Population data of 15 STR in Chinese Han population from north of Guangdong.
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China↗
Biomedical subjects
Jun Zhu
Publications and source records attributed to Jun Zhu.
[Application of FTIR spectra fitting method in retrieving gas concentrations].
The method of retrieving gas concentrations by FTIR spectra measurement system is studied. NLLS fitting algorithm is used to complete the quantitative analysis of CO gas under WINDOWS operating system. The spectra of HITRAN database is employed as calibrating and training sets during the procedure of fitting FTIR spectrum. The measured IR transmittance spectra of CO are best fitted with the calculated spectra in HITRAN. The CO concentrations are acquired after the best fitting. The absolute accuracy of the results of retrieve achieves 1%-5%.
English Abstract↗
A two-step strategy for detecting differential gene expression in cDNA microarray data.
A mixed-model approach is proposed for identifying differential gene expression in cDNA microarray experiments. This approach is implemented by two interconnected steps. In the first step, we choose a subset of genes that are potentially expressed differentially among treatments with a loose criterion. In the second step, these potential genes are used for further analyses and data-mining with a stringent criterion, in which differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are confirmed and some quantities of interest (such as gene x treatment interaction) are estimated. By simulating datasets with DEGs, we compare our statistical method with a widely used method, the t-statistic, for single genes. Simulation results show that our approach produces a high power and a low false discovery rate for DEG identification. We also investigate the impacts of various source variations resulting from microarray experiments on the efficiency of DEG identification. Analysis of a published experiment studying unstable transcripts in Arabidopsis illustrates the utility of our method. Our method identifies more novel and biologically interesting unstable transcripts than those reported in the original literature.
Arabidopsis↗
Effects of environmental enrichment on behavior and dopamine transporter function in medial prefrontal cortex in adult rats prenatally treated with cocaine.
The present study determined if environmental enrichment modifies the effects of prenatal cocaine on open field activity, social interaction and dopamine transporter (DAT) function in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in rats. Cocaine (40 mg/kg) or saline was administered (s.c.) to pregnant dams from gestation days 8 to 20 (PCOC and PSAL, respectively). At postnatal day 25 (PND 25), female offspring from PCOC and PSAL groups were assigned to the enriched condition (EC; PCOC/EC and PSAL/EC) or impoverished condition (IC; PCOC/IC and PSAL/IC). On PND 60, 90 and 120, locomotor activity, rearing behavior and social interactions were assessed in the open field. On PND 345, rats were anesthetized, challenged with nicotine (0.4 mg/kg), and DAT function in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was assessed using in vivo voltammetry. EC groups displayed decreased locomotor activity across test days, while activity in IC groups did not habituate across days. Generally, PCOC groups displayed more rearing behavior than PSAL groups. During social interaction assessment, IC groups followed their social partner more frequently than EC groups. Moreover, the PCOC/IC group initiated more play solicitations and was engaged in mutual rearing less frequently than PCOC/EC, PSAL/IC and PSAL/EC groups, indicating that epigenetic environmental factors decreased the divergent social behaviors displayed by the PCOC/IC group. Results from in vivo voltammetry experiments demonstrated differences in baseline DAT function in response to environmental enrichment in the prenatal saline groups; however, no effect of prenatal cocaine was observed under baseline conditions. Nicotine challenge unmasked an effect of prenatal cocaine on DA clearance rate in mPFC in the IC groups, which was attenuated by environmental enrichment. Taken together, PCOC/IC rats displayed divergent social interaction and altered DAT function in mPFC, whereas the PCOC/EC group generally was not different from PSAL groups, suggesting that environmental enrichment attenuates the behavioral and neurochemical effects of prenatal cocaine.
Animals↗
Heterologous overexpression of quorum-sensing regulators to study cell-density-dependent phenotypes in a symbiotic plant bacterium Mesorhizobium huakuii.
Quorum-sensing is widespread among many prokaryotic lineages. In order to investigate quorum regulation in the plant bacterium Mesorhizobium huakuii which produces an N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum signal, the Agrobacterium quorum-sensing regulator TraR was heterologously expressed in this bacterium. The resulting strains showed reduced AHL production in the supernatant compared to wild-type, but similar intracellular levels of AHLs were detected, suggesting that M. huakuii AHLs can be bound to intracellular TraR proteins and thus become unavailable for its own quorum systems. M. huakuii overexpressing TraR formed thinner biofilms than the wild-type, suggesting a role played by quorum-sensing in biofilm formation.
4-Butyrolactone↗
[Preparation of a polyclonal antibody against N-terminal of 1A6/DRIM with MAPs method].
OBJECTIVE: To obtain the antibody against N-terminal of 1A6/DRIM, and thereafter get the profile of 1A6/DRIM expression in different cell lines. METHODS: The N-terminal of 1A6/DRIM (aa 577-714) was cloned into pGEX-4T-3. Multiple antigenic peptides MAPs (aa638-661) was synthesized as the antigen with Fmoc/PyBOP method. Rabbits were immunized by injecting the MAPs and the immunized sera were analyzed with ELISA and Western Blot. The Western Blot and immunofluorescence were performed to analyze the expressing profiles of the 1A6/DRIM in different tumor cell lines. RESULTS: The antibody specifically recognized the full length of 1A6/DRIM as a 310 kDa band, which was also recognized by C-terminal monoclonal antibody shown by Western Blot. 1A6/DRIM is expressed in multiple tumor cell lines and mainly located in the nuclei. CONCLUSION: Preparation of the antibody with MAPs is a useful technique when the fusion proteins can not be induced in E. coli. The antibody we got via MAPs has supplied a good tool for further studies on the functions of the novel gene 1A6/DRIM.
Animals↗
Subtype-selective nicotinic receptor antagonists: potential as tobacco use cessation agents.
N-n-Alkylpicolinium and N,N'-alkyl-bis-picolinium analogues were assessed in nicotinic receptor (nAChR) assays. The most potent and subtype-selective analogue, N,N'-dodecyl-bis-picolinium bromide (bPiDDB), inhibited nAChRs mediating nicotine-evoked [(3)H]dopamine release (IC(50)=5 nM; I(max) of 60%), and did not interact with alpha4beta2* or alpha7* nAChRs. bPiDDB represents the current lead compound for development as a tobacco use cessation agent.
Animals↗
PML nuclear bodies and apoptosis.
Promyelocytic leukaemia nuclear bodies (PML NBs) are structured protein complexes associated with the nuclear matrix. PML constitutes the scaffold component of NBs and recruits onto these domains a striking variety of proteins, many of which are involved in apoptosis control. Several reports have directly implicated PML in apoptosis and senescence, but the mechanisms by which these are conveyed are still largely unsettled. Recruitment of partner proteins onto NBs is regulated by PML sumolation, a specific post-translational modification also found in many NB-associated proteins. Among these, several are implicated in transcription repression or activation, like the transcriptional repressor Daxx or the transcriptional activator P53. Whether NBs constitute platforms where active sites of enzymatic modifications are carried out, as suggested for P53, sites of intranuclear protein sequestration, as proposed for Daxx or organelles specialized in catabolism, is still debated. A variety of stress-related signalling pathways dramatically modulate the formation of PML NBs, which may provide a clue as to their physiological function.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
Marker-assisted selection in segregating generations of self-fertilizing crops.
Computer simulations were used to study the efficiency of MAS for breeding self-fertilizing crops, based on a general model including additive, dominance and epistasis. It was shown that MAS not only gave larger genetic responses but also dramatically increased the frequencies of superior genotypes as compared with phenotypic selection. However, the advantages of MAS over phenotypic selection were considerably reduced when conducting selection in later generations. A modified method combining MAS in early generations with phenotypic selection in later generations was thus proposed from an efficiency standpoint. We also proposed a potential index to measure the probability of an individual showing superior genotypes under selfing. It was apparent that more superior genotypes could be derived from selection by using the potential index than by using other methods. The implications of these findings for plant breeding are discussed.
Breeding↗
Involvement of anion channel(s) in the modulation of the transient outward K(+) channel in rat ventricular myocytes.
The cardiac Ca(2+)-independent transient outward K(+) current (I(to)), a major repolarizing ionic current, is markedly affected by Cl(-) substitution and anion channel blockers. We reexplored the mechanism of the action of anions on I(to) by using whole cell patch-clamp in single isolated rat cardiac ventricular myocytes. The transient outward current was sensitive to blockade by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and was abolished by Cs(+) substitution for intracellular K(+). Replacement of most of the extracellular Cl(-) with less permeant anions, aspartate (Asp(-)) and glutamate (Glu(-)), markedly suppressed the current. Removal of external Na(+) or stabilization of F-actin with phalloidin did not significantly affect the inhibitory action of less permeant anions on I(to). In contrast, the permeant Cl(-) substitute Br(-) did not markedly affect the current, whereas F(-) substitution for Cl(-) induced a slight inhibition. The I(to) elicited during Br(-) substitution for Cl(-) was also sensitive to blockade by 4-AP. The ability of Cl(-) substitutes to induce rightward shifts of the steady-state inactivation curve of I(to) was in the following sequence: NO(3)(-) > Cl(-) approximately Br(-) > gluconate(-) > Glu(-) > Asp(-). Depolymerization of actin filaments with cytochalasin D (CytD) induced an effect on the steady-state inactivation of I(to) similar to that of less permeant anions. Fluorescent phalloidin staining experiments revealed that CytD-pretreatment significantly decreased the intensity of FITC-phalloidin staining of F-actin, whereas Asp(-) substitution for Cl(-) was without significant effect on the intensity. These results suggest that the I(to) channel is modulated by anion channel(s), in which the actin cytoskeleton may be implicated.
Actins↗
The HcrVf2 gene from a wild apple confers scab resistance to a transgenic cultivated variety.
The Vf gene from the wild species Malus floribunda 821 is the most studied apple scab resistance gene. Several molecular markers mapping around this gene were the starting point for a positional cloning project. The analysis of the bacterial artificial chromosome clones spanning the Vf region led to the identification of a cluster of genes homologous to the Cladosporium fulvum resistance gene family of tomato. One of these genes, HcrVf2 (homologue of the C. fulvum resistance genes of the Vf region), was used to transform the susceptible apple cultivar Gala. Four independent transformed lines resistant to apple scab were produced, proving that HcrVf2 is sufficient to confer scab resistance to a susceptible cultivar. The results show that direct gene transfer between cross-compatible species can be viable when, as in apple, the use of backcrosses to introduce resistance genes from wild species cannot exactly reconstitute the heterozygous genotype of clonally propagated cultivars.
Ascomycota↗
Environmental enrichment enhances sensitization to GBR 12935-induced activity and decreases dopamine transporter function in the medial prefrontal cortex.
Rats raised in an enriched condition (EC) during development display increased hyperactivity to the effect of acute amphetamine compared to rats raised in an impoverished condition (IC). The present study determined whether environmental enrichment differentially alters the effects of GBR 12935 administration, a selective dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitor. Acutely, EC rats showed a greater, dose-dependent GBR 12935-induced increase in activity compared to IC rats; however, basal activity for EC rats was lower than for IC rats. After repeated GBR 12935, only EC rats exhibited behavioral sensitization. Kinetic analysis of DAT function in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) revealed that the maximal velocity of [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) uptake in EC rats was less than in IC rats (4.9 +/- 0.6 and 7.7 +/- 0.6 pmol/min/mg, respectively), but not in striatum or nucleus accumbens. Furthermore, GBR 12935-induced inhibition of DAT function, [3H]GBR 12935 binding density and DA content in mPFC, striatum and nucleus accumbens were not different between EC and IC rats. However, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid content in mPFC was lower in EC than IC rats, whereas no differences were found in striatum and nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that EC-induced changes in activity may be due to decreased DAT function and decreased DA metabolism in the mPFC.
3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
Challenges in the conduct of large simple trials of important generic questions in resource-poor settings: the CREATE and ECLA trial program evaluating GIK (glucose, insulin and potassium) and low-molecular-weight heparin in acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND: Approximately 15.5 million deaths from cardiovascular diseases occur every year. About half are due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 80% occur in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, low-cost therapies would be invaluable. Although glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) infusion and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) appear to be promising in AMI, the available trials are inconclusive and these treatments require rigorous evaluation. METHODS: The Clinical Trial of Reviparin and Metabolic Modulation in Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment and Evaluation-Estudios Clinicos Latino America (CREATE-ECLA) study is a randomized controlled trial in ST-elevation AMI patients evaluating a 24-hour infusion of Glucose-Insulin-Potassium (GIK) intravenous vs usual care (control) on 30-day mortality in 20,000 patients from 21 countries. Patients from India and China (n = 15,000) are also randomized using a factorial design to receive low-molecular-weight heparin (Reviparin) or placebo injection twice daily for 7 days to assess the impact on the composite outcomes of death, reinfarction or stroke (first co-primary outcome) or the composite + refractory ischemia (second co-primary outcome). RESULTS: Twenty thousand two hundred and one (20,201) GIK/control patients and 15,570 Reviparin/placebo patients have been included, with results expected in November 2004. CONCLUSIONS: The CREATE-ECLA trial will provide definitive answers to the role of 2 practical, promising and low-cost therapies, LMWH and GIK, in AMI patients. If effective, these therapies could be used in small medical centers in low- and middle- income countries. The experiences in this trial indicate that large trials of important questions can be successfully conducted in resource-poor settings, by academic groups without industry involvement.
Clinical Protocols↗
Manure sampling procedures and nutrient estimation by the hydrometer method for gestation pigs.
Three manure agitation procedures were examined in this study (vertical mixing, horizontal mixing, and no mixing) to determine the efficacy of producing a representative manure sample. The total solids content for manure from gestation pigs was found to be well correlated with the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in the manure, with highly significant correlation coefficients of 0.988 and 0.994, respectively. Linear correlations were observed between the TN and TP contents and the manure specific gravity (correlation coefficients: 0.991 and 0.987, respectively). Therefore, it may be inferred that the nutrients in pig manure can be estimated with reasonable accuracy by measuring the liquid manure specific gravity. A rapid testing method for manure nutrient contents (TN and TP) using a soil hydrometer was also evaluated. The results showed that the estimating error increased from +/-10% to +/-30% with the decrease in TN (from 1000 to 100 ppm) and TP (from 700 to 50 ppm) concentrations in the manure. Data also showed that the hydrometer readings had to be taken within 10 s after mixing to avoid reading drift in specific gravity due to the settling of manure solids.
Animals↗
Bovine herpesvirus tegument protein VP22 enhances thymidine kinase/ganciclovir suicide gene therapy for neuroblastomas compared to herpes simplex virus VP22.
Herpesvirus tegument protein VP22 can enhance the effect of therapeutic proteins in gene therapy, such as thymidine kinase (tk) and p53; however, the mechanism is unclear or controversial. In this study, mammalian expression vectors carrying bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) VP22 (BVP22) or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) VP22 (HVP22) and equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) tk (Etk) were constructed in order to evaluate and compare the therapeutic potentials of BVP22 and HVP22 to enhance Etk/ganciclovir (Etk/GCV) suicide gene therapy for neuroblastomas by GCV cytotoxicity assays and noninvasive bioluminescent imaging in vitro and in vivo. BVP22 enhanced Etk/GCV cytotoxicity compared to that with HVP22 both in vitro and in vivo. However, assays utilizing a mixture of parental and stably transfected cells indicated that the enhancement was detected only in transfected cells. Thus, the therapeutic potential of BVP22 and HVP22 in Etk/GCV suicide gene therapy in this tumor system is not due to VP22 delivery of Etk into surrounding cells but rather is likely due to an enhanced intracellular effect.
Animals↗
A unified statistical model for functional mapping of environment-dependent genetic expression and genotype x environment interactions for ontogenetic development.
The effects of quantitative trait loci (QTL) on phenotypic development may depend on the environment (QTL x environment interaction), other QTL (genetic epistasis), or both. In this article, we present a new statistical model for characterizing specific QTL that display environment-dependent genetic expressions and genotype x environment interactions for developmental trajectories. Our model was derived within the maximum-likelihood-based mixture model framework, incorporated by biologically meaningful growth equations and environment-dependent genetic effects of QTL, and implemented with the EM algorithm. With this model, we can characterize the dynamic patterns of genetic effects of QTL governing growth curves and estimate the global effect of the underlying QTL during the course of growth and development. In a real example with rice, our model has successfully detected several QTL that produce differences in their genetic expression between two contrasting environments. These detected QTL cause significant genotype x environment interactions for some fundamental aspects of growth trajectories. The model provides the basis for deciphering the genetic architecture of trait expression adjusted to different biotic and abiotic environments and genetic relationships for growth rates and the timing of life-history events for any organism.
Chromosome Mapping↗
Analysis of digenic epistatic effects and QE interaction effects QTL controlling grain weight in rice.
Immortalized F(2) population of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was developed by randomly mating F(1) among recombinant inbred (RI) lines derived from (Zhenshan 97B x Minghui 63), which allowed replications within and across environments. QTL (quantitative trait loci) mapping analysis on kilo-grain weight of immortalized F(2) population was performed by using newly developed software for QTL mapping, QTLMapper 2.0. Eleven distinctly digenic epistatic loci included a total of 15 QTL were located on eight chromosomes. QTL main effects of additive, dominance, and additive x additive, additive x dominance, and dominance x dominance interactions were estimated. Interaction effects between QTL main effects and environments (QE) were predicted. Less than 40% of single effects, most of which were additive effects, for identified QTL were significant at 5% level. The directional difference for QTL main effects suggested that these QTL were distributed in parents in the repulsion phase. This should make it feasible to improve kilo-grain weight of both parents by selecting appropriate new recombinants. Only few of the QE interaction effects were significant. Application prospect for QTL mapping achievements in genetic breeding was discussed.
Chromosomes, Plant↗
[The prevalence analysis of cleft palate in Chinese perinatals: 1996-2000].
OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiological features of cleft palate (CP) in Chinese perinatals. METHODS: Data from 1996 to 2000 were collected through Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network a hospital based congenital malformation registry system. During that period all live or still births with 28 weeks of gestation or more were assessed within 7 days after delivery. RESULTS: 499 perinatals with CP were identified among 2,218,616 births, then the overall prevalence rates of CP were 2.25/10,000, rates in isolated and syndromic CP were 1.75/10,000, 0.50/10,000 respectively. The rates in urban and rural area, in male and female births were 2.27/10,000 and 2.19/10,000, 1.93/10,000 and 2.57/10,000 respectively. The highest but nonsignificant rate (2.84/10,000) was found in maternal age group of more than 35 years. An increased trend was found both in overall CP and syndromic CP during that period. Geographic variation was found among provinces. The perinatal mortality rate of CP was 14.9%, and the rate of isolated forms was 7.3%, while the rate of syndromic CP was as high as 41.4%. CONCLUSION: The increasing prevalence rate of syndromic CP can account for the secular trend of overall CP. Female predominance was only observed in isolated forms of CP among Chinese perinatals. Geographic variation was identified too. Due to poor birth quality, perinatals suffering from syndromic CP had poor prognosis.
Adult↗