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Biomedical subjects

Hua Li

Publications and source records attributed to Hua Li.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Two novel missense mutations of GATA4 gene in Chinese patients with sporadic congenital heart defects.

OBJECTIVE: To identify mutations in GATA4 gene in Chinese patients with sporadic congenital heart defects (CHD). METHODS: Single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed to screen for mutations in all six exons and exon-intron boundaries of GATA4 in 31 individuals with CHD. Direct DNA sequencing was used to identify the specific mutations. RESULTS: Two novel missense mutations, V267M in exon 4, V380M in exon 6, and one polymorphism in intron 6 of GATA4 were identified. CONCLUSION: The above identified two novel GATA4 mutations associated with CHD in Chinese patients. This suggests that the transcription factor GATA4 may play an important role in cardiogenesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Islet formation and regeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms of differentiation and development of pancreatic endocrine cells as well as pancreatic regeneration. METHODS: Human embryonic pancreatic tissue at 7-14 weeks of gestation was collected. Diabetes mellitus rat model was induced with 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin. Insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, nestin, and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) of pancreatic tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: At 9 weeks of gestation, pancreatic epithelial cells began to co-express insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and CK19 before migration. Islet cells gradually congregated along with the increase of aging, and at 14 weeks of gestation histological examination showed islet formation. At 12 weeks of gestation, nestin-positive cells could be seen in the pancreatic mesenchyme. During early embryogenesis, islet cells of pancreatic ducts co-expressed insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. During pancreatic regeneration after damage, nestin expression of islet cells increased. CONCLUSION: In the early stage of embryogenesis, islet cells of primary pancreatic ducts can be differentiated to multipotential endocrine cells before migration. During tissue regeneration, pancreatic stem cells may differentiate and proliferate to form pancreatic islet.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Study on the osteogenesis ability of co-culturing bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and small intestinal submucosa].

PURPOSE: Using co-culturing of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and small intestinal submucosa (SIS), to evaluate the cellular compatibility and the osteogenesis ability as well as the feasibility of SIS to serve as a scaffold in tissue engineering. METHODS: Bone marrow was aspirated from the healthy adult goat and culture-expanded in vitro by the method of total marrow. The third passage cells were transplanted into SIS after being induced to differentiate into osteoblasts for 4 days and then seeded into SIS for 3 to 10 days. BMSCs alone were cultured at the same condition to act as controls. The cellular morphology and function (attachment, proliferation and differentiation) and the ectopia osteogenesis in vivo were assessed separately by means of phase contrast microscope, SEM and MTT, ALP activity, histology detection. The difference between the two groups were analyzed by Student's t test statistically. RESULTS: The BMSCs could adhere to SIS and proliferate and grow on the surface of SIS normally. The cellular activity and function were not affected by SIS, no statistical difference was found between the two groups (P>0.05). The BMSCs/SIS compounds had good abilities of ectopia osteogenesis in vivo, and with time going on new bone formation increased. There was no bone formation in the control group. The endochondral bone formatin was the main pattern of osteogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: As a natural, absorbable, acellular scaffold, SIS is biocompatible and can be used as a tissue engineering scaffold. And for a membrane feature, there is the possibility to construct tissue engineered bone membrane with SIS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[Latest advances on the nomenclature for factors of the SLA class-I system].

A new nomenclature system for the SLA class-I system based on DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis has been published recently. The naming conventions of SLA class-I loci, allele groups, alleles and haplotypes are particular represented, and the requirements for naming a new allele are also recapitulatively described in this paper. Considering the nomenclature system of SLA class-I, it will has important significance towards human transplantation immunology, swine immunogenetics and breeding for pig disease resistance in the future.

Alleles↗
PubMed2006

A novel chitosan CpG nanoparticle regulates cellular and humoral immunity of mice.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a safe and novel immunoadjuvant to enhance the immunity and resistance of animals against E. coli infection. METHODS: An 88-base immunostimulatory oligodeoxynuleotide containing eleven CpG motifs (CpG ODN) was synthesized and amplified by PCR. The chitosan nanoparticle (CNP) was prepared by ion linking method to entrap the CpG ODN that significantly promotes the proliferation of lymphocytes of pig in vitro. Then the CpG-CNP was inoculated into 21-day old Kunming mice, which were orally challenged with virulent K88/K99 E. Coli 35 days after inoculation. Blood was collected from the tail vein of mice on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, and 49 after inoculation to detect the changes and content of immunoglobulins, cytokines and immune cells by ELISA, such as IgG, IgA, IgM, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6. RESULTS: The CpG provoked remarkable proliferation of lymphocytes of pig in vitro in comparison with that of control group (P < 0.05). The inoculation with CpG-CNP significantly raised the content of IgG, IgM, and IgA in the sera of immunized mice (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6 in the mice significantly increased in comparison with those in controls (P < 0.05), so was the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in immunized mice. The humoral and cellular immunities were significantly enhanced in immunized mice, which resisted the infection of E. coli and survived, while the control mice manifested evident symptoms and lesions of infection. CONCLUSIONS: CpG-CNP can significantly promote cellular and humoral immunity and resistance of mice against E. coil infection, and can be utilized as an effective adjuvant to improve the immunoprotection and resistance of porcine against infectious disease.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2006

[Effect of active fraction of buyang huanwu decoction on caspase expression in rats after focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effect of the four kinds of active fractions extracted from Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) on caspase expression in rats after focal cerebral ischemic reperfusion. METHODS: The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 2 hrs followed with reperfusion for 46 hrs. Before and at 12th, 24th and 36th hour after cerebral ischemia, the rats were administered with alkaloid, glycoside, polysaccharide and aglycone from BYHWD respectively, and nimodipine was given as control medicine to observe the effect of them on protein expression of caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-8 using immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Protein expression of caspase-1 and caspase-3 increased in the injured lateral brain tissue after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Caspase-1 expression were observed mainly in choroids, while caspase-3 expression in hippocampus, cortex and medulla. All the four kinds of active fractions from BYHWD could inhibit caspase-1 expression, while nimodipine couldn't. Caspase-3 expression in hippocampus and medulla could be inhibited by alkaloid, that in hippocampus, cortex and medulla could be inhibited by glycoside and aglycone, and that in hippocampus and medulla by nimodipine, however, polysaccharide showd no effect on it. As for caspase-8 expression, no effect on it was shown in all groups. CONCLUSION: Alkaloid, glycoside, polysaccharide and aglycone from BYHWD could relieve the inflammatory reaction occurred after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by inhibiting caspase-1 expression to decrease production of inflammatory cytokine. Alkaloid, glycoside and aglycone could reduce neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3 expression to antagonize the delayed neuronal death after cerebral ischemia. The 4 kinds of active fractions may be the main material basis for BYHWD in preventing ischemia/reperfusion cerebral injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Analysis of postoperative complications of radical hysterectomy for 219 cervical cancer patients].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the causes and therapeutic approaches for the complications of radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy in cervical cancer patients. METHODS: From Jan. 1995 to Dec. 2003, 219 such patients were treated by radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy. The stages were: 26 stage IA (17 stage IA1 and 9 stage IA2) (11.9%); 142 stage IB (78 stage IB1, 64 stage IB2) (64.8%); 40 stage IIA (18.3%) and 3 stage IIB (1.4%). 204 patients in this series were treated by radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy and 15 by modified radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: a total of 49 patients (22.4%) developed postoperative complications. The major complications included: bladder dysfunction (10.0%); formation of lymphocysts (7.8%); wound infection (6.8%); hydronephrosis (1.4%) and formation of ureteral fistulas (0.5%). The patients in the group treated by radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy was likely to develop postoperative complication compared with the patients in the group by modified radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy (24.0% versus 0, P = 0.067). The postoperative complication incidence in the patients who had preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy through intra-arterial catheter or radical radiotherapy in the other hospitals were 50.0% (2/4) and 100.0% (1/1), which were higher than that of the patients treated primarily in our hospital (21.3%, 25.3%) though without statistically significant difference among the groups. Of 52 patients who had previous abdominal surgery history, 13 developed posoperative complications, there was no significant difference between the patients with or without previous abdominal surgery history. The complication incidence of 87 patients treated with preoperative afterloaded radiotherapy was higher than that of 124 patients primarily treated by surgery (25.3% versus 19.4%), but the difference between two groups was statistically not significant (P = 0.239). CONCLUSION: The complication of radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy is correlated with the surgery mode. Preoperative afterloaded radiotherapy may not increase postoperative complication incidence. Properly reducing the extent of surgery may decrease incidence of complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Clinical value of pre-and postoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical value of fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in preoperative evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients for liver transplantation and in early detection of recurrent foci after the operation. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted involving 19 HCC patients undergoing (18)F-FDG PET/CT before and after liver transplantation. The pre- and postoperative clinical data and (18)F-FDG PET/CT images of these patients were analyzed. Totally 10 (18)F-FDG PET/CT examinations (in 8 patients) were performed for purpose of preoperative evaluation of the transplantation and assessment of the tumor elimination and general metastasis following the adjuvant therapy, and 22 examinations (in 11 patients) performed postoperatively to identify recurrent foci and metastasis. The average time span between (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination and the operations was 8.68 months. RESULTS: PET examinations in 2 patients for preoperative evaluations showed no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis, so they underwent liver transplantation as scheduled. (18)F-FDG PET/CT found distinct metastasis in the target operation area in another 2 patients, and liver transplantation was performed with proper management of the metastatic foci. The other 4 patients were found to have distal metastasis, so that operations were cancelled and the patients received interventional therapy and other treatments instead. Postoperative (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination discovered no metastatic foci in 2 patients, but detected mycotic brain abscess in 1 patient. Another 19 postoperative (18)F-FDG PET/CT examinations (in 8 patients) showed recurrence in the grafted liver (in 4 patients), tumor embolism in the left and right hepatic veins and in the inferior vena cava, in addition to metastasis to the lungs, lymph nodes, bone, spleen, parietal pleura, intervertebral foramen of the thoracic vertebra etc. CONCLUSION: (18)F-FDG PET/CT scanning shows superior accuracy in identification of lymph node tumor metastasis. With the advantages of whole-body scanning and high sensitivity of tumor detection, (18)F-FDG PET/CT can be instrumental in preoperative evaluation of liver transplantation for HCC (such as modification of the clinical staging) and postoperative early detection of recurrent tumors.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2006

[Characteristics of erectile dysfunction in old males with lacunar infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of erectile dysfunction (ED) in old males with lacunar infarction. METHODS: A total of 38 old patients ages from 60 to 70 years were involved. The questionnaire of international index of erectile function 5 (IIEF -5) was used to determine the status and severity of ED. According to the focus of infarction on MRI, the patients were divided into two groups, Group I with lacunar infarction and minor neurological deficits, and Group II with none. The total IIEF-5 scores were compared between the two groups and repeatedly evaluated six months after discharge. RESULTS: According to the total scores of IIEF-5, the prevalence of ED in Group II (95%) was higher, and the incidence of severe ED was significantly increased (60.0% vs. 44.4%, P < 0.05) as compared with Group II. In both the two groups, severe ED was more often seen in diabetic patients. At six months after discharge, the total scores of IIEF-5 were significantly increased (11.2 +/- 3.2 vs. 15.6 +/- 2.2, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: ED is significantly increased in old males with lacunar infarction, and it is more severe in diabetic patients. Post-stroke rehabilitation care helps to improve ED.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Arginine metabolism in wine malolactic bacteria].

Arginine metabolism in wine malolactic bacteria may increase the concentration of ethyl carbamate (EC, a known carcinogen with the potential toxicological effects) in wine, which makes a profound impact on wine hygienic quality. In fact, recent advanced studies have proved that arginine metabolism in wine malolactic bacteria is via arginine deiminase pathway (ADI pathway), and this pathway is composed of three enzymes: arginine deiminase (ADI), ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), carbamate kinase (CK). The possible mechanisms of arginine transport and the regulation of major enzymes for arginine metabolism as well as the mechanism of ADI pathway and its molecular characteristics are reviewed. The study on arginine metabolism in wine malolactic bacteria has practical and theoretical significance for the safety and high quality of wine.

Arginine↗
PubMed2006

[The role of caspase-3 in rapamycin-induced apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Rapamycin, isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, is recently reported to have immunosuppressive and antitumor effects on a large variety of cancers. This study was to investigate the role of Caspase-3 in rapamycin-induced apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells. METHODS: BEL-7402 cells were treated with different concentrations (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 nmol/L) of rapamycin. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay; cell apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry (FCM) and Hoechst 33258 staining. The activity of Caspase-3 was determined by Caspase colorimetric assay kit and Western blot. RESULTS: Rapamycin inhibited the growth of BEL-7402 cells and induced apoptosis significantly in time- and dose-dependent manners. Marked morphologic changes of cell apoptosis, such as chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation, were observed clearly at 48 h after exposion to rapamycin; Caspase-3 was activated by the loss of Caspase-3 proenzyme (32-ku) and its 20-ku subunit appeared at 24 h after incubation. Caspase-3 inhibitor z-DEVD-FMK could block the apoptosis induced by rapamycin. CONCLUSIONS: Rapamycin can inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells. The activation of Caspase-3 may play an important role in cell apoptosis.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2006

[Estimation of N loss loading by runoff from paddy field during submersed period in Hangjiahu area].

As the largest bread basket in Zhejiang Province, Hangjiahu area is facing more and more serious water pollution, while the N loss loading by runoff from the paddy field during its submersed period is the main cause of the pollution. Through field experiment and fixed spot observation, the model of precipitation - runoff in Yangtze delta was testified, and the results showed that the precipitation - runoff model from HE Baogen was basically accorded with the fact after considering the impact of field overflow mouth, and the error was between - 19. 9% and + 18. 0%. The model of N concentration with precipitation - runoff in paddy field during submersed period was brought forward, with the R value being 0. 948. These two models consisted of the model of N loss loading by runoff from paddy field during submersed period. Based on this model as well as the past 30 years data of fertilization and precipitation, 1: 250,000 topography map, land use map, and water system map, the N loss loading and its distribution were estimated by using GIS method, and the results showed that the N loss loading was different from place to place, with an average of 35.26 kg N x hm(-2), and accounting for 12. 69% of the applied N. The N loss loading in Anji and Yuhang with obviously more precipitation was higher than that in other places, while Haining also had a serious N loss problem because of the huge amount of applied N.

China↗
PubMed2005

[Diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus pneumonia after liver transplantation].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia after liver transplantation. METHODS: Five cases of CMV pneumonia after liver transplantation were analyzed retrospectively. CMV pneumonia was diagnosed according to its clinical manifestation, chest X-ray, and etiologic test. All 5 patients received comprehensive therapy based on anti-virus treatment and immunologic adjustment. RESULTS: The clinical manifestation of CMV pneumonia after liver transplantation was nonspecific. Its main symptoms included fever, cough, dyspnea, tachycardia, fatigue, hypoxemia and neutropenia. The chest X-ray showed interstitial pneumonia. Sera CMV antigens or antibodies could be detected in the patients. Four patients were cured and 1 patient died. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestation of CMV pneumonia was nonspecific. CMV pneumonia could be diagnosed according to its manifestations, chest X-ray and etiologic test. The comprehensive therapy based on anti-virus treatment and immunologic adjustment was effective for the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The immunoreactivity and activity of adenylate cyclase type I are changed in the hippocampal CA1 region after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils.

Adenylate cyclase (AC) has a specific sensitivity to Ca2+/calmodulin. AC-I, one of the mediator of learning and memory, plays an important role in signal transduction underlying learning and memory function. In the present study, we found ischemia-related changes of AC-I in the hippocampal CA1 region, but not in the CA2/3 region, after 5 min of transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils. In the sham-operated group, AC-I immunoreactive neurons were detected in pyramidal and non-pyramidal cells in the hippocampus proper. AC-I immunoreactivity was significantly increased at 3 h in the CA1 region after ischemic insult. Thereafter, AC-I immunoreactivity was gradually decreased. Four days after ischemic insult, AC-I-immunoreactive CA1 pyramidal cells in the stratum pyramidale were very few due to delayed neuronal death. The results of Western blot analysis showed that changes of AC-I protein contents were similar to immunohistochemical data after ischemic insult. Gpp(NH)p-dependent AC-I activity in hippocampal CA1 region was not changed in all groups, while Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent AC-I activity in hippocampal CA1 region was significantly decreased 24 h after ischemia-reperfusion. These results suggest that the decrease of AC-I activity may be associated with impairment of neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity including learning and memory although the AC-I immunoreactivity was maintained 24 h postischemic group compared to that of the sham-operated group.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed2005

Identification of protein kinase C isoforms involved in cerebral hypoxic preconditioning of mice.

Recently, accumulated studies have suggested that protein kinases C (PKC) play a central role in the development of ischemic-hypoxic preconditioning (I/HPC) in the brain. However, which types of PKC isoforms might be responsible for neuroprotection is still not clear, especially when the systematic investigation of PKC isoform-specific changes in brain regions was rare in animals with ischemic-hypoxic preconditioning. By using Western blot, we have demonstrated that the levels of cPKC betaII and gamma membrane translocation were increased in the early phase of cerebral hypoxic preconditioning. In this study, we combined the Western blot and immunostaining methods to investigate the effects of repetitive hypoxic exposure (H1-H4, n = 6 for each group) on membrane translocation and protein expression of several types of PKC isoforms, both in the cortex and hippocampus of mice. We found that the increased membrane translocation of nPKCepsilon (P < 0.05, versus normoxic H0) but not its protein expression levels in both the cortex and hippocampus during development of cerebral HPC in mice. However, there were no significant changes in both membrane translocation and protein expression levels of nPKCdelta, theta, eta, mu, and aPKC iota/lambda, zeta in these brain areas after hypoxic preconditioning. Similarly, an extensive subcellular redistribution of cPKCbetaII, gamma, and nPKCepsilon was observed by immunostaining in the cortex after three series of hypoxic exposures (H3). These results indicate that activation of cPKCbetaII, gamma, and nPKCepsilon might be involved in the development of cerebral hypoxic preconditioning of mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

FASL -844C polymorphism is associated with increased activation-induced T cell death and risk of cervical cancer.

The FAS receptor-ligand system plays a key role in regulating apoptotic cell death, and corruption of this signaling pathway has been shown to participate in tumor-immune escape and carcinogenesis. We have recently demonstrated (Sun, T., X. Miao, X. Zhang, W. Tan, P. Xiong, and D. Lin. 2004. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 96:1030-1036; Zhang, X., X. Miao, T. Sun, W. Tan, S. Qu, P. Xiong, Y. Zhou, and D. Lin. 2005. J. Med. Genet. 42:479-484) that functional polymorphisms in FAS and FAS ligand (FASL) are associated with susceptibility to lung cancer and esophageal cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying this association have not been elucidated. We show that the FAS -1377G, FAS -670A, and FASL -844T variants are expressed more highly on ex vivo-stimulated T cells than the FAS -1377A, FAS -670G, and FASL -844C variants. Moreover, activation-induced cell death (AICD) of T cells carrying the FASL -844C allele was increased. We also found a threefold increased risk of cervical cancer among subjects with the FASL -844CC genotype compared with those with the -844TT genotype in a case-control study in Chinese women. Together, these observations suggest that genetic polymorphisms in the FAS-FASL pathway confer host susceptibility to cervical cancers, which might be caused by immune escape of tumor cells because of enhanced AICD of tumor-specific T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Multiphysics modelling of volume phase transition of ionic hydrogels responsive to thermal stimulus.

This paper presents the analysis of the volume phase transition of ionic thermo-sensitive hydrogels to thermal stimulus through mathematical modelling. The model is termed the multi-effect-coupling thermal-stimulus (MECtherm) model and it considers the effects of multi-phases and multi-physics. Its application to steady-state analysis of the hydrogels in swelling equilibrium is validated against available experimental data for the relation between volume swelling ratio and temperature, in which very good agreement is achieved. The phenomenon of volume phase transition is studied for the thermal-stimulus responsive hydrogel. The numerical studies predict well the influences of initially fixed charge density and initial volume fraction of polymeric network on the swelling equilibrium of the hydrogels.

Algorithms↗