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Biomedical subjects

Ling Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Ling Huang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

CIK cells from patients with HCC possess strong cytotoxicity to multidrug-resistant cell line Bel-7402/R.

AIM: To investigate the cytotoxicity of the cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells from the post-operation patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: A drug-resistant cell line was established by culturing human HCC cell line Bel-7402 in complete RPMI 1640 medium with increasing concentrations of adriamycin from 10 to 2,000 nmol/L. CIK cells were obtained by inducing the peripheral blood mononuclear cells with rhIFN-gamma, monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody, rhIL-1alpha as well as rhIL-2, which were added into the culture. To detect the cytotoxicity of the CIK cells from HCC patients, the Bel-7402/R was taken as target (T) cells and CIK cells as effect (E) cells. Cytotoxic test was performed and measured by MTT. As to in vivo test, CIK cells were transfused into patients with HCC. The tumor specimens of the patients were obtained and immunohistochemistry was carried out to detect CD3, CD45, CD45RO as well as CD68. RESULTS: A MDR 1 HCC cell line Bel-7402/R was established. Its MDR1 mRNA overexpressed which was shown by RT-PCR; the P-glycoprotein expression increased from 1.32% of parent cells to 54%. CIK cells expanded vigorously by more than 70-fold and the CD3+CD56+ increased by more than 600-fold after 3-wk incubation on average. The cytotoxicity of CIK from HCC patients to Bel-7402/R was about 50% and to L-02 below 10% (t = 8.87, P<0.01), the same as that of CIK from normal individuals. Each of the 17 patients received 1-5 x 10(10) of CIK cell transfusion. No side effects were observed. After CIK treatment, the tumor tissue nodules formed and a large amount of lymphocytes infiltrated in the liver cancer tissue and CD3, CD45, CD45RO, and CD68 increased greatly which was shown by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: A stable MDR1 HCC cell line has been established which could recover from liquid nitrogen and CIK from HCC patients has strong cytotoxicity to MDR HCC cell. CIK adoptive immunotherapy is safe and has no side effects. Receivers improved their immunity to tumor evidently. CIK treatment may be a better choice for HCC patients after operation to prevent the recurrence, especially when tumors have developed drug resistance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2005

Development of a humanized monoclonal antibody with therapeutic potential against West Nile virus.

Neutralization of West Nile virus (WNV) in vivo correlates with the development of an antibody response against the viral envelope (E) protein. Using random mutagenesis and yeast surface display, we defined individual contact residues of 14 newly generated monoclonal antibodies against domain III of the WNV E protein. Monoclonal antibodies that strongly neutralized WNV localized to a surface patch on the lateral face of domain III. Convalescent antibodies from individuals who had recovered from WNV infection also detected this epitope. One monoclonal antibody, E16, neutralized 10 different strains in vitro, and showed therapeutic efficacy in mice, even when administered as a single dose 5 d after infection. A humanized version of E16 was generated that retained antigen specificity, avidity and neutralizing activity. In postexposure therapeutic trials in mice, a single dose of humanized E16 protected mice against WNV-induced mortality, and may therefore be a viable treatment option against WNV infection in humans.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Highly selective directed assembly of functional actomyosin on Au surfaces.

The capability of assembling biomotors onto specific locations of solid substrates is a key for development of biomotor-based nanomechanical systems. We developed a method to direct the assembly of the heavy meromyosin fragment from rabbit skeletal muscle myosin onto specific locations of Au substrates utilizing surface molecular patterns. In this strategy, chemically directed patterns of streptavidin were achieved to direct highly specific assembly of biotinylated heavy meromyosin on the substrates--a strategy applicable for patterning a variety of biotinylated molecules--while BSA was utilized to avoid nonspecific adsorption. In vitro motility assays of filament sliding were used to confirm functionality of assembled actomyosin.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed2005

76-space analysis of grey matter diffusivity: methods and applications.

Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) are widely used in the study and diagnosis of neurological diseases involving the White Matter (WM). However, many neurological and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) are generally considered to involve the Grey Matter (GM). Investigation of GM diffusivity of normal aging and pathological brains has both scientific significance and clinical applications. Most of previous research reports on quantification of GM diffusivity were based on the manually labeled Region of Interests (ROI) analysis of specific neuroanatomic regions. The well-known drawbacks of ROI analysis include inter-rater variations, irreproducible results, tediousness, and requirement of a priori definition of interested regions. In this paper, we present a new framework of automated 76-space analysis of GM diffusivity using DWI/DTI. The framework will be evaluated using clinical data, and applied for study of normal brain, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Schizophrenia.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Phylogenomic study of the subfamily Caprinae by cross-species chromosome painting with Chinese muntjac paints.

Chromosomal homologies have been established between the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi, MRE, 2n = 46) and five ovine species: wild goat (Capra aegagrus, CAE, 2n = 60), argali (Ovis ammon, OAM, 2n = 56), snow sheep (Ovis nivicola, ONI, 2n = 52), red goral (Naemorhedus cranbrooki, NCR, 2n = 56) and Sumatra serow (Capricornis sumatraensis, CSU, 2n = 48) by chromosome painting with a set of chromosome-specific probes of the Chinese muntjac. In total, twenty-two Chinese muntjac autosomal painting probes detected thirty-five homologous segments in the genome of each species. The chromosome X probe hybridized to the whole X chromosomes of all ovine species while the chromosome Y probe gave no signal. Our results demonstrate that almost all homologous segments defined by comparative painting show a high degree of conservation in G-banding patterns and that each speciation event is accompanied by specific chromosomal rearrangements. The combined analysis of our results and previous cytogenetic and molecular systematic results enables us to map the chromosomal rearrangements onto a phylogenetic tree, thus providing new insights into the karyotypic evolution of these species.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Fetal and neonatal mortality among twin gestations in a Canadian population: the effect of intrapair birthweight discordance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intrapair birthweight discordance and fetal and neonatal mortality. This was a historical cohort study, using the Statistics Canada linked birth-infant death file. Twin births in Canada (excluding Ontario) for the period 1986-1997 were studied. Outcome measures were fetal and neonatal mortality. Among 59,034 twin births, 53% had 0 to 9% birthweight difference; 30% had 10 to 19% discordance; 11% had 20 to 29% discordance; and 6% had > or = 30% discordance. Maternal age, parity, sex discordance, and gestational age were important factors affecting birth weight discordance. Fetal death rates were 0.95, 1.26, 3.14, and 11.10%, respectively, in infants with a birthweight discordance of 0 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 29, and > or = 30%. Corresponding figures for neonatal death rates were 1.90, 2.32, 3.05, and 8.86%, respectively. Adjustment for important confounding variables including the actual birthweight and gestational age substantially reduced the birthweight discordance-related risk of fetal and neonatal mortality, but the results remained statistically significant and clinically important. The birthweight discordance-related risk of fetal and neonatal mortality was higher in smaller twins than in larger twins and higher in infants with gestational age > or = 37 weeks than those < 37 weeks. Birthweight discordance is an important risk factor for fetal and neonatal mortality, and the birthweight discordance-related risk of fetal and neonatal mortality is higher in smaller twins than in larger twins and higher in term twins than in preterm twins.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Risk of maternal postpartum readmission associated with mode of delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cesarean and operative vaginal deliveries are associated with an increased risk of maternal rehospitalization compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery. METHODS: A population-based cohort study was conducted by using the Canadian Institute for Health Information's Discharge Abstract Database between 1997/1998 and 2000/2001, which included 900,108 women aged 15-44 years with singleton live births (after excluding several selected obstetric conditions). RESULTS: A total of 16,404 women (1.8%) were rehospitalized within 60 days after initial discharge. Compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery (rate 1.5%), cesarean delivery was associated with a significantly increased risk of postpartum readmission (rate 2.7%, odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-1.9); ie, there was 1 excess postpartum readmission per 75 cesarean deliveries. Diagnoses associated with significantly increased risks of readmission after cesarean delivery (compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery) included pelvic injury/wounds (rate 0.86% versus 0.06%, OR 13.4, 95% CI 12.0-15.0), obstetric complications (rate 0.23% versus 0.08%, OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.6-3.5), venous disorders and thromboembolism (rate 0.07% versus 0.03%, OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.1-3.4), and major puerperal infection (rate 0.45% versus 0.27%, OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6-1.9). Women delivered by forceps or vacuum were also at an increased risk of readmission (rates 2.2% and 1.8% versus 1.5%; OR forceps: 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.5; OR vacuum: 1.2, 95% CI 1.2-1.3, respectively). Higher readmission rates after operative vaginal delivery were due to pelvic injury/wounds, genitourinary conditions, obstetric complications, postpartum hemorrhage, and major puerperal infection. CONCLUSION: Compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery, and operative vaginal delivery increase the risk of maternal postpartum readmission. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-2.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of HER-2/neu, ER and PCNA expression in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma.

We attempted to compare the pattern of HER-2/neu, ER and PCNA in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma to identify potential biological differences. Five hundred and forty-eight samples from 318 premenopausal and 230 postmenopausal women with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast were evaluated for HER-2/neu, ER and PCNA expression by immunohistochemistry. HER-2/neu expression showed 27.4% positivity in premenopausal and 24.8% in postmenopausal women; there was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). In contrast, HER-2/neu expression was found to be significantly associated with ER negativity in the two groups (p<0.05 in premenopausal, p<0.001 in postmenopausal patients). However, it was significantly associated with PCNA expression only in the postmenopausal group (p<0.001). 54.4% showed premenopausal tumor cell ER positivity, whereas 64.3% of the postmenopausal group showed positivity. ER expression showed a significant correlation with patient menopausal status (p<0.05). The prevalence of PCNA positivity in the tumor cell components is slightly higher in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women (p>0.20). The current study is consistent with reports from other groups regarding the correlation of HER-2/neu with adverse pathologic features and with expression of other markers in carcinoma. We also observed there was no trend toward increased HER-2/neu expression in either premenopausal or postmenopausal patients, i.e. there was similar HER-2/neu expression in the two groups. This suggests that HER-2/neu status could be used to determine assignment to specific intensive adjuvant therapy and evaluation of biological behavior in both pre- and postmenopausal patients with breast carcinoma.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed2005

Phase transition of nanostructure zirconias doped with rare earth elements.

Nanostructure zirconias doped with rare earth elements were obtained by coprecipitation. The morphology, structure, and phase transition of the as-prepared samples were studied. According to transmission electron microscopy, the particles appear in near spherical shape and have a mean particle sizes of about 150 nm without change with the rare earth elements. From laser Raman and X-ray diffraction results, it is known that the tetragonal phase of zirconia is stabilized by a certain concentration of the rare earth dopants, and the cubic phase is obtained if enough dopants are added. The crystal lattice increases with the increase of dopant concentration. Moreover, the heavy rare earths are better than the light ones in stabilizing effect. According to our study, laser Raman is more sensitive than X-ray diffraction in monitoring the phase transition.

Crystallization↗
PubMed2005

[Analysis and processing of two-lead ECG signals based on orthogonal synthesizing].

OBJECTIVE: To dig out the potential information in two-lead ECG signals, and discuss a new method of analyzing and processing two-lead ECG signals, viz. Orthogonal Synthesis Cardiogram (OSCG). METHOD: From a case in MIT-BIH Database, several representative heartbeats were chosen to draw a series of OSCG, and analyses were made quantitatively and qualitatively. RESULT: All species of OSCG in the case differed greatly in form. The indices picked up such as maximal vector orientation and amplitude of QRS Loop etc. could effectively distinguish all species of heartbeats. Thus gets more characteristics about the heart transformation beat by beat. CONCLUSION: OSCG is found to be a simple, capable method, suitable for use in manned space flight.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMed2005

[Study on proliferation effect of extracts of Piper longum on mesenchymal stem cells of rat bone marrow and the relationship to chemical functional groups].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of volatile oil and aqueous soluable part of Piper longum on proliferation of rat mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and the chemical functional groups. METHODS: Mesenchymal stem cells were dissociated from rat bone marrow and marked by Brdu, and the expression of CD44, CD54 and double label of Brdu and CD44. The growth of rat mesenchymal stem cell under volatile oil and aqueous soluable part of Piper longum was observed by means of cell viability measurement (MTT) and morphological observation and Brdu, PCNA immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Volatile oil of Piper longum could promote the cell viability of MSC and the number of Brdu, PCNA positive cell in dose-dependant. There was significant difference in comparision with control groups, C = C(50.66%), -OH(27.02%) and other functional groups in volatile oil of Piper longum were determined by GC-MS, but the aqueous soluable part of Piper longum could not promote the proliferation of MSC. CONCLUSIONS: Volatile oil of Piper longum which consists of C = C, -OH, and other functional groups has strong effect on enhancing proliferation of MSC.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Expression of human VEGF165 in silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) by using a recombinant baculovirus and its bioactivity assay.

Silkworm larva has a lot of advantages as a "biofactory" to produce recombinant protein. A recombinant baculovirus, carrying cDNA encoding the 165 amino-acid long isoform of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was successfully constructed for the large-scale production of this protein using silkworms as an in vivo host. The fifth-instar silkworm larvae were inoculated with the recombinant virus. Time-course expression analysis indicated that the expression level was highest at around 80 h post-infection and the recombinant protein was found mainly in the haemolymph. Therefore, the hemolymph was collected from the infected larvae and the recombinant protein was purified by using Nickel affinity chromatography under native condition. The expression level was estimated to be as high as approximately 426 microg per larva. Furthermore, the recombinant protein was characterized and was found biologically active in inducing endothelial cell proliferation in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Nuclear beta-catenin-dependent Wnt8 signaling in vegetal cells of the early sea urchin embryo regulates gastrulation and differentiation of endoderm and mesodermal cell lineages.

The entry of beta-catenin into vegetal cell nuclei beginning at the 16-cell stage is one of the earliest known molecular asymmetries seen along the animal-vegetal axis in the sea urchin embryo. Nuclear beta-catenin activates a vegetal signaling cascade that mediates micromere specification and specification of the endomesoderm in the remaining cells of the vegetal half of the embryo. Only a few potential target genes of nuclear beta-catenin have been functionally analyzed in the sea urchin embryo. Here, we show that SpWnt8, a Wnt8 homolog from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, is zygotically activated specifically in 16-cell-stage micromeres in a nuclear beta-catenin-dependent manner, and its expression remains restricted to the micromeres until the 60-cell stage. At the late 60-cell stage nuclear beta-catenin-dependent SpWnt8 expression expands to the veg2 cell tier. SpWnt8 is the only signaling molecule thus far identified with expression localized to the 16-60-cell stage micromeres and the veg2 tier. Overexpression of SpWnt8 by mRNA microinjection produced embryos with multiple invagination sites and showed that, consistent with its localization, SpWnt8 is a strong inducer of endoderm. Blocking SpWnt8 function using SpWnt8 morpholino antisense oligonucleotides produced embryos that formed micromeres that could transmit the early endomesoderm-inducing signal, but these cells failed to differentiate as primary mesenchyme cells. SpWnt8-morpholino embryos also did not form endoderm, or secondary mesenchyme-derived pigment and muscle cells, indicating a role for SpWnt8 in gastrulation and in the differentiation of endomesodermal lineages. These results establish SpWnt8 as a critical component of the endomesoderm regulatory network in the sea urchin embryo.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Blood lead levels of both mothers and their newborn infants in the middle part of China.

A cross-sectional investigation on maternal and umbilical blood lead levels in an urban area, an industrial town and a rural area of middle China is reported. Blood samples from 89 mothers during delivery, from the umbilical cords and from 105 non-pregnant women were collected. Self-administered questionnaires including the medical history and the pregnancy-related complaints were performed. After acid digestion, the whole blood lead levels were determined by a 180-80 flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The geometric mean for lead levels in blood of non-pregnant women was 66.9 microg/l (range: 25.0-201.0 microg/l) in the urban, 66.9 microg/l (range: 30.5-198.8 microg/l) in the industrial town, and 53.3 microg/l (range: 16.0-170.5 microg/l) in the rural area. The geometric mean of lead levels in blood of pregnant women at delivery both in the rural area (74.4 microg/l, range: 35.2-245.6 microg/l) and industrial town (65.9 micro/l, range: 20.0-172.0 microg/l) were higher than in the urban region (54.3 microg/l, range: 27.9-187.0 microg/l; p < 0.05). Compared with non-pregnant women at the same area, the blood lead levels of pregnant women was lower in urban (p < 0.05), but higher in rural areas (p < 0.05). The geometric mean for lead level in umbilical cord blood was significantly higher in rural (84.1 microg/l, range: 28.0-185.0 microg/l) than in the other areas (53.5 microg/l, range: 23.5-156.7 microg/l in the urban; 60.1 microg/l, range: 12.5-168.3 microg/l in the industrial town). The total geometric mean for lead level in cord blood was 69.0 microg/l (range: 12.5-185.0 microg/l), and 17.8% samples were above the blood lead threshold of health concern (> or =100 microg/l) for children (CDC, 1991), but the body weight and length of newborn babies have not been affected. The correlation between maternal and cord blood was 0.6805 (p < 0.01). Most of the pregnant women did not take the calcium supplements recommended during pregnancy. In conclusion, there were some lead burdens on both the mothers and their newborn babies in these areas. All possible measures should be taken to reduce the environmental lead exposure. It is also crucial that maternal nutrient intake, particularly calcium, should be sufficient.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Pathological observations of Fructus Schisandrae polysaccharide on anti-tumor effects in S180-bearing mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Fructus Schisandrae Polysaccharide (FSP) on anti-tumor in S180-bearing mice. METHODS: The transplantable carcinosarcoma model was established in S180-bearing mice by subcutaneous implantation. Tumor size and histopathological changes were observed under electron microscopy by HE staining after 8 days treatment. RESULTS: Morphological changes showed that slight cataplasia and apoptosis were induced by high concentration FSP, as well as the numbers of inflammatory cells in tumor were increased and tumor cells in infiltration areas around tumor cataplasised partly. These suggested that high concentration FSP can inhibit tumor growth lightly. In addition, high concentration FSP combined with cyclophosphamide can promote the effect of anti-tumor. CONCLUSIONS: FSP can inhibit tumor growth, this effect may be correlated with apoptosis and the activation of immunocytes, but not depend on killing tumor cells directly. In addition, high concentration FSP combined with cyclophosphamide can promote the capacity on anti-tumor in S180-bearing mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Nanotube electronics: large-scale assembly of carbon nanotubes.

Nanoscale electronic devices made from carbon nanotubes, such as transistors and sensors, are much smaller and more versatile than those that rely on conventional microelectronic chips, but their development for mass production has been thwarted by difficulties in aligning and integrating the millions of nanotubes required. Inspired by biomolecular self-assembly processes, we have created chemically functionalized patterns on a surface, to which pre-grown nanotubes in solution can align themselves in huge numbers. This method allows wafer-scale fabrication of millions of carbon-nanotube circuits with single-nanotube precision, and may enable nanotube-based devices, such as computer chips and high-density sensor arrays, to be produced industrially.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Defensin expression by the cornea: multiple signalling pathways mediate IL-1beta stimulation of hBD-2 expression by human corneal epithelial cells.

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression of human beta-defensins (hBDs) by human corneal epithelium and determine the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on expression of human beta-defensin (hBD)-2 by human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) in culture. METHODS: RNA was extracted from corneal epithelial cells scraped from cadaveric corneas and from cultured HCECs, and RT-PCR was performed to detect hBD-1, -2, and -3 mRNA. To study the effects of proinflammatory cytokines on expression of defensin, HCECs were cultured and then exposed to interleukin (IL)-1beta or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha for up to 36 hours, with a range of concentrations (0.01-100 ng/mL). In some experiments, cells were pretreated with various cell signaling pathway inhibitors before the addition of IL-1beta. At the end of the incubations, the cells were harvested for RT-PCR and the culture media collected for the detection by immunoblot analysis of secreted defensin peptide. RESULTS: All epithelial tissue collected from cadaveric corneas expressed mRNA for hBD-1. hBD-2 was detectable in two of eight donors corneas, whereas hBD-3 was detected in five. All primary cultures of HCECs expressed hBD-1 and -3. A faint band for hBD-2 was detectable in three of eight cultures. Cultures of simian virus (SV)40-transformed HCECs always expressed hBD-1 and -3, but did not express hBD-2 under control conditions. IL-1beta and TNFalpha each stimulated the expression of hBD-2 in HCECs and were more effective in combination than alone. The effects of IL-1beta were concentration- (maximal at 10 ng/mL) and time-dependent (maximal at 12 hours and 24 hours for hBD-2 mRNA expression and protein secretion, respectively). The upregulation of hBD-2 mRNA persisted for at least 24 hours after removal of IL-1beta. The NFkappaB inhibitors pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC; 100 microM), caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE; 90 microM), and MG-132 (25 microM), blocked IL-1beta-stimulated expression of hBD-2. The p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor SB203580 (5 microM) and the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 (25 microM) partially blocked (by 47% and 59%, respectively) the effect of IL-1beta. However, PD98059, an ERK inhibitor, had no effect. Genistein (50 microM) and dexamethasone (1 microM) also partially blocked (by 26% and 28%, respectively) the effect of IL-1beta. CONCLUSIONS: Human corneal epithelium expresses hBD-1 and -3. hBD-2 is not typically present, but its expression can be stimulated by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, acting through mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathways. Because IL-1 is known to be increased at the ocular surface after injury, the current observations provide a mechanism to explain the previous finding that hBD-2 is upregulated in regenerating corneal epithelium. Cytokine stimulation of hBD-2 expression most likely provides additional protection against infection and raises the possibility that this defensin in particular may be involved in the wound-healing response, per se.

Aged↗