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Biomedical subjects

F Yang

Publications and source records attributed to F Yang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The chromosomes of tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus).

Mitotic and meiotic chromosome preparations of the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus) were studied to elucidate the sex-chromosomal polymorphism evidenced by this species. Females had 2n = 46 or 47 chromosomes, whereas males had 2n = 47 or 48 chromosomes. An X;autosome translocation was identified by synaptonemal complex analysis of spermatocytes at pachytene and confirmed by the presence of a trivalent at diakinesis/metaphase I. The present work, in combination with earlier observations by others, indicates that E. cephalophus possesses a varied X-chromosome morphology involving an X;autosome translocation and addition of varying amounts of heterochromatin. It is speculated that sex-chromosome polymorphism may be responsible for the observed differences in diploid chromosome number of tufted deer.

Animals

[Immunohistochemical observation on keratin filaments of cultured tumor cells by ABC staining].

Avidin-Biotin Peroxidase complex technique, ABV staining, was employed by using monoclonal anti-keratin antibody HK2 in this study. The organization and dynamics of keratins in both interphase and mitotic T56 and HeLa cells were analysed. We also observed the effects of microtubule (MT) and microfilament (MF) inhibitors, colchicine and cytochalasin B, on the organization of keratin filaments in T56 and HeLa cells. The results showed that a significant alteration in the structural organization and distribution of keratin filaments occurred during mitosis, and an extensive rearrangement of keratin networks of the two cell lines was induced in interphase after the MT and MF were disrupted by combined treatment with the two drugs, colchicine and cytochalasin B; the keratin networks turned into a star-like lattice rapidly within 1-2h. Neither colchicine nor cytochalasin B alone elicited significant organizational change in the keratin networks of the two cell lines.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Identification of an actin-binding protein from Dictyostelium as elongation factor 1a.

Indirect evidence has implicated an interaction between the cytoskeleton and the protein synthetic machinery. Two recent reports have linked the elongation factor 1a (EF-1a) which is involved in protein synthesis, with the microtubular cytoskeleton. In situ hybridization has, however, revealed that the messages for certain cytoskeletal proteins are preferentially associated with actin filaments. ABP-50 is an abundant actin filament bundling protein of native relative molecular mass 50,000 (50K) isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum. Immunofluorescence studies show that ABP-50 is present in filopodia and other cortical regions that contain actin filament bundles. In addition, ABP-50 binds to monomeric actin in the cytosol of unstimulated cells and the association of ABP-50 with the actin cytoskeleton is regulated during chemotaxis. Through complementary DNA sequencing and subsequent functional analysis, we have identified ABP-50 as D. discoideum EF-1a. The ability of EF-1a to bind reversibly to the actin cytoskeleton upon stimulation could provide a mechanism for spatially and temporally regulated protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells.

Amino Acid Sequence

Expression of human plasma protein genes in ageing transgenic mice.

Introduction of human plasma protein genes into the mouse genome to produce transgenic mice furnishes an in vivo model for correlating chromosomal DNA sequences with developmental and tissue-specific expression. The liver produces an array of plasma proteins that circulate throughout the body contributing to homeostasis. Non-hepatic tissue sites of synthesis have been identified where a local provision of plasma proteins is needed. Analysis of expression of human plasma protein genes in ageing transgenic mice appears especially promising in identifying DNA sequences that respond to environmental adversities such as inflammatory factors, hormonal changes and metal toxicity. The results indicate that human genes encoding and controlling liver plasma proteins serve as useful models for studying genetic regulation in the background of development and ageing.

Aging

Effect of nitrendipine on cardiac and renal lesions and arterial hypertrophy. Protective effect of a low dose of calcium antagonist in deoxycorticosterone-induced hypertensive rats.

A low dose of nitrendipine (1 mg/kg twice daily) ameliorated the percent incidence and severity of vascular lesions in the kidney and heart induced by deoxycorticosterone (DOC). Less protection was offered by administration of 1 mg/kg of the calcium antagonist once daily. A lower dose of the antagonist (0.5 mg/kg) administered twice daily produced almost no protection against myocardial scars, but the percent incidence and severity of renal tubular casts and glomerular changes were similar to those following injection of 1 mg/kg of the antagonist twice daily. DOC induced hypertrophy of the media in aorta, coronary artery and renal interlobular artery and renal arteriole. Neither 1 mg/kg once or twice daily nor 0.5 mg twice daily of calcium antagonist modified the hypertrophy of the arterial vasculature in the hypertensive DOC group. We conclude that a low dose of the calcium antagonist dissociates at least in part lesions but not hypertrophy from the increased systolic blood pressure, because the antagonist protects against vascular lesions induced by the hypertension. The antagonist likely acts on the endothelial cell of the vessels alone or combined with an effect on the vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals

Mapping and conservation of the group-specific component gene in mouse.

The group-specific component (GC), also known as the vitamin D-binding protein, transports vitamin D and its metabolites in plasma to target tissues throughout the body. The GC gene shares an evolutionary origin with genes encoding albumin (ALB) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). All three genes are descendants of an evolutionary ancestor that arose from an intragenic triplication. As a result, each gene is composed of three homologous domains. The study described here characterizes and compares mouse GC to the corresponding nucleotide and amino acid sequences of GC from human and rat. The deduced amino acid sequence of mouse GC was 78% identical to human and 91% identical to rat GC. The results suggest that, unlike the corresponding sequences in the ALB and AFP genes, chromosomal sequences encoding the first domain and the leader sequence of the GC gene have specifically been conserved throughout vertebrate evolution. Protection of domain I during evolution may correlate with an important functional aspect of its sequence. The mouse GC gene was mapped to chromosome 5, where the ALB and AFP genes are also located, demonstrating conservation of the three genes in vertebrate species.

Albumins

[Inhibiting effect of mitoxantrone on cell cycle progression of Chinese hamster ovary cells].

The effect of Mitoxantrone, a Potential anticancer chemotherapeutic agent, on the cell cycle progression of Chinese Hamster ovary (CHO) cells was investigated by microspectrophotometry. CHO cells incubated with the agent for either 30 min or 24 h were inhibited, to various degrees, from proliferation. The inhibition appeared in dose dependent fashion. A 10-fold dose of the drug was required for the 30 min group, as compared to the 24h group, to develop an equivalent inhibiting effect. When exponentially growing cells were treated with Mitoxantrone for 30 min, washed free of drug, and cultured in fresh medium for another 23.5 h a dose of 0.01 micrograms/ml had little or no effect on the distribution of CHO cells throughout the cell cycle at any point. However, a dose of 0.10-1.00 micrograms/ml was sufficient to cause a decrease of cells in G1 and an accumulation of cells in G2. Block cells had abnormally large nucleus.

Animals

Effect of nitrendipine, a calcium antagonist, on the distribution of calcium in aortic smooth muscle cells of deoxycorticosterone-hypertensive rats. A quantitative ultracytochemical study.

Rats were made hypertensive by implantation of a pellet of deoxycorticosterone (DOC). A low dose (1 mg/kg twice daily) of the calcium antagonist nitrendipine protects against the increase in total and ionic levels of calcium in the aorta produced by the elevated blood pressure, dissociating at least in part the hypertension from the rise in aortic calcium. Ionic (free) calcium was demonstrated in aortic smooth muscle cells by the pyroantimonate ultra-cytochemical method and the electron opaque reaction product quantitated by stereological techniques. As compared to the control group, nitrendipine did not increase the number of vesicles/micron with precipitate located adjacent to the sarcolemma. DOC however increased the number of subsarcolemmal vesicles with electron opaque precipitate and sarcoplasmic calcium. Nitrendipine administration to DOC-treated rats decreased the number of vesicles to that found in the control or nitrendipine-treated group while ionic calcium in the nitrendipine + DOC group was intermediate between the control or nitrendipine group and the DOC group. The total content of calcium measured by atomic absorption correlates with the observations of ionic calcium levels demonstrated ultracytochemically. Aortic dry weights of the DOC and DOC + nitrendipine groups were comparable and significantly greater than those in the control or nitrendipine groups.

Animals

Three variant forms of subcortical aphasia in Chinese stroke patients.

Five right-handed patients with subcortical aphasia that involved the left hemisphere subcortical lesion sites were subjected to CT scans. Given their etiology, two cases were infarctions and the other three were hemorrhages. Two of the patients presented an involvement of the anterior limb of the internal capsule and of the basal ganglia and an anterior superior white-matter lesion extension. In both cases slow scanty dysarthric speech was noted; one had markedly impaired auditory comprehension, and the others were only partially impaired. The third patient presented an involvement of the posterior limb of the internal capsule and of the thalamus and a posterior paraventricular white-matter lesion extension. He had poor auditory comprehension, echolalia, and fluent speech. The last two patients presented an involvement of the internal capsule, the basal ganglia, and the thalamus and an anterior posterior paraventricular white-matter lesion extension. The latter two showed poor auditory comprehension with nonfluent and scanty spontaneous speech. The speech sounds were nonsensical monosyllabic words with a pattern similar to that of global aphasia. All patients had lasting right hemiplegia.

Aged

The pharmacological and pathological studies on several hepatic protective crude drugs from Taiwan (II).

Four crude drug extracts of Solanum incanum (entire plant), Ixeris chinensis (entire plant), Gardenia jasminoides (wild and cultivated, fructus) were administered to rats as dose of 1.0 g/kg, I.P. injection to screen the liver protective effect on CC14 induced hepatotoxicity. The acute increase of transaminase SGOT and SGPT levels that was caused by CC14 (1.0 ml/kg) S.C. injection can be significantly improved when treated with Solanum incanum (p less than 0.005), Ixeris chinensis (p less than 0.001), Gardenia jasminoides (cultivated) (p less than 0.005) but only a moderate change was shown by means of wild Gardenia jasminoides (p less than 0.05). As our results indicated, the extraction of these drugs has been found to possess a marked hepatic protective effect. The hepatic fatty metamorphosis and necrosis of central lobule were obviously improved by S. incanum and I. chinensis, administration, while the effect of treatment with G. jasminoides (cultivated) demonstrated a moderate protective action and little histopathological change by G. jasminoides (wild). In contrast to B. chinese, which has been reported previously as a treatment criteria, the S. incanum (p less than 0.01) and I. chinensis (p less than 0.01) in the present study have indicated that a significantly different hepatic protective effect on CC14 induced hepatic injury.

Animals

Effects of high-frequency chest wall oscillation on respiratory control in humans.

We studied the spontaneous breathing patterns of 10 normal adult volunteers during high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO), accomplished by inflating and deflating a vest worn around each subject's thorax at 2.5 Hz. Tidal volumes generated by HFCWO averaged 100 ml. Mean vest pressure was maintained at approximately 35 cm H2O throughout each experiment, even when HFCWO was not applied. During HFCWO, subjects were instructed occasionally to exhale deeply to obtain end-tidal samples representative of PACO2. HFCWO increased the breath-to-breath variability of spontaneous respiration in all subjects, prolonging expiratory pauses and producing short apneas in some cases. PACO2 decreased significantly (p less than 0.05). The effects on minute ventilation, tidal volume, and inspiratory and expiratory durations remained variable across subjects, even when differences in PACO2 between control and HFCWO states were reduced through inhalation of a low CO2 mixture. None of the changes were statistically significant, although average expiratory duration increased by 29%. Ventilatory responses to CO2 with and without HFCWO were also measured. Normocapnic (PACO2 = 40 mm Hg) ventilatory drive increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in six subjects (Type 1 response) and decreased substantially in the others (Type 2 response); with hypercapnia, the changes in drive were attenuated in both groups. Consequently, CO2 sensitivity decreased in Type 1 subjects and increased in Type 2 subjects. A simple analysis based on this result shows that with HFCWO, Type 2 subjects breathing air will tend to have a lower spontaneous minute ventilation and become hypercapnic. Type 1 subjects will become hypocapnic, but minute ventilation may be higher or lower than control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Effect of parathyroidectomy on arterial hypertrophy, vascular lesions, and aortic calcium content in deoxycorticosterone-induced hypertension.

Parathyroidectomy (Px) did not prevent the development of deoxycorticosterone (DOC)-induced hypertension inasmuch as the systolic blood pressure at 4 weeks did not differ from that of parathyroid intact, DOC-treated rats. Px, however, ameliorated the percent incidence and severity index of hypertension-induced vascular lesions in the heart and kidney. There was less hyaline change in the coronary artery and renal arteriole and fewer scars in the myocardium of Px + DOC rats than in DOC-treated animals. Arterial hypertrophy in aorta, coronary artery, renal interlobular artery, and renal arteriole in hypertensive animals was not affected by Px. The aortic content of total calcium in the Px-hypertensive rats was reduced significantly as compared to parathyroid-intact hypertensive rats. The abdominal aorta in the Px + DOC group showed a greater reduction in calcium than the thoracic aorta. We conclude that calcium may not be essential in mediating hypertension-induced vascular hypertrophy. Parathyroidectomy permitted a separation of high blood pressure-hypertrophy from hyaline vascular lesions in DOC-induced hypertensive rats, likely acting upon endothelial cells to prevent movement of plasma proteins (hyaline change) from the vascular lumen into the media-subendothelial space of blood vessels.

Animals

Haptoglobin.

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Chromatography, Affinity

The pharmacological and pathological studies on several hepatic protective crude drugs from Taiwan (I).

This study is to investigate the hepatic protective effect of several Taiwan crude drug extractions on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The pharmacological and pathological effects of Bupleurum chinense, Phellodendron wilsonii, Clematis chinensis and Hedyotis corymbosa were analyzed by liver enzyme function test and pathological studies. However, the results of amine transferase SGOT and SGPT have shown a significant hepatic protective effect after treatment with Bupleurum chinense (P less than 0.005), Phellodendron wilsonii (P less than 0.001), Clematis chinensis (P less than 0.005) and Hedyotis corymbosa (P less than 0.005, SGPT only). The fatty degeneration around the central vein area and necrosis of the central lobule can be significantly improved by P. wilsonii and moderately changed by B. chinense or C. chinensis. Although fatty metamorphosis has been affected by H. corymbosa, various inflammatory cell infiltrations in the cytoplasm were noted.

Animals

Human alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein localized to 3q27----q29 by in situ hybridization.

Human plasma protein alpha 2-HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) is composed of two polypeptide chains, A and B, encoded by a single mRNA. Southern blot analysis of mouse x human somatic cell hybrids has mapped the AHSG gene to human chromosome 3 in the region 3q21----qter (Lee et al., 1987). Using a recombinant plasmid containing a 1,538 bp insert spanning the entire AHSG coding region, AHSG was localized to chromosomal bands 3q27----q29 by in situ hybridization.

Blood Proteins

Direct correlation between calcium content and blood pressure: a study of aortic coarctation in rats.

The calcium content of aorta was measured by atomic absorption after coarctation in the rat. At 7 and 14 days, the calcium content was elevated on the proximal side of the coarctation, where pressure was increased significantly. On the distal, low pressure side of the aortic coarctation, calcium was reduced significantly. There is a direct correlation between the blood pressure and the content of calcium (r = 0.69, P less than 0.001). The width of the aortic media on the high pressure side was increased significantly at 7 and 14 days after coarctation, whereas no significant changes in width were present on the low pressure side of the constriction. We conclude that pressure regulates the aortic calcium content, likely acting through a local effect.

Animals