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Biomedical subjects

Y Hua

Publications and source records attributed to Y Hua.

99 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

On-line high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of brevetoxins in "red tide" algae.

On-line high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESMS) has been successfully applied to the separation and identification of brevetoxins associated with "red tide" algae. Brevetoxins are toxic polyethers produced by the marine dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve. They are responsible for fish kills, and they pose certain health risks to humans. The LC-MS method employs reversed-phase microbore HPLC on a C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 85:15 methanol/water, a flow rate of 8 microL/min, and a postcolumn split ratio of 3:1 (UV absorbance detector/mass spectrometer). A brevetoxin culture sample was found to contain at least six components, including two well-separated peaks corresponding to the brevetoxins PbTx-2 and PbTx-1, as well as several unknown compounds, including one with a molecular mass of 899 Da (possibly an isomer of PbTx-9). The brevetoxin molecules exhibited a high tendency to bind to alkali cations in positive ion ESMS. For standard PbTx-9, PbTx-2, and PbTx-1 brevetoxins analyzed on our LC-MS system, the detection limits (employing mass spectrometer scans of 100 m/z units) were determined to be less than 600 fmol, 1 pmol, and 50 fmol, respectively (S/N = 3); the total analysis time was about 35 min.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional solution structure of Callinectes sapidus metallothionein-1 determined by homonuclear and heteronuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Metallothionein is a cysteine-rich metal-binding protein whose biosynthesis is closely regulated by the level of exposure of an organism to zinc, copper, cadmium, and other metal salts. The metallothionein from Callinectes sapidus is known to bind six divalent metal ions in two separate metal-binding clusters. Heteronuclear 1H-113Cd and homonuclear 1H-1H NMR correlation experiments have been used to establish that the two clusters reside in two distinct protein domains. The three-dimensional solution structure of the metallothionein has been determined using the distance and angle constraints derived from these two-dimensional NMR data sets and a distance geometry/simulated annealing protocol. There are no interdomain short distance (< or = 4.5 A) constraints observed in this protein, enabling the calculation of structures for the N-terminal, beta domain and the C-terminal, alpha domain separately. A total of 18 structures were obtained for each domain. The structures are based on a total of 364 experimental NMR restraints consisting of 277 approximate interproton distance restraints, 12 chi 1 and 51 phi angular restraints, and 24 metal-to-cysteine connectivities obtained from 1H-113Cd correlation experiments. The only element of regular secondary structure in either of the two domains is a short segment of helix in the C-terminal alpha domain between Lys42 and Thr48. The folding of the polypeptide backbone chain in each domain, however, gives rise to several type I beta turns. There are no type II beta turns.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Quantitative relation between plethysmographic parameters and pulmonary artery pressure in obliterative pulmonary vascular disease].

32 cases of obliterative pulmonary vascular disease were studied by comparing, the results of pulmonary impedance plethysmogram (PIP) and hemodynamic parameters obtained by catheterization. It is shown that the main PIP feature of obliterative pulmonary vascular disease is a delayed peak of delta Zmax, and QZM is correlated with pulmonary artery pressure. Two sets of regression equations were established with parameters of PIP for the estimation of pulmonary artery pressure in obliterative pulmonary vascular disease.

Adult↗

[Synthesis of catechol aminoketone and its analogues].

In this paper, the synthesis of a series of aminoketone derivatives are reported. Compounds I1-9 and II1-10 were synthesized from substituted chloroacetophenone with various amines. Compounds I10-12 and II11-12 were synthesized from substituted acetophenones with corresponding amines through Mannich reaction. The 1HNMR and MS were discussed. Pharmacological study showed that the vascular contraction of dog mesenteric and basilar arteries induced by serotonine and calcium in vitro could not be antagonized by this kind of compounds and the known compound 3,4-dihydroxy acetophenone (I0). Except I10, the vasodilator effects of all compounds as shown by measurement of arterial blood flow after injection into femoral artery in dogs are weaker than I0. After intravenous injection in anesthetized dogs, I10 showed the same effect as I0 to increase coronary blood flow and myocardial contraction. Furthermore, the ventricular arrhythmia induced by aconitine and chloroform could also be protected by compound I10, but compound I0 was not effective.

Animals↗

Imaging of cerebellar surface activation in vivo using voltage sensitive dyes.

The understanding of the information processing performed by complex neuronal networks in the central nervous system will require techniques permitting the simultaneous monitoring of the electrical activity of neuronal ensembles. Voltage sensitive dyes offer the potential for non-invasive optical monitoring of the activity in large populations of neurons. In this report we describe the use of voltage sensitive dyes and image processing techniques to monitor in vivo the activation of parallel fibers and associated neuronal events produced by stimulation of the cerebellar cortex in the rat. Despite the temporal limitations of video processing a relatively brief set of neuronal events was successfully imaged. Using this methodology we demonstrate that the detected fluorescent light changes were highly correlated with the evoked extracellular field potentials. Graded surface stimulation produced graded spatial patterns consistent with known parallel fiber anatomy and physiology. The optical signals were dependent on the presence of the voltage sensitive dyes and were abolished by topical application of a local anesthetic agent. In essence, activation of a parallel fiber beam and associated activity were imaged at relatively high resolution.

Animals↗

Capsaicin-induced stimulation of the guinea-pig atrium. Involvement of a novel sensory transmitter or a direct action on myocytes?

The mechanism underlying the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of capsaicin were investigated using the spontaneously beating guinea-pig atrium in vitro. Capsaicin induced a long-lasting stimulatory effect (threshold dose 10(-9) M). Tetrodotoxin, phentolamine, 6-OHDA, mepyramine plus cimetidine, methysergide-, indomethacin-, somatostatin- or morphine pretreatment and local treatment with capsaicin on the vagal nerves did not reduce the capsaicin response, while it was abolished up to 1 month after systemic capsaicin pretreatment. The capsaicin response was subject to a rapid tachyphylaxis. During capsaicin tachyphylaxis, the positive inotropic and chronotropic effects of noradrenaline, serotonin and histamine were unchanged. Various neuropeptides were investigated with regard to cardiac activity. Physalaemin, eledoisin and somatostatin had negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. Substance P, bombesin, kassinin, CCK-8 or PHI (up to 10(-6)M of each) did not cause any detectable response on the guinea-pig auricle, while the substance P antagonist [D-Arg, D-Pro, D-Trp, Leu]SP induced a long-lasting stimulation of heart activity, VIP also stimulated the heart. Various adenyl compounds were also tested. Adenosine, AMP, ADP, ATP and beta-, gamma-methylene ATP had negative chronotropic and inotropic effects, while alpha-, beta-methylene ATP induced a stimulatory response. During alpha-, beta-methylene ATP tachyphylaxis, the auricles still responded to capsaicin. The inhibitory effects of adenosine and ATP analogues were antagonized by theophylline and 8-p-sulfophenyl theophylline. Capsaicin induced a small release of labelled nucleotides from 3(H)-adenine-prelabelled atria from control, but not from capsaicin-pretreated animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Intravenous C-type natriuretic peptide augments behavioral and endocrine effects of cholecystokinin tetrapeptide in healthy men.

Given the anxiogenic effects of the type-B natriuretic peptide receptor agonist C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in rodents, we investigated the influence of CNP pretreatment upon the behavioral and endocrine action of the panicogen cholecystokinin tetrapeptide (CCK-4) in healthy men. In a randomized double-blind balanced design, 20 male volunteers were given an intravenous infusion of 300 microg of CNP vs. placebo followed by 25 microg of CCK-4. The behavior was assessed using panic, anxiety, and dissociation questionaires before the infusion and after the CCK-4 stimulus. Furthermore, the stress-sensitive hormones adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, and prolactin were measured. CNP pretreatment enhanced the anxiogenic and prodissociative effects of CCK-4 and significantly augmented the ACTH surge after CCK-4. However, no effect of CNP was seen upon panic symptoms. Our preliminary data support a role of type-B natriuretic peptide receptors in anxiety modulation in normal man.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗