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Biomedical subjects

Y Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to Y Zhou.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Environmental and occupational determinants of blood pressure in rural communities in China.

PURPOSE: To identify and characterize major environmental and occupational determinants of blood pressure in rural communities in China. METHODS: In 1993 we conducted a large cross-sectional, community-based study of 20,216 residents aged 15 years or older, from the Yijing area of Anhui Province (8022 men, 12,194 women), one of whom were receiving treatment for hypertension. The mean systolic blood pressure was 116.7 +/- 19.5 mmHg for men and 113.2 +/- 19.4 mmHg for women. RESULTS: The mean diastolic blood pressure was 72.4 +/- 12.1 mmHg for men and 70.4 +/- 11.6 mmHg for women. Age and body mass index were the two most important determinants of blood pressure in this population. With controls for age and body mass index, height and weight remained significant predictors of blood pressure. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that alcohol consumption, self-reported exposure to noise, drinking of tap water and pond water, occupational exposure to dust/fumes/gases, rice consumption, inferior housing, household crowdedness, and being unmarried were related to increased blood pressure levels. Vegetable intake, frequent consumption of meat at meals, high level of physical activity, exposure to straw-combustion smoke, and pesticide use were negatively associated with blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that a broad array of demographic, ergonomic, nutritional, and environmental factors are critical determinants of blood pressure in this rural Chinese population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The solid state environment orchestrates embryonic development and tissue remodeling.

Cell interactions with extracellular matrix and with other cells play critical roles in morphogenesis during development and in tissue homeostasis and remodeling throughout life. Extracellular matrix is information-rich, not only because it is comprised of multifunctional structural ligands for cell surface adhesion receptors, but also because it contains peptide signaling factors, and proteinases and their inhibitors. The functions of these groups of molecules are extensively interrelated. In this review, three primary cell culture models are described that focus on adhesion receptors and their roles in complex aspects of morphogenesis and remodeling: the regulation of proteinase expression by fibronectin and integrins in synovial fibroblasts; the regulation of osteoblast differentiation and survival by fibronectin, and the regulation of trophoblast differentiation and invasion by integrins, cadherins and immunoglobulin family adhesion receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase and nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons in the intramural ganglia of guinea pig urinary bladder.

The cell population and distribution of NADPH-diaphorase positive and NOS immunoreactive intramural ganglion cells were examined on stretched whole-mount preparations of the guinea pig urinary bladder which was divided into 3 regions: base, body and dome. The results showed that the highest frequency both of NADPH-d and NOS positive neurons was observed in the bladder base. Cell counts in the whole bladder showed that the number of NADPH-d positive neurons was much more than that of NOS immunoreactive neurons. Using neuron specific enolase (NSE) positive neurons as a reference (100%), NADPH-d positive neurons accounted for 84% while NOS immunoreactive neurons only made up 45% of the total neuronal population. These results, along with previous studies on the function of nitric oxide, suggest that nitric oxide may be involved in the relaxation activity in the bladder base during micturition. The significant difference in the number of NADPH-d positive and NOS immunoreactive neurons suggests that the localisation of one enzyme does not necessarily reflect the presence of the other.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Detection of Epstein-Barr virus in the L & H cells of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease: report of a case documented by immunohistochemical, in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction methods.

Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is commonly present in the neoplastic Reed-Sternberg and Hodgkin cells of the mixed cellularity, nodular sclerosis, and lymphocyte depletion types of Hodgkin's disease (HD), EBV is rare in the neoplastic cells of the nodular lymphocyte predominance type of HD, particularly in the United States. We describe a 19-year-old Hispanic man in whom nodular lymphocyte predominance HD involved a cervical lymph node. Epstein-Barr virus was identified in the neoplastic L & H cells by using in situ hybridization for EBV RNA and immunohistochemical staining for EBV latent membrane protein-1. Polymerase chain reaction studies demonstrated the type A strain of EBV. The presence of EBV in this case may be related to drainage of the virus from the oropharynx to the cervical lymph node. The presence of EBV also may be related to this patient's Hispanic ethnic origin.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of acute complete outlet obstruction on the NADPH-diaphorase reactivity in the intramural ganglia of the guinea pig urinary bladder: light and electron microscopic studies.

PURPOSE: The present study aims to examine the effect of complete outlet obstruction on the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) reactivity in the intramural ganglion cells of the guinea pig urinary bladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male guinea pigs were divided into control (normal and sham-operated) and urethral obstructed (12, 24, and 48 hours after complete obstruction) groups. NADPH-d reactivity in the intramural neurons of the urinary bladder was examined by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: At 12 hours after urethral obstruction, an increase in number of intensely stained NADPH-d intramural neurons was detected. This was sustained till 24 hours whence some of the neurons appeared to undergo degenerative changes. Neuronal degeneration was more drastic at 48 hours. Results of cell counts showed a 32% reduction in number of NADPH-d positive neurons of the urinary bladder at this time point. Electron microscopy showed that all neurons undergoing degeneration displayed NADPH-d reactivity. A large accumulation of NADPH-d reaction product was observed in degenerating neurons whose mitochondria appeared swollen along with dilatation of Golgi saccules. At 48 hours, some neurons displayed total vacuolation and lysis of mitochondria. CONCLUSION: Present results show that acute complete outlet obstruction can lead to degeneration and consequent cell death in the intramural ganglion cells of the guinea pig urinary bladder. The increased NADPH-d reactivity in such neurons suggests that nitric oxide may be involved in neuronal death in the urinary bladder following acute urinary retention.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Transcriptional patterns of the pCD41 (U27) locus of human herpesvirus 6.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a lymphotropic herpesvirus, and in vitro, it can productively infect many of the same cell types that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects. Simultaneous infection of T cells by HIV and HHV-6 can lead to both activation of the HIV promoter and acceleration of the cytopathic effects. Several HHV-6 genes have been demonstrated to activate HIV promoter expression. Among them is a cDNA clone, pCD41 (U27), which codes for the HHV-6 DNA polymerase accessory protein. We have now further characterized the transcription pattern in the pCD41 locus and identified at least six RNA species, ranging in size from 1.2 to 4.5 kb. Northern (RNA) blot analyses showed no significant difference in RNA patterns between the HHV-6 variant A (GS) and variant B (Z29) viruses. All the RNA species detected by pCD41 are polyadenylated and polyribosome associated, suggesting that they may be actively engaged in protein synthesis. Cycloheximide and phosphonoacetic acid inhibition assay results indicate that all the pCD41 RNA species belong to the herpesviral early-late family. Using primer extension and S1 mapping techniques, the 5' and 3' ends of each transcript were mapped to different positions, and no splicing was observed.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1997

Induction of the mammalian GRP78/BiP gene by Ca2+ depletion and formation of aberrant proteins: activation of the conserved stress-inducible grp core promoter element by the human nuclear factor YY1.

Previously, we have identified a constitutive nuclear factor, p70CORE, from HeLa cell nuclear extract which interacts specifically with the stress-inducible change region (SICR) of the grp78 promoter. Here we report that p70CORE is identical to YY1, a member of the GLI zinc finger family, by criteria of biochemical properties including apparent molecular weight, binding site homology, immunoreactivity, and affinity purification. Recombinant YY1 binds the double-stranded SICR with high specificity but has no affinity for its single-stranded form. In cotransfection studies, YY1 specifically enhanced the transcriptional activation of the grp78 promoter under a variety of stress conditions: depletion of the endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores, protein glycosylation block, and formation of aberrant proteins by azetidine treatment. In contrast, YY1 has minimal effect on the stress induction of the hsp70 promoter. YY1 enhancement of the grp78 stress response is dependent on its DNA-binding domain, with little effect on the basal expression of the promoter. The effect of YY1 transactivation may be mediated by the highly conserved grp78 core element. This is the first example of the ubiquitous factor YY1 involved in regulating inducible gene expression and its involvement in mediating stress signals generated from the endoplasmic reticulum to the nucleus.

Azetidines↗
PubMed1997

Suppression of grp78 core promoter element-mediated stress induction by the dbpA and dbpB (YB-1) cold shock domain proteins.

The highly conserved grp78 core promoter element plays an important role in the induction of grp78 under diverse stress signals. Previous studies have established a functional region in the 3' half of the core (stress-inducible change region [SICR]) which exhibits stress-inducible changes in stressed nuclei. The human transcription factor YY1 is shown to bind the SICR and transactivate the core element under stress conditions. Here we report that expression library screening with the core element has identified two new core binding proteins, YB-1 and dbpA. Both proteins belong to the Y-box family of proteins characterized by an evolutionarily conserved DNA binding motif, the cold shock domain (CSD). In contrast to YY1, which binds only double-stranded SICR, the Y-box/CSD proteins much prefer the lower strand of the SICR. The Y-box proteins can repress the inducibility of the grp78 core element mediated by treatment of cells with A23187, thapsigargin, and tunicamycin. In gel shift assays, YY1 binding to the core element is inhibited by either YB-1 or dbpA. A yeast interaction trap screen using LexA-YY1 as a bait and a HeLa cell cDNA-acid patch fusion library identified YB-1 as a YY1-interacting protein. In cotransfection experiments, the Y-box proteins antagonize the YY1-mediated enhancement of transcription directed by the grp78 core in stressed cells. Thus, the CSD proteins may be part of the stress signal transduction mechanism in the mammalian system.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1997

Effect of restraint stress on food intake and body weight is determined by time of day.

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of restraint stress applied at different times of the light-dark cycle on feeding behavior and body weight of rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were restrained for 3 h in restraining tubes either at the start or the end of the light cycle. There was a significant reduction in food intake on the day of restraint and no change in food intake during a 10-day recovery period in either experiment. Reductions of food intake on the day of restraint were about the same for both restrained groups compared with their controls. When stress was applied in the evening, eating was inhibited during the first 2 h after restraint, whereas in rats restrained in the morning, feeding was suppressed twice: during the 4 h after restraint and during the first 2 h of the dark cycle. Restraint induced a significant weight loss that was greater in the rats stressed in the morning. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels determined at the time of food suppression for both experiments (beginning of the dark cycle) revealed an elevation of NPY in the paraventricular nucleus of rats stressed in the morning compared with other groups, but no difference in hypothalamic NPY mRNA expression. Expression of uncoupling protein mRNA in brown adipose tissue and leptin mRNA in epididymal fat, measured at the start of the dark period, was not altered by stress. There was an elevation of dopamine turnover in the hypothalami of rats restrained at the end of light cycle, but not those restrained in the morning. These results show that restraint stress has a greater effect on metabolism and energy balance when it is applied in the morning. Additional studies are needed to elucidate mechanisms involved in the suppression of food intake 9 h after restraint.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1997

Does a centralized radiotherapy system provide adequate access to care?

PURPOSE: In the Canadian province of Ontario, all radiotherapy is provided by a centrally managed provincial network of nine cancer centers. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether this highly centralized radiotherapy system provides adequate and equitable access to care for the province's dispersed population. METHODS: The Ontario Cancer Registry (OCR) was used to identify 295,386 cases of invasive cancer, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer, which were diagnosed in Ontario between 1984 and 1991. Electronic radiotherapy records from each of the province's radiotherapy centers were linked to the registry at the level of the individual case. RESULTS: The proportion of incident cases treated with radiotherapy was 18.8% at 4 months after diagnosis, 23.7% at 1 year, 25.8% at 2 years, 28.2% at 5 years, and 29.1% at 8 years. These rates of radiotherapy use are much lower than the accepted national and international targets, and lower than rates reported from other jurisdictions. The rate of radiotherapy use at 1 year varied significantly from county to county across Ontario (range, 18.6% to 32.4%; P < 10(-6)), and the highest rates were recorded in communities close to radiotherapy centers. There was a common geographic pattern of rate variations among several disease groups, including breast cancer, lung cancer, the genitourinary malignancies, and the gastrointestinal malignancies. CONCLUSION: The low and uneven rates of radiotherapy use across the province indicate that Ontario's centralized radiotherapy system does not, at present, provide adequate or equitable access to care.

Cancer Care Facilities↗
PubMed1997

Deletion of the mouse GH-binding protein (mGHBP) mRNA polyadenylation and splicing sites does not abolish production of mGHBP.

In murine species, the GH receptor (mGHR) gene encodes a full-length membrane-anchored mGHR and a truncated soluble receptor ectodomain (the GH-binding protein; mGHBP). The mGHR and mGHBP mRNAs are generated by alternative pre-mRNA splicing. Similar GHR/GHBP pairs are generated in other species by proteolysis of the GHR. The regulation of GHBP expression and the biological role of GHBP are not clear. In order to begin to dissect the factors responsible for regulating expression of mGHR and mGHBP, we have cloned a mouse GH receptor/binding protein (mGHR/BP) minigene consisting of two mGHR cDNA fragments and an mGHR/BP genomic sequence, such that the mGHR and mGHBP can be derived from the minigene by mimicking native alternative pre-mRNA splicing. To study the possible role of selection of polyadenylation relative to the expression of mGHR and mGHBP, we deleted the two tandem poly A addition signals and the flanking AT-rich region within the exon (exon 8A) that encodes the carboxy terminus of mGHBP. In addition, two other mutated forms of the minigene, one containing a mutated alternative splice acceptor site (SAS) near exon 8A and the other possessing a deletion of the intron between exons 7 and 8A (intron 7/8A), were generated. Expression of the mGHR/BP minigene and its mutated forms in transfected mouse L cells revealed that removal of the polyadenylation signals diminished but did not abolish either mGHR or mGHBP production. However, mutation of the SAS yielded normal mGHR and an mGHBP which may be a result of the translation of an mRNA possessing an open reading frame in intron 7/8A. Additionally, removal of intron 7/8A abolished mGHR expression but resulted in mGHBP production. The results suggest that selection of alternative polyadenylation sites of the mGHR/BP gene does not play a major role in the regulation of expression of mGHR and mGHBP in vitro. These results also suggest that mutation of the SAS near exon 8A does not abolish the ability of mGHR/BP gene to produce an mGHBP that retains the ability to bind GH, although the new mGHBP may be different from the natural mGHBP at its carboxy terminus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Intracarotid infusion of RMP-7, a bradykinin analog, and transport of gallium-68 ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid into human gliomas.

The bradykinin analog, RMP-7, was investigated for its ability to increase selectively the transport of 68Ga ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) into recurrent malignant gliomas in nine patients. For each patient, two position emission tomography (PET) studies (one with and one without RMP-7) were performed. For studies with RMP-7, 10 to 300 ng/kg of the compound was infused into the supraophthalmic carotid artery over 15 minutes. In each PET study, a sequence of PET scans was initiated simultaneously with an intravenous bolus of 68Ga EDTA (5-10 mCi). Arterial samples were taken to provide the input function. All PET scans were coregistered to the magnetic resonance (MR) images of the patient. Regions of interest were defined for tumor and normal tissue regions on MR images and were copied to the coregistered PET dynamic images to provide brain tissue-time activity curves. The constant (Ki) for the transport of gallium-68 from plasma to brain tissue was determined using a simple compartmental model. Intracarotid infusion of RMP-7 significantly increased transport into tumor regions with an average increase of 46 +/- 42% (mean +/- standard deviation, p < 0.05). Permeability in normal tissue regions was not significantly increased. Tumors in three of six patients treated with 300 ng/kg RMP-7 and carboplatin had at least a 50% reduction in tumor volume as measured by MR imaging. Intracarotid infusion of RMP-7 is a novel technique for selective delivery of antitumor compounds into brain tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Molecular mechanism of mutagenesis induced by aflatoxin B1 using a shuttle vector pSP189/mammalian cell system].

AFB1 is one of the most potent carcinogenic mycotoxins, naturally occurred in foods. We applied a new SV40-based shuttle vector pSP189 and African Green kidney cells (VeroE6 cell line), which constitute shuttle vector/mammalian cell system to detect mutagenesis induced by AFB1 and to study the effects of AFB1 on the mutation site, type and sequence specificity of DNA molecular level through sequence analysis of pSP189 target gene SupF TRNA. The results indicated that through various time treatment of AFB1 and rat liver microsome, the mutants were obtained by transformation of E. Coli MBM 7070 with progeny of pSP189 generated during replication in veroE6 cells, which increased gradually with the lapse of time, and this experiment showed a significant dose-response relationship. Most detected mutants were point mutations evidenced by agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. The results of direct sequencing SupF TRNA of 53 independent mutants showed that most mutations (about 84.9%) were single base substitutions, among which 95.2% of base substitutions happened on the site of G:C base pair, the predominant mutation was G:C-->T:A transversion, accounting for 53.3%, followed by G:C-->A:T transition, accounting for 35.6%. AFB1-induced mutations did not distributed randomly, and had mutation hot spots and sequence specificity, which contained 5 base pair sequence 5'-NNTTC-3'. The mutations on the SupF shuttle vector were consistent with the results from studies of oncogene tumor suppressor genes and DNA adduct.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed1997

[Antiviral effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to hepatitis B virus X gene in vitro].

It has been reported that the products of the human hepatitis B virus (HBV) X genes can transactivate a variety of viral and host promoters including the X, core, pre S2/S and pre S1 promoter. In order to investigate their antiviral effect in cell culture, three pieces of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (ASON) complementary to HBV X genes 1510-1530, 1555-1581, 1768-1791 regions were synthesized. The specificity of the inhibitory effect of the ASON was determined by using 2, 2, 15 cells by ELISA, PAP-ELISA and in situ hybridization to detect HBsAg, HBeAg, HBxAg and HBV DNA. The results showed that these ASON could inhibit the expression of HBxAg, as well as HBsAg and HBeAg, with the inhibitary rates of 78.07%, 80.65% and 62.76% respectively. In situ hybridization results indicated that HBV DNA replication can also be inhibited. The decrease in virus production and the ammount of HBV DNA were dose and time dependent. The mechanism of action may be due to the inhibition of HBxAg by sequences specific to ASON, and then the decrease of its transactivating effect for HBV DNA promoter.

DNA Replication↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical significance of microtransferrinuria in diabetic patients].

We studied the relationship between the urinary microtransferrin (TRF) and early glomerular damage in diabetes mellitus. 61 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 40 healthy subjects were measured for urinary TRF with rate immunonephelometry assay. The Urinary TRF concentrations were found to be greatly elevated in patients with diabetes compared with those in the health subjects (P < 0.001). The increase of TRF was closely related to age and duration of diabetes mellitus, blood glucose, hypertension, retinopathy, and it was initial parameter to predict diabetic nephropathy. There was a significant correlation among urinary TRF concentration, microalbumin, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. The urinary excretion of TRF was more elevated than that of microalbumin. It is suggested that excretion of TRF in urine is a more sensitive index of the glomerular dysfunction in diabetes mellitus.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗