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Biomedical subjects

J Wu

Publications and source records attributed to J Wu.

At least 1,459 records · Page 81Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Trolox protects rat hepatocytes against oxyradical damage and the ischemic rat liver from reperfusion injury.

Trolox, a hydrophilic analog of vitamin E, was reported to scavenge peroxyl radicals from artificial systems better than its parent compound. Here we examined the possible cytoprotective effect of Trolox in cultured hepatocytes and in the rat liver. In cultured rat hepatocytes, 0.5 to 16 mmol/L Trolox (with optimum between 1 to 2 mmol/L) was observed to prolong the survival of cells exposed to oxyradicals generated with xanthine oxidase-hypoxanthine. The protection by 1 mmol/L Trolox surpassed that provided by either ascorbate, mannitol, superoxide dismutase and/or catalase--each at a level giving its maximal protection in the same system. In both a global and partial model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats, infusion of Trolox (7.5 to 10 mumol/kg body weight) just before reflow reduced by greater than 80% the liver necrosis sustained in untreated (no Trolox) control rats. Such organ salvage was apparently accompanied by approximately 50% reduction in the amount of hepatic conjugated dienes, which were quantified by a highly specific radiochemical assay. Since conjugated dienes are presumed to be good "markers" of oxyradical damage, our data may have provided a semiquantitative link between free radical-induced necrosis and its chemical imprint in vivo. The data also indicated a relatively rapid and potent antioxidant-like action by Trolox on rat hepatocytes and on the postischemic reperfused rat liver.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Furanose ring anomerization: kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the D-2-pentuloses by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy.

The tautomeric compositions of D-erythro-2-pentulose (D-ribulose) and D-threo-2-pentulose (D-xylulose) in aqueous solution have been studied by 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy at various temperatures using 2-13C-substituted compounds. The alpha-furanose, beta-furanose, and acyclic carbonyl (keto) forms were detected at all temperatures, whereas the acyclic hydrate (gem-diol) form was not observed. The percentage of keto form increased with increasing temperature, at the expense of the furanose forms. Thermodynamic (delta G0, delta H0, delta S0) and kinetic parameters for the interconversion of alpha- and beta-furanoses with the acyclic carbonyl form were determined and compared with those determined under similar conditions for the structurally-related aldotetrofuranoses. The ring-opening rate constant (kopen) measured by 13C saturation-transfer n.m.r. spectroscopy in 50mM sodium acetate (pH 4.0) at 55 degrees were as follows: beta-threofuranose (0.65 s-1) greater than alpha-erythrofuranose (0.51 s-1) greater than beta-erythrofuranose (0.37 s-1) approximately beta-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.35 s-1) greater than alpha-threofuranose (0.25 s-1) greater than alpha-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.20 s-1) approximately alpha-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.18 s-1) approximately beta-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.18 s-1). Within each structural type the pentulofuranose anomer having O-2 and O-3 cis (O-1 and O-2 cis in aldotetrofuranoses) opens faster than, or at a similar rate to, the alternative anomer having these oxygen atoms trans. Ring-closing rate constants (kclose), calculated from kopen and Keq, decrease in the order beta-erythrofuranose (15 s-1) greater than beta-threofuranose (12 s-1) greater than alpha-erythrofuranose (9.9 s-1) greater than alpha-threofuranose (6.2 s-1) greater than beta-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.71 s-1) greater than alpha-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.38 s-1) greater than alpha-threo-2-pentulofuranose (0.13 s-1) approximately beta-erythro-2-pentulofuranose (0.13 s-1). Replacement of H-1 in aldotetrofuranoses by a hydroxymethyl group (i.e., conversion to 2-pentuloses) significantly decreases the ring-opening and ring-closing rate constants of furanose anomerization.

Isomerism↗
PubMed1990

Evoked response narrow-band noise masking patterns in the chinchilla.

Narrow-band noise masking patterns were measured at 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz in the chinchilla using the auditory evoked response from the inferior colliculus. At low masker levels, the masking profiles were symmetrical and centered on the masker. However, as masker level increased, the masking profiles spread predominantly toward the high frequencies. The masking profiles obtained at 0.5 and 1 kHz, exhibited a broad plateau extending 1-2 octaves above the masker at the highest masker level (70 dB SPL) whereas those obtained at 2 and 4 kHz showed a peak. In contrast to tone-on-tone masking profiles, none of the narrow-band noise masking profiles contained a low-threshold notch on the high frequency side of the masker. The evoked response masking profiles obtained in the chinchilla were slightly wider, but qualitatively similar to those measured psychophysically in humans. Thus, the evoked response narrow-band noise masking profiles may provide a convenient way of evaluating the spread of masking in difficult-to-test subjects.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1990

Cerebellar evoked potential elicited by stimulation of C-fiber in saphenous nerve of cat.

Stimulation of the saphenous nerve above C-fiber threshold strength evoked a field potential which consisted of an early component with latency of 11.8 +/- 3.5 ms and a late component with latency of 312.1 +/- 17.5 ms on the cerebellar cortex. After the A-fibers in saphenous nerve were blocked by the polarizing current selectivity, the stimulation at C-fiber suprathreshold elicited a C-fiber cerebellar evoked potential (C-CEP) with latency of 134.2 +/- 18.4 ms. C-CEP had the maximal amplitude on the vermian lobule VI of the contra- and ipsilateral cerebellar cortex and its phases reversed in the deep layer of this area. It was suggested that the selective C-fiber input could reach the cerebellar cortex and elicit a characteristic evoked potential. However, when A- and C-fiber inputs were elicited simultaneously, C-CEP might be inhibited by the A-fiber input.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

The regulatory effects of macrophages on colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) production.

1. By using the anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide inhibition strategy, we demonstrated that the production of CSF-1 by macrophage was blocked specifically by a CSF-1 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to the 5' end of the coding region of mouse CSF-1 m-RNA transcripts, but not by the CSF-1 mRNA transcripts, but not by the CSF-1 sense oligomer. 2. The LPS-induced condition medium of macrophages treated with CSF-1 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide retained the capacity of stimulating mouse fibroblast cells and bone marrow cells producing CSF-1 in vitro. 3. In addition to the inhibition of CSF-1 production by macrophages CSF-1 anti-sense oligodeoxynucleotide also inhibited the CSF-1 production of fibroblast cells and bone marrow cells stimulated by the macrophages conditioned medium. 4. These results suggest that macrophages stimulate their own development by mediating CSF-1 production at least in three ways: (1) production CSF-1; (2) stimulating fibroblast cells; (3) bone marrow cells to produce CSF-1. There is a positive feedback mechanism for macrophage hematopoiesis and its functional expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The modified superior based pharyngeal flap. Part I. Surgical technique.

The superior based pharyngeal flap operation for the correction of velopharyngeal incompetence is perhaps the most commonly employed operation used today in a majority of cleft palate centers. However, inconsistent results with this operation are commonplace. This is believed by most to be due to poor control of the lateral portals. Herein is a report of our approach to improve lateral portal control.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1990

Measurements of frequency spectra of transmission coefficients to ultrasound through trapped microbubbles.

Techniques which use hydrophobic polycarbonate thin sheets containing randomly spaced, fairly uniform small pores immersed in water to trap air bubbles have been found to be useful in biophysical experiments. The utilization of broadband polyvinylidene fluoride transducers in this work made it possible to measure a continuous frequency spectrum of the transmission coefficient of the trapped bubbles. The results of the measurements show: (1) the frequency response curve of the bubble ensemble is much broader than that of a single bubble predicted by theory; and (2) as the incident sound pressure at a micropore membrane increases from 110 to 660 Pa the resonance frequency of bubbles shifts to lower values by as much as 7%.

Air↗
PubMed1990

The placement of screws above the zygomaticofrontal suture.

The use of plates in the zygomaticofrontal (ZF) region for stabilization of zygoma fractures necessitates use of screw holes. This anatomic study was done to assess where these holes can be safely placed. A study of 20 adult skulls showed that when drilling perpendicular to the bone above the ZF suture, the cranial cavity can be entered as low as 12 mm above it (average, 15 mm). Therefore, when drilling more than 12 mm over the ZF suture, the surgeon should angle the drill at an acute angle to the forehead to prevent cranial encroachment. In addition there is great variability of depth of bone around the ZF suture. When drilling perpendicularly on the frontal bone in the first centimeter above the ZF suture, the orbital cavity will always be entered.

Bone Screws↗
PubMed1990

Long-term follow-up of patients after transcatheter direct current ablation of the atrioventricular junction.

The long-term follow-up study (41 +/- 23 months) of 47 patients undergoing direct current ablation because of drug-resistant supraventricular arrhythmias is reported. Significant early complications occurred in four patients and included hypotension, pericarditis, nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and one sudden death. In 42 patients (86%), complete atrioventricular (AV) block was initially achieved. During the follow-up period, AV conduction resumed in 2 of these 42 patients. Of the seven patients in whom ablation was unsuccessful, two developed late complete AV block and three had symptomatic improvement. An improved activity level was reported among 83% of the patients with successful ablation. Health care utilization manifest as the number of hospital admissions per year before and after ablation decreased significantly after ablation (2.4 +/- 2.0 versus 0.3 +/- 0.5, p less than 0.001). Echocardiographic evaluation in five patients with a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (27 +/- 7%) before ablation showed a significant increase (45 +/- 14%, p less than 0.05) after an average follow-up period of 31 months. New onset of congestive heart failure occurred after ablation in four patients, of whom two had no structural heart disease. The total mortality rate, including the one patient with sudden death, was 17% and was significantly higher among patients with underlying structural heart disease. Transcatheter direct current ablation is an effective treatment in patients with drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardia, providing a beneficial long-term outcome including an improved quality of life and a decrease in health care utilization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Interaction of epsilon-globin cis-acting control elements with erythroid-specific regulatory macromolecules.

We have used a competition assay to investigate the influence of erythroid-specific cellular factors on transcription from the human epsilon-globin major cap site promoter and the minor promoter located 200 base pairs (bp) upstream from the epsilon-globin cap site. In the human erythroid cell line K562, competition of the epsilon-globin major cap site promoter linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene (epsilon P-CAT) with the same promoter fragment linked to a neomycin resistance gene (epsilon P-NEO) leads to a reduction in CAT activity. This indicates the specific presence of K562 cells of factor(s) which interact with the 200-bp promoter fragment (isolated from the gene body or flanking sequences) to activate transcription from the epsilon-globin major cap site. Competition of the epsilon-globin major promoter (as epsilon P-CAT) with the upstream minor epsilon-globin promoter (as epsilon P2-NEO) also leads to a reduction in CAT activity, indicating that both promoters share erythroid-specific trans-acting factors. The reverse competition (epsilon P2-CAT with epsilon P-NEO) leads to an increase in CAT activity, suggesting that the existence of erythroid-specific factor(s) which repress transcription from the 200-bp-upstream epsilon-globin promoter.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1990

Negative regulation of the human epsilon-globin gene by transcriptional interference: role of an Alu repetitive element.

The human epsilon-globin gene has a number of alternative transcription initiation sites which correspond with regions of DNase I hypersensitivity upstream of the canonical cap site. Transcripts originating from the promoters located -4.3/-4.5 and -1.48 kilobase pairs (kbp) and -900 and -200 base pairs (bp) upstream of the major epsilon-globin cap site can, at certain stages of erythroid differentiation, extend through the gene and are polyadenylated. The 350-bp PolIII transcripts, originating within the Alu repetitive element -2.2 kbp upstream of the cap site, extend in the opposite direction from the gene, are nonpolyadenylated, nucleus confined, and are detectable only in mature K562 cells or mature embryonic red blood cells where the epsilon-globin major cap site is maximally transcribed. Fragments containing the promoters located between -4.5 and -4.3 kbp upstream of the gene down regulate transcription from the epsilon-globin gene 20- to 30-fold in a transient expression assay in which both erythroid and nonerythroid cell lines were used. This occurs only when the direction of transcription from the -4.3/-4.5-kbp promoters is towards the gene, and we hypothesize that down regulation is caused by transcriptional interference. Fragments containing the Alu repetitive element -2.2 kbp upstream of the gene can overcome down regulation of the epsilon-globin gene by the -4.5-kbp element when interposed in the direct orientation between this element and the epsilon-globin gene.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1990

A short, highly repetitive element in intron -1 of the human c-Ha-ras gene acts as a block to transcriptional readthrough by a viral promoter.

We have identified a short, highly repetitive element within intron -1 of the human c-Ha-ras gene. This element was found to be transcribed in both orientations and to be homologous to heterogeneous nonpolyadenylated transcripts. The repetitive element blocked transcriptional readthrough from a strong upstream viral promoter but allowed unimpaired readthrough from the c-Has-ras promoter. We suggest that it may serve to prevent excessive transcription into the coding region of the gene under such circumstances as viral insertion.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1990

The cytoprotective effect of Trolox demonstrated with three types of human cells.

Trolox, a hydrophilic analogue of alpha-tocopherol, was reported to scavenge peroxyl radicals better than vitamin E in sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles and in liposomes. However, it was not known if Trolox protects human cells against oxyradical damage or if it acts as an antioxidant there. Here we demonstrate that Trolox prolonged substantially the survival of human ventricular myocytes and hepatocyte against oxyradicals generated with xanthine oxidase plus hypoxanthine, and prevented lysis of red cells exposed to an azo-initiator (2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane) HCl). Note that Trolox did not inhibit xanthine oxidase. In each cell type, the protection by Trolox was dose dependent and surpassed those given by such water-soluble antioxidants as ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, and (or) catalase, each examined at or near its optimal level in the same system. Using hepatocytes as a model, we further observed that Trolox reduced markedly the quantity of phospholipid conjugated dienes (a chemical imprint of oxyradical damage) in cells despite their exposure to oxyradicals. These data suggested that Trolox behaves as an antioxidant in cells as illustrated in hepatocytes.

Antioxidants↗