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Zhao Wang

Publications and source records attributed to Zhao Wang.

72 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Effect of compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms.

AIM: To explore the anti-fibrotic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor on CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Ninety healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group (n=10), treatment group of compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor (n=40) and CCl(4)-induced model group (n=40). The liver fibrosis was induced by CCl(4) subcutaneous injection. Treatment group was administered with compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor (0.5 g/kg) once a day at the same time. Then the activities of several serum fibrosis-associated enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) and the levels of serum procollagen III (PCIII), collagen IV (CIV), hyaluronic acid (HA) were assayed. The histopathological changes were observed with HE, VG and Masson stain. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, alpha1 (I) mRNA and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in situ. RESULTS: Compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor significantly reduced serum activities of ALT, AST, beta-NAG and decreased the levels of PCIII, CIV, HA, improved the liver histopathological changes, inhibited the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, alpha (I) mRNA and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger mRNA in rats. CONCLUSION: Compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor can intervene in CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats, in which potential mechanisms may be decreasing the production of TGF-beta1, reducing the production of collagen, preventing the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, alpha1(I) mRNA and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger mRNA.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Novel application of FTIR in medical herb chemotaxonomy].

Typical medical plants in Araliaceae, Campanulaceae, Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae, Leguminosae, Berberidaceae, Pteridophyta, etc. were studied with FTIR for the first time, and the similarities and differences within each familiar were also pointed out. Furthermore the differences in spectra of samples from different parts or collected at different time on the same plant were also discussed. The characteristic radicals of the mainly effective components in plants were identified, and the primary peaks were deciphered. It was considered that FTIR could become a rapid, reliable, impersonal and effective method in chemotaxonomy as a supplement of morphologic plant taxonomy.

Araliaceae↗
PubMed2003

[Review in the studies on tannins activity of cancer prevention and anticancer].

This paper reviewed the biological activities of tannins in cancer prevention and anticancer, and mainly discussed related mechanisms. The results suggest that tannins, whether total tannins or pure tannin compound, have remarkable activity in cancer prevention and anticancer. It has wealthy foreground for developing new cancer prevention agents and/or new anticancer drugs screening among tannin compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Cloning of COX4 cDNA from the NZ white rabbit and expression of this gene in bladder smooth muscle following partial outlet obstruction.

We cloned and characterized the rabbit COX4 coding sequence, then examined expression of the gene in bladder smooth muscle following partial obstruction of the bladder outlet. Obstruction was done surgically in male NZ white rabbits and bladders procured at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days post-obstruction (two animals/time). RNA, then cDNA, was prepared from smooth muscle from each sample. Cloning was done from cDNA by PCR. COX4 mRNA in smooth muscle was defined by real-time RT-PCR, using cDNA from bladder samples. The rabbit COX4 coding sequence specifies a protein of 169 amino acids, including a membrane transit sequence for mitochondrial (mt) entry. Expression of COX4 in bladder smooth muscle decreased by 80% in the first day post-obstruction and remained low through 14 days post-obstruction. Cytochrome oxidase activity decreased sharply in the first 3 days post-obstruction in smooth muscle, in concert with COX4 transcript levels. Partial outlet obstruction of the rabbit urinary bladder results in attenuation in smooth muscle of mRNA synthesis from the COX4 gene. In turn, this results in attenuated activity of mt electron transport due to limited availability of nucleus-encoded components required for the assembly of cytochrome oxidase.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Cloning and expression of a novel human galectin cDNA, predominantly expressed in placenta(1).

A novel human galectin cDNA (PPL13) was isolated by screening a human 18-week fetal brain library. The mRNA was predominantly expressed in placenta, while the expression of it was not or barely detectable in heart, brain, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, and pancreas by Northern blot. COS-7 cells transfected with cDNA encoding human PPL13 sequestered the protein in nuclei although it lacked any known nuclear localization signal. STS of Unigene Hs. 24236 placed the cDNA to human chromosome 19q13.2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Cloning, expression and characterisation of a human Nudix hydrolase specific for adenosine 5'-diphosphoribose (ADP-ribose).

The human NUDT9 gene has been mapped to 4q22 and shown to give rise to two alternatively spliced mRNAs, NUDT9alpha and NUDT9beta, that encode a member of the Nudix hydrolase family. Both transcripts were readily detected in heart and skeletal muscle and also in liver, kidney and pancreas. NUDT9alpha protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and shown specifically to hydrolyse ADP-ribose and IDP-ribose to the corresponding nucleoside 5'-monophosphates and ribose 5-phosphate. No other nucleotide substrates were hydrolysed significantly. NUDT9alpha was inhibited by fluoride and by N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine and had K(m) and kcat values of 180 microM and 8 s(-1) respectively with ADP-ribose as substrate. The full-length 39.1 kDa NUDT9alpha has a potential mitochondrial leader sequence, which would give rise to a mature 34.2 kDa mitochondrial protein. Apart from the high K(m) value, the properties of NUDT9alpha are close to those of the known mammalian 40 kDa cytoplasmic ADPRibase-1 and 35 kDa mitochondrial ADPRibase-m. However, any relationship between the NUDT9 species and the previously reported ADPRibases remains to be established.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗
PubMed2002

Chlamydia trachomatis genes whose products are related to energy metabolism are expressed differentially in active vs. persistent infection.

The Chlamydia trachomatis genome encodes glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway enzymes, two ATP/ADP exchange proteins, and other energy transduction-related components. We asked if and when chlamydial genes specifying products related to energy transduction are expressed during active vs. persistent infection in in vitro models and in synovia from Chlamydia-associated arthritis patients. Hep-2 cells infected with K serovar were harvested from 0-48 h post-infection (active infection). Human monocytes identically infected were harvested at 1, 2, 3, 5 days post-infection (persistent). RNA from each preparation and from synovial samples PCR-positive/-negative for Chlamydia DNA was subjected to RT-PCR targeting (a) chlamydial primary rRNA transcripts and adt1 mRNA, (b) chlamydial mRNA encoding enzymes of the glycolysis (pyk, gap, pgk) and pentose phosphate (gnd, tal) pathways, the TCA cycle (mdhC, fumC), electron transport system (cydA, cydB), and sigma factors (rpoD, rpsD, rpoN). Primary rRNA transcripts and adt1 mRNA were present in each infected preparation and patient sample; controls were negative for chlamydial RNA. In infected Hep-2 cells, all energy transduction-related genes were expressed by approximately 11 h post-infection. In monocytes, pyk, gap, pgk, gnd, tal, cydA mRNA were present in 1-2-day-infected cells but absent at 3 days and after; cydB, mdhC, fumC were expressed through 5 days post-infection. RT-PCR targeting mRNA from sigma factor genes indicated that lack of these gene products cannot explain selective transcriptional down-regulation during persistence. Analyses of RNA from synovial tissues mirrored those from the monocyte system. These data suggest that in the first phase of active chlamydial infection, ADP/ATP exchange provides energy required for metabolism; in active growth, glycolysis supplements host ATP. In persistence host, rather than bacterially produced, ATP is the primary energy source. Metabolic rate in persistent C. trachomatis is lower than in actively growing cells, as judged from assays for relative chlamydial primary rRNA transcript levels in persistent vs. actively growing cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2002

NADPH-dependent GMP reductase isoenzyme of human (GMPR2). Expression, purification, and kinetic properties.

GMP reductase (EC 1.6.6.8) is the only known metabolic step by which guanine nucleotides can be converted to the pivotal precursor of both adenine and guanine nucleotides. Human GMP reductase has been previously partially purified from erythrocytes and a chromosome 6-linked cDNA has been identified to correspond for encoding human GMP reductase. Here, we reported a distinct cDNA for human GMP reductase isoenzyme isolated from a human fetal brain library, and the GenBank accession number is AF419346. The deduced protein shows 90% identity with human GMP reductase reported (named GMPR1 compared with GMPR2 of this paper) and 69% with E. coli GMP reductase. Comparison of GMPR2 cDNA sequence with human genome indicates the corresponding gene spans about 6.6kb on chromosome 14, which encodes 348 amino acid residues. Northern hybridization analysis indicates a differential and disproportionate expression of mRNAs for GMPR1 and GMPR2, suggesting the existence of distinct molecular species of GMP reductase in human. The apparent Km of GMPR2 for NADPH and GMP are 26.6 and 17.4 microM, respectively. This is the first report suggesting the existence of two distinct types of human GMP reductase molecular species, which can be used to explain the bimodal saturation curve noted with the purified human erythrocyte GMP reductase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Uptake pharmacokinetics of the Fentanyl Oralet in children scheduled for central venous access removal: implications for the timing of initiating painful procedures.

BACKGROUND: The Fentanyl Oralet (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA) is an oral transmucosal drug delivery system. We previously examined pharmacokinetic parameters of children who had completed consumption of the Fentanyl Oralet. The present study was designed to clarify pharmacokinetic parameters during the consumption phase to determine if there is an optimal administration time before painful procedures. METHODS: Patients, aged 3-10 years, who were scheduled for elective removal of central venous access devices under general anaesthesia, received a Fentanyl Oralet (fentanyl 10-15 microg x kg(-1)). Plasma fentanyl concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Data from blood samples obtained during and after consumption of the Fentanyl Oralet from 17 patients in the present study were combined with data from our previous study to better characterize both the consumption and postconsumption concentration versus time profiles. RESULTS: Estimated fentanyl bioavailability (mean +/- SD) was low (36.1 +/- 0.4%), as were peak plasma concentrations (1.03 +/- 0.31 ng.ml-1), suggesting that many children swallowed a large fraction of the dose. This led to a relatively late and variable peak concentration time of 53 +/- 40 min. In addition, because of the apparently large degree of gastrointestinal absorption, concentration versus time curves were wide and flat. CONCLUSIONS: The wide and flat concentration versus time profile may allow flexibility in the timing of a painful procedure following Fentanyl Oralet administration. However, the variability of the time to peak concentration makes it difficult to suggest a minimum interval between Fentanyl Oralet consumption and the start of a painful procedure.

Administration, Buccal↗
PubMed2002

Cloning and characterization of a novel human alcohol dehydrogenase gene (ADHFe1).

There are three types of NAD(P)(+)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase: "medium-chain" zinc-containing enzymes, "short-chain" zinc-lacking enzymes and iron-activated enzymes. Although the medium-chain family and the short-chain family have been characterized in human, the iron-activated alcohol dehydrogenase family seems to exist only in microbial organisms. We have now cloned and characterized an iron-activated alcohol dehydrogenase gene, Fe-containing alcohol dehydrogenase 1 (ADHFe1) in human. The cDNA was isolated from the human fetal brain cDNA library. It contains a long open reading frame, which is not homologous with the other alcohol dehydrogenases isoenzymes characterized in human. The hypothetical alcohol dehydrogenase does, however, show strong homology to the iron-activated alcohol dehydrogenases from microbial organisms. Northern blotting analysis only detected expression in adult liver tissue. At least two different splicing variants were screened by PCR using the multiple tissue cDNA panels as templates.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed2002

Age-stratified pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine in pediatric surgical patients.

UNLABELLED: Published data suggest that ketorolac pharmacokinetics are different in children than in adults. We sought to better characterize ketorolac pharmacokinetics in children. Thirty-six children, aged 1-16 yr, were stratified into four age groups: 1-3 yr, 4-7 yr, 8-11 yr, and 12-16 yr. Each child received 0.5 mg/kg of ketorolac tromethamine IV after completion of elective surgery. A maximum of 16 venous blood samples (mean, 13 +/- 2) were collected at predetermined times up to 10 h after drug administration. Plasma ketorolac concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography after solid-phase extraction. Individual concentration-versus-time relationships were best fit to a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model by using SAAM II. Body weight-normalized pharmacokinetic variables did not differ among the age groups and were similar to those reported for adults, including a volume of distribution at steady state of 113 +/- 33 mL/kg (mean +/- SD) and an elimination clearance of 0.57 +/- 0.17 mL x min(-1) x kg(-1). Our study demonstrates that a single dose of ketorolac (0.5 mg/kg) results in plasma concentrations in the adult therapeutic concentration range for 6 h in most children. Our data provide no evidence that children require either larger weight-adjusted doses or shorter dosing intervals than adults to provide similar plasma drug concentrations. IMPLICATIONS: The literature suggests that ketorolac disposition differs between children and adults. We characterized ketorolac pharmacokinetics in 36 children. Body weight-normalized two-compartment pharmacokinetic variables did not differ among pediatric patients <17 yr old and were similar to adult values.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Gastric emptying of water in term pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Healthy nonpregnant patients may ingest clear liquids until 2 h before induction of anesthesia without adversely affecting gastric volume. The purpose of this study was to compare gastric emptying in term, nonlaboring pregnant women after ingestion of 50 ml water (control) with that after ingestion of 300 ml water. METHODS: Gastric emptying was assessed in healthy, nonobese, term pregnant volunteers using both serial gastric ultrasound examinations (n = 9) and acetaminophen absorption (n = 11) in a crossover study design. After an overnight fast, volunteers ingested 1.5 g acetaminophen and 50 or 300 ml water (assigned in random order) on two occasions separated by at least 2 days. Serial gastric antrum cross-sectional areas were determined using gastric ultrasound imaging, and the half-time to gastric emptying was calculated. Serial plasma acetaminophen concentrations were measured. Areas under the plasma acetaminophen concentration versus time curve, peak concentrations, and time to peak concentration for 50- and 300-ml ingestions were compared. RESULTS: Gastric emptying half-time was significantly shorter after ingestion of 300 ml water than after ingestion of 50 ml (24 +/- 6 vs. 33 +/- 8 min). There were no differences in acetaminophen areas under the curve at 60, 90, or 120 min, or in acetaminophen peak concentration. Time to peak concentration of acetaminophen was significantly shorter after ingestion of 300 ml water than after ingestion of 50 ml (25 +/- 12 vs. 41 +/- 19 min). CONCLUSIONS: Gastric emptying in healthy, term, nonobese, nonlaboring pregnant women is not delayed after ingestion of 300 ml water compared with that after an overnight fast.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2002

Apoptosis induced by dioscin in Hela cells.

Dioscin, a saponin extracted from the root of Polygonatum Zanlanscianense Pamp, markedly inhibited proliferation of Hela cells. The results indicated that Hela cells underwent apoptosis in dose- and time-dependent manners when treated with Dioscin. Caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were also detected. The low enzymatic activity of caspase-8 and high activity of caspase-9 showed that the mitochondrial pathway was activated in apoptosis. The reduced expression of the survival protein Bcl-2 also confirmed this result. These studies may be significant in finding a new drug to treat human cervical cancer.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2002

Cytokine and chemokine mRNA produced in synovial tissue chronically infected with Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae.

OBJECTIVE: We used a highly quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay system to define the steady-state levels of mRNA encoding a large panel of soluble mediators of inflammation in synovial tissues from patients with chronic arthritis infected with Chlamydia trachomatis versus C. pneumoniae. METHODS: RNA/cDNA was prepared from synovial biopsies of 4 patients with chronic arthritis and joint infection with C. trachomatis, 6 with C. pneumoniae at that site, 3 uninfected healthy controls, and 3 patients with undifferentiated oligoarthritis (UO) who were PCR negative for all organisms assayed. Real-time RT-PCR was used to assess relative mRNA levels from 12 cytokine and 2 chemokine genes (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-15, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, RANTES). Input loading was normalized to 18S rRNA. Data were obtained for each mRNA from each sample in triplicate in comparison to the same mRNA level in the controls. RESULTS: In most C. trachomatis infected synovial tissue samples, high levels of IL-10 mRNA were present, with less mRNA for IL-8, IL-15, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha. Synovial tissues from chronic arthritis patients with synovial C. pneumoniae showed significant levels of mRNA solely for IL-8 and IL-1beta. All other cytokine messengers assessed in each sample from each patient group were at or near control level. One patient with C. pneumoniae showed a high transcript level for RANTES, and one patient with C. trachomatis showed a high transcript level for MCP-1. No patient with UO showed elevated messenger level for any cytokines assayed, but RANTES mRNA was elevated in each. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that while both C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae have been associated with inflammatory joint disease, each elicits a somewhat different steady-state profile of mRNA encoding relevant cytokines and chemokines during chronic infection of synovial tissue. Precisely how these differing profiles relate to clinical aspects of synovial inflammation will require further study, but the observations confirm and extend data indicating potentially important differences in the pathobiology of these 2 bacterial species.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Studies on the pharmacological effects of saffron(Crocus sativus L.)--a review].

OBJECTIVE: Reviewing the studies on the chemical components and medicinal value. METHOD: Philological method. RESULT: Saffron is a conventional effective medicine in improving blood circulation and curing the bruise. The late of evidesnces indicate that saffron possesses anticancer activity against a wide spectrum of tumors, such as leukemia, ovarian carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, papilloma, squamous cell carcinoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. It has low biochemical toxic effects on animals. In addition, saffron can be used to cure coronary heart disease and hepatitis, and to promote immunity. CONCLUSION: Saffron is a highly valuable medicine. And producing it in a large quantity has a wide application prosperity.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2002

[To identify human and sheep placentas by FT-IR and RP-HPLC techniques].

Placenta has a long history of being Chinese traditional medicine. The quality control methods used nowadays in the markets were mainly based on the amino acid content of the placenta. However, it is hard to distinguish human placenta from sheep placenta with these methods. In this paper, a novel method was established employing FT-IR and RP-HPLC techniques. This method can distinguish human placenta from sheep placenta and may help to improve quality control of placenta in the markets.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Regional micrometastasis of low rectal cancer in mesorectum: a study utilizing HE stain on whole-mount section and ISH analyses on tissue microarray.

AIM: To investigate the regional spread of microscopic tumor nodules in the mesorectum of patients with low rectal cancer, and to provide further pathological evidence for optimal procedure selection of radical resection for rectal cancer. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with low rectal cancer underwent low anterior resection and total mesorectal excision (TME). Surgical specimens were sliced transversely on serial embedded blocks at 2.5-mm intervals, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). On whole-mount sections the mesorectum was divided into 3 regions: the outer region of the mesorectum (ORM), the middle region of the mesorectum (MRM), and the inner region of the mesorectum (IRM). Microscopic metastatic foci were investigated for metastatic mesorectal region, frequency, types, involvement of the lymphatic system, and correlation with the primary tumor. Tumor-suspect nodules previously considered disease free by HE stain on whole-mount section were examined by in situ hybridization (ISH) on tissue microarray (TMA) through detecting mRNAs of CEA and CK20 with non radioactive biotin-tagged oligonucleotide probes. RESULTS: Microscopic spread of the tumor was observed in 50.0 percent of patients (31 out of 62, 24 by HE stain on whole-mount section and 7 by ISH on TMA) and that in the ORM was observed in 38.7 percent of the patients (24 out of 62, 16 observed by HE stain on whole-mount section and 8 by ISH on TMA). Microscopic tumor foci spread in the circumferential resection margin (CRM) occurred in 8.1 percent of the patients (5 out of 62, 4 observed by HE stain on whole-mount section and one by ISH on TMA), and distal mesorectum (DMR) involvement was detected in 6.5 percent (4 out of 62, all observed by HE stain on whole-mount section), with the spread extending to within 3 cm from the lower margin of the tumor. Most (26 of 31) of the patients with microscopic spread in mesorectum had TNM Stage III diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study support the theory that complete excision of the mesorectum without destruction of the ORM is essential for surgical management of low rectal cancer, and an optimal DMR clearance resection margin of no less than 4 cm was referenced. Five patients with microscopic tumor nodule spread in the CRM observed in the study suggested that microscopic metastases exist in pelvic lateral areas and in the mesorectum simultaneously, indicating the significance of preoperative and/or postoperative radiochemotherapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗