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Helmich I, Chang YY, Gemmerich R, Rodrigo L, Funken J, Arun KM, Van de Vliet P. Neurobehavioral consequences of repetitive head impacts in Para swimming: A case report. J Sci Med Sport 2024; 27:16-19. [PMID: 37923648 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Para swimmers with limb deficiency are faced with the particular situation that they must use their head to finish each competition by a hit to the wall. Repetitive head impacts may impair behavioral and brain functions. We therefore investigated neurobehavioral functions of a Para swimmer with dysmelia before and after repetitive head impacts (T1) and without (T2). Average head impact at T1 constituted 13.6 g with a mean impact force of 6689.9 N. Behavioral and brain functions decreased from pre to post at T1 but not at T2. Para swimmers with limb deficiency are therefore affected from the same consequences onto brain health that are observed after repeated sport-related concussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Helmich
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University (GSU), Germany.
| | - Y Y Chang
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University (GSU), Germany
| | - R Gemmerich
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University (GSU), Germany
| | - L Rodrigo
- Department of Motor Behavior in Sports, German Sport University (GSU), Germany
| | - J Funken
- Institute of Biomechanics and Orthopaedics, GSU Cologne, Germany
| | - K M Arun
- Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA
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Zhai L, Peng J, Zhuang M, Chang YY, Cheng KW, Ning ZW, Huang T, Lin C, Wong HLX, Lam YY, Tan HY, Xiao HT, Bian ZX. Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Zhen-Wu-Bu-Qi Decoction on dextran sulfate sodium-induced chronic colitis in mice assessed by multi-omics approaches. Phytomedicine 2022; 99:154001. [PMID: 35240530 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.154001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zhen-Wu-Bu-Qi Decoction (ZWBQD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula comprising Poria, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Radix Codonopsis and Rhizoma Coptidis, is used for treating ulcerative colitis (UC). In a previous study, we have reported ZWBQD mitigates the severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. HYPOTHESIS In this study, we aimed to understand the systemic actions and underlying mechanisms of ZWBQD on experimental colitis in mice. METHODS We used multi-omics techniques and immunoblotting approach to study the pharmacological actions and mechanisms of ZWBQD in DSS-induced chronic colitic mice. RESULTS We showed that ZWBQD exhibited potent anti-inflammatory properties and significantly protected DSS-induced colitic mice against colon injury by regulating the PI3K-AKT, MAPK signaling pathway and NF-κB signaling pathways. We also revealed that ZWBQD significantly ameliorated gut microbiota dysbiosis and abnormalities of tryptophan catabolites induced by DSS. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of ZWBQD on experimental colitis are mediated by regulating multiple signaling pathways and modulation of gut microbiota. Our study employed an integrative strategy to elucidate novel mechanisms of ZWBQD, which provides new insights into the development of Chinese herbal medicine-based therapeutics for UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiang Zhai
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiao Peng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China; Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China; School of Pharmacy, Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Min Zhuang
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yao-Yao Chang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ka Wing Cheng
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zi-Wan Ning
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chengyuan Lin
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hoi Leong Xavier Wong
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yan Y Lam
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hor Yue Tan
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hai-Tao Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Zhao-Xiang Bian
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development and School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Chang YY, Huan QC, Peng J, Bi WC, Zhai LX, Chen Y, Lamb JR, Shen XC, Bian ZX, Wu HQ, Cheng YX, Xiao HT. P2Y1R Ligation Suppresses Th17 Cell Differentiation and Alleviates Colonic Inflammation in an AMPK-Dependent Manner. Front Immunol 2022; 13:820524. [PMID: 35222397 PMCID: PMC8866175 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.820524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
P2Y1 receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor that plays a critical role in the immune response of inflammatory bowel diseases. However, its regulatory effects on CD4+ T cell response have not been fully elucidated. The study aimed to characterize the role of P2Y1R in Th17 cell differentiation and colonic inflammation. Our results demonstrated that P2Y1R was significantly increased in the splenocytes of colitic mice, which was positively associated with the expression of RORγt and IL-17A. P2Y1R deficiency significantly ameliorated DSS-induced colitis and its Th17 responses. In parallel, P2Y1R deficiency greatly impaired the differentiation of Th17 cell, down-regulated the mRNA expression of IL-17A and RORγt, and protein expression of RORγt in vitro. More importantly, it was found that P2Y1R deficiency markedly increased AMPK phosphorylation of Th17 polarized CD4+ T cells, and antagonist of AMPK significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of P2Y1R deficiency on Th17 cell generation in vivo and in vitro. Overall, these findings demonstrated that P2Y1R deficiency could suppress Th17 cell differentiation in an AMPK-dependent manner to ameliorate colitis, and P2Y1R can act as an important regulator of Th17 cell differentiation to control colonic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Yao Chang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qiu-Chan Huan
- The State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants and The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China.,Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiao Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen-Chun Bi
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li-Xiang Zhai
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jonathan R Lamb
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xiang-Chun Shen
- The State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants and The High Efficacy Application of Natural Medicinal Resources Engineering Center of Guizhou Province, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhao-Xiang Bian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hai-Qiang Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong-Xian Cheng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hai-Tao Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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Abstract
In compromised bone conditions such as osteoporosis, developments of the implant surface are necessary to secure the stability of implants. This study investigated the effect of the surface porous titanium structure (PS) on the osseointegration of implants in osteoporotic bone. Bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) was performed in 4 female beagle dogs to induce osteoporosis for 32 wk. Success of induction was based on the evaluation of bone mineral density by Hounsfield units (HU) in computed tomography images. Posterior teeth in both mandibles were extracted 1 wk after OVX, and a total of 30 implants (15 implants in each group) were placed after 32 wk of osteoporosis induction. The control group implant underwent resorbable blast media (RBM) surface treatment, whereas the test group underwent RBM surface treatment in the coronal two-thirds and a PS added to the apical 3-mm portion. HU values in the mandibular trabecular bone, lumbar, and femoral head significantly decreased 32 wk after OVX, confirming osteoporotic condition after induction. Resonance frequency analysis and removal torque test showed comparable values between the 2 groups at 4 wk after implant placement. The surface topography of the implant after removal showed hard tissue integration at the PS in the test group. Bone-to-implant contact length was greater in the apical portion of the test group, although statistical significance was not found between the groups. Interthread bone area in the apical portion of the test group showed a significant increase compared to the control group (control: 0.059 ± 0.041 mm2, test: 0.121 ± 0.060 mm2, P = 0.028) with the histological feature of bone ingrowth at the PS. The findings of the study demonstrated that the surface PS could improve osteoconductivity in the osteoporotic trabecular bone by bone ingrowth at the pore space, thereby enhancing the osseointegration and stability of the implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Y Ko
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - J Y Hong
- Department of Periodontology, Periodontal-Implant Clinical Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - W Lee
- Advanced Process and Materials R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Y Y Chang
- Department of Dentistry, Inha International Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - K B Park
- MIR Dental Hospital and MegaGen, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - J H Yun
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dentistry and Institute of Oral Bioscience, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.,Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
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Chang YY, Wang YG, Fan P, Wang JQ, Shu YQ, Li R, Zhong XN, Long L, Zhao ZH, Li CX, Qiu W. [Expression of HLA-DP in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2019; 99:3574-3580. [PMID: 31826574 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0376-2491.2019.45.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of HLA-DP gene expression on the susceptibility and disease status of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). Methods: A total of 86 NMOSD patients (52 in acute phase and 34 in remission phase), 52 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (20 in acute phase and 32 in remission phase) diagnosed in Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and 29 healthy controls were enrolled prospectively. Genotyping of HLA-DP was performed. The expression levels of HLA-DP molecules in peripheral blood B cells and monocytes were measured by flow cytometry. The transcription levels of HLA-DPB1 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were measured by real time-PCR. The results were compared among different groups Results: There was no statistically significant difference of the distributions of HLA-DPB1*0501/HLA-DPB1*0501, HLA-DPB1*0501/X and X/X genotypes and the frequencies of allele of HLA-DPB1*0501 among NMOSD, MS patients and healthy controls (P=0.96 and 0.71, respectively). The expression levels of HLA-DP on the surface of B cells in NMOSD patients, especially in remission phase patients, were significantly higher than those in healthy controls(212±328 and 374±394 vs 55±57, P=0.049 and 0.002, respectively). The expression levels of HLA-DP on the surface of monocytes in NMOSD patients in acute phase were significantly higher than those in healthy controls(158±175 vs 65±90, P=0.025). The transcription levels of PMBC HLA-DPB1 mRNA in acute phase and remission phase of NMOSD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (3.0±1.4 and 2.9±1.3 vs 1.5±1.4, P=0.000 and 0.003, respectively). The expression levels of HLA-DP molecules on the surface of peripheral blood B cells and monocytes and the transcription levels of PMBC HLA-DPB1 mRNA in MS patients at the acute and remission stages were not significantly different from those in healthy controls. The expression levels of HLA-DP molecules on the surface of B cells in patients with HLA-DPB1*0501/HLA-DPB1*0501, HLA-DPB1*0501/X and X/X genotypes were statistically different (P=0.017). Conclusion: HLA-DP gene transcription and molecular expression levels in antigen presenting cells may affect the susceptibility and disease status of NMOSD patients, while HLA-DPB1*0501 allele may affect the transcription and molecular expression levels of HLA-DP gene in antigen presenting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Y G Wang
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - P Fan
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - J Q Wang
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Y Q Shu
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - R Li
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - X N Zhong
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - L Long
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Z H Zhao
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450051, China
| | - C X Li
- School of Mathematics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - W Qiu
- Department of Neurology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
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Wang YM, Chang Y, Chang YY, Cheng J, Li J, Wang T, Zhang QY, Liang DC, Sun B, Wang BM. Serotonin transporter gene promoter region polymorphisms and serotonin transporter expression in the colonic mucosa of irritable bowel syndrome patients. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2012; 24:560-5, e254-5. [PMID: 22435794 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2012.01902.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of serotonin transporter (SERT) gene polymorphism in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been demonstrated. However, the expression of SERT mRNA and proteins in the colonic mucosa with different 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotypes remains unknown. We examined SERT mRNA and protein levels in colon biopsies from patients with different 5-HTTLPR genotypes and evaluated the links between the polymorphism and the expression levels. METHODS Two hundred and fifty-four patients with IBS and 120 healthy subjects were studied. DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood and genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). SERT mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by quantitative real time PCR and western blotting. The promoter efficiency of the serotonin transporter promoter (SERT-P) was evaluated with luciferase reporter system. KEY RESULTS The frequency of the L/L genotype in C-IBS group was significantly higher than that in the control and D-IBS. However, the S/S genotype in D-IBS was significantly higher than that in C-IBS. The transcriptional efficiency of the L/L genotype was significantly higher than that in the L/S and S/S genotype. Patients with the L/L genotype demonstrated increased production of the SERT protein when compared with L/S and S/S patients. The l variant increased SERT promoter activity by 2.43-fold when compared with the s variant. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES Polymorphism in the promoter region of the SERT gene can influence the expression of SERT mRNA and the levels of the SERT protein in the colonic mucosa, thereby playing a key role in motility-related symptoms of IBS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y M Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Chang YY, Cronan JE. An Escherichia coli mutant deficient in pyruvate oxidase activity due to altered phospholipid activation of the enzyme. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 81:4348-52. [PMID: 16593486 PMCID: PMC345586 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.81.14.4348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pyruvate oxidase (pyruvate:ferricytochrome b(1) oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.2.2) of Escherichia coli is markedly activated by phospholipids in vitro. To test the physiological relevance of this activation, we isolated an E. coli mutant producing an oxidase that is deficient in activation by (and binding to) phospholipids. The mutant oxidase could be fully activated by a specific proteolytic cleavage, indicating that the catalytic site is normal. The mutant enzyme functions poorly in vivo, indicating that activation of the oxidase by phospholipids plays an important physiological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, 131 Burrill Hall, 407 South Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801
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Abstract
Lipopolysaccharide isolated from colicin E2-sensitive Escherichia coli and from "receptor-minus" mutants inhibits the activity of colicin E2. Lipid A and the polysaccharide fraction obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide are inactive either alone or when tested in combination. Periodate oxidation of lipopolysaccharide destroys over 85% of its inhibition activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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Chang CC, Chang YY, Chang WN, Lee YC, Wang YL, Lui CC, Huang CW, Liu WL. Cognitive deficits in multiple system atrophy correlate with frontal atrophy and disease duration. Eur J Neurol 2009; 16:1144-50. [PMID: 19486137 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02661.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dementia remains an exclusion criterion in diagnosing multiple system atrophy (MSA). This study aimed to determine the cognitive changes and brain atrophy patterns in the Parkinsonian (MSA-P) and cerebellar (MSA-C) variants of MSA. METHODS Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neuro-psychological tests were applied to 10 MSA-C and 13 MSA-P patients, and compared to 37 age-matched controls. Correlation analyses were performed between cognitive test results and morphometric data extracted from the VBM data. RESULTS In neuro-psychological testing, the 23 MSA patients scored lower in the Stroop interference test and took longer in the trail-making test as compared with the controls, whereas MSA-C performed worse than MSA-P in the memory scores, Stroop test, and time to complete the trail-making test. MSA, as a group, showed atrophy in the cerebellum, insular cortex, fusiform gyrus, inferior orbito-frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and caudate nucleus. Memory scores correlated well with pre-frontal lobe atrophy but not in the insular area. CONCLUSION In conclusion, although dementia is not a typical presenting feature of MSA and is regarded as a sub-cortical movement disorder, frontal atrophy, cognitive changes, and dementia are identifiable as MSA progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Lan MY, Chang YY, Chen WH, Kao YF, Lin HS, Liu JS. Serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism is associated with body mass index and obesity in non-elderly stroke patients. J Endocrinol Invest 2009; 32:119-22. [PMID: 19411808 DOI: 10.1007/bf03345699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The serotonergic system is involved in the complex behavioral and physiological process in maintaining energy balance. Genetic factors regulating serotonergic function may have links with the development of obesity. AIM To investigate whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene is associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity in stroke patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The study included 376 patients (65.3+/-11.3 yr; male, 61.7%) with stroke. Associations between the 5-HTTLPR and BMI and obesity (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) were examined in all subjects. In order to test age-dependent effects of the genetic variant, the association was also examined in the non-elderly subgroup (<65 yr) and the elderly subgroup (> or =65 yr) respectively. RESULTS For non-elderly subjects, the SS genotype was independently associated with increased BMI level (beta=1.84, p=0.037) and obesity (odds ratio 4.17, 95% CI 1.25-14.0, p=0.021) when the LL genotype was used as the reference. The association was not found for all patients or in the elderly subgroup. The LS genotype was not different from the LL genotype in BMI level or risk of obesity, either for all subjects or with regard to the non-elderly and elderly subgroups. CONCLUSIONS The SS genotype of 5-HTTLPR is an independent determinant of increased BMI level and obesity in non-elderly stroke patients but not in elderly patients. An age-dependent modification for the effect of the 5-HTTLPR on development of obesity is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Y Lan
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Niaosung, Taiwan
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Fang CT, Chang YY, Hsu HM, Twu SJ, Chen KT, Lin CC, Huang LYL, Chen MY, Hwang JS, Wang JD, Chuang CY. Life expectancy of patients with newly-diagnosed HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. QJM 2007; 100:97-105. [PMID: 17277317 DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcl141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited data are available on the life expectancy of patients with newly-diagnosed HIV infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). AIM To provide such an estimate using a semi-parametric projection. DESIGN Statistical analysis. METHODS Follow-up data for patients newly diagnosed with HIV infection in Taiwan (HIV/AIDS Cohort) from 1 May 1997 to 30 April 2003 (n = 3351, only 1% are injecting drug users) were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The survival function for an age- and gender-matched reference population was generated by the Monte Carlo method from the life-table of the general population. A constant excess hazard model was used to project long-term survival of HIV-infected patients, with linear extrapolation of a logit-transformed curve of survival ratio between HIV-infected patients and the reference population. RESULTS The 5-year survival rate was 58% in patients who had already developed AIDS at diagnosis (AIDS group), and 89% in those who had not (non-AIDS group). Extrapolation yielded an expected mean survival time of 10.6 years after diagnosis for the AIDS group, and 21.5 years after diagnosis for the non-AIDS group. DISCUSSION Our results support the expansion of HIV screening programs to minimize delay in diagnosis. With continuing advances in HAART, this estimate of survival in initially asymptomatic patients may be conservative. Their long life expectancy raises questions about what kind of preventive heath services should be offered. These should be addressed through further analysis of overall benefit and cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- C T Fang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7 Chung San South Road, Taipei, Taiwan
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Abstract
In this study, as a promising technique for the treatment of both As(III) and As(V) at the same time in a single reactor, a column reactor containing both manganese-coated sand (MCS) and iron-coated sand (ICS), at different configuration of MCS and ICS, was used to treat wastewater contaminated with As(III). Prior to column experiments, batch experiments for the adsorption of As(V) by ICS were performed with variation of solution pH, ionic strength and types of background ions to investigate the effect of these parameters on the As(V) adsorption behaviour. As(V) adsorption onto ICS was quite similar with the variation of ionic strength by using NaNO3 as a background ion as well as in the presence of different types of background ions except phosphate. The adsorption curves shifted to the lower pH region with the increase of the initial arsenic concentration due to the finite number of adsorption sites on the ICS. For model prediction on the adsorption of As(V) onto ICS, the MINEQL program employing an inner-sphere complexation and a diffuse layer model was used. Model predictions generally agreed well with experimental results. From the column test, column system packed with equal ratio of MCS and ICS was identified as the best system due to a promising oxidation efficiency of As(III) to As(V) by MCS and adsorption of As(V) by both MCS and ICS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Yang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul, Korea.
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Chang YY, Kim KS, Jung JH, Yang JK, Lee SM. Application of iron-coated sand and manganese-coated sand on the treatment of both As(III) and As(V). Water Sci Technol 2007; 55:69-75. [PMID: 17305125 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2007.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, manganese-coated sand (MCS) and iron-coated sand (ICS) were applied in the oxidation of As(III) and adsorption of As(V), respectively. ICS and MCS were prepared by mixing FeCl3 and Mn(NO3)2, respectively, with Joomoonjin sand at 150 degrees C. In the batch adsorption isotherms, adsorption of As(III) and As(V) onto ICS followed a Langmuir type. ICS showed a greater capacity in the removal of As(V) than As(III) and also in the removal of As(V) compared with MCS. Three different configurations of ICS and MCS were used to investigate the oxidation of As(III) and adsorption of As(V) in a column. In the homogenised system, arsenic breakthrough was approximately two-times delayed compared with the separately packed systems. After breakthrough of arsenic, concentration of As(III) in the effluents was below 40 ppb for the entire reaction period in all configurations, and most arsenic was identified as As(V) owing to near complete conversion of As(III) to As(V) by MCS. The catalytic activity of MCS on the oxidation of As(III) was maintained up to 700 pore volumes, which corresponds to the treatment of at least 300 mg As(III) based on the 1 kg MCS. Compared with the homogenised column, the released Mn(II) concentration from two-staged and four-staged columns was great for the entire reaction period. In the case where the same amount of ICS and MCS was packed in a filtration system, the homogenised column was identified as a better configuration compared with the two-staged and four-staged columns when considering the arsenic breakthrough time as well as the released concentration of Fe(III) and Mn(II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Wolgye-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-701, Korea.
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14
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Su CF, Chang YY, Pai HH, Liu IM, Lo CY, Cheng JT. Mediation of beta-endorphin in exercise-induced improvement in insulin resistance in obese Zucker rats. Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2005; 21:175-82. [PMID: 15386812 DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aerobic exercise including treadmill running has long been used to successfully treat and/or prevent insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes. Increase of plasma beta-endorphin is observed with exercise. The present study was designed to clarify the role of endogenous beta-endorphin in exercise-induced improvement in insulin resistance. METHODS We used a moderate exercise program consisting of treadmill running at 20 m/min and 0% grade for 1 h/day, 7 days/week, for 8 weeks. Plasma glucose concentration was assessed by the glucose oxidase method. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to quantify the plasma level of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (BER). The glucose disposal rate (GDR) was measured by the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique. Changes of the insulin signaling in isolated soleus muscle were then detected by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. RESULTS An increase of plasma BER in parallel with the reduction of plasma glucose was obtained in exercise-trained obese Zucker rats. Different from a marked reduction in sedentary obese rats, the value of insulin-stimulated GDR obtained from the exercised obese rats was reversed to near that of the sedentary lean group, eight weeks after the last period of exercise. This effect of exercise was inhibited by naloxone or naloxonazine at doses sufficient to block opioid micro-receptors. Signaling-related defects in the soleus muscle of sedentary obese Zucker rats, which impaired glucose transporter subtype 4 (GLUT 4), included decreased phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, as well as an attenuated p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) and Akt serine phosphorylation. In contrast, exercise training failed to modify the levels of insulin receptor (IR), IRS-1, and IR tyrosine autophosphorylation in obese Zucker rats. CONCLUSION Enhanced insulin sensitivity via exercise training might be mediated by endogenous beta-endorphin through an increase of postreceptor insulin signaling related to the IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase step that leads to the enhancement of GLUT 4 translocation and improved glucose disposal in obese Zucker rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Su
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, ROC
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15
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Wang SH, Sheng WH, Chang YY, Wang LH, Lin HC, Chen ML, Pan HJ, Ko WJ, Chang SC, Lin FY. Healthcare-associated outbreak due to pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a surgical intensive care unit. J Hosp Infect 2003; 53:97-102. [PMID: 12586567 DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2002.1348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is ubiquitous and has recently become one of the most important healthcare-associated (HA) pathogens in hospitals. Infection caused by this organism often leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Outbreaks of pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (PDRAB) have rarely been reported. During a two-month period, an outbreak of PDRAB colonization and infection affecting 7 patients occurred in our surgical intensive care unit (SICU). The colonized sites were respiratory tract (N = 7) and central venous catheter (N = 2). One of the patients had a surgical wound infection. Extensive environmental contamination was identified, including sites such as bed rails, bedside tables, surface of ventilators and infusion pump, water for nasogastric feeding and ventilator rinsing and sinks. All of the isolates were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and showed an identical pattern. After use of strict cohort nursing, hand hygiene environmental cleaning, and replacement of a dysfunctional high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA), the outbreak was controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H Wang
- Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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16
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Chen WH, Kao YF, Lan MY, Chang YY, Liu JS. A perturbation of antithrombin-III and protein C coupling associates with an increase of anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibody in non-antiphospholipid antibody syndrome cerebral ischemia. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2002; 13:703-9. [PMID: 12441909 DOI: 10.1097/00001721-200212000-00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Anti-beta -glycoprotein I antibody (abetaGPI) has been recognized in raising the risk of cerebral ischemia in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), especially by protein C (PC) axis perturbation. Although a high potential is also seen in non-APS patients, the mechanism is substantially unknown. In the present study, we examined the effect of abetaGPI on PC and antithrombin-III (AT-III) activity in non-APS patients with non-cardiac cerebral ischemia (NCCI). A total of 111 NCCI patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. They were free of APS manifestation, and their anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant tests were within normal range. There were 14.4% patients found to have an abnormal increase of blood abetaGPI. The PC, AT-III, albumin, aminotransferases, creatinine, prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time did not differ between our patients and controls, or patients with or without increased abetaGPI. However, a marked decrease of the PC/AT-III ratio was found in patients with increased abetaGPI. The correlation between PC and AT-III activity was highly significant in patients with an increase of abetaGPI (P = 0.001), only marginal in controls (P = 0.042), and was insignificant in patients with a normal abetaGPI (P = 0.277). The abetaGPI did not correlate to PC or AT-III activity in either patients or controls. These findings suggest that high PC/AT-III coupling may relate to NCCI in non-APS patients associated with an increase of abetaGPI. This coupling effect seems not to be caused by abetaGPI directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- W H Chen
- Stroke Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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17
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Chia JS, Chang LY, Shun CT, Chang YY, Tsay YG, Chen JY. A 60-kilodalton immunodominant glycoprotein is essential for cell wall integrity and the maintenance of cell shape in Streptococcus mutans. Infect Immun 2001; 69:6987-98. [PMID: 11598074 PMCID: PMC100079 DOI: 10.1128/iai.69.11.6987-6998.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We have demonstrated previously by Western blotting that in naturally sensitized humans, the serum or salivary antibody response to Streptococcus mutans was directed predominantly to a protein antigen with a size of approximately 60-kDa. To identify this immunodominant antigen, specific serum antibodies were eluted from immunoblots and five positive clones with inserts ranging in length from 3 to 8 kb from identical chromosomal loci were obtained by screening a genomic expression library of Streptococcus mutans GS-5. Amino acid sequencing established the identity of this immunodominant antigen, a 60-kDa immunodominant glycoprotein (IDG-60), to be a cell wall-associated general stress protein GSP-781, which was originally predicted to have a molecular mass of approximately 45 kDa based on the derived nucleotide sequence. Discrepancy in the molecular mass was also observed in recombinant his-tagged IDG-60 (rIDG-60) expressed from Escherichia coli. Glycosylation, consisting of sialic acid, mannose galactose, and N-acetylgalactosamine, was detected by lectin binding to IDG-60 in cell wall extracts from S. mutans and rIDG-60 expressed in vivo or translated in vitro. Despite the presence of multiple Asn or Ser or Thr glycosylation sites, IDG-60 was resistant to the effect of N-glycosidase F and multiple O-glycosidase molecules but not to beta-galactosidase. Insertional inactivation of the gene encoding IDG-60, sagA, resulted in a retarded growth rate, destabilization of the cell wall, and pleiomorphic cell shape with multifold ingrowth of cell wall. In addition, distinct from the parental GS-5 strain, the isogenic mutant GS-51 was unable to survive the challenge of low pH and high osmotic pressure or high temperature. Expression of the wild-type gene in trans within GS-51 from plasmid pDL277 complemented the growth defect and restored normal cell shape. These results suggested that IDG-60 is essential for maintaining the integrity of the cell wall and the uniformity of cell shape, both of which are indispensable for bacteria survival under stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Chia
- Graduate Institute of Microbiology, College of Medicine National Taiwan University, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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18
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Abstract
The epitope recognized by a mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) to the crystalline surface layer protein of Rickettsia typhi, SRT10, was mapped to 10 amino acid residues (SRTag TFIGAIATDT). The oligonucleotide sequence covering the epitope recognized by SRT10 was inserted into a mammalian expression vector together with multiple cloning sites. When the SRTag was fused in frame to the coding region of the NCC27/CLIC1 gene and expressed in mammalian cells, the MAb SRT10 could detect the tagged protein by immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and immunoprecipitation. In addition to the SRT-NCC27/CLIC1, SRT10 could detect N-terminal-tagged MEF2D and C-terminal-tagged CD4 by immunocytochemistry. We suggest that this specific recognition of the SRTag by SRT10 is generally applicable to cellular and molecular biology research that requires the expression and detection of fusion proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Lee
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
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Lu KY, Pan SM, Lee LL, Shia LY, Chang YY. The influence of professional commitment on turnover intention. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2001; 17:364-71. [PMID: 11593963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the influence of professional commitment on turnover intentions of nurses. The study also examined the relationships between demographic data, work-related variables and the professional commitment. The self-administered questionnaires were distributed to one fifth of Southern Taiwan's population of nurses (n = 4,000). A total of 2,543 subjects completed the questionnaires with a 63.6% response rate. The nurses exhibited a medium-high degree of overall professional commitment. Age, salary, years in profession and years in organization were correlated significantly with professional commitment by Pearson's correlation. There were significant correlations between professional commitment and marital status, educational level, status of the youngest child, level of position, and family support in Spearman's correlations. Family support, age, level of position and status of hospital were the significant predictors in the final regression analysis model. The discriminant analysis showed that 45.4% of nursing professional commitment was correctly classified in predicting intention to leave the profession and 33.1% in predicting the intention to leave the organization. The study recommended that nursing professional commitment is an important moderator to affect the turnover intention of staff nurses.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Lu
- Department of Nursing, Meiho Institute of Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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20
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Huang CY, Fujimura M, Chang YY, Chan PH. Overexpression of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase attenuates acute activation of activator protein-1 after transient focal cerebral ischemia in mice. Stroke 2001; 32:741-7. [PMID: 11239196 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.32.3.741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in reperfusion injury after focal cerebral ischemia (FCI). ROS are known to regulate the activity of transcription factors such as activator protein-1 (AP-1), which is a dimer consisting of members of the Jun and Fos families. We investigated the role of ROS in AP-1 activity after FCI using transgenic mice that overexpressed copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and that had reduced infarction volume after FCI. METHODS The SOD1 transgenic mice and their wild-type littermates were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion by intraluminal suture blockade. After 60 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion, mice were allowed to recover for 1, 2, and 4 hours before euthanasia. Protein expression of c-Jun and c-Fos was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. AP-1 DNA-protein binding activity was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. RESULTS In wild-type mice, immunohistochemistry demonstrated acute c-Jun and c-Fos activation in ischemic cortex and its outer boundary. Expression of both was reduced in SOD1 transgenic mice. Western blotting confirmed that SOD1 overexpression was associated with reduced c-Jun and c-Fos protein levels in ischemic brain. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that the ischemia-enhanced DNA binding activity observed in wild-type mice was reduced in SOD1 transgenic mice. Supershift assays indicated that c-Jun participated in the bound AP-1 complex. CONCLUSIONS SOD1 overexpression prevents early activation of AP-1 after transient FCI in mice. This may block the expression of downstream target genes that are injurious, thereby reducing the infarction volume after transient FCI in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Program in Neurosciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5487, USA
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21
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Huang YT, Lin HC, Chang YY, Yang YY, Lee SD, Hong CY. Hemodynamic effects of synephrine treatment in portal hypertensive rats. Jpn J Pharmacol 2001; 85:183-8. [PMID: 11286401 DOI: 10.1254/jjp.85.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Synephrine, a sympathomimetic alpha1-adrenoceptor agonist, has been shown to induce dose-dependent portal hypotensive effects after acute intravenous infusion. The present study was undertaken to investigate the hemodynamic effects of 8-day administration of synephrine in portal hypertensive rats. Portal hypertension was induced by either partial portal vein ligation (PVL) or bile duct ligation (BDL). Portal hypertensive rats were allocated into one of two groups: vehicle group (0.1 N HCl, 0.5 ml/12 h) or synephrine group (1 mg/kg per 12 h), with 7 rats in each group. Synephrine or vehicle was administered by gavage into PVL and BDL rats for 8 consecutive days. Systemic as well as splanchnic hemodynamic parameters were measured thereafter. Synephrine significantly ameliorated the hyperdynamic state in both PVL and BDL rats. The portal venous pressure in PVL and BDL rats (-13.5% and -10.1%, respectively), portal tributary blood flow (-19.5% and -20.4%) and cardiac index (-12.1% and -18.8%) were significantly reduced, while mean arterial pressure (10.4% and 23.4%) and systemic (26.3% and 51.0%) as well as portal territory (47.1% and 67.7%) vascular resistance were enhanced by treatment of synephrine as compared with vehicle treatment. Our results showed that eight-day administration of synephrine exerted beneficial hemodynamic effects in two models of portal hypertensive rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y T Huang
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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22
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Wang JT, Chang SC, Ko WJ, Chang YY, Chen ML, Pan HJ, Luh KT. A hospital-acquired outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection initiated by a surgeon carrier. J Hosp Infect 2001; 47:104-9. [PMID: 11170773 DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2000.0878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become an important hospital-acquired pathogen, infection with which often leads to major morbidity and mortality. The principal mode of transmission for MRSA is transfer of the organism from a carrier or infected patient to uninfected patients by the hands or clothing of staff. From January 16 1997 to April 2 1997, five patients who had undergone open-heart surgery in a hospital located in northern Taiwan, developed surgical wound infections and mediastinitis caused by MRSA. All patients were hospitalized in two adjacent surgical intensive care units (ICUs) following their respective operations. Consequently, the hospital's infection control team commenced investigation of the outbreak. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been shown to be a good technique for epidemiological typing. By analysing cultures taken from staff by PFGE, it was demonstrated that this outbreak was most likely to be initiated by a surgeon with MRSA carriage. After elimination of the carrier state using topical mupirocin treatment, the outbreak was controlled without further incident.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Wang
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Fe0-mediated reductive destruction of hazardous organic compounds such as chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) and nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) in the aqueous phase is one of the latest innovative technologies. In this paper, rapid reductive degradation of COCs and NACs by synthesized nanoscale Fe0 in anaerobic batch systems was presented. The nanoscale Fe0, characterized by high specific surface area and high reactivity, rapidly transformed trichloroethylene (TCE), chloroform (CF), nitrobenzene (NB), nitrotoluene (NT), dinitrobenzene (DNB) and dinitrotoluene (DNT) under ambient conditions, which results in complete disappearance of the parent compounds from the aqueous phase within a few minutes. GC analysis reported that the main products of the dechlorination of TCE and CF were ethane and methane as well as that most of the nitro groups in NACs were reductively transformed to amine groups. These results suggest that the rapid reductive destruction by nanoscale Fe0 is potentially a viable in situ or aboveground treatment of groundwater contaminated with hazardous organic compounds including COCs and NACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Choe
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Environment Remediation Research Center, Seoul, South Korea
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24
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Lu KY, Chang YY, Chiou SL. [Changes in nursing professional commitment among junior college graduates]. Hu Li Yan Jiu 2001; 9:28-38. [PMID: 11548213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
The purposes of this longitudinal study were to understand the changes in professional commitment from nursing students before graduation to registered nurses one year and two years after their graduation, and to find the relationship among these changes, work backgrounds and organizational satisfaction. The sample consisted of 890 junior college graduates. The Nursing Professional Commitment Scale was used for data collection at the first and the second test, while work backgrounds and organizational satisfaction were included at the third test. The data were analyzed by using percentage, mean, standard deviation, correlation and repeated measure ANOVA statistical methods. The results showed that: (1) The average scores of the three tests were 2.96, 2.84 and 2.79, with a full point scale of 4. (2) There were positive correlations among the three tests of professional commitments; also, positive correlation was shown between organizational satisfaction and professional commitment on the third test. (3) The scores for overall nursing professional commitment decreased significantly one year after graduation, but there was no significant changes from one year to two years after graduation. (4) There was a significant relationship between the changes in professional commitment and grades of hospital, but no significant relationship with job category or work unit. (5) Organizational satisfaction influenced the decrease in professional commitment from nursing students before graduation to two years after graduation; it also changed professional commitment from one to two years after graduation significantly. The author suggests that nursing educators and administrators should be concerned with changes in the professional commitment of nurses so as to increase nurses' organizational satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Lu
- School of Nursing, Mei-Ho Institute of Technology, Taiwan, ROC
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25
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Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in reperfusion injury after focal cerebral ischemia (FCI). Reactive oxygen species regulate activity of transcription factors like NF-kappaB. The authors investigated the role of ROS in NF-kappaB activity after FCI using transgenic mice that overexpressed human copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and that had reduced infarction volume after FCI. Superoxide dismutase transgenic and wild-type mice were subjected to 1 hour of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and subsequent reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry showed SOD1 overexpression attenuated ischemia-induced NF-kappaB p65 immunoreactivity. Colocalization of NF-kappaB and the neuronal marker, microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), showed that NF-kappaB was up-regulated in neurons after FCI. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that SODI overexpression reduced ischemia-induced NF-kappaB DNA binding activity. Supershift assays showed that DNA-protein complexes contained p65 and p50 subunits. Immunoreactivity of c-myc, an NF-kappaB downstream gene, was increased in the ischemic cortex and colocalized with NF-kappaB. Western blotting showed that SOD1 overexpression reduced NF-kappaB and c-Myc protein levels in the ischemic brain. Colocalization of c-Myc and TUNEL staining was observed 24 hours after FCI. The current findings provide the first evidence that SOD1 overexpression attenuates activation of NF-kappaB after transient FCI in mice and that preventing this early activation may block expression of downstream deleterious genes like c-myc, thereby reducing ischemic damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Y Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA
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26
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Chang YY, Cronan JE. Conversion of Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase to an 'alpha-ketobutyrate oxidase'. Biochem J 2000; 352 Pt 3:717-24. [PMID: 11104678 PMCID: PMC1221509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase (PoxB), a lipid-activated homotetrameric enzyme, is active on both pyruvate and 2-oxobutanoate ('alpha-ketobutyrate'), although pyruvate is the favoured substrate. By localized random mutagenesis of residues chosen on the basis of a modelled active site, we obtained several PoxB enzymes that had a markedly decreased activity with the natural substrate, pyruvate, but retained full activity with 2-oxobutanoate. In each of these mutant proteins Val-380 had been replaced with a smaller residue, namely alanine, glycine or serine. One of these, PoxB V380A/L253F, was shown to lack detectable pyruvate oxidase activity in vivo; this protein was purified, studied and found to have a 6-fold increase in K(m) for pyruvate and a 10-fold lower V(max) with this substrate. In contrast, the mutant had essentially normal kinetic constants with 2-oxobutanoate. The altered substrate specificity was reflected in a decreased rate of pyruvate binding to the latent conformer of the mutant protein owing to the V380A mutation. The L253F mutation alone had no effect on PoxB activity, although it increased the activity of proteins carrying substitutions at residue 380, as it did that of the wild-type protein. The properties of the V380A/L253F protein provide new insights into the mode of substrate binding and the unusual activation properties of this enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, B103 Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Hwang SL, Yang YH, Lieu AS, Chuang MC, Chang SJ, Chang YY, Lin HJ, Howng SL. The conditional survival statistics for survivors with primary supratentorial astrocytic tumors. J Neurooncol 2000; 50:257-64. [PMID: 11263506 DOI: 10.1023/a:1006484220764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relative survival rates can offer a general description of tumor outcome and, traditionally, are used for surveillance and comparison purposes. However, they are not informative for individual tumor survivors. Conditional survival estimates can calculate the probability of surviving next some years given survival to a specific period of time after craniotomy for individual tumor survivors. However, clinically, they have not been used for predicting the tumor outcome. METHODS We calculated conditional probabilities of survival within 6 years after craniotomy in 112 patients with primary supratentorial astrocytic tumors and evaluated factors affecting the survival time more than 2 years after craniotomy. RESULTS Our data showed that the conditional probability of survival can predict yearly survival rate when patients survive for a specific period of time. The conditional survival rates within 6 years after craniotomy were always higher than those evaluated by relative survival rates. Overall, the longer the patients survived, the higher the conditional probabilities of surviving sixth year postoperatively were. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the conditional probabilities of survival have good availability and are important estimates for individual tumor survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Hwang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, ROC
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28
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Abstract
Zero-valent iron powder (Fe0) has been determined to be potentially useful for the removal of nitrate in the water environment. This research is aimed at subjecting the kinetics of denitrification by nanoscale Fe0 to an analysis of factors affecting the chemical denitrification of nitrate. Nanoscale iron particles with a diameter in the range of 1-100 nm, which are characterized by the large BET specific surface area to mass ratio (31.4 m2/g), removed mostly 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/l of nitrate within a period of 30 min with little intermediates. Compared with microscale (75-150 microm) Fe0, end product is not ammonia but N2 gas. Kinetics analysis from batch studies revealed that the denitrification reaction with nanoscale Fe0 appeared to be a pseudo first-order with respect to substrate and the observed reaction rate constant (k(obs)) varied with iron content at a relatively low degree of application. The effects of mixing intensity (rpm) on the denitrification rate suggest that the denitrification appears to be coupled with oxidative dissolution of iron through a largely mass transport-limited surface reaction (<40 rpm).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Choe
- Korea Institute of Scienca and Technology, Environment Remediation Research Center, Seoul, South Korea
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Abstract
The main aims of this study were to develop norms for the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in 6- to 11-year-old children in Taiwan; to explore the effect of sex, age, birth order, number of siblings, and parental education on WCST performance in 6- to 11-year-old children; and to make a comparison of WCST performance between children in Taiwan and the USA. The results of this comparison of developmental norms of school children in Taiwan and the United States may facilitate the WCST as a clinical or research instrument in combination with other test procedures to assess aspects of cognitive and neuropsychological functioning of school children.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Shu
- College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.
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30
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Abstract
Cyclopropane fatty acids (CFAs) are generally synthesized as bacterial cultures enter stationary phase. In Escherichia coli, the onset of CFA synthesis results from increased transcription of cfa, the gene encoding CFA synthase. However, the increased level of CFA synthase activity is transient; the activity quickly declines to the basal level. We report that the loss of CFA activity is due to proteolytic degradation dependent on expression of the heat shock regulon. CFA synthase degradation is unaffected by mutations in the lon, clpP, and groEL genes or by depletion of the intracellular ATP pools. It seems likely that CFA synthase is the target of an unidentified energy-independent heat shock regulon protease. This seems to be the first example of heat shock-dependent degradation of a normal biosynthetic enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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31
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Hou MF, Tsai KB, Fan HM, Wang CY, Lin WC, Liu CS, Lin HJ, Chai CY, Fu OY, Li SS, Chang YY, Huang TJ. Familial breast cancer in southern Taiwan. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2000; 16:414-21. [PMID: 11221545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether there are pathobiologic differences and differences in overall rates survival between familial and non-familial breast cancer patients in Taiwan. A retrospective study was performed evaluating 76 familial breast cancer patients in 69 families, which included two BRCA1 related cases and six BRCA2 related cases. Patients were compared with 425 non-familial sporadic cases. Familial breast cancer patients had similar ages and stages as non-familial patients (mean, 46.6 years vs 48.9 years, p = 0.306). However, the familial breast cancer patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 related cases presented at lower stages (p = 0.034) and younger ages than non-familial patients (mean, 45.1 years vs 48.9 years P = 0.042). The occurrence of infiltrating ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma in situ was not significantly different in the two groups. Mucinous carcinoma was represented with 6.7% (4/76) and 1.3% (1/76) medullary carcinoma. The overall grade of familial breast cancer, including BRCA1 and BRCA2 related cases in 8 infiltrating ductal carcinoma, was significantly higher than that of controls. The mean follow up was 4.5 years for familial breast cancers. Five- and 10-year overall survival rates were 69% and 61% for those with a family history, compared with 86% and 64% for those in the control group (p = 0.644). There were no statistically significant differences in disease-free survival rates between the two groups at 5 or 10 years (69% vs 78% in 5 years; 48% vs 58% in 10 years) (p = 0.862). Despite the younger ages and earlier stages at presentation in familial breast cancer patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 related cases, the familial breast cancer patients had higher grade patholobiologic characteristics, but similar prognoses when compared with sporadic breast cancer patients. Owing to the limited number of familial cases in this study, more cases and longer follow up are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Hou
- Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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32
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Shu BC, Lung FW, Chang YY. The mental health in mothers with autistic children: a case-control study in southern Taiwan. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2000; 16:308-14. [PMID: 11584432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of autistic children on the mental health of their mothers. Autism is a complicated neuropsychiatric disorder. Evidence shows that mothers with autistic children experience greater stress than those having children with other chronic diseases. In this study we have 1) assessed the mental health of mothers with autistic children; 2) determined their prevalence of minor psychiatric morbidity (MPM); 3) classified their MPM; and 4) determined factors related to their mental health. A case-controlled design was used to compare the mental status among mothers having children with either autistic (n = 30), or Down syndrome (n = 11) and with normal children (n = 56). The mean score of the Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ) showed no differences between those mothers of case and control groups. Using a 9-point criterion to screen for MPM in the CHQ, more mothers (37%) in the case group had scores > or = 9 compared with the control group (18%). Mothers of the case group had significantly higher for MPM using logistic regression analysis. The educational level was inversely related to the CHQ scores. Mothers with a CHQ score > or = 9, were later diagnosed with either depression (36%) and anxiety (46%); or anxiety and depression (9%). A primary care model for mothers with autistic children should therefore be developed to prevent them from developing mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- B C Shu
- School of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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33
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Wu WT, Wang PM, Chang YY, Huang TK, Chien YH. Suspended rice particles for cultivation of Monascus purpureus in a tower-type bioreactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2000; 53:542-4. [PMID: 10855713 DOI: 10.1007/s002530051654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cultivation of Monascus purpureus (CCRC 31615) for the production of natural pigments was investigated. Traditionally, Monascus species were grown on rice by solid-state culture. For large-scale cultivation, solid-state cultures were associated with some problems such as contamination and scale-up. By using submerged cultures with rice particles, a stirred-tank fermentor was not suitable for submerged cultures as the impeller tended to break the particles into small pieces. A conventional bubble column was also unsuitable as its mixing capability was poor. In the present study, a modified bubble column with wire-mesh draft tubes was employed for the cultivation of M. purpureus. The proposed column had a shorter mixing time and a higher oxygen transfer rate relative to the conventional bubble column. The production of pigments using the proposed column was up to 80% higher than that achieved using the conventional bubble column.
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Affiliation(s)
- W T Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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34
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Wu HS, Kolonoski P, Chang YY, Bermudez LE. Invasion of the brain and chronic central nervous system infection after systemic Mycobacterium avium complex infection in mice. Infect Immun 2000; 68:2979-84. [PMID: 10768998 PMCID: PMC97513 DOI: 10.1128/iai.68.5.2979-2984.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/1999] [Accepted: 01/18/2000] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria have been described previously, especially in patients with AIDS. To investigate specific aspects of the pathogenesis of this entity, C57BL bg(+)/bg(-) mice were infected intravenously with Mycobacterium avium, and cultures of blood and brain as well as histopathology examination of brain tissue were carried out at several time points up to 6 months after infection. Low-grade inflammatory changes with small aggregates of lymphocytes and macrophages as well as perivascular cuffing were seen early in the infection. A small number of bacteria could be observed in the parenchyma of the choroid plexus. Six months after infection, numerous bacteria were present within the foamy macrophage of the granulomatous lesions along the ventricle and meninges. None of the mice developed clinical signs of meningitis or encephalitis or even died spontaneously during the period of observation. Use of CD18(-/-) knockout mice indicated that transport of the bacterium within neutrophils or monocytes into the brain is unlikely. Mild chronic CNS infection developed in the mice during sustained systemic M. avium infection, similar to what has been reported in most human cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- H S Wu
- Kuzell Institute for Arthritis and Infectious Disease, San Francisco, California 94115, USA
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Liu JS, Chang YY, Wu HS, Huang CY, Chen WH, Lan MY, Kao YF, Chen SS. Transtentorial cerebellar c-jun expression after focal cerebral cortical injury in mice. Neurosci Lett 2000; 282:85-8. [PMID: 10713402 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(00)00865-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Delayed and remote effect of focal cerebral cortical lesion on cerebellum remains unclear. The c-Jun, an inducible transcription factor of cellular immediate early gene, is the predominant transcription factor and consistent marker for neurons that respond to stress or injury. We use a mouse cryogenic injury model to study the spatial and temporal changes of c-jun in the cerebellum after focal neocortical lesion. A transient and moderate expression of c-jun mRNA was found in the cerebellum with central dominance since 3 day postinjury and gradually subsided within 2 weeks. A distinct increment of c-Jun protein expression in Purkinje cells of the bilateral cerebellar hemispheres with focal connotation in the vermis was detected since 1 week postinjury. These findings suggest that the delayed and remote c-jun expression of the cerebellum, functionally connected with the cerebral cortex, indicate transneuronal gene activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Liu
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Shih-Chuan 1st Road, San-Ming District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
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36
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Chen WH, Lan MY, Chang YY, Liu JS. An abnormal cholesterol profile in young adults with normocholesterolemic cerebral ischemia. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2000; 16:141-7. [PMID: 10846350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
An abnormal cholesterol fraction can still be able to provoke cascades of lipidic atherogenesis even when the serum TC level is within normal range (< 200 mg%). However, there is a shortage of convincing data concerning cerebral atherogenesis in young Asians who have a different diet habit and living style from those in western countries. In this study, we examined the lipoprotein-cholesterol profile in young Taiwanese patients with noncardiac cerebral ischemia (NCCI) whose serum TC level was < 200 mg% and 200-250 mg%. The results showed a decrease of HDLC and an increase of VLDLC in patients with TC < 200 mg%, but only a decrease of HDLC in patients with TC = 200-250 mg%. The cholesterol fraction metabolism is obviously perplexed in NCCI subjects. These findings were not related to their associated risk factors. Accordingly, a derangement of cholesterol fraction with normal serum TC level can also incite lipidic cerebral atherogenesis in young Taiwanese adults. Therefore, a detailed evaluation of cholesterol profile should be born in mind in young eastern NCCI patients despite of a normal serum TC level. Tailored measure of diet and living should be modified to prevent lipidic atherogenesis in our society in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- W H Chen
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
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37
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Lu KY, Chiou SL, Chang YY. A study of the professional commitment changes from nursing students to registered nurses. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2000; 16:39-46. [PMID: 10741015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The purposes of this longitudinal study were to understand the professional commitment changes from nursing students to registered nurses. A total of 890 subjects completed the questionnaires of the nursing professional commitment and personality test before their graduation, and nursing professional commitment one year after their graduation, respectively. The data were analyzed by mean, correlation, t-test and repeated measures ANOVA. The results showed that: (1) the nurses exhibited a medium-high degree of professional commitment--the average score was 2.99 before graduation and 2.85 after graduation; (2) there was a highly significant correlation between professional commitments for nursing students and registered nurses; (3) The scores of overall commitment and four factors of professional commitment decreased from nursing students to registered nurses significantly; (4) personality traits were positively correlated with professional commitment for nursing students and registered nurses; and (5) there was no significant relationship between nurses' work backgrounds and the changes of professional commitment from nursing students to registered nurses. Implications for nursing education and for hospital management are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Lu
- School of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Department of Nursing, Fooyin Institute of Technology, Taiwan
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38
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Chang YY, Fujimura M, Morita-Fujimura Y, Kim GW, Huang CY, Wu HS, Kawase M, Copin JC, Chan PH. Neuroprotective effects of an antioxidant in cortical cerebral ischemia: prevention of early reduction of the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease DNA repair enzyme. Neurosci Lett 1999; 277:61-4. [PMID: 10643898 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00799-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We examined the effects of the free radical scavenger, 21-aminosteroid, on apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE/Ref-1) protein expression and subsequent infarction volume after photothrombotic cortical cerebral ischemia in mice. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed a significant reduction in APE/Ref-1 expression 6 and 24 h after ischemia in untreated animals, whereas in drug-treated animals the reduction was much less at the same time points. The administration of 21-aminosteroid significantly decreased subsequent infarction volume 3 days after ischemia. These data suggest that 21-aminosteroid prevents the early decrease of APE/Ref-1 expression, thereby reducing cortical infarction after photothrombotic cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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39
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Poulsen TS, Chang YY, Hove-Jensen B. D-Allose catabolism of Escherichia coli: involvement of alsI and regulation of als regulon expression by allose and ribose. J Bacteriol 1999; 181:7126-30. [PMID: 10559180 PMCID: PMC94189 DOI: 10.1128/jb.181.22.7126-7130.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes involved in allose utilization of Escherichia coli K-12 are organized in at least two operons, alsRBACE and alsI, located next to each other on the chromosome but divergently transcribed. Mutants defective in alsI (allose 6-phosphate isomerase gene) and alsE (allulose 6-phosphate epimerase gene) were Als(-). Transcription of the two allose operons, measured as beta-galactosidase activity specified by alsI-lacZ(+) or alsE-lacZ(+) operon fusions, was induced by allose. Ribose also caused derepression of expression of the regulon under conditions in which ribose phosphate catabolism was impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Poulsen
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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40
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Abstract
The HIV pol sequentially encodes protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN) from the 5'-3' direction. We explored the significance of this gene arrangement. All six possible gene dispositions were examined. In two situations where PR was removed from the leading place and no two genes were in their original location, viral polyprotein processing was abolished. Processing of the polyprotein did not occur when IN was translocated to the front of PR-RT. However, in the following two arrangements, the polyprotein was processed but only at specific sites. First, PR remained in the leading position while the locations of RT and IN were exchanged; viral polyprotein was processed at a site between the upstream transframe peptide (TF) and PR. Second, PR was placed after RT-IN and located at the distal end of Pol. Processing occurred only at the created junction between TF and RT. These results indicated that cleavage after TF occurred autocatalytically but did not proceed to a second site, which needed an extraneous PR for trans-action. Therefore, arranging Pol in the order of PR-RT-IN warrants the streamline processing of the polyprotein once the autocleavage is initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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41
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Wang YC, Chen CY, Wang HJ, Chen SK, Chang YY, Lin P. Influence of polymorphism at p53, CYP1A1 and GSTM1 loci on p53 mutation and association of p53 mutation with prognosis in lung cancer. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei) 1999; 62:402-10. [PMID: 10418172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously found that the majority (9/11) of p53 tumor suppressor gene mutations in 60 lung cancer patients in Taiwan were small intragenic deletions and nonsense mutations. To gain insights into the possible etiologic factors involved in these mutations and the prognostic significance of p53 gene mutations in lung cancer in Taiwan, we investigated the influence of polymorphism at p53, cytochrome p450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) loci on p53 gene mutation, and the association of p53 gene mutation with prognosis in these lung cancer patients. METHODS The polymorphism of these genes was determined by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion. The Pearson chi 2 test was used to compare allelic distributions between lung cancer patients and controls. The log-rank test was used to assess the significance of the survival differences between patients with and without p53 mutations. RESULTS There was no significant difference with respect to the genotype distribution of p53, CYP1A1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms between patients with and without p53 mutations, although a tendency toward increasing frequency of the wild-type homozygote genotype of p53 polymorphism was noted in lung cancer patients containing p53 mutations. We further analyzed the association of p53 mutation with prognoses in lung cancer patients for whom postoperative survival data were available. The estimated median survival times for patients with and without p53 mutation were 25 and 28 months, respectively. There was no significant correlation between p53 mutation and survival. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that p53 gene mutation may not be associated with polymorphisms of p53, CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genes, and it may have no significant effect on the prognosis of lung cancer patients in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Wang
- Institute of Toxicology, Chung Shan Medical and Dental College, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
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42
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Abstract
Cyclopropane fatty acid (CFA) formation is a post-synthetic modification of the lipid bilayer that occurs as cultures of Escherichia coli and many other bacteria enter stationary phase. We report the first distinct phenotype for this membrane modification; early stationary phase cultures of strains lacking CFA (as a result of a null mutation in the cfa gene) are abnormally sensitive to killing by a rapid shift from neutral pH to pH 3. This sensitivity to acid shock is dependent on CFA itself because resistance to acid shock is restored to cfa mutant strains by incorporation of CFAs from the growth medium or by introduction of a functional cfa gene on a plasmid. The synthesis of CFA depends in part on the RpoS sigma factor, but the role of RpoS in resistance to acid shock involves additional factors because strains with null mutations in both cfa and rpoS are more sensitive to acid shock than either single mutant strain. Exponential phase cultures of E. coli are much more sensitive to acid shock than stationary phase cultures, but survival is greatly increased if the exponential phase cultures are exposed to moderately acid conditions (pH 5) before shift to pH 3. We show that exposure to moderately acid conditions gives a marked increase in cfa transcription. The efficiency of the survival of acid shock is extremely strain dependent, even among putative wild-type strains. Much, but not all, of this variability can be explained by the partially or totally defective RpoS alleles carried by many strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA
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43
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Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Potential molecular markers associated with cancer susceptibility and prognosis are the genes involved in tumorigenesis. Therefore, we investigated the association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism with prognosis in 114 lung cancer patients. The estimated median survival times for patients with proline (Pro)/Pro, arginine (Arg)/Arg, and Arg/Pro genotypes were 25, 26 and 36 months, respectively. We also found that patients with the Pro/Pro genotype had a worse prognosis compared with those with Arg/Pro genotypes, especially for patients with squamous cell lung cancer (P = 0.013), male patients (P = 0.028) and those aged 60-69 years (P = 0.052). In patients with early stage lung cancer, patients with Pro/Pro and Arg/Arg genotypes had a tendency for a worse prognosis than those with the Arg/Pro genotype (P = 0.057). Our data suggest that p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be a potential prognostic factor in certain sub groups of lung cancer patients in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Wang
- Institute of Toxicology, Chung Shan Medical and Dental College, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China
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Eichel J, Chang YY, Riesenberg D, Cronan JE. Effect of ppGpp on Escherichia coli cyclopropane fatty acid synthesis is mediated through the RpoS sigma factor (sigmaS). J Bacteriol 1999; 181:572-6. [PMID: 9882672 PMCID: PMC93412 DOI: 10.1128/jb.181.2.572-576.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Strains of Escherichia coli carrying mutations at the relA locus are deficient in cyclopropane fatty acid (CFA) synthesis, a phospholipid modification that occurs as cultures enter stationary phase. RelA protein catalyzes the synthesis of guanosine-3',5'-bisdiphosphate (ppGpp); therefore, ppGpp was a putative direct regulator of CFA synthesis. The nucleotide could act by increasing either the activity or the amount of CFA synthase, the enzyme catalyzing the lipid modification. We report that the effect of RelA on CFA synthesis is indirect. In vitro and in vivo experiments show no direct interaction between ppGpp and CFA synthase activity. The relA effect is due to ppGpp-engendered stimulation of the synthesis of the alternative sigma factor, RpoS, which is required for function of one of the two promoters responsible for expression of CFA synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Eichel
- Hans-Knöll Institute for Natural Products Research, Jena, Germany.
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45
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Wang YC, Chen CY, Chen SK, Chang YY, Lin P. p53 codon 72 polymorphism in Taiwanese lung cancer patients: association with lung cancer susceptibility and prognosis. Clin Cancer Res 1999; 5:129-34. [PMID: 9918210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
An association between the BstUI (Pro/Pro) genotype of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism and lung cancer has been reported previously (X. Jin et al., Carcinogenesis (Lond.), 16: 2205-2208, 1995). However, the genotype distribution of p53 codon 72 polymorphism as well as the association of this polymorphism with lung cancer risk and prognosis remain undefined in the Taiwanese population. Therefore, we investigated the genotype distribution of p53 codon 72 polymorphism in 194 lung cancer patients and 152 noncancer controls. The genotype frequencies in Taiwanese noncancer controls were 0.56 (Arg) and 0.44 (Pro). Chi2 analysis indicated significant differences in genotype distribution of p53 from other reports in Swedish (P < 0.001), Spanish (P < 0.001), Caucasians in the United States (P = 0.002), and African-Americans (P = 0.027). In addition, our data suggest that the Pro allele of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism increased the risk of lung cancer among female Taiwanese. The female patients with genotype Pro/Pro showed a significantly increased odds ratio (3.14; confidence interval, 1.48-6.64; P = 0.003) of having lung adenocarcinoma, compared with normal controls with the other genotypes. Patients with the Pro/Pro genotype had an odds ratio of 2.63 (confidence interval, 1.22-5.68; P = 0.01) higher than those with the other genotypes to be diagnosed with lung cancer at the early ages. We further investigated the association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism with prognosis in 133 lung cancer patients. Patients with the Pro/Pro genotype tended to have poorer prognosis than those with the Arg/Pro genotype (P = 0.05, by the log-rank test). Our data suggested that p53 codon 72 polymorphism may play a role in cancer susceptibility and prognosis in specific classes of lung cancer patients in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y C Wang
- Institute of Toxicology, Chung Shan Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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46
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Chang YY, Kim SJ, Park TK, Kang SS, Ha MJ, Mushinski JF, Chun JS. Modulation of MAP kinase signaling and growth characteristics by the overexpression of protein kinase C in NIH3T3 cells. Biochem Mol Biol Int 1998; 45:1139-48. [PMID: 9762412 DOI: 10.1080/15216549800203362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
This study was performed to examine effects of the overexpression of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms (i.e., beta I, beta II, gamma, delta, eta, and zeta) on mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (Erk-1 and -2) signaling and growth characteristics of NIH3T3 cells. Phorbol ester (PMA) activated endogenous and ectopically expressed PKC alpha, beta I, beta II, gamma, delta, epsilon, and eta. Overexpression of the examined PKC isoforms enhanced PMA-induced MAP kinase activation. Potentiation of MAP kinase activation was also observed upon stimulation of cells with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) although there was no indication for the activation PKC isoforms by PDGF. Inhibition of PKC blocked PMA- but not PDGF-induced MAP kinase activation. Thus, potentiation of PDGF-induced MAP kinase activation appears to be independent to PKC activity, while PMA-induced MAP kinase activation requires PKC activity. The ability of PKC isoforms to potentiate MAP kinase activation is not related to the growth characteristics of cells because individual PKC isoforms differentially regulated maximum density and proliferation of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Biology, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea.
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47
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Abstract
Eight cases of pure bilateral cheiro-oral syndrome (COS) are reported. The location and etiology of lesion were well defined in six cases, including pontine infarct in three, and brainstem hemorrhage, unilateral thalamic infarct and bilateral subdural hematoma in one patient each respectively. Neuroimaging and neurophysiological studies were normal in another two patients. Taken together with the previous five reported cases of bilateral COS, pons is the most frequent site for presentation even in the absence of associated brainstem signs.
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Affiliation(s)
- W H Chen
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital, Taiwan
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Chen WH, Yin HL, Chang YY, Lan MY, Hsu HY, Liu JS. Antiplatelet drugs induce apoptosis in cultured cancer cells. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 1997; 13:589-97. [PMID: 9385774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to understand if antiplatelet drugs possess direct antineoplastic property, we tested the apoptotic effect of 5 popularly marketed antiplatelet drugs in Taiwan in 6 cultured cancer cell lines (Hep 3B hepatocarcinoma, U87-MG malignant glioma, PC-3 prostate adenocarcinoma, HeLa cervical adenocarcinoma, HL-60 preleukemia and K-562 chronic myelogenous leukemia). While acetylsalicylate and flunarizine exerted no effect on these cancer cells, pentoxifyline (PTX), dipyridamole (DYA) and ticlopidine hydrochloride (T. HCl) displayed a time and dose-dependent apoptotic effect on them except for HL-60 and K-562 cells. PTX induced apoptosis in U87-MG, Hep 3B and HeLa cells, DYA in HeLa cells, while T. HCl in U87-MG, Hep 3B, PC-3 and HeLa cells. Adriamycin also provoked apoptotic effect in all 6 cell lines but neither PTX, DYA nor T. HCl acted synergy with adriamycin to HeLa cells, implicating that they may share a similar pathway for inducing apoptosis. Therefore, our results show that the antiplatelet drugs do possess antineoplastic property in vitro. A co-administration of antiplatelet drugs is noteworthy for an alternative adjunctive therapy in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- W H Chen
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China
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49
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Abstract
Site-specific disulfide cross-linking experiments detected a conformational change within the C-terminal segment of Escherichia coli pyruvate oxidase (PoxB), a lipid-activated homotetrameric enzyme, upon substrate binding [Chang, Y.-Y., & Cronan, J. E., Jr. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 7896-7901]. The C-terminal lipid binding regions were cross-linked only in the presence of the substrate, pyruvate, and the thiamine pyrophosphate cofactor, indicating close proximity of a pair of C termini. We have now systematically substituted cysteine at 18 additional amino acid positions within the C-terminal region to obtain a panel of 21 proteins each having a single residue changed to cysteine. These proteins have been studied by disulfide cross-linking and by accessibility of the cysteine side chain to a variety of sulfhydryl agents. In the absence of pyruvate, the cysteine residues of the modified PoxB proteins failed to form disulfide bonds, generally failed to react with a large and rigid hydrophilic sulfhydryl reagent, 4-acetamido-4'-[(iodoacetyl)amino]stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (IASD), and in some cases reacted weakly with a smaller more hydrophobic reagent, N-ethylmaleimide. Therefore, in this conformation, the C termini appear fixed in a rigid environment having limited exposure to solvent. In the presence of pyruvate, all of the C-terminal cysteine residues (except the two most distal from the C terminus) reacted with both sulfhydryl reagents and readily formed disulfide cross-linked species, indicating conversion to a structure having a high degree of conformational freedom. In the presence of lipid activators, Triton X-100 or dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol, a subset of the cysteine-substituted proteins no longer reacted with the membrane-impermeable IASD reagent, indicating penetration of these protein segments into the lipid micelles. For most of the proteins, similar extents of disulfide formation were seen upon addition of an oxidizing agent in the presence or absence of lipid activators. An exception was PoxB D560C which was much more readily cross-linked in the presence of lipid. Moreover, a subset of PoxB proteins that cross-linked to lower extents in the presence of lipids was found. The behavior of these proteins provides strong support for the model in which two C termini associate to form the functional lipid binding domain. These data are discussed in terms of three distinct PoxB conformers and the known crystal structure of a highly related protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Chang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
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Kim SJ, Chang YY, Kang SS, Chun JS. Phorbol ester effects in atypical protein kinase C zeta overexpressing NIH3T3 cells: possible evidence for crosstalk between protein kinase C isoforms. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1997; 237:336-9. [PMID: 9268711 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1997.7061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
To examine whether multiple protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms could interact or crosstalk, phorbol ester-insensitive atypical PKC (aPKC) zeta isoform was overexpressed in NIH3T3 cells, and the cells were stimulated with phorbol ester to activate diacylglycerol-dependent conventional (cPKC) and novel PKC (nPKC) isoforms. Treatment of cells with phorbol ester which activates PKCalpha, gamma, delta, and epsilon isoforms in NIH3T3 cells significantly reduced proliferation of cells. Overexpression of aPKCzeta and subsequent phorbol ester treatment abolished phorbol ester-induced reduction in cell proliferation. Overexpression of aPKCzeta also potentiated phorbol ester-induced mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation in a PKC-dependent manner. The effects of PKCzeta overexpression on proliferation and MAP kinase activation were proportional to the levels of aPKCzeta expression. Since aPKCzeta cannot be activated by phorbol ester, modulation of cell proliferation and MAP kinase activation by phorbol ester in aPKCzeta overexpressing cells might be due to the activation of cPKCs and/or nPKCs by phorbol ester. Thus, the results provide possible evidence for either direct or indirect crosstalk between PKC isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Kim
- Department of Biology, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, 702-701, Korea
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