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Biomedical subjects

L Yan

Publications and source records attributed to L Yan.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

[Significance of apoptosis status and apoptosis-associated antigen expression in human colorectal adenocarcinoma sequence].

To investigate the effects of apoptosis on colorectal tumorigenesis and its possible biological significance, the apoptotic frequency in primary cultural cell of 9 normal mucosa, 4 adenomas and 9 adenocarcinomas in time period of 2, 12, 24, 48 hour was measured by flow cytometry. The apoptotic cells index (AI) in situ for 15 colorectal normal mucosa, 7 hyperplastic epithelial, 25 adenomas and 77 adenocarcinomas was identified by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling technique (TUNEL). Ki-67 proliferate index (KI), wafl and p53 genes were immunostained with ABC method. The results showed that culture related apoptotic incidence was obviously decreased in cultural tumor cell when compared with mucosa cell after 24-48 hour in vitro. There was a directly positive relationship between the spontaneous apoptosis and Ki-67-index in vivo. The well differentiated or early stage lesions with intensive bcl-2 expression were significantly more likely to have low AI and KI. Both mp53 accumulation and wafl depression which mainly related to KI, had no apparent correlation with AI, bcl-2/bax expression and clinicopathological features statistically; elevatory bax/bcl-2 and pervasive wafl depression led to an increasing AI/KI both in adenoma with atypia and in advanced cancer with distant metastasis or embolus, comparatively. The data indicated that the reduction of susceptibility to inductive apoptosis may contribute to the early phase of tumorigenesis, that AI in vivo may reflect proliferative activity, and that bcl family was closely associated with spontaneous apoptosis and biological behavior of human colorectal cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

[Influence of different total parenteral nutrition support upon hepatic regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats].

This study was designed to investigate the effects of different TPN on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats. Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. Groups A and B (normal rats) received BCAA-enriched TPN (45% BCAAs) and standard TPN (24% BCAAs) respectively after 34% hepatectomy; Groups C and D (rats with cirrhosis of liver) received the same TPN as Groups A and B received respectively after 34% hepatectomy. On the third day after operation, all rats were killed and specimens of liver and blood were taken for measurement of activity of liver regeneration. The results showed that DNA synthesis rate and mitosis rate in Groups A and B were significantly greater than those in Groups C and D respectively; RLR, DNA synthesis rate and mitosis rate in Groups A and C were significantly higher than those in Groups B and D respectively. These suggest that the effect of the same TPN on liver regeneration in normal rats is better than that in cirrhosis rats and that BCAA-enriched TPN can provide more excellent supplementation than standard TPN can do either in normal liver or cirrhosis liver after partial hepatectomy.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

[An analysis of DNA content in 405 cases of human tumor by flow cytometry].

This study was intended to evaluate the relationship between the DNA content of cell cycle and the histology in human tumors. We detected the DNA content in 405 cases of fresh human tumor tissue by means of flow cytometry and observed the histology of tumor with light microscopy. The occurrences of aneuploidy in 22 cases of benign tumor and 383 cases of malignant tumor were 27% and 52% respectively. There were differences in aneuploidy in different histologic types of tumor. The aneuploidy in adenocarcinoma was about 50%, that in sarcoma was more than 37%, and that in squamous carcinoma less than 17%. S > or = 10, G2/m > or = 10 or S > or = 20, G2/m > or = 5 were present in malignant tumors, but were not found in benign tumors. The results suggest that there is obvious difference in the occurrences of aneuploidy in benign and malignant tumors and in different histologic type of tumor(P < 0.05). Benign and malignant tumor may be distinguished when SPF and G2/m reach a higher level (P < 0.01).

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1999

[Retention behavior of solutes on liquid chromatographic column packed with dynamically modified zirconia].

Zirconia was dynamically modified with stearic acid, beta-cyclodextrin and sodium dodecylsulfonate, separately, to form liquid chromatographic packings. The chromatographic behaviors of aromatic hydrocarbons, acidic compounds (phenol, nitrophenols and benzoic acids) and basic compounds (aniline, nitroanilines and toluidines) were investigated on these modified zirconia packings with a mixture of methanol/water as the mobile phase. On stearic acid modified zirconia, aromatic hydrocarbons and the basic compounds exhibit symmetrical peaks. The retention time of these solutes decreases with increasing the concentration of methanol in the mobile phase. When the mobile phases with stearic acid were used, the retention time of these solutes has a maximum with variation of stearic acid concentration (0-1.0 mmol/L) in the mobile phase. However, the acidic compounds such as nitrophenols and benzoic acids are strongly adsorbed and can not be eluted from the column with the mobile phases. No leaking of stearic acid on the modified zirconia was found after 3000 column volumes of the methanol/water mobile phase were used. The results showed that the stearic acid modified zirconia can be used as a stationary phase for reversed-phase liquid chromatography. On beta-cyclodextrin modified zirconia, aromatic hydrocarbons and basic compounds exhibit shorter retention time than those on the stearic acid modified zirconia under the same mobile phase composition, however, nitrophenols can be eluted but give unsymmetrical peaks. On sodium dodecylsulfonate modified zirconia packings, the basic compounds can not be retarded; Aromatic hydrocarbons and acidic compounds exhibit short retention time. The results can be ascribed to the weak adsorption of sodium dodecylsulfonate on the zirconia.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1999

[Protective effects of leishmanial antigens against Leishmania infantum infection in Lagurus lagurus].

AIM: To determine the protective effect of leishmanial surface antigens against experimental visceral leishmaniasis in Lagurus lagurus caused by Leishmania infantum. METHODS: Recombinant surface protein (rGP63) and lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania were used with Corinebacterium parum vaccine as ajuvant to immunize Lagurus lagurus against a challenge with virulent strain of Leishmania infantum. The efficacy of immunoprotection was observed. RESULTS: When challenged with up to 2 x 10(7) promastigotes, the number of LD on the liver printing sections in the rGP63 + LPG + CP immunised animals was significantly decreased, the parasite reduction rate being 89.79%. LPG + CP gave a parasite reduction rate of 60.6% and rGP63/beta-galactosidase fusion protein + CP showed a parasite reduction rate of 42.45%. Purified rGP63 showed no protection. Immunization with rGP63 + LPG + CP followed by challenge inifection with 1 x 10(6), 5 x 10(6) and 1 x 10(7) promastigotes also showed significantly reduced infection rates. CONCLUSION: A combination of rGP63 + LPG + CP antigens could provide significant immunoprotection against L. infantum challenge in L. lagurus.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The effects of S-3-1 on lipid peroxidation and scavenging free radicals in vitro.

S-3-1 is a simplified synthetic analogue of the active principle of Salvia miltiorrhioza. Electron spin resonance spectrometry using 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide as a scavenger of free radicals indicated that 200 microg/ml of S-3-1 scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals completely. 25 microg/ml of this compound quenched 100% of superoxide anion and a concentration of 250 microg/ml of S-3-1 quenched 63% of hydroxyl radicals. It was also shown that 3.56 mg/ml of S-3-1 could inhibit lipid peroxidation in microsome fraction from rat liver induced by FeSO4 and cysteine. These results show that S-3-1 is an effective antioxidant by scavenging free radicals.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A light-independent oscillatory gene mPer3 in mouse SCN and OVLT.

A new member of the mammalian period gene family, mPer3, was isolated and its expression pattern characterized in the mouse brain. Like mPer1, mPer2 and Drosophila period, mPer3 has a dimerization PAS domain and a cytoplasmic localization domain. mPer3 transcripts showed a clear circadian rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Expression of mPer3 was not induced by exposure to light at any phase of the clock, distinguishing this gene from mPer1 and mPer2. Cycling expression of mPer3 was also found outside the SCN in the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis (OVLT), a potentially key region regulating rhythmic gonadotropin production and pyrogen-induced febrile phenomena. Thus, mPer3 may contribute to pacemaker functions both inside and outside the SCN.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Regulation of protrusion shape and adhesion to the substratum during chemotactic responses of mammalian carcinoma cells.

We report here the first direct observation of chemotaxis to EGF by rat mammary carcinoma cells. When exposed to a gradient of EGF diffusing from a micropipette, MTLn3 cells displayed typical ameboid chemotaxis, extending a lamellipod-like protrusion and moving toward the pipette. Using a homogeneous upshift in EGF to model stimulated lamellipod extension (J. E. Segall et al., 1996, Clin. Exp. Metastasis 14, 61-72), we analyzed the relationship between adhesion and chemoattractant-stimulated protrusion. Exposure to EGF led to a rapid remodeling of the adhesive contacts on adherent cells, in synchrony with extension of a flat lamellipod over the substratum. EGF-stimulated lamellipods still extended in the presence of adhesion-blocking peptides or over nonadhesive surfaces. They were, however, slightly shorter and retracted rapidly under those conditions. The major protrusive structure observed on well-spread, adherent cells, after EGF stimulation was a flat broad lamellipod, whether or not in contact with the substratum, while cells in suspension showed transient protrusive activity over the entire cell surface. We conclude that the initial adhesive status of the cell conditions the shape of the outcoming protrusion. Altogether our results suggest that, although adhesive contacts are not necessary for lamellipod extension, they play a role in stabilizing the protrusion as well as in the control of its final shape and amplitude.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Dietary flaxseed supplementation and experimental metastasis of melanoma cells in mice.

The present study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of flaxseed, the richest source of lignans, on experimental metastasis of B16BL6 murine melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were fed a basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 2.5, 5 or 10% flaxseed for 2 weeks before and after the intravenous injection of 0.75 x 10(5) melanoma cells. At necropsy, the number of tumors that developed in the lungs was counted, the cross-sectional area of tumors was measured and the volumes of tumors were calculated. The median number of tumors in mice fed the 2.5, 5 and 10% flaxseed-supplemented diets was 32, 54 and 63% lower than that of the controls, respectively. The addition of flaxseed to the diet also caused a dose-dependent decrease in the tumor cross-sectional area and the tumor volume. These results provide the first experimental evidence that flaxseed reduces metastasis and inhibits the growth of the metastatic secondary tumors in animals. It is concluded that flaxseed may be a useful nutritional adjuvant to prevent metastasis in cancer patients.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Lycotoxins, antimicrobial peptides from venom of the wolf spider Lycosa carolinensis.

Two peptide toxins with antimicrobial activity, lycotoxins I and II, were identified from venom of the wolf spider Lycosa carolinensis (Araneae: Lycosidae) by virtue of their abilities to reduce ion and voltage gradients across membranes. Both peptides were purified to homogeneity by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and determined to have the following primary structures by Edman microsequencing: IWLTALKFLGKHAAKHLAKQQLSKL-NH2 for lycotoxin I and KIKWFKTMKSIAKFIAKEQMKKHLGGE-OH for lycotoxin II. The predicted secondary structures of the lycotoxins display amphipathic alpha-helix character typical of antimicrobial pore-forming peptides. Antimicrobial assays showed that both lycotoxins potently inhibit the growth of bacteria (Escherichia coli) and yeast (Candida glabrata) at micromolar concentrations. To verify its hypothesized pore-forming activity, lycotoxin I was synthesized and shown to promote efflux of Ca2+ from synaptosomes, to cause hemolysis of erythrocytes, and to dissipate voltage gradients across muscle membrane. The lycotoxins may play a dual role in spider-prey interaction, functioning both in the prey capture strategy as well as to protect the spider from potentially infectious organisms arising from prey ingestion. Spider venoms may represent a potentially new source of novel antimicrobial agents with important medical implications.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Immunohistochemical localization of taurine in various tissues of the mouse.

The localization of taurine was investigated in several tissues of the mouse. Immunohistochemical methods using a polyclonal antibody for taurine derived from rabbits was used in these studies. This method was used since it is a simple procedure and the results are clear and reliable. Tissues were fixed with paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and treated in a microwave oven before using an avidin-biotin-complex method (ABC method). Control staining was accomplished by employing absorption staining using various amino acids: taurine, arginine, cysteine, hypotaurine and others. For purposes of comparison, radioautography (RAG) with 3H-taurine was performed to confirm the reliability of the immunohistochemical staining compared with the localization of the 3H-taurine incorporation in endothelial cells of the blood vessels of several tissues. In this investigation, immunoreactivity was broadly observed in many tissues: Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, glia cells of brain tissue, cardiac muscle cells, matrices of the bone, mucus granules of goblet cells of the intestines, and brown adipose cells of the fetus. Although the meaning of this widespread localization of taurine can not be explained completely, we surmise that taurine may have a different function in each of the tissues. In addition, taurine reactivity was observed in cell nuclei which was evidence of the presence of taurine in the nuclei.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Relationship between decreased function and O2 consumption caused by cyclic GMP in cardiac myocytes and L-type calcium channels.

We tested the hypothesis that part of the decreased function and metabolism caused by cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) in beating cardiac myocytes is related to inhibition of L-type calcium channels. The steady state oxygen consumption (VO2) of a suspension of ventricular myocytes isolated from hearts of New Zealand white rabbits was measured using oxygen electrodes. Cellular cyclic GMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Cell shortening was measured with a video edge detector. The VO2 was obtained after: (1) adding sodium nitroprusside (NP 10(-8),(-6),(-4) M), (2) pretreatment by BAY K8644 10(-5) M (BAY, L-type calcium channel activator), nifedipine 10(-4) M (NF, L-type calcium channel blocker) or forskolin 10(-7) M (FK, adenylate cyclase activator), then adding NP 10(-8),(-6),(-4) M, (3) pretreatment with both FK 10(-7) M and NF 10(-4) M and subsequently adding NP 10(-8),(-6),(-4) M. NP 10(-4) M decreased VO2 from 707 +/- 34 to 410 +/- 13 (nl O2/min per 10(5) myocytes), decreased the percentage of shortening (Pcs) from 5.7 +/- 0.6 to 3.7 +/- 0.5 and the rate of shortening (Rs) from 65.5 +/- 4.5 (microns/s) to 46.2 +/- 5.5. NP 10(-4) M also increased cyclic GMP from 264 +/- 70 (fmol/10(5) myocytes) to 760 +/- 283. Both BAY and FK increased VO2, Pcs and Rs without changing cyclic GMP. NF decreased Pcs, Rs and VO2. Similar metabolic and functional effects of NP were observed with pretreatment with these agents separately, compared to NP alone, and the elevation of cyclic GMP level was not different from the control group. With FK alone, NP 10(-4) M decreased VO2 by 51%, Pcs by 44% and Rs by 39%. In the presence of both FK and NF, the negative effects of NP were diminished significantly. NP 10(-4) M decreased VO2 by 37%, Pcs by 25% and Rs 20%. Thus, in beating cardiac myocytes, the negative metabolic and functional effects of cyclic GMP were related to inhibition on L-type calcium channels only when adenylate cyclase was stimulated.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1998

Negative metabolic effects of cyclic GMP in quiescent cardiomyocytes are not related to L-type calcium channel activity.

We tested the hypothesis that the negative metabolic effects of elevating cyclic GMP act through inhibition of L-type calcium channels in quiescent cardiac myocytes. The steady state O2 consumption (VO2) of ventricular myocytes, isolated from hearts of New Zealand white rabbits, was measured in a glass chamber using Clark-type oxygen electrodes. The cellular cyclic GMP levels were determined by radioimmunoassay at baseline with either 0.5 mM or 2.0 mM of Ca2+, sodium nitroprusside at increasing concentration (10(-8),(-6),(-4) M) with and without pretreatment by BAY K8644 10(-5) M (L-type Ca2+ channel activator) in 0.5 mM Ca2+, or nitroprusside with and without pretreatment with nifedipine 10(-4) M (L-type Ca2+ channel blocker) in 2.0 mM Ca2+. In the 0.5 mM Ca2+ medium, basal VO2 was 459 +/- 104 (nl O2/min per 10(5) myocytes) with a corresponding cyclic GMP level of 112 +/- 23 (fmol/10(5) myocytes). With nitroprusside 10(-4) M, VO2 was decreased to 285 +/- 39 and cyclic GMP level was significantly elevated to 425 +/- 128. In the same medium, VO2 was slightly increased by BAY K8644 10(-5) M while the cyclic GMP level did not change. With BAY K8644 10(-5) M, nitroprusside 10(-4) M decreased VO2 and increased cyclic GMP to a level which was similar to cells treated with nitroprusside alone. In the 2.0 mM Ca2+ medium, the basal VO2 and cyclic GMP were 518 +/- 121 and 137 +/- 24. In the presence of nitroprusside 10(-4) M, VO2 was decreased to 295 +/- 49 and cyclic GMP was increased to 454 +/- 116. In the same medium, nifedipine 10(-4) M significantly decreased VO2, while the cyclic GMP level was comparable to the baseline. After nifedipine 10(-4) M, nitroprusside 10(-4) M decreased VO2 and increased cyclic GMP to levels which were similar to control. Therefore, in quiescent cardiac myocytes, the negative metabolic effects associated with cyclic GMP were not primarily mediated through inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

Cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic activities of red ginseng.

Red ginseng extract A and B are the active components of Panax ginseng. Red ginseng is a classical traditional Chinese medicine. Among Chinese herbs, red ginseng has been considered as one of the tonics. Many studies indicated that red ginseng could enhance immune function of the human body. The effects of red ginseng extracts on transplantable tumors, proliferation of lymphocyte, two-stage model and rat liver lipid peroxidation were studied. In a two-stage model, red ginseng extracts had a significant cancer chemoprevention. At 50-400 mg/kg, they could inhibit DMBA/Croton oil-induced skin papilloma in mice, decrease the incidence of papilloma, prolong the latent period of tumor occurrence and reduce tumor number per mouse in a dose-dependent manner. Red ginseng extract B could effectively inhibit the Fe2+/cysteine-induced lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsome, suggesting that red ginseng extract B has a stronger antioxidative effect than that of extract A. The results indicated that red ginseng extracts (50 approximately 400 mg/kg) could significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable mouse sarcoma S180 and melanoma B16. Red ginseng extracts A (0.5 mg/ml) and B (0.1 and 0.25 mg/ml) might effectively promote the transformation of T lymphocyte, but there was no influence on lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by concanavalin A. This suggests that red ginseng extracts have potent tumor therapeutic activity and improve the cell immune system.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗
PubMed1998

Exogenous ubiquinol analogues affect the fluorescence of NCD-4 bound to aspartate-160 of yeast cytochrome b.

Previously, we reported that the carboxyl-reacting reagent DCCD, and its fluorescent derivative NCD-4 binds covalently to aspartate-160 localized in amphipathic helix cd of the CD loop connecting membrane-spanning helices C and D of cytochrome b (Wang et al., 1995). We have investigated the fluorescent properties of NCD-4 to probe possible changes in the cd helix resulting from the binding of exogenous ubiquinol analogues to the bc1 complex. Preincubation of the bc1 complex with the reduced substrate analogues, DQH2, DBH2, and Q6H2 resulted in 20-40% increase in the fluorescence emission intensity of NCD-4 and a 10-20% increase in the binding of [14C]DCCD to the bc1 complex. By contrast, preincubation with the oxidized analogues DQ. DB, and Q6 resulted in a 20-40% decrease in the fluorescence emission intensity of NCD-4 and a 20-40% decrease in the binding of [14C]DCCD to the bc1 complex. Moreover, addition of the reduced ubiquinols to the bc1 complex preincubated with NCD-4 resulted in a blue shift in the fluorescence emission spectrum. In addition, incubation of the cytochrome bc1 complex reconstituted into proteoliposomes with both reduced and oxidized ubiquinol analogues resulted in changes in the quenching of NCD-4 fluorescence by CAT-16, the spin-label probe that intercalates at the membrane surface. These results indicate that the addition of exogenous ubiquinol to the bc1 complex may result in changes in the cd helix leading to a more hydrophobic environment surrounding the NCD-4 binding site. By contrast, preincubation with the inhibitors of electron transfer through the bc1 complex had no effect on the binding of NCD-4 to the bc1 complex or on the fluorescent emission spectra, which suggests that the binding of the inhibitors does not result in changes in the environment of the NCD-4 binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Spontaneous inflammatory bowel disease in multiple mutant mouse lines: association with colonization by Helicobacter hepaticus.

BACKGROUND: Both genetic and microbial factors are thought to play a role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): however, no causative microbial agent has been clearly defined for humans or animals. Normal flora or previously unrecognized intestinal pathogens may contribute to the development of disease in susceptible hosts. A newly recognized murine Helicobacter, H. hepaticus, causes hepatitis in mice and in one strain of mice is linked to liver cancer. This study investigates the association between colonization of the lower intestinal tract of multiple genetically altered lines of mice with H. hepaticus, and the occurrence of IBD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rectal prolapse noted clinically in multiple genetically altered mouse lines was evaluated for the presence of H. hepaticus and histologic evidence of IBD. Fifty-five mice representing 11 different genetic alterations were evaluated. RESULTS: H. hepaticus was detected in 85% of mutant mice with rectal prolapse. Histologic evidence of proliferative typhlitis, colitis or proctitis was present in 65% of the animals examined, 89% of which were positive for H. hepaticus as detected by species specific PCR. CONCLUSION: The presence of H. hepaticus in association with IBD in multiple lines of genetically altered mice suggests further studies are needed to test experimentally the role H. hepaticus plays in the development of IBD in susceptible mice. Additionally, specific mutant mouse lines infected with H. hepaticus in this study may provide additional models for elucidation of microbial and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of IBD.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Mouse nicotinamide N-methyltransferase gene: molecular cloning, structural characterization, and chromosomal localization.

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) catalyzes the N-methylation of nicotinamide and structurally related compounds. There are large strain-dependent variations in the expression of NNMT activity in mouse liver during growth and development, raising the possibility of developmental regulation of the gene. Therefore, we set out to clone and structurally characterize the mouse NNMT gene, Nnmt. The gene spanned approximately 16 kb and consisted of three exons, 348 bp, 208 bp, and 487 bp in length, with an initial 1228-bp intron and a second intron that was approximately 14 kb in length. The locations of the splice junctions within the gene were highly conserved compared with those in genes for structurally related methyltransferase enzymes. The Nnmt gene contained no canonical TATA box sequences, but an "initiator" (Inr) sequence was located at the site of transcription initiation as determined by 5' rapid amplification of cDNAs ends. A promoter was located within the initial 750 bp of the 5' flanking region of the gene according to studies of the expression of a reporter gene in HepG2 cells. 5'-Flanking region sequences for mouse strains with high and low hepatic NNMT activity differed with regard to a series of nucleotide substitutions, insertions, and deletions, with the most striking difference being a 12-bp insertion/deletion. The Nnmt gene mapped to mouse chromosome 9 in an area of conserved synteny to human chromosome 11q, consistent with the localization of the human NNMT gene to 11q23. Cloning and structural characterization of the mouse Nnmt gene will make it possible to study molecular genetic mechanisms involved in the expression of this important methyltransferase.

Amino Acid Sequence↗