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Biomedical subjects

J Jiang

Publications and source records attributed to J Jiang.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

[The treated effects of nimodipine on calcium of erythrocyte in experimental hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy].

An animal model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborn pigs was set up to study the histopathological changes of brain injury by light- and electron-microscopy, the changes in total calcium content and calcium iron of RBC, and the effects of two different doses of Nimodipine on HIE. Sixty-one newborn pigs were randomly divided into seven groups, the normal control group (n = 9); the HIE 1-hour group (n = 8) and 24-hour group (n = 8); HIE+ Nimodipine (1 microgram/kg.min-1) 1-hour group (n = 8) and 24-hour group (n = 8). The results showed that these were apparent brain edema, hematencephalon, neuron necrosis, and intracellular body degeneration in the HIE 1-hour group. The levels of RBC TCa and RBC Cai2+ in the HIE 1-hour group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01). The brain tissues in all groups treated with Nimodipine showed histopathological betterment Compared with the HIE groups. The levels of RBC TCa and RBC Cai2+ in the Nimodipine treatment groups were significantly lower than those in HIE groups (P < 0.01) and were close to the levels in the normal control group (P < 0.05). The authors suggested that early application of Nimodipine in case of postnatal asphyxia might protect the newborn from severe hypoxicischemic brain lesions.

Animals↗

[Extra-capsular cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation in cases with cataract and a small pupil with synechiae].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a new surgical technique for cataract with a small synechia pupil and evaluate its effects. METHODS: 43 eyes of 40 patients were operated on and followed up for 3-30 months. Surgical procedures included iridectomy, separating the posterior synechiae, straight cutting of upper iris and making 3 little cuts at inferior pupillary margin, extracapsular cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation, and at last suturing the iris cuts to form a round pupil. RESULTS: Postoperatively, all 43 eyes had 3-4 mm basically round pupil and 42 eyes (97.7%) had improved vision. Of the 32 eyes followed up for more than three months, 22 eyes (68.8%) obtained visual acuities 0.5 or better, 10 eyes (31.2%) had visual acuities worse than 0.4 which were attributed to posterior segment abnormalities. Intraoperatively, no posterior capsular rupture was seen, and postoperatively, no severe complications were found. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that patients with cataract and a small synechia pupil obtain improved vision and round pupil without unacceptable risk by means of the surgical technique mentioned in this paper.

Adolescent↗

Assessment of cerebral pO2 by EPR oximetry in rodents: effects of anesthesia, ischemia, and breathing gas.

This report describes experiments designed to assess and illustrate the effectiveness of a new method for the measurement of cerebral interstitial pO2 in conscious rodents. It is based on the use of low frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with lithium phthalocyanine as the oxygen sensitive probe. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to document placement of the probe in the brain, and to assess potential cerebral changes associated with the placement. The technique provided accurate and reproducible measurements of localized pO2 in the brains of conscious rodents under a variety of physiological conditions and for time periods of at least 2 weeks. Using this approach we quantitated the depressing effects on cerebral pO2 of three representative anesthetics, isoflurane, ketamine/xylazine, and sodium pentobarbital. The effects of changing the content of oxygen in the breathing gas was investigated and found to change the cerebral pO2. In experiments with gerbils, crystals of lithium phthalocyanine were implanted in each side of the brain and using a one-dimensional magnetic field gradient, simultaneous measurement of pO2 values from normal and ischemic (ischemia induced by unilateral ligation of a carotid artery) hemispheres of the brain were obtained. These results demonstrate that EPR oximetry with lithium phthalocyanine is a versatile and useful method in the measurement of cerebral pO2 under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Anesthetics↗

Regions of the JAK2 tyrosine kinase required for coupling to the growth hormone receptor.

Growth hormone (GH) treatment of cells promotes activation of JAK2, a GH receptor (GHR)-associated tyrosine kinase. We now explore JAK2 regions required for GHR-induced signaling. Wild-type (WT) JAK2 and JAK2 molecules with deletions of the amino terminus (JAK2ATD), carboxyl terminus (JAK2CTD), or kinase-like domain (JAK2PKD) were each transiently coexpressed in COS-7 cells with the rabbit GHR. The following responses were assayed: GH-induced transactivation of a luciferase reporter governed by a c-fos enhancer element; GH-induced shift in the molecular mass of a cotransfected epitope-tagged extracellular signal-regulated kinase molecule; and GH-induced antiphosphotyrosine immunoprecipitability of the transfected JAK2 form. In each assay, WTJAK2 and JAK2PKD allowed GH-induced signaling, whereas JAK2ATD and JAK2CTD did not. Anti-GHR serum coimmunoprecipitated WTJAK2, JAK2PKD, and JAK2CTD, but not JAK2ATD. Finally, a chimera in which the JAK2 kinase domain replaced the GHR cytoplasmic domain signaled GH-induced transactivation. We conclude: 1) kinase-like domain deletion eliminates neither physical nor functional interaction between JAK2 and the GHR; 2) kinase domain deletion eliminates functional but not physical coupling of JAK2 to the GHR; 3) interaction with the GHR appears dependent on the NH2-terminal one-fifth of JAK2; and 4) a GH-responsive signaling unit can include as little as the GHR external and transmembrane domains and the JAK2 kinase domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Detection of short-lived free radicals by low-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping in whole living animals.

We report the direct observation of sulfur trioxide anion free radical (SO3.-) from the body of live mice by using a low-frequency (1.2 GHz, L-band) EPR spin trapping method. Intraperitoneal injection of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) (15 mmol/kg) used as trapping agent was followed by sequential iv injections of sodium sulfate (2-5 mmol/kg) and sodium dichromate (0.3 mmol/kg). The mouse was placed in an L-band loop gap resonator. The observed spectra consisted of two superposed components: DMPO/SO3.- (alpha N = 14.0, alpha H = 16.0) and Cr(V) (g = 1.9798). The time course for the generation and reduction of DMPO/SO3.- was followed. The signal intensity reached a maximum at about 7 min. In vitro experiments carried out at 9.15 GHz confirmed the production of SO3.- under the conditions used for in vivo studies; the hyperfine splittings of DMPO/SO3.- produced in the in vitro experiments were the same as those produced in the in vivo studies. The production of SO.-3 is supported by oxygen uptake studies, which show that the prior addition of 300 mM DMPO inhibits oxygen consumption by SO3.-.

Animals↗

Metaphase and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization mapping of the rice genome with bacterial artificial chromosomes.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful tool for physical mapping in human and other mammalian species. However, application of the FISH technique has been limited in plant species, especially for mapping single- or low-copy DNA sequences, due to inconsistent signal production in plant chromosome preparations. Here we demonstrate that bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones can be mapped readily on rice (Oryza sativa L.) chromosomes by FISH. Repetitive DNA sequences in BAC clones can be suppressed efficiently by using rice genomic DNA as a competitor in the hybridization mixture. BAC clones as small as 40 kb were successfully mapped. To demonstrate the application of the FISH technique in physical mapping of plant genomes, both anonymous BAC clones and clones closely linked to a rice bacterial blight-resistance locus, Xa21, were chosen for analysis. The physical location of Xa21 and the relationships among the linked clones were established, thus demonstrating the utility of FISH in plant genome analysis.

Animals↗

Protein kinase A and hedgehog signaling in Drosophila limb development.

The Drosophila hedgehog (hh) gene encodes a secreted protein involved in organizing growth and patterning in many developmental processes. Hh appears to act by inducing the localized expression of at least two other signaling molecules, decapentaplegic (dpp) and wingless (wg), which then govern cell proliferation and patterning in surrounding tissue. Here, we demonstrate that cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is essential during limb development to prevent inappropriate dpp and wg expression. We also show that a constitutively active form of PKA can prevent inappropriate dpp and wg expression, but does not interfere with their normal induction by hh. We propose that the basal activity of PKA imposes a block on the transcription of dpp and wg and that hh exerts its organizing influence by alleviating this block.

Animals↗

Low-frequency EPR study of chromium(V) formation from chromium(VI) in living plants.

The reduction of Cr(VI) by green algae and higher plants was investigated using a low-frequency EPR spectrometer equipped with an extended loop gap resonator. Incubation of algae (Spirogyra and Mougeotia) with Cr(VI) generated both Cr(V) and Cr(III). The maximum Cr(V) signal was observed in about 10 minutes. Incubation of Cr(VI) with oat, soybean, and garlic generated Cr(V). The maximum Cr(V) peak appeared after more than 10 hours of incubation, and Cr(V) was located predominantly in the roots. The Cr(V) peak exhibited hyperfine splittings of about 0.79 gauss, typical of the Cr(V) complexes with diol-containing molecules. The results suggest that the reduction of Cr(VI) to lower oxidation states by living plants may provide a detoxification pathway for Cr(VI) in ecological systems. The results also indicate that low-frequency EPR may be used to investigate the metabolism of paramagnetic metal ions in intact plants.

Chlorophyta↗

In vivo oximetry using EPR and India ink.

Recent advances in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry have established the use of the particulate materials fusinite and lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc) as probes for measurement of oxygen tensions in tissues in vivo with a sensitivity and accuracy that is relevant for studying pathophysiological processes. India ink, another potentially very useful new probe for EPR oximetry, shares the critical properties of fusinite and LiPc and has the additional advantage of already having been widely used clinically with no apparent toxicity. The line width is particularly sensitive to changes in oxygen tension of less than 30 mmHg; in this range the line broadening/unit of pO2 is much greater than that of fusinite and LiPc. Over the range of biological conditions that can occur in vivo, the response of the EPR spectrum of India ink to pO2 is independent of pH, oxidants, reductants, and the nature of the medium. In this paper we describe the relevant properties of India ink and its use to measure pO2 in vivo in experimental animals and a human subject.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Use of EPR oximetry with India ink to measure the pO2 in the liver in vivo in mice.

The partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) of the liver in vivo in unanesthetized mice was determined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry with India ink. The EPR spectra were obtained using a low-frequency (1.2 GHz) EPR spectrometer with a loop gap cavity resonator. The line width of the India ink used in this experiment was reversibly broadened by oxygen and was particularly sensitive to pO2 below 30 torr. After the administration of India ink into the tail vein, the India ink particles were taken up mainly by Kupffer cells in the liver and in part by phagocytes in the spleen. The pO2 measured in the normal liver was about 14 torr and was constant for the 2-week experimental period. The pO2 decreased when measured at 1, 2, and 6 days after treatment with hepatotoxin (carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)); within 2 weeks, it returned almost to the initial level. Measurements by EPR at sacrifice of controls and CCl4-treated mice indicated that more than 90% of the India ink went to the liver; the spleen contained 4.7% of total amount in control mice and 8.8% in CCl4-treated mice when measured 2 weeks after the treatment. These data indicate the usefulness of India ink for measuring the pO2 of the liver in vivo and that the pO2 in the Kupffer cells is decreased when the liver is damaged by CCl4.

Animals↗

An analysis of the effects of eddy currents on L-band EPR spectra.

Recently, impressive results have been obtained with EPR studies of living animals and perfused organs using low-frequency EPR. In many instances in such studies, however, there are apparent distortions of the spectra. The shapes of these spectra and theoretical considerations indicate that these effects are due to eddy currents in the moderately conductive biological materials. Therefore the effects of eddy currents produced in biological samples under typical conditions being employed for in vivo EPR studies have been systematically studied in order to determine the extent of these effects and to develop methods for compensating for these effects. The presence of eddy currents was found to decrease the Q factor and distort the shapes of the EPR spectra. The distortion of the spectra led to linewidth broadening, changes in peak heights, and shifts of the apparent center of the lines. These effects could be corrected instrumentally, but this was effective only when signals have a high S/N. The use of appropriate computer simulations, based on linear combinations of the expected absorption and dispersion signals, can effectively correct for the effects of eddy currents and provide accurate data on the parameters of EPR spectra that are needed for most or all of the analyses used in biological studies of animals and tissues at low frequencies.

Animals↗

Kinetics of endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor appearance in portal and systemic circulation after hemorrhagic shock in rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate gut-derived bacterial translocation and the time course of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) appearance, both in portal and systemic circulation. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The significance of intestinal bacteria/endotoxin translocation or TNF formation in the development of systemic sepsis has been disputed. METHODS: A rat model of hemorrhagic shock (30-35 mm Hg for 90 min) and resuscitation was used. RESULTS: Bacterial translocation was histologically observed in the small intestinal wall 30 minutes after resuscitation. A significant increase in LPS concentrations was found in the portal vein (91.7 +/- 30.6 pg/mL) at 90 minutes, which remained steady until 150 minutes after shock. Lipopolysaccharide increased in the systemic circulation, the levels became significant at 120 minutes, and peaked (66.5 +/- 39.2 pg/mL) 150 minutes after shock. Tumor necrosis factor concentrations were found to be significantly elevated in both portal and systemic circulation (75.6 +/- 22.1 vs. 58.4 +/- 14.1 pg/mL) at 90 minutes post-shock. Although there was no further increase in TNF concentration in the portal blood. TNF peaked (83.5 +/- 17.7 pg/mL) in systemic circulation at 120 minutes and still was markedly increased at 150 minutes post-shock. In addition, higher LPS and TNF concentrations in systemic circulation were found in the nonsurvivors than in the surviving animals at the end of resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that hemorrhagic shock may lead to early bacterial translocation in the intestinal wall and transient access of gut-derived LPS and LPS-induced mediators into the circulation predominantly via the portal circulation.

Animals↗

Role of changes in renal hemodynamics and P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid in the reversal of one-kidney, one clip hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of changes in renal hemodynamics and P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid in the reversal of one-kidney, one clip (1-K,1C) hypertension in rats. DESIGN: The stimulus for the release of an antihypertensive lipid from the kidney is not known. This study examined whether cortical or papillary blood flow is altered after removal of the clip from the renal artery of 1-K,1C hypertensive rats, and the effects of blockade of the renal metabolism of arachidonic acid by P-450 with 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA) on the fall in blood pressure. METHODS: Cortical and medullary blood flows were measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry. 17-ODYA (33 nmol/min) was infused directly into the renal artery to examine the effect of inhibition of renal P-450 activity on reversal of 1-K,1C hypertension. The renal metabolism of arachidonic acid in control and in 1-K,1C hypertensive rats was assessed by incubating microsomes with [14C]-arachidonic acid, the metabolites formed being measured using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The antihypertensive effects of these P-450 metabolites of arachidonic acid were compared with those of medullipin I after intravenous administration in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). RESULTS: Cortical and papillary blood flow increased significantly and arterial pressure fell after unclipping the renal artery in the 1-K,1C hypertensive rats. 17-ODYA prevented the fall in blood pressure after unclipping. The production of epoxy- and dihydroxy-eicosatrienoic acids was elevated in microsomes prepared from the renal cortex of the 1-K,1C hypertensive rats. However, intravenous administration of these metabolites did not mimic the effect of medullipin I to lower arterial pressure in SHR. CONCLUSION: Elevations in renal cortical or papillary blood flow, or both, may stimulate the release of a P-450-derived antihypertensive lipid from the kidney after unclipping of the renal artery in 1-K,1C hypertensive rats. However, it is unlikely that this substance is a P-450 metabolite of arachidonic acid.

Animals↗

The melanotropic peptide, [Nle4,D-Phe7] alpha-MSH, stimulates human melanoma tyrosinase activity and inhibits cell proliferation.

Seventeen human melanoma cell (HMC) lines, both melanotic and amelanotic, were incubated in the continuous presence of a potent melanotropic peptide hormone analog, [Nle4,D-Phe7] alpha-MSH, for 72 hr with daily changes of medium. Only one cell line (HD, melanotic) consistently responded to the hormone analog by increased tyrosinase activity. Three (one melanotic, two amelanotic) of the HMC lines also failed to respond to the peptide by either increased or decreased enzyme activity when incubated continuously in the presence of the peptide for longer periods of time (6,15,27,43 days). The HD cell line, however, again responded with increasingly enhanced basal enzyme activity the longer the cells were incubated in the presence of the melanotropin. One amelanotic cell line (C8161) responded with enhanced enzyme activity when grown to confluency in the continuous presence of the peptide. Basal tyrosinase activity of the C8161 cell line may have increased as cell density in the flasks increased. These results suggest that under conditions of increased cell number, phenotypic expression of tyrosinase activity in so called "amelanotic" (tyrosinase-negative) cells is increased and can be enhanced further by stimulation with a melanotropic peptide. Under conditions of increased cell number, the presence of [Nle4,D-Phe7] alpha-MSH caused morphological differentiation (shape change); the cells became enlarged and very dendritic. The number of cells in monolayer (surface of the flask) and in the medium were drastically reduced in both melanotic and "amelanotic" cell lines incubated with [Nle4,D-Phe7] alpha-MSH. The data support other published reports that melanotropic peptides inhibit human melanoma cell growth (proliferation) in vitro, most likely through a cytostatic mechanism. [Nle4,D-Phe7] alpha-MSH also exhibited a prolonged (residual) inhibitory action on HD cell proliferation. In other words, inhibition of cell growth (proliferation) of the HMCs was evident even several days after removal of the melanotropic peptide from the incubation medium.

Animals↗