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Biomedical subjects

Z Fang

Publications and source records attributed to Z Fang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Circadian rhythm of plasma sodium is disrupted in spontaneously hypertensive rats fed a high-NaCl diet.

High-NaCl diets elevate arterial pressure in NaCl-sensitive individuals, and increases in plasma sodium may trigger this effect. The present study tests the hypotheses that 1) plasma sodium displays a circadian rhythm in rats, 2) the plasma sodium rhythm is disturbed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and 3) excess dietary NaCl elevates plasma sodium concentration in SHR. The results demonstrate that plasma sodium has a circadian rhythm that is inversely related to the circadian rhythm of arterial pressure. Although the plasma sodium rhythms of SHR and control rats are nearly identical, the plasma sodium concentrations are significantly higher in SHR throughout the 24-h cycle. Maintenance on a high-NaCl diet increases plasma sodium concentration similarly in both SHR and control rats, but it blunts the plasma sodium rhythm only in SHR. These results demonstrate that in rats, plasma sodium has a circadian rhythm and that high-NaCl diets increase plasma sodium concentration.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Application of an algorithm for the diagnosis of asthma in Chinese families: limitations and alternatives for the phenotypic assessment of asthma in family-based genetic studies.

Phenotype assessment is a crucial issue in gene mapping studies of asthma. Recently, Panhuysen and coworkers proposed an algorithm to define the asthma phenotype in gene mapping family-based studies. We classified members of 2,756 Chinese families ascertained on the basis of the presence of two or more siblings and no more than one parent with asthma using a slightly modified version of the aforementioned algorithm. Among 4,097 Chinese parents, 404 (9.9%) were classified as having "definite asthma," 284 (6.9%) as "probable asthma," 1,193 (29.1%) as "unclassifiable obstructive airway disease, " 626 (15.3%) as "COPD," and 1,590 (38.8%) as "unaffected" (no obstructive airway disease). Among 6,424 Chinese offspring, 1,065 (16.6%) were classified as having "definite asthma," 820 (12.8%) as "probable asthma," 1,996 (31.1%) as "unclassifiable obstructive airway disease," 228 (3.5%) as "COPD," and 2,315 (36%) as "unaffected." The use of the algorithm proposed by Panhuysen and coworkers in a Chinese population with a high prevalence of smoking would result in the exclusion of subjects with asthma who smoke or who have severe airflow obstruction from linkage analysis, as well as in an inability to explore any potential interactions between genetic factors and cigarette smoking in the pathogenesis of asthma. In the absence of a "gold standard," definitions of asthma that incorporate a combination of respiratory symptoms, increased airway responsiveness or bronchodilator response, and a physician's diagnosis of asthma are reasonable. The choice of a particular diagnostic algorithm for family-based genetic studies of asthma should be made according to factors such as the prevalence of smoking in the study population. Genetic studies of intermediate phenotypes related to asthma, which are objectively defined and may be influenced by a smaller number of genes, continue to be of great importance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Familial aggregation of bronchodilator response: a community-based study.

We investigated familial aggregation of bronchodilator response (BDR) among 4,946 subjects selected from 1,161 index families with asthma in a rural community in China. Each family unit consisted of both parents and their first and subsequent offspring, aged 8-20. Raw BDR measurements, defined as the percentage change in FEV(1) after 180 microg of albuterol, were adjusted to account for sex, age, height, weight, education, smoking, asthma, wheeze, and allergy status. Using these adjusted BDR values, we found significant correlation for father-first offspring pairs, mother-first offspring pairs, mother-subsequent offspring pairs, and first offspring-subsequent offspring pairs. The overall magnitude of the correlation coefficient (0.088-0.165) suggests a modest degree of familial clustering. The largest odds ratio was seen for subsequent offspring who had mothers and first offspring with adjusted BDR values above the median: 3.10 (95% CI: 1.85-5.20) in these index families with asthma. Thus, our data support a significant familial aggregation of BDR in this Chinese population, which points to a role of genetic factors in BDR.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2000

Developing written discourse knowledge in whole language and code emphasis classrooms.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been a plethora of studies comparing the effects of whole language vs. code emphasis instruction on children's literacy development, few have examined what children actually learn about features of written discourse in the two instructional settings. AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the development of written discourse knowledge among young children in whole language and code emphasis classrooms. SAMPLES: Participants were 64 first grade children, 29 boys and 35 girls, in four intact classrooms from a mid-western school district of the United States. About half of them (N = 34) received whole language instruction and the other half (N = 30) code emphasis instruction. METHODS: Each child was individually asked to compose a book-like story about a personally relevant experience for others to read at the beginning and end of the school year. The texts were analysed linguistically and statistically in terms of three fundamental features of written discourse--autonomy, conventionality, and specialised grammar. RESULTS: The children developed more knowledge about the autonomy and conventionality features of written discourse, but their understanding of its specialised grammar remained inchoate. Further, the whole language and code emphasis groups did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in their working knowledge of written discourse. CONCLUSIONS: The nature of instructional programme (whole language vs. code emphasis) appears to have little impact on children's developing understanding of written discourse.

Child↗
PubMed2000

A method of "unilateral operation" for early repair of unilateral complete cleft palate. Preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes a method of "unilateral operation" and the preliminary results of a group of patients with unilateral complete cleft palate undergoing the operation at early age. DESIGN: The "unilateral operation" consists of four relaxation maneuvers. After all of the four maneuvers have been performed on the deformed side of an unilateral complete cleft palate, the deformed side can be moved posteriorly and medially to contact with the normal side. Then the cleft can be closed without tension. RESULTS: From 1995 to 1998, 19 cases of unilateral complete cleft palate were repaired with this method at 5-12 months of age. Postoperatively, there were no deaths nor dehiscences. Under the care and guidance of an experienced speech pathologist, 15 of 17 of these children have normal vocal quality at 1-2 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The "unilateral operation" is a rational, adequate, and safe method for early repair of unilateral complete cleft palate. It's design addresses four principles. First, operating only on the deformed side of a unilateral complete cleft palate leaves the normal side unperturbed. Second, complete relaxation of the deformed side is achieved before closing the cleft. Third, in comparison with conventional procedures, which operate on both sides of the palate, this method has the advantage of less surgical trauma, less blood loss, and shorter time of operation. Fourth, all of these advantages are beneficial to early cleft palate repair, which is an important factor in achieving good speech.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2000

[Effects of PML and PML-RAR alpha antisense oligonucleotides on promyelocytic leukemia cell line NB4].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the different effects of anti-PML (promyelocytic leukemia) and anti-PML/RAR alpha (promyelocytic leukemia/retionic acid receptor alpha) antisense oligonucleotides on cell growth, expression of PML-RAR alpha mRNA and PML-RAR alpha/PML protein location of NB4 cell line. METHODS: RT-PCR was used for PML-RAR alpha mRNA expression, trypan blue exclusion for cell count, methylcellulose assay for leukemic colony forming unit, immuno-fluorescence for PML-RAR alpha/PML protein localization. RESULTS: Both anti-PML start codon region antisense (STAS) and anti-PML-RAR alpha fusion region antisense (FUAS) could inhibit cell growth and formation AML-CFU. Cells became partially differentiated on day 5, being more marked in FUAS-treated cells than in STAS-treated ones. Down regulated PML-RAR alpha mRNA expression occurred at 24 h was in STAS and FUAS-treated cells and maintained for up to 72 h. Immuno-fluorescence analysis with anti-PML monoclonal antibody showed a remarkable decrease to almost complete disappearance of microgranules. The residual granules became enlarged to become discrete dots (< 10 per cell), similar to normal POD structure in some STAS-treated cells at 24 h. AT 72 h, nearly all the granules disappeared. Similar changes were observed in FUAS-treated cells. CONCLUSION: Both PML and PML-RAR alpha antisense oligonucleotides can specifically block the expression of PML-RAR alpha at mRNA and protein levels. PML protein is implicated in the regulation of cell differentiation.

Cell Division↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical understanding and therapeutic analysis of multiloop edgewise archwire correction of Angle Class II malocclusion].

OBJECTIVE: To use multiloop edgewise archwire (MEAW) to correct class II malocclusion and to analyse its therapeutic effects and principles. METHODS: 10 class II division 1 and 3 class II division 2 cases were treated with MEAW technique. RESULTS: Gratifying results have been achieved in all cases in a relatively short period of time. CONCLUSIONS: With full understanding of correcting principle of the archwire for class II malocclusion and active cooperation of the patient, the MEAW technique produces twice the result with half the effort.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Transurethral electrovaporization-ablation of superficial bladder carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe short-term curative effect of transurethral electrovaporization-ablation of superficial bladder carcinoma. METHODS: 82 cases of superficial bladder carcinoma were treated using transurethral electrovaporization-ablation. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 36 min. One patient was complicated with extraperitoneal bladder perforation. No patients experienced TUR syndrome and severe hemorrhage. During the follow up for 2-18 months, 3 patients had recurrence respectively at 7, 8 and 10 months after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Cut-electrode had vaporization and ablation with smooth surface of the wound and speed. The advantage includes safety, few complication, evident efficacy, and short hospitalization.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Measurement of T and DHT contents in normal and diseased human prostate tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To measure T and DHT contents in normal and diseased human prostate tissues. METHODS: Serum and prostatic T and DHT levels were measured in patients with normal, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. RESULTS: A decline was observed in serum T level, but no change in DHT concentration with aging. There were no significant differences in both blood T and DHT levels between the patients with BPH or PCA and normal controls. Serum T level remained constant. There were excessive accumulation of DHT in BPH, and cancerous prostate tissues were responsible for the pathogenesis of BPH and PCA. Finasteride treatment did not produce a reduction in prostatic DHT content. CONCLUSION: More than one form of 5a-reductases is responsible for the high level of DHT in the gland.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Mutation of hepatitis B virus DNA pre-C region in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) pre-C gene and HBV infection in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) but negative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in Guangxi Province, China. METHODS: Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA Pre C region in sera collected from 16 patients with PHC in Guangxi, and then their HBV DNA nPCR products were sequenced by Sanger method. RESULTS: Sera in fourteen of 16 patients showed positive HBV DNA, with a positive proportion of 87.5% (14/16). One (C23) of them was positive for HBeAg; one (C24) was negative HBeAg, but with normal sequence in his Pre C region; two (C7, C14) were co-infected with HBV wild and mutant strains; and the remainder eight cases (C3, C4, C5, C8, C10, C11, C12, C13) were infected with mutant virus strains, but stop codon at codon 28 was only found in C4, C5 and C12. One case (C8) was co-infected with both HBV stop codon mutant and non-stop codon strains. CONCLUSION: It is uncommon for patients with PHC in Guangxi infected with HBV mutant strain with classical mutation at nt 1 896, which suggests that maybe there exist other types of mutation other than that in pre-C region causing HBV infection without HBeAg.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2000

[Altered subcellular distribution of daunorubicin in the non-P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug-resistant cell line HL-60/ADR].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate DNR subcellular distribution in the non-P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug-resistant cell line HL-60/ADR and its relation to multidrug resistance. METHODS: DNR subcellular disposition was studied by confocal scanning laser microscopy, fluorescent methods, MTT and RT-PCR. The effects of verapamil, brefeldin A, chloroquine were also examined. RESULTS: In the drug-sensitive cell line HL-60 DNR fluorescence distributed evenly in the nucleus and cytoplasm, while in the resistant cell line DNR distributed in a punctate pattern in the cytoplasm and was reduced in the nucleus. Verapamil, brefeldin A, but not chloroquine could recover the intracellular distribution of DNR from punctate to even in the resistant cell line. CONCLUSION: Altered subcellular disposition of DNR in resistant cell line was involved in the mechanism of multidrug resistance.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed2000

[Study on the DNA gyrA gene mutation with resistance to fluoroquinolones in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients].

This study was aimed at the mechanism of resistance to fluoroquinolones in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients in Chengdu. The relationship between the point mutations in the gyrA genes and the resistance of 63 strains (57 fluoroquinone-resistant strains and 6 wild types) isolated clinically in Chengdu were investigated by a combination of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The results revealed that there are 67.27%-92.5% of the fluoroquinolone-resistant strains against norfloxacin, fleroxacin, tosufloxacin, cipofloxacin, ofloxacin and sparfloxacin had a Hinf I site mutation in the gyrA genes, and most of such strains with such mutation in the gyrA genes showed high-level resistance. These indicate that Hinf site mutation in gyrA genes is the mainly cause of the resistance of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in Chengdu region.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2000

Protection against leptospirosis by immunization with plasmid DNA encoding 33 kDa endoflagellin of L. interrogans serovar lai.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how the efficacy of DNA inocutation affects the ability to raise protective immunity against Leptospira. METHODS: A pair of oligonucleotide primers were designed to amplify the endoflagellar gene of L. interrogans sensu stricto serovar lai. An approximately 840bp fragment was generated with PCR and inserted into VR1012, a plasmid DNA expression vector, after the fragment and VR1012 were digested respectively with EcoRV and Sal I. A recombinant plasmid designated as VR1012+flaB2 was obtained. The vector, VR1012 consits of a pUC18 backbone with the cytomegalovirus (CMV) IE1 enhancer, promoter, and intron A, transcription regulatory elements and the BGH polyadenylation sequences driving the expressing of leptospiral endoflagellar gene of L. interrogans sensu stricto serovar lui. Plasmid encoding leptospiral endoflagellin gene was injected into quadriceps of NZW rabbits. RESULTS: This resulted in the generation of specific leptospiral antibody with high ELISA titer (1:32768) in the rabbits. Immuno/protection was performed in guinea pigs without adjuvant. The group "VR1012 + flaB2" showed higher survival rate (90%, 9/10 animals), compared with the group "VR1012 lack flaB2" and the group "normal saline". CONCLUSION: The technique of DNA vaccine has potential advantages over certain other vaccine preparation technologies. However whether DNA vaccine will be useful for vaccine development remains to be tested.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Determination of trace amounts of copper by flow injection vapor generation AAS].

A method for the determination of copper by FI-VGAAS (flow injection vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometry) was developed. The sample solution containing trace amounts of o-phenanthroline and 0.1 mol.L-1 HNO3 was carried out by carrier of 0.1 mol.L-1 HNO3 and merged with sodium tetrahydroborate solution to produce the vapor species of copper, which got separation in gas-liquid separator and was detected in a quartz tube atomizer at 1000 degrees C. A detection limit of 1.8 micrograms.L-1 (3 sigma) of copper was obtained with a sampling frequency of 144/h using a sample volume of 500 microL. The precision RSD was 2.6% (n = 11) at the 100 micrograms.L-1 copper. The method was applied to the analysis of human hair and rice standard reference samples, the results were in good agreement with certified values.

Borohydrides↗
PubMed2000

[Sequential injection vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometric determination of mercury and arsenic].

A sequential injection vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometric (SI-VGAAS) method for the determination of mercury and arsenic was developed, characterized by reagent merging using a double-syringe pump and a multi-position selector valve. A sample throughput of 120 h-1 was achieved with 500 microL sample with a precision of 2.2% for mercury at 8.0 micrograms.L-1 (n = 11) and 1.4% for arsenic at 6.0 micrograms.L-1 (n = 11) levels and a detection limit of 0.15 microgram.L-1 for mercury and 0.07 microgram.L-1 for arsenic. The method was applied to the analysis of geochemical standard reference material GSS-5, and good agreement with the certified values were obtained.

Arsenic↗
PubMed2000

[Developments in microfluidic spectrometry].

A review is presented on the development of spectrometric detection in microfluidic chemical analysis systems. A brief introduction of microfluidic analysis and future perspectives of the technique are also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Familial aggregation of blood pressure in a rural Chinese community.

This study investigated blood pressure in 1,183 Chinese nuclear families (mother, father, and first two children) via a cross-sectional 1994-1997 survey. The mother's, the father's, and the first sibling's blood pressures were each significantly and independently related to the second sibling's blood pressure after adjustment for sex, age, height, weight, education, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The association was consistent across the four age strata (6-10, 11-14, 15-19, and > or = 20 years). The rate of high systolic blood pressure in the second sibling was lowest (2.3%) when both parents and the first sibling were in the low blood pressure tertile (low-low group) and highest (26.0%) when these family members were in the high blood pressure tertile (high-high group). The rate was intermediate if only the parents (10.7%, high-low group) or the first sibling (8.4%, low-high group) was in the high blood pressure tertile. As compared with the low-low group, the odds ratios for the high-high, high-low, and low-high groups were 14.3 (95% confidence interval 4.3-48.2), 4.3 (95% confidence interval 1.2-15.6), and 3.9 (95% confidence interval 1.1-14.4), respectively. A similar pattern was found for diastolic blood pressure. The data indicate a strong familial aggregation of blood pressure in this population and show that such a familial influence on blood pressure can be detected from early childhood onward.

Adolescent↗