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Biomedical subjects

C Huang

Publications and source records attributed to C Huang.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Feasibility of fluidized-bed bioreactor for remediating waste gas containing H2S or NH3.

Pseudomonas putida for H2S and Arthrobacter oxydans for NH3 were immobilized with Ca-alginate and packed inside glass columns to form fluidized-bed bioreactors. The feasibility of the lab-scale bioreactor for the treatment of H2S or NH3 was examined. Phosphate salt, being added to the nutrient solution as buffer solution, may chelate with Ca2+ in the Ca-alginate beads, resulting in the disintegration of gel structure. When the buffer capacity of the phosphate solution was over the critical point of 33.5 mM/pH, all calcium ions in the bead were released and beads were broken. Increasing liquid flowrate and inlet gas concentration favored to H2S and NH3 removal. Carbon source addition was essential and facilitated malodorous removal for this system. Removal capacity increased with inlet concentration. However, increasing pattern was dependent of H2S or NH3. The result clearly indicated that bioreactor was suitable to be applied for the industry of livestock farm for removing wastegas containing H2S or NH3.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Nursing home residents with HIV and anemia.

This research profiles nursing home residents who have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and anemia at the time of admission, utilizing the minimum data set (MDS). In addition, this article compares residents with HIV and anemia to other nursing home residents with HIV. These resident profiles include sociodemographic characteristics, health status measures, and special treatments and procedures received. This study analyzed 1,281 admission assessments for HIV residents with anemia and 3,832 admission assessments for other residents with HIV in the MDS between June 22, 1998 and January 17, 2000. A significantly greater percentage of HIV residents with anemia were female (38.6%) compared to other residents with HIV (27.9% female). Almost two-thirds of HIV residents with anemia and three-quarters of other residents with HIV received Medicaid coverage at the time of their admission to the nursing home. Approximately 3 of every 4 residents with HIV and anemia and other residents with HIV were from racial/ethnic minority groups. Significantly greater percentages of residents with HIV and anemia also had dementia, depression, pneumonia, hepatitis, renal failure, anxiety disorder, and cancer than other residents with HIV. These analyses demonstrate that at the time of admission to the nursing home, those residents with HIV and anemia were significantly more likely to have other diseases, infections, and health care conditions than other residents with HIV. In addition, HIV residents with anemia were significantly more likely to receive special treatments and procedures in the nursing home than other residents with HIV.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Oxidized frying oil up-regulates hepatic acyl-CoA oxidase and cytochrome P450 4 A1 genes in rats and activates PPARalpha.

Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and its component hydroxy fatty acids were shown to activate peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor alpha (PPARalpha) and gamma (PPARgamma). To test the hypothesis that lipid oxidation products in oxidized frying oil (OFO) can activate PPARalpha and up-regulate its target genes, a feeding experiment and a transactivation experiment were conducted. Based on a 2 x 2 factorial design, four groups of Sprague-Dawley male weanling rats were fed diets containing either high (20 g/100 g, HO and HF) or low (5 g/100 g, LO and LF) levels of oxidized frying soybean oil (HO and LO) or fresh soybean oil (HF and LF) for 6 wk. The OFO sample was prepared by frying wheat dough sheets in soybean oil at 205 +/- 5 degrees C for 24 h. OFO dose dependently and significantly increased (P < 0.05) mRNA of acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) and cytochrome P(450) 4A1(CYP4A1) in liver of rats. Dietary OFO also dose dependently increased liver microsomal CYP4A protein (P < 0.05). The activity of hepatic ACO of the HO group was sixfold that of the HF group (P < 0.05). Plasma total lipids, liver triglycerides, cholesterol and total lipids were reduced in rats fed the LO and HO diets (P < 0.05). Through the ligand binding domain of PPARalpha, the hydrolyzed OFO enhanced the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) reporter gene to a significantly greater extent (P < 0.05) than the hydrolyzed fresh soybean oil in a transactivation assay using a clone of CHO K1 cells stably expressing Gal4-PPARalpha chimeric receptor and UAS4-ALP reporter. The results support our hypothesis that dietary OFO, by activating PPARalpha, up-regulates the expression of PPARalpha downstream genes and alters lipid metabolism in rats.

Acyl-CoA Oxidase↗
PubMed2001

Actions and interactions of thyroid hormone and zinc status in growing rats.

Both thyroid hormone (triiodo-L-thyronine, T3) and zinc play important roles in growth and development. The T3 receptor is thought to require zinc to adopt its biologically active conformation. Some of the effects of zinc deficiency, therefore, may be due to loss of zinc from the T3 receptor and impairment of T3 action. This possibility was investigated in growing rats by examining the effects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism in zinc-deficient, pair-fed and control rats. Measurement of serum zinc and T3 confirmed the efficacy of the treatments. Zinc deficiency and hypothyroidism resulted in lower food intake and growth failure, but no interaction was observed between the two treatments. Individual tissue weights were influenced by thyroid status as expected, regardless of zinc status. Both dietary and hormonal treatments influenced serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in an interactive manner. IGF-I was reduced to a greater extent in zinc-deficient than in pair-fed rats compared with controls. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism reduced serum IGF-I, and a greater reduction due to hyperthyroidism was apparent in zinc-deficient rats. IGF binding proteins were also influenced by diet and thyroid status. The hepatic expression of mRNA S14 was assessed as a direct index of the nuclear action of T3, but its response was not influenced by dietary treatment. Although confirming the role of both T3 and zinc in the regulation of growth and the somatotrophic axis, the growth failure of zinc deficiency does not appear to be due to impaired T3 function.

Aging↗
PubMed2001

The G to C polymorphism at -174 of the interleukin-6 gene is rare in a Southern Chinese population.

Interleukin-6 is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Recently, a functional G to C polymorphism at position -174 of the promoter of the IL-6 gene has been described. We examined the -174 polymorphisms in 259 retired Chinese men from Guangxi province (all retired coal miners). Only one GC heterozygous and no CC homozygous variants were found. Our results suggest that the frequency of the C allele in this Chinese population is lower than in Caucasian and east Indian populations.

5' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2001

Role of brain angiotensin II on somatosensory-induced antinatriuresis in hypertensive rats.

The aim of this investigation was to compare the contribution of brain angiotensin II in mediating the transmission of a somatosensory stimulus within the brain to generate a renal sympathetic nerve-dependent antidiuresis and antinatriuresis in normotensive Wistar rats and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). In anesthetized Wistar rats, stimulation of somatosensory receptors by subcutaneous capsaicin increased blood pressure by 9%, had no effect on renal hemodynamics, but decreased urinary flow and sodium excretion by 30% to 40%. These antidiuretic and antinatriuretic, but not blood pressure, responses were absent after intracerebroventricular losartan administration to block angiotensin II type 1 receptors. By contrast, in the SHRSP, although subcutaneous capsaicin raised blood pressure and renal blood flow, neither glomerular filtration rate, urinary flow, nor sodium excretion changed, and this pattern of responses was unaffected after intracerebroventricular losartan. However, an intracerebroventricular infusion of angiotensin II increased basal blood pressure and fluid output, and the capsaicin challenge elicited vasopressor, antidiuretic, and antinatriuretic responses similar in magnitude to those observed in the Wistar rats. The capsaicin challenge in the SHRSP also caused a slowly developing, long-lasting fall in blood pressure and fluid excretion. These findings show that angiotensin II is a necessary component in the somatorenal reflex in normotensive rats but that endogenous angiotensin II is unable to exert this role in SHRSP.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2001

Insulin-induced cortical actin remodeling promotes GLUT4 insertion at muscle cell membrane ruffles.

Insulin stimulates glucose uptake by recruiting glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) from an intracellular compartment to the cell surface; this phenomenon is defective in type 2 diabetes. Here we examine the involvement of actin filaments in GLUT4 translocation and their possible defects in insulin resistance, using L6 myotubes expressing myc-tagged GLUT4. Insulin caused membrane ruffling, a dynamic distortion of the myotube dorsal surface. Fluorescence microscopy and immunogold staining of surface GLUT4myc coupled to backscatter electron microscopy revealed a high density of this protein in membrane ruffles. The t-SNAREs syntaxin4 and SNAP-23 were also abundant in these regions. Below the membrane, GLUT4 and the vesicular protein VAMP2, but not VAMP3, colocalized with the actin structures supporting the membrane ruffles. GLUT4myc externalization and membrane ruffles were reduced by jasplakinolide and by swinholide-A, drugs that affect actin filament stability and prevent actin branching, respectively. Insulin resistance generated by prolonged (24 hours) exposure of myotubes to high glucose and insulin diminished the acute insulin-dependent remodeling of cortical actin and GLUT4myc translocation, reminiscent of the effect of swinholide-A. We propose that GLUT4 vesicle incorporation into the plasma membrane involves insulin-dependent cortical actin remodeling and that defective actin remodeling contributes to insulin resistance.

Actins↗
PubMed2001

The glass-ionomer phase in resin-based restorative materials.

Glass-ionomer (GI) fillers are added to restorative materials, but it is unclear if they truly react with these materials. This TEM study evaluated the existence of the GI phase in a conventional GIC (ChemFlex), a resin-modified GIC (Fuji II LC), a giomer (Reactmer Paste), a compomer (Dyract AP), and a composite (SpectrumTPH), before and after water uptake. Wafers were stored at 100% RH for 24 hrs, or in water for 7 or 84 days. ChemFlex glass particles were surrounded by 300-nm-thick silica gel layers. In Fuji II LC, we found thinner hydrogel layers (100 nm) that became thicker upon water storage. No appreciable change occurred in Reactmer Paste. Only a very thin hydrogel layer occurred in Dyract AP, and none was seen in SpectrumTPH after water storage for 84 days. We conclude that the variable extent of the GI phase is determined by differences in the resin composition of the restoratives.

Biocompatible Materials↗
PubMed2001

Profiles of nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis using the minimum data set.

This paper profiles nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the time of admission, including sociodemographic characteristics, health status measures, and treatments received. Admission assessments from the Minimum Data Set are used to create these profiles of residents with MS. There are 9,013 admission assessments in the MDS for residents with MS between June 22, 1998 and January 17, 2000 analyzed for this study. Residents with MS are distinctly younger at admission than most nursing home residents, averaging 57.98 years of age. Recently admitted residents with MS are more physically dependent than other nursing home residents and tend to have limited range of motion and loss of voluntary movement About one in three newly admitted residents with MS had some degree of impaired cognitive function. Over one third of residents with MS were depressed at admission, yet only 11.7% of recently admitted residents with MS were evaluated by a licensed mental health specialist This prompts concem about the psychosocial well-being of MS residents in nursing homes.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2001

Changes and significance of circulating hepatocellular carcinoma cells in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma patients after combined treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes and significance of circulating hepatocellular carcinoma cells in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after combined treatment of transarterial chemo-embolization(TACE) and percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI). METHODS: We detected 19 blood samples from the recurrent HCC patients by nested RT-PCR to find out AFP mRNA before and after the treatment. RESULTS: There were 7 patients with AFP mRNA positive before treatment (36.8%), and none of patients with AFP mRNA positive after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Combined treatment of TACE and PEI can effectively eliminate circulating hepatocellular carcinoma cells and thereby prevent metastasis and recurrence of HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Expression of tumor suppressor genes p16, p21 and p53 in a pair of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with different metastasis potentials: Anip973 and AGZY83-a].

OBJECTIVE: In order to investigate the suppression effect of tumor suppressor genes in lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: p16 and p21 expression vectors were transfected into a pair of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with different metastasis potentials: Anip973(high metastasis potential)and AGZY83-a (low metastasis potential). In the mean time, AGZY83-a, Anip973, AGZY83-ap16 and Anip973p16 were infected with recombinant adenovirus encoding wild- type p53 gene. The suppression effects of these genes were evaluated by cell growth curve, MTT, cloning efficiency assay, flow cytometric analysis and TUNEL technique. RESULTS: Overexpression of p16 gene in Anip973 and AGZY83-a could only lengthen the G(1) phase while increased expression of p21 in both of the cell lines was associated with significant lengthening of G(1) phase, decreased proliferation potential and decreased cloning efficiency. High efficient expression of wild-type p53 gene in AGZY83-a, Anip973, Anip973p16 and AGZY83-ap16 inhibited the growth of these four kinds of lung cancer cells and killed the cells in the end. Apoptosis was detected in all the four kinds of cells. The suppression effect of p53 gene was higher in Anip973 and Anip973p16 than in AGZY83-a and AGZY83-ap16 while co-expression of p53 and p16 in this pair of cell lines inhibited the cells more efficiently as compared with the expression of p53 gene. CONCLUSION: Increased expression of p21 gene suppressed the lung adenocarcinoma cells by G(1) arrest and the co-transfection of tumor suppressor genes p16 and p53 into the lung adenocarcinoma cell line proved more effective in lung cancer gene therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2001

Liposomal-encapsulated chemotherapy: preliminary results of a phase I study of a novel liposomal paclitaxel.

Liposome encapsulation of antineoplastic drugs entered clinical testing in the late 1980s. As carriers for a variety of agents, liposomes can allow successful delivery of agents that may be subject to rapid degradation in the serum and can modify the toxicity profile. In general, liposomes have demonstrated an ability to attenuate toxicities by their different pharmacokinetic profile and pattern of distribution. Differences in the constitution of the liposome can greatly affect the pharmacokinetic profile resulting in different patterns of toxicity. Characteristics such as size, charge, composition, and integrity can affect performance of the liposome. Liposome encapsulation of doxorubicin has been shown to reduce cardiac toxicity. Preliminary data suggest that encapsulation of paclitaxel can greatly modify neurotoxicity without the need for cremephor.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

[Chemical characteristics of fresh snow in Mount Everest Region].

The chemistry of fresh snow samples collected in August and September, 1998 from Mount Everest was studied and compared with other fresh snow samples collected in different seasons in this region. The results indicated that major species in precipitation were very low in late summer in Mount Everest region and may be representative of the background of precipitation chemistry of remote regions in the wold. Chemical Characteristics of fresh snow in different seasons had distinct differences and they may reflect different moist source and climatic status. The precipitation in August and September was mainly come from Indian summer monsoon and in April and May it was influenced deeply by the dust of semi-arid and arid regions in central Asia. This indicates the precipitation in this region is climatic sensitively.

Calcium↗
PubMed2001

[The composition of PAHs in fly ash in Beijing].

The composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fly ash samples which were gathered from manufacturing district of Shijingshan district and residential quarters of Haidian district were analyzed using HPLC/MS technique. The differences of the contents of PAHs in fly ash samples from manufacturing district and residential quarters were compared. The changes of the contents of PAHs of different seasons were discussed. In this study 135 PAHs including 55 large PAHs whose molecular weights are greater than 300u were detected in fly ash sample from manufacturing district. HPLC/MS offset the deficiency of GC/MS which can not determine large PAHs directly and can reflect the distribution of PAHs in fly ash more roundly.

Carbon↗
PubMed2001

Transactivation of RARE and GRE in the cellular response to arsenic.

Arsenic compounds are a somewhat unique class of metals, which have been considered as both carcinogens and chemotherapeutic agents for cancers. Tumor promotion effects of arsenic are believed to be associated with its transactivational activities on transcription factors, such as AP-1 and NFkappaB, while the induction of cell apoptosis and differentiation by arsenic is considered to be a mechanism for the chemotherapeutic effects of arsenic. Here, we found that exposure of cells to arsenite and arsenate leads to transactivation of retinoic acid response elements (RARE) and glucocorticoid response elements (GRE) in mouse epidermal JB6 cells. These inductions occur in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, induction of RARE activity by arsenic was synergistically enhanced by co-treatment of cells with retinoic acid, while GRE activation by arsenic was not affected by combined treatment of cells with fluocinolone acetonide (FA). In consideration of the important role of RARE and GRE in induction of cell differentiation, we speculate that transactivation of RARE and GRE by arsenic may be involved in its induction of cell differentiation and anti-cancer activities in addition to its induction of apoptosis.

Animals↗