Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Q Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Q Chen.

At least 685 records · Page 38Linked to original sources

Experimental research on treatment of hypertension with acupuncture.

The effects of acupuncture on blood pressure, microcirculation of bulbar conjunctiva and hemorheology in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) were observed. The mechanism of acupuncture to lower blood pressure is discussed from the viewpoint of microcirculation and hemorheology. SHRs and Wistar rats of both sexes weighing about 250g were divided into three groups: 1. Acupuncture group of 15 SHRs, in which Quchi (LI 11) and Taichong (Liv 3), Hegu (LI 4) and Zusanli (St 36) were selected and punctured twice a day with the needle retained for 15 minutes and the reducing method by twisting and twirling the needle used, 15 days constituting a course; 2. Control group of 10 SHRs; 3. Control group of 10 normal Wistar rats. All rats in groups 2 and 3 were treated in the same way as in Group 1 except for the acupuncture. It was found that the morphology and blood flow of bulbar conjunctiva microcirculation in SHRs were obviously abnormal: the capillaries with blood flow were reduced in number, the arterioles were spasmodic and of smaller diameter, the venules were dilated due to blood stasis which showed a slow granular flow of blood, the blood viscosity was increased, hematocrit increased, and the time for RBC electrophoresis prolonged. The blood was in a state of high viscosity, high concentration and high aggregation. After acupuncture treatment the blood pressure not only fell, but the morphology and blood flow of bulbar conjunctiva microcirculation and the hemorheology of SHRs all improved remarkably.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acupuncture Therapy↗

[Effect of SC1001-sodium on ADA activity of the thymus, spleen and brain in repeated seizure rats].

Twenty nine adult SD rats in the experiment were randomly separated into two groups. Nineteen rats of them were intramuscularly injected (i.m.) with Coriaria lactone (CL, 2.5 mg/kg for female rat; 30 mg/kg for male rat) two days a time, continued 28 times, to induce repeated seizures, as the experimental group. The control group (n = 10) was injected with normal saline (N.S.) in the same volume as that of CL. The rats of experimental group were subdivided into a treatment group (n = 9) with SC1001Na (200 mg/kg) and a placebo group (n = 10) receiving N.S. in the same volume as that of SC1001 Na. All rats of repeated seizure were administered once every day for a week. The results indicated that SC1001Na (200 mg/kg) could inhibit in some degree the growth of immune organs (spleen and thymus) and significantly decrease the ADA activity of thymus, cerebrum and cerebellum, suggesting that the antiepileptic mechanism of SC1001Na is probably related with the decreased activity of ADA and the increased adenosine level in brain.

Adenosine Deaminase↗

[The preparation of 99mTc-NGA instant lyophilized kit for hepatic imaging].

The preparation of one-step kit for the 99mTc labelled galactosyl-neo-glycoalbumin (NGA) using SnCl2 reduced method was reported in this paper. We developed a method of quality control and established the optimum scheme of technetium labelling on the basis of exploring the effects of varied labelled conditions on radiochemical purity. Our data indicates : (a) the kit is sterile, pyrogen-free and no toxic effects; (b) the operation is simple and fast; (c) its period of validity lasts no less than 3 months; (d) the radiochemical purity > 95%; (e) the stability of 99mTc-NGA in vitro > 4 hours; (f) the results of animal imaging and clinical probation are satisfactory.

Albumins↗

Kinetic study and modelling on L-arginine fermentation.

The batch fermentation of L-arginine using Corynebacterium crenatum L-arginine-producing mutant 971.1 was kinetically studied in a 2.6 L fermentor for the following purposes: kinetic classification of L-arginine fermentation by the comparison of the two-phases of specific growth rates; modelling of the L-arginine fermentation, and discussion about the effects of oxygen supply on the conversion rate of glucose to L-arginine, by comparing the fraction of glucose-consumption for L-arginine-formation alpha p and the fraction of glucose-consumption for cell-growth alpha x under different oxygen transfer coefficients kLa. The kinetic fermentative behavior of the strain 971.1 in L-arginine formation, which was related to the velocity and effectiveness of the metabolism of the cell, was mathematically analyzed.

Arginine↗

[Oxidized lipoproteins and atherogenesis].

The assumption that the oxidation of lipoproteins plays an eminent role in the development of atherosclerosis is of increasing significance. Our examinations concerned the kinetics of lipid peroxidation of the poly-unsaturated fatty acids in lipoproteins and the existing protection mechanisms by antioxidants, such as vitamin E and carotenoids. Clinical studies proving a correlation of plasma levels and antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E and carotenoids in correlation with cardiovascular disease are cited and discussed. Certain aldehydes originating during lipid peroxidation in LDL modify the protein part of LDL. The consequence of the oxidative modification of LDL is a decreased recognition of LDL by the LDL-receptor and moreover the uptake by macrophages hereby changing to foam cells. Epitopes as developed in oxidatively modified LDL were also shown immunohistochemically in atherosclerotic plaques. Finally a hypothetic scheme is presented how LDL is oxidized in the vessel wall and how it initiates processes resulting in atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

[Pharmacokinetic studies on 99mTc-NGA in human].

Two normal subjects and three patients with hepatic disease were intravenously injected each with a single dose of 99mTc-NGA (galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin), a liver receptor imaging agent. The results showed that pharmacokinetics of 99mTc-NGA accorded with the two compartment open model. In the normal subjects, T1/2 alpha and T1/2 beta averaged 1.65 and 19.39 min respectively, indicating a rapid distribution process and a slow elimination process. There were significant differences in pharmacokinetics of 99mTc-NGA between the normal subjects and the patients with hepatic disease, and therefore the relevant parameters are of importance for the evaluation of hepatic function.

Adolescent↗

[A study on PEFV curves in adolescents].

We measured the PEFV curves in 557 adolescents aged from 6 to 19. Among them 200 were measured for MEFV curves additionally. The multiple regression equations of FVC and VFRC were simultaneously set up. The result indicated that the indexes increased with the growth of age. At the beginning stage (6-14 years) there was no difference in the indexes between boys and girls. Later in the age range from 14-16 years there were two cross points. Lastly (after 16 years) the indexes of the boys were much higher than those of the girls. The results suggest that the measurement of VFRC is a possible sensitive index to reflect the lung function variation, because it has not been influenced by the volume history.

Adolescent↗

[The number, distribution and effects of interleukin-2 receptor and CD4 antigens in benign and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases].

An analysis of immunophenotypes was made in benign and malignant lymphoproliferative diseases (35 cases) and short cultured lymphocytes of chronic tonsillitis (15 cases). The number, distribution and variation of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25) and CD4 positive cells in the above lesions were studied. The results showed that (1) there were more or less IL-2R+ and CD4+ cells presented in the tissues of benign lymphoproliferative lesions; (2) IL-2R antigen was also presented in some tumor and non-tumor cells with CD4+ reaction but it was not found in the cells with CD1+ or/and CD8+ reactions; (3) IL-2R and CD4 antigens were expressed in the proliferated lymphocytes stimulated by PHA. Although IL-2R antigen is not a specific marker to certain types of lymphocytes, it has some relations with immunophenotypes of lymphocytes. The functions and effects of IL-2, IL-2R and helper T lymphocytes were also discussed.

CD4 Antigens↗

[Construct of the stable-produced strain for the thermostable alpha-amylase].

The plasmid pE194 as a vector is used to subclone the thermostable alpha-amylase gene of B. licheniformis and construct recombinant plasmid pNW102. The plasmid pNW102 was transduced into B. subilis BF 7658 by bacteriophage PBS1. The B. subtilis BF7658 (pNW102) strain was treated at non-permissive temperature for a long time, and obtained many recombinant strains. This is the homologous recombination results between alpha-amylase genes of pNW102 and BF7658. The homologous recombination occurs at any site in alpha-amylase gene but there are some heat-spots. We have already screened 2 strains from the recombination strains which can stably produce the thermostable alpha-amylase in B. subtilis BF7658. The analysis of enzymology shows that the characters of the thermpstable alpha-amylase produced from the recombinants strains are the same with that of B. licheniformis.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Regulation of the cellular stress response by reactive electrophiles. The role of covalent binding and cellular thiols in transcriptional activation of the 70-kilodalton heat shock protein gene by nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates.

The cytotoxicity of nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates (NCC) in the renal epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1, is due to the covalent binding of a reactive electrophilic metabolite produced from NCC metabolism by cysteine conjugate beta-lyase. Covalent binding of NCC-derived reactive metabolites leads to a cascade of events including depletion of cellular non-protein sulfhydryls, increased cytosolic free calcium, and lipid peroxidation, which is ultimately responsible for cell death. We have used this model to investigate the signalling mechanism(s) through which reactive electrophiles increase synthesis of the 70-kD heat shock protein (HSP70). NCC treatment resulted in increased HSP70 synthesis as well as time- and dose-dependent increases in hsp70 mRNA in LLC-PK1 cells. The induction of hsp70 mRNA was blocked by actinomycin D, and nuclear run-on experiments showed that the hsp70 gene was transcriptionally activated. Inhibition of protein synthesis did not block the increase in hsp70 mRNA or transcriptional activation of the hsp70 gene suggesting that induction occurs due to activation of existing transcription factors. Inhibiting the covalent binding with a beta-lyase inhibitor, aminooxyacetic acid, blocked the increase in hsp70 mRNA. Agents which do not alter binding but do prevent toxicity by blocking the rise in cytosolic free calcium and lipid peroxidation were not effective inhibitors of hsp70 mRNA accumulation. However, the thiol reducing agent, dithiothreitol, inhibited induction of hsp70 mRNA by NCC. The data suggest that covalent binding and alterations in cellular non-protein thiols serve as signals for activation of pre-existing transcription factors which increase hsp70 gene expression. It is proposed that reactive electrophiles may have a primary effect on protein conformation resulting in activation of the hsp70 gene.

Aminooxyacetic Acid↗

Studies on epitopes on low-density lipoprotein modified by 4-hydroxynonenal. Biochemical characterization and determination.

Oxidation of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was found to be accompanied by the generation of various reactive aldehydes. One of them, 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), was shown to modify LDL to a form which represents a good model of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). In order to investigate the epitopes newly formed on HNE-modified LDL, a polyvalent antiserum to HNE-LDL [anti-(HNE-LDL)] was raised in rabbits and the non-specific components were removed with native LDL coupled to CNBr-Sepharose 4B. Competitive fluorescence immunoassay analysis showed that anti-(HNE-LDL) recognized HNE-LDL, copper-oxidized LDL, HNE-albumin and to a lower extent HNE-modified high-density lipoprotein 3 (HNE-HDL3) and ox-HDL3 but not native LDL. A certain degree of cross-reactivity of the antibody with LDLs modified by either hexanal or 2,4-heptadienal was found. No reaction was obtained with LDL labelled with malondialdehyde. From the abilities of HNE-modified poly(L-amino acids) to compete with HNE-LDL for binding to anti-(HNE-LDL), it is postulated that lysine, tyrosine, arginine and histidine are involved in the formation of HNE-derived epitopes on apolipoprotein B (apo B). Using a double-sandwich fluorescence immunoassay [capture antibody: anti-(apo B); detection antibody: anti-(HNE-LDL)] we found that the HNE-derived epitopes were expressed at a far higher degree in ox-LDL and HNE-LDL than in native LDL.

Aldehydes↗

MHC-restricted responses of CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell clones from regional lymph nodes of melanoma patients.

Regional lymph-node (LN) lymphocytes may constitute an important defence against the spread of human melanoma beyond regional LNs. The present study was directed to clonal analysis of lymphocytes cultured either directly from the LNs or after stimulation in cultures with autologous melanoma (MLTC). T-cell clones derived from MLTC reactions had either CD4+ or CD8+ phenotypes. Inhibition studies with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) suggested that the CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) clones had MHC-class-I-restricted cytotoxic activity against the autologous and a proportion of HLA-class-I-compatible allogeneic melanomas. The pattern of cytotoxicity against a panel of HLA-typed melanoma cells and inhibition by (polyclonal) HLA-typing sera suggested the CD8+ CTL were restricted by HLA-A3. The CD4+ T-cell clones had weak cytotoxic activity which appeared restricted by HLA-DR2. T cells cultured from unstimulated lymphocytes were all CD4+. One of the clones exhibited cytotoxic activity against both the autologous and HLA-DR2-compatible allogeneic melanoma cells, whereas another 2 had cytotoxic activity only against a HLA-DR2-compatible allogeneic melanoma established from a primary melanoma. IL-2 production by a 4th non-cytotoxic clone had similar specificity. These results suggest that HLA-A3 and DR2 may act as restricting elements in recognition of melanoma antigens by T cells from LNs and that they may have recognized at least 2 different antigens on the melanoma cells.

Aged↗

Targeting of "T" lymphocytes against human hepatoma cells by a bispecific monoclonal antibody: role of different lymphocyte subsets.

In an attempt to construct bispecific monoclonal antibodies (bimAbs) able to target cytotoxic T lymphocytes against human hepatoma cells, an HGPRT-deficient mutant of the Hepama-6 hybridoma, which produces an antihuman-hepatoma mAb, was directly fused with splenocytes from Balb/C mice immunized by a polyclonal cytotoxic T-cell line. Hybrid hybridomas were selected in HAT medium, and their supernatants were directly screened for the ability to induce IL-2-cultured cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill hepatoma cells in a 51Cr-release assay. The selected hybrid hybridoma, termed DQ-33, secretes a bimAb, which reacts with a CD3-associated determinant. When resting peripheral-blood lymphocytes were used as effector cells, virtually no cytolytic activity could be induced by DQ-33, whereas phytohemagglutinin-activated lymphocytes that had been expanded in vitro in IL-2-containing medium could be efficiently targeted against hepatoma cells. Targeting by DQ-33 bimAb was analyzed on different subsets of IL-2-cultured lymphocytes. It was evident that CD+4-8+ TCR alpha/beta+ and CD3+4-8-TCR gamma/delta+ lymphocytes were efficiently induced by bimAb to lyse human hepatoma cells, whereas no induction of cytolysis could be observed when CD3 + 4 + 8-TCR alpha/beta+ cells were used as effectors. DQ-33 bimAb was also able to induce lymphokine secretion (IL-2, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha) by all the different subsets of lymphocytes analyzed in the presence of target cells expressing the relevant antigen, independent of the expression of cytolytic activity.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Activation of the growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene gadd 153 by nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates and dithiothreitol.

The cellular and biochemical events which transduce chemical insults into signals for increased expression of the stress-responsive gene gadd 153 were investigated using nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates. In LLC-PK1 cells, cysteine conjugate toxicity is initiated by covalent binding, but depletion of cellular thiols, an increase in cytosolic free calcium, and lipid peroxidation couple the binding to cell death (Chen, Q., Jones, T. W., Brown, P. C., and Stevens, J. L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 21603-21611; Chen, Q., Jones, T. W., and Stevens, J. L. (1991) Toxicologist 11, 101, 1991). Three different toxic cysteine conjugates induced gadd 153 mRNA. With S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), the induction was both concentration and time-dependent. Preventing the metabolism of DCVC and covalent binding of DCVC-derived reactive metabolites to cellular macromolecules with the beta-lyase inhibitor (aminooxy)acetic acid blocked the induction. However, buffering free calcium with a cell permeable calcium chelator or blocking lipid peroxidation with an antioxidant did not affect the induction of gadd 153 mRNA by DCVC even though these treatments inhibit toxicity. These data suggest that covalent binding of reactive metabolites to cellular macromolecules may serve as a primary signal for the induction of gadd 153 mRNA by nephrotoxic cysteine conjugates. Interestingly, the sulfhydryl agent dithiothreitol, which was nontoxic and prevented the toxicity of DCVC, also induced an increase in gadd 153 mRNA. When both dithiothreitol and DCVC were added to cells, there were no inhibitory or additive effects on expression. Therefore, cellular thiol-disulfide status may also play a role in gadd 153 induction.

Aminooxyacetic Acid↗

Lipoprotein receptor mediated metabolism of [14C]arachidonic acid labeled chylomicron remnants by Hep G2 cells.

During lipolysis of chylomicron triacylglycerol by lipoprotein lipase, arachidonic acid (AA) esters are hydrolyzed at a slower rate than the predominant 16-18 carbon fatty acid esters. The further metabolism of the AA that is hereby enriched in the chylomicron remnant acylglycerols has not been investigated. In the present study, we examined the low density lipoprotein (LDL) dependent and independent metabolism of [14C]AA present in chylomicron remnants in the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Mesenteric duct cannulated rats were fed [14C]AA and [3H]cholesterol in corn oil, and the chyle obtained was injected intravenously into hepatectomized rats to form chylomicron remnants labeled with [14C]AA in the triacylglycerol (TG) and with 3H in the cholesteryl ester portion. The remnants were then incubated with Hep G2 cells. The uptake of [14C]AA within 2-4 h was similar to that of [3H]cholesteryl ester. After uptake into the cells, [14C]AA was preferentially incorporated into phospholipids, a high proportion being found in phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol. [14C]AA and [3H]cholesteryl ester uptake were influenced to similar extents by factors unknown to regulate the LDL receptor and by an anti-LDL receptor antibody. Addition of compactin thus increased the uptake of [14C]AA by 50% in 4 h and mevalonolactone decreased the uptake by 86%. Using an anti-LDL receptor antibody, 25.0% of [3H]cholesterol/cholesteryl ester and 37.7% of [14C]AA binding to the cells at 4 degrees C were blocked. There was no lipolysis of [14C]TG or [14C]diacylglycerol by lipase secreted into the medium during incubations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arachidonic Acid↗

Antioxidative effect of polyphenol extract prepared from various Chinese teas.

METHODS. Twelve different types of Chinese teas, including green, semifermented, and black tea, were studied for their antioxidant activities and active components. Compositions of (-)-epicatechin, (-)-epigallocatechin, (-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, and gallic acid were identified by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant activities in lard were measured by the Rancimat method. RESULTS. The results showed that both yields of polyphenol extract and antioxidant activities varied with different tea processing methods. It was found that (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin, and (-)-epicatechin gallate inhibited soybean lipoxygenase at the IC50 values ranging from 10 to 20 microM.

Animals↗