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Biomedical subjects

Z J Fan

Publications and source records attributed to Z J Fan.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

New genotype of avian influenza H5N1 viruses isolated from tree sparrows in China.

The 2004 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 disease in China led to a great poultry loss and society attention. A survey of avian influenza viruses was conducted on tree sparrows (Passer montanus) collected in China in 2004. Four viruses were isolated from free-living tree sparrows. The results of the whole-genome analysis indicated that an H5N1 virus with a new genotype is circulating among tree sparrows. The hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the new genotype were derived from Gs/Gd/96-like viruses and the nuclear protein gene descended from the 2001 genotype A H5N1 viruses, while the other inner genes originated from an unknown influenza virus. In experimental infection, all four viruses were highly pathogenic to chickens but not pathogenic to ducks or mice. The four tree sparrow viruses were different from the 2003 tree sparrow strain (genotype Z) in Hong Kong. The results suggested that H5N1 viruses might be distributed widely in tree sparrows.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Inhibition of fibroblast proliferation by human iris pigment epithelial cells in vitro: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: The interaction between different cells plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Since the proliferation of fibroblasts is very much involved in the pathogenesis of eye diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy, the failure of filtration in glaucoma surgery, etc., we attempted to ascertain whether iris pigment epithelial cells (IPE) have some modulating effect on fibroblast proliferation. METHODS: Human IPE were explanted and the third-passage culture was transferred into serum-free RPMI-1640 medium. After 48 h of further incubation, the medium was collected and submitted to centrifugation; the supernatant was used as the conditioned medium of IPE (IPE-CM). Cultured fibroblasts from Tenon's capsule were seeded in a 96-well plate and incubated with IPE-CM in different concentrations. The proliferation of fibroblasts was estimated by thymidine incorporation and cell counting. RESULTS: The incorporation of tritiated thymidine by fibroblasts was reduced to 56.68% of baseline with 1:16 diluted IPE-CM and to 13.63% and 8.20%, respectively, with 1:8 and 1:2 diluted IPE-CM. These findings were in good accordance with the results of cell counting, performed in parallel. SDS-PAGE of IPE-CM revealed two specific bands with molecular weight 65 kDa and 40 kDa. CONCLUSION: IPE-CM showed an obvious dose-dependent inhibitory effect on fibroblast proliferation and was presumed to contain some active factors contributing to this effect.

Cell Count↗
PubMed1994

[Cultivation and ultrastructural investigation of human iris pigment epithelial cells].

UNLABELLED: The iris pigment epithelial cells of 10 human eyes were cultivated in vitro. RESULTS: The iris pigment epithelial cells obtained directly by scraping were easier to grow and to be passaged than those obtained by enzyme digestion. Under the inverted light microscope, primary cells appeared multigonal and arranged in monolayer, there were abundant pigment granules in the cytoplasm, and the nuclei each of which contained 1 or 2 nuclei were relatively transparent. Pigment granules diminished in succeeding generations. Under the transmission electron microscope, pigment granules were rich in the cytoplasm and there were plenty of microvilli at the cell membrane. There were maculae occludentes and desmosomes present in the intercellular space. The cultivated cells showed positive reaction of keratin antigen in an immunohistochemical assay. The characteristics mentioned above are consistent with the criteria of iris pigment epithelial cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Low birth weight contributes to the excess prevalence of end-stage renal disease in African Americans.

The risk of hypertension and related target organ damage is much greater in African Americans than in Caucasians. The risk of hypertensive end-stage renal disease is approximately five-fold higher in African Americans. Many studies have shown that low birth weight is strongly associated with increased risk of hypertension, stroke, and myocardial infarction. However, until recently the relationship between birth weight and hypertension-related diseases was not clearly established in African Americans. Moreover, it was also unclear if low birth weight in humans heightened the risk for end-stage renal disease. This is a critical gap in the literature, since low birth weight occurs at twice the rate in African Americans as among Caucasians. We identified a significant relationship between end-stage renal disease and low birth weight in both African Americans and Caucasians. Given the higher rates of low birth weight in African Americans, differences in fetal development may, therefore, contribute to the racial disparity in end-stage renal disease. Continued study of the biological factors linking early development with later risk of hypertension-related diseases is important and may shed light on racial disparities in health outcomes. (c)2001 by Le Jacq Communications, Inc.

Adult↗