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Biomedical subjects

H Zou

Publications and source records attributed to H Zou.

124 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Adhesion molecules expression in noncrescentic acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Clinicomorphological features of 11 cases of non-crescentic acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) were reviewed. Intraglomerular and interstitial leukocytes and their possible correlation with the adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1/E-selectin) were investigated by an immunohistochemical method. Intraglomerular leukocytes were primarily granulocytes (11.4 +/- 10 cells/glomerular cross-section) and monocytes-macrophages (13.4 +/- 19.4 cells/glomerular cross-section). The granulocytes outnumbered monocytes-macrophages in 7 of 11 specimens. The number of intraglomerular leukocytes correlated with proteinuria at the time of renal biopsy. Intraglomerular ICAM-1 staining was strongly positive in all biopsies, especially when intraglomerular monocytes-macrophages prevailed. Expression of intraglomerular VCAM-1 and E-selectin in diseased kidneys did not differ from that in normal kidneys. Interstitial leukocytes were primarily monocytes-macrophages (158.9 +/- 96.8 cells/mm2) and T lymphocytes (102.2 +/- 63.9 cells/mm2). The number of interstitial leukocytes, especially monocytes-macrophages, correlated with serum creatinine level at the time of biopsy. Interstitial ICAM-1 staining was strongly positive on tubules, peritubular capillaries, and small vessels. The tubular positivity for ICAM-1 correlated with the number of interstitial monocytes-macrophages. Interstitial VCAM-1 and E-selectin were expressed as in normal kidney tissues. The data from this study demonstrate that APSGN is characterized by the presence of both intraglomerular and interstitial leukocyte infiltration, correlating respectively with proteinuria and serum creatinine at the time of renal biopsy. Among the adhesion molecules studied, ICAM-1 seems the most involved in leukocyte recruitment, especially in that of monocytes-macrophages.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

Calcium dependence of indolactam-mediated contractions in resistance vessels.

The protein kinase C activator, (-)-indolactam, has been shown to enhance reactivity of arterioles by a mechanism not requiring an increase in intracellular Ca++ (Ca++i). The aim of this study was to characterize the Ca++ requirement for indolactam-induced contraction of resistance vessels. Studies were performed in small mesenteric arteries (diameter, 260 +/- microm), using intact segments or after permeabilization with alpha-toxin (500 U/ml). Additional studies were preformed using isolated smooth muscle cells to allow electrophysiological assessment of the effect of indolactam on voltage-gated Ca++ entry. Intact and permeabilized vessel segments showed dose-dependent constriction to indolactam. Studies of Fura 2-loaded vessels and permeabilized segments maintained at low Ca++i, showed that the constriction occurred without an overt increase in Ca++i. That Ca++ was required was evident by near maximal relaxation after the removal of Ca++. Patch clamp studies indicated that indolactam potentiated voltage-gated Ca++ entry; however, nifedipine (0.5 microM) and La (0.2 or 1 mM) were relatively ineffective in reversing the contraction, indicating that voltage-gated Ca++ entry was not an absolute requirement. In intact vessel segments, the myosin light chain (MLC) kinase inhibitors, ML-7 and ML-9, reversed the indolactam contraction, suggesting the requirement of the MLC chain phosphorylation pathway. Furthermore, indolactam caused by a significant increase in MLC phosphorylation in permeabilized vessels, despite clamping of Ca++i at pCa 7.0. The data are consistent with the suggestion that the protein kinase C activator, indolactam, acts to modulate the Ca++ sensitivity of the smooth muscle contractile process such that higher than expected levels of MLC phosphorylation exist for a given level of Ca++i.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Role of myosin phosphorylation and [Ca2+]i in myogenic reactivity and arteriolar tone.

The aim of this study was to define the relationship between intraluminal pressure, intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and myosin light-chain (MLC) phosphorylation in isolated arterioles exhibiting myogenic tone. Cremaster muscles were removed from anesthetized rats, and arterioles (approximately 100-microns diam) were dissected from surrounding tissues and cannulated on glass pipettes. Vessels were warmed to 34 degrees C and initially pressurized to 70 mmHg in the absence of intraluminal flow. For [Ca2+]i measurements, vessels were loaded with 5 microM fura 2, and fluorescence emitted by excitation at 340 and 380 nm was measured. Data were considered in terms of changes in the fluorescence ratio (340/380 nm) and collected at steady-state intraluminal pressures between 30 and 170 mmHg. For measurement of MLC phosphorylation, vessels were frozen in acetone-dry ice followed by sonication in homogenizing buffer. Homogenates were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and proteins were visualized by silver staining. MLC phosphorylation was quantitated photodensitometrically, and results are expressed as percent total 20-kDa MLC. Increasing intraluminal pressure resultedin significant constriction with increased [Ca2+]i and MLC phosphorylation. For example, the fluorescence ratio was 0.80 +/- 0.04 at 30 mmHg compared with 1.02 +/- 0.05 at 120 mmHg (n = 7 vessels); corresponding MLC-phosphorylation values were 27.7 +/- 1.6 and 39.6 +/- 3.0% (n = 6). MLC phosphorylation in arterioles superfused with 0 mM Ca(2+)-2 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) was 8.5 +/- 0.7%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Biomedical ultrasound beam forming.

The principles of biomedical ultrasound beam forming control the quality of diagnostic imaging. Beam parameters associated with imaging quality are: (1) lateral and axial resolutions; (2) depth of field; (3) contrast and (4) frame rate. In this paper, we review some of the current beam forming techniques and their principles. We focus on trade-offs among the above four aspects of beam forming and relate them to system parameters such as aperture size, f-number (the ratio between focal length and aperture diameter), central frequency (wavelength), system bandwidth and sidelobes. Methods for steering conventional and limited diffraction beams with array transducers are also reviewed.

Ultrasonics↗
PubMed1994

[Studies on Clonorchiasis sinensis control in Sanshui City, Guangdong province].

During 1986 to 1988 and 1990 to 1992, Dongyong Township and Guanyuan Township in Sanshui City, Guangdong Province were selected as demonstration areas for clonorchiasis sinensis control by using measures of repeated examination and treatment respectively. After two years' examination and treatment, the population infection rates were from 43.6% to 13.2% in Dongyong Township and from 78.5% to 36.3% in Guanyuan Township. The first intermediate host was Alocimma longicornis, and the second intermediate hosts were Parabramis bransula and Ctenopharyngodon idellus. The adult worms of Clonorchis sinensis were found in the bile ducts of cats, dogs and pigs which may be the reservoir hosts.

China↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of immunochemical reaction for human growth hormone with its monoclonal antibody by perfusion protein G affinity chromatography and capillary zone electrophoresis.

An extremely rapid assay technique for antibody-antigen interaction using human growth hormone and its monoclonal antibody as an example has been developed by utilizing Protein G bound to perfusion chromatography matrices. The antibody and antigen were mixed and incubated at different molar ratios by keeping the concentration of antibody constant. The mixture of antibody and antigen solution was then injected onto the Protein G column. The complex of antibody and antigen formed in the sample solution was retained on the Protein G column as was the free antibody. The peak-area and height of the retained complex and antibody linearly increased with the molar concentration of the antigen when it was not in excess of the corresponding stoichiometric amount of antibody, however, those of the retained peak were constant when the concentration of antigen was in excess of that of the antibody. The validity of this method was confirmed by the results of capillary zone electrophoresis. The method developed cannot only be used to determine the biological activity between antibody and its antigen quickly, but also to determine the stoichiometry of immunological reactions between the antibody and antigen when a stable complex of them can be formed.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perfusion immunoaffinity chromatography and its application in analysis and purification of biomolecules.

Immunoaffinity cartridges have been prepared by immobilizing the monoclonal antibody to bovine growth hormone (bGH) and bovine growth hormone releasing factor (bGRF) on the streptavidin-coated perfusion media. The cartridge-immobilized antibody to bGH has been used for the analysis of standard sample of recombinant bGH (r-bGH). The cartridge immobilized bGRF has been applied for purification of the C-and N-terminal antibodies and their conjugates with horseradish peroxidase. The purity of the antibody fractions purified by bGRF cartridges has been tested by capillary zone electrophoresis. It has been shown that the immunoaffinity cartridges prepared by immobilizing the antigen offer more biological specificity for the purification of antibody than the Protein G cartridges. The stability and life time of the immunoaffinity cartridges are mainly dependent on the stability of the biomolecules immobilized on them. Immunoaffinity cartridges based on the perfusion media offer us the tools for rapid analysis and purification of antigens or antibodies as well as for determination of the biological activity between them at a very low back pressure in the columns.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The purification of human urinary kallikrein with ion-exchange radial flow membrane chromatography.

A method was developed for the purification of kallikrein from human urine. The procedure consisted of three steps: ultradialysis, diethyl-(2-hydroxypropyl) aminoethyl (QAE) ion exchange radial flow membrane chromatography and affinity chromatography on aprotinin agarose. It is simple and suitable for large-scale purification. The purified product was checked by SDS-PAGE and matrix-assisted laser desorption:ionization mass spectrometery (MALDI). A single band with apparent molecular weight (MW) 42,000 in SDS-PAGE and a single monomer peak with MW33,000 in MALDI were observed, respectively. The biological activity tested by ELISA showed positive immunological identity of the purified product compared with human urinary kallikrein standard.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multi-site binding of fenoprofen to human serum albumin studied by a combined technique of microdialysis with high performance liquid chromatography.

A simple and fast method for the determination of the multi-site binding of fenoprofen (FP) to human serum albumin (HSA) has been developed by utilizing microdialysis sampling techniques combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The drug and protein were mixed in different molar ratios in 0.067 Mol potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, and incubated at 37 degrees C in a water-bath. Then the microdialysis probe was put in the FP-HSA solution and sampled at the perfusion rate of 1 microL/min. The concentrations of FP in microdialysates were determined by the reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Relative recovery (R) was also determined in vitro on similar condition, R is about 56.03 +/- 1.11% (n = 3). Fenoprofen was found to bind to two classes of sites, the association constant (K1) and the number of the binding sites on primary binding sites of a HSA molecule (n1) for fenoprofen are 3.4 x 10(5)/M and 2.5, respectively, and those for secondary binding are 1.0 x 10(4)/M and 10.0, respectively. The competitive interaction of ibuprofen (IP) and palmitic acid with fenoprofen to HSA were also studied, both compounds significantly decrease the binding degree of fenoprofen to HSA.

Binding Sites↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impaired arteriolar mechanotransduction in experimental diabetes mellitus.

Decreased arteriolar distensibility in diabetes may impair signal transduction mechanisms that are required for converting a pressure stimulus into smooth muscle contraction. These studies aimed to determine if pressure-induced increases in arteriolar intracellular Ca(2+) are altered in diabetes and whether diabetes is associated with alterations in composition of the extracellular matrix. Studies of mechanical properties used single, isolated, and cannulated cremaster arterioles from streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) diabetic rats and age-matched controls. To measure Ca(2+)(i), arterioles were loaded with Fura 2 (5 microM) after which preparations were examined by fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. Matrix protein (type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin) deposition was studied by immunohistochemistry. Over a range of 30-120 mm Hg control vessels showed a linear relationship (r = 0.98, p < 0.01) between intraluminal pressure and Ca(2+)(i). Vessels from diabetic animals also showed a linear relationship (r = 0.99, p < 0.01), however, the mean slope was significantly (p < 0.02) less in the diabetic (0.17 +/- 0.05, n = 5) compared to controls (0.51 +/- 0.09, n = 7). Similarly, the slope of the wall tension-Ca(2+)(i) relationship was significantly decreased in vessels from diabetic animals. These differences were ameliorated by treatment of diabetic animals (n = 5) with aminoguanidine. Increased content of type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin in vessel media was evident after 2 weeks of diabetes and showed a further increase with duration of diabetes. The data suggest that for a given increase in luminal pressure arterioles from diabetic animals response with an attenuated rise in smooth muscle Ca(2+)(i). This mechanotransduction defect may relate to alterations in the composition of the extracellular matrix within the arteriolar wall.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antitumor efficacy of AG3340 associated with maintenance of minimum effective plasma concentrations and not total daily dose, exposure or peak plasma concentrations.

Oral administration of AG3340, a novel metalloprotease (MMP) inhibitor, suppresses the growth of human colon adenocarcinoma (COLO-320DM) tumors in vivo (Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 39: 2059, 1998). In this report, we tested the hypothesis that the growth inhibition of these tumors is associated with maintaining minimum effective plasma concentrations of AG3340. Nude mice were given a total oral daily dose of 25 or 200 mg/kg; 6.25 mg/kg was given four times per day (QID) (25 mg/kg/day), and 100 mg/kg was given in two daily doses (BID) (200 mg/kg/day). Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of 83 +/- 43 (mean +/- SD) and 1998 +/- 642 ng/ml were detected 30 min after a single dose with 6.25 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg AG3340, respectively. AUC(0-24 h) values estimated from dosing with 25 and 200 mg/kg/day AG3340 were 672 and 10882 ng*h/ml, respectively. Importantly, both regimen inhibited tumor growth equivalently (74 to 82%). Efficacy was also compared at a total daily dose of 25 mg/kg by giving AG3340: QID (6.25 mg/kg per dose), BID (12.5 mg/kg per dose), and once daily (25 mg/kg per dose). The Cmax of these regimens was 83 +/- 43, 287 +/- 175 and 462 +/- 495 ng/ml, respectively. AG3340 did not inhibit tumor growth with the latter two regimens. The efficacy of 6.25 mg/kg QID (25 mg/kg/day) was superior to the efficacy of 25 mg/kg BID (50 mg/kg/day), substantiating the independence of efficacy from the total daily dose and Cmax. Expectedly, peak to trough fluctuations were significantly smaller with the QID regimen than with BID and QD dosing. After 24 h, the trough was greater than 1 ng/ml with QID dosing but was less than 1 ng/ml after QD and BID dosing. These results suggest that the antitumor efficacy of AG3340 was associated with maintaining minimum effective plasma concentrations of AG3340 and demonstrate that the antitumor efficacy of AG3340 was independent of the total daily dose, peak plasma concentration, and drug exposure in this tumor model.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Temporal aspects of Ca(2+) and myosin phosphorylation during myogenic and norepinephrine-induced arteriolar constriction.

Previous studies demonstrated that maintenance of steady-state myogenic tone requires Ca(2+)-dependent myosin phosphorylation. The present studies furthered these observations by examining temporal relationships among Ca(2+), myosin phosphorylation and vessel diameter during acute increases in intraluminal pressure and norepinephrine stimulation. Rat cremaster muscle arterioles were cannulated and loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive indicator fura-2. The extent of myosin phosphorylation was measured using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Acute increases in intraluminal pressure caused a biphasic increase in intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)), characterized by a transient peak followed by a decline to a steady-state level which remained significantly higher than control values. Peak [Ca(2+)](i) was significantly related to vessel distension and increased with the change in wall tension. Increased intraluminal pressure resulted in a monophasic increase in myosin phosphorylation that was significantly correlated with instantaneous wall tension. In general, norepinephrine induced larger [Ca(2+)](i) transients and a biphasic myosin phosphorylation pattern. The results demonstrate: (a) major roles for Ca(2+) and myosin phosphorylation in arteriolar myogenic and norepinephrine-induced responses; (b) that changes in Ca(2+) and phosphorylation during a myogenic response are related to changes in wall tension, and (c) differences in Ca(2+) and phosphorylation patterns between the two modes of contraction reflect possible differences in underlying signaling mechanisms. The data further emphasize that spontaneous arteriolar tone represents a state of maintained smooth muscle activation that requires increases in [Ca(2+)](i) and myosin light-chain phosphorylation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Stepwise gradient elution of capillary electrochromatography in the analysis of environmental samples.

Two modes of stepwise gradient elution of capillary electrochromatography were developed for the analysis of environmental samples on both a laboratory-made and a commercial CE instrument. Using the laboratory-made apparatus, another mobile phase was dropped directly into the inlet vial with a pipet. By this means, nine 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)-derivatized ketones and aldehydes were separated with high resolution. Not only was analysis time shortened by more than one half, but the detection limit was greatly improved compared to that in isocratic elution. The latter was achieved using the P/ACE 5510 system (Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, CA, U.S.A.), which moved the mobile phase vials automatically. The stop-flow technique was utilized during transfer. It had no effect on solute retention. With this method, the concentration and type of organic modifier in the mobile phase could be changed. A mixture of 13 aromatic hydrocarbons was separated completely in 14 min by changing the mobile phase from 80% methanol to 80% acetonitrile and 90% acetonitrile in a sequential step mode. The RSD of the retention time of each component in six consecutive injections was below 0.374%. All of these results demonstrate that stepwise gradient elution of capillary electrochromatography may be useful in the analysis of complex environmental samples.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of the intercept and slope of the retention equation ln k' = ln k'w - SC in MECC with the solvatochromic parameters of solutes.

The intercept (ln k'w) and slope (S) of the retention equation in k' = ln k'w - SC in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) have been studied through linear solvation energy relationships (LSER). It has been observed that the ln k'w is dependent on the properties of micelle and solute but independent of the properties of organic modifier, while the slope (S) is related to the organic modifier and the solute. The LSER results show that the ln k'w of solute is primarily determined by its molecular size and hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) basicity, whereas the S of solute is primarily determined by its properties in terms of the type of organic modifier, of which molecular size is the most important factor. Additionally, the LSER results show that the interactions of micelle-water and water-organic modifier are also important factors for the retention of solute.

Chromatography↗