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Biomedical subjects

J Pan

Publications and source records attributed to J Pan.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Electrochemical and XPS studies of titanium for biomaterial applications with respect to the effect of hydrogen peroxide.

Electrochemical measurements, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy have been used to study the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the passivity of titanium in a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. The results indicate that the passive film formed in the PBS solution--with and without addition of H2O2--may be described with a two-layer structure model. The inner layer has a structure close to TiO2 whereas the outer layer consists of hydroxylated compounds. The introduction of H2O2 in the PBS solution broadens the hydroxylate-rich region, probably due to the formation of a Ti(IV)-H2O2 complex. Furthermore, the presence of H2O2 results in enhanced dissolution of titanium and a rougher surface on a microscopic scale. Finally, a dark pigmentation (blue color) is observed when titanium has been exposed--for several weeks--to PBS with additions of H2O2.

Color↗

Characterization and evaluation of a pta (phosphotransacetylase) negative mutant of Escherichia coli HB101 as production host of foreign lipase.

In order to evaluate the pta(phosphotransacetylase) (-) mutant of Escherichia coli as a potential host of foreign lipase expression, the pta(-) mutant HB101 was constructed for the purpose of blocking the acetate synthetic pathway. Since acetate is known as a major inhibitory by-product of cell growth and foreign protein production, the growth characteristics and expression kinetics of the microbial lipase of the pta(-) E. coli mutant were investigated. The growth rate was considerably decreased (about 30%) when grown on M9 minimal media containing glucose, mannose or glycerol. Growth retardation was not observed when a gluconeogenic carbon source (acetate, malate or succinate) was utilized. It should be noted that the growth rate of the mutant was enhanced (about 20%) in modified M9 media including a gluconeogenic carbon source and NZ-amine. Growth inhibition of the pta(-) mutant by menadione, a representative redox-cycling drug, was more pronounced than that of the parental type of E. coli. Furthermore, the inhibition effect was more pronounced in glucose minimal medium, whereas the menadione sensitivity was not observed when a gluconeogenic carbon source was used as a sole carbon source or the lactate dehydrogenase gene from Lactobacillus casei was introduced in the pta(-) mutant. Therefore, it is suggested that the growth deficiency of the pta(-) mutant is closely related to the intracellular redox balance. When the pseudomonad lipase was expressed in the pta(-) mutant, a comparable expression rate and yield to the parental type strain was observed. High-cell-density culture of the mutant was easy to achieve even under the fluctuating conditions of residual glucose concentration.

Acetates↗

Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes in hollow fiber chambers.

Hepatocyte culture may represent an alternative to the use of animals to study drug detoxification by the liver. An ideal in vitro system should closely mimic the in vivo environment by providing continuous media perfusion and oxygenation, and should facilitate sampling of cells and culture media. To meet these criteria, a hollow fiber bioreactor seeded with isolated rat hepatocytes was developed and tested by measuring the formation of three products of the oxidative metabolism of diazepam and the glucuronidation of phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP). To compare the performance of conventional monolayer culture to that of the bioreactor system, diazepam metabolism was studied for 45 days in both systems. The oxygen dependency of diazepam metabolism was evaluated by perfusing the bioreactor in an oxygen-rich atmosphere (30%). Total diazepam metabolism was twofold higher in the O2-rich perfused hollow fiber cultures than in the cultures perfused under normal conditions, reflecting an increase in temazepam and oxazepam production. Diazepam detoxification activity was significantly enhanced by oxygen (P < or = 0.001) over the life of the perfused cultures. PSP metabolism was similar in all three culture systems. By Day 10, diazepam metabolism in the oxygenated bioreactor system was 44% of the in vivo activity of rat hepatocytes. This activity dropped to 30% by Day 25 of culture. These results justify the use of perfused culture systems for in vitro detoxification studies as an alternative to animal use and emphasize the capacity of a culture device perfused under O2-enriched conditions to maintain long-term P450 activity of rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗

IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF H+-ATPase IN THE GILL EPITHELIA OF RAINBOW TROUT

The localization of proton pumps (H+-ATPase) in gill epithelia of rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)] was elucidated by immunofluorescence microscopy, using rabbit polyclonal antibodies against the 70 kDa subunit of H+-ATPase purified from clathrin-coated vesicles of bovine brain. In the gill epithelia of freshwater trout, the immunostaining was uniformly distributed along the lamellae and generally concentrated in apical regions. It is concluded, therefore, that H+-ATPase is located in the apex of both chloride cells and epithelial cells of freshwater fish. Hypercapnic treatment resulted in a non-polarized and restrictive distribution of H+-ATPase in the chloride cell. No fluorescent staining was observed in the gill epithelium of seawater-adapted rainbow trout, except in some unidentified anucleate surface material. The presence of the 70 kDa subunit in fish gill epithelia was confirmed by Western blot. These results support the proposed role of a proton pump in sodium uptake in freshwater fish and demonstrate that the H+-ATPase in fish gills is of the vacuolar type, antigenically similar to the H+-ATPase in mammalian brain and kidney.

Journal Article↗

[Heel reconstruction by the composite island flap of the lower leg].

From 1987, 6 to 1992, 6 cases of heel defect were repaired successfully by reverse transfer of the composite island flap from the lateral lower leg. The flap, pedicled with peroneal vessels, consisted of skin, subcutaneous tissue, fibula and adjacent muscles. The contour and function were satisfactory.

Adolescent↗

Latent transition analysis and how it can address prevention research questions.

The objective of this chapter is to introduce latent transition analysis (LTA) to the substance use prevention research community. LTA is a new methodological technique for testing stage-sequential models, such as models of substance use onset. LTA estimates several different sets of parameters. One of these sets is the transition probability matrix, which contains information about the probability of movement between stages in the model. LTA can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention intervention programs by comparing the transition probability matrices of the program and control groups. If the prevention program is successful, the transition probability matrices will indicate that the probability of moving to a more advanced stage of drug use is lower for the program participants than for the control group. An advantage of taking a stage-sequential approach is that examining the transition probability matrix reveals how effective a program is for individuals entering the program with different levels and types of substance use experience. In this chapter, LTA is used to evaluate a variety of models of the early onset process separately for Anglo, Latino, and Asian-American adolescents, measured in seventh grade and again in eighth grade. Although somewhat different models are found to fit the three ethnic groups best, the differences likely are due to differences in the overall amount of substance use experience. Based on these results, it is suggested that, to be most effective, prevention programs should take place earlier for Anglos and Latinos, and later, followed by boosters, for Asian Americans.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Characterization of the promoter for the human P-selectin gene.

P-selectin, an adhesion receptor for leukocytes, is synthesized selectively by megakaryocytes and endothelial cells. We have cloned the 5'-flanking region of the human P-selectin gene and conducted a preliminary analysis of its features. As determined by primer extension, RNase protection, and anchored polymerase chain reaction cloning, there were multiple transcriptional initiation sites from -95 to -25 nucleotides relative to the start of protein-coding sequence. Transfection of bovine aortic endothelial cells with serially truncated segments of the 5'-flanking region linked to luciferase indicated that the sequence from -249 to -13 was sufficient to promote high level gene expression. Deletions to -197, -147, and -128 gradually reduced expression to basal levels, and further deletion to -100 abolished expression. The sequence from -309 to -13 supported only basal luciferase expression in COS-7, 293, or HeLa cells. Putative regulatory elements in the short 5'-flanking sequence included a CACCC sequence, two inverted repeats similar to binding sites for the ETS and NF-kappa B/rel families, a GATA motif, and a sequence related to the GT-IIC element of the SV40 enhancer. The GATA element was functional, as it bound recombinant GATA-2, and mutations in the core sequence impaired both nuclear protein binding and gene expression. These data suggest that the P-selectin gene is regulated by a combination of cis elements and their cognate transcription factors.

Animals↗

Construction of a yeast artificial chromosome contig spanning the spinal muscular atrophy disease gene region.

The childhood spinal muscular atrophies (SMAs) are the most common, serious neuromuscular disorders of childhood second to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A single locus for these disorders has been mapped by recombination events to a region of 0.7 centimorgan (range, 0.1-2.1 centimorgans) between loci D5S435 and MAP1B on chromosome 5q11.2-13.3. By using PCR amplification to screen yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) DNA pools and the PCR-vectorette method to amplify YAC ends, a YAC contig was constructed across the disease gene region. Nine walk steps identified 32 YACs, including a minimum of seven overlapping YAC clones (average size, 460 kb) that span the SMA region. The contig is characterized by a collection of 30 YAC-end sequence tag sites together with seven genetic markers. The entire YAC contig spans a minimum of 3.2 Mb; the SMA locus is confined to roughly half of this region. Microsatellite markers generated along the YAC contig segregate with the SMA locus in all families where the flanking markers (D5S435 and MAP1B) recombine. Construction of a YAC contig across the disease gene region is an essential step in isolation of the SMA-encoding gene.

Base Sequence↗

Regulation of cytochrome P450 2B1/2 genes by diallyl sulfone, disulfiram, and other organosulfur compounds in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

Our previous study demonstrated that diallyl sulfide (DAS), a compound derived from garlic, transcriptionally activated the P450 2B1/2 genes in rat liver. In the present study, rat primary hepatocytes were used to determine the effects of DAS and its metabolite, diallyl sulfone (DASO2), on the expression of the P450 2B1/2 genes. Freshly isolated adult rat hepatocytes were cultured in a serum-free medium on a reconstituted basement membrane matrix "matrigel" that enabled the hepatocytes to maintain expression of numerous liver-specific genes for more than 1 week. After 48-hr of acclimation, 0.1, 0.5, and 2.0 mM concentrations of DAS or DASO2 were added to the culture medium and the cells were harvested at 4, 12, 24, or 36 hr after the treatment for the preparation of microsomes and RNA. Cytotoxicity was not observed by morphological examinations after DAS and DASO2 treatments. In contrast to the in vivo results, there was only a slight increase in the levels of P450 2B1/2 mRNA and protein in DAS-treated cells. However, DASO2 treatment (2 mM) resulted in 11-, 21-, and 22-fold increases in P450 2B1/2 mRNA levels at 12, 24, and 36 hr after the treatment, respectively. P450 2B1/2 protein levels were also increased markedly in DASO2-treated cells. Co-incubation of the rat hepatocyte cultures with a physiological concentration of growth hormone significantly blocked the induction of P450 2B1/2 mRNA by DASO2. Northern blot analysis using oligonucleotide probes specific for 2B1 and 2B2 demonstrated that DASO2 induced mRNA levels of both 2B1 and 2B2, with a greater induction of 2B1 mRNA. For comparison, the effects of disulfiram (DSF) and its metabolite, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), on P450 2B1/2 mRNA expression were also examined in the cultured rat hepatocytes. Both DSF and DDTC caused a significant increase in P450 2B1/2 mRNA level with the highest induction at 0.5 mM. Addition of growth hormone to the culture effectively suppressed the P450 2B1/2 mRNA induction by DSF but had little effect on the induction by DDTC. Neither mRNA nor protein levels of P450 2E1 in cultured hepatocytes were affected by all the organosulfur compounds tested. These results suggest that DASO2, DSF and DDTC selectively modulate P450 isozymes in cultured rat primary hepatocytes and that the induction of P450 2B1/2 by DAS in rat liver may be mediated by its metabolite, DASO2.

Allyl Compounds↗

Application of GPIIIa gene Taq I polymorphism to determination of carrier status in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia families of Chinese origin.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is a bleeding disorder caused by qualitative and/or quantitative defects of platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa complex. The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. In this paper, cDNA probes were used to study restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in GPIIIa gene. A Taq I polymorphism was identified and this RFLP was composed of variant bands of 6.5 Kb/4.0 and 2.5 Kb with a frequency of 0.46/0.54 in Chinese population. The Taq I polymorphism was further localized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to exon VIII of the GPIIIa gene. In two Glanzmann's thrombasthenia families, the Taq I RFLP studied by both Southern blotting and PCR methods identified the defective GPIIIa gene inherited by patients, and determined the genotype of asymptomatic subjects. Analysis of this Taq I polymorphism by PCR method should be potentially useful in future for the carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia families.

China↗

Lack of inter-species reactivity between antigens and antibodies is overcome by protease treatment of western blots.

The analysis of proteins by Western blotting is frequently limited by the inability of antibodies to recognize antigenic epitopes in proteins of different species. In the present study, we investigated the influence of mild protease digestion on the reactivity of nitrocellulose-blotted proteins and microscopic sections with antibodies produced against analogous proteins of different species. The proteins were partially purified, electrophoresed and blotted by standard procedures. They were then incubated with either trypsin or pepsin, at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 80 micrograms/mL, for different time periods prior to reaction with the first antibody. After incubation with the second antibody, the bands were visualized by chemiluminescence. The following antibody/antigen pairs produced no signal by conventional methods but resulted in the appropriate bands following protease treatment: (i) monoclonal antibody (Mab) to human keratin #18/rat keratin; (ii) Mab to starfish extracellular matrix/mouse laminin; (iii) rabbit antiserum to human platelet myosin II/ratfish nonmuscle myosin II. In the latter system, protease treatment also revealed previously hidden epitopes in microscopic sections. Appropriate controls demonstrated that the antibodies retained their specificity after the protease treatment of the preparations. Optimal conditions varied and had to be defined for each protein under study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗