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Biomedical subjects

D Yang

Publications and source records attributed to D Yang.

At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources

Purification and N-terminal partial sequence of anti-epilepsy peptide from venom of the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch.

An anti-epilepsy peptide (AEP) was isolated and purified from venom of the scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. The purification procedure included CM-Sephadex C-50 chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography. Its homogeneity was demonstrated by pH 4.3 polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis, focusing electrophoresis and SDS/polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis. The Mr of this peptide, calculated from measurements in SDS/15%-polyacrylamide-disc-gel and SDS/20%-polyacrylamide-disc-gel electrophoresis, is 8300. The isoelectric point is 8.52 by pH 8-9.5-range isoelectric focusing. No haemorrhagic or toxic activities were found. No toxicity was found even after the dose reached 28 mg/kg. The pharmacological tests showed that the AEP had no effect on heart rate, blood pressure or electrocardiogram, but strongly inhibited epilepsy induced by coriaria lactone and cephaloridine. The fluorescence spectrum showed that the peptide has a strong emission peak at 337 nm. Amino acid analysis suggested that the AEP is composed of 66 residues from 18 amino acids and has an Mr of 8290. The sequence of the first 50 N-terminal residues is as follows: Asp-Gly-Tyr-Ile-Arg-Gly-Ser-Asp-Asn-Cys-Lys-Val-Ser-Cys-Leu-Leu-Gly-Asn- Glu-Gly - Cys-Asn-Lys-Glu-Cys-Arg-Ala-Tyr-Gly-Ala-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Tyr-Cys-Trp-Thr-Val- Lys-Leu - Ala-Gln-Asp-Cys-Glu-Gly-Leu-Pro-Asp-Thr-.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Thermogenesis in humans during overfeeding with medium-chain triglycerides.

To test whether excess dietary energy as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) affects thermogenesis differently from excess dietary energy as long chain triglycerides (LCT), ten male volunteers (ages 22 to 44) were overfed (150% of estimated energy requirement) liquid formula diets containing 40% of fat as either MCT or LCT. Each patient was studied for one week on each diet in a double-blind, crossover design. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) did not change during either week of overfeeding. The thermic response to food (TEF) was greater on day 1 following a meal (1,000 kcal) containing MCT than following an isocaloric meal containing LCT (8 +/- .8% v 5.8 +/- .8% of ingested energy; P less than .05). Moreover, the TEF observed after a 1,000 kcal meal containing MCT increased significantly to 12% (+/- 1.3%) overfeeding. The TEF of the 1,000 kcal meal containing LCT was unchanged by five days of LCT overfeeding (6.6 +/- 1.0% of ingested energy). Energy expenditure during a 20-hour continuous enteral infusion of the diet on day 7 was also significantly higher with the MCT diet than with the LCT diet (15.7 +/- 1.7% v 7.3 +/- .9% of ingested energy; P less than .05). Our results demonstrate that excess dietary energy as MCT stimulates thermogenesis to a greater degree than does excess energy as LCT. This increased energy expenditure, most likely due to lipogenesis in the liver, provides evidence that excess energy derived from MCT is stored with a lesser efficiency than is excess energy derived from dietary LCT.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

A phylogenetic analysis of the mycoplasmas: basis for their classification.

Small-subunit rRNA sequences were determined for almost 50 species of mycoplasmas and their walled relatives, providing the basis for a phylogenetic systematic analysis of these organisms. Five groups of mycoplasmas per se were recognized (provisional names are given): the hominis group (which included species such as Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma lipophilum, Mycoplasma pulmonis, and Mycoplasma neurolyticum), the pneumoniae group (which included species such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma muris), the spiroplasma group (which included species such as Mycoplasma mycoides, Spiroplasma citri, and Spiroplasma apis), the anaeroplasma group (which encompassed the anaeroplasmas and acholeplasmas), and a group known to contain only the isolated species Asteroleplasma anaerobium. In addition to these five mycoplasma groups, a sixth group of variously named gram-positive, walled organisms (which included lactobacilli, clostridia, and other organisms) was also included in the overall phylogenetic unit. In each of these six primary groups, subgroups were readily recognized and defined. Although the phylogenetic units identified by rRNA comparisons are difficult to recognize on the basis of mutually exclusive phenotypic characters alone, phenotypic justification can be given a posteriori for a number of them.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of enprostil on cardiovascular and respiratory parameters in the dog, and on hematologic parameters in the rat, monkey, and human.

The effects of enprostil (+/-)-7-[(1R*,2R*,3R*)-3-hydroxy-2-[(E)-(3R*)-3-hydroxy-4-phenoxy-1- butenyl]-5-oxocyclopentyl]-4,5-heptadienoate) were studied on cardiovascular and respiratory parameters in the dog and on hematologic parameters in the rat, monkey, and human. Anesthetized dogs were instrumented to allow measurement of heart rate, systemic blood pressure, respiratory rate or tracheal pressure, and ventricular contractile force after intragastric (i.g.) or intravenous (i.v.) administration of enprostil in the presence or absence of autonomic challenges. The effects of intraduodenal (i.d.) enprostil on arterial and venous PO2, PCO2, and pH; respiratory rate, flow rate, and volume; blood pressure (b.p.); and heart rate were also examined. Enprostil i.v. (0.3-10 micrograms/kg) significantly increased tracheal pressure in a dose-dependent manner, but minimally altered b.p., heart rate, and ventricular contractile force. Enprostil i.v. (1-10 micrograms/kg) significantly inhibited pressor and depressor responses to several autonomic challenge agents at the highest dose level, indicative of a nonspecific inhibitory effect on b.p. responses. Cardiovascular effects of enprostil (1-100 micrograms/kg i.g.) were absent. Enprostil (10-3,000 micrograms/kg i.d.) had no noteworthy effects on respiratory parameters in the dog. Platelet aggregation effects of enprostil were studied in vitro using platelet rich plasma (PRP) from the rat, monkey, and human; whole blood clotting time and prothrombin time after oral enprostil were studied in the rat; and ex vivo effects on platelet activation were studied in humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Congenital poisoning by polychlorinated biphenyls and their contaminants in Taiwan.

In 1979, a mass poisoning occurred in Taiwan from cooking oil contaminated by thermally degraded polychlorinated biphenyls. Because these chemicals persist in human tissue, children born to female patients after the outbreak were exposed in utero. In 1985, 117 children born to affected women and 108 unexposed controls were examined and evaluated. The exposed children were shorter and lighter than controls; they had abnormalities of gingiva, skin, nails, teeth, and lungs more frequently than did controls. The exposed children showed delay of developmental milestones, deficits on formal developmental testing, and abnormalities on behavioral assessment. These findings are most consistent with a generalized disorder of ectodermal tissue. This syndrome is one of very few documented to result from transplacental exposure to pollutant chemicals.

Conjunctivitis↗

Crystals of modified bovine neurophysin II.

An enzymatically modified form of bovine neurophysin II has been crystallized in three unique crystal forms. The orthorhombic form crystallizes in space group P2(1)2(1)2 with a = 15.33 nm, b = 6.92 nm, c = 3.63 nm, with four molecules in the asymmetric unit. The monoclinic form crystallizes in space group P2(1) with a = 6.22 nm, b = 9.55 nm, c = 5.45 nm and beta = 110.2 degrees, with eight molecules in the asymmetric unit. The tetragonal form crystallizes in space group P4(1)2(1)2 or P4(3)2(1)2 with a = 14.1 nm and c = 14.2 nm, with twelve molecules in the asymmetric unit. We report here the crystallization conditions, as well as the crystal data.

Animals↗

The resting cardiointegram: correlation with stress thallium perfusion studies.

The cardiointegram is a noninvasive technique for the analysis of the electrical signals of the heart obtained by a transformation of the voltage versus time format by a series of integrations. The stress thallium perfusion study is a widely used test for the detection of coronary artery disease. In order to evaluate the correlation between the resting cardiointegram and the stress thallium 201 perfusion study, 20 patients with normal resting electrocardiograms underwent stress thallium tests and resting cardiointegrams. The cardiointegram was determined on two resting complexes of leads I, II, V4, V5, and V6 and called abnormal if five of ten complexes deviated outside a normalized template. There was concordance of the cardiointegram and the thallium study in 16 of 20 patients (80%). The sensitivity for the detection of coronary artery disease was 71%, and the specificity was 80%. The overall accuracy was 74%. Thus in patients with normal electrocardiograms, the cardiointegram is a useful noninvasive test for the detection of coronary artery disease.

Coronary Disease↗

The primary structure of the lactate dehydrogenase isozyme M4 from giant panda.

The amino acid sequences of tryptic, chymotryptic and cyanogen bromide cleavage peptides of the lactate dehydrogenase isozyme M4 from giant panda have been determined. Based on the overlapping peptides and by a comparison with the known sequence of porcine lactate dehydrogenase isozyme M subunit, the complete primary structure of the giant panda lactate dehydrogenase isozyme M subunit has been established. The polypeptide chain of giant panda lactate dehydrogenase isozyme M subunit consists of 331 amino acid residues. There is a variance of 17 amino acid residues between the porcine and the giant panda lactate dehydrogenase isozyme M subunits. Most of the variable residues are substitutions by chemically similar amino acids and take place at residues not related to the active center of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of oral alcohol on left ventricular ejection fraction, volumes, and segmental wall motion in normals and in patients with recent myocardial infarction.

A first-pass nuclear angiogram and a multiple-gated acquisition study were obtained in 10 normal physicians and in 10 patients with a 7-to-10 day old transmural myocardial infarction. After the scan the subjects drank 2 oz. of whiskey. After 60 minutes, the multiple-gated acquisition study was repeated. In the normal group the left ventricular ejection fraction was 68% before and 72% after alcohol. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased from 89 to 97 ml while the left ventricular end-systolic volume decreased from 29 to 27 ml. The stroke volume rose from 61 to 70 ml/beat (p less than 0.05). The cardiac output increased from 4.0 to 5.0 l/min (p less than 0.05). In the infarction group, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 58% before and 56% after alcohol administration. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume fell from 111 to 96 ml, while the left ventricular end-systolic volume declined from 50 to 44 ml. The stroke volume fell from 61 to 52 ml/beat, while the cardiac output fell from 4.5 to 3.8 l/min. In the left ventricular infarction zones, alcohol produced in 9 of the 10 cardiac patients a decline in the left ventricular regional ejection fraction. In the normal group, alcohol produced no significant changes in the regional ejection fraction. The normal and the postinfarction patients responded differently to alcohol.

Adult↗

Mitochondrial origins.

The 16S ribosomal RNA sequences from Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pseudomonas testosteroni have been determined to further delimit the origin of the endosymbiont that gave rise to the mitochondrion. These two prokaryotes represent the alpha and beta subdivisions, respectively, of the so-called purple bacteria. The endosymbiont that gave rise to the mitochondrion belonged to the alpha subdivision, a group that also contains the rhizobacteria, the agrobacteria, and the rickettsias--all prokaryotes that have developed intracellular or other close relationships with eukaryotic cells.

Base Sequence↗

[Effect of microwave contraception on human serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone].

Using home-made match kits and radioimmunoassay, both serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were measured in 53 healthy adult males using microwave contraception and 76 normal fertility males as control. The results showed that in contraceptive group the serum T level was significantly decreased (p 0.0001), while serum LH was apparently elevated (p 0.01) as compared whith the normal controls. Furthermore, the longer exposure duration the lower serum T declined and the higher serum LH increased (p 0.001). The present study suggests that the microwave dose used for contraception seems to cause damage in Leydig cell function in terms of T production, and then influence endocrine function of testis. The progressively increased LH level also indicates certain degree damage of the Leydig cells. However, the damage might be reversible. The results may be useful for further clinical investigation.

Androgens↗

High-performance liquid chromatographic separations on dihydroxyboryl-agarose.

This paper (which is part of a series of articles on high-performance liquid chromatographic separations on agarose columns) describes the chromatographic behaviour of catecholamines, nucleosides, aminoacylated and non-aminoacylated tRNA, and glycosylated and non-glycosylated hemoglobins on agarose matrices derivatized with m-aminophenylboronic acid. These matrices primarily bind molecules with two vicinal hydroxy groups in the cis-configuration. The possible existence of secondary electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions has been studied with the aid of diagrams showing retention time as a function of pH and buffer concentration.

Boronic Acids↗

Colorimetric determination of microgram quantities of polylysine by trypan blue precipitation.

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of polylysine in solution is described. Polylysine is quantitatively precipitated with trypan blue. The absorbance of unbound dye in the supernatant is inversely proportional to the concentration of this polyamino acid. The precipitation is identical for all sizes of polylysine of molecular weight 13,000 or higher, and is prevented by the addition of either polyanions or serum. The measurable range of polylysine hydrobromide is between 1 and 10 micrograms/ml, which is about 10-fold lower than that by the published methyl orange precipitation method.

Azo Compounds↗

4-Chloro-6-methoxyindole is the precursor of a potent mutagen (4-chloro-6-methoxy-2-hydroxy-1-nitroso-indolin-3-one oxime) that forms during nitrosation of the fava bean (Vicia faba).

Fava beans (Vicia faba) upon treatment with nitrite under simulated gastric conditions, form a direct-acting bacterial mutagen, comparable in specific activity to the most potent known mutagens for several strains of Salmonella typhimurium. The precursor of the mutagen was isolated and identified as 4-chloro-6-methoxyindole by u.v., i.r., m.s. and n.m.r. The precursor was dechlorinated with NaBH4 and PdCl2 as the catalyst and the product obtained from this reaction was identified as 6-methoxyindole. Since synthetic 4-chloro-6-methoxyindole was not available, structure activity studies were conducted on substituted indoles. Nitrosation of 4-chloroindole closely follows the results for nitrosation of 4-chloro-6-methoxyindole. The major product of nitrosation of 4-chloroindole is 4-chloro-2-hydroxy-N1-nitroso-indolin-3-one oxime. Thus, it appears that the major nitrosation product of 4-chloroindole and of 4-chloro-6-methoxyindole is a stable alpha-hydroxy N-nitroso compound. This is the first reported case of stable alpha-hydroxy N-nitroso compounds. In the presence of N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride (NEDD), the alpha-hydroxy N-nitroso compound rearranges to an aromatic diazonium ion which couples with the diamine to form an azo dye. Studies on nitrosation kinetics indicate that the nitrosation of indoles are relatively fast reactions. Both the structural and rate studies give strong support to the hypothesis that intragastric nitrosation of fava beans yield the putative gastric carcinogen in the high-risk area in Colombia.

Fabaceae↗