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D Q Wang

Publications and source records attributed to D Q Wang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Freeze-drying of proteins from a sucrose-glycine excipient system: effect of formulation composition on the initial recovery of protein activity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of sucrose-glycine excipient systems on the stability of selected model proteins during lyophilization. Recovery of protein activity after freeze-drying was examined for the model proteins lactate dehydrogenase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in a sucrose-glycine-based excipient system in which the formulation composition was systematically varied. In a sucrose-only excipient system, activity recovery of both model proteins is about 80% and is independent of sucrose concentration over a range from 1 to 40 mg/mL. When both sucrose and glycine are used and the ratio of the 2 excipients is varied, however, activity recovery decreases in a pattern that is consistent with the inhibition of activity recovery by glycine crystals, despite the presence of an adequate amount of sucrose to afford protection. Annealing of sucrose-glycine formulations causes a small but significant decrease in activity recovery relative to unannealed controls, whereas no annealing effect is observed with sucrose-only formulations. Addition of 0.01% polysorbate 80 to the formulation resulted in complete recovery of activity, irrespective of the sucrose-glycine ratio or annealing. Addition of the same concentration of polysorbate 80 to the reconstitution medium caused an increase in activity recovery for each formulation, but the overall pattern remained unchanged. The data are consistent with an interfacial model for lyophilization-associated loss of protein activity involving denaturation at a solid/freeze-concentrate interface.

Animals↗

Investigation of freeze-drying sublimation rates using a freeze-drying microbalance technique.

This study was to investigate the effects of different freeze-drying factors on the rate of sublimation. The experiments were carried out in a custom-built freeze-drying microbalance to accurately monitor the sample temperature and control the chamber pressure. Twenty-four experiments were conducted based on a full factorial design by changing four factors: freezing rate (fast freezing or slow freezing), chamber temperature (35, 0, or -35 degrees C), chamber pressure (30 or 1000 mTorr), and the presence or absence of an annealing process. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a tetrameric protein, was selected as a model protein for this study. The statistical analysis of the experimental results revealed that chamber temperature, analogous to the shelf temperature, in this experiment system, had the greatest impact on the sublimation rate. High chamber temperature resulted in high sublimation rate, regardless of the chamber pressure and thermal history of the sample. Chamber pressure was an important factor affecting the sublimation rate. In addition, both chamber temperature and chamber pressure had significant impact on sample temperature during freeze-drying. Annealing the samples was the most critical step to preserve good freeze-dried cake structure.

Air Pressure↗

Effect of collapse on the stability of freeze-dried recombinant factor VIII and alpha-amylase.

Recombinant Factor VIII (rFVIII) and alpha-amylase were used as model proteins to examine the effect of freeze-drying process conditions on the long-term stability of these proteins as freeze-dried solids. The same sucrose/glycine formulation was used for all treatments. Three freeze-drying protocols were used-an "aggressive" and a "conservative" cycle that both produced pharmaceutically acceptable product, and a protocol that produced a collapsed matrix. For rFVIII, there was no difference in the biological activity versus the time profile for product freeze-dried under the three different conditions when stored at 5 or 25 degrees C. At 40 degrees C, however, the stability of the collapsed product appeared to be better than that of product freeze-dried with no collapse. Also, the level of residual moisture in the collapsed product was higher than that of the product with no collapse. For alpha-amylase, there was no significant difference in the stability profile at any of the temperatures over the time course of the study. The results support the conclusion that collapse is not necessarily detrimental to the long-term stability of freeze-dried proteins.

Animals↗

Characterization of diatomaceous silica by Raman spectroscopy.

The network characteristic of a selection of diatomaceous silica derived from China has been investigated using Raman spectroscopy. Before any thermal treatment of the sample, two prominent bands of 607 and circa 493 cm(-1) are resolved in the Raman spectra of diatomaceous silica, corresponding to the (SiO)3-ring breathing mode of D2-line and the O3SiOH tetrahedral vibration mode of D1-line, respectively. This is more similar to the pyrogenic silica rather than the silica gel. For the latter, to obtain a (SiO)3-ring, the sample must be heated between 250 and 450 degrees C. Significant difference is also found between the diatomaceous silica and other natural silicas, e.g. in the Raman spectra of sedimentary and volcanic opals, neither D1 nor D2 band is detected in previous reports.

China↗

Sex chromosomes in the spiny eel (Mastacembelus aculeatus) revealed by mitotic and meiotic analysis.

Lower vertebrates like fish exhibit tremendous diversity in sex determination. There are wide interplays between environment-dependent sex differentiation ranging from natural hermaphroditism to sex reversal and genetic sex determination. Diverse systems of male and female heterogamety coexist in fish and sex chromosomes are rarely distinguishable in morphology. Here we show that the spiny eel ((Mastacembelus aculeatus) of the Perciformes, has evolved highly heteromorphic X and Y chromosomes. The metacentric X and Y chromosomes are the largest among 24 homologous pairs, differ from each other in size and morphology, and become distinct after C-banding because of conspicuous heterochromatin blocks which exhibit alternate distribution around the centromeric region. Chromosome painting using probes from the microdissected X chromosome revealed sequence homology between X and Y. During the pachytene stage of meiosis the X and Y form a bivalent. However, their synapsis is delayed which is particularly evident in one terminus. Therefore, the X and Y have resulted from a pericentric inversion in the Y. We conclude that M. aculeatus represents an example of a highly advanced stage of sex chromosome evolution in fish.

Animals↗

Phenotypic characterization of Lith genes that determine susceptibility to cholesterol cholelithiasis in inbred mice: soluble pronucleating proteins in gallbladder and hepatic biles.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gallstone susceptibility is high in C57L inbred mice (males > females) and low in AKR mice, related to variant lithogenic (Lith) genes. We examined the relationship between biliary crystallization-promoting proteins and gallstone susceptibility. METHODS: Biliary protein and lipid concentrations were determined at 0, 7,14, 21, 28 and 56 days on a lithogenic diet. RESULTS: Protein and soluble mucin concentrations in gallbladder biles increased markedly in males, but remained low in females of both strains and correlated with the cholesterol saturation index (CSI). In all groups, IgA and IgM concentrations decreased initially, but increased at later stages. There were no consistent changes in IgG concentrations, but aminopeptidase-N levels were higher in AKR than in C57L. During the lithogenic diet period, the CSI was > or = 2 in C57L males, approximately 1.5 in AKR males, and 1 in females of both strains. Taurodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate rose sharply in C57L, but remained low in AKR. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrophobic bile salts, cholesterol supersaturation, and possibly, high mucin concentrations are associated with gallstone formation. In vitro crystallization-promoting immunoglobulins and aminopeptidase-N do not appear to be major factors in murine gallstone pathogenesis, in line with the observation that genes encoding these proteins do not co-localize with any known Lith locus.

Animals↗

Characterization of murine monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor (TNF-MAb) formulation for freeze-drying cycle development.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to characterize the formulation of protein pharmaceuticals for freeze-drying cycle development. Thermal properties of a protein formulation in a freezing temperature range are important in the development of freezing and primary drying phases. Moisture sorption properties and the relationship between moisture and stability are the bases for the design of the secondary drying phase. METHODS: We have characterized the formulation of TNF-MAb for the purpose of freeze-drying cycle development. The methods include: DTA with ER probes, freeze-drying microscopy, isothermal water adsorption, and moisture optimization. RESULTS: The DTA/ER work demonstrated the tendency to "noneutectic" freezing for the TNF-MAb formulation at cooling rates of -1 to -3 degrees C/min. The probability of glycine crystallization during freezing was quite low. A special treatment, either a high subzero temperature holding or annealing could promote the maximum crystallization of glycine, which could dramatically increase the Tg' of the remaining solution. The freeze-drying microscopy further indicated that, after the product was annealed, the cake structure was fully maintained at a Tp below -25 degrees C during primary drying. The moisture optimization study demonstrated that a drier TNF-MAb product had better stability. CONCLUSIONS: An annealing treatment should be implemented in the freezing phase in order for TNF-MAb to be dried at a higher product temperature during primary drying. A secondary drying phase at an elevated temperature was necessary in order to achieve optimum moisture content in the final product.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Genetic factors at the enterocyte level account for variations in intestinal cholesterol absorption efficiency among inbred strains of mice.

Interindividual and interstrain variations in cholesterol absorption efficiency occur in humans and animals. We investigated physiological biliary and small intestinal factors that might determine variations in cholesterol absorption efficiency among inbred mouse strains. We found that there were significant differences in cholesterol absorption efficiency measured by plasma, fecal, and lymphatic methods: <25% in AKR/J, C3H/J, and A/J strains; 25-30% in SJL/J, DBA/2J, BALB/cJ, SWR/J, and SM/J strains; and 31-40% in C57L/J, C57BL/6J, FVB/J, and 129/SvJ strains. In (AKRxC57L)F1 mice, the cholesterol absorption efficiency (31 +/- 6%) mimicked that of the C57L parent (37 +/- 5%) and was significantly higher than in AKR mice (24 +/- 4%). Although biliary bile salt compositions and small intestinal transit times were similar, C57L mice displayed significantly greater bile salt secretion rates and pool sizes than AKR mice. In examining lymphatic cholesterol transport in the setting of a chronic biliary fistula, C57L mice displayed significantly higher cholesterol absorption rates compared with AKR mice. Because biliary and intestinal transit factors were accounted for, we conclude that genetic variations at the enterocyte level determine differences in murine cholesterol absorption efficiency, with high cholesterol absorption likely to be a dominant trait. This study provides baseline information for identifying candidate genes that regulate intestinal cholesterol absorption at the cellular level.

Animals↗

[Studies on protective effect of total flavonoids of Astragalus on liver damage induced by paracetamol].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA) on the liver against large doses of paracetamol in mice. METHOD: After oral administration of TFA or Vitamin C 1 h prior to giving large dose of paracetamol in mice, the changes of paracetamol-induced mortality rate, serum enzyme level and liver damage degree were observed. RESULT: Paracetamol produced 80% mortality, within 24 hours of the administration of a dose of 1000 mg.kg-1 to the mice. Pre-treatment of the animals with TFA (100 mg.kg-1) or Vitamin C (1,000 mg.kg-1) reduced the death rate to 20% and 0% respectively. There was also a significant rise in the serum enzyme level of alanine transaminase (P < 0.001) and the area of liver necrosis (P < 0.001), 24 h after paracetamol (400 mg.kg-1) treatment. With pre-treatment with either TFA or Vitamin C, there was an obvious dose-dependent decrease in ALT levels and the area of hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSION: TFA has potential protecting effect against the paracetamol-induced hepatic damage.

Acetaminophen↗

[Protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage using total flavonoids of Astragalus].

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of the protection by total flavonoids of Astragalus protection against paracetamol-induced hepatic damage. METHOD: Analysing paracetamol and its metabolites in mice urine by HPLC and studying the mechanism of anti-damage induced by paracetamol using experiment module of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. RESULT: Administration of large doses of paracetamol to C57BL/6J mice produced significant hepatic injury with marked elevation in serum ALT activity and severe hepatocellular necrosis. TFA showed a good protective capability against paracetamol-induced hepatic injury. TFA had no marked effect on paracetamol and its metabolites except for the mercapturate-conjugate. The concentration of mercapturate change decreased with increasing TFA dose. TFA had no effect on the pentobarbital metabolites (P > 0.05). However, paracetamol (400 mg.kg-1) prolonged the sleeping time (by 110 min relative to the controls, P < 0.001). The TFA (P < 0.005) caused significant reduction in paracetamol-prolonged pentobarbital-induced sleep. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of TFA's protective effect against the paracetamol-induced damage may be related to the inhibition of some metabolism progress of paracetamol and the reduction of the toxicity metabolite such as mercapturate-conjugate.

Acetaminophen↗

Quantitative trait loci mapping for cholesterol gallstones in AKR/J and C57L/J strains of mice.

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping was used to locate genes that determine the difference in cholesterol gallstone disease between the gallstone-susceptible strain C57L/J and the gallstone-resistant strain AKR/J. Gallstone weight was determined in 231 male (AKR x C57L) F(1) x AKR backcross mice fed a lithogenic diet containing 1% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid, and 15% butterfat for 8 wk. Mice having no stones and mice having the largest stones were genotyped at approximately 20-cM intervals to find the loci determining cholesterol gallstone formation. The major locus, Lith1, mapped near D2Mit56 and was confirmed by constructing a congenic strain, AK. L-Lith1(s). Another locus, Lith2, mapped near D19Mit58 and was also confirmed by constructing a congenic strain AK.L-Lith2(s). Other suggestive, but not statistically significant, loci mapped to chromosomes 6, 7, 8, 10, and X. The identification of these Lith genes will elucidate the pathophysiology of cholesterol gallstone formation.

Animals↗

[Experimental safety study using rats and mice irradiated with the complex field cure instrument].

The complex field cure instrument is a new medical instrument. The complex field is composed of several sorts of physical quantum fields. Mice and rats are continuously irradiated by the complex field for 20 days to 90 days. The result shows that WBC, Hb and PLT value of the animals irradiated with the instrument are more than the control group, and their biochemical index is normal. The internal organs of the experimental animals show no toxicity. The visceval coefficient (liver, spleen) of the experimental animals is more than the control group. The marrow micronucleas test is negative. The chromosome test show no distortion. All of the results have proved that the instrument produces no toxicity side effect. Application of the instrument is safe and reliable and it may increase immune function of the body.

Animals↗

Cryoelectron microscopy of a nucleating model bile in vitreous ice: formation of primordial vesicles.

Because gallstones form so frequently in human bile, pathophysiologically relevant supersaturated model biles are commonly employed to study cholesterol crystal formation. We used cryo-transmission electron microscopy, complemented by polarizing light microscopy, to investigate early stages of cholesterol nucleation in model bile. In the system studied, the proposed microscopic sequence involves the evolution of small unilamellar to multilamellar vesicles to lamellar liquid crystals and finally to cholesterol crystals. Small aliquots of a concentrated (total lipid concentration = 29.2 g/dl) model bile containing 8.5% cholesterol, 22.9% egg yolk lecithin, and 68.6% taurocholate (all mole %) were vitrified at 2 min to 20 days after fourfold dilution to induce supersaturation. Mixed micelles together with a category of vesicles denoted primordial, small unilamellar vesicles of two distinct morphologies (sphere/ellipsoid and cylinder/arachoid), large unilamellar vesicles, multilamellar vesicles, and cholesterol monohydrate crystals were imaged. No evidence of aggregation/fusion of small unilamellar vesicles to form multilamellar vesicles was detected. Low numbers of multilamellar vesicles were present, some of which were sufficiently large to be identified as liquid crystals by polarizing light microscopy. Dimensions, surface areas, and volumes of spherical/ellipsoidal and cylindrical/arachoidal vesicles were quantified. Early stages in the separation of vesicles from micelles, referred to as primordial vesicles, were imaged 23-31 min after dilution. Observed structures such as enlarged micelles in primordial vesicle interiors, segments of bilayer, and faceted edges at primordial vesicle peripheries are probably early stages of small unilamellar vesicle assembly. A decrease in the mean surface area of spherical/ellipsoidal vesicles was correlated with the increased production of cholesterol crystals at 10-20 days after supersaturation by dilution, supporting the role of small unilamellar vesicles as key players in cholesterol nucleation and as cholesterol donors to crystals. This is the first visualization of an intermediate structure that has been temporally linked to the development of small unilamellar vesicles in the separation of vesicles from micelles in a model bile and suggests a time-resolved system for further investigation.

Bile↗

Cholic acid aids absorption, biliary secretion, and phase transitions of cholesterol in murine cholelithogenesis.

Cholic acid is a critical component of the lithogenic diet in mice. To determine its pathogenetic roles, we fed chow or 1% cholesterol with or without 0.5% cholic acid to C57L/J male mice, which because of lith genes have 100% gallstone prevalence rates. After 1 yr on the diets, we measured bile flow, biliary lipid secretion rates, hepatic cholesterol and bile salt synthesis, and intestinal cholesterol absorption. After hepatic conjugation with taurine, cholate replaced most tauro-beta-muricholate in bile. Dietary cholic acid plus cholesterol increased bile flow and biliary lipid secretion rates and reduced cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity significantly mostly via deoxycholic acid, cholate's bacterial 7alpha-dehydroxylation product but did not downregulate cholesterol biosynthesis. Intestinal cholesterol absorption doubled, and biliary cholesterol crystallized as phase boundaries shifted. Feeding mice 1% cholesterol alone produced no lithogenic or homeostatic effects. We conclude that in mice cholic acid promotes biliary cholesterol hypersecretion and cholelithogenesis by enhancing intestinal absorption, hepatic bioavailability, and phase separation of cholesterol in bile.

Absorption↗

Differential suppression of pressure-overload cardiac and aortic hypertrophy in rats by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Role of tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the development of pressure-overload cardiovascular hypertrophy was examined in rats by comparing the inhibitory effect of trandolapril (high efficiency on tissue ACE) with that of enalapril (low efficiency) at equally antihypertensive doses. Rats with abdominal aorta banded or sham-operated were orally treated with trandolapril (0.5 mg/kg per day), enalapril (20 mg/kg per day) or vehicle for 8 weeks after the surgical maneuvers. In vehicle-treated rats, the banding raised the intra-aortic systolic pressure by 58%, diastolic pressure by 31%, maximum velocity of pressure rise by 65%, left ventricular (LV) weight by 41%, LV hydroxyproline concentration by 56%, aortic mass by 46%, LV ACE activity by 45%, and aortic ACE activity by 265%. Although both drugs equally reduced the aortic systolic pressure to approx. 70% and diastolic pressure to approx. 80% that of banded rats receiving vehicle, trandolapril partially prevented the LV hypertrophy, whereas enalapril yielded nonsignificant suppression. Trandolapril completely prevented the LV increments in hydroxyproline and ACE activity, whereas enalapril partially inhibited the LV hydroxyproline increase with little inhibition of LV ACE activity. In contrast, both inhibitors almost completely prevented the aortic hypertrophy, with the ACE activity of the aorta being potently inhibited. These results suggest that tissue ACE is the principal factor for pressure-induced aortic hypertrophy and an important yet non-essential factor for LV hypertrophy.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

No pathophysiologic relationship of soluble biliary proteins to cholesterol crystallization in human bile.

This study explores the pathophysiologic effects of soluble biliary glycoproteins in comparison to mucin gel and cholesterol content on microscopic crystal and liquid crystal detection times as well as crystallization sequences in lithogenic human biles incubated at 37 degrees C. Gallbladder biles from 13 cholesterol gallstone patients were ultracentrifuged and microfiltered (samples I). Total biliary lipids were extracted from portions of samples I, and reconstituted with 0.15 m NaCl (pH 7.0) (samples II). Portions of samples II were supplemented with purified concanavalin A-binding biliary glycoproteins (final concentration = 1 mg/mL) (samples III), or mucin gel (samples IV), respectively, isolated from the same cholesterol gallstone biles. Samples V consisted of extracted biliary lipids from uncentrifuged and unfiltered bile samples reconstituted with 0.15 m NaCl (pH 7.0). Analytic lipid compositions of samples I through IV were identical for individual biles but, as anticipated, samples V displayed significantly higher cholesterol saturation indexes. Detection times of cholesterol crystals and liquid crystals were accelerated in the rank order of samples: IV > V > I = II = III, indicating that total soluble biliary glycoproteins in pathophysiologic concentration had no appreciable effect. Crystallization sequences (D. Q-H. Wang and M. C. Carey. J. Lipid Res. 1996. 37: 606-630; and 2539-2549) were similar among samples I through V. Crystal detection times and numbers of solid cholesterol crystals were accelerated in proportion to added mucin gel and the cholesterol saturation of bile only. For pathophysiologically relevant conditions, our results clarify that mucin gel and cholesterol content, but not soluble biliary glycoproteins, promote cholesterol crystallization in human gallbladder bile.

Bile↗

Phenotypic characterization of lith genes that determine susceptibility to cholesterol cholelithiasis in inbred mice. Pathophysiology Of biliary lipid secretion.

The inbred C57L strain but not the AKR strain of mice carry Lith genes that determine cholesterol gallstone susceptibility. When C57L mice are fed a lithogenic diet containing 15% fat, 1% cholesterol, and 0.5% cholic acid, gallbladder bile displays rapid cholesterol supersaturation, mucin gel accumulation, increases in hydrophobic bile salts, and rapid phase separation of solid and liquid crystals, all of which contribute to the high cholesterol gallstone prevalence rates (D. Q-H. Wang, B. Paigen, and M. C. Carey. J. Lipid Res. 1997. 38: 1395;-1411). We have now determined the hepatic secretion rates of biliary lipids in fasting male and female C57L and AKR mice and the intercross (C57L x AKR)F(1) before and at frequent intervals during feeding the lithogenic diet for 56 days. Bile flow and biliary lipid secretion rates were measured in the first hour of an acute bile fistula and circulating bile salt pool sizes were determined by the "washout" technique after cholecystectomy. Compared with AKR mice, we found that i) C57L and F(1) mice on chow displayed significantly higher secretion rates of all biliary lipids, and larger bile salt pool sizes, as well as higher bile salt-dependent and bile salt-independent flow rates; ii) the lithogenic diet further increased biliary cholesterol and lecithin outputs, but bile salt outputs remained constant. Biliary coupling of cholesterol to lecithin increased approximately 30%, setting the biophysical conditions necessary for cholesterol phase separation in the gallbladder; and iii) no gender differences in lipid secretion rates were noted but male mice exhibited significantly more hydrophobic bile salt pools than females. We conclude that in gallstone-susceptible mice, Lith genes determine increased outputs of all biliary lipids but promote cholesterol hypersecretion disproportionately to lecithin and bile salt outputs thereby inducing lithogenic bile formation.

Alleles↗