Biomedical subjects

Y C Wu

Publications and source records attributed to Y C Wu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cloning and analysis of antiviral activity of a barramundi (Lates calcarifer) Mx gene.

We obtained a full-length cDNA clone for the Mx gene of barramundi (Lates calcarifer), using RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of RNA extracted from a barramundi brain cell line cBB. The Mx cDNA of 2.2kb contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1875 nucleotides encoding a protein of 624 amino acids. The predicted barramundi Mx protein is 71.4 kDa and contains a tripartite guanosinetriphosphate (GTP)-binding motif at the amino terminal and a leucine zipper at the carboxyl terminal, characteristic of all known Mx proteins. Poly I:C-transfection induced the expression of Mx gene in cBB cells, and the induction level at 28 degrees C was higher than that at 20 degrees C. Moreover, Mx gene expression was also induced by viral infection, including fish nodavirus, birnavirus, and iridovirus. Among these, nodavirus was a stronger inducer than the other two viruses. Using an antiviral activity assay, we revealed that poly I:C-transfected cBB cells had antiviral activity against fish nodavirus and birnavirus, but not iridovirus. Furthermore, the replication of nodavirus and birnavirus could be restored after the expression of Mx gene was down-regulated by siRNA. Therefore, these results indicated that the expression of barramundi Mx gene was able to inhibit the proliferation of fish nodavirus and birnavirus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

Persistence of betanodavirus in Barramundi brain (BB) cell line involves the induction of Interferon response.

The BB cell line derived from the brain tissue of a barramundi (Lates calcarifer) that survived nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infection is persistently infected with NNV. To elucidate whether interferon (IFN) plays a role in the mechanism of NNV-persistent infection in BB cell line, a virus-negative control cell line was obtained by treating BB cells with NNV-specific rabbit antiserum for 5 subcultures. After the treatment, NNV titer or RNA or capsid protein was no longer detected in the cured BB (cBB) cells. Expression of Mx gene, encoding a type I IFN-inducible antiviral protein, was found in BB cells and cBB cells following NNV infection, but not in NNV-free cBB cells. Moreover, expression of Mx gene and antiviral activity against NNV were induced in cBB cells by the treatment with MAb-neutralized BB cell supernatant. Furthermore, NNV persistent infection was induced again in cBB cell culture if multiplicity of infection (MOI) was low (< or = 1). These experimental results indicated that IFN-like cytokines existed in the culture supernatant of BB cells, and IFN-induced response played an important role in protecting the majority of cells from virus lytic infection and regulating NNV persistence in the BB cell line.

Actins↗

PubMed2006

Modified neodymium-YAG laser in rigid bronchoscopy.

The use of laser bronchoscopy in the treatment of tracheobronchial stenosis has been reported in the past. It is generally safe and effective; however, the complications of haemorrhage, airway perforation, or airway fire are relatively frequent among less experienced surgeons. We illustrate a modified technique of laser probe location to simplify the laser ablation procedure.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang attenuates inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-exposed rat lungs.

In this study, the potential anti-inflammatory effect of San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXT) and its main component baicalin on LPS-induced lung injury were investigated and compared to the profile of dexamethasone (DEXA) in a pre-clinical animal model. Post-treatment with SHXT (75 mg/kg), baicalin (1.5 mg/kg) and DEXA (0.5 mg/kg), significantly inhibited LPS-induced hypotension, lung edema and acute survival rates. Western blotting analysis results indicated that all of them significantly inhibited LPS-induced iNOS, TGF-beta, p38MAPK, and ICAM-1 expressions in the lung tissues. Results from ELISA analysis showed that SHXT, baicalin and DEXA all decreased plasma levels of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and MCP-1 caused by LPS. Based on these findings, SHXT and baicalin decreased plasma concentrations of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, MCP-1, and expressions of TGF-beta, ICAM-1, phosphorylated p38 MAPK, and iNOS, which were associated with lung injury and lethality. These evidences indicated that SHXT and baicalin showed strong anti-inflammatory activity, similar to that observed for DEXA, and therefore implicated that herbal SHXT might be therapeutically useful for the treatment of endotoxic lung injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Persistent infection of betanodavirus in a novel cell line derived from the brain tissue of barramundi Lates calcarifer.

In order to obtain an in vitro system for studying the mechanism of persistent infection of fish nodavirus, a novel cell line (BB) was established from the brain tissue of a barramundi, Lates calcarifer, which had survived viral nervous necrosis disease. The cell line has been subcultured > 100 times. The persistence of fish nodavirus designated as barramundi brain nervous necrosis virus (BBNNV) in the BB cells was demonstrated by: (1) the detection of the infectious virus in the culture supernatants, (2) the detection of NNV nucleic acids extracted from the BB cells, (3) the positive result of immunochemical staining using an NNV-specific monoclonal antibody and (4) their resistance to infection by another fish nodavirus grouper NNV (GNNV). No temperature-sensitive mutants were detected in the culture supernatant of the BB cells. Neither truncated genome (RNA1 or RNA2) nor smaller coat protein was found in the purified BBNNV particles, suggesting that defective interfering particles were unlikely to be important in the NNV-persistent infection in the BB cells. The result of the neutralization test indicated that the 5 antigenic determinants, recognized by GNNV-specific neutralizing antibodies, also existed on the coat protein of BBNNV. The BB cell line is the first cell line reported to be persistently infected with NNV, and would be a useful model for understanding the mechanisms of NNV-persistent infection in vitro and in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Correlation between serum level of neuron-specific enolase and long-term functional outcome after acute cerebral infarction: prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of measuring serum levels of neuron-specific enolase in predicting extent of disease and short- and long-term functional outcome after acute cerebral infarction. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Neurology departments at two university teaching hospitals, Shanghai. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight patients who presented for acute cerebral infarction between October 1998 and October 2000 were divided into two groups: those whose infarction extended to the cerebral cortex in the carotid artery region (cortical group) and those with an infarction in the subcortical carotid artery region (subcortical group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Using a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay, we measured serum levels of neuron-specific enolase on admission and on days 2, 3, and 15. Infarct volume was measured by computed tomography on day 5. The Activities of Daily Living scale was used to assess the clinical outcome at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up after onset. RESULTS: Mean (standard deviation) serum neuron-specific enolase levels were significantly higher among patients with acute cerebral infarction than among controls (18.48 [16.61] ng/mL versus 9.00 [2.70] ng/mL; P<0.001). The neuron-specific enolase level was also higher in the cortical group than in the subcortical group (33.54 [29.71] ng/mL versus 15.97 [5.91] ng/mL; P<0.01). Levels peaked after 2.11 (0.86) days and correlated positively with the infarct volume (r=0.81; P<0.01) and negatively with clinical outcome at 1 month (r= -0.37; P<0.05), 3 months (r= -0.45; P<0.01), and 6 months (r= -0.65; P<0.001), as assessed on the Activities of Daily Living scale. CONCLUSION: Serum neuron-specific enolase levels after cerebral infarction may be a useful marker to predict infarct volume and short- or long-term functional outcome.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2004

Successful salvage treatment of recurrent endometrial cancer with bulky central tumor and extensive lymph node metastasis. A case report.

Recurrent endometrial cancer with both local and distant metastasis is very difficult to treat. A 55-year-old endometrial adenocarcinoma patient with bulky central recurrences and pelvic and inguinal lymph node metastases underwent laparotomy and paraaortic, pelvic and inguinal lymphadenectomy followed by concurrent chemoradiation (with cisplatin) to the paraaortic and inguinal lymph nodes as well as the whole pelvis. Neck and mediastinal lymph node metastasis emerged during treatment. Neck-node radiation and epirubicin was added followed by paclitaxel and carboplatin. Complete remission was achieved. Ten months later, isolated central re-recurrence happened and total pelvic exenteration was performed. The patient has survived without further recurrence for more than five years after the exenteration. Therefore, a multimodality approach with a combination of radical resection (even pelvic exenteration), radiotherapy and chemotherapy could be offered to well-selected patients with recurrent endometrial cancer despite out-of-field progression during therapy and in-field local failure to initial salvage treatment.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Cyclosporine enhances vasorelaxation in coronary but not pulmonary artery after 16-hour preservation with UW solution.

Cyclosporine (CsA), a calcineurin inhibitor, has been associated with endothelial dysfunction in transplant patients. Human and in vitro studies suggest that CsA produces endothelial dysfunction by impairing vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation. However, little is know about the CsA effects to modulate the vasorelaxation after prolonged graft preservation. In this study using a protocol designed to eliminate the influences of infusion pressure and shear stress, we evaluated the effect of CsA on vasorelaxation of coronary and pulmonary arteries after 16-hour University of Wisconsin (UW) solution preservation.

Adenosine↗

PubMed2003

Arsenite-induced nitric oxide generation is cell cycle-dependent and aberrant in NBS cells.

Exposure to arsenic has been reported to cause DNA damage and eventually the occurrence of bladder, lung and skin cancers. A previous report has demonstrated that arsenite-induced phosphorylation of Mre11, a protein involved in the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), is M phase-dependent and requires the Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) protein, NBS1 [DNA Repair 1 (2002) 137]. Furthermore, arsenite treatment arrests cells at the M phase and the cells eventually go through apoptosis [Biochemical Pharmacology 60 (2000) 771]. Here we demonstrate that arsenite treatment enhances the generation of nitric oxide (NO), and that the enhanced NO generation is dominant at the G2/M phase. Arsenite-induced NO generation is impaired in DSB repair-defective NBS cells, but not in NBS1-reconstituted NBS cells, suggesting NBS1 is required for effective NO generation. In summary, our study showed, for the first time, that arsenite-induced NO generation is cell-cycle- and NBS1-dependent.

Arsenites↗

PubMed2003

Cyclooxygenase-2 in human non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM: Recent studies report that the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is increased, especially in adenocarcinoma. Platelet activating factor (PAF), n-sodium butyrate (n-BT), and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) are important mediators of the inflammatory process. METHOD: Expression of COX-2 in 67 stage 1 NSCLC paraffin-embedded tumor samples was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Four NSCL cell lines were incubated and stimulated by PAF, n-BT and PMA for 48 h. Expression of COX-2 was determined by IHC, immunoblotting, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULT: IHC showed increasing immunoreactivity in 35 of 67 (52%) in stage I NSCLC, 31 of 53 (59%) in adenocarcinoma and 13 of 15 (87%) in bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma, but only 2 of 12 (17%) in epidermoid carcinoma. The COX-2 expression in NSCLC cells was 75% (3/4) and the COX-1 expression in NSCLC cells was 100% (4/4). After stimulation with PMA, n-BT, PAF and n-BT + PAF, the COX-2 expression in NSCLC cells was significantly increased in all cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of COX-2 in NSCLC cells is high and was up-regulated by PMA, n-BT and PAF. We consider that COX-2 inhibitors will play an important role in the therapy of NSCLC.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Effects of platelet activating factor, butyrate and interleukin-6 on cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human esophageal cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have indicated that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by taking cyclooxygenase (COX) as the target enzyme. The pathophysiological regulation of COX-2 may play a role in carcinogenesis and in disease progression of esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: 59 ESCC samples were used to assess COX-2 expression in the tumor cells and four ESCC cell lines to investigate the effects of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), platelet activating factor (PAF), n-sodium butyrate (n-BT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the expression of COX-2. Expression of COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Production of PGE2 was measured by a competitive enzyme immunoassay (CEIA). RESULTS: COX-2 expression was detected in 54.2% (32/59) of the pathological sections by IHC. COX-2 expression in ESCC cells was significantly increased following treatment with PAF and n-BT. Increased production of PGE2 was detected in the culture media, and the secreted PGE2 in the culture media was proportional to the increased COX-2 expression. The addition of IL-6 could also enhance COX-2 expression in ESCC cells. While NSAIDs could inhibit enzymatic activity of COX-2, they did not inhibit COX-2 gene expression in ESCC cells. PKC inhibitor, however, could abrogate PMA-induced COX-2 gene expression, but it did not block IL-6-induced COX-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that COX-2 expression in ESCC cells could be upregulated by PMA, PAF, n-BT and IL-6. Nonetheless, IL-6-induced COX-2 expression could be independent of PKC activation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Bullatacin, a potent antitumor annonaceous acetogenin, inhibits proliferation of human hepatocarcinoma cell line 2.2.15 by apoptosis induction.

Bullatacin, isolated from the fruit of Annona atemoya, is one of the most potentially effective antitumor annonaceous acetogenins. Bullatacin was studied here for its ability to inhibit the proliferation of 2.2.15 cells, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA transfected human hepatocarcinoma cell line. It was found that bullatacin induced cytotoxicity of 2.2.15 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Fifty percent effective dose (ED50) on day 1 of exposure to bullatacin were 7.8 +/- 2.5 nM for 2.2.15 cells. [3H]-Thymidine incorporation assays showed almost the same results. Bullatacin-treatment also reduced concentrations of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the cultured medium released from 2.2.15 cells, coincident with the decrease in the cell proliferation. Analysis of mophological changes of bullatacin-treated 2.2.15 by inverted phase-contrast microscope and eletron microscopy revealed a possible model of action for bullatacin to inhibit proliferation of 2.2.15 cells by inducing apoptosis. Most of the bullatacin-induced cell death was found to be due to apoptosis, as determined by double staining with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled annexin V and propidium iodide (PI).

Annexin A5↗

PubMed2001

Minimal access thoracic surgery for esophageal hemangioma.

Esophageal hemangioma is a rare tumor. This report describes the case of a 69-year-old woman with an esophageal tumor at the middle portion of the esophagus. The patient was successfully treated with minimal access thoracic surgery, and at the 6 month follow-up, the patient was free of any symptoms or recurrence.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine vessels: a new method for treating symptomatic fibroids.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine vessels in treating symptomatic fibroids. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S): Eighty-seven women with symptomatic fibroids warranting surgical treatment and wanting to retain their uteri. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine arteries and anastomotic sites of uterine arteries with ovarian arteries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Percentage reduction in the dominant fibroid size and clinical response evaluation. RESULT(S): Eighty-five (97.7%) of 87 patients underwent technically successful laparoscopic coagulation of uterine vessels without intraoperative complications. The mean follow-up time was 10.2 months. Symptomatic improvement was reported in 76 (89.4%) of 85 patients, including 18 (21.2%) with complete resolution of symptoms. Significant reductions in the dominant fibroid size (average, 76%) and the uterine volume (average, 46%) were sonographically demonstrated. Two patients conceived 4 and 9 months, respectively, after treatment. Three (3.5%) premenopausal women became postmenopausal postoperatively. CONCLUSION(S): Laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine vessels appears to be a promising new method for treating fibroid-related menorrhagia and pelvic pain.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Successful treatment of symptomatic arteriovenous malformation of the uterus using laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine vessels.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of symptomatic arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the uterus that was successfully treated with laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine vessels. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary referral center. PATIENT(S): A 66-year-old woman with symptomatic AVM of the uterus. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine vessels. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical symptoms, color Doppler sonographic examination, and pelvic magnetic resonance imaging. RESULT(S): Remarkable shrinkage of the lesion size, obvious decrease in all of the impedance measurements (pulsatility, resistance, velocity indexes [systolic/diastolic]), and freedom from symptoms. CONCLUSION(S): This modality is a new alternative method for the management of patients with symptomatic AVM of the uterus who do not respond to conservative treatment.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

Four alkaloids from Annona cherimola.

Four alkaloids, annocherine A, annocherine B, cherianoine, and romucosine H, along with one known alkaloid, artabonatine B, were isolated from the MeOH extract of the stems of Annona cherimola. Their structures were identified on the basis of both analysis of their spectral data and from chemical evidence.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed2001

Antiplatelet activity of N-methoxycarbonyl aporphines from Rollinia mucosa.

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the stems of Rollinia mucosa led to the isolation of new N-methoxycarbonyl aporphine alkaloids, romucosine A (1), romucosine B (2), romucosine C (3), and romucosine D (4), along with the known alkaloid, N-methoxylcarbonyl-nornuciferine (5). Alkaloids 1 and 4 exhibited significant inhibition of collagen, arachidonic acid, and platelet activating factor-induced platelet aggregation, and alkaloid 3 also showed an inhibitory effect on arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed2001

Vaginal expulsion of submucous myomas after laparoscopic-assisted uterine depletion of the myomas.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and side effects that may be caused by laparoscopic-assisted uterine depletion (LAUD) of submucous myomas. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and follow-up (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Five hundred twenty women with symptomatic myomas warranting surgical treatment, who wished to retain their uteri. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic bipolar coagulation of uterine arteries and anastomotic sites of uterine arteries with ovarian arteries. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Postoperative sonographs showed submucous myomas in 53 (10.2%) women. During follow-up for a mean of 8.6 months very few complications occurred; however, nine women (1.7%) experienced vaginal expulsion of myomas from 2 weeks to 5 months postoperatively. Four of them were readmitted within 43 days with high fever and fetid discharge, and cervical cultures revealed heavy growth of Escherichia coli in three. Vaginal myomectomy was performed in six patients, and one woman passed the myoma spontaneously. Histopathologic studies of these nine specimens showed that two had infarction, three had coagulative necrosis, and four had degeneration. After treatment, all nine women had normal menstruation and their symptoms resolved during follow-up of at least 3 months. CONCLUSION: In our experience LAUD led to satisfactory symptomatic improvement and reduction in myoma volume and few complications. If vaginal expulsion of submucous fibroids can be viewed as a side effect, we should pay close attention to women with submucous myomas, especially within 2 months of LAUD. Otherwise, more dangerous complications could occur.

Adult↗