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Biomedical subjects

T Su

Publications and source records attributed to T Su.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical review of three types of platysma myocutaneous flap.

This study evaluated the survival rates of three types of platysma myocutaneous flap: transverse flap, vertical flap that preserved the facial artery and vein and vertical flap that sacrificed the facial artery and vein. Modified radical or supraomohyoid neck dissection was also performed in all patients. Out of 54 patients, transverse and vertical flaps were used for 12 and 42 cases, respectively. In 42 cases of vertical flaps, 26 cases preserved the facial artery and vein, 16 cases sacrificed them. Ten cases of the transverse flaps survived and two cases had partial necrosis. In the 26 cases of vertical flaps that preserved the facial artery and vein, 23 cases survived and three cases had partial necrosis. With the 16 cases of vertical flaps that sacrificed the facial artery and vein, 10 cases survived, four cases had partial necrosis and two cases had total necrosis. The flap survival rates were 83.3, 88.5 and 62.5%, respectively, in the transverse, vertical flap preserving the facial vessels and vertical flap that sacrificed them. The survival rates of transverse and vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps preserving the facial artery and vein were higher than vertical flap that sacrificed the facial artery and vein.

Adult↗

Hint1 is a haplo-insufficient tumor suppressor in mice.

The HINT1 protein, a member of the histidine triad (HIT) family, is highly conserved in diverse species and ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues. However, its precise function in mammalian cells is not known. As a result of its structural similarity to the tumor-suppressor protein FHIT, we used homozygous-deleted Hint1 mice to study its role in tumorigenesis. We discovered that after 2 to 3 years of age the spontaneous tumor incidence in Hint1 -/- mice was significantly greater than that in wild-type Hint1 +/+ mice (P < 0.05). Using a well-established mouse model of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis we found a marked and significant (P < 0.05) increase in the incidence of mammary and ovarian tumors in both, Hint1 -/- and +/- mice versus +/+ mice. The Hint1 -/- and +/- mice had similar tumor incidence and similar tumor histologies. Therefore, deletion of Hint1 in mice enhances both spontaneous tumor development and susceptibility to tumor induction by DMBA. In addition, since the Hint1 +/- tumors retained expression of the unmutated wild-type allele, Hint1 is haplo-insufficient with respect to tumor suppression in this model system.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

New aristolochic acid, aristololactam and renal cytotoxic constituents from the stem and leaves of Aristolochia contorta.

Two novel phenanthrene derivatives, aristololactam IVa (1) and 9-hydroxy aristolochic acid I (2) were isolated from the stem and leaves of Anstolochia contorta Bunge, together with 17 known compounds (3-19). The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The phenanthrenes obtained were tested for cytotoxicity against renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2). Aristololactam IVa and 7-methoxy aristololactam IV were found to have strong cytotoxic activity against HK-2 cells with a potency similar to or even stronger than those of aristolochic acid I and aristololactam I.

Aristolochia↗

Mislocalisation of hephaestin, a multicopper ferroxidase involved in basolateral intestinal iron transport, in the sex linked anaemia mouse.

BACKGROUND: Hephaestin is a multicopper ferroxidase required for basolateral transport of iron from enterocytes. Sex linked anaemia (sla) mice have a defect in the release of iron from intestinal enterocytes into the circulation due to an interstitial deletion in the hephaestin gene (heph). RESULTS: We have demonstrated that hephaestin is primarily localised to a supranuclear compartment in both intestinal enterocytes and in cultured cells. In normal intestinal enterocytes, hephaestin was also present on the basolateral surface. In sla mice, hephaestin was present only in the supranuclear compartment. In contrast, the iron permease Ireg1 localised to the basolateral membrane in both control and sla mice. CONCLUSION: We suggest that mislocalisation of hephaestin likely contributes to the functional defect in sla intestinal epithelium.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗

Direct role of hydrogen in the Staebler-Wronski effect in hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

We report a hydrogen-related defect that establishes the direct role of hydrogen in stabilizing the silicon dangling bonds created in the Staebler-Wronski effect in hydrogenated amorphous silicon. A specific NMR signal due to paired hydrogen atoms occurs only after optical excitation, exists at an intensity that is consistent with the density of optically induced silicon dangling bonds, and anneals at temperatures that are consistent with the annealing of the optically induced silicon dangling bonds. At this defect the hydrogen atoms are 2.3+/-0.2 A apart.

Journal Article↗

Design and synthesis of glycolic and mandelic acid derivatives as factor Xa inhibitors.

A series of glycolic and mandelic acid derivatives was synthesized and investigated for their factor Xa inhibitory activity. These analogues are highly potent and selective inhibitors against fXa. In a rabbit deep vein thrombosis model, compound 26 showed significant antithrombotic effects (81% inhibition of thrombus formation) at 1.1 microM plasma concentration following intravenous administration.

Acetanilides↗

Study on the degeneracy of antisense peptides using affinity chromatography.

The degeneracy of antisense peptides was studied by high-performance affinity chromatography. A model sense peptide (AAAA) and its antisense peptides (CGGG, GGGG, RGGG, SGGG) were designed and synthesized according to the degeneracy of genetic codes. An affinity column with AAAA as the ligand was prepared. The affinity chromatographic behaviors of antisense peptides on the column were evaluated. The results indicated that model antisense peptides have clear retention on the immobilized AAAA affinity column. RGGG showed the strongest affinity interaction. Similar result was obtained from another experiment that Arg-substituted antisense peptide of fusion peptide (1-11) of influenza virus A was also shown the highest affinity binding to immobilized fusion peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Discovery of transition state factor Xa inhibitors as potential anticoagulant agents.

Factor Xa is an attractive biological target in the discovery and development of either parenteral or orally active anticoagulant agents. Several strategies have been utilized at COR Therapeutics in the pursuit of tri-peptide based transition state mimetic factor Xa inhibitors with high aqueous solubility. Some of these inhibitors have displayed excellent in vitro potency in inhibiting factor Xa in the prothrombinase complex. More importantly, these compounds showed strong in vivo antithrombotic efficacy without significant bleeding complications in several animal thrombosis models. These results demonstrated that small molecule factor Xa inhibitors could be advantageous over Warfarin and LMWH. For the discovery and development of orally active anticoagulant agents, small organic molecules as reversible factor Xa inhibitors were explored. From a medicinal chemistry perspective, significant insight has been gained regarding the in vivo antithrombotic efficacy and pharmacokinetic behaviors of each class of factor Xa inhibitors. This review will focus on the design and discovery of transition state factor Xa inhibitors as potential parenteral anticoagulant agents. Several excellent comprehensive review articles on factor Xa inhibitors have appeared recently [1-4].

Animals↗

Effects of nutritional factors and soil addition on growth, longevity and fecundity of the tadpole shrimp Triops newberryi (Notostraca: Triopsidae), a potential biological control agent of immature mosquitoes.

The notostracan tadpole shrimp (TPS) Triops newberryi Packard has potential to be used as a biocontrol agent of immature mosquitoes. Eggs, nymphal or adult shrimps are considered to be the stages for field introduction. To yield good growth of the shrimp and high production of shrimp eggs under artificial conditions, nutritional requirements of TPS for growth, survival and fecundity need to be elucidated. In the laboratory, we evaluated various nutritional and edaphic regimens, such as soil alone, mosquito larvae or rabbit pellets alone and various combinations of these three components for culturing. These factors influenced the growth, longevity and egg production profoundly. It was shown that the simulated natural conditions, i.e. full combination of all three factors, yielded the largest TPS with longest survival and highest egg production, followed by the combinations of any two components. Any single component, soil, mosquito larvae, or rabbit pellets, did not result in good growth, survival and egg production. By formulating optimal rearing substrates, this species of TPS will yield large numbers of all stages for experimentation and field introductions. Under optimal conditions, they mature in 7-8 days and survive for about one month. Each TPS is capable of producing up to 1,000 eggs during its lifetime. These studies developed nutritional regimens for TPS mass culturing procedures, where the eggs, nymphal and adult TPS can be mass cultured for field introduction and stocking in mosquito developmental sites.

Animal Feed↗

Effects of temperature on development, mortality, mating and blood feeding behavior of Culiseta incidens (Diptera: Culicidae).

Culiseta incidens Thomson is distributed over most of the western USA and Canada northward to Alaska. Because this mosquito is difficult to colonize, its biology has not been well investigated. We colonized this species in 1998 and studied the effects of temperature on various aspects of its life cycle. The time required for egg melanization and the duration of the egg stage were negatively correlated with temperature. The proportion of fertile egg rafts was temperature-independent. An inverse relationship existed between temperature and egg hatch. Molting and stadium duration after hatching were temperature-dependent, with higher temperature accelerating development and molting. Larvae and pupae experienced lower mortality and higher molting success at lower temperatures. Survivorship of adult mosquitoes fed on sugar solution was inversely proportional to temperature, lethal times for 50% mortality (LT50) were greater at the lower temperature than at the higher temperature. Females survived longer than did males at all test temperatures. Because this species is eurygamous, mating only occurred in large cages. Mating success was also affected by temperature. At the test temperatures, 20 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 30 degrees C, mating started from 3-5 days after emergence and reached a peak on days 13-15 after emergence. Maximum mating rates at 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C were higher than at 30 degrees C. Blood feeding, as indicated by cumulative feeding rates, was affected by cage size, mosquito age and temperature. Mosquitoes in large cages exhibited a much higher feeding rate than in small cages. With age, the cumulative blood feeding rate increased, with the highest rate at 25 degrees C, followed by 20 degrees C and 30 degrees C. At all temperatures tested, most of the blood fed females were mated.

Age Factors↗

Mosquito larval control with Bacillus sphaericus: reduction in adult populations in low-income communities in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand.

During 1999 and 2000 several larvicidal treatments of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 water dispersible granular (WDG) formulations were made at 50 to 200 mg/m2 in mosquito developmental sites in low-income communities in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand to determine whether larviciding dense populations would results in a noticeable reduction of adult mosquitoes in small treated areas. In the treated area in 1999 (Soi Jumpa), immature populations were suppressed to extremely low levels for extended periods, especially at the higher dosages. This decline in immature populations was followed by a substantial decline in adult mosquitoes. There was a lag of 7 to 14 days post-larval treatments before maximum decline in adults was noted. Adults that emerged prior to treatments survived for 7-14 days or longer, thus no drastic reduction was noted soon after treatments. Despite a slight resurgence in adult mosquitoes during the middle of the experimental period, adult female mosquitoes (over 98% Cx quinquefasciatus), remained low during the 5-month period of trials. During the last 2 weeks (17 days post last treatment) of the experimental period, female populations reached the pre-treatment level. During the 2000 tests at Wat Pikul reduction in larvae was 87-98% for 7 weeks after first treatment at 200 mg/m2, resulting in a reduction of 24 to 73% (2 and 7 days post-treatment respectively) and 87 to 98 (2-6 weeks) in the adults. In the second and third treatments at 50 mg/m2, larval control and subsequent adult reduction were lower and shorter-lived than at the high dosage, and the fourth treatment at 100 mg/m2 did not yield a high level of reduction in the larvae (18 to 33%), but reduction of adults was still 80%. The final fifth treatment at 200 mg/m2 yielded only 18% control of larvae, suggesting tolerance to B. sphaericus at this site. It was shown that at both treated sites repeated treatments with a larvicide such as B. sphaericus could result in substantial reduction in adult mosquitoes. Vigilance for detection of resistance development should be practiced, as resistance could emerge in certain populations following a few treatments.

Animals↗

Human cytochrome P450 CYP2A13: predominant expression in the respiratory tract and its high efficiency metabolic activation of a tobacco-specific carcinogen, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

The human CYP2A subfamily comprises three genes, CYP2A6, CYP2A7, and CYP2A13. CYP2A6 is active toward many carcinogens and is the major coumarin 7-hydroxylase and nicotine C-oxidase in the liver, whereas CYP2A7 is not functional. The function of CYP2A13 has not been characterized. In this study, a CYP2A13 cDNA was prepared by RNA-PCR from human nasal mucosa and was translated using a baculovirus expression system. In a reconstituted system, the expressed CYP2A13 was more active than CYP2A6 in the metabolic activation of hexamethylphosphoramide, N,N-dimethylaniline, 2'-methoxyacetophenone, and N-nitrosomethylphenylamine but was much less active than CYP2A6 in coumarin 7-hydroxylation. Of particular interest, CYP2A13 was highly active in the metabolic activation of a major tobacco-specific carcinogen, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, with a catalytic efficiency much greater than that of other human cytochrome P450 isoforms examined previously. The tissue distribution of CYP2A13 was determined with isoform-specific RNA-PCR. CYP2A13 mRNA was detected in liver and a number of extrahepatic tissues, including nasal mucosa, lung, trachea, brain, mammary gland, prostate, testis, and uterus, but not in heart, kidney, bone marrow, colon, small intestine, spleen, stomach, thymus, or skeletal muscle. Quantitative PCR analysis further revealed that CYP2A13 mRNA is expressed at the highest level in the nasal mucosa, followed by the lung and the trachea. Together, these findings suggest that CYP2A13 plays important roles in xenobiotic toxicity and tobacco-related tumorigenesis in the human respiratory tract.

Adolescent↗

Expression of biotransformation enzymes in human fetal olfactory mucosa: potential roles in developmental toxicity.

High levels of cytochrome P450 are present in the olfactory mucosa (OM) in mammalian animals and contribute to the known tissue-selective toxicity of numerous chemical compounds. Olfactory toxicity in the perinatal period may have a greater impact on behavior, growth, and development than in adults. To establish a molecular basis for determining the risk of developmental toxicity in OM, the expression of several cytochrome P450 enzymes, as well as NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and microsomal epoxide hydrolase, was examined in hepatic and nasal microsomes prepared from human fetal tissues at gestational day 91-125. The relative microsomal concentrations of these biotransformation enzymes were determined on immunoblots. Expression of CYP2A, CYP2J2, the reductase, and epoxide hydrolase was detected in both OM and liver. The microsomal levels of these enzymes were generally lower in OM than in liver of the same fetuses, except for the CYP2A-related proteins, which were expressed in OM at much higher levels. OM expression of CYP2A6, CYP2A13, CYP2B6, and CYP2J2 mRNAs was detected using RNA-PCR. These results document, for the first time, prenatal expression of xenobiotic-bioactivating cytochrome P450 enzymes in human OM and suggest that the human fetal OM may be a preferred target tissue for the toxicity of maternally derived chemical compounds that are activated by the CYP2A enzymes.

Biotransformation↗

Cloning and characterization of DIP1, a novel protein that is related to the Id family of proteins.

Using human cyclin D1 as the "bait" in a yeast two-hybrid system, together with a HL60 cDNA library, we identified a novel human nuclear protein designated DIP1. This protein is expressed in a variety of cell types, and in fibroblasts its level remains constant throughout the cell cycle. However, the level of this protein increases severalfold during the differentiation of HL60 cells. The DIP1 protein can be phosphorylated in vitro by a cellular kinase and this activity reaches its maximum in extracts obtained from cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. DIP1 contains a helix-loop-helix motif but lacks an adjacent basic DNA-binding domain, thus resembling the Id family of proteins. The dip1 gene is located on human chromosome 16p11.2-12, a locus that is amplified in several types of human cancer. These results suggest that DIP1 may be involved in the control of gene expression and differentiation, but its precise function remains to be determined.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort in Taiwan-baseline data and five-year follow-up morbidity and mortality.

A cohort consisting of 3602 residents (82.8% of the target population) aged 35 years and older was established in 1990 in the Chin-Shan Community, a suburb 20 miles outside of metropolitan Taipei, Taiwan. The long-term objective was to investigate the prospective impact on cardiovascular health in a society undergoing transition from a developing to a developed nation. This article presents the study design, selected baseline risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and CVD events at the 5-year follow-up evaluation with an emphasis on sociodemographic differences. The multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that white-collar individuals were more likely than blue-collar workers to have dyslipidemia including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels <35 mg/dl [odds ratio (OR) = 1.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.4] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels >/=160 mg/dl (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.7). However, they were at slightly lower risk for stroke and CVD/sudden death, and at moderately higher risk for coronary artery disease and diabetes, although both these trends were not significant. Men were more likely than women to have HDL-C levels <35 mg/dl (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.4-2.2), but they were less likely to have LDL-C levels >/=160 mg/dl (OR = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.6-0.8). The risk of CVD/sudden death was higher for men than for women during the follow-up period (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.3-2.9). This could be due to risk factors such as a much higher prevalence of tobacco (61.9% vs. 4.5%) and alcohol (43.7% vs. 6.4%) use in men. In conclusion, individuals of higher socioeconomic status have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia but slightly lower 5-year incidence of CVD events.

Adult↗

Relationships between DNA incorporation, mutant frequency, and loss of heterozygosity at the TK locus in human lymphoblastoid cells exposed to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine.

3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), a thymidine analogue widely used in the treatment of AIDS patients and for prevention of the onset of AIDS in HIV-seropositive individuals, causes tumors in mice exposed as adults or in utero. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanisms of AZT mutagenicity and carcinogenicity by quantifying the incorporation of AZT into cellular DNA, measuring AZT-induced thymidine kinase (TK) mutant frequencies (Mfs), and determining the percentage of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in spontaneous or AZT-induced TK mutants in the human lymphoblastoid cell line, TK6. Cells were exposed to 300 microM AZT for 0, 1, 3, or 6 days, or to 0, 33, 100, 300, or 900 microM AZT for 3 days (n = 5 flasks/group). The effects of exposure concentration on incorporation of AZT into cellular DNA were evaluated by an AZT radioimmunoassay, and the effects of duration and concentration of AZT exposure on the TK Mfs were assessed by a cell-cloning assay. AZT was incorporated into DNA in a dose-related manner at concentrations up to 300 microM, above which no further increase was observed. TK Mf increased with the extended duration and with incremental concentrations of AZT exposure. There was a positive correlation (P = 0.036, coefficient = 0.903) between AZT-DNA incorporation and AZT-induced TK Mfs, suggesting that AZT incorporation into cellular DNA has a direct role in the genotoxicity of AZT. Southern blot analyses indicated that 84% (6.2 x 10(-6)/7.4 x 10(-6)) of AZT-induced mutants were attributable to LOH, consistent with the known mechanism of AZT as a DNA chain terminator. Considering the importance of LOH in human carcinogenesis, AZT-induced LOH warrants further study.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Delivery of lipoplexes for genotherapy of solid tumours: role of vascular endothelial cells.

The cells constituting a solid tumour may vary considerably due to biological disparities, but for a solid tumour to pose as a threat to its host, an adequate blood supply has to be established. Although neovascularisation may have dire consequences for the host, it provides a common route by which tumours in general may be reached and eradicated by drugs. The fact that a tumour's vasculature is relatively more permeable than healthy host tissue means that selective delivery of drugs may be achieved. A closer examination of the role played by the cells making up the tumour vascular bed, vascular endothelial cells (VECs), is required to facilitate design of ways for enhancing drug delivery to solid tumours via the vascular route. VECs have two major roles in the body, barrier and transport, both of which are highly pertinent to drug delivery. This review discusses the factors regulating VEC function, and how these cells may be manipulated in-vivo to improve the selective delivery of lipoplexes, carriers for gene therapy constructs, to solid tumours. It also discusses how genotherapeutic drugs may be targeted against tumour VECs on the premise that by killing these cells, the tumour itself will perish.

Drug Carriers↗