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Biomedical subjects

X J Jiang

Publications and source records attributed to X J Jiang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Soil Cd availability to Indian mustard and environmental risk following EDTA addition to Cd-contaminated soil.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of EDTA on the extractability of Cd in the soil and uptake of Cd by Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Twenty levels of soil Cd concentration ranging from 10 to 200 mg kg(-1) were produced by spiking aliquots of a clay loam paddy soil with Cd(NO3)2. One week before the plants were harvested EDTA was applied to pots in which the soil had been spiked with 20, 40, 60...200 mg Cd kg(-1). The EDTA was added at the rate calculated to complex with all of the Cd added at the 200 mg kg(-1) level. Control pots spiked with 10, 30, 50... 190 mg Cd kg(-1) received no EDTA. The plants were harvested after 42 days' growth. Soil water- and NH4NO3-extractable Cd fractions increased rapidly following EDTA application. Root Cd concentrations decreased after EDTA application, but shoot concentrations increased when the soil Cd levels were >130 mg kg(-1) and Cd toxicity symptoms were observed. The increases in soil solution Cd induced by EDTA did not increase plant total Cd uptake but appeared to stimulate the translocation of the metal from roots to shoots when the plants appeared to be under Cd toxicity stress. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms by which EDTA may change the solubility and bioavailability of Cd in the soil and the potential for plant uptake and environmental risk due to leaching losses to groundwater.

Cadmium↗
PubMed2003

Changes in soil microbial biomass and Zn extractability over time following zn addition to a paddy soil.

A laboratory incubation study was conducted using a paddy soil spiked with two quantities of Zn as soluble Zn(NO3)2 and unamended controls. Three single extractants (1 M ammonium acetate (pH 7.0), 0.43 M acetic acid and 0.05 M EDTA) were used to assess the bioavailability of Zn. Biological community assessments were made microbial biomass (chloroform fumigation), soil basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity. During the 84-day period of the experiment, addition of Zn at both 500 and 1,000 mg kg(-1) had little detectable effect on soil pH. The concentration of NH4OAc-extractable Zn decreased rapidly within the initial six weeks. The concentration of HOAc-extractable Zn showed no decrease during 84 days incubation. EDTA-extractable Zn was greater than NH4OAc- and HOAc-extractable fractions, and showed a similar trend to NH4OAc-extractable after incubation. Microbial biomass, soil basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity all decreased over time during 84 days incubation. Addition of Zn resulted in a significant increase in specific respiration (qCO2). Microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity did not appear to be influenced by added Zn, probably due to the strong buffering capacity of the soil. The Zn extracted by EDTA, HOAc and NH4OAc showed close relationships with each other (p < 0.001). Zinc extracted by 0.05 M EDTA and NH4OAc were highly correlated with soil basal respiration and specific respiration rate (p < 0.01). The results suggest that NH4OAc-extractable Zn combined with soil specific respiration could be used as parameters for risk assessment.

Acetates↗
PubMed2002

Quantification of glyceryl trinitrate effect through analysis of the synthesised ascending aortic pressure waveform.

OBJECTIVE: To establish through analysis of the radial pressure pulse waveform the dose dependent effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) on properties of different blood vessels. DESIGN: Radial pulse waveform was measured in randomised order before, during a five hour application of a GTN patch delivering 0.104-0.625 mg/h, and for two hours after patch removal. The radial pressure waveform (Millar applanation tonometer) was convolved into an ascending aortic wave using a generalised transfer function (SphygmoCor process) enabling measurement of aortic systolic, diastolic, pulse, mean, and augmented pressure and left ventricular ejection duration in addition to standard brachial cuff pressures. SETTING: Fu Wai and Ren Ming hospitals in Beijing, China. PATIENTS: 46 recumbent hospitalised patients aged 56 (9) years, awaiting electrophysiological or other diagnostic studies, fasting, and with other treatments suspended. MAJOR OUTCOME MEASURES: Conventional brachial pressure measures and data from the synthesised aortic pulse. RESULTS: There was no consistent change in heart rate or brachial pressures except for a decrease in systolic and pulse pressures (p < 0.01) at dose > 0.416 mg/h. In contrast, there were substantial and significant (p < 0.0001) decreases in aortic systolic, pulse, and augmented pressures at all doses, mean pressure (p < 0.001) at doses > 0.416 mg/h, and ejection duration (p < 0.001) at doses > 0.208 mg/h. CONCLUSIONS: Pulse waveform analysis exposes dose dependent effects of GTN on the aortic waveform, suggesting muscular conduit arterial dilatation with reduced wave reflection at the lowest dose, arteriolar dilatation and decreased peripheral resistance at the highest dose, and venous dilatation at the intermediate dose.

Aorta↗
PubMed2000

Intrahepatic transfusion-transmitted virus detected by in situ hybridization in patients with liver diseases.

Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) has been identified from patients with post-transfusion hepatitis of unknown aetiology, but the clinical relevance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate TTV in liver. We studied 15 patients with hepatitis non-A-E and 44 with hepatitis B virus (HBV). The nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers corresponding to the conserved region of the published TTV genome was employed to amplify TTV fragments in serum, and in situ hybridization was used to detect TTV in biopsied liver specimens. TTV DNA was detected in serum from six (40%) of 15 patients with hepatitis of unknown aetiology and from 16 (36.4%) of 44 patients with chronic hepatitis B, respectively. The intrahepatic viral fragment was detected in 17 (77.3%) of 22 patients with TTV in serum. There was no statistical difference in the prevalence of TTV infection between the two groups (hepatitis non-A-E 40% vs HBV 25%, P > 0.75). When patients in both groups, with and without TTV, were compared, no differences were found in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (hepatitis non-A-E: 131.5 +/- 66.6 vs 244.2 +/- 257.4, P=0.955; HBV: 240.1 +/- 418.9 vs 214.6 +/- 276.7 U l(-1), P=0.761) or histological activity index (grade) score (hepatitis non-A-E: 6.4 +/- 5.5 vs 5.6 +/- 5.9, P=0.689; HBV: 5.6 +/- 3.7 vs 5.5 +/- 3.7, P=0.345). HBV DNA levels in patients with and without TTV co-infection did not differ significantly (300 +/- 776.4 microg ml(-1) vs 97.1 +/- 160.5 microg ml(-1), P=0.980). Hence, TTV does exist in liver, but plays no role in hepatitis or aggravation of liver damage when co-infected with HBV.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of exercise on mitogen- and stress-activated kinase signal transduction in human skeletal muscle.

Exercise/contraction is a powerful stimulator of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades in skeletal muscle. Little is known regarding the physiological activation of enzymes downstream of MAP kinase. We investigated whether acute exercise results in activation of mitogen- and stress-activated kinases (MSK) 1 and 2, p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (p90rsk), and MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2). Muscle biopsies were obtained from healthy volunteers before, during, and after 60 min one-leg cycle ergometry, from exercising and resting legs. MSK1 and MSK2 activities were increased 400-500% and 200-300%, respectively, in exercised muscle (P < 0.05 vs. rest). A dramatic increase in activity of p90rsk (MAPKAPK1) (>2,500%), and to a lesser extent MAPKAP2 (300%), was noted with exercise (P < 0.05 vs. rest). MSK1, MSK2, p90rsk, and MAPKAP2 activities were sustained throughout exercise. Exercise-induced activation of these enzymes was limited to working muscle, indicating that local rather than systemic factors activate these signaling cascades. Thus physical exercise leads to activation of multiple enzymes downstream of MAP kinase.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of signal transduction and glucose transport in skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic patients.

We characterized metabolic and mitogenic signaling pathways in isolated skeletal muscle from well-matched type 2 diabetic and control subjects. Time course studies of the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/2, and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase revealed that signal transduction through this pathway was engaged between 4 and 40 min. Insulin-stimulated (0.6-60 nmol/l) tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation, and glycogen synthase activity were not altered in type 2 diabetic subjects. In contrast, insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and anti-phosphotyrosine-associated PI 3-kinase activity were reduced 40-55% in type 2 diabetic subjects at high insulin concentrations (2.4 and 60 nmol/l, respectively). Impaired glucose transport activity was noted at all insulin concentrations (0.6-60 nmol/l). Aberrant protein expression cannot account for these insulin-signaling defects because expression of insulin receptor, IRS-1, IRS-2, MAP kinase, or glycogen synthase was similar between type 2 diabetic and control subjects. In skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic subjects, IRS-1 phosphorylation, PI 3-kinase activity, and glucose transport activity were impaired, whereas insulin receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, MAP kinase phosphorylation, and glycogen synthase activity were normal. Impaired insulin signal transduction in skeletal muscle from type 2 diabetic patients may partly account for reduced insulin-stimulated glucose transport; however, additional defects are likely to play a role.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1998

Expression of osteopontin mRNA in normal and stone-forming rat kidney.

Human urine contains several macromolecules which inhibit calcium oxalate crystallization. Osteopontin (or uropontin), a secreted phosphoglycoprotein with the amino acid sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) and high affinity to hydroxyapatite, is one such inhibitor. To investigate the action of this protein on renal stone formation, the expression osteopontin gene in normal and chemically induced urolithiasis rat kidney was compared at both mRNA and protein levels. Northern blot analysis shown a significant increase of osteopontin mRNA level in stone-forming rat kidney compared with normal ones. In an in situ hybridization study, we localized the transcripts of the osteopontin gene in epithelial cells of both distal and collective tubules, and found a remarkably strong signal in stone-forming rats. The amount and distribution of the protein in kidney from immunocytochemistry staining showed the same pattern as seen in situ hybridization. These findings indicate that osteopontin may be an important macromolecule in the normal endogenous defence against the formation of urinary calculi.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Divergent effects of exercise on metabolic and mitogenic signaling pathways in human skeletal muscle.

The molecular signaling mechanisms by which muscle contractions lead to changes in glucose metabolism and gene expression remain largely undefined. We assessed whether exercise activates MAP kinase proteins (ERK1/2, SEK1, and p38 MAP kinase) as well as Akt and PYK2 in skeletal muscle from healthy volunteers obtained during and after one-leg cycle ergometry at approximately 70% VO2max. Exercise led to a marked increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which rapidly decreased to resting levels upon recovery. Exercise increased phosphorylation of SEK1 and p38 MAP kinase to a lesser extent than ERK1/2. In contrast to ERK1/2, p38 MAP kinase phosphorylation was increased in nonexercised muscle upon cessation of exercise. Phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB was increased in nonexercised muscle upon cessation of exercise. Exercise did not activate Akt or increase tyrosine phosphorylation of PYK2. Thus, exercise has divergent effects on parallel MAP kinase pathways, of which only p38 demonstrated a systemic response. However, our data do not support a role of Akt or PYK2 in exercise/contraction-induced signaling in human skeletal. Activation of the different MAP kinase pathways by physical exercise appears to be important in the regulation of transcriptional events in skeletal muscle.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1998

Insulin-stimulated Akt kinase activity is reduced in skeletal muscle from NIDDM subjects.

The serine/threonine kinase Akt (PKB/Rac) has been implicated as playing a role in the insulin-signaling pathway to glucose transport. Little is known regarding the regulation of Akt kinase activity in insulin-sensitive tissues, such as skeletal muscle, or whether this regulation is altered in insulin-resistant states such as NIDDM. We examined the effect of insulin on Akt kinase activity in skeletal muscle from six NIDDM patients and six healthy subjects. Whole-body insulin sensitivity, assessed by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, was significantly lower in NIDDM subjects (P < 0.001), and this was accompanied by impaired in vitro insulin-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle. In both groups, insulin induced a significant increase in Akt kinase activity, but the response to maximal insulin (60 nmol/l) was markedly reduced in skeletal muscle from NIDDM subjects (66% of control levels, P < 0.01). Impaired Akt kinase activity was not accompanied by decreased protein expression of Akt. Instead, a trend toward increased Akt expression was noted in skeletal muscle from NIDDM subjects (P < 0.1). These parallel defects in insulin-stimulated Akt kinase activity and glucose transport in diabetic skeletal muscle suggest that reduced Akt kinase activity may play a role in the development of insulin resistance in NIDDM.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1994

Seroprevalence studies using a recombinant Norwalk virus protein enzyme immunoassay.

A recombinant Norwalk virus (NV) protein enzyme immunoassay was used to study the age of acquisition of NV IgG in various populations. In London, England, there was little evidence of infection during the first 2 years of life. However, the prevalence of NV IgG rose steadily throughout the period that children attend school, reaching a peak of 70% in the group aged 11-16 years. High levels of maternal antibody were detected in infants aged < 3 months. Comparison of the acquisition of antibodies to three strains of human calicivirus in Japanese children in northern Japan indicated that although the majority had experienced infection with strains Japan and UK1 by the age of 12 years, only 22% possessed antibodies to NV. In Australian aborigines NV infection occurs early in life; by the age of 6 years over 90% of children were seropositive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Sequence similarity of human caliciviruses and small round structured viruses.

The application of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers directed to the RNA dependent RNA polymerase region within ORF1 of Norwalk virus (NV) showed that 31 percent of morphologically typical human caliciviruses (HuCV) and 57% of small round structured viruses (SRSVs) produced a product of 470 bp similar to the NV control, NV 8FIIa/68/US. Alignment of the amino acid sequences of morphologically typical HuCVs with previously published sequences for SRSVs, NV, and Snow Mountain agent (SMA) showed a high degree of homology (90-92%) with SMA and a lesser extent of homology with NV (60-61%). The amino acid sequence of two strains of HuCV, HuCV/3C/92/UK, and HuCV/5C/92/UK differed by only one or two amino acids respectively in the RNA dependent RNA polymerase region from that of two strains of SRSV obtained from children in the United Kingdom, SRSV/4S/90/UK and Japan, SRSV/OTH-25/89/J which were found to have identical amino acid sequences. The use of an EIA for detection of NV antigen employing antisera raised to recombinant NV protein indicated that HuCVs and SRSVs obtained from children and adults in the United Kingdom were antigenically distinct from the prototype Norwalk virus, NV/8fIIa/68/US.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[The effects of chlorine disinfection on the resistance of E. coli in water].

Under defined conditions E. coli were subjected to repeated chlorine disinfections 10 times. The survival E. coli at 30 s (A10), and the survival E. coli at 10 min (B10) had no difference in resistance to chlorine to their original strain (A0). However, the compound E. coli (C10) survived at various contact time showed an increased resistance than their original strain (A10), the degree of increased resistance varying with different conditions of disinfection. E. coli C1(0) lost its increased resistance after it has been passaged 10 times on nutrient agar.

Chlorine↗
PubMed1991

[Auditory brainstem response in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery insufficiency].

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of vascular occlusion on the cochlear blood flow and auditory brainstem response (ABR) in the cat basilar artery system. Any occlusion in the basilar, anterior inferior cerebellar, or internal auditory arteries had chances of decreasing the cochlear blood flow, in which case the extent of the depression of the waves I and II of ABR was proportional to the blood flow decrease. This results suggests attention should be payed to the ischemic cochlear involvement in evaluation of the brainstem pathology using ABR.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Endocrine activity of pseudolaric acids A and B and their effects on sex hormones, prostaglandins, uteri, and fetuses].

Two novel diterpendoids, pseudolaric acids A and B (PA, PB) first isolated from the root of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gorden in China, have been reported to possess significant antifertile activities in rats, hamsters, rabbits, and dogs. The present study demonstrated that neither PA nor PB had estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities, they also did not inhibit deciduous formation. When an effective dose of PB 30 mg.kg-1 was given on d 6 of pregnancy and the hormonal determinations were done on d 8 and d 12 of pregnancy, the progesterone, estradiol and prostaglandins E, F levels in plasma and the uterine prostaglandin E, F levels were not significantly reduced vs those of the control rats. The human uterus was used as the experimental material in vitro. PA and PB 200 micrograms.ml-1 cultural medium (McCoy's 5a medium) damaged only a part of the decidual and trophoblast cells. In partially depolarized isolated uterine smooth muscles of early pregnant rats, PA and PB caused a decline in the contractile tension. A low dose of PB 2 mg.kg-1.d-1 was given ig on d 6-12 of pregnancy in rats caused the body weight and the length of fetuses and the placental weight value significantly lower than those of the control. Thus, ischemia due to the vasoconstrictor effect is probably of great, and sometimes of supreme, importance.

Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal↗
PubMed1990

[The effects of chlorine disinfection on the resistance of bacteriophage f2 in water].

Under defined conditions, E. coli bacteriophage f2 was subject to repeated disinfection by chlorine 10 times. The survival bacteriophage f2 was compared with its original strain in resistance to chlorine. Experimental results showed that bacteriophage f2 increased its resistance after chlorine disinfection. The increased resistance varied under different conditions. The higher the pH, the greater the increased resistance. The survival bacteriophage f2 maintained its increased resistance though it was passaged 10 times in nutrient broth. The reason for the increased resistance of bacteriophage f2 after chlorine disinfection was probably the chlorine-induced mutation or spontaneous chlorine-resistant mutation.

Bacteriophages↗
PubMed1989

[Synthesis of antiviral agents acyclic nucleo-sides of 4-substituted pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine].

Naturally occurring nucleosides of pyrrolo [2,3-d] pyrimidine, tubercidin, sangivamycin and toyocamycin were known as antibodies not only for their potent antitumor activity but also for their significant antiviral effects. However, none of them was developed to be a useful drug due to their high toxicity. In order to reduce the toxicity of this kind of compounds and reveal the relationship between structure and biological activity, a series of acyclic analogues of tubercidin with varied 4-substituted amino groups were synthesized. 4-chlor-pyrrolo (2,3-d) pyrimidin was used as starting material which reacted with 1,3-dibenzyloxy-glycerol-2-chloro-methylether by direct sodium salt glycosylation procedure provided the key intermediate (IX). After hydrogenation, amination of compound IX gave the final free hydroxy products. All the compounds were tested in vitro against HSV-1 and Cox B6. Only three of them (XI6, XI7, XI9) showed certain activities against Cox B6.

Aminoglycosides↗