Decision Support System for the Analysis of Hospital Operation Indicators

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Dec, 2002  |  Pubmed ID: 12594099

The inauguration of national health insurance (NHI) in many countries and their worsening financial condition has increased the sensitivity to operational cost and efficiency in hospitals. For several years, hospitals have been monitoring their operations by analyzing the financial and operational reports that are provided. Because of the rapidly changing character of the medical industry, statistical data shown on paper are no longer sufficient for decision makers. This paper describes a decision support system (DSS) for hospital administrators to assist in analyzing their operations efficiently and precisely. In hospitals, operational data of outpatients and inpatients are now stored on computers, resulting in much easier and faster data acquisition for administrators. The proposed system makes suggestions to hospital administrators and is able to self-learn to improve its future usefulness. With the dual capabilities of integrating evaluations and data collecting, the system can assist administrators in discovering and resolving problems quickly. The system provides multidimensional and multilevel analyses, by using data warehousing techniques, and generates appropriate advice to users by employing decision-making methodology. The self-learning function of the system makes it work like an expert, continually modifying its content (knowledge) and generating advice that is promptly updated to accord with changes in the medical industry.

Induction of Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (VLDLR) Transcription by VLDL is Mediated by the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Signaling Pathway

Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences = Hua Zhong Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ying De Wen Ban = Huazhong Keji Daxue Xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen Ban. 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12973919

To elucidate the intracellular signaling pathways for VLDL-induced VLDLR transcription, Western blot analysis was used to examine phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein. It was found that that VLDL induced an increase in ERK1/2 activity in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent manner in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. By using different protein kinases inhibitors or activators it was observed that the effect of VLDL-induced VLDL receptor transcription, which is monitored by RTPCR analysis of VLDL receptor mRNA, was not affected by the inhibitor of p38 kinase and cAMP analog, but completely abolished by pretreatment of the cells with PD 98059, an inhibitor of MEK and GF 109203X, an inhibitor of PKC. These results demonstrated that the PKC/ERK1/2 cascade is the essential signaling pathway by which VLDL activates VLDL receptor mRNA expression.

[Effects of Panax Notoginseng Saponins on the Expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Secretion Phospholipase A2 in Rats with Liver Fibrosis]

Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi = Zhonghua Ganzangbing Zazhi = Chinese Journal of Hepatology. Jan, 2003  |  Pubmed ID: 12546751

Role of VLDL Receptor in the Process of Foam Cell Formation

Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences = Hua Zhong Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ying De Wen Ban = Huazhong Keji Daxue Xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen Ban. 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15168660

The role of very low density lipoprotein receptor (LVLDR) in the process of foam cell formation was investigated. After the primary cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were incubated with VLDL, beta-VLDL or low density lipoprotein (LDL), respectively for 24 h and 48 h, foam cells formation was identified by oil red O staining and cellular contents of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined. The mRNA levels of LDLR, LDLR related protein (ILRP) and VLDLR were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results demonstrated that VLDL, beta-VLDL and LDL could increase the contents of TG and TC in macrophages. Cells treated with VLDL or beta-VLDL showed markedly increased expression of VLDLR and decreased expression of LDLR, whereas LRP was up-regulated slightly. For identifying the effect of VLDL receptor on cellular lipid accumulation, ldl-A7-VR cells, which expresses VLDLR and trace amount of LRP without functional LDLR, was used to incubate with lipoproteins for further examination. The results elucidated that the uptake of triglyceride-rich lipoprotein mediated by VLDLR plays an important role in accumulation of lipid and the formation of foam cells.

[Relationship Between Fibrinogen B Beta Gene FGB -455G/A Polymorphism and Atherosclerotic Cerebral Infarction]

Zhonghua Yi Xue Yi Chuan Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua Yixue Yichuanxue Zazhi = Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics. Aug, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15300640

To explore the distribution of fibrinogen (FGB) B beta polymorphism in Chinese Han population and the association of the polymorphisms with the occurrence of atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (ACI).

Preparation and Characterization of Polyclonal Antibodies Against VLDL Receptor

Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences = Hua Zhong Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ying De Wen Ban = Huazhong Keji Daxue Xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen Ban. 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15315325

The polyclonal antibodies against VLDL receptor were prepared and identified. Rabbits were immunized with polypeptide fragment of VLDL receptor as antigen. The collected blood serum of the immunized rabbits was analyzed and identified by using ELISA and Western Blot. The results showed that the rabbit against mouse and human VLDL receptor antibodies were obtained with high titer and could recognize the natural VLDL receptors through Western blot. The prepared polyclonal antibodies against VLDL receptor provide a new tool to study the protein of VLDL receptor.

[Cloning and Characterization of Two MADS Box Genes from Peach (Prunus Persica)]

Yi Chuan Xue Bao = Acta Genetica Sinica. Sep, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15493140

With the aim of finding genes involved in the floral transition of Prunus species (Prunus sp.), the EST (expressed sequence tags) sequences were extracted from the public databases. Eight MADS box genes' cDNAs were obtained. Two of them, PpMADS4 and PpMADS6 (The accession numbers in GenBank are AY705972 and AY705973), were cloned from peach (Prunus persica). The full length cDNA of PpMADS4 is 850 bp long. It contains an open reading frame of 732 bp, coding for a polypeptide of 243 amino acids. The full length cDNA of PpMADS6 is 1,190 bp long. It contains an open reading frame of 768 bp coding for a polypeptide of 256 amino acids. PpMADS4 closely resembles the Arabidopsis AGAMOUS gene. It is an AGAMOUS-like C class MADS box gene, and it expresses in petal, carpel, fruit and nutlet as demonstrated by RT-PCR analysis. PpMADS6 is likely to be the peach orthologue of the Petunia PFG genes and it is an A class MADS box gene. It has been shown with RT-PCR that it expresses in leaf, sepal, petal, carpel and fruit. It may be involved in the transition from the juvenile to the adult stage.

Structures and Reactivity of Zr(IV) Chlorobenzene Complexes

Journal of the American Chemical Society. Dec, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15563145

The synthesis, structures, and unusual reactivity of (C5R5)2ZrR'(ClPh)+ chlorobenzene complexes are described. The reaction of (C5R5)2ZrR'2 with [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] in C6D5Cl affords [(C5R5)2ZrR'(ClC6D5)][B(C6F5)4] chlorobenzene complexes (1-d5, R' = CH2Ph and (C5R5)2 = (C5H5)2; 2a-d-d5, R' = Me and (C5R5)2 = rac-(1,2-ethylene(bis)indenyl) (2a), (C5H5)2 (2b), (C5H4Me)2 (2c), (C5Me5)2 (2d, C5Me5 = Cp*)). Complexes 1 and 2b,c are thermally robust but are converted to [{(C5R5)2Zr(mu-Cl)}2][B(C6F5)4]2 (4b,c) by a photochemical process in ClPh solution. In contrast, 2d undergoes facile thermal ortho-C-H activation to yield [Cp*2Zr(eta2-C,Cl-2-Cl-C6H4)][B(C6F5)4] (5), which slowly rearranges to [(eta4,eta1-C5Me5C6H4)Cp*ZrCl][B(C6F5)4] (6) via beta-Cl elimination and benzyne insertion into a Zr-CCp* bond. The higher thermal reactivity of 2d versus that of 1 and 2b,c is attributed to steric crowding associated with the Cp* ligands of 2d, which forces a ClPh ortho-hydrogen close to the Zr-Me group.

Beta-VLDL Induced VLDL-R's Up-regulation Via PKC-ERK1/2 Signal Pathway

Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences = Hua Zhong Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ying De Wen Ban = Huazhong Keji Daxue Xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen Ban. 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15587387

To explore the intracellular signal pathways for beta-VLDL induced very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDL-R) transcription up-regulation and their effects on lipid accumulation in macrophages, Western Blot was used to examine phosphorylated ERK1/2 protein and regulated effects by different singal kinase inhibitants. It was found that beta-VLDL induced an increase in ERK1/2 activity in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent manner in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. By using different protein kinases inhibitors or activators, it was observed that the effect of beta-VLDL induced VLDL receptor transcription, which was monitored by RT-PCR analysis of VLDL receptor mRNA, was not affected by the inhibitor of p38 kinase and cAMP analog, but extremely abolished by pretreating cells with PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK and GF 109203X, an inhibitor of PKC. These results demonstrated that the PKC-ERK1/2 cascade is the essential signaling pathway by which beta-VLDL activated VLDL-R mRNA expression. Inhibition of the ERK1/2 signaling cascade resulted in suppression of the cellular lipid accumulation induced by beta-VLDL in macrophages.

Concise Synthesis of Novel Practical Sulfamide-amine Alcohols for the Enantioselective Addition of Diethylzinc to Aldehydes

The Journal of Organic Chemistry. Dec, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15609945

Novel sulfamide-amine alcohol ligands were designed using a grafting strategy and synthesized from readily available starting materials via a simple, efficient method. The key features of these ligands for the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes included stability, enhanced effectiveness without using Ti(O(i)Pr)(4), suitability for a variety of aldehydes, the ability to operate at room temperature, and selectability to afford either absolute configuration products with enantiomeric excess up to >99%.

Benzhydryl As an Efficient Selective Nitrogen Protecting Group for Uracils

The Journal of Organic Chemistry. Dec, 2004  |  Pubmed ID: 15609973

Regioselective N-substitution of the less active nitrogen within uracil analogues has been achieved following preliminary N-protection at the more active N-position with a benzhydryl protecting group. This protecting group is stable to concentrated HCl (aqueous) at reflux temperature, TFA at room temperature, and Pd-C-catalyzed normal pressure hydrogenation at room temperature; the benzhydryl group can be removed quantitatively and selectively with a 10% triflic acid solution in TFA at 0 degree C.

Acrylonitrile Insertion Reactions of Cationic Palladium Alkyl Complexes

Journal of the American Chemical Society. Feb, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15701020

The reactions of acrylonitrile (AN) with "L(2)PdMe+" species were investigated; (L(2) = CH(2)(N-Me-imidazol-2-yl)(2) (a, bim), (p-tolyl)(3)CCH(N-Me-imidazol-2-yl)(2) (b, Tbim), CH(2)(5-Me-2-pyridyl)(2) (c, CH(2)py'(2)), 4,4'-Me(2)-2,2'-bipyridine (d), 4,4'-(t)Bu(2)-2,2'-bipyridine (e), (2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3))N=CMeCMe=N(2,6-(i)Pr(2)-C(6)H(3)) (f)). [L(2)PdMe(NMe(2)Ph)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (2a-c) and [{L(2)PdMe}(2)(mu-Cl)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (2d-f) react with AN to form N-bound adducts L(2)Pd(Me)(NCCH=CH(2))(+) (3a-f). 3a-e undergo 2,1 insertion to yield L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}+, which form aggregates [L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}](n)(n)(+) (n = 1-3, 4a-e) in which the Pd units are proposed to be linked by PdCHEtCN- - -Pd bridges. 3f does not insert AN at 23 degrees C. 4a-e were characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, IR and derivatization to L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}(PR(3))+ (R = Ph (5a-e), Me (6a-c)). 4a,b react with CO to form L(2)Pd{CH(CN)Et}(CO)+ (7a,b). 7a reacts with CO by slow reversible insertion to yield (bim)Pd{C(=O)CH(CN)Et}(CO)+ (8a). 4a-e do not react with ethylene. (Tbim)PdMe+ coordinates AN more weakly than ethylene, and AN insertion of 3b is slower than ethylene insertion of (Tbim)Pd(Me)(CH(2)=CH(2))(+) (10b). These results show that most important obstacles to insertion polymerization or copolymerization of AN using L(2)PdR+ catalysts are the tendency of L(2)Pd{CH(CN)CH(2)R}+ species to aggregate, which competes with monomer coordination, and the low insertion reactivity of L(2)Pd{CH(CN)CH(2)R}(substrate)+ species.

Readily Available Sulfamide-amine Alcohols for Enantioselective Phenylacetylene Addition to Aldehydes in the Absence of Ti(O(i)Pr)4

Chirality. May, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15841478

Ephedrine-derived sulfamide-amine alcohol 3 was found to be an effective catalyst for the asymmetric phenylacetylene addition to aldehydes at room temperature without using Ti(O(i)Pr)4 and Zn(OTf)2. It afforded the propargylic alcohols in high yields (up to 99%) and good enantioselectivities (up to 84% ee), which were much higher than that based on N-methylephedrine under the same reaction conditions. Its weakly coordinative sulfonamide moiety of the ligand plays an important role for further acceleration and stereocontrol in the alkynylation.

Variations of Very Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor Subtype Expression in Gastrointestinal Adenocarcinoma Cells with Various Differentiations

World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG. May, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15884130

This study is aimed at investigating the expression and possible significances of very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) subtypes in gastroenteric adenocarcinoma tissues and cells with various differentiations.

Regulation of CFTR Channels by HCO(3)--sensitive Soluble Adenylyl Cyclase in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology. Nov, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 15958523

CFTR channels conduct HCO(3)(-) in addition to Cl(-) in airway epithelial cells. A defective HCO(3)(-)-transporting function of CFTR may underlie the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. In the present study, we have investigated whether a HCO(3)(-)-sensitive soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) is functionally coupled with CFTR and thus forms an autoregulatory mechanism for HCO(3)(-) transport in human airway epithelial Calu-3 cells. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed that transcripts of both full-length and truncated sACs are present in Calu-3 cells. Truncated sAC protein is the predominant, if not the only, isoform expressed in Calu-3 cells. HCO(3)(-) stimulated a modest increase in cAMP production, and the increase was sensitive to 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-HE), a sAC inhibitor, but not to SQ22,536, a blocker of conventional transmembrane adenylyl cyclases. These results suggest that sAC is functional in Calu-3 cells. Adding 25 mM HCO(3)(-) to the bath stimulated CFTR-mediated whole cell currents in the absence, but not in the presence, of 2-HE. In cell-attached membrane patches, 25 or 50 mM HCO(3)(-) in the bath markedly increased the product of channel number and open probability of CFTR, and this activation was attenuated by 2-HE. These findings demonstrate that sAC signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of CFTR function in human airway epithelium and thereby provides a link between the level of intracellular HCO(3)(-)/CO(2) and the modulation of HCO(3)(-)-conductive CFTR function by cAMP/PKA.

Oscillations in a Simple Microvascular Network

Annals of Biomedical Engineering. Jun, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16078616

We have identified the simplest topology that will permit spontaneous oscillations in a model of microvascular blood flow that includes the plasma skimming effect and the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect and assumes that the flow can be described by a first-order wave equation in blood hematocrit. Our analysis is based on transforming the governing partial differential equations into delay differential equations and analyzing the associated linear stability problem. In doing so we have discovered three dimensionless parameters, which can be used to predict the occurrence of nonlinear oscillations. Two of these parameters are related to the response of the hydraulic resistances in the branches to perturbations. The other parameter is related to the amount of time necessary for the blood to pass through each of the branches. The simple topology used in this study is much simpler than networks found in vivo. However, we believe our analysis will form the basis for understanding more complex networks.

Effects of Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein on the Expression and Function of ABCA1 in Macrophages

Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences = Hua Zhong Ke Ji Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ying De Wen Ban = Huazhong Keji Daxue Xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen Ban. 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16116948

In the present study, we examined the regulation of the expression and function of ABCA1 by modified LDL (ox-LDL) in vitro. After incubation with apoA-I for 24 h, RAW264.7 cells effluxed 37.65% cholesterol loaded by acetyl LDL (ac-LDL), and 9.78% cholesterol in ox-LDL group. The level of ABCA1 mRNA increased about three times either when cells were incubated with -100 microg /mL ac-LDL or with 100 microg /mL ox-LDL. However, the level of ABCA1 protein rose by 1.57 times in ac-LDL group and 1.26 times in ox-LDL group. These results demonstrated that ox-LDL had different effect on the expression and function of ABCA1, ox-LDL might decrease the cholesterol efflux mediated by ABCA1 through other unknown mechanisms.

Cohort Profile: the Kadoorie Study of Chronic Disease in China (KSCDC)

International Journal of Epidemiology. Dec, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16131516

Molecular Characterization of Hand Flora and Environmental Isolates in a Community Setting

Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Oct, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16207984

We analyzed 69 bacterial isolates, comprising seven species of gram-negative bacterial rods and three species of coagulase-negative staphylococci, recovered from both the hands of caretakers and their environment in households sampled in upper Manhattan. Repetitive sequence-based PCR and dendrogram analysis were used to determine strain similarity. Greater than 25% of individual species of Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, and coagulase-negative staphylococci recovered from the hands and immediate environment within each household shared the same genotype. This study is the first to demonstrate the frequency of bacteria shared within community households. These strains may serve as potential reservoirs for either community- or hospital-acquired infections.

Protective Effects of Non-mitogenic Human Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Damage to Cardiomyocytes in Vitro

World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG. Sep, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16222742

To study the protective effect of non-mitogenic human acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) on cardiac oxidative injury in vivo.

Preventing Chronic Diseases in China

Lancet. Nov, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16298221

Chronic diseases now account for an estimated 80% of deaths and 70% of disability-adjusted life-years lost in China. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the leading causes of both death and the burden of disease, and exposure to risk factors is high: more than 300 million men smoke cigarettes and 160 million adults are hypertensive, most of whom are not being treated. An obesity epidemic is imminent, with more than 20% of children aged 7-17 years in big cities now overweight or obese. The government of the People's Republic of China must confront these major challenges. The national cancer prevention and control plan (2004-10) is being implemented, and a national chronic disease prevention and control plan is due to be completed this year. Encouraging progress has been made in some areas, with current smoking prevalence in men declining at about 1% per year for a decade, and even better results in large demonstration programmes. Much remains to be done, and resources and sustainability are major issues. However, the surveillance and intervention mechanisms needed to ameliorate the increasing burden of chronic diseases are developing rapidly, taking account of the lessons learned over the past two decades.

[The Impact of Gender Factor on the Candidate Gene Study of Essential Hypertension]

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi. Nov, 2005  |  Pubmed ID: 16563249

To study the impact of gender factor on the candidate gene study of essential hypertension (EH).

Full-aperture Wavefront Reconstruction from Annular Subaperture Interferometric Data by Use of Zernike Annular Polynomials and a Matrix Method for Testing Large Aspheric Surfaces

Applied Optics. May, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16708088

We propose a more accurate and efficient reconstruction method used in testing large aspheric surfaces with annular subaperture interferometry. By the introduction of the Zernike annular polynomials that are orthogonal over the annular region, the method proposed here eliminates the coupling problem in the earlier reconstruction algorithm based on Zernike circle polynomials. Because of the complexity of recurrence definition of Zernike annular polynomials, a general symbol representation of that in a computing program is established. The program implementation for the method is provided in detail. The performance of the reconstruction algorithm is evaluated in some pertinent cases, such as different random noise levels, different subaperture configurations, and misalignments.

[Clinical Study of Repair the Defect of Immediate Implant by Acellular Dermal Matrix]

Zhonghua Zheng Xing Wai Ke Za Zhi = Zhonghua Zhengxing Waike Zazhi = Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery. Mar, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 16736616

To evaluate the clinical effect of acellular dermal matrix allograft in repairing the oral mucosal defect of immediate implant.

Increased Expression of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein Family Verprolin-homologous Protein 2 Correlated with Poor Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Oct, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 17020969

Because of its role in cell migration, the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein family verprolin-homologous protein (WAVE) 2 has been implicated in cancer metastasis. Evidence to support such a role of WAVE2 in human cancer, however, is lacking. We thus examined the expression of WAVE2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues to test whether the levels of WAVE2 expression correlated to the progression of HCC.

Comparison of Annular Wavefront Interpretation with Zernike Circle Polynomials and Annular Polynomials

Applied Optics. Dec, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 17119589

A general wavefront fitting procedure with Zernike annular polynomials for circular and annular pupils is proposed. For interferometric data of typical annular wavefronts with smaller and larger obscuration ratios, the results fitted with Zernike annular polynomials are compared with those of Zernike circle polynomials. Data are provided demonstrating that the annular wavefront expressed with Zernike annular polynomials is more accurate and meaningful for the decomposition of aberrations, the calculation of Seidel aberrations, and the removal of misalignments in interferometry. The primary limitations of current interferogram reduction software with Zernike circle polynomials in analyzing wavefronts of annular pupils are further illustrated, and some reasonable explanations are provided. It is suggested that the use of orthogonal basis functions on the pupils of the wavefronts analyzed is more appropriate.

[Experimental Study of Chronic Kidney Failure Delayed by Xinshen Capsule]

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica. Dec, 2006  |  Pubmed ID: 17357556

To evaluate the effect of Xinshen capsule upon the chronic kidney disease progress by the study of 7/8 kidney removal rat model.

[Changes of Heme Oxygenase-1 and Inflammatory Factors in Patients with End-stage Renal Failure Following Hemodialysis]

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao = Journal of Southern Medical University. Mar, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17425995

To evaluate the changes in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) following hemodialysis.

Computer Modeling of Mitochondrial Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Metabolite Transport, and Electrophysiology

The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Aug, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17591785

A computational model of mitochondrial metabolism and electrophysiology is introduced and applied to analysis of data from isolated cardiac mitochondria and data on phosphate metabolites in striated muscle in vivo. This model is constructed based on detailed kinetics and thermodynamically balanced reaction mechanisms and a strict accounting of rapidly equilibrating biochemical species. Since building such a model requires introducing a large number of adjustable kinetic parameters, a correspondingly large amount of independent data from isolated mitochondria respiring on different substrates and subject to a variety of protocols is used to parameterize the model and ensure that it is challenged by a wide range of data corresponding to diverse conditions. The developed model is further validated by both in vitro data on isolated cardiac mitochondria and in vivo experimental measurements on human skeletal muscle. The validated model is used to predict the roles of NAD and ADP in regulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle dehydrogenase fluxes, demonstrating that NAD is the more important regulator. Further model predictions reveal that a decrease of cytosolic pH value results in decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and a corresponding drop in the ability of the mitochondria to synthesize ATP at the hydrolysis potential required for cellular function.

Electrophoresis Mobility Shift Assay and Biosensor Used in Studying the Interaction Between Bleomycin A5 and DNA

Analytica Chimica Acta. Sep, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17870295

DNA is the potential target of numerous drugs utilized widely in clinical cancer therapy. Here we employed bleomycin A5, with its deactivated form as contrast, to investigate the interaction between small pharmaceutical and DNA. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) which is a common technique used in studying specific interactions between DNA and proteins is applied in visualizing the binding of bleomycin A5 with DNA intuitively. More accurate association equilibrium constant for native and deactivated bleomycin A5 to DNA achieved on biosensor IAsys AUTO+ is 1.25x10(4) and 1.3x10(3) M(-1), respectively. With combination of EMSA and biosensor, a qualitative and quantitative method is described, which can be extended to studying the binding of most small molecules with targeting DNA and serves as a powerful tool in designing and screening for novel drugs.

The Way Forward

Lancet. Nov, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 18029003

Good public-health decisionmaking is dependent on reliable and timely statistics on births and deaths (including the medical causes of death). All high-income countries, without exception, have national civil registration systems that record these events and generate regular, frequent, and timely vital statistics. By contrast, these statistics are not available in many low-income and lower-middle-income countries, even though it is in such settings that premature mortality is most severe and the need for robust evidence to back decisionmaking most critical. Civil registration also has a range of benefits for individuals in terms of legal status, and the protection of economic, social, and human rights. However, over the past 30 years, the global health and development community has failed to provide the needed technical and financial support to countries to develop civil registration systems. There is no single blueprint for establishing and maintaining such systems and ensuring the availability of sound vital statistics. Each country faces a different set of challenges, and strategies must be tailored accordingly. There are steps that can be taken, however, and we propose an approach that couples the application of methods to generate better vital statistics in the short term with capacity-building for comprehensive civil registration systems in the long run.

Interim Measures for Meeting Needs for Health Sector Data: Births, Deaths, and Causes of Death

Lancet. Nov, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 18029005

Characterization of Immunity Induced by M2e of Influenza Virus

Vaccine. Dec, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 18061317

The extracellular-domain of influenza Matrix 2 protein (M2e) is considered as a putative target for designing universal influenza vaccines. However, the mechanism by which M2-based vaccine induces protection has not been clear. In this study, we analyzed the immunity induced by free synthetic M2e peptide and found the peptide was highly immunogenic. Without carrier proteins, the synthetic M2e peptide could induce M2e-specific IgG antibodies in both incomplete Freund's and aluminum adjuvant. The peptide could also provoke M2e-specific T cell response, which could not be mounted by influenza virus. Moreover, immunization with M2e peptide could protect mice from a lethal challenge with influenza virus. These results provide useful information for the development of M2e-based influenza vaccine.

[Studies on Prevalence and Control of Several Common Chronic Diseases Among Beijing Adults in 2005]

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua Liuxingbingxue Zazhi. Jul, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 18069546

To understand the prevalence and control of several common chronic disease in Beijing adults.

Experimental Study on Measurement of Aspheric Surface Shape with Complementary Annular Subaperture Interferometric Method

Optics Express. Oct, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 19550557

Based on our previously reported annular subaperture reconstruction algorithm with Zernike annular polynomials and matrix method, we provide an experimental demonstration by testing a parabolic mirror with the complementary annular subaperture interferometric method. By comparing the results of annular subaperture method with that of the classical auto-collimation method, it is shown that the reconstruction results are in good agreement with the auto-collimation measurement. In addition, we discuss some limitations of characterizing annular subaperture measurement data with finite Zernike coefficients in our algorithm, and also show the possibility of characterizing higher spatial frequency information with adequate Zernike coefficients. It is believable that the reported method can be extended to test the surface shape of some large concave aspheric mirrors with acceptable accuracy.

Preparation of Hemoglobin-loaded Nano-sized Particles with Porous Structure As Oxygen Carriers

Biomaterials. Mar, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 17126898

Hb (hemoglobin)-loaded particles (HbP) encapsulated by a biodegradable polymer used as oxygen carrier were prepared. A modified double emulsion and solvent diffusion/evaporation method was adopted. All experiments were performed based on two types of biodegradable polymers, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone-ethylene glycol) (PCL-PEG). The biodistribution and the survival time in blood of the particles were investigated in a mouse model. Encapsulation efficiency and pore-connecting efficiency were evaluated by a novel sulfocyanate potassium method. The influence of process parameters on the particle size and pore-connecting efficiency (PCE%) of nanoparticles have been discussed. The prepared conditions: solvent, external aqueous phase, pressure were discussed. The system utilizing dichloromethane (DCM)/ethyl acetate (EA) as a solvent with an unsaturated external aqueous phase yielded the highest encapsulation efficiency (87.35%) with a small mean particle size (153 nm). The formation of porous channels was attributed to the diffusion of solvent. The PCE% was more sensitive to the rate of solvent diffusion that was obviously affected by the preparation temperature. The PCE% reached 87.47% when PCL-PEG was employed at 25 degrees C. P(50) of HbP was 27 mmHg, which does not seem to be greatly affected by the encapsulation procedure. In vivo, following intravenous injection of 6-coumarin labeled HbP, the major organ accumulating Hb-loaded particles was the liver. The half-life of nano-sized PCL HbP was 3.1 times as long as the micro-sized PCL HbP. Also, Nano-sized as well as a PEGylated surface on HbP is beneficial for prolonged blood residence (7.2 fold increase).

Oxidative ATP Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle is Controlled by Substrate Feedback

American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology. Jan, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 16837647

Data from (31)P-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of human forearm flexor muscle were analyzed based on a previously developed model of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (PLoS Comp Bio 1: e36, 2005) to test the hypothesis that substrate level (concentrations of ADP and inorganic phosphate) represents the primary signal governing the rate of mitochondrial ATP synthesis and maintaining the cellular ATP hydrolysis potential in skeletal muscle. Model-based predictions of cytoplasmic concentrations of phosphate metabolites (ATP, ADP, and P(i)) matched data obtained from 20 healthy volunteers and indicated that as work rate is varied from rest to submaximal exercise commensurate increases in the rate of mitochondrial ATP synthesis are effected by changes in concentrations of available ADP and P(i). Additional data from patients with a defect of complex I of the respiratory chain and a patient with a deficiency in the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase were also predicted the by the model by making the appropriate adjustments to the activities of the affected proteins associates with the defects, providing both further validation of the biophysical model of the control of oxidative phosphorylation and insight into the impact of these diseases on the ability of the cell to maintain its energetic state.

[Study on Chronic Disease Related Behavior and Lifestyle in Adults in Beijing, 2005]

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua Liuxingbingxue Zazhi. Dec, 2007  |  Pubmed ID: 18476572

To understand the distribution of chronic disease related behavior and lifestyle in adults from Beijing.

Modeling of Cellular Metabolism and Microcirculatory Transport

Microcirculation (New York, N.Y. : 1994). Nov, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18608987

Oxygen and other substrates, waste products, hormone messengers, and cells and other particles of the immune system are all transported in a closed-loop circulatory system in vertebrates, within which pumped blood travels to within diffusion distances of practically every cell in the body. Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the pulmonary capillaries and absorption of nutrients in the gut provide the circulating blood with biochemical reactants to sustain bioenergetic processes throughout the body. Inputs and outputs transported by the microcirculation are necessary to drive the open-system nonequilibrium chemical reactions of metabolism that are essential for cellular function. In turn, metabolically derived signals influence microcirculatory dynamics. Indeed, the microcirculation is the key system that ties processes at the whole-body level of the cardiovascular system to subcellular phenomena. This tight integration between cellular metabolism and microcirculatory transport begs for integrative simulations that span the cell, tissue, and organ scales.

Phosphate Metabolite Concentrations and ATP Hydrolysis Potential in Normal and Ischaemic Hearts

The Journal of Physiology. Sep, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18617566

To understand how cardiac ATP and CrP remain stable with changes in work rate - a phenomenon that has eluded mechanistic explanation for decades - data from (31)phosphate-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((31)P-MRS) are analysed to estimate cytoplasmic and mitochondrial phosphate metabolite concentrations in the normal state, during high cardiac workstates, during acute ischaemia and reactive hyperaemic recovery. Analysis is based on simulating distributed heterogeneous oxygen transport in the myocardium integrated with a detailed model of cardiac energy metabolism. The model predicts that baseline myocardial free inorganic phosphate (P(i)) concentration in the canine myocyte cytoplasm - a variable not accessible to direct non-invasive measurement - is approximately 0.29 mm and increases to 2.3 mm near maximal cardiac oxygen consumption. During acute ischaemia (from ligation of the left anterior descending artery) P(i) increases to approximately 3.1 mm and ATP consumption in the ischaemic tissue is reduced quickly to less than half its baseline value before the creatine phosphate (CrP) pool is 18% depleted. It is determined from these experiments that the maximal rate of oxygen consumption of the heart is an emergent property and is limited not simply by the maximal rate of ATP synthesis, but by the maximal rate at which ATP can be synthesized at a potential at which it can be utilized. The critical free energy of ATP hydrolysis for cardiac contraction that is consistent with these findings is approximately -63.5 kJ mol(-1). Based on theoretical findings, we hypothesize that inorganic phosphate is both the primary feedback signal for stimulating oxidative phosphorylation in vivo and also the most significant product of ATP hydrolysis in limiting the capacity of the heart to hydrolyse ATP in vivo. Due to the lack of precise quantification of P(i) in vivo, these hypotheses and associated model predictions remain to be carefully tested experimentally.

A New Method to Guard Inpatient Medication Safety by the Implementation of RFID

Journal of Medical Systems. Aug, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18619096

Since life is invaluable, the patient safety is always an important issue. How to reduce the malpractices and advance the patient safety is the primary goal of many countries. The current problem is that the hospitals cannot quickly and precisely identify the name of medicine, the position of patient and staff and the servicing time and dosage taken by patients. The application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is rocketing in popularity as varieties of expanded uses. However, due to the investment consideration, there are few cases that practically implement such a technology in healthcare industries. This paper presents a Wisely Aware RFID Dosage (WARD) system, which based on an integration of barcodes and RFID tags, to demonstrate effective and safe patient care environment, for preventing the risk of medication error. Finally, through an evaluation of users' satisfaction, a reliability of 0.92 and a criterion-related validity of 0.82 show that this system is able to effectively construct the patient-safety-centric environment.

Self-setting Bioactive Calcium-magnesium Phosphate Cement with High Strength and Degradability for Bone Regeneration

Acta Biomaterialia. Nov, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18662897

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has been successfully used in clinics as bone repair biomaterial for many years. However, poor mechanical properties and a low biodegradation rate limit any further applications. Magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) is characterized by fast setting, high initial strength and relatively rapid degradation in vivo. In this study, MPC was combined with CPC to develop novel calcium-magnesium phosphate cement (CMPC). The setting time, compressive strength, phase composition of hardened cement, degradation in vitro, cells responses in vitro by MG-63 cell culture and tissue responses in vivo by implantation of CMPC in bone defect of rabbits were investigated. The results show that CMPC has a shorter setting time and markedly better mechanical properties than either CPC or MPC. Moreover, CMPC showed significantly improved degradability compared to CPC in simulated body fluid. Cell culture results indicate that CMPC is biocompatible and could support cell attachment and proliferation. To investigate the in vivo biocompatibility and osteogenesis, the CMPC samples were implanted into bone defects in rabbits. Histological evaluation showed that the introduction of MPC into CPC enhanced the efficiency of new bone formation. CMPC also exhibited good biocompatibility, biodegradability and osteoconductivity with host bone in vivo. The results obtained suggest that CMPC, having met the basic requirements of bone tissue engineering, might have a significant clinical advantage over CPC, and may have the potential to be applied in orthopedic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery.

Clinical Effect and Action Mechanism of Weicao Capsule in Treating Gout

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. Jun, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18679600

To study the therapeutic effect of Weicao Capsule (WCC) on gout.

[Preparation of Hemoglobin-loaded Nanoparticles and Safety Evaluation in Vitro and in Vivo]

Sheng Wu Yi Xue Gong Cheng Xue Za Zhi = Journal of Biomedical Engineering = Shengwu Yixue Gongchengxue Zazhi. Jun, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18693435

Hemoglobin-loaded nano-sized particles with oxygen carrying capacity were prepared. All experiments were performed using biodegradable polymer poly (polyepsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) as matrix polymer. Optimized preparation parameters led to nanoparticles with well-defined characteristics such as size <200 nm, P50 27 mmHg and high encapsulation efficiency up to 99.4%. The results of in vitro and vivo studies suggested that Hb-loaded particles did not activate complements. After the nanoparticles suspension was injected into the mice via tail vein, the particles did not cause significant changes in total platelet counts. Apparently, the hemoglobin-loaded nanoparticles can serve as a potential candidate in substitution for red cells.

Inhibition of Invasion and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Via Targeting RhoC in Vitro and in Vivo

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Nov, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18980974

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly human cancers because of its high incidence of metastasis. Our previous work identified a strong correlation between increased expression of RhoC and HCC metastasis. Here, we investigate to define the role of RhoC in HCC metastasis. Furthermore, we sought to determine whether inhibition of the expression of RhoC might block the metastasis of HCC in vivo.

RhoC is Essential for Angiogenesis Induced by Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Via Regulation of Endothelial Cell Organization

Cancer Science. Oct, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 19016761

The angiogenesis induced by tumor cells is essential for metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Available information suggests that RhoC participates in angiogenesis through regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in tumor cells. For its broad functions in cell migration and cytoskeletal organization, we hypothesized that RhoC regulating angiogenesis does not exclusively depend on regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression. To address this question, in the present study, we used a retroviral small interfering RNA approach to selectively knockdown the expression of RhoC in a neovascularization model in vivo and in vitro. Our present results indicate that RhoC is the downstream regulator of vascular endothelial growth factor in endothelial cells and is essential for angiogenesis induced by vascular endothelial growth factor, notwithstanding that RhoC regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in tumor cells. Furthermore, we show that knockdown of RhoC is associated with the inhibition of invasion and migration but not apoptosis of endothelial cells. Knockdown of RhoC results in inhibition of endothelial cell organization through restraining the reorganization of F-actin filaments, which represses endothelial cell network and sprout formation. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that knockdown of RhoC inhibits angiogenesis induced by tumor cells not only through effecting the release of vascular endothelial growth factor, but also through inhibiting endothelial cell migration and organization, which implies that it blocks tumor metastasis by specifically inhibiting RhoC in endothelial cells.

Injectable Bioactive Calcium-magnesium Phosphate Cement for Bone Regeneration

Biomedical Materials (Bristol, England). Dec, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 19029607

Novel injectable and degradable calcium-magnesium phosphate cement (CMPC) with rapid-setting characteristic was developed by the introduction of magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) into calcium phosphate cement (CPC). The calcium-magnesium phosphate cement prepared under the optimum P/L ratio exhibited good injectability and desired workability. It could set within 10 min at 37 degrees C in 100% relative humidity and the compressive strength could reach 47 MPa after setting for 48 h, indicating that the prepared cement has relatively high initial mechanical strength. The results of in vitro degradation experiments demonstrated the good degradability of the injectable CMPC, and its degradation rate occurred significantly faster than that of pure CPC in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution. It can be concluded that the novel injectable calcium-magnesium phosphate cement is highly promising for a wide variety of clinical applications, especially for the development of minimally invasive techniques.

[Risk Factors and Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in the Rectum]

Zhonghua Wei Chang Wai Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. Nov, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 19031131

To investigate the risk factors and surgical treatment of recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the rectum.

Posttranscriptional Regulation of IL-13 in T Cells: Role of the RNA-binding Protein HuR

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Apr, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18279945

IL-13, a critical cytokine in allergy, is regulated by as-yet-elusive mechanisms.

Adenosine Promotes IL-6 Release in Airway Epithelia

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). Mar, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18322229

In the airway epithelia, extracellular adenosine modulates a number of biological processes. However, little is known about adenosine's role in the inflammatory responses of airway epithelial cells. Recent studies suggest that the chronic elevation of extracellular adenosine in mice leads to pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been well understood and little attention has been paid to the role of airway epithelia in adenosine-triggered inflammation. In the present work, we examined the role of adenosine in releasing IL-6 from airway epithelia. In Calu-3 human airway epithelial cells, apical but not basolateral adenosine elicited robust, apically polarized release of IL-6, along with proinflammatory IL-8. Both protein kinase A and protein kinase C mediated the adenosine-induced IL-6 release, at least partly via phosphorylation of CREB. Protein kinase C appeared to phosphorylate CREB through activating ERK. In addition, A2A but not A2B adenosine receptors were specifically required for the adenosine-induced IL-6 release. Furthermore, in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, adenosine triggered the release of IL-6 as well as proinflammatory IL-1beta. Adenosine also mediated the release of a considerable portion of the LPS-induced IL-6 in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Our findings provide a possible molecular link between extracellular adenosine elevation and lung inflammation and fibrosis.

Decreased Expression of Methyl Methansulfonate and Ultraviolet-sensitive Gene Clone 81 (Mus81) is Correlated with a Poor Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancer. May, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18327812

Recent work has demonstrated that methyl methansulfonate and ultraviolet-sensitive gene clone 81 (Mus81) is critical in the maintenance of chromosome stability and tumor suppression in mice. To investigate its role in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which currently is unknown, the authors examined the correlation between Mus81 expression and prognosis in patients with HCC.

Detailed Enzyme Kinetics in Terms of Biochemical Species: Study of Citrate Synthase

PloS One. 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18350161

The compulsory-ordered ternary catalytic mechanism for two-substrate two-product enzymes is analyzed to account for binding of inhibitors to each of the four enzyme states and to maintain the relationship between the kinetic constants and the reaction equilibrium constant. The developed quasi-steady flux expression is applied to the analysis of data from citrate synthase to determine and parameterize a kinetic scheme in terms of biochemical species, in which the effects of pH, ionic strength, and cation binding to biochemical species are explicitly accounted for in the analysis of the data. This analysis provides a mechanistic model that is consistent with the data that have been used support competing hypotheses regarding the catalytic mechanism of this enzyme.

Interaction of HIV-1 Gp41 Core with NPF Motif in Epsin: Implication in Endocytosis of HIV

The Journal of Biological Chemistry. May, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18375383

The human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1), gp41 core plays an important role in fusion between viral and target cell membranes. We previously identified an HIV-1 gp41 core-binding motif HXXNPF (where X is any amino acid residue). In this study, we found that Asn, Pro, and Phe were the key residues for gp41 core binding. There are two NPF motifs in Epsin-1-(470-499), a fragment of Epsin, which is an essential accessory factor of endocytosis that can dock to the plasma membrane by interacting with the lipid. Epsin-1-(470-499) bound significantly to the gp41 core formed by the polypeptide N36(L8)C34 and interacted with the recombinant soluble gp41 containing the core structure. A synthetic peptide containing the Epsin-1-(470-499) sequence could effectively block entry of HIV-1 virions into SupT1 T cells via the endocytosis pathway. These results suggest that interaction between Epsin and the gp41 core, which may be present in the target cell membrane, is probably essential for endocytosis of HIV-1, an alternative pathway of HIV-1 entry into the target cell.

Fine-epitope Mapping of an Antibody That Binds the Ectodomain of Influenza Matrix Protein 2

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology. Jun, 2008  |  Pubmed ID: 18400009

Our previous work found that the monoclonal antibody 8C6, which recognized the epitope EVETPIRN on influenza A virus M2 protein, conferred protection against influenza virus challenge. In this study, 8C6 was used to screen the 7-mer phage peptide library in order to identify the crucial amino acid residues on the protective epitope EVETPIRN. Nine positive phage clones were selected by a test of dose-dependent binding activity to 8C6 after three rounds of panning. The phage clones exhibited a consensus motif (TXXR), which was found on the epitope EVETPIRN. Site-directed mutation analysis indicated that Thr and Arg on the epitope EVETPIRN played a key role in the recognition by 8C6. Furthermore, sequence alignment and analysis revealed that Thr and Arg on the epitope were highly conserved. Our results could provide useful information for influenza vaccine design based on M2 mimotope.

P53-induced RING-H2 Protein, a Novel Marker for Poor Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatic Resection

Cancer. Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19551892

Currently, the role of p53-induced RING-H2 protein (PIRH2) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the expression of PIRH2 and its relation to prognosis in patients with HCC after hepatic resection.

[Relationship Between Laser Acupuncture Analgesia and the Function of Mast Cells]

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu = Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion. Jun, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19563196

To observe the analgesic effects of single-and combined-laser irradiation with low-intensity applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) in rats, and their relation to degranulation of mast cells.

Highly Enantioselective Organocatalytic Biginelli and Biginelli-like Condensations: Reversal of the Stereochemistry by Tuning the 3,3'-disubstituents of Phosphoric Acids

Journal of the American Chemical Society. Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19785440

Organocatalytic enantioselective Biginelli and Biginelli-like reactions by chiral phosphoric acids derived from 3,3'-disubstituted binaphthols have been investigated. The size of 3,3'-substituents of the catalysts is able to control the stereochemistry of the Biginelli reaction. By tuning the 3,3'-disubstituents of the phosphoric acids, the stereochemistry of the Biginelli reaction can be reversed. This organocatalytic Biginelli reaction by Brønsted acids 12b and 13 is applicable to a wide range of aldehydes and various beta-keto esters, providing a highly enantioselective method to access DHPMs. 3,3'-Di(triphenylsilyl) binaphthol-derived phosphoric acid afforded Biginelli-like reactions of a broad scope of aldehydes and enolizable ketones with benzylthiourea, giving structurally diverse dihydropyrimidinethiones with excellent optical purity. Theoretical calculations with the ONIOM method on the transition states of the stereogenic center forming step showed that the imine and enol were simultaneously activated by the bifunctional chiral phosphoric acid through formation of hydrogen bonds. The effect of the 3,3'-substituents in phosphoric acids on the stereochemistry of the Biginelli reaction was also theoretically rationalized. The current protocol has been applied to the synthesis of some pharmaceutically interesting compounds and intermediates, such as chiral thioureas, dihydropyrimidines, guanidines, and the precursor of (S)-l-771688.

A Biologically Motivated Signal Transmission Approach Based on Stochastic Delay Differential Equation

Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.). Sep, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19792015

Based on the stochastic delay differential equation (SDDE) modeling of neural networks, we propose an effective signal transmission approach along the neurons in such a network. Utilizing the linear relationship between the delay time and the variance of the SDDE system output, the transmitting side encodes a message as a modulation of the delay time and the receiving end decodes the message by tracking the delay time, which is equivalent to estimating the variance of the received signal. This signal transmission approach turns out to follow the principle of the spread spectrum technique used in wireless and wireline wideband communications but in the analog domain rather than digital. We hope the proposed method might help to explain some activities in biological systems. The idea can further be extended to engineering applications. The error performance of the communication scheme is also evaluated here.

Novel Role for Epidermal Growth Factor-like Domain 7 in Metastasis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.). Dec, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19824075

Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (Egfl7) is a recently identified secreted protein that is believed to be primarily expressed in endothelial cells (ECs). Although its expression was reported elevated during tumorigenesis, whether and how Egfl7 contributes to human malignancies remains unknown. In the present study overexpression of Egfl7 was found predominantly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in HCC tissues and closely correlated with poor prognosis of HCC. The expression of Egfl7 in cancer cells was further verified with HCC cell lines including HepG2, MHCC97-L, and HCCLM3, and the Egfl7 expression levels positively correlated with metastatic potential of HCC cell lines was tested. To functionally characterize Egfl7 in HCC, we depleted its expression in HCCLM3 cells by using small interfering RNA. Interestingly, reduction of Egfl7 expression resulted in significant inhibition of migration but not growth of HCCLM3 cells. Biochemical analysis indicated that Egfl7 could facilitate the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and therefore promote the migration of HCCLM3 cells. In addition, this effect was almost completely blocked by inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), indicating that the activation of FAK by Egfl7 is mediated through EGFR. Finally, we used a mouse model to demonstrate that down-regulation of Egfl7 was associated with suppression of intrahepatic and pulmonary metastases of HCC. Collectively, our study shows for the first time that overexpression of Egfl7 in HCC and Egfl7 promotes metastasis of HCC by enhancing cell motility through EGFR-dependent FAK phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests Egfl7 as a novel prognostic marker for metastasis of HCC and a potential therapeutic target.

The Cytoplasmic Domain of Influenza M2 Protein Interacts with Caveolin-1

Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Jun, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19514132

The cytoplasmic domain of influenza M2 protein (M2c) consists of 54 amino acid (aa) residues from aa44 to aa97. In this paper, M2c and its deletion mutant M2c(delta47-55) were expressed using prokaryotic expression system. First, glutaraldehyde crosslinking assay showed that M2c had multimerization potential mediated by aa47-55. Then, M2c, instead of M2c(delta47-55), directed eGFP from the whole cell localization to a predominately perinuclear region in CHO cells, which indicated that aa47-55 of M2c mediated the localization. Moreover, M2c colocalized with caveolin-1 (Cav) when CHO cells were cotransfected with Cav. A caveolin-1 binding motif phixxxxphixxphi (phi represents aromatic amino acid residues) in aa47-55 of M2c was found by sequence alignment and analysis. Further overlay ELISA result showed that M2c, but not M2c(delta47-55), bound to prokaryotically expressed cholesterol-free Cav(2-101), which illustrated the interaction could be cholesterol-independent. That was the first report of cellular protein bound to M2c.

[Study on the Influence of the Configuration of Porcine Aortic Root on the Stentless Valve Design]

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Surgery]. Sep, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 20092732

To provide the reference for the stentless aortic valve design with the study of the inner configuration of porcine aortic root.

[Down-regulated Expression of UNC5b Related to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Angiogenesis]

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Surgery]. Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 20092749

To investigate the relationship between UNC5b gene expression and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

[Increased Expression of Abi1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Its Correlation with Poor Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma]

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Surgery]. Nov, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 20137729

To investigate the expression of Abi1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the correlation between its expression level and clinical pathological characteristics as well as prognosis of HCC.

Heterosubtypic Protection Conferred by Combined Vaccination with M2e Peptide and Split Influenza Vaccine

Vaccine. Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19056447

There is urgent need to develop influenza vaccines with broad-spectrum protection against the potential influenza pandemic. The extracellular domain of influenza M2 protein (M2e) is considered as an appropriate target to induce heterosubtypic protection. We investigated the immunity and protection induced by combined vaccination with synthetic M2e peptide and traditional split influenza vaccine. The combined vaccination was able to induce similar strain-specific hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) antibodies as vaccination of split virus alone. However, aluminum-adjuvant but not oil-in-water-emulsion adjuvant combined vaccination was able to induce high titers of anti-M2e antibodies and provoke M2e-specific T lymphocyte response. Furthermore, we found that the addition of M2e peptide greatly enhanced the cross-protective efficacy of split virus in aluminum adjuvant but slightly weakened the efficacy of vaccination in oil-in-water-emulsion adjuvant. Moreover, aluminum-adjuvant combined vaccination conferred complete cross-protection against heterosubtypic influenza virus. According to the results, we suggest that the M2e peptide should be added into split influenza vaccine in the preparation for the potential influenza pandemic.

Solitary Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma: a Specific Subtype of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Good Outcome After Hepatic Resection

Annals of Surgery. Jan, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19106686

To evaluate and compare the clinical and pathologic characteristics and outcomes after hepatic resection of large hepatocellular carcinoma (SLHCC), small HCC (SHCC), and nodular HCC (NHCC).

Cigarette Smoking and Changing Trends of Lung Cancer Incidence by Histological Subtype Among Chinese Male Population

Lung Cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands). Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19185950

We analyzed the time trends of lung cancer by histological subtype in Hong Kong during 1991-2005, and examined how the time trends were influenced by the effects of birth cohort and calendar period of diagnosis. Cancer incidence data were obtained from Hong Kong Cancer Registry and population data from Census and Statistics Department. Age-standardized incidence rates were computed by the direct method using WHO 1966 standard population as reference. Period and cohort effects were assessed by using two separate Poisson regression models adjusting for age. From 1991 to 2005, the incidence rates in Hong Kong Chinese males decreased steadily. The decline in overall lung cancer incidence rates was limited primarily to the decrease in squamous cell carcinoma, which could be explained by the decreasing trend of cigarette smoking. Adenocarcinoma had been the most predominant histological subtype all along. The relatively horizontal trend of adenocarcinoma and the lack of cohort effect implied the important roles of gene-environment interaction and/or the use of low-tar and filter tip cigarettes. Our study suggests that different histological subtypes may represent different disease entities with perhaps some distinct risk factors. The hypotheses generated from this ecological study will need confirmation by subsequent analytic studies.

Decreased Expression of Inhibitor of Growth 4 Correlated with Poor Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : a Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology. Feb, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19208663

Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4) is a candidate tumor suppressor that plays an important role in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Here, we examined the expression of ING4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and analyzed its correlation with the progression of HCC.

Multiple Ion Binding Equilibria, Reaction Kinetics, and Thermodynamics in Dynamic Models of Biochemical Pathways

Methods in Enzymology. 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19216922

The operation of biochemical systems in vivo and in vitro is strongly influenced by complex interactions between biochemical reactants and ions such as H(+), Mg(2+), K(+), and Ca(2+). These are important second messengers in metabolic and signaling pathways that directly influence the kinetics and thermodynamics of biochemical systems. Herein we describe the biophysical theory and computational methods to account for multiple ion binding to biochemical reactants and demonstrate the crucial effects of ion binding on biochemical reaction kinetics and thermodynamics. In simulations of realistic systems, the concentrations of these ions change with time due to dynamic buffering and competitive binding. In turn, the effective thermodynamic properties vary as functions of cation concentrations and important environmental variables such as temperature and overall ionic strength. Physically realistic simulations of biochemical systems require incorporating all of these phenomena into a coherent mathematical description. Several applications to physiological systems are demonstrated based on this coherent simulation framework.

Roles of the Creatine Kinase System and Myoglobin in Maintaining Energetic State in the Working Heart

BMC Systems Biology. 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19228404

The heart is capable of maintaining contractile function despite a transient decrease in blood flow and increase in cardiac ATP demand during systole. This study analyzes a previously developed model of cardiac energetics and oxygen transport to understand the roles of the creatine kinase system and myoglobin in maintaining the ATP hydrolysis potential during beat-to-beat transient changes in blood flow and ATP hydrolysis rate.

Apparent Diffusivity and Taylor Dispersion of Water and Solutes in Capillary Beds

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. Aug, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19234745

A physical theory explaining the anisotropic dispersion of water and solutes in biological tissues is introduced based on the phenomena of Taylor dispersion, in which highly diffusive solutes cycle between flowing and stagnant regions in the tissue, enhancing dispersion in the direction of microvascular flow. An effective diffusion equation is derived, for which the coefficient of dispersion in the axial direction (direction of capillary orientation) depends on the molecular diffusion coefficient, tissue perfusion, and vessel density. This analysis provides a homogenization that represents three-dimensional transport in capillary beds as an effectively one-dimensional phenomenon. The derived dispersion equation may be used to simulate the transport of solutes in tissues, such as in pharmacokinetic modeling. In addition, the analysis provides a physically based hypothesis for explaining dispersion anisotropy observed in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTMRI) and suggests the means of obtaining quantitative functional information on capillary vessel density from measurements of dispersion coefficients. It is shown that a failure to account for flow-mediated dispersion in vascular tissues may lead to misinterpretations of imaging data and significant overestimates of directional bias in molecular diffusivity in biological tissues. Measurement of the ratio of axial to transverse diffusivity may be combined with an independent measurement of perfusion to provide an estimate of capillary vessel density in the tissue.

A Study of Pre-decision Evaluation Using Influence Diagram: an Estimation of the Benefits of Influenza Vaccination

Journal of Medical Systems. Feb, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19238893

The purpose of this study is to develop a decision analysis model based on the influence diagram and estimate the benefits receiving of influenza vaccination. We collected more than 300,000 samples of elders aged over 65 years in Taiwan and then analyzed the health expenditure of the elders with and without influenza vaccination. We incorporate clinical results and the knowledge of physicians by an influence diagram. We divided our samples into four different age groups and the results showed that the total healthcare expenses for receiving influenza vaccination are more than the expenses for not receiving influenza vaccination for all age groups, we found there is a trend that the difference decreases if the age is older. We performed the one-way sensitivity analysis and Monde Carlo sensitivity analysis further and the results showed that the expected health expenditure is mostly sensitive to the hospitalization under the different condition.

Experimentally Observed Phenomena on Cardiac Energetics in Heart Failure Emerge from Simulations of Cardiac Metabolism

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Apr, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19357309

The failing heart is hypothesized to suffer from energy supply inadequate for supporting normal cardiac function. We analyzed data from a canine left ventricular hypertrophy model to determine how the energy state evolves because of changes in key metabolic pools. Our findings--confirmed by in vivo (31)P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy--indicate that the transition between the clinically observed early compensatory phase and heart failure and the critical point at which the transition occurs are emergent properties of cardiac energy metabolism. Specifically, analysis reveals a phenomenon in which low and moderate reductions in metabolite pools have no major negative impact on oxidative capacity, whereas reductions beyond a critical tipping point lead to a severely compromised energy state. The transition point corresponds to reductions in the total adenine nucleotide pool (TAN) of approximately 30%, corresponding to the reduction observed in humans in heart failure [Ingwall JS, Weiss RG (2004) Is the failing heart energy starved? On using chemical energy to support cardiac function. Circ Res 95(2):135-145]. At given values of TAN and the total exchangeable phosphate pool during hypertrophic remodeling, the creatine pool attains a value that is associated with optimal ATP hydrolysis potential. Thus, both increases and decreases to the creatine pool are predicted to result in diminished energetic state unless accompanied by appropriate simultaneous changes in the other pools.

The Co-administration of CpG-ODN Influenced Protective Activity of Influenza M2e Vaccine

Vaccine. Jul, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19410621

In this report, we investigated the adjuvant effect of CpG-ODN on the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of influenza M2e peptide vaccine. We found that the addition of CpG-ODN 1826 into aluminum-adjuvant M2e peptide vaccine increased M2e-specific Th1 immune response, indicated by higher titers of M2e-specific IgG2a and more IFN-gamma-secreting lymphocytes. However, according to the result from virus challenge, enhancement of M2e-specific Th1 immune response failed to increase the protection against influenza virus. Moreover, when challenged with high dose of influenza virus, the addition of CpG-ODN even weakened the protective activity. These results suggested that the intensity of immune responses was not simply correlated with protective activity of influenza M2e vaccine and more comprehensive criterion should be built up for the evaluation of M2e-based vaccine.

Creatine and Phosphate Pools Are Maintained at Energetically Optimal Levels in the Heart During Hypertrophic Remodeling and Heart Failure

Conference Proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference. 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19964369

The ability of mitochondria to oxidatively synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate is compromised in the failing heart. Specifically, the magnitude of the free energy at which ATP is synthesized in heart failure is diminished compared to control. However the causal mechanisms involved are not clearly understood. Here we used computer simulation to analyze the impact of reduction in three cytoplasmic metabolic pools that is observed with hypertrophic remodeling and heart failure. Our simulations, which are validated based on in vivo data on phosphate metabolites in both the healthy and diseased heart, predict that, given a prescribed reduction in the total adenine nucleotide pool, the pools of total creatine and total exchangeable phosphate are maintained at levels that maintain the ATP hydrolysis potential of the heart at near the normal physiological value.

A Novel Phase Measuring Deflectometry for Aspheric Mirror Test

Optics Express. Oct, 2009  |  Pubmed ID: 19997198

A method based on fringe reflection is presented to measure the aspheric mirror with higher precise. This method measures the absolute height of the aspheric mirror with dummy paraboloid, while the camera is located beside the optical axis of the test surface. It can be used to measure the aspheric mirror with high deviation. And for locating the camera beside the optical axis, this method doesn't have occlusion problem and can do the measurement more flexibility. Furthermore, compared with the traditional PMD, this method measures the tested surface with dummy paraboloid instead of the intersection of two straight lines, so it doesn't need to calibrate the image projection vectors. And the errors of the calibration influence this method less than the traditional method. Therefore, this method can measure the high deviation aspheric mirror with higher precise even if the calibration precise isn't very high. Computer simulations and preliminary experiment validate the feasibility of this method.

SHP-1 Deficient Mast Cells Are Hyperresponsive to Stimulation and Critical in Initiating Allergic Inflammation in the Lung

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950). Feb, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20042576

Phosphatase Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1)-deficient mice display an allergic asthma phenotype that is largely IL-13 and STAT6 dependent. The cell types responsible for the Th2 phenotype have not been identified. We hypothesized that SHP-1 deficiency leads to mast cell dysregulation and increased production and release of mediators and Th2 cytokines, leading to the allergic asthma phenotype. We examined SHP-1 regulation of mast cell differentiation, survival, and functional responses to stimulation using bone marrow-derived mast cells from viable motheaten (mev) mice. We assessed pulmonary phenotypical changes in mev mice on the mast cell-deficient Kit(W-Sh) genetic background. The results showed that SHP-1 deficiency led to increased differentiation and survival, but reduced proliferation, of mast cells. SHP-1-deficient mast cells produced and released increased amounts of mediators and Th2 cytokines IL-4 and -13 spontaneously and in response to H(2)O(2), LPS, and Fc epsilonI cross-linking, involving c-Kit-dependent and -independent processes. The Fc epsilonRI signaling led to binding of SHP-1 to linker for activation of T cells 2 and enhanced linker for activation of T cells 2 phosphorylation in mev bone marrow-derived mast cells. Furthermore, the number of mast cells in the lung tissue of mev mice was increased and mast cell production and release of Th2 cytokines were distinctly increased upon Fc epsilonRI stimulation. When backcrossed to the Kit(W-Sh) background, mev mice had markedly reduced pulmonary inflammation and Th2 cytokine production. These findings demonstrate that SHP-1 is a critical regulator of mast cell development and function and that SHP-1-deficient mast cells are able to produce increased Th2 cytokines and initiate allergic inflammatory responses in the lung.

Role of SHIP-1 in the Adaptive Immune Responses to Aeroallergen in the Airway

PloS One. 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21151496

Th2-dominated inflammatory response in the airway is an integral component in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. Accumulating evidence supports the notion that the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is involved in the process. We previously reported that SHIP-1, a negative regulator of the PI3K pathway, is essential in maintaining lung immunohomeostasis, potentially through regulation of innate immune cells. However, the function of SHIP-1 in adaptive immune response in the lung has not been defined. We sought to determine the role of SHIP-1 in adaptive immunity in response to aeroallergen stimulation in the airway.

[Genotypic Variability and Persistence of Legionella Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis Patterns in 16 Cooling Towers in Shanghai, China.]

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua Liuxingbingxue Zazhi. Jul, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21162841

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genotypic characteristics and persistence of Legionella pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns in 16 air-conditioner cooling towers in six different public sites of Shanghai. METHODS: From May to October, continuous sampling was operated once per month in 2007. Legionella strains isolated from the 16 cooling towers were confirmed by serological and latex agglutination. PFGE was applied for the fingerprinting of the isolates, while the culster results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics software. RESULTS: 131 strains of Legionella were isolated, including L. pneumophila, L. bozemanae, L. micdadei and L. anisa. 52 distinguishable PFGE patterns were differentiated among the 16 cooling towers, with 37 patterns were owned by just one cooling tower, which was not shared with other cooling towers, while 15 patterns were shared by more than 2 cooling towers. All the cooling towers had ≥ 2 PFGE patterns, while in 13 cooling towers the same PFGE patterns were recovered during the six months. From June to October of 2007, 18 strains of Legionella belonging to the PFGE pattern of LPAs.SH0078 were isolated continuously from 6 cooling towers. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated great genotypic diversity and complexity of Legionella in cooling towers. Persistence of the PFGE patterns was observed in 81.25% of the cooling towers. The PFGE pattern of LPAs. SH0078 was distributed widely, suggesting it might be the dominate strain in Shanghai.

[Analysis on the Characteristics of Injuries from the Chinese National Injury Surveillance System.]

Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi = Zhonghua Liuxingbingxue Zazhi. Aug, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21162988

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the injury characteristics, using data from the National Injury Surveillance System (NISS), 2006 to 2008, to develop a injury prevention strategy. METHODS: 129 hospitals from 43 surveillance points in NISS were selected according to the DSP sample framework, also considering the capacity of local CDC. RESULTS: Relative information on 1 318 739 cases were analyzed. The number of male cases were more than the females. The top three causes of injuries were as follows: falls (28.02%, 29.36%, 30.12%), traffic-related (23.07%, 21.61%, 21.44%) and blunt injuries (21.46%, 21.17%, 20.59%). The major places where injuries occurred were: road/street (29.80%, 27.73%, 28.37%) and at home (21.51%, 22.80%, 24.02%). Recreation activities (35.63%, 41.93%, 42.13%) and at work (24.43%, 22.60%, 21.44%) were the two major activities when injuries took place. Most injury cases were unintentional (83.81%, 86.32%, 86.71%) and mild (70.42%, 74.79%, 73.90%). Rush hours that caused injuries to happen were between 7 to 10 AM. CONCLUSION: Male injury cases were more than females. Falls, road traffic-related and blunt injuries were the major causes, with most of them were unintentional and minor.

Down-regulation of Mus81 As a Potential Marker for the Malignancy of Gastric Cancer

Anticancer Research. Dec, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21187482

The Mus81 gene encodes a critical endonuclease involved in DNA repair and tumor suppression. In the present study, the role of Mus81 in gastric cancer was explored.

Blood Flow in Microvascular Networks: a Study in Nonlinear Biology

Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.). Dec, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21198135

Plasma skimming and the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect are well-known phenomena in blood rheology. By combining these peculiarities of blood flow in the microcirculation with simple topological models of microvascular networks, we have uncovered interesting nonlinear behavior regarding blood flow in networks. Nonlinearity manifests itself in the existence of multiple steady states. This is due to the nonlinear dependence of viscosity on blood cell concentration. Nonlinearity also appears in the form of spontaneous oscillations in limit cycles. These limit cycles arise from the fact that the physics of blood flow can be modeled in terms of state dependent delay equations with multiple interacting delay times. In this paper we extend our previous work on blood flow in a simple two node network and begin to explore how topological complexity influences the dynamics of network blood flow. In addition we present initial evidence that the nonlinear phenomena predicted by our model are observed experimentally.

[Analysis of Surgical Treatment of 30 Cases of Small Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Special Position]

Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Oncology]. Nov, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21223697

To investigate the resection technique for small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) in special sites and discuss their outcome.

Effect of Dietary Chromium Picolinate on Growth Performance and Blood Parameters in Grass Carp Fingerling, Ctenopharyngodon Idellus

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry. Sep, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 19459058

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary chromium picolinate supplement on growth and haematology parameters of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idellus. Six diets with increasing dietary chromium picolinate levels 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mg kg(-1) were fed to triplicate groups of 20 fish (initial weight of 12.78 +/- 1.16 g, mean +/- SD) in a flow water system for 10 weeks. Fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.8 mg Cr kg(-1) had significantly improved weight gain (WG), feed efficiency ratio (FER), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and protein retention (PR). Fish fed high-chromium diets exhibited lower whole-body crude lipid contents than fish fed low-chromium diets. Liver glycogen concentrations for fish fed the diet with 0.2 mg Cr kg(-1) was the highest (77.67 mg g(-1)). Fish fed the diet supplemented with 1.6 and 3.2 mg Cr kg(-1) had significantly lower liver glycogen concentrations than other groups (P < 0.05). The highest serum insulin concentrations were observed in fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.8 mg Cr kg(-1), but serum insulin concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) when dietary supplementation of chromium was higher than 0.8 mg Cr kg(-1). Cholesterol concentrations decreased in direct proportion to dietary chromium level and achieved the lowest level when the fish were fed the 0.8 mg Cr kg(-1) diet, but increased when the fish were fed the diet with more than 0.8 mg Cr kg(-1) (P < 0.05). Fish fed the diet supplemented with 0.8 mg Cr kg(-1) had higher triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations compared to other treatments. The results of the present study suggested that chromium picolinate could modify serum carbohydrate and lipid metabolism profile, and that the optimal dietary chromium level was 0.8 mg kg(-1) for grass carp according to growth.

Biofilm Bacterial Communities and Abundance in a Full-scale Drinking Water Distribution System in Shanghai

Journal of Water and Health. Sep, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20375488

Community diversity and abundance of biofilms from a full-scale drinking water distribution system in Shanghai were characterized by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 16S rRNA sequences and heterotrophic plate count (HPC), respectively. Bacteria affiliated to the Beta- and Gamma-Proteobacteria were dominating in both in-situ and HPC-culturable bacterial communities. Other bacteria present included members of Alphaproteobacteria, Bacteroides, Actinobacteria, Nitrospirae and Firmicutes. Acidovorax, Ralstonia and Acinetobacter were common species in biofilms. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter sp. were detected in the local distribution system. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC), residual disinfectant and temperature were the most important factors influencing both bacterial abundance and composition. HPC for biofilm sample was not correlated with its community diversity.

Cardiovascular Risk Management and Its Impact on Hypertension Control in Primary Care in Low-resource Settings: a Cluster-randomized Trial

Bulletin of the World Health Organization. Jun, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20539854

To evaluate a simple cardiovascular risk management package for assessing and managing cardiovascular risk using hypertension as an entry point in primary care facilities in low-resource settings.

A Highly Effective Bis(sulfonamide)-diamine Ligand: a Unique Chiral Skeleton for the Enantioselective Cu-catalyzed Henry Reaction

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany). Jul, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20564299

[Epidemiologic Characteristics of Cerebrovascular Disease Mortality in China, 2004-2005]

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine]. Apr, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20654139

To describe the epidemiologic characteristics of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) mortality in China from 2004 to 2005.

[Mortality and Death Cause Proportion of Respiratory Disease in China, 2004-2005]

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine]. Apr, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20654140

To study the mortality and death cause proportion of respiratory disease in China, 2004-2005.

TRIM5 Suppresses Cross-species Transmission of a Primate Immunodeficiency Virus and Selects for Emergence of Resistant Variants in the New Species

PLoS Biology. 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20808775

Simian immunodeficiency viruses of sooty mangabeys (SIVsm) are the source of multiple, successful cross-species transmissions, having given rise to HIV-2 in humans, SIVmac in rhesus macaques, and SIVstm in stump-tailed macaques. Cellular assays and phylogenetic comparisons indirectly support a role for TRIM5alpha, the product of the TRIM5 gene, in suppressing interspecies transmission and emergence of retroviruses in nature. Here, we investigate the in vivo role of TRIM5 directly, focusing on transmission of primate immunodeficiency viruses between outbred primate hosts. Specifically, we retrospectively analyzed experimental cross-species transmission of SIVsm in two cohorts of rhesus macaques and found a significant effect of TRIM5 genotype on viral replication levels. The effect was especially pronounced in a cohort of animals infected with SIVsmE543-3, where TRIM5 genotype correlated with approximately 100-fold to 1,000-fold differences in viral replication levels. Surprisingly, transmission occurred even in individuals bearing restrictive TRIM5 genotypes, resulting in attenuation of replication rather than an outright block to infection. In cell-culture assays, the same TRIM5 alleles associated with viral suppression in vivo blocked infectivity of two SIVsm strains, but not the macaque-adapted strain SIVmac239. Adaptations appeared in the viral capsid in animals with restrictive TRIM5 genotypes, and similar adaptations coincide with emergence of SIVmac in captive macaques in the 1970s. Thus, host TRIM5 can suppress viral replication in vivo, exerting selective pressure during the initial stages of cross-species transmission.

Prediction of Severe Sepsis Using SVM Model

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20865488

Sepsis is an infectious condition that results in damage to organs. This paper proposes a severe sepsis model based on Support Vector Machine (SVM) for predicting whether a septic patient will become severe sepsis. We chose several clinical physiology of sepsis for identifying the features used for SVM. Based on the model, a medical decision support system is proposed for clinical diagnosis. The results show that the prognosis of a septic patient can be more precisely predicted than ever. We conduct several experiments, whose results demonstrate that the proposed model provides high accuracy and high sensitivity and can be used as a reminding system to provide in-time treatment in ICU.

Amifostine Enhancement of the Anti-cancer Effects of Paclitaxel in Endometrial Cancer is TP53-dependent

International Journal of Oncology. Nov, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 20878066

Endometrial cancer (ECa) is the fourth most common malignancy in women. Currently, there is no effective therapy for advanced and recurrent cancer. Among the poor-outcome endometrial cancers, there is a high frequency of TP53 mutations. We have previously reported that amifostine has a direct anti-cancer effect and has a significant synergistic effect with paclitaxel when used in endometrial cancer cell and xenograft models. In this report, using a cell line with knock-down p53 expression through siRNA, we found that amifostine enhancement of paclitaxel's anticancer effect is p53 status-dependent. Amifostine promotes entry into the G2-M phase through regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase-1 activity in cells with dysfunctional p53, thereby enhancing cancer cell sensitivity to paclitaxel. The synergistic effect between amifostine and paclitaxel was further confirmed in vivo using xenografts created with primary patient tumor tissue. Sensitivity to the therapeutic effect of paclitaxel in combination with amifostine was dependent upon the status of p53. A tumor with a nonsense TP53 mutation showed increased therapeutic response to paclitaxel and amifostine as measured by tumor weight compared to a tumor with wild- type TP53. Our study provides a rationale for a clinical trial of combined paclitaxel and amifostine in endometrial cancer patients whose tumors harbor TP53 mutations.

[Application of Serum Proteomic Mass Spectrum Analysis in Breast Cancer]

Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Oncology]. Sep, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 21122387

To analyze the characteristics of serum proteins mass spectra in healthy controls, benign breast tumors, and CA15-3 negative or CA15-3 positive breast cancer patients by surface enhanced laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS).

Hierarchically Microporous/macroporous Scaffold of Magnesium-calcium Phosphate for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Biomaterials. Feb, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 19931903

Hierarchically 3D microporous/macroporous magnesium-calcium phosphate (micro/ma-MCP) scaffolds containing magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate [NH(4)MgPO(4).6H(2)O] and hydroxyapatite [Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2)] were fabricated from cement utilizing leaching method in the presence of sodium chloride (NaCl) particles and NaCl saturated water solution. NaCl particles produced macroporosity, and NaCl solution acted as both cement liquid and porogens, inducing the formation of microporosity. The micro/ma-MCP scaffolds with porosities varied from 52 to 78% showed well interconnected and open macropores with the sizes of 400-500 microm, and degradation of the scaffolds was significantly enhanced in Tris-HCl solution compared with macroporous MCP (ma-MCP) and corresponding calcium phosphate cement (CPC) scaffolds. Cell attachment and proliferation of MG(63) on micro/ma-MCP were significantly better than ma-MCP and CPC scaffolds because of the presence of microporosity, which enhanced the surface area of the scaffolds. Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the MG(63) cells on micro/ma-MCP was significantly higher than ma-MCP and CPC scaffolds at 7 days, and the MG(63) cells with normal phenotype spread well and formed confluent layers across the macroporous walls of the micro/ma-MCP scaffolds. Histological evaluation confirmed that the micro/ma-MCP scaffolds improved the efficiency of new bone regeneration, and exhibited excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and faster and more effective osteogenesis in vivo.

Development of a Serogroup-specific DNA Microarray for Identification of Escherichia Coli Strains Associated with Bovine Septicemia and Diarrhea

Veterinary Microbiology. May, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 19932572

Escherichia coli strains belonging to serogroups O8, O9, O15, O26, O35, O78, O86, O101, O115 and O119 are commonly associated with septicemia or diarrhea in calves and pose a significant threat to the cattle industry worldwide. In this study, a microarray detection system targeting O-antigen-specific genes was developed for the identification of those serogroups. By testing against 186 E. coli and Shigella O-serogroup reference strains, 36 E. coli clinical isolates, and 9 representative strains of other closely related bacterial species, the microarray was shown to be specific and reproducible. The detection sensitivity was determined to be 50 ng genomic DNA. The microarray assay developed here is suitable for the detection and identification of relevant strains from environmental and/or clinical samples, and is especially useful for epidemiologic studies.

Enhanced Tumor Radiosensitivity by a Survivin Dominant-negative Mutant

Oncology Reports. Jan, 2010  |  Pubmed ID: 19956869

Radiosensitivity of tumors is due to a complex interaction of various factors, it has been reported that survivin also acts as a constitutive and inducible radioresistance factor in a panel of tumor cells and approaches designed to inhibit survivin expression or function may lead to tumor sensitisation to chemical and physical agents. Previously, we found that the plasmid encoding the phosphorylation-defective mouse survivin threonine 34-->alanine mutant complexed to DOTAP-chol liposome (Lip-mS) can suppress murine primary breast carcinoma. However, little is known regarding the biological effect of Lip-mS combined with radiation. The present study was designed to determine whether Lip-mS could enhance the anti-tumor activity of radiation. The Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) cells treated with a combination of Lip-mS and radiation displayed apparently increased apoptosis compared with those treated with Lip-mS or radiation alone. Mice bearing LLC tumors were treated with intravenous injections of Lip-mS and radiation, the combined treatment significantly reduced mean tumor volume compared with either treatment alone. Moreover, the anti-tumor effect of Lip-mS combined with radiation was greater than their additive effect when compared with the expected effect of the combined treatment. These data suggest that inhibition of survivin using a dominant-negative mutant, survivin T34A, could sensitize LLC cells to radiation efficiently and the synergistic anti-tumor activity may in part result from increasing the apoptosis of tumor cells, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and inducing a tumor-protective immune response in the combined treatment.

Effects of Chemical Functional Groups on Elemental Mercury Adsorption on Carbonaceous Surfaces

Journal of Hazardous Materials. Feb, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21144653

A systematic theoretical study using density functional theory is performed to provide molecular-level understanding of the effects of chemical functional groups on mercury adsorption on carbonaceous surfaces. The zigzag and armchair edges were used in modeling the carbonaceous surfaces to simulate different adsorption sites. The edge atoms on the upper side of the models are unsaturated to simulate active sites. All calculations (optimizations, energies, and frequencies) were made at B3PW91 density functional theory level, using RCEP60VDZ basis set for mercury and 6-31G(d) pople basis set for other atoms. The results indicate that the embedding of halogen atom can increase the activity of its neighboring site which in turn increases the adsorption capacity of the carbonaceous surface for Hg(0). The adsorption belongs to chemisorptions, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. For the effects of oxygen functional groups, lactone, carbonyl and semiquinone favor Hg(0) adsorption because they increase the neighboring site's activity for mercury adsorption. On the contrary, phenol and carboxyl functional groups show a physisorption of Hg(0), and reduce Hg capture. This result can explain the seemingly conflicting experimental results reported in the literature concerning the influence of oxygen functional groups on mercury adsorption on carbonaceous surface.

Apply Influence Diagrams for Utility Analysis of Paying the Weight-reducing Expenses: a Case Study in Taiwan

Journal of Medical Systems. Feb, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 20703580

To effectively control the growth of medical expenditure, Bureau of National Health Insurance (NHI) of Taiwan has taken many measures, including the Reasonable Number of Outpatient Services, Ceiling Price, Global Budgets, Strategic Analysis and the Excellence Plan; however, these measures can only scratch the surface. Due to the change of life style and the deteriorating condition of over-nutrition and obesity, people now have a higher risk of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, cancer, gout, arthritis, and so on, which leads to higher medical expenditure. Therefore, good civil preventive health care is regarded as the solution of surging medical expenditure. According to NHI's statistics, the annual medical expenditure of diabetes is about 13 billion NT dollars. Among these diabetics, over 95% are affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus; at least two-thirds--over 80% according to some researches--are overweight or obese. The research says, losing 5% to 10% of the original body weight can lower the risk of chronic diseases effectively; also, giving early therapy for obesity can reduce the complication probability, thus for avoiding the waste of medical resources. By applying influence diagrams of Bayesian Network and Utility Expect of statistics, this paper evaluates the medical expenditure of Taiwan's NHI under the circumstances of providing and not providing benefit for weight-loss outpatient services. The result of this research is that the cost of not providing benefit for weight-loss outpatient services is 3.4 times of the contrary. Therefore, if Taiwan's NHI provides reasonable benefit for weight-loss outpatient services, not only the risk of people suffering from diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, cancer, gout, arthritis, etc. will go down; but also the medical expenditure can be effectively reduced.

Distribution of Aedes Albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northwestern China

Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.). Aug, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21254912

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), has a wide distribution in China with its northwestern limits among seven provinces. During 2006-2008, distribution information was collected in 33 urban and rural areas in those boundary provinces by collecting larvae or adult mosquito from different breeding sites. Additional information of seven sites was gathered from local health authorities. Three generally accepted climatic delineations affecting distribution of the species were studied for the northwestern distribution using a geographic information system software (ArcGIS). Climatic analysis showed that the annual mean temperature higher than 11°C, the mean temperature of the coldest month, January, higher than -5°C, and the annual precipitation above 500 mm covered almost all the confirmed areas and the seasonal expansion reached areas with nearly -10°C of the mean January temperature. As a main vector of dengue fever virus in a large part of China, where Aedes aegypti is absent, Ae. albopictus is also responsible for the risk for future epidemic of dengue fever and other viral diseases in China.

Development of a Phylogenetic Tree Model to Investigate the Role of Genetic Mutations in Endometrial Tumors

Oncology Reports. May, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21327331

With the advancement of modern genome sequencing technology, thousands of genetic mutations have been identified in human tumors. However, analysis of the role of genetic mutations in tumor development is limited by the need for prevalence information among multiple tumors and by the lack of analytic capability to define the functional contribution of genetic mutations in patients, individually and collectively. To understand the genetic basis of human endometrial cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women, transcriptome sequencing was performed on an endometrial tumor paired with normal cervical tissue. Twenty-six non-synonymous somatic mutations were validated in the tumor genome. A phylogenetic tree illustrating the mutational time-line was developed based upon the distribution of 26 mutations in 30 randomly-selected laser-captured single cells from the tumor sections. Five ubiquitous mutations were identified that are presumed to occur in the cancer founder cell of the tumor, and may collectively play critical roles in endometrial oncogenesis. However, further testing in 10 additional endometrial tumors failed to show overlapping mutations in the cancer founder cells, indicating the lack of a single common oncogenic pathway for these endometrial tumors. The effects of individual mutations in cancer cell proliferation were calculated based on descendant cell number and time span since acquiring each mutation. We have developed a phylogenetic approach to characterize individual genetic mutations in cancer cell proliferation in a single resected patient tumor. This approach provides the capability to study the tumor-specific role of genetic mutations, without relying on prevalence information from other patients.

[Status and Trends of Breast Cancer Mortality in Chinese Females]

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi [Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine]. Feb, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21426796

To describe the current status of mortality breast cancer in Chinese females between 2004 and 2005, as well as its developing trend from 1973 to 2005.

A Database of Thermodynamic Properties of the Reactions of Glycolysis, the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway

Database : the Journal of Biological Databases and Curation. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21482578

A database of thermodynamic properties is developed, which extends a previous database of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle by adding the reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway. The raw data and documented estimations of solution properties are made electronically available. The database is determined by estimation of a set of parameters representing species-level free energies of formation. The resulting calculations provide thermodynamic and network-based estimates of thermodynamic properties for six reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway for which estimates are not available in the preexisting literature. Optimized results are made available in ThermoML format. Because calculations depend on estimated hydrogen and metal cation dissociation constants, an uncertainty and sensitivity analysis is performed, revealing 23 critical dissociation constants to which the computed thermodynamic properties are particularly sensitive. DATABASE URL: http://www.biocoda.org/thermo

Clearance and Recovery of Cd(II) from Aqueous Solution by Magnetic Separation Technology

Chemosphere. May, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21489601

An effective method to actualize the recycling use of Cd(II) in industrial wastewater was developed by using the magnetic beads, which was modified with ethylenediamine. When the industrial wastewater was treated with these magnetic beads, the Cd(II) concentration in the solution was sharply reduced to the governmental standard (0.1μgmL(-1)) of China. Based on the monolayer adsorption of Cd(II) on the surface of these magnetic beads, the saturation capacity for Cd(II) reached to 68mgg(-1) dried magnetic beads. On the other hand, the binding Cd(II) could be easily recovered in acid conditions and the recovery efficiency exceeded 99%. Thus, in the process of the wastewater purification, the recycling utilization of Cd(II) was realized. Additionally, the excellent capability of regeneration and recycling utilization of these magnetic beads made this technology much suitable for the large-scale application. Compared with the conventional purification methods, the rapid process, simple equipments, easy operation and high efficiency, brought this technology with great potentialities in the treatment of industrial wastewater.

MACC 1 As a Marker for Vascular Invasive Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Anticancer Research. Mar, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21498695

Recently, metastasis associated with colon cancer 1 (MACC1) gene was identified by genome-wide search for differentially expressed genes in human colon cancer tissues and metastases. Previously, MACC1 expression was examined in colorectal carcinomas and gastric carcinomas and was found to show significant correlation with peritoneal dissemination.

Total Cardiovascular Risk Approach to Improve Efficiency of Cardiovascular Prevention in Resource Constrain Settings

Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. Dec, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21530172

To determine the population distribution of cardiovascular risk in eight low- and middle-income countries and compare the cost of drug treatment based on cardiovascular risk (cardiovascular risk thresholds ≥ 30%/≥ 40%) with single risk factor cutoff levels.

A Simple and Highly Efficient Iron Catalyst for a [2+2+2] Cycloaddition to Form Pyridines

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English). Jul, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21698728

Analytical Model for the Photocurrent-voltage Characteristics of Bilayer MEH-PPV/TiO2 Photovoltaic Devices

Nanoscale Research Letters. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21711905

ABSTRACT: The photocurrent in bilayer polymer photovoltaic cells is dominated by the exciton dissociation efficiency at donor/acceptor interface. An analytical model is developed for the photocurrent-voltage characteristics of the bilayer polymer/TiO2 photovoltaic cells. The model gives an analytical expression for the exciton dissociation efficiency at the interface, and explains the dependence of the photocurrent of the devices on the internal electric field, the polymer and TiO2 layer thicknesses. Bilayer polymer/TiO2 cells consisting of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and TiO2, with different thicknesses of the polymer and TiO2 films, were prepared for experimental purposes. The experimental results for the prepared bilayer MEH-PPV/TiO2 cells under different conditions are satisfactorily fitted to the model. Results show that increasing TiO2 or the polymer layer in thickness will reduce the exciton dissociation efficiency in the device and further the photocurrent. It is found that the photocurrent is determined by the competition between the exciton dissociation and charge recombination at the donor/acceptor interface, and the increase in photocurrent under a higher incident light intensity is due to the increased exciton density rather than the increase in the exciton dissociation efficiency.

Down-regulation of EGFL8: a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Anticancer Research. Jun, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21737648

In a previous study, we reported a critical role of epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and documented it to be a prognostic biomarker as well as a potential therapeutic target for HCC. However, the role of EGFL8, the only known paralog of EGFL7, in human malignancies is currently unclear.

Drinking Behaviour Among Men and Women in China: the 2007 China Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance

Addiction (Abingdon, England). Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21771141

To obtain information on drinking behaviour and to examine the associations between frequency of drinking, usual daily drinking quantity and binge drinking behaviour among Chinese residents aged 15-69 years.

Spatial Heterogeneity in Skeletal Muscle Microvascular Blood Flow Distribution is Increased in the Metabolic Syndrome

American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. Oct, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21775645

Previous studies have demonstrated that the metabolic syndrome is associated with impaired skeletal muscle arteriolar function, although integrating observations into a conceptual framework for impaired perfusion in peripheral vascular disease (PVD) has been limited. This study builds on previous work to evaluate in situ arteriolar hemodynamics in cremaster muscle of obese Zucker rats (OZR) to integrate existing knowledge into a greater understanding of impaired skeletal muscle perfusion. In OZR cremaster muscle, perfusion distribution at microvascular bifurcations (γ) was consistently more heterogeneous than in controls. However, while consistent, the underlying mechanistic contributors were spatially divergent as altered adrenergic constriction was the major contributor to altered γ at proximal microvascular bifurcations, with a steady decay with distance, while endothelial dysfunction was a stronger contributor in distal bifurcations with no discernible role proximally. Using measured values of γ, we found that simulations predict that successive alterations to γ in OZR caused more heterogeneous perfusion distribution in distal arterioles than in controls, an effect that could only be rectified by combined adrenoreceptor blockade and improvements to endothelial dysfunction. Intravascular (125)I-labeled albumin tracer washout from in situ gastrocnemius muscle of OZR provided independent support for these observations, indicating increased perfusion heterogeneity that was corrected only by combined adrenoreceptor blockade and improved endothelial function. These results suggest that a defining element of PVD in the metabolic syndrome may be an altered γ at microvascular bifurcations, that its contributors are heterogeneous and spatially distinct, and that interventions to rectify this negative outcome must take a new conceptual framework into account.

Computational Analyses of Intravascular Tracer Washout Reveal Altered Capillary-level Flow Distributions in Obese Zucker Rats

The Journal of Physiology. Sep, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21788350

Intravascular tracer washout data obtained from gastrocnemius muscle of lean Zucker rats (LZRs) and obese Zucker rats (OZRs) were analysed to investigate flow distributions in the OZR, a model of non-atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. A computer model used to simulate the network washout curves was developed based on experimentally observed relative dispersions in large vessels and asymmetrical flow distributions at bifurcations in dichotomous microvascular networks. The model results of simulations were compared to experimental washout data of (125)I-labelled albumin, an intravascular tracer, to uncover flow distributions on the arterial-network and capillary levels. The lean and obese Zucker rats demonstrated distinct capillary-level flow distributions, with higher dispersion and significantly more low-flow capillaries in the OZRs than in the LZRs. Targeted pharmacological treatments against identified sites of vascular dysfunction in OZRs (adrenoreceptor blockade with phentolamine, antioxidant treatment with Tempol and thromboxane receptor antagonism with SQ-29548) were shown to improve the capillary-level flow distributions in treated OZRs toward distributions determined in control LZRs. Combination therapy with multiple pharmacological interventions resulted in a greater degree of recovery. This study demonstrates that the enhanced perfusion heterogeneity at arteriole bifurcations is a potential mechanism underlying perfusion-demand mismatching in OZRs, and suggests that amelioration of this dysfunction must involve a multi-faceted interventional approach.

The WD40 Repeat PtdIns(3)P-binding Protein EPG-6 Regulates Progression of Omegasomes to Autophagosomes

Developmental Cell. Aug, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21802374

PtdIns(3)P plays critical roles in the autophagy pathway. However, little is known about how PtdIns(3)P effectors act with autophagy proteins in autophagosome formation. Here we identified an essential autophagy gene in C. elegans, epg-6, which encodes a WD40 repeat-containing protein with PtdIns(3)P-binding activity. EPG-6 directly interacts with ATG-2. epg-6 and atg-2 regulate progression of omegasomes to autophagosomes, and their loss of function causes accumulation of enlarged early autophagic structures. Another WD40 repeat PtdIns(3)P effector, ATG-18, plays a distinct role in autophagosome formation. We also established the hierarchical relationship of autophagy genes in degradation of protein aggregates and revealed that the UNC-51/Atg1 complex, EPG-8/Atg14, and binding of lipidated LGG-1 to protein aggregates are required for omegasome formation. Our study demonstrates that autophagic PtdIns(3)P effectors play distinct roles in autophagosome formation and also provides a framework for understanding the concerted action of autophagy genes in protein aggregate degradation.

Distal Leucines Are Key Functional Determinants of Alix-binding Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIV(smE543) and SIV(mac239) Type 3 L Domains

Journal of Virology. Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21849430

In addition to PTAP L domains, primate lentiviruses carry Alix-binding motifs that include the recently described type 3 SREKPYKEVTEDLLHLNSLF sequence. We examined the requirements for the type 3 sequence motif in simian immunodeficiency virus SIV(smE543) and identified the (499)LNSLF(503) sequence as a key functional determinant. Mutation of distal leucines (499)L and (502)L (LL mutant) caused an inhibitory effect on Alix-dependent SIV(smE543) release that was quantitatively similar to that observed following disruption of the type 3 L domain or RNA interference (RNAi) depletion of Alix. Similar results were obtained with the SIV(mac239) LL mutant. Thus, distal leucines are key determinants of SIV(smE543) and SIV(mac239) type 3 L domains.

A New Type of Bis(sulfonamide)-diamine Ligand for a Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts Alkylation Reaction of Indoles with Nitroalkenes

Organic Letters. Sep, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21861451

Chiral bis(sulfonamide)-diamine served as new type of ligand for a Cu(OTf)(2)-catalyzed asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of indoles with nitroalkenes. The desired products were obtained with up to 99% yield and 97% ee.

Down-regulation of EGFL8: a Novel Biomarker for Advanced Gastric Cancer

Anticancer Research. Oct, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21965749

Recently, we have reported an important role of epidermal growth factor-like domain 8 (EGFL8) in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and documented EGFL8 to be a novel prognostic biomarker for this malignancy. However, the function of EGFL8 in the other human gastroenterological malignancies such as gastric cancer remains largely unknown.

[Detection for Respiratory Viruses in Shanghai with Multiplex PCR from 2009 to 2010]

Wei Sheng Yan Jiu = Journal of Hygiene Research. Sep, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22043718

To characterize the prevalence and occurrence of respiratory viruses in children in Shanghai China.

[Relationship Between Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism and Essential Hypertension in Children]

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics. Nov, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22099196

To study the relationship between insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of 287 bp in the 16th intron of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and essential hypertension in children.

China Kadoorie Biobank of 0.5 Million People: Survey Methods, Baseline Characteristics and Long-term Follow-up

International Journal of Epidemiology. Dec, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22158673

Large blood-based prospective studies can provide reliable assessment of the complex interplay of lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors as determinants of chronic disease.

Downregulation of Mus81 As a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

Cancer Science. Feb, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 21175991

The Mus81 gene encodes a critical endonuclease involved in DNA repair and tumor suppression. Our previous study has shown reduced expression of Mus81 in hepatocellular carcinoma and its association with the metastatic potential and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the role of Mus81 in colorectal carcinoma is currently unknown. We therefore carried out the present study to explore the correlation between Mus81 expression and the progression of colorectal carcinoma. Mus81 expression in 92 cases of colorectal carcinoma and matched normal tissues was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed that Mus81 expression in colorectal carcinoma tissues was significantly reduced compared with the corresponding normal tissues (P < 0.001) and the downregulation of Mus81 (decreased by more than 50%) was found in 60.9% (56/92) of colorectal carcinoma. Moreover, Mus81 downregulation correlated significantly to hepatic metastasis (P = 0.019) and a high TNM stage (P = 0.025) of colorectal carcinoma. In addition, the decrease of Mus81 was also detected in 10 cases of hepatic metastasis tissues compared with the corresponding primary colorectal carcinoma tissues (P = 0.016). More importantly, colorectal carcinoma patients with apparent Mus81 downregulation have shown significantly poorer overall survival than those with little Mus81 downregulation (P = 0.0374). Also, multivariable Cox regression analysis identified Mus81 downregulation as an independent prognostic factor for colorectal carcinoma (hazard ratio, 1.678; P = 0.040). In conclusion, the reduced expression of Mus81 is closely related to hepatic metastasis and poor prognosis of colorectal carcinoma, indicating Mus81 as a novel prognostic marker for colorectal carcinoma.

Intensive Cytokine Induction in Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Virus Infection Accompanied by Robust Production of IL-10 and IL-6

PloS One. 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22174866

The innate immune system is the first line of defense against viruses by inducing expression of cytokines and chemokines. Many pandemic influenza H1N1 virus [P(H1N1)] infected severe cases occur in young adults under 18 years old who were rarely seriously affected by seasonal influenza. Results regarding host cytokine profiles of P(H1N1) are ambivalent. In the present study we investigated host cytokine profiles in P(H1N1) patients and identified cytokines related to disease severity.

ERCC1 Polymorphisms and Risk of Adult Glioma in a Chinese Population: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study

Cancer Investigation. Dec, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22201261

To examine the associations of two polymorphisms in excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency complementation group 1 (ERCC1) gene, C8092A (rs3212986) and T19007C (rs11615), with the risk of adult glioma, we performed a hospital-based case-control study with 257 new cases of glioma and 278 controls in Wenzhou, China. Results showed that polymorphisms C8092A and T19007C in ERCC1 gene were not associated with the risk of glioma in a Chinese population. Further studies in Chinese populations with larger sample sizes are still warranted.

A Dual-shank Neural Probe Integrated with Double Waveguides on Each Shank for Optogenetic Applications

Conference Proceedings : ... Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Conference. Aug, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22255578

This paper presents a dual-shank neural probe integrated with double-waveguides on each shank, which enables both optical stimulation and electrical recording. Two 15-μm-thick polymeric (SU-8) waveguides on each neural probe shank have been precisely defined by photolithography with a width of 24 μm and a spacing of 10 μm. The waveguides transmit a light coupled from optical fibers which are placed in the grooves located at the neural probe body. Each shank has 8 iridium recording electrodes which have the area of 11 μm × 13 μm. In front of each waveguide, four recording sites are deployed with a pitch of 100 μm. Blue light (473 nm in wavelength) has been successfully transmitted to the stimulation sites located at the end of the fabricated neural probe tips.

[Knee Osteoarthritis Treated with Moxibustion: a Randomized Controlled Trial]

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu = Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion. Dec, 2011  |  Pubmed ID: 22256633

To observe the efficacy of moxibustion on the improvement in pain, stiffness and motor disturbance for the patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and evaluate the effectiveness and safety of moxibustion therapy.

Recent Insights into Microbial Triggers of Interleukin-10 Production in the Host and the Impact on Infectious Disease Pathogenesis

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology. Jan, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22268692

Since its initial description as a Th2-cytokine antagonistic to interferon-alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, many studies have shown various anti-inflammatory actions of interleukin-10 (IL-10), and its role in infection as a key regulator of innate immunity. Studies have shown that IL-10 induced in response to microorganisms and their products plays a central role in shaping pathogenesis. IL-10 appears to function as both sword and shield in the response to varied groups of microorganisms in its capacity to mediate protective immunity against some organisms but increase susceptibility to other infections. The nature of IL-10 as a pleiotropic modulator of host responses to microorganisms is explained, in part, by its potent and varied effects on different immune effector cells which influence antimicrobial activity. A new understanding of how microorganisms trigger IL-10 responses is emerging, along with recent discoveries of how IL-10 produced during disease might be harnessed for better protective or therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize studies from the past 5 years that have reported the induction of IL-10 by different classes of pathogenic microorganisms, including protozoa, nematodes, fungi, viruses and bacteria and discuss the impact of this induction on the persistence and/or clearance of microorganisms in the host.

Population-based Survival for Childhood Cancer Patients Diagnosed During 2002-2005 in Shanghai, China

Pediatric Blood & Cancer. Feb, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22302759

BACKGROUND: There have been no population-based studies on cancer survival among children aged 0-14 years in China. In this study, we aimed to characterize the cancer survival among children in Shanghai. PROCEDURE: Childhood cancer cases registered by the Shanghai Cancer Registry between 2002 and 2005 and enrolled in the Shanghai Childhood Survival Study were included in this study. We used Kaplan-Meier product-limit method for survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models for investigating the effects of various prognostic factors. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 5.4 years (range 0-8.9 years). The 5-year observed survival for all childhood cancers combined was 55.7% (95% CI: 51.7-59.6%). For leukemia, lymphoma, and central nervous system tumors, the three most common types of childhood cancer, 5-year survival rates were 52.2%, 58.8%, and 41.2%, respectively. Higher 5-year survival rates were observed for epithelial cancer (88.9%), malignant renal tumors (86.7%), germ cell and other gonadal tumors (78.4%), and retinoblastoma (75.0%). Cancers with poor prognosis included sympathetic nervous system tumors (57.9%), soft tissue sarcoma (54.1%), bone tumors (52.6%), and liver cancer (33.3%). There were no significant differences between survival rates by gender and age groups. Compared with those reported in the USA and Europe, the survival rates for all cancers combined and the three most common types in Shanghai were lower. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate for children aged 0-14 diagnosed with cancer in Shanghai during 2002-2005 was at the medium level. There was a substantial survival difference from childhood cancers between Shanghai and specific developed countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Premixed, Injectable PLA-modified Calcium Deficient Apatite Biocement (cd-AB) with Washout Resistance

Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces. Apr, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22177538

By using a non-aqueous solution as the mixing liquid, the washout resistance of the calcium deficient apatite biocement (cd-AB) was significantly improved, over that of the conventional method of using cd-AB with water as the liquid phase. In this study, premixed and injectable cd-AB was prepared, which had the advantage of being stable in the syringe and hardens only after being delivered to the defect area. The cd-AB powder with a Ca/P ratio of 1.5 consists of a mixture of tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA). A solution of polylactide (PLA) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as the liquid phase of the premixed cd-AB. The premixed cd-AB paste injected into an aqueous environment exhibited excellent washout resistance. The premixed cd-AB had longer setting time and lower compressive strength than conventional cd-AB. The hydration products of premixed cd-AB were a mixture of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (cd-HA) and PLA. In vitro Tris-HCl immersion tests demonstrated that the premixed cd-AB could be degradable. The results revealed that the premixed cd-AB was cytocompatible and had no adverse effects on the attachment and proliferation of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells in vitro. The most distinct advantages of premixed and injectable PLA-modified cd-AB were its excellent washout resistance and in vitro degradability, suggesting that it may be a promising candidate for bone repair.

Ni-catalyzed Reductive Allylation of Unactivated Alkyl Halides with Allylic Carbonates

Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany). Jan, 2012  |  Pubmed ID: 22170740

Game of two electrophiles: Two partially positively charged sp(3) carbon atoms can be connected by using a catalytic Ni species in the presence of an environmentally benign Zn reductant, delivering allylated alkanes. This unprecedented approach allowed a variety of unactivated alkyl halides and substituted allylic carbonates to regioselectively afford E-alkenes in good to excellent yields.