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Biomedical subjects

Z Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Z Jin.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The role of a mutant CCR5 allele in HIV-1 transmission and disease progression.

A 32-nucleotide deletion (delta 32) within the beta-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) gene has been described in subjects who remain uninfected despite extensive exposure to HIV-1. This allele was found to be common in the Caucasian population with a frequency of 0.0808, but was not found in people of African or Asian ancestry. To determine its role in HIV-1 transmission and disease progression, we analyzed the CCRS genotype of 1252 homosexual men enrolled in the Chicago component of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). No infected participant was found to be homozygous for the delta 32 allele, whereas 3.6% of at-risk but uninfected Caucasian participants were homozygous, showing the highly protective role of this genotype against sexual acquisition of HIV-1. No evidence was found to suggest that heterozygotes were protected against HIV-1 infection, but a limited protective role against disease progression was noted. The delta 32 allele of CCR5 is therefore an important host factor in HIV-1 transmission and pathogenesis.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

Determination of albumin and hemoglobin adducts in workers exposed to styrene and styrene oxide.

Hemoglobin and albumin adducts of the carcinogen styrene-7,8-oxide (SO) were measured in 48 workers exposed to both styrene and SO in a boat manufacturing plant. Personal exposures to both substances were measured repeatedly over the course of 1 year (styrene:0.9-235 mg/m3 with a mean of 64.3 mg/m3 for 48 subjects; S0: 13.4-525 mu g/m3 with a mean of 159 mu g/m3 for 20 subjects). Cysteine and carboxylic acid adducts of SO with hemoglobin and albumin were assayed on one or more occasions for each subject. The proteins were subjected to base hydrolysis to release styrene glycol, representing carboxylic acid-bound SO, and were then treated with Raney nickel to release 1-phenylethanol and 2-phenylethanol, representing cysteine-bound SO. These three analytes were extracted, derivatized, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. No evidence was found of any exposure-related increase in hemoglobin adducts. In contrast, albumin adducts were found to increase with exposures to either styrene or SO, the latter apparently being more important. This suggests that exposure to low levels of SO in the air may be important among workers in the reinforced plastics industry. Significant levels of SO adducts of albumin and hemoglobin were also detected in proteins obtained from persons without occupational exposure to styrene or to SO. This finding opens the possibility that SO is either a dietary or an environmental contaminant or is produced endogenously.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1996

[The changes in plasma nitric oxide level in normal pregnant women and pregnancy induced hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between nitric oxide (NO) level and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: The plasma level of NO in 36 cases of normal pregnant women (normal pregnancy group), 23 cases of PIH (PIH group), and 16 cases of non-pregnant women (control group) were measured and compared using fluorophotometry. RESULTS: The NO level of normal pregnancy group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.01), particularly in the second trimester of pregnancy. The NO level of PIH was significantly lower than that of third trimester of normal pregnancy (P < 0.01), and it decreased as the disease became severe. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased synthesizing and releasing of NO might play an important role in pathogenesis of PIH.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Electro-acupuncture effects on experimental spinal cord injury of the cat as evaluated by acid phosphatase detection].

The spinal cords of adult cats were injured at about L1 level by using Allen's method and the animals were divided randomly into 2 groups: a) electro-acupuncture treatment group and b) control group. The acid phosphatase (ACP) was detected at 3 and 7 days after spinal cord injury. The more ACP positive labelings were found in the treatment group than in the control group at both 3 (P < 0.05) and 7 days (P < 0.01) after injury. The results suggested that electro-acupuncture could increase the concentration of ACP of the injured spinal cord and the increased ACP concentration could make worse to the injured spinal cord at early time and improve regeneration during recovery period.

Acid Phosphatase↗
PubMed1996

[Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for the treatment of occlusion of proximal subclavian artery].

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a well-established treatment for patients with stenosis of limb arteries. However, its efficacy for treatment of severe stenosis and occlusions of the subclavian artery is unclear. We attempted to recanalize the subclavian artery in 30 patients with severe stenosis or total occlusion of proximal subclavian artery and successful outcomes were seen in 27 cases (90%). In two patients the regional arterial thrombolysis with the PTA prcedure we used was found successful. There was no severe complications. During an average 6-month follow-up stenosis recurred in 2 patients, but the subclavian artery was recanalized by repedted PTA.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Genetic polymorphism of antithrombin III in five Chinese populations].

The genetic polymorphisms of antithrombin III (AT III) in 5 Chinese populations were studied by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels followed by immunoblotting. The products of two alleles at the antithrombin III locus together with 1 AT III anodic variant and 3 cathode variants were observed. The results revealed that the predominant allele of AT III blood group system in Chinese populations was AT III *1, with frequencies between 0.9773-0.9850. Frequencies of AT III *2 ranged from 0.0091 to 0.0169. These results indicate that the polymorphic information content of AT III blood group system in Chinese populations is limited.

Alleles↗
PubMed1996

In vitro systems and cultured cells as specimens for X-ray microanalysis.

In vitro systems and cultured cells are recognized as useful systems in many areas of biomedical research, including X-ray microanalysis. To be reliable, in an vitro system should have an elemental composition close to that of the tissue in situ, react in the same way to stimuli, and retain the in situ regulation of ion transport. In the present paper, four of the most commonly used in vitro systems will be reviewed: incubated tissue slices (liver and pancreas), isolated glands (submandibular gland acini, sweat glands), primary cell cultures (sweat glands, endometrium), and cell lines (the colon cancer cell line T84, immortalized sweat gland cells). Incubation of tissue slices of liver in Krebs-Ringers buffer caused a significant increase in Na and Cl and a decrease in K. Initially, these changes were also observed in the pancreas, but here the values gradually returned to normal. Isolated submandibular gland acini, and isolated sweat gland ducts and coils react in a similar way to stimulation as their in situ counterparts. In primary cultures of coil cells, however, part of the cell population acquires different ion transport characteristics. Technically simplest is the use of cell lines originating from cancer cells (e.g., the T84 cell line) and immortalized cell lines. X-ray microanalysis not only confirms data on ion transport obtained with other techniques, but adds the possibility to investigate the presence of subpopulations within a culture.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Cell types in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract.

The rostral subdivision of the nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) is not laminated or otherwise organized into clearly segregated cell types. Although a variety of experimental approaches have yielded a wealth of information, the definition of cell types in this nucleus has been difficult, as reflected in the sometimes contradictory literature on morphological cell typing. The present review discusses how rNST neurons have been classified in the past and adds to the evidence that distinct neuron types exist in this nucleus. Consistencies in the literature, as well as inconsistencies among studies, are discussed. Furthermore, we have included a summary of our own results that help provide additional data relevant to cell typing. The definition of cell types in other central nervous system nuclei has helped our understanding of the organization of these nuclei and our understanding of the relationships between the morphology and function of neurons. It is hoped that this synthesis of the extant literature will facilitate the many ongoing efforts to correlate neuronal morphology and physiology in the gustatory system.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Protective effects of methanolic extract of Oenanthe stolonifera (Roxb.) Wall. ex DC. on myocardial injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion in rats].

The methanolic extract Oenanthe stoloni fera iv, pretreatment can significantly prevent the arrhythmias induced by myocardial ischemia and reduce the myocardial infarct size in rats. It can also markedly prevent myocardial ischemia and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. In addition, the methanolic extract of Oenanthe stoloni fera (100 mg/kg i.v.) helps significantly to decrease the MDA content and preserve the SOD activity in plasma.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[The study of relationship between c-erbB2 expression and cytoimmunology in ovarian carcinoma and its antisense regulation].

The relationship between c-erbB2 expression and cytoimmunology in ovarian carcinoma cell lines was studied; the synthesized and modified c-erbB2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide was tested for its ability to reduce over-expression of c-erbB2. The results showed that over-expression of c-erbB2 in ovarian carcinoma could induce resistance to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells but had no effect on H2O2; c-erbB2 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide could specifically reduce the over-expression of c-erbB2 and increase the sensitivity of ovarian cancer targets to lysis by TNF and LAK cells.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

[The value of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of ampullary carcinoma].

The value of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosing ampullary carcinoma was assessed in 14 patients. The diagnostic accuracy, the chariacteristics of the images and the preoperative invasion of the carcinoma were studied. The results showed that: (1) The lesions were clearly demonstrated in all cases (100.0%) and the diagnostic accuracy of EUS was 78.6%, which was better than that of transabdominal ultrasonography and CT (P < 0.05), but similar to that of endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) (P > 0.05). Three patients with pancreatic carcinoma were misdiagnosed as ampullary carcinoma by EUS, because the carcinoma was situated at the head of the pancreas and infiltrated to the duodenal wall. (2) Hyperecho image was obtained in 81.8% of the cases and hypoecho image in 18.2% of the cases. (3) The accuracy of EUS in demonstrating the invasion of the carcinoma into the duodenal wall, common bile duct, pancreatic duct and the head of the pancreas was 83.3%, 66.7%, 50.0% and 33.3% respectively and the lymph node matastasis of the carcinoma was 100.0%.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Direct genotyping and antenatal diagnosis of deletional alpha-thalassemia of the southeast Asian type by polymerase chain reaction technique].

OBJECTIVE: To study the gene of deletional alpha-thalassemia of the Southeast Asian type (SEA) and to perform the antenatal diagnosis. METHODS: A new method of polymerase chain reaction technique using three primers bridging the breakpoints was carried out for carrier detection and antenatal diagnosis of deletional alpha-thalassemia of the Southeast Asian type. A DNA fragment of about 630bp in size was amplified in case of--SEA alleles, while a 224 bp fragment was amplified in samples without the deletion. Homozygotes, heterozygotes, and normal subjects could be clearly distinguished with the present method. RESULTS: We used this method in the genotyping and antenatal diagnosis of 10 high risk pregnancies of alpha-thalassemia. 2 homozygotes, 4 heterozygotes, and 4 normal infants were found. CONCLUSION: The present method is simple and rapid in detection of carriers and antenatal diagnosis of the alpha-thalassemia of southeast Asian type.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Structure and function of gustatory neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract. I. A classification of neurons based on morphological features.

Prior investigations in other laboratories have provided convincing evidence that the neurons of the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (rNST) can be grouped according to their physiological response properties or morphologic features. The present study is based on the premise that the response properties of gustatory neurons are related to, and perhaps governed by, their morphology and connectivity. In this first phase of our ongoing investigation of structure-function relationships in the rNST of the rat, we have used intracellular injection of neurobiotin to label individual physiologically characterized gustatory neurons. A total of 63 taste-sensitive neurons were successfully labeled and subjected to three-dimensional quantitative and qualitative analysis. A cluster analysis using six morphologic features (total cell volume, soma area, mean segment length, swelling density, spine density, and number of primary dendrites) was used to identify six cell groups. Subsequent analyses of variance and posthoc comparisons verified that each of these six groups differed from all others with respect to at least one variable, so each group was "typified" by at least one of the six morphologic features. Neurons in group A were found to be the smallest neurons in the sample. The cells in group B had small somata and exhibited the highest swelling density of any group. Group C neurons were distinguished by dendrites with long, spine-free branches. These dendrites were significantly longer than those of any other group except Group F. The neurons in group D had more primary dendrites than any other group. Group E neurons possessed dendrities with the lowest swelling density but the most spines of any group. The cells in group F were the largest neurons in our sample and possessed the largest somata of any group. Thus overall cell size and density of dendritic spines and swellings were found to be particularly important variables in this classification scheme. Our preliminary results suggest that the number and density of dendritic spines (as well as other morphologic features) may be related to a given neuron's most effective stimulus, indicating that it will indeed be possible to use the criteria established in the present investigation to derive structure-function relationships for gustatory neurons in the rNST.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Effect of extracellular K+ on hatching and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts in vitro.

The dependence of blastocyst development on the extracellular Na+/K+ ratio was investigated in an in vitro system. Hatching and outgrowth of mouse blastocysts was enhanced at Na+/K+ ratios between 3 and 10 compared to the ratio of about 25 typical for most culture media and serum. At a Na+/K+ ratio of 2, blastocyst hatching and outgrowth were inhibited. The requirement of blastocyst development for relatively high extracellular K+ concentrations agrees with the fact that K+ concentrations in oviduct and uterine secretions are higher than in serum. The findings can also be relevant in optimizing in vitro culturing techniques for blastocysts.

Animals↗