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Biomedical subjects

X Sun

Publications and source records attributed to X Sun.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

A marker-coupled method for site-directed mutagenesis.

A marker-coupled method for site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) has been developed. In this method, target DNA is first cloned into a plasmid vector which carries an inactivated tetracycline-resistance (TcR)-encoding tet gene. Using this cloned plasmid as template, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is performed with a mutagenic primer and a marker primer. The mutagenic primer contains the desired mutations to be introduced into the target DNA, and the marker primer contains a mutation for restoring the activity of the inactivated tet gene. The PCR product is annealed with a gapped duplex plasmid template, extended and ligated in vitro. The resulting uni-strand-mutated plasmid is converted into the gapped duplex form, transformed into Escherichia coli JM109 and spread on yeast extract/tryptone culture medium + Tc plates. The TcR colonies grown on these plates all carry active tet genes. Due to the 'tight coupling' between the marker primer and the mutagenic primer formed in the PCR product, these TcR colonies should also carry the mutagenic primer, e.g., the desired mutations in the target DNA. In fact, practically all of the TcR colonies have been found to be the desired mutants in the present experiments. Therefore, this method provides a very efficient approach for SDM.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Experimental necrotizing enterocolitis: the role of polymorphonuclear neutrophils.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play an important role in inflammation. Activated PMNs adhere to the vascular wall and release reactive oxygen radicals and enzymes, producing vascular injury. In the present study, we investigated whether PMNs play an important role in the pathogenesis of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC was induced in rats using platelet activating factor (PAF, 1 microgram/kg) and bacterial endotoxin (LPS, 1 mg/kg) intravenously. Neutropenia was accomplished by parenteral injection of Vinblastine (VB, 0.75 mg/kg) 4 days before the experiment to deplete the total white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts. The animals were divided into 4 groups: (1) 1 microgram/kg PAF; (2) 1 mg/kg LPS; (3) 1 microgram/kg PAF + 1 mg/kg LPS; and (4) PMN depleted, 1 microgram/kg PAF + 1 mg/kg LPS. Combined administration of PAF and LPS produced prolonged hypotension (blood pressure 53.5 +/- 13.8 mm Hg at 2 hours), leukopenia (4,062 +/- 497.4), hemoconcentration (hematocrit 44.5% +/- 1.1%), reduced intestinal perfusion (74% +/- 13.3%), and segmental bowel necrosis. However, in VB-treated animals combined PAF + LPS induced only mild hypotension (84.3 +/- 9.2 mm Hg at 2 hours) and no hemoconcentration. In these animals the intestinal perfusion was normal, no bowel necrosis was observed, and the intestinal myeloperoxidase activity (.0034 +/- .0017 U/g tissue) was significantly lower than that of the nondepleted group (.0075 +/- .0012 U/g tissue). We conclude that the presence of neutrophils and/or neutrophil products play a major role in the pathogenesis of NEC.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ca2(+)-sensitive binding of thrombospondin to U937 cells is due to the formation of calcium precipitate in the binding medium.

Thrombospondin (TSP) binds to U937 monocytic cells in a Ca2(+)-enhancible and EDTA-inhibitable manner (Silverstein, R. L., and R. L. Nachman. 1987. J. Clin. Invest. 79:867-874; Silverstein, R. L., A. S. Asch, and R. L. Nachman. 1989. J. Clin. Invest. 84:546-552). We reproduced the results when RPMI cell culture medium, but not when HBSS was used as binding medium. Addition of 1 mM Ca2+ to RPMI medium increased the binding of TSP to suspended U937 cells more than eightfold; the increase was blocked by EDTA but not by heparin. Further studies showed that addition of 1 mM Ca2+ to RPMI medium resulted in an insoluble precipitate, which did not form when EDTA was present or when 1 mM extra Ca2+ was added to HBSS. TSP bound to the precipitate in a saturable and specific manner. The precipitate enhanced binding of TSP to MG63 osteosarcoma cells in a monolayer binding assay. Enhancement of binding in the monolayer assay was observed for fibronectin and vitronectin as well. Our data indicate that there is not a specific Ca2(+)-dependent TSP receptor on U937 cell surface. Instead, the extra binding enhanced by Ca2+ is due to the formation of insoluble salts in the medium.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1991

[Value of laryngofissure and frozen biopsy in pathological diagnosis of laryngeal cancer].

Thirty-two cases of laryngeal tumor were treated from January 1986 to December 1989. Thirty cases with laryngeal cancer were diagnosed by laryngo-fissure with frozen biopsy. Before laryngo-fissure, there were no positive pathological findings despite repeated examination and biopsy. The authors believe that laryngo-fissure with frozen biopsy is a reliable method for diagnosis of suspected laryngeal cancer. Otherwise, the diagnosis and treatment will be delayed.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Frequency and space representation in the inferior colliculus of the FM bat, Eptesicus fuscus.

The tonotopic organization and spatial sensitivity of 217 inferior collicular (IC) neurons of Eptesicus fuscus were studied under free field stimulation conditions. Acoustic stimuli were delivered from a loudspeaker placed 21 cm ahead of the bat to determine the best frequency (BF) and minimum threshold (MT) of isolated IC neurons. A BF stimulus was then delivered as the loudspeaker was moved horizontally across the frontal auditory space of the bat to locate the best azimuthal angle (BAZ) at which the neuron had its lowest MT. The stimulus was then raised 3 dB above the lowest MT to determine the horizontal extent of the auditory space within which a sound could elicit responses from the neurons. This was done by moving the loudspeaker laterally at every 5 degrees or 10 degrees until the neuron failed to respond. These measurements also allowed us to redetermine the BAZ at which the neuron fired maximal number of impulses. Electrodes were placed evenly across the whole IC surface and IC neurons were sampled as many as possible within each electrode penetration. Tonotopic organization and spatial sensitivity were examined among all 217 IC neurons as a whole as well as among IC neurons sequentially sampled within individual electrode penetrations. The whole population of 217 IC neurons is organized tonotopically along the dorsoventral axis of the IC. Thus, low frequency neurons are mostly located dorsally and high frequency neurons ventrally with median frequency neurons intervening in between. The BAZ of these 217 IC neurons tend to shift from lateral to medial portions of the contralateral frontal auditory space with increasing BF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1990

Role of substance P amino terminal metabolites in substance P-induced desensitization in mice.

Intrathecal injection of mice with substance P or its C-terminal fragments evokes a well documented behavioral syndrome characterized by caudally-directed biting and scratching. We have previously shown that repeated injections of substance P result in naloxone-sensitive desensitization to this substance P-induced behavior, possibly through interactions of N-terminal fragments of substance P with mu opiate binding sites. The present investigation tests the hypothesis that substance P metabolites play a role in the development of desensitization to substance P by using the biting and scratching behavioral paradigm. While substance P-induced behaviors are produced by as little as 1 pmol of substance P, repeated injections of 7.5 pmol at 60-s intervals was found to be the minimum dose capable of causing desensitization. The C-terminal peptides, substance P3-11 and substance P5-11, elicited substance P-like behaviors, but repeated injection of these compounds did not result in desensitization to this behavior. In contrast to C-terminal fragments, intrathecal injection of N-terminal fragments, (substance P1-4, substance P1-7 and substance P1-9), did not elicit any overt substance P-like behaviors when administered alone, but when co-administered with substance P, decreased the magnitude of substance P-induced behaviors in a dose-related fashion. Various peptidase inhibitors significantly inhibited the catabolism of co-administered substance P. Co-administration of substance P with peptidase inhibitors enhanced and prolonged the substance P-induced behavioral episode, but also prevented the development of substance P-induced desensitization. Together these results support the hypothesis that the accumulation of endogenously generated N-terminal metabolites of substance P mediate desensitization to substance P-induced behaviors in the spinal cord. Substance P metabolism may therefore decrease ongoing substance P activity both by the hydrolysis of the C-terminal portion of substance P as well as by the production of N-terminal metabolites that are capable of inhibiting the effects of substance P.

Aggression↗
PubMed1990

[Clinical manifestation and treatment of pulmonary acariasis].

A survey on pulmonary acariasis was carried out in the grain store and in the Chinese medicinal herb plant. Of 363 persons examined, 92(25.3%) were mites-positive in their sputum. 65 of them had symptoms and signs attributed to pulmonary acariasis, the incidence being 17.9%. The main clinical manifestations were productive cough, hemoptysis, chest pain, dyspnea asthma and marked eosinophilia. Roentgenogram of these cases revealed widening hilum shadow, increased and disordered lung markings, multiple cloudy shadow and nodular opacities ranging from 1-5mm in diameter scattered throughout the lower field of lungs. All the patients were treated with three courses of metronidazole. In each course a daily dose of 0.6g (0.2g tid) or 0.8g (0.4g bid) was given orally for seven days with an interval of 7-10 days between two courses. After three courses, the clinical manifestations and radiographic findings were much improved in most cases, eosinophilia dropped to normal limit, mites disappeared from sputum in 94.4% of patients. All these showed that metronidazole is rather effective in treating pulmonary acariasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Genetic analysis of the host range of the plasmid RSF1010].

32 host range mutants of pMO58, which contains a 8.0 kb fragment of RSF1010, were screened, using the transposon Tn5 insertion mutagenesis. To judge the genes which affect the host range of plasmid, the Tn5 insertion sites were located with restriction endonuclease mapping. The ability of the plasmid replication in different recipients was checked with DNA transformation. The results further confirmed the barrier to the host range of plasmid was their inability to replicate and maintain themselves in genetically different host. The repA repB and repC genes were necessary for the plasmid replication, but the repC gene may be a positive regulator and its function may be complemented by host gene products.

DNA Replication↗