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M Xiao

Publications and source records attributed to M Xiao.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Low incidence of severe aGVHD and accelerating hemopoietic reconstitution in allo-BMT using lenograstim stimulated BM cells.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of accelerating hemopoietic reconstraction and reducing a graft versus host disease (GVHD) in Allo-BMT receiving lenograstim stimulated donor marrow and to assess the preliminary biological mechanism. METHODS: The donors for thirty patients (study group) with leukemia were given lenograstim 3-4 micrograms.kg-1.d-1 for seven days prior to marrow harvest. The results of subsequent engraftment in the recipients was compared with fifteen donors without G-CSF (control group). Five donors themselves were studied to assess the effects of lenograstion on hematopoietic progenitor cells and lymphocyte subsets in BM. RESULTS: The stimulated bone marrow contained a higher number of nucleated cells, CFU-GM and CD34+ cells (P < 0.01). The hematopoetic reconstitution was accelerated. Until granulocyte counts exceeded 0.5 x 10(9)/L and plalete counts exceeded 20 x 10(9)/L, the days were 16.7 +/- 3.2 and 18.4 +/- 3.0 days as compared with those of the control group (22.5 +/- 5.1 and 26.3 +/- 5.9 days respectively, P < 0.01). The incidence of grade II-IV aGVHD was very low, only one case with grade II aGVHD on the skin in the study group. Four out of fifteen patients (26.7%) in the control group had grade II-IV aGVHD (P < 0.05). The number of T lymphocyte subsets in the harvested BM stimulated by G-CSF changed. In comparison with the control group, CD4+ decreased and CD8+ increased significantly (P < 0.01). The changes of progenitor cells and T lymphocyte subsets in BM from pre- to post-G-CSF stimulation indicated that the percentage of CD4+ cells reduced (P < 0.05), that of CD8+ cells, and that of CD34+ increased (P < 0.01). The incidence of chronic GVHD and relapse of leukemia were not different significantly between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Allogenic bone marrow transplant (Allo-BMT) donors given G-CSF can accelerate engraftment and minimize the incidence of severe aGVHD. There is a trend in favour of improved transplant-related complications.

Acute Disease↗

[Relationship between expression of IL-1 beta mRNA and rejection of heart allograft].

OBJECTIVE: To detect relationship between expression of IL-1 beta mRNA and allograft survival time. METHODS: A simplified heterotopic heart transplantation model and a new reliable semi-quanitative RT-PCR technique were used. Inbred SD and Wistar rats were used as donors and recipients respectively in allogeneic transplantation. In synogeneic transplantation, both the donor and recipient were Wistar rats. Thirty allografts and thirty isografts were assessed daily by palpation to observe grafts' viability. In every time point, six allografts and six isografts were used to detect IL-1 beta mRNA expression. The allografts and isografts were harvested on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11. After the total RNA was prepared, the control primer and target primer were amplified in the same tube. The average ratio of the target products pixel volume to primer's was calculated, by which the coordinates chart was made to detect the expression level of IL-1 beta mRNA directly. RESULTS: The levels of the IL-1 beta mRNA expression in allografts were much higher than those in isografts. The peak of elevated level of the IL-1 beta mRNA expressions appeared on the 1st day post-transplantation 1st day, and prior to the peak of the allografts dead time. CONCLUSIONS: The experiment suggested that the IL-1 beta may play an important role in rejection of heart graft. The determination of IL-1 beta mRNA expression may serve as a useful immunologic monitoring protocol, and some administrations against IL-1 beta may be used to prevent and treat rejection.

Animals↗

[Measurement of central respiratory drive and inspiratory muscles strength in patients with uremia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of central respiratory drive and inspiratory muscles function in patients with uremia. METHODS: We performed the measurement of forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal voluntary ventilation (MBC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), maximal midexpiratory flow (MMEF), expiratory flow of 25 per cent of FVC (V25), lung carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco), maximal inspiratory mouth pressure (MIP) and airway occlusion pressure (P0.1) in 25 patients with uremia and 20 normal subjects. RESULTS: In patients with uremia, the FVC, MBC, FEV1, PEF, MMEF and V25 which reflect the lung ventilatory function and the DLco which reflects the lung diffusing function were significantly lower than those in normal subjects. The patients' MIP which reflects inspiratory muscles strength was significantly lower and their P0.1 which reflects the central respiratory drive was significantly higher, compared with the normal subjects'. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that on the basis of the disorder of ventilation and diffusing function of the lungs, the inspiratory muscles function of the patients with uremia is significantly decreased and the central respiratory drive of the patients is increased.

Aged↗

[Effects of clasp designs of Kennedy Class II RPD on the displacement of alveolar bone around the abutment tooth--an under load hologram study].

OBJECTIVE: This article is to investigate the effects of different clasp designs of Kennedy class II RPD on the displacement of alveolar bone around the abutment tooth. METHODS: This experiment was carried out by using a separate human mandible. Five clasp designs were examined in this experiment, including RPA, RPI, modified RPI (mRPI), three-arm clasps and buccal wrought wired three-arm clasps. Hologramatic measurement was applied to record the different effects of these five designs of clasps on buccal and lingual alveolar bone. RESULTS: The RPI clasp was found to cause the smallest bone displacement. Generally, the clasps with the mesial occlusal rest (RPA, RPI, mRPI) caused smaller bone displacements than those with distal occlusal rests. The bar clasps brought about evenly spread bony displacements, however, the circumferential clasp caused highly concentrated displacement around apical site of the abutment tooth. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that mesial occlusal rests and bar clasps are preferable designs in this kind of prostheses.

Alveolar Process↗

Spatial and temporal expression of short, long/medium, or both opsins in human fetal cones.

Human cone photoreceptors are characterized by long (L), medium (M), or short (S) wavelength-specific opsin. No reports have described the developmental pattern of human cone opsin expression, nor has the existence of human cones containing more than one opsin been tested. Single-and double-label immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization have been used to determine the developmental pattern of opsin appearance and to investigate the presence of double-labeled cones in sections and wholemounts of human fetal, neonatal, infant, and adult retina. S opsin protein appears in and around the fovea at fetal week (Fwk) 10.9, whereas L/M opsin first appears in the fovea at Fwk 14-15. S opsin mRNA and protein are consistently detected much farther into peripheral retina than L/M opsin, indicating that S appears before L/M opsin. S cones cover 90% of the retina by Fwk 19. L/M cones appear outside the central retina by Fwk 21.5 and reach the retinal edge by Fwk 34-37. The spatial pattern of mRNA expression closely matches that for protein, but mRNA appears slightly earlier than protein at a given retinal point, indicating that only short delays occur between mRNA expression and translation into protein. Cones containing both S and L/M opsin (S+L/M) appear around the fovea shortly after L/M opsin is expressed, are found in more peripheral retina at older ages, and decrease in number after birth. Some S+L/M cones are still detected in adult retina. Both S opsin protein and mRNA appear significantly earlier than L/M mRNA or protein across the human retina, suggesting that the two cone types differentiate under independent controlling factors. However, the presence of single cones containing both S and L/M opsin during development suggests that human cones can respond to the factors controlling expression of each opsin.

Aging↗

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Journal Article↗

Prevalence of childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in Urumqi and Beijing.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of asthma and other allergies in children in Urumqi and Beijing, compared with that in Hong Kong. METHODS: A total of 7754 primary school students were randomly selected to participate in the study. Data were collected in 1995-96 using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol for 6- and 7-year-olds. The study design and data quality assurance in all aspects followed the protocol, including the double entry of data. RESULTS: The questionnaire response rate was high (98.9%). Beijing children reported significantly more asthma than those living in Urumqi in three categories: wheezing or whistling in the chest in the past year (6.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.1-6.9% vs 2.9%, 2.3-3.5%, P < 0.001), sleeping disturbed due to wheezing (1.3%, 0.9-1.7% vs 0.6%, 0.3-0.9%, P < 0. 03) and having experienced asthma ever (10.7%, 9.6-11.8% vs 7.6%, 6. 6-8.6%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (30.0% vs 31. 1% estimated as 12-month nasal symptoms in Beijing and Urumqi, respectively) and eczema (2.8% vs 2.0% recorded as 12-month itchy rash) in the two cities were not significantly different. A similar study was also performed in Hong Kong in 1995 using the same ISAAC protocol. The children in Urumqi and Beijing had fewer (P < 0.05) allergic symptoms compared to those living in Hong Kong (n = 3618). The 12-month prevalence of wheezing, nasal symptoms and itchy rash found in Hong Kong were 9.2% (95% CI: 8.2-10.2%), 35.1% (33.5-36.7%) and 4.2% (3.5-4.9%), respectively. CONCLUSION: : Urumqi, Beijing and Hong Kong represent communities at different stages of westernization and the results from these three cities reflect a worldwide trend for an increasing prevalence of allergies along with westernization. These three cities could assist in identifying risk factors involved in the increase in asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema.

Asthma↗

Transduction of human IL-9 receptor cDNA into TF1 cells induces IL-9 dependency and erythroid differentiation.

Human growth factor-dependent cell line TF1, which lacks interleukin (IL)-9 receptors (R) and does not grow in IL-9, was transduced with a retroviral vector containing human IL-9R cDNA and a selection marker. An IL-9-dependent TF1 cell line, which could also grow in other cytokines, was established after selection in G418 and could produce mature RBC in response to cytokine stimulation. TF1 cells transduced with the same viral vector without the IL-9R insert cDNA (mock control) and then selected responded the same as nontransduced TF1 cells. They failed to grow in response to IL-9 and did not generate RBC. An increased number and size of burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E)-like colonies were detected from IL-9R-transduced TF1 cells, compared with mock-transduced cells, in response to erythropoietin (EPO) and IL-9. To evaluate self-renewal and differentiation capacity, colony-replating assays were performed in the presence of IL-3, GM-CSF, IL-9, and EPO. After four replatings, the cloning efficiency of IL-9R-transduced TF1 cells decreased from 98% to 38%, most likely due to terminal erythroid cell differentiation. In contrast, no change in replating efficiency was detected in mock-transduced cells. TF1 cells stably expressing IL-9R and responding to IL-9 can serve as a cell line model to study the intracellular signals mediating IL-9-induced erythroid cell proliferation and differentiation.

Benzidines↗

Cellular and molecular aspects of human CD34+ CD38- precursors: analysis of a primitive hematopoietic population.

Hematopoiesis is a complex, highly regulated process in which a small number of primitive stem cells produce all the mature blood and immune cells required by an animal throughout its life. In this review, we summarize current understanding of human CD34+ CD38- cells, a small subclass of hematopoietic cells, which is enriched for primitive precursors, including stem cells. This review emphasizes functional, molecular and immunophenotypic characteristics of the cells and includes some of the factors which are believed to regulate the survival, growth and differentiation of this important class of cells.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

The value of serum GPDA-F for the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of glycylproline dipeptidyl aminopeptidase isoenzymes in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). METHODS: We developed a stage gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system to separate serum GPDA isoenzymes. Total GPDA activities, alpha-fetoprotein, the sizes of tumors and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were also measured simultaneously and the correlation between GPDA-F and these indices was analyzed. RESULTS: Serum GPDA was separated into two bands, namely fast band (GPDA-F) and slow band (GPDA-S). GPDA-F was negative in all healthy persons as well as in the patients with benign liver filling defects, while it was positive in 85.3% cases of PHC. Liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, extrahepatic carcinoma and metastatic liver carcinoma had low positive rates. GPDA-F was positively correlated with serum total GPDA activities, but had no correlation with AFP and size of the tumors. There was the correlation between GPDA-F and ALT in benign liver diseases, but no correlation between GPDA-F and ALT in PHC. Serial measurements of serum GPDA-F showed that GPDA-F was persistently positive in PHC but might change into negative in benign liver diseases. Dynamic determination of GPDA-F might be helpful to differentiate true positive of PHC from false positive of benign liver diseases. CONCLUSION: GPDA-F is a new serum marker of PHC. Measurement of serum GPDA-F is of value for the diagnosis of PHC, especially for those at early stage or with negative AFP.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Localization of tubby-like protein 1 in developing and adult human retinas.

PURPOSE: To localize tubby-like protein 1 (TULP1) in developing and adult human retinas. METHODS: TULP1 was localized by immunofluorescence microscopy in human retinas, aged 8.4 fetal weeks to adult. TULP1-positive cells were identified by double labeling with antibodies specific for cones, rods, and astrocytes. RESULTS: In adult retinas, anti-TULP1 labels cone and rod inner segments, somata, and synapses; outer segments are TULP1-negative. A few inner nuclear and ganglion cells are weakly TULP1-positive. In fetal retinas, cells at the outer retinal border are TULP1-positive at 8.4 weeks. At 11 weeks, the differentiating central cones are strongly TULP1-reactive and some are positive for blue cone opsin. At 15.4 weeks, all central cones are strongly positive for TULP1 and many are reactive for red/green cone opsin. At 17.4 weeks, central rods are weakly TULP-reactive. In peripheral retina at 15.4 weeks to 1 month after birth, displaced cones in the nerve fiber layer are positive for TULP1, recoverin, and blue cone opsin. Some ganglion cells are weakly reactive for TULP1 at 11 weeks and later, but astrocytes and the optic nerve are TULP1-negative at all ages examined. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of TULP1 labeling of cones before they are reactive for blue or red/green cone opsin suggests an important role for TULP1 in development. TULP1 expression in both developing and mature cones and rods is consistent with a primary photoreceptor defect in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) caused by TULP1 mutations. Weak TULP1-immunolabeling of some inner retinal neurons in developing and adult retinas suggests that optic disc changes in patients with RP who have TULP1 mutations may be primary as well as secondary to photoreceptor degeneration.

Adult↗

Detection of interleukin-8 in exudates from normal and inflamed human dental pulp tissues.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of IL-8 in exudates clinically obtained from normal and inflamed human dental pulp tissues so as to reveal the possible relationship between IL-8 and pulpitis. METHODS: Samples of 2 microliters of pulpal exudate from each normal or clinically diagnosed as acute or chronic pulpitis teeth was obtained by filter paper strips and IL-8 level was measured by ELISA method. RESULTS: No IL-8 was detected in the samples from normal pulp, but significant amount of IL-8 appeared in inflamed pulp tissues, and the level of IL-8 in exudates of acute stage of pulpitis was higher than that of chronic stage (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that IL-8 is produced and accumulated in pulp inflammation and may play a role in the occurrence and development of human pulpitis.

Acute Disease↗

[Determination of naringin and synephrine in fructus aurantii from different habitats by HPLC].

This paper reports the determination of Naringin and Synephrine in Fructus Aurantii from different habitats by HPLC. The result shows the highest content of Naringin in Citrus aurantium L. 'Xiangcheng' from genuine crude drug habitat Xingan city Jiangxi provice, the highest content of synephrine in Citrus aurantium L. 'Xiangcheng' from Yiyang city Jiangxi provice. Quality evaluation of genuine crude drug was studied preliminarily.

China↗

A comparison between the sulfhydryl reductants tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine and dithiothreitol for use in protein biochemistry.

The newly introduced sulfhydryl reductant tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) is a potentially attractive alternative to commonly used dithiothreitol (DTT). We compare properties of DTT and TCEP important in protein biochemistry, using the motor enzyme myosin as an example protein. The reductants equally preserve myosin's enzymatic activity, which is sensitive to sulfhydryl oxidation. When labeling with extrinsic probes, DTT inhibits maleimide attachment to myosin and must be removed before labeling. In contrast, maleimide attachment to myosin was achieved in the presence of TCEP, although with less efficiency than no reductant. Surprisingly, iodoacetamide attachment to myosin was nearly unaffected by either reductant at low (0.1 mM) concentrations. In electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy utilizing nitroxide spin labels, TCEP is highly advantageous: spin labels are two to four times more stable in TCEP than DTT, thereby alleviating a long-standing problem in EPR. During protein purification, Ni(2+) concentrations contaminating proteins eluted from Ni(2+) affinity columns cause rapid oxidation of DTT without affecting TCEP. For long-term storage of proteins, TCEP is significantly more stable than DTT without metal chelates such as EGTA in the buffer, whereas DTT is more stable if metal chelates are present. Thus TCEP has advantages over DTT, although the choice of reductant is application specific.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Expression of Flt3 and c-kit during growth and maturation of human CD34+CD38- cells.

Studies of murine stem cells suggest that the cytokine receptors Flt3 and c-kit are expressed differentially on the earliest reconstitutional cells, such that Flt3 is not expressed until after stem cell activation. Much less is known about the expression of Flt3 and c-kit on primitive human cells, especially those mobilized into circulation for transplantation. In this study, early circulating precursors were analyzed for expression of Flt3 at the gene and protein levels. Flow cytometric studies showed that >90% of CD34+CD38- cells expressed Flt3 antigen (CD135). The proportion of fresh CD34+ cells expressing Flt3 decreased as CD38 staining increased. These results were confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses, which showed that Flt3 gene expression generally was limited to the CD34+CD38- population. Because Flt3 ligand (FL) enhances the growth and/or maintenance of primitive cells, it was important to know how long early cells retain Flt3 receptor expression in expansion culture. Both RT-PCR analyses and functional tests demonstrated that primitive cells are capable of expressing Flt3 for as long as 2 weeks in liquid medium. During the first week of culture, FL enhanced the generation of cells and progenitors without causing a loss of primitive CD34+CD38-Flt3+ cells. Flt3 expression in cell cultures was limited to precursors retaining a CD34+CD38(-/lo) phenotype. Because the most primitive human precursors are believed to express c-kit at a low level, we examined the FL responsiveness of CD34+CD38-c-kit(-/lo) cells and CD34+CD38-c-kit+ cells. CD34+CD38-c-kit(-/lo), cells constituted a small fraction (12%) of the CD34+CD38- population. Whereas both c-kit(-/lo) and c-kit+ subsets were stimulated by FL, cell expansion (p < 0.01) and colony formation (p < 0.01) were greater and maintained longer with CD34+CD38-c-kit(-/lo) cells. Furthermore, the rapid response to FL suggests that primitive CD34+CD38-c-kit(-/lo) cells express Flt3 at the time of isolation or shortly thereafter. These results demonstrate the presence of Flt3 on CD34+CD38 blood cells and suggests that Flt3 also may be present on a c-kit(-/lo) subset, among the most primitive in circulation. Flt3 is lost during maturation to committed (CD34+CD38+) lineages. Addition of FL to primitive cell cultures stimulates cell expansion while maintaining early CD34+CD38-Flt3+ precursors for at least 7 days. The possible existence of a more primitive CD34+CD38-c-kit(-/lo) Flt3(-/lo) precursor remains to be determined.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Time diffraction of evanescent waves.

The concept of time diffraction of evanescent electromagnetic waves is proposed. Transient propagation of electromagnetic waves is studied in two forms: propagating and evanescent waves. Differences and similarities between quantum particle tunneling and photon tunneling are clearly demonstrated. Traversal time cannot be accurately defined due to diffraction in time. Nevertheless, a delay time is defined as the difference between the time of flight and the peak time of the transient light. The delay time is found to increase linearly and slowly with the traversal distance. Superluminal tunneling is found possible only for evanescent waves, and Einstein causality is not violated.

Journal Article↗

Growth factor staining patterns in the pig retina following retinal laser photocoagulation.

AIM: To identify changes in growth factor expression in miniature pig retinas following retinal laser photocoagulation. METHODS: Pigs were sacrificed at different times (15 minutes to 42 days) post-laser and the retinas were immunolabelled for basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor I, transforming growth factor beta, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor alpha, platelet derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and epidermal growth factor receptor. Total mRNA levels were also determined. RESULTS: With the exception of vascular endothelial growth factor, immunoreactivity for all other growth factors studied and epidermal growth factor receptor was observed throughout normal non-lasered control retina, generally being high in the retinal pigment epithelium and low in the neural retina. Changes in growth factor expression following laser photocoagulation were observed only in burn areas and changes were mainly confined to the retinal pigment epithelium and outer nuclear layer. The immunoreactivity within retinal pigment epithelial cells in burn areas was either absent or decreased following laser treatment but returned to normal by 21 days. The immunoreactivity was increased within the outer nuclear layer of burn areas during the healing process but returned to normal by 42 days. Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoreactivity was weak/absent in the normal retina and remained unchanged following laser photocoagulation. Change of total mRNA levels in burn areas during time post-laser was confined to retinal pigment epithelial cells, being low immediately following photocoagulation and returning to normal by 42 days. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a temporal alteration in growth factor expression and transcriptional activity in the retina following laser photocoagulation.

Animals↗