Biomedical subjects

Yi Li

Publications and source records attributed to Yi Li.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effects of unmeasured heterogeneity in the linear transformation model for censored data.

We investigate the effect of unobserved heterogeneity in the context of the linear transformation model for censored survival data in the clinical trials setting. The unobserved heterogeneity is represented by a frailty term, with unknown distribution, in the linear transformation model. The bias of the estimate under the assumption of no unobserved heterogeneity when it truly is present is obtained. We also derive the asymptotic relative efficiency of the estimate of treatment effect under the incorrect assumption of no unobserved heterogeneity. Additionally we investigate the loss of power for clinical trials that are designed assuming the model without frailty when, in fact, the model with frailty is true. Numerical studies under a proportional odds model show that the loss of efficiency and the loss of power can be substantial when the heterogeneity, as embodied by a frailty, is ignored.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

PubMed2006

Leaf senescence is delayed in tobacco plants expressing the maize knotted1 gene under the control of a wound-inducible promoter.

To extend the shelf life of freshly harvested vegetables and cut flowers, a maize homeobox gene Knotted1 (kn1) was placed under the control of a wound-inducible promoter win3.12 from hybrid poplar (Populus trichocarpa x P. deltoides) and introduced into tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi). Transgenic win3.12::kn1 plants were morphologically normal. A leaf-detachment assay demonstrated that senescence in win3.12::kn1 leaves could be delayed by at least 2 weeks compared with wild type leaves. Furthermore, all leaves of win3.12::kn1 shoots remained green and healthy 3 weeks after excision and incubation in water, while older leaves of control shoots senesced under the same conditions. Additionally, a number of adventitious roots produced at the cut ends of wild type shoots after a 3-week incubation, but much a less number of adventitious roots appeared in win3.12::kn1 shoots. The delay in senescence was also confirmed by a higher total chlorophyll (a + b) content in win3.12::kn1 leaves relative to that of the control plants. RT-PCR analysis showed that the kn1 transcript was detected in win3.12::kn1 leaves with wounding treatment, but otherwise was not observed in leaves of wild type and unwounded transgenic plants. The results presented here indicate that expression of kn1 gene driven by the wound-inducible promoter win3.12 is potentially useful to delay senescence of vegetable crops and commercial horticulture after harvest.

Homeodomain Proteins↗

PubMed2006

Keratin 6 is not essential for mammary gland development.

INTRODUCTION: Keratin 6 (K6) has previously been identified as a marker of early mammary gland development and has also been proposed to be a marker of mammary gland progenitor cells. However, the function of K6 in the mammary gland was not known, so we examined the expression pattern of the protein during both embryonic and postnatal mammary development, as well as the mammary gland phenotype of mice that were null for both K6a and K6b isoforms. METHOD: Immunostaining was performed to determine the expression pattern of K6a throughout mammary gland development, from the embryonic mammary bud to lactation. Double immunofluorescence was used to co-localize K6 with known markers of mammary gland development. Wild-type and K6ab-null mammary tissues were transplanted into the cleared fat pads of nude mice and the outgrowths were analyzed for morphology by whole-mount staining and for markers of mammary epithelium by immunostaining. Finally, progesterone receptor (PR) and bromodeoxyuridine co-localization was quantified by double immunofluorescence in wild-type and K6ab-null mammary outgrowths. RESULTS: Here we report that K6 is expressed earlier than described previously, by embryonic day 16.5. K6a is the predominant isoform expressed in the mammary gland, localized in the body cells and luminal epithelial cells but not in the cap cells or myoepithelial cells. Co-localization studies showed that most K6a-positive cells express steroid receptors but do not proliferate. When both the K6a and K6b genes are deleted, mammary gland development appears normal, with similar expression of most molecular markers examined in both the pubertal gland and the mature gland. Loss of K6a and K6b, however, leads to an increase in the number of steroid-receptor-positive cells, and increased co-localization of steroid receptor expression and proliferation was observed. CONCLUSION: Although K6a was not essential for mammary gland development, loss of both K6a and K6b resulted in an increase in PR-positive mammary epithelial cells and decreased proliferation after exposure to steroid hormones. There was also increased co-localization of PR and bromodeoxyuridine, suggesting alterations in patterning events important for normal lobuloalveolar development.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Expression of ipt gene controlled by an ethylene and auxin responsive fragment of the LEACO1 promoter increases flower number in transgenic Nicotiana tabacum.

Cytokinins play important roles in regulating plant growth and development. A new genetic construct for regulating cytokinin content in plant cells was cloned and tested. The gene coding for isopentenyl transferase (ipt) was placed under the control of a 0.821 kb fragment of the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase gene promoter from Lycopersicon esculentum (LEACO1) and introduced into Nicotiana tabacum (cv. Havana). Some LEACO1(0.821) (kb)-ipt transgenic plant lines displayed normal shoot morphology but with a dramatic increase in the number of flower buds compared to nontransgenic plants. Other transgenic lines produced excessive lateral branch development but no change in flower bud number. Isolated leaves of transgenic tobacco plants showed a significantly prolonged retention of chlorophyll under dark incubation (25 degrees C for 20 days). Leaves of nontransformed plants senesced gradually under the same conditions. Experiments with LEACO1(0.821) (kb)-gus transgenic tobacco plants suggested auxin and ethylene involvement in induction of LEACO1(0.821) (kb) promoter activity. Multiple copies of nucleotide base sequences associated with either ethylene or auxin response elements were identified in the LEACO1(0.821) (kb) promoter fragment. The LEACO1(0.821) (kb)-ipt fusion gene appears to have potential utility for improving certain ornamental and agricultural crop species by increasing flower bud initiation and altering branching habit.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed2006

Locally recurrent, previously irradiated head and neck cancer: concurrent re-irradiation and chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone?

Patients with locally recurrent head and neck cancer previously treated with radiation have a poor prognosis. Administration of a second course of radiation to tissues within a previous radiation portal, has been traditionally considered unsafe. Survival rates of highly selected patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy and re-irradiation may be as high as 25% at 2 years--exceeding the outcome of matched historical controls treated with chemotherapy alone (10%). However, many questions exist regarding the use of re-irradiation. Uncertainty exists over the criteria for selecting patients who are most appropriate for treatment with re-irradiation. Even greater concern exists regarding toxicity and functional sequelae associated with the use of re-irradiation. Whether the benefits of re-irradiation on locoregional disease control and survival outweigh its potentially severe and life-threatening adverse effects is not clear. In this review, we will discuss re-irradiation and other treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma patients with previously irradiated, locoregional recurrent or second primary tumors in the head and neck, and describe a recently initiated randomized trial comparing chemotherapy plus re-irradiation with chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed2006

Residential exposure to petrochemicals and the risk of leukemia: using geographic information system tools to estimate individual-level residential exposure.

The authors conducted a population-based, case-control study in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, Republic of China, to investigate the association between residential petrochemical exposure and leukemia risk among subjects 29 years of age and younger. Between November 1997 and June 2003, 171 cases and 410 controls matched for age and sex were recruited. Since assessment of petrochemical impacts depends on accurate exposure estimates, the authors developed a procedure using geographic information system tools to assign subjects' exposure. The resulting individual-level exposure estimates (the exposure opportunity score) are an integrated exposure measure that accounts for subjects' mobility, length of stay at each residence, distance to petrochemical plant(s), monthly prevailing wind direction, and multiple petrochemical pollution sources. Different conditional logistic regression models were fitted for subjects aged 0-19 and 20-29 years to evaluate separately childhood versus adulthood leukemia. No overall association was observed for the younger age group. However, residential petrochemical exposure was a significant risk factor for leukemia for the older age group. For one unit of increase in the log-transformed exposure opportunity score, the adjusted odds ratio was 1.54 (95 percent confidence interval: 1.14, 2.09). This study illustrates the utility of geographic information system tools for providing refined exposure estimates for residential exposure to petrochemical pollution.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

In vitro regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Euonymus alatus.

An in vitro plant regeneration method and an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation protocol were developed for Euonymus alatus. More than 60% of cotyledon and 70% of hypocotyl sections from 10-day-old seedlings of E. alatus produced 2-4 shoots on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 5.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) plus 0.2 mg/l alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and 77% of shoots produced roots on WPM medium with 0.3 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l Indole-3-butyricacid (IBA). On infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring a gusplus gene that contained a plant recognizable intron from the castor bean catalase gene to ensure plant-specific beta-glucuronidase (GUS) expression, 16% of cotyledon and 15% of hypocotyl explants produced transgenic shoots using kanamycin as a selection agent, and 67% of these shoots rooted. Stable insertion of T-DNA into the host genome was determined with organ- and tissue-specific expression of the gusplus gene and further confirmed with a PCR-based molecular analysis.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗

PubMed2006

[Short-term outcomes of triple antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term efficacy and safety of triple antiplatelet regimen (cilostazol combined with clopidogrel and aspirin) in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From October 2001 to April 2005, a total of 3135 patients underwent PCI in the General Hospital of Shenyang Command, People's Liberation Army, of which 1103 were treated with cilostazol 100 mg twice a day for 6 months in addition to aspirin and clopidogrel for 3 - 12 months as triple antiplatelet therapy regimen (triple group) after PCI, and 2032 of which received aspirin and clopidogrel for 3 - 12 months as dual antiplatelet therapy regimen after PCI (control group). The data of the incidence rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), subacute in-stent thrombosis (SAT), and hemorrhage events within 30 days after PCI of the two groups were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between these two groups. However, the proportions of the patients receiving stent implantation, with multivessel coronary artery diseases, and receiving PCI for unprotected left main trunk diseases of the triple group (91.3%, 68.3%, and 7.1% respectively) were all significantly higher than those of the control group (89.1%, 63.3%, and 4.6%, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01). The proportion of patients with chronic total occlusions who received PCI in the triple group was 10.8%, significantly lower than that of the control group (13.4%, P < 0.05). No death occurred during procedure in both groups. The 30 d mortality and the rate of MACE with 30 days after PCI of the triple group were 0.4% and 1.3%, both significantly lower than those of the control group (1.6%, and 2.6%, both P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the incidence rates of SAT and major hemorrhage events between these 2 groups (0.7% vs 1.0% and 0.3% vs. 0.2% respectively, both P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This novel triple antiplatelet regimen (aspirin and clopidogrel combined with cilostazol) for PCI patients is safe and more efficient than the dual antiplatelet therapy regimen (clopidogrel and aspirin) in reducing mortality and incidence of MACE in a short-term period.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Syntheses and structures of two low-dimensional beryllium phosphate compounds: [C5H14N2]2[Be3(HPO4)5].H2O and [C6H18N2]0.5[Be2(PO4)(HPO4)OH].0.5H2O.

The first two low-dimensional beryllium phosphates, [C5H14N2]2[Be3(HPO4)5].H2O (BePO-CJ29) and [C6H18N2]0.5[Be2(PO4)(HPO4)OH].0.5 H2O (BePO-CJ30), have been successfully synthesized under mild hydrothermal/solvothermal conditions. BePO-CJ29 is built up from strict alternation of BeO4 and HPO4 tetrahedra forming a unique one-dimensional double chains with 12-ring apertures. There are pseudo-10-ring apertures enclosed by two double chains through H-bonds. BePO-CJ29 can also be viewed as a pseudo 2-D layered structure stabilized by strong H-bonds. The diprotonated 2-methylpiperazium cations are located at three positions (i.e., inside the 12-ring aperture, inside the pseudo-10-ring aperture, and in the interlayer of the inorganic pseudo-layers. BePO-CJ30 is constructed by the alternation of Be-centered tetrahedra (including BeO4 and HBeO4) and P-centered tetrahedra (including PO4 and HPO4) resulting in a two-dimensional layered structure parallel to the (0 1 1) direction. The complex layer is composed of coupled 4.8 net sheets. The diprotonated 1,6-hexandiamine cations and water molecules reside in the interlayer regions and interact with the inorganic layers through H-bonds. Crystal data are as follows: [C5H14N2]2[Be3(HPO4)5].H2O (BePO-CJ29), triclinic, P1 (No. 2), a = 8.1000(9) A, b = 8.4841(14) A, c = 19.665(2) A, alpha = 89.683(10) degrees, beta = 78.182(8) degrees, gamma = 87.932(9) degrees, V = 1321.9(3) A3, Z = 2, R1 = 0.0523 (I > 2sigma(I)), and wR2 = 0.1643 (all data); [C6H18N2]0.5[Be2(PO4)(HPO4)OH].0.5 H2O (BePO-CJ30), orthorhombic, Pccn (No. 56), a = 26.01(4) A, b = 8.431(12) A, c = 9.598(13) A, V = 2105(5) A3, Z = 8, R1 = 0.0833 (I > 2sigma(I)), and wR2 = 0.2278 (all data).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Phase-changing sacrificial materials for interfacing microfluidics with ion-permeable membranes to create on-chip preconcentrators and electric field gradient focusing microchips.

We have developed a novel approach for interfacing ionically conductive membranes with microfluidic systems using phase-changing sacrificial layers. Imprinted microchannels in a polymer substrate are filled with a heated liquid that solidifies at room temperature, a monomer solution is placed over the protected channels and polymerized to form a rigid semipermeable copolymer, and then the protective layer is melted and removed, leaving an open microchannel interfaced with a polymer membrane. We have applied this method in miniaturizing electric field gradient focusing (EFGF) and carrying out on-chip protein preconcentration. A semipermeable copolymer in the EFGF microchips fills a region of changing cross-sectional area, which allows a gradient in electric field to be established when an electrical potential is applied. Our technique provides microchip EFGF devices that offer 3-fold improved resolution in protein focusing compared with capillary-based systems. In addition, these EFGF microchips can separate peptide samples with resolution similar to what is obtained in capillary electrophoresis microdevices, and the micro-EFGF systems enrich analytes by a factor of >150. Finally, we have fabricated membrane-integrated microfluidic devices that can concentrate protein samples (R-phycoerythrin) over 10 000-fold to facilitate microchip capillary electrophoresis. Interfacing microchannels with ion-permeable membranes has great potential to enhance microchip analysis of biomolecules.

Electric Conductivity↗

PubMed2006

Therapeutic benefit of bone marrow stromal cells administered 1 month after stroke.

Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) facilitate functional recovery in rats after stroke when administered acutely (1 day) or subacutely (7 days). In this study, we postponed the time of cell transplantation to 1 month after stroke. Female retired breeder rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Male BMSCs (3 x 10(6)) or phosphate-buffered saline were administered intravenously, and the animals were killed 3 months later. An additional population of nontreated rats was killed at 1 month after MCAo. Significant recovery of behavior was found in BMSC-treated rats beginning at 1 month after cell injection in the modified neurologic severity score test and the adhesive-removal test compared with control animals (P<0.05). In situ hybridization showed that BMSCs survived and preferentially localized to the ipsilateral hemisphere. Double staining revealed that approximately 13% and 6% Y-chromosome-positive cells expressed the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and the neuronal marker, microtubule-associated protein-2, respectively. In addition, BMSC treatment reduced scar thickness, and increased the number of proliferating cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cells along the subventricular zone in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Expression of the chemokine stromal-cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) was significantly increased along the ischemic boundary zone compared with the corresponding areas in the contralateral hemisphere at 1 month and 4 months (P<0.01) after stroke. The SDF-1 receptor, CXC-chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4), was expressed in BMSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Our data show that the time window of BMSC therapy is at least 1 month after stroke; the interaction of SDF-1/CXCR4 may contribute to the trafficking of transplanted BMSCs.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Preparative isolation and purification of chemical constituents from the root of Polygonum multiflorum by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

High-speed counter-current chromatography methods, combined with solvent partition, were applied to the systematic separation and purification of chemical components from Chinese medicinal herb Polygonum multiflorum extract. The aim of this paper is summing up the rules of solvent system selection for diverse fractions of herbal extract, and establishing the systematic pattern to screen the bioactive constituents rapidly. Nine compounds including emodin, chrysophanol, rhein, 6-OH-emodin, emodin-8-beta-D-glucoside, polygonimitin B, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-beta-D-glucoside, gallic acid and an unknown glycoside, which differed in quantity and polarity remarkably, were obtained. The purities of them were all above 97% as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their structures were identified by 1H NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results demonstrated that HSCCC is a speedy and efficient technique for systematic isolation of bioactive components from traditional medicinal herbs.

Anthraquinones↗

PubMed2006

A system for studying the effect of mechanical stress on the elongation behavior of immobilized plant cells.

The ability to apply controllable mechanical compressive force is essential for the study of plant cells responses to environmental stimulations. The work presented here aims towards establishing a system, which consists of a fabricated apparatus (including a loading unit, displacement sensor, data collector and processor, and a feedback control) and a protocol for test specimen preparation and force loading. By using a force-feedback control circuit coupled to a microchip, delivering the pre-defined and actual controlled stimulus is achieved. To calibrate the apparatus, the corresponding voltages are compared to the known weights. A linear regression is fit to the experimental data and a standardized coefficient of 0.998 is calculated. The morphological changes in response to mechanical stresses were investigated in agarose gel embedded chrysanthemum protoplasts, which tended to be elongated with a preferential axis oriented perpendicularly to the compressive stress direction. The results also indicated that there existed a certain dose-dependent relationship between the intensity of compressive force and the stress-induced responses. Additionally, the elongation response with preferential orientation was inhibited by application of RGD peptides, and its inverted sequence, DGR peptides failed to antagonize the effect of mechanical force on elongation performance.

Cells, Immobilized↗

PubMed2006

Conversion of intramolecular singlet electron transfer at room temperature into triplet energy transfer at 77 K: photoisomerization in norbornadiene- and carbazole-labeled poly(aryl ether) dendrimers.

A series of Fréchet-type poly(aryl ether) dendrimers (CZ-Gn-NBD, n = 1-3) with carbazole (CZ) chromophores and a norbornadiene (NBD) group attached to the periphery and the core, respectively, were synthesized, and their photophysical and photochemical properties were investigated. Selective excitation of the carbazole units in CZ-Gn-NBD resulted in a singlet electron transfer from CZ to NBD at room temperature, and an intersystem crossing followed a triplet-triplet energy transfer from CZ to NBD in glassy 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at 77 K. Both singlet electron transfer and triplet energy transfer processes lead to the isomerization of the norbornadiene group into the quadricyclane (CZ-Gn-QC). The efficiencies and the rate constants for singlet electron transfer are approximately 88, 80, and 74% and 1.8 x 10(9), 6.1 x 10(8), and 4.0 x 10(8) s(-1) for generations 1-3, respectively. The quantum yields of the intramolecular photosensitized isomerization are measured to be approximately 0.013, 0.012, and 0.011, and the efficiencies of triplet norbornadiene formation via singlet electron transfer are approximately 0.070, 0.065, and 0.059 for generations 1-3, respectively. The light-harvesting ability of CZ-Gn-NBD increases with the generation due to an increase of the number of peripheral chromophores. In glassy 2-methyltetrahydrofuran at 77 K, the triplet-triplet energy transfer proceeds with efficiencies of approximately 0.86, 0.64, and 0.36 and rate constants of 0.96, 0.25, and 0.08 s(-1) for generations 1-3, respectively. The intramolecular singlet electron transfer and triplet energy transfer in CZ-Gn-NBD proceed mainly via a through-space mechanism involving the proximate donor (folding back conformation) and acceptor groups.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Direct observation of the intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer in poly(aryl ether) dendrimers.

A series of benzophenone (BP) and naphthalene (NA) labeled poly(aryl ether) dendrimers (BP-Gn-NA), generations 1-4, were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were examined. Flash photolysis demonstrates that the triplet energy in BP-Gn-NA can be transferred from the peripheral BP chromophores to the core NA group with the efficiencies of ca. 0.97, 0.96, 0.88, and 0.54 and with the rate constants of 1.4x10(8), 1.2x10(8), 9.5x10(7), and 1.3x10(7) s-1 at room temperature for generations 1-4, respectively. The transient absorption spectra of BP-Gn-NA show clearly the formation of the triplet NA absorption along with the decay of the triplet BP one with an isosbestic point at 475 nm, which gives direct evidence of the triplet energy transfer from the periphery BP chromphores to the core NA group. The phosphorescence of the NA group attached to the focal point was observed when the periphery BP chromophores were selectively irradiated in BP-G1-NA at 77 K. The triplet energy transfer occurs at 77 K with the efficiencies of 1.0, 0.16, 0.17, and 0.21 for generations 1-4, respectively. The intramolecular triplet energy transfer is proposed to proceed mainly via a through space mechanism.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Fluoride levels in various black tea commodities: measurement and safety evaluation.

In order to determine the fluoride content of various products of black tea and to make safety evaluations, 37 commodities in the different manufactured forms of tea were assessed by means of ion-selective electrode and spectrophotometric methods. The results showed wide differences in fluoride levels. The fluoride content was found 0.95-1.41 mg/L in black tea sticks, 0.70-2.44 mg/L in black tea granules and 1.15-6.01 mg/L in black tea bags. Of the products tested, the fluoride content was greatest in black tea bags, presumably because black tea bags are made of low cost, and older tea leaves. According to WHO's recommendation, fluoride exposure threshold for children is 2mg of daily intake and for adult, 4 mg. Assuming that children's daily intake of black tea was 800 ml and adult's 1500 ml, 56% of black tea bags should be considered unsafe for children and 44% should be considered unsafe for adults. At average rates of consumption, 24% of the black tea bags could result in an increasing risk of osteofluorosis and fractures (WHO). In the areas with drinking water fluoridation or other fluoride supplements, excessive fluoride exposure can become even more severe with even lower intake tea made from black tea bags. The potential hazards of fluoride arising from consumption of black tea has not aroused due public attention. Therefore, it is necessary to establish reliable fluoride surveillance in food and beverage commodities and conduct additional epidemiological research on fluoride hazards. In addition, it is urgent that governmental and international agencies adopt safe standards of fluoride content in tea commodities.

Electrochemistry↗

PubMed2006

Allogeneic bone marrow stromal cells promote glial-axonal remodeling without immunologic sensitization after stroke in rats.

We evaluated the effects of allogeneic bone marrow stromal cell treatment of stroke on functional outcome, glial-axonal architecture, and immune reaction. Female Wistar rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Rats were injected intravenously with PBS, male allogeneic ACI--or syngeneic Wistar--bone marrow stromal cells at 24 h after ischemia and sacrificed at 28 days. Significant functional recovery was found in both cell-treated groups compared to stroke rats that did not receive BMSCs, but no difference was detected between allogeneic and syngeneic cell-treated rats. No evidence of T cell priming or humoral antibody production to marrow stromal cells was found in recipient rats after treatment with allogeneic cells. Similar numbers of Y-chromosome+ cells were detected in the female rat brains in both groups. Significantly increased thickness of individual axons and myelin, and areas of the corpus callosum and the numbers of white matter bundles in the striatum were detected in the ischemic boundary zone of cell-treated rats compared to stroked rats. The areas of the contralateral corpus callosum significantly increased after cell treatment compared to normal rats. Processes of astrocytes remodeled from hypertrophic star-like to tadpole-like shape and oriented parallel to the ischemic regions after cell treatment. Axonal projections emanating from individual parenchymal neurons exhibited an overall orientation parallel to elongated radial processes of reactive astrocytes of the cell-treated rats. Allogeneic and syngeneic bone marrow stromal cell treatment after stroke in rats improved neurological recovery and enhanced reactive oligodendrocyte and astrocyte related axonal remodeling with no indication of immunologic sensitization in adult rat brain.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Structural characterizations and electronic properties of Ti-doped SnO2(110) surface: a first-principles study.

The Ti-doped SnO2(110) surface has been investigated by using first-principles method with a slab model. The geometrical optimizations and band-structure calculations have been performed for four possible doping models. Our results indicate that the substitution of Ti for sixfold-coordinated Sn atom at the top layer is most energetically favorable. Compared to the undoped surface, those Sn and O atoms located above Ti atom tend to move toward the bulk side. Besides the surface relaxations, the doping of Ti has significant influences on the electronic structures of SnO2(110) surface, including the value and position of minimum band gap, the components of valence and conduction bands, the distributions of the charge densities, and the work function of the surface. Furthermore, the effects introduced by the substitution of Ti atom observed in the experiments can be well explained when the sixfold-coordinated Sn atom at the first layer is replaced by Ti atom.

Journal Article↗