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Biomedical subjects

R Yang

Publications and source records attributed to R Yang.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Concentrations of persistent lipophilic compounds in fish are determined by exchange across the gills, not through the food chain.

Uptake of persistent lipophilic toxicants in fish occurs via the food and by transfer across the body surface, notably the gills. Flux rates of most lipid soluble toxicants across the gills is rapid and the animal must eat at very high rates for feeding to have a significant effect on toxicant concentration in the body. The relative rates of uptake via feeding and transfer across the gills are analyzed from a theoretical and experimental standpoint. At the low feeding rates typical of fish, the uptake of toxicants in the food can be ignored when estimating toxicant body concentration.

Animals↗

Regulation of superoxide dismutase synthesis in Candida albicans.

The synthesis of superoxide dismutase [SOD: EC 1.15.1.1] in response to various cultural conditions was examined in Candida albicans, an opportunistic yeast which causes candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients. SOD plays an important role in protecting cells from teh oxidative damage of superoxide radicals. Maximum SOD activity was found after 72 hrs of yeast growth. The optimum pH and temperature for the SOD activity were 7 and 40 degrees C, respectively. The major SOD activity was found in the cytosol fraction and the level of extracellular SOD was very low. The enzyme was stimulated to varying degrees by cholic acid, procaine and tocopherol. On the basis of inhibitor studies and other enzyme properties, the isolated enzyme from C. albicans is identified as a copper and zinc superoxide dismutase.

Antioxidants↗

Prednisone and low-dose activated prothrombin complex concentrates for FVIII inhibitor in nonhaemophilic patients.

Eight nonhaemophilic patients with factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors were reported. There was no difference in sex distribution. Median age at diagnosis was 62 years (ranging from 14 to 73 years). No associated disorders were revealed and all the patients were presented with severe muscular or arthral bleeding. Inhibitor titre was measured by the Bethesda method, which were 6.4, 126.0, 155.0, 4.8, 56.0, 13.5, 35.0 and 150.0 BU mL-1, respectively, at diagnosis. FVIII:C levels were less than 1 U dL-1 in seven patients and less than 2 U dL-1 in one patient. The median vWF:Ag level was 210% (ranging from 80% to 340%). All the patients had good response to activated prothrombin complex concentrates for acute bleeding episodes and prednisone for inhibitor elimination. Inhibitors completely eliminated in seven patients within a follow-up duration over 1 year, and one patient died of intracranial haemorrhage when her inhibitor titre decreased to 4.5 BU mL-1 and FVIII:C increased to 21 U dL-1.

Adolescent↗

Joint recovery of pulsatile and basal hormone secretion by stochastic nonlinear random-effects analysis.

We present a nonlinear random-effects stochastic differential equation (SDE) model of combined basal and pulsatile hormone secretion with a series-specific hormone half-life and conditional pulse times. The construct uses a three-parameter pulse shape (generalized gamma function) to allow variably skewed secretory bursts superimposed on a finite basal hormone secretion rate. The analysis imbeds stochastic elements at three levels: a variable mass of hormone accumulation (of which the random effect is a part) during interpulse intervals, nonuniform secretion with hormone admixture into the circulation, and technical (sampling and assay) experimental uncertainty. We implement maximum likelihood estimates of secretory parameters (basal and pulsatile secretion and half-life) with asymptotic standard errors. The model applied to illustrative human luteinizing hormone (LH) time series suggests contrasts in basal LH secretion rates (e.g., greater in postmenopausal women than men) and LH secretory burst mass (e.g., higher in older women), but not LH burst frequency or distributional LH half-lives (7-40 min). For validation, in two infused (human recombinant) LH profiles, we implement partially constrained mono- and biexponential versions of the model with fixed (a priori assumed) versus variable LH basal secretion rates. We conclude that a statistically supported, nonlinear, random effects, SDE-based construct can evaluate jointly basal and pulsatile LH secretory rates and LH half-life in 24 h, episodically varying serum LH concentration profiles. This new reduced-parameter analytic strategy should be useful to explore further the pathophysiological mechanisms of altered neurohormone secretion.

Female↗

Influence of hydrostatic pressure gradients on regulation of plasma volume after exercise.

The impact of posture on the immediate recovery of intravascular fluid and protein after intense exercise was determined in 14 volunteers. Forces which govern fluid and protein movement in muscle interstitial fluid pressure (PISF), interstitial colloid osmotic pressure (COPi), and plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COPp) were measured before and after exercise in the supine or upright position. During exercise, plasma volume (PV) decreased by 5.7 +/- 0.7 and 7. 0 +/- 0.5 ml/kg body weight in the supine and upright posture, respectively. During recovery, PV returned to its baseline value within 30 min regardless of posture. PV fell below this level by 60 and 120 min in the supine and upright posture, respectively (P < 0. 05). Maintenance of PV in the upright position was associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure, an increase in COPp (from 25 +/- 1 to 27 +/- 1 mmHg; P < 0.05), and an increase in PISF (from 5 +/- 1 to 6 +/- 2 mmHg), whereas COPi was unchanged. Increased PISF indicates that the hydrostatic pressure gradient favors fluid movement into the vascular space. However, retention of the recaptured fluid in the plasma is promoted only in the upright posture because of increased COPp.

Adult↗

Expression of delta-endotoxin cryIA(c) gene of Bacillus thuringiensis in Escherichia coli and Streptomyces lividans.

The cryIA(c) gene of Bacillus thuringiensis was isolated from plasmid pOS1000. In order to obtain a proper cloning site and open reading frame, some DNA sequences preceding the initiating codon of the gene were replaced by synthetic oligonucleotide sequences. The isolated cryIA(c) was cloned into E. coli expression vector pKK223-3, and production of CryIA(c) protein was detected after induction by IPTG. A recombinant plasmid, pHZ1256, was constructed by insertion of the cryIA(c) gene into Streptomyces vector pHZ1272. pHZ1256 was introduced into Streptomyces lividans, and the production of CryIA(c) protein was confirmed by Western blotting after thiostrepton induction. A bioassy experiment showed that the CryIA(c) protein produced by E. coli and S. lividans caused 93% and 57% mortality to Plutella xylostella, respectively.

Animals↗

Protective effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril on diabetic glomerulopathy in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the protective effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor perindopril on diabetic glomerulopathy in rats with experimentally induced diabetes and explore its possible mechanisms. METHODS: Ninety-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes mellitus + perindopril (DMP) and control (C) groups. According to the duration of diabetes or observation (1, 3, 6 months), each group was randomly subdivided into DM1, DM3, DM6; DMP1, DMP3, DMP6; and C1, C3, C6 groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats in the DMP groups received perindopril 1 mg.kg-1.d-1, through gastric intubation. Urinary protein excretion rate was determined by the method of Coomassie brilliant blue. Plasma renin activity, renal tissue renin activity, and plasma and renal tissue angiotensin II concentration were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Renal tissue total RNA was extracted by the Chomezymskis AGPC method. Renal angiotensinogen mRNA expression level was assessed by slot blot hybridization using a full length rat angiotensinogen cDNA probe labelled with 32P-dCTP and a random primer. RESULTS: There was increased activity of the renin angiotensin system in diabetic rats. Perindopril decreased proteinuria and delayed the progression of glomerular basement membrane thickening. However, it did not reduce the expansion of the mesangial matrix (P < 0.05). Renin activity increased and angiotensin II concentration decreased significantly in both plasma and renal tissue in diabetes + perindopril groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Perindopril may help prevent the progression of diabetic glomerulopathy, and the inhibition of renin angiotensin system activity may be a mechanism for this action.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

[A preliminary study of plasma oxidase activity by spectrophotometry on the healthy middle-aged and old volunteers in Changsha].

The plasma oxidase activities (POA) in 26 healthy volunteers were determined by spectrophotometry. The results showed that the POA value of the 26 cases was obviously lower (78.90 +/- 8.12 U.L-1) than that in Lasla's (84 +/- 5 U.L-1) (P < 0.05). A preliminary normal reference range of POA (45-60 years old) in Changsha was established. This method is an accurate (CV = 3.9%), cheaper, and easy one and applicable for clinical laboratories.

Age Factors↗

[Study on the molecular epidemiology characteristics of Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans isolated from China with rDNA fingerprinting].

After the chromosomal DNA digestion by Bgl II and EcoRV, rDNA fingerprinting for Pseudomonas cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans was made using biotin-labeled 16S + 23S rDNA as a probe. Fifty one strains of P. cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans isolated from some areas of China were divided into 20 ribotyes, 52.9 percent of which were RT6, 9 and 2. In most cases, there were 2 or more ribotypes in each province or city. Though same ribotypes were isolated from different provinces, each ribotype existed in part of an area. The ribotype of RT6 was detected in samples from 4 incidents of food poisoning in Guizhou, Jiangsu and Hebei provinces, which indicated that these incidents may be caused by the same clone. With discrimination and cluster analysis of ribotypes, the rDNA fingerprinting may effectively contribute to analyzing the homogeneity of different strains, tracing the transmission route, and exploring the evolution and epidemiological characteristics of P. cocovenenans subsp. farinofermentans.

China↗

[Experimental study on mice scheduled-bone marrow transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To enhance the grafting efficiency of bone marrow transplantation. METHODS: Lethally irradiated recipient Kunming mice were transplanted with bone marrow cells from normal Kunming mice either in one large (10(7)) number (BMT group) or in four separate small (10(5)-10(6)) numbers (scheduled BMT group) and the survival rate, hematopoiesis reconstitution and acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Both BMT and SBMT (10(5) x 4) groups obtained the same survival rate of 30%. In SBMT (10(6) x 4) group, the peripheral WBC count, bone marrow nucleated cells and CFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-S and CFU-F yields all returned to normal 17 days after irradiation. The degree of GVHD in SBMT group was less severe than that in BMT group, and the survival rate (60%) was significantly higher than that in BMT group (30%). CONCLUSION: SBMT can significantly enhance the grafting efficiency.

Animals↗

[Expression of opioid-receptor-like receptor (ORL1) gene in rat brain].

In situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe was used to investigate the expression of opioid-receptor-like receptor (ORL1) gene in rat brain. It was observed that ORL1 mRNA is widely expressed in many regions of rat brain, particularly in cerebral cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, septum, habenula, periaqueducted gray, raphe nuclei and locus coeruleus structure. These findings suggest that ORL1 receptor may participate in modulating a number of physiological functions in the brain in addition to pain.

Animals↗

[Study on therapeutical effect of treating hepatolenticular degeneration by the HLD-Tablet I].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of HLD-Tablet I in treating hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) and its effect on urinary trace element in 24 hours. METHODS: After 4 weeks of treatment on 34 cases of HLD by oral taken HLD-Tablet I, the clinical practice was closely observed on the patients' change of symptoms, signs and daily life pattern, and measured the level of urinary trace element in 24 hours before the therapy and after that every week. RESULTS: The total effective rate reached 70.59%, marked effective rate was 8.82%. The effect of treatment was better in the infantile and mild patient. After treatment, the daily output of urinary copper was obviously increased every week than that before (P < 0.01). It was highly negative linear correlated with the duration of treatment (r = -0.96, P < 0.05). But it was insignificantly different between any two weekly excretion of urinary copper per 24 hours after treatment by the HLD-Tablet I (P > 0.05), so its effect on urinary copper excretion was not decreased. CONCLUSION: The HLD-Tablet I could increase the output of urinary copper, hence it was effective in treating HLD without apparent toxic or side reaction.

Adolescent↗

[Polymorphism analysis of D6S366 STR locus].

The polymorphic STR locus D6S366 was analyzed using PCR and PAG electrophoresis and 7 alleles were detected from 200 unrelated individuals in Wuhan. The allete distribution of the locus was in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The H, Dp, P, E, and PIC of the D6S366 were calculated in this paper.

Alleles↗

[Clinical study on qingning oral liquid in treating senile chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with pulmonary hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of Qingning Oral Liquid (QNOL) in treating senile chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with pulmonary hypertension. METHODS: Forty patients with mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) more than 2.67 kPa (by impedance rheogram) were divided randomly into two groups. Twenty cases of QNOL group treated by conventional therapy with QNOL cases ml three times a day for 30 days and the other 20 cases treated with conventional therapy alone were taken as control group. Impedance cardiogram and pheopneumogram, blood gas analysis, mean systemic arterial pressure (mSAP), plasma tissue plasminogen activator(tpA) and plasminogen a ctivator inhibitor (PAI) activity were examined before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the mPAP of QNOL group lowered for 23.80 +/- 2.31%, the cardiac output, stroke volume and cardiac index of patients were improved, tPA activity elevated and PAI activity decreased. As compared with before treatment and the control group, these changes were significant statistically. The mSAP, PaO2 and PaCO2 were not significantly changed after treatment (P > 0.05). The change of mPAP showed negatively correlated with tPA activity (r = -0.554) and positively correlated with PAI activity (r = 0.608, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: QNOL has a selective effect on pulmonary hypertension, its mechanism might be correlated to the elevating plasma tPA and the lowering of PAI activity.

Aged↗

Substantially attenuated hemodynamic responses to Escherichia coli-derived vascular endothelial growth factor given by intravenous infusion compared with bolus injection.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) produces beneficial angiogenesis in animal models of coronary and peripheral ischemia. However, intravenous bolus injection of Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO)-derived VEGF produces adverse effects on hemodynamics. The present study examined pharmacokinetic and hemodynamic responses to Escherichia coli-derived VEGF, which will be used in clinical patients, compared with responses to CHO-derived VEGF, and tested whether intravenous infusion of E. coli-derived VEGF attenuates the hemodynamic responses compared with the responses observed with intravenous bolus injection. Hemodynamic parameters were measured before and after administration of VEGF in conscious, instrumented rats. Intravenous injection of both CHO- and E. coli-derived VEGF produced a similar maximal reduction in arterial pressure, although E. coli-derived VEGF exhibited less of a depressor effect in the initial phase after injection. Either infusion or injection of E. coli-derived VEGF caused hypotension, tachycardia and reduced cardiac output and stroke volume, which were significantly attenuated when given by infusion compared with injection. The maximal hypotensive and tachycardiac responses to infusion were decreased by 50 to 60% compared with those responses observed after injection. Cardiac output was maximally reduced by 34% after injection, but only 18% after infusion. A sustained elevation in systemic vascular resistance observed after injection was avoided after infusion. Thus, the hemodynamic side effects of VEGF administration can be substantially attenuated by controlling the rate of VEGF infusion. The data indicate that infusion, instead of bolus injection, is a more appropriate regimen for VEGF administration.

Animals↗

Construction of Escherichia coli-Streptomyces shuttle expression vectors for gene expression in Streptomyces.

pIJ4123 and pIJ6021 are high-copy-number vectors for gene expression in Streptomyces. They contain a strong, thiostrepton-inducible promoter, PtipA. Two E. coli-Streptomyces shuttle vectors, pHZ1271 and pHZ1272, were constructed by inserting a replicon and bla gene from E. coli into pIJ4123 and pIJ6021, respectively. Both vectors were structurally stable either in E. coli or in Streptomyces lividans. To demonstrate the utility of pHZ1272, the hemoglobin gene of Vitreoscillia (vhb) was cloned into pHZ1272 and expressed in Streptomyces lividans. The expression product (VHb) was detected by Western blotting and carbon monoxide binding activity analysis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of a second human cyclin A that is highly expressed in testis and in several leukemic cell lines.

In this study, we isolated and characterized a human cyclin A-like gene that we named cyclin A1. Cyclin A1 has 48% identity with human cyclin A and is more related to the recently cloned murine cyclin A1 (84% identity). The human cyclin A1 is specifically expressed in testis and brain among all of the normal tissues that we studied by Northern blot analysis; in addition, it is expressed in several myeloid leukemia cell lines, including ML-1, U937, NB4, KG-1, and THP1. A sensitive reverse transcription-PCR-Southern blot method also detected low-level expression of this gene in many other hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cell lines. The expression of cyclin A1 mRNA is differentiation- and cell cycle-regulated in the ML-1 cells. We raised polyclonal antibodies against a glutathione S-transferase-cyclin A1 fusion protein produced in Escherichia coli. In immunoblot analyses, the antibodies recognized the Mr 65,000 cyclin A1 protein in ML-1 cells. The anti-cyclin A1 also immunoprecipitated the Mr 65,000 cyclin A1, along with the Mr 33,000 cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2 and other proteins at Mr 39,000, 42,000, 45,000, 95,000, and 110,000. In an in vitro kinase assay, the CDK2-cyclin A1 complex precipitated by anti-cyclin A1 showed kinase activities against histone H1. In a yeast two-hybrid assay, cyclin A1 can bind to CDK2 but not to CDC2, CDK4, and CDK5. We mapped the human cyclin A1 gene to chromosome 13q12.3-q13, approximately 1000 kb from the sequence-tagged site marker WI-3374.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structural analysis and characterization of tissue and hormonal responsive expression of the avian bone sialoprotein (BSP) gene.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is an extracellular matrix protein that has a highly restricted expression to mineralized skeletal tissues. The chicken bone sialoprotein-encoding gene (bsp) was isolated and shown to contain two less exons than similar mammalian genes, with the absence of an untranslated 5' exon and the fusion of the first two exons that encode the signal peptide and amino terminal end of the mature BSP peptide. Primer extension analysis showed one strong transcriptional start point (tsp) in mRNA prepared from embryonic bone. Comparison of the avian bsp promoter sequence to those of other genes expressed in vertebrate skeletal tissues, identified the presence of homeobox protein binding sequence motifs for engrailed (en-1) and Msx 2 (Hox 8.1), and two collagen type II gene silencer elements. Two TATA sequences one at -21 bp and the second at -172 bp to the tsp were identified. For the first TATA element no CCAAT sequence was observed at an appropriate cis position however two Sp1 sequences (GGGCGG) were identified at -66 and -85 bp. A CCAAT element was seen in an appropriate cis position in relationship to the second upstream TATA, but transient expression analysis in embryonic chicken calvaria osteoblasts using two separate promoter/reporter constructs (+24 to -1244 bp or -121 to -1244 bp), confirmed that only the proximal TATA and Sp1 elements were functional. The +24 to -1244 bp promoter sequence demonstrated 33.6, 13.2, and 3.2 fold activity above base line respectively, within cells prepared from embryonic chicken calvaria bone, cephalic sterna, a cartilage that undergoes mineralization and caudal sterna, a cartilage that does not mineralize during embryogenesis. Only base line activity was observed within cells prepared from embryonic dermal fibroblasts a non-skeletal tissue, which does not express BSP. These same cells demonstrated comparable steady state mRNA levels, corroborating that this segment of promoter DNA had tissue specific activity. A series of nested deletions from the 5' end of the -1244 construct demonstrated that a portion of the tissue specific regulation was controlled by the presence of a silencer element(s) between -1244 and -620 bp since deletion of this segment of DNA resulted in a 6 fold increase in the promoter activity in dermal skin fibroblasts. The -1244-(+)24 nt promoter construct was shown to be stimulated by dexamethasome approximately 1.5 fold over control, inhibited by 1,25(OH)2D3 approximately 60% of control and was strongly stimulated approximately 5.0 fold by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in embryonic calvaria osteoblasts. These data define the proximal promoter of the avian bsp gene and identify several potential regulatory elements that have been observed in the promoters of other genes expressed in skeletal tissues. These elements imparted both tissue and hormone specific promoter activity to bsp expression within skeletal cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗