Native Hawaiian mortality, 1980 and 1990.
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Cause of Death↗
Biomedical subjects
H Yang
Publications and source records attributed to H Yang.
Aggregation of phospholipid vesicles induced by the ribosome inactivating protein saporin.
Saporin-S6(SO-6) is a single chain ribosome inactivating protein, which can inhibit protein synthesis by inactivating eukaryotic ribosomes. The interaction of SO-6 with phospholipid model systems was described. SO-6 can specifically interact with negatively-charged phospholipid vesicles and it induces the aggregation of the lipid vesicles. The kinetics of the vesicle aggregation induced by SO-6 was studied. The saturating protein/lipid molar ratio was determined to be 1:100 based on titration experiments. The aggregation is dependent on the temperature in a range that was many times higher than the phase transition temperature of the phospholipid. The effect of pH on the aggregation of the vesicles can not be explained by simple deprotonation of side chain amino groups of the protein, and may be related to conformational changes of the protein. The maintenance of physiological ionic strength was required for the aggregation of SO-6 with vesicles. Finally, the interaction was prompted by Ca2+ ions, and was totally inhibited by EDTA, which suggests that SO-6 may interact with phospholipid vesicles in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner.
Calcium↗
[Effects of diagnostic ultrasound on villus ultrastructure of early pregnancy].
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of diagnostic ultrasound on villus ultrastructure of early pregnancy. METHODS: Using the electron microscopy, the effect of B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler flow image on villus of early pregnancy were studied. 46 cases of early pregnancy women were divided into five groups: Groups 1 : control group; Group II and III: 24 +/- 1 hours after exposure to B mode and color Doppler ultrasound for 30 minutes respectively; Group IV and V: 72 +/- 1 hours after exposure to B mode and color Doppler ultrasound for 30 minutes respectively. RESULTS: Expansion of perinuclear space in cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts, enlargement of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and vacuolization in the cytoplasm were found in Group II and III. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the main injured sites after exposure to ultrasound were the plasma membrane and suborganelles. These changes disappeared within 3 days.
Adult↗
[Studies on gelatin microsphere loaded ligustrazine hydrochloride for lung targeting].
The effect of ligustrazine hydrochloride (LTH) on depressing pulmonary artery hypertension has been proved in recent studies. In an attempt to prepare a lung targeting dosage form, ligustrazine hydrochloride gelatin microspheres (LTH-GMS) were prepared by the method of emulsion process, using 2:1 as the weight ratio of LTH to gelatin. The preparation technique was optimized and the appearance, particle size and size distribution, LTH content, in vitro release, stability, and in vivo distribution of LTH-GMS were studied. The results showed that the mean diameter of LTH-GMS measured by Coulter counter was 12.65 microns, 87.5% of the microspheres ranging from 5 to 24.9 microns. The average content of LTH in LTH-GMS was 16.49% +/- 0.49% (n = 3) with an average extent of entrapment of about 89% and the LTH-GMS were stable for three months when stored in refrigerator or at room temperature. The release profile in vitro (pH 7.8-8.0 phosphate buffer) can be described by first-order kinetic equation. The release t1/2 of LTH when given LTH-GMS was about 6 times as much as that of original LTH. The relative distribution percentage of LTH-GMS in lung when determined 20 min after iv administration to mice was significantly higher than those of LTH-GMS in other tissues and blood, and was about 6 times as much as that of the LTH solution control group in lung under the same conditions.
Animals↗
Influence of contact lens wear on the corneal topography of keratoconus.
PURPOSE: Corneal videokeratography is frequently used to evaluate keratoconus patients, as it is believed to allow for a more thorough appreciation of the complex curvature changes associated with the anterior corneal surface. The goal of this study was to determine the qualitative and quantitative influence of soft and rigid contact lens wear on the corneal topography of keratoconus. METHODS: 205 keratoconus patients were analyzed by computerized videokeratography for both qualitative corneal topographic patterns and quantitative indices. Fifty-six patients were non-contact lens wearers, 130 wore polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses, and 19 wore soft contact lenses. Data from the keratoconus patients were also compared to a control group comprised of normal patients with no history of contact lens wear. RESULTS: All three keratoconus groups had a significantly increased frequency of an asymmetric bowtie/skewed radial axes (AB/SRAX) pattern compared with normals. Differences among the videokeratography patterns for the kertoconus patients included a significant shift from the AB/SRAX videokeratographic pattern to the irregular videokeratographic pattern in the rigid (PMMA or RGP) lens subgroup as well as an increased frequency of the irregular pattern in the soft contact lens group versus the no contact lens group (P < 0.0001). Additional differences between the rigid contact lens and no contact lens keratoconus groups included increased values for the quantitative indices of SAI, SRI, SIM-K, and central K in the rigid contact lens group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increased frequency of qualitative and quantitative corneal irregularity in the rigid contact lens keratoconus group may reflect a mechanical effect of contact lens wear or an advanced disease state in these patients limiting them to rigid lens wear. The advanced disease is evidenced by steeper SIM-K and Central K indices in the rigid contact lens group.
Contact Lenses↗
Life and death in Hawaii: ethnic variations in life expectancy and mortality, 1980 and 1990.
Life expectancy in Hawaii is among the highest in the nation. Past research, however, found significant ethnic differences in longevity. This study presents life expectancy estimations for 1980 and 1990, along with ethnic differences in mortality rates for specific causes of death. The findings suggest that ethnic differences continue, with Chinese and Japanese having the longest life expectancy and Native Hawaiians having the shortest.
Asian↗
[A study of neuroretinal rim morphology in physiologic large cups and early glaucoma].
OBJECTIVE: To find the differences of the physiologic large cups from the optic cup of early glaucoma. METHODS: The morphology of neuroretinal rim was studied. The subjects were divided into two groups: (1) 54 cases 88 eyes with physiologic large cups defined by cup/disk (C/D) ratio more than 0.6, optic disk areas more than 2.8 mm2, without neuroretinal rim loss within 3-6 years of follow-up, normal intraocular pressure and visual field. (2) 68 cases 89 eyes with early glaucoma defined by visual field defects, neuroretinal rim loss in follow-up and C/D ratio less than 0.8. The indexes of neuroretinal rim related to morphology are a series of rim widths and a parameter of cupping morphology which is a ratio of the vertical C/D over the horizontal C/D. RESULTS: The characteristics of a physiologic large cup are a large optic disk, a horizontal elliptic cupping and the widest neuroretinal rim at the inferior, followed by superior, nasal and temporal, while the characteristics of optic nerve head of glaucoma are normal size of optic disk, vertical elliptic cupping and the widest rim not at the inferior, since the inferior rim is subject to glaucomatous damage. CONCLUSION: To differentiate a physiologic large cup from a glaucomatous one, the most effective way is to apply the parameter of cupping morphology in combination with neuroretinal rim area and optic disk area in the multivariate discrimination.
Adult↗
[The PCR amplification, cloning, sequencing, expression in E. coli of gene encoding endoflagella subunit protein (fla B) from Leptospira interrogans serovar lai].
A pair of oligonucleotide primers were designed by ourselves to amplify the endoflagella gene of L. interrogans serovar lai. A fragment about 840 bp was generated with PCR and inserted into plasmid pUC8 after the fragment and pUC8 were digested respectively with Bam HI and Pst I. A recombinant plasmid (designated as pLF1) was obtained. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that a 33 kd was expressed in E. coli JM103 harboring pLF1 and the expression level of the protein was 11% of total bacterial soluble proteins. Western blot analysis showed that the protein band could be recognized by the antiserum against the endoflagella (Axiall filament) of Leptospira interrogans serovar lai. Nucleotide seguence data showed an open reading frame encoding 282 aminoacids residues, corresponding to a protein of molecular weight 33.6 kd. The G + C content of endoflagella subunit protein gene was 48 mol%. Therefore, the G + C content of the leptospiral fla B Gene is significantly higher than the reported 39 mol% G + C content of leptospiral genome of L.interrogans serovar lai but similar to the G + C of the Treponema pallidum genome. Comparison of the deduced endoflagellar subunit protein (fla B) amino acid sequence with flagellins from other bacteria revealed a high level of identity with the Treponema pallidum fla B proteins. Immunization/protection experiment was performed on the model of BALB/c mice and showed that the survival rate in the group JM103-pLF1 was higher than that in the group JM103-pUC8, but statistically the difference between them was significant (P < 0.05) and pLF1 did not induce significant levels of agglutinating antibodies against L.interrogans serovar lai.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
[The antitumor activity of elemene is associated with apoptosis].
Elemene, isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Rhizoma Zedoariae was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo to human and murine tumor cells. This novel antineoplastic agent has been demonstrated to have substantial clinical activity against various tumors. In this paper, the mechanisms of antitumor activity of elemene are reported. The in vitro effect of elemene on the growth of leukemia cells was evaluated by MTT assay. The IC50 values of elemene for promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells and erythroleukemia K562 cells were found to be 27.5 micrograms/ml and 81 micrograms/ml, respectively, while IC50 for peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was 254.3 micrograms/ml. The inhibitory effect of elemene on proliferation of HL-60 cells was associated with cell cycle arrest from, S to G2M phase transition and with induction of apoptosis. The apoptosis of tumor cells was confirmed by DNA ladder formation on gel electrophoresis and characteristic ultrastructural alternations. These results indicate that induction of apoptosis contributes to the mechanisms for antitumor activity of elemene.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
[Epithelioid variant of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor].
Epithelioid variant of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from deep soft tissue is an uncommon neoplasm, histopathologic features of which are usually not homogenous. The aim of this study was designed to investigate the relation between morphologic features and prognosis of the tumor. Twelve cases were studied with light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and 7 cases were studied with electron microscopy. Histologically, there were three patterns: purely epithelioid (5 cases), mixed with areas of spindle cells (5 cases) and ossifying (2 cases). The results showed S-100 protein positivity and multiple cytoskeletal heterogeneity that included: (1) neuronal differentiation which indicated expression for NSE and neurofilament, and ganglion cell; (2) epithelial differentiation which revealed reactivity for Keratin, and desmosomes and tonofilament-like bundles in ultrastructural findings; (3) mesenchymal differentiation which manifested reactivity for vimentin, osteoid metaplasia, and rhabdoid phenotype. The present study indicates that the relation between the heterogeneity and the aggressiveness of the tumors is synchronous. Three of the patients with prominent heterogeniety died with clinical evidence of lung metastases within seven months to four years after diagnosis.
Adult↗
[Research on the recombinant plasmid pDJH2 of L. interrogans serovar lai: sequencing and alignment with other known bacterial Omp sequence].
The Leptospira whole cell vaccine (LWCV) currently used in China is safe and effective, out the immunity following vaccination with two doses of the fluid medium vaccine is of low order. The duration of immunity conferred by this vaccine is rather short, six months or at most one year. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new generation vaccines against Leptospirosis for the developing world. In this paper we report the sequencing of the insert fragment of pDJH2 from genomic DNA of L. interrogans sevovar lai strain 017 and its alignment with other bacterial omp sequences. A genomic library of Leptospira interrogaans serovar lai strain 017 was constructed with the plasmid vector pUC18. A recombinant plasmid designated pJDH2 was screened from the genomic library. Inserted fragment of pDH2 is 1.9 kb by gel electrophoresis. Immunization/protection was studied in BALB/c mice model. The results showed highly significant difference between pDJH2 and pUC18 (control). Inserted fragment of pDJH2 DNA sequencing was performed by Dr Yan Zhengxin (Max-Planck-Institut for Biology. Tubingen, Germany). Insert fragment was cloned into pBluescript II KS-(stratagene) and sequenced by using AB1 (Applied Bio Systems, Model 373A). Two open reading frames of 565 and 662 nucleotides were identified. There were identifiable initiation codons, terminators, Shine-Dalgano ribosome combining site, Pribnow boxes and Sextama boxes within the 2 sequenced regions. Nucleotide sequences were analysed using Gene Work, a suit of computer program developed by Department of Biochemistry St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis. U.S.A. The results of formatted alignment showed the predicted nucleotide sequence of ORF1 of the serovar lai had significant similarity with ORF2 (49.36%). L. kirschneri ompL1 (49.26%), Borrelia burgdoferi omp (48.97%), Treponema phagedenis omp (47.3%); Salmonella typhimurium ompC(46.87%), Yersinia enterocolitica ompH (46.7%), Leptospira borgpeterseni pfap (46.3%), and Serratia marcescens omp (43.3%). The close relationship of the pDJH2 ORF1 and ORF2 nucleotide sequences from Leptospira kirschneri ompL 1 is apparent. Whether the recombinant pDJH2 will prove useful for vaccine development remains to be tested.
Animals↗
[Subclones of fragment DNA recombinant rpDJH2 of L. interrogans serovar lai strain 017 and it's expression of high level in E. coli].
Fragment of 1.9 kb recombinant DNA of pDJH2 was linked with vectors pT7-7 and pRSETs. Then they were transformed into E. coli JM109 (DE3) respectively. Expression of subclones was achieved in E. coli JM109 (DE3) with IPTG inducement. SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weights of products were 68kd and 23 kd respectively. The amount of production seemed to be higher than that of the outer membrane proteins of L. interrogans serovar strain 017 in nature. Immunoblotting of pDJt and pDJrB2 (both are subclones) with the specific antiserum of anti-OMP of L. interrogans serovar lai strain 017 and the experiment of initiative immuno-protection in guinea pigs showed both protein-68 kd and 23 kd might be the antigens of immuno-protection on the outer membrane of L. interrogans serovar lai strain 017.
Animals↗
Biochemical consequences of resistance to a recently discovered IMP dehydrogenase inhibitor, benzamide riboside, in human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells.
Benzamide riboside (BR) exhibits potent antitumor activity in a variety of cultured human tumor cells. The drug is metabolized to benzamide adenine dinucleotide (BAD), which in turn functions as a selective inhibitor of IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH) activity with a Ki of 0.118 microM. In vitro, BR is a more potent antitumor inhibitor of IMPDH than tiazofurin, another IMPDH inhibitor which has shown significant oncolytic activity in adult patients with end-stage leukemia. To elucidate the mechanism of resistance, a variant of human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells was developed by subculturing sensitive cells in sublethal concentrations of BR over 60 generations. The BR resistant line that emerged exhibited an IC50 (a concentration producing 50% reduction in cell proliferation) of 148 microM, compared to the sensitive line which had an IC50 of 1.6 microM. The activity of the target enzyme, IMPDH, was increased 3-fold in the resistant variant. Studies on BR metabolism revealed that resistant cells formed only 18% of the active metabolite, BAD, compared to sensitive cells. This finding, in turn, correlated with the specific activity of NAD pyrophosphorylase (the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of BAD) which was reduced to undetectable levels in the resistant variant. The basal levels of NAD and guanylates were also significantly decreased to 41% and 48%, respectively, in the resistant line compared to the parent line. Additionally, after treatment with BR a decrease in guanylate level was observed only in the sensitive cells. Sensitive and resistant cells exhibit comparable cytotoxicity to agents outside the tiazofurin family, suggesting that a multidrug resistance was unlikely to explain the resistance to BR. Moreover, BR resistant cells exhibit collatoral sensitivity to 6-aminopurine, cytarabine and 5-fluorouracil, which have different mechanisms of action. In conclusion, these studies establish that the primary mechanism of resistance to BR involves an increase in IMPDH (target enzyme) activity with a concurrent decrease in NAD pyrophosphorylase (BAD synthetic enzyme) activity.
Adult↗
[Determination of color pattern visual evoked potential in early primary open angle glaucoma].
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of changes of color visual evoked potential (PVEP) in early primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHOD: Thirty-one patients (45 eyes) with POAG and fifty-one persons (94 eyes) as age-matched normal controls were tested by color PVEP. RESULTS: In POAG group, the latencies of P100 wave were lengthened, its amplitudes and wave form indexes decreased, the latencies of N145 wave were lengthened, and the amplitudes of N75 wave were lowered. In early POAG eyes without the changes detected by Goldmann perimetry, their color PVEPs were already abnormal. Stepwise regression analysis shows that four factors in color PVEP are correlated to the defect of visual field in POAG. It is proved with the stepwise discriminatory analysis that seven factors in the color PVEP are useful in the diagnosis of early POAG. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors in color PVEP are abnormal in POAG. In early POAG eyes without changes detected by Goldmann perimetry, their color PVEPs are already abnormal. By using discriminatory function, the positive rate of the diagnosis of early POAG tested by color PVEP might be increased.
Aged↗
[The features of color pattern electroretinogram in early primary open-angle glaucoma].
OBJECTIVE: To observe the features of the changes of color pattern electroretinogram (CP-ERG) in early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHOD: The detection and analyses of CP-ERGs in 29 patients (48 eyes) with POAG, 10 patients (16 eyes) with ocular hypertension and 33 age-matched normal volunteers (48 eyes) were made. RESULTS: The changes of CP-ERG in early POAG included reduction of amplitudes of P1 and N2 waves, prolongation of the peak times of red/black N2 and blue/black P1 waves. Part of the patients with ocular hypertension had the amplitude of N2 wave reduced. Five factors including the amplitude of blue/black N2 wave, the amplitudes of red/black P1 and N2 waves, the peak time of red/black N2 wave and the white/black P1 to N2 wave amplitude ratio from CP-ERG which are significantly correlated to the diagnosis of early POAG were selected by the multiple factor stepwise discriminatory analysis, and the stepwise discriminatory function was set up. CONCLUSIONS: CP-ERG is a useful method in detecting the retinal functions in early POAG, and is helpful to its early diagnosis.
Adult↗
[Electrophoretic determination of aqueous and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma].
OBJECTIVE: Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) or isoenzymes containing gamma-enolase are considered valuable in the diagnosis of tumors of neuroectodermal origin. METHOD: We used rapid electrophoretic method on cellulose acetate plate to determine the patterns of enolase isoenzymes in the 21 aqueous humor and 23 serum specimens from 23 patients with retinoblastoma (Rb) and 21 aqueous and 25 serum specimens from 25 control cases to evaluate NSE in the diagnosis of RB. The assay allowed assessment of all three major isoenzymes (alpha alpha, alpha gamma, and gamma gamma), and NSE relative activity and its percentage in the total relative activity of the three enolase isoenzymes were assessed by means of a fluorometer. RESULTS: Aqueous from all patients with Rb contained alpha alpha, alpha gamma, and gamma gamma isoenzymes and presented strong positive, the positive rate of NSE being 100% and its relative activity accounting for 45 +/- 9% of the total relative activity of the 3 enolase isoenzymes; no enolase was detectable in the control aqueous with cataract, glaucoma and Coats's diseases (4 cases), but in two patients with traumatic hyphema alpha alpha band, while the sera faint alpha gamma and gamma gamma presented in the aqueous. The control serum contained only an alpha alpha band, while the sera from patients with RB contained alpha alpha, alpha gamma and gamma gamma bands in 18 of 23 specimens, the positive rate being 78.2%, and only alpha alpha bands in the rest 5 specimens (21.8%). In the patients with Rb, the NSE relative activity and its percentage in the total relative activity of the 3 isoenzymes in serum (36 +/- 9%) were significantly lower than that in aqueous. CONCLUSION: The amounts of NSE significantly in both serum and aqueous from patients with Rb, and the immunoelectrophoretic assay for determination of enolase patterns is valuable in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Rb. In addition, the method is rapid, simple and requires only a little among (< 5 microliters) of sample.
Aqueous Humor↗
[Is mixed connective tissue disease a distinct rheumatic disease].
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) as a distinct clinical entity is still controversial. To address the issue, the authors observed the evolution of 50 patients diagnosed as MCTD at our clinic, evaluated the reliability of three different diagnostic criteria proposed by Sharp, Alarcon-Segovia and Kasukawa respectively and performed HLA-A, -B and -DR antigen typing in 38 of the patients. The results showed that: (1) 13 (26.9%) of the 50 MCTD patients subsequently developed other connective tissue disease (OCTD) including 7 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and 6 progressive systemic scleroderma (PSS). (2) among 23 of the MCTD patients fulfilling Sharp's criteria, 1 (4.3%) developed PSS, but among 23 of the patients fulfilling Kasukawa's, not Sharp's, 7 (30.4%) developed OCTD and among 27 of the patients fulfilling Alarcon-Segovia's, not Sharp's, 12 (44.4%) developed OCTD. (3) in the frequencies of DR, and DR5, there were significant differences between patients fulfilling Sharp's (60.9%, 56.5%) and the normal controls (24.3%, P < 0.005, RR = 4.7 and 21.4%, P < 0.005, RR = 4.6%), but no significant differences between the patients not fulfilling Sharp's and normal controls (P > 0.05). We concluded that: (1) MCTD is a distinct rheumatic disease. (2) Sharp's criteria is the most reliable for diagnosis of MCTD.
Adolescent↗
Pleiotropic regulation of central carbohydrate metabolism in Escherichia coli via the gene csrA.
The carbon storage regulator gene csrA has been shown previously to dramatically affect the biosynthesis of intracellular glycogen in Escherichia coli through its negative control of the expression of two glycogen biosynthetic operons and the gluconeogenic gene pckA (Romeo, T., Gong, M., Liu, M. Y., and Brun-Zinkernagel, A. M. (1993) J. Bacteriol. 175, 4744-4755). Examination of the effects of csrA on several enzymes, genes, and metabolites of central carbohydrate metabolism now establishes a more extensive role for csrA in directing intracellular carbon flux. Phosphoglucomutase and the gluconeogenic enzymes fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate synthetase were found to be under the negative control of csrA, and these enzyme activities were maximal during the early stationary phase of growth. The enzymes glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, triose-phosphate isomerase, and enolase were positively regulated by csrA. Thus, csrA exerts reciprocal effects on glycolysis versus gluconeogenesis and glycogen biosynthesis. The glycolytic isozymes pyruvate kinase F and A (encoded by pykF and pykA, respectively) and phosphofructokinase I and II (pfkA and pfkB, respectively) exhibited differential regulation via csrA. Since the individual members of these isozyme pairs are allosterically regulated by different cellular metabolites, csrA is also capable of fine-tuning the allosteric regulation of glycolysis. In contrast, the expression of genes of the pentose phosphate pathway was weakly or negligibly affected by csrA.
Bacterial Proteins↗