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Biomedical subjects

Z Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to Z Zhou.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Pregnancy and lactation are associated with diminished concentrations of choline and its metabolites in rat liver.

Choline is an important nutrient that is actively transported from mother to fetus across the placenta and from mother to infant across the mammary gland. Thus, pregnancy and lactation are times when dietary requirements for choline may be increased. Pregnant rats eating AIN-76A diet (with and without choline) for 6 d (d 12-18 gestation) were compared with nonmated female and male rats eating the same diets. Similarly, lactating rats were compared with nonmated female rats, both groups eating these same diets for 25 d (gestation d 12-postpartum d 15). We measured choline and choline metabolites in livers on the last day of feeding. Nonmated female rats, eating the control diet, had higher hepatic choline metabolites concentrations than did male rats (choline, 98%; betaine, 96%; and phosphorylcholine, 55% higher), pregnant rats (phosphorylcholine, 47%; and betaine, 42% higher) or lactating rats (phosphorylcholine, 49%; phosphatidylcholine, 37%; and betaine, 273% higher). We found that nonmated females eating a choline deficient diet had only a modest diminution (33%) of the labile choline metabolite PCho in liver, compared with similar rats eating a control diet. When compared with similar rats fed a choline-adequate diet, pregnant rats fed a choline-deficient diet had significantly great diminution of hepatic phosphorylcholine (83% lower) than did nonmated females. Liver phosphorylcholine was only 12% lower than in controls in nonmated females fed the deficient diet for the same 25-d period. Lactating rats were the most sensitive to choline deficiency, with liver phosphorylcholine 88% lower than in similar rats fed control diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of promoter elements required for cell-specific expression of the neurotensin/neuromedin N gene in a human endocrine cell line.

Expression of the gene encoding neurotensin/neuromedin N (NT/N) is mostly limited to the brain and specialized enteroendocrine cells (N cells) of the distal small intestine. We have analyzed the NT/N DNA sequences upstream of the RNA start site that direct cell-specific expression using a novel human endocrine cell line, BON, that resembles intestinal N cells in several important aspects, including NT/N precursor protein processing, ratios of different NT/N mRNA forms, and high levels of constitutive expression of the NT/N gene. Transient transfection assays with plasmids with progressive 5' deletions of the rat NT/N promoter identified the proximal 216 bp of 5' flanking sequences as essential for high-level constitutive NT/N expression in BON cells. In addition, a detailed mutational analysis defined multiple regions within the proximal 216 bp that contribute to cell-specific NT/N expression. These elements include a proximal cyclic AMP response element (CRE)/AP-1-like motif (TGACATCA) that binds c-Jun, JunD, CRE-binding (CREB), and ATF proteins, a near-consensus glucocorticoid response element, and a distal consensus AP-1 site that binds c-Fos, Fra-1, and JunD. In addition, elements contained within two 21-bp imperfect direct repeats play an important role in NT/N expression in BON cells and may bind novel factors that act as positive regulators of NT/N expression. DNase I footprinting and gel shift analyses demonstrate that the sites identified by mutational analysis, and at least one additional site, specifically bind BON cell nuclear proteins in vitro. We speculate that a complex pattern of regulation requiring interaction between a proximal CRE/AP-1-like motif and other upstream control elements play an important role in the high-level constitutive expression of NT/N in the human endocrine cell line BON. In addition, the BON cell line provides a unique model to further characterize the factors regulating cell-specific NT/N expression and to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the terminal differentiation of the N-cell lineage in the gut.

Activating Transcription Factor 1↗
PubMed1995

The neurotensin gene is a downstream target for Ras activation.

Ras regulates novel patterns of gene expression and the differentiation of various eukaryotic cell types. Stable transfection of Ha-ras into the human colon cancer line CaCo2 results in the morphologic differentiation to a small bowel phenotype. The purpose of our study was to determine whether the Ras regulatory pathway plays a role in the expression of the neurotensin gene (NT/N), a terminally differentiated endocrine product specifically localized in the gastrointestinal tract to the adult small bowel. We found that CaCo2-ras cells, but not parental CaCo2, express high levels of the human NT/N gene and, moreover, that this increase in gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription. Transfection experiments using NT/N-CAT mutation constructs identify the proximal 200 bp of NT/N flanking sequence as sufficient for maximal Ras-mediated NT/N reporter gene induction. Furthermore, a proximal AP-1/CRE motif is crucial for this Ras-mediated NT/N activation. Wild-type Ha-ras induces NT/N gene expression, albeit at lower levels than activated Ras; a dominant-negative Raf blocks this NT/N induction, suggesting that Raf lies down-stream of Ras in this pathway. In addition, postconfluent cultures of CaCo2 cells, which are differentiated to a small bowel phenotype, express the NT/N gene by 6 d after reaching confluency; this increase of NT/N expression is associated with concomitant increases of cellular p21ras protein. We conclude that Ras (both wild-type and activated) enhances expression of the NT/N gene in the gut-derived CaCo2 cell line, suggesting an important role for the Ras signaling pathway in NT/N gene transcription. Our results underscore the possibility that tissue-specific genes (such as NT/N) expressed in distinct subpopulations of the gut may be subject to Ras regulation. Finally, we speculate that the NT/N gene and the CaCo2 and CaCo2-ras cell systems will provide unique models to further define the cellular mechanisms leading to mammalian intestinal differentiation.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1995

[Clinical significance of urodynamic study in benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Urodynamic study, including UFR, cystometry, UPP, and EMG was carried out in 74 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) during the past 5 years. The correlations of prostate volume (57.3 +/- 6.3 ml), prostate length (4.94 +/- 1.23 cm) and detrusor pressure (6.54 +/- 4.73 kPa) were analysed. The results showed that urodynamic study plays an important role in indicating the time and method of operative treatment and predicting the prognosis of BPH operation. The fistularization of the bladder should be performed on the patients with the bladder disfunction. The measurement of the urethral resistance is of value in the diagnosis of posterior urethra obstruction than that of UFR.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Long-term results after meniscectomy in 60 patients.

The long-term results of total meniscectomy in 60 patients were reviewed. The patients were followed up to 10 to 33 years. 58.3% of the patients had excellent or good results. Statistical analysis showed that the late results were related to the time of follow-up and not associated with the duration of disease before operation. Radiological degeneration of the knee was seen in 35 patients (87.5%), whereas no relationship of the degeneration to the clinical results was found. It is indicated that the menisci are so important in biomechanics that total meniscectomy should be avoided as far as possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Effect of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. on gastric acid secretion, serum gastrin and plasma somatostatin concentration].

The patients with chronic superficial gastritis were perfused in the stomach with 20 g of Dendrobium nobile to observe the variations in gastric acidity output, serum gastrin and plasma somatostatin concentration. The result showed a significant increase in both acidity output and serum gastrin concentration (P < 0.01). No significant change occurred in plasma somatostatin concentration (P > 0.05).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Radiologic study of ossifying fibroma of the facial and jaw bones].

83 cases with ossifying fibroma were diagnosed by clinical, histopathological and radiological criteria, and were analyzed radiologically. Four distinct radiographic patterns were identified according to the radiodensity and shape: (1) cystic radiolucent (42.2%), (2) ground-grass (7.2%), (3) sclerotic change (9.6%), (4) mixed change of radiolucent and radiopaque (41.0%). The lesions showed a growth pattern of round expanding in all directions with well-defined margin and frequent involvement of teeth. A preliminary analysis of the relationship among the clinical, radiological and histopathological manifestations was presented. The diagnostic criteria was proposed and differentiate diagnosis was discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Making risk adjustment work for everyone.

This article explores how to reward health plans that serve people with disabilities and residents of low-income areas. We analyze health care expenditure patterns for Medicaid-covered persons with disabilities in Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, demonstrating that diagnostic classifications are predictably related to resource utilization, and that health care expenditures are much more predictable for persons with disabilities than for the nondisabled. The implications of this analysis for risk-adjusted payment systems are explored. We also consider methods of assuring that health plans will provide high-quality care to the residents of inner city neighborhoods.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1995

Composite acupuncture treatment of mental retardation in children.

128 children of mental retardation were diagnosed in accordance with the diagnostic standards proposed by WHO in 1985. The patients were treated compositely with acupuncture, auriculo-acupoint pellet pressure and herbal plasters on acupoints, bringing about improved mental developments in intelligence quotient (IQ) and social adaptation behaviour (SAB), as evidenced by recognized intelligence tests for children.

Acupuncture Points↗
PubMed1995

[Usage of the geno-toxicological studies in the biological evaluation of dental materials].

The salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames test), the Bacillus subtilis repair test and SOS chromotest are three sorts of sort-term mutagenic test, which were developed recently and had their individual terminal point to examine genotoxins. A battery of short-term tests was made up of these three mutagenic tests to examine the mutagenicity of formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and resorcinal. The results verified formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde were genetoxins, and discovered resorcinal not only had no mutagenicity, but also had the antimutagenicity to some genotoxic agents. In addition, the methods of three tests were described and the use of the battery was introduced and evaluated.

DNA Repair↗
PubMed1995

Change in MIB-1 staining between primary and recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: In recent articles, MIB-1 staining has been shown to relate to length of survival of patients with epithelial ovarian malignancies. We report a case showing the difference in MIB-1 between the primary and recurrent tumor. CASE REPORT: A 63 year old female had a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy, partial omentectomy, and a staging procedure which achieved optimal debulking of a clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary. Final pathology revealed Stage IIIc disease because of one positive left iliac node. All other specimens except for the ovaries were negative for malignancy. The proliferation index of the tumor based on MIB-1 monoclonal antibody staining was 4.10%. The patient then was treated with 6 courses of carboplatin and cyclophosphamide. After a microscopically positive second look laparotomy, the patient received 4800 cGy of external beam radiation to the pelvic and paraaortic lymph node bearing areas. Fifteen months after the original diagnosis, a suspicious vaginal mass was biopsied and found to be recurrent clear cell adenocarcinoma consistent with an ovarian primary. MIB-1 monoclonal antibody staining of the recurrent cancer gave a proliferation index of 38.73%. The patients is still alive with a CA-125 which has plateaued between 60 U/ml and 70 U/ml, fourteen months after recurrence. CONCLUSION: The proliferation index by MIB-1 staining may be affected by treatment for ovarian epithelial malignancies.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗
PubMed1995

[Antikeratin antibodies: another specific antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

Sera from 107 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 120 patients with other rheumatic diseases and 60 blood donors were tested with indrect immunofluorescence on the middle third of Wistar rat oesophagus as a substrate for the presence of antikeratin antibodies (AKA). By labelling the stratum corneum and stratum spinosum with IgG antibodies, three patterns of reaction were distinguished. Among them, only one pattern which showed an intense linear laminated fluorescence on stratum corneum and a weak fluorensence on stratum spinosum was valuable for the diagnosis of RA, with a specificity of 99% and a sensitivity of 23%. It was also found that they were not related to the presence of rheumatoid factor or anti-RA 33,000/36,000 antibodies. Thus, AKA might be another marker antibody in RA.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Effects of berberine on single Ca2+ channel current in cultured embryonic chick ventricular myocytes].

On cultured embryonic chick ventricular myocytes, we investigated the influence of berberine (BR) on single Ca2+ channel current using patch clamp technique with cell-attached configuration. The results showed that BR could increase the single Ca2+ channel current significantly and the increases of open availability (Ps) and open probability (Po) caused by BR were 114.2% (P < 0.001) and 75.3% (P < 0.05), respectively. The beta-receptor antagonist propranolol and Ca2+ channel blocker ispotin could reverse the effects of BR on single Ca2+ channel, suggesting that (1) BR works as a Ca2+ channel agonist; (2) the regulating effects of BR on single Ca2+ channel is depending upon the phosphorylation process induced by beta-receptor activity.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1995

[Research on the different blood types umbilical cord blood hematopoietic progenitors mixed culture in vitro].

Using single layer agar culture method, we make a study on culture of human hematopoietic progenitor cell from umbilical cord blood. The result showed the mean value of the granulocyte macrophage progenitor cells (CFU-GM) from twenty neonates cord blood was 95.6 +/- 36.5/10(6) MNC. We compared the mixed culture of two different blood types neonates cord blood hematopoietic progenitors with single sample and found little difference between them in number and growth characteristics. This may provide a theoretical basis for clinical transplantation of mixed human cord progenitor cells.

Blood Group Antigens↗
PubMed1995

[A survey on distribution of red cell blood group systems in naxi and primi ethnic groups].

A survey of distribution of red cell blood group systems, including ABO, MNSs, Rh and P, was carried out on the Naxi and Primi ethnic groups in Yunnan province. The results based on 104 cases in each of the two ethnic groups showed that both Naxi and Primi possessed a high gene frequency r of 0.6082 and 0.6882, respectively, with gene frequency p = q. The gene frequency m of Naxi (0.8509) was found to be very high among the populations studied in China until now, only next to that of Lizu (0.8709). The most common phenotype of Rh system was CcDE- in both Naxi and Primi, with a quite high cDE frequency. No case of Rh negative was observed in the two ethnic groups. The P1 in Naxi approximated to that in Primi. The red cell blood group systems and their genetic distances suggested that the Naxi and Primi was genetically close to ethnic groups of North China, but different from those of South China. This fact suggests that these two ethnics groups originated from the North China.

ABO Blood-Group System↗