patients with skin defect of hell were adopted in this study. There were 39 males and 7 females, 29 years old in average. Six different flaps were applied in the reconstructive operation, 14 plantaris medialis flaps, 4 flexor digitorum brevis muscle flaps, 3 abductor hallucis flaps, 7 latissimus dorsi flaps, 16 distal medialis flaps of leg pedicled with the cutaneous branch of posterior fibial artery, 2 foot dorsum flaps. RESULTS: All the flaps survived, primary healing of the wound in 45 cases and secondary healing in 1 case. Followed up for 3 months to 4 years, 43 patients obtained good flap sensation, the function of weight bearing were satisfied in 43 patients. CONCLUSION: The six different flaps should be applied according to patient's condition individually. The sensation of flap is very important to the function of weight bearing.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Recurrent events in meta-analysis of multiple clinical trials.

AIM: To study the efficacy and safety of drug or therapy with recurrent events in meta-analysis of multiple clinical trials. METHODS: A nonparametric approach is proposed to estimate the rates of recurrent events for meta-analysis of trials. The method was used in meta-analysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor clinical trials to analyze the relative rates and the excess rates between ACE inhibitor and placebo treatment groups for endpoints of hospitalizations for CHF, hospitalizations for CHF or cardiac death, and hospitalizations for CHF or any death, respectively. RESULTS: The estimates of those three endpoints were 69%, 74%, and 76% (P < 0.01). Compared with placebo, ACE inhibitor reduced 30 cases of hospitalizations for CHF per 1000 person-years, or 40 cardiac deaths or hospitalizations for CHF per 1000 person-years (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The method was a simple and efficient approach to conduct meta-analysis of clinical trials with recurrent events.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed1998

Cerebral ventricle-brain ratio in monozygotic twins discordant and concordant for schizophrenia.

1. Several studies on monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia showed that the cerebral ventricle-brain ratio (VBR) was larger in the twins with schizophrenia, as compared with the corresponding normal twins. 2. The results suggest that the difference of the VBR of the discordant twins was larger than that of the concordant twins of schizophrenia. 3. The authors studied the VBR in four monozygotic twin pairs discordant and four monozygotic twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia by computerized tomography. 4. In the discordant twins, all pairs showed that the VBR of the normal twins was smaller than that of the corresponding twins with schizophrenia. 5. The difference of the VBR of the discordant twins and that of the concordant twins of schizophrenia was not statistically different using Mann-Whitney U test. 6. The preliminary results suggest that the VBR enlargement in schizophrenia is not genetically controlled in monozygotic twins either discordant or concordant for schizophrenia. 7. In monozygotic concordant twins, the brain pathology may be heterogeneous.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Circulating Th1 and Th2 cytokines in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

The imbalance of T-helper (Th) lymphocyte cytokine production may play an important role in immunopathogenesis of persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. To know whether an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines is present in chronic HCV infection, serum levels of Th1 cytokines, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin (IL)-2, and Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in this study. Eighteen individuals with chronic HCV infection, 11 healthy subjects as normal controls and 10 chronic HBV infected patients as disease controls were observed. The results showed that the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) were significantly increased in chronic HCV infected patients compared with normal controls (IL-4: 30.49+/-17.55 vs. 14.94+/-13.73, pg/ml, P<0.025; IL-10: 50.30+/-19.59 vs. 17.87+/-9.49, pg/ml, P<0.001). Similarly, the levels of Th1 cytokine, IL-2, was also elevated in individuals with chronic HCV infection when compared with normal controls (IL-2: 118.53+/-95.23 vs. 61.57+/-28.70, pg/ml, P<0.05). However, Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma level was not significantly changed during HCV infection (IFN-gamma: 28.09+/-15.65 vs. 24.10+/-15.61, pg/ml, P>0.05). Furthermore, the elevated levels of Th2 cytokines are greater than Th1 cytokines in HCV infection. Thus, the study indicates that an enhanced Th2 responses are present during chronic HCV infection, which may partly be responsible for the persistence of HCV infection.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Exclusion of five trinucleotide repeat (CAG and CCG) expansions in 17 families with schizophrenia.

Trinucleotide repeat expansion diseases are characterized by anticipation. Several studies suggested the anticipation in schizophrenia. We studied five novel trinucleotide repeats identified by Li et al in a human brain cDNA library in 100 unrelated control subjects, and 57 subjects in 17 families with schizophrenia. The CTG-B43 and B45d, and CCG-A3 were not polymorphic in any unrelated control subjects or subjects with familial schizophrenia. The CTG-A4 had two alleles and the CTG-B1 three alleles. The two clones were not expanded in subjects with familial schizophrenia or unrelated healthy controls. There was no difference in allele frequency between unrelated control subjects and subjects in the families with schizophrenia. The allele frequencies in unaffected and affected subjects in the families with schizophrenia were not significantly different. There was no difference between the offspring and parental generations of affected subjects in the families with schizophrenia. The results suggest the exclusion of the five trinucleotide repeat expansions in the 17 families with schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Anticipation and imprinting in schizophrenia.

Anticipation, i.e., a decrease in the age of onset and/or an increase in the severity of a disease in subsequent generations, and imprinting, i.e., different modes of parental transmission, have been suggested in trinucleotide repeat amplification diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if anticipation and imprinting are associated with familial schizophrenia. Two generations of 49 schizophrenics from 24 families were studied. Ages of onset, numbers hospitalized, diagnostic subclasses of schizophrenia, amounts of antipsychotics, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, treatment resistance, and clinical course ratings, were compared between the two generations. The age of onset was significantly lower in the offspring generation, although there was no difference in the severity between the two generations. The negative symptom scores and clinical course scores in the offspring generation for paternal transmission were significantly higher than those for maternal transmission. Our results suggest the presence of imprinting and anticipation in schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Three CAG trinucleotide repeats on chromosome 6 (D6S1014, D6S1015, and D6S1058) are not expanded in 30 families with schizophrenia.

Since 1991, more than five neuro-genetic disorders have been recognized to be caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions, and the list of such disease should grow. The diseases are characterized clinically by the phenomenon of anticipation, i.e., worsening of the disease phenotype in successive generations with increasing trinucleotide repeat expansion. The presence of anticipation in familial schizophrenia has been suggested. Several studies have provided supportive evidence that the suceptability locus for schizophrenia is on chromosome 6. Therefore, we analyzed three CAG trinucleotide repeat clones D6S1014, D6S1015, and D6S1058 on chromosome 6, which are polymolphic in 30 families with schizophrenia. No unusually, long alleles that would suggest abnormal expansion of more than 35 trinucleotide repeats were observed for these genes. Also, no statistically significant differences were found between the offspring and parental generations of affected subjects or between the affected and unaffected subjects in families with schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Improvement of schizophrenic symptoms and changes in plasma HVA concentrations, plasma anti-D2 and anti-5-HT2 receptor activities with clozapine.

In order to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the clinical efficacy of clozapine, 200 mg/day of clozapine was added to the drug regimens of 19 patients with chronic, anti-psychotic-resistant schizophrenia, and the plasma homovanillic acid (HVA), clozapine concentrations, anti-dopamine D2 and anti-serotonin 5-HT2 receptor activities were measured. After 28 days, six patients showed an improvement of more than 20% over baseline Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores. Mean plasma HVA concentrations and anti-D2 receptor activities did not change significantly in the entire group or in the six patients showing improvement. However, anti-5-HT2 receptor activities increased significantly in all 19 patients. Changes in BPRS scores did not correlate significantly with changes in plasma HVA or with changes in clozapine concentrations, or with anti-D2 and anti-5-HT2 receptor activities.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase genotypes and drinking behavior of Chinese living in Shanghai.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), the principal enzymes responsible for oxidative metabolism of ethanol, exist in multiple, genetically determined molecular forms. Widely different kinetic properties in some of these isozymes account for the individual differences in alcohol sensitivity. In this study we used the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method to determine the genotypes of the ADH2 and ALDH2 loci of alcoholic and nonalcoholic Chinese living in Shanghai. We also investigated the subjects' drinking patterns by means of semistructured interviews. The alcoholics had significantly lower frequencies of the ADH2(2) and ALDH2(2) alleles than did the nonalcoholics, suggesting the inhibitory effects of these alleles for the development of alcoholism. In the nonalcoholic subjects, ADH2(2) had little, if any, effect, despite the significant effect of the ALDH2(2) allele in decreasing the alcohol consumption of the individual. Taken together, these results fit the proposed hypothesis for the development of alcoholism, i.e., drinking behavior is greatly influenced by the individual's genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, and the risk of becoming alcoholic is proportionate with the ethanol consumption of the individual.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Direct and inverted reciprocal chromosome insertions between chromosomes 7 and 14 in a woman with recurrent miscarriages.

We present the first case of direct and inverted reciprocal chromosome insertions between human chromosomes 7 and 14, ascertained because of repeated spontaneous abortions. Prometaphase GTG banding analysis showed the karyotype to be 46, XX, inv ins (7;14)(7pter-->7q11.23::14q32.2-->14q 22::7q21.2-->7qter), dir ins(14;7)(14pter-->14q 22::7q11.23-->7q21.2::14q32.2-->14qter). Origins of the insertion have been confirmed by chromosome painting with libraries specific for chromosomes 7 and 14 using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Abortion, Habitual↗

PubMed1994

[Experimental study on the cardiotonic action of extract from Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.)Nannf].

Extracts of different concentrations from Codonopsis pilosula were administered to the myocardial cells of rats, and the results indicated that the activity of PDE was inhibited in different ways, and that cAMP was less hydrolyzed and increased in contents. When the extract was administered to the PRP of rabbits, the inhibiting rate of CaM activity rose with the increase of concentration in the extract.

Animals↗