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Biomedical subjects

Z Xie

Publications and source records attributed to Z Xie.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Five-Coordinate Hydrogen: Neutron Diffraction Analysis of the Hydrido Cluster Complex

Pentacoordinate hydrogen atoms were identified by single-crystal neutron diffraction analysis of [N(CH3)4]3[H2Rh13(CO)24]. The hydrogen atoms are located in square pyramidal cavities of the Rh13 cluster, in positions almost coplanar with the Rh4 faces on the surface of the cluster. They are slightly displaced inward, toward the central rhodium atom of the cluster, with average H-Rh(central) and H-Rh(surface) distances of 1.84(2) and 1.97(2) angstroms, respectively. This result shows that hydrogen, which normally forms only one bond, can be attached to five other atoms simultaneously in a large metal cluster.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Ouabain-induced hypertrophy in cultured cardiac myocytes is accompanied by changes in expression of several late response genes.

Partial inhibition of cardiac Na/K-ATPase by digitalis drugs such as ouabain is the initial event leading to positive inotropy in the heart. We showed recently that exposure of rat cardiac myocytes to ouabain concentrations that produce positive inotropy, but no overt toxicity, caused inductions of some early response genes and hypertrophy of these myocytes. The aim of this work was to determine if ouabain also affects the expressions of certain late response genes that are regulated by other hypertrophic stimuli. Non-toxic concentrations of ouabain (5-100 microM) increased mRNAs of skeletal alpha-actin, atrial natriuretic factor, myosin light chain 2, and transforming growth factor beta: indicating that ouabain's effects on these marker genes are similar to those of hypertrophic stimuli that mimic the effects of pressure overload. Expression of skeletal alpha-actin was more sensitive to ouabain than that of atrial natriuretic factor, suggesting significant differences in the ouabain-specific pathways of the induction of these fetal genes. The effects of ouabain on skeletal alpha-actin gene were transcriptional, and required an increase in net influx of extracellular Ca2+. Protein kinase C and Ca(2+)-calmodulin kinases, but not protein kinase A, were involved in the signal pathways leading to the induction of skeletal alpha-actin gene. These data and our prior findings indicate that an increase in net influx of Ca2+ through partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase initiates protein kinase-dependent pathways resulting in alterations in cardiac growth and expressions of both early and late response genes.

Actins↗
PubMed1997

Differential regulation of Na/K-ATPase alpha-subunit isoform gene expressions in cardiac myocytes by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli.

We showed before that partial inhibition of Na/K-ATPase by non-toxic concentrations of ouabain caused hypertrophic growth of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, and induced several early- and late-response genes that are markers of cardiac hypertrophy. The aim of this study was to determine if the genes of the alpha-subunit isoforms of Na/K-ATPase were among those regulated by ouabain; and if so, to begin the characterization of the pathways regulating these genes. When neonatal myocytes, expressing alpha1- and alpha3-isoform messages, were exposed to 5-100 micro M ouabain, alpha1 mRNA was not affected, but alpha3 mRNA was decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Ouabain-induced down-regulation of alpha3 mRNA was accompanied by a decrease in alpha3-protein content in these myocytes. There was a significant correlation between ouabain effects on alpha3-repression and skeletal alpha-actin induction; also, ouabain's transcriptional effects on both genes were antagonised by retinoic acid. These findings suggested the association of alpha3 repression with ouabain-induced hypertrophy. Phenylephrine and a phorbol ester, two hypertrophic stimuli that do not inhibit Na/K-ATPase, also down-regulated alpha3 mRNA without affecting alpha1 mRNA, suggesting that alpha3-repression is a common feature of the hypertrophic phenotype in these myocytes. Ouabain-induced repression of alpha3 required the influx of extracellular Ca2+, and was antagonized by inhibitors of protein kinase C, Ca2+-calmodulin kinase, and mitogen-activated protein kinase but not by inhibition of protein kinase A. These data, and prior findings on the mechanisms of hypertrophic effects of phenylephrine and phorbol esters, suggest that transcriptional repression of alpha3 by ouabain and other hypertrophic stimuli involves a common step regulated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The capillarity of left ventricular tissue of rats subjected to coronary artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: The effects of chronic coronary occlusion on the capillarity of left ventricular tissue in rat heart. METHODS: The heart was exposed through a left-sided thoracotomy in ethylether-anesthetized and ventilated rats. The left coronary artery was occluded with a thin suture and the thorax was closed. Thirty days after the surgery the heart was removed and cross-sections were made for morphometric analyses. RESULTS: The cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes increased markedly in the subepi- and subendocardia with a concomitant increase in the capillary to myocyte ratio. The total capillary density increased in the non-ischemic zone. The balance between the increase in capillary density and myocyte hypertrophy was assessed from the capillary domain area (CDA). CDAs were significantly smaller for the venular capillary portion in the subendocardial non-ischemic zone. However, CDAs in the transition zone around the necrosis were significantly increased in the venular capillary portion in the subendocardium and in all capillary portions in the subepicardium compared with those in the non-ischemic zone. Immunohistological staining for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) revealed punctate bFGF distribution in both the non-ischemic and transition zones of ventricular tissues 30 days after occlusion, suggesting a persistent stimulation for capillary angiogenesis. CONCLUSION: The remodelling of the capillary bed is not uniform throughout the cardiac tissue in coronary-occluded rat hearts. CDAs decreased in the non-ischemic zone but increased in the transition zone. The rate of capillary angiogenesis failed to parallel the development of hypertrophy in the transition zone over 30 days, as could be seen from the significant reduction in the percentage of venular capillary portions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cyclic AMP-independent activation of neutrophil-like HL-60 cells by prostaglandin E2.

The role of cAMP in mediating prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-stimulated aggregation of neutrophil-like HL-60 cells has been investigated. Although the EP2 receptors appear to couple to Gs-proteins, PGE2 stimulated HL-60 cell aggregation appears to be a cAMP-independent process. This response to PGE2 in independent of calcium and tyrosine kinase activity, appears to involve activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase which is negatively regulated by phosphatidic acid generated from phospholipase D activity, and is partially dependent on protein kinase C activity. In contrast, although the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) produces a similar aggregation response to PGE2, FMLP uses a distinct intracellular signalling pathway. The aggregation response to FMLP involves activation of Gi-proteins, is partially dependent on extracellular calcium, is negatively regulated by protein kinase C, and is independent of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospholipase D and tyrosine kinase activity. The possibility exists that EP2 receptor activation leads to Gs-dependent, but cAMP-independent, stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in HL-60 cells.

Cell Aggregation↗
PubMed1997

Induction of AP-1 activity associated with c-Jun and JunB is required for mitogenesis induced by insulin and vanadate in SV40-transformed 3T3T cells.

Insulin and vanadate function as complete mitogens for SV40-transformed murine 3T3T (CSV3-1) cells but not for nontransformed 3T3T cells. Mitogenesis induced by insulin and vanadate in CSV3-1 cells is associated with the induction of the expression of protooncogenes c-jun and junB, two major AP-1 transcription factor components. We now report that both insulin and vanadate induce a significant increase in AP-1 DNA binding activity in CSV3-1 cells but not in 3T3T cells. Gel supershift assays and Western blot analysis using specific antibodies demonstrate that the increased AP-1 binding activity induced by insulin and vanadate in CSV3-1 cells is primarily contributed by an increase in the expression of c-Jun and JunB protein levels. Furthermore, treatment of CSV3-1 cells with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides to c-jun or to junB blocks insulin- and vanadate-induced mitogenesis whereas antisense junD oligomers have no inhibitory effects. These results therefore demonstrate that the induction of AP-1 binding activity associated with c-Jun and JunB is required for insulin- and vandate-induced mitogenesis in SV40-transformed murine 3T3T cells. Additional data presented in this paper show that JunD/AP-1 binding activity, which is thought to play a negative role in regulating cell proliferation, is also slightly induced following insulin and vanadate stimulation in CSV3-1 cells. Nevertheless, the ratio of proliferation promoting c-Jun/AP-1 and JunB/AP-1 binding activities to proliferation inhibiting JunD/AP-1 binding activity is significantly increased following insulin and vanadate stimulation. These results therefore support the concept that modulation of the balance of positive Jun/AP-1 and negative Jun/AP-1 activities is important in regulating cell proliferation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1997

Effects of the beta 2-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol on capillary geometry in cardiac and skeletal muscles in young and middle-aged rats.

The effects of 10 day clenbuterol administration on cardiac and skeletal muscle capillarities were studied, particularly in terms of the distribution of arteriolar and venular capillaries and their capillary density, in young (10-week-old) and middle-aged (37-week-old) male Wistar rats. Rats of the treated groups were fed a diet containing 2 mg kg-1 clenbuterol hydrochloride. In both young and middle aged rats, clenbuterol treatment increased the body wt and the weights of the heart and hindlimb muscles. The mean fibre cross-sectional area was significantly increased after the treatment in the left ventricle, soleus, plantaris and both deep and superficial portions of gastrocnemius (P < 0.01). In the left ventricle, the total capillary density and the density of venular capillaries were decreased after the treatment in both young (9 and 13%, respectively) and middle-aged rats (10 and 11%, respectively). A decrease in total capillary density was also observed in all skeletal muscles examined. In both young and middle-aged rats, the capillary-to-fibre (C:F) ratio and the proportion of each capillary did not change after the treatment in both the left ventricle and skeletal muscles. Clenbuterol significantly decreased the activity of succinate dehydrogenase in all skeletal muscles examined (P < 0.01). These results suggest that clenbuterol increased the diffusion distance for oxygen in the left ventricle and skeletal muscles. These changes may reduce the oxygen supply to tissues and increase muscle fatigability.

Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists↗
PubMed1997

Infiltration of eosinophils into the asthmatic airways caused by interleukin 5.

Interleukin (IL)-5 is thought to play an important role in asthmatic bronchial mucosal inflammation and is a potential therapeutic target. To investigate the effect of IL-5 on the infiltration of eosinophils in airway in vivo, we compared eosinophil counts and their activation status in airways without and after the topical instillation of recombinant human IL-5. Eight subjects with mild atopic asthma underwent initial bronchoscopy during which control bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid as well as bronchial mucosa were obtained, and at the same time, normal saline and IL-5 were administered to two sublobar segments separately. The second bronchoscopy were carried out and samples from challenged sites were taken 24 h later. It was found that the total eosinophils (BMK-13+ cells) and the activated eosinophils (EG2+ cells) in bronchial mucosa, the eosinophil numbers in BAL fluid, as well as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in BAL fluid from saline-challenged segments were not different from those in unchallenged segments. However, a significant eosinophilia was observed in bronchial mucosa and BAL fluid from IL-5-challenged sites. Eosinophil activation, as assessed by secretion of ECP, was also increased significantly in bronchial mucosa and BAL fluid. The results strongly suggested that IL-5 is capable of inducing eosinophil infiltration into the asthmatic airways, as well as the activation of infiltrating eosinophils.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of transient coronary occlusion on the capillary network in the left ventricle of rat.

The objective was to examine the changes in the capillary network in the left ventricle of rats subjected to transient occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by reperfusion (I-R). Eighteen Wistar rats were divided into three groups and all rats were anaesthetized with ethyl ether and artificially ventilated. The I-R 1 rats were subjected to a 3 min occlusion followed by reperfusion; the I-R 3 rats had three 3 min occlusions separated by 3 min of reperfusion; the Sham-operated rats underwent surgery but the coronary artery was not occluded. The thorax was closed at the end of the procedures and the rats were sacrificed for isolation of the hearts 30 d after treatment. Frozen sections of the left ventricles were cut and differential staining was used to classify the capillary portions. Five additional rats treated as the I-R 1 group were sacrificed at 120 min after reperfusion. Their left ventricles were used for immunohistochemical investigation of the early expression of bFGF and VEGF. By comparison with the Sham-operated rats, both I-R groups showed increases in the capillary density of total and venular capillary portions, an increased capillary : myocyte (C : M) ratio and a decrease in the capillary domain area in the three capillary portions. The changes in the I-R 1 group were significantly greater than those in the I-R 3 group, suggesting that the frequent experience of ischemic attack reduces the capacity of angiogenesis. In the rats sacrificed 120 min after the start of reperfusion, bFGF and VEGF were expressed on capillaries and in some myocytes. Punctate bFGF or VEGF staining was observed even 30 d after the transient ischemia. One 3 min occlusion of the left coronary artery followed by reperfusion produced changes in capillarity that would increase the oxygen supply to ventricular tissues. These effects may be attributed to the bFGF and VEGF expressed around capillaries. Repeated occlusions interspersed with a short period of reperfusion reduced the advantageous effects on capillarity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Remodeling of capillary network in left ventricular subendocardial tissues induced by intravenous vasopressin administration.

OBJECTIVE: The question of whether the coronary vasospasm induced by intravenous administration of vasopressin produces any remodeling of the capillary network in the left ventricle was investigated. To this end, cardiac tissues obtained from vasopressin-injected rats were stained to allow capillary counting and for basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). METHODS: Nine male Donryu rats were divided into three groups that received, respectively, 0.25 ml of saline containing 0, 0.5, or 1.0 U/kg vasopressin injected into the tail vein once daily for 4 days. Rats were killed 30 days after the last injection. Two additional rats each received a single intravenous injection of 1.0 U/kg vasopressin and were killed 24 hours later. The left ventricles were removed and 16- or 10-micron frozen sections were cut for differential staining and distribution of bFGF, respectively. Differential staining was used to classify the capillary portions, and bFGF was identified by immunohistological staining. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, total capillary density was increased in both vasopressin-treated groups, capillary to myocyte ratio was increased, and the capillary domain areas decreased in the three capillary portions. Arteriolar and intermediate capillary portions increased, while the venular capillary portion decreased. In rats killed 24 hours after vasopressin injection, a considerable amount of bFGF could be demonstrated immunohistochemically in the ventricular tissues, and the punctate distribution of bFGF was still found in rats killed 30 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A remodeling of capillary network which would increase the oxygen transport capacity to cardiac tissues was produced in left ventricular tissues by intravenous injection of vasopressin. bFGF located around capillaries and in the interstitial space may have been involved in the capillary remodeling.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical evaluation on parenteral nutrition in neonatal disease].

Thirty cases of neonatal disease were treated with parenteral nutrition (PN) as an adjuvant treatment and compared with the control group (n = 30). The body weight and plasma albumin increased remarkably in the PN group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). No significant metabolic complication was occurred (P > 0.05). PN proved to be a safe and effective approach for neonatal patients, in which nutritional admixture components were adjusted day by day according to gestational age, body weight, disease course and monitor indexes to match the actual gastric intestinal tract function.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of hypoxia on maximal myocardial blood flow in right ventricle].

In order to study the changes of coronary reserve capacity, the effects of hypoxia on hemodynamics and maximal myocardial blood flow in right ventricle were observed. Rats wre divided into 3 groups:normoxic group (control), acute hypoxic group and chronic hypoxic group. Maxmimal myocardial blood flow in the right ventricle was measured with 99 m Tc radiolabelled from RBC during adenosine infusion. The results showed that cardiac output, PaO2 and oxygen delivery were decreased during acute hypoxia, but myocardial blood flow in right ventricle was increased, as compared with the control group. There were no significant change of maximal myocardial blood flow in the right ventricle in acute hypoxic rats. Hematocrit and blood viscosity at different shear rate and RV weight index were augmented, whereas oxygen delivery and myocardial blood flow became normal during chronic hypoxia. Maximal blood flow in RV was significantly decreased whereas arterial wall thickness and collagen in arterial adventitia were increased in chronic hypoxic rats. The above results suggest that the decreased coronary reserve might beresulted from the increasedblood viscosity, arterial wall thickness and collagen in arterial adventitia and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Blocking effects of dimethoate on acetylcholine receptor channels].

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the inhibitory effect of dimethoate, an organophosphrous pesticide, on the membrane of embryoinc Xenopus musle cells in culture. Using whole-cell clamp and cell-attached clamp, we found that the direct inhibitory effects of dimethoate was evidenced on both miniature end-plate currents (MEPC) and single channel currents. Dimethoate increased the amplitude and frequency of MEPC at a lower concentration (21.6 mumol/L) while both decreased at a higher concentration (237 mumol/L). The dimethoate at a concentration of 146 mumol/L shortened the opening time and decreased the opening probability of the single channel. The results show that dimethoate is an AChR channel blocker.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A clinical study on the effect of reinforcement of kidney on senile brain functions.

In this study, Wu Zi Yan Zong ([symbol: see text] WZYZ) fluid was used as the main recipe for reinforcement of the kidney. Six weeks after the therapy, the abilities of instantaneous memory and the memory of the segments of logical story were elevated, the time of upright standing with one leg and closure of the eye was prolonged, and the hand tremor and degree of kidney deficiency were improved, but the memory width (memory in sequence and in reverse sequence of a figure) showed no significant difference in comparison with that before treatment.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Study of estrogen receptors in hepatocellular carcinoma and its response to anti-estrogen therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the usefulness of anti-estrogen therapy for moderately and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Estrogen receptors (ER) were examined in 51 cases of HCC by immunohistochemical staining of needle aspiration biopsy HCC specimens. The cases studied were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (N = 25) and the anti-estrogen treated group (N = 26). Patients in the control group were given matelin and immune RNA while those in the anti-estrogen treated group were given Tamoxifen in addition. A 50% reduction of serum AFP level and a 50% decrease in tumor size were considered therapeutically effective. RESULTS: In the control group, the response rate as judged by AFP level (RR-AFP) and by tumor size (RR-TS) in the ER+ patients was 42.9% (3 of 7 cases) and 14.3% (1 of 7 cases), respectively, while the 2 RRs in the ER- patients were lower but the difference was statistically insignificant. In contrast, in the Tamoxifen-treated group, RR-AFP was 83.3% (5 of 6 cases) and RR-TS was 50.0% (3 of 6 cases). The difference in RRs of ER+ patients in the 2 groups was statistically significant. No complete remission was observed. CONCLUSION: Endocrinotherapy may be of value in the treatment of ER+ HCC.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The development of an computerized analysis system for the women pelvic cavity impedance rheogram].

This article introduces the components and functions of an computered analysis system for the women pelvic cavity impedance rheogram. It can sample the pelvic cavity impedance rheogram signal of the body double-side and the reference ECG signal. With help of manual intervence, it also can automatically recognize characteristic points of the pelvic cavity impedance rheogram and measure the parameters. It can correct the recognized characteristic points simultaneously and print the pelvic cavity impedance rheogram of the body double-side and 15 characteristic data parameters. After clinical applying, the analysis results of mors 100 patients make clear that: this system has remarkably clinical significance for diagnosis of the women pelvic cavity extravasated blood and evaluation of treating effect, so it has much better clinical applied expectation.

Equipment Design↗