Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Su

Publications and source records attributed to Y Su.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

[Expressing poliovirus (type I) and hepatitis A virus antigens by recombinant vaccinia virus].

A recombinant vaccinia virus expressing PV-I and HAV antigens was constructed. Dot blot and Southern blot confirmed that the recombinant virus genome contained PV-I cDNA and HAV cDNA chimeric fragment. The result of IF indicated that PV-I antigen and HAV antigen were successfully expressed in the mammalian cells infected with the recombinant virus. The expressed PV-I and HAV antigen showed one band which had both PV-I and HAV antigenicities in Western blot. The band was about 120,000(MW). When guinea pigs were immunized with the recombinant virus, PV-I and HAV neutralizing antibodies were induced. The result indicated that the recombinant virus constructed here had bi-valence of PV-I and HAV antigen as well as PV-I and HAV immunogenecities.

Animals↗

[Analysis of short-term effects of short-course intermittent chemotherapies of the World Bank Loaned Project].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristic features of sputum conversion during short-course intermittent chemotherapies and the measures of keeping high cure rates. METHODS: 1,350 smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases in the ten research pilot counties of Liaoning province from 1992 to 1993 were selected to receive short-course intermittent chemotherapies under full-course supervision. The project was supported by the World Bank. The sputum specimens of the cases were regularly examined. The effects of the chemotherapies and the measures of keeping high cure rate were evaluated according to the situation of sputum conversion. RESULTS: The cure rates of initial and relapse smear positive cases were 92.5% and 74.6% respectively. It is also found that the therapeutic effects were affected by the situation of sputum conversion at the end of intensive phase. The cure rate of the cases who failed in initial treatment and continued retreatment was only 54%, which was obviously lower than that of the other retreatment cases. CONCLUSION: Strengthening the treatment and management at the intensive phase can increase the cure rate. It is recommended that more rational regimens should be studied and provided to those who fail in initial treatment to improve the therapeutic effects.

Antibiotics, Antitubercular↗

Feline leukemia virus variants in experimentally induced thymic lymphosarcomas.

This study was initiated to evaluate the in vivo infectivity and pathogenicity of a group of recombinant feline leukemia viruses (rFeLVs) previously generated by in vitro forced recombination between a FeLV subgroup A virus (FeLV-A) and an endogenous FeLV (enFeLV) envelope (env) element (Sheets et al., 1992, Virology 190, 849-855). To determine infectivity of rFeLVs, neonatal cats were inoculated with rFeLVs alone or in combination with FeLV-A. The recombinant viruses were able to replicate efficiently in vivo only when administered along with FeLV-A. Of six co-infected cats, three developed thymic lymphosarcomas, one severe aplastic anemia, and two cachexia and depression; all were viremic and seroconverted shortly after inoculation. While both virus types were detected in virtually all tissues examined from these tumor-bearing cats, there was a particularly noteworthy sequence reversion in the rFeLVs. It is known that exogenous FeLV isolates carry a conserved neutralizing MGPNL epitope in the middle of the surface glycoprotein domain of the env gene. In contrast, the parental recombinant viruses used to inoculate these cats harbored the enFeLV-derived MGPNP sequence at this position. However, all in vivo-propagated recombinants displayed the MGPNL sequence, while the env-encoded backbone flanking the MGPNL sequence was that of the parental recombinant virus. These results suggest that viruses with the MGPNL epitope have an in vivo proliferative advantage. The data also provide an explanation for the conservation of this epitope in exogenous FeLVs despite the existence of variant forms in enFeLV proviral elements with which they can recombine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Growth inhibition and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells induced by hypericin, a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C.

The effect of hypericin, an antiviral agent and inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), on cell proliferation and programmed death was investigated in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH. Hypericin induced significant growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner demonstrated by a microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. DNA isolated from cells treated with hypericin at concentrations over 1 microM exhibited a 'ladder' pattern of oligonucleosome-sized fragments characteristic of apoptosis. Similarly, treatment of the cells with the PKC inhibitors staurosporine, tamoxifen or phorbol ester PMA for 72 h also resulted in apoptosis, suggesting that hypericin may be triggering an apoptotic signal in neuroblastoma cells, which at least in part may be mediated by the inhibition of PKC.

Alkaloids↗

Regulatory subunit of protein kinase A: structure of deletion mutant with cAMP binding domains.

In the molecular scheme of living organisms, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP or cAMP) has been a universal second messenger. In eukaryotic cells, the primary receptors for cAMP are the regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The crystal structure of a 1-91 deletion mutant of the type I alpha regulatory subunit was refined to 2.8 A resolution. Each of the two tandem cAMP binding domains provides an extensive network of hydrogen bonds that buries the cyclic phosphate and the ribose between two beta strands that are linked by a short alpha helix. Each adenine base stacks against an aromatic ring that lies outside the beta barrel. This structure provides a molecular basis for understanding how cAMP binds cooperatively to its receptor protein, thus mediating activation of the kinase.

Affinity Labels↗

The role of calcium influx in cellular proliferation induced by interaction of endogenous ganglioside GM1 with the B subunit of cholera toxin.

The B subunit of cholera toxin, which binds specifically to ganglioside GM1, is mitogenic for quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. It was previously shown that the B subunit had no effect on cAMP, protein kinase C or phosphoinositide turnover, but did cause an increase in the influx of calcium from extracellular sources (Spiegel, S. and Panagiotopoulos, C. (1988) Exp. Cell Res. 177, 414-427). In contrast to the action of known growth factors, the B subunit induced significant DNA synthesis after only a 1-3 h treatment. We utilized this unique property to determine whether the increase in calcium influx plays a role in B subunit-induced mitogenicity. Cells were briefly treated with the B subunit in the presence of calcium channel blockers, followed by removal of the blockers and further incubation in B subunit-free medium for the remaining time required to measure DNA synthesis. When 1 mM cobalt was only present during the first 3 h incubation. DNA synthesis induced by either the B subunit or fetal bovine serum was completely abolished. However, both nickel (1 mM) adn the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel inhibitor nicardipin (10 microM) inhibited B subunit-induced cell proliferation without abrogating the response to fetal bovine serum. Using a gel retardation assay, we found that the B subunit markedly stimulated specific DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor, activator protein-1 (AP-1), which functions as a major convergence point coupling early events induced by a variety of mitogens to long term growth responses. Presence of c-Fos protein in the AP-1 complex was demonstrated as a supershift band in the gel mobility assay using c-Fos polyclonal antibody. Cobalt, which markedly inhibited B subunit-induced DNA synthesis, also completely abolished AP-1 DNA-binding activity stimulated by the B subunit. In sharp contrast, cobalt had no effect on DNA-binding activity of AP-1 induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. Our results suggest that calcium influx is a key element for both DNA-binding activity of AP-1 and cell proliferation induced by binding of the B subunit of cholera toxin to cell surface ganglioside GM1.

3T3 Cells↗

A new salicylate ISFET for the determination of salicylic and acetylsalicylic acid in drugs.

A salicylate ISFET for the analysis of salicylic and acetylsalicylic acid in drugs is described. It is based on a salicylate ion selective membrane coated on the surface of the Si3N4 gate of the FET. The sensitive membrane consists of tetra-dodecylammonium salicylate, polyvinyl chloride and a proper plasticizer. The linearity range of the sensor is 5 x 10(-5)-1.5 x 10(-2) M for the salicylic acid, and 7 x 10(-5)-1.5 x 10(-2) M for the acetylsalicylic acid, respectively. The detection limit for the two compounds is 5 x 10(-5) M while the response time is < or = 20 s. The effect of pH and different interfering ions was also studied. The sensor was used to analyse the content of acetylsalicylic and salicylic acid in some drugs, and the accuracy of the method was evaluated through recovery tests. The results obtained with this method are well correlated either with those obtained with a classical ISE employing the same sensitive membrane or with the classical volumetric method.

Aspirin↗

Rapid dephosphorylation of tau in heat-shocked fetal rat cerebral explants: prevention and hyperphosphorylation by inhibitors of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A.

We heat shocked 21- and 35-day-old fetal rat cerebral explants at 45 degrees C for 18 min and performed immunocytochemistry and immunoblot analysis of sodium dodecyl sulfate extracts using the monoclonal anti-tau antibodies Tau-1, Tau-5, Tau-46, and PHF-1 and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique or 125I-labeled protein A. Tau-1 and PHF-1 recognize nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated epitopes, respectively, and both Tau-5 and Tau-46 recognize phosphate-independent epitopes. tau immunoreactivity was confined to neurons and increased in heat-shocked perikarya but not axons. At 0 h after heat shocking, there was dephosphorylation of tau exemplified by (1) faster migration of tau isoforms with resultant loss or attenuation of the 60- and 52-kDa tau isoforms recognized by all four anti-tau antibodies and concomitant accentuation of the fastest moving 50-kDa tau isoform recognized by Tau-1, Tau-5, and Tau-46; and (2) significant increase in the nonphosphorylated Tau-1 epitope with resultant decreases in the ratio of total (phosphorylated plus nonphosphorylated) tau to nonphosphorylated tau and the difference of total tau minus nonphosphorylated tau. tau was phosphorylated back to the control level by 12 h and remained so at 24 and 48 h after heat shocking. Treatment of explants with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, did not prevent the heat shocking-induced dephosphorylation of tau. Treatment of explants with the inhibitors of protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A, okadaic acid or calyculin A, produced hyperphosphorylated tau polypeptides, prevented the heat shocking-induced dephosphorylation of tau, and intensified the immunoreactivity of the neurofilament subunit H with the only antiphosphoneurofilament antibody that reacts with intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles. In 35-day-old explants, in addition to the three 50-, 52-, and 60-kDa tau isoforms seen in 21-day-old explants, a 66-kDa tau polypeptide was also present.

Animals↗

The formation of nitric oxide donors from peroxynitrite.

1. Administration of peroxynitrite (ONOO-, 30-300 microM) caused relaxation of rabbit aortic strips superfused in series in a cascade. The compound responsible for this effect had a half-life greater than 20 s and could not therefore be either nitric oxide (NO) or ONOO- which have half-lives in the order of 1-2 s under these conditions. However the relaxation was inhibited by oxyhaemoglobin, suggesting the compound could be converted to NO in the vascular tissues or in the superfusate. 2. The products of the reactions between ONOO- and Krebs buffer containing 11 mM glucose, but not glucose-free Krebs buffer, caused relaxation of the bioassay tissues. These data suggest that stable NO donor(s) were formed from the reaction of ONOO- with glucose. We therefore prepared these NO donor(s) by the reaction of glucose solutions with ONOO- in order to characterize their ability to release NO. 3. These reaction product(s) caused relaxation in the cascade and inhibition of platelet aggregation. Both effects were dependent on the concentration of D-glucose, were equally effective if L-glucose was used as a reactant and were reversed by oxyhaemoglobin. 3. The products of the reaction between ONOO- and glucose or other biological molecules containing an alcohol functional group, such as fructose, glycerol, or glyceraldehyde, released NO in the presence of Cu2+and L-cysteine. 5. These results indicate that ONOO- reacts with sugars or other compounds containing an alcohol functional group(s) to form NO donors with the characteristics of organic nitrate/nitrites. This may represent a further detoxification pathway for ONOO- in vivo.

Animals↗

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by a Tat-activated, transduced interferon gene: targeted expression to human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected cells.

We have examined the feasibility of using interferon (IFN) gene transfer as a novel approach to anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) therapy in this study. To limit expression of a transduced HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-IFNA2 (the new approved nomenclature for IFN genes is used throughout this article) hybrid gene to the HIV-1-infected cells, HIV-1 LTR was modified. Deletion of the NF-kappa B elements of the HIV-1 LTR significantly inhibited Tat-mediated transactivation in T-cell lines, as well as in a monocyte line, U937. Replacement of the NF-kappa B elements in the HIV-1 LTR by a DNA fragment derived from the 5'-flanking region of IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), containing the IFN-stimulated response element, partially restored Tat-mediated activation of LTR in T cells as well as in monocytes. Insertion of this chimeric promoter (ISG15 LTR) upstream of the human IFNA2 gene directed high levels of IFN synthesis in Tat-expressing cells, while this promoter was not responsive to tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated activation. ISG15-LTR-IFN hybrid gene inserted into the retrovirus vector was transduced into Jurkat and U937 cells. Selected transfected clones produced low levels of IFN A (IFNA) constitutively, and their abilities to express interleukin-2 and interleukin-2 receptor upon stimulation with phytohemagglutinin and phorbol myristate acetate were retained. Enhancement of IFNA synthesis observed upon HIV-1 infection resulted in significant inhibition of HIV-1 replication for a period of at least 30 days. Virus isolated from IFNA-producing cells was able to replicate in the U937 cells but did not replicate efficiently in U937 cells transduced with the IFNA gene. These results suggest that targeting IFN synthesis to HIV-1-infected cells is an attainable goal and that autocrine IFN synthesis results in a long-lasting and permanent suppression of HIV-1 replication.

Animals↗

Hypoxia inhibits L-arginine synthesis from L-citrulline in porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Both non-arginine-depleted and arginine-depleted pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) actively convert citrulline into arginine. Exposure to hypoxia for 4-24 h inhibited arginine synthesis from citrulline in intact cells and in cell homogenates. The conversion of L-citrulline to L-argininosuccinate by argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) was inhibited by exposure to hypoxia for 4, 12, or 24 h. The conversion of argininosuccinate to arginine by argininosuccinate lyase was inhibited by exposure to hypoxia for 24 h but not for 4-12 h. The decrease of L-arginine biosynthesis during hypoxia coincided with the increase of intracellular glutamine content and was abrogated by preventing an increase in intracellular glutamine. In addition, AS activity was inversely related to glutamine content in the medium. These results indicate that hypoxia inhibited the L-arginine biosynthetic pathway via decreased activity of AS. The latter is related to increased glutamine content. Hypoxic inhibition of arginine synthesis from citrulline did not result in a decrease of arginine content, suggesting that PAEC are able to maintain intracellular arginine for up to 24 h despite reduction in the L-arginine biosynthetic pathway.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural cytochemistry of human gastric cancer: electron microscopic observations of five organellae marker enzymes.

The distribution of ALPase, ACPase, G6Pase TPPase and CCOase of gastric cancer and normal gastric epithelium were studied ultrastructurally. The results showed that normal gastric epithelium had no ALPase reaction. The reactions of ACPase, G6Pase, TPPase and CCOase were found in the corresponding organellae which were consistent with their functions. In tubular adenocarcinoma cells, their reactions were more apparent in the corresponding organellae. Some cells of tubular adenocarcinomas showed ALPase reaction. The mucinous adenocarcinoma cells had higher ACPase and TPPase reactions. In poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, the five marker enzymes showed negative or faint reactions. The biological significance and mechanisms of distribution of the five marker enzymes were discussed.

Acid Phosphatase↗

[Preliminary study on multi-resistant gene location of 20 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa].

20 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from burn patients of Xijing Hospital in Xi'an. These 20 strains which showed resistance to multiple antibiotics were selected to be studied regarding the location of multi-resistant gene. According to the sensitivity tests before and after plasmid removal, we found that in 70% of the bacteria resistance to multiple antibiotics was mediated by the plasmid. In 30% the bacteria remained resistant to antibiotics after plasmids were removed. Two explanations were postulated. (1) plasmids were not removed completely; (2) resistance gene was encoded by the chromosomes.

Ampicillin Resistance↗

[Responses of somatostatin, beta-endorphin and dynorphin A to A glucose load in two groups of women with polycystic ovarian syndrome].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between elevated luteinizing hormone (LH), hyperinsulinemia and neuropeptides in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: An oral glucose (100g) tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in 15 normally menstruating women (control) and 30 PCOS women with LH/follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio greater than 3 (group 1) and 25 PCOS subjects with the ratio < 3 (group 2). The responses of insulin, somatostatin (SS), beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and dynorphin A (Dyn A) during OGTT were measured by RIA. RESULTS: In basal state, significant negative correlations were found between LH and SS (r = -0.51, P < 0.05) in group 1 and between LH and beta-EP (r = -0.49, P < 0.05) in group 2. During OGTT, PCOS women had a greater beta-EP and Dyn A responses in group 1 and an impaired SS response in group 2 as compared with the control. CONCLUSION: These data suggested lower endogenous SS, higher beta-EP and Dyn A may lead to elevation of LH and insulin secretions in patients with PCOS.

Adult↗

Lovastatin induces growth inhibition and apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells.

The competitive HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin has been shown to suppress growth and induce morphological changes in a variety of non-glioma tumor cell lines. This study assesses the effects of this agent on the growth and survival of the human malignant glioma cell lines A172 and U87-MG. The response to the drug was investigated using a cell proliferation assay which revealed significant dose-dependent growth inhibition. Treatment with as little as 100 nM lovastatin over a period of 72 hours led to DNA degradation into nucleosome-sized fragments characteristic of apoptosis. Our data suggest that HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as lovastatin merit further investigation as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of malignant gliomas.

Apoptosis↗