Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Tao.
A structure-based 18,900-member combinatorial library was synthesized containing a statine template and three cyclic diamino acids as potential P1, P2-P4 surrogates. Evaluation of this encoded library against two aspartyl proteases, plasmepsin II and cathepsin D, led to the identification of selective inhibitors for each enzyme.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Bupleurum smithii var. parvifolium grown widely in Ningxia, had a long history as a common medicinal herb. Its crude saponin had significant protective effect in hepatic damage caused by CCl4 in mice, its ether extract had significant analgesic effect. The ether extract also had significant immunological facilitation effect in mice, it could increase the thymus gland weight and the serum IgG content. These results were similar to or better than that of B. chinense and indicated that B. smithii var. parvifolium could be used as B. chinense.
Glow discharge mass spectrometry as a sensitive method for direct solid sample analysis has gained rapid development in recent years. In this paper, the progresses of glow discharge mass spectrometry in the designment of new types of discharge lamp and the achievement in the diagnostic study of the atomization and ionization in the discharge process have been reviewed. Also the analytical characteristics of this method in practical application have been described.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) mRNA expression has previously been detected in human heart, suggesting a possible role for the receptor in cardiac function and pathophysiology. In the present study we examined the regional distribution of TSHR mRNA in pig heart to map potential cardiac sites of TSH action. Polyadenylated mRNA extracted from thyroid, atria, ventricles, aorta, coronary arteries, epicardial fat, and purified preparations of atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes was subjected to reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers designed to amplify a 311 base pair (bp) DNA segment of the human TSHR. After reverse transcription of 100 ng mRNA, cDNA was amplified by PCR using TSHR primers and compared by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gels. Relative levels of TSHR cDNA (normalized to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]) were as follows: Coronary arteries, epicardial fat > right atrium > left atrium > right ventricle, aorta > left ventricle, ventricular cardiocytes. In contrast to ventricular cardiocytes, purified atrial cardiocytes expressed levels of TSHR mRNA readily detectable with RT-PCR. These findings demonstrate that TSHR mRNA expression in porcine heart varies regionally, and furthermore suggest that areas of highest expression (coronary arteries, adipose tissue, right atrium) are potential sites for a functional or pathologic role of the TSHR.
BACKGROUND: Reports on serum uric acid (SUA) levels in Chinese populations are sparse, but there is evidence that hyperuricaemia and gout are not uncommon. This paper characterizes SUA levels, their correlates, and their relationship to blood pressure (BP) and prevalent high blood pressure (HBP) for urban and rural adult population samples in north China. METHODS: In 1987-1988, a cross-sectional study was carried out, using standardized methods, on men and women aged 40.58 in a Beijing area urban steel mill (N = 2013) and on rural farms (1507). Main outcome measures were SUA, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and prevalent HBP (SBP > or = 140 or DBP > or = 90 mmHg or receiving an antihypertensive drug). RESULTS: Mean SUA levels for men were 5.75 mg/dl in urban and 5.58 mg/dl in rural settings; for women, 4.67 and 4.48 mg/dl. Mean values were higher with age in women, but not in men. Age-standardized prevalence rates of HBP were significantly higher in upper SUA strata (men > or = 7.00, women > or = 6.00 mg/dl) than lower SUA strata both with and without inclusion of those on antihypertensive drugs. Mean SUA levels were correspondingly higher in hypertensive than non-hypertensive people. In multiple regression analyses, body mass index and serum triglycerides were strongly associated with SUA. Also SBP, DBP, and HBP were generally associated with SUA for the whole population sample, with smaller coefficients after excluding those on antihypertensive drugs. However, in these multivariate analyses the strength of the association was low order. CONCLUSION: In addition to its strong association with body mass index, SUA is independently related to serum lipids, particularly triglycerides, and to serum glucose. While some of the univariate relation of SUA to BP is apparently due to the strong relation of body mass to both SUA and BP, a low order significant relation between SUA and BP remains with control for BMI.
The extract and volatile oil of zisu (Perilla frutescens) has shown significant antipyretic effect in rabbits and antiemetic effect in pigeons. The fatty oil extracted from its seeds has significant antitussive effect in mice and anti-asthmatic effect in guinea pigs. The extract, volatile oil and fatty oil of Baisu, which is of the same genus as Zisu have the same effects as those of Zisu. The acute toxicities of the extract and fatty oil of Zisu and Baisu, whether by peroral or by intraperitoneal, are similar to each other. These results indicate that Baisu has the same pharmacological effects as Zisu, and thus can be used as a substitute for Zisu.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience in the diagnosis and treatment of giant-cell tumor of bone, the selection of various operation methods and their effects were evaluated and discussed. METHODS: From 105 cases of giant-cell tumor of bone data were collected and reviewed. The clinical features were analyzed in association with radiological and histological characteristics. Prognosis was assessed by long-term follow-up. RESULTS: Among 105 cases, one had multiple giant-cell tumors and two had distant metastases. In some cases, the radiological and histological appearances didn't accord with the clinical findings. The recurrence rate was 36% in patients treated with curettage. Although no recurrence was seen in patients treated by local excision, the joint function could not be fully retained. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis should be made on the basis of integrated clinical, radiological and pathological manifestations. Early diagnosis and operation are important. The function of joint must be retained as much as possible. Pre-operative embolization of tumor of sacrum and pelvis is very helpful to ensure operative success and to minimize recurrence.
Two strains (Beijing 95-70 and 95-75) of coltivirus were isolated from mosquitoes collected in Beijing during summer-autumn in 1994. The viruses caused cytopathogenic effect on C6/36 cells but not on BHK-21 and Vero cells, and were not lethal for new born mice and three week old mice. The isolates were resistant to 5'-IdU and ether, but sensitive to acid pH 3.0. There were 12 segments RNA shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and PAGE profile of the two isolates were similar (6-6). The PAGE profile was also similar to that of the TRT2 strain isolated in 1991, but there were at least 8 segments slightly different between the new isolates and TRT2 in band migration distance. Tissue culture cross-neutralization test showed that the new isolates were antigenically related to TRT2 strain identified as coltivirus. Growth curve of the two isolates on C6/36 cells showed that virus titer began to rise at the first day after infection and continued to increase up to 7.0 Log TCID50 per 0.1 ml and maintained a high level until the 21st day after infection. It seems that the virus may cause persistent infection on C6/36 cell.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate calorie intake, behavioral eating styles, and parent perception of eating behavior of school-age children with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared with healthy peers. DESIGN: A two-group comparison study. SETTING: A clinical sample of 28 school-age children with CF and a community sample of 28 healthy peers matched for age (6 to 12 years) and socioeconomic status. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The children with CF consumed more calories per day (2175 cal/d) than the control children (1875 cal/d) and achieved a significantly higher recommended daily allowance (RDA) of energy (128% of the RDA) than the control children (91.61% of the RDA). Fifty-four percent of the CF sample were achieving the CF dietary recommendations of 120% of the RDA. Despite this energy intake, the CF sample was significantly below the control sample on weight (24.56 vs 31.23 kg), height (125.48 vs 133.06 cm), and z score for weight (-0.811 vs 0.528) and height (-0.797 vs 0.371). On measures of behavioral eating style, the CF sample had significantly longer meals (23.90 min) than the control sample (17.34 min) and had a significantly slower pace of eating (43.27% 10-second intervals with bites) than the control sample (51.29% 10-second intervals with bites) but did not differ significantly on the number of calories consumed during dinner. On a measure of parent report of mealtime behaviors, parents of the children with CF rated mealtime behavior problems of "dawdles" and "refuses food" as more intense (mean, 3. 46) than did the parents of control children (mean, 2.67). For the CF sample, a significant correlation was found between the parent intensity ratings of problem behavior in general and meal duration (r = .48), and a significant negative correlation was found between the parent intensity ratings of problem mealtime behaviors and the percentage of intervals with bites (pace of meal) (r = -.533). CONCLUSIONS: Although the school-age children with CF were consuming more calories per day than their healthy peers, and more than 50% of the children in the CF sample were at or above the CF dietary recommendations, the children in the CF sample were significantly below the control children on measures of weight and height. The behavioral data suggest that increased caloric intake is not without cost, because the CF sample spent an additional 7 minutes per day at dinner and ate their meals at a slower pace than their healthy peers. These data were associated with higher intensity ratings of mealtime behaviors by parents of children with CF. These findings point to the need for individualized assessment of energy needs for school-age children with CF and comprehensive programs that teach parents behavioral strategies to motivate their children to meet these higher energy requirements in an adaptive manner.
OBJECTIVE: To assess comparative changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and incidence of high blood pressure over 4 years, and factors related to these changes, in northern and southern, urban and rural adults in the People's Republic of China. SETTING: This is a prospective study of populations surveyed by standardized methods in 1983-1984 and 1987-1988 in north China, Beijing area steel mill workers and farmers, and south China, Guangzhou area shipyard workers and farmers. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 8805 men and women aged 35-54 years at baseline (1983-1984), of whom 7338 were non-hypertensive (systolic blood pressure < 140, diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, not being administered antihypertensive drugs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measures were 4-year changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the 4-year incidence of high blood pressure in persons not hypertensive at baseline. RESULTS: At baseline, the average systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher for Beijing than for Guangzhou cohorts. At resurvey the average systolic blood pressure had increased for seven of eight sex-city-setting cohorts (all but Guangzhou urban men). The Beijing urban cohorts had the greatest increases (men 6.2 mmHg, women 4.9 mmHg, slopes of 1.6 and 1.2 mmHg/year). The incidence of high blood pressure was higher for Beijing than for Guangzhou cohorts in all four comparisons (men and women, urban and rural). Beijing men, urban and rural, had the highest incidence rates (about 21%). In multiple logistic analyses by sex, variables significantly related to 4-year high blood pressure incidence were city, baseline systolic blood pressure and body mass index, change in weight, and, for men, baseline alcohol use and heart rate. CONCLUSION: Modifiable lifestyle traits, previously shown to be related to blood pressure and high blood pressure in cross-sectional studies, also relate to the incidence of hypertension.
We previously reported that adenosine elicited site-dependent neuronal and cardiovascular responses in two subareas of the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of normotensive rats. Pressor and tachycardic responses were obtained from the rostral NTS (adenosine pressor system), and depressor and bradycardic responses were obtained from the caudal NTS (adenosine depressor system). In both areas, adenosine inhibited the firing rate of barosensitive neurons. The present study investigated whether spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit abnormal neuronal and cardiovascular responses mediated by the adenosine pressor and depressor systems within the NTS. Male SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were anesthesized with urethane and prepared for blood pressure and heart rate recording, stereotaxic microinjection of adenosine into the NTS, and extracellular recording of single-unit neuronal activity of NTS neurons. Chemical identification of the targeted neuronal pool was made by L-glutamate (5 nmol) and confirmed by histology. SHR exhibited significantly higher mean arterial pressure and firing rate of caudal NTS neurons (45.0 +/- 4.5 versus 27.3 +/- 4.7 spikes per 2.5 seconds, P <.05) but similar heart rate and neuronal firing rate of rostral NTS neurons compared with WKY. Adenosine (0.1, 1, and 10 nmol) elicited dose-related neuronal and cardiovascular responses in both strains. However, SHR exhibited differential alterations in both adenosine systems. Compared with WKY, SHR exhibited attenuated pressor, tachycardic, and neuronal responses mediated by the adenosine pressor system and exaggerated depressor, bradycardic, and neuronal responses mediated by the adenosine depressor system. In both strains, the responses elicited by adenosine were virtually abolished by theophylline (10 mg/kg IV), suggesting that these responses were mediated by adenosine receptors in the NTS. Furthermore, the theophylline-evoked increase in blood pressure was twofold higher in SHR (15.0 +/- 1.7 versus 6.9 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, P <.05); larger but nonsignificant increases in heart rate and neuronal firing rate also were evident in SHR compared with WKY. These findings suggest differential alterations in adenosine pressor and depressor systems in the NTS of SHR, which may be implicated in the pathophysiology of this model of hypertension.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
30 patients with angina decubitus (AD) were studied during hospitalization. These patients were found to have severe coronary artery obstructive lesions and an increase of myocardial oxygen consumption (MOC) before the onset to AD, indicating that AD belongs to the category of effort angina. 18 patients were investigated by continuous hemodynamic monitoring. Three patients had significant increase in pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (PADP) before the onset. In the other 15 patients, PADP increased slightly in 12 and remained unchanged in 3 cases before the onset. Left ventriculography showed ejection fraction (EF) > 45% in 25 of the 27 patients. These results indicate that left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction is not a major factor in the pathogenesis of AD. The patients with LVEDP > 12 mmHg constituted 60% of 25 patients with EF > 45%, suggesting that these patients had obvious LV diastolic dysfunction, which may be the major factor in the pathogenesis of AD. According to the results of our treatment, beta blockers may be used as the major form of treatment in the patients with AD.
A 1.5 cm-long bony defect was established in rabbits one each on both sides. The defected area was filled with coagulum of peripheral blood or bone marrow blood, then autogenous pieces of the periosteum was put in the coagulum on one side, while the other side was served as the control without periosteal autograft. The osteogenetic capacity of the periosteum and the influence of different blood coagulum were evaluated by means of X-ray film, histology, the contents of calcium and phosphate in new osteocytes in the defected area, bone tissue morphometry, and computer-assisted image analysis. The autograft of the periosteum had osteogenetic effect. Autologous bone marrow blood had potential osteogenetic capacity, which however, was weaker than that of the periosteum. Peripheral blood coagulum did not have any osteogenetic effect. We have successfully used the periosteum-bone marrow blood complex (bone marrow blood as a carrier) in 12 patients.
The third nation-wide survey of blood pressure level and hypertension was carried out in China in 1991. In total, 950,356 residents aged > or = 15 years were examined. Sampling population were composed of half urban and half rural from 27 provinces or autonomous regions and three municipalities. The results showed that: (1) the age-adjusted prevalence rate of hypertension (systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mmHg) was 11.26% (male 12.15%, female 10.32%) and the definite hypertension rate (systolic blood pressure > or = 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure > or = 95 mmHg, or on medication) was 5.29% (male 5.38%, female 5.21%); rate of borderline hypertension was evaluated from 2.82% to 6.15% during the 10-year period from 1979/1980 to 1991; (2) the prevalence rate was progressively increased with age, especially after age 35; prevalence rates were generally higher in men than women before about age 44, however by age 60, women had a higher prevalence of hypertension; (3) a general trend of decrease in prevalence from north-eastern to south-western China was confirmed; (4) there were significantly lower rates in rural than in urban areas. Results of preliminary analysis for prevalence of hypertension among different occupations, nationalities, and educational levels were presented.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.