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Biomedical subjects

Q Qiu

Publications and source records attributed to Q Qiu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Urinary follicle stimulating hormone can be used as a biomarker to assess male reproductive function.

AIM: To develop an algorithm for use in population-based studies to assess testicular function by measurements of total urinary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). METHODS: Total concentrations of urinary FSH were measured in a group of 44 men at the University of California, Davis (UCD) and were compared to FSH measurements in serum. On the basis of these and other published data, a urinary FSH value of >2 ng/mg creatinine (Cr) was selected as the cutoff point to identify men with elevated serum FSH ( > 12 IU/L) or low sperm counts ( < 20 million/mL). RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of this algorithm for detecting elevated serum FSH in a group of 58 agricultural workers in the People' s Republic of China were 100% and 50%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of this algorithm for detecting low sperm counts in a population of 105 infertility patients at UCD were 58 % and 76 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: This test may have particular value in identifying populations with no evidence of testicular toxicity, and in which labor-intensive semen studies may not be feasible.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1999

[Variations of the middle meatus mucosa ultrastructure after endoscopic sinus surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the variations of middle meatus ultrastructure after endoscopic sinus surgery. METHOD: 10 cases whose middle meatus mucosa recovered well after undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery were screened, and postoperative electron microscope examinations of middle meatus mucosa were made in the first, second, third and forth month. RESULT: In the first month after operation, there was obvious fibre proliferation in the mucosa. In the second month, there was fibre proliferation and dissolution existing simultaneously. In the third month, the mucosa's structure resumed fundamentally to normal, but its function was not perfect. In the forth month, the mucosa was completely normal and can function normally. CONCLUSION: The mucosa of middle meatus can resume completely after endoscopic sinus surgery but need at least four months. It is very important to have a long time reexamination for improving therapeutic effect.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Molecular cloning and characterization of LR3, a novel LDL receptor family protein with mitogenic activity.

We report molecular cloning and initial functional characterization of a novel member of the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene family. The cDNA was isolated from a human osteoblast cDNA library and encoded a 1,615 amino acids protein designated as LR3. It has, in the extracellular region, a cluster of three LDLR ligand binding repeats at a juxtamembrane position and four EGF precursor homology domains separated by YWTD spacer repeats. The entire ectodomain shares the same modular organization with the middle portion of the extracellular regions of two LDLR family members, LDLR-related protein (LRP), and gp330/megalin. LR3 mRNA was expressed in most of the adult and fetal tissues examined. The highest expression level was seen in aorta. In human osteosarcoma cells examined, LR3 mRNA was highly enriched in TE85 cells, moderately expressed in MG63 cells and primary human osteoblasts, and undetectable in SaOS-2 cells. NIH 3T3 cells transfected with either full length LR3 or its ectodomain showed significantly increased proliferation, whereas transfection of intracellular domain had no proliferative effect. We predict that LR3 is a multi-functional protein with potential mitogenic activity.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1998

Attachment, morphology, and protein expression of rat marrow stromal cells cultured on charged substrate surfaces.

Although surface charge has been shown to affect the adhesion and morphology of a variety of cell types, the interactions of bone marrow stromal cells with charged surfaces still remain unclear. A novel electrical stimulation system was used to investigate the interactions between rat bone marrow stromal cells and charged substrates in this study. A conductive and transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) coating was used as an electret substrate. Rat marrow stromal cells were cultured on positive, negative, and uncharged ITO surfaces. Cell attachment, morphology, alkaline phosphatase activity, and expression of osteopontin and collagen type III were assessed using histochemical staining, immunolabeling, and fluorescence microscopy. Voltages of 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and 1.0 V applied to the substrates created surface potentials but were insufficient to decompose the media. On positively charged ITO, cell attachment was enhanced in serum-supplemented and serum-free media. Furthermore, decreases in cell spreading, alkaline phosphatase activity, and osteopontin were observed in cells grown on the positively charged ITO. These data indicate that positively charged surfaces enhance cell attachment but suppress cell spreading and differentiation of rat marrow stromal cells.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

Enzyme immunoassay method for total urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) beta subunit and its application for measurement of total urinary FSH.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for total urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that can be used to evaluate frozen-thawed urine samples. DESIGN: A method was developed for dissociating urinary FSH into subunits by boiling. An ELISA for the free beta subunit of FSH was used to measure total FSH in urine samples collected from male and female volunteers. The urinary FSH values were compared with serum FSH concentrations in paired samples. SETTING: A clinical research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Serum and urine samples from normal male and female volunteers and from men with infertility were used to develop and validate an assay for total urinary FSH. INTERVENTION(S): None. RESULT(S): Urinary FSH concentrations in frozen-thawed urine were highly correlated to matched serum FSH concentrations. CONCLUSION(S): A microtiter plate ELISA for FSH beta subunit provides an economical method for evaluating FSH secretion in men and women. This method has practical applications for population-based epidemiologic studies in which urine samples are collected in the field and stored frozen before analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Formation and differentiation of three-dimensional rat marrow stromal cell culture on microcarriers in a rotating-wall vessel.

Using a high aspect ratio vessel (HARV), this study investigated the formation of 3-D rat marrow stromal cell culture on microcarriers and the expression of bone-related biochemical markers under conditions of simulated microgravity. In addition, it calculated the shear stresses imparted on the surface of microcarriers of different densities by the medium fluid in an HARV. Secondary rat marrow stromal cells were cultured on two types of microcarriers, Cytodex-3 beads and modified bioactive glass particles. Examination of cellular morphology by scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of three-dimensional multicellular aggregates consisting of multiple cell-covered Cytodex-3 microcarriers bridged together. Mineralization was observed in the aggregates. Spherical cell-bead aggregates were observed in an HARV, while cell-bead assemblies were mostly loosely packed in a chain-like or branched structure in a cell bag. The expressions of alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen type I, and osteopontin were shown via the use of histochemical staining, immunolabeling, and confocal scanning electron microscopy. Using a numerical approach, it was found that at a given rotational speed and for a given culture medium, a larger density difference between the microcarrier and the culture medium (e.g., a modified bioactive glass particle) imparted a higher maximum shear stress on the microcarrier.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1998

[Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and dermatomyositis (analysis of 12 cases)].

The onset relationship between dermatomyositis (DM) and malignant tumor, especially nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), was approached. Approximately 90 cases of DM were admitted in the hospital. Among them 15 cases were complicated with malignant tumor of which 12 cases were complicated with NPC (account for 80% of DM with complicated carcinoma). In addition to treat these patients with prednisone and antibiotics, radiation therapy has been applied for NPC and metastasis in the neck. During the hospitalizations, one patient died, eleven patients' NPC was controlled, and the DM was completely resolved or improved. There is an obvious relationship between DM and carcinoma. DM may improve or even subside with good short term prognosis, as long as the carcinoma is controlled successfully.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Effect of Fusheng powder on activity of vascular endothelial cells and its adhesion to polymorphonuclear neutrophils].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Fusheng powder on the adhesion of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in human peripheral blood to vascular endothelial cells (VEC). METHODS: Using cultured human umbilical vein cells as target cells, while being incubated with high glucose (HG, 30 mmol/L), high-lipid (HL, 20%), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, 10%) and hypoxia (95% N2, 5% CO2, 37 degrees C, 30 min, and then in the air 30 min) for 24 h, respectively, the activity of VEC and the adhesive effect of PMN to VEC were surveyed. RESULTS: It revealed that HG, HL, TNF-alpha and hypoxia could enhance obviously the adhesion of PMN to VEC, the cell attachment rate in normal control, HG group, TNF-alpha, hypoxia and HL after 30 minutes contact were 100%, 129.6%, 136.7%, 151.4% and 167.7% (all P < 0.01, compared with control group) respectively, but high and low dosage of the Fusheng powder could significantly inhibit the adhesion of PMN to VEC. CONCLUSIONS: HG, HL, TNF-alpha and hypoxia could all activate EC respectively and enhance the adhesion of PMN to VEC, but the Fusheng powder could protect VEC and partly block the effect of this adhesion. However, the effects of Fusheng powder on anti-adhesion are of great importance in clinical cardiovascular and cerebral vascular diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Studies on Epstein-Barr virus in patients with primary sinonasal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and primary sinonasal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. METHODS: Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, 22 patients with primary sinonasal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), including 13 tumours of T cell type and 9 of B cell type, and mucosa from twenty cases of nasonasosinusitis were tested for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA. RESULTS: The results showed that 14 of 22 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (63.6%) and 4 of 20 nasonasosinusitis mucosa (20%) were EBV-DNAase gene positive (9 T cell type and 5 B cell type). The difference between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and nasal mucosa was statistically significant (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that EBV is not only present in B lymphocyte lymphomas but also in T lymphocyte lymphomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Expression of soluble, active human macrophage colony stimulating factor in Escherichia coli.

Human macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) has been successfully overexpressed in Escherichia coli AD494 (DE3) with an expression level of approximate 26% of the total cellular proteins. The truncated human M-CSF gene encoding the amino-terminal 149 amino acids was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET11d under the control of the inducible T7 promoter. Nearly 40% of the recombinant protein was in the soluble fraction which showed obvious stimulating effects on mouse macrophage colony formation and had an M-CSF specific activity of approximately 1 x 10(6) units/mg soluble protein.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Total urinary follicle stimulating hormone as a biomarker for detection of early pregnancy and periimplantation spontaneous abortion.

Total concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were evaluated in daily urine samples from conceptive and nonconceptive menstrual cycles by measurement of the FSH beta subunit following treatment of the samples to dissociate the FSH heterodimer. Samples were self-collected by normal subjects during cycles in which daily blood samples also were obtained. Daily blood and urine specimens were collected prospectively from 10 subject in conceptive cycles, which led to normal pregnancies, and from 10 subjects with bilateral tubal ligations to provide control samples form nonconceptive cycles. Mean serum and urinary FSH concentration profiles wer parallel in both groups following ovulation and during he first 9 days of the luteal phase. Mean values for both serum and urinary FSH rose significantly above the postovulatory baseline by 10-12 days following the midcycle luteinizing hormone (LH) peak in nonconceptive cycles, but did not rise at any time following ovulation during conceptive cycles. Following regression analysis of the changing FSH concentration between days 9-14 post-LH surge in conceptive cycles, a slope of </= 0.02 ng FHS/mg creatinine/day was selected as a cutoff point to identify conceptive cycles. There was a high concordance between the day of LH peak in serum and the day of FSH peak in urine. Therefore, in applying the algorithm, the day of FSH peak in urine was used to determine the days for which the FSH slope would be calculated, i.e., days 9-14 post-FSH peak in urine. The sensitivity and specificity of the change in urinary FSH concentrations to detect pregnancy in a different set of 55 cycles were found to 88.9% and 89.3%, respectively. All six cases of early fetal loss in the sample set were correctly identified. These results suggest that urinary FSH can be used as an additional biomarker for the verification of early pregnancy in prospective epidemiological studies in which early fetal loss is a suspected outcome.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1997

[Determination of soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in patients with allergic rhinitis].

To explore the regulatory mechanism of the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R) in patient allergic rhinitis, SIL-2R levels in serum and nasal secretion were detected in 39 patients with allergic rhinitis, 19 patients with chronic rhinitis and 15 normal controls, The determination of SIL-2R was done by a sandwich ELISA method. The results showed that the SIL-2R concentrations in patients with allergic rhinitis were significantly higher than those of the controls (P < 0.001). These results suggest that SIL-2R may play an important role in allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Expression of cecropin CMIV fusion protein in E. coli under T7 promoter.

A synthetic gene coding for cecropin CMIV from Bombyx mori was cloned into plasmid pEZZ318 and fused to a DNA segment encoding the signal peptide of Staphylococcal protein A and IgG binding domain. The fusion gene was then subcloned into expression vector pET11c under the control of T7 promoter and expressed in E. coli. The fusion protein did not exhibit any antibacterial activity either in cell lysate or in medium. After cleavage from the fusion protein with CNBr the biological activity of recombinant cecropin CMIV was obtained.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

[Determination of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor of the sinonasal malignant neoplasms].

To examine the relationship between sex steroid receptor and sinonasal malignant neoplasms, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were determined in 25 cases of sinonasal malignant neoplasms, 10 cases of sinonasal papillomas, 31 cases of nasal polyps and 12 cases of normal nasal mucosa. The determination of ER and PR was done by radioligand binding assay of receptors (RBAR). The results indicated that sinonasal malignant neoplasms had higher concentrations of ER and PR binding protein, while sinonasal papillomas, nasal polyps and normal nasal mucosa were found to contain lower concentration of ER and PR, and the differences were significant. (P < 0.01). It is suggested that sinonasal malignant neoplasms might depend on ER and PR.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Protective effects of beta-carotene liposome against rat neutrophile membrane damage caused by intra- or extra-cellular reactive oxygen species].

In this experiment the protective effects of beta-carotene (beta-C) liposome against rat neutrophile membrane damage caused by extracellular or intracellular reactive oxygen were species (ROS) investigated by means of fluorescence labels 1, 6-diphenyl-1,3,5 hexatriane (DPH) and N-(3-pyrene) maleimide (N-(3p)M). The extracellular ROS include the singlet oxygen (1O2) generated by photoreaction of sensitizer rosebengal and the superoxide anion (O2-.) produced by xanthine/xanthine oxidase reactive system. The intracellular ROS was sensitizer rosebengal and superoxide anion (O2-.) produced by xanthine/xanthine oxidase reactive system while the intracellular oxygen was generated by stimulating neutrophile respiratory burst with opsonized zymosan. No change in the peak or shape of fluorescent excitation and emission spectra was found for either of the two labels. The results of fluorescent polarization value in the membrane showed that beta-C liposome could significantly inhibit the damage of rat neutrophile membrane protein reacted either by intracellular generated reactive oxygen species or by extracellular generated O2-. or 1O2. It could also inhibit the injury of the rat neutrophile membrane lipid reacted by extracellular reactive oxygen species. However, the protective effects of beta-C liposome against membrane lipid damage reacted by intracellular reactive oxygen species by at the same concentration as those on membrane protein were not significant, which could be partly explained by relatively higher damage level of rat neutrophile membrane lipid domain reacted by intracellular reactive oxygen species than that of the membrane protein domain.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Isolation of virus-neutralizing RNAs from a large pool of random sequences.

RNA and ribonuclease-resistant RNA analogs that bound and neutralized Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) were isolated from a large pool of random sequences by multiple cycles of in vitro selection using infectious viral particles. The selected RNA pool of RSV-binding sequences at a concentration of 0.16 microM completely neutralized the virus. Of 19 sequences cloned from the selected pool, 5 inhibited RSV infection. The selected RNA and RNA analogs were shown to neutralize RSV by interacting with the virus, rather than by adversely affecting the host cells. The selection of the anti-RSV RNA and RNA analogs by intact virions immediately suggests the potential application of this approach to develop RNA and RNA analogs as inhibitors of other viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus.

Antiviral Agents↗