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Z Jian

Publications and source records attributed to Z Jian.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The anatomical significance and techniques of laparoscopic rectal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Because there are difficulties associated with the technique of laparoscopic colorectal surgery, thorough knowledge of the anatomy is particularly important. We pay close attention to anatomical features during laparoscopic rectal surgery. In this study, we analyze the association of the anatomy with the operative procedure. METHODS: Laparoscopic rectal surgery was performed on 117 patients (66 men) with benign and malignant diseases in the rectum by the complete laparoscopy or hand-assisted technique. All operations were mainly performed by the first author. The association between anatomy and the operation was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 144 min (range, 87-235). The hand-assisted technique was performed in two patients. Four patients required conversion to laparotomy due to the amount of fat in three patients and disruption of the Endo-stapler in one patient, for a conversion rate of 1.7%. Operative blood loss was small, averaging 126 ml (range, 50-350). No injury of the ureters, major bleeding in front of the sacrum, or other operation-related severe complications occurred during or after operation. In one case, dissecting disrupted the anterior left wall of the rectum. CONCLUSION: By mastering the anatomical features of laparoscopic rectum surgery, operative mistakes and complications can be reduced. Particular attention must be paid to the anatomy of the obese patient undergoing laparoscopy. It is very convenient that the corresponding skills can be applied in the course of dissection and exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Haplotype analysis of a 100 kb region spanning TNF-LTA identifies a polymorphism in the LTA promoter region that is associated with atopic asthma susceptibility in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The tumour necrosis factor (TNF) gene family, which includes TNF, LTA, and LTB, is located consecutively on human chromosome 6p21 region, which has been linked to asthma by several genome-wide screens. (LTA, lymphotoxin-alpha; LTB, lymphotoxin-beta). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine whether genes on 6q21 are related to development of atopic asthma. Methods We screened for mutations in the coding and promoter regions of genes in the TNF-LTA region, including BAT1, NFKBIL1, LTA, TNF, LTB, AIF, and BAT2, and conducted a transmission disequilibrium test of 41 polymorphisms in 137 families identified through pro-bands with childhood-onset atopic asthma. (BAT1, HLA-B-associated transcript 1; NFKBIL1, nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells inhibitor-like 1; AIF, allograft inflammatory factor 1). RESULTS: Haplotypes of the LTA/TNF linkage disequilibrium block were associated significantly with asthma (global P=0.0097). Transmission patterns of the common haplotypes to asthmatic offspring were predicted by a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the LTA promoter region. The G allele of the LTA-753G/A polymorphism was transmitted preferentially to asthma-affected individuals (P=0.001). Luciferase reporter assays with constructs containing the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the LTA gene showed 30-50% lower transcriptional activity when the -753A allele was present than that of other haplotypes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LTA is one of the genes that contributes to susceptibility to atopic asthma, and that the association of the TNF/LTA haplotypes to asthma may be defined by the polymorphism in the LTA promoter region in the Japanese population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Synaptic transmission of chaotic spike trains between primary afferent fiber and spinal dorsal horn neuron in the rat.

Primary sensory neurons can generate irregular burst firings in which the existence of significant deterministic behaviors of chaotic dynamics has been proved with nonlinear time series analysis. But how well the deterministic characteristics and neural information of presynaptic chaotic spike trains were transmitted into postsynaptic spike trains is still an open question. Here we investigated the synaptic transmission of chaotic spike trains between primary Adelta afferent fiber and spinal dorsal horn neuron. Two kinds of basic stimulus unit, brief burst and single pulse, were employed by us to comprise chaotic stimulus trains. For time series analysis, we defined "events" as the longest sequences of spikes with all interspike intervals less than or equal to a certain threshold and extracted the interevent intervals (IEIs) from spike trains. Return map analysis of the IEI series showed that the main temporal structure of chaotic input trains could be detected in postsynaptic output trains, especially under brief-burst stimulation. Using correlation dimension and nonlinear prediction methods, we found that synaptic transmission could influence the nonlinear characteristics of chaotic trains, such as fractal dimension and short-term predictability, with greater influence made under single-pulse stimulation. By calculating the mutual information between input and output trains, we found the information carried by presynaptic spike trains could not be completely transmitted at primary afferent synapses, and that brief bursts could more reliably transmit the information carried by chaotic input trains across synapses. These results indicate that although unreliability exists during synaptic transmission, the main deterministic characteristics of chaotic burst trains can be transmitted across primary afferent synapses. Moreover, brief bursts that come from the periphery can more reliably transmit neural information between primary afferent fibers and spinal dorsal horn neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

No evidence for association between the -112G/A polymorphism of UGRP1 and childhood atopic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Susceptibility to asthma is known to involve genetic factors. Genome-wide screens have indicated that the chromosome 5q31-q34 region is linked to and/or associated with asthma. A new gene, named UGRP1 and reported by Niimi et al., encodes uteroglobin-related protein and is expressed in the lung and trachea. Niimi et al. showed the -112G/A polymorphism of the UGRP1 gene to be associated with asthma in a case-control study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to replicate this association and confirm the possible role of the UGRP1-112G/A polymorphism in the aetiology of childhood asthma in a Japanese population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) in 131 families identified through paediatric patients being treated for asthma. A case-control study was also carried out by comparing the probands and 137 unrelated non-atopic non-asthmatic Japanese children and 211 unrelated healthy Japanese adults. The -112G/A polymorphism was genotyped by the PCR-RFLP method. The TDT revealed that the -112A allele was not preferentially transmitted to asthma-affected children (P=0.85). Neither the presence of at least one A allele in an individual's genotype (sum of the G/A and A/A genotypes) nor the -112A allele was more prevalent among the asthma subjects than among the control subjects. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the UGRP1-112G/A polymorphism does not play a substantial role in genetic predisposition to childhood asthma in this Japanese population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Ectopic gestation following emergency contraception with levonorgestrel.

Reports of ectopic gestation after failure of emergency contraceptive pills have thus far been rare, although the use of various types of emergency contraceptive pills is becoming more and more popular world-wide. We report two cases of ectopic gestation following failure of levonorgestrel as over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills. The women personally purchased the pills over-the-counter at a drugstore and took them routinely. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of an ectopic gestation when an emergency contraceptive pill fails. We recommend to women the full use of established service networks to enhance education and dissemination of information on emergency contraception. Additionally, health providers should advise women very clearly that, if treatment fails, pregnancy could occur, including ectopic gestation.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2001

Different classifications of UPOs in the parametrically different chaotic ISI series of a neural pacemaker.

Various interspike intervals (ISIs) in a series of spontaneous discharges of experimental neural pacemakers were identified as chaotic and as lying between stable period 2 and stable period 3. The method of So et al. for detection of unstable periodic orbits (UPOs) was applied to analyze two chaotic ISI series generated under the action of [Ca2+]o in different concentrations. In the chaotic ISI series near the stable period 2, an unstable period 2 orbit was detected. In the chaotic ISI series near the stable period 3, both an unstable period 2 orbit and an unstable period 3 orbit were detected. The location of the unstable period 2 orbit was close to that of the stable period 2 in the return map, while the location of the unstable period 3 orbit was close to that of the stable period 3. The results not only revealed the structures of various chaotic ISI series, but also indicated that the classification of UPOs could reflect the experimental control parameters at which the chaotic ISI series were generated. The previously discovered period adding bifurcation in the ISI series generated by experimental neural pacemakers [12] was further described in terms of the evolution of the period orbits.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2001

Haplotypes of the 5' region of the IL-4 gene and SNPs in the intergene sequence between the IL-4 and IL-13 genes are associated with atopic asthma.

IL-4 and IL-13 are important in IgE synthesis and allergic inflammation. Therefore, genes encoding IL-4 and IL-13 are candidates for predisposition to asthma and atopy. A recent study in the YAC transgenic mouse has revealed that one of the conserved noncoding sequences (CNS-1) between IL-4 and IL-13 influences the expression of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, suggesting that CNS-1 acts as a coordinate regulator of these genes. This investigation screened for mutations in the 13-kb region between IL-4 and IL-13, which includes the human equivalent of the murine CNS-1. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the region between IL-4 and IL-13 (IL-4-IL-13SNP1, IL-4-IL-13SNP2, IL-4-IL-13SNP3, and IL-4-IL-13SNP4). There was no mutation in the human CNS-1. We genotyped these and other previously reported polymorphisms in IL-4 and IL-13 using asthmatic families, and examined association by transmission disequilibrium test. Two-locus haplotype analysis revealed that haplotypes composed of the IL-4 RP2del, IL-4 +33T, or IL-4 -589T alleles and either IL-4-IL-13SNP3G or IL-4-IL-13SNP4C are transmitted significantly to asthma-affected children (p = 0.002). This data suggests that haplotypes composed of the 5' region polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene and SNPs in the intergene sequence between IL-4 and IL-13 influence the development of asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Chimera formation of platelet GP II b Bak a/b by intrauterine transplantation of fetal liver stem cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether artificial heterozygous chimeras of platelets can be established by intrauterine transplantation of fetal liver stem cells and evaluate its potential use for the treatment of Glanzmann thrombasthenia. METHODS: Platelet glycoprotein (GP) II b Bak a/b (or GP II b I le843Ser) was used as a genetic marker. A homozygous 16-week-old Bak a/a fetus (as donor) and a homozygous 16.5-week-old Bak b/b fetus (as recipient) were screened from 42 pregnant women hospitalized for abortion. PCR with allele specific primers and FOK I digestion based on PCR products were used. Aborted donor fetal liver cell suspensions were prepared and intrauterine transplantation was carried out by infusion of 4 ml fetal liver cells (22 x 10(5)) into the recipient umbilical vein under ultrasonic visualization. RESULTS: At gestation termination (abortion), 21 days after transplantation, chimera GP II b Bak a/b of the recipient were detected by FOK 1 digestion based on PCR from DNA and RT-PCR from platelet RNA. CONCLUSION: Intrauterine transplantation of fetal liver cell may provide an effective way for curing GT or other inherited diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Detection of determinism within time series of irregular burst firing from the injured sensory neuron.

Irregular burst firing is spontaneously generated by rat dorsal root ganglion neuron after chronic compression. To investigate the time series of burst firing, we recorded interspike intervals (ISIs) of single-unit firing in vitro and processed the ISIs to obtain interevent intervals (IEIs). Then, two non-linear methods were applied to detect deterministic dynamic behaviors in IEI series. No evidence for the existence of determinism was found with non-linear prediction method. Using unstable periodic orbit identification method, significant period-1 orbits were identified in all 10 data, period-2 orbits in eight, and period-3 orbits in six. The results indicate that there exist significant deterministic behaviors in the time series of irregular burst firing from the injured sensory neuron.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2000

Adrenergic sensitivity of neurons with non-periodic firing activity in rat injured dorsal root ganglion.

In this study, we compared the sensitivity of non-periodically and periodically active neurons in chronically compressed dorsal root ganglion in rats to norepinephrine and sympathetic stimulation. Forty-nine of 58 (84.5%) neurons with non-periodic activity showed responses to norepinephrine, whereas only five of 48 (10.4%) neurons with periodic activity displayed any response. The dose-response relationship of norepinephrine to the irregular burst pattern neurons shifted towards the left significantly compared to that of the periodic activity neurons. Responses to norepinephrine became apparent in eight neurons after their periodic firing activity was transformed into the non-periodic firing activity through the increase in Ca(2+). Changes in the time-response curves indicate a higher sensitivity of irregular burst pattern neurons to sympathetic stimulation than the periodic activity neurons. Finally, deterministic dynamics contained within the interburst interval series for non-periodic activity were identified. From these results, we suggest that the non-periodic activity neurons have a higher adrenergic sensitivity than those displaying periodic activity, and that this sensitivity may depend on the deterministic chaos within its firing dynamic system.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2000

Polymorphism of human platelet alloantigen in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene frequencies of 5 major human platelet alloantiqens (HPA 1-5) in Chinese population and to assess if polymorphism of HPA was associated with Chinese acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: HPA 1-5 genotyping was performed by PCR using allele specific primers and restriction enzyme digestion based on PCR products in 95 AMI cases, 188 AIS cases and 270 normal controls. Gene frequency distribution was tested by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and comparison of HPA gene frequencies between the patient and control groups by chi 2 test. RESULTS: The gene frequencies of HPA 1-5 were the followings: HPA1a: 91%; 1b: 9%; HPA 2a: 94%; 2b: 6%; HPA 3a: 83%; 3b: 17%; HPA 4a: 98%; 4b: 2%; HPA5a: 97%; 5b: 3%. We found there were no significant differences in HPA 1-5 gene frequencies between AMI patients and normal controls. In AIS patients group HPA-2a allele frequency was significant higher than in controls, but this allele gene frequency in two groups (0.94 and 0.99) was very close and too many subjects in these two groups were overlapped. Otherwise no differences was found in other 4 HPA systems between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of HPA were not inherited risky factors and not associated with chinese arterial thrombotic diseases such as AMI and AIS.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Polymorphism of human platelets alloantigens in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the gene frequencies of 5 major human platelets alloantigens (HPA 1 - 5) in Chinese population and to assess if polymorphism of HPA is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the Chinese. METHODS: HPA 1 - 5 genotyping was performed with PCR using allele specific primers and restriction enzyme digestion based on PCR products in 95 AMI patients, 188 AIS patients and 270 normal controls. Gene frequency distribution was tested by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Comparisons of HPA gene frequencies between the patient and control groups were made by chi(2) test. RESULTS: The gene frequencies of HPA 1 - 5 were listed as follows: HPA1a, 91%; HPA 1b, 9%; HPA 2a, 94%; HPA 2b, 6%; HPA 3a, 83%; HPA 3b, 17%; HPA 4a, 98%; HPA 4b, 2%; HPA 5a, 97%; HPA 5b, 3%. No significant differences were found in HPA 1 - 5 gene frequencies between AMI patients and normal controls. In AIS patient group, HPA-2a allele frequency was significantly higher than that in controls, but this allele gene frequency in the two groups was very close (0.99 and 0.94, respectively) and too many subjects in the two groups were overlapped. No differences were found in the other 4 HPA systems between patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of HPA is not an inherited risk factor and is not associated with Chinese arterial thrombotic diseases, such as AMI and AIS.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

[Relationship between the sensitivity to tetraethylammonium and firing patterns of injured dorsal root ganglion neurons].

In order to study the relationship between the firing patterns of injured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of rat and their sensitivity to tetraethylammonium (TEA), spontaneous activities from single fibers of chronically compressed DRG neurons were recorded. Two patterns of spontaneous activity were found: periodic pattern and non-periodic pattern. These two types of neurons showed different sensitivity to TEA with 27.3% in periodic and 93.2% in non-periodic firing neurons responding to TEA (2 mmol/L) (P<0.01). The responses to TEA of different concentrations were greater in the non-periodic firing neurons than in the periodic firing ones (P<0.01). The responses to TEA became apparent in 5 neurons after their periodic firing pattern was transformed into non-periodic firing pattern through an increase in Ca(2+). The non-periodic interburst interval of the bursting discharge decreased significantly while the periodic burst interspike interval had no response to TEA. The unstable period orbits were found in bursting discharge, indicating deterministic chaos during bursting discharge. It is concluded that non-periodic firing neurons with chaos are more sensitive to TEA than periodic firing neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[Expression of WT1 gene mRNA in leukemia].

UNLABELLED: WT1 gene expression was determined in acute leukemic patients by RT-PCR. RESULTS: 19 patients were found to have positive results among 28 patients, the positive rate is 67.9%, and in 16 ANLL patients, 11 cases got positive results, in 12 ALL patients, 8 cases got positive results. It suggested that WT1 was highly expressed in acute leukemia. It is a new and significant detective marker for monitoring the effect of chemotherapy, predicting the prognosis and in the research of minimal residual disease (MRD).

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1998

[Bcl-2 mRNA expression in acute promyelocytic leukemia by RT-PCR].

To check the anti-apoptosis gene bcl-2 mRNA expression in 20 APL patients by PCR, and analyse the relationship between bcl-2 mRNA and the PML-RARa isoform. The result is that the bcl-2 mRNA expression has no significance between the isoforms (P > 0.05). This shows that the PML-RARa transcription type has no influence on the clinical features and prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Gene frequency of HPA among Hunan population of Han nationality].

We used allele specific primer PCR (ASP-PCR) method to detect the genotype of five major HPA systems among Hunan population of Han nationality. The results showed: The gene frequency of PLA1 was 81.00% and 85.87% for Kob, 71.00% for Baka, 91.00% for Pena, 90.67% for Brb which provided the basis for further clinical application of HPA.

Adult↗