[Experiment lung fibrosis in rabbits produced by inhalation of blast furnace slag and cement products (author's transl)].
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
X Zhou
Publications and source records attributed to X Zhou.
Clinicoelectroencephalographic studies of cerebral cysticercosis 158 cases.
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Adolescent↗
Reduction of ringing and blurring artifacts in fast spin-echo imaging.
A simple method was devised to reduce ringing and blurring artifacts caused by discontinuous T2 weighting of k-space data in fast spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The method demodulates the weighting function along the phase-encoding direction by using multiple T2 values derived from a set of non-phase-encoded echoes obtained from an extra excitation. The performance of this method was evaluated by computer simulations and experiments, which confirmed its capability of effectively reducing or, in some cases, even completely removing the ringing and blurring artifacts. The results also show that the proposed method produces better results than other artifact reduction methods. The method is particularly useful at high magnetic field strengths (7.1-9.4 T) and with strong gradients (> 20 G/cm) used in MR microscopy, in which the apparent T2 values are short for most tissues. The authors expect that the proposed method will find useful applications in various fast spin-echo pulse sequences.
Artifacts↗
Histone deacetylase inhibitors: development of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) for the treatment of cancers.
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Animals↗
A study of optimal configuration and control of a multi-chamber balloon for intraaortic balloon pumping.
Balloon configuration and control scheme are important for the optimization of assistance of the failing heart with an intraaortic balloon pumping device. In this work, the configuration of a multi-chamber balloon and control schemes have been investigated by using a hemodynamic model and computer simulation methods. Following the simulation study, physical testing and animal experiments were performed to demonstrate the simulation results. Results show that the optimal configuration and controlled multi-chamber balloon can provide better assistance to the failing heart. Based on the simulation and experimental results, it was found that the shape of the rear chamber of a multi-chamber balloon is critical. The optimal control scheme was to inflate the rear chamber first and deflate it last.
Animals↗
Cavernous transformation of the portal vein secondary to tumor thrombosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: spiral CT visualization of the collateral vessels.
BACKGROUND: We investigated the constituting collateral vessels in cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) caused by tumor thrombosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by using contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomographic (CT) examination. METHODS: Fifty-four histopathologically proven HCC patients with tumor thrombosis-induced CTPV were retrospectively included and assigned to cirrhosis negative (n = 31) and positive (n = 23) groups. Another 15 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension but no HCC and CTPV were used for comparison. Standardized dual-phase contrast-enhanced spiral CT was performed for all patients. CT appearances of the collateral vessels of CTPV were observed, and their visualization rates were analyzed. RESULTS: Biliary (cystic and paracholedochal veins) and gastric (left and right gastric veins) branches of the portal vein were the most frequently visualized collateral vessels of CTPV. There was a marked difference in CT visualization rates for biliary branches between patients with and without CTPV (83-94% vs. 0). No difference existed in visualization rates for gastric branches across the three groups (77-87% for left gastric, 58-61% for right gastric vein). CONCLUSIONS: Biliary and gastric branches of the portal vein are the major collateral vessels of CTPV. The intergroup differences in CT visualization rates may provide clues to the roles that they might play in the hemodynamic adaptation process of CTPV.
Adult↗
Modulation of cellular immune responses by cold water swim stress in the rat.
Alterations of cell-mediated immune responses in the rat produced by 5-day (one 3-min stress session each day for 5 days) and 1-day (three 3-min stress sessions within 12 h) cold water stress administration were investigated. Mitogenic responses to concanavalin A (Con A) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-2 (IL-2) production, CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratios, and natural killer (NK) cell activity of blood and spleen lymphocytes were increased by the 5-day cold water stress. Responses to Con A and LPS, IL-2 production, and CD4+ and CD8+ percentages of blood and spleen lymphocytes were decreased by the 1-day cold water stress. Corticosterone levels were increased by both the 1-day and 5-day cold water stress. Cold water stress, as a natural stressor, may have its own unique pattern of neuroendocrine changes because of the accompanying body temperature variations that may influence immune functions.
Animals↗
Treatment of biliary ascariasis in China.
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Ascariasis↗
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of oral cancer: a nested case-control study.
BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seem to prevent several types of cancer, but could increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. We investigated whether use of NSAIDs was associated with a change in the incidence of oral cancer or overall or cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: We undertook a nested case-control study to analyse data from a population-based database (Cohort of Norway; CONOR), which consisted of prospectively obtained health data from all regions of Norway. People with oral cancer were identified from the 9241 individuals in CONOR who were at increased risk of oral cancer because of heavy smoking (15 pack-years), and matched controls were selected from the remaining heavy smokers (who did not have cancer). FINDINGS: We identified and analysed 454 (5%) people with oral cancer (279 men, 175 women, mean [SD] age at diagnosis 63.3 [13.2] years) and 454 matched controls (n=908); 263 (29%) had used NSAIDs, 83 (9%) had used paracetamol (for a minimum of 6 months), and 562 (62%) had used neither drug. NSAID use (but not paracetamol use) was associated with a reduced risk of oral cancer (including in active smokers; hazard ratio 0.47, 95% CI 0.37-0.60, p<0.0001). Smoking cessation also lowered the risk of oral cancer (0.41, 0.32-0.52, p<0.0001). Additionally, long-term use of NSAIDs (but not paracetamol) was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular-disease-related death (2.06, 1.34-3.18, p=0.001). NSAID use did not significantly reduce overall mortality (p=0.17). INTERPRETATION: Long-term use of NSAIDs is associated with a reduced incidence of oral cancer (including in active smokers), but also with an increased risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. These findings highlight the need for a careful risk-benefit analysis when the long-term use of NSAIDs is considered.
Acetaminophen↗
Cloning and sequencing of cytochrome P450 2X1 from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).
Previous purification and immunochemical studies in livers of channel catfish indicated the presence of at least four cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2-like isoforms. Sequencing of the first 18 amino acids of one purified form indicated a CYP2 isoform. From this N-terminal sequence and other published CYP2 sequences from fish, primers were designed and a full-length CYP cDNA was identified from reverse-transcribed catfish liver mRNA. 5' and 3' RACE was used to obtain an open reading frame of 1470 bp encoding a 490 amino acid protein (approximately 57 kD). CYP2X1 was most identical to Fundulus heteroclitus CYP2P2 (41%); CYP2N2 (40%): and CYP2N1 (39%).
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The application of carbon nanotubes in high-efficiency low power consumption field-emission luminescent tube.
In this report, details are given of our recent experimental study of using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as cathode of the luminescent tubes. The CNT film is synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition. Two kinds of luminescent tubes that have different gaps have been fabricated. The luminescent tube with 0.1mm gap has a low threshold voltage of about 780V and high emission current of 300 microA when the gate voltage is 970V. The DC power consumption of the luminescent tube with a 0.1mm gap is approximately 1.12W. The results show that the CNTs are very good emission sources and suitable for application in the luminescent tube.
Journal Article↗
Effect of temperature and photoperiod on juvenile hormone biosynthesis and sexual maturation in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera: implications for life history traits.
The Israeli population of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), undergoes a short-day, low-temperature pupal diapause and is also suspected of being a seasonal migrant in the eastern Mediterranean region. H. armigera were reared in the laboratory under several constant temperature and photoperiodic combinations which simulate average conditions encountered in the spring, summer, early-autumn and late-autumn in Israel. Juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis, the onset of calling behavior, sex pheromone production and ovarian development were examined in virgin female moths subsequent to eclosion. Allatal maturation, defined as acquisition of competence to synthesize JH, was significantly delayed in moths reared under simulated spring conditions. This was probably the cause for the observed delay in ovarian development and the onset of calling behavior, and to the reduction in sex pheromone biosynthesis. The delay in female sexual maturation, commonly associated with migratory flight, is consistent with presumptive pre-reproductive migration in H. armigera.
Animals↗
Enhancing protein capacity of rigid macroporous polymeric adsorbent.
A macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-triallyl isocyanurate-divinylbenzene) resin was synthesized and modified with diethylamine to yield an anion-exchange resin suitable for protein adsorption. Efforts were made to enhance protein ion exchange capacity of the resin by investigating the copolymer composition. Different synthesis recipes were attempted, and the resultant resins were characterized by measuring the specific surface area and the adsorption ability using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein. The intraparticle pore size distribution measured by mercury porosimetry showed that the pores in the range of 40-120 nm took 75% of the total pore volume, indicating that the ion exchanger was favorable for protein adsorption. BSA capacity obtained with an appropriate recipe was as high as 78.6 mg/g wet resin or 50 mg/mL packed volume, which was higher than the capacities of some commercially available ion exchangers. Moreover, by using a pore diffusion model, the effective pore diffusivity of BSA was found to be 5.5 x 10(-12) m(2)/s, similar to those in the commercial ion exchangers.
Adsorption↗
Digital light-directed synthesis. A microarray platform that permits rapid reaction optimization on a combinatorial basis.
Solution reactions using photogenerated reagents (Gao, X.; Yu, P.; LeProust, E.; Sonigo, L.; Pellois, J. P.; Zhang, H. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 12698) are a potentially powerful means for combinatorial parallel synthesis of addressable molecular microarrays. In this report, we demonstrate that this chemistry permits combinatorial screening of reaction conditions on a microarray platform. Using this method of optimization and our reaction apparatus, efficient photogenerated acids and reaction conditions suitable for removal of the acid labile protection group on 5'-O of nucleotides are identified in a short period of time. The chemistry platform demonstrated opens new avenues for rapid, simultaneous investigation of multiple reactions using different reagents and reaction parameters directly on a solid support (e.g., a glass plate). The combinatorial screening method described may be extended to include general organic reactions employing photogenerated and conventional reagents as well as a microarray reaction device. This should be especially valuable for efficient synthesis of addressable organic compound libraries.
Chemistry, Organic↗
RUS skeletal maturity of children in Beijing.
BACKGROUND: RUS (radius-ulna-short bones) maturity of children has been estimated in two provinces in China, but not in the capital. In order to obtain a clearer picture of skeletal maturity in China, it is indispensable to include children from Beijing in the study. AIM: The aims of this study were three-fold: (1) to establish RUS skeletal maturity of children in Beijing, (2) to compare RUS skeletal maturity in Beijing with the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 (TW3) standard and the Tokyo standard, and (3) to examine regional variation in skeletal maturity in China. METHODS: Hand and wrist radiographs of 631 boys and 642 girls, aged 6-18, were obtained in Beijing in 1997, and their RUS skeletal maturity was estimated using the TW3 method. RESULTS: RUS maturity of the Beijing children was very similar to the TW3 standard until the age of 10 years in the girls, and the age of 12 years in the boys. The girls attained full maturity at 15 years of age, matching the TW3 and Tokyo standards, while the boys reached full maturity at the age of 16 years, as in Tokyo boys, but 1 year earlier than the TW3 standards. Beijing children showed progressively more rapid bone maturation than the Harbin and Changsha children, and attained full maturation 1 year earlier, in both girls and boys. CONCLUSION: The RUS maturity of the Beijing children was comparable with that of Tokyo children, except for the boys between 11 and 13 years. Variability of the RUS maturation among the Chinese children was greater than that found among the TW3, Tokyo and Beijing children.
Adolescent↗
Decision support for tendon tissue engineering.
The aim of this study is to provide decision support with artificial intelligence for tendon tissue engineering strategies. The experimental data of tissue-engineered tendons were integrated and standardized with a centralized database, and a decision support system was developed using both artificial neural networks and decision trees. The decision support system was trained with existing cases in the database, and then was used to generate tissue engineering schemes for new experimental animals. Following the schemes generated by the artificial intelligent system, we cured 28 of the 30 experimental animals. In conclusion, artificial intelligence is a powerful method for decision support in the tendon tissue engineering realm.
Animals↗
Mucin expression and function in the female reproductive tract.
Reproductive tract epithelia are characterized by the presence of a thick, apical glycocalyx. This glycoprotein coat is drastically reduced in the uterus of many species during the time of embryo implantation. Recent studies indicate that mucin glycoproteins constitute a large proportion of the apical glycocalyx. One of these mucins, Muc-1, has particularly important functions at the luminal surface of the uterus and other female reproductive tract tissues. Muc-1 appears to play a dominant role in maintaining a functionally non-receptive uterine surface with regard to blastocyst attachment. Conversion to a receptive uterine state is brought about by the concerted actions of ovarian steroid hormones that in several species also strongly modulate Muc-1 protein and mRNA expression. Muc-1 also appears to serve a general function in protecting reproductive tract mucosa since Muc-1 null mice are particularly prone to bacterial infection. Collectively, these studies indicate that mucins, including Muc-1, play important barrier roles in reproductive processes and protection from bacterial pathogenesis in the female reproductive tract.
Animals↗