Biomedical subjects

L Liu

Publications and source records attributed to L Liu.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

[Research of material bases on antifebrile and hypotensive effects of flos chrysanthemi].

OBJECTIVE: To study material bases on the antifebirle and hypotensive effect of Flos Chrysanthemi. METHODS: Temperature and blood pressure of rats were measured after treatment by taking several kinds of extracts of Flos Chrysanthemi. RESULTS: After volatile oil of Flos Chrysanthemi (0.8 ml/Kg) was taken by oral administration, temperature on the fever heat of rats could be decreased distinctly. After total flavonid of Flos Chrysanthemi (57 mg/Kg) was injected, blood pressure on rats could be reduced remarkly. CONCLUSION: Volatile oil of Flos Chrysanthemi has antifebrile effect and total flavonid of Flos Chrysanthemi has hypotensive effect, which are one of the Pharmacological bases of dispelling the wind-evil, clearing away the heat-evil, calming the liver, sharping eyes of Flos Chrysanthemi.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[Identification of red kojic from different habitats with clustering analysis by near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a new method for identifying Red kojic. METHODS: Being controled with the Aspergillus terreus, near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy combining with clusering analysis was used in the identification of Red Kojic made by M. purpureus fermentation from 18 different habitats. RESULTS: We can easily distinguish the Red Kojic from different habitats and the Aspergillus terreus. The results are consistent in some degree with that of morphologic study. CONCLUSION: This method is a new, rapid, simple and low cost assay technique being able to be used in the quality control of Red Kojic.

Cluster Analysis↗

PubMed2001

[GC-MS analysis of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction products from pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanum].

The chemical constituents of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction products from pericarp of Zanthoxylum bungeanun Maxim. were studied by GC-MS-DS. Forty-five compounds which account for 86.76% of the area of the chromatographic peaks were identified. The results showed that the main components of the extracts are beta-pinene (10.33%), 1,8-terpinene (7.6%), cis-piperitol acetate (7.07%), oleic acid (5.46%), palmitic acid (5.41%) and 4-terpineol, (43.7%), et al.

Carbon Dioxide↗

PubMed2001

Twelve-year follow-up of trimodality therapy for stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC) remains a formidable problem with a poor 5 year survival for stage III patients. Between 1985-1991, 53 patients with biopsy proven Stage IIIA NSCLC were treated with a trimodality treatment program. Chemotherapy, consisting of two cycles of continuous infusion cisplatinum and bolus etoposide, was started on days 1 and 28 of radiation therapy (54 Gy + 5.4 Gy boost in 6 1/2 weeks) directed to the lung primary and mediastinum. Four to six weeks after radiation therapy, patients underwent thoracotomy for radical pulmonary resection. Three weeks post surgery, the same chemotherapy was repeated for two cycles every 28 days. Forty-seven out of 53 patients (89%) achieved a clinical response after induction chemoradiation. Of these 47 patients, 33 underwent thoracotomy and 27 of them completed surgical resection. Treatment was well-tolerated. All surviving patients have no or minimal respiratory toxicities. With a median follow up of 9 1/2 years, surgically treated patients have a disease specific survival of 42% at 12 years. One patient survived beyond 9 years without surgery. Concurrent chemoradiation plus surgery is well tolerated and offers patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC significant long term survival benefit and warrants further assessment in a randomized trial.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2001

Thermal symmetry of skin temperature: normative data of normal subjects in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were (a) to establish normative data of thermal symmetry (left vs. right) in normal subjects; (b) to compare the skin temperature in various regions between young and old people in Taiwan and between male and female. METHODS: The skin surface of 57 healthy volunteers (aged 24 to 80 yr) was divided into 25 areas and measured by an infrared thermography (Avionics TVS-2000, Japan). The average temperatures of these 25 regions were compared: (a) left vs. right side, (b) young (< or = 60 yr, n = 37) vs. old (> 60 yr, n = 20), and (c) male vs. female. Student's t-test was used to assess means between both groups. RESULTS: The neck carried the highest skin temperature (31.9 degrees C +/- 0.6; mean +/- SD) of the body in comparison with the toes that had the lowest one (27.5 degrees C +/- 2.0). The side-to-side temperature differences were subtle, which did not exceed 0.5 degrees C. The average skin temperature of elderly was slightly lower than that of young subjects in 11 out of 25 areas (p < 0.05), especially the distal parts of extremities. Elderly female had lower skin temperature in various truncal areas as compared with their counterpart. However, the skin temperature was higher in the distal extremity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The thermoregulatory system is substantially symmetrical. The result of this study offered valuable normative database on skin thermal symmetry in normal population of Taiwan, and may be useful as a diagnostic aid in patients with various states of disorders associated with autonomic dysfunctions.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Delivery of glucocorticoid conjugate in rat gastrointestinal tract and its treatment for ulcerative colitis.

AIM: To evaluate colonic delivery and therapeutic effect of the newly synthesized dexamethasone (DX)-dextran (500 000) conjugate (DXD50) in the rat. METHODS: The amount of dexamethasone was measured in the contents from different parts of rat gastrointestinal tract and in plasma after ig conjugate. Therapeutic effect of conjugate and DX was tested in trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis in rat. Repair of colitis was assessed by measuring colonic ulceration area, colon weight, and colonic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Systemic immunosuppression of DX was evaluated with weight of thymus and spleen and lymphocyte count in peripheral blood from rat with ulcerative colitis. RESULTS: Dexamethasone released from conjugate was mainly distributed in contents of cecum and colon. When DXD50 and DX 0.25 micromol . kg-1 . d-1 were used ig to treat ulcerative colitis in rat, the ulcerative area of colon was reduced by 55.6 % and 33.3 %, respectively whereas colon weight was reduced by 17.9 % and 2.6 %, respectively. The conjugate had no effect on lymphocyte count in peripheral blood, spleen weight, and thymus weight of rat which could be reduced markedly by the same dose of DX (P < 0.05 vs control). CONCLUSION: DXD50, which could specifically deliver DX to large intestine, is a promising agent in the treatment of human inflammatory bowel disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

High levels of HER-2 expression alter the ability of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family tyrosine kinase inhibitors to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation in vivo.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER-2 tyrosine kinases have been implicated in the development, progression, and severity of several human cancers and are attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. SU11925 was developed as a small molecule inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of both EGFR and HER-2. In cellular assays, SU11925 exhibited similar potency against EGFR and HER-2, inhibiting EGF-stimulated EGFR autophosphorylation in A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma) cells with an IC(50) of 30 nM and HER-2 phosphorylation in SK-OV-3TP5 (human ovarian carcinoma) cells with an IC(50) of 38 nM. In contrast to its similar activity against the two targets in cellular assays, approximately 10-fold higher plasma concentrations of SU11925 were required to inhibit HER-2 phosphorylation in HER-2-overexpressing tumors compared with EGFR phosphorylation in EGFR-overexpressing tumors in vivo. Consistent with the proposed mechanism of action of this inhibitor, SU11925 inhibited the s.c. growth of EGFR- and HER-2-dependent tumors in athymic mice at doses that produced substantial inhibition of target receptor phosphorylation in vivo. An unexpected finding from these studies was that higher plasma concentrations of SU11925 were required to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation in vivo in tumors that also express high levels of HER-2 than in tumors that express EGFR alone. This observation, which suggests that it is more difficult to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation in vivo in cells that express high levels of HER-2, was confirmed with ZD1839 (Iressa), a selective EGFR inhibitor that also targets the tyrosine kinase catalytic site. The potential clinical implications of this observation are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[A novel gene mutation in a congenital protein S deficiency pedigree].

OBJECTIVE: To study the phenotype and genotype of a protein S (PS) deficiency pedigree. METHODS: Detection of total and free PS antigen was carried out by ELISA, PS activity by coagulation assay, amplification of exon I-XII fragments of PS gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), changes of denaturing cDNA by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and gene mutation by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In the 9 members of the pedigree, free PS was between 10.3%-45.5% (normal range 55%-128%) and PS activity between 13%-37% (normal range 70%-130%), but total PS was normal. A G to T change in exon X of the protein S gene was identified. This mutation resulted in a substitution of stop codon for Ser. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated that the proband is heterozygosity and the existance of G163 T change in exon X of the protein S gene led to a substitution of stop codon for Ser. This mutation is a novel undescribed mutation.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Study on factor IX gene mutation in 74 hemophilia B patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution of the FIX gene mutations in hemophilia B(HB) and compare the mutation patterns between the Chinese HB and Caucasian HB. METHOD: Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of HB patients. Nine DNA segments of the FIX gene were amplified. Gene mutations of the amplified DNA segments were detected by direct sequencing. RESULT: Fifty eight independent mutations were detected and identified in 69 HB patients. Among them twenty nine mutations were novel and not reported before. A similar pattern of germline mutation was found in both Chinese HB and Caucasian HB patients. CONCLUSION: No difference was observed in mutation patterns between Chinese and Caucasian HB.

Americas↗

PubMed2001

Long-term mortality in patients with myocardial infarction: impact of early treatment with captopril for 4 weeks.

OBJECTIVE: In an earlier interim report of the Chinese Cardiac Study (CCS-1) trial, 15,000 patients up to 36 hours after the onset of suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were randomized to receive either oral captopril or matching placebo for one month. Results showed that captopril was associated with a non-significant reduction in 4-week mortality (681 [9.1%] captopril-allocated vs 730 [9.7%] placebo-allocated deaths; 2P = 0.19), but the long-term effects remained uncertain. The present study reports on the long-term effect of early captopril treatment on mortality and other major events in AMI patients of the earlier CCS-1 trial. METHODS: Long-term follow-up was carried out in those hospitals which had recruited more than 20 cases in the CCS-1 trial. 8000 patients with MI were thus selected for long-term follow-up. Data on 6749 patients (84.4%) were available. RESULTS: Patient characteristics were comparable between the treatment group (n = 3391) and the placebo group (n = 3358). Average follow-up time was 23.4 +/- 16.9 months; average age was 63.6 +/- 10.6 years, and 76.2% were male. At the end of the follow-up time, cardiac function of NYHA III-IV was 9.0% in the treatment group and 9.8% in the placebo group; the reinfarction rate was 5.6% vs. 6.0%; total cardiovascular events were 32.9% vs. 34.3%. Total mortality was 11.9% (n = 404) vs 13.8% (n = 463), with a 13.8% reduction in the captopril group (P = 0.03). Cardiovascular mortality was 10.0% vs. 11.8% (P = 0.01), death due to heart failure was 4.1% vs. 5.5% (P = 0.01). From the above results, it is estimated that early treatment with captopril can save 19 lives per 1000 patients treated; patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or = 100 mm Hg at entry would have a long-term mortality 12.4% in the treatment group vs. 13.8% in the placebo group (P = 0.04) and patients with a heart rate (HR) > or = 60/minute at entry would have a long term mortality 12.0% in captopril groups vs. 14.5% in the placebo group (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Early treatment with captopril during AMI for 4 weeks can significantly reduce long-term total mortality.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Increased activity of protein kinase C in alveolar macrophages in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes on protein kinase C (PKC) activity of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS: The PKC activity of AM in 9 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with IPF was investigated by measuring the radioactivity. RESULTS: The total, cytosolic and membrane PKC activity of AM in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with IPF were higher than those from control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively). The total and the membrane-associated PKC activity had a positive correlation with the number of cells in BALF (r = 0.8135, P < 0.01 and r = 0.5917, P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: As a bypass of transmembrane signal transduction, PKC was suggested to be involved in the origination and development of IPF.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Detection of p53 gene mutations in sputum samples and their implications in the early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the value of detecting p53 gene point mutations in sputum samples and its validity and reliability as a surveillance index in the early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients. METHODS: Sputum samples were collected from 54 cases identified as lung cancer and 114 cases identified as pulmonary benign disease. The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was performed for the detection of point mutations at exons 5-8 of the p53 gene, and sputum smears were also used for each sample. RESULTS: The detected mutation rate of 55.56% (30/54) in the lung cancer group was significantly higher than that of 1.75% (2/114) in the control group (P < 0.001). In the lung cancer group, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratio (PLR) of p53 mutations as a diagnostic marker for lung cancer were 55.56%, 98.25% and 31.75%, respectively. Also, the detection rates were 35.19% (19/54) by smears and 55.56% (30/54) by PCR-SSCP-silver stain, respectively. The differences both in rate and consistency were statistically significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, statistical analysis showed no significant relations between p53 mutations and clinical parameters such as gender, smoking habits, histotypes and stages, but the detection rate of p53 mutations in older patients (> or = 60 years old) was significantly higher than that in younger patients (P = 0.02). One case with p53 mutations at exon 5 in the control group was confirmed to be squamous cell carcinoma after 4 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Detection of p53 gene alterations in sputum samples by PCR-SSCP-silver stain can be used as a follow-up surveillance index for the early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Isolation and cultivation of porcine hepatocytes for extracorporeal artificial liver support system.

OBJECTIVE: To develop procedures for the successful harvesting of large quantities of viable and functional pig liver cells from abattoir organs. METHODS: The procedure included partial liver lobe retrograde perfusion and mechanical/enzymatic digestion of the liver tissue, followed by separation of the hepatocytes, based on size and density, from contaminating cell types. RESULTS: Digestion of the partial liver lobe resulted in an average yield of 1.39 x 10(9) cells (9.9 x 10(8) cells/g liver) with an average viability of 92.5%. The yield and viability of cells were improved by dispase/collagenase resultant digestion. The emergence of blebby cells was blocked by supplying oxygen to the cell isolation buffers. Isolated hepatocytes seeded onto polystyrene surfaces remained viable and functional at a level comparable to that of rat hepatocytes, although their function decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Adult pig hepatocytes can be harvested with high yields and retain viability and differentiated function using this method. Abattoir pig livers can be an excellent source of hepatocytes for use as the biological component of artificial liver assist devices.

Albumins↗

PubMed2001

[Gene apoptosis expression profiles in liver cancer and their comparison to normal peri-cancerous liver tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To describe a few gene expression profiles related to apoptosis and to demonstrate their difference between the liver cancer and its adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: cDNA, labeled as a-32P dATP was synthesized from the total RNA of cancer and adjacent normal tissues and, then, hybridized individually with two identical array membranes of Atlas human cancer dDNA expression containing 588 known genes. The method involving gene-specific semi-quantitative reverse transcription in the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm the expression pattern of three known genes. RESULTS: Autoradiographic results were analyzed by specific AtlasImage (version 1.01a) software. Among 69 genes that were found to be related to apoptosis, 4 were up-related, including Aktl, and 19 were down-related, including BAK, Caspase-3, etc., all being related to cancer. The RT-PCR results showed that the expression pattern of all genes was in agreement with the results of Atlas expression array. CONCLUSION: The result obtained from Atlas microarray provides a liver cancer-specific expression profile related to apoptosis. The discovery about the apoptosis related genes may yield some clues on the oncogenetic mechanism of liver cancer in the future. The differential hybridization technique of cDNA expression array involving the Atlas human cancer can become a useful method in the understanding of the development and progression of human cancer.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2001

Potential for cloning dogs.

The aim of this study was to determine whether nuclear transplantation could be used to clone a dog using donor nucleus cells collected from an adult female. Fibroblasts obtained from skin biopsies were fused with enucleated bovine or canine oocytes. The resulting cloned embryos were cultured in vitro to monitor embryonic development. A proportion of the resulting embryos was transferred into surrogate bitches for development to term. When canine oocytes were used as recipient ova for canine fibroblasts, 23% of the resulting embryos cleaved at least once after culture in vitro. Five cloned embryos were transferred into three synchronized recipient bitches, but no pregnancies resulted. When bovine oocytes were used as recipinets for canine fibroblasts, 38% cleaved to the two- to four-cell stage and 43% cleaved to the eight- to 16-cell stage. Forty-seven of these embryos were transferred into four recipient females, resulting in a single conceptus that ceased development at about day 20 of gestation. The desire for cloned dogs is considerable and will undoubtedly incite the development of successful methods for cloning companion animals. However, significant investment into additional research is required, especially in the areas of in vitro maturation of oocytes and control of the oestrous cycle of bitches.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[Effect of hypertonic saline solution on the viscoelasticities of erythrocyte membrane in rats subjected to hemorrhagic shock].

We have studied the effect of hypertonic saline solution on the viscoelasticities of erythrocyte membrane in hemorrhage-shocked rats using micropippette aspiration technique. Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of 0.9% NaCl(NS), 7.5% NaCl (HS) and 5% NaCl-3.5% NaAc (HSA), respectively. The animals were bled to reach a mean arterial pressure of 5.3 kPa in 10 minutes and maintained in shock for 90 minutes. 4 ml/kg NS, HS and HSA was given intravenously and respectively in 5 minutes following hemorrhagic shock. The blood was collected to determine the viscoelasticities of erythrocyte membrane at baseline, shock and after treatment. The results showed that the elastic moduli and viscous coefficients of erythrocyte membrane were increased obviously following hemorrhagic shock. HS raised elastic moduli and reduced viscous coefficients significantly compared with NS after treatment. The elastic moduli and viscous coefficients of erythrocyte membrane were decreased remarkably in HSA group than in NS and HS group. These data suggested that HSA could improve the viscoelasticities of erythrocyte membrane significantly in rats subjected to hemorrhagic shock.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

[Detection of p53 gene alteration in sputum sample and its implications in early diagnosis of lung cancer].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the value of detecting point mutation of p53 gene in sputum sample and its validity and reliability as a surveillance index in early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients. METHODS: Sputum samples were collected from 54 cases identified as lung cancer and 114 cases as pulmonary benign disease. The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was performed for detection of point mutation at exon 5 - 8 of p53 gene and sputum smear also used for each sample. RESULTS: A detection rate of 55.56% (30/54) in the lung cancer group is significantly higher than that of 1.75% (2/114) in the control (P < 0.001). In the lung cancer group, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive likelihood ratio of p53 alterations as a diagnostic marker of lung cancer were 55.56%, 98.25% and 31.75 respectively. Moreover, the detection rates were 35.19% (19/54) by smears and 55.56% (30/54) by PCR-SSCP-silver stain; both the difference and consistency were statistically significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). Statistic analysis did not show any significant relation between p53 alteration and clinical parameters such as gender, smoking habits, histotypes and stages, but the detection rate of p53 alteration in older patients (>or=60 years old) was significantly higher than that in younger (P = 0.02). One case with p53 alteration at exon 5 in the control group was confirmed to be squamous carcinoma after 4 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Detection of p53 gene alteration in sputum sample by PCR-SSCP-silver stain can be used as a follow-up surveillance index for early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Effect of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure on nocturnal polyuria in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on nocturnal polyuria in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: 15 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were included. The number of nocturia, the nocturia output, the osmotic pressure of nocturia and the nocturia excretion of Na(+) were recorded. Plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in night were measured in 8 patients. After treatment with CPAP, all the criteria were repeated. RESULTS: (1) The number of nocturia decreased significantly after treatment with CPAP (P < 0.01); (2) The difference between nocturia output pre-and post treatment was significant (P < 0.01); (3) The osmotic pressure of nocturia rose from (381 +/- 96) mmol/L to (570 +/- 169) mmol/L (P < 0.05); (4) The nocturia excretion of Na(+) dropped from (1.16 +/- 0.35) mmol/h to (0.63 +/- 0.13) mmol/h (P < 0.01); (5) Plasma levels of ANP in night decreased from (146 +/- 14) ng/L to (106 +/- 10) ng/L (P < 0.01); (6) After treatment with CPAP, the reduction of ANP is correlated with the reduction of the nocturia output, the addition of the osmotic pressure of nocturia and the reduction of the nocturia excretion of Na(+). The correlation coefficients were 0.82, 0.84, 0.81 respectively. CONCLUSION: Treatment with CPAP can reduce the number of nocturia, the nocturia output and the nocturia excretion of Na(+), increase the osmotic pressure of nocturia. The changes probably relate to the reduction of plasma level of ANP.

Adult↗