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Zhong Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Zhong Yang.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Reconstruction and in silico analysis of the MAPK signaling pathways in the human blood fluke, Schistosoma japonicum.

At present, little is known about signal transduction mechanisms in schistosomes, which cause the disease of schistosomiasis. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, which are evolutionarily conserved from yeast to Homo sapiens, play key roles in multiple cellular processes. Here, we reconstructed the hypothetical MAPK signaling pathways in Schistosoma japonicum and compared the schistosome pathways with those of model eukaryote species. We identified 60 homologous components in the S. japonciumMAPK signaling pathways. Among these, 27 were predicted to be full-length sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of these proteins confirmed the evolutionary conservation of the MAPK signaling pathways. Remarkably, we identified S. japonicum homologues of GTP-binding protein beta and alpha-I subunits in the yeast mating pathway, which might be involved in the regulation of different life stages and female sexual maturation processes as well in schistosomes. In addition, several pathway member genes, including ERK, JNK, Sja-DSP, MRAS and RAS, were determined through quantitative PCR analysis to be expressed in a stage-specific manner, with ERK, JNK and their inhibitor Sja-DSP markedly upregulated in adult female schistosomes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

[Recent advances on the study between steroids and brain function].

It is vital for steroid hormones synthesized in the gonad gland, adrenal gland and placenta to the development and physiological metabolism of the body. In particular, its regulatory effect on brain functions has attracted more and more attention, as nearly all the steroid hormones can be synthesized de novo in the brain. This means steroids derived from brain and peripheral gland can modulate the physiology and pathology of the brain reciprocally and importantly on many aspects such as learning and memory, synaptic transmission, neuroprotection, neurodegenerative diseases (especially Alzheimer's disease), emotion, stress, and menstrual-cycle-linked disorders. In the present review, some new advances are summarized.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of preoperative use of long-acting octreotide on growth hormone secreting pituitary adenoma and transsphenoidal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether somatostatin analog octreotide long acting release (LAR) shrinks growth hormone (GH) secreting adenomas, and improves the results of subsequent transsphenoidal surgery. METHODS: Seventeen previously untreated active acromegalic patients with pituitary adenomas were treated with LAR (30 mg intramuscular injection every 28 days) for 3 months prior to transsphenoidal surgery. Clinical reaction, mean GH secretion, and tumor volume were measured under basal conditions and after LAR treatment. RESULTS: Presurgical treatment improved acromegaly symptoms and induced a significant reduction of GH under the 5 ng/mL limit in microadenoma (P < 0.05), while only 18.2% (2/11) in macroadenoma. Meanwhile, tumor shrinkage occurred in 58.8% (10/17) patients, with 1 case in the microadenoma group. All marked shrinkage (> 25%) occurred in the macroadenoma group. Statistical analysis showed tumor shrinkage caused by LAR was greater in macroadenoma group than that in microadenoma group (P < 0.05). During operation, adenoma was soft in 15 cases, with the exception of 2 cases in which the soft tumor was divided by fibrous septa, but all tumor removal was smooth. CONCLUSIONS: A short term administration of preoperative LAR may induce a significant decrease in GH-secretion level and adenoma volume. Presurgical use of octreotide LAR improves surgical results especially in macroadenomas.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed2004

[Clinical study on treatment of advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer by guben xiaoliu capsule].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of Guben Xiaoliu Capsule (GXC) in treating advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight NSCLC in-patients were divided into the integrative treated group [Group A, 54 patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) plus GXC], the TCM treated group (Group B, 96 patients treated with GXC alone) and the chemotherapeutic group (Group C, 48 patients treated with CT alone). Randomized controlled observation was applied to the Group A and C. The clinical effect, quality of life (QOL), adverse reaction and survival period in the three groups were observed. RESULTS: The immediate effective rate (CR + PR) in the Group A, B and C was 16.7%, 3.1% and 8.3%, respectively, in the Group A, it was better than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The improvement of clinical symptoms and QOL in the Group A and B were superior to those in the Group C (P < 0.05). The median survival rate in the three groups was 12, 15 and 9 months, respectively, the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate in Group A being 57.4%, 11.1% and 3.7%, respectively, in Group B, 67.7%, 9.4% and 3.1%, and in (Group C, 39.6%, 4.2% and 0, respectively, comparison between the three groups showed that the survival rates in the former two were higher than those in Group C (P < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence rate and degree of CT toxicity were milder in Group A than those in Group C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: GXC has definite effect in treating NSCLC, it could raise the QOL, prolong the survival period of patients, also reduce the toxicity and enhance the efficacy of CT.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Spatial and temporal patterns of expression of Noggin and BMP4 in embryonic and postnatal rat hippocampus.

Recent studies indicate that bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP4) and Noggin not only play an important role in the early development of the nervous system, but may also play a role in postnatal central nervous system (CNS) development. In this study, we examined the relative levels and localization of Noggin and BMP4 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats of different developmental stages with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). RT-PCR showed that the temporal changes in the levels of expression of Noggin and BMP4 were different. The peak level of expression of Noggin mRNA was observed at embryonic day 13 (E13), subsequently gradually declined at 1-3 months (P1-3M) postnatal, and was detected only at a low level at P18M. In contrast, the expression of BMP4 mRNA increased gradually during embryonic development, reached a maximal level at 3 weeks (W) postnatal, and declined only slightly through P18M. In situ hybridization revealed that at embryonic stages, Noggin mRNA was localized throughout all hippocampal regions, whereas at early postnatal ages, Noggin mRNA was primarily localized in the anterior subiculum. At embryonic and early postnatal stages, no significant BMP4 mRNA expression was detectable in the hippocampus. At later postnatal ages, however, Noggin and BMP4 mRNA expression was observed in similar patterns. At 1-3 months postnatal, expression of BMP4 was observed mainly in the dentate gyrus and in the CA1-CA3 pyramidal cell layers. Lower hybridization signals were observed in the hilus and subiculum. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Noggin and BMP4 are expressed in embryonic and postnatal hippocampus, and that the temporal and spatial patterns of their expression are developmentally regulated. These data suggest that Noggin and BMP4 play important roles in hippocampal development.

Aging↗
PubMed2003

cDNA microarray analysis of gene expression profiles in human fibroblast cells irradiated with red light.

In this paper, the cDNA microarray technique was used to investigate the gene expression profiles of human fibroblasts irradiated by low-intensity red light. Proliferation assays showed that the fibroblast HS27 cells responded with a curve effect to different doses of low-intensity red light irradiation at a wavelength of 628 nm. An optimal dose of 0.88 J per cm2 was chosen for subsequent cDNA microarray experiments. The gene expression profiles revealed that 111 genes were regulated by the red light irradiation and can be grouped into 10 functional categories. Most of these genes directly or indirectly play roles in the enhancement of cell proliferation and the suppression of apoptosis. Two signaling pathways, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the platelet-derived growth factor signaling pathway, were found to be involved in cell growth induced by irradiation of low-intensity red light. Several genes related to antioxidation and mitochondria energy metabolism were also found to express differentially upon irradiation. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with the beneficial effects of red light irradiation in accelerating wound healing.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2003

Effect of antisense oligonucleotide of noggin on spatial learning and memory of rats.

AIM: To investigate the effect of antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) of noggin on rat spatial learning and memory. METHODS: Expression of noggin mRNA was measured by in situ hybridization method and the ability to spatial learning and memory was tested with Morris water maze. RESULTS: Compared with control rats, noggin mRNA positive neurons in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 region of hippocampus were markedly increased after the Morris water maze training (P<0.01). The increase of noggin mRNA positive neurons in hippocampus following maze training could be significantly blocked by icv injection of antisense noggin ODN, and the injection also impaired the learning and memory formation as compared to that in control rats. But the sense oligonucleotide (SODN) had no effect. CONCLUSION: Noggin, as an embryonic gene expressed in adult hippocampus, plays an important role in the process of learning and memory formation.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Propofol reduces infarct size and striatal dopamine accumulation following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion: a microdialysis study.

Acute cerebral ischemia is associated with an increased extracellular dopamine accumulation. Attenuation or prevention of excessive dopamine accumulation alleviates the cerebral ischemic damage. Propofol, an intravenous anesthetic, has been suggested to have neuroprotective properties. The effect of propofol on dopaminergic neurotransmitters is unclear. The in vivo microdialysis technique was used in this study to examine the effect of propofol on infarct size and striatal dopamine accumulation in rat model of temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion. Sixteen rats were fitted with a right striatal microdialysis probe. Ischemia was induced by inserting a 4-0 monofilament nylon suture into the middle cerebral artery. Propofol was intravenously infused in eight rats during ischemia (60 min) and reperfusion (60 min) at an average dose of 36 mg/kg/h. Control rats (n=8) received vehicle infusion. The infarct size was determined at the end of the experiment. Propofol significantly reduced infarct size, the median (interquatile range) value was 6.84% (7.68%), significantly lower than that in the control group, which was 28.04% (32.28%) (p<0.01). The middle cerebral artery occlusion significantly increased dopamine accumulation in the striatum. Propofol infusion significantly attenuated this middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced dopamine accumulation. The data demonstrate that propofol, when administered during ischemia and reperfusion, provides neuroprotection in our middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat model. The data also suggest that attenuated dopamine accumulation may be one of the factors contributing to the neuroprotective property of propofol.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

An effective procedure for the acylation of azaindoles at C-3.

Conditions for attachment of acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride, and chloromethyl oxalate to the 3-position of 4-, 5-, 6-, or 7-azaindoles were explored. Best results were achieved with an excess of AlCl(3) in CH(2)Cl(2) followed by the addition of an acyl chloride at room temperature.

Journal Article↗