Biomedical subjects

Ju Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Ju Zhang.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Genomic and genetic dissection underlying seedling drought resilience in oats.

Drought threatens global crop yields, and common oat, a vital nutritional source for food and feed, is particularly constrained in the semi‑arid regions where it is widely cultivated. Here, we report two high-quality genome assemblies for drought-resilient (Borris37) and drought-sensitive (XymC06) oat accessions with distinct seedling survival rates and genome sizes of 10.92 Gb and 10.96 Gb, and construct comprehensive landscapes of insertion‑deletions (InDels) and structural variants (SVs). Integrating population-level genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic (seedling survival rate), we demonstrate that InDels and SVs underpin divergent drought resilience and identify 52 candidate genes associated with drought resistance whose expression is significantly modulated by these variants. Borris37 accumulates 36 favorable alleles of these genes. An InDel in the AsNF-YB3 promoter enhances binding to AsARF1, upregulating AsNF‑YB3 under drought, and overexpression of AsNF‑YB3 reduces ROS accumulation. Our findings provide resources and targets for drought‑resistance breeding in oat, thereby supporting global food security.

Drought Resistance↗

PubMed2006

A novel fluorescence polarization based assay for 14 human papillomavirus genotypes in clinical samples.

A specific and practical method was developed for high throughput 14 human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes assay in clinical samples by a single PCR. GP5+/6+ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system was used to amplify HPV DNA in 1127 samples. The PCR product was assayed by AcycloPrime reaction with fluorescence polarization (FP). Fourteen HPV genotypes specific sequence primers designed within GP5+/GP6+ amplification polymorphism regions of L1 genes for corresponding HPV genotypes were annealed with the type specific PCR products and special fluorescent terminator was added to the end of the primer under direction of the PCR products. AcycloPrime-FP analysis showed specific anneal and incorporation without any cross-reaction. The types detected with FP showed an excellent overall agreement with sequence when the individual monotype results were taken into account. The proposed method could detect more than one type of HPV infection, but the sequence method was limited. AcycloPrime-FP could reach the detection level: 100 ag for representative phylogenetically distant HPV genotypes: HPV6, 18, 31, 39, 42, 51 and 58. The results of AcycloPrime-FP showed excellent reproducibility. The proposed method allowed an economical detection of HPV genotypes without any use of labeled probe. It is expected to be an extremely useful tool for HPV genotypes screening.

Capsid Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Helicobacter pylori infection in the pharynx of patients with chronic pharyngitis detected with TDI-FP and modified Giemsa stain.

AIM: To detect whether there is Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) colonization in the pharynx mucous membrane of healthy people and whether chronic pharyngitis is related to H pylori infection. METHODS: Fifty cases of chronic pharyngitis refractory over three months were prospectively studied from March 2004 to August 2004 in the otolaryngology outpatient department of the Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Template-directed dye-terminator incorporated with fluorescence polarization detection (TDI-FP) and modified Giemsa stain were used to examine pharynx mucous membrane tissue for H pylori colonization in the patients with chronic pharyngitis and the healthy people as a control group. RESULTS: In the control group, no people were detected to have H pylori in the pharynx. In contrast, in 50 cases with chronic pharyngitis, 19 (38.0%) cases were H pylori positive with a TDI-FP assay and 4 (8%) cases were TDI-FP positive with Giemsa staining in the pharynx. Sixteen of the 50 pharyngitis cases had stomach ailment history, 11 cases (68.8%) of these 16 patients were determined to be H pylori positive in the pharynx with the TDI-FP assay. c2 test showed that this infection rate was remarkably higher (P=0.0007) than that in the cases without stomach ailment history. Giemsa staining showed that 3 cases (18.8%) of the patients with stomach ailment history were infected with H pylori in the pharynx, which was remarkably higher (P=0.042) than that in the patients without stomach ailment history (1 case, which was 2.9%). CONCLUSION: H pylori may not be detected in the pharynx of healthy people. Chronic pharyngitis may be related to H pylori infection. The infection rate with H pylori in the pharynx is higher in patients with stomach ailment histories than in patients without stomach ailment histories, suggesting that chronic pharyngitis may be related to stomach ailment history.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The role of health education and health promotion in the control of schistosomiasis: experiences from a 12-year intervention study in the Poyang Lake area.

The objectives of this study were to examine the short-term effects of health education and health promotion in the control of schistosomiasis, and to monitor the long-term impact on re-infection patterns. The study was carried out in six Schistosoma japonicum-endemic villages located in the Poyang Lake area. Three different interventions were implemented, namely (i) health education by means of video tapes, training in prevention of infection, and a 'rewards/punishment' programme for schoolchildren, (ii) promotion of an understanding of schistosomiasis and its control plus training in prevention of infection for women, and (iii) encouragement of compliance with regard to chemotherapy plus training in prevention of infection for men. The 1-year post-intervention follow-up showed that both awareness and appropriate behaviour were strengthened in all three study groups along with a significant increase in the level of knowledge on how to avoid schistosomiasis. For example, the majority of women had abandoned the practice of washing clothes in schistosome-infested water and re-infection rates were sharply reduced as a consequence. In addition, the frequency of water contact among schoolchildren decreased and remained so for the long term. Overall, the approach emphasising health education and health promotion in combination with chemotherapy was highly successful in reducing re-infection rates among inhabitants of S. japonicum-endemic villages and people's compliance with regard to chemotherapy increased significantly over the course of the study.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

A microarray-based gastric carcinoma prewarning system.

AIM: To develop a microarray-based prewarning system consisting of gastric cancer chip, prewarning data and analysis software for early detection of gastric cancer and pre-cancerous lesions. METHODS: Two high-density chips with 8,464 human cDNA sites were used to primarily identify potential genes specific for normal gastric mucosa, pre-cancerous lesion and gastric cancer. The low-density chips, composed of selected genes associated with normal gastric mucosa, precancerous lesion and gastric cancer, were fabricated and used to screen 150 specimens including 60 specimens of gastric cancer, 60 of pre-cancerous tissues and 30 of normal gastric mucosa. CAD software was used to screen out the relevant genes and their critical threshold values of expression levels distinguishing normal mucosa from pre-cancerous lesion and cancer. All data were stored in a computer database to establish a prewarning data library for gastric cancer. Two potential markers brcaa1 and ndr1 were identified by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A total of 412 genes associated with three stages of gastric cancer development were identified. There were 216 genes displaying higher expression in gastric cancer, 85 genes displaying higher expression in pre-cancerous lesion and 88 genes displaying higher expression in normal gastric mucosa. Also 15 genes associated with metastasis of gastric cancer and 8 genes associated with risk factors were screened out for target genes of diagnosis chip of early gastric cancer. The threshold values of 412 selected genes to distinguish gastric cancer, pre-cancerous lesion from normal gastric mucosa were defined as 6.01+/-2.40, 4.86+/-1.94 and 5.42+/-2.17, respectively. These selected 412 genes and critical threshold values were compiled into an analysis software, which can automatically provide reports by analyzing the results of 412 genes obtained by examining gastric tissues. All data were compiled into a prewarning database for gastric cancer by CGO software. Northern blot and immunohistochemistry analysis confirmed that gene and protein of brcaa1 displayed lower expression in normal gastric mucosa and higher expression in gastric cancer tissues, conversely, ndr1 displayed lower expression in gastric cancer and higher expression in normal gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: The microarray-based prewarning system for gastric cancer was developed. This system consisted of gastric cancer-associated gene chip, prewarning data and analysis software, which has a high potential for applications in the early detection of gastric cancer. The two potential markers brcaa1 and ndr1 identified may be used to distinguish cancer status fand non-cancer status.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2005

[Study on the knowledge of nutrition and related dietary behavior among "floating" women under pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) on nutrition and related influencing factors among the "floating" women under pregnancy. METHODS: 171 subjects in Chengdu, China were surveyed cross-sectionally by questionnaires. RESULTS: Most participants expressed a positive attitude towards nutrition and health, however, only 25.1% of the subjects under study had a better knowledge on nutrition and on healthy dietary practices. Frequency of the important foods (milk, egg, soy bean, nut, seafood etc.) intake were not enough during pregnancy. A significantly positive correlation was found between nutrition K, A and P (r = 0.322, 0.285, 0.173; P < 0.05). Level of education among the pregnant women under mobility and occupation of their husbands were the major contributing factors to their KAP level on nutrition (beta = 0.248, 0.312; P < 0.01). Medical staff, dietitians and specific books were the major sources of information on nutrition. CONCLUSION: More educational programs were needed to improve the knowledge and dietary behavior on nutrition to this population.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Application of chromatin immunoprecipitation assay in deciphering DNA-protein interactions].

In the post-genomic era, identifying and characterizing various DNA-protein interactions are a major challenge in the research of gene transcriptional regulation. Although many techniques can be used for this purpose, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP), by contrast, is ideally suited for studying DNA-protein interactions in vivo. In recent years, standard ChIP assay has been modified to uncover some known factors' unknown target sequences, especially when combined with DNA microarray and molecular cloning strategies. These high-throughput ChIP assays are more and more used to reveal the distribution profile of trans-acting factor binding sites throughout the genome, which may yield many new insights into the DNA-protein interaction network. This article summarized the methods of ChIP assay, and highlighted recent progress in the application of this technique.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2004

[Temporal and spatial expression of estrogen activity-related molecules in eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the temporal and spatial expression of estrogen receptor (ER), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) in uterine endometria and the endometrial-myometrial interface (EMI) of adenomyosis and the effects of estrogen activity-related molecules on the occurrence of adenomyosis. METHODS: Thirty-three cases of normal endometria (and myometrial) and eighteen cases of endometria (and myometrial) with adenomyosis were collected. Immunohistochemical assay was performed to locate the ERalpha, ERbeta, 17beta-HSDI and 17beta-HSDII in endometria and EMI. RESULTS: The ERalpha positive cell number in glandular epithelial cells at the early proliferative phase increased evidently in adenomyosis (90%), while it was 60% in normal endometria. We found ERalpha signal in cytoplasm in glandular epithelial cells of adenomyosis endometria as well as in nucleus. Compared with normal endometrium (early proliferative phase: +; late proliferative phase: ++; late secretory phase: +), eutopic endometrium with adenomyosis exhibited a higher level of 17beta-HSDI (early proliferative phase: ++; late proliferative phase: +++; late secretory phase: ++). The intensity of 17beta-HSDIIin glandular epithelial cells of eutopic endometrium with adenomyosis (early proliferative phase: +++; secretory phase: ++++) was also higher than that of normal endometrium (early proliferative phase: - approximately ++; secretory phase: +++). Higher intensities of ERalpha, ERbeta and 17beta-HSDIand lower intensities of 17beta-HSDII were observed in EMI than in the eutopic endometrium of adenomyosis. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of ERalpha positive cell number, 17beta-HSDI level as well as the insufficient compensation of 17beta-HSDII in eutopic endometrium with adenomyosis and the change in expression pattern of ERalpha, ERbeta, 17beta-HSDI and 17beta-HSDII in EMI lead to the local enhancement of estrogen effect, which would promote cell proliferation.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed2004

[Detection of HPV 58 and cloning of its E7 gene in cervical cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To detect HPV 58, a common type of human papillomavirus (HPV), clone and express its E7 gene from biopsy specimens of cervical cancer. METHODS: HPV 58 from 58 biopsy tissues of cervical cancer was detected by GP5+/GP6+ PCR followed by template-directed dye-terminator incorporation assay with fluorescence polarization detection (TDI-FP). HPV 58 E7 gene was amplified from one HPV 58-positive sample, and then cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector. The recombinant plasmid, HPV58E7-pGEM-T was confirmed by sequencing. Subsequently, E7 gene was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pRSET-A. The constructed pRSET-58E7 plasmids were transfected into BL21(DE3) cells, and induced to express 58 E7 protein by IPTG. RESULTS: Among the 58 biopsy tissues of cervical cancer, 10 were HPV 58-positive, accounting for 19.2% of 52 HPV-positive cases. HPV 58 E7 gene was amplified from one HPV 58-positive sample. The constructed plasmids were identified containing HPV58 E7 gene by restriction enzyme analysis and sequencing. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that HPV58 E7 His6 fusion protein of M(r) 16 x 10(3) was expressed by pRSET-58E7 after induction by IPTG. The fusion protein accounted for 30% of total bacterial proteins. CONCLUSION: HPV 58 is not uncommon in Chinese women with cervical cancer in Shaanxi province. Constructed HPV58 E7 recombinant plasmids can be effectively expressed in E.coli, which may provide a tool in diagnosis and vaccine design for HPV of HPV58-associated tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Clinical significance of expression of PSA, hK2, PSMA in the peripheral blood of patients with prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To find sensitive and specific micro-metastic markers for prostate cancer. METHODS: Using nested reverse transcription-PCR, we examined the expression of PSA, hK2 and PSMA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 51 patients with prostate cancer, 33 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and 32 normal young people. RESULTS: The expression rates of PSA, hK2 and PSMA mRNA were 52.9%, 43.1% and 64.7%, respectively in prostate cancer group, and 6.2%, 7.7% and 4.6%, respectively in control group (BPH patients and normal young people) with statistical significance (P < 0.01). Although the expression rate of PSA and hK2 mRNA increased with cancer progression, there was no statistical significance among patients in different stages. The expression rate of PSMA mRNA was higher than that of PSA and hK2 mRNA in each clinical stage. CONCLUSION: PSMA mRNA expression detected by nested RT-PCR is of greater value for the diagnosis, therapy choice and prognostic evaluation of prostate cancer patients.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Dual regulation of proliferation and growth arrest in prostatic stromal cells by transforming growth factor-beta1.

In a preliminary study, we observed that TGF-beta1 induced both proliferation and growth arrest in prostatic stromal cells, depending on the concentration of TGF-beta1 used in the culture medium. In this study, we explored possible mechanisms of this dual effect of TGF-beta. Primary cultures of prostatic stromal cells, established from clinical surgical specimens and treated with low doses of TGF-beta1 (0.001-0.01 ng/ml), resulted in an increase in cell proliferation. The addition of neutralizing antibody against platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, but not anti-PDGF-AA, abrogated this stimulatory effect of TGF-beta1. TGF-beta1 treatment resulted in a dose-related increase in PDGF-BB production as measured by ELISA. Cells underwent growth arrest at high concentrations of TGF-beta1 (1.0 and 10 ng/ml). An inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk), p15INK4b, was up-regulated at both transcript and protein levels in these cultures by TGF-beta1 in a dose-related manner as determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The transcript, but not the protein, for another cdk inhibitor, p21Cip1, was up-regulated with treatment of TGF-beta1 to these cells. Levels of other cdk inhibitors, such as p16INK4a and p27Kip1, were constitutively expressed in prostatic stromal cells and were not significantly affected by TGF-beta1 treatment. Finally, the growth arrest effect of TGF-beta1 was abrogated when antisense oligonucleotides to p15INH4b, but not p21Cip1, were added to the culture medium. These data indicate that the dual effect of TGF-beta1 is mediated, at least, by up-regulation of PDGF-BB and p15INK4b, respectively.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2003

Androgen and prostatic stroma.

AIM: To investigate the effect of androgen on the proliferation, differentiation and regression of canine prostatic stromal cells in vivo and human stromal cells in vitro. METHODS: Twenty-two dogs, including 15 normal prostate dogs and 7 prostatic hyperplasia dogs, had their serum concentration of testosterone and estrodiol determined by radioimmunoassay before and after castration. The expression of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) in the prostate were analysed by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR before and after castration. Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL assay were carried out successively before and after castration to evaluate the prostatic histomorphology. In vitro serum-free cell cultures from human prostatic stroma were established and exposed to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The proliferation of the cell culture was detected by MTT assay. The expression of TGFbgr, bFGF, AR, and smooth muscle cell (SMC) specific proteins (myosin and/or smoothelin) were detected using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The differentiation from fibroblasts to smooth muscle cells was deduced by measuring the expression of SMC specific proteins. RESULTS: Before castration, the serum concentrations of testosterone and estrodiol were not statistically different between normal and hyperplasia groups. Following castration, the serum concentration of testosterone decreased rapidly in 2 days, and the concentration of estrodiol had no significant change compared with the pre-castration data. In the prostate, AR was presented in both the epithelial and stromal cells and the AR mRNA level was higher in hyperplasia than in normal prostate tissues (P<0.05). While ER predominantly existed in the prostate stromal cells and the ER mRNA had no difference between the hyperplasia and the normal group. Within the early phase of castration (<d7), the expression of AR was increased rapidly. Then it gradually dropped to a lower level than that of the pre-castration by the end of d90. The expression of ER remained unchanged in the whole course. The prostatic stromal cells, including SMCs and fibroblasts, diminished and underwent serial pathological changes of atrophy and apoptosis after castration. The atrophic cells were filled with huge intracellular lipofuscin. The expression of SMC myosin declined after castration, coincident with the increase in TGFbgr mRNA level and decline in bFGF mRNA level. In vitro, DHT caused a weak increase in the proliferation and expression of SMC-specific proteins (P<0.05). However, DHT and bFGF together stimulated the proliferation of stromal cells significantly more than either agent alone (P<0.01). The combination of DHT and TGFbgr greatly enhanced the expression of SMC-specific proteins (P<0.01) more strongly than either alone (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The whole prostate gland is an androgen-sensitive organ with both the epithelium and stroma under the control of androgen. Androgen may direct the proliferation, differentiation and regression of stromal cells by regulating the expression of TGFbgr, bFGF, AR and smooth muscle cell specific proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A high throughout assay for human papillomavirus genotypes with fluorescence polarization.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple, cheap, quick, accurate and practical method for a high throughout genotypes assay of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. METHODS: Crude DNA was extracted by a simplified proteinase K digesting method. HPV common conservative primers: GP5+/6+ system was used to amplify HPV DNA in 127 samples of condylomata acuminatum (CA) and cervical scrapes by PCR, then the PCR product was assayed using a template directing terminator incorporation (TDI) and genotypes were detected with fluorescence polarization (FP). Major HPVs type-specific probes (HPV6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35 and 58) designed by us were hybridized with the specific PCR products and a special fluorescent ddNTP terminator was directly added to the end of the probe under direction of specific PCR products. The results were measured with FP and compared with the results of the DNA sequence. RESULTS: Compared with the results of DNA sequencing, the results detected with fluorescence polarization were all correct. The proposed method could detect more than one type of HPV infection, but DNA sequencing method could not. The positive rate of HPV was 100% in 78 CA biopsies. Among them, there were 14 HPV double infections [HPV6B and 11 (9 cases), HPV11 and 16 (4), HPV11 and 18 (1)], 5 HPV triple infections [HPV6B, 11 and 16 (4), HPV11, 16 and 18 (1)], and one HPV quadruple infection (HPV6B, 11, 16 and 18). The positive rate of HPV was 77% in the 49 cervical scrapes. Six HPV double infections [HPV6B and 11 (2), HPV11 and 16 (1), HPV6B and 16 (1), HPV16 and 18 (1), HPV18 and 58 (1)], 3 HPV triple infections [HPV6B, 11 and 16 (2), HPV11, 16 and 18 (1)] and one HPV quadruple infection (HPV6B, 11, 16 and 18) were detected in cervical cancer scrapes. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method allowed a high throughout, special, simple, rapid, automatic and economical detection of HPV-DNA genotyping without a use of labeling probes. It can detect multiple HPV genotype infection and will be and useful tool in HPV genotype screening.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Detection and genotyping of human papillomavirus DNA in cervical cancer tissues with fluorescence polarization.

To evaluate the type-specific prevalence of eight common types of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with cervical cancer living in Shanxi, China, with fluorescence polarization detection, crude DNA extracted from 137 samples of early-stage cervical cancer (within stage IIa) and chronic cervicitis was subjected to HPV L1 consensus GP5+/GP6+ system. Then, the HPV-positive products identified by GP5 + /GP6+ PCR were genotyped based on template-directed dye-terminator incorporation assay with fluorescence polarization detection (TDI-FP): the PCR products were respectively hybridized with designed type-specific probes within the GP5+/GP6+ amplicons for eight common HPV types (HPV 6, 11, 18, 16, 31, 33, 35, and 58), and specific fluorescence-labeled ddNTPs (TAMRA-ddTTP or R110-ddGTP) were directly incorporated to the ends of the corresponding probes under directing of the corresponding template in PCR products, which was reflected and read by high FP values for TAMRA or R110. HPV DNA was detected in 38.89% (28/72) cases of chronic cervicitis, and 87.69% (57/65) cases of cervical cancer. There was a significant difference in HPV prevalence between these two groups. The four commonly identified types in patients with cervical cancer were HPV 16 (45.6%), HPV 18 (22.8%), HPV 58 (17.5%), and HPV 31 (7.02%), and in those with chronic cervicitis were HPV 16 (35.7%), HPV 11 (32.1%), HPV 6 (21.4%), and HPV 18 (10.7%). 57.14% of HPV types detected in patients with chronic cervicitis were high-risk types. HPV 16 was the most common viral type identified in both groups. Type-specific prevalence of HPV DNA has some characteristics in patients with chronic cervicitis and cervical cancer living in Shanxi, China and the worldwide uncommon type HPV 58 is relatively common in both kinds of cases. The high prevalence of HPV 58 in Chinese women should been considered in diagnosis and vaccine designs of HPV.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors in human primary cultured prostatic cells and malignant prostate cell lines.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), membrane type MMPs (MT-MMPs), and their inhibitors (TIMPs) in human primary cultured prostatic cells and malignant prostate cell lines. METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction-based measurements of the mRNA levels of MMP-2, MMP-7, MT1-MMP, MT3-MMP, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in relation to the house-keeping gene glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase were performed in cancerous and non-cancerous prostatic tissue samples, in primary cell cultures of epithelial cells, in both fibroblasts, and smooth-muscle cells as stromal cells, and in the human malignant prostatic cell lines DU-145, LNCaP, and PC-3. RESULTS: MMP-2 was mainly expressed in the stromal cells and MMP-7 showed their highest values in the epithelial cells. MT1-MMP, MT3-MMP, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were found both in the stromal and in the epithelial cells, but there were some differences between the expressions in fibroblasts and smooth-muscle cells. Different expressions were also observed between the cells deriving from the primary cell cultures, the benign cell line BPH-1, and the malignant cell lines LNCaP, D-145, and PC-3. CONCLUSIONS: These exemplary results concerning different expressions of MMPs and TIMPs in cells from prostatic tissue suggest that a better insight into changes observed in prostatic tissue needs studies on cells cultured from the tissue.

Cell Differentiation↗