Biomedical subjects

S Gao

Publications and source records attributed to S Gao.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

[Effect of energy intake at breakfast on school performance].

In order to examine the effect of energy intake at breakfast on school performance, 151 grade three school children from four classes of two schools were sampled for this study. Children were randomly assigned to breakfast A or B on any given day. They were provided with breakfast with either high or low energy content at school over a period of 5 successive days. The remained foods were collected and weighed. Performance tests including addition, multiplication, number checking, logic, creativity, physical endurance, visual-analogue scales were applied at the third or fourth period of courses in the morning on Tuesday through Friday during the experimental week. The teachers involved in the study were blind to the kind of treatment. No significant effect of energy intake at breakfast on these performance indicators was found in this study.

Child↗

PubMed1999

Association of antioxidants with memory in a multiethnic elderly sample using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Oxidative stress has been implicated both in the aging process and in the pathological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce oxidative stress in vitro, may represent a set of potentially modifiable protective factors for poor memory, which is a major component of the dementing disorders. The authors investigated the association between serum antioxidant (vitamins E, C, A, carotenoids, selenium) levels and poor memory performance in an elderly, multiethnic sample of the United States. The sample consisted of 4,809 non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Mexican-American elderly who visited the Mobile Examination Center during the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a national cross-sectional survey conducted from 1988 to 1994. Memory is assessed using delayed recall (six points from a story and three words) with poor memory being defined as a combined score less than 4. Decreasing serum levels of vitamin E per unit of cholesterol were consistently associated with increasing levels of poor memory after adjustment for age, education, income, vascular risk factors, and other trace elements and minerals. Serum levels of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and selenium were not associated with poor memory performance in this study.

Black or African American↗

PubMed1999

Value of low dose dobutamine Doppler tissue imaging for detecting hibernating myocardium.

In order to assess the value of Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) in detecting viable hibernating myocardium, 20 patients with coronary artery disease and chronic left ventricular dysfunction underwent low dose dobutamine stress echocardiography and low dose dobutamine stress DTI. The results showed that among the 100 asynergic segments, 35 segments showed improvement after dobutamine infusion (group H) and no changes were observed in the remaining 65 segments (group N). The left ventricular echocardiographic score index decreased from 1.60 +/- 0.35 to 1.44 +/- 0.36 (n = 20, P < 0.01). During low dose dobutamine stress DTI, there was no difference in the values of velocity of S wave (V.) before dobutamine infusion between two groups. However, after dobutamine infusion, the values of Vs and VR in group H were significantly higher than those in group N (Vs: 10.1 +/- 3.0 cm/s vs 7.3 +/- 2.2 cm/s, P < 0.01; VR: 60% +/- 41% vs 25% +/- 32%, P < 0.001), 95.7% asynergic myocardial segments with VR < or = 0 had no viability while 86% asynergic segments with VR > 80% were viable myocardium. It is concluded that the different reactions to dobutamine stress between hibernating and necrosis myocardium could be showed by DTI and it is more clinically significant when VR < or = 0 and VR > 80%.

Coronary Disease↗

PubMed1999

A novel multiscale nonlinear thresholding method for ultrasonic speckle suppressing.

This paper presents a novel speckle suppression method for medical B-scan ultrasonic images. An original image is first separated into two parts with an adaptive filter. These two parts are then transformed into a multiscale wavelet domain and the wavelet coefficients are processed by a soft thresholding method, which is a variation of Donoho's soft thresholding method. The processed coefficients for each part are then transformed back into the space domain. Finally, the denoised image is obtained as the sum of the two processed parts. A computer-simulated image and an in vitro B-scan image of a pig heart have been used to test the performance of this new method. This technique effectively reduces the speckle noise, while preserving the resolvable details. It performs well in comparison to the multiscale thresholding technique without adaptive preprocessing and two other speckle-suppression methods.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Design and implementation of a novel compression method in a tele-ultrasound system.

This paper represents a novel compression method for ultrasound images in a tele-ultrasound system. The encoder chooses the ultrasound scan line signals as the object to be compressed and transmitted other than the standard video images in conventional methods. Furthermore, nonuniform discrete wavelet transform is proposed considering the different resolutions in axial and lateral directions of ultrasound images. Experimental results show that the new method provides better compression performance than conventional methods in terms of a peak signal-to-noise ratio and processing time.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1999

A comparative study on the treatment of migraine headache with combined distant and local acupuncture points versus conventional drug therapy.

UNLABELLED: According to Chinese medicine, the differential diagnosis of migraine headache may be classified based on the state of the viscera, channels and collaterals. In this study, acupuncture treatment prescriptions combining distant and local acupoints were selected according to the differential diagnosis. Sixty-four patients were divided into two equal groups: one group received acupuncture, and the other group underwent conventional drug treatment. RESULTS: The efficacy rates in the acupuncture and control groups were as follows, respectively: Cure: 75% versus 34.4%, marked improvement: 18.8% versus 28.1%, no effect: 6.3% versus 37.5%. The overall effective rates for the acupuncture and control groups were 93.8% and 62.5%, respectively, indicating a significantly greater effect in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01, x = 13.475).

Acupuncture Therapy↗

PubMed1999

Purification and characterization of a Pseudomonas sp. lipase and its properties in non-aqueous media.

An extracellular lipase from Pseudomonas sp. was purified to homogeneity by extraction, Bio-gel P-10 chromatography and Superose 12B chromatography, and a 37-fold purification was attained. The purified enzyme showed a single band when it was subjected to SDS/PAGE and isoelectric focusing. The SDS/PAGE electrophoresis indicated a molecular mass of 30 kDa for this lipase. Its isoelectric point was 4.5. The optimum pH and temperature for hydrolysis were 7.0-9.0 and 45-60 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable between pHs 6 and 12 and below 60 degrees C. In the presence of Ca(2+) and Bi(3+), the lipase activity was dramatically enhanced by 250% and 154%, respectively. Fe(3+), Fe(2+), Al(3+), Zn(2+) and Mn(2+) could inhibit this lipase, but Ag(+) and Pb(2+) showed no influence on hydrolysis activity. Properties of purified lipase for lactonization in organic solvent were also determined. The purified lipase displayed the characteristic of 'pH memory' in organic media. This lipase was also thermostable in organic solvent with an optimum temperature range from 45 to 60 degrees C. Salt dramatically affected the lactonization activity of this lipase.

Chromatography, Ion Exchange↗

PubMed1999

Studies on contributing factors in temporomandibular disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the pathogenesis of TMD by studying microtrauma of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), immune responses within TMJ, and psychosocial factors of the past ten years. METHODS: Condyle and disc movements from 38 patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) were observed with the use of videotape recording and soundtape recording techniques after TMJ arthrography. Pathological changes following occlusal trauma were examined using an animal model. Immune complexes in condyle cartilage; antibody to collagen II; and cytokines such as interleukin 1, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin 6 were detected in synovial fluid of TMD. Psychosocial characteristics were analyzed with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) of 80 TMD patients and the Life Events Experience Survey (LEES) of 42 TMD patients. RESULTS: Persistent and recurrent microtrauma did exist within joints of TMD patients, caused by occlusal trauma and occlusal interference. Occlusal trauma in animals could induce condyle and disc degenerative changes that are similar to the findings in TMJ osteoarthrosis patients. Sequestered antigens within cartilage could be exposed to the immune system after joint degeneration. Humoral and cellular immune responses did exist within TMJ and played an important role in the pathogenesis of TMD. Forty percent of TMD patients suffered from psychosomatic disorders, significantly more than in the healthy control. CONCLUSION: Microtrauma of TMJ, immune responses within TMJ, psychosocial factors, and anatomical structures of the TMJ itself are the four main contributing factors of TMD. Possible mechanisms of the interactions of the four factors are presented, and principles of preventing and treating TMD are also suggested.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Transvaginal gamete intrafallopian transfer: an analysis of 42 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To develop the technique of transvaginal gamete intrafallopian transfer (TV-GIFT) and to evaluate its effectiveness. METHODS: From May, 1996 to October, 1997, 42 infertile patients with at least one tube patent, proven by hysterosalpingography were included. In 43 cycles, ovarian stimulation was performed by using follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)/hCG or hMG/hCG program. Oocytes retrieval was performed by transvaginal ultrasound guided needle aspiration. Semen samples were prepared by modified swim-up method. The Jansen-Andersen tubal catheter was introduced into a fallopian tube transvaginally, and the gametes were injected into the tube. RESULTS: Transvaginal cannulation was successfully performed in 67.4% of cases. The mean number of oocytes transferred was 4.0 +/- 0.9 (2-6) per cycle. 13 cases obtained clinical pregnancy (30.2% per cycle), 9 given birth with 5 twin pregnancies (altogether 13 babies), 4 spontaneous abortions. CONCLUSIONS: TV-GIFT offers an acceptable pregnancy rate for patient with at least one patent tube. The procedure is simple and easy to perform and therefore, is worth to recommend for the treatment of infertility.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Clinical analysis of the absent and/or reverse end diastolic velocity of fetal umbilical artery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relations between absent and/or reverse end diastolic velocity of fetal umbilical artery (AEDV) and maternal and fetal pathological factors and perinatal outcome. METHODS: To analyze the clinical informations of 33 case, with AEDV by pulse doppler ultrasonic examination. RESULTS: (1) There are 9 cases (27.3%) complicated with different kinds of fetal morphologic abnormality, 6 cases of perinatal death. (2) In 6 cases (18.2%) of twins, twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurred in 3 cases. In 6 cases when the body weight differences between the 2 babies were higher than 24.8%, neonatal death occurred in 4 cases. (3) The group with AEDV showed significantly higher incidence of pregnancy induced hypertension, oligoaminos, IUGR, fetal distress and neonatal death than that of normal group. CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of AEDV shows the extreme disfunction of mothermal placental-fetal circulation and may be related to poor outcome.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1999

[The effect of upon the stimulating action of glyburide in the islet cell secretion of insulin and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of amylin upon oral sulfonylurea drugs and its action to stimulate the islet cell secretion of insulin in rats. METHODS: Radioimmunogical and fluorescence methods were used to determine the amount of insulin secretion as well as the content of intracellular Ca(2+) of the rat islets incubated with amylin in different concentrations and followed by glyburide stimulation test. RESULTS: In amylin concentrations of 5 micromol/L and 10 micromol/L, 3 nmol/L glyburide decreased insulin release volume, being (3.8 +/- 1.0) microg/L and (2.1 +/- 1.0) microg/L as compare with (4.9 +/- 0.9) microg/L of the control group (t = 2.313, P < 0.05; t = 5.887, P < 0.01). Intracellular Ca(2+) content in the two concentrations was (270 +/- 15) nmol/L and (130 +/- 15) nmol/L, being markedly decreased as compared with (330 +/- 18) nmol/L of the control group. The changes were dosage related (t = 7.243, P < 0.01; t = 24.143, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: High concentration of amylin is responsible for the prevention of the rise of Ca(2+) inside in the islet beta-cell acted upon by sulfonylurea drugs, this may be one of the mechanisms that bring about the decreased release of insulin.

Amyloid↗

PubMed1999

[19 cases of Paget's disease].

OBJECTIVE: The clinical signs of Paget's disease are similar to those of chronic eczema. The two are often confused, especially extramammary Paget's disease. Only biopsy can help to differentiate them correctly. METHODS: 19 patients with Paget's disease were reviewed with regard to clinical analysis and treatment from 1987 to 1997. RESULTS: Six patients had breast Paget's disease and 13 had extramammary one. The latter involved scrotum and penis in 11 patients, the groin in 1, and perianal and anal in 1. Follow up showed that 3 patients had recurrences in extramammary patients who had had positive surgical margin biopsy. One patient died of other disease. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is the first choice of treatment for Paget's disease either of breast or of extramammary regions. Negative margins must be achieved to prevent local recurrence.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Effect of acrylonitrile on the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase and phosphorylase A of liver in rats].

The activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase and phosphorylase A(P-A) of liver in rats was determined to study the effect of acrylonitrile (ACN) on calcium homeostasis and to clarify the toxicological mechanism of ACN. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered ACN daily per os for 42 days, at the dosage of 0, 10, 30 and 50 mg.kg-1. The activities of Ca(2+)-ATPase and phosphorylase A was determined at 14, 28, 42 days after ACN administration. The results indicated that ACN could significantly inhibit the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase and increase the activity of P-A (P < 0.01), especially in the high dose group and exposed for 42 days, and there was significantly dose- and time-respond relationship (P < 0.01). ACN contamination could result in the disharmony of calcium homeostasis of liver in rats.

Acrylonitrile↗

PubMed1999

[Isozyme electrophoresis of Fritillaria puqiensis during bulb organogenesis in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: Inquiring into the mechanism of bulb organogenesis of Fritillaria puqiensis. METHOD: Time course studies of the soluble protein, peroxidase and esterase were performed during the new bulb organogenesis by electrophoresis. RESULT: The atlas of electrophoresis changed greatly during the phase of differentiation and the formation of the new bulb. CONCLUSION: Different enzymes are associated with organogenesis and express activity at different times.

Culture Techniques↗

PubMed1999

[Pollen morphology identification of five species of medicinal sanguisorba with electron microscope].

OBJECTIVE: To approach a new evidence for identifying various species of Rosaceae Sanguisorba, especially for distinguishing S. applanata from S. sitchinese. METHOD: The pollens of five species S. officinalis, S. officinalis var. longifolia, S. applanata, S. applanata var. villosa and S. sitchinese were morphologically identified with electron microscope. RESULTS: The pollens are prolate or perprolate, having six colporates and featuring sculptures of small caverns and small granules combined. The species are closed to each other in pollen morphology, bur display differences in the diameter of pollens, clarity of pore membrane and presence or absence of irregular verrucous sculptures. CONCLUSION: This paper provides a new evidence for identifying the Sanguisorba.

Microscopy, Electron, Scanning↗

PubMed1999

[Advances of research on speech signal processing strategy in cochlear implant].

Cochlear implant is a new technology to restore hearing ability to totally deaf people. First of all, this paper presents its principle and system design. Then, the advances of research on its speech signal processing strategy is reviewed in detail. Finally, on the basis of preliminary results, further promising development in cochlear implant is proposed.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1999

[The outer membrane protein (OMP) patterns of Escherichia coli isolates of predominant O serogroups originated from chichens in different regions in China].

The purpose of this study is to determine the outer membrane protein (OMP) patterns of avian Escherichia coli isolates with predominant serogroups originated from 18 provinces, autonomous regions and municipal cities in China. Total of 204 isolates belonging to O18, O78, O2, O88, O11 and O26 serogroups respectively, were tested. The outer membrane proteins of these isolates were isolated with the improved N-lauroylsarcosine method and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. 4 different OMP patterns were identified with these isolates of predominant serogroups. 3 different OMP patterns with 56 isolates of O18, 4 with 54 isolates of O78, 2 with 28 isolates O2, 1 with 26 isolates of O88, 3 with 22 isolates of O11 and 1 with 18 isolates of O26 respectively, were found. Isolates with OMP pattern 1 were discovered in 6 different serogroups, and OMP-3 pattern was also shared by O18, O78 and O11 serogroups isolates. These results indicated that the OMP patterns of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates of O18, O78, O2, O11 serogroups which were isolated from different regions in China were heterogeneous, and all of O88 and O26 serogroups isolates just belonged to OMP pattern 1. Moreover, the OMP pattern 1 was presented in isolates of six different predominant O serogroups.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[The isolation and characterization of type 1 pili from pathogenic Escherichia coli of chicken origin].

The pili from pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates 566, 1794 and TK3 of chicken and turkey origin were purified. After mechanic detachment from the bacterial cells, the pili were concentrated by precipitation with ammonium sulfate, dialyzed, and solubilized in buffer containing deoxycholate. The fraction containing the pilus was purified further by ultracentrifugation in a sucrose gradient. After ultracentrifugation, the pili at the density of 1.10 to 1.15 g.cm-3 (between 10%-20% of sucrose gradients) were collected, and the purified pili from strain 566, 1794 and TK3 had an apparent molecular weight of 17,500, 17,000 and 17,000 respectively, which retained their ability to bind the erythrocyte in a mannose-inhibitable fashion. Hyperimmunesera raised in BALB/C mice against the purified pili from strain 1794 reacted positively with type 1 pili from both isolates 566 and TK3 by immuno blot. These results revealed that the three strains either Chinese or north american isolates expressed type 1 pili which had molecular weights from 17,000 to 17,500, and they have common antigenic epitopes.

Animals↗