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Biomedical subjects

S Xiao

Publications and source records attributed to S Xiao.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Field studies on the preventive effect of oral artemether against schistosomal infection.

OBJECTIVE: To study the preventive effect of oral artemether (Art) against schistosomal infection in the field. METHODS: In Minglang District of Yiyang City, Hunan Province, there is an islet with embankment type endemic area in the southern Dongting Lake region. From August to October 1994 the residents who frequently contacted the infested water were selected for study and allocated to the Art group and the control group. About one month before the preventive Art administration, all the residents understudied were examined by stool hatching technique, and then treated orally with praziquantel at a single dose of 40 mg/kg in stool egg-negative residents and 50 mg/kg in stool egg-positive ones. In the Art group, the first dose of 6 mg/kg was given at the end of August, followed by 3 repeated doses every 15 days. Placebo (starch) was given to the control group at the same time as in the Art group. The preventive efficacy was evaluated by stool examination 25-32 days after the last medication. RESULTS: In the Art group, 20 out of 365 studied residents became stool positive with an infection rate of 5.5%, while in the control group, 51 out of 376 studied residents were stool positive with an infection rate of 13.6%. The egg count per gram of feces (EPG) determined by the Kato-Katz method was 122 +/- 79 in the Art group and 681 +/- 909 in the control group. Meanwhile, two cases of acute schistosomiasis were found in the control group, but none was observed in the Art group. No apparent adverse side effect was seen during the treatment with Art. CONCLUSION: Oral Art exhibited apparent preventive effect on the residents who contacted the infested water in schistosomiasis endemic area.

Administration, Oral↗

Fluorescence in situ hybridization evaluation of chromosome deletion patterns in prostate cancer.

Various nonrandom chromosomal aberrations have been identified in prostate carcinoma. These aberrations include deletions of several chromosome regions, particularly the chromosome 8 short arm. Large-scale numerical aberrations, reflected in aberrant DNA ploidy, are also found in a minority of cases. However, it is unclear whether prostate carcinomas contain aberrations of certain chromosome regions that are deleted frequently in other common types of cancer. In this study, we performed dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization on intact nuclei from touch preparations of 16 prostate cancers. Chromosome copy number was determined using pericentromeric probes, whereas potential chromosome arm deletions were evaluated using yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) and P1 probes. Two YAC probes targeted chromosome 8 short arm regions known to be deleted frequently in prostate cancer. Other YACs and P1s were for chromosome regions, including 1p22, 3p14, 6q21, 9p21, and 22q12, that are deletion targets in a variety of cancers although not extensively studied in prostate cancer. Hybridization efficiencies and signal intensities were excellent for both repeat sequence (alpha-satellite) and single, copy (YAC and P1) fluorescence in situ hybridization probes. Of 16 prostate cancers, 11 had clonal aberrations of 1 or more of the 13 chromosome regions evaluated, and 10 cases (62.5%) had 8p deletions, including 4 cases with 8p deletion in virtually all cells and aneuploidy in only a subset of those deleted cells. Deletions at 3p14, 6q21, and 22q12 were identified in 2, 1, and 1 case, respectively, and each of those cases had a similarly sized cell population with 8p deletion. These studies confirm 8p deletion in the majority of prostate carcinomas. 8p deletions appear to be early events in prostate tumorigenesis, often antedating aneuploidy. Fluorescence in situ hybridization strategies incorporating pericentromeric and single-copy regional chromosome probes offer a powerful and efficient means for determining frequency and progression of oncogenetic events in prostate cancer.

Carcinoma↗

Alterations of level of total genomic DNA methylation and pattern of c-myc, c-Ha-ras oncogene methylation in human gastric carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of DNA methylation in gastric carcinogenesis. METHODS: We analysed methylation pattern of c-myc, c-Ha-ras oncogenes by southern blot hybridization. DNA from cancerous, paracancerous and non-cancerous area of surgically resected samples in 21 cases of advanced gastric cancer were digested with MspI/HpaII and hybridized with the two genomic 32P labelled probes. In addition, the level of total genomic DNA methylation was measured by incubating DNA with 3H-S-Adenosylmethionine (3H-SAM) in the presence of a methylase which methylates all the cytosine residues that are in the double CpG (cytosine-guanine). RESULTS: The results indicated that both c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogene fragments containing CCGG sequence were hypomethylated in DNA samples from cancerous (10/21 and 5/10) and paracancerous (13/21 and 4/10) areas. Moreover, the level of total genomic DNA methylation in cancerous tissue was significantly lower than that in non-cancerous and paracancerous mucosa tissues (P < 0.05). The results from two methods are incompletely alike. CONCLUSION: These results supported a strong correlation between DNA hypomethylation and gastric carcinogenesis, particularly methylated pattern of c-myc and c-Ha-ras oncogenes fragments containing CCGG sequence was abnormal in gastric mucosa tissue from gastric cancerous and paracancerous areas.

Adult↗

[Serodiagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infections by detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies with an immunoblot technique].

Serological testing has recently been proposed as an aid in diagnosis of H. pylori infections. In this study, an immunoblot method has been evaluated to diagnose H. pylori infection serologically by comparing 104 serum specimens from patients with a positive Gram stain and/or culture result and a positive urease test on biopsy material, as well as 30 serum specimens from patients with negative urease test, and negative microscopy and culture results. Thirteen bands could be identified by immunoblotting and were found significantly more frequent in patients with H. pylori infections than in patients without such infections. A semiquantitative grading system was introduced with score 1 for each reactive band and score 1/2 for a weakly reactive band. If score 2 was the cut-off value for IgG antibody, then the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the immunoblot test were 100.0%, 90.0%, 97.2% and 100.0% respectively. There was no marked cross reaction with both Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli.

Adult↗

[Amplification, cloning and sequence analysis of the variable region genes of monoclonal antibody against human bladder carcinoma].

We have designed two sets of oligonucleotide primers to amplify the immunoglobulin heavy- and light-chain variable region genes from genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction, PCR. The genomic DNA was extracted from hybridoma BDI-1 cell, which secrets a monoclonal antibody against human bladder carcinoma. The primers contain special restriction sites that allow the variable region genes to be easy to cloning for sequencing and expression. The PCR products were ligated to plasmid PUC19. The recombinants were sequenced with Sanger's method. It was proved that a full-length VH and V kappa genes was 366 and 324 base pairs respectively. Comparaing with other published sequences, the VH gene was a member of mouse heavy-chain VH subgroup II and originated from rearrangement of VH, Dsp2.2 and JH4; the V kappa gene was V kappa subgroup IV and from V kappa and J kappa 4. It was suggested that obtained VH and V kappa genes were potentially functional genes of the monoclonal antibody against human bladder carcinoma.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

[Clarithromycin combined short-term triple therapies for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection].

UNLABELLED: In order to explore the optimal regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp), eighty-eight patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) or non-ulcer dyspepsia and Hp infection, defined by culture and histology, received the one-week triple therapy with clarithromycin (Cla), furazolidone (Fur) plus lansoprazole (Lan) or colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS). Twenty-eight patients entered the phase one preliminary study, randomized to receive the treatment of Cla 500 mg b.i.d and Fur 200 mg b.i.d plus either CBS 240 mg b.i.d (group I A) or Lan 30 mg b.i.d (group I B). Sixty patients entered the phase two main study, receiving the treatment of Cla 250 mg b.i.d and Fur 100 mg b.i.d plus either CBS 240 mg b.i.d (group II A) or Lan 30 mg q.d (group II B). Five patients (2 in group I A, 2 in group I B, 1 in group II A) were withdrawn because of the side effects of the treatment, and two (in group II A) dropped out. The eradication rates of Hp in group I A, I B, II A, II B were 100.0% (12/12), 91.7% (11/12), 92.6% (25/27) and 90.0% (27/30) respectively. There was no significant difference in the eradication rates of Hp between the treatment groups (P > 0.05). The primary resistant rate of Hp isolates to Cla was 7.5% (4/53) and no patient infected with the strain resistant to Cla succeeded in the eradication of Hp. The healing rates of DU were 94.4% (17/18) in group II A and 100.0% (18/18) in group II B (P > 0.05). The main side effects were nausea, vomiting and taste disturbance. Eighteen of the 28 (64.2%) patients in the phase one study had side effects with a rate significantly higher than that of 5.1% (3/58) in the phase two study (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Both of the regimens used in the phase two study with low-dose, one week triple therapy are highly effective in the eradication of Hp infection and healing of DU, and are well tolerated. (2) The primary resistance of Hp strains to Cla is the principal factor of treatment failure in these two regimens.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗

Codeletion of p15 and p16 genes in primary non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Chromosome band 9p21 is deleted frequently in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and the p15 and p16 cyclin-dependent kinase-4 inhibitor genes map within this deletion region. Recent studies demonstrated deletion of p15 and p16 in NSCLC metastases and cell lines, suggesting a role for these genes in NSCLC progression. We now report p15 and p16 copy number, as determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization with a P1 contig, in 18 primary NSCLCs. Codeletion of p15 and p16 was found in 15 of 18 NSCLCs, and 1 of the 3 tumors with normal p15 and p16 copy number had a nonsense mutation in exon 2 of p16. We conclude that p15 and p16 are deleted and/or mutated in most primary NSCLCs. Two observations, however, support the involvement of at least one additional tumor suppressor gene on chromosome 9. These observations are: (a) the large size (> 100 kb) of most NSCLC p15/p16 deletions; and (b) the absence of exon 2 mutations in most retained NSCLC p15 and p16 alleles.

Adult↗

Characterization of hormonogenic sites in an N-terminal, cyanogen bromide fragment of human thyroglobulin.

We have confirmed the observation of Marriq et al. (FEBS Lett. 207, 302-306, 1986) that substantial thyroxine formation occurs on enzymatic iodination of a 171-residue, N-terminal cyanogen bromide (CNBr) fragment of human goiter thyroglobulin. Marriq et al. concluded from their studies that Tyr130 is the donor for the preferential hormonogenic acceptor site Tyr5. However, in the present study we observed that thyroxine formation in the CNBr fragment occurred not at Tyr5, but rather at Tyr130. Moreover, we did not confirm the report of Marriq et al. that formation of thyroxine in the iodinated CNBr fragment involves cleavage of the Val129-Tyr130 bond. Our finding of thyroid hormone at Tyr130 was unexpected, as Tyr5 is known to be the major site of hormone formation in thyroglobulin isolated from the thyroids of humans and other mammals. In the CNBr fragment, however, Tyr5 appeared to act as a donor rather than an acceptor. Thus, while we have confirmed the finding that the N-terminal CNBr fragment of human goiter thyroglobulin is by itself capable of efficient thyroxine formation when enzymatically iodinated in vitro, we observed that the role of specific tyrosines in the hormone-forming process was different from that in intact thyroglobulin. We question, therefore, whether the CNBr fragment is a valid model for defining the role and location of hormonogenic sites in intact thyroglobulin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chromosome aberrations in desmoid tumors. Trisomy 8 may be a predictor of recurrence.

Cytogenetic analyses of short-term cultures revealed clonal chromosome aberrations in 6 of 13 desmoid tumors. These aberrations included two consistent events, trisomy 8 (n = 4) and trisomy 20 (n = 3), which have not been reported previously in desmoid tumors. Because trisomy 8 was found in two recurrent desmoid tumors, we used fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) methodology to evaluate chromosome 8 in 25 paraffin-embedded and frozen desmoid specimens. The FISH studies demonstrated that both patients with cytogenetic trisomy 8 at the time of recurrence also had had trisomy 8 in primary tumors 4 years earlier. The proportion of trisomy 8 cells in these cases did not change substantially between original diagnosis and recurrence. The FISH studies also revealed trisomy 8 in one recurrent desmoid tumor which had been cytogenetically unremarkable and revealed trisomy 8 in one recurrent desmoid that had not been karyotyped. Four of six patients with trisomy 8 had been followed for more than 1 year, and the desmoid tumors in each of these 4 patients recurred. By contrast, recurrence was noted in only 2 of 17 patients whose desmoid tumors lacked trisomy 8. Our findings demonstrate that trisomy 8 and trisomy 20 are nonrandom aberrations in desmoid tumors. Trisomy 8 appears to be associated with an increased risk of recurrence.

Adult↗

Action potentials of curved nerves in finite limbs.

Previous simulations of volume-conducted nerve-fiber action-potentials have modeled the limb as semi-infinite or circularly cylindrical, and the fibers as straight lines parallel to the limb surface. The geometry of actual nerves and limbs, however, can be considerably more complicated. This paper presents a general method for computing the potentials of fibers with arbitrary paths in arbitrary finite limbs. It involves computing the propagating point-source response (PPSR), which is the potential arising from a single point source (dipole or tripole) travelling along the fiber. The PPSR can be applied to fibers of different conduction velocities by simple dilation or compression. The method is illustrated for oblique and spiralling nerve fibers. Potentials from oblique fibers are shown to be different for orthodromic and antidromic propagation. Such results show that the straight-line models are not always adequate for nerves with anatomical amounts of curvature.

Action Potentials↗

Effects of mebendazole, albendazole and praziquantel on alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase of Echinococcus granulosus cyst wall harbored in mice.

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) of Echinococcus granulosus cyst wall harbored in mice for 10-12 months was measured. The activities of the 2 enzymes were 3,430 +/- 1,370-4,160 +/- 1,790 and 1,560 +/- 840-2,890 +/- 1,470, respectively. When infected mice were treated ig with mebendazole (Meb) 25 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 7-14 d, or 50 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 7 d, the ALT activities of cyst walls of both collapsed and full cysts were inhibited significantly with average inhibition rates of about 50%. Another benzimidazole derivative, albendazole (Alb), also inhibited ALT activity of the cyst wall with an inhibition rate of 40.7%, but this was not the case in the treatment with praziquantel 500 mg.kg-1.d-1 of the infected mice for 14 d. When the infected mice were treated ig with the above mentioned drugs at the same regimens, no apparent effect on AST activities of the cyst wall was seen except for the group treated ig with Meb at a higher daily dose, the inhibition rates being 26% (collapsed cyst) and 43.9% (full cyst). The significance of the results has been discussed briefly.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Novel fluorescence in situ hybridization approaches in solid tumors. Characterization of frozen specimens, touch preparations, and cytological preparations.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization has emerged as an extremely important tool for detection and characterization of nonrandom chromosome aberrations in cancer. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assays have been very reliable in cytogenetic tumor preparations, but have been more unpredictable in archival, paraffin-embedded specimens. We describe novel approaches for detection of chromosome aberrations in frozen tumor specimens, touch preparations, and cytological preparations. These approaches are both simple and reproducible, with minimal case-to-case variation in hybridization efficiency or hybridization signal quality. We demonstrate potential applications of these novel approaches by evaluating: 1) significance of normal karyotypes in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors; 2) p15/p16 copy number in prostate cancer; and 3) clonal chromosome 3p deletion in cytological preparations of pleural fluid from patients with mesothelioma.

Centromere↗

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of bronchogenic cysts.

Between 1974 and 1993, 22 patients with bronchogenic cysts were operated on in our hospital; there were 14 men and 8 women, ranging in age from 11 to 62 years. The cyst locations were mediastinal in 13 (59.1%) and intrapulmonary in 9 (40.9%). There were symptoms (chest pain and recurrent bronchiolitis) in 20 patients (91%). The preoperative complications included infection in the lung and in the cyst and dysphagia due to esophageal compression. Chest pain was the main symptom in mediastinal cyst and recurrent infection of lung in intrapulmonary cyst. Plain chest radiograms showed that a round shadow, occasional air-fluid levels, and peripheral calcification may be found in cysts. An operation is the best treatment for cysts. All cysts were completely excised. No postoperative complications, late complications, or recurrence developed in our patients.

Adolescent↗

Scanning electron microscope observation on tegumental alteration of Schistosoma japonicum induced by levo- and dextro-praziquantel.

When mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum for 35 d were treated ig with levo-praziquantel (L-Pra) 150 mg.kg-1 or dextro-praziquantel (D-Pra) 150-600 mg.kg-1, the alterations of the worm tegument were examined by scanning electron microscopy within 1-24 h after administration. The results showed that L-Pra induced apparent and extensive damage on the worm surface including severe swelling, fusion, erosion and peeling of tegument accompanied by attachment of the host leukocytes. The discoid-like sensory structures usually showed swelling, deformation and collapse. With D-Pra 150 mg.kg-1, only slight damage of tegument was seen. When the dose was increased to 600 mg.kg-1, the damage of worm tegument was similar to that induced by L-Pra 150 mg.kg-1 but the intensity of the damage was slighter as compared to that induced by L-Pra. The results suggested that the actions of the 2 optical enantiomers of praziquantel were different in quantity but not in quality.

Animals↗

[Pathological changes in the livers of rabbits infected with schistosome cercariae and treated with artemether or praziquantel in the early stage of infection].

When rabbits infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 7 d were treated ig with artemether (Art) 30 mg.kg-1, and repeated at 1-wk intervals (i.e. on d 14, 21, 28 after infection) for 4 times, dead worms were found in the liver sections, but no egg or egg granuloma was detected. In infected rabbits treated repeatedly with the above-mentioned dosage of Art at 2-wk intervals (i.e. on d 21, 35, 49) after the first dosing on d 7 after infection, few eggs and egg granulomas were seen occasionally. In another experiment, praziquantel (Pra) 40 mg.kg-1 was given ig to rabbits on d 21 after infection and the same dosage was administered repeatedly at 1- or 2-wk intervals for 2 times, the numbers of eggs and egg granulomas detected in the liver sections of these 2 groups were much less as compared with the control. In the latter group treated at 2-wk intervals, only degenerated eggs and egg granulomas were detected occasionally in the liver sections. The results indicate that if Art or Pra was given to rabbits in the early stage after infection, no apparent or only slight damage of the liver induced by the eggs was seen due to the fact that most or even all of the female worms were killed.

Animals↗