Biomedical subjects

Ye Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Ye Yang.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effect of intracoronary transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells on outcomes of patients with refractory chronic heart failure secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Recent studies have indicated that stem cell implantation increases cardiac function by repairing damaged myocardium. We investigated whether intracoronary transplantation of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (BMMCs) confers beneficial effects in patients with refractory chronic heart failure. Twenty-eight patients received standard heart failure medication and BMMC transplantation (BMMC treatment) or standard medication only (controls). BMMCs were harvested from each patient. Clinical manifestations, biochemical assays, rhythm studies, echocardiograms, and positron emission tomograms were recorded. Fourteen patients with cell grafting had symptomatic relief of heart failure within 3 days. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased by 9.2% and 10.5% at 1 week and 3 months after the procedure, respectively, versus baseline (p < 0.01 for the 2 comparisons). Left ventricular end-systolic volume decreased by 30.7% after 3 months (p < 0.01). Brain natriuretic peptide levels at days 3 and 7 after cell infusion significantly decreased by 69.2% and 70.4%, respectively, whereas atrial natriuretic peptide levels increased by 30.1% at day 7. Positron emission tomographic analysis showed a significant increase in cell viability of 10.3% in the infarcted zone. No patient died in the BMMC-treated group at 6-month follow-up. In contrast, heart failure did not improve in any control patient. Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased by 7.2% after 3 months. Two control patients died from heart failure within 6 months. In conclusion, this is the first demonstration in humans that intracoronary BMMC transplantation is a feasible and safe therapeutic strategy to decrease symptoms, increase cardiac function, and possibly prolong life in patients with end-stage heart failure refractory to standard medical therapy.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Interaction of Skp1 with CENP-E at the midbody is essential for cytokinesis.

Centromere-associated protein E (CENP-E) is a kinesin-related microtubule motor protein that is essential for chromosome congression during mitosis. Our previous studies show that microtubule motor CENP-E represents a link between attachment of spindle microtubules and the mitotic checkpoint signaling cascade. However, the molecular function of CENP-E at the midbody had remained elusive. Here we show that CENP-E interacts with Skp1 at the midbody and participates in cytokinesis. CENP-E interacts with Skp1 in vitro and in vivo via its coiled-coil domain. Our yeast two-hybrid assays mapped the binding interfaces to the central stalk region of CENP-E (955-1571 aa) and the C-terminal 33 amino acids of Skp1, respectively. Our immunocytochemical studies revealed that CENP-E targets to the midbody prior to Skp1 and the midbody localization of CENP-E becomes diminished as Skp1 arrives at the midbody. Suppression of Skp1 in mitotic HeLa cells by siRNA resulted in accumulation of telophase cells with elongated inter-cell bridges and with midbodies stretched 2-3 times longer than that of normal cells. These Skp1-eliminated or -suppressed cells accumulate higher level of CENP-E, suggesting that spatiotemporal regulation of CENP-E degradation at the midbody is essential for cytokinesis. Over-expression of Skp1 lacking the CENP-E-binding domain confirmed that Skp1-CENP-E interaction is essential for faithful cytokinesis. We hypothesize that CENP-E degradation is essential for faithful mitotic exit and the proteolysis of CENP-E is mediated by SCF via a direct Skp1 link.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

PubMed2006

A randomized clinical trial of a new behavioral treatment for drug abuse in people with severe and persistent mental illness.

CONTEXT: Drug abuse by people with severe mental disorder is a significant public health problem for which there is no empirically validated treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a new behavioral treatment for drug abuse in this population: Behavioral Treatment for Substance Abuse in Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (BTSAS). DESIGN: Participants were randomly assigned to 6 months of treatment in either BTSAS or a manualized control condition: Supportive Treatment for Addiction Recovery (STAR). SETTING: Treatment was conducted in community-based outpatient clinics and a Veterans Affairs medical center in Baltimore, Md. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 129 stabilized outpatients meeting DSM criteria for drug dependence (cocaine, heroin, or cannabis) and serious mental illness: 39.5% met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; 55.8%, for major affective disorders; and the remainder met criteria for severe and persistent mental illness and other Axis I disorders. INTERVENTIONS: Both treatments were administered by trained health care professionals in small groups, twice a week for 6 months. The BTSAS program is a social learning intervention that includes motivational interviewing, a urinalysis contingency, and social skills training. The control condition, STAR, is a supportive group discussion treatment. Main Outcome Measure The primary outcome measure was urinalysis results from twice-weekly treatment sessions. RESULTS: The BTSAS program was significantly more effective than STAR in percentage of clean urine test results, survival in treatment, and attendance at sessions. The BTSAS program also had significant effects on important community-functioning variables, including hospitalization; money available for living expenses; and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The BTSAS program is an efficacious treatment. Further work needs to be done to increase the proportion of eligible patients who are able to become engaged in treatment.

Ambulatory Care↗

PubMed2006

Regulated expression of TATA-binding protein-related factor 3 (TRF3) during early embryogenesis.

RNA polymerase (Pol) II transcription persists in TATA-box-binding protein (TBP)(-/-) mutant mouse embryos, indicating TBP-independent mechanisms for Pol II transcription in early development. TBP-related factor 3 (TRF3) has been proposed to substitute for TBP in TBP(-/-) mouse embryos. We examined the expression of TRF3 in maturing oocytes and early embryos and found that TRF3 was co-expressed with TBP in the meiotic oocytes and early embryos from the late one-cell stage onward. The amounts of TBP and TRF3 changed dynamically and correlated well with transcriptional activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay revealed that different gene promoters in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells recruited TRF3 and TBP selectively. Comparative analyses of TRF3 and TBP during cell cycle showed that both factors proceeded through cell cycle in a similar pace, except that TRF3 was slightly delayed than TBP in entering the nucleus when cells were exiting the M-phase. Data from expression and biochemical analyses therefore support the hypothesis that TRF3 plays a role in early mouse development. In addition, results from co-localization study suggest that TRF3 may be also involved in Pol I transcription.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Syphilis among female sex workers in southwestern China: potential for HIV transmission.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of syphilis infection among female sex workers in a southwestern Chinese city along a drug trafficking route. METHODS: From December 2004 to January 2005, 343 female sex workers (FSWs) were recruited through community outreach and peer referring. Confidential questionnaire interviews were administered to collect information on sexual and other sexually transmitted diseases/HIV risk behaviors. Cervical and blood samples were collected to test for syphilis and HIV antibodies and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection; Condyloma acuminatum infection was diagnosed clinically. RESULTS: Of 343 FSWs, 15.7% were infected with syphilis. The prevalence of HIV, gonorrhea, and C. acuminatum was 0.6%, 2.0%, and 1.5%, respectively. The subtype of 2 HIV-1 infections was both CRF 07BC. Nearly 10% of FSWs reported using illicit drugs. Consistent use, inconsistent use, and never use of condoms with commercial sex clients in the last month were reported by 53.9%, 38.5%, and 7.6% FSWs, respectively. Longer duration of sex work (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-3.62), working at low-end establishments (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.10-3.76), and if primary sex partners had sex with other women in the past 6 months (OR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.08-3.91) were independently associated with syphilis infection. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of syphilis and overlapped unprotected commercial sex and drug using behaviors among FSWs along a drug-trafficking route may suggest a potential for rapid spread of HIV from injection drug users to FSWs and then to the general population and underscore the urgency of preventive interventions to break the bridge of FSWs for HIV/sexually transmitted disease spread.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Religiosity, psychosocial adjustment, and subjective burden of persons who care for those with mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the nature of religious and spiritual support received by family caregivers of persons with serious mental illness and to test hypotheses that religiosity would be associated with caregiver adjustment. METHODS: Eighty-three caregivers who participated in a study of the Family to Family Education Program of the National Alliance on Mental Illness were assessed at baseline in terms of their religiosity and receipt of spiritual support in coping. They also completed measures of depression, self-esteem, mastery, self-care, and subjective burden. Hierarchical regression was used to test hypotheses that religiosity would be associated with better adjustment, with confounding variables controlled for. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of participants reported that they had received spiritual support in coping with their relative's illness in the previous three months. When age, race, education, and gender were controlled for, religiosity was associated with less depression and better self-esteem and self-care. Personal religiosity was a stronger predictor of adjustment than religious service attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Family caregivers of persons with serious mental illness often turn to spirituality for support, and religiosity may be an important contributor to caregiver adjustment. Collaborative partnerships between mental health professionals and religious and spiritual communities represent a powerful and culturally sensitive resource for meeting the support needs of family members of persons with serious mental illness.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2006

Removal of analyte-irrelevant variations in near-infrared tissue spectra.

This paper describes mathematical techniques to correct for analyte-irrelevant optical variability in tissue spectra by combining multiple preprocessing techniques to address variability in spectral properties of tissue overlying and within the muscle. A mathematical preprocessing method called principal component analysis (PCA) loading correction is discussed for removal of inter-subject, analyte-irrelevant variations in muscle scattering from continuous-wave diffuse reflectance near-infrared (NIR) spectra. The correction is completed by orthogonalizing spectra to a set of loading vectors of the principal components obtained from principal component analysis of spectra with the same analyte value, across different subjects in the calibration set. Once the loading vectors are obtained, no knowledge of analyte values is required for future spectral correction. The method was tested on tissue-like, three-layer phantoms using partial least squares (PLS) regression to predict the absorber concentration in the phantom muscle layer from the NIR spectra. Two other mathematical methods, short-distance correction to remove spectral interference from skin and fat layers and standard normal variate scaling, were also applied and/or combined with the proposed method prior to the PLS analysis. Each of the preprocessing methods improved model prediction and/or reduced model complexity. The combination of the three preprocessing methods provided the most accurate prediction results. We also performed a preliminary validation on in vivo human tissue spectra.

Fats↗

PubMed2006

[The autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation by intracoronary route treat patients with severe heart failure after myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chronic effects of intracoronary autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNCs) transplantation in patients with refractory heart failure (RIHF) after myocardial infarction. METHODS: Thirty patients with RIHF (LVEF < 40%) were enrolled in this nonrandomized study, autologous BM-MNCs (5.0 +/- 0.7) x 10(7) were transplanted with via infarct-related coronary artery in 16 patients and 14 patients received standard medical therapy served as control. Baseline and follow up evaluations included complete clinical evaluations, plasma BNP, ANP, ET-1 measurements, echocardiography, PET, and Holter monitoring. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. There were no major periprocedural complications. One patient developed ventricular premature contractions during cell infusion for several seconds and recovered spontaneously. Compared to pre-transplantation, plasma BNP and ET-1 significantly decreased and plasma ANP significantly increased at 7 days post transplantation; 6 minutes walking distance increased from (72.1 +/- 31.5) to (201.6 +/- 23.3) m (P < 0.01), LVEF increased 9.9% (P < 0.001) and FDG-PET revealed vital myocardium area increased (10.3 +/- 3.4)% (P < 0.01) at 3 months after BM-MNCs transplantation. At 6 months follow up, the NYHA class improved from (3.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.4 +/- 0.2, P < 0.001) and no patient died and 1 patient rehospitalized due to lower extremities edema. In control group, LVEF decreased 7.2% compared to baseline (P < 0.001) and was significantly lower than transplantation group at 3 months (P < 0.001). At 6 months follow up, the NYHA class increased from (3.5 +/- 0.1 to 3.9 +/- 0.1, P < 0.05), 2 patients died and 10 patients rehospitalized due to aggravated heart failure. CONCLUSION: Present study demonstrates that intracoronary transplantation of autologous BM-MNCs is safe and effective for treating patients with RIHF after myocardial infarction.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

PubMed2006

[A method for determination of volatile organic compounds in drinking water by purge and trap in combination with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method of purge and trap in combination with gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry(P and T-GC/MS) for the rapid determination of minimum multi-mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water simultaneously. METHODS: The experimental conditions of P and T, such as desorption temperature, desorption time, the type of the trap and the analytical conditions of GC were optimized. 54 VOCs in drinking water were determined by P and T-GC/MS. RESULTS: The method enjoyed a wide linear range and good precision, the method detection limit(MDL) was 0.01 - 0.5 microg/L, the average recoveries of the method was 90% - 110% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.24%-7.79%. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the method was accurate and high sensitivity and might be good for application and suitable for trace analysis of VOCs in drinking water.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed2006

[Potential allelopathic effects of Piper nigrum, Mangifera indica and Clausena lansium].

With Piper nigrum, Mangifera indica and Clausena lansium as the donators, this paper studied their potential allelopathic effects on the germination and growth of Zea mays, Glycine max, Cucurbita moschata, Arachis hypogaea, Raphanus sativus, Echinochloa crusgalli, Digitaria sanguinalis and Stylosanthes guianensis. The results showed that the aqueous extracts of these donators could inhibit the germination and growth of Z. mays, G. max, C. moschata, E. crus-galli and D. sanguinalis at high concentration, but stimulate them at low concentration. In rhizosphere soil of P. nigrum and M. indica, the germination and growth of Z. mays L was stimulated, while A. hypogaea was inhibited. The aqueous extracts of the donators were extracted by ethyl acetate and n-butanol, respectively, and the inhibitory activity of both aqueous and n-butanol fractions from P. nigrum and M. indica on Z. mays, R. sativus and S. guianensis was stronger than that of ethyl acetate fraction, indicating that P. nigrum and M. indica contained the allelochemicals with high polarity.

Clausena↗

PubMed2005

Simultaneous correction of the influence of skin color and fat on tissue spectroscopy by use of a two-distance fiber-optic probe and orthogonalization technique.

We have demonstrated simultaneous correction for the optical interference of skin and fat in tissue spectra by using a two-distance fiber-optic probe. We obtained the correction by orthogonalizing the spectra collected at a long source-detector distance (SD) to the spectra collected at a short SD and mapped to the long SD space. The method was validated in tissuelike three-layer phantoms as well as preliminarily in human tissue. After the correction, a partial-least-squares model of the phantoms showed enhanced prediction performance.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2005

Influence of a fat layer on the near infrared spectra of human muscle: quantitative analysis based on two-layered Monte Carlo simulations and phantom experiments.

The influence of fat thickness on the diffuse reflectance spectra of muscle in the near infrared (NIR) region is studied by Monte Carlo simulations of a two-layer structure and with phantom experiments. A polynomial relationship was established between the fat thickness and the detected diffuse reflectance. The influence of a range of optical coefficients (absorption and reduced scattering) for fat and muscle over the known range of human physiological values was also investigated. Subject-to-subject variation in the fat optical coefficients and thickness can be ignored if the fat thickness is less than 5 mm. A method was proposed to correct the fat thickness influence.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2005

Skin color correction for tissue spectroscopy: demonstration of a novel approach with tissue-mimicking phantoms.

The application of partial least squares (PLS) regression to visible-near-infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroscopy for modeling important blood and tissue parameters is generally complicated by the variation in skin pigmentation (melanin) across the human population. An orthogonal correction method for removing the influence of skin pigmentation has been demonstrated in diffuse reflectance spectra from two-layer tissue-mimicking phantoms. The absorption properties of the phantoms were defined by lyophilized human hemoglobin (bottom layer) and synthetic melanin (top layer). Tissue-like scattering was simulated in both layers with intralipid. The approach uses principal components analysis (PCA) loading vectors from a separate set of phantom spectra that encode the unwanted melanin variation to remove the effect of melanin from the test phantoms. The preprocessing of phantom spectra using this orthogonal correction method resulted in PLS models with reduced complexity and enhanced prediction performance. Preliminary results from a separate study that evaluates the feasibility of defining skin color variation in an experiment with a single human subject are also presented.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

[A comparative study of optic nerve damage between primary open angle glaucoma and normal tension glaucoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in the characteristics of optic nerve damage in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG)and normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHOD: The optic disc parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of 47 eyes of 39 subjects with POAG (IOP > 24 mmHg) and 38 eyes of 32 subjects with NTG (IOP < 21 mmHg) were measured by using a Heidelberg retina tomograph II, color stereo-optic disc photographs, and an Octopus automated perimetry. RESULTS: (1) Rim area, rim/disc area ratios and three sectors except temporal quadrant of optic disc were significantly smaller, whereas C/D was significantly larger in patients with NTG than those of POAG. The mean RNFL thickness and RNFL cross-sectional areas at temporal/interior and temporal/superior in those with NTG were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than those of POAG. The rim volume was significantly (P < 0.05) smaller and mean cup depth was significantly (P < 0.05) larger in patients with NTG than POAG. (2) The defect types of RNFL: RNFL diffuse loss and local defect ratio were 53.19% and 4.26% in POAG, respectively; while were 21.05% and 55.26% in NTG, respectively. The difference between the proportions of the defect type of RNFL in patients with POAG and those of NTG is statistically significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the varieties of C/D area ratio, rim area, RNFL thickness, and defect types of RNFL with NTG and POAG indicate that the different mechanisms are involved in optic nerve damage in the two types of glaucoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in prostate carcinoma tissues and its significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in prostate carcinoma tissues and its significance. METHODS: RT-PCR method was used to examine the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in normal and carcinomatous prostate tissues. RESULTS: The relative content of TGF-beta1 mRNA of normal prostate tissues was (0.74 +/- 0.11), while those of carcinomatous prostate tissues at T1-T2 and T3-T4 stages were (0.69 +/- 0.10) and (0.44 +/- 0.08) respectively, with significant difference between T1-T2 and T3-T4 (P < 0.05). And the relative contents of TGF-beta1 mRNA of carcinomatous prostate tissues with Gleason score < or = 5, 6-8 and > or = 9 were (0.70 +/- 0.12), (0.54 +/- 0.11) and (0.42 +/- 0.09) respectively. CONCLUSION: The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was negatively correlated with the clinical stage and Gleason score of prostate carcinoma.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Microbial activity related to N cycling in the rhizosphere of maize stressed by heavy metals.

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to compare differences in potential activities of ammonification, nitrification and denitrification in rhizosphere and bulk soil in a heavy-metal-stressed system. Exchangeable fractions of Cd, Cu and Cr were all higher in the rhizosphere of maize than in bulk soil. Results showed that the mineralization of N in soil was stimulated by low concentration of Cd. Addition of Cd at low levels stimulated the ammonifying and nitrifying activity in soil, while inhibitory influences were shown at high levels. Nitrifying bacteria was proved to be the most sensitive one, whilst the effect on denitrifying bacteria was very limited. Comparing Cd, Cu and Cr(VI) at 20 mg/kg soil, Cd was the most effective inhibitor of ammonification and denitrification, while Cr(VI) had the strongest inhibitory influence on nitrifying activity. Root exudates played important roles on the different exchangeable metal fractions and bacterial activities between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere. Nitrate was the main form of mineral N in soil, as well as the main form of N absorbed by plants, but the formation and relative absorption of ammonium were promoted in response to high Cd exposure.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2004

Do clozapine and risperidone affect social competence and problem solving?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of clozapine and risperidone on social skill and problem solving in patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and the Maryland Assessment of Social Competence were administered at baseline, week 17, and week 29 of a multisite clinical trial. RESULTS: Despite evidence of clinical improvement with both medications, there was virtually no medication effect on either social competence or problem solving. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the circumscribed nature of symptomatic improvement in the broader spectrum of clinical outcomes and suggest that new-generation medications may not be expected to produce substantial changes in social role functioning or social problem-solving capacity in the community. The generalizability of the findings should be viewed cautiously because of the low power of this trial, and replication is warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[EGG and acoustic test for the diagnosis of laryngeal diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between electroglottography/acoustic test parameter and disease diagnosis. METHOD: 3.0 software by Dr. Speech was used to test synchronically the electroglottography and acoustic test parameter of 503 cases so as to make a statistical analysis and comparison. RESULT: The shimmer was similar with the jitter on the inspection of polyp of vocal cord and vocal nodules, but the shimmer was more susceptive than the jitter. Compared with the healthy group, mean F0, jitter and shimmer of polyp of vocal cord increased, while the Harmonic-to-Noise decreased, so did the vocal nodules and carcinoma of larynx. Compared with the normal, the contact index of carcinoma of larynx increased, but the contact quotient remained on the same level. CONCLUSION: EGG, acoustic test number comparison and wave change provide an objective quantized index for the diagnosis of laryngeal diseases.

Adolescent↗