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Biomedical subjects

T Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to T Zhang.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Neural regulation of peptide YY secretion.

The purpose of these experiments was to investigate the neural control of peptide YY (PYY) secretion. The effects of various pharmacological manipulations and vagotomy on peptide YY (PYY) secretion was examined in dogs. Atropine, hexamethonium and atropine plus hexamethonium treatment blocked food-induced release of PYY significantly. Integrated release of PYY in response to food alone and in combination with atropine, hexamethonium and atropine plus hexamethonium were 8.8 +/- 2.2, -1.1 +/- 2.3, -2.7 +/- 2.2 and -3.2 +/- 3.1 (ng (0-150) min/ml), respectively. beta-Adrenergic blockade with propranolol or depletion of nerve terminal stores of catecholamines with reserpine did not affect food-stimulated release of PYY. Truncal vagotomy resulted in significant elevations of basal and food-induced release of PYY. IV administration of bethanechol, a cholinergic agonist, and electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve resulted in release of PYY. Together, these data suggest that food-stimulated PYY secretion is dependent on ganglionic transmission and an atropine-blockable postganglionic parasympathetic pathway; and that PYY release is inhibited tonically, probably through a vagal cholinergic mechanism. Adrenergic pathways do not participate in food-stimulated PYY release; however, electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerves increased basal levels of PYY, suggesting that the sympathetic nervous system affects release of PYY.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Excretion of methylhippuric acids in urine of workers exposed to a xylene mixture: comparison among three xylene isomers and toluene.

The correlation between exposure to three xylene isomers and resulting urinary excretion of corresponding methylhippuric acid (MHA) isomers was studied among 175 Chinese workers of both sexes who had been predominantly exposed to xylenes (exposure to xylenes accounting for 70% or more of the total exposure on a ppm basis). Nonexposed controls (281 men and women) were also studied to define the background level of MHAs in urine. The solvent exposure of xylene-exposed workers during their workshift was monitored by diffusive sampling of breathing zone air, and MHAs in shift-end urine were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Regression analysis showed that the concentration of each MHA isomer correlated significantly with the time-weighted average intensity of exposure to the corresponding xylene isomer, and therefore the correlation between the sum of three xylene isomers in air and that of three MHA isomers in urine was also significant; the slope of the regression line was essentially the same among the three isomers. The calculated regression line suggested that the urinary MHA level after hypothetical exposure to xylenes at 100 ppm will be somewhat less than the proposed biological exposure index and biological tolerance value. Two social habits of smoking and drinking in combination suppressed the conversion of xylenes to MHAs in male workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Expression of a recombinant Entamoeba histolytica antigen in a Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strain.

The expression of a major surface antigen of the intestinal protozoal parasite Entamoeba histolytica in an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strain is described. A polymerase chain reaction fragment derived from cDNA encoding the serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica protein, SREHP, was introduced into S. typhimurium chi 3987 (delta cya delta crp delta asd) using a plasmid expression vector (pYA292) containing the aspartate semialdehyde (asd) gene. S. typhimurium expressing recombinant SREHP as a SREHP/maltose binding protein fusion protein was administered orally to mice and gerbils (an important animal model for E. histolytica infection) and was recovered from splenic tissue in both species. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of expressing recombinant amoebic proteins in attenuated S. typhimurium strains, and shows that vaccine strains of S. typhimurium can successfully infect the gerbil, a widely used model for amoebic liver abscess and intestinal amoebiasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Sucrose drinking reduces dorsal hypothalamic beta-endorphin levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats but not in Wistar-Kyoto rats.

The present study was performed to test whether drinking of a 10% sucrose solution would preferentially alter tissue content of beta-endorphin in dorsal and ventral hypothalamic fragments from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), as opposed to the Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY). Changes were correlated with cardiovascular function and circulating catecholamine levels to assess the role of hypothalamic beta-endorphin, a putative mediator of sucrose-induced changes in cardiovascular sympathetic nervous tone. Male rats were trained to consume their total 24-h water intake in a single period between 0900-1100 h. Catheters were chronically implanted to sample blood and to record arterial blood pressure and heart rate. The experimental protocol consisted of a recording session, which included a 10-min drinking period wherein rats consumed 8 ml of either sucrose solution or deionized water. Rats were sacrificed and hypothalami removed for analysis of beta-endorphin content. Comparable increases in blood pressure were noted in SHR and WKY during drinking of either sucrose or water. Drinking-induced tachycardia was blunted in SHR drinking sucrose. Plasma norepinephrine was increased only in sucrose-drinking SHR. Plasma glucose levels were elevated in both SHR and WKY following drinking of sucrose, but not water. beta-Endorphin levels were reduced (p < 0.05) in dorsal, but not ventral, hypothalamic fragments only in SHR drinking sucrose. The sucrose-induced changes in beta-endorphin did not correlate with blood pressure responses. The results indicate an exaggerated stimulation of beta-endorphin release in the dorsal hypothalamus following sucrose ingestion in SHR.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide stimulates release of peptide YY.

The purpose of these experiments was to examine the effects of the recently discovered gastrointestinal peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), and two structurally related peptides, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and secretin, on release of peptide YY (PYY) in conscious dogs. Intravenous administration of PACAP-27 or -38 stimulated a dose-related release of PYY; PACAP-27 was more potent than PACAP-38. PACAP-stimulated release of PYY was inhibited significantly by atropine, whereas ganglionic or beta-adrenergic blockade with hexamethonium and propranolol treatment, respectively, did not affect PACAP-induced release of PYY significantly (P > 0.05). These results indicate that PACAP-induced release of PYY is cholinergic dependent and that beta-adrenergic tone and ganglionic transmission do not participate in PACAP-induced release of PYY. PACAP may play a role in the neural regulation of PYY release.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of peptide-YY release in response to intracolonic infusion of amino acids.

Peptide-YY-(1-36) [PYY-(1-36)] is an endocrine peptide that is found primarily in the mucosal layer of the colon. We reported previously that a direct intracolonic (IC) infusion of amino acids in dogs resulted in a robust release of PYY compared to other nutrients (fat, glucose, and protein). The objective of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the release of PYY in response to IC infusion of amino acids. Intracolonic infusion of a mixture of tryptophan and phenylalanine (Trp+Phe; 100 mM; 200 ml/h) resulted in a significant release of PYY [integrated PYY release, 74.5 +/- 14.0 ng (0-120 min)/ml], which was not affected by iv atropine, hexamethonium, or propranolol treatment. Intravenous infusion of Trp+Phe failed to release PYY [integrated PYY release, -0.6 +/- 0.9 ng (0-120 min)/ml]. Intracolonic infusion of aromatic amino acids (Trp+Phe) was more potent in releasing PYY than aliphatic (leucine and glycine) and charged (arginine) amino acids. PYY release in response to IC infusion of the deamino and decarboxylated forms of Phe was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased [integrated PYY release, 17.5 +/- 2.6 and 12.1 +/- 2.8 ng (0-120 min)/ml, respectively] compared to that in response to intact Phe [integrated PYY release, 39.4 +/- 4.3 ng (0-120 min)/ml]. These results suggest that 1) PYY release in response to IC administered amino acids is independent of ganglionic, cholinergic, and beta-adrenergic transmission; 2) PYY release in response to IC amino acids is due to a direct contact of amino acids with the luminal pole of PYY cells in the colon and is not the result of a stimulatory action of amino acids via the general circulation; and 3) the amino and carboxylic groups of an amino acid as well as the ring structures of aromatic amino acids are structural requirements for PYY release.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Transformation of Escherichia coli with foreign DNA by electroporation.

Electroporation has been widely applied in molecular biology in recent years. In this study, successful transformation of plasmid DNA and transfection of phage DNA into E. coli were described by using intense electrical field of exponential decay waveform (electroporation) generated by a Gene Pulsar LN-101 (made in Tianjin, Tianjin Institute of Technology and Nankai University). We have obtained 10(9)-10(10) transformants/micrograms with strain DH5 alpha and plasmid pUC18, by a single voltage pulse at 1.0-2.5 kV (initial electric field strength = 2.8-16 kV/cm) with 5-20 microF capacitor. The efficiency of electroporation depends on various parameters: the electric field strength, capacitance, the pulse length (RC time constant), etc. The frequency of transformation was a linear function of the DNA concentration, as well as the density of recipient cell. The incubation time of before or after electroporation has no significant effect on transformation. The high transfection efficiency was also achieved with strain JM109 and M13mp19RF by electroporation. The method was easier, more time-saving and more efficient than Ca(2+)-dependent transformation (transfection) method. The results obtained by Gene-Pulsar LN-101 was similar to that by the Bio-Rad Gene-Pulsar apparatus.

Calcium↗
PubMed1993

[Study of teratogenicity and sensitive period of vanadium pentoxide in Wistar rats].

Pregnant Wistar rats were administered with vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) in three different ways single intraperitoneal injection (ip) of V2O5 5mg/kg on days 9, 10, and 11 of gestation; ip 5mg/kg/day on days 9-12 of gestation; and ip 3mg/kg/day on days 6-15 of gestation. The results showed that the female rats had such toxic symptoms as decreased weight gain, increase fetal mortality, decreased fetal weight and crown-rump, retarded ossification of the bone, increased incidence of subcutaneous hemorrhage, rib wavy, dilation of lateral ventricles and renal pelvis in the two groups, i.e., on days 6-15, and 9-12 of gestation, Decreased weight gain, increased incidence of subcutaneous hemorrhage and visceral anomalies were found on day 11 of gestation group. Increased incidence of fetal death, retarded ossification of the bone on day 10 of gestation group; and increased incidence of subcutaneous hemorrhage and visceral anomalies on days 9, and 10 of gestation were observed. These data suggest that V2O5 can induce teratogenicity in Wistar rat with or without obvious maternal toxicity. There was no obvious teratogenic sensitive period of V2O5 on embryo, but as for single treatment, it was more sensitive on gestation day 10 than on gestational day 11 or 9; as for multi-treatment, it was more sensitive on days 9-12 than on days 6-15 of gestation for teratogenicity and fetal death. It is suggested that V2O5 may act mainly on the middle or late stage of organogenetic period.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1993

[A study on developmental toxicity of vanadium pentoxide in Wistar rats].

Timed-pregnant Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with V2O5 at 0.33, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg/day on days 6-15 of gestation. Maternal toxic symptoms, decreased of weight gain during treatment and placenta weight, increased incidence of embryo-fetus mortality and external or skeletal malformation and fetal growth retardation were observed in the 3.0 mg/kg group. Increased incidence of embryo-fetus mortality and external or skeletal malformation, delayed ossification of bone and decreased placenta weight were observed in the 1.0 mg/kg group. These results indicate that V2O5 is a developmental toxicant with or without obvious maternal toxicity in Wistar rats. Although vanadium can be accumulated in placenta, it could passed through placenta. In this study, vanadium could induce a decrease of placenta weight without obvious maternal toxicity, and an A/D ratio of 3 was noted. These results suggest that vanadium may exert a direct effect on embryo-fetues or a "double effect" on the placenta function and embryo-fetus both. It has been reported that vanadium does not increase mal formation in NIN, Kunming, Swiss, NMRI mice or Syrian golden hamster. The dose for inducing developmental toxicity of vanadium in mice is higher than that in rats. This suggests that rats be more sensitive than mice to the developmental toxicity of vanadium.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗
PubMed1993

[Acute myelocytic leukemia-1 gene rearrangement in acute myeloblastic leukemia with t(8;21)].

The chromosomal translocation t(8;21) (q22;q22), one of the most important recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities in acute leukemia, is mainly associated with the AML-M2 phenotype. In this study, the chromosome 21 breakpoints in 24 out of 29 patients with acute leukemia and t(8;21) were determined. The breakpoints were clustered within intron 4 of the AML-1 gene in 23 patients, including two with variant translocations, and one with the myelomonocytic subtype of acute leukemia. In one case the breakpoint was located in intron 5. In case 29 with 45, XY, del(8) (q22), -21, i.e. lacking the 21q+chromosome, the AML-1 gene was also rearranged intron 4. This suggests that the rearranged sequence important in this leukemia is located to the del (8) chromosome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of the 14/20 centric fusion chromosomal aberration in US Simmental cattle.

Cytogenetic evaluation was made on 353 Simmental cattle (166 male, 187 female) from 113 herds in 26 states. One hundred thirty-eight (39%) were found to be heterozygous-positive for the 14/20 centric fusion chromosomal translocation, including 41 (25%) males and 97 (52%) females. One submitted heparinized blood sample from a Simbrah bull was found to be positive for 14/20 and 1/29 centric fusions. Sampling, which was based on requests, was highly selective. Thus, the 39% prevalence found was not representative of 14/20 centric fusion in the national Simmental breed. On the basis of our findings, cytogenetic evaluation of breeding stock was consistent with modern management practice.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Antagonism of the toxicity of cocaine by MK-801: differential effects in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

A putative role for endogenous excitatory amino acid systems in the mediation of the cardiovascular and toxic responses to acute administration of cocaine, was examined in spontaneously hypertensive and normal Wistar-Kyoto rats. Conscious, restrained, male hypertensive and normal rats (12 weeks of age) received either the non-competitive excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist, MK-801 (0.01-10 mg/kg, i.v.) or vehicle, 30 min prior to initiation of infusion of cocaine hydrochloride (1.25 mg/kg min, i.v.). Administration of MK-801 produced increases in mean blood pressure and heart rate in both hypertensive and normal rats. Resting rectal temperature was reduced by MK-801 only at the largest dose tested (10 mg/kg). Infusion of cocaine caused convulsions and death at doses of 27.8 +/- 2.3 and 48.2 +/- 5.7 mg/kg, respectively in the normals, and 21.2 +/- 2.5 (P < 0.05) and 31.1 +/- 3.4 (P < 0.05) in the hypertensive rats. Pretreatment with MK-801 abolished the enhanced sensitivity of the hypertensive rats to the toxicity of cocaine. The doses of cocaine required to cause death were significantly increased, in the hypertensive rats at doses > or = 0.05 mg/kg, an effect which was not evident, at any dose, in the normals. The maximally effective dose of MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg) increased the dose of cocaine required to cause lethality by 272% (P < 0.05) in the hypertensive rats; the increase produced by MK-801 in the normals (163%) was not significant. Cocaine-induced convulsions were abolished in both hypertensive and control rats with doses of MK-801 > 0.1 mg/kg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Differential antibody responses to rubella virus infection in males and females.

Specificities of human rubella virus (RV)-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies for RV structural proteins (envelope E1 and E2 and capsid) and an E1 domain represented by a synthetic peptide (BCH-178) were determined by immunoblot and ELISA techniques in sera from rubella-infected individuals. Sequential sera were obtained from 67 females and 32 males during acute and convalescent infection phases. Males and females had differences in all antibody classes, especially during the early acute infection phase. At no time during follow-up were IgA anti-E2 antibodies detected in males, in contrast to the case in females. Significantly lower levels of IgG antibody directed to E2 were also observed in males. Males had earlier onset of E1-specific IgG and IgM antibodies with a greater proportion of total RV antibody response directed to E1 (IgG) or E1 peptide (IgM). These differences suggest there are hormonal and genetic influences on immune recognition of RV proteins that may be related to the increased incidence of rubella-associated arthropathy in females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Use of a recombinant 170-kilodalton surface antigen of Entamoeba histolytica for serodiagnosis of amebiasis and identification of immunodominant domains of the native molecule.

We expressed the gene that encodes one of the major surface antigens of Entamoeba histolytica, the 170-kDa protein (1,270 amino acids), as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing amino acids 1 to 1202 (lacking the putative transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions) and as separate fusion proteins containing each of three major domains of the 170-kDa molecule. Lysates from bacteria induced to express one of these proteins were used as the target antigens in a Western blot (immunoblot) analysis to determine whether a recombinant 170-kDa antigen could serve as the basis for a serologic test used to detect invasive amebiasis and whether there are differences in humoral immunogenicity among the three major domains of the 170-kDa antigen. Among patients with invasive amebiasis from three major areas where the disease is endemic and two sites in the United States, 54 (90%) of 60 had antibodies to the recombinant 170-kDa protein. Among 37 patients from regions where the disease is endemic and 20 patients from the United States without amebic disease, 1 (2%) of 57 had antibodies to the recombinant 170-kDa protein. We found significant differences in seroreactivity to each of three major domains of the molecule among patients seropositive for the complete construct, ranging from 100% seroreactivity with the fusion protein containing the domain designated cysteine rich and 89% seropositivity with the fusion protein incorporating a portion of the region designated cysteine poor to only 9% seropositivity for the fusion protein containing the pseudorepeat domain. Our study indicates that a serologic test based on the recombinant 170-kDA antigen could serve as a highly sensitive and specific test for acute invasive amebiasis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Detection of rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies by immunoblot assays.

Immunoblot (IB) assays were developed for detection of rubella virus (RV)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA antibodies in human serum following natural infection or immunization. IB assays performed under nonreducing conditions were compared with those performed under reducing conditions and with immunoprecipitation assays. Significant loss of antigenicity (greater than 90%) of RV E1 and E2 proteins was observed when IB assays were performed in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol as compared with assays under nonreducing conditions. In contrast, the antigenicity of RV capsid protein was not influenced by reducing agents. Sensitivity of IB for RV-specific IgG antibodies was determined to be 0.01 IU/ml under nonreducing conditions. In the determination of RV-specific IgM and IgA antibodies by IB, pretreatment of serum with protein G to remove competing high-affinity RV-specific IgG or rheumatoid factor significantly improved assay sensitivity. IB assays were observed to be superior to immunoprecipitation assays in their ability to better define the specificities of RV-specific antibodies and to detect antibodies of all immunoglobulin classes. However, the conformational sensitivity of RV protein antigenicity should be an important consideration in the interpretation of RV-specific antibodies by IB assays.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of rubella virus-specific antibody responses by using a new synthetic peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Rubella virus (RV)-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques in sera from RV (RA 27/3)-vaccinated individuals, patients experiencing natural RV infection, congenital rubella syndrome patients, and individuals failing to respond to repeated RV immunization. Results obtained by using whole-RV ELISAs (detergent-solubilized M33 strain or intact Gilchrist strain) and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and neutralization (NT) assays were compared with results obtained with the same sera by using ELISAs employing a synthetic peptide, BCH-178, representing a putative neutralization domain on the RV E1 protein. Murine RV E1-specific monoclonal antibodies with HAI and NT activities exhibited strong reactivity in ELISAs with BCH-178 peptide. In sera from RA 27/3-vaccinated individuals collected at 0 (prevaccine), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, and 24 to 52 weeks postvaccine, the development of E1-peptide-reactive antibodies closely paralleled increases in RV-specific antibodies measured by whole-RV ELISAs and HAI and NT assays. Similarly, sequential serum samples obtained from patients during acute and convalescent phases of natural RV infection showed a coordinate increase in RV-specific antibodies as measured by whole-RV and peptide ELISAs. Conversely, congenital rubella syndrome patient sera, although exhibiting high levels of antibody in whole-RV ELISAs, had little or no antibody directed to the neutralization domain peptide. Sera from patients failing to respond to repeated RV immunization contained very low levels of RV-specific antibody in all ELISAs. Our results that the sequence represented by BCH-178 peptide may be a previously unidentified neutralization epitope for human antibodies on the RV E1 protein and may prove useful in determining effective RV immunity.

Adolescent↗