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Biomedical subjects

G Li

Publications and source records attributed to G Li.

At least 883 records · Page 49Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Mitsuokella dentalis in human periodontitis.

The occurrence of Mitsuokella dentalis in periodontitis was determined by culture and DNA probe detection. Subgingival paper-point samples from 480 periodontitis patients were transported in VMGA III, plated onto brucella agar with 5% sheep blood and incubated anaerobically for 7 days. Presumptive identification was based on a colony morphology resembling a water drop and biochemical characteristics. DNA probe detection was performed on paper-point samples using a digoxigenin-labeled cellular M. dentalis DNA probe in a dot-blot assay. Culture and DNA probe identified M. dentalis in 18.1% and in 80.7% of the study patients, respectively. M. dentalis isolates produced phosphatases, galactosidase, glucosidase and acetylglucosaminidase and showed high in vitro sensitivity to metronidazole. This study revealed that M. dentalis is a constituent of the pathogenic microbiota in human periodontitis. The periodontopathic potential of the organism is unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Characterization of a family of related cellular transcription factors which can modulate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transcription in vitro.

LBP-1 is a cellular protein which binds strongly to sequences around the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) initiation site and weakly over the TATA box. We have previously shown that LBP-1 represses HIV-1 transcription by inhibiting the binding of TFIID to the TATA box. Four similar but distinct cDNAs encoding LBP-1 (LBP-1a, -b, -c, and -d) have been isolated. These are products of two related genes, and each gene encodes two alternatively spliced products. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of LBP-1 with entries in the available protein data bases revealed the identity of LBP-1c to alpha-CP2, an alpha-globin transcription factor. These proteins are also homologous to Drosophila melanogaster Elf-1/NTF-1, an essential transcriptional activator that functions during Drosophila embryogenesis. Three of the recombinant LBP-1 isoforms show DNA binding specificity identical to that of native LBP-1 and bind DNA as a multimer. In addition, antisera raised against recombinant LBP-1 recognize native LBP-1 from HeLa nuclear extract. Functional analyses in a cell-free transcription system demonstrate that recombinant LBP-1 specifically represses transcription from a wild-type HIV-1 template but not from an LBP-1 mutant template. Moreover, LBP-1 can function as an activator both in vivo and in vitro, depending on the promoter context. Interestingly, one isoform of LBP-1 which is missing the region of the Elf-1/NTF-1 homology is unable to bind DNA itself and, presumably through heteromer formation, inhibits binding of the other forms of LBP-1, suggesting that it may function as a dominant negative regulator.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation by visible light-activated psoralen.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) activated with visible light (419 nm) on the suppression of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation in vitro. We hypothesize that if visible light (VL) instead of UVA is used to photoactivate 8-MOP, cytotoxic 8-MOP-DNA cross-link formation can be minimized. Bovine aorta SMCs (2 x 10(4)/cm2) were incubated with 8-MOP (1 micrograms/mL) for 30 minutes (in the dark) and exposed to a range of VL (2 to 69 J/cm2) to determine the dose of VL that inhibits SMC proliferation with minimal toxicity. The results show that 8-MOP in combination with 2 to 12 J/cm2 VL reversibly inhibited SMC proliferation for up to 5 days after treatment. SMC viability was confirmed by trypan blue exclusion. 8-MOP in combination with 23- or 69-J/cm2 VL irreversibly inhibited SMC proliferation. In cell cycle studies, 12-J/cm2 VL was used to activate 8-MOP. A phase-specific G2 blockade that correlated temporally with recovery of SMC replication was observed. Photoadduct repair studies showed that cell proliferation rates recovered when 60% of the adducts had been removed. These results demonstrate for the first time the possibility of using VL to activate 8-MOP to inhibit cell proliferation and suggest that 8-MOP/VL photochemotherapy can be used to control SMC growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Head injuries incurred by children and young adults during informal recreation.

To examine injuries related to playground equipment, children's vehicles, roller skates, and skateboards, 1991 data on emergency room patients younger than 25 years in the Consumer Product Safety Commission's 91 surveillance hospitals were used. Head injury was the primary diagnosis for an estimated 58,480 patients, exceeding the total number of head injuries to bicyclists younger than 25 years. The head injury rate decreased with age. The large number and high rate of head injuries in children involved in a variety of recreational activities suggests the value of multipurpose helmets.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Drinking behavior in relation to cause of death among US adults.

OBJECTIVES: Alcohol involvement is common in many fatal injuries. This study examines drinking behavior in a nationally representative sample of US adult decedents aged 25 through 64 years and its association with cause of death. METHODS: Proxy-reported information from the 1986 National Mortality Followback Survey was used to profile the decedents' usual frequency and quantity of drinking. The association of drinking behavior with underlying cause of death was assessed while adjusting for demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Of the decedents, 17% were daily drinkers, 22% usually consumed five drinks or more per occasion, and 27% were classified as heavier drinkers. Persons who died of injury drank more frequently and heavily than those who died of disease. The adjusted odds ratio of injury's being the underlying cause of death was 1.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1, 1.8) for daily drinkers, 1.5 (95% CI = 1.1, 2.0) for those drinking five or more drinks per occasion, and 1.4 (95% CI = 1.1, 1.7) for heavier drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: Daily drinking, binge drinking, and heavier drinking were each associated with an increased likelihood of injury as the underlying cause of death. Persons who were young, male, Native American, or divorced or separated were more likely to drink frequently and heavily.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Detection of antigen-specific immune complexes in sera of gastric and esophageal cancer patients.

Using the murine monoclonal antibodies against human gastric cancer cell antigens designated MG7 and MGd1, we developed a sandwich ELISA to detect the levels of antigen-specific immune complexes (IC) in human sera. By this assay, only 6.7%(6/90) of healthy blood donors and 9.2%(6/65) of patients with chronic gastritis had antigen-specific IC in sera exceeding the cut-off value. Whereas 21.4%(6/28) of patients with colorectal cancer, 18.2%(4/22) of patients with hepatocellular cancer, 11.4%(4/35) of patients with lung cancer and 9.5%(2/21) of patients with breast cancer had elevated levels of the antigen-specific IC. In contrast, 58.7%(54/92) of patients with gastric cancer and 53.3%(24/45) of patients with esophageal cancer were positive for this antigen-specific IC. Determination of levels of antigen-specific IC in sera may be useful in serologic diagnosis of patients with gastric and esophageal cancer.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Nitrite reductase gene cloning of Amycolatopsis mediterranei U-32.

Southern blot analysis showed great homology existed between niaD (NR gene) of Aspergillus nidulans and A. mediterranei U-32 chromosome DNA. A 5.0kb PstI fragment from A. mediterranei U-32 complementary to A. nidulans niaD gene was cloned in E. coli NM522 using niaD as a probe. An identical DNA band was observed through back-hybridization of the cloned DNA fragment to PstI digest of A. mediterranei U-32 chromosome DNA. Its 2.1 kb SmaI-EcoRV fragment can only hybridize with total RNA from nitrate-cultured mycelium but not with that from ammonia-cultured mycelium. These data suggested that the cloned DNA fragment contains NR gene of A. mediterranei U-32. This is the first report on NR gene cloning from a aerobic bacterium. It was deduced from the molecular weight of the nitrate reductase that the coding sequence of NR gene is almost 1.5 kb in size. Further hybridization analysis indicated that the cloned DNA fragment covers the full-length NR gene of A. mediterranei U-32. We also constructed the physical map of the recombinant plasmid pJL1 with various restriction endonucleases, among them ten with no restriction site, six with unique site and two with double sites on the insert.

Actinobacteria↗
PubMed1994

[Detection of B-cell clonality in paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsy specimens by polymerase chain reaction].

In order to estimate the clonality of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the Ig heavy chain gene rearrangement in DNA extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies. 16 out of 19 cases (84%) of B-CLL (n = 9), multiple myeloma (n = 7) and B-non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 3) showed sharp monoclonal bands, while polyclonal smears or no PCR-products were observed in non-neoplastic bone marrow or AML specimens. The results showed that the DNA from paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsies could be used to detect monoclonal IgH rearrangement by PCR method. This forms the basis for the studies of minimal residual disease or B-ML bone marrow infiltrated diseases.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1994

[Facial nerve surgery with increasing innervation of correct target].

Aberrant regeneration of facial nerve has a higher propensity to innervate the wrong target. This study states that transection of these nonsomatic motor nerve will increase the innervation of correct target, which is cataloged as 'transection group', and preservation of nonsomatic motor nerve as 'untransection group'. According to the House grading system for reporting recovery of the facial nerve, in incomplete lesions (Bell's palsy, Hunt's syndrome, trauma etc) treated with nerve total or subtotal decompression (101 cases), transection group produced better voluntary functional movement (average grade 1.66 +/- 0.74) than untransection group (average grade 2.81 +/- 0.87). In complete lesions (trauma, tumor and chemical destruction etc) treated with nerve grafting (65 cases), transection group obtained better improvement (average grade 2.63 +/- 0.73) than untransection group (average grade 3.65 +/- 0.78).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Pilot-related factors in aircraft crashes: a review of epidemiologic studies.

The epidemiologic studies of pilot-related factors in aircraft crashes are reviewed with regard to: 1) study design and methods; 2) major findings; and 3) data and methodological issues. In the last 60 years, numerous studies have been conducted to examine the relationships of pilot characteristics to the risk of aircraft crashes. Much attention has been paid to pilots' medical condition, age, flight experience, and alcohol use. Most studies were based on crash analysis, using case reports and case series. Few studies have applied a formal, rigorous epidemiologic design. Planned case-control and cohort studies are extremely rare. In some cases, the deficiencies in study design and data analysis have resulted in controversial findings. More epidemiologic studies using state-of-the-art methodology are needed to identify various risk factors of aircraft crashes, to better understand the interrelationships among pilot, aircraft, and environment, and to develop and assess safety policies and other intervention programs.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1994

[Experimental study of radiated pig skin incorporated with norfloxacin and silver].

This paper presents the preparation and experimental use of radiated pigskin incorporated with norfloxacin and silver (RPSNS). The results show that tensile strength, tissue adherence and water-vaporu permeability of RPSNS are not significantly different from that of pigskin without radiation. The histological structure of RPSNS is essentially normal. However, some of the epidermal cells present vesicles. No positive culture is found in RPSNS and radiated pigskin, while the rate of positive bacterial culture of pigskin sterilized by Bromogeramin is 10%. RPSNS can effectively inhibit Staphy. aureus, Ps aeruginosa, E. coli, Proteus and Klebsiella. The results indicate that RPSNS is a kind of sterile biological dressing with strong anti-bacterial effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Prior crash and violation records of pilots in commuter and air taxi crashes: a case-control study.

With a case-control design, this study examined the relationships of crash/incident history, violation history, pilot age, flight experience, and recent flight time with the likelihood of being involved in commuter aircraft and air taxi crashes. Cases (n = 725) were pilots who had been involved in commuter aircraft or air taxi crashes during 1983-88, identified from the National Transportation Safety Board aviation crash data base. From the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airmen information system, 1,555 pilots were randomly selected as controls. Controls were frequently-matched with cases on medical class and calendar year. Different data bases within the FAA's airmen information system were linked to ascertain information about crash/incident and violation records in the previous 3 years, age, total flight time, and flight time in the prior 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to estimate odds ratios and evaluate dose-response effects, non-linear relationships, and interactions. Cases had significantly higher prevalence rates of prior crash/incident and violation records. The estimated odds ratio of being involved in a commuter aircraft or an air taxi crash was 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-2.4) for crash/incident history, and 1.6 (95% CI, 1.1-2.2) for violation history. A "dose-response effect" was found with both crash/incident history and violation history, with higher odds ratios for pilots with crashes versus incidents or with more serious violations. Total flight time showed a diminishing protective effect. Either very small or very large recent flight time increased the risk of being involved in a commuter aircraft or an air taxi crash.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1994

The role of human rights and personal dignity in the rehabilitation of chronic psychiatric patients. A rural therapeutic community in Yanbian, Jilin.

In 1983 the branch hospital of the Yanbian Community Psychiatric Hospital, a rural residential centre for 120 chronic psychiatric patients who have no means of financial support, adopted a new treatment philosophy that emphasised psychosocial rehabilitation and made the protection of patients' human rights and respect for their personal dignity the central organising principles for the hospital's treatment programme. From being a boarding facility for chronic psychiatric patients, the hospital became a thriving community. Comparison of the status of the 81 continuously resident schizophrenic patients before and after the policy change showed that (a) the proportion who actively participated in agricultural labour increased from 10% in 1982 to 38% in 1990; (b) the proportion who worked at non-agricultural jobs increased from 7% in 1982 to 22% in 1990; and (c) their mean yearly income increased from 1.67 Rmb in 1982 to 246.70 Rmb in 1990. Moreover, the number of successful suicides among all the patients in the hospital dropped from 13 in 1975-1982 to 1 in 1983-1990. We conclude that the success of psychiatric rehabilitation programmes depends on the extent to which they address the core issues of personal dignity and basic human rights.

China↗
PubMed1994

A rating instrument for the evaluation of in-patient rehabilitation programmes in China. Results of reliability and validity testing.

To objectively evaluate in-patient rehabilitation programmes in China, we developed a new rating scale: the Inpatient Psychiatric Rehabilitation Outcome Scale (IPROS). The scale has five subscales: performance in occupational therapy, daily activities, socialisation, personal hygiene, and level of interest in external events. Evaluators (physicians or nurses) observe patients for one week before coding items on a five-point scale. Comparison of four independent evaluators' results for 32 schizophrenic patients assessed on two separate occasions indicated that the inter-rater and test-retest reliability for the overall IPROS score and for the five subscale scores was excellent (all ICC values > or = 0.973). Validity was evaluated by comparing IPROS results with those of five other independently assessed clinical measures for 101 chronic schizophrenic patients before and after a six-month rehabilitation programme; concurrent validity and longitudinal validity were satisfactory (correlation coefficients 0.37-0.81, all P values < 0.01).

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

[Studies on the efficacy of albendazole candy for treatment of intestinal nematode infections].

A single dose of albendazole (candy) 100 mg and 100 mg qd for two days was given respectively to 135 and 321 children who were infected with Enterobius vermicularis. All cases were cured 3wk later according to perianal tape examination. The same drug of 150 mg qd and 200 mg qd for two days was administered respectively to residents with single or multi-infections of Ascaris, hookworm and Trichuris; the egg negative conversion rates of the two dosages were revealed to be 99.4% (466/469) and 99.8% (487/488) for Ascaris infection, 96.8% (91/94) and 94.3% (99/105) for hookworm infection, and 53.4% (228/427) and 76.3% (370/486) for Trichuris infection. The maximal numbers of worm expelled were 100 on d2-3, 88 on d3-5 and 588 on d2-4 for Enterobius, Ascaris and hookworm, respectively; whereas the discharged Trichuris were scarce, merely 4.3 in average. The results exhibited promising efficacy of the drug on Enterobius, Ascaris and hookworm infections, but not so on trichuriasis.

Albendazole↗
PubMed1994

[Supraglottic horizontal-vertical hemilaryngectomy].

During the years 1980 to 1989, 41 patients (36 men and 5 women) with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx had undergone the supraglottic horizontal-vertical hemilaryngectomy. The patients' age ranged from 43 to 67 years; 78% was aged from 50 to 59. Among 41 patients, 23 were at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Shanxi Tumor Hospital and the other 18 patients at the Department of ENT of Beijing Hospital. There were 70.7% (29 patients) in T3 and T4 and 43.9% (18 patients) in N1-3. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of the patients were 82.9% and 75.7% respectively. The 41 patients have acquired the function of speech and swallowing in different degree; 85.4% (35 patients) was extubated. In this article, the main procedure of the operation is described and the modified method during the operation dealing with the recurrence of the original carcinoma, the lymph node metastasis, aspiration of the food and raise the raising of of extubation.

Adult↗