Biomedical subjects

X Liang

Publications and source records attributed to X Liang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

[Characterization of alumina adobe and sintered body of GI-infiltrated ceramic].

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of formation of porous structure by investigating the porosity of the alumina adobe and sintered body of GI-II Infiltrate Ceramic, and its role in strengthening and toughening this kind of ceramic composite. METHODS: The alumina powder size-mass distribution was obtained by BI-XDC powder size analysis device; the open pore parameters of alumina adobe and sintered body were analyzed using the mercury pressure method. Their fracture surfaces were observed under scanning electronic microscope. RESULTS: Fine powder had two main size groups of 0.09-0.1 micron and 0.2-0.5 micron, respectively, and coarse powder, with size between 1.5 to 4.5 microns, occupied the majority of powder mass. Alumina adobe's pores became larger after sintering. The median pore radii of adobe and sintered body were 0.2531 micron and 0.3081 micron, respectively; the average pore radii changed from 0.0956 micron to 0.1102 micron. Under scanning electronic microscope, fine alumina powders were fused partially together and their surfaces were blunted, but coarse powders did not show such phenomena. CONCLUSION: The alumina size distribution contributes to the formation of porous structure of alumina sintered body. This porous structure is not only the shape skeleton but also the mechanical skeleton of GI-II Infiltrated Ceramic. It plays an important role in raising the mechanical properties of this kind of ceramic composite.

Aluminum Oxide↗

PubMed2001

[Study on mechanical properties of titanius alloy samples fabricated with vacuum-sintered powder metallurgy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate mechanical properties of titanium alloy samples with vacuum-sintered powder metallurgy. METHODS: Titanium based metal powder mixtures were compacted into green bodies in the double action press and sintered at 1000 degrees centigrade for 15 minutes in a vacuum furnace at 0.025Pa. Then the mechanical properities of the sintered compacts were evaluated. RESULTS: Compressive strength of sintered bodies were 111-921MPa when compacted pressure increased from 100MPa to 300MPa. Compressive strength of sintered bodies increased with compacted pressure. Three particle sizes of titanium powder, -160 mesh, -200/+300 mesh, -300 mesh, did not affect the mechanical properties of sintered bodies. The compressive strength of sintered bodies with the plating of copper and tin were higher than those without the plating. Three-point bending strength and elastic modulus of sintered bodies were respectively 102-182MPa and 12193-26630 when compacted pressure affect the mechanical properties pf sintered compacts. Titanium powder plated with copper and tin is compacted and sintered easily, the mechanical properties of sintered compacts are greatly improved.

English Abstract↗

PubMed2000

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of isogalactofagomine.

A new chemoenzymatic synthesis of optically pure isogalactofagomine 2 starting from achiral starting materials is presented. Dimethyl 4-hydroxypyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (7) was synthesized and converted to the corresponding saturated piperidine 8. Then the key step of the synthesis was carried out: Lipase M catalyzed hydrolysis of the prochiral diester 8 to cause formation of an asymmetric monoacid with at least 98% enantiomeric excess. Reduction of the acid, saponification of the remaining ester, and radical iododecarboxylation gave an iodide that after substitution with silver trifluoroacetate and hydrolysis gave 2.

Catalysis↗

PubMed2000

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli is a novel iron-sulfur flavoprotein that functions in fatty acid beta-oxidation.

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase is an enzyme that is required for the beta-oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids with even-numbered double bonds. The 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli was studied to explore the catalytic and structural properties that distinguish this enzyme from the corresponding eukaryotic reductases. The E. coli reductase was found to contain 1 mol of flavin mononucleotide and 4 mol each of acid-labile iron and sulfur in addition to 1 mol of flavin adenine dinucleotide per mole of protein. Redox titrations revealed a requirement for 5 mol of electrons to completely reduce 1 mol of enzyme and provided evidence for the formation of a red semiquinone intermediate. The reductase caused a significant polarization of the substrate carbonyl group as indicated by an enzyme-induced red shift of 38 nm in the spectrum of 5-phenyl-2,4-pentadienoyl-CoA. However, suspected cis --> trans isomerase and Delta(3),Delta(2)-enoyl-CoA isomerase activities were not detected in this enzyme. It is concluded that the 2, 4-dienoyl-CoA reductases from E. coli and eukaryotic organisms are structurally and mechanistically unrelated enzymes that catalyze the same type of reaction with similar efficiencies.

Escherichia coli↗

PubMed2000

Photoregulation of the DNA Polymerase Reaction by Oligonucleotides Bearing an Azobenzene We should like to thank Professor Kazunari Taira for valuable comments. This work was partially supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan (Molecular Synchronization for Design of New Materials System). The support of the grant from the "Research for the Future" Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS-RFTF97I00301) is also acknowledged.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

[Effects of dietary lipids on serum cholesterol of elder hypercholesterolemic patients].

The intake of dietary lipids of 167 elder hypercholesterolemic patients was collected by a three-day recorded dietary survey. At the mean time, their serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were detected and analyzed. The results showed the effects of dietary lipids and body mass index (BMI) were great on serum cholesterol levels; BMI, dietary cholesterol and saturated fatty acid were positively related to serum TC and LDL-C; serum HDL-C and HDL-C/TC ratio were positively related with dietary monounsaturated fatty acid, and negatively related with BMI. The results indicate that decreasing the intake of dietary cholesterol and saturated fatty acid, controlling body weight and increasing dietary monounsaturated fatty acid intake will have important benefits on the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Structural basis for substrate specificity of protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1.

The substrate specificity of the catalytic domain of SHP-1, an important regulator in the proliferation and development of hematopoietic cells, is critical for understanding the physiological functions of SHP-1. Here we report the crystal structures of the catalytic domain of SHP-1 complexed with two peptide substrates derived from SIRPalpha, a member of the signal-regulatory proteins. We show that the variable beta5-loop-beta6 motif confers SHP-1 substrate specificity at the P-4 and further N-terminal subpockets. We also observe a novel residue shift at P-2, the highly conserved subpocket in protein- tyrosine phosphatases. Our observations provide new insight into the substrate specificity of SHP-1.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Enantiospecific synthesis of 1-azafagomine.

For the first time the two enantiomeric forms of the glycosidase inhibitor 1-azafagomine have been synthesised starting from D- and L-xylose. D-Xylose was converted to the 2,3,5-tribenzylfuranose, which upon reductive amination with tert-butyl carbazate gave the protected 1-hydrazino-1-deoxypentitol in high yield. N-acetylation, mesylation of the 4-OH, removal of the Boc group, cyclisation and deprotection gave (+)-1-azafagomine ((+)-1). By a similar sequence of reactions, L-xylose was converted to (-)-1-azafagomine ((-)-1). Enzymatic and other routes to optically pure 1-azafagomine were also studied. Compound (-)-1 is a potent competitive glycosidase inhibitor, while (+)-1 has no biological activity. The inhibition of almond beta-glucosidase by (-)-1 was found to be slow owing to a slow binding step of inhibitor to enzyme, with no subsequent conformational rearrangement. The rate constants for binding and release were found to be 3.3 x 10(4)M(-1)s(-1) and 0.011 s(-1), respectively, yielding Ki = 0.33 microM.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗

PubMed2000

Photocontrol of Triple-Helix Formation by Using Azobenzene-Bearing Oligo(thymidine) This work was partially supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Japan (Molecular Synchronization for the Design of New Material Systems). The grant from the "Research for the Future" program of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS-RFTF97I00301) is also acknowledged.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2000

Mouse liver selenium-binding protein decreased in abundance by peroxisome proliferators.

Several studies with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) have shown that the abundance of numerous mouse liver proteins is altered in response to treatment with chemicals known to cause peroxisome proliferation. The peptide masses from tryptic digests of two liver proteins showing dramatic decreases in abundance in response to numerous peroxisome proliferators were used to search sequence databases. The selenium-binding protein 2 (SBP2 formerly 56 kDa acetaminophen-binding protein, AP 56) and selenium-binding protein 1 (SBP1 formerly 56 kDa selenium-binding protein, SP 56) in mouse liver, proteins with a high degree of sequence similarity, were the highest ranked identities obtained. Identity with SBP2 was subsequently confirmed by immunodetection with specific antiserum. Treatment of mice with 0.025% ciprofibrate resulted in the more basic of this pair of proteins being decreased to 30% of control abundance while the acidic protein was decreased to 7% of the control amount. Dexamethasone treatment, in contrast, caused increases of 80% and 20% in the abundance of the acidic and basic forms, respectively. Administration of dexamethasone to mice in combination with ciprofibrate produced expression of the acidic SBP2 at 23% of the control level and the basic SBP2 at 36%, a slightly moderated reduction compared with the decrease that occurred with ciprofibrate alone. These data suggest that peroxisome proliferators such as ciprofibrate cause a decrease in the abundance of the SBP2, which leads to increased cell proliferation, even in the presence of an inhibitor such as dexamethasone. Such a decrease in SBP, thought to serve as cell growth regulation factors, could be central to the nongenotoxic carcinogenicity of the peroxisome proliferators observed in rodents.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

A new method of predicting of gas chromatographic retention indices for polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs).

A new method has been developed to describe the quantitative relationship between molecular structures of PCDFs and their gas chromatographic retention indices on a 30-m fused silica column coated with DB-5 stationary phase. The regression equation is derived with a multiple correlation coefficient greater than 0.9995. The highest residual is 20 index units. The standard deviation is less than 7 index units. Using this regression equation, the retention indices of PCDFs for which data is not available have also been predicted.

Benzofurans↗

PubMed2000

Peak identification for PCDD/Fs in environmental samples at different temperature programs.

A method has been developed for peak recognition of 136 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) at different temperature programs. Their retention behaviours are predicted on the basis of an identification database of retention values (A, B) of gas chromatography. By the retention times of 13C labelled 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/F internal standards, the retentions of all PCDDs and PCDFs can be calculated. After comparison with the retentions of practical environmental samples, the predicted values have been proved to be very accurate.

Benzofurans↗

PubMed2000

Prediction of the retentions of polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) by using the retentions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs).

The retention equations In k' = A + B/T of 49 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and 4 polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) in gas chromatography (GC) have been investigated to evaluate the properties of regression coefficients A and B. The quantitative relationships between A and B values of PCDDs and those of PBDDs are found. The regression equations derived have correlation coefficients greater than 0.997. The A, B values of any PBDD can be predicted by using the A, B values of the PCDD according to these relationships. Using these predicted A and B values, the retention times of all PBDDs can be predicted at any temperature program. It is very useful to identify the peak position of any PBDD because at present there are only a few standards of PBDDs available.

Bromine Compounds↗

PubMed2000

Quantitative relationship between chromatographic retentions and molecular structures of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs).

A new approach to study the quantitative relationships between chromatographic retentions and molecular structures of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) is described. The retention equations of PCDDs log k' = A + B/T in gas chromatography (GC) are used to evaluate the properties of the regression coefficients A and B, which have been widely accepted as highly reliable chromatographic retentions. The quantitative relationships between the A, B values and the molecular structures are found. The molecular descriptors given for the first time in this article are very effective. As a result, the regression equations are derived with correlation coefficients greater than 0.9995. The A, B values of PCDDs with no standards available have been predicted according to these relationships. They are very useful in chromatographic identification. The retention times of all PCDDs can be conveniently predicted at any temperature program. Compared with the data obtained from the relevant experiments, the results of prediction are very accurate.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMed2000

Subchronic treatment with either clozapine, olanzapine or haloperidol produces a hyposensitive response of the rat cortical cells to N-methyl-D-aspartate.

Using the technique of intracellular recording in in vitro brain slice preparations, we examined the effects produced by repeated administration of the antipsychotic drugs clozapine, olanzapine and haloperidol, on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced responses in pyramidal cells of the rat medial prefrontal cortex. Rats were anesthetized and decapitated 24h after the conclusion of daily intraperitoneal injection with either clozapine (25mg/kg), olanzapine (1, 5 or 10mg/kg) or haloperidol (0.5mg/kg) for 21 days, and the slices from medial prefrontal cortex were used for electrophysiological recordings. The concentration-response curves for N-methyl-D-aspartic acid to activate cortical cells shifted markedly to the right in rats which received the subchronic antipsychotic drug treatment, compared with those obtained from rats which received repeated injections of vehicle (1ml/kg/day, i.p. for 21 days). In addition, repeated exposure to antipsychotic drugs caused a significant reduction in the ability of these antipsychotic drugs to augment the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-induced inward current in pyramidal cells of the rat medial prefrontal cortex. Repeated administration of haloperidol, but not clozapine or olanzapine, significantly hyperpolarized the resting membrane potential and increased membrane resistance in pyramidal cells of the medial prefrontal cortex. Moreover, subchronic treatment with haloperidol, but not clozapine or olanzapine, depressed (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid-induced responses. The desensitized response of medial prefrontal cortex cells to N-methyl-D-aspartic acid could be the result of a compensatory response to the facilitating action of antipsychotic drugs on N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor-mediated transmission. The inhibitory action of haloperidol on (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid responses may also contribute to the rightward shift of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid concentration-response curve.Thus, the present study suggests that the atypical antipsychotic drugs, clozapine and olanzapine, as well as the typical antipsychotic drug haloperidol strongly modulate glutamatergic transmission after prolonged treatment. This might be an important factor in the mechanisms by which these drugs alleviate symptoms in schizophrenic patients.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Intracellular free calcium concentration and cisplatin resistance in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells sensitive and A549/DDP cells resistant to Cis-dichlorodiammine platinum[II] (cisplatin) exhibit different intracellular free calcium and calcium fluorescence images labeled with Fura-2/AM and Fluo-3/AM as judged by dual-excitation fluorescence assay, Miracal Imaging and Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM) of single cells. The concentration of intracellular free calcium of the resistant A549/ DDP cells is one third that of the sensitive A549 cells. The efflux of Rhodamine 123 in resistant A549/DDP cells is faster than that in sensitive A549 cells. In addition, A549/DDP cells have an increase of Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PtdIns 4-kinase) activity in the plasma membrane. So it is tentatively suggested that the increase in PtIns 4-kinase activity resulting from lower intracellular Ca2+ concentration leads to an increase of its enzymatic products--PIP and PIP2, which may stimulate the activity of P-glycoprotein.

1-Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase↗

PubMed2000

Determination of edible bird's nest and its products by gas chromatography.

A specific gas chromatographic (GC) detection method for edible bird's nest (EBN) based on identifying the composition of the oligosaccharide chain combined with glycoprotein in EBN is developed. Five monoses (D-mannitose, D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, and N-acetyl neuraminate) that constitute the oligosaccharide chain are detected using GC and GC-mass spectrometry techniques; their characteristic GC spectrum can reliably be regarded as EBN's fingerprint. The peak-area ratios in GC spectrum of those five monoses are found to be fixed; therefore, the GC technique developed in this work can conveniently be used to determine various raw EBNs and their products both qualitatively and quantitatively, distinguishing between fake and genuine EBN rapidly.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Murine B cell differentiation is accompanied by programmed expression of multiple novel beta-galactoside alpha2, 6-sialyltransferase mRNA forms.

ST6Gal I (beta-galactoside alpha2,6-sialyltransferase, ST6N) elaborates the ubiquitously expressed alpha2,6-sialyl linkage. A number of ST6Gal I mRNA isoforms, differing only in their 5'-UT regions, is transcribed from a single mouse gene, Siat1. In B-lineage cells, alpha2,6-sialic acid serves as extracellular ligand for CD22, a participant in cell activation via an intracellular signaling network of tyrosine kinases and SHP phosphastase. Activation and terminal differentiation of mature B cells into plasma cells is accompanied by the appearance of at least four distinct ST6Gal I mRNA isoforms. Resting splenic B-lymphocytes isolated from 8-12 wk C56Bl/6 mice expressed almost exclusively the Exons Q+O-containing form, which is the likely homolog to the previously documented human Y+Z and rat -1+0 forms. In vitro activation using recombinant CD40-ligand and conditioned media from T-helper cells resulted in a 2- to 3-fold elevation of overall ST6Gal I mRNA abundance by Day 3. This coincided with repression of the Q+O form, and appearance of three new isoforms containing 5'-untranslated sequences X(1), X(2), or X(3). The X(1)form persisted through Day 10, when the transition of B cells to plasma cells was completed as evidence by disappearance of CD22 mRNA. In contrast, the X(2)form only transiently appeared at Day 3 and declined to barely detectable levels by Day 7. Expression of the X(3)form, a minor mRNA form, paralleled the X(2)form. The divergent 5'-UT exons are dispersed over 69 kb of linear genomic space of Siat1. Mutually exclusive utilization of these 5'-UT exons in transcripts predicts separate and distinct promoter regulatory regions for each mRNA isoform.

Animals↗