Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Z Chen.
An ICP-AES method is established for the determination of Sb, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg and Se in toy materials and coatings under conditions that simulate the situation where the materials stay 4 hours in alimentary tract after swallowing.
Raman scattering measurements of the cathode deposite produced by carbon arc discharge method and graphite was repotred. The results indicate that the inner core of the deposite containing large quantities of carbon nanotubes undergoing crystallization process. Carbon nanotube is one kind of micro-crystal of quasi-graphite.
The method for studying kinetics of formation reaction of complex in aggregation system was reported in this paper. The concentration of more than one species was calculated by improved method for calculating dimeration constants. Kinetics of reaction between Cu (II) and tri-sulfophthalocyanine (S3Pc) was studied in this way. It shows that the rate of reaction between Cu(II) and S3Pc can be expressed as follows: v = K[Cu][S3Pc]
The aggregation and kinetics of decomposition reaction of Ga-sulfophthalocyanine has been studied by electronic spectroscopy. The effects of pH on the aggregation are discussed. The experimental results show that the rate of decomposition reaction of Ga-sulfophthalocyanine can be expressed as follow: -dcM/dt = 12.279cDcOH-. Where cD and cOH- concentration of GA-sulfophthalocyanine and OH- respectively.
Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) exists in three forms: a) FHBL genetically linked to truncated forms of apolipoprotein B (apoB); b) FHBL linked to the apoB gene but with no apoB truncations; and c) FHBL not linked to the apoB gene. Mean production rate (PR) of apoB-100 in FHBL subjects heterozygous for apoB truncations is approximately 30% of normal. In a 49-member D-kindred (FHBL phenotype defined as apoB < 40 mg/dl), no apoB truncations were detectable either by immunoblotting of plasma or by sequencing of relevant stretches of the apoB gene. Herein we report on the kinetic parameters of apoB-100-containing lipoproteins in four affected members of the D-kindred, and compare their kinetic values to 14 normal subjects, and 8 previously reported FHBL subjects heterozygous for various truncated forms of apoB. After an 8-h primed intravenous infusion of [13C]-leucine, enrichments of apoB-100 were assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and kinetic parameters were calculated by multicompartmental modeling. The affected members of the D-kindred had similar very low, intermediate, and low density lipoprotein (VLDL, IDL, and LDL) PRs as normal controls, but their fractional catabolic rates (FCR) for VLDL and LDL were approximately 2 and 3 times higher, respectively, than those of normals. By contrast in apoB truncation subjects, apoB-100 PRs were uniformly reduced, while apoB-100 FCRs were similar to normals. Thus, diverse physiologic mechanisms are responsible for the low apoB levels in these two different, genetically determined forms of FHBL.
PURPOSE: The ratio of free-to-total prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum is greater in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than in those with prostate cancer, and it provides a means of partially discriminating these 2 diseases. To understand the molecular mechanism of why the free-to-total PSA ratio is greater in BPH than in prostate cancer we analyzed PSA obtained directly from nodules of BPH tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PSA from BPH nodule fluids was first purified by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Purified BPH PSA was characterized by gel electrophoresis, enzyme assay and N-terminal sequence analysis of the amino acids. RESULTS: A single band at 30 kDa. on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions was identical to that of seminal fluid PSA. Under reducing conditions most BPH PSA was degraded, whereas most seminal fluid PSA existed as an intact molecule. BPH PSA had multiple internal cleavages in addition to the common cleavage site between lysines 145 and 146 of seminal fluid PSA. Cleavage sites at C-terminals of histidine 54 and phenylalanine 57 were also detected. Enzymatic activity studies with different substrates showed that PSA from seminal fluid and BPH nodules had similar specific trypsin-like activity. However, BPH PSA had much lower specific chymotrypsin-like activity than seminal fluid PSA. N-terminal sequence analysis showed that BPH PSA was neither in the pre-proenzyme form (261 amino acids) nor the zymogen proenzyme form (244 amino acids) of PSA, both of which are known precursors of mature PSA (237 amino acids). CONCLUSIONS: Most PSA in BPH nodules is in the nicked form with low chymotrypsin-like activity. When it leaks into the circulation it will form fewer PSA-antichymotrypsin complexes and more will remain in the free form. We predict that a protease with trypsin-like activity in BPH nodule fluid is probably responsible for the nicked form of BPH PSA. These findings suggest that antibodies produced against PSA in BPH nodules may be useful in discriminating prostate cancer from BPH.
The influence of bilateral hippocampal lesions on active avoidance response was studied in rats, as well as the effect of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of histamine on memory deficits caused by hippocampectomy. Retardation of learning acquisition was produced by lesioning of the bilateral dorsal hippocampus in active avoidance response. Memory retention was also impaired by hippocampectomy. Although locomotor activity and rearing behavior measured by open-field test increased after hippocampal lesions, there was no relation between impairment of learning and increase in exploratory behavior. I.c.v. injection of histamine and i.p. injection of histidine resulted in an improvement of memory deficits (not only learning acquisition but also memory retrieval) induced by hippocampal lesions in rats. Histamine contents of the hippocampus and hypothalamus decreased after hippocampectomy, and a decrease in histamine contents of both areas was restored by histamine (i.c.v.) and histidine (i.p.) injection. In addition, a close relationship was found between decrease in response latency of avoidance response and an increase in histamine content of the hippocampus and hypothalamus after histamine injection.
PURPOSE: The free uncomplexed form of prostate specific antigen (f-PSA) from prostate cancer sera was partially isolated and characterized because the molecular form of f-PSA in the serum is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 230 ml. of sera from 59 men with bone metastasis and individual PSA values of >2000 ng./mL were combined and centrifuged for 60 minutes at 30,000 RPM (4C). The sera were fractionated by gel filtration column chromatography (Sephacryl S-200, 2.5 cm. x 92 cm.). Free and complexed PSA in the eluted fractions were isolated by measuring immunoreactivity of PSA (Tosoh AIA-600 assay); f-PSA from 23 separate runs were combined, concentrated and re-chromatographed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to immobilize the isolated proteins onto a nitrocellulose membrane and a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. Monoclonal antibody (F5) was used to probe PSA on nitrocellulose membrane and the PSA band was detected by Emission Chemoluminescence (ECL) kit. Amino terminal sequence analysis of the isolated f-PSA was performed with a gas-phase sequentor (Applied Biosyntens 4760 A) using the program designed by the manufacturer. RESULTS: 0.5 cc of f-PSA (27,000 ng./mL) was obtained from serums after rechromatography. SDS-PAGE showed one double band around 30 kDa; with ECL technique, one major band at 30-kDa was identified as PSA. The amino terminal sequence analysis of this band showed residue 1 through 9 and 146 through 152. CONCLUSIONS: In our preliminary experiment, the free form of serum PSA is partially isolated directly from human sera. Amino terminal sequence analysis has shown that serum f-PSA is not a pre-mature or zymogen form of PSA because serum f-PSA has a N-terminus identical to that of seminal fluid PSA. A nicked form of f-PSA is also found in these patient sera.
The complete nucleotide sequence of major core protein gene (segment S3) of rice dwarf virus (RDV) Chinese isolate was determined after cDNA cloning from the viral genomic RNA. Sequence analysis showed that the cloned fragment is 3195 bp in length and contains a single open reading frame (ORF), encoding the major core protein (P3) which M(r) of 114 K. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of S3 of this isolate share significant homology (94.1% and 97%, respectively) with those of S3 of the Japanese isolate. At the amino acid level, P3 of RDV Chinese isolate shares significant homology with P3 of rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV), significant regional homology with the rotavirus penetration, and homology with spheroidin of amsacta entomopoxvirus (SPH), which is the major protein of the occlusion body, with clp-like ATP-dependent protease binding subunit and with ATP-dependent protease ATP-binding subunit. Amino acid sequence analysis also showed that P3 contains RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) motif-like elements such as DXXXD, SGXXXXXXN, GDD and ENXXXY. These results may suggest that P3 is a multifunctional protein which plays very important roles in the virus structure formation, virus replication and penetration processes. The full length cDNA sequence of RDV S3 and a partial one which covers nt 1004-3195 were cloned into bacterial expression vector pTrcHisB for expression. The full length cDNA sequence failed to be expressed in E. coli, but the partial sequence was successfully expressed there as confirmed by the Western blot analysis. Further analysis of RDV P3 is under way.
Both health care workers and spina bifida patients are at risk to develop type I latex allergy since allergenic proteins of natural rubber latex are present in a variety of latex products. Natural latex contains more than 250 polypeptides and approximately 60 of them show IgE-binding characteristics. A multitude of these latex allergens has been identified, and their sensitization potency for both risk groups has been determined. While hevein (Hev b 6.02) is the major allergen in latex-allergic health care workers, 80% of latex sensitized-spina bifida children have IgE antibodies to the "rubber elongation factor" (Hev b 1). Almost all relevant latex allergens have been identified in natural latex products: however, no data on the allergen profiles of individual latex products exist. The knowledge of the major latex allergens enables improved diagnosis and to monitor the success of prevention strategies for decreasing the high prevalence of latex allergies.
Molecular changes occurring with tumor formation and metastasis need to be identified in order to define novel markers and targets for chemoprevention and therapy. Cell lines from a multistage model of murine squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed for differences in gene expression using mRNA differential display. mRNA was isolated from primary keratinocytes, an in vitro transformed keratinocyte line (Pam 212), and three metastatic cell lines derived from Pam 212 following tumor progression in vivo. cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription and amplified by PCR using 72 primer combinations to screen and compare approximately 3,600 sequences. Five cDNAs with a differential expression pattern confirmed by Northern blot analysis were cloned and sequenced, revealing homology with known genes. The gene encoding tropomyosin alpha was preferentially expressed in primary keratinocytes; genes for tyrosine kinase Yes-associated protein (YAP65) and ribosomal protein L18a were preferentially expressed in transformed and metastatic tumor cell lines; and genes for the Gro-alpha family cytokine KC and antigen Sp17 exhibited increased expression in the three metastatic cell lines. The structure and function of the genes identified suggest that they may possibly be linked to cell shape and motility, signal transduction, protein synthesis, growth, granulocyte chemotaxis, and angiogenesis. This study demonstrates the ability of mRNA differential display to detect altered gene expression in this tumor progression model of murine squamous cell carcinoma, and the potential usefulness of this approach for identification of candidate genes as chemoprevention markers and targets.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term efficacy of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and the factors affecting its efficacy in Chinese patients. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients who underwent successful PTCA in this institution were followed-up by direct interview or letters. The rate of follow-up was 95%. The period of follow-up were 0.5-8.4 (with mean of 2.3 +/- 1.8 years). RESULTS: Angina Pectoris recurred in 76 (33.2%) of the patients. Cox regression analysis revealed that the relative risk of recurrence of angina pectoris was increased among the patients with triple vessel disease and with history of hypertension. During the period of follow-up, 2 (0.9%) patients died, 6 (2.6%) had non-fatal acute myocardial infarction, 4 (1.7%) had coronary artery bypass graft surgery and 29 (12.7%) had repeat PTCA. The cardiac event-free survival rate calculated by Kaplan-Meier method was 84.8% at the first year and 70.5% at the eighth year. Cox regression analysis revealed that there were positive correlation between the relative risks of cardiac events and stenosis of lesions before PTCA and residual stenosis of LAD after PTCA. CONCLUSION: The long-term efficacy of PTCA in Chinese patients was good. The results of this study suggest that to decrease the residual stenosis of LAD during procedures could probably decrease the relative risk of cardiac events during follow-up.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between heart failure and changes in intracellular calcium concentration of the myocardium. METHODS: The intra-and extracellular concentration of ionized calcium and total calcium of myocardium in 11 cases of heart failure was measured using calcium fluorescence indicator Fura-2 and atom absorption spectrophotometry. The activity of the erythrocyte membrane pump was determined with hemolysate chemical method. RESULTS: The concentration of ionized calcium in myocardial cells and the erythrocyte was significantly higher in the patients with heart failure (280.85 +/- 47.8 nmol/L, 1.76 +/- 0.04 F335/F385) than in those without heart failure (121.88 +/- 13.15 nmol/L, 1.47 +/- 0.08 F335/F385). Total calcium in the erythrocyte was also increased markedly in the patients with heart failure, but the activity of the erythrocyte membrane pump was lower than in those without heart failure. The intracellular calcium of the peripheral erythrocyte and the activity of membrane pump returned to normal after the heart failure was cured. CONCLUSION: There is excessive calcium accumulation in the myocardium and erythrocyte and the latter may be cause of the disturbance of myocardial diastolic function during heart failure.
OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the role that cytogenetic may play in the diagnosis and prognosis of leukemia, a study was conducted in 319 acute leukemias. METHODS: 100 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 219 patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were from Rui Jin Hospital, Xin Hua Hospital, Ren Ji Hospital and Shanghai Children's Hospital. Their cytogenetic data were analyzed together with those of morphology, immunology and clinical prognosis. RESULTS: In ALL group, 48 cases were karyotypically normal whereas 52 cases revealed chromosomal changes, among which 32 had quantitative abnormalities and 20 had qualitative abnormalities. The translocation t(9; 22) was identified in 11 out of 20 cases of structural aberrations (55%). Specific structural aberrations t(9; 22) and t(8; 14) were detected to be related to B-lineage associated differentiation antigens and t(8; 14) also with ALL-L3 according to FAB classification. With regard to clinical prognosis, the survival rate of structural aberration subset decreased significantly compared with the normal karyotype subset (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between hyperdiploidy subset (not including near-triploidy) and normal karyotype subset (P > 0.75). In ANLL group, 80% of de novo patients and relapsed patients had chromosomal abnormalities. Importantly, structural aberrations accounted for 73% of these abnormalities and frequently corresponded to specific types of FAB classification. Relevant prognostic studies demonstrated that t(15; 17) subset had the best overall survival probability, followed by t(8; 21) and normal karyotype subset, while the numerical aberration subset showed a relatively poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Our data confirmed that cytogenetic study is important for the molecular study of the leukemogenesis. On the other hand, it also provides an independent parameter for prognosis in acute leukemia.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of vascularized and nonvascularized fibula grafting performed for the reconstruction of bone defects after the resection of bone tumors. METHODS: Vascularized fibula grafting was performed in 18 patients with malignant or aggressive benign bone tumor of the extremities. Non-vascularized fibula grafting was performed in 15 patients with giant cell tumor of the radius. All the 18 patients were followed up with radiography, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), colored Doppler's sonography (CDS) examinations and functional observation for 2 to 14 years. RESULTS: Vascularized fibula grafts with bone defects of 9 to 26 cm showed good blood supply in emission computerized tomography (ECT) and radiography examinations, and bone union was achieved (Table 1). In non-vascularized fibula grafting cases (Table 2), bone union was not achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of vascularized grafting are the feasibility of one-stage reconstruction of various tissues and the growth of grafted fibula. It is necessary to adopt vascularized fibula grafting to reconstruct large bone defect resulting from the resection of extensive bone tumors, such as giant cell tumor (GCT), fibrous dysplasia of bone and malignant bone tumors.
OBJECTIVE: A human promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line NB4 was used to demonstrate the synergistic effects between all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on growth inhibition and cytodifferentiation induction. METHODS: NB4 cells were cultured in the presence of either ATRA or PGE2 as a single agent or in combinations at various ratio. Cell growth was measured and myeloid differentiation was tested on consecutive days over the whole course of culture. RESULTS: PGE2 and ATRA synergistically induced the myeloid differentiation of NB4 cells. In comparison with ATRA alone, the combination of PGE2 with ATRA caused an almost 20-fold decrease of effective concentration of ATRA. CONCLUSION: The combination of ATRA and PGE2 at an appropriate ratio may provide a convenient oral regimen of combined differentiation therapy for a better clinical outcome in APL patients.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of abdominal sonography and 2 biochemical indicators for hepatic fibrosis before and after treatment with praziquantel in schistosomiasis japonica patients. METHODS: Fifty-five persons infected with Schistosoma japonicum and treated with praziquantel were examined with ultrasonography and serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and type III procollagen (PC III) before and 1 year after treatment, and their data were compared with those in 55 normal controls. RESULTS: With comparison of the data before praziquantel treatment, the length of the left liver lobe and the spleen in 55 patients all decreased (P < 0.01) 1 year after treatment. No significant change was seen in interior diameter (d) of the portal vein, while a decrease in the ratio of the exterior diameter (D) and interior diameter of the second branch of the portal vein was very significant (P < 0.01). Compared with the data in normal control, significantly higher levels in the thickness of the left lobe, the maximum oblique diameter of the right lobe, the length of the spleen, spleen index, the interior diameter of the portal vein and D/d ratio were seen in the patients both before and after treatment. The abnormal rate of the 2 serum parameters for hepatic fibrosis decreased significantly after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Parameters of hepatic fibrosis either by ultrasonography or by the 2 biochemical tests showed a significant improvement in 55 patients 1 year after treatment, although some of the indices did not yet return to normal levels.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation among retinal fluorescein angiography, blood viscosity, and other factors in patients with open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Multiple step regression analysis was made to investigate the correlation between each of the following blood vessel filling times: the arm-choroid (A-CT), arm-retinal artery (A-AT), and retinal artery-venous (A-VT) of the fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) in 122 eyes with POAG and each of the following related factors in hemorrheology: whole blood apparent viscosity at low, medium and high shear rates, plasma viscosity and hematocrit. Also, the same analysis was applied to investigate the correlation between each of the A-AT, A-VT of the FFA in 70 eyes with POAG and the following factors: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, age and whole blood apparent viscosity at low shear rate. RESULTS: The whole blood apparent viscosity at low shear rate was closely related to A-CT and A-AT, while hematocrit was closely related to A-VT of the FFA. The whole blood apparent viscosity at low shear rate and age, especially the whole blood apparent viscosity, was closely related to A-AT, A-VT of the FFA. CONCLUSION: Blood viscosity can affect the filling times of the FFA in POAG.