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Qing Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Qing Zhang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Epidemiological investigation of human papillomavirus infection in men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Hangzhou area].

BACKGROUND: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in men attending a sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic in Hangzhou area. METHODS: The enrolled individuals were men aged 18-70 years attending the STD clinic. Penile swabs were assessed for HPV DNA using polymerase chain reaction with the consensus primers MY09/11. The HPV genotypes of positive PCR products were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphisms and direct sequence analysis. RESULTS: Of 375 swabs collected, 305 (81.3%) yielded sufficient DNA for the subsequent HPV analysis. Among the 305 subjects, the prevalence of HPV was 13.8%. Low risk HPV types were found in 8.5% (26/305) of the enrolled individuals, high risk types were found in 4.3% (13/305) of the enrolled individuals, and multiple types were found in 1.0% (3/305) of participants. The prevalence of HPV infection was higher in participants from urban area than in those from rural area (P<0.05). The prevalence was also higher in those who had received less years of education (P<0.05) and those who had more sex partners (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HPV infection among men at high risk is not uncommon. The detection rate of HPV DNA was significantly related to some sociodemographic factors, such as residence, educational level and the number of sex partners.

Adolescent↗

[Callotasis for segmental bone defects in the femur].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical efficacy of callotasis for pathological segmental defects in child femur. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with segmental femoral defects suffered from suppurative osteomyelitis were treated with the bilateral, unilateral external fixation frame or intramedullary callotasis. The rolongational rate was from 2 to 2.5 cm per month after the operation. RESULTS: After a 13 to 57 month follow-up, all cases were healed according to clinical examination and radiological observation. The prolongational length ranged from 9 to 31 centimeters. Average ratio of prolongation reached 49%. The healing index was 30 d/cm, and the healing time of non-union was 134 days. No recurrent suppurative osteomyelitis or fracture was observed. CONCLUSION: Callotasis is a reliable, simple and hyperadaptable method for femural segmental defects.

Adolescent↗

[Etiological study on viral diarrhea among children in Lanzhou, Gansu, from July 2004 through June 2005].

OBJECTIVE: To study molecular epidemiology of four major etiological viruses among children with acute diarrhea in Lanzhou, Gansu province. METHODS: Stool specimens were collected from all 400 inpatients less than 5 years old with acute diarrhea admitted in Department of Pediatrics, the First Hospital, Lanzhou University from Jul. 2004 through Jun. 2005. Dako IDEIA kits were used for detection of rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus. Calicivirus detection was done by both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) and ELISA. Further strain characterization of rotavirus and astrovirus was carried out with RT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 400 stool samples were collected and tested. Rotavirus was present in 47.3% of the cases: calicivirus in 15.5%, astrovirus in 9.5% and adenoviruses in 7.5%. Mixed infections with multiple enteric viruses were present in 13.5% of all samples. Among 189 rotavirus positive samples, serotype G2 (34.4%) was the predominant strain followed by G3 (32.8%), G1 (1.1%) and mixed-G infection (5.8%). 25.9% of strains remained to be non-typeable. P genotyping showed P [4] (45%) was most common followed by P [8] (22.1%), and non-typeable (32.9%). Strain P [4] G2 (43.6%) was the most common combination followed by P [8] G3 (25.6%), P [4] G3 (13.8%), and P [8] G2, P [4] G1 and P [8] G1. Among 38 astrovirus strains, serotypes 1 (57.8%) was the predominant. Serotype 3 and 8 were found only in one case respectively, 14 strains remained to be non-typeable. A peak admission of rotavirus diarrhea was observed from October through December. More than 95.0% of viral diarrhea patients under hospitalization occurred among children younger than 2 years. The incidence rates of rotavirus were highest in infants aged 6 - 23 months. CONCLUSION: Rotavirus was the most important pathogen for viral diarrhea among children hospitalized in Lanzhou followed by calicivirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus. The predominant rotavirus strain circulated was P [4] G2, which was different from the finding in the previous years. The high rate of mixed infection with different viral agents was notable.

Acute Disease↗

Down-regulation of caveolin-1 in mouse Lewis lung cancer P29 is a causal factor for the malignant properties in a high-metastatic subline.

In order to analyze molecular mechanisms for cancer metastasis, we established a high-metastatic subline H7-Lu from a subline H7 of mouse Lewis lung cancer (P29) by repeated injection into tail veins. H7-Lu exhibited increased proliferation and invasion activity. Analysis of gene expression profiles between the parent H7 and H7-Lu revealed that several genes were down-regulated in H7-Lu. One of them, caveolin-1, was a component of lipid/rafts. After confirming the down-regulation of caveolin-1 mRNA by real-time RT-PCR and reduction of the protein by immunoblotting, respectively, H7 was transfected with siRNA for caveolin-1 to examine the role of caveolin-1 in H7-Lu. mRNA of the caveolin-1 gene was suppressed to approximately one third of the original level in H7 cells transfected with siRNA. The transfectant cells showed significantly increased cell proliferation and motility when analyzed by MTT assay and scratching wound healing assay, respectively. In the siRNA-transfectant cells, both ERK1/2 and Akt showed stronger phosphorylation than the mock-transfectant cells indicating that both of these signaling pathways were activated in caveolin-1-suppressed cells. These situations seem to reflect some aspects of the cellular changes in the high metastatic subline H7-Lu. Thus, down-regulation of caveolin-1 in a high-metastatic subline of Lewis lung cancer as defined by DNA array is really a causal factor for the increased malignant properties.

Animals↗

[Self-rated health status of pregnant and postpartum women].

OBJECTIVE: To To understand the self-rated health of pregnant and postpartum women. METHODS: Using Self-rated Health Measurement Scale Version 1.0 (SRHMS V1.0), health status of 50 reproductive-age nonpregnant women and 55 pregnant women on days 7 and 42 after delivery was assessed. RESULTS: There was statistic significance in daily physical activities, physical mobility and total score of physical health subscale between pregnant women and reproductive-age nonpregnant women (P<0.01). Statistical significance was also found in daily physical activities, physical mobility and total score of physical health subscale as well as total score of the SRHMS V1.0 between women before and 7 days after delivery (P<0.01). The scores of physical mobility, total score of physical health subscale and total score of SRHMS V1.0 showed significant difference between women before and 42 days after delivery (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Although the physical health status of pregnant women is generally poorer than that of the reproductive-age nonpregnant women, their self-rated health show no significant differences. The self-rated health status of women 7 days after delivery is worse than that before delivery, while such status on days 42 after delivery is obviously better than that before delivery. SRHMS V1.0 provides an effective means for health evaluation of perinatal and postpartum women.

Adult↗

[Inhibition of survivin gene expression in PC-3 cells by RNAi].

OBJECTIVE: To construct eukaryotic expression vectors by using the pSilencer3. 1-H1 neo vector for inhibiting human survivin gene by RNA interference, and to detect the effect of the silenced survivin gene on PC-3 cells. METHODS: Three target gene segments were synthesized and cloned into the pSilencer3. 1-H1 neo vector respectively to construct three recombinant eukaryotic expression vectors: pSilencer3. 1-SVV1, pSilencer3. 1-SVV2 and pSilencer3. 1-SVV3, which were identified by enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. Then the PC-3 cells were transfected with the recombinant vectors and the interference effect detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis index of the PC-3 cells was detected by flow cytometry and their proliferation detected by MTT method. RESULTS: Enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing showed that three target segments were cloned into pSilencer3. 1-H1-neo vectors. The results of RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining indicated that pSilencer3. 1-SVV2 and pSilencer3. 1-SVV3 vectors could knock down the transcription and expression of survivin gene. After transfected with pSilencer3. 1-SVV2 and pSilencer3. 1-SVV3 vectors, the apoptosis index of the PC-3 cells was increased by 10% - 15% and their growth obviously slowly down. CONCLUSION: The transcription and expression of survivin gene were inhibited effectively by the recombinant eukaryotic expression vectors (pSilencer3. 1-SVV2 and pSilencer3. 1-SVV3) in the prostate cancer cell line PC-3. After transfected with pSilencer3. 1-SVV2 and pSilencer3. 1-SVV3 vectors, the apoptosis index of the PC-3 cells was increased and their growth inhibited.

Apoptosis↗

[Astrovirus infection among hospitalized children with acute diarrhea in seven regions of China, 1998-2005].

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology and strain variations of astrovirus infection among children under 5 years of age, hospitalized for acute diarrhea in China. METHODS: Inpatients under 5 years of age with acute diarrhea in hospitals of seven provinces between 1998 and 2005 were enrolled in the study Stool specimens were collected and tested for astrovirus using the Dako Amplified IDEIA Astrovirus kits or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Genetic identities of the strains were determined using RT-PCR with serotype-specific primers and confirmed by sequencing of the RT-PCR products. RESULTS: A total of 1668 diarrheal stool samples tested for both rotavirus and calicivirus negative were examined. The detection rate of astrovirus infection was 5.5% (91/1668) and the diarrhea cases caused by astrovirus infection could be found in any season of the year but mainly occurred in cold season from October to next January. Astrovirus detection-rates were: 7.4% among infants aged 9-11 months followed by 6.1% in 12-17 month-olds, and 6-8 months 5.6% & 0-2 months 5.6% before 8 months. Over 95% of astrovirus infections occurred in children before 2 years of age. Among 49 strains, typed, serotype 1(45/91) was most commonly seen while serotype 5 was in two cases and serotype 3 and 8 were detected in only one case respectively. CONCLUSION: Astrovirus seemed an important etiologic agent in young children with acute diarrhea in China and Serotype 1 was the most prevalent one.

Acute Disease↗

[Changes in the calcitonin content after inhalation injury in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in the serum content of immunoreactive calcitonin (iCT) after burns or inhalation injury, and to explore its diagnostic significance. METHODS: Twenty-four dogs were randomized into 4 groups, i. e. A (n = 6, with moderate degree inhalation injury) , B ( n = 6, with severe inhalation injury), C (n = 6, with most severe inhalation injury) and D (n = 6, with severe burns) groups. The serum content of iCT and blood gas analysis before and after injury were determined at different time points. The degree of inhalation injury was determined with fibrobronchoscopic examination at 6 post-inhalation injury hour (PIH). RESULTS: (1) Fiber bronchoscopic examination showed that the degree of inhalation injury in each group was coincident with the anticipation. (2) The serum content of iCT in each group at 1 PIH was obviously higher than that before injury, and it was evidently higher in A, B and C groups than that in D group at 4 PIH. The peak value of iCT in group A at 24 PIH was (453+/-224) ng/L, and it increased gradually in B and C groups at 48 PIH. The serum content of iCT increased continually from 2 PIH on, and it reached (125+/-41) ng/L at 48 PIH. (3) Compared with PaO2 value before injury (109+/-8) mmHg, there was no obvious difference of the PaO, in A and D groups. PaO2 value in B and C group began to descend continually at 8 PIH (65+/-6) mmHg, and that in C group began to descend at 4 PIH (71+/-9) mmHg. PaCO2 value in C group began to increase at 24 PIH(52+/-11) mmHg when compared with that before injury(38+/-5 ) mmHg. CONCLUSION: The changes in the serum level of iCT within 8 PIH occurred much earlier than PaO2 and PaCO2, thus it has the same diagnostic significance as fibers bronchoscopic examination.

Animals↗

Stereochemistry and position-dependent effects of carcinogens on TATA/TBP binding.

The TATA-box binding protein (TBP) is required by eukaryotic RNA polymerases to bind to the TATA box, an eight-basepair DNA promoter element, to initiate transcription. Carcinogen adducts that bind to the TATA box can hamper this important process. Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) is a representative chemical carcinogen that can be metabolically converted to highly reactive benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxides (BPDE), which in turn can form chemically stereoisomeric BP-DNA adducts. Depending on the TATA-bound adduct's location and stereochemistry, TATA/TBP binding can be decreased or increased. Our previous study interpreted the location-dependent effect in terms of conformational freedom and major-groove space available to BP. Here we further explore specific structural changes of the TATA/TBP complex to help interpret the stereochemical effect in terms of the flexibility of the TATA bases that frame the intercalated adduct. Thermodynamic analyses using molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) yield large standard deviations, which make the computed binding free energies the same within the error bars and point to current limitations of free energy calculations of large and highly charged systems like DNA/protein complexes.

Base Sequence↗

[Long-term results of combined therapy for primary osteosarcoma in extremities of 189 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the survival rates and complications of combined therapy for primary osteosarcoma of the extremities between 1992 and 2001. METHODS: From 1992 to 2002, 189 patients with non-metastatic osteosarcoma were treated. Their average age at diagnosis was 18 years old (ranging from 4 to 39). Tumors were located at distal femurs in 86 patients, proximal femurs in 4, proximal tibia in 52, proximal humors in 19 and other locations in 28. Combined therapy (resection of tumor with chemotherapy) was given 116 patients and non-combined therapy (tumor resection only and unfinished chemotherapy) to 73. In combined therapy group, 90 patients underwent limb salvage surgery, and 26 patients received amputations. In non-combined therapy group, 42 patients underwent limb salvage surgery and 31 patients received amputations. RESULTS: The 5-year-survival rates were 78.5% in the combined therapy group and 35.1% in the non-combined therapy group. Local recurrence rate was 16.6% (15 cases) in limb salvage surgery with combined therapy group (90 cases) and 38.1% (16 cases) in limb salvage surgery with non-combined therapy group (42 cases) (P < 0.007). Metastasis rate was 28.4% (33 cases) in the combined therapy group (116 cases) and 65.7% (48 cases) in the non-combined therapy group (73 cases) (P < 0.000). Functional evaluation showed that the patients who underwent salvage surgery had higher functional scores than those who had an amputation. According to MSTS scoring system (1993), 56 patients (excision alcohol replacement 36 cases, allograft 10 cases and prosthesis 10 cases) were evaluated functional scores. The average scores reached same level (P > 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: (1) In this study, the 5-year-survival rate in the combined therapy is improved. The treatment for the patients with metastasis in lung is very difficult for improvement of the 5-year-survival rate. (2) The local recurrence is related the surgical margin. The adequate surgical margin is very important for the limb salvage. (3) The combined therapy is very essential for improving survival rate.

Adolescent↗

Differing DNA methylation patterns and gene mutation frequencies in colorectal carcinomas from Middle Eastern countries.

PURPOSE: The epidemiology of colorectal carcinoma is well known to differ among countries but the molecular characteristics are usually assumed to be similar. International differences in molecular pathology have not been studied extensively but have implications for the management of patients in different countries and of immigrant patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We evaluated the CpG island methylator phenotype pathway characterized by concordant methylation of gene promoters that often silences transcription of the genes, the microsatellite instability pathway, and K-ras and p53 gene status in 247 colorectal carcinomas from the three selected Middle Eastern countries of Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. RESULTS: Colorectal carcinoma from Egypt had the lowest frequencies of methylation. In multinomial logistic regression analysis, Jordanian colorectal carcinoma more frequently had methylation involving the p16 tumor suppressor gene (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-10.6; P = 0.023) and MINT31 locus (odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-5.1; P = 0.041). The K-ras proto-oncogene was more frequently mutated in colorectal carcinoma from Turkey (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.7; P = 0.016), but p53 overexpression was more common in both Jordanian and Turkish colorectal carcinoma than in Egyptian cases (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-5.5; P = 0.019; and odds ratio, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-7.1; P = 0.0003, respectively). The findings in Turkish colorectal carcinoma were most similar to those reported for Western cases. CONCLUSIONS: Colorectal carcinoma from Middle Eastern countries have differing gene methylation patterns and mutation frequencies that indicate dissimilar molecular pathogenesis, probably reflecting different environmental exposures. These molecular differences could affect prevention strategies, therapeutic efficacy, and transferability of clinical trial results.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

High charge-carrier mobility in an amorphous hexaazatrinaphthylene derivative.

An isomeric mixture of a tris(pentafluorobenzyl ester) derivative of hexaazatrinaphthylene forms stable amorphous films with an effective charge-carrier mobility of 0.02 cm2/Vs, while the pure 2,8,15-isomer exhibits widely differing morphologies and carrier mobilities (0.001-0.07 cm2/Vs), depending critically on the processing conditions.

Journal Article↗

Clinical versus echocardiographic parameters to assess response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Currently, a clear definition of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is still lacking, and clinical and echocardiographic end points are used. It is also unclear whether patients with clinical responses also improve in echocardiographic end points (and vice versa). To better understand and define response to CRT, the relation between improvement in clinical and echocardiographic parameters was evaluated in 144 patients.

Aged↗

Electroosmotic flow in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannels.

This paper reports on the study of electroosmotic flow (EOF) in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels on the basis of indirect amperometric detection method. Gradual increase of EOF rate in freshly prepared PDMS microchannels was observed with the running buffer of phosphate buffer solution (PBS). With the same concentration (10 mM) of PBS containing different cations and the same pH value (7.0) and, the time of the stable EOF in PDMS microchannels under the applied separation voltage of 1000 V was 49.8 s (Li+ -PBS), 57.1 s (Na+ -PBS), 91 s (K+ -PBS), respectively. Meanwhile, the different adsorption of cations (Li+, Na+ and K+) on hydrophobic PDMS wall was observed through their separation in PDMS microchannels. Such experimental results demonstrated that the EOF in PDMS microchannels came from the cations and anions adsorbed on PDMS wall. This study would not only help us understand the surface state of PDMS, but also provide a useful guidance for establishing the effective surface modification methods in PDMS microchip CE.

Dimethylpolysiloxanes↗

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor levels in cervicovaginal secretion of elderly women.

OBJECTIVE: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a potent inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase. The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is an association between the SLPI concentration in the cervicovaginal secretion (CS) and vaginal complaints of post-menopausal women. METHODS: Uterine cervix tissues and CS of peri- or post-menopausal women were obtained. SLPI was assayed by ELISA. To determine the level of SLPI mRNA and the localization of SLPI protein in the uterine cervix, we performed RT-PCR and immunochemical staining, respectively. RESULTS: The levels of SLPI in the CS of post-menopausal women with vaginal complaints were significantly lower that those of post-menopausal women without vaginal complaints. The levels of SLPI in the CS of post-menopausal women were lower that those of peri-menopausal women and post-menopausal women treated with hormone replacement therapy. Positive staining was observed in epithelial cells of the cervix of elderly women, however, the intensity was weaker than that in peri-menopausal women. Positive staining was also observed in gland cells of the cervix of peri-menopausal women, but not in those of post-menopausal women. SLPI transcripts were detected in the cervix of post-menopausal women. The treatment of post-menopausal women with vaginal estrogen increased the concentrations of SLPI in CS of post-menopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that the decreased amount of SLPI in the CS of post-menopausal women might be one of the causes of the symptoms of post-menopausal women and contribute to the immunodefense mechanisms of the elderly women.

Aged↗

Expression pattern shifts following duplication indicative of subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization in regulatory genes of Arabidopsis.

Gene duplication plays an important role in the evolution of diversity and novel function and is especially prevalent in the nuclear genomes of flowering plants. Duplicate genes may be maintained through subfunctionalization and neofunctionalization at the level of expression or coding sequence. In order to test the hypothesis that duplicated regulatory genes will be differentially expressed in a specific manner indicative of regulatory subfunctionalization and/or neofunctionalization, we examined expression pattern shifts in duplicated regulatory genes in Arabidopsis. A two-way analysis of variance was performed on expression data for 280 phylogenetically identified paralogous pairs. Expression data were extracted from global expression profiles for wild-type root, stem, leaf, developing inflorescence, nearly mature flower buds, and seedpod. Gene, organ, and gene by organ interaction (G x O) effects were examined. Results indicate that 85% of the paralogous pairs exhibited a significant G x O effect indicative of regulatory subfunctionalization and/or neofunctionalization. A significant G x O effect was associated with complementary expression patterns in 45% of pairwise comparisons. No association was detected between a G x O effect and a relaxed evolutionary constraint as detected by the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions. Ancestral gene expression patterns inferred across a Type II MADS-box gene phylogeny suggest several cases of regulatory neofunctionalization and organ-specific nonfunctionalization. Complete linkage clustering of gene expression levels across organs suggests that regulatory modules for each organ are independent or ancestral genes had limited expression. We propose a new classification, regulatory hypofunctionalization, for an overall decrease in expression level in one member of a paralogous pair while still having a significant G x O effect. We conclude that expression divergence specifically indicative of subfunctionalization and/or neofunctionalization contributes to the maintenance of most if not all duplicated regulatory genes in Arabidopsis and hypothesize that this results in increasing expression diversity or specificity of regulatory genes after each round of duplication.

Arabidopsis↗

Tissue Doppler echocardiographic evidence of atrial mechanical dysfunction in coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Atrial function is an integral part of cardiac function which is often neglected. The presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) may impair atrial function. This study investigated if atrial mechanical dysfunction was present in patients with CAD by tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDI). METHODS: Echocardiography with TDI was performed in 118 patients with CAD, and compared with 100 normal controls with comparable age and heart rate. Regional atrial function was assessed at the left (LA) and right (RA) atrial free wall and inter-atrial septum (IAS). The peak regional atrial contraction velocity of (V(A)) and the timing of mechanical events were compared. RESULTS: The V(A) in the LA (5.0+/-2.6 Vs 7.7+/-2.6 cm/s), IAS (4.8+/-1.7 Vs 5.7+/-1.5 cm/s) and RA (6.8+/-3.1 Vs 9.2+/-2.9 cm/s) were significantly decreased in patients with CAD when compared with controls (all p<0.001). Patients with impaired systolic function (ejection fraction 50% (both p<0.001); and were lower in those with restrictive filling pattern (RFP) than non-RFP of diastolic dysfunction (both p<0.05). The V(A) in all the subgroups was lower than controls. In contrast, transmitral atrial velocity was unable to reveal any abnormality except in the subgroup with a RFP. The LA dimension, area and volume were increased in the disease groups, but were largely unchanged in the RA despite abnormal V(A). The physiological inter-atrial delay for the onset and peak atrial contraction between the RA and LA were unaffected by CAD. CONCLUSIONS: The atrial contractile function in both atria was impaired in the presence of CAD, especially in the LA. This was detected even in patients with preserved systolic function or mild diastolic dysfunction such as non-RFP. Direct assessment of atrial velocity by TDI may better reflect atrial mechanical function than transmitral atrial velocity.

Atrial Function, Right↗

A fluorine-substituted hexakisdecyloxy- hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene.

[structure: see text] The first fluorine-substituted hexabenzocoronene has been synthesized and is much more readily reduced than its nonfluorinated analogues. Thin films of this material show columnar order at room temperature, and the charge-carrier mobility measured by the pulse-radiolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity technique is comparable to that of other hexabenzocoronene materials.

Journal Article↗