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Biomedical subjects

Z C Li

Publications and source records attributed to Z C Li.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Studies of biochemical markers of four isonucleus-alloplasmic lines of common wheat].

The peroxidase isozyme and the soluble peoteins of four isonucleus-alloplasmic lines of common wheat--D2-CA8057 (fertile, BC14), CMS line msD2-CA8057(BC11), CMS line msA-CA8057(BC12), CA8057 (nucleus donor) in different developmental stages were studies by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and gradient SDS-PAGE respectively. The peroxidase isozyme of bionucleus-stage anther, milk-stage endosperm and the soluble proteins of bionucleus-stage anther, leaf (the beginning and ending overwinter), dry-seed endosperm among fertile line, msD2-CA8057 and msA-CA8057 were evidently different (but few differences between CA8057 and D2-CA8057). These differences resulted from the pecially-regulated expression of (male-sterile) cytoplasmic genes to nuclear genes and could be used to identify the four isonucleus-alloplasmic lines. These results showed that msD2-CA8057 and msA-CA8057 were two different kinds of new CMS pattern.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of the new TAMZ titanium alloy for dental cast application.

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the potential of the new titanium alloy as dental prosthodontic materials. METHODS: Dental castings of TAMZ alloy were investigated in the casting machine specially designed for titanium. A mesh pattern was used to count the castability value. The mechanical properties were measured by means of a universal testing machine. Optical micrography was done on the exposed cross-section of TAMZ alloy casting. From the surface to the inner part the Knoop hardness in reacted layer of TAMZ alloy casting was measured. The structure and elemental analyses of the reacted layer were made by SEM and element line scanning observation. RESULTS: The castability value (Cv = 98%) and the tensile test (sigma b = 850 Mpa, sigma 0.2 = 575 Mpa, delta = 7.33%) data were collected. The castings microstructure showed main alpha phase and small beta phase. Knoop hardness in the surface reacted layer was greater than that in the inner part. From the SEM and element line scanning observation, there are three different layers in the surface reacted layer of the TAMZ alloy castings, and higher level of element of O, Al, Si and Zr were found in the reacted layer while the Si permeated deeper than others. CONCLUSION: TAMZ alloy can be accepted as a material for dental alloy in prosthodontics.

Aluminum↗
PubMed2000

[The preoperative application of selective catheterization and embolism of the external carotid artery in treating tumors with enriched blood supply in the base of skull].

OBJECTIVE: Embolizing the feeding vessels of the tumors with enriched blood supply in the base of skull in order to reduce the bleeding during operation. METHOD: Under digital subtraction angiographic control, superselectively catheterizing the external carotid artery, thus occluding the terminal branches of the feeding arteries of the tumor with particles of liquidized gelfoam. RESULT: Nine cases studied showed that the angiography of the feeding vessels of the tumor disappeared relatively. The bleeding decreased significantly during operation. The postoperative pathological findings showed that the entity of the tumor was congested with gelfoam. CONCLUSION: After figuring out the blood supply of the tumor, superselective catheterization of the external carotid artery followed by occlusion of the feeding vessels can reduce the size of the tumor and diminish the bleeding during operation, thus can improve the safety of the operation. It should be one of the crucial preoperation measures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Mechanical properties of dental luting cements.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Dental luting cements fail by microcrack formation and bacterial ingress or by gross failure and crown dislodgment. Both of these failure modes are related to mechanical properties and deformation. PURPOSE: This study evaluated those mechanical properties of cements. METHODS AND MATERIAL. Elastic modulus for 8 representative cements (zinc phosphate, polycarboxylate, glass ionomer, encapsulated glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, resin composite, and adhesive resin composite) was measured by using a nondestructive technique and evaluated for cement type and storage time (1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year) by 2-way ANOVA (P <.05). Compressive properties (proportional limit, resilience, and toughness), ultimate strengths (compressive, diametral tensile, and flexural), and flexural toughness were determined and evaluated by 2-way ANOVA for 2 crosshead testing rates (5 and 0.5 mm/min) and cement type (P <.05). RESULTS: Cements varied with respect to elastic moduli, compressive proportional limit, compressive resilience, compressive strength, compressive toughness, diametral tensile strength, flexural strength, and flexural toughness. Storage time affected the elastic moduli of different materials in different ways. Elastic moduli of polycarboxylate and glass ionomer cements increased over time, whereas the other materials changed little after the first day. Crosshead rate only significantly affected compressive proportional limit and resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Luting cements differed considerably with respect to mechanical properties.

Adhesives↗
PubMed1997

Altered immunoreactivity of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) may reflect major modifications of the IAPP molecule in amyloidogenesis.

We have developed a mouse monoclonal antibody against rat/mouse islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). The antibody recognises an epitope in the N-terminal part of the molecule, which is conserved between different species. The antibody immunohistochemically labelled beta cells in normal islets of most different mammalian species including man and in one avian species. Previous immunohistochemical studies of human pancreatic tissue from individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) have revealed a paradoxical and unexplained lack of IAPP immunoreactivity in beta cells close to amyloid in spite of the presence of IAPP mRNA. In contrast to these findings we show that the newly developed monoclonal IAPP antibody strongly labels such beta cells while islet amyloid deposits which are labelled by polyclonal antisera do not bind the monoclonal antibody. These findings with the polyclonal antisera and the monoclonal antibody indicate that IAPP undergoes one or several structural changes during the amyloidogenesis. Knowledge of these structural changes that may include abnormal folding or chemical modification of IAPP is probably important for the understanding of the amyloidogenesis and the pathogenesis of the islet lesion in NIDDM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Relationship between static chemical and cyclic mechanical fatigue in a feldspathic porcelain.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to determine if static chemical and cyclic mechanical fatigue are independent, or if they interact to produce greater than additive strength loss in a feldspathic porcelain. METHODS: A blunt indentation technique was used to investigate the response of a feldspathic dental porcelain to cyclic mechanical fatigue and static chemical fatigue. All specimens were fabricated in a dry inert environment and then mechanically fatigued by cyclic loading and strength-tested in dry inert nitrogenous, ambient or wet environments. A series of experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of chemical and mechanical fatigue, and their interaction on strength loss; to determine the effects of, and interaction between, the factors of cyclic fatigue environment and strength test environment on strength; to ascertain if the type of environment during strength testing influenced specimen strength; and to distinguish between chemical damage caused by exposure to moisture alone and stress corrosion damage resulting from the strength testing environment, using a pair of two-way analysis of variance, a single one-way analysis of variance and a t-test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: These experiments indicated that both static chemical fatigue and cyclic mechanical fatigue significantly reduced specimen strength, but they did not interact to produce greater than summative effects. It was also learned that chemical fatigue was not detected on initial exposure to moisture and that it occurred to a small extent during mechanical fatigue cycling, and primarily occurred during strength testing through a stress-corrosion phenomenon. Micrographs visually evaluated the effects of mechanical and chemical fatigue on surface contact damage. SIGNIFICANCE: As both static chemical and cyclic mechanical fatigue influenced porcelain strength, they should both be considered in future evaluations. However, because they largely acted independently, they can be studied separately.

Aluminum Silicates↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of allitridi on expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen of cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cell].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of allitridi on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC). METHODS: The expression of PCNA was examined with immunohistochemical technique (LSAB method) and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), lipid peroxide (LPO), prostacyclin (PGI2) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in medium were simultaneously determined. RESULTS: Allitridi has the effects of increasing SOD activity, decreasing LPO, elevating PGI2 and cAMP, reducing the expression of PCNA (all P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSION: Allitridi could inhibit SMC proliferation.

Allyl Compounds↗
PubMed1996

Effects of beta cell granule components on human islet amyloid polypeptide fibril formation.

Formation of amyloid-like fibrils in a solution of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) with and without the presence of other beta-cell granule components was studied in vitro. Insulin at less than equimolar concentration strongly inhibited hIAPP fibrillogenesis. Proinsulin had a weaker inhibitory effect while C-peptide, Ca2+ and Zn2+ each individually enhanced fibril formation. C-peptide combined with Ca2+ had an inhibitory effect. Since IAPP was found almost exclusively in the halo fractions of isolated islet secretory granules, primarily the concentrations of C-peptide, Ca2+ and possibly proinsulin may be crucial for the native state of IAPP. It is concluded that an imbalance between fibril formation enhancers and inhibitors may be of importance in the pathogenesis of amyloid in the islets of Langerhans.

Amyloid↗
PubMed1996

Dietary cholesterol feeding suppresses human cholesterol synthesis measured by deuterium incorporation and urinary mevalonic acid levels.

The objective of this study was to measure the response of cholesterol biosynthesis in subjects to three different amounts of dietary cholesterol: 50 (low), 350 (medium), and 650 (high) mg cholesterol per 2800 kcal. Individuals with low (n = 7), normal (n = 12), and elevated (n = 11) plasma cholesterol concentrations consumed in random order solid-food test diets (15%, 55%, and 30% of energy as protein, carbohydrate, and fat, respectively) at each dietary cholesterol level. The three diets were consumed for 4 weeks each, and each dietary phase was separated by a 4-week washout period. During the final week of each diet, 0.7 g D2O was given per kilogram of body water and deuterium incorporation into the erythrocyte cholesterol pool was measured for 24 hours. Urinary mevalonate levels were also determined in samples obtained during two consecutive 24-hour periods. Both techniques provided measurements of whole-body cholesterol biosynthesis. In all subjects the cholesterol synthesis rate as measured by deuterium incorporation was significantly lower (P < .05) after the transition from low- to medium- and low- to high-cholesterol diets. Urinary mevalonate excretion decreased after the change from the medium- to high- (P < .05) and low- to high- (P < .01) cholesterol diets. Although correspondence between the two methods was poor, they both indicated some suppression of cholesterol synthesis by dietary cholesterol. The response of cholesterogenesis to different amounts of dietary cholesterol was related to the rate of synthesis under depressed conditions of the low-cholesterol diet. These findings indicate modest downregulation of synthesis in response to dietary cholesterol in humans, independent of plasma cholesterol levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The measurement of DNA content in Wilms' tumor and its clinical significance.

DNA content analysis with paraffin-embedded tissue was performed by flow cytometry on extracted nuclei from 42 Wilms' tumors. DNA histograms showed diploid in 13, tetraploid in 12, and aneuploid in 17. The frequency of DNA aneuploid was 40.48%. The 2- and 5-year survival rates were 84% and 75.16%, respectively, for patients with the DNA diploid pattern; the 2- and 5-year DNA aneuploid survival rates were 47.06% and 41.18% (P < .03 and P < .05), respectively. The 2- and 5-year survival rates for DNA tetraploid were in between, both 55.90%. For patients with stage I and II, the difference in the 2- and 5-year survival rates between DNA diploid plus tetraploid and DNA aneuploid was even more significant (P < .004 and P < .002, respectively). Thus, DNA aneuploid is an important indicator of poor prognosis in Wilms' tumor, especially for stages I and II.

Child↗
PubMed1994

Comparative study on mortality patterns in Japan and China.

On the basis of the 1990 Chinese death notice data and 1990 Japanese populations vital statistical materials, the mortality patterns and proportions of individual causes of death in the two countries were compared. In both sexes, the mortality rates were the highest in almost all age groups in Chinese rural areas followed by urban areas and Japan. In Japan and in Chinese urban areas, malignant neoplasms cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases were the major causes of death, with these three making up about 60% of the total. In Chinese rural areas, these three conditions were responsible for 43% of all deaths, a considerably lower figure as compared to those in the other two areas, and the mortality rates for infectious diseases and accident/suicide were higher than those in the other two areas. Of the three major adult diseases, cerebrovascular diseases were found to be especially frequent in both Chinese urban and rural areas. On the other hand, ischemic heart disease was found at comparable levels in Japan and China and the rate was lower than in other developed countries. Site-specific mortality rates for malignant neoplasms were characterized by high rates for lung, liver and esophageal cancers in China. The mortality rates for bronchitis in both Chinese urban and rural areas were markedly higher than those in Japan These differences in mortality rates and proportions of individual causes of death between China and Japan are thought to be attributable to the differences in medical services and the level of risk factors for each disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Human cholesterol synthesis measurement using deuterated water. Theoretical and procedural considerations.

Human cholesterogenesis is measurable as the rate of incorporation of deuterium derived from deuterium oxide (D2O) within the body water pool into plasma or erythrocyte cholesterol pools. Oral D2O equilibrates across body water, thus enabling extracellular sampling of pools (such as urine) to serve as accurate indicators of intracellular deuterium enrichments at the point of synthesis. Required doses of D2O fall below the threshold associated with negative side effects. Deuterium/carbon incorporation ratios into cholesterol during biosynthesis have been established that are applicable in humans. Models using unconstrained and constrained curve fitting permit improved flexibility in interpretation of deuterium-uptake kinetics. However, sample-size restrictions presently limit the ability of the technique to examine the kinetics within individual lipoprotein species. Correction of enrichment data for proton exchange during combustion and reduction phases of sample preparation is an additional important procedural concern. In summary, the deuterated-water procedure is a useful tool in studies of human cholesterol synthesis that offers the advantages of short measurement interval, relative noninvasiveness, and provision of a direct index of synthesis in comparison with other available techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Experimental study on the action of EDTA-liposome to remove mercury from the mice given methylmercury chloride].

It was reported that experimental study on the action of EDTA-Liposome to remove mercury from the mice given methylmercury chloride showed that elimination of methylmercury chloride from brain, testicle, liver, kidney and blood of mice treated by EDTA-Liposome was more significant than that of mice treated by EDTA alone. Mercury level in feces of EDTA-Liposome treated group increased significantly (P < 0.001). The advantages of treatment with EDTA-Liposome were discussed. Applying EDTA-Liposome is an efficient method in therapy of metal poisoning.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Structural determinants in substrate recognition by proton-amino acid symports in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from sugar beet leaves.

Amino acids are actively transported across the plasma membrane of plant cells by proton-coupled symports. Previously, we identified four amino acid symports in isolated plasma membrane vesicles, including two porters for the neutral amino acids. Here we investigated the effect of amino acid analogues on neutral amino acid transport to identify structural features that are important in molecular recognition by Neutral System I (isoleucine) and Neutral System II (alanine and leucine). D-Isomers of alanine and isoleucine were not effective transport antagonists of the L-isomers. These data are characteristic of stereospecificity and suggest that the positional relationship between the alpha-amino and carboxyl groups is an important parameter in substrate recognition. This conclusion was supported by the observation that beta-alanine and analogues with methylation at the alpha-carbon, at the carboxyl group, or at the alpha-amino group were not effective transport inhibitors. Specific binding reactions were also implicated in these experiments because substitution of the alpha-amino group with a space filling methyl or hydroxyl group eliminated transport inhibition. In contrast, analogues with various substitutions at the distal end of the amino acid were potent antagonists. Moreover, the relative activity of several analogues was influenced by the location of sidechain branches and Neutral Systems I and II were resolved based on differential sensitivity to branching at the beta-carbon. The kinetics of azaserine and p-nitrophenylalanine inhibition of leucine transport were competitive. We conclude that the binding site for the carboxyl end of the amino acid is a well-defined space that is characterized by compact, asymmetric positional relationships and specific ligand interactions. Although the molecular interactions associated with the distal portion of the amino acid were less restrictive, this component of the enzyme-substrate complex is also important in substrate recognition because the neutral amino acid symports are able to discriminate between specific neutral amino acids and exclude the acidic and basic amino acids.

Alanine↗
PubMed1991

DeltapH-Dependent Amino Acid Transport into Plasma Membrane Vesicles Isolated from Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Leaves: II. Evidence for Multiple Aliphatic, Neutral Amino Acid Symports.

Proton-coupled aliphatic, neutral amino acid transport was investigated in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L., cv Great Western) leaves. Two neutral amino acid symport systems were resolved based on inter-amino acid transport competition and on large variations in the specific activity of each porter in different species. Competitive inhibition was observed for transport competition between alanine, methionine, glutamine, and leucine (the alanine group) and between isoleucine, valine, and threonine (the isoleucine group). The apparent K(m) and K(i) values were similar for transport competition among amino acids within the alanine group. In contrast, the kinetics of transport competition between these two groups of amino acids did not fit a simple competitive model. Furthermore, members of the isoleucine group were weak transport antagonists of the alanine group. These results are consistent with two independent neutral amino acid porters. In support of that conclusion, the ratio of the specific activity of alanine transport versus isoleucine transport varied from two- to 13-fold in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from different plant species. This ratio would be expected to remain relatively stable if these amino acids were moving through a single transport system and, indeed, the ratio of alanine to glutamine transport varied less than twofold. Analysis of the predicted structure of the aliphatic, neutral amino acids in solution shows that isoleucine, valine, and threonine contain a branched methyl or hydroxyl group at the beta-carbon position that places a dense electron cloud close to the alpha-amino group. This does not occur for the unbranched amino acids or those that branch further away, e.g. leucine. We hypothesize that this structural feature of isoleucine, valine, and threonine results in unfavorable steric interactions with the alanine transport system that limits their flux through this porter. Hydrophobicity and hydrated volumes did not account for the observed differences in transport specificity.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

DeltapH-Dependent Amino Acid Transport into Plasma Membrane Vesicles Isolated from Sugar Beet Leaves: I. Evidence for Carrier-Mediated, Electrogenic Flux through Multiple Transport Systems.

Amino acid transport into plasma membrane vesicles isolated from mature sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv Great Western) leaves was investigated. The transport of alanine, leucine, glutamine, glutamate, isoleucine, and arginine was driven by a trans-membrane proton concentration difference. DeltapH-Dependent alanine, leucine, glutamine, and glutamate transport exhibited simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and double-reciprocal plots of the data were linear with apparent K(m) values of 272, 346, 258, and 1981 micromolar, respectively. These results are consistent with carrier mediated transport. DeltapH-Dependent isoleucine and arginine transport exhibited biphasic kinetics, suggesting these amino acids may be transported by at least two transport systems. Symport mediated alanine transport was electrogenic as demonstrated by the effect of membrane potential (DeltaPsi) on DeltapH-dependent flux. In the absence of significant charge compensation, a low rate of alanine transport was observed. When DeltaPsi was held at 0 millivolt with symmetric potassium concentrations and valinomycin, the rate of flux was stimulated fourfold. In the presence of a negative DeltaPsi, alanine transport increased sixfold. These results are consistent with an electrogenic transport process which results in a net flux of positive charge into the vesicles. The effect of changing DeltaPsi on the kinetics of alanine transport altered V(max) with no apparent change in K(m). Amino acid transport was inhibited by the protein modifier diethyl pyrocarbonate, but was insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide, 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene disulfonic acid, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid, phenylglyoxal, and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Four amino acid symport systems, two neutral, one acidic, and one basic, were resolved based on inter-amino acid competition experiments. One neutral system appears to be active for all neutral amino acids while the second exhibited a low affinity for isoleucine, threonine, valine, and proline. Although each symport was relatively specific for a given group of amino acids, each system exhibited some crossover specificity for amino acids in other groups.

Journal Article↗