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Biomedical subjects

C Wang

Publications and source records attributed to C Wang.

At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources

[Studies on control of root rot on Panax notoginseng].

Chemical Control tests of pot, plot and field for Panax notoginseng root rot were conducted during 1995-1996. The results indicated that the chemical control is a effect measure to control rapidly occurring and spreading of Panax notoginseng root rot. It was the best treatment to coordinate use of bactericide and fungicide, obviously better than alone or mixed use of fungicide and also better than alone use of bactericide. In the pot and plot tests, the best coordinate treatment was the treatment of 10% phenazine plus 70% dexon plus 50% bavistin and plus water (1:1:500), the control effect was 70%; in the field test, the control effect of over 70% was also get with the treatment of 10% phenazine plus 70% dexon and plus small soil (1 Kg:1 Kg:150 Kg) per mu.

Benzenesulfonates↗

[Studies on the chemical constituents of the root of Pimpinella thellungiana].

Four compounds were isolated from the roots of Pimpinella thellungiana Wolff., their structures were identified as palmitic acid(I), 4-propenylphenol(II), pinoresinol(III), 2-methyl-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy berzo(d) hydrofuran-3-one(IV) by physicochemical constants and spectral analysis (UV, IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, 13C-1HCOSY, DEPT), IV of them is a new compound, Pharmacological tests showed IV has a hypotensive effect.

Furans↗

[Study of the inclusion compound of rutin with beta-cyclodextrin].

In order to improve the solubility of Rutin in aqueous solution and the stability, the inclusion compound of Rutin with beta-CD was manufacted by saturated aqueous solution method. The formation of the inclusion compound was confirmed by IR spectroscopy and differential scauning calorimetry. The content of Rutin in inclusion compound was determined by UV. The results indicated that the inclusion compound of Rutin with beta-CD was formed. Quantitative analysis demmonstrated that the molecular ratio of Rutin to beta-CD in the complex was 1:1 with the inclusion constant of 283.79 L/mol at 30 degrees C. The dissolubility of Rutin in water has added to 643.19 mg/L (20 degrees C).

Biological Availability↗

The overexpression of RHAMM, a hyaluronan-binding protein that regulates ras signaling, correlates with overexpression of mitogen-activated protein kinase and is a significant parameter in breast cancer progression.

RHAMM is an oncogene that regulates signaling through ras and controls mitogen-activated protein kinase [extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)] expression in embryonic murine fibroblasts. ERK is a dual-specificity kinase that controls expression of proteins relevant to tumorigenesis, proliferation, and motility. To assess whether RHAMM and ERK are involved in human breast tumor progression, we examined RHAMM, ras, and ERK expression in two cohorts of breast cancer patients using reverse transcription-PCR and immunocytochemistry. We show that overexpression of RHAMM in primary tumors of two patient cohorts was significantly prognostic of poor outcome in breast cancer progression. Furthermore, RHAMM overexpression occurred within subsets of tumor cells in the primary tumor, and this staining pattern was associated with lymph node metastases. The metastases exhibited a significantly higher level of staining for RHAMM than did the primary tumor. RHAMM expression strongly correlated with overexpression of both ras and ERK, although overexpression of either of these two signaling molecules was not by itself a prognostic indicator. These results identify a new parameter that is involved in lymph node metastasis of primary breast cancers and suggest that quantification of RHAMM overexpression may be a useful prognostic indicator for breast carcinoma progression.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the liver and pancreas.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver and pancreas is frequently performed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of lesion detection in these organs. The concept of using tissue-specific contrast media is to selectively enhance the normal parenchyma, but not lesions, so that the contrast between tumorous and normal tissue is increased, and lesion detectability improved. Mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP) has been developed as a hepatocellular-specific contrast agent, but uptake has also been found in pancreatic tissue. In this study the safety and diagnostic efficacy of MnDPDP were investigated in both healthy volunteers and in patients with liver and pancreatic tumors. In healthy volunteers (n = 8), dose-dependent enhancement in T1-weighted images was observed in the normal liver and pancreatic parenchyma after infusion of MnDPDP at doses of 5 and 10 mumol/kg. The maximal enhancement in the two dose groups was 77 and 110% in the liver, and 57 and 84% in the pancreas, respectively. The enhancement-over-time profiles demonstrated that the effective imaging window was about 2 h for the liver, and over 4 h for the pancreas. There was no measurable enhancement in brain structures protected by intact blood-brain barrier, and no changes of clinical importance were found in vital signs or in blood and urinary chemistry variables. Compared with unenhanced images (including T2-weighted images), significantly more lesions were detected on MnDPDP-enhanced T1 images in 82 patients with liver tumors (mostly metastases). Features such as rim enhancement and the enhancement in hepatocellular carcinomas can provide information for differential diagnosis. In a study on patients with pancreatic tumors, mainly adenocarcinomas (n = 21) and islet cell tumors (n = 19), two additional lesions were found in the MnDPDP-enhanced images. The contrast enhancement in the pancreatic parenchyma can vary greatly, depending on the site of the enhancing part of the organ in relation to a large tumor. The tumors of both origins were also enhanced post-contrast, but to a lesser degree than the normal pancreatic tissue. MnDPDP enhancement was investigated in 30 liver metastases from endocrine tumors in 13 patients. These lesions showed a signal increase of about 49% post-contrast, which lasted longer than that in the normal liver tissue. The findings may help to distinguish these tumors from other metastatic tumors. T1-weighted sequences of four types, including a spin-echo and three variants of fast gradient-echo sequences, and various parameter combinations, were investigated in healthy volunteers (n = 6), with the aim of finding the optimal sequence for MnDPDP-enhanced MRI of the liver and pancreas. The fat-and-water out-of-phase, fast field (gradient)-echo sequence was the best for imaging of both the liver and pancreas. The studies have shown that MnDPDP is safe when given as an infusion, and is effective as a liver- and pancreas-specific contrast medium, with improved lesion detection in MRI of these organs. It is also useful for the characterization of liver tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The effect of sevoflurane on spontaneous sympathetic activity, A delta and C somatosympathetic reflexes, and associated hemodynamic changes in dogs.

UNLABELLED: This study examined the effect of sevoflurane on spontaneous renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), A delta- and C-fiber-mediated somatosympathetic reflexes, and hemodynamic changes in anesthetized dogs. RSNA, and A delta and C reflexes evoked by electrical stimulation of the radial nerve were observed in multifiber recordings of efferent activity in renal sympathetic nerves. Sevoflurane was administered at 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% end-tidal concentrations for periods of 20 min. The mean A delta reflexes decreased by 20%, 39%, and 54% (P < 0.05 to < 0.01), and the C reflexes decreased by 38%, 62%, and 74% (P < 0.05 to < 0.01) at concentrations of 2%, 3%, and 4%, respectively. The relatively greater effect on C reflexes was significant (P < 0.05) and comparable with the effect of mu-opioids. There was no change in mean RSNA, heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO) up to 3% sevoflurane, but these decreased by 36%, 24%, and 13% (P < 0.05), respectively, at 4% sevoflurane. Sevoflurane 1%-4% caused a virtually linear reduction in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) from 7% (P < 0.05) to 44% (P < 0.05), together with a reduction in mean arterial pressure (MAP) that was significant for concentrations greater than 2%. The results indicate that sevoflurane causes a greater depression of C compared with A delta reflexes, and that the reduction in MAP was entirely due to a decrease in SVR up to 3%, whereas at 4% sevoflurane, reductions in sympathetic activity, HR, and CO also contributed its depressor effect. IMPLICATIONS: The relatively greater depressant effect of sevoflurane on C compared with A delta nociceptive somatosympathetic reflexes is similar to mu-opioids. The hypotensive effect of sevoflurane was significant at 2% concentration, whereas heart rate, cardiac output and sympathetic activity were reduced only at concentrations greater than 3%.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

Induction of cytokine messenger RNA transcripts in mouse macrophages by Listeria monocytogenes isolated from channel catfish.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether differences exist in induction and quantity of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)1 beta, and IL-10 mRNA transcripts when mouse J774A.1 macrophages are infected with Listeria monocytogenes, including 2 isolates originating from channel catfish, the wild-type virulent (EGD) strain, and a nonhemolytic strain (ATCC 15313). SAMPLES: Listeria monocytogenes isolates from kidneys or fillets of channel catfish were used to stimulate cytokine production from mouse macrophages. The RNA from the infected macrophages was collected. PROCEDURE: Four hours after infection with L monocytogenes, total cellular RNA was extracted from the J774A.1 cells and reversed transcribed to cDNA, which was amplified, using specific primers for TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, or IL-10. The specific amplified DNA fragments were detected on polyacrylamide gels and quantified, using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated ELISA. RESULTS: The wild-type hemolytic EGD strain and the 2 hemolytic catfish isolates of L monocytogenes induced higher amounts of TNF-alpha-, IL-1 beta-, and IL-10-specific mRNA in J774A.1 cells than did the nonhemolytic strain. CONCLUSIONS: Hemolysin-associated induction of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-10 cytokines may be related to survival and replication of L monocytogenes in macrophages. It also suggests that the PCR-mediated ELISA procedure is a sensitive test to quantify cytokines from cell cultures.

Animals↗

[Investigation of the genetic instability of tumor cells by transfection of RER+ cell lines with exogenous microsatellite sequence].

OBJECTIVE: Frequent alterations of microsatellite sequence of cancer cells were found recently in a substantial fraction of human cancers including hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer. This paper aimed to investigate the genetic instability of tumor cells by using microsatellite instability(MI) as the marker in vitro. METHODS: Two RER+ cell lines (replication error phenotype), RKO and HCT116 and one RER- cell line, sw480, were used as the hosts for transfection with an episomal plasmid, pCMV-CAR, containing an exogenous (CA)14 repeat which was inserted within the coding sequence of lacZ reporter gene and thus made lacZ misreading. The transfectant clones were selected and established by hygromicin. Expression and production of lacZ reporter gene of restored reading frame were detected with X-gal staining assay. RESULTS: After hygromicin selection, stable pCMV-CAR transfectant clones were established. It was shown that mutation of deletion of insertion within(CA)14 occurred in the transfectant RER+ cells but not in the RER-cells. The mutation restored normal reading frame of lacZ gene, and resulted in expression and production of bio-active beta galactosidase which was detected with X-gal staining. This feature of the transfectant clones was maintained during culture passages. CONCLUSION: The alterations of the exogenous(CA)14 repeat in the transfectant RER+ clones revealed genetic instability and complicated mutation status of cancer cells. It is suggested that the exogenous (CA)14 in transfectant clones could be a useful target sequence for monitoring the effects of environmental agents on MI of human cancer cells.

Cell Line↗

Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize Listeria monocytogenes from tissues of channel catfish for their ability to cause hemolysis and grow intracellularly in mouse macrophages. SAMPLES: 15 isolates from processed fillets and 15 isolates from the brain, spleen, and kidneys. PROCEDURE: Serotype and hemolytic activity of L monocytogenes isolates were evaluated, using plate agglutination and CAMP tests, respectively. Invasiveness of L monocytogenes was determined by inoculating each strain or isolate on J774A.1 macrophage cells. Infected cells were incubated for 0 or 3 hours and lysed; then 100 gli of the lysate was plated onto a brain heart infusion agar plate. Colony counts for each strain or isolate were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Of 30 isolates, 19 were serotype 1 and 11 were serotype 4. Mouse J774A.1 macrophages were inoculated with catfish isolates, a wild-type (EGD) or a nonhemolytic strain of L monocytogenes. Seventy-three percent (11/15) of isolates originating from catfish organs and 100% (15/15) of isolates originating from fillets were not significantly different from the wild-type EGD strain. The nonhemolytic L monocytogenes strain used as a negative control failed to replicate. Intracellular growth of all L monocytogenes isolates decreased after an additional 3-hour incubation period with medium containing 50 [microg/ml of gentamicin. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the wild-type EGD strain, most channel catfish L monocytogenes isolates were hemolytic, serotype 1 or 4, and were invasive for mouse J774A.1 macrophages. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: monocytogenes growth in mouse macrophages may serve as an in vitro model for determining virulence of isolates from food products or environments.

Animals↗

Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability in non-neoplastic mucosa from patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.

Microsatellite instability and allelic deletions of tumor suppressor genes have been observed frequently in tumors. Molecular pathogenesis of the development of dysplasia and carcinoma in ulcerative colitis is still unclear. In order to detect microsatellite alterations in ulcerative colitis, we analyzed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MI) on chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 12, and tumor suppressor gene loci, including p53, APC, and p16, of chronically inflamed, non-dysplastic epithelium after microdissection. Twelve of 13 (92%) cases showed LOH and/or MI at one or more loci. LOH at chromosome 3 and MI at chromosome 12 were observed in 50% and 62%, respectively. However, LOH at p53 and p16 was detected in only one case each. These results suggest that chronic inflammation may initiate microsatellite alteration, which subsequently transform ulcerative colitis to dysplasia or cancer. This finding provides information for the evaluation and treatment of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Journal Article↗

Dependence of the anti-chaperone activity of protein disulphide isomerase on its chaperone activity.

Protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) shows chaperone and anti-chaperone activities in assisting refolding of denatured and reduced lysozyme in redox Hepes buffer, but only chaperone activity in phosphate buffer and redox Hepes buffer containing 0.1 M NaCl. In non-redox Hepes buffer its anti-chaperone activity is very weak. PDI displays its anti-chaperone activity only for those substrates showing relatively low aggregation during refolding, and is strongly dependent on refolding conditions, of which ionic strength appears to be an important factor. The S-methylated PDI, fully active as a chaperone but devoid of isomerase activity, by itself shows only anti-chaperone activity, but reinforces rather than suppresses the chaperone activity of native PDI in the refolding of lysozyme. A fragment of PDI with the C-terminal peptide-binding sequence removed and devoid of chaperone activity does not show anti-chaperone activity in lysozyme refolding. It appears that the anti-chaperone activity of PDI is dependent on its chaperone activity.

Animals↗

Somatic mutations of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene in sporadic gastrinomas and insulinomas.

Gastrinomas and insulinomas are frequent in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). The MEN1 tumor suppressor gene was recently identified. To elucidate the etiological role of the MEN1 gene in sporadic enteropancreatic endocrine tumorigenesis, we analyzed tumors (28 gastrinomas and 12 insulinomas) from 40 patients for MEN1 gene mutations and allelic deletions. One copy of the MEN1 gene was found to be deleted in 25 of 27 (93%) sporadic gastrinomas and in 6 of 12 (50%) sporadic insulinomas. MEN1 gene mutations were identified in 9 of 27 (33%) sporadic gastrinomas and 2 of 12 (17%) insulinomas and were not seen in corresponding germ-line DNA sequence. A specific MEN1 mutation was detected in one gastrinoma and in the corresponding germ-line DNA of a patient who had no family history of MEN1. Somatic MEN1 gene mutations and deletions play a critical role in the tumorigenesis of sporadic gastrinomas and may also contribute to the development of a subgroup of insulinomas.

Adolescent↗

A mutant truncated protein disulfide isomerase with no chaperone activity.

A mutant human protein disulfide isomerase with the COOH-terminal 51 amino acid residues deleted (abb'a') has been expressed in Escherichia coli. Its secondary structures are very similar to those of the native bovine enzyme. The mutant enzyme shows neither peptide binding ability nor chaperone activity in assisting the refolding of denatured D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase but keeps most of the catalytic activities for reduction of insulin and isomerization of scrambled ribonuclease. It assists the reactivation of denatured and reduced proteins containing disulfide bonds, acid phospholipase A2, and lysozyme to different levels, which are significantly lower than those by the native bovine enzyme.

Animals↗

Role of ribosomes in reinitiation of membrane insertion of internal transmembrane segments in a polytopic membrane protein.

The topogenesis of membrane proteins with a single transmembrane (TM) segment is well understood. However, understanding the topogenesis and membrane assembly of membrane proteins with multiple TM segments (polytopic) is still incomplete. Recently, several studies on P-glycoprotein (Pgp) suggested that the topogenesis of polytopic membrane proteins is likely more complicated than anticipated. While studying the mechanism by which Pgp topogenesis is determined, we unexpectedly found that ribosomes or proteins associated with ribosomes are involved in regulating the membrane insertion and folding of Pgp during its translation. We discovered that when Pgp was translated by wheat germ ribosomes in vitro, TM3 could not reinitiate the insertion of the protein into microsomal membranes following the membrane insertion of TM1 and TM2. In contrast, TM3 could reinitiate membrane insertion when the protein was translated by rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes. These findings suggest that ribosomes or proteins associated with ribosomes play an important role in membrane insertion and folding of TM segments of Pgp and that rabbit reticulocyte and wheat germ ribosomes may use different mechanisms to control the membrane insertion of the same nascent peptide. We propose that ribosomes or proteins associated with ribosomes help reinitiate insertion of internal TM segments into the membrane by dissociation and reassociation with the protein-conducting channel in ER membranes.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Whole blood assay for examining lymphocyte blastogenesis of percichthyid bass (Morone) [corrected].

A simple and reproducible method was developed for the measurement of blastogenesis of peripheral blood lymphocytes using whole blood of hybrid bass (striped bass [Morone saxatilis] female x white bass [M. chrysops] male) stimulated with Concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin-P, lipopolysaccharide or pokeweed mitogen. Compared to traditional methods which use leucocyte separation procedures, whole blood culture is faster and less expensive. Only small aliquots of blood (10 microliters per culture well) were needed, which would be beneficial for sampling small fish as well as for taking multiple samples from single animals. Optimal culture conditions for hybrid bass, including mitogen concentration, incubation temperature and incubation period, were determined. This is the first report to demonstrate a blastogenic response of whole blood cells in fish.

Animals↗

Biphasic transitions of a hairpin hexanucleotide triplex DNA.

The conformational transitions (helix-coil transitions) of three hairpin triple helices, models 5'-(A-G)(3) + 5'-(T-C)(3)-T(4)-((br)C-T)(3) [CY], 5'-(A-G)(3) + 5'-(T-(br)C)(3)-T(4)-(C-T)(3) [YC] and 5'-(A-G)(3) + 5'-(T-(br)C)(3)-T(4)-((br)C-T)(3) [YY], are characterized in this work by UV spectroscopy. Melting of these triplexes is biphasic, and the profiles are used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters. The thermodynamic properties of the hairpin triplex are T(m) = 19.45 degrees C and DeltaH(vH) = 293.12 kJ mol(-1) for CY, T(m) = 22.85 degrees C and DeltaH(vH) = 256.63 kJ mol(-1) for YC and T(m) = 28.47 degrees C and DeltaH(vH) = 234.68 kJ mol(-1) for YY at pH 4.4. Those of the duplex are T(m) = 30.50 degrees C and DeltaH(vH) = 427.09 kJ mol(-1) for CY, T(m) = 32.96 degrees C and DeltaH(vH) = 374.47 kJ mol(-1) for YC and T(m) = 33.24 degrees C and DeltaH(vH) = 329.67 kJ mol(-1) for YY at pH 4.4. The distinct transitions of triplex to duplex and duplex to single strands are analyzed using the nearest-neighbor Ising model. Electrostatic effects on each conformation are also analyzed.

Journal Article↗