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Biomedical subjects

M Ding

Publications and source records attributed to M Ding.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Enhanced expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 correlates with development of AIDS.

The progression to AIDS may be significantly related to the level of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. We have used quantitative cell culture and quantitative DNA and RNA PCR to measure viral load and expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained cross-sectionally and longitudinally from HIV-1-seropositive homosexual men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Our results indicate that the number of circulating CD4+ T-lymphocytes producing HIV-1 increased as the total number of CD4+ T-cells declined. However, there was no correlation between the number of HIV-1-producing CD4+ cells and the duration of infection. Furthermore, the level of HIV-1 gag RNA increased as the disease progressed and CD4+ cell numbers declined. Subjects who remained asymptomatic with stable CD4+ cell counts, however, maintained a very low level of HIV-1 RNA expression during the entire period of follow-up (38-71 months). In contrast to viral RNA expression, the level of proviral DNA did not change significantly as the disease progressed. However, the level of proviral DNA was significantly higher in AIDS patients than in men who remained asymptomatic. Such increased levels of HIV-1 DNA were detected 34-68 months before the development of AIDS. These results support the role of HIV-1 RNA expression in the development of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Neuronal and glial marker proteins in encephalopathy associated with acute liver failure and acute hyperammonemia in the rabbit.

Neuronal and glial cell marker proteins were quantified in order to evaluate the possibility of increased proteolysis in the brain of rabbits with acute liver failure and acute hyperammonemia. Acute liver failure was induced by a two-stage devascularization procedure. Acute hyperammonemia was induced by a prolonged infusion of ammonium acetate, which simulates the plasma ammonia level in acute liver failure. Control animals received an infusion of sodium/potassium acetate. After development of severe encephalopathy, the animals were sacrificed (13.7 +/- 1.3 hours for rabbits with acute liver failure and 20.2 +/- 0.8 hours for rabbits with hyperammonemia) (x +/- S.E.M./n = 6) and their brains were dissected into cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and brain stem. The total protein content and the concentrations of the neuronal cell marker proteins NSE (neuron specific enolase), NF68 and NF200 (68 kD and 200 kD neurofilament polypeptides) and the glial cell marker proteins GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and S-100 were determined. Total protein content was decreased in the brain stem in acute hyperammonemia only. The content of neuronal and glial cell markers was not affected in either of the two conditions. However, low molecular weight proteolytic fragments of the NF 68 kD polypeptide were observed in the hippocampus of three out of six animals in both experimental groups. No proteolytic degradation of GFAP was observed. The results show that, in experimental encephalopathy due to acute liver failure and acute hyperammonemia, no major changes occur in the marker proteins. The finding of proteolytic fragments of the NF68 polypeptide indicates that the neuronal population is affected prior to glial alterations. These findings are in agreement with the concept that acute hepatic encephalopathy is reversible and induces only slight structural changes.

Acute Disease↗

Effects of triiodothyronine supplementation after myocardial ischemia.

Cardiopulmonary bypass causes a "euthyroid-sick" state characterized by low levels of circulating triiodothyronine. Triiodothyronine supplementation in this setting has been postulated to improve postischemic left ventricular function by increasing the availability of myocardial high-energy phosphates. These postulates have not been substantiated, however, using load-independent parameters of left ventricular function and analysis of high-energy phosphate metabolism. To test these hypotheses, 14 healthy pigs (30 to 40 kg) were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass and instrumented with left ventricular minor-axis ultrasonic crystals and micromanometer-tipped pressure catheters. Hearts were subjected to 30 minutes of global, normothermic ischemia. Triiodothyronine (0.1 mg/kg; n = 7) or placebo (n = 7) was administered in a random, investigator-blinded fashion at the removal of the aortic cross-clamp and after 60 minutes of reperfusion. Hemodynamic, metabolic, and ultrastructural data were obtained before ischemia and after 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes of reperfusion. By 90 minutes of reperfusion left ventricular contractility had returned to preischemic levels in hearts supplemented with triiodothyronine, despite postischemic myocardial adenosine triphosphate levels of 50% to 60% of baseline in both groups. Ultrastructurally, the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were significantly better preserved in the group treated with triiodothyronine. This study suggests that triiodothyronine supplementation significantly enhances postischemic left ventricular functional recovery and that this recovery is due to mechanisms other than enhanced availability of myocardial high-energy phosphates.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Cloning and analysis of the leuB gene of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona.

The leuB gene of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona strain kenniwicki has been cloned on a 9.5 kb plasmid, pWVL1, by complementation of Escherichia coli leuB mutants. Subcloning and Tn5 mutagenesis showed that the region required for complementation was approximately 1.2 kb in length. Enzyme assays showed that the product of the cloned gene was a beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase. Defects in the leuA, leuC and leuD genes of E. coli were not complemented by pWVL1. The nucleotide sequence of the leuB-complementing region and surrounding DNA has been determined. Three open reading frames were found which encode proteins of 40.9, 38.8 and 15 kDa. Analysis of subclones containing nucleotide deletions of varying sizes showed that only the 38.8 kDa protein was necessary to obtain complementation of E. coli leuB mutations. The PIR data base was searched and the enzyme 3-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase from six different micro-organisms was found to share significant amino acid sequence similarity (43-57%) with the 38.8 kDa L. interrogans leuB gene product. The organization of the leucine biosynthetic genes in L. interrogans differs from that found in E. coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis.

3-Isopropylmalate Dehydrogenase↗

Myocardial stunning and preconditioning: age, species, and model related differences: role of AMP-5'-nucleotidase in myocardial injury and protection.

Mechanisms of myocardial stunning include myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, catecholamine release, and oxygen free radical formation. Although the latter is the most widely supported mechanism, levels of 5'-nucleotidase (directs AMP dephosphorylation) are inversely related to functional recovery following ischemia and may also have a role in ischemic injury. Previous studies reveal that 5'-nucleotidase levels increase with age and also vary with species. An inhibitor of this enzyme (alpha, beta methylene adenosine 5'-diphosphate) was effective in maintaining AMP levels in vitro but was ineffective in dogs due to limited permeability. Observed species-specific differences in recovery from myocardial stunning may be related to differences in AMP accumulation and subsequent metabolism. Species showing improved recovery from stunning may accumulate AMP as a result of feedback inhibition of 5'-nucleotidase. Using a model of extreme experimentally-induced ischemia, we found that adenosine treatment allowed full recovery of ventricular function within 30 minutes, probably by entrapping ATP catabolites. Similarly, enhancement of adenosine production by N-diarylalkylpeprazine derivatives has also been shown to be cardioprotective in the setting of global normothermic ischemia. Novel strategies for pharmacological intervention in the ATP catabolic pathway should use animal models involving species that are tolerant to myocardial stunning.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Effects of triiodothyronine on stunned myocardium.

Administration of thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), causes numerous cardiovascular effects such as increases in stroke volume, cardiac output, heart rate, and myocardial contractility, and decreases in systemic vascular resistance. Along with other stressors, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been associated with reduced levels of T3. We examined the effects of T3 on early postischemic myocardial recovery in rabbit hearts subjected to crystalloid perfusion to simulate a low T3 state, and in pig hearts following global ischemia due to CPB. Studies using the former system showed that T3 administration results in significantly improved developed pressure after reperfusion of mildly ischemic hearts compared to controls, without producing inotropic effects. In more severely stunned rabbit hearts, physiologic and 10 times physiologic doses of T3 produced significantly improved (p < 0.05) stroke work end-diastolic length compared to placebo treatment. T3 treated pigs undergoing CPB and subjected to 30 minutes of global normothermic ischemia experienced significantly enhanced recovery of left ventricular contractility compared to controls at 90 and 120 minutes post reperfusion. Neither placebo nor T3 affected myocardial adenosine triphosphate levels. These data show that T3 enhances recovery from myocardial stunning without producing acute inotropic effects.

Animals↗

[The multiplication of Sindbis virus in BHK-21 cell].

One step growth curve of Sindbis virus (SbV) in BHK-21 cells showed that a lot of progeny viruses could be observed at 2 hr. after infection. The titer of virus reached the highest about 10(9)TCID50/ml at 6hr. post infection. The viral morphological characters and morphogenetic process in BHK-21 cells were examined by electron microscopic techniques. The dynamics of viral proteins synthesis and the effect on host cell were studied and discussed in this paper.

Animals↗

Protection of the stunned myocardium. Selective nucleoside transport blocker administered after 20 minutes of ischemia augments recovery of ventricular function.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic interventions capable of preventing ventricular dysfunction "stunning" or accelerating its functional recovery have potential clinical importance. Myocardial protection of the stunned myocardium has not been documented when drugs were administered only during postischemic reperfusion. The role of ATP depletion and release of purines in myocardial injury was assessed using the selective nucleoside transport blocker p-nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) in a combination with specific adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-[hydroxy-3-nonyl]adenine (EHNA) administered during reperfusion after reversible ischemic injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen anesthetized dogs were instrumented with minor axis sonocrystals and intraventricular Millar. Ventricular performance was determined, off bypass, from the slope of the relationship between stroke-work and end-diastolic length as a sensitive and load-independent index of contractility within physiological range. Hearts were subjected to 20 minutes' warm global ischemia and reperfused with warm blood treated with either saline (control group, n = 8) or saline containing 100 mumol/L EHNA and 25 mumol/L NBMPR (EHNA/NBMPR-treated group, n = 8). Myocardial biopsies were collected and analyzed for ATP and metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography. Warm ischemia induced significant depletion of ATP (P < .05 versus preischemia) and accumulation of inosine at the end of ischemia (> 90% of total nucleosides) in both groups. Complete functional recovery was observed in the EHNA/NBMPR-treated group (P < .05 versus control group). CONCLUSIONS: Selective entrapment of adenine nucleosides during postischemic reperfusion attenuated ventricular dysfunction (stunning) after brief global ischemia. It is concluded that nucleoside transport plays an important role in myocardial stunning, and its blockade augmented myocardial protection against reperfusion injury. Selective entrapment of endogenous inosine, generated during ischemia, represents an attractive therapeutic approach to the alleviation of postischemic dysfunction mediated by reperfusion in a wide spectrum of ischemic syndromes, including percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Adenine↗

Localization of adenovirus DNA by in situ hybridization electron microscopy.

Biotinylated deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP) (Bio-7-dATP) and 3H deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) labeled adenovirus DNA were hybridized in situ to thin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded and whole-mount extracted HeLa cells infected with adenovirus. The biotinylated probe was detected by exposing the extracted cells or sections to antibodies against biotin followed by colloidal gold-conjugated secondary antibodies and then critical-point dried while 3H-dTTP labeled probe by electron microscopic autoradiography. On Lowicryl K4M sections, gold particles and silver grains were mainly restricted in the nucleus. Furthermore, whole-mount results suggested that replicating adenovirus DNA is localized on the nuclear matrix of its host cell. In this paper, the described non-radioactive procedures for hybrid detection offered several advantages: a) rapid signal detection; b) superior morphological preservation and spatial resolution; c) precise localization; and d) on Lowicryl K4M sections, signal to noise equivalent to radiolabeling.

Acrylic Resins↗

Genetic polymorphism of human factor H (HF, beta 1H globulin) in Chinese Han population in northeast China.

The distribution of human factor H of serum phenotypes were studied using ultrathin polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing (PAGIEF) and subsequent immunoblotting techniques in 203 Chinese of Han population in Liaoning Province of northeast China. The gene frequencies of HF*A and HF*B were 0.4828 and 0.5172, respectively. All the observed numbers of the phenotypes were in agreement with the expected numbers under the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The gene frequencies among Chinese, Japanese, and Caucasian populations were compared.

China↗

Efficacy of a hydroxyl radical scavenger (VF 233) in preventing reperfusion injury in the isolated rabbit heart.

We tested the hypothesis that 3,4,5,-trihydroxybenzamidoxime (VF 233), a demonstrated hydroxyl radical scavenger and an effective Fe3+ chelator, attenuates reperfusion injury and improves isovolumic left ventricular function. Eighteen isolated, perfused rabbit hearts with intracavitary balloons were subjected to normothermic, global ischemia until the initiation of ischemic contracture. Effects on the adenine nucleotide pool metabolites were determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography from right ventricular biopsy specimens before ischemia and at 15-minute intervals throughout reperfusion. In the experimental group (n = 9), a 5-mL bolus of 1 mol/L VF 233 was given immediately before reperfusion and followed by a continuous infusion (0.125 mumol/min). The control group (n = 9) received the vehicle solution at identical times. Rabbits treated with VF 233 had significant improvement in left ventricular function (expressed as percent return of left ventricular peak developed pressure) within 15 minutes of reperfusion (55.0 +/- 3.0 versus 66.2 +/- 4.1; p less than 0.05 by analysis of variance) after global ischemia and remained significantly improved throughout the reperfusion period. Myocardial adenine nucleotide pool intermediates were not significantly different between groups. These results demonstrate that administration of VF 233 significantly improves ventricular function but does not affect adenine nucleotide metabolism after ischemia and reperfusion.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Low prevalence of HIV in high-risk seronegative homosexual men evidenced by virus culture and polymerase chain reaction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of covert HIV-1 infection. SETTING: High-risk seronegative homosexual men from the Pittsburgh portion of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study were examined for the presence of HIV-1 infection. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Ten men (group 1) were examined prospectively for the presence of HIV-1 in their freshly-obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Furthermore, cryopreserved PBMC from 26 men (group 2) at their first visit (1984-1985) were examined retrospectively for the presence of HIV-1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PBMC samples from groups 1 and 2 were examined for HIV-1 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using gag, env and strong-stop (long terminal repeat) specific primers. In addition, fresh PBMC samples from group 1 were examined for HIV-1 by virus culture. RESULTS: None of the 10 PBMC samples from group 1 were positive for virus culture and PCR. Only one of the 26 men from group 2 was positive for gag and strong-stop DNA sequences. This PCR-positive, seronegative subject was found to be negative for HIV-1 by PCR at follow-up visits up to 48 months later. None of 15 seronegative, low-risk homosexual men and 12 seronegative heterosexual men were found to be PCR-positive for HIV-1. However, six HIV-1-seropositive men were positive by PCR for gag, env, and strong-stop HIV-1 DNA sequences. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a low prevalence of covert HIV-1 infection in high-risk seronegative homosexual men in our geographic area.

Adult↗

In vivo activation of kainate receptors induces dephosphorylation of the heavy neurofilament subunit.

Injection of kainic acid (KA) into the rat hippocampus reduced the phosphorylation-related immunoreactivity of the heavy subunit of neurofilament proteins (NF-H). The effect was demonstrated quantitatively with a dot-immunobinding assay and qualitatively by immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies against phosphorylation-dependent and nonphosphorylation-related epitopes of NF-H. The KA-induced reduction affected 50% of the phosphorylated NF-H in half of the hippocampus after 48 h. At the same time, the nonphosphorylation-related NF-H immunoreactivity increased as revealed by immunoblotting, indicating a shift from phosphorylated to nonphosphorylated NF-H. The effects on NF-H preceded a decrease in content of the neuron-specific enolase, a soluble neuronal cytoplasmic protein. No alterations of the light subunit of neurofilament proteins occurred, suggesting that KA has a preferential effect on NF-H phosphorylation. N-Methyl-D-aspartate administered similarly did not lead to a rapid dephosphorylation of NF-H. We propose that kainate receptor-mediated dephosphorylation in NF-H is involved in the signal transduction of excitatory amino acids with consequences for neuronal functions dependent on intermediary filament phosphorylation.

Animals↗