[Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on secretory function of cultured endocrinous cells in rats].
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Adrenal Cortex↗
Biomedical subjects
Z Lu
Publications and source records attributed to Z Lu.
[Effect of xuezhikang on the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia].
Xuezhikang is a new blood-lipid-regulating medicine. The components of Xuezhikang include HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (lovastatin), unsaturated fatty acids and many kinds of amino acids. A comparative study on the effects of Xuezhikang and Simvastatin (Zocor) was carried out. One hundred and eight patients with primary hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 53 patients, each taking 4 Xuezhikang capsules/day (1.2 g/day) for 8 weeks and group 2 included 55 cases, each taking Zocor 10 mg/day for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, the lipid levels were compared with those of the baseline in each group. In group 1 serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were decreased by 23.0%, 28.0% and 28.1% (P < 0.001) respectively and in group 2 they were reduced by 23.3%, 29.5% and 29.5% (P < 0.001) respectively. Serum level of high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) was increased by 5.0% (P > 0.05) with Xuezhikang and 14.3% (P < 0.01) with Zocor, but no significant differences were found between the two groups in TC, LDL-C, TG and HDL-C. The side effects of Xuezhikang were less than those of Zocor. It is suggested that Xuezhikang made in China is a safe, effective and tolerable lipid modulator.
Adult↗
[Effects of icarrin on secretive function of cultured granulosa and adrenal cortical cells of rats].
Icarrin was added to cultured cells and the hormones in culture fluid were determined after 3 hours of incubation. The results showed that icarrin (30-1000 micrograms/L) could promote the estradiol production of granulosa cells. The most effective concentration was 100 micrograms/L. Icarrin also exerted a stimulatory effect on corticosterone production at the highest dosage (1000 micrograms/L).
Adrenal Cortex↗
[Optimization of technical parameters for processing radix Aconiti coreani].
Based on the determination of guanfu A, hypaconitine, and total alkaloids, along with the experiment of acute toxicity of sliced Radix Aconiti Coreani and in compliance with the quality standard stipulated in pharmacopeia-surface features cross section colour and odor of sliced Radix Aconiti Co-reani the technology of processing Radix Aconiti Coreani has been optimized to be steaming the drug for four hours.
Aconitine↗
[Quantitative detection of serum hepatitis B wild type virus and the precore mutant genomes using competitive polymerase chain reaction in patients with HBeAg(-) chronic hepatitis B].
We set up a competitive PCR assay to obtain simultaneously a quantitative estimation of HBV wild type (M0) and precore mutant (M1 M2) genomes in sera of patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B and their evolution during antiviral therapy. The results showed that the amount of HBV DNA declined to undetectable levels very rapidly after the beginning of therapy in responders, while in non responders, the amount of viral genomes decreased but without becoming negative. Wild type viral strains (M0) seemed to be more sensitive to interferon as compared to precore mutant strains (M2). This method may be useful to study the course of viral infection and to evaluate the efficacy of antiviral therapy.
Adult↗
[Fluorescence lifetimes of squamous carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and normal human lung tissues in vitro by time-resolved fluorescence].
Using pulsed dye laser 632.8nm, lifetimes of adenocarcinoma, squamous carcinoma and normal human lung tissues in vitro have been measured by time-resolved fluorescence as 5.1, 5.6 and 6.3 ns respectively. Time-resolved fluorescence shows that the decay time of tumor tissues is faster than that of normal tissues. The results may offer new diagnostic method to determine cancer.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Low linolenate and commercial soybean oils diminish serum HDL cholesterol in young free-living adult females.
OBJECTIVE: A mutant soybean line (A16) low in linolenic acid content (2% of oil by weight) was developed to increase oil oxidative stability. It was unknown whether serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in humans would be affected should A16 soybean oil (A16 oil) replace commercial soybean oil in diets. This study was conducted to examine the hypothesis that in free-living normolipidemic women, the consumption of A16 oil at approximately 10% of energy intake (en%) would not affect serum lipids and lipoproteins differently than would the consumption of the same amount of a commercial soybean oil with 7% of linolenic acid content. DESIGN: Fifteen free-living female college students consumed the soybean oil daily with regular meals for 9 weeks in different orders, with each test oil being eaten for 3 weeks. During the study, 13 en% was provided by each test oil and a total of 35 en% was from dietary fat. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and triacylglycerides (TAG) were measured. Serum total fatty acid patterns were analyzed as well. RESULTS: Each of the three test oils decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and TAG concentrations from the baseline values. The feeding of A16 and commercial soybean oils decreased serum HDL cholesterol significantly compared with coconut oil (p < 0.05). Dietary inclusion of coconut oil increased serum myristic acid significantly more than did either soybean oil (p < 0.01). Serum arachidonic acid concentrations were significantly greater with A16 consumption than with commercial soybean oil consumption (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A16 and commercial soybean oils both diminished serum HDL cholesterol. Although the fatty acid composition differed between the two soybean oils, A16 oil and commercial oil had similar effects on serum concentrations of lipoproteins and lipids. With increased oxidative stability, A16 oil is a good alternative to commercial soybean oil.
Adolescent↗
Comparative study of the effects of ouabain and digoxin on blood pressure of rats.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of ouabain on the blood pressure of rats with that of digoxin to find the evidences of the relationship between endogenous ouabain (EO) and development of hypertension. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into 3 groups, were infused with ouabain (23 x 75 micrograms.kg-1/day, i.p.), digoxin (36 x 84 micrograms.kg-1/day, i.p.) and normal saline (NS) once a day respectively. Systolic blood pressure and body weight were recorded weekly. Five weeks later, rats of ouabain group were randomly assigned to three infusion subgroups: Oc group, continued with ouabain infusion; Od group, added digoxin (73 x 68 micrograms.kg-1/day, i.p.) and Os group, stopped administration of ouabain. Another week later, direct blood pressure was recorded in aorta. Systolic and diastolic cardiac function, plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels of all the rats were measured. RESULTS: After a latent period of one week, blood pressure of Ouabain group increased significantly [95.4 +/- 11.8 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) at the beginning of the experiment vs 122.5 +/- 16.9 mmHg at the end of week 6, P < 0.05] with normal plasma renin activity and higher aldosterone (1.28 +/- 0.45 ng/ml vs 0.69 +/- 0.27 ng/ml, P < 0.05). The blood pressure decreased after either withdrawal of ouabain or addition of digoxin (116.3 +/- 14.4 mmHg vs 100 +/- 10.7 mmHg, P < 0.05; 123.9 +/- 13.9 vs 103.3 +/- 10.5 mmHg, P < 0.05, respectively). No difference of blood pressure was found between the digoxin and NS group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that EO might be one of the causes of the development of hypertension. Aldosterone might play some role in the mechanism of ouabain-induced hypertension. Digoxin can not induce hypertension. There is a great difference between the effect of ouabain and digoxin on the blood pressure. Moreover, digoxin can reverse the hypertension induced by ouabain.
Animals↗
The relationship between insulin resistance and abnormality of cellular calcium metabolism in patients with essential hypertension.
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Adult↗
[The relationship between insulin resistance and abnormalities of cellular calcium metabolism and cell membrane abnormalities in patients with essential hypertension].
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the insulin resistance (IR) and the abnormalities of cellular calcium metabolism and cell membrane in patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: Plasma insulin and glucose before and during OGTT, membrane ATPase activity, cholesterol (C) and phospholipid (P), lipid peroxides (MDA), intracellular total calcium concentration [(Ca2+)i] and calcium binding capacity of inner surface of membranes were determined in 26 normotensive (NT) subjects, 17 hypertensives (HT), and 16 hypertensives associated with IR (HT + IR). RESULTS: The HT + IR group had higher levels of plasma glucose and insulin than that in the NT group and HT group with significant differences. The HT + IR group consistently demonstrated depressed activity of each Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase studied with significant differences when compared with the NT group, but no difference was found if compared with the HT group. There was a higher [(Ca2+)i] in the HT + IR group than those in the NT group and even in the HT group with significant differences, respectively. Insulin sensitivity in the HT + IR group was significantly lower than that in both groups of HT and NT, respectively. The membrane C/P molar ratio and MDA content in the HT + IR group and HT group were significantly higher than those in the NT group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is likely that there is a causal relation between IR and abnormalities of cellular calcium metabolism and membrane lipids in patients with essential hypertension.
Aged↗
[Study model for isolated heart perfusion combined with NMR technique].
Some improvements made to overcome the difficulty in the long distance perfusion, temperature maintenance, oxygen supply and the recollection of perfused fluid were described in our Langendorff perfusion in combination of NMR technique with which the rhythmic activity of isolated rat heart can be measured as long as 90 min.
Animals↗
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma: implication in 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.
Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the initial, rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of 5-fluorouracil, one of the most widely used cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Previous studies have demonstrated the clinical importance of determination of DPD in cancer patients, suggesting that the efficacy and toxicity of 5-fluorouracil may directly relate to the DPD activity in both tumor and host tissues. In the present study, DPD activity was determined in 50 pairs of tumor and uninvolved liver specimens in Chinese cancer patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Mean enzyme activity in uninvolved liver tissues (0.45 +/- 0.02 nmol/min/mg protein) was significantly higher than that in tumor specimens (0.34 +/- 0.03 nmol/min/mg protein). Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in DPD activity of tumor and uninvolved liver specimens among different age and gender groups. Compared to previously reported tumor studies, hepatomas were found to have relatively high DPD activity. Since high levels of DPD would be expected to metabolize 5-fluorouracil, these findings may provide an explanation for the relative 5-fluorouracil resistance of hepatoma and may have implications for designing a new therapeutic strategy such as modulation of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy by DPD inhibitors.
Adult↗
Regulation of phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase by epidermal growth factor. Reduced association with the EGF receptor followed by increased association with protein kinase Cepsilon.
An important component of receptor-mediated intracellular signal transduction is the generation of lipid second messengers. Lipid second messenger production is a complex process involving a variety of regulatory enzymes that control the intracellular response to the extracellular signal. Phosphatidic acid (PA) is generated in response to phospholipase D and can be converted to other lipid second messengers including diacylglycerol (DG) and lysophosphatidic acid. PA is converted to DG by PA phosphohydrolase (PAP). We report here that PAP activity can be detected in epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor immunoprecipitates. Following treatment with EGF, there is a substantial reduction in the PAP activity that co-precipitates with the EGF receptor. The loss of EGF receptor-associated PAP activity occurs with a concomitant increase in PAP activity associated with the epsilon isoform of protein kinase C (PKC). The PAP activity associated with PKCepsilon was dependent upon the PKC co-factors phosphatidylserine and DG but was independent of the kinase activity of PKCepsilon. These data suggest a novel signaling mechanism for the regulation of lipid second messenger production and implicate PAP as an important regulatory component for lipid second messenger production in receptor-mediated intracellular signaling.
Cell Line↗
Analysis of 76 kb of the chlorella virus PBCV-1 330-kb genome: map positions 182 to 258.
Analysis of 76 kb of newly sequenced DNA, located between map positions 182 and 258 kb in the 330-kb chlorella virus PBCV-1 genome, revealed 175 open reading frames (ORFs) of 65 codons or longer. One hundred and five of these 175 ORFs were considered major ORFs. Twenty-one of the 105 major ORFs resembled proteins in databases including ribonucleotide reductase small subunit, RNase III, thioredoxin, glutaredoxin, protein disulfide isomerase, deoxynucleoside kinase, frog virus 3 ATPase, Acetobacter cellulose synthase, a bacteriophage encoded endonuclease, and two C-5 cytosine DNA methyltransferases. One of the ORFs was the PBCV-1 major capsid protein. The 105 major ORFs were evenly distributed along the genome. One set of ORFs was separated by 543 nucleotides whereas 75 of the ORFs were separated by fewer than 100 nucleotides. Nineteen of the 175 ORFs resembled other PBCV-1 ORFs, suggesting that they represent either gene duplications or gene families.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Synthesis and characterization of pseudopeptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonists containing the 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one ring system.
A series of pseudopeptides containing alkyl-, cycloalkyl-, aryl-, and aralkyl-substituted 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one-3-acetic acids as amino acid surrogates to replace the Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5 section of the peptide bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist [Pro3, Phe5]HOE 140 (D-Arg0-Arg1-Pro2-Pro3-Gly4-Phe5-Ser6-D-Tic7+ ++-Oic8-Arg9) were prepared. These psuedopeptides were examined in vitro for their B2 receptor affinities as well as for their ability to block bradykinin mediated actions in vivo. Two compounds in particular, NPC 18521 (I) and NPC 18688 (V) were quite potent in these latter assays, indicating that a significant portion of this prototypical second generation decapeptide antagonist can be replaced with a more compact nonpeptide molecule.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
Succession of mutations in the Sabin strain of type 3 poliovirus replicating in the central nervous system of monkeys.
Sabin strains of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) undergo limited genetic changes during replication in cell cultures, the gastrointestinal tract of vaccinees, and the central nervous system of monkeys. Some of these changes are associated with loss of attenuation markers. Here we report the dynamics of mutant accumulation in the Sabin strain of poliovirus type 3 inoculated intraspinally into monkeys. Thr --> lle reversion in amino acid 6 of VP1 (2493 C --> U) occurred within the first few days postinoculation (p.i.), but decreased on later days and completely disappeared by Day 17 p.i. 472 U --> C reversion in the 5'-untranslated region appeared to accumulate slower and by Day 17 completely substituted for the vaccine-type nucleotide at this site. These results indicate that experimental infection of the central nervous system of monkeys consists of early and late phases in which a different genetic constitution of the virus is favored. In several isolates one additional neurovirulent revertant was found: a Phe --> Ser at amino acid 91 of VP3 (2034 U --> C). Since this mutation was never detected in vaccine lots and is strongly selected against in cell cultures at temperatures below 38.5 degrees, it does not threaten the safety of OPV.
Animals↗
Amino acid tandem repeats within a late viral gene define the central variable region of African swine fever virus.
The central variable region (CVR) of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) genome is contained within the 9-RL open reading frame (ORF). ORF 9-RL of the ASFV isolate Malawi Lil-20/1 predicts a protein of 614 amino acids with amino- and carboxy-terminal hydrophobic regions and a centrally located hydrophilic region. The CVR of the genome, located centrally within this ORF, is 372 bp and contains a 132-bp direct repeat. The translated CVR within ORF 9-RL contains 31 tandem tetramers, predominantly NADT, NANT, NVDT, and, in a few cases, CAST, GAST, or CADT. In vitro translation of 9-RL yielded a 94-kDa protein that was strongly reactive with convalescent pig serum while monospecific 9-RL antiserum identified a late viral protein of 94 kDa in ASFV-infected macrophages. The protein, detected by immunofluorescence staining with 9-RL antiserum, was distributed homogeneously throughout the cytoplasm of infected Vero cells. 9-RL protein size varied among different viral isolates and among cell-culture-adapted viruses. Protein size increased proportionately with the degree of cell culture adaptation and was directly correlated with the size of the CVR present within the ORF (300-500 bp). Analysis of the number and composition of tandem tetramers present within the CVR of a given ASFV isolate may prove useful for identifying and/or grouping ASFV isolates.
African Swine Fever Virus↗
Close correspondence between the action spectra for the blue light responses of the guard cell and coleoptile chloroplasts, and the spectra for blue light-dependent stomatal opening and coleoptile phototropism.
Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize blue light responses from chloroplasts of adaxial guard cells from Pima cotton (Gossypium barbadense) and coleoptile tips from corn (Zea mays). The chloroplast response to blue light was quantified by measurements of the blue light-induced enhancement of a red light-stimulated quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence. In adaxial (upper) guard cells, low fluence rates of blue light applied under saturating fluence rates of red light enhanced the red light-stimulated fluorescence quenching by up to 50%. In contrast, added blue light did not alter the red light-stimulated quenching from abaxial (lower) guard cells. This response pattern paralleled the blue light sensitivity of stomatal opening in the two leaf surfaces. An action spectrum for the blue light-induced enhancement of the red light-stimulated quenching showed a major peak at 450 nm and two minor peaks at 420 and 470 nm. This spectrum matched closely an action spectrum for blue light-stimulated stomatal opening. Coleoptile chloroplasts also showed an enhancement by blue light of red light-stimulated quenching. The action spectrum of this response, showing a major peak at 450 nm, a minor peak at 470 nm, and a shoulder at 430 nm, closely matched an action spectrum for blue light-stimulated coleoptile phototropism. Both action spectra match the absorption spectrum of zeaxanthin, a chloroplastic carotenoid recently implicated in blue light photoreception of both guard cells and coleoptiles. The remarkable similarity between the action spectra for the blue light responses of guard cells and coleoptile chloroplasts and the spectra for blue light-stimulated stomatal opening and phototropism, coupled to the recently reported evidence on a role of zeaxanthin in blue light photoreception, indicates that the guard cell and coleoptile chloroplasts specialize in sensory transduction.
Journal Article↗