Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to H Zheng.
Qui-Xi was one of the earliest Chinese who learned cowpox vaccination in the early 19th century. He spent all his life on vaccination career, explained and supplemented the cowpox vaccination by TCM theory, and thus did great contribution to the prevention of smallpox in China. Guangdong, as an early trade window opening to abroad, provided an environment of social thought and economic support to him.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the etiology of impotence in diabetic male adults. METHODS: 327 diabetic men aged 20 - 70 years were interviewed; 129 (39.6%) of them complained of impotence. All the 129 patients were initially evaluated by diabetologists and then underwent psychosexual assessment by psychiatrists. In addition, evaluation for retinopathy, neuropathy, vascular disease and sex hormone level was carried out. RESULTS: The 327 diabetic patients were divided into four age ranges 25 - 34, 35 - 44, 45 - 54, and 55 - 70. The frequency of diabetic impotence in these groups was 9.7%, 34.2%, 48.0%, 62.7% respectively. Neuropathy was found in 79 (61.2%), psychogenic factor contributed in 66 (51.2%), vascular factor was present in 31 (24.0%), leakage of penile venous cavernosa occurred in 5 (3.9%), and treatment with impotence- related medications was the contributing factor in 2 (1.6%). There are significant differences of glycosylated hemoglobin, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, and proliferative retinopathy between impotent and potent diabetic patients. The degree of psychological problem is more serious in the diabetic impotent patients than in potent patients according to Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI) test. No significant difference was found in smoking, alcohol and plasma testosterone level. CONCLUSION: The etiology of diabetic impotence is multifactorial. Neuropathy is the main cause, but vascular and psychological factors also contribute to it significantly.
In situ apoptosis labelling was used for detecting apoptotic cells, and immunohistochemistry for p53, bcl-2 proteins and proliferation cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and liver cirrhosis tissues. The results were that in HCC, the number of apoptotic cells was higher, the density of proliferation cells lower, and expressions of p53 and bcl-2 protein were stronger than that in liver cirrhosis, and they were related to differentiation degree of HCC. The data indicate that overexpression of bcl-2 and mutant p53 proteins, which causes imbalance between cell proliferation and apoptosis, may bring about genesis and development of HCC by selecting proliferation of cells.
The branched building plays a pivotal part in the study of Dendrimers. In order to synthesized Dendrimers more effectively, we designed and synthesized four new branched building blocks via 2-4 steps starting from diethyl malonate and pentaerythritol. Their structures were confirmed by IR and 1HNMR etc. They compare favourably with previous branched building blocks as regards to steric hindrance and branched effect.
OBJECTIVE: To Observe the morphological characteristics of the leaf epidermis of 9 Chinese species of genus Murraya and prepare and index for their differentiation. METHOD: SEM(scanning electron microscope). RESULT: Sect. Murraya was found having with blurred dividing lines on epidermis without ropy emblazonry, while sect. Bergera appeared the other way round. CONCLUSION: M. kwangsiensis var. macrophylla should be ground under Sect. Murraya as a new species, while M. tetramera should be separated from M. euchrestifolia; SEM has been proved very useful in the identification, taxonomic and pharmacognostical study of Murraya.
This paper reports a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous separation and determination of histamine(Hist) and noradrenaline(NA) in human plasma by means of pre-column derivatization of Hist and NA with OPA in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The analysis was carried out with Partisil ODS column, V[sodium acetate buffer solution(pH 4.90)]:V(acetonitrile) = 7:3 as mobile phase and 3-methylhistamine as internal standard. The detector potential was +0.7 V for both compounds to keep minimum background noise. A linear relationship between the electrochemical signal and the compound mass concentrations was obtained. The minimum detectable limit was 15 ng/L (S/N = 3). An example of application of the method to the determination of Hist and NA in human plasma is presented.
Osteoblasts were isolated from the frontal parietal bone of ovariectomized goat and were confirmed by testing for multiple biological features. The results showed that the goat osteoblasts cultured had the typical morphological feature of osteoblasts, the activity of alkaline phosphatase, and the ability of calcification in vitro. Also, the results proved that these goat osteoblasts in vitro had the same function and features as those in vivo. The experimental techniques in this study have provided a useful system for researches in bone metabolism.
AIM: To observe the immune responses in BALB/c mice vaccinated with the constructed recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3, containing ROP1 gene from Toxoplasma gondii. METHODS: The plasmid DNA obtained by alkaline lysis were injected into the left leg of each mouse at a dosage of 100 micrograms. A booster vaccine was given using the same dosage two weeks later. Control groups were injected with the pcDNA3 blank plasmid and normal saline, respectively. 30, 50 and 70 days after the booster injection, the proliferation activity of T lymphocytes and the NK cell activity were determined using MTT assay, the number of CD4+/CD8+ T cells with indirect immunofluorescence assay and the titer of IgG antibody by ELISA. RESULTS: The spleens of mice enlarged obviously after immunization with pcDNA3-ROP1. The activity of proliferation of spleen T lymphocytes was higher in the immunization group than in the control groups; The NK cell activity in the immunization group was higher than those of control ones. The number of CD4+ T cells showed no obvious increase but CD8+ T cells obviously increased. The titer of IgG antibody in the immunization group showed no significant increase until 90 days later. CONCLUSION: Vaccination of mice with the recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3-ROP1, could elicit cellular and humoral immune response in mice.
AIM: To explore the protective effect and cellular immune response of uv-attenuated ZS1 strain trophozoites of Toxoplasma gondii in mice. METHODS: The ZS1 strain trophozoites of T. gondii were irradiated by uv-light with 2537 A wave length for 60 minutes. Mice were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was vaccinated alone, group 2 was challenged with normal ZS1 trophozoites on d45 after vaccination, group 3 was infected alone, and group 4 was normal control. The changes in splenic T cell proliferation, level of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell, and NK cell activity were compared. RESULTS: Group 1 mice survived normally, no trophozoite, pseudo-cyst or cyst was detected in the tissues on d49 after vaccination. Group 2 mice survived longer than those of group 3. The T lymphocyte proliferation in response to soluble antigen of T. gondii was significantly enhanced in group 2, and suppressed in group 3. The level of CD4+ T cell in group 2 was decreased, resulting in a reverse of CD4+/CD8+ ratio. The NK cell activities in groups 1, 2 and 3 were all significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The uv-attenuated vaccine of T. gondii ZS1 strain could induce certain protective immunity against challenge infection, in which CD8+ T cell and NK cell might play an important role.
AIM: To determine whether immunization with recombinant filarial chitinase or a fragment containing the epitope recognized by McAbMF1 and SXP-1 could protect jirds against microfilaremia resulting from infection with B. malayi. METHODS: Test jirds were immunized with the following recombinant parasite antigens: filarial chitinase, the c-terminal fragments F7R2 or F8R2 of r-chitinase, filarial SXP-1, myosin or maltose binding protein (MBP). Employing immunochemical techniqe (SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting) and serology (ELISA) measured antifilarial antibodies level. RESULTS: Immunization of jirds with recombinant chitinase induced partial protection against microfilaremia resulting from subsequent infection with B. malayi, but did not reduce adult worm burdens. Vaccination was much less effective when administered during the prepatent stage of infection and was ineffective when given to microfilaremic jirds. Immunization of jirds with SXP-1, an antigen present in multiple worm stages also reduced microfilaremia and, in some experiments, adult worm burdens. CONCLUSION: The recombinant chitinase, fragments F7R2 and F8R2 and SXP-1 could provide partial protection against microfilaremia in jirds.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of clinical application of examination of fibrillation potential amplitude of laryngeal electromyogram. METHOD: Fifty-four patients (65 sides) with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were examined and only the maximum fibrillation potential amplitudes were recorded in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles and thyroarytenoid muscles. RESULT: There was no significant difference between sexes, ages and sides. The fibrillation potential amplitude was maximum at 3 to 4 months after denervation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle or at 5 to 6 months after denervation of the thyroarytenoid muscle and still remained at certain level for years in some patients. Significant difference was showed in complete and incomplete nerve injuries groups, but changes of amplitude with time in incomplete nerve injuries group were small. CONCLUSION: The changes of fibrillation potential amplitude might indicate that the changes from muscle denervation was still reversible and might be more accurate than traditional method of examination.
OBJECTIVE: To study the possible mechanism of H2O2-producing lactobacilli inhibited neisseria gonorrhoeae growth. METHODS: H2O2-producing lactobacilli were coincubated with neisseria gonorrhoeae in vitro, LB+ cell were disrupted by sonication, the protein in the lactobacilli lysate was separated by filtration through different MW sizes membranes and was examined for the ability to inhibit N. gonorrhoeae catalase activity. RESULTS: When coincubation medium was at pH 5.0, there was a significant decrease in the gonococcal catalase activity, the lysates of LB+ also effectively inhibited gonococcal catalase activity. This inhibition was retained upon heating of lysate to 100 degrees C for 15 minutes but was lost with proteinase K treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The LB+ may inhibit growth of gonococci by production of catalase inhibitors.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), inositol-1,4,5-trisphophate (IP3) and calmodulin (CaM) in human osteoblast-like cell line TE85. METHODS: Using Fluo-3/AM as fluorescent indicator, the [Ca2+]i was measured by laser confocal microscopy system. The IP3 content was determined by anion-exchange chromatography. CaM content was detected by a high sensitive assay based on stimulation of Ca(2+)-dependent phosphodiesterase activity. RESULTS: E2 at dose of 0.1 and 1.0 nmol/L increased fluorescent level by 4.7 and 6.1 times. Pretreatment with thapsigargin (100 nmol/L), the E2 caused only 1.5 times elevation in fluorescence. E2 induced a concommitant bi-peak increase in IP3 content. At the presence of E2(1.0 nmol/L), the CaM content increased by 85.2%. Tamoxifen did not affect the effect of E2 on [Ca2+]i, IP3 and CaM content. But, the inhibitor of phospholipase C (neomycin) and pertusis toxin depressed them partly or completely. CONCLUSIONS: E2 regulate bone cells function by way of Ca2+/CaM activation.
PURPOSE: To study the healing of the corneal endothelial cells in rabbit corneal alkali wounds. METHODS: 26 New Zealand white rabbits were used. A alkali wound was created with a round filter paper, 8 mm in diameter, which was soaked in 0.5 N NaOH for 5 seconds and was placed centrally on the cornea for 60 seconds. The rabbits were killed in 20 minutes; 1, 2, 6, 12 h; 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 30 days after injury. The corneal endothelium was examined in the light microscope using a lizarin red S-trypan blue staining method. RESULTS: Twenty minutes after the wound, the corneal endothelial cells were destroyed. 72 hours following the wound, the endothelial cells surrounding the burns became larger, irregular and started to migrate onto the denuded descemet's membrane. The endothelial cells covered the burn with the spindle-shaped cells 7 days after wound. CONCLUSION: The endothelial damage is healed by the division and migration of remaining endothelial cells at the margin of the wound, which has some characters of fibroblast.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the techniques of rapid and accurate diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis. METHODS: Total 100 conjunctivitis patients (200 eyes) were studied. Twenty-two of 100 cases were diagnosed as chlamydial conjunctivitis. The infected epithelia were scraped from tarsal conjunctiva of both eyes and stained separately with Giemsa (100 cases) and immunofluorescence (anti-chlamydial antigen monoclonal antibody, 100 cases). RESULT: In immunofluorescent staining, 38 cases were seen positive staining and 62 were negative. In Giemsa staining, 29 were positive, and 71 were negative. In 22 cases with clinical diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis, 13 cases were confirmed, and 9 were excluded by immunofluorescent staining. Technically, immunofluorescent and Giemsa stain takes 45 and 40 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION: Comparing to Giemsa stain, 38 of 100 scraping specimens were positive (38%) by immunofluorescent staining, 29 of 100 per cent were positive by Giemsa staining. Giemsa staining takes 5 minutes less than immunofluorescent staining (40 versus 45 minutes), however, the positive staining in immunofluorescent staining is much easier to be recognized than Giemsa staining.
In this paper, we discuss the application of wavelet transform to edges detection, classification and description. Then, according to the peculiarity of the nail fold micro-circulation images, dyadic wavelet transform is successfully applied to detect the edges and the Mallat algorithm is used in the wavelet decomposition.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and distribution of ciliary neurotrophic factor(CNTF) mRNA and its protein in laryngeal nerve regeneration. METHODS: The recurrent laryngeal nerves were sectioned and then sutured in twelve dogs. Both proximal and distal stumps of sutured region were sectioned on different postoperative days and the sections were separately used for CNTF immunohistochemistry and CNTF mRNA in situ hybridization. The area and intensity of reactive product were measured by computer image processing system. RESULTS: Strongly reactive product of CNTF mRNA and its protein deposited in myelin-related Schwann cells in normal laryngeal nerves. At week 2 following neurorrhaphy, there was very little hybridization signal and detectable CNTF immunoreactivity in distal stump and no regenerated nerve fibbers were found. At week 3, reactive product of CNTF mRNA and its protein was detected in thin Schwann cell processes ensheathing regenerated axons, while reactive product was not found in the proliferating Schwann cells which didn't ensheathe axons. CNTF immunoreactivity was also detected in the regenerated nerve axons. After long survival times, hybridization signal and the CNTF immunoreactivity in Schwamm cells became more widespread, and the area and intensity of reactive product significantly increased, but even at the longest survival time, they were still significantly less than those in intact nerve. The same change of CNTF mRNA and its protein was observed in a short segment proximal to the sutured region. CONCLUSION: CNTF expression could depend on Schwann cell-axon regeneration. The level of CNTF expression stands in striking contrast to the up-regulation of nerve growth factor in peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration. These suggest that the exogenous CNTF might provide a supportive environment for axonal regeneration.
The standard coronary stent implantation technique requires routine predilatation of the target lesion with a balloon catheter. In this study, we prospectively studied the feasibility and efficiency of elective coronary stent implantation without predilatation. In 94 patients who presented with various ischemic syndromes, direct implantation of 100 balloon expandable ACS MultiLink stents (7 over-the-wire, 93 rapid exchange) was attempted in 100 coronary lesions selected to have favorable characteristics. The stent crossed the lesion without predilatation in 97 cases (97%) and was successfully deployed in 93 (95.8%). In 4 patients, adjunctive high-pressure postdilatation was necessary to achieve optimal stent expansion. Reference vessel diameter was 3.12+/-0.77 mm and lesion length 8.8+/-2.7 mm. Minimal luminal diameter increased from 0.95+/-0.38 mm to 2.98+/-0.28 mm and diameter stenosis decreased from 71+/-11% to 8+/-11% after stenting. One occlusive dissection was treated by a second stent. There were no major in-hospital complications. At 1 month follow-up, 1 subacute thrombotic occlusion occurred. These results indicate that in a carefully selected coronary lesion subset, elective stent implantation without predilatation can be safely and effectively performed. The long-term results of this approach and possible advantages over the conventional implantation techniques remain unclear and need to be evaluated in further clinical studies.