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Biomedical subjects

C Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to C Zhang.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[Expression of bcl-2 and Bax genes in facial neurons and their regulation of neuron apoptosis following facial neurotmesis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the expression changes of bcl-2 and Bax genes and their functions in facial neuronal apoptosis after amputating the facial nerve. METHODS: Rats were randomized into two groups, including the experimental and the control group. The changes of expression of bcl-2 and Bax genes in the facial neurons and facial neuronal apoptosis were observed after the facial nerve amputation using the methods of ABC immunohistochemical staining and TUNEL. RESULTS: The expression of bcl-2 and Bax genes and the apoptosis of facial neurons were significantly higher in the experimental group than those of the control group from the 3rd to 21st day after amputation, but the bcl-2/Bax significantly decreased compared with that of the control group. CONCLUSION: This indicated that bcl-2 and Bax might play an important regulation role in the process of facial neurons apoptosis following facial nerve amputation.

Animals↗

[Differentiated microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland in 45 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To offer therapeutic management for patients with microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland (TMC). METHOD: Forty-five patients with TMC were treated from 1993, including 10 males and 35 females. Homolateral total thyroidectomy + contralateral subtotal thyroidectomy + homolateral functional neck dissection was taken as routine. RESULT: Among 168 patients with differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid gland, 45 patients were TMC (26.78%). Homolateral metastasis of lymph node presented in 11 (24.44%) of the TMC patients. No operation complications. All patients were followed up. No recurrence, no death. CONCLUSION: The lymph node metastasis appears to be high. Homolateral total thyroidectomy + contralateral subtotal thyroidectomy + homolateral functional neck dissection was effective and essential.

Adult↗

[Surgical treatment and reconstruction for the patients with advanced-stage tonsillar cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the operative approach and reconstruction for the patients with advanced-stage tonsillar cancer. METHOD: 7 cases with advanced-stage tonsillar cancer were operated from Dec. 1994 to May 1999. Among them, 5 cases were operated through combined neck-mandible-oral cavity approach (CNMOCA) and with immediate reconstruction. Forearm free skin (FFS) flaps were applied in 3 cases. Pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMM) flaps were applied in 2 cases. 2 other cases were operated separately through approach of oral cavity or lateral pharynx. 6 cases were operated with radical neck dissection. RESULT: 5 cases who were operated through CNMOCA or with reconstruction were followed up from 1 year to 5 years and 3 months. They had not recurrence of tumor and complication. All had function recovery of speech. Swallowing or appearance is satisfactory in the 3 cases with FFS flaps. 2 Other cases died as recurrence of tumor in 1 year and 2 years and 10 months post-operation. CONCLUSION: CNMOCA is able to provide a good exposure method to remove the extensive tumors completely for the patients with advanced stage tonsillar cancer. It is necessary to reconstruct immediately for the patients.

Adult↗

[Survey on the fumonisins intake and the urinary Sa/So ratio of people suffered from a high incidence of esophageal cancer].

To explore the correlation between fumonisins and human esophageal cancer (HEC), the estimated fumonisin intake and the urinary sphinganine/sphingosine (Sa/So) ratio were investigated in the population with a high HEC incidence in the suburb of Hebi city, Henan province. Fumonisins were detected from 95 percent of corn samples in the endemic area, and the concentration of total fumonisins (fumonisin B1, B2 and B3) was in the range from 7.2 to 726.8 micrograms/kg. The estimated daily intake of fumonisins was in the range from 0 to 4.84 micrograms/(kg.d) in males, while from 0 to 4.04 micrograms/(kg.d) in females. Compared with the population in a low HEC incidence area, Suixian county, Henan province, the urinary Sa/So ratio of males in the endemic area was statistically significant higher, although no difference was observed in females. The results indicated that fumonisin might be one of the risk factors for the occurrence of HEC.

Adult↗

[Study of chemical constituents of essential oil from flowers of Mikania micrantha H.B.K].

The essential oil from flowers of Mikania micrantha H.B.K were extracted and its chemical constituents were analyzed by GC/MS. Forty-two compounds were identified and the main compounds with high contents were beta-cubebene (12.95%), allo-aromadendrene (11.67%), beta-caryophyllene (9.17%), 1H-inden-1-one, 5-(1, 1-dimethylethyl)-2, 3-(6.23%), beta-himaohalene (4.56%), trans-alpha-bergamotene (4.09%), limonene (3.68%), beta-ocimene (2.53%).

Azulenes↗

[Investigation on the value of applying interventional radiologic treatment in the management of advanced gynecological malignancies].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of applying interventional radiologic treatment (IRT) in the management of advanced gynecological malignancy. METHODS: Twenty-four historically confirmed advanced gynecological malignancy patients from September 1997 to June 1998 were included. After receiving internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy with Seldinger, the patients' tumor tissues were pathologically studied at different times. The tumor size was measured by ultrasonography two weeks after IRT. RESULTS: Before internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy, internal iliac arteriography showed that uterus artery was thickened and tortuous, the new vessels appeared and the tumors were stained. In some cases, the image of blood vessel-lake and arteriovenous shunt were seen in tumor tissues. Twenty-four hours after internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy, focal necrosis was observed in tumor cells, seventy-two hours after, the necrosis became more thorough. In regard to the tumor size, two patients were CR, nineteen patients were PR, and two patients were NC. Only one patient failed to respond to IRT. Chemotherapy side effects were slight. Patients' WBC returned normal within two weeks after chemotherapy. No complication happened. CONCLUSION: 1. Internal iliac arteriography has practical significance in assessing the tumor size and evaluating the therapeutic effects; 2. the internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy can reduce the tumor size, which prepares the patient in a better condition for operation. The most appropriate time for operation is two weeks after internal iliac arterial infusion chemotherapy. Even for the patient who is not suitable for operation, the reduction of the tumor size still can enhance the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy. 3. IRT is easy to perform, effective and with few slight side effects and complication. It is an effective way to save the patient's life.

Adult↗

[Differentiation of natural killer cells into two functional subsets: NKh1 and NKh2].

OBJECTIVE: To verify the presence of functional subsets of natural killer cells based on the cytokine production. METHODS: NK cells were purified and cultured in complete RPMI1640 medium in the presence of either IFN gamma + anti-IL-4(classical Th1 polarization) or IL-4 + anti-IFN gamma (classical Th2 polarization) for three days, and then were collected and detected for type I/type II cytokines by RT-PCR method. RESULTS: NK cells were purified from 15 healthy donors, over 70% purity of NK cells were determined by flow cytometry. NK cells in peripheral blood expressed high level of type I cytokines, mainly IFN gamma, but low level of type II cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-13, IL-4 was not produced by NK cells. Cells cultured in IFN gamma + anti-IL-4 condition exhibited significantly increased level of IFN gamma, unchanged IL-2, and decreased type II cytokines. Cells grew in IL-4 + anti-IFN gamma condition exhibited increased IL-10 and IL-13, and decreased IFN gamma expressions. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the cytokine production, NK cells may be divided into two functional subsets in the same manner as that of T lymphocytes(e.g. Th1/Th2): NKh1 and NKh2. The biological characterization and phenotypic marker are under investigate.

Cells, Cultured↗

[Serapharmacological effect of kangxian ruangan granula on the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antifibrotic mechanism of kangxian ruangan granula (KXRGG) at cellular level. METHOD: HSC were isolated from the normal rats by enzyme digestion and density gradient centrifugation, cultured, identified and subcultured. The medicated sera were prepared to incubated with the subcultured HSC. Sodium chloride sera and colchicines sera were taken as control groups. HSC viability was observed by 3H-proline; cell proliferation was measured with 3H-TdR incorporation and MTT colorimetric assay. RESULT: KXRGG medicated serum had no effect on the cellular shape and elevated 3H-proline incorporation (P < 0.01). Drug serum obviously inhibited 3H-TdR incorporation and MTT transformation (P < 0.01), and the latter had a drug concentration-dependent tendency. CONCLUSIONS: KXRGG can elevate cellular viability and has no toxic effect. The formula can inhibit the proliferation of HSC, which may be one of the cellular mechanisms of its antifibrotic action.

Animals↗

Stimulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and tyrosine phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor by hepatopoietin.

Hepatopoietin (HPO) is a novel human hepatotrophic growth factor, which specifically stimulates proliferation of cultured primary hepatocytes in vitro and liver regeneration after liver partial hepatectomy in vivo. Recently, the identification of the mitogenic effect of HPO on hepatoma cell lines and the existence of HPO-specific receptors indicate that HPO acts via its specific cell surface receptor. However, the molecular mechanism of HPO action is not fully elucidated. In this report, we examined the signal transduction events induced by HPO in hepatoma cell line (HepG2). Our results demonstrated that HPO induces phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in a rapid and transient manner. HPO stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Furthermore, we observed that both MAPK activation and the mitogenic effect of HPO on HepG2 cells were completely blocked by AG1478, a specific inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity. However, the effects of HPO were not antagonized by an EGFR-blocking antibody, mAb528, which blocks the interaction between epidermal growth factor and EGFR, indicating that stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR by HPO was not mediated by epidermal growth factor. In contrast, genistein, a general tyrosine kinase inhibitor, significantly attenuated the tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR in response to HPO. In conclusion, our results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR may play a critical role in MAPK activation and mitogenic stimulation by HPO.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Role of cortical tumour-suppressor proteins in asymmetric division of Drosophila neuroblast.

Cellular diversity during development arises in part from asymmetric divisions, which generate two distinct cells by transmitting localized determinants from a progenitor cell into one daughter cell. In Drosophila, neuroblasts undergo typical asymmetric divisions to produce another neuroblast and a ganglion mother cell. At mitosis, neural fate determinants, including Prospero and Numb, localize to the basal cortex, from which the ganglion mother cell buds off; Inscuteable and Bazooka, which regulate spindle orientation, localize apically. Here we show that a tumour-suppressor protein, Lethal giant larvae (Lgl), is essential for asymmetric cortical localization of all basal determinants in mitotic neuroblasts, and is therefore indispensable for neural fate decisions. Lgl, which itself is uniformly cortical, interacts with several types of Myosin to localize the determinants. Another tumour-suppressor protein, Lethal discs large (Dlg), participates in this process by regulating the localization of Lgl. The localization of the apical components is unaffected in lgl or dlg mutants. Thus, Lgl and Dlg act in a common process that differentially mediates cortical protein targeting in mitotic neuroblasts, and that creates intrinsic differences between daughter cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Glial cells contribute more to iron and aluminum accumulation but are more resistant to oxidative stress than neuronal cells.

Iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we examined neuronal and glial cells to clarify which contributes most to metal accumulation after internalization through the transferrin-independent iron uptake (Tf-IU) systems in primary neuronal and glial predominant (NP and GP) cells from rat cerebral cortex, which affect the accumulation of transition metals in a variety of cultured cells. Al more significantly upregulated the Tf-IU activity in GP cells than in NP cells. GP cells were more resistant to Fe and Al exposure than NP cells. However, a chemiluminescence analysis specific for reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed that ROS levels in Fe- or Al-loaded NP cells were twice as high as in Fe- or Al-loaded GP cells. Northern blot analysis and gel retardation assay showed that the Al and Fe exposure taken up by the cells suppress Tf receptor mRNA expression to a greater extent in GP than NP cells, indicating that Al and Fe more markedly accumulate in glial than in neuronal cells. These results suggest that glial cells rather than neuronal cells contribute to the metal accumulation and are more resistant to oxidative stress caused by metals than neuronal cells. The present study may help to explain the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in AD disorders caused by metal-generated oxidative stress.

Aluminum↗

Transgene and transposon silencing in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by a DEAH-box RNA helicase.

The molecular mechanism(s) responsible for posttranscriptional gene silencing and RNA interference remain poorly understood. We have cloned a gene (Mut6) from the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that is required for the silencing of a transgene and two transposon families. Mut6 encodes a protein that is highly homologous to RNA helicases of the DEAH-box family. This protein is necessary for the degradation of certain aberrant RNAs, such as improperly processed transcripts, which are often produced by transposons and some transgenes.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Expression of integrin alpha2beta1 in axons and receptive endings of neurons in rat, hairy skin.

Integrin alpha2beta1 has been considered as a mechano-chemical transducer in endothelial and muscle cells. However, little data is available to show whether integrins play a role in the process of mechanical transduction in peripheral mechanosensory neurons. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that cutaneous neurons express the extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor integrin alpha2beta1. Specifically, we show that integrins alpha2 and beta1 are co-localized with peripherin in the receptive endings of cutaneous neurons in rat, hairy skin. Integrin immunofluorescence was minimal along the axons of large diameter neurons. These results, together with findings by other investigators, provide evidence suggesting that integrin alpha2beta1 may be a linking agent between mechanical stress in the ECM and modulation of the neuronal response of mechanically sensitive neurons.

Animals↗

Werner protein recruits DNA polymerase delta to the nucleolus.

Werner syndrome is a Mendelian disorder of man that produces a number of manifestations resembling human aging. This disorder is caused by inactivation of the wrn gene, a member of the RecQ family of DNA helicases. The helicase and exonuclease activities of the Werner protein (WRN) suggest that it functions in DNA transactions, but the physiological function of WRN remains elusive. We present several lines of evidence that WRN interacts specifically with the p50 subunit of polymerase delta, the major DNA polymerase required for chromosomal DNA replication. P50, identified by yeast two-hybrid screening, interacts physically with the C terminus of WRN. Native WRN protein coimmunoprecipitates with p50 in a cellular fraction enriched in nucleolar proteins, and this immunocomplex also includes p125, the catalytic subunit of polymerase delta. In subcellular localization studies of cells transfected with WRN, p50 and p125 redistribute to the nucleolus and colocalize with WRN. These results suggest that one of the functions of WRN protein is to directly modify DNA replication via its interaction with p50 and abet dynamic relocalization of the DNA polymerase delta complexes within the nucleus.

Biological Transport↗