Biomedical subjects

Z Fu

Publications and source records attributed to Z Fu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

[Current situation and trend of child growth in China].

Data of Food and Nutrition Surveillance in 1990, 1995 and 1998 was analyzed; it indicated the evident improvement of weight and height of children under 5 in the past eight years. The prevalence of underweight were reduced from 8.0% in 1990 to 2.7% in 1998 in the urban, and in the rural, the prevalence were 22.0% and 12.6% respectively. The reduction of prevalence of stunting in the urban decreased from 9.4% to 4.1%, and in the rural from 41.4% to 22.0% in the same period. During 1990-1995, weight of children under 5 went up evidently, but linear growth improvement was very slow and did not match the weigh gain. Height of children increased in a higher speed during 1995-1998. Height and weigh of age groups indicated that 6-18 month was the critical period for prevention of malnutrition of children under 5. The paper further analyzed the favorable changes of the attributable factors of malnutrition, such as diarrhea, safe drinking water, breastfeeding, education level of mothers, household diet and income during this period. The conclusion is the remarkable nutrition improvement of children under 5 in 1990s is the consequence of the rapid socio-economic development of China.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Exclusive breastfeeding and growth of infants under 4 months in China].

Data collected at the 40 CFNSS sites in 1998 was analyzed on the relationship of exclusive breastfeeding and the growth, diseases of infant aged under 4 months. The results showed that the exclusive breastfeeding rates (EBF) of children under 4 months were 53.7% in urban and 76.6% in general rural, but was 64.6% in the poor rural. EBF rate of the stunted children was 57.3% that was significantly lower than the infants with normal length. 73.0%. The infants EBF under 4 months were 0.36 kg heavier, 1.2 cm longer, and WAZ 0.4 and HAZ 1.53 higher than the non-EBF infants. Prevalence of diarrhea were 13.1% among EBF and 29% in non-EBF infants. Logistic regression analysis showed that odds ratio (OR) of stunting for non-EBF infants was 2.19, OR of diarrhea was 2.74.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed2000

[Relationship between growth of young children and complementary feeding].

Description analysis, correlation regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were applied to evaluate the impact of complementary food on the growth of children from the aged 4 to 24 months, results on the effect of the complementary feeding were presented. Among children under 2 years in poor rural areas, 42% of them got complementary food containing animal food, 30.5% got milk, 57.8% got starchy foods, and 48.6% got vegetables and fruits. The coverage of complementary food containing animal food, vegetables/fruits was only half of that in the urban areas. Analysis revealed significantly positive correlation of HAZ, WAZ of all age group of children under 2 years with the appearance of animal foods, vegetable and fruit in the complementary food, but there was no significantly correlation with starchy foods. According to the regression coefficient, it was estimated that the prevalence of stunting aged 18-24 months could be reduced 2.6 percentage points if 10% increase of coverage of animal food containing complementary food in the CFNSS site was achieved. Logistic regression analysis showed the odds ratio (OR) of non-animal food complementary food for stunting was 2.21 for children aged 4-6 months, 1.73 for 6-12 months, 2.81 for 12-18 months, 2.58 for 18-24 months, OR for underweight was 2.87 for 12-18 months, and 2.08 for 18-24 months.

Child Development↗

PubMed2000

[Status and economic losses of respiratory infection and diarrhea of children under 6 years].

Based on the data collected from the CFNSS in 1998, the status and trends of respiratory infection and diarrhea of children and the economic losses caused by the two diseases were analyzed. The prevalence of two-week respiratory infection of urban children under 6 was 23.75% and 21.97% in the general rural, and 26.03% in poor rural. The peak of respiratory infection of rural children was at 6-18 months, but in the urban, that was at age of 3-4 years. Before 2 year of age, the respiratory infection was higher in the rural, and after that age it was higher in the urban. Since 1990, the prevalence of respiratory infection went up and increased 9.5 percentage points over 8 years in the urban, the percentage point of increase was 6.9 in the rural during the same period. In 1998, the prevalence of diarrhea of rural children under 6 was 7.0%, higher than in the urban, which was 4.3%. The prevalence reduced from 9.4% to 4.3% during 1990-1998 in the urban, and in the rural from 13.0% to 7.0%. Weight and height of children with diarrhea incidence were significantly lower than children without diarrhea. Calculation based on the cost for the episodes of the two diseases and the disease prevalence was made and estimate of the economic losses was 11,793 yuan (RMB) for urban, 5458 yuan (RMB) for rural areas.

Child↗

PubMed2000

[Sampling survey for iodine content of iodized salt in household of CFNSS in 1998].

The sampling survey for iodine content of iodized salt was conducted in 36 food and nutrition surveillance sites of CFNSS in 1998 in China, which covered 26 provinces, 362 portions of salt samples. The average compliance rate was 76.0%, 83.2% in Urban area and 71.9% in Rural. Iodine content of salt less then 20 mg/kg at the rural households was 20.4%, and 9.9% in urban.

Female↗

PubMed2000

[Preliminary analysis of the hemoglobin levels of children under 6 years of age].

Among the 40 survey sites in the "China Food and Nutrition Surveillance Project", we picked six sites to estimate the Levels of preschool children and collected 2416 valid cases. Our analysis formed the following results: Children anemia prevalence level was 16.8%, which was higher than the figure from the "Third National Nutrition Survey in 1992", and was lower than that from the Nutrition Surveillance and Improvement Project in 101 poor countries". The situation where the anemia prevalence was above 20% existed not only in poor rural villages, but also in other rural areas in general as well as cities. Looking at different age structures, we found that the anemia prevalence level was the highest for children aged six to twelve months. The number was as high as 30.90%, consistent with results from many earlier research projects.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗

PubMed1999

Mutations in the primer grip region of HIV reverse transcriptase can increase replication fidelity.

Mutations in the primer grip region of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT) affect its replication fidelity. The primer grip region (residues 227-235) correctly positions the 3'-ends of primers. Point mutations were created by alanine substitution at positions 224-235. Error frequencies were measured by extension of a dG:dA primer-template mismatch. Mutants E224A, P225A, P226A, L228A, and E233A were approximately equal to the wild type in their ability to extend the mismatch. Mutants F227A, W229A, M230A, G231A, and Y232A extended 40, 66, 54, 72, and 76% less efficiently past a dG:dA mismatch compared with the wild type. We also examined the misinsertion rates of dG, dC, or dA across from a DNA template dA using RT mutants F227A and W229A. Mutant W229A exhibited high fidelity and did not produce a dG:dA or dC:dA mismatch. Interestingly, mutant F227A displayed high fidelity for dG:dA and dC:dA mismatches but low fidelity for dA:dA misinsertions. This indicates that F227A discriminates against particular base substitutions. However, a primer extension assay with three dNTPs showed that F227A generally displays higher fidelity than the wild type RT. Clearly, primer grip mutations can improve or worsen either the overall or base-specific fidelity of HIV-RT. We hypothesize that wild type RT has evolved to a fidelity that allows genetic variation without compromising yield of viable viruses.

Base Pair Mismatch↗

PubMed1999

Relationship between casein kinase I isoforms and a neurofilament-associated kinase.

Purified neurofilaments (NFs) contain an associated kinase (NFAK) activity that phosphorylates selectively a subset of sites in the tail of NF-M and has properties consistent with casein kinase I (CKI). Because CKI consists of a family of as many as seven genes (alpha, beta, gamma1-3, delta, and epsilon), we investigated the extent to which different CKI isoforms contribute to NFAK activity. Using an NF-M-derived substrate, we determined that NFAK activity copurified with casein kinase activity through two purification steps. In an in-gel kinase assay, NFAK activity occurred at 36-40 kDa, corresponding to the size of CKIalpha isoforms. Chicken neurons express transcripts encoding four alternatively spliced variants of CKIalpha (CKIalpha, CKIalphaS, CKIalphaL, and CKIalphaLS) differing in the presence or absence of two inserts, L and S. Using antibodies against different isoforms or with broad CKI specificity, we determined that all four CKIalpha variants, as well as other CKI family members, are present in chicken brain. However, only CKIalpha and CKIalphaS could be detected in purified NFAK. Also, immunoprecipitation studies showed that CKIalpha and CKIalphaS together account for NFAK activity. These findings raise the possibility that only a subset of CKI isoforms may be able to associate with and/or phosphorylate NFs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Regulation of the expression of serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica): I. Rhythmic pattern and effect of light.

Serotonin N-acetyltransferase [arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT); EC2.3.1.87] is the rate-limiting enzyme in melatonin synthesis, and its activity exhibits a diurnal rhythm similar to that of the melatonin content in the pineal gland and retina of Japanese quail. Studies were conducted to characterize the Japanese quail AANAT cDNA, and to evaluate the expression of AANAT mRNA in the pineal gland, the retina, and other peripheral tissues. The nucleic acid sequence of a 400 bp cDNA clone obtained by RT-PCR manifested 78 and 95% homology compared to the rat and chicken AANAT cDNA, respectively, while the deduced amino acid sequence homology was 82 and 99%, respectively. AANAT mRNA content in a single pineal gland or an aliquot of eye lysate was measured by a micro-lysate protection assay. The expression of AANAT mRNA in the pineal gland and the retina exhibited circadian rhythm with peak levels at night. AANAT mRNA was also detected in the testis, but did not display a rhythmic change over a 24 hr period. AANAT mRNA was not detected in other tissues studied. Darkness during the day did not increase the pineal AANAT mRNA levels. However, unexpected light-exposure for 2 hr just after lights-off blocked the increase in AANAT mRNA, and at midnight remarkably decreased AANAT mRNA by 50%.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Regulation of the expression of serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica): II. Effect of vitamin A deficiency.

Levels of serotonin N-acetyltransferase [arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT); EC2.3.1.87] mRNA, AANAT activity, and melatonin display a rhythmic pattern in both the pineal gland and the retina. It has been shown that vitamin A is required to maintain the rhythm of melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland of Japanese quail. To understand the mechanism underlying the direct relationship among these factors, we developed an assay system sensitive enough to determine AANAT mRNA, AANAT activity, and melatonin content from a single pineal gland of Japanese quail. Positive direct relationships were found among these three parameters. We next deprived Japanese quail of vitamin A by feeding them a vitamin A-free diet supplemented with retinoic acid, and examined the effects of vitamin A deficiency on the expression of AANAT mRNA in the pineal gland and the retina. Vitamin A deficiency reduced both the expression of AANAT mRNA and melatonin content in the pineal gland. Retinal AANAT mRNA rhythm disappeared in vitamin A-deficient quails. Moreover, the responsiveness of the pineal gland and the retina to light was reduced by vitamin A deficiency when compared with the control group.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Calcyclin gene expression is increased by mechanical strain in fibroblasts and lung.

Mechanical tension extending throughout the structural elements of the lung is a potential stimulus for cell proliferation and gene expression. Pulmonary fibroblasts located in the interstitial space of the capillary wall throughout the lung parenchyma and within the large vessels and airways are uniquely situated to sense changes in mechanical force. Therefore, we used the polymerase chain reaction-based method of differential display analysis to screen for altered gene expression in fetal human lung fibroblasts exposed to increased cyclic stretch. IMR-90 cells were seeded at 3 x 10(4) cells/cm(2) on laminin-coated plates. Cells were subsequently exposed to mechanical strain on a Flexercell apparatus, resulting in a maximal elongation of 20% at a rate of 60 cycles/min over a period of 48 h. A complementary DNA corresponding to the cell cycle-regulated gene calcyclin was identified in mechanically strained fibroblasts. Increased calcyclin messenger RNA levels were confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Further, calcyclin gene expression was upregulated in isolated-perfused rat lungs exposed to increased mechanical strain by ventilation at high states of lung inflation for 4 h. These data suggest that calcyclin gene expression plays a role in the response of pulmonary fibroblasts to increased mechanical tension and may alter the regulation of the fibroblast cell cycle.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

[Relationship of polymorphism of LMP2 gene to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and DR3 gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of polymorphism of large multifunctional protease (LMP) 2 genes to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and DR3 gene. METHODS: The polymorphism of LMP2 genes was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 68 IDDM patients and 71 healthy controls. IDDM patients and healthy controls were respectively divided into 2 groups according to DR3 genotyping. One group included subjects with DR3 gene, and another group subjects without DR3 gene. RESULTS: In the subjects with DR3 gene, the frequencies of LMP2-R/H, LMP2-R/R, LMP2-H/H were 47%, 47% and 6% in the IDDM patients, 13%, 87%, 0% in the controls. Compared with the Controls, the IDDM patients had a higher frequency of LMP2-R/H (P < 0.05) and a lower frequency of LMP2-R/R (P < 0.05). In the subjects without DR3 gene, the frequencies of LMP2-R/H, LMP2-R/R, LMP2-H/H were 58%, 39%, 2.8% respectively in the IDDM patients, and 32%, 54%, 14% respectively in the controls. Compared with the controls, the IDDM patients had a higher frequency of LMP2-R/H (P < 0.05), the frequency of LMP2-R/R in the IDDM patients did not have a significant difference from that in the controls (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There may be a significant association of LMP2-R/H and LMP2-R/R with the susceptibility to IDDM. The LMP2-R/H is a susceptible gene. The people with LMP2-R/H have a higher risk of suffering from IDDM. The LMP2-R/R is a protective gene. The people with LMP2-R/R have a decreased risk of suffering from IDDM. The effects of LMP2 on ID-DM are not affected by DR3 gene.

Cysteine Endopeptidases↗

PubMed1999

Effect of benzene, toluene, xylene on the semen quality of exposed workers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects on semen and sperm quality of workers after a short and long term exposure to benzene, toluene, and xylene. METHODS: The semen and blood of 24 married workers exposed to benzene, toluene, and xylene from shoemaking, spray painting, or paint manufacturing factories were collected. The concentration of benzene, toluene, and xylene in the blood and semen was determined by using headspace chromatographic method. Routine sperm test was carried out and acrosin activity detected. RESULTS: The results showed that benzene, toluene, and xylene were found in the blood and semen of some ex-workers in a working environment where the air concentration of benzene, toluene, and xylene exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC). This result was not found in workers of the control group. There were also some effects on the quality of semen in the exposed workers. For example, the percentage of semen with liquefaction time exceeding 30 minutes increased. The sperm vitality, motility and acrosin activity decreased. At the same time, there were a positive correlation between liquefaction time and the level of toluene in semen, and a negative correlation between sperm vitality, sperm activity or acrosin activity and working history. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the mixture could affect the quality of semen and sperm, which might be the main reason of the abnormal pregnancy outcome among the wives of workers exposed to benzene, toluene, and xylene. Further studies are, however, required to confirm these findings.

Acrosin↗

PubMed1999

[A methodological study on the evaluation of insulin resistance in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the advantage and disadvantage of several methods often used to evaluate insulin resistance and to attempt to modify the disadvantage. METHODS: Three protocols of minimal model technique (MMT), three protocols of basal state approach and four protocols of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were used respectively to calculate insulin sensitivity index (ISI) in 16 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 13 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). ISI of classical MMT was regarded as standard; ISI of other protocols were analyzed, assessed and compared with that of classical MMT. RESULTS: Except the ISI expressed by the ratio of fasting serum glucose to insulin concentration (FSG/FIns) and the ratio between area under curve (AUC) of glucose and insulin (AUCg/AUCi) in OGTT, ISI of other protocols was significantly higher in NGT group than in NIDDM group (P < 0.05, ISI relative values were 1 and 0.44 - 0.70 respectively) and had stronger relationships as compared with ISI of classical MMT (r = 0.45 - 0.92, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The modifications that reduce the samples to 12 or 10 and shorten the time to 120 min for MMT are feasible. Both the homeostasis model assessment and the basal state method designed by LI Guangwei are very simple; they can roughly evaluate insulin sensitivity. OGTT designed by Cederholm is a relatively simple and precise method of measuring IR. Two protocols of OGTT designed by the authors may be accurate methods for evaluating IR. Both FSG/FIns and AUCg/AUCi can not reliably evaluate insulin sensitivity.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[The expression of the epidermal growth factor-receptor mRNA in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinical pathological characteristics].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of the epidermal growth factor-receptor(EGF-R) mRNA in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinical characteristic and difference of tissues. METHOD: All 20 samples of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were determined by dot blot. RESULT: The EGF-R mRNA expression was evaluated in 20 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas and 15(75%) were finded with EGF-R mRNA expression. When the mRNA of the laryngeal squmous cell carcinoma was decreased, the expression of the EGF-R mRNA was decreased. The EGF-R mRNA expression did not correlated with age or tumor localization (P > 0.05) but correlated with differentiated tumors (P < 0.05) and the stages of TNM according to classification (P < 0.05). Four patients with recuence cancers and six patients with the metastatic cervical-lymph-node involvement had an enhanced expression of EGF-R mRNA. CONCLUSION: The uncontrolled growth and proliferation of the laryngeal squmous cell carcinomas may be related to the abnormal EGF-R mRNA expression. The enhanced expression of EGF-R mRNA was correlated with the differentiation and stages of laryngeal squmous cell carcinomas.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed1999

[Expression of Schistosoma japonicun fatty acid binding protein gene in silkworm cells and larvae].

AIM: To express the fatty acid binding protein (Sj14FABP) gene of Schistosoma japonicun in the silkworm cells and larvae. METHODS: A 600 bp DNA fragment containing Sj14FABP gene was cloned into baculovirus transfer vector of pBacPAK His1 to construct recombinant transfer vector Sj14-pBac PAK His1. Coinfection was accomplished with this vector and Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) DNA in BmN cells. The recombinant virus of Bm-Sj14 was screened using dot-blotting. The BmN cells and silkworm larvae were infected with Bm-Sj14 to express Sj14FABF gene. Western blotting and ELISA were used to identify the antigenicity of the recombinant protein. RESULTS: Sj14FABP gene was successfully expressed in the BmN cells and silkworm larvae infected with Bm-Sj14. The product was a 18 kDa fusion protein. The yield in BmN cells was about 100 micrograms/1 x 10(6) cells and 33 micrograms/ml cell supernatant. In silkworm larvae, the product yield was 4 mg/ml haemolymph as well as 4.6 mg/g silkworm tissue. The recombinant protein could be recognized by Western blotting and ELISA using the sera from mice immunized with SWAP. CONCLUSION: Sj14FABP gene has been successfully expressed in BmNPV system and the product has high antigenicity.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Successful transplantation of porcine livers after warm ischemic insult in situ and cold preservation including postconditioning with gaseous oxygen.

BACKGROUND: In order to reduce the shortage of viable donor livers for organ transplantation, a method has been developed that allows even predamaged livers from nonheartbeating donors to be used as transplantable organs. METHODS: Porcine livers were harvested 45 min after cardiac arrest of the nonheparinized donor, preflushed with heparinized saline solution, and subsequently rinsed with University of Wisconsin solution, to which superoxide dismutase was added as an oxygen free radical scavenger. Thereafter, the livers were persufflated with gaseous oxygen via the venous vascular system while immersed in University of Wisconsin solution at 4 degrees C for 4 to 5 hr. RESULTS: After orthotopic transplantation, all of the livers conditioned with gaseous oxygen were able to support life-sustaining function during the whole observation period of 7 days post transplantation, while no survival of the recipients could be obtained without the described treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The present study establishes a new perspective for the use of ischemically altered livers from nonheartbeating donors for organ transplantation under clinical circumstances.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Segmental defect of the intestinal musculature associated with ileal atresia and biliary atresia.

A full-term baby boy with a segmental defect of the ileal musculature associated with terminal ileal and biliary atresia is presented. The newborn had a dilated loop of the ileum 30 cm proximal to the ileal atretic site. Pathological study results showed absence of the intestinal musculature with relatively intact mucosa. Foci of recent muscular necrosis were found in the lesion. One month later, relaparotomy was performed because of persistent jaundice and hepatic duct atresia was confirmed. Segmental defect of the intestinal musculature associated with ileal atresia and biliary atresia has not been reported in the literature. The authors emphasize that in the management of this unusual defect, one should pay attention to the multiple associated malformations.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗