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Biomedical subjects

Y Ding

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ding.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effects of tobacco smoke on the secretion of interleukin-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta from peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Alterations of the host response caused by short-term exposure to high levels of smoke during the act of smoking (acute smoke exposure) as well as long-term exposure to lower levels of tobacco substances in the bloodstream of smokers (chronic smoke exposure) may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in smokers. In this study, we examined the secretion of three cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta] from mononuclear blood cells from current smokers and non-smokers exposed to in vitro tobacco smoke (which may be comparable to in vivo acute smoke exposure) and mononuclear blood cells from current smokers not exposed to further in vitro smoke (which may be comparable to chronic smoke exposure). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from eight healthy current smokers and eight healthy non-smokers, plated in culture wells, exposed in vitro for 1-5 min to cigarette smoke in a smoke box system or not exposed (baseline controls), and then incubated without further smoke exposure for another 24 h. Supernatants from each well were then collected and assayed for the concentrations of the three cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At baseline, mean IL-1beta levels were higher in smokers than in non-smokers (mean: 10.6 vs. 5.9 pg/ml, anova: P < 0.05). In both smokers and non-smokers, secreted levels of IL-1beta increased from 0 to 5 min of in vitro smoke exposure (mean: 5.9-9.9 pg/ml, t-test: P < 0.05 for non-smokers only) with levels in smokers higher than in non-smokers (P > 0.05). Mean TNF-alpha levels increased from 0 to 2 min of smoke exposure and decreased from 2 to 5 min in smokers and non-smokers, with higher levels in non-smokers than smokers at all time-points (P > 0.05). Mean TGF-beta levels were higher in smokers than in non-smokers at all time-points (mean: 180.5 vs. 132.0 pg/ml, P < 0.05 at 5 min only) with no significant alteration of the pattern of secretion with cigarette smoke exposure. These observed alterations in the secretion of cytokines from mononuclear blood cells in smokers, relative to non-smokers, and with in vitro smoke exposure may play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases in smokers.

Adult↗

Numerical investigation of the effect of blade geometry on blood trauma in a centrifugal blood pump.

Fluid dynamic forces in centrifugal blood pump impellers are of key importance in destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) because high rotational speed leads to strong interaction between the impeller and the RBCs. In this paper, three-dimensional models of five different blade geometries are investigated numerically using the commercial software CFX-TASCflow, and the streaklines of RBCs are obtained using the Lagrangian particle tracking method. In reality, RBCs pass through the pump along complicated paths resulting in a highly irregular loading condition for each RBC. In order to enable the prediction of blood damage under the action of these complex-loading conditions, a cumulative damage model for RBCs was adopted in this paper. The numerically simulated percent hemoglobin (%HB) released as RBCs traversed the impeller and volute was examined. It was observed that the residence time of particles in the blade passage is a critical factor in determining hemolytic effects. This, in turn, is a function of the blade geometry. In addition, it was observed that the volute profile is an important influence on the computed HB% released.

Computer Simulation↗

Mechanism of action of methylphenidate: insights from PET imaging studies.

Methylphenidate (MPH) is the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We have used Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to investigate the mechanism of action of MPH in the human brain. We have shown (a) that oral MPH reaches peak concentration in the brain 60-90 minutes after its administration, (b) that therapeutic doses of MPH block more than 50% of the dopamine transporters (DAT), and (c) that of the two enantiomers that compose MPH, it is d-threo-methylphenidate (d-MPH) and not l-threo-methylphenidate (l-MPH) that binds to the DAT. We have also shown that therapeutic doses of MPH significantly enhance extracellular dopamine (DA) in the basal ganglia, which is an effect that appears to be modulated by the rate of DA release and that is affected by age (older subjects show less effect). Thus, we postulate (a) that MPH's therapeutic effects are in part due to amplification of DA signals, (b) that variability in responses is in part due to differences in DA tone between subjects, and (c) that MPH's effects are context dependent. Because DA enhances task specific neuronal signaling and decreases noise, we also postulate that MPH-induced increases in DA could improve attention and decrease distractibility; and that since DA modulates motivation, the increases in DA would also enhance the saliency of the task facilitating the 'interest it elicits' and thus improving performance.

Adolescent↗

Regulation and interactions of MT1-MMP and MMP-20 in human odontoblasts and pulp tissue in vitro.

MT1-MMP is a cell-membrane-bound metalloenzyme that activates other proMMPs such as proMMP-2 and -13. We studied MT1-MMP expression in mature human odontoblasts and pulp tissue, the regulation of MT1-MMP expression by growth factors TGF-beta1 and BMP-2, and the activation of odontoblast-derived MMP-20 by MT1-MMP. MT1-MMP mRNA is expressed by native and cultured mature human odontoblasts and pulp tissue. Western blot analysis of human odontoblasts and pulp tissue detects 65- and 51-kDa pro- and active forms of MT1-MMP, and smaller truncated MT1-MMP forms. BMP-2 down-regulates MT1-MMP expression in odontoblasts and pulp tissue, while TGF-beta1, alone or with BMP-2, decreases MT1-MMP mRNA levels only slightly. We also demonstrate that MT1-MMP is capable of converting proMMP-20 into a form corresponding to the active MMP-20. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the expression and differential regulation of MT1-MMP in human dentin-pulp complex cells, and the activation of MMP-20 by MT1-MMP.

Adolescent↗

Crystallization and preliminary x-ray crystallographic studies of trichosanthin delta C7.

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) which possesses rRNA N-glycosidase activity. TCS has various pharmacological properties. It is possible to reduce the antigenicity of TCS by deleting up to seven C-terminal residues of TCS (TCS-C7) with minimal effect on its activity. TCS-C7 has been crystallized and the crystal diffracted to 1.8 A. It belongs to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a=71.6A, b=74.4A, c=87.6A, beta=97.0 degrees. It is given that there are four molecules per asymmetric unit.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Differential IL-10R1 expression plays a critical role in IL-10-mediated immune regulation.

In this study, we characterized the differential receptor-binding specificity, affinity, and Janus kinase-STAT activation of cellular IL-10 (cIL-10) compared with viral IL-10 (vIL-10). Only cells expressing IL-10R1 bind human IL-10 or vIL-10. IL-10R2 does not bind to cIL-10 or vIL-10 alone and its presence does not enhance the receptor-binding affinity of cIL-10 or vIL-10, but it is essential for both cIL-10- and vIL-10-mediated signal transduction and immune regulation. Responses initiated by cIL-10 and vIL-10 were compared in B cell and mast cell lines, and demonstrated that the inability of vIL-10 to stimulate immune responses, as compared with human IL-10, is due to failure to initiate signaling. Absent signal transduction is due to low level expression of cell surface IL-10R1, since overexpressing IL-10R1 allows vIL-10 to initiate cIL-10-like signals and subsequent biological responses. These results are similar in primary cells, since splenocytes respond to both cIL-10 and vIL-10, while thymocytes respond only to cIL-10 and have very low mouse IL-10R1 but not mouse IL-10R2 expression. These data demonstrate that IL-10R1 expression plays a critical role in determining whether cells respond to IL-10. Modulation of cell surface IL-10R1 density might be an important mechanism for determining whether IL-10 leads to immunostimulation or immunosuppression in vivo.

Animals↗

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of native and selenomethionyl recombinant tabtoxin-resistance protein complexed with acetyl-coenzyme A.

Tabtoxin-resistance protein (TTR), an acetyltransferase from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, was overexpressed in Eschericha coli M15 and the TTR fusion protein complexed with acetyl-coenzyme A (AcCoA) was purified and crystallized. Diffraction data were collected to 3.0 A resolution in-house and the crystal was found to belong to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 47.6, b = 66.6, c = 53.5 A, beta = 104.3 degrees. Furthermore, a selenomethionine (SeMet) TTR fusion protein derivative was overexpressed in the same expression system and its complex with AcCoA was purified in a reductive environment. The SeMet TTR derivative crystallized in two forms: the first was identical to that observed for native crystals and the second belonged to space group C2, with unit-cell parameters a = 101.7, b = 45.6, c = 84.2 A, beta = 105.8 degrees. Data from the P2(1) crystal form were collected in-house to 2.3 A resolution. Subsequently, three different wavelength data sets of the C2 crystal form to 1.55 A resolution were collected at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

Long-term neuroprotective effect of inhibiting poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion using a behavioral assessment.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) can initiate an energy-consuming and inefficient repair cycle following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by transferring ADP ribose units to nuclear proteins eventually leading to cellular dysfunction and neuronal death. 3-Aminobenzamide (3-AB) is a selective inhibitor of PARP that can significantly reduce brain damage after focal ischemia in rats and displays a low toxicity in vivo. The goals of this study were to determine if inhibiting PARP with 3-AB has a long-term neuroprotective effect and if functional outcome improves in rats following focal ischemia and treatment with 3-AB. Focal ischemia was induced by a 2-h occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), using an intraluminal filament. Motor functions were evaluated from 5 to 28 days after reperfusion in four groups of rats: stroke without treatment; stroke treated with 3-AB at doses of 15 mg/kg, stroke treated with 3-AB at doses of 55 mg/kg; and the non-ischemic control rats. Functional behaviors were tested by a series of motor function tasks (foot placing, parallel bar crossing, rope and ladder climbing), as well as a neurological examination. Infarct volume of stroke brain in the same rat was determined by Nissl staining 28 days after surgery. Comparison of the untreated stroke group (n=11) and the treated stroke groups indicates that impairment of motor function was significantly (P<0.001) reduced by administration of 3-AB at doses of 15 mg/kg (n=9) or 55 mg/kg (n=10). Neurological outcome was also improved significantly (P<0.001). Infarct volume was significantly (P<0.01) reduced in both treated groups. Long-term neuroprotection following ischemia/reperfusion injury to the brain can be obtained by administration of a PARP inhibitor. The motor tests employed in this study can be used as sensitive, objective and reproducible measurements of functional impairment in rats following an ischemic stroke.

Animals↗

p202, an interferon-inducible protein, mediates multiple antitumor activities in human pancreatic cancer xenograft models.

p202, an IFN-inducible protein, interacts with certain transcriptional activators leading to transcriptional repression. p202 expression has been associated with inhibition of cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. To examine a potential p202-mediated antitumor activity in pancreatic cancer, we used both ectopic and orthotopic xenograft models and demonstrated that p202 expression is associated with multiple antitumor activities that include inhibition of tumor growth, reduced tumorigenicity, prolonged survival, and remarkably, suppression of metastasis and angiogenesis. In vitro invasion assay also showed that p202-expressing pancreatic cancer cells are less invasive than those without p202 expression. That observation was supported by the findings that p202-expressing tumors showed reduced expression of angiogenic markers, such as interleukin 8 and vascular endothelial growth factor, and p202-expressing pancreatic cancer cells have reduced level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity, a secreted protease activity important for metastasis. Importantly, we demonstrated a treatment efficacy by using p202/SN2 liposome complex in a nude mice xenograft model, suggesting a feasibility of using the p202/SN2 liposome in future preclinical gene therapy experiments. Together, our results strongly suggest that p202 expression mediates multiple antitumor activities against pancreatic cancer and may provide a scientific basis for developing a p202-based gene therapy in pancreatic cancer treatment.

Animals↗

Synthesis of L-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid via nucleophilic addition to a chiral aldehyde.

Fluorine-containing derivatives of amino acids are assuming increasing importance as probes of biological function and enzyme mechanism. We now report a new, flexible route to enantiomerically pure L-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid that exploits the addition of difluorinated nucleophiles to configurationally stable alpha-aminoaldehydes. Conversion of the difluorinated adducts to L-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid can be accomplished in three steps by Barton-McCombie dehydroxylation and acid hydrolysis.

Aldehydes↗

Characterization of individual threading dislocations in GaN using ballistic electron emission microscopy.

Threading dislocations (TDs) of molecular beam epitaxy grown GaN film were studied with ultrahigh vacuum ballistic electron emission microscopy in order to quantify any fixed negative charge at identifiable TDs, with approximately 3 nm spatial and approximately 10 meV local barrier resolution. In contrast to several prior studies, we find no indication of fixed negative dislocation charge at specific TD structures, with a conservative upper limit of approximately 0.25 e(-) per c-axis unit cell. We do observe evidence of positive surface charge at TDs and at GaN step edges, which may be due to local piezoelectric fields.

Journal Article↗

Five-color-based high-information-content fingerprinting of bacterial artificial chromosome clones using type IIS restriction endonucleases.

We have developed a high-information-content fingerprinting (HICF) system for bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones using a Type IIS restriction endonuclease, HgaI, paired with a Type II restriction endonuclease, RsaI. In the method described, unknown five-base overhangs generated with HgaI are partially or fully sequenced by modified fluorescent dideoxy terminators. Using an in-lane size standard labeled with a fifth dye, fragments are characterized by both the size and the sequence of its terminal one to five bases. The enhanced information content associated with this approach significantly increases the accuracy and efficiency of detecting shared fragments among BAC clones. We have compared data obtained from this method to predicted HICF patterns of 10 fully sequenced BACs. We have further applied HICF to 555 BAC clones to assemble contigs spanning 16p11.2 to 16p13.1 of human chromosome 16.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial↗

An efficient synthesis of mimetics of neamine for RNA recognition.

As mimetics of neamine, several 4-heterocyclic 2-deoxystreptamine derivatives were chemically synthesized for RNA recognition. Conversion of 4-methylthiomethyl-5,6-di-O-acetyl-diazido-2-deoxystreptamine to the 4-chloromethyl derivative followed by reactions with different nuclophilic reagents gave the 4-heterocyclic 2-deoxystreptamine derivatives in satisfactory yields.

Heterocyclic Compounds↗

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of a Ca2+-binding protein human S100A1.

S100A1, a Ca(2+)-binding protein from the S100 protein family, has been crystallized by the vapour-diffusion method using polyethylene glycol 4000 as the precipitant at pH 8.5. The crystal belongs to space group P6(3). The unit-cell parameters are a = b = 57.3, c = 104.7 A. There appear to be two S100A1 molecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystals were stable during exposure to X-rays and diffract to 2.6 A resolution in-house.

Calcium-Binding Proteins↗