Biomedical subjects

J Fang

Publications and source records attributed to J Fang.

346 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Sleep, microbes and cytokines.

Dynamic changes in sleep in response to infectious challenge are a facet of the acute phase response. Changes in sleep induced by infection seem to be of recuperative value to the host. Furthermore, loss of sleep is associated with changes in immune function. Specific components of microbes such as muramyl peptides or endotoxin from bacteria or double-stranded RNA from virus induce sleep responses. These microbial-induced responses are mediated via enhanced cytokine and hormone production. Interleukin-1, tumor necrosis factor and interferon-alpha are somnogenic. Interleukin-1-enhanced sleep involves growth hormone-releasing hormone. Microbial-cytokine-altered sleep results from an amplification of physiological sleep mechanisms.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of fractional parameter in analyzing motor unit discharge pattern in stroke patients: a correlation with the functional independence measurement.

BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated that the fractional parameter has significant correlation with the muscle strength of patients with stroke. In this study, we have investigated whether fractional parameter can be used to objectively document stroke patients' functional level (using FIM scores). METHODS: Sixty motor units were recorded in abductor pollicis brevis, first dorsal interosseous, and abductor digiti minimi muscles in 18 stroke patients. Patients' FIM scores, obtained fractional parameters, and serial correlation coefficients were analyzed and statistical determination was made. RESULTS: Statistical significance was found between fractional parameters and motor items of FIMs (except selfcare category); no statistical significant correlation was found between SSC and FIM scores. CONCLUSION: Fractional parameter could be a useful tool for measuring motor function at a single motor unit level.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between DNA methylation and pathological changes in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was undertaken to obtain information at the molecular level on the possible mechanism of human hepatocarcinogenesis and also to provide a clue for further study. METHODOLOGY: We examined the methylation patterns of c-myc and c-N-ras oncogenes, which are most closely related to HCC, by using the Southern blot technique and HpaII/MspI restriction enzymes. In addition, we measured the level of global DNA methylation in cancerous and paracancerous tissues of HCC by incubating DNA with 3H-S-adenosylmethionine (3H-SAM) in the presence of methylase. The measured global level of DNA methylation was compared with pathological changes of the liver. The methylation patterns of oncogenes as well as the levels of global DNA methylation were compared with pathological changes. RESULTS: The results showed that the hypomethylation rates of c-myc and c-N-ras oncogenes were 30% and 61% respectively in human hepatocellular carcinoma, coinciding with a decreased level of global DNA methylation. DNA hypomethylation was highly significant in cases with a tendency of tumor infiltration or metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that abnormal DNA methylation plays an important role in the process of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. DNA methylation level is closely correlated with the biological characteristic of liver cancer, the lower the level of DNA methylation, the stronger the infiltration and metastatic capacity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of the full dopamine D1 receptor agonist dihydrexidine in Parkinson's disease.

The contribution of dopamine D1 receptor stimulation to the motor effects of dopaminergic drugs in patients with Parkinson's disease remains undetermined. The authors of this article studied the clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability of the full D1 receptor agonist dihydrexidine, (+/-)-trans-10,11-dihydroxy-5,6,6a,7,8,12b-hexahydrobenzo[a] phenanthridine hydrochloride in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in four patients with Parkinson's disease. Single intravenous doses were carefully titrated according to a fixed schedule ranging from 2 mg to the highest tolerated dose (or a maximum of 70 mg) infused over either 15 or 120 minutes. The only patient to achieve a plasma drug concentration greater than 100 ng/ml had a brief but definite motor improvement accompanied by choreic dyskinesias similar to the response to levodopa. Dose-limiting adverse effects, including flushing, hypotension, and tachycardia, were observed in all cases, especially with rapid infusions. No nausea or emesis occurred. Pharmacokinetic studies yielded a plasma half-life < 5 minutes. These preliminary data suggest that dihydrexidine has a marginal therapeutic window for providing an antiparkinsonian effect, although it remains uncertain how much of this effect is attributable to pure D1 receptor stimulation.

Adult↗