Faculty Bibliography

The direct effects of glutamate and dizocilpine maleate (MK-801, non-competitive N-Methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist) on the metabolism of dopamine were investigated in the striatum of normal and parkinsonian rats. L-dopa, L-glutamic acid and MK-801 were administered in the striatum locally by microdialysis. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were simultaneously sampled by microdialysis. The concentrations of DOPAC and HVA were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). L-dopa increased the concentrations of DOPAC and HVA in the striatum of normal and parkinsonian rats. L-glutamic acid decreased the concentrations of DOPAC and HVA in striatum of normal rats but not parkinsonian rats. MK-801 increased the concentrations of DOPAC and HVA in the striatum of normal rats but not parkinsonian rats. MK-801 prevented the L-glutamic acid-induced decrease of DOPAC and HVA in the striatum of normal rats. Our results indicate that glutamate modulates the metabolism of dopamine (DA) through NMDA receptors and that the improvement of PD by MK-801 is not through improving the metabolism of DA.

BACKGROUND: Mosquitoes were collected in Heilongjiang province in 2002, four virus strains were isolated by inoculation of homogenates onto BHK cell lines. The viruses were identified. Multiple alignment and phylogenetic analysis were carried out by Clustal X (1.8) program.Amino acid (AA) analysis was carried out by GENEDOS (3.2). RESULTS: Biological characters of four newly isolated strains were examined and it was found that all of them could produce cytopathogenic effect (CPE) in BHK cells, killing sucking mice. Serological tests showed that all of these stains reacted positively to JEV antibodies. PrM and E gene regions were amplified and sequenced. Phylogenic analysis showed that all the newly isolated JEV strains belong to genotype III. Using the vaccine strains (SA14-14-2) as control, analysis of the E gene of the new strains and two JEV strains (47, Ha-3) isolated previously from Heilongjiang province showed that these new strains' nucleotide sequence had a homology of up to 99.9% and the amino acid sequence homology up to 99.8%, respectively. Compared with the standard JE vaccine strain SA-14-14-2 and the four new strains, the nucleotide sequence homology was 97.3% and amino acid sequence homology was between 96.8% and 97.0%, respectively. Compared with vaccine strain, there were seven common variations in all the four newly isolated strains. CONCLUSION: Four JE virus strains were isolated in Heilongjiang province. As compared to the vaccine strain, six variations were found in the newly isolated strains at the eight sites relevant to the virulence of the virus.

BACKGROUND: To survey arboviruses in Yunnan province. METHODS: Mosquitoes were collected from Yunnan Province in 2002 and 2004. Virus strains were isolated by the inoculation of homogenates of the mosquitoes onto BHK cell line. The isolated strains and their molecular biological characteristics were identified by real-time PCR, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescent antibody technique. RESULTS: Twelve strains of viruses producing CPE in BHK cells were isolated from 4810 mosquitoes. All the 12 isolates were identified to be Japanese encephalitis viruses. Genotype analysis showed the new virus (DL-0437 strain) belonged to genotype III. CONCLUSION: Twelve strains of Japanese encephalitis viruses were isolated from mosquito pools collected in Yunnan. It was the first isolation of genotype III Japanese encephalitis viruses in Yunnan Province in recent years.

The concept of "three-yin and three-yang" in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases), a classic written by Zhang Zhongjing in Han Dynasty, has been always the focus of dispute in successive dynasties. The essence of "three-yin and three-yang" has not been fully revealed up till now. Through studying the six divisions of day and night, the six diseases, the combination of syndromes, the complicated diseases, the complete recovery time and the space division of "three-yin and three-yang", the authors draw a conclusion that the "three-yin and three-yang" in Shanghan Lun is a concept of time-sequence, which is associated with the location of disease in space. So it is suggested that the "six diseases" in Shanghan Lun is a categorization for exogenous febrile diseases, and this categorization reveals a sort of inner relationship between the emergence, development, transformation of the febrile diseases and the time.

BACKGROUND: To study the molecular characteristics of YN92-4 strain isolated from mosquitoes in Yunnan Province and define its classification. METHODS: The S segment of YN92-4 strain was amplified and sequenced by 2 different sets of primers. The phylogenic tree of S fragment was constructed by Phylip bio-software. The amino acid sequences of N and NSs proteins were also studied. RESULTS: YN92-4 strain could be amplified by 2 sets of primers respectively, S segment showed a highest homology with Batai virus (X73464), reached 96.4%, the homology of protein N and NSs amio-acid sequence with Batai virus was 99.1% and 98% respectively. CONCLUSION: The YN92-4 strain belongs to Batai virus, this is the first report of molecular biological identification of Batai virus in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment measures and prognosis of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). METHODS: The clinical records and follow-up data of the patients with PMP were retrospectively analyzed. Survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression) was used to investigate the prognosis. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (twenty-two women, eleven men) have a median interval between onset and definite diagnosis of 12 months with an average age of 50. The main clinical presentation includes bloating, abdominal mass and abdominal distention. A delay in diagnosis is common and many patients are labeled as other diseases (84.8%). Positive results were often found in the assistant examinations such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, gastrointestinal tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, carcinomatous antigen 19-9 and so on), imaging (B ultrasound and computer tomography) and abdominal paracentesis which was usually unsuccessful. The most frequently practiced approach is debulking surgery with the main assistant means of chemotherapy which was lack of the uniform rationale. Benign type of pathological samples accounts for 66.7% of all, while mid-type 21.2% and malignant 12.1%. The general median survival time is 70 months with a follow-up rate of 79%. The pathological type and chemotherapy are main factors which influence the cumulative survival rate (P < 0.05). Up to the end of 2004, sixteen patients died of various complications, multiple organ failure and severe infection, while ten patients survival and seven patients lost. CONCLUSIONS: PMP is a rare condition of borderline malignancy with its unique clinical and pathological characteristics. Gastrointestinal tumor markers, imaging and abdominal paracentesis are very important to the diagnosis. The existing treatment measures need to be improved further. The pathological type and chemotherapy are main factors which influence the prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and understand predictors of successful varicocelectomy. DESIGN: Examination of testicular L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel (L-VDCC) mRNAs and proteins in testis biopsies and comparison of presence and absence of various mRNAs with testicular cadmium levels, with apoptosis, and with sperm count change after varicocelectomy. SETTING: University clinical urology practice and research laboratories. PATIENT(S): Infertile men with varicocele (left varicocele only, n = 18; bilateral varicoceles, n = 26) and controls (men with obstructive azoospermia undergoing testicular sperm extraction before intracytoplasmic sperm injection; n = 7). INTERVENTION(S): Left testis biopsies by percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy. Varicocele repair by subinguinal approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Calcium channel mRNA sequence by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and amplicon analysis; calcium channel protein distribution by immunocytochemistry; cadmium levels by atomic absorption and apoptosis by deoxynucleotidyl transferase labeling; and sperm counts in the ejaculate before and after varicocelectomy. RESULT(S): Calcium channel mRNAs are polymorphic in human testis biopsies from different men. Proteins from sequence-deleted exons 7 and/or 8 localize to germ cell membranes. Expression of undeleted L-type calcium channel mRNAs correlates with normal testes cadmium and increased sperm count after varicocelectomy. Apoptosis is lower in such cases. CONCLUSION(S): Expression of normal testicular L-VDCC sequence in exons 7-8 predicts postvaricocelectomy sperm count increase. Deletions may alter calcium channel function and affect testicular cadmium and apoptosis.

For many years adipose tissue was viewed as the site where excess energy was stored, in the form of triglycerides (TGs), and where that energy, when needed elsewhere in the body, was released in the form of fatty acids (FAs). Recently, it has become clear that when the regulation of the storage and release of energy by adipose tissue is impaired, plasma FA levels become elevated and excessive metabolism of FA, including storage of TGs, occurs in nonadipose tissues. Most recently, work by several laboratories has made it clear that in addition to FA, adipose tissue communicates with the rest of the body by synthesizing and releasing a host of secreted molecules, collectively designated as adipokines. Several recent reviews have described how these molecules, along with FA, significantly effect total body glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Relatively little attention has been paid to the effects of adipokines on lipid metabolism. In this review, we will describe, in detail, the effects of molecules secreted by adipose tissue, including FA, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and apolipoproteins, on lipid homeostasis in several nonadipose tissues, including liver, skeletal muscle, and pancreatic beta cells.

Insulin resistance is often associated with obesity. We tested whether augmentation of triglyceride synthesis in adipose tissue by transgenic overexpression of the diacylglycerol aclytransferase-1 (Dgat1) gene causes obesity and/or alters insulin sensitivity. Male FVB mice expressing the aP2-Dgat1 had threefold more Dgat1 mRNA and twofold greater DGAT activity levels in adipose tissue. After 30 weeks of age, these mice had hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance on a high-fat diet but were not more obese than wild-type littermates. Compared with control littermates, Dgat1 transgenic mice were both insulin and leptin resistant and had markedly elevated plasma free fatty acid levels. Adipocytes from Dgat1 transgenic mice displayed increased basal and isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis rates and decreased gene expression for fatty acid uptake. Muscle triglyceride content was unaffected, but liver mass and triglyceride content were increased by 20 and 300%, respectively. Hepatic insulin signaling was suppressed, as evidenced by decreased phosphorylation of insulin receptor-beta (Tyr(1,131)/Tyr(1,146)) and protein kinase B (Ser473). Gene expression data suggest that the gluconeogenic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, were upregulated. Thus, adipose overexpression of Dgat1 gene in FVB mice leads to diet-inducible insulin resistance, which is secondary to redistribution of fat from adipose tissue to the liver in the absence of obesity.