Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Liu

Publications and source records attributed to A Liu.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Alteration of limb and brain patterning in early mouse embryos by ultrasound-guided injection of Shh-expressing cells.

A basic limitation of the study of development in the mouse is the inaccessibility of the embryos, which are encased in the maternal uterus. We demonstrate the first use of ultrasound backscatter microscopy for guiding injections of cells and other agents into early stage mouse embryos. Cells were injected into the mouse neural tube cavity as early as 9.5 days post coitus (E9.5), and into the developing limb buds as early as E10.5. Furthermore, a cell-line engineered to express the secreted factor Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) was injected into early developing mouse brains or limbs. The Shh-expressing cells were found to induce ectopic expression of the Shh target genes Patched and Hnf3beta in the dorsal brain, and to alter digit patterning in the anterior limb bud. These results show that gene misexpression studies can be performed in mouse embryos using ultrasound-guided injection of transfected cells or retroviruses. In combination with the many available mouse mutants, this method offers a new approach for analyzing genetic interactions through gain-of-function studies performed in mutant mouse backgrounds.

Animals↗

Quantitative structure-activity relationships on 5-substituted terbenzimidazoles as topoisomerase I poisons and antitumor agents.

Several 5-substituted terbenzimidazoles were synthesized and evaluated as mammalian topoisomerase I poisons and for cytotoxicity against a human lymphoblastoma cell line, RPMI-8402. No correlation was observed between topoisomerase I poisoning activity and the Hansch pi value or the sigma meta and sigma para values associated with each substituent. These data suggest that electronic effects and relative lipophilicity of substituents at the 5-position of these terbenzimidazoles do not have a significant effect upon intrinsic topoisomerase I poisoning activity. There was, however, a good correlation between the relative pi values for the various substituents evaluated and cytotoxic activity. Experimentally determined log P values did not correlate well with either cytotoxicity or pi values. Capacity factors (log k') as determined by high pressure liquid chromatography did correlate well with the pi values of varied substituents and cytotoxicity. These data indicate that the relative lipophilic activity of substituents at the 5-position of these terbenzimidazoles can strongly influence relative cytotoxic activity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Monte Carlo-assisted voxel source kernel method (MAVSK) for internal beta dosimetry.

A method is described for the determination of patient-specific organ beta doses given a known cumulated internal radioactivity distribution. A voxel source kernel for 90Y analogous to the point source function was simulated. Dose to each organ of interest could then be estimated by convolving the voxel source kernel with the patient's 3-D volume with known radioactivity assigned to each voxel. The dose calculation on eight organs took less than 1 min per patient using a Sun Sparc10 workstation.

Humans↗

TGF-beta type II receptor in rat renal vascular development: localization to juxtaglomerular cells.

To further define the role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptors in renal vascular development, detailed immunohistochemical studies of TGF-beta receptor expression were performed from gestational day 15 through adulthood. On gestational day 15, TGF-beta type II receptor immunoreactivity was restricted to perirenal stromal and vascular cells. On gestational day 17 TGF-beta type II receptor immunoreactive stromal cells were observed within the kidney, with the same distribution as stromal alpha-smooth muscle actin and renin immunoreactive cells, and intense stromal TGF-beta type II receptor immunoreactivity continued through postnatal day 5. As vascular development progressed, TGF-beta type II receptor, alpha-smooth muscle actin and renin immunoreactivity became progressively restricted to small renal arteries and arterioles. Expression of TGF-beta type II receptors and renin was very intense in afferent glomerular arterioles during postnatal days 5 to 15, and then became progressively restricted only to juxtaglomerular cells in the mature kidney. TGF-beta type I receptor (ALK-5, ALK-1 and ALK-2) immunoreactivity was not detected in stromal or vascular elements during development or in the mature kidney. Intense TGF-beta type II receptor expression in renal stromal vascular smooth muscle cell precursors and developing blood vessels suggests a role for the TGF-beta type II receptors in the formation of the renal vascular smooth muscle compartment. The continued intense expression in juxtaglomerular cells argues for a role in renin synthesis and/or release. The absence of ALK-5, ALK-1, and ALK-2 in developing vascular smooth muscle and mature juxtaglomerular cells indicates that the canonical view of TGF-beta signaling may not hold in these locations.

Actins↗

Shear stress and the endothelium.

Shear stress and the endothelium. Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in vivo are influenced by two distinct hemodynamic forces: cyclical strain due to vessel wall distention by transmural pressure, and shear stress, the frictional force generated by blood flow. Shear stress acts at the apical cell surface to deform cells in the direction of blood flow; wall distention tends to deform cells in all directions. The shear stress response differs, at least partly, from the cyclical strain response, suggesting that cytoskeletal strain alone cannot explain it. Acute shear stress in vitro elicits rapid cytoskeletal remodeling and activates signaling cascades in ECs, with the consequent acute release of nitric oxide and prostacyclin; activation of transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)kappaB, c-fos, c-jun and SP-1; and transcriptional activation of genes, including ICAM-1, MCP-1, tissue factor, platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B), transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, cyclooxygenase-II, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). This response thus shares similarities with EC responses to inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, ECs adapt to chronic shear stress by structural remodeling and flattening to minimize shear stress. Such cells become very adherent to their substratum and show evidence of differentiation. Increased adhesion following chronic shear stress has been exploited to generate vascular grafts with confluent EC monolayers, retained after implantation in vivo, thus overcoming a major obstacle to endothelialization of vascular prostheses.

Animals↗

Pulmonary embolus in pregnant patients: survey of ventilation-perfusion imaging policies and practices.

PURPOSE: To assess the policies and practices of nuclear medicine facilities as regards ventilation-perfusion (V-P) imaging in pregnant patients suspected of having pulmonary embolus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surveys were mailed to physician-directors of 1,000 randomly selected facilities at which nuclear imaging studies are performed. Information gathered included use of V-P imaging in pregnant patients, written policies, informed consent procedures, and modifications of standard protocols. RESULTS: Of the 1,000 surveys mailed, 327 (33%) completed surveys were returned. Of these 327 respondents, 220 (67%) reported that they perform V-P imaging in pregnant patients suspected of having pulmonary embolus. Of these 220 respondents, 115 (52%) routinely obtain informed consent, and 170 (77%) modify their standard V-P imaging protocol for pregnant patients. The most common modification (135 [79%] of 170 respondents) was reduction of the perfusion agent dose. Reported practice patterns for written policies, informed consent, and modifications did not show statistically significant trends among respondents in varying practice settings or geographic locations. CONCLUSION: Most respondents perform V-P imaging in pregnant patients suspected of having pulmonary embolus, with considerable variability in their policies and practices.

Data Collection↗

Changes in mechanical strength of intramuscular connective tissue during postmortem aging of beef.

We studied changes in mechanical strength during postmortem aging of bovine semitendinosus muscle using intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) preparations from muscle stored at 4 degrees C. In the preparation, muscle fiber elements were removed, leaving a virtually intact structure of the endomysium and perimysium. The shear-force value of the IMCT preparation remained unchanged up to 10 d postmortem and decreased linearly thereafter. The yield of the perimysial fraction, which was measured as an indicator of mechanical properties of the perimysium, remained almost unchanged up to 14 d postmortem, and decreased gradually thereafter. These results suggest that the mechanical strength of the intramuscular connective tissue changes slowly during postmortem aging of beef; it remains almost unchanged for up to 10 d postmortem and progressively decreases thereafter. Thus, intramuscular connective tissue seems to affect beef tenderization in extended aging.

Animals↗

Two new in vitro calcification systems showing the higher calcifiability of enamel proteins than dentin and bone matrices.

One of the difficulties in simulating in vivo calcification by in vitro experiments is how to prepare and apply a suitable calcifying solution. We have previously developed an entirely new model system consisting of 40% acrylamide gel blocks that contains matrix proteins and is immersed in fetal calf serum at 37 degrees C. (40% gel system) for 18 hr (Connect. Tissue Res., 33, 185, 1995). The gels were analyzed for immobilized calcium. In this system bovine enamel proteins (0.1% in the gel) showed the highest calcifiability among the tested matrices, followed by insoluble bovine dentin, bone and skin collagens. The 40% gel system provides a barrier for high molecular weight inhibitor molecules in the body fluid. The new calcifying system developed in this study consists of the matrix protein sealed in dialysis tubing within a glass chromatography column that was eluted with a calcifying solution. In this system (dialysis tubing system), again the enamel protein showed higher calcifiability than dentin, bone and skin collagens. It was also shown that enamel proteins became not only a reversible opaque gel, but also a relatively-irreversible coagulant, if the solution contained calcium and phosphate ions at concentration below saturation (1 mM calcium and 1 mM phosphate). With both systems combined, deposition and crystal growth of minerals in enamel proteins will be better understood than with previous methods.

Acrylic Resins↗

[Four-year follow-up and molecular epidemiologic investigation of intrafamilial transmission of HCV infection].

OBJECTIVE: To study the intrafamilial transmission of HCV infection. METHODS: Four-year follow-up and molecular epidemiologic investigation of HCV infection in a village was carried out. The diversity of HCV core region was analysed by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction, Okamoto genotyping method, and single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP). RESULTS: The incidence of positivity of anti-HCV and -HCVRNA raised from 21.30% (75/352) to 43.18% (152/352). There were 42 families with two or more members serological positive for anti-HCV and/or -HCVRNA. There were a 3.46-fold increase of intrafamilial propagation of HCV infection in the past 4 years. HCV genotyping by Okamoto method showed that 90.67% (136/150) belonged to Type 1b/II, two cases (1.33%) belong to type 2a/III and three cases (2.00%) were co-infection of both types. Comparison of SSCP patterns revealed that the SSCP of HCV cDNA was identical among members of the same family, but the single strand conformation of HCV cDNA exhibited polymorphism patterns in different families. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the cause of marked increase of HCV infection rate in this village in a 4-year period is mainly because of intrafamilial propagation. SSCP is more feasible for molecular epidemiologic investigation of HCV infection than genotyping.

Adolescent↗

[A comparative study on the risk factors for the incidence of tongue cancer].

The risk factors for the incidence of tongue cancer were analyzed with case study. The result showed that oral leukoplakia (OR = 8.50) residual roots of oral teeth (OR = 8.50), eating hot foods (OR = 13.0) and eating fire-roasted foods (OR = 3.5) were the main risk factors for the occurrence of tongue cancer. Eating fresh fruits (OR = 0.01) was usually helpful to the decrease in the predisposition of tongue cancer. It suggested that oral precancerous lesions and mouth diseases should be cured early and good life behavior must be developed in order to prevent the incidence of tongue cancer.

Case-Control Studies↗

[Morphologic changes of hippocampal neurons irradiated with gamma knife].

OBJECTIVE: To study the early radiobiological response of Gamma knife to the cultured hippocampal neurons in vitro. METHODS: The light and electron microscopy were used to see the Gamma knife irradiated neurons of rat. RESULTS: Degenerated neurons showed swelling and refrangibility weakening or disappearance of soma, pellet-like changes of cytoplasm, thickening and breaking of processes under phase-contrast inverted microscopy. Lesions with swelling of soma and fold vanish on cell surface, enlargement of volume and rapture of membrane, the sparse of network among the cells, thickening and breaking of processes were observated under scanning electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of the insulted neurons showed irregular nuclei and concavity of nucleus membrane, a lot of swelling or condensation of mitochondria, separation of ribosome and neurofilament, and vacuolated changes of cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: The effect on Gamma knife irradiated neurons is similar to that of normal brain tissues. There is a dose-response relationship at early stage. The study indicates that low-dose irradiation can cause damage to cells.

Animals↗

[A multiple variable analysis about the risk factors of breast cancer in women].

A comprehensive investigation to the risk factors of breast cancer was carried out in 146 pairs of women subjects, with the method of 1:1 matched case-control study, and of logistic regression analysis and principal component analysis. As a result, a regression equation which includes 5 independent variables has been established by logistic regression analysis; Ten principal components were extracted from 22 risk factors of breast cancer through principal component analysis, and the cumulative contribution of variances of the 10 principal components is 64.8%. The result combining the mono-factor analysis and the multiple variables analysis indicated that the principal risk factors of breast cancer are cadre occupation, the age of primiparity and late marriage, more intake of salted meat and sausage, passive smoking, having the history of family tumor, of breast benign tumor, and of the mastadenitis; but the more number of giving births, longer period of time of lactation, more vegetable intake, and taking more vitamin may have preventive effect for breast cancer.

Adult↗

[A research for basic properties of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in normally hearing subjects].

With ILO-92 Otodynamics Analyzer, distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) at the 2 f1-f2 frequency were recorded from 86 normally hearing ears in response to four groups of different primary levels (L1 = L2 = 75 dB SPL; L1 = L2 = 65 dB SPL; L1 = L2 = 60 dB SPL; L1 = 65 dB SPL, L2 = 50 dB SPL). The average DPOAEs-gram demonstrated a bilobed contour with two peaks at approximately 1.5 kHz and 5 kHz and "notch" between 2.5 kHz and 3 kHz. Moreover, the contour of DPOAEs-gram had no obvious changes with sex, ear or primary stimulus levels differences. While the primary levels increased, the amplitude of DPOAEs gradually increased, which was about 55-65 dB SPL below the primary levels. At each frequency from 1-6 kHz, statistical analysis showed that there existed significantly different DPOAEs level under four groups of different primary stimulus levels.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

[Treatment of old femoral neck fracture with implantation of a vascularized fibular graft].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the healing of old femoral neck fracture treated with transplantation of vascularized fibula graft accompanied with lag screw, and rehabilitation of and precaution against ischemic necrosis of femoral head. METHOD: Vascularized fibula autograft was transplanted to the anterolateral side of the femoral neck with an internal fixator of lag screw. Fibular artery and vein were anastomosed with lateral circumflex artery and vein. RESULT: 186 of 229 cases subjected to systemic X-ray films and function follow-up (3 to 15 years). The percentage of fracture healing was 93.0% the sulass rate 86.5%. CONCLUSION: Fibula with blood supply and compressed screw have a combined fixation effect of the old femoral neck fracture. Fibula is solid enough for supporting the femoral head and preventing it from collapse. Vascularized fibular grafting provides blood supply to the affected femoral head and neck, promoting femoral head restoration and reconstruction.

Adolescent↗

[Analysis of the properties of plasma produced by pulsed laser ablation of metal Al at different ambient pressures].

A time and space resolved diagnostic technique was used to study the properties of plasma produced by a pulsed laser on an Al target irradiated at different ambient pressures. The velocities of projected particles were measured. The projected ranges for 1-10keV AI2+ ions ejecting into ambient gas at different pressures were calculated in theory. The calculated results can explain the observed experimental phenomena successfully.

English Abstract↗

Dose escalation trial of indium-111-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen chimeric monoclonal antibody (chimeric T84.66) in presurgical colorectal cancer patients.

UNLABELLED: Chimeric T84.66 (cT84.66) is a high-affinity (1.16x10(11) M(-1)) IgG1 monoclonal antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The purpose of this pilot trial was to evaluate the tumor-targeting properties, biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of 111In-labeled cT84.66 as a function of administered antibody protein dose. METHODS: Patients with CEA-producing colorectal cancers with localized disease or limited metastatic disease who were scheduled to undergo definitive surgical resection were each administered a single intravenous dose of 5 mg of isothiocyanatobenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-cT84.66, labeled with 5 mCi of 111In. Before receiving the radiolabeled antibody, patients received unlabeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-cT84.66. The amount of unlabeled antibody was 0, 20 or 100 mg, with five patients at each level. Serial blood samples, 24-hr urine collections and nuclear images were collected until 7 days postinfusion. Human antichimeric antibody response was assessed up to 6 mo postinfusion. RESULTS: Imaging of at least one known tumor site was performed in all 15 patients. Fifty-two lesions were analyzed, with an imaging sensitivity rate of 50.0% and a positive predictive value of 76.9%. The antibody detected tumors that were not detected by conventional means in three patients, resulting in a modification of surgical management. Interpatient variations in serum clearance rates were observed and were secondary to differences in clearance and metabolic rates of antibody and antibody:antigen complexes by the liver. Antibody uptake in primary tumors, metastatic sites and regional metastatic lymph nodes ranged from 0.4% to 134% injected dose/kg, resulting in estimated 90Y-cT84.66 radiation doses ranging from 0.3 to 193 cGy/mCi. Thirteen patients were evaluated 1-6 mo after infusion for human antichimeric antibody, and none developed a response. No major differences in tumor imaging, tumor uptake, pharmacokinetics or organ biodistribution were observed with increasing protein doses, although a trend toward increasing blood uptake and decreasing liver uptake was observed with increasing protein dose. CONCLUSION: Chimeric T84.66 demonstrated tumor targeting comparable to other radiolabeled intact anti-CEA monoclonal antibodies. Its immunogenicity after single administration was lower than murine monoclonal antibodies. These properties make 111In-cT84.66, or a lower molecular weight derivative, attractive for further evaluation as an imaging agent. Yttrium-90 dosimetry estimates predict potentially cytotoxic radiation doses to select tumor sites, which makes 90Y-cT84.66 also appropriate for further evaluation in Phase I radioimmunotherapy trials. Although clinically important changes in biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and tumor targeting with increasing protein doses of 111In-cT84.66 were not demonstrated, the results do suggest that antibody clearance from the blood is driven by hepatic uptake and metabolism, with more rapid blood clearance seen in patients with liver metastases. These patients with rapid clearance and potentially unfavorable biodistribution for imaging and therapy may, therefore, be a more appropriate subset in which to evaluate the role of administering higher protein doses. This underscores the need to further identify, characterize and understand those factors that influence the biodistribution and clearance of radiolabeled anti-CEA antibodies, to allow for better selection of patients for therapy and rational planning of radioimmunotherapy.

Adult↗

Expression patterns of costimulatory molecules on cells derived from human hematological malignancies.

In order to elucidate the possibility of costimulatory molecules-mediated immuno or immuno-gene therapy for human hematological malignancies, we analyzed 30 hematopoietic cell lines and cells obtained from 48 patients with hematological malignancies for the expression of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 and CD86. The 30 hematopoietic cell lines were composed of 4 cell lines derived from the patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), 3 from Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL (Ph1+ALL), 8 from acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), 3 from acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), 8 from chronic myeloid leukemia at blast crisis (CML-BC), 3 from Burkitt's lymphoma and one from follicular cell lymphoma. The expression of CD80 or CD86 was frequent on cell lines derived from the patients with CML-BC or Burkitt's lymphoma, while it was rare on cell lines from T-ALL. Subsequently we analyzed the cells obtained from 48 patients with hematological malignancies, which consisted of 6 samples from patients with ALL, 30 from AML, 2 from CML-BC, 3 from B-cell lymphoma and one from each acute mixed leukemia (AMixL), adult T cell leukemia (ATL), T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGL leukemia), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-RAEB in T, multiple myeloma (MM) or T-cell lymphoma. Among all the 48 cases, all cases except one case with CLL and two with B cell lymphoma were demonstrated to be negative for CD80 on the neoplastic cells. CD86 and HLA-DR were shown to be expressed in 50% and 88% of total 48 cases respectively. In 30 AML samples, CD86 was positive in 15 cases (50%), which was sharply in contrast with the finding that CD80 was not detected in any AML samples. HLA-DR was expressed in 25 AML samples (83%). We also treated seven human hematopoietic cell lines with IFN-gamma, IL-12 or IL-15 and observed whether these cytokines could induce or enhance the expression of CD40, CD54, CD58 and HLA-DR as well as CD80 and CD86. The present study demonstrated that the expression of CD86 could be upregulated not only by IFN-gamma, but also by IL-12 or IL-15 in some cell lines. These findings suggested the possibility that the absence of CD80 on neoplastic cells may be associated with the lack of efficient anti-tumor immunity in most patients with hematological malignancies and that the immuno or immuno-gene therapy manipulating the expression of costimulatory molecules such as CD80 may be a useful treatment modality for hematological malignancies.

Adult↗