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Biomedical subjects

G Xu

Publications and source records attributed to G Xu.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources

Filling of the lateral canal. Report of two cases.

In this article two cases, each involving an inflamed lateral canal, are reported. The lateral canals were fully filled with Oxpara paste by slight overfilling. The management principles of lateral and accessory canals are briefly mentioned as well.

Adult↗

Mu opioid receptors participate in the excitatory effect of opiates in the hippocampal slice.

The effects of the opioid peptides morphiceptin and [N-MePhe3-D-Pro4]morphiceptin (PL017), both mu receptor agonists, were examined by electrophysiological techniques in the rat hippocampal slice and ligand binding techniques in hippocampal membrane preparations. The electrophysiological actions of the mu agonists were similar to those of the previously studied delta receptor agonist [D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin. Thus, for a given size field excitatory postsynaptic potential the amplitude of both population spike and intracellular excitatory postsynaptic potential was increased by morphiceptin. These effects were concentration dependent and reversed by naloxone. The EC50 for morphiceptin was 1.6 microM, which is consistent with the mu-selective binding properties of this peptide. Similar results were obtained with the more potent analog PL017. Morphiceptin and morphine had similar displacement profiles in competition experiments performed with hippocampal membranes and a variety of radioligands. In Tris buffer morphiceptin potently inhibited the binding of the mu receptor marker [125I]FK 33,824 but displayed the expected shallow displacement isotherm against binding of the delta receptor marker [125I][D-Ala2, D-Leu5]enkephalin. A significant interaction of either morphiceptin or morphine with kappa binding sites is improbable since neither agonist could fully displace binding of [3H]ethylketocyclazocine or [3H]diprenorphine. The potency of morphiceptin in displacing [3H]naloxone from mu binding sites was reduced by inclusion of 100 mM NaCl or 100 microM GTP in the assay. The dissociation constant of morphiceptin for mu binding sites in physiological saline was 0.78 microM, comparable to its EC50 determined in electrophysiological experiments. It appears, therefore, that the electrophysiological properties of opioid peptides in the hippocampal slice may be mediated by both mu and delta receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗

Dynamics and time-averaged chemical potential of proteins: importance in oligomer association.

The chemical potential of a protein is a time-averaged quantity whose value depends upon the fractions of time spent in the different conformations and therefore upon the protein dynamics. If the monomer involved in an association equilibrium undergoes unfolding limited by its lifetime, its chemical potential as well as that of the associated form will not be constant and the free energy of association will be a diminishing function of the degree of dissociation. For a unique free energy of association, the logarithm of the protein concentration must change by 2.86 units to increase the degree of dissociation from 0.1 to 0.9. The dissociation of enolase appears to take place over a significantly smaller range (1.7 units), and dansyl conjugates of enolase show an even narrower range (0.9 unit). A simple descriptive theory is developed, and this shows that the values observed are explained by a difference in free energy of 1-3 kcal/mol (1 cal = 4.18 J) between the conformations present at negligible and almost complete dissociation.

Macromolecular Substances↗

NAD+ analogs in formation of new fluorophores on ultraviolet irradiation with D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

A number of NAD+ analogs have been tested in their ability to form fluorescent derivatives when UV irradiated with the active site Cys-149 carboxymethylated GAPDH and this has been compared with their properties of acting as hydrogen acceptors and forming the Racker band. Among the analogs tested, NHD+, NGD+, APAD+ and epsilon NAD+ give positive results in all the above-mentioned reactions whereas alpha NAD+, NMN+ and CPAD+ are all negative. FPAD+ forms a fluorescent derivative on UV irradiation with the carboxymethylated enzyme but is inactive as a hydrogen acceptor and does not form the Racker band. This is probably due to thiohemiacetal formation of the pyridine 3-aldehyde of this derivative with the active site SH group required for both the latter 2 reactions. TPAD+, although active active as a hydrogen acceptor, does not form either a fluorescent derivative or a Racker band. The fact that for the great majority of the analogs, the property of forming fluorescent derivatives is in parallel with their hydrogen acceptor activity seems to show that the formation of the fluorescent derivative is indeed at the active site, and hence can be used as an intrinsic probe for the study of the conformation of the active site of this enzyme.

Animals↗

Advantages in the analysis of UDP-sugars by capillary electrophoresis-comparison of the conventional HPLC method with two new capillary electrophoretic micro-procedures.

Two different capillary electrophoretic separation modes for the analysis of UDP-sugars have been tested. In comparison to the traditionally used HPLC method the micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) as well as the capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) results in an improvement of the separation profile and the speed of the analysis.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Insulin receptor in rat peripheral nerve: its localization and alternatively spliced isoforms.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic neuropathy accompanies both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, although it shows in both humans and animal models distinct differences between the two types of diabetes. Progressive paranodal degenerations occurring in Type 1, but not in Type 2, diabetes is believed to account for the more severe functional deficits in Type 1 diabetic rats. This suggests that factors other than hyperglycemia, such as insulin deficiency, may play a pathogenetic role. In this study, we investigated the immunolocalization of the insulin receptor (IR) and the expression of its two alternatively spliced isoforms in adult rat peripheral nerve. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats 6-8 months of age were examined. Both light and ultrastructural immunohistochemistry was employed for localization of IR. The antibody was a mouse monoclonal antibody raised against the beta-subunit of human IR. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to identify the two IR isoforms in peripheral nerve and seven other organs. Localization of the mRNA message was assessed by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: IR was localized to paranodal terminal Schwann cell loops and microvilli and to the paranodal axolemma. Furthermore, IR immunoreactivity was also present in Schmidt-Lantermann incisures. Endoneurial vessels showed IR localization on plasma membranes and in endocytotic vesicles of endothelial cells and pericytes. A high intensity of immunostained IR was found in close proximity to interendothelial tight junctions. Peripheral nerve showed, like the brain, predominantly the high affinity IR lacking exon 11. The mRNA message was localized to Schwann cells, endothelial cells and pericytes. CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerve expresses predominantly the high affinity IR, which is localized to strategic structures associated with the blood-nerve barrier and the paranodal ion-channel barrier.

Alternative Splicing↗

Radioimmunoguided surgery in gastric cancer using 131-I labeled monoclonal antibody 3H11.

A clinical trial of radioimmunoguided surgery (RIGS) using 131-I labeled monoclonal antibody (MAb) 3H11 was performed on 25 cases with gastric cancer in this study. The results showed that the route of the administration of radiolabeled MAb is the key point of successful RIGS for gastric cancer. The RIGS in 19 cases in the group of submucosal injection via endoscope was very satisfying. For the detection of metastatic lymph nodes, the sensitivity rate of RIGS was 99.2% (118/119), the specificity, 97.7% (43/44), and the accuracy 98.8% (161/163). The accuracy rate in detecting tumor infiltration of the gastric wall was 95.9% (94/98), the sensitivity 94.6% (35/37), and the specificity 96.7% (59/61). Thus, the use of RIGS may improve the radical resectability rate and possibly the overall survival rate in patients with gastric cancer.

Adult↗

Blocking cholesterol synthesis impairs acquisition of the classically conditioned eyeblink response.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome is a congenital disorder characterized by severe mental retardation. Patients with SLO lack 7-dehydrocholesterol (7 dH) reductase, which catalyzes the last step of cholesterol synthesis. Administration of an agent that blocks 7 dH cholesterol reductase, BM 15.766 (BM), leads to a biochemical profile which resembles that of SLO patients, i.e., lower plasma, liver, and brain cholesterol levels accompanied by the appearance of the precursors 7 dH and 8 dH cholesterol. In this article we address the functional consequences of chronic BM treatment on new motor learning by assessing acquisition of the classically conditioned eyeblink response. Just-weaned rats were fed BM by gavage for four months, with half of these rats given exogenous cholesterol during the last two months of BM treatment. Acquisition of the eyeblink response was impaired in BM-treated rats. Impaired acquisition of the eyeblink response was not accompanied by alterations in responsiveness to either the conditioned or unconditioned stimulus. Exogenous cholesterol, a clinically relevant countertreatment, failed to correct for the learning impairment produced by BM treatment. Chronic treatment with a cholesterol synthesis-blocking agent impaired associative learning in just-weaned rats.

Animals↗