Effects of Modafinil on Behavioral Learning and Hippocampal Synaptic Transmission in Rats

Wen-Wen Yan,Li-Hua Yao,Chong Chen,Hai-Xia Wang,Chu-Hua Li,Jun-Ni Huang,Peng Xiao,Cheng-Yi Liu 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2015 International Neurourology Journal Vol.19 No.4

Purpose: Modafinil is a wake-promoting agent that has been proposed to improve cognitive performance at the preclinical and clinical levels. Since there is insufficient evidence for modafinil to be regarded as a cognitive enhancer, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic modafinil administration on behavioral learning in healthy adult rats. Methods: Y-maze training was used to assess learning performance, and the whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to assess synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region of rats. Results: Intraperitoneal administration of modafinil at 200 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg significantly improved learning performance. Furthermore, perfusion with 1mM modafinil enhanced the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous postsynaptic currents and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices. However, the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons were inhibited by treatment with 1mM modafinil. Conclusions: These results indicate that modafinil improves learning and memory in rats possibly by enhancing glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission and inhibiting GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic) inhibitory synaptic transmission.

Streptomyces zhihengii sp. nov., isolated from rhizospheric soil of Psammosilene tunicoides

Huang, Mei-Juan,Fei, Jing-Jing,Salam, Nimaichand,Kim, Chang-Jin,Hozzein, Wael N.,Xiao, Min,Huang, Hai-Quan,Li, Wen-Jun Springer-Verlag 2016 Archives of microbiology Vol.198 No.8

<P>An actinomycete strain, designated YIM T102(T), was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Psammosilene tunicoides W. C. Wu et C. Y. Wu collected from Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China. The taxonomic position of the new isolate was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YIM T102(T) belongs to the genus Streptomyces. Strain YIM T102(T) was most closely related to Streptomyces eurocidicus NRRL B-1676(T) with a pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.9 %. However, DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain YIM T102(T) and S. eurocidicus NBRC 13491(T) was found to be 37.8 +/- 1.8 %. The menaquinone composition detected for strain YIM T102(T) was MK-9 (H-6) and MK-9 (H-8), while the major fatty acids were summed feature 4 (38.0 %), anteiso-C-15:0 (13.1 %), iso-C-16:0 (10.1 %), summed feature 3 (9.8 %) and C-16:0 (9.0 %) and iso-C-15:0 (5.2 %). The whole-cell hydrolysates contained galactose, glucose, ribose and mannose, along with ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 70.7 mol%. Strain YIM T102(T) also exhibited antagonistic activity against Alternaria alternata, Alternaria brassicae and Colletotrichum nicotianae Averna, based on the findings from the comparative analyses of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics; it is proposed that strain YIM T102 represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces zhihengii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM T102(T) (=KCTC 39115(T) = DSM 42176(T) = CGMCC 4.7248(T)).</P>

Comparative Study of Bioactive Constituents in Crude and Processed Glycyrrhizae radix and Their Respective Metabolic Profiles in Gastrointestinal Tract In Vitro by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI/MS Analyses

Wen-wu Huang,Xiaobo Li,Meng Yue Wang,Hai-ming Shi,Ying Peng,Chong-sheng Peng,Min Zhang,Yue Li,Jing Lu 대한약학회 2012 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.35 No.11

Two HPLC methods with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS), respectively, were developed to investigate the differences of chemical constituents and their metabolism in gastrointestinal tract in vitro between two decoctions of crude and processed Glycyrrhizae radix. Total of eleven constituents (liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, licuraside, isoliquiritin, ononin, glycyrrhizin, liquiritigenin-7,4'-diglucoside, licorice saponin A3, 22β-acetoxylglycyrrhizic acid, licorice saponin G2, and yunganoside E2) were identified in the two decoctions, whereas lower contents of these constituents were usually found in the decoction of processed G. radix. Furthermore, these constituents were metabolized into their respective aglycons in human intestinal bacteria juice, and the metabolism ratios were all higher in processed G. radix decoction. No change was found in artificial gastric or intestinal juice. This study revealed that the processing can alter the contents of main constituents in crude G. radix and their metabolism in gastrointestinal tract, in which intestinal bacteria play an important role in the metabolism of licorice constituents.

Molecular cloning, expression profiles and subcellular localization of cyclin B in ovary of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain

Wen-Xing Li,Hui-Yang Huang,Jing-Ru Huang,Jin-Jin Yu,Jun Ma,Hai-Hui Ye 한국유전학회 2013 Genes & Genomics Vol.35 No.2

A full-length cDNA of cyclin B was isolated from ovary of the mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) in this study. This transcript encodes a polypeptide of 401 amino acids, which is highly homologous to cyclin B protein family. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) showed that cyclin B mRNA was expressed at highest levels in ovary of the mud crab. During the ovarian maturation process, realtime RT-PCR revealed that the abundance of cyclin B mRNA increased from the second stage (early-developing stage) to the fourth stage (nearly-ripe stage) and reached the peak level at the fifth stage (ripe stage). This result indicates the identified cyclin B gene might be related to the cell proliferation in ovary, both mitotically and meiotically. Immunohistochemistry showed that cyclin B protein was localized in the cytoplasm of prophase oocytes at the second stage while enriched in the nuclei of pro-metaphase oocytes at the fourth stage. It suggests the tested cyclin B protein might play different roles in ovary at the two stages.

Clinical Features of Patients with Esophageal and Second Primary Cancers

Tsai, Huang-Wen,Chang, Chih-Chun,Sun, Jen-Tang,Liou, Ching-Biau,Lin, Hsiu-Chen,Lin, I-Hsin,Yu, Yun-Chieh,Weng, Wei-Ling,Leong, Ka-I,Yen, Tzung-Hai,Wu, Jiann-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Background: The prevalence of esophageal cancer (EC) with second primary cancers (SPC) is increasing worldwide. This study was aimed to understand the clinical features of EC patients with SPC in the Taiwanese population. Materials and Methods: Clinical and laboratory data for 180 EC patients with or without SPC were collected between January 2009 and December 2013. Information on treatment approaches, location of SPCs and ABO blood type were also collected and stratified. Results: The most common SPC in EC patients was hypopharyngeal cancer, followed by laryngeal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma in our study. Malignancies of colon, prostate and lung were also found. There was a significant higher portion of blood type A in the EC patients with SPC compared with those without (42.4% vs 19.5%, P=0.006). Conclusions: The frequency and SPC site distribution and blood type A should be considered in clinical evaluation of EC patients with a high risk of developing SPC in the Taiwanese population.

Malignant Transformation Rate and P53, and P16 Expression in Teratomatous Skin of Ovarian Mature Cystic Teratoma

Zhu, Hai-Li,Zou, Zhen-Ning,Lin, Pei-Xin,Li, Wen-Xia,Huang, Ye-En,Shi, Xiao-Xin,Shen, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Objective: To investigate the incidence of malignant transformation and P53 and P16 expression in teratomatous skin of ovarian mature cystic teratoma. Materials and Methods: Data on ovarian teratoma specimens in nearly 10 years were reviewed. P53 and P16 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry in 25 cases of teratomatous skin of ovarian mature cystic teratoma, 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma and 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma originated from teratomatous skin. Results: Of 1913 cases of ovarian mature cystic teratoma in nearly 10 years, only two cases of squamous cell carcinoma were found in teratomatous skin, with malignant transformation rate of 0.1045%. P53 expression was detected in 2 cases squamous cell carcinoma originated from teratomatous skin and P16 overexpression in one. There were no expressions of P53 and P16 in 25 cases of teratomatous skin of ovarian mature cystic teratoma. Of 20 cases of squamous cell carcinoma P53 overexpression (positive rate of 55%) was detected in 11 cases, P16 overexpression (positive rate of 35%) in 7 cases. The positive rates of P53 and P16 expression in squamous cell carcinomas were significantly higher than that in the teratomatous skins (p< 0.001, p= 0.002). Conclusions: There was low risk of malignant transformation in teratomatous skin of ovarian mature cystic teratoma which can be explained by lower P53 and P16 expressionin teratomas than that in squamous cell carcinoma.

A novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide providing heterologous protection in mice

Feng Wen,Ji-Hong Ma,Hai Yu,Fu-Ru Yang,Meng Huang,Yan-Jun Zhou,Ze-Jun Li,Xiu-Hui Wang,Guo-Xin Li,Yi-Feng Jiang,Wu Tong,Guangzhi Tong 대한수의학회 2016 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.17 No.1

Swine influenza viruses (SwIVs) cause considerable morbidity and mortality in domestic pigs, resulting in a significant economic burden. Moreover, pigs have been considered to be a possible mixing vessel in which novel strains loom. Here, we developed and evaluated a novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide (M2e-MAP) as a supplemental antigen for inactivated H3N2 vaccine to provide cross-protection against two main subtypes of SwIVs, H1N1 and H3N2. The novel tetra-branched MAP was constructed by fusing four copies of M2e to one copy of foreign T helper cell epitopes. A high-yield reassortant H3N2 virus was generated by plasmid based reverse genetics. The efficacy of the novel H3N2 inactivated vaccines with or without M2e-MAP supplementation was evaluated in a mouse model. M2e-MAP conjugated vaccine induced strong antibody responses in mice. Complete protection against the heterologous swine H1N1 virus was observed in mice vaccinated with M2e-MAP combined vaccine. Moreover, this novel peptide confers protection against lethal challenge of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). Taken together, our results suggest the combined immunization of reassortant inactivated H3N2 vaccine and the novel M2e-MAP provided cross-protection against swine and human viruses and may serve as a promising approach for influenza vaccine development.

Protective efficacy of a high-growth reassortant swine H3N2 inactivated vaccine constructed by reverse genetic manipulation

Feng Wen,Ji-Hong Ma,Hai Yu,Fu-Ru Yang,Meng Huang,Yan-Jun Zhou,Ze-Jun Li,Guangzhi Tong 대한수의학회 2014 JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE Vol.15 No.3

Novel reassortant H3N2 swine influenza viruses (SwIV)with the matrix gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virushave been isolated in many countries as well as duringoutbreaks in multiple states in the United States, indicatingthat H3N2 SwIV might be a potential threat to public health. Since southern China is the world’s largest producer of pigs,efficient vaccines should be developed to prevent pigs fromacquiring H3N2 subtype SwIV infections, and thus limit thepossibility of SwIV infection at agricultural fairs. In thisstudy, a high-growth reassortant virus (GD/PR8) wasgenerated by plasmid-based reverse genetics and tested as acandidate inactivated vaccine. The protective efficacy of thisvaccine was evaluated in mice by challenging them withanother H3N2 SwIV isolate [A/Swine/Heilongjiang/1/05(H3N2) (HLJ/05)]. Prime and booster inoculation withGD/PR8 vaccine yielded high-titer serum hemagglutinationinhibiting antibodies and IgG antibodies. Completeprotection of mice against H3N2 SwIV was observed, withsignificantly reduced lung lesion and viral loads invaccine-inoculated mice relative to mock-vaccinatedcontrols. These results suggest that the GD/PR8 vaccine mayserve as a promising candidate for rapid intervention ofH3N2 SwIV outbreaks in China.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in Chinese pregnant women: Hong Kong venous thromboembolism study

Duo Huang,Emmanuel Wong,Ming-Liang Zuo,Pak-Hei Chan,Wen-Sheng Yue,Hou-Xiang Hu,Ling Chen,Li-Xue Yin,Xin-Wu Cui,Ming-Xiang Wu,Xi Su,Chung-Wah Siu,Jo-Jo Hai 대한혈액학회 2019 Blood Research Vol.54 No.3

BackgroundPrevious Caucasian studies have described venous thromboembolism in pregnancy; however, little is known about its incidence during pregnancy and early postpartum peri-od in the Chinese population. We investigated the risk of venous thromboembolism in a “real-world” cohort of pregnant Chinese women with no prior history of venous thromboembolism.MethodsIn this observational study, 15,325 pregnancies were identified in 14,162 Chinese women at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong between January 2004 and September 2016. Demographic data, obstetric information, and laboratory and imaging data were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsThe mean age at pregnancy was 32.4±5.3 years, and the median age was 33 years (interquartile range, 29‒36 yr). Pre-existing or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus was present in 627 women (4.1%); 359 (0.7%) women had pre-existing or newly detected hypertension. There was a small number of women with pre-existing heart disease and/or rheumatic conditions. Most deliveries (86.0%) were normal vaginal; the remaining were Cesarean section 2,146 (14.0%). The incidence of venous thromboembolism was 0.4 per 1,000 pregnancies, of which 83.3% were deep vein thrombosis and 16.7% were pul-monary embolism. In contrast to previous studies, 66.7% of venous thrombosis occurred in the first trimester.ConclusionChinese women had a substantially lower risk of venous thromboembolism during preg-nancy and the postpartum period compared to that of Caucasians. The occurrence of pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism was largely confined to the early preg-nancy period, probably related to the adoption of thromboprophylaxis, a lower rate of Cesarean section, and early mobilization.

XPD Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Skin Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of 17 Case-control Studies

Zhu, Hai-Li,Bao, Ji-Ming,Lin, Pei-Xin,Li, Wen-Xia,Zou, Zhen-Ning,Huang, Ye-En,Chen, Qing,Shen, Hong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.16

Background: Numerous studies have explored the influence of XPD Lys751Gln and/or Asp312Asn polymorphisms on skin cancer susceptibility. However, the results remain inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation, we conducted a comprehensive search to identify all available published studies and performed a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Electronic literature searches of the PubMed, CBM and CNKI databases were performed up to March 2014. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to assess the strength of associations. Results: Seventeen case-control studies were included with a total sample size of 6, 113 cases and 11, 074 controls for the XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism, and 10 studies (3, 840cases and 7, 637 controls) for the XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism were pooled for analysis. Overall, no significant associations were found between the XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism and skin cancer risk in any genetic model. On stratified analysis by tumor type, XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism was not associated with increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, but was significantly related with increased risk of cutaneous melanoma (Gln/Gln vs Lys/Lys: OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.02-1.29, p=0.023; dominant model: OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.01-1.18, p=0.036). For the XPD Asp312Asn polymorphism, no significant association with skin cancer risk was observed in overall or subgroup analyses. Conclusions: The present meta-analysis suggests that the XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism may contribute to the risk of cutaneous melanoma from currently available evidence. Further investigations are needed to obtain more insight into possible roles of these two polymorphisms in skin carcinogenesis.