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Naismith RT, Xu J, Tutlam NT, Snyder A, Benzinger T, Shimony J, Shepherd J, Trinkaus K, Cross AH, Song SK. Disability in optic neuritis correlates with diffusion tensor-derived directional diffusivities. Neurology 2008; 72:589-94. [PMID: 19073948 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000335766.22758.cd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the potential of directional diffusivities from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to predict clinical outcome of optic neuritis (ON), and correlate with vision, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and visual evoked potentials (VEP). METHODS Twelve cases of acute and isolated ON were imaged within 30 days of onset and followed prospectively. Twenty-eight subjects with a remote clinical history of ON were studied cross-sectionally. Twelve healthy controls were imaged for comparison. DTI data were acquired at 3T with a surface coil and 1.3 x 1.3 x 1.3 mm(3) isotropic voxels. RESULTS Normal DTI parameters (mean +/- SD, microm(2)/ms) were axial diffusivity = 1.66 +/- 0.18, radial diffusivity = 0.81 +/- 0.26, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) = 1.09 +/- 0.21, and fractional anisotropy (FA) = 0.43 +/- 0.15. Axial diffusivity decreased up to 2.5 SD in acute ON. The decrease in axial diffusivity at onset correlated with visual contrast sensitivity 1 month (r = 0.59) and 3 months later (r = 0.65). In three subjects followed from the acute through the remote stage, radial diffusivity subsequently increased to > 2.5 SD above normal, as did axial diffusivity and ADC. In remote ON, radial diffusivity correlated with OCT (r = 0.81), contrast sensitivity (r = 0.68), visual acuity (r = 0.56), and VEP (r = 0.54). CONCLUSION In acute and isolated demyelination, axial diffusivity merits further investigation as a predictor of future clinical outcome. Diffusion parameters are dynamic in acute and isolated optic neuritis, with an initial acute decrease in axial diffusivity. In remote disease, radial diffusivity correlates with functional, structural, and physiologic tests of vision.
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1577
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Zhang C, Gjesing B, Spangfort MD, Xu J, Zhong N. The allergen-specific IgE reactivity pattern of Chinese house dust mite allergic patients. Allergy 2008; 63:1640-1. [PMID: 19032239 DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01887.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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1578
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Song G, Zhao X, Xu J, Song H. Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in rat cardiac allografts. Transplant Proc 2008; 40:2720-3. [PMID: 18929845 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.07.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to investigate the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) during chronic cardiac allograft rejection. Wistar rats were used as donors, and SD rats as recipients heterotopic cardiac transplants. Recipients pretreated with inoculation of donor splenocytes (SPC) followed by cyclophosphamide (CP) were divided into 4 groups: (A) untreated group (n = 18) without immunosuppression; (B) SPC plus CP-treated group (n = 18) that were euthanized at 15-120 days posttransplantation; (C) CsA-treated group (n = 18) euthanized at 2-3 months posttransplantation; and (D) tolerance group (n = 18) treated with SPC plus CP and monitored for at least 1 year posttransplantation. Cardiac allografts were harvested at various times for immunohistochemical studies performed to evaluate the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Pretreatment of animals with SPC and CP induced long-term cardiac allograft survival. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a low level of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in cardiac allograft muscle and coronary arteries among Groups B and D. In contrast, the expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in cardiac allografts of Groups A and C were significantly higher than those in Groups B and D. Our results suggested that the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 plays an important role during the development of chronic cardiac allograft rejection.
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1579
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Zaret KS, Watts J, Xu J, Wandzioch E, Smale ST, Sekiya T. Pioneer factors, genetic competence, and inductive signaling: programming liver and pancreas progenitors from the endoderm. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2008; 73:119-26. [PMID: 19028990 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2008.73.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The endoderm is a multipotent progenitor cell population in the embryo that gives rise to the liver, pancreas, and other cell types and provides paradigms for understanding cell-type specification. Studies of isolated embryo tissue cells and genetic approaches in vivo have defined fibroblast growth factor/mitogen-activated protein kinase (FGF/MAPK) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways that induce liver and pancreatic fates in the endoderm. In undifferentiated endoderm cells, the FoxA and GATA transcription factors are among the first to engage silent genes, helping to endow competence for cell-type specification. FoxA proteins can bind their target sites in highly compacted chromatin and open up the local region for other factors to bind; hence, they have been termed "pioneer factors." We recently found that FoxA proteins remain bound to chromatin in mitosis, as an epigenetic mark. In embryonic stem cells, which lack FoxA, FoxA target sites can be occupied by FoxD3, which in turn helps to maintain a local demethylation of chromatin. By these means, a cascade of Fox factors helps to endow progenitor cells with the competence to activate genes in response to tissue-inductive signals. Understanding such epigenetic mechanisms for transcriptional competence coupled with knowledge of the relevant signals for cell-type specification should greatly facilitate efforts to predictably differentiate stem cells to liver and pancreatic fates.
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1580
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Song G, Zhang J, Jiang D, Wang X, Xu J. The experimental study of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and myocardial fibrosis in rats. Transplant Proc 2008; 40:2712-5. [PMID: 18929843 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.07.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We sought to analyze the development of myocardial fibrosis and cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) as a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of rejection. Heterotopic cardiac transplantation was performed from Wistar rats to Sprague-Dawley rats. The recipients pretreated with donor splenocyte (SPC) infusion followed by cyclophosphamide (CP) were divided into 3 groups: Control animals without immunosuppression (Group 1; n = 10); Group 2, CsA treatment (n = 10) with euthanasia 2-3 months posttransplantation; and Group 3 (n = 20), CP plus SPC treatment with 10 recipients euthanized at 2 weeks posttransplantation and 10 animals monitored for at least 1 year posttransplantation. Histological studies were performed to evaluate myocardial fibrosis and CAV; 2-3 days after transplantation, there was abundant infiltration of collagenous fibers in the adventitia and intima of the coronary arteries in Group 1 allografts. Group 2 allografts demonstrated abundant infiltration of collagenous fibers in the adventitia and intima of arteries and arterioles resulting in significant luminal stenosis. In contrast, pretreatment of animals with SPC and CP induced long-term allograft survival; myocardial fibrosis and CAV were dramatically reduced in Group 3 compared with Groups 1 and 2. The infiltration of collagenous fibers in coronary arteries was one of the major causes of CAV. Preconditioning of recipients with SPC followed by CP not only induced immune tolerance but also alleviated myocardial fibrosis and CAV in allografts.
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1581
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Borgmann-Winter KE, Rawson NE, Wang HY, Wang H, Macdonald ML, Ozdener MH, Yee KK, Gomez G, Xu J, Bryant B, Adamek G, Mirza N, Pribitkin E, Hahn CG. Human olfactory epithelial cells generated in vitro express diverse neuronal characteristics. Neuroscience 2008; 158:642-53. [PMID: 18996445 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.09.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2007] [Revised: 09/22/2008] [Accepted: 09/28/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The olfactory epithelium constitutes the sole source of regenerating neural cells that can be obtained from a living human. As such, primary cultures derived from human olfactory epithelial biopsies can be utilized to study neurobiological characteristics of individuals under different conditions and disease states. Here, using such human cultures, we report in vitro generation of cells that exhibit a complex neuronal phenotype, encompassing receptors and signaling pathways pertinent to both olfaction and other aspects of CNS function. Using in situ hybridization, we demonstrate for the first time the native expression of olfactory receptors in cultured cells derived from human olfactory epithelial tissue. We further establish the presence and function of olfactory transduction molecules in these cells using immunocytochemistry, calcium imaging and molecular methods. Western blot analysis revealed the expression of neurotransmitter receptors for dopamine (D2R), 5-HT (5HT2C) and NMDA subtypes 1 and 2A/2B. Stimulation with dopamine or 5-HT enhanced receptor G protein activation in a subtype specific manner, based on 35S-guanosine triphosphate incorporation assay. Functional characteristics of the cultured cells are demonstrated through enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDAR 2A/2B and recruitment of signaling partners in response to NMDA stimulation. The array of neuronal characteristics observed here establishes that proliferating cells derived from the human olfactory epithelium differentiate in vitro to express functional and molecular attributes of mature olfactory neurons. These cultured neural cells exhibit neurotransmitter pathways important in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders. Their ready availability from living humans thus provides a new tool to link functional and molecular features of neural cells with clinical characteristics of individual living patients.
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1582
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Piao Y, Jiang H, Alemany R, Krasnykh V, Marini FC, Xu J, Alonso MM, Conrad CA, Aldape KD, Gomez-Manzano C, Fueyo J. Oncolytic adenovirus retargeted to Delta-EGFR induces selective antiglioma activity. Cancer Gene Ther 2008; 16:256-65. [PMID: 18927600 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2008.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The fact that glioblastomas, which are one of the most devastating cancers, frequently express the Delta-EGFR (epithelial growth factor receptor) also called mutant variant III of EGFR (EGFRvIII) suggests that this cancer cell-specific receptor might serve as an ideal target for cancer therapy. To assess its potential as such a target, we constructed an oncolytic adenovirus with Retargeted Infectivity Via EGFR (Delta-24-RIVER) on the backbone of Delta-24. This new oncolytic adenovirus targets, as Delta-24 does, the disrupted Rb pathway in cancer cells; in addition, this adenovirus has also been retargeted through the abrogation of CAR binding (Y477A mutation in adenoviral fiber protein) and insertion of an EGFRvIII-specific binding peptide in the HI loop of the fiber protein. As compared with Delta-24, Delta-24-RIVER induced EGFRvIII-selective cytotoxicity in U-87 MG isogenic cell lines and in tetracycline-inducible EGFRVIII expressing U-251 MG cells. Accordingly, by tittering the viral progeny and examining fiber protein expression in the above cells, we showed that the replication of this new construct also correlated with EGFRvIII expression. Consistently, immunohistochemistry staining of the adenoviral capsid protein hexon in the virus-treated tumors revealed that the virus replicated more efficiently in EGFRvIII-expressing U-87 MG.DeltaEGFR xenografts than in the tumors grown from U-87 MG cells. Importantly, treatment with Delta-24-RIVER prolonged the survival of animals with intracranial xenografts derived from U-87 MG.DeltaEGFR cells. Therefore, our results constitute the first proof of the direct targeting of a cancer-specific receptor using an oncolytic adenovirus.
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1583
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Puduvalli V, Xu J, Liu Y, Lang F, Prabhu S, Rao G. 296 POSTER Human glioblastoma organotypic slice culture: A novel model for the study of tumor biology and therapeutic response. EJC Suppl 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6349(08)72230-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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1584
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Xu J, Wu Y, Chang Y, Guo J. Experimental Investigation on the Holdup Distribution of Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow in Horizontal Parallel Tubes. Chem Eng Technol 2008. [DOI: 10.1002/ceat.200800206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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1585
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Donehower L, Gatza C, Hinkal G, Moore L, Parikh N, Chambers S, Kittrell F, Xu J, Lee A, Medina D, Goodell M. Insights into stem cells and aging provided by a P53 mutant mouse. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1040-8428(08)70026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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1586
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Wen XR, Li C, Zong YY, Yu CZ, Xu J, Han D, Zhang GY. Dual inhibitory roles of geldanamycin on the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 3 signal pathway through suppressing the expression of mixed-lineage kinase 3 and attenuating the activation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 via facilitating the activation of Akt in ischemic brain injury. Neuroscience 2008; 156:483-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2008] [Revised: 07/23/2008] [Accepted: 08/06/2008] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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1587
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Yu HM, Xu J, Li C, Zhou C, Zhang F, Han D, Zhang GY. Coupling between neuronal nitric oxide synthase and glutamate receptor 6-mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway via S-nitrosylation contributes to ischemia neuronal death. Neuroscience 2008; 155:1120-32. [PMID: 18676085 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2008] [Revised: 03/22/2008] [Accepted: 03/25/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
S-nitrosylation, as a post-translational protein modification, recently has been paid more and more attention in stroke research. S-nitrosylation regulates protein function by the mechanisms of covalent attachment that control the addition or the removal of nitric oxide (NO) from a cysteine thiol. The derivation of NO is established by the demonstration that, in cerebral neurons, NO mainly generates from neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) during the early stages of reperfusion. In the past researches, we demonstrate that global ischemia-reperfusion facilitates the activation of glutamate receptor 6 (GluR6) -mediated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. The objective of this study is primarily to determine, during the early stages of reperfusion in rat four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) ischemic model, whether nNOS-derived NO affects the GluR6-mediated JNK signaling route via S-nitrosylation which is performed mainly by the biotin switch assay. Here, we show that administration of 7-nitroindazole, an inhibitor of nNOS, or ketamine, an antagonist of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), diminishes the increased S-nitrosylation of GluR6 induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. In contrast, 2-amion-5,6-dihydro-6-methyl-4H-1,3-thiazine, an inhibitor of inducible NO synthase does not affect S-nitrosylation of GluR6. Moreover, treatment with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an exogenous NO donor, increases the S-nitrosylation and phosphorylation of nNOS, leading to the attenuation of the increased S-nitrosylation of GluR6 and the assembling of GluR6* postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95)* mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) signaling module induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The results also show that GluR6 downstream MLK3* mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 4/7* JNK signaling module and nuclear or non-nuclear apoptosis pathways are involved in the above signaling route. However, dithiothreitol (DTT) antagonizes the neuroprotection of SNP. Treatment with DTT alone, as a negative control, prevents S-nitrosylation of proteins, which indicates the existence of endogenously produced S-nitrosylation. These data suggest that GluR6 is S-nitrosylated by endogenous NO in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which is possibly correlated with NMDAR* PSD95* nNOS signaling module, and further activates GluR6* PSD95* MLK3 signaling module and JNK signaling pathway. In contrast, exogenous NO donor antagonizes the above action of endogenous NO generated from nNOS. Thus, our results provide the coupling of nNOS with GluR6 by S-nitrosylation during the early stages of ischemia-reperfusion, which can be a new approach for stroke therapy.
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Soliman S, Baydoun R, Al-Qahwaji L, Xu J, Wang B. More than 9 mm of endometrium thickness at the day of hCG triggering predicts better IVF outcomes of the patients with day 5 embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Bowden DW, Lehtinen AB, Ziegler JT, Rudock ME, Xu J, Wagenknecht LE, Herrington DM, Rich SS, Freedman BI, Carr JJ, Langefeld CD. Genetic epidemiology of subclinical cardiovascular disease in the diabetes heart study. Ann Hum Genet 2008; 72:598-610. [PMID: 18460048 PMCID: PMC4890966 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-1809.2008.00446.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
A genome-wide linkage scan of 357 European American (EA) and 72 African American (AA) pedigrees multiplex for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was performed with multipoint nonparametric QTL linkage analysis. Four subclinical measures of cardiovascular disease (CVD): coronary artery (CCP), carotid artery (CarCP), and abdominal aortic calcified plaque (AACP) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were mapped. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, and (if appropriate) ethnicity and diabetes status. Evidence for linkage was observed in EA T2DM subjects to CarCP near 16p13 (LOD=4.39 at 8.4 cM; P = 0.00001). When all EA subjects were included, the LOD score was 2.52, suggesting an amplification of the linkage by diabetes. Linkage analysis of a principal components measure of vascular calcium (LOD = 3.85 at 9.3 cM on 16p in EA T2DM subjects) and bivariate analysis of CarCP X IMT (LOD = 3.77 at 9.3 cM on 16p in EA T2DM subjects) were consistent with this linkage. In addition, evidence for linkage was observed with CCP near D15S1515 (LOD = 2.34) in EAs. Additional loci on chromosomes 1, 2, 7, 10, 13, and 21 had LODs > 2.0. The identification of trait-determining polymorphisms underlying these linkages will help delineate risk factors for CVD in T2DM and the general population.
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1590
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Lewis G, Xu J. Biomechanical effects of autonomous augmentation on the adjacent unaugmented vertebral bodies: influence of the number of functional spinal units in a finite element model. JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMATERIALS & BIOMECHANICS : JABB 2008; 6:144-150. [PMID: 20740458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The results of finite element analysis (FEA) studies on the effect of augmentation of one vertebral body (VB), using vertebroplasty (VP) or balloon kyphoplasty (BKP), on the biomechanics of the adjacent and nonadjacent VBs are contradictory. One reason for this record is that different levels of the spine, numbers of structures, and numbers of functional spinal units (FSUs) (X) were included in the models used in different studies. The purpose of the present study was to clarify this effect as far as X is concerned. METHODS A validated three-dimensional solid model of the lumbar spine was constructed from computed tomography scans and prophylactic augmentation of L2 was simulated. In the FEA, the model was subjected to a uniformly distributed compressive load (total load = 1300 N) on the superior endplate of L1. The extent to which a change in X affects the values of the mean von Mises stress (sigmaVM) and the mean elastic strain energy density (ESED) in all structures adjacent to L2 was determined. (These changes were with respect to the case where all the VBs in the model are intact.) RESULTS As X increased (from 1 to 2, from 2 to 3, and from 3 to 4), there were clear variations in the number of stable changes in both sigmaVM and ESED in each structure. The largest number of these changes occurred when X changed from 2 to 3. CONCLUSION The results suggest that three is the number of FSUs that should be included in models of the lumbar spine to be used in FEA studies of VP and BKP.
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Baydoun R, Wang B, Al-Qahwaji L, Xu J, Soliman S. Efficiencies of fet cycles using embryos frozen by vitrification vs. programmed slow freezing. Fertil Steril 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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1592
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Xu J, Sterling C, Willis M. Desktop Minstrel UV: a novel protein crystal monitoring automation system using UV fluorescence. Acta Crystallogr A 2008. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767308080835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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1593
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Xu J, Fan YS, Siu VM. A child with features of Goldenhar syndrome and a novel 1.12 Mb deletion in 22q11.2 by cytogenetics and oligonucleotide array CGH: is this a candidate region for the syndrome? Am J Med Genet A 2008; 146A:1886-9. [PMID: 18553512 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.32359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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1594
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Clarke L, Moore JE, Millar BC, Crowe M, Xu J, Goldsmith CE, Murphy RG, Dooley JSG, Rendall J, Elborn JS. Molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in adult patients with cystic fibrosis in Northern Ireland. Br J Biomed Sci 2008; 65:18-21. [PMID: 18476490 DOI: 10.1080/09674845.2008.11732789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Isolates (n = 51) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa obtained from the sputa of 29 adult patients attending the Regional Cystic Fibrosis Centre in Northern Ireland were compared using an enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence (ERIC2) primer in a random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Resulting banding patterns showed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity among all isolates from the patients examined, suggesting a non-clonal relationship between isolates from these patients, when employing this genotyping technique.
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Pan F, Tang X, Zhang K, Li X, Xu J, Chen H, Ye DQ. Genetic susceptibility and haplotype analysis between Fcγ receptor IIB and IIIA gene with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese population. Lupus 2008; 17:733-8. [PMID: 18625651 DOI: 10.1177/0961203308089407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to understand the role of FcγRIIB and FcγRIIIA gene in susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to examine possible susceptible haplotypes between two genes. A total of 119 patients with SLE from 95 nuclear families, aged from 14 to 78 years, were selected according to 1997 criteria of American College of Rheumatology. In addition, 316 family members of these patients were also genotyped. A family-based association study was used to explore the relationship between gene polymorphism and SLE. We studied 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) encoding non-synonymous substitution in the FcγRIIB and FcγRIIIA gene (four SNPs in the FcγRIIB gene and nine SNPs in the FcγRIIIA gene) with respect to genetic susceptibility to SLE. All SNPs were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Among 13 SNPs, univariate (single-marker) family-based association tests showed that variant alleles at only four SNPs (rs10917661 and rs1050501, in exon 2 and exon 5 of FcγRIIB gene, rs403016 and rs428888, in exon3 of FcγRIIIA gene respectively) were significantly associated with genetic susceptibility to SLE. Furthermore, the haplotype-specific FBATs showed 50Ter-225Thr (34.1%, in FcγRIIB gene) and 72Arg-118Asn (40%, in the FcγRIIIA gene) haplotype were more frequently transmitted in SLE than other haplotypes ( Z = 3.539, P = 0.00042; Z = 2.678, P = 0.007412 respectively). But haplotypes were not found between FcγRIIB and FcγRIIIA gene Our results suggest that there were meaningful haplotype in FcγRIIIA and FcγRIIB gene respectively. FcγRIIIA and FcγRIIB genes in the pathogenesis of SLE may play an independent role in Chinese population.
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Xu J, Wang Q, He X. Emergence and reproductive rhythms of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera Pyralidae). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.30843/nzpp.2008.61.6806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella is a cosmopolitan pest of stored products and its eggs are widely used to rear parasitoids and predators for biological control programmes The laboratory investigations of circadian rhythms and lifespan patterns described in this paper have shown that females had significantly shorter developmental duration from egg to adult than males Emergence occurred throughout the 24 h cycle in both sexes with a peak at dusk Mating mainly occurred during scotophase and peaked on the emergence day while oviposition peaked 1 day after emergence Calling courtship and mating peaked in the second half of scotophase and oviposition peaked at the start of scotophase Permanently paired insects mated up to 3 times with an average of 2 013 matings Dissection of dead females showed the number of spermatophores in the bursa copulatrix equalled the number of observed matings
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He X, Wang Q, Xu J. European earwig as a potential biological control agent of apple leafcurling midge. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.30843/nzpp.2008.61.6814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The European earwig Forficula auricularia L is an important predator of aphids and scales in New Zealand apple orchards To determine whether European earwig acted as a biological control agent of apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) Dasineura mali Kieffer their prey searching and feeding activity was investigated in the field and laboratory In the field in January earwigs started to leave their shelters at about 920 pm to search for ALCM larvae and returned to the shelters before 535 am with a searching peak on apple shoots infested by ALCM larvae between 1030 pm and 130 am Significantly more ALCM infested shoots and leaves were bitten by earwigs on trees where shelters trapped earwigs than on those where shelters did not trap any earwigs In the laboratory earwigs mainly fed in the first 2 hours after lightoff and each adult consumed an average of 6770 318 mature ALCM larvae during the scotophase (8 h) Heavier earwigs consumed significantly more ALCM larvae than light ones
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Stirling J, Griffith M, Blair I, Cormican M, Dooley JSG, Goldsmith CE, Glover SG, Loughrey A, Lowery CJ, Matsuda M, McClurg R, McCorry K, McDowell D, McMahon A, Cherie Millar B, Nagano Y, Rao JR, Rooney PJ, Smyth M, Snelling WJ, Xu J, Moore JE. Prevalence of gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens in a population of zoo animals. Zoonoses Public Health 2008; 55:166-72. [PMID: 18331520 DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.01099.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Faecal prevalence of gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens, including Campylobacter, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, as well as Arcobacter, were examined in 317 faecal specimens from 44 animal species in Belfast Zoological Gardens, during July-September 2006. Thermophilic campylobacters including Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter lari, were the most frequently isolated pathogens, where members of this genus were isolated from 11 animal species (11 of 44; 25%). Yersinia spp. were isolated from seven animal species (seven of 44; 15.9%) and included, Yersinia enterocolitica (five of seven isolates; 71.4%) and one isolate each of Yersinia frederiksenii and Yersinia kristensenii. Only one isolate of Salmonella was obtained throughout the entire study, which was an isolate of Salmonella dublin (O 1,9,12: H g, p), originating from tiger faeces after enrichment. None of the animal species found in public contact areas of the zoo were positive for any gastrointestinal bacterial pathogens. Also, water from the lake in the centre of the grounds, was examined for the same bacterial pathogens and was found to contain C. jejuni. This study is the first report on the isolation of a number of important bacterial pathogens from a variety of novel host species, C. jejuni from the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus), C. lari from a maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), Y. kristensenii from a vicugna (Vicugna vicugna) and Y. enterocolitica from a maned wolf and red panda (Ailurus fulgens). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the faeces of animals in public contact areas of the zoo were not positive for the bacterial gastrointestinal pathogens examined. This is reassuring for the public health of visitors, particularly children, who enjoy this educational and recreational resource.
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1599
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Sun GY, Xu J, Liao Z, Lo SC, Weisman GA. Activation of PKC isoforms by ATP/UTP and PMA in murine astrocytes. J Neurochem 2008. [DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.81.s1.38_7.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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1600
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Cai C, Xu J, Zhang M, Chen XD, Li L, Wu J, Lai HW, Zhong NS. Prior SO2 exposure promotes airway inflammation and subepithelial fibrosis following repeated ovalbumin challenge. Clin Exp Allergy 2008; 38:1680-7. [PMID: 18631350 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03053.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to allergens or air pollutants often leads to asthma exacerbations associated with aggravation of airway inflammation. Although, repeated allergen challenge often induces chronic allergic airway inflammation (CAAI) and airway remodelling, yet, the effects of brief exposure to air pollutants such as SO(2) on development of CAAI and airway remodelling remain to be clarified. OBJECTIVE The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of acute neutrophilic airway inflammation induced by brief exposure to SO(2) on development of CAAI and subepithelial fibrosis (SEF) in a murine model of asthma. METHODS Acute airway inflammation was induced by brief exposure to 50 p.p.m. SO(2) (1 h/d, 3 days). CAAI and SEF in BALB/c mice were induced by repeated challenge with ovalbumin (OVA) for 5 or 9 weeks with or without prior exposure to SO(2). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophilia as index of CAAI, BALF endothelin-1 (ET-1) and TGF-beta1 levels, morphometric evaluation of fibrotic area beneath subbasement membrane and lung hydroxyproline content (Hyp) as indexes of SEF were monitored. RESULTS Exposure to SO(2) led to acute neutrophilic inflammation and epithelial sloughing with profound elevation of BALF ET-1. Repeated OVA challenge resulted in CAAI and SEF along with elevation of Hyp, increase of fibrotic area beneath subbasement membrane and elevation of BALF TGF-beta1. Preceding SO(2) exposure exaggerated BALF eosinophilia, facilitated and enhanced SEF with more significant elevation of BALF ET-1 and TGF-beta1 levels compared with OVA-challenged mice without prior exposure to SO(2). The increase of Hyp was positively correlated with elevation of BALF TGF-beta1 during CAAI (r=0.842, P<0.01). CONCLUSION This data demonstrated that SEF developed in parallel with severity and time course of CAAI following repeated OVA challenge. SO(2)-induced acute epithelial injury and neutrophilic inflammation could enhance CAAI and promote SEF, probably through overexpression of ET-1 and TGF-beta1.
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