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Biomedical subjects

S Hu

Publications and source records attributed to S Hu.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

GABA accumulating neurons are relatively resistant to chronic hypoxia in vitro: an autoradiographic study.

Whether there is preferential loss of certain types of nerve cells or specific cellular functions after hypoxic or ischemic insults remains unclear. To evaluate this phenomenon in vitro, the vulnerability of GABAergic neurons to hypoxia was investigated both quantitatively and with autoradiography. Immature neuronal cortical cultures obtained from fetal mice were subjected to chronic hypoxia (5% O2) for 24 h or 48 h and then returned to the normoxic condition for 48 h. The shorter hypoxic exposure resulted in significantly reduced numbers of neurons in comparison to the longer exposure and also to controls (29% and 26%, respectively; p less than 0.001). LDH efflux, a reliable indicator of cell damage, also was higher after the shorter exposure insult. Nevertheless, in these same 24 h hypoxic cultures there was prominent sparing of those neurons which accumulate GABA: by 48 h of recovery GABAergic neurons constituted 29.3 +/- 2.0% of the remaining neuronal population in comparison to 11.6 +/- 0.6 and 14.4 +/- 0.8% for controls and 48 h hypoxia, respectively; (p less than 0.001). Although total GABA uptake per neuron was significantly decreased after both types of insult, there was a concomitant increase in glial GABA uptake (i.e., that which could be displaced by beta-alanine). These observations suggest that certain GABAergic cortical neurons are relatively more resistant to chronic hypoxia than the general neuronal population and that depression of overall neuronal GABA uptake may be associated with enhanced glial GABA uptake.

Animals↗

The DNA and Cu binding functions of ACE1 are interdigitated within a single domain.

We present genetic and biochemical evidence that the amino-terminal region of ACE1, the activator of yeast Cu-metallothionein gene transcription, is composed of a single domain in which the DNA- and Cu-binding residues are interdigitated. Analysis of truncation mutants showed that both the DNA and Cu interactions functions of ACE1 are contained within an amino-terminal 101 amino acid peptide that can fold into a protease-resistant domain structure. Studies of point mutants revealed that two basic residues within this domain are required for efficient DNA binding although not for productive interaction with Cu. Mutations at these sites alter the specificity of ACE1 for two binding sites in the upstream activation region, both of which are shown to be necessary for efficient transcription in vivo. Systematic mutagenesis of the 12 cysteine residues in ACE1 showed that all 11 cysteines within the minimal DNA-binding domain are required for ACE1 to undergo a Cu-induced conformational switch into an active DNA-binding protein. A twelfth cysteine, located outside the DNA-binding domain, is not required for proper folding. The critical basic and cysteine residues of ACE1 are interdigitated, thereby providing an unusual example of overlapping small molecule and DNA binding functions within a directly regulated transcription factor. In contrast, the carboxyl-terminal region of ACE1 is shown to contain a constitutive trans-activation domain that is spatially distinct and functionally dissociable from the DNA- and Cu-binding domain.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Thromboxane and prostacyclin in endotoxin-induced lung injury].

Hypotension, respiratory failure and ARDS-like pulmonary morphological changes were induced by given continuous intravenous infusion of E. coli endotoxin (1-1.5 micrograms.kg/h) in goats. During endotoxin infusion, plasma TXB2 level rose markedly with peak at 0.5 h and then lowered, while 6-keto-PGF1 alpha elevated progressively with its highest level before death, and correlated with blood pressure and survival times negatively. So we suggested that prostacyclin may be one of the factors responsible for hypotension and death in late period of endotoxin induced shock and lung injury.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗

Transmission of exogenous genes into the chicken.

Injection of infectious non-replicating REV vector directly beneath the chicken blastoderm leads to infection of embryonic stem cells. Vector sequences are present in a variety of specialized tissues of embryos and mature birds derived from infected blastoderms. Breeding studies show that replication-defective REV vectors can transfer heritable, non-viral genetic information into the chicken germ line.

Animals↗

[The X-ray characteristic feature of the multiple primary malignant tumor of digestive tract].

A study on the multiple primary malignant tumor of digestive tract (MPMTDT) was made in the period of 1984-1988 in our hospital. Twenty five cases are reported in this paper. All of them were examined by X-ray, endoscopy, and proved to be MPMTDT by surgery and pathological examination. Twenty three cases were double primary tumors and 2 cases triple primary malignant tumors. The characteristic X-ray feature of the site of predilection and manifestation in primordial period of MPMTDT are described in this paper. These criteria are important for the early detection and selection of treatment of the tumors.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The effects of fixation and restricted visual field on vection-induced motion sickness.

Approximately 60% of healthy human subjects experience motion sickness when exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of certain visual factors on susceptibility to motion sickness. Vection data (illusory self-motion), horizontal eye movement recordings, subjective motion sickness report, and a measure of gastric myoelectric activity (electrogastrogram, EGG) were obtained from 45 subjects, who were randomly divided into the following three groups: a control group that observed the entire visual field with no fixation, a group that fixated on a central target, and a third group that had a visual field restricted to 15 degrees. The experimental session was divided into the following three 12-min periods: baseline, drum rotation, and recovery. The results showed that fixation greatly reduced nystagmus and slightly reduced vection. The restricted visual field slightly reduced nystagmus and greatly reduced vection. Both of these manipulations significantly reduced symptoms of motion sickness and tachyarrhythmia, the abnormal gastric myoelectric activity that usually accompanies nausea.

Electromyography↗

Germline transmission of exogenous genes in the chicken.

Difficulties associated with in vitro manipulation and culture of the early chicken embryo have restricted generation of transgenic chickens to approaches that use replication-competent retroviruses. The need to produce transgenic chickens in the absence of replicating virus prompted development of a new method of gene transfer into the chicken. Microinjection of the replication-defective reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) vector ME111 beneath unincubated chicken embryo blastoderms results in infection of germline stem cells. This vector contains genetic information exogenous to the chicken genome, including both the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene and the Tn5 neomycin phosphotransferase gene. About 8 percent of male birds hatched from injected embryos contained vector DNA in their semen. All four positive males tested passed vector sequences onto their progeny. Analysis of G1 offspring showed that gonads of G0 male birds were mosaic with respect to insertion of vector provirus. Thus, primordial germ cells present in the unincubated chicken embryo blastoderm are susceptible to infection by defective REV vectors.

Animals↗

Copper and the ACE1 regulatory protein reversibly induce yeast metallothionein gene transcription in a mouse extract.

We describe a cell-free system in which the transcription of the yeast metallothionein gene is inducible by the addition of metal ions plus a specific regulatory protein. Efficient transcription requires the complete yeast ACE1 metalloregulatory protein, including both its DNA-binding and transactivation domains; a mouse nuclear extract providing RNA polymerase and general transcription factors; a template containing the ACE1 binding site; and Cu(I). Because the binding of ACE1 to DNA is dependent on Cu, it is possible to inhibit transcription by the use of Cu-complexing agents such as CN-. We have used this specific inhibition to show that the ACE1 regulatory protein is required for the maintenance as well as the formation of a functional preinitiation complex. The ability to reversibly induce yeast metallothionein gene transcription in vitro provides a powerful system for determining the molecular mechanism of a simple eukaryotic regulatory circuit.

Animals↗

Replication-defective vectors of reticuloendotheliosis virus transduce exogenous genes into somatic stem cells of the unincubated chicken embryo.

Replication-defective vectors derived from reticuloendotheliosis virus were used to transduce exogenous genes into early somatic stem cells of the chicken embryo. One of these vectors transduced and expressed the chicken growth hormone coding sequence. The helper cell line, C3, was used to generate stocks of vector containing about 10(4) transducing units per ml. Injection of 5- to 20-microliters volumes of vector directly beneath the blastoderm of unincubated chicken embryos led to infection of somatic stem cells. Infected embryos and adults contained unrearranged integrated proviral DNAs. Embryos expressed the transduced chicken growth hormone gene and contained high levels of serum growth hormone. Blood, brain, muscle, testis, and semen contained from individuals injected as embryos contained vector DNA. Replication-defective vectors of the reticuloendotheliosis virus transduced exogenous genes into chicken embryonic stem cells in vivo.

Animals↗

Motion sickness and gastric myoelectric activity as a function of speed of rotation of a circular vection drum.

Motion sickness symptoms and electrogastrograms (EGGs) were obtained from 60 healthy subjects while they viewed an optokinetic drum rotated at one of four speeds: 15, 30, 60 or 90 degrees.s-1. All subjects experienced vection, illusory self-motion. Motion sickness symptoms increased as drum speed increased up to 60 degrees.s-1; i.e., symptoms decreased at 90 degrees.s-1. Power, spectral intensity, of the EGG at the tachygastria frequencies (4-9 cpm) was calculated at each drum rotation speed since previous studies have shown a close correspondence between development of tachygastrias and motion sickness symptoms. Power at 4-9 cpm increased as a function of drum speed up to 60 degrees.s-1 and then decreased at 90 degrees.s-1. Power at 4-9 cpm and 60 degrees.s-1 was significantly greater than at 15 degrees.s-1. The correlation between the motion sickness symptoms and the power at 4-9 cpm was significant. Thus, drum rotation speed influenced the spectral power of the EGG at 4-9 cpm, tachygastria, and the intensity of motion sickness symptoms.

Adult↗

Copper activates metallothionein gene transcription by altering the conformation of a specific DNA binding protein.

Copper homeostasis in yeast involves a copper binding protein, metallothionein, and a trans-acting regulatory protein that activates transcription of the metallothionein gene in response to copper ions. We show that the regulatory protein specifically binds to the metallothionein gene control sequences in the presence, but not in the absence, of copper. Both the DNA binding and metalloregulatory functions of the transacting factor are contained within its aminoterminal domain, and partial proteolysis experiments show that copper activates this domain by causing a major switch in its conformation. Silver also activates the DNA binding domain in vitro and induces metallothionein gene transcription in vivo. We propose a novel copper cluster model for the DNA binding domain based on its surprising structural similarities to metallothionein itself.

Base Sequence↗

[Approaches in computer-assisted surgical planning in hip dislocation].

From a sequence of planar CT pictures of the hip joint the diagnostically relevant contours are extracted on a graphic monitor by means of an image-analysis process. To do this an image preprocessing is necessary to improve the quality of the CT pictures. These contour data permit a mathematical surface model of the hip joint to be derived using well-known methods of simulating an osteotomy. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the cartilage surface by MRI will be possible in the future. It will then be possible to plan computer-aided osteotomies with high accuracy.

Computer Graphics↗

Generation of competent virus in the REV helper cell line C3.

We have studied the generation of replication-competent virus in cultures of the helper cell line C3, which harbors a packaging-defective provirus derived from reticuloendotheliosis virus. We transfected the C3 line with a defective provirus encoding the chicken growth hormone gene and carrying the HSV-1 tk gene. The appearance of competent virus was assayed by infection of Spafas C/E CEF, monitoring reverse transcriptase activity, and rescue of the TKTU assayed on BRLtk- cells. Our results indicate that cultures of C3 producing TKTU can release viruses which have variable growth characteristics and which can remain latent in culture for extended periods of time.

Animals↗