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Biomedical subjects

T Wu

Publications and source records attributed to T Wu.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[An genetic epidemiology study of MTHFR gene and blood level (sibpair linkage analysis)].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between MTHFR gene and blood pressure. METHODS: A total of 142 sibpairs were collected from rural communities of CCPACH. MTHFR gene genotypes were determined by an assay based on the polymerase chain reaction. Phenotype of this study was the level of blood pressure. Covariates were measured by questionnaire, physical examination and clinical indices. Sibpair linkage analysis was used to analyse data by SAGE software. RESULTS: In this study, prevalence of TT genotype of MTHFR gene was 9.3%, while CT was 41%. There was no evidence for linkage of the MTHFR gene with either systolic or diastolic blood pressure identified. CONCLUSION: In our study population, MTHFR gene did not seem to be not related to blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Study on the mortality of injury in Chinese population in urban and rural areas from 1990 to 1997].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and trend of injuries among urban and rural Chinese population. METHODS: Data from annual Chinese national health statistics (1990 - 1997) were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall mortality of injury in China increased from 36.8/10(6) to 76.7/10(6) from 1990 to 1997. Injury was the forth leading causes of death in urban areas and the fifth in rural areas. The death rate of injury declined in the urban while increasing in the rural areas. The rural death rate of injury was about two times of that in urban and the difference was increasing over time. The death rate of men was higher than that of women and the ratio was 1.3 - 1.9. Children below 4 years old and people above 60 years old showed the highest rates. The first three leading causes of death of injuries in urban areas were traffic accident, suicide and fall, while in rural areas were suicide, traffic accident and drowning. The death rate caused by suicide was 6.5/10(6) - 27.1/10(6) and the rate in rural areas was 2.7 to 4.0 times of that in urban areas. The mortality of suicide declined in urban while increased in rural areas. The mortality of traffic accidents had a tendency of increase in both urban and rural areas. CONCLUSION: Injury has been one of the leading cause of death but without effectively control programs for population in Urban and Rural areas in China, special in rural areas.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

[Analysis for the titer of plasma antibody to heat stress protein 70 in workers exposed to benzene].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the titer of plasma antibody against heat stress protein 70 (HSP70) in workers exposed to benzene and its possible relationship to their health. METHODS: Forty-two workers exposed to more than 40 mg/m(3) of benzene were selected as a high exposure group, 50 of workers exposed to less than 40 mg/m(3) as a low exposure group, and 42 unexposed as a control group. Their plasma antibody against HSP70 was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analysis was conducted to study the relationship between it and other factors. RESULTS: Proportion of plasma positive antibody to HSP70 with a titer of 1:20 was significantly higher in high exposure group (26.2%) than that in controls (9.5%). Moreover, prevalence of adverse symptoms and positive signs, and level of lipid peroxide were all significantly higher in high exposure group with positive antibody to HSP70 than those with negative antibody. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the titer of plasma antibody to HSP70 had close relation with the health of workers exposed to benzene.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[A study on relationship between plasma heat stress protein 70 and cytokine in patients with heat apoplexy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the change of levels of plasma heat stress protein 70 (HSP70) and cytokine and their interrelationship in pathogenicity of heat apoplexy. METHODS: Plasma HSP70 was determined with Western blot, and plasma interleukin-2 (IL-2), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Plasma level of HSP70 was 4 211.2 +/- 1,286.2 (integral optical density) in average in the patients of heat apoplexy group, 4,137.8 +/- 1, 207.5 in those of severe heat apoplexy group, and 6,043.5 +/- 1,354.8 in control group, with very significant difference (P < 0.01). Plasma IL-2 level was (64.3 +/- 32.3) pg/ml and (200.0 +/- 50.0) pg/ml and sIL-2R (54.9 +/- 33.3) U/ml and (167.5 +/- 89.0) U/ml in the patients with heat apoplexy and in controls, respectively, with very significant difference. But, there was no significant difference in IL-6 between varied groups. CONCLUSIONS: The above-mentioned results suggest that establishment of heat acclimatization correlates to the interaction of network of neuroendocrine-cytokine-HSP, in which decrease in plasma IL-2 was one of the important factors causing reduction of HSP70 expression. Balance of network regulation was broken by pathological factors, finally resulting in heat apoplexy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Preliminary study on relationship between antibody against heat stress protein 70 and hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily explore the relationship between main antibody against heat stress protein 70 (anti-HSP70) and hypertension. METHODS: Serum anti-HSP70 was determined with Western blotting technique in hypertensive and normotensive groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between anti-HSP70 and hypertension. RESULTS: It was found that level of antibody against the main heat shock protein 70 was significantly higher in patients with hypertension (based on criteria of 160/95 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) than in controls, after adjustment for the generally recognized risk factors for hypertension (such as age, sex, length of employment, body mass index, job, et al.). There still was stronger association between anti-HSP70 and hypertension (based on criteria of 140/90 mm Hg), but its strength of association was weaker than the former. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HSP70 may potentially serve as a serum biomarker to assess hypertension, or anti-HSP70 itself may be involved in the development of hypertension.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2000

[The investigation of color selection of 4340 cases of ceramic restorations].

OBJECTIVE: To find color coordinates of Vita color tabs compare with Chinese natural teeth and summarize the skills of color matching. METHODS: We studied 15,836 ceramic restorations of 4340 cases from 138 clinics in 18 provinces throughout China and compared their shade with that of the adjacent natural teeth using the Vita shade guide which has 16 standard tooth colors. Statistical analyses was made by comparing aptness of Chinese teeth with Vita shade. RESULTS: We found that 64.47% of the restorations were matched by Vita A, 15.85% were matched by Vita B, and 19.68% were matched by Vita C and D. The arrangement of Vita 16 colors by using frequency was A2, A3, B2, A1, A3.5, C1, D2, D3, C2, B3, C3, B1, A4, D4, B4 and C4. The first five color matching tabs used most frequently covered 73.85% of the total, while the last four colors only covered 3.07%. It seemed that Vita color tabs could not match well with Chinese teeth. We found that the shade of natural teeth was closely related to sex. But there were no significant difference between tooth color and different areas. CONCLUSION: Tooth color is closely related to sex. The color of ceramic crowns in men are darker than that in women. We have evidences that there are clear differences in color distribution between Chinese natural teeth and Vita shade guide.

China↗
PubMed2000

[The role of heat shock protein 70 and its autoantibody in experimental autoimmune inner ear disease].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of antigen stimulation on induction of the heat shock protein 70(HSP70) in the guinea pig cochlea and to explore the role of HSP70 and its autoantibody in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of autoimmunize inner ear disease (AIED). METHODS: To establish the animal model of AIED, homologous crude inner ear antigen was used to immunize the guinea pig. The expression of HSP70 was detected by immunocytochemistry and the relative staining densities were quantified with a light microscope image analysis system. The autoantibodies against HSP71 in the plasma of animals were tested by Western blot using purified recombinant human HSP71 as antigen. RESULTS: HSP70 presented in the normal guinea pig cochlea at a lower level. After immunological challenge, the levels of HSP70 immunoreactivity in the immunized animals were significantly increased as compared with control animals. Optical densities of cochleae of immunized animals were significantly greater than those of animals in the control group (P < 0.01). Most of the immunized animals had developed autoantibodies against HSP71. The incidence of autoantibody in the experimental group was significantly different (P < 0.01) from the control group. CONCLUSION: Antigen stimulation could lead to an increase in the synthesis of HSP70 in the guinea pig cochlea. The detection of autoantibody against HSP71 might have significance in the diagnosis of AIED.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Lack of sequence diversity in the gene encoding merozoite surface protein 5 of Plasmodium falciparum.

The gene encoding merozoite surface protein 5 (MSP5) of Plasmodium falciparum is situated between the genes encoding MSP2 and MSP4 on chromosome 2. Both MSP4 and MSP5 encode proteins that contain hydrophobic signal and glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) attachment signals and a single epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain at their carboxyl termini. The similar gene organization, location and similar structural features of the two genes suggest that they have arisen from a gene duplication event. In this study we provide further evidence for the merozoite surface location of MSP5 by demonstrating that MSP5 is present in isolated merozoites, partitions in the detergent-enriched phase following Triton X-114 fractionation and shows a staining pattern consistent with merozoite surface location by indirect immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Analysis of antigenic diversity of MSP5 shows a lack of sequence variation between various isolates of P. falciparum from different geographical locations, a feature unusual for surface proteins of merozoites and one that may simplify vaccine formulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

[Effects of unarmed marching in dry-heat desert environment on the heat shock protein 27 in human blood].

To explore the variation of blood heat shock protein 27(HSP27) for unarmed marching in dry-heat environment, plasma HSP27 levels of 57 marchers and 14 controls were detected. The results revealed a significant difference between exposed and control groups (P < 0.01), and no significant difference among different time exposures at the same speed. HSP27 levels increased slightly with the increase of speed. During the second hour of marching, HSP27 levels were slightly lower, and kept steady in the third hour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Bilateral cortical representation of the intrinsic lingual muscles.

Motor potentials of the intrinsic lingual muscles were recorded by surface electrode in a patient with left hypoglossal neuropathy. Electrical stimulation of the right hypoglossal nerve had contralateral lingual muscle potentials representing the crosstalk volume conducted electromyography signals. Magnetic stimulation of either cerebral hemisphere yielded motor responses on the right half of the tongue with more contribution from the crossed corticobulbar fibers. Follow-up studies showed an improvement of dysphagia and left lingual motor potentials.

Electric Stimulation↗
PubMed1999

Social support and psychopathology in homeless patients presenting for emergency psychiatric treatment.

We compared homeless to domiciled psychiatric patients' symptomatology and perceived level of social support (PSS) within hours of psychiatric emergency service (PES) arrival. Homeless patients experienced less PSS and more negative symptoms, but not more psychosis, than their domiciled counterparts. Domiciled patients' PSS was highly related to their clinical presentation: less support predicted increased psychopathology. Homeless patients' clinical symptoms, although as common and severe, were unassociated with PSS. These findings suggest that homeless psychiatric patients may be less reactive to positive environmental influences like social support and manifest more severe and refractory symptoms than domiciled patients presenting for emergency treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Skeletal effects of constant and terminated use of risedronate on cortical bone in ovariectomized rats.

To study the skeletal effects of continual and terminated use of risedronate treatment on cortical bone in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats, we used risedronate (Ris), 5 microg x kg(-1), by subcutaneous injections, twice per week. The middle part of the tibial shafts (Tx) were processed undecalcified for quantitive bone histomorphometry. Cortical bone and the marrow areas of the tibial shaft did not change in either sham-Ovx or Ovx rats during the 150-day experimental period. Continued administration of Ris for 150 days decreased the marrow area and increased the percentage of cortical area compared with the matching sham and Ovx group. A decrease in bone formation indices in both periosteal and endocortical surfaces of Tx in sham-operated rats between the age of 5 and 8 months was seen. Ovariectomy increased the percentage of labeled perimeter in the periosteal area, and markedly increased the percentage of eroded perimeter in the endocortical surface compared with sham control groups in 81 and 150 days. Bone formation indices of Ris treatment were increased in periosteal surfaces, and percentages of eroded perimeter were decreased more in endocortical surfaces in 150 days than in the matching sham and Ovx groups. These data matched our static data, which showed a significantly increased percentage of cortical bone area and decreased percentage of marrow area. These bone gains were not maintained in the 90-day Ris withdrawal group. For cancellous bone, the 60-day Ris-treated high bone mass was maintained in the withdrawal group and not maintained in Ris continmuously treated group. These results indicate the effects of constant and terminated use of Ris in cortical bone were different from those in trabecular bone in the proximal tibial metaphysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Circulating basic fibroblast growth factor declines during Cy/TBI bone marrow transplantation.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) inhibits radiation-induced apoptosis, and radioprotects haematopoietic, cartilage growth plate, pulmonary and gastrointestinal tissues. Conversely, chronic overexpression of bFGF may promote fibrosis. We measured the endogenous circulating bFGF in blood of patients undergoing conditioning TBI. Twenty-six patients with haematopoietic malignancies were conditioned with cyclophosphamide/TBI for allogeneic BMT. Daily blood samples were collected each morning prior to, during, and for several days after TBI. bFGF levels in plasma of normal volunteers are 0.8-26 pg/ml. bFGF was below detectability in 22%, 30% and 45% of patients pre-TBI, during TBI or post-TBI respectively. Mean circulating plasma levels of bFGF decreased from a median of 52 pg/ml pre-TBI to 26 pg/ml during TBI, and to 5 pg/ml post-TBI. Among the 26 patients, 13 had more than one non-detectable plasma bFGF level, an additional five had at least one non-detectable level, and only eight patients had detectable levels in all daily samples. Naturally high levels of bFGF were observed in some patients undergoing fractionated TBI. In contrast, as many as 79% of patients had low bFGF levels in one or more samples. The impact of endogenous bFGF on the tolerance of normal tissues to irradiation is unknown, and warrants further study.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The expression of secreted aspartyl proteinases of Candida species in human whole saliva.

The expression of secreted aspartyl proteinases (Saps) by clinical isolates of Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis in human saliva supplemented with glucose and in a proteinase-inducing medium (YCB-BSA), was investigated. Also, yeast growth, pH fluctuation and total protein concentration of the saliva cultures during incubation were measured. Sap expression was assessed by evaluating the enzyme activity as well as the antigen concentration. Saps were expressed well in human saliva supplemented with glucose by all three Candida species, although greater expressions was found in YCB-BSA medium. C. albicans isolates were significantly more proteolytic than the non-albicans isolates. In general, for all three species, the rate of yeast growth, pH fluctuation and percentage reduction of total salivary protein concentration concurred with the degree of expression of Saps. These data strongly suggest that Saps of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis may play an active role in the progression of oral candidoses, particularly with regard to the abundance of low pH microenvironments in the oral cavity, which are regularly replenished with dietary carbohydrates.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Inhibition of growth and secreted aspartyl proteinase production in Candida albicans by lysozyme.

Lysozyme (muramidase) is a non-specific, antimicrobial protein ubiquitous in human mucosal secretions such as saliva. Although its antibacterial and antifungal activities are well recognised, there are no data on the specific concentrations necessary to affect the growth of Candida albicans or about the effect of lysozyme on the production of secreted aspartyl proteinase (Sap), a putative virulence factor of C. albicans. Five Sap-producing isolates of C. albicans were cultured in YCB-BSA medium with various concentrations of lysozyme to examine its effect on yeast cell growth, ultrastructural cellular topography and extracellular and intracellular Sap concentration and activity. Lysozyme was candidacidal at high concentrations and decreased significantly the extracellular Sap concentration at sublethal doses, accompanied by intracellular accumulation of the enzyme. At low concentrations of lysozyme (c. 10 microg/ml), Sap activity decreased more than two-fold and Sap concentration decreased five-fold without any appreciable effect on cell growth or viability. Ultrastructural investigations showed ballooned cells and cells with invaginations (especially present near bud scars), indicating that cell-wall components may be possible targets for this enzyme. All concentrations of lysozyme tested were well within physiologically attainable levels. These data suggest that lysozyme has, at least, a bimodal action on C. albicans, killing the organism at higher concentrations and modulating Sap metabolism at lower concentrations.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed1999

Molecular requirements for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 plus-strand transfer: analysis in reconstituted and endogenous reverse transcription systems.

We have developed a reconstituted system which models the events associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plus-strand transfer. These events include synthesis of plus-strand strong-stop DNA [(+) SSDNA] from a minus-strand DNA donor template covalently attached to human tRNA3Lys, tRNA primer removal, and annealing of (+) SSDNA to the minus-strand DNA acceptor template. Termination of (+) SSDNA synthesis at the methyl A (nucleotide 58) near the 3' end of tRNA3Lys reconstitutes the 18-nucleotide primer binding site (PBS). Analysis of (+) SSDNA synthesis in vitro and in HIV-1 endogenous reactions indicated another major termination site: the pseudouridine at nucleotide 55. In certain HIV-1 strains, complementarity between nucleotides 56 to 58 and the first three bases downstream of the PBS could allow all of the (+) SSDNA products to be productively transferred. Undermodification of the tRNA may be responsible for termination beyond the methyl A. In studies of tRNA removal, we find that initial cleavage of the 3' rA by RNase H is not sufficient to achieve successful strand transfer. The RNA-DNA hybrid formed by the penultimate 17 bases of tRNA still annealed to (+) SSDNA must also be destabilized. This can occur by removal of additional 3'-terminal bases by RNase H (added either in cis or trans). Alternatively, the nucleic acid chaperone activity of nucleocapsid protein (NC) can catalyze this destabilization. NC stimulates annealing of the complementary PBS sequences in (+) SSDNA and the acceptor DNA template. Reverse transcriptase also promotes annealing but to a lesser extent than NC.

DNA, Single-Stranded↗
PubMed1999

Effect of aerobic exercise and ginsenosides on lipid metabolism in diet-induced hyperlipidemia mice.

AIM: To study the effect of aerobic exercise and its combination with Gin (ginsenosides from stems and leaves of ginseng) on lipid metabolism in diet-induced hyperlipidemia mice. METHODS: The mouse hyperlipidemia model was set up by feeding high cholesterol diet. Unloaded swimming was designed to be a manner of aerobic exercise. The effects of aerobic exercise and its combination with Gin on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in serum, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver tissue were measured; the thymus and liver were weighed. RESULTS: (1) The mouse hyperlipidemia model was set up successfully: TC and MDA increased (P < 0.05) but HDL-c and SOD decreased (P < 0.05); the liver weight increased and the thymus weight reduced; fatty liver was found; (2) aerobic exercise reduced TC but increased MDA and HDL-c in cholesterol-rich diet mice; the liver weight did not reduce, and fatty liver did not clear up; and (3) when aerobic exercise combined with Gin, TC and TG decreased markedly (P < 0.01), and MDA also decreased (P < 0.05); SOD and HDL-c increased markedly (P < 0.01); the thymus weight increased and the liver weight decreased to normal level; fatty liver cleared up. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise could lower serum lipid to some extent but could not satisfactorily regulate lipid metabolism. When combined with Gin, aerobic exercise could better lower serum lipid, regulate lipid metabolism, promote antioxidation, and enhance immune activity.

Animals↗