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Biomedical subjects

W Luo

Publications and source records attributed to W Luo.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Fibroblast growth factor 2 control of vascular tone.

Vascular tone control is essential in blood pressure regulation, shock, ischemia-reperfusion, inflammation, vessel injury/repair, wound healing, temperature regulation, digestion, exercise physiology, and metabolism. Here we show that a well-known growth factor, FGF2, long thought to be involved in many developmental and homeostatic processes, including growth of the tissue layers of vessel walls, functions in vascular tone control. Fgf2 knockout mice are morphologically normal and display decreased vascular smooth muscle contractility, low blood pressure and thrombocytosis. Following intra-arterial mechanical injury, FGF2-deficient vessels undergo a normal hyperplastic response. These results force us to reconsider the function of FGF2 in vascular development and homeostasis in terms of vascular tone control.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Kinetics of slow reversible inhibition of human muscle creatine kinase by planar anions.

The toxicity of NO3- and NO2- to mammals has been widely publicized. However, the kinetic mechanism of inhibition of human muscle creatine kinase by NO3- and NO2- has not been explored. The kinetic theory of the substrate reaction during the modification of enzyme activity previously described by Tsou (Adv. Enzymol. Related Areas Mol. Biol. 1988, 61, 381-436) has been applied to a study of the kinetics of slow reversible inhibition of human muscle creatine kinase by planar anions (NO3- and NO2-). The kinetic equation of the substrate reaction was derived from theoretical analysis and experimental data, then simplified. The microscopic rate constants for the reaction of the inhibitors with the enzyme were obtained from the simplified equation for the substrate reaction in the presence of the inhibitors. The results show that the apparent forward rate constant A is dependent on ATP concentration, indicating competition between the inhibitor (NO3- or NO2-) and ATP. The results also suggest that binding of creatine-MgADP and the anion with the enzyme is very tight, since their binding constants are much higher than those for normal substrates.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1998

Effects of tetramethylpyrazine, a Chinese medicine, on plasma endothelin-1 levels during acute pulmonary hypoxia in anesthetized dogs.

Our study was designed to elucidate the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a Chinese medicine, on plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in dogs with acute pulmonary alveolar hypoxia. Anesthetized dogs were used under artificial ventilation with room air or a hypoxic gas mixture (10% O2 and 90% N2) (n = 10) for 60 min. Effects of TMP (80 mg/kg) were studied by i.v. injection of TMP before exposure to hypoxia (n = 8). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm), systemic arterial pressure (SAPm), right atrial pressure (RAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), cardiac output (CO), and heart rate (HR) were measured. The pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was calculated by the equation of (PAPm-PCWP) x 8/CO. Plasma ET-1 levels were determined in the abdominal aorta and pulmonary artery by RIA. The effects of TMP on PAP and plasma ET-1 level were evaluated by using percent increase in PAPm and the change of Da-pET (delta ET) before and after hypoxia. Both PAPm and PVR were significantly elevated 5 min after acute hypoxia over a period of 60 min, whereas CO and PCWP did not change. Plasma ET-1 levels in the abdominal aorta and Da-pET showed a significant increase. Administration of TMP significantly decreased the hypoxia-induced increase in the PAPm, PVR, and delta ET. These results suggest that TMP could be a useful therapeutic agent in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension induced by acute hypoxia through decrease of plasma ET-1 levels.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1998

Transgene animal model for protein expression and accumulation into forming enamel.

Understanding the cellular and molecular events that regulate the formation of enamel is a major driving force in efforts to characterize critical events during amelogenesis. It is anticipated that through such an understanding, improvements in prevention, diagnosis and treatment-intervention into heritable and acquired diseases of enamel could be achieved. While knowledge of the precise role of an enamel-specific protein in directing the formation of inorganic crystallites remains refractory, progress has been made with other aspects of amelogenesis that can be brought to bear on the subject. One such area of progress has been with the identification of an ameloblast-lineage specific amelogenin gene promoter. This promoter can be used to direct the expression of enamel-specific proteins, as well as the expression of proteins foreign to amelogenesis, into the enamel extracellular matrix where their effect on biomineralization can be ascertained in a prospective manner. The resulting enamel from such animals can be examined by morphologic and biochemical modalities in order to identify the effect of the transgene protein on enamel crystallite formation and subsequent biomineralization. This manuscript outlines such a strategy with the potential for enhancing our understanding of amelogenesis.

Ameloblasts↗
PubMed1998

Steroid-resistant asthma: effects of glucocorticoids on interleukin-4 and interleukin-5 gene expression.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) in the pathogenesis of steroid-resistant (SR) asthma. METHODS: Fifteen patients with SR asthma and 15 patients with steroid-sensitive (SS) asthma were selected based on their clinical responses to prednisone therapy. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained and incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in vitro for 48 h in the presence or absence of dexamethasone (10(-7) mol/L). Expressions of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA in PBMCs were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and mRNA positive PBMCs for IL-4 and IL-5 were measured with in situ hybridization using digoxin-labeled cDNA probes. RESULTS: In the absence of dexamethasone, there was no significant difference in the expressions of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA between SR and SS asthmatics, and the numbers of mRNA positive cells for IL-4 and IL-5 were also similar between these two groups, however, in the presence of dexamethasone (10(-7) mol/L), expressions of IL-4 mRNA (P < 0.01) and IL-5 mRNA (P < 0.05) were significantly inhibited in SS asthmatics, but not in SR asthmatics (P > 0.05). The numbers of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA positive cells decreased from 5.50 +/- 1.60 to 2.27 +/- 0.98 (P < 0.01) and from 5.03 +/- 1.29 to 1.67 +/- 0.70 (P < 0.01), respectively in SS asthmatics, but in the patients with SR asthma, there was no significant change in the number of cells expressing mRNA for IL-4 or IL-5. CONCLUSION: The gene expression of IL-4 and IL-5 in SR asthma was not inhibited by dexamethasone at the concentration of 10(-7) mol/L. It is suggested that the relative unresponsiveness of T cells to glucocorticoids and persistent production of cytokines may be one of the mechanisms of steroid resistance in asthma.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Antigen-induced airway leakage in asthmatic guinea-pigs and the effects of BRL 55834].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the role of airway leakage in asthma attack and investigate the effects of BRL 55834 on prophylaxis and treatment of asthma. METHOD: Ten normal and seventeen sensitized guinea-pigs were divided into 5 groups. After being anesthetized, right carotid artery, right jugular vein and trachea were cannulated to monitor systemic blood pressure, inject drugs, mechanical ventilate and record airway insufflation pressure (AIP). All animals were pretreated with atropine and propranolol (1 mg/kg) 30 min before experiment. DMSO or BRL 55834 was administered intravenously 2 min before intravenous injection of evans blue (EB, 30 mg/kg), Ovalbumin (OA, 3 mg/ml) was inhaled using an ultrasonic nebulier for 30 seconds 1 min after injection of EB. RESULT: (1) BRL 55834 (8 micrograms/kg) did not inhibit airway leakage in normal guinea-pig; (2) Airway leakage increased in sensitized guinea-pigs significantly after inhaling OA, 87 +/- 19 ng dye/mg tissue vs 53 +/- 7 ng dye/mg tissue in trachea (Tr); 119 +/- 67 ng dye/mg tissue vs 79 +/- 46 ng dye/mg tissue in main bronchus (MB); 65 +/- 44 ng dye/mg tissue vs 46 +/- 17 ng dye/mg tissue in central pulmonary airway (CiPA) and 50 +/- 31 ng dye/mg tissue vs 32 +/- 4 ng dye/mg tissue in peripheral pulmonary airway (PiPA, P < 0.05). (3) BRL 55834 inhibited airway leakage contrast to DMSO, especially in CiPA and PiPA, with an inhibition of 48% (Tr, P < 0.05), 57% (MB, P < 0.01), 44% (CiPA, P < 0.05), and 46% (PiPA, P < 0.05) after injection of BRL 55834 8 micrograms/kg, and 46% (Tr, P < 0.05), 57% (MB, P < 0.01), 56%(CiPA, P < 0.01) and 55% (PiPA, P < 0.01) after injection of BRL 55834 16 micrograms/kg, respectively. (4) BRL 55834 decreased base AIP in all groups, and inhibited OA-induced AIP increasing in sensitized guinea-pigs, with an inhibition of 49% (BRL 55834 8 micrograms/kg) and 57% (BRL 55834 16 micrograms/kg) in contrast to DMSO. BRL 55834 had a little side-effect on cardiovascular system, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Airway leakage is one of the most important components in asthma attack, BRL 55834, a selective potassium channel activator, not only decreases airway leakage, but also inhibits OA-induced increase in airway resistance. All these are beneficial to prophylaxis and treatment of asthma.

Airway Resistance↗
PubMed1998

[Isolation and drug susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis from respiratory tract].

OBJECTIVE: In order to realize the significance on the isolation and drug susceptibility of S. epidermidis from patients with lower respiratory tract infections. METHOD: (1) Qualified sputum specimens from inpatients in general wards with lower respiratory tract infections were cultured for bacteria and identification between 1990 and 1996. (2) Drug susceptibility of commonly used antibiotics against isolated S. epidermidis strains was determined by K-B methods or agar dilution method. RESULT: (1) Two thousand and six hundred sixty strains of various kinds of bacteria were isolated from 6228 sputum specimens, 257 strains (9.66%) of which were S. epidermidis (ranking the forth). The isolating rate of S. epidermidis was 4.13%. (2) By determining the drug susceptibility of S. epidermidis to 21 commonly used antibiotics, it was found that this bacterium was resistant to all the agents except vancomycin in different levels, and the resistant rate ranged from 15.2% to 98.1%, of which many strains showed multidrug resistance. Vancomycin, imepinem, cefocefin and cefoperazone were relatively sensitive agents tested, the resistant rates being 0, 17.1%, 18.7% and 30.0%, respectively. The resistant rates of all other agents were higher than 48.5%, some of which higher than 80%. The resistant rate of penicillin G was nearly 100%. CONCLUSION: Attention should be paid to the high isolating rate of S. epidermidis in the respiratory tract infections and the high drug resistance in some strains, and the role of this bacterium in the lower respiratory tract infections needs to be studied.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

[Relationship between root rot on Panax notoginseng Burk. F. H. Chen and its environmental conditions].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the relationship between root rot on Panax notoginseng and its environmental conditions for integrate control of the disease. METHOD: Field observation and analysis on the planting plots were conducted regularly. RESULTS: Root rot on P. notoginseng occurs extensively in Wenshan Prefecture, with two peaks of incidence per year. The first peak appears in March-April; and the second July-August. Air temperatures around 20 degrees C and relative humidities of higher than 95% are favorable for the disease to occur and spread. The root rot is severe when the light transmitting rate in the shade shed is too high(> 30%). The disease is severer in land of continuous cropping than in land of rotational cropping and land of new cropping. The severity of the rot increases with the years of continuous cropping. The art of field management also influences the occurring and spreading of the disease. CONCLUSION: The occurring and spreading of P. notoginseng root rot are closely related to its environmental conditions.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal↗
PubMed1998

[Studies on control of root rot on Panax notoginseng].

Chemical Control tests of pot, plot and field for Panax notoginseng root rot were conducted during 1995-1996. The results indicated that the chemical control is a effect measure to control rapidly occurring and spreading of Panax notoginseng root rot. It was the best treatment to coordinate use of bactericide and fungicide, obviously better than alone or mixed use of fungicide and also better than alone use of bactericide. In the pot and plot tests, the best coordinate treatment was the treatment of 10% phenazine plus 70% dexon plus 50% bavistin and plus water (1:1:500), the control effect was 70%; in the field test, the control effect of over 70% was also get with the treatment of 10% phenazine plus 70% dexon and plus small soil (1 Kg:1 Kg:150 Kg) per mu.

Benzenesulfonates↗
PubMed1997

In vitro and in vivo promoter analyses of the mouse phospholamban gene.

To determine the mechanisms responsible for regulation of the phospholamban (PLB) gene expression, a critical regulatory phosphoprotein in cardiac muscle, the mouse PLB gene was isolated and promoter analysis was performed in vitro and in vivo. The PLB gene consists of two exons separated by a single large intron. Deletion analysis revealed that a 7-kb 5' flanking fragment (including exon 1, the entire intron and part of exon 2) was necessary for maximal transcriptional activity in H9c2 and L6 cell lines. Interestingly, deletion of a 2.4-kb intronic region, which contained repetitive elements, caused a dramatic increase in CAT activity in both these cell lines. In vivo analysis indicated that the PLB fusion gene containing 7 kb of the 5'-flanking region was capable of cardiac specific gene expression in transgenic mice. Furthermore, these mice exhibited 3-fold higher levels of CAT activity in the ventricles compared with the atria, mimicking endogenous PLB mRNA expression. Our findings suggest that: (a) PLB gene expression may be regulated by the interplay of cis-acting regulatory elements located within the 5' flanking and intronic regions; and (b) the 7-kb upstream region is capable of directing cardiac-specific and compartment-specific expression in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Rapid method for the determination of ampicillin residues in animal muscle tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A rapid and sensitive HPLC method was developed for the determination of ampicillin residues in muscle tissues of beef, pork, chicken and catfish. Muscle tissues were blended with a food processor into paste. A 5-g aliquot of the blended tissues was homogenized with 14 ml of 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 4.5) using a tissue homogenizer. Proteins were precipitated with the addition of 1 ml trichloroacetic acid (75%, w/v) followed by centrifugation. After filtration, 1 ml of the supernatant was reacted with formaldehyde under acidic and heating conditions. The ampicillin fluorescent derivative was then analyzed by reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detection. Recoveries of spiked ampicillin at 5, 10 and 20 ng/g were >85%, with coefficients of variation <5%. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for ampicillin in the tissues were 0.6 ng/g and 1.5 ng/g, respectively. The method is also applicable to the analysis of ampicillin residue in dry milk powder.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1997

Functional expression of bombesin receptor in most adult and pediatric human glioblastoma cell lines; role in mitogenesis and in stimulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

Functional bombesin receptors were identified in most human glioblastoma cell lines examined (approximately 85% of lines). Bombesin stimulated the release of intracellular Ca2+ in human adult (U-373MG, D-247MG, U-118MG, U-251MG, D-245MG, U-105MG, D-54MG, A-172MG, and D-270MG lines) and pediatric (SJ-S6 and SJ-G2 lines) glioblastoma cell lines. Stimulation of the glioblastoma cell line U-373MG with bombesin or gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) induced mitogenesis, measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (Erk1 and Erk2). The stimulation of the MAP kinase phosphorylation in U-373MG cells was time- and peptide concentration-dependent. Both bombesin and GRP showed similar potencies in stimulation of intracellular Ca2+ release and activation of the MAP kinase pathway in U-373MG cells, whereas neuromedin B (NMB) peptide was less potent. Bombesin and GRP induced the release of cytosolic Ca2+ in a concentration-dependent manner. Because bombesin and GRP were more potent than NMB peptide in increasing the cytosolic Ca2+ levels in U-373MG cells, we concluded that the BB2 subtype (also known as GRP-preferring receptor subtype) of the bombesin receptor is expressed in this cell line. The bombesin receptor antagonist ([Leu13-psi(CH2NH)Leu14]bombesin) blocked bombesin induced Ca2+ release and attenuated MAP kinase activation in U-373MG cells demonstrating that bombesin is acting through a receptor-dependent mechanism. This study indicates that functional bombesin receptors are widely expressed in human glioblastoma cell lines.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Suppression of tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells by an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (C-CAM1): the adhesion and growth suppression are mediated by different domains.

C-CAM1 is an epithelial adhesion molecule of immunoglobulin supergene family and has been implicated in the growth suppression of prostate cancer cells. Here we show that C-CAM1 can also suppress the tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells. These observations suggest that C-CAM1 may be a general growth suppressor in epithelial cells. In addition, we have identified the cytoplasmic domain, but not the extracellular adhesion domain, of C-CAM1 as critical for the growth suppression. Thus, the adhesion and the growth suppression functions of C-CAMI are independent of each other. Furthermore, mutation at the tyrosine phosphorylation site in the cytoplasmic domain of C-CAM1 did not obliterate C-CAM1's growth suppression function, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation is not involved in the signal transduction pathway leading to cell growth suppression. These studies provide the structural basis for future development of therapeutics that may selectively activate C-CAM1's growth suppression function.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1997

Biochemical and immunological studies and assay of rat sublingual mucins.

Original studies of rat sublingual mucins raised questions as to the existence of a second mucin species as distinguished by binding to hydroxyapatite. The existence of multiple mucin species is of concern in pharmacological studies of mucous-cell secretion as each species could represent distinct mucous-cell populations that respond differently to secretagogues. Thus a separate hydroxyapatite-bound mucin pool expressed in rat sublingual glands was isolated and characterized. Biochemical comparison of hydroxyapatite-bound mucins to total and hydroxyapatite-unbound sublingual mucins demonstrated no substantial differences in either amino acid and carbohydrate contents or in size distributions. In addition, a radioimmunoassay was developed using antisera prepared previously against unbound mucins. The three mucin pools exhibited equal specificities in displacement of radiolabelled unbound mucin tracer in the radioimmunoassay. Thus, bound and unbound mucins are indistinguishable, both immunologically and in biochemical composition. The radioimmunoassay was then evaluated for use in pharmacological studies of acinar mucous-cell secretion. Measurement by radioimmunoassay of secretion from isolated acini in response to carbachol was concentration-dependent (EC50 approx. 0.3 microM and maximal stimulation at 1 microM carbachol). In immunolocalization studies the antiserum was highly selective for mucous cells, recognized all mucous cells within histological sections, and was localized subcellularly to mucous-cell secretion granules and trans-Golgi, further validating the radioimmunoassay as a method to detect exocrine secretion from the entire pool of acinar mucous cells. Moreover, the radioimmunoassay was compared and found equivalent to an acid-precipitation method to assess relative secretion, suggesting the acid-precipitation method is also valid for pharmacological studies of isolated acini.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

C-met proto-oncogene expression in benign and malignant human renal tissues.

PURPOSE: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a potent mitogen to renal epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. HGF/SF signals through its receptor which is coded by the c-met proto-oncogene. We hypothesized that altered expression of the HGF/SF receptor, c-met, may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain renal cell carcinomas. Our objectives were to 1) assess the presence and localization of c-met protein in benign and malignant human renal tissues, and 2) correlate the presence of c-met protein with renal carcinoma histological subtype, tumor stage and tumor grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of c-met protein was performed in 41 normal and malignant human renal samples. RESULTS: c-met Immunostaining was detected in the normal kidney tissue in all 41 samples. In the normal kidney c-met immunostaining was limited to the cell membrane and/or cytoplasm of epithelial cells in specific tubular segments, including the proximal convoluted tubule, thin and thick limbs of the loop of Henle, and the collecting duct. The glomeruli, distal convoluted tubule and stroma were consistently negative for c-met staining. c-met Immunostaining was detected in 68% of renal cell carcinomas and was more common in higher nuclear grade cancers (p < 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The c-met receptor is present in specific tubular segments in the normal kidney and is frequently expressed in higher nuclear grade renal cancers, suggesting a role in renal carcinoma progression. Future studies should evaluate the biological significance of the HGF/ SF-c-met pathway in normal renal physiology, and renal cancer growth and progression.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1997

Use of cellular depletion analysis to examine circulation of immune effector function between the vagina and the periphery.

Results from an animal model of vaginal candidiasis suggest that Candida-specific cell-mediated immunity in the systemic circulation does not mediate protection against vaginitis. The present study used cellular depletion analysis to examine the circulation of immune effector function between the vagina and the periphery. Results showed that anti-Thy-1.2 antibodies given intravenously to mice depleted Thy-1+ T lymphocytes in the systemic compartment but not in the vaginal mucosa, while the same antibodies injected intravaginally significantly reduced Thy-1+ T cells in both the vaginal and systemic compartments. These results support a lack or low level of circulation of immune effector function from the periphery to the vaginal mucosa.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Activation of the T-cell receptor signaling pathway by Nef from an aggressive strain of simian immunodeficiency virus.

The Nef from a highly virulent strain of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), SIVpbj14, and a Nef from the traditional strain SIVmac239 bearing the mutation from RQ to YE (YE-Nef) both induce an acute lethal disease in monkeys. The YE mutation and its surrounding sequence resemble the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), which is present in the cytoplasmic tail of T- and B-cell antigen receptors and mediates signaling during lymphocyte activation. We show here that the ITAM from YE-Nef performs the same function. First, not only does YE-Nef increase the activity of the transcription factor NFAT, which is one of the downstream targets of T-cell activation, but the ITAM from the YE-Nef by itself also activates NFAT. Second, the ITAM from YE-Nef is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues by Lck and associates with ZAP-70, a T-cell-specific tyrosine kinase. The phosphorylation of both conserved tyrosine residues on the ITAM is required for the recruitment of ZAP-70. Finally, Lck is required for the activation of NFAT by YE-Nef. These results demonstrate that YE-Nef contains a functional ITAM and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of SIVpbj14.

Amino Acid Sequence↗