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Biomedical subjects

C Y Chuang

Publications and source records attributed to C Y Chuang.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Evaluation of humoral immunity on leprosy patients in Taiwan: a preliminary report.

Twenty-four tuberculoid (T)-type and 31 lepromatous (L)-type leprosy patients from Taiwan Provincial Lo-Sheng Leprosarium were enrolled in this study. Twenty-six age- and sex- matched normal subjects were also studied as a control group. The evaluation of their general and specific humoral immunity included B-cell subpopulations, 3 major classes of immunoglobulin (G, A and M) and antibodies in the IgG class against lepromin suspension and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) sonicate. T-type patients showed a larger B-cell percentage than L-type patients (p less than 0.01). In general, patients with leprosy, both T and L types, had higher serum immunoglobulin levels than the control group. T-type patients showed greater antibody levels than the control group (p less than 0.05 for anti-lepromin and p less than 0.0001 for anti-BCG). L-type patients demonstrated a higher anti-BCG IgG level than the control group (p less than 0.0001). The level of anti-BCG IgG was more frequently above the cutoff level than that of anti-lepromin IgG in leprosy patients (p less than 0.01 for T, p less than 0.005 for L). In conclusion, humoral immunity is not impaired in leprosy patients. Discrepancies for T- and L-type patients among B-cell subpopulation, serum immunoglobulin levels and specific antibody levels reflect different aspects of cell-mediated immunity impairment. Though leprosy patients had elevated anti-BCG IgG levels, it is impossible to differentiate L- and T-type patients; specific antigens are needed for serodiagnosis of leprosy patients in Taiwan.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with BCG sonicate antigen for diagnostic potential of mycobacterial infection in Taiwan.

The diagnostic potential of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) sonicate antigen for detection of mycobacterial infections, including pulmonary tuberculosis and leprosy, has been evaluated in Taiwan area. One hundred blood samples were collected from 74 active and 26 inactive pulmonary tuberculosis patients of the Taiwan Provincial Tuberculosis Control Bureau. Another 50 samples were collected from 24 lepromatous, 23 tuberculoid and 3 borderline leprosy patients at the Taiwan Provincial Lo-Sheng Leprosarium. The IgG anti-BCG sonicate levels were compared among patients with tuberculosis, active or inactive, patients with leprosy, and healthy individuals. Patients with tuberculosis, both active and inactive, and those with leprosy had higher BCG sonicate antibody levels and frequencies above cutoff value than healthy subjects (for BCG-sonicate antibody, p less than 0.05 for inactive tuberculosis, p less than 0.0001 for others; for frequency above cutoff, p less than 0.001 for inactive tuberculosis, p less than 0.0001 for others). Among the three groups of patients, significant differences were noted in anti-BCG sonicate antibody level, and there was no difference of frequency above the cutoff value (i.e. inactive tuberculosis had lower level than active tuberculosis and leprosy, p less than 0.005). In conclusion, ELISA with BCG sonicate antigen could serve as a diagnostic aid for mycobacterial infection in Taiwan. However, it was not possible to differentiate disease activity in tuberculosis, or to discriminate infectious species of mycobacteria. Purified mycobacterial antigens should be tried in further research to improve the specificity and sensitivity in serodiagnosis with ELISA.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1988

Systemic delivery of enkephalin peptide through eyes.

Leu-enkephalin is one of the important peptides which could become useful drugs in the clinics because of its analgesic action and its availability in mass quantity through biotechnology production. It is found in this study that enkephalin can be effectively absorbed systemically through eyes without using a surfactant as absorption enhancer. Enkephalin at 0.125% (31.25 micrograms/25 microliter) reached a plateau of blood concentration at 11.5 ng/ml in 3-4 hrs and stayed high for 8-9 hrs. In contrast, the blood concentration of enkephalin declined rapidly after i.v. administration with a T1/2 of less than 30 min and reached the lowest point at 22 ng/ml in 5 hrs. With higher concentrations at 1% (.25 mg/25 microliter) and 5% (1.25 mg/25 microliter) similar absorption kinetics was observed except that they reached higher plateau of blood concentration at 72 ng/ml and 233 ng/ml, respectively.

Absorption↗
PubMed1988

Systemic delivery of polypeptides with molecular weights of between 300 and 3500 through the eyes.

Systemic absorption of polypeptides through eyes has been demonstrated in this study to provide an effective route of peptide administration as an alternate to parenteral administration. TRH at 0.0025% reached a plateau of blood concentration at 0.05 ng/ml in 60 min. and stayed high for at least 4 hrs, thereafter. In contrast, a therapeutic dose of TRH (15 micrograms/70 kg i.v.) could maintain a blood concentration of 0.07 ng/ml. At 1%, TRH reached a plateau of 26 ng/ml in 2 hrs. and persisted in the plateau for 10 hrs. thereafter. At 5%, TRH peaked at 138 ng/ml in 60 min. and then fell gradually to a steady state of 60 ng/ml in 9 hrs from the peak. Addition of peptidase inhibitors (Leu-Leu, 4 mM; Bestatin, 60 microM; and DL-Thiorphan 0.6 microM) did not affect the uptake of TRH into systemic circulation. LHRH showed entirely different kinetic of systemic absorption through eyes. The blood concentration never reached peak or plateau during 12 hrs. of experimental period. The blood concentration of LHRH increased steadily during experiments. With 0.0025%, 1% and 5% of LHRH, they reached final highest blood concentrations of 0.13 ng/ml, 45 ng/ml and 95 ng/ml, respectively. The therapeutic dose of LHRH (15 micrograms/70 kg i.v.) could maintain a blood concentration at 0.25-0.3 ng/ml which was slightly higher than that reached with 0.0025% of LHRH instilled into the eye. Addition of peptidase inhibitor (Leu-Leu, 5 mM) enhanced the absorption of LHRH into systemic circulation slightly but significantly. Glucagon behaved similarly as TRH except that the blood concentration remained high without falling at 5% dose level. These results suggest that topical instillation of peptide drugs into eyes is a workable method for administration of these peptide drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Treatment of hypoglycemia with glucagon eye drops.

Glucagon is useful in the treatment of insulin-induced hypoglycemia when dextrose tablet, paste, or solution is not available. A prolonged hypoglycemia might lead to irreversible coma. Although injection of glucose or glucagon will correct the hypoglycemia, the patients are usually unable to handle it by themselves in such an occasion. A new method has been developed in this study to administer glucagon through the eyes as eye drops. Glucagon at 0.2% raised the blood glucose effectively to 204 mg % from 104 mg % in 30 min, came down to 116 mg % in 2 hrs, and remained at the same level for the rest of the experiments. In contrast, a therapeutic dose of glucagon (50 micrograms/3 kg i.v.) increased the blood glucose concentration rapidly to reach 235 mg % from 125 mg % at 30 min then reached the bottom at 120 min after the injection. At 1%, glucagon raised the blood glucose concentration to 248 mg % from 103 mg % in 30 min and remained high for another 60 min. It declined gradually to reach 120 mg % in 6 hrs. At 5%, glucagon raised the blood glucose concentration quickly to 276 mg % from 130 mg % in 60 min and remained high for the next 90 min and then declined gradually to reach 160 mg % at the end of 6 hr experiment period. These results suggest that a sufficient amount of glucagon can be absorbed rapidly into systemic circulation to raise blood glucose concentrations.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Waldenstróm's macroglobulinemia with peripheral neuropathy--the role of IgM M-protein in autoimmune mechanism.

A total of 11 cases of Waldenstróm's Macroglobulinemia (WM) have been investigated to study the association of the disease with neuropathy. A 53-year-old female patient (Wu) had a pronounced peripheral neuropathy, in which the role of IgM M-protein could be observed. Sections of Wu's biopsied sural nerve were subjected to light and electron microscopy and direct immunofluorescence (IF). Myelin degeneration with axonal change was found, while fluorescence reaction occurred in epineurium only. Sections of a healthy dog's sciatic nerve were submitted to purified IgM M-proteins from Wu and another WM patient (Kon) without neuropathy, respectively. Indirect IF showed a deposit of fluorescence on the myelin sheath by Wu's, but not by Kon's, M-proteins. It is proposed that an autoimmune mechanism underlies the peripheral neuropathy in the WM patient.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Serum interleukin-2 receptor in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) is expressed on activated lymphocyte after stimulation with antigen or interleukin-2 (IL-2), meanwhile soluble form of the receptor is released. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, serum IL-2R levels were determined in 34 healthy controls, 61 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 32 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yielding mean +/- SD values of 355 +/- 89, 807 +/- 453 and 567 +/- 210 U/ml respectively. In both SLE and RA patients, the active disease group had more markedly elevated serum IL-2R levels compared with those of the inactive group. In patients with SLE, elevated serum IL-2R is associated with lymphopenia, renal disorders, decreased C3 level and increased anti-DNA, thus make it a good parameter to monitor disease activity in SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Ocular anti-inflammatory actions of matrine.

Matrine is an alkaloid isolated from the root of Sophora subprostrata (Leguminosae) which has been used as a Chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation. Instillation of 50 microliter of 1% matrine showed significant inhibition of ocular inflammation induced by lens proteins. Unlike corticosteroids, matrine did not facilitate the IOP recovery in rabbit eyes nor did it change the electrical potential difference across rabbit iris-ciliary body. These results indicate that matrine could become a safer ocular antiinflammatory agent than corticosteroids. Further, matrine was found to markedly increase the reaction time of a mouse placed on a hot plate. These results indicate that matrine could be used as an analgesic as well.

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1985

Cardiovascular effects of matrine isolated from the Chinese herb Shan-dou-gen.

Matrine, a pure compound isolated from the Chinese herb Shan-don-Gen (Sophora subprostrata), was studied for its effects on the cardiovascular system of the rat. Intravenous injections of matrine at doses from 5 mg to 20 mg/kg body weight exhibited dose-dependent hypotensive and bradycardiac effects. These effects lasted only 1 to 3 min. In the isolated atria and ventricle preparations, matrine at doses from 50 micrograms to 200 micrograms/ml increased the amplitudes of spontaneous contraction of the atria and electrically induced contraction of the ventricle, whereas the frequency of the spontaneous beating of the atria was reduced. The dose-dependent effects of matrine on the isolated preparations persisted as long as the compound was present. Tachyphylaxis was not observed with repeated applications of this compound to the isolated preparations. The positive inotropic effects on both atria and ventricle and the negative chronotropic effect on spontaneous beating of the atria by matrine were not blocked by diphenhydramine, atropine, phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, trifluoperazine, or methysergide. In contrast, verapamil significantly reduced the positive inotropic effect of matrine on the ventricle. In the isolated aortic strip preparation, matrine at a dose of 200 micrograms/ml led to a slight increase in muscle tone. The same dose of matrine induced a 35% increase of perfusion pressure in the hindleg perfusion model. These results suggest that the in vivo transient hypotensive effect of matrine is likely associated with a decrease in heart rate itself, since positive inotropic effects on both the atria and the ventricle, and vasoconstriction of some vascular beds could not be the cause of hypotension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alkaloids↗
PubMed1984

Epstein-Barr virus-associated antibodies and serum biochemistry in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. It also has frequent recurrences and/or distant metastases after radiotherapy. Extensive clinical, serological and biochemical studies were done during 1980-1982 on 351 patients to aid in the diagnosis of the disease, especially with recurrence or metastasis. Seropositive rates of the antibody titers against viral capsid antigens (VCA) and early antigens (EA) of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in IgG and IgA classes were 41.7%-100%. They ranked, in order of frequency: anti-VCA/IgA, anti-VCA/IgG, anti-EA/IgG, and anti-EA/IgA. Mean total serum IgG and IgA levels were moderately increased in all patients. Serum GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and mucoprotein were elevated either alone or in combination in a few patients before treatment, in many patients with recurrence or metastases, and in all patients with liver metastasis.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗
PubMed1983

Changes of serum protein and immunoglobulins in ovarian agenesis.

The levels of serum proteins and immunoglobulins were determined in five cases of Turner's syndrome, in five secondary amenorrheic patients who responded to progesterone, and in five healthy women as controls. Compared with the controls, the patients with secondary amenorrhea showed significantly lower albumin, but higher alpha 1- and beta-globulins; IgG was also lower. In the Turner's syndrome group, gamma globulin, IgG and IgM levels were significantly lower. These results support the suggestion that at least some of the serum proteins and immunoglobulins are related to estrogen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

[Serological and biochemical studies in late stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Serological and biochemical studies were done at the National Taiwan University Hospital, on 243 patients with biopsy-proved anaplastic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in various clinical conditions. The remarkable elevation of both IgG and IgA antibody titers against EB virus was specific for NPC patients. The seropositive rates ranged from 75% to 100% in various stages of NPC patients. Serum IgG and IgA levels were also increased moderately and nonspecifically in stages II-IV and recurrent patients. Peripheral white blood cell count was also slightly increased in these patients. Peripheral lymphocyte counts were slightly decreased in patients with neck recurrence or distant metastasis. Serum IgM, C3, C4 and Acid phosphatase levels were within normal range in all the patients. Serum GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase were elevated in some of patients with distant metastasis and in most of those with liver metastasis. Mucoprotein was elevated in about 10% of stage II-IV patients but in about 50% of patients with recurrent neck metastasis or distant metastasis. in conclusion, serological and biochemical examinations are important in the diagnosis of late stages and recurrence or metastasis of NPC.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1983

Immunopathological diagnosis of plasma-cell dyscrasia. Part I. "Primary" monoclonal gammopathy.

Two patients with "primary" plasma-cell dyscrasia, one with IgG kappa multiple myeloma and another with delta type light chain disease, are reported. Both of them presented extraosseous tumor mass on the forehead as an initial problem. They had moderate to severe anemia, accelerated ESR and multiple osteolytic lesions in the x-ray bone survey. They did not show prominent monoclonal spikes in serum electrophoregram and physiological immunoglobulins were not decreased. Repeated bone marrow aspirates on these two cases did not reveal definite plasmacytosis and pathological diagnosis was established by tumor biopsy. Immunopathological correlations were made, with an emphasis on rational analysis and interpretation of monoclonal proteins.

Biopsy, Needle↗