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Biomedical subjects

D Zhao

Publications and source records attributed to D Zhao.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Levels of neuropeptide-Y in the plasma and skin tissue fluids of patients with vitiligo.

In order to study the possible role of neuropeptide-Y (NPY) in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, the authors measured the levels of NPY in the plasma from 47 patients with vitiligo compared with 25 healthy volunteers, and the tissue fluids of skin lesions and uninvolved skin from 32 patients, employing a NPY 125I RIA Kit. The results showed that the levels of NPY in the patients with vitiligo of all of the generalized, local and segmental types were significantly higher than the normal controls. In both local and segmental type, the levels in progressive stage were significantly higher than those in stable stage, while in generalized type, there was no significant difference between those in progressive stage and stable stage. The levels of NPY in the tissue fluids from skin lesions were significantly higher than those from uninvolved skin in both the local type and segmental type, while in the generalized type, there was no significant difference between the NPY level in the tissue fluid from skin lesion and that from uninvolved skin. It is speculated that NPY may play certain roles in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, via neuro-immunity mechanism or neuronal affection on the melanocytes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The Drosophila RGS protein Loco is required for dorsal/ventral axis formation of the egg and embryo, and nurse cell dumping.

The loco gene encodes members of a family of RGS proteins responsible for the negative regulation of G-protein signalling. At least two transcripts of loco are expressed in oogenesis, loco-c2 is observed in the anterior-dorsal follicle cells and is downstream of the epidermal growth factor receptor signalling pathway, initiated in the oocyte. loco-c3 is a new transcript of loco, which is expressed in the nurse cells from stage 6 onwards. Analysis of newly generated mutants and antisense technology enabled us to establish that disrupting loco in follicle cells results in ventralized eggs, while disrupting loco in nurse cells results in short eggs, due to defective dumping of the nurse cell cytoplasm into the oocyte.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Sexual behaviour and contraceptive use among unmarried, young women migrant workers in five cities in China.

This paper reports the results of exploratory research on reproductive and sexual health knowledge and sexual behaviour of young, unmarried women who migrate to cities from rural areas for work, and their access to and needs in relation to family planning in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Guiyang and Taiyuan, in China. Focus group discussions were conducted with 146 young women aged 16-25 and 58 in-depth interviews with key informants. Some of the young female migrant workers were sexually active and living with their boyfriends, most of whom expected to marry each other. Most of the women lacked basic information about reproduction and contraception, and did not know where or how to obtain contraception. There were social, psychological and economic barriers to accessing services. Only a small proportion of those who were unmarried were using contraception, so induced abortion was often the outcome of unprotected premarital sex. Pleasing male partners also played an important role in unprotected sex. The training, attitudes and approach of the entire family planning service system in relation to unmarried and young people in China, including this migrant population, needs to be reorientated so as to provide them with appropriate and adequate services.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed2001

Prognostic radiology: quantitative assessment of tumor oxygen dynamics by MRI.

It is generally recognized that tumor hypoxia has a strong influence over therapeutic outcome in the clinic. The authors have developed an oximetry approach using 19F echo planar magnetic resonance imaging-FREDOM (Fluorocarbon Relaxometry using Echoplanar imaging for Dynamic Oxygen Mapping), which reveals dynamic changes based on sequential maps of regional tumor PO2. Preclinical investigations focused on diverse sublines of the Dunning prostate R3327 tumor. As expected, intratumoral heterogeneity was considerable. However, large tumors (>3.5 cm3) were significantly less well oxygenated than smaller tumors (<2 cm3). Faster growing, less differentiated tumors were less well oxygenated than size-matched tumors of slower growing sublines. The greatest potential of this technique is the ability to follow the fate of individual tumor regions with respect to interventions. For each subline, there was a significant response to respiratory challenge with oxygen for initially well-oxygenated regions (baseline PO2 > 10 mm Hg). More interestingly, subline dependent behavior was found for initially hypoxic regions that correlated with rate of growth. The authors believe the FREDOM approach is essentially ripe for translation to the clinic. This approach could help to identify patients with hypoxic tumors and indicate the feasibility of manipulating tumor characteristics through adjuvant interventions to improve therapeutic response.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Pupil diameter and light reaction during cardiac arrest and resuscitation.

OBJECTIVE: Traditionally, both pupil diameter and reaction to light have been examined to confirm the diagnosis of death. In the present study, we investigated quantitative changes in pupil diameter and light reaction for assessing the efficacy of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and as a predictor of outcome. DESIGN: Controlled experimental study. SETTING: Animal research laboratory at a university-affiliated research institute. SUBJECTS: Fifteen domestic male pigs weighing between 33 and 40 kg. INTERVENTIONS: Ventricular fibrillation was induced with an alternating current delivered to the right ventricular endocardium. After 7 mins of untreated ventricular fibrillation, chest compression and mechanical ventilation were initiated and maintained for 6 mins. Restoration of spontaneous circulation then was attempted by electrical defibrillation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Spontaneous circulation was reestablished in 9 of 15 animals. Pupils were fully dilated, and pupillary reaction to light was absent in 7 of the 9 resuscitated animals during untreated cardiac arrest. Progressive decreases in pupil diameter were observed together with restoration of light reaction during CPR, in each animal that was successfully resuscitated. When the pupils remained dilated and unreactive after 6 mins of CPR, resuscitation efforts were uniformly unsuccessful. A highly significant linear correlation between coronary perfusion pressure generated during precordial compression and pupil diameter was documented. Both were predictive of outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic changes of pupil diameter and reactions to light during cardiac arrest and resuscitation were correlated with coronary perfusion pressure, and both predicted the likelihood that spontaneous circulation and cerebral function would be restored.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

The ASK1 gene regulates B function gene expression in cooperation with UFO and LEAFY in Arabidopsis.

The Arabidopsis floral regulatory genes APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI) are required for the B function according to the ABC model for floral organ identity. AP3 and PI expression are positively regulated by the LEAFY (LFY) and UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) genes. UFO encodes an F-box protein, and we have shown previously that UFO genetically interacts with the ASK1 gene encoding a SKP1 homologue; both the F-box containing protein and SKP1 are subunits of ubiquitin ligases. We show here that the ask1-1 mutation can enhance the floral phenotypes of weak lfy and ap3 mutants; therefore, like UFO, ASK1 also interacts with LFY and AP3 genetically. Furthermore, our results from RNA in situ hybridizations indicate that ASK1 regulates early AP3 and PI expression. These results support the idea that UFO and ASK1 together positively regulate AP3 and PI expression. We propose that the UFO and ASK1 proteins are components of a ubiquitin ligase that mediates the proteolysis of a repressor of AP3 and PI expression. Our genetic studies also indicate that ASK1 and UFO play a role in regulating the number of floral organ primordia, and we discuss possible mechanisms for such a regulation.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2001

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein and autoimmune antibodies in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome with a history of thrombosis.

The prevalence and clinical significance of plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and antibodies against oxLDL (anti-oxLDL) were evaluated in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). OxLDL and IgG anti-oxLDL were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in plasma samples from 80 patients with APS. Positive values (mean + 3 SD) for oxLDL and anti-oxLDL were found in 21 (26%) and 19 (24%) of 80 patients with APS, respectively These values were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects. Levels of oxLDL and anti-oxLDL antibodies in subgroupings of patients with APS who had experienced thrombotic events were compared. There were significant differences among the groups for the levels of both oxLDL and anti-oxLDL antibodies. Pairwise comparisons between the groups yielded similar but not identical results. There was a significant, positive correlation between levels of plasma oxLDL and anti-oxLDL. These results suggest that elevated levels of plasma oxLDL and anti-oxLDL may be risk factors and potential markers for thrombosis, especially for arterial thrombotic events, in patients with APS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Tumor oxygen dynamics with respect to growth and respiratory challenge: investigation of the Dunning prostate R3327-HI tumor.

We recently described a novel approach to measuring regional tumor oxygen tension using (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance echo planar imaging relaxometry (FREDOM) of hexafluorobenzene. We have now applied this technique to evaluate in detail the oxygen tension dynamics in the relatively slowly growing, moderately well-differentiated Dunning prostate R3327 HI rat tumor with respect to tumor growth and respiratory challenge. Seven individual tumors were assessed repeatedly over a period of 5 weeks ( approximately 4 volume doubling times). For small tumors (<1 cm(3)), the mean pO(2) ranged from 28 to 44 Torr under baseline conditions, decreasing to less than 10 Torr when the tumors reached 5 to 6 cm(3), with a strong inverse correlation between the baseline tumor oxygen tension and the tumor size. The hypoxic fraction (defined as the percentage of the voxels with pO(2) <10 Torr) increased significantly with tumor growth. Administration of oxygen or carbogen produced a significant increase (P < 0.0001) in tumor oxygenation at all stages of tumor growth. Most interestingly, even regions of these tumors that were initially poorly oxygenated responded rapidly, and significantly, to respiratory intervention, in contrast to the behavior of the faster-growing rat prostate tumors investigated previously.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Morphological and histological studies on Aralia plants].

OBJECTIVE: To make clear the descriptions and microscopic histological structures of the roots, stems and rootstocks for twelve species from Aralia plants. METHODS: Observing the descriptions and histological characteristics. RESULT: The histological characteristics of the various species are basically identical. Each of them equally contains cluster crystals of calcium oxalate and starch grains; secretory canals exist extensively in the cortexes, phloem and piths; neither cortexes nor phloem of roots have thick-walled cells, but cortexes and phloem of the stems of the wood plants have fibers or stone cells. CONCLUSION: The pharmacognostic and interspecies characteristics for wood and herbaceous plants identification were obtained. The wood and herbaceous plants in one natural group of a genus as its two subgenera was sustained by the study result.

Aralia↗
PubMed2001

[The trend of incidence rate of acute stroke event in urban areas, Beijing from 1984 to 1999].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the trend of incidence rate of acute stroke event in the population aged 25-74 in urban areas of Beijing from 1984 to 1999. METHODS: All stroke events in defined population were ascertained and validated according to unified protocol and criteria. A total number of 6,553 stroke events were analyzed, crude rates and aged-standardized rates for all stroke events and first-ever stroke events were calculated for whole calendar years for the population. Temporal annual rates of stroke were estimated for 16 years. RESULTS: Annual stroke attack rates increased both in men and women with an average annual percentage changes 4.5% and 4.2%, respectively. Annual first-ever stroke incidence rate increased both in men and women with average annual percentage changes 4.1% and 4.2%, respectively. Most remarkable increase was noticed in the 65-69 and 70-74 age groups. CONCLUSION: Rates of stroke attack incidence and first-ever incidence were increasing in the population of urban in Beijing, indicating the prevention of stroke be strengthened in the area.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Uridine triphosphate prolongs action potential duration of guinea pig papillary muscles via P2Y2 purinoceptors.

AIM: To study the electrophysiologic effects of uridine triphosphate (UTP) on the guinea pig papillary muscles in vitro and purinoceptors related with the action of UTP. METHODS: Intracellular microelectrode method was used to record action potentials (AP) in guinea pig papillary muscles. RESULTS: UTP, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) prolonged the action potential duration (APD) concentration dependently in guinea pig papillary muscles. The potency order was UTP=ATP > ADP. There was cross desensitization between the response to ATP and that to UTP, and neither Ado nor alpha, beta-MeATP caused great change in AP of the papillary muscles. The prolongation of APD by UTP was not affected by sustained perfusion with aminophylline. As an osmotic pressure control equivalent to UTP 3 mmol/L, ceftriaxonum 3 mmol/L or NaCl 9 mmol/L induced a marked but slight prolongation of APD. CONCLUSION: UTP produced APD prolongation through specific and nonspecific actions, and the specific response to UTP was mediated by P2Y2 purinoceptors.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed2001

[Telomerase activity in stool of patients with colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the method for screening colorectal cancer by the way of stool. METHODS: Telomerase activity in the stool of patients with colorectal cancer was determined by PCR-TRAP. RESULTS: The positive rate of telomerase activity in the stool of patients with colorectal cancer was 62.8%. Its sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value were 62.8%, 95.7%, and 96.4%, respectively. Telomerase activity in stool was not obviously correlated with Duke's stage, lymphatic metastasis and tumor location. Telomerase activity was also found in the stool sample of a patient with colonic adenoma. CONCLUSION: The determination of telomerase activity in the stool of patients with colorectal cancer contributes to the improvement of screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

[The effects of high dose atropine on function of isolated diaphragmatic preparation of rats with omethoate poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to examine the influence of high dose atropine on respiratory muscle of rat isolated phrenic diaphragm. METHODS: Rats were divided into 2 groups: (1) a toxic group administered with 2LD(50) omethoate, SC. (2) a contrast group with 0.9% NS, SC. The function of isolated rat phrenic diaphragm was observed by MS-302 analysis instrument physiologically and pharmacologically. RESULTS: In both groups the function of isolated rat phrenic diaphragm was significantly reduced with atropine dose increasing gradually to 0.6 mg (P < 0.01). When the atropine dose amounted to 0.8 mg. The function of isolated rat phrenic diaphragm almost disappeared in the picture. When the atropine in the diaphragm was weed out, the function of isolated rat phrenic diaphragm recovered completely in 50 minutes. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the cause of respiratory muscle paralysis may be related to high dose of atropine.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Trends of diagnosis and management of pulmonary thromboembolism in hospitalized patients in the last fifteen years].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of diagnosis and efficacy of management of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and the related risk factors in hospitalized patients. METHODS: The clinical data of 149 inpatients with PTE admitted to Anzhen hospital from Jan 1985 to Dec 1999 were reviewed. The clinical epidemiological profile including approaches of diagnosis and treatment and prognosis in three different time intervals (1985 approximately 1989, 1990 approximately 1994, 1995 approximately 1999) were compared. RESULTS: There was a four time increases of the annual admitted PTE cases in 1995 approximately 1999 period as compared with the former two periods. Mortality fell from 42.0% to 9.0%. In the first period (1985 approximately 1989) 83.3% of patients were diagnosed based on clinical symptoms only and 4.2% on ECT, as compared with 75.0% on ECT, 15% on catheterization and only 7.8% on simply clinical symptoms in the last period (1994 approximately 1999). False or misdiagnosis rate was 57.7% in those patients on admission. Male Patients < 40yrs were significantly more than female (P < 0.05). Cardiovascular intervention operation may be an important risk factor inducing PTE. CONCLUSION: There was an increasing trend of diagnosis PTE in inpatients. Owing to the improvement of diagnosis, mortality significantly decreased in the last ten years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

[Study of triglyceride distribution aged 35 - 64, and their association with other cardiovascular disease risk factors in 11 provinces].

OBJECTIVE: Study of triglyceride distribution and their association with other major cardiovascular disease risk factors in 11 provinces. METHODS: Twenty-seven thousand and sixteen persons in 11 provinces, aged 35 - 64, were screened for cardiovascular disease risk factors. RESULTS: (1) Results of plasma triglyceride level distribution showed that there was significant difference among 11 province, the highest/lowest ratio was 2.3. (2) Plasma triglyceride level was higher in men than in women (P < 0.001). (3) The prevelance of hypertriglyceridemia was the most frequent type of the dislipidemia. (4) Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose and physical activity, significantly and independently correlated with hypertriglyceridemia prevelance. (5) There existed aggregation of risk factors in hypertriglyceridemia. Seventy-one point zero percent of hypertriglyceridemia had at least one other risk factors in men and 74.4% in women, while it was 53.8% men and 52.2% women of those with non hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our date indicated that fasting triglycerides were associated with more arteriosclerosis factors and could serve as a marker for several cardiovascular disease risk factors. More patients with hypertriglyceridemia combined with other situation of metabolic syndromes thus might have higher risks.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Expression of the artificial cecropin CMIV-like gene of Chinese silkworm Bombyx mori in Laphygma exigua larvae].

The synthesized CMIV-like Gene was linked with the signal peptide gene of nature silkworm antibacterial peptide and was inserted into baculovirus expression vector pFastBac 1, construcing a recombinant transposing vector. The vector was transformed into DH10Bac competent E. coli cells. The recombinant Bacmid was obtained. The recombinant Bacmid was transfected into sf21 cells to get the recombinant virus. Laphygma exigua larvae were infected with the recombinant virus to express the antibacterial peptide. The hemolymph were tested to have antibacterial activity. The active antibacterial peptide was purified by acid polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The specific expression of mRNA of CMIV-like Gene was tested using Northern blotting.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

National survey on prevalence of cancer pain.

OBJECTIVE: To collect nationwide basic data about cancer related pain. METHODS: Sixty cancer patients in each province were randomly selected to participate in this survey. The subjects represented all stages of cancer, tumor sites, and different demographic characteristics. Two self-designed structured questionnaires including reasons, types of pain and pain management were used by patients and physicians respectively. Subjects were asked to report whether he/she had experienced any type of cancer related pain and filled out the equivalent questionnaire. The severity of pain was assessed by using "visual analogue scale". Original data input and analysis were using EPI-INFO software package. RESULTS: The result showed that 61.6% (958/1555) of patients had different types of cancer related pain. Majority of pain (85.1%) were caused by advanced cancer. The major reasons (64.4%) for poor management or impedimental factors of pain care are due to patient including over-concern on opioid analgesic addiction, reluctance to report pain or refused to use opioid analgesic until at times when pain is intolerable; 26.8% belonged to physician's reasons including fear to cause addiction on opioid and lack of knowledge about cancer pain management; 16.2% are due to lack of different kinds of opioid analgesic for use and 16.1% belonged to drug regulation. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that majority of patients (61.6%) had different types of cancer related pain. In most of patients, cancer pain was relieved when they were treated. The major reason for under-treatment or impeded factors for effective relief of cancer pain was fear of opioid addiction by both medical professionals and patients.

Adolescent↗