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Biomedical subjects

J Cai

Publications and source records attributed to J Cai.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Isoflavone content of infant formulas and the metabolic fate of these phytoestrogens in early life.

Soy-based infant formulas have been in use for >30 y. These formulas are manufactured from soy protein isolates and contain significant amounts of phytoestrogens of the isoflavone class. As determined by HPLC, the isoflavone compositions of commercially available formulas are similar qualitatively and quantitatively and are consistent with the isoflavone composition of soy protein isolates. Genistein, found predominantly in the form of glycosidic conjugates, accounts for >65% of the isoflavones in soy-based formulas. Total isoflavone concentrations of soy-based formulas prepared for infant feeding range from 32 to 47 mg/L, whereas isoflavone concentrations in human breast milk are only 5.6 +/- 4.4 microg/L (mean +/- SD, n = 9). Infants fed soy-based formulas are therefore exposed to 22-45 mg isoflavones/d (6-11 mg x kg body wt(-1) x d(-1)), whereas the intake of these phytoestrogens from human milk is negligible (<0.01 mg/d). The metabolic fate of isoflavones from soy-based infant formula is described. Plasma isoflavone concentrations reported previously for 4-mo-old infants fed soy-based formula were 654-1775 microg/L (mean: 979.7 microg/L: Lancet 1997:350;23-7), significantly higher than plasma concentrations of infants fed either cow-milk formula (mean +/- SD: 9.4 +/- 1.2 microg/L) or human breast milk (4.7 +/- 1.3 microg/L). The high steady state plasma concentration of isoflavones in infants fed soy-based formula is explained by reduced intestinal biotransformation, as evidenced by low or undetectable concentrations of equol and other metabolites, and is maintained by constant daily exposure from frequent feeding. Isoflavones circulate at concentrations that are 13,000-22,000-fold higher than plasma estradiol concentrations in early life. Exposure to these phytoestrogens early in life may have long-term health benefits for hormone-dependent diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Emerging treatments for epidemic (AIDS-related) Kaposi's sarcoma.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an opportunistic tumor that develops with increased frequency (100,000-fold) after HIV infection. KS causes significant morbidity from mucocutaneous involvement and mortality from complications of visceral sites of disease such as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and the liver. Progressive unraveling of the KS pathogenesis has lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Newest therapies are first evaluated in patients with limited tumor burden. These include: 1) inhibitors of angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor signaling inhibitor (SU 5416), and several other inhibitors of angiogenesis such as the dipeptide IM 862, TNP-470, Col-3, and thalidomide; 2) topical and systemic retinoids; 3) antiviral agents specific for Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus and human herpesvirus-8, or HIV; and 4) pregnancy-related factors. Patients with advanced disease such as widespread mucocutaneous disease, lymphedema, and visceral disease are treated most effectively with cytotoxic agents. The most active agents include liposomal anthracyclines, paclitaxel, vinca alkaloids, and bleomycin. The combination of liposomal anthracyclines and paclitaxel, with and without the most promising biologicals, should now be studied to further reduce the toxicity, and enhance the antitumor effects. Furthermore, identification of risk factors for KS should serve to explore prophylactic therapies.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

A simple algorithm for planar image registration in radiation therapy.

A simple algorithm is presented for planar image registration and the method is applied to the simulator and portal image registration for patient setup verification in radiation therapy. Basically, the algorithm follows the concept proposed by Balter et al. [Med. Phys. 19, 329-334 (1992)], which converts the problem of open curve registration into matching a series of points along the curves. Balter's algorithm consists of three steps: (1) to determine a common starting point for each curve pair, (2) acquire two corresponding point sets along each curve, and (3) obtain a global transform matrix by matching two point sets. We integrate all three steps into one simple procedure which fits the sampled points along the intended curve pair by taking the relative path length shift as an independent fitting parameter. After being modified, the algorithm is able to take the different magnification factors of images into account, and it avoids curvature calculations. Numerical simulation as well as clinical and phantom images have been utilized to test the accuracy of the algorithm. The typical errors are less than 1 mm in translation and 1 degree in rotation. We also made a comparison study with the chamfer method. The results of the two methods agree to within 0.5 mm in translation and 0.5 degree in rotation.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1998

Apoptosis in feline panleukopenia virus-infected lymphocytes.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) was shown to induce apoptosis to feline lymphoid cells and to reduce the expression of interleukin-2 receptor alpha on the cells. FPLV-induced apoptosis might be a key element in the pathophysiology of atrophy of lymphoid tissues associated with feline panleukopenia caused by FPLV.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Changes in methionine adenosyltransferase during liver regeneration in the rat.

Liver-specific and non-liver-specific methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) are products of two genes (MAT1A and MAT2A, respectively) that catalyze the formation of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the principal methyl donor. We previously showed that MAT2A expression was associated with more rapid cell growth. Here we examined changes in hepatic MAT gene expression and related consequences after two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats. The mRNA levels of both MAT forms increased from 3 to 6 h, but the MAT1A level then fell below baseline from 12 to 24 h, whereas the MAT2A level remained elevated up to 4 days after PH. The increase in the MAT2A mRNA level was due to increased gene transcription and mRNA stabilization. The change in the MAT1A mRNA level was posttranscriptional and did not require de novo protein synthesis. Changes in MAT activity were consistent with an increased amount of MAT isozymes. SAM levels, the ratio of SAM to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and DNA methylation fell from 6 to 24 h, whereas SAH levels increased slightly at 12 and 24 h after PH. Both increased SAM utilization and MAT2A gene expression likely contributed to the fall in SAM.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Cigarette smoking and other risk factors for silent cerebral infarction in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Silent cerebral infarctions (SCIs) have a prevalence between 10% and 40% in the transient ischemic attack population and have been associated with increased mortality and morbidity; however, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors for SCI in the general population. This report focuses on the role of cigarette smoking and other risk factors for SCI in the general population. METHODS: MRI scans were performed on 1737 participants selected from the general population as part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Smoking status and other major cerebrovascular risk factors were assessed, and associations between smoking status and SCIs were established with the use of ANCOVA. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of SCI in this population aged 55 to 70 years was 11%. Cigarette smoking had an ordered association (P=0.029) with the presence of SCI, with the odds ratio (OR) of nonsmoking participants exposed to environmental tobacco smoke being 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 1.75) times as great as for nonsmokers not exposed; the OR of past smokers was 1.16 (95% CI, 0.74 to 1.83) times greater, and the OR of current smokers was 1.88 (95% CI, 1.13 to 3.13) times greater. An increased prevalence was also noted among black, older, and hypertensive participants. CONCLUSIONS: This report is among the first to examine the risk factors for SCI in the general population and finds a relatively high overall prevalence (11%). There is an ordered relationship between increasing exposure to cigarette smoke and the presence of SCI that parallels the relationship between smoking and carotid atherosclerosis. The magnitude of the association with smoking is substantial compared with the effect of hypertension and other traditional cerebrovascular risk factors. The reduction in prevalence of SCI between current and past smokers and the trend that increased pack-years of smoking is related to increased prevalence of SCI are both additional arguments for smoking avoidance and cessation.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Multiple metabolic syndrome is associated with lower heart rate variability. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

OBJECTIVE: To test at the population level whether people with multiple metabolic syndrome (MMS) disorders have reduced cardiac autonomic activity (CAA). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined the association between the level of CAA and MMS disorders, at the degree of clustering and the segregate combination levels, using a random sample of 2,359 men and women aged 45-64 years from the biracial, population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Supine resting 2-min beat-to-beat heart rate data were collected. High-frequency (HF) (0.15-0.35 Hz) and low-frequency (LF) (0.025-0.15 Hz) spectral powers, the ratio of LF to HF, and the SD of all normal R-R intervals (SDNN) were used as the conventional indices of heart rate variability (HRV) to measure CAA. The MMS disorders included hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: HRV indices were significantly lower in individuals with MMS disorders. The multivariable adjusted mean HF was 0.85 (beat/min)2 in subjects with all three MMS disorders, in contrast to 1.31 (beat/min)2 in subjects without any MMS disorder. At the segregated combination level, the multivariable adjusted means +/- SEM of HF were 1.34 +/- 0.05, 1.16 +/- 0.05, 1.01 +/- 0.17, and 1.34 +/- 0.05 (beat/min)2, respectively, for subjects without any MMS disorder, with hypertension only, with diabetes only, and with dyslipidemia only, and the means +/- SEM of HF were 0.93 +/- 0.04, 0.70 +/- 0.15, and 1.20 +/- 0.05 (beat/min)2, respectively, for subjects with diabetes and hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, and hypertension and dyslipidemia. An increase in fasting insulin of 1 SD was associated with 88% higher odds of having a lower HF. The pattern of associations was similar for LF and SDNN. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MMS disorders adversely affect cardiac autonomic control and a reduced cardiac autonomic control may contribute to the increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in individuals who exhibit MMS disorders.

Arteriosclerosis↗
PubMed1998

[The flow cytometric analysis of activated platelets of severed finger by severe injury before and after replantation].

To investigate the significance of activated platelet levels before and after surgical operation in patients with severed finger by severe injury, the P-selectin (CD62p) positive platelet percent in peripheral blood was studied in 32 patients before and after operation by flow cytometric immunology. At the second and third day after operation, seventeen patients, which in a high positive platelet percent, were measured again after anticoagulation treatment with a large dose of urokinase etc. The results were that the levels of CD62p positive platelet in peripheral blood before and after operation were significantly higher than that of the normal group (P < 0.01). The CD62p positive platelet percent was increased not much more in the anti-coagulation patients than in the normal ones (P > 0.05). There were a few vascular crisis observed. This study suggested that severed fingers by a crushing or wringing injury enhance the platelet activity and resulted in hypercoagulation, thus anti-coagulation measures should be taken to avoid possible thrombosis and improve the survival rate of replantation. CD62p was one of the sensitive indices of activated platelet, which could be used in calculating hypercoagulation accurately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Clinical study on relieving labor pain used combined spinal and epidural anesthesia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of combined spinal and epidural anesthesia (CSEA) on relieving and eliminating labor pain and the effect on newborns, labor process and delivery mode. METHODS: 80 cases without any obstetric complications and anesthetic contraindications were selected for the study group. CSEA was applied when cervix dilated for about 2-3 cm, 80 pregnant women with similar obstetric condition as control group without any anesthesia. We compared the labor pain, duration, delivery mode and fetal status of two groups. RESULTS: In study group CSEA showed good effect on relief of labor pain, shortening the active phase of labor course and acceleration of cervical dilation. There are no different in the incidence of fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia and postpartum hemorrhage between two groups. CONCLUSION: Apllication of CSEA is useful in relieving labor pain, accelerating labor course, lowering cesarean section rate without any side effect on fetus.

Analgesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1998

[Engineered glutamic acid decarboxylase fusion protein in diagnosis of type I diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE: To get recombinant GAD 65 proteins which have immunogenicity by the method of gene engineering so that the recombinant protein can be used for early diagnosis in type I diabetes mellitus. METHOD: We amplified the complete fragment encoding GAD65 gene by PCR, and expressed its protein in E. coli. DH5 alpha after inserting it in the vector and determining its nucleotide sequence. Consequentially, we attempted to prove the immunogenicity of expresion products and construct a method for detecting antibodies against GAD65 in Diabetic serum. RESULT: The sequence analysis showed that the amplified fragments contained 1758 bp, encoded 585 amino acid, and had been correctly inserted into pGEX-3X vector. The recombinant proteins expressed in E. Coli. DH5 alpha had immunogenicity and could be used to detect agtibodies against GAD65 in diabetic serum. CONCLUSION: We have got recombinant GAD65 proteins which have immunogenicity and have used them to detect preliminarily antibodies against GAD65 in diabetic serum.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Distal spleno-caval shunt in 66 patients with portal hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term results and operative experience of distal splenocaval shunt. METHOD: 66 patients with portal hypertension were treated by distal spleno-caval shunt. Of these patients 57 were males and 9 females with a mean age of 39 years. All the patients were followed up. RESULT: The operative mortality rate was 7.58%. Only 5 patients experienced recurrent bleeding (7.58%). None of the patients had clinical hepatic encephalopathy. Five-year survival rate was 70.45%. CONCLUSION: Distal splenocaval shunt is suitable for portal hypertension patients with hepatopetal portal flow.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Treatment and prognosis of 33 patients with recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment and the prognosis of patients with recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas. METHOD: The clinical data of 33 patients, treated for recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas from 1972 to 1996 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULT: Complete tumor resection was performed for 17 patients (51.5%) with tumor recurrence for the first time. 2, 3, 1 patients underwent multiple organs resection respectively when the sarcoma relapsed initially, secondly and thirdly. Fourteen patients were given adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy postoperatively. Twenty-nine patients were followed for up for 6 to 12 months. Fifteen (51.7%) of them died. Seven of them survived beyond 5 years and 2 over 10 years. The 1-, 3-, and 5-years survival rate was 85.7%, 54.9% and 42.3% respectively. CONCLUSION: Surgery is effective in improving the survival rate of patients with recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas, including those with repeatedly recurrent sarcomas. Multiple organ resection could be beneficial to the curative resection rate. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy might improve the local control of relapsed sarcomas to some extent.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[A study on diagnosis of ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia by polymerase chain reaction amplified IgH CDR-III sequence].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnosis and classification of ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia and investigate its cell origin by using some molecular biological techniques. METHODS: 29 cases (31 eyes) of ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia were examined for immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) gene rearrangements by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the complementarity determining region III (CDR-III) with formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue combining with histopathologic examination and immunophenotypic analysis. RESULTS: 17 eyes of malignant lymphoma and 5 eyes of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia demonstrated clear single band of the rearranged gene for the IgH chain between 100 bp. to 120 bp. The bilateral ocular adnexal lymphoma occurring simultaneously in 4 eyes (two individuals) exhibited identical band. 1 eye of malignant lymphoma, 8 eyes of atypical lymphoid hyperplasias and 6 eyes of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia showed no band or a smear band. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that this method can determine the clonality of the lymphoid hyperplasias. It may be as well in the examination of small monoclonal B cell populations for which immunophenotypical analysis is difficult. The method is an objective, accurate and useful approach for the diagnosis of ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasias.

Complementarity Determining Regions↗
PubMed1998

[Synthesis and biological activities of 1-alkyl-1-benzyl-4-(3-chloro-2-hydroxy)propyl piperazinium halides].

Seven 1-alkyl-1-benzyl-4-(3-chloro-2-hydroxy) propyl piperazinium halide hydrochloride were synthesized. Preliminary biological activity test showed that the presence of electro-attracting group in the benzyl distinctly increased the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the compounds. For example, the analgesic activity of Ie and the anti-inflammatory activities of Id and Ie were all higher than those of Ia and Ib. The different anion of quaternary ammonium have some effect on the biological activity. However, this effect is not regular.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

[The observation of proliferative cell nuclear antigen and AgNORs in ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia].

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen and Nuclear Organizer Region in ocular adnexal lymphoid hyperplasia and its histopathologic classification. METHOD: Using anti-proliferative cell nuclear antigen monoclonal antibody (PC10) and AgNORs method, the proliferative cell in 34 cases of ocular adnexal lymphoid neoplasms (benign lymphoid lesion, BLL, 14 cases; atypical lymphoid hyperplasias, AH, 9 cases; malignant lymphomas, ML, 11 cases) were detected in formalin fixed and paraffin-embeded tissue. RESULTS: A significant difference between BLL and AH, BLL and ML was observed (PCNA P < 0.001, P < 0.001; AgNORs P < 0.01, P < 0.001); similar result was observed between AH and ML in PCNA index (P < 0.01). But there was not a significant difference in AgNORs count (P > 0.05). The linear regression coefficient between PCNA index and AgNORs number was excellent (0.8693). CONCLUSION: The two methods may be helpful to distinguish ocular adnexal lymphoid reactive hyperplasia and malignant lymphoma.

Antigens, Nuclear↗
PubMed1998

Hypofrontality and negative symptoms in major depressive disorder.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of the current study was to compare regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) to that of healthy subjects and to examine the relationship between rCBF, depressive symptoms (DS) and negative symptoms (NS) in these patients. METHODS: Eleven psychiatric inpatients with diagnosed (MDD) and 15 normal control subjects were administered the scale for the assessment of negative symptoms (SANS) and the modified Hamilton rating scale for depression with items descriptive of NS excluded (HRSD-DS). Each patient underwent a SPECT scan using 99mTc-HMPAO at rest. Cortical and subcortical regions of interest (ROIs) were symmetrically defined in each hemisphere. Cortical-to-cerebellar perfusion ratios were established quantitatively using ADAC software. RESULTS: Subjects in the MDD group had significantly lower rCBF in the frontal cortex and cinglulate gyrus (MANOVA, p = 0.038) due to differences in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally (right F = 7.69, p = 0.01; left F = 8.41, p = 0.01) in the right orbitofrontal cortex (F = 6.79, p = 0.02) and in the cingulate gyrus (F = 5.34, p = 0.03). The MDD group also had lower rCBF in the posterior cortical structures (MANOVA, p = 0.072), which was due to decreased perfusion in the right parietal cortex (F = 7.54, p = 0.01). There were negative correlations between the SANS total score and rCBF in both the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Pearson's correlation coefficient r = .-67, p < 0.05) and the left anterior temporal cortex (r = -0.71, p < 0.01) in MDD patients. Additionally, there were positive correlations between HRSD scores and rCBF in the left anterior temporal (r = 0.71, p < 0.01), left dorsolateral prefrontal (r = 0.70, p < 0.01), right frontal (r = 0.82, p < 0.01) and right posterior temporal (r = 0.74, p < 0.01) cortices. Cerebral blood flow was not correlated with either mini-mental state examination scores or age. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study replicates the finding of hypofrontality in MDD and indicates that decreased perfusion is associated specifically with negative symptom severity. These results support the hypothesis that, in MDD, negative symptoms and symptoms of depression are distinct phenomena and underscore the importance of negative symptom evaluation in neuroimaging studies of MDD and other disorders.

Adult↗