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Biomedical subjects

S X Wu

Publications and source records attributed to S X Wu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Isolation, chemical and biological characterization of margaratensin, a neurotensin-related peptide from the skin of Rana margaratae.

A new neurotensin (NT)-related peptide, margaratensin, was obtained by Sep-Pak C18 and RP-HPLC from methanol extracts of the skin of Chinese frog Rana margaratae. The structure of the peptide has been determined to be Asp-Lys-Arg-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu-His-Glu, which is found to be homologous to the COOH-terminal sequence of NT, but has an extra His-Glu at the COOH-terminus. The synthetic preparation was shown to be indistinguishable from the native peptide during HPLC, amino acid analysis and bioassay. Margaratensin exhibited a hypotensive effect in the rat but the response was weaker than NT. The peptide could induce a potent and reproducible contractile activity on GPI which was different from xenopsin, another NT-related peptide from amphibian skin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synthesis and biological activity of a new frog skin peptide, ranamargarin.

A new frog skin peptide, ranamargarin depicted as H-Asp-Asp-Ala-Ser-Asp-Arg-Ala-Lys-Lys-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2' was synthesized by the conventional method. Comparisons of chemical and biological properties of both the synthetic and natural ranamargarins indicated that they were identical, so the chemical structure of ranamargarin was confirmed. Preliminary pharmacological study showed that ranamargarin was highly selective towards the SP-P subtype receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Epidemiologic study of neonatal subcutaneous gangrene caused by multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Forty-five cases of neonatal subcutaneous gangrene were admitted between Nov. 1985 and Feb. 1987, with a mortality of 6.6%. This paper presents the first epidemiologic study of 20 cases of this disease caused by multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Eight of 20 cases were caused by an epidemic strain belonging to phage 29 (group I) and carrying 2.8, 3.3, 4.2 and 28.5-34.0 kb plasmid DNA. The restriction endonuclease analysis confirmed that the plasmid DNA of approximately similar size in different isolates were identical or highly homologous. According to the results of an epidemiologic study the source of infection of one patient who died was her grandmother and the other one was her mother, so the family members can also be the source of neonatal infection caused by multi-resistant S. aureus.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Mycologic investigation on Rhizomys pruinous senex in Guangxi as natural carrier with Penicillium marneffei.

To study the natural carrier of P. marneffei experiments were done in 16 Rhizomys pruinous senex, a species of bamboo rats trapped in various districts of Guangxi. The results of mycological cultivation demonstrated that the natural positive carrier rate of bamboo rats was 93.1%. Among the internal organs taken for culture, the lung had the highest positive rate, 87.5%; next in decreasing order was the liver (56.3%), spleen (56.3%) and mesentery lymph node (50%). Thus, it is reasonable to consider that bamboo rats are a reservoir host of P. marneffei. In this paper, the colony shape and microstructure of P. marneffei, isolated from bamboo rats, are described. A preliminary discussion is given on the epidemiological relations between bamboo rats and human Penicilliosis marneffei.

Animals↗

Experimental and clinical investigation on oxiconazole.

A new antimycotic imicazole drug, oxiconazole, used both in vitro and in vivo in the treatment of 212 cases of tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea pedis is reported. In vitro, it shows marked antimycotic effect against 24 strains of pathogenic fungi except those of Wangiella dermatitides and 3 strains of Aspergilli. The minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) to Epidermophyton floccosum and Candida guilliermondi are 1 microgram/ml and 0.5 microgram/ml. The cure rate of 2% cream of oxiconazole in 124 cases of tinea corporis and tinea cruris is 90.3%, and in 88 cases of tinea pedis, 89.78%.

Adolescent↗

[Determination of guanine and cytosine contents of Trichophyton rubrum nuclear DNA with the thermal denaturation technique].

We report here on the G + C mol% content of T. rubrum DNA (including T. rubrum types I-V and an isolate from a patient with tinea pedis) as determined by a thermal denaturation technique. The results are as follows: 45.5, 57.37, 44.22, 45.38, 45.54, and 49.41 mol% for T. rubrum types I-V and isolate respectively. The results are similar to those in the literature, except that the value of T. rubrum type II is slightly higher. Our observations indicate that the morphological heterogeneity of different types of T. rubrum do not seem to be reflected in their G + C mol% values. The authors suggest that the method used here for determining G + C mol% is easy and reproducible.

Cytosine↗

[Effects of Ziziphus spinosa Hu on serum lipoprotein and experimental atherosclerosis].

Rabbits of experimental group were fed synthetic food, cholesterol (0.4 g/day/rabbit) yolk powder (4 g/day/rabbit), and additionally pulp of Suanzao (10 g/kg/day). Three months later, compared with the results of the control group (TC 1334.8 +/- 327.8 mg; LDL 1261.9 +/- 356.6 mg and TG 270.8 +/- 66.9 mg), TC (574.6 +/- 271.8 mg), LDL (490.6 +/- 247.1 mg) and TG (89.7 +/- 7.8 mg) of the experimental group were significantly decreased, but in the experimental group HDL increased significantly (42.2 +/- 22.5 mg to 14.2 +/- 3.9 mg), and the AS degree of coronary artery was markedly reduced.

Animals↗

Isolation and structure of ranamargarin, a new tachykinin from the skin of Chinese frog Rana margaratae.

A new tetradecapeptide, ranamargarin, has been isolated by Sep-Pak C18 and HPLC from methanol extracts of the skin of the Chinese frog Rana margaratae. The sequence of the peptide is: Asp-Asp-Ala-Ser-Asp-Arg-Ala-Lys-Lys-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2. This structure has been confirmed by synthesis. The peptide is the largest among the amphibian tachykinins and its N-terminal amino acids are quite different from those of the other tachykinins. The formation of the sulfoxide and peak-splitting of ranamargarin during purification procedures are briefly discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Metabolic changes in women using a long-acting monthly oral contraceptive and return of ovulation on discontinuation.

Metabolic changes were investigated in two groups of women using oral contraceptives for 5 to 16 years. Blood samples were taken during the last cycle of oral contraceptive use and three months post-treatment. One group had used a monthly oral contraceptive (MOC, 3mg quinestrol and 10mg 16-methylene chlormadinone acetate) and the second group a daily oral contraceptive (DOC, 35 micrograms ethynylestradiol and 0.625 mg norethisterone). During treatment there were increases in serum total cholesterol and triglycerides but not HDL-C, in plasma total cortisol but not in renin activity, angiotensin II or urinary free cortisol excretion, in hemoglobin and some coagulation factors but not Factor X or antithrombin III, platelet function or fibrinolysis. The area under the blood glucose concentration-time curve, but not that for serum insulin, was slightly increased and there was no change in fasting blood sugar concentrations. All metabolic parameters, except plasma cortisol, which had shown an increase on treatment, had decreased to control levels within 3 months. Ovulation returned promptly in all women, the mean time being 70 days for Group MOC and 44 days for Group DOC. Thus, in spite of the long duration of use of the oral contraceptives, metabolic changes were minor.

Adult↗

Sequence and organization of southern bean mosaic virus genomic RNA.

The genomic RNA sequence of the cowpea strain of southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV-C) has been determined. The genome is 4194 nucleotides in length and has four open reading frames. A 5' proximal open frame, from base 49 to base 603, corresponds to the length of the P4 proteins translated in cell-free extracts from full-length and smaller virion RNA. The largest open frame extends from base 570 to base 3437 and encodes the two largest proteins translated in cell-free extracts from full-length virion RNA. Segments of this open reading frame's predicted amino acid sequence resemble those of known viral RNA polymerases, ATP-binding proteins, and viral genome-linked proteins. A third open frame extends from base 1895 to base 2380 and has not been correlated with an in vitro translation product. The fourth open reading frame is located in the 3' terminal region of the genome extending from base 3217 to base 4053. This frame encodes the SBMV capsid protein which is translated from subgenomic, virion RNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Plasmid profiles of multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a children's hospital.

Twenty-six strains of multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) recovered from November 1985 to February 1986 were screened for their plasmid profiles. Among them, 11 strains were recovered from 8 patients with definite nosocomial infections. The results showed that one MRSA strain carrying 5 plasmids with molecular weight ranging from 1.75 X 10(6) to 5 X 10(6) daltons was epidemic in our hospital while 3 other distinct strains caused cross infections in both the burn ward and the medical wards. The epidemic strain and two other hospital-acquired strains were found in identical form in the community, suggesting that the pattern of nosocomial MRSA can be affected by strains outside hospital. The plasmid profile analysis was employed to differentiate the epidemic isolates from the coisolates and to study the relation between clinical isolates. The method is apparently superior to antibiogram.

Bacteriological Techniques↗