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Biomedical subjects

C Y Lin

Publications and source records attributed to C Y Lin.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

Hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid in kidney cells probably leading to viral pathogenesis among hepatitis B virus associated membranous nephropathy patients.

In order to investigate the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the pathogenesis of renal lesion in HBV-associated membranous nephropathy (HBVMN) patients, serial studies using an in situ hybridization technique at different time points were performed. Within 6 months after the onset of the disease, 7 of 8 (87.5%) HBVMN patients demonstrated HBV DNA in the glomeruli and tubular epithelia. In contrast to the 14 HBVMN specimens taken later than 6 months after the onset, HBV DNA was detectable in only 3 (21%) in the tubular epithelia but none in the glomerular region. Most of the glomeruli-associated HBV DNA seemed extracellular because they were also positive for both the accumulation of HB e antigen (HBeAg)-anti-HBe antibody (Ab) immune complex and immunoglobulin G. The finding suggested that glomeruli-associated viral DNA is joined with filtered HBeAg-anti-HBeAb immune complexes. In the analysis of follow-up biopsies, HBV DNA in tubular epithelia was detected more frequently in the progressive group (50%) than in the nonprogressive group (0%). HBV DNA was detectable in the tubular epithelia in 2 cases who were progressing to end-stage renal disease and had heavy proteinuria. However, in the cases with mild or no proteinuria, HBV DNA was no longer detectable in the kidney. These findings suggest that HBV disseminates in the kidney and its dynamic changes at different time points may implicate the important role of HBV in the pathogenesis of HBVMN. This needs further study to be clarified.

Adolescent↗

Serial changes of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 levels in drain dialysate of uremic patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis during peritonitis.

In this study, we investigated whether peritoneal dialysate interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 levels were elevated during peritonitis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, with special reference to the high peritonitis occurrence (HPO) group. Serial measurements of IL-6 and IL-8 levels in dialysate before, during and after resolution of peritonitis were done in 13 CAPD patients with 15 episodes of peritonitis. Based on the peritonitis occurrence, 7 patients were assigned to the low peritonitis occurrence (LPO) and 6 patients to the HPO group. Marked elevation of IL-6 and IL-8 in drain dialysate occurred in the early period of peritonitis especially on the first 2 days in both groups. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in drain dialysate on the first day of peritonitis. However, the disappearance of peritoneal dialysate IL-8 level was faster in the LPO than in the HPO group. The decrease in IL-8 levels during peritonitis was faster than that of IL-6. Marked elevation of IL-6 and IL-8 in drain dialysate was found in the patient with peritonitis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis and mixed gram-negative bacilli. Therefore, we hypothesize that when peritonitis occurs too frequently in a short period in the HPO group, more IL-6 and IL-8 have been produced in the peritoneum contributing to the ongoing peritoneal injury and/or fibrosis.

Adolescent↗

Changes in cell population and tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 in malignant pleural effusions after treatment with intrapleural tetracycline.

To evaluate the changes in cellular components and cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and IL-8) before and after intrapleural tetracycline (TC) injection, we evaluated 10 patients with malignant pleural effusion. Differential cell counts in the pleural fluid were obtained using cytocentrifuge preparations. Mononuclear cells from pleural fluid, collected before intrapleural injection of TC, on Day 4, and Days 10 to 14 after TC injection, were stimulated either with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or PHA plus phorbol myristic acetate. The production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-8 was measured. In addition, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF from serial collections of pleural fluid in these patients were measured by RIA or ELISA. The main inflammatory cells in pleural effusions before therapy were lymphocytes and mononuclear cells, but neutrophils predominated after TC injection. IL-6, IL-8, and TNF were markedly increased on Day 4 after TC intrapleural injection and then decreased to baseline levels on Day 14. The results suggest that TC intrapleural injection induces the release of cytokines (IL-6 and TNF), which are markers of an inflammatory response, and releases IL-8, which attracts neutrophils into the pleural space, which may be the mechanism of the sclerosing effect of TC.

Aged↗

Nuclear proteins of the bovine esophageal epithelium. I. Monoclonal antibody W2 specifically reacts with condensed nuclei of differentiated superficial cells.

Cells from three layers of the bovine esophageal epithelium, representing different stages of differentiation, were dissociated and separated by Percoll gradient centrifugation into fractions of small, medium and large sizes. A majority of the large cells possessed condensed nuclei, a characteristic feature of terminal differentiation of the superficial epithelium. The small cells resembled the proliferate cells of the basal layer. In vitro culture of the esophageal epithelial cells resulted in proliferation of the small cells, colony formation, and, in some cases, differentiation into cells with condensed nuclei. Nuclei, or nuclear subfractions derived from cells of the different layers, were used as immunogens for the generation of hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies that bound specifically to different regions of the esophageal tissue. One such antibody, designated W2, labeled the condensed nuclei from the superficial layer of stratified esophageal and corneal epithelia in situ, as well as the large cells from esophageal culture in vitro. Thus, the expression of the W2 antigen may be associated with the process of nuclear condensation during epithelial differentiation. Immunoisolation of the target antigen of W2 from extracts of large cells of the bovine esophagus yielded a band of M(r) approximately 33,000 on nonreducing polyacrylamide gels. This band dissociated into two polypeptides, of M(r) approximately 22,000 and approximately 11,000, upon treatment with dithiothreitol. Amino acid sequence analysis of the larger polypeptide showed extensive homology to a group of small calcium-binding proteins, including two helix-turn-helix motifs designated as the EF-hand, characteristic of the configuration of the metal-ion coordinating ligands of the calcium-binding site. Similarly, the sequence at the amino terminus of the polypeptide of approximately 11,000 indicated that it was the light chain counterpart of the same calcium-binding protein complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Changes in serum lipid peroxide concentration in open heart surgery].

During open heart surgery, the release of oxygen free radicals as a result of ischemia and reperfusion often induces post-operative low cardiac output, arrhythmias or cardiac re-performance failure. Changes in serum lipid peroxide (LPO) concentrations were studied in 72 patients undergoing open heart surgery, to quantitate the rhythm of changes, and to seek for proper measures in myocardial protection. Blood samples were drawn before induction of anesthesia, just before aortic cross-clamping, 5 min after the release of aortic cross-clamping, immediately after rewarming to 35 degrees C, 30 min after cardiac performance, and at the end of the procedure. Fluorescent spectrophotometric method was used to detect the variation of LPO concentrations. The results showed that intraoperative serum LPO concentrations were significantly lower than pre-induction serum LPO concentrations (P < 0.01). It seems probable that methods of myocardial protection, hypothermia and hemodilution may induce lower concentrations of LPO. Serum LPO concentrations at the end of the procedure were smaller than those of the pre-induction concentrations (P > 0.05). This phenomena was caused by numerous factors that reduce serum LPO concentration.

Adolescent↗

Pyogenic liver abscess in Taiwan: emphasis on gas-forming liver abscess in diabetics.

Ninety-seven cases of pyogenic liver abscesses in a 4-yr period were studied: 27.8% (27 cases) were associated with biliary tract stone, 5.2% (five cases) were associated with biliary tract cancer, and there were two cases of diabetes (2.1%) associated with anal infection, but 63.9% (63 cases) were diagnosed as cryptogenic. Forty patients (64.5%) in the cryptogenic group had diabetes mellitus, and 23 of them (23/40, 57.5%) had gas-forming infection. All patients received parenteral antibiotics therapy, percutaneous aspiration, drainage, or operation. The overall mortality was 16.5%. Diabetes mellitus alone, without demonstrable infectious foci, was an important predisposing factor for pyogenic liver infection. Furthermore, to evaluate the clinical importance of gas-forming pyogenic liver infections, we separated these 42 diabetic patients into gas-forming and non-gas-forming groups, after sonography and CT scan. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the major pathogen in both groups. There was no significant difference in the clinical manifestations, complication, bacterial culture, or laboratory data between these two groups, except that the AST level was higher in the gas-forming group. However, the gas-forming group had higher mortality rate (30.4% vs. 5.3%). Gas-forming liver abscesses were common among the diabetics. Early and adequate drainage for pyogenic liver abscesses with parenteral antibiotics are crucial in their management.

Causality↗

Detection of HCV RNA in saliva, urine, seminal fluid, and ascites.

Approximately half of the patients with type C hepatitis do not have a history of parenteral exposure. The route of nonparenteral infection remains unknown. To evaluate the possible role of body fluids, the existence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in saliva, urine, seminal fluid, and ascites was examined by "nested" polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplification of the HCV 5' noncoding sequences was carried out. The amplified product was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization and restriction endonuclease digestion. Among 34 patients with chronic liver disease who were positive for anti-HCV and serum HCV RNA, the prevalence of HCV RNA in body fluids was 100% (7/7) in ascites, 48% (15/31) in saliva, 24% (4/17) in seminal fluid, and 7% (2/29) in urine. The body fluids collected from 3 healthy subjects and 5 patients with chronic liver disease who were positive for anti-HCV but negative for serum HCV RNA were all negative for HCV RNA. Hence, the potential infectivity of body fluids in patients testing negative for serum HCV RNA can probably be discounted. Conversely, the presence of HCV RNA in saliva and seminal fluid of patients positive for serum HCV RNA suggests sexual and household contact as likely modes of nonparenteral transmission of type C hepatitis. Furthermore, the high prevalence of HCV RNA in ascites and saliva may have important implications in medical and dental practice.

Ascitic Fluid↗

Virus-like particles with reverse transcriptase activity associated with Kawasaki disease.

To investigate the etiologic agent associated with Kawasaki disease (KD), we initially established a cocultivation system using concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated lymphoblastoid cells obtained from each retrovirus-seronegative individual's peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) cocultivated with each of 1) 40 patients with KD, 2) 10 patients with other viral infection and skin rash, and 3) 10 age- and sex-matched normal controls. Five major findings suggested that virus-like particles with reverse transcriptase (RT) activity are associated with KD. First, RT activity appeared significantly higher on day 12 after the onset of fever in the KD patients than in those with other viral infections and normal controls (dTMP incorporation: 3,645 +/- 248 vs. 434 +/- 50 vs. 412 +/- 46 cpm, P < 0.0001). Second, the RT activity was not endogenous, because the Con A-stimulated lymphoblastoid cells were obtained from the individuals who were negative for retrovirus. Third, virus-like particles (80-100 nm in diameter) by electron microscopy were found in the concentrated pool supernatants of particulate fraction containing RT activity subjected to sucrose density gradient, obtained from KD patients. Fourth, the viral product, a 31.4 kilodalton molecule, was detected by SDS-PAGE after internal labelling (methionine-S35) and density gradient centrifugation. Fifth, using a "retrovirus universal pol gene region" as a primer and the RT-PCR method, a retrovirus-specific band was detected in the cocultivated supernatants obtained from four KD and one AIDS patients but not in patients with rubella or in healthy controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

Prevalence of genital human papillomavirus infections in patients at a sexually transmitted diseases clinic.

The human papillomavirus was detected in cervicovaginal cells by the polymerase chain reaction in 14 of 37 (37.8%) patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and in 6 of 43 healthy young women (14.0%) undergoing routine gynecologic examinations who served as controls. The results indicated that even the more malignant types of human papillomaviruses were not uncommon among the control group, and that the prevalence of human papillomavirus infection was significantly higher in STD clinic patients than in the control group. These findings confirm the suggestion that factors other than human papillomavirus infections may be involved in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

Possible transplacental transmission of human papillomaviruses.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the possibility of intrauterine human papillomavirus infection of fetuses by transplacental transmission of human papillomavirus before delivery. STUDY DESIGN: Specimens of cervicovaginal cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 52 consecutive pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Cord blood specimens were also obtained from the neonates born to these mothers. Presence of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 deoxyribonucleic acid was analyzed by an in vitro enzymatic deoxyribonucleic acid amplification method. RESULTS: Human papillomavirus type 16 deoxyribonucleic acid was found in 6 (11.5%) cervicovaginal and in 9 (17.3%) peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens. Seven cord blood specimens from neonates born to mothers who were positive for peripheral blood mononuclear cell human papillomavirus type 16 deoxyribonucleic acid were found to contain human papillomavirus type 16 deoxyribonucleic acid. One cervicovaginal and two peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens contained human papillomavirus type 18 deoxyribonucleic acid, but none of the cord blood specimens contained human papillomavirus type 18 deoxyribonucleic acid. CONCLUSION: These results seem to suggest possible transplacental transmission of the virus and the potential association of such transmission with the status of human papillomavirus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Base Sequence↗

Thromboelastogram fails to predict postoperative hemorrhage in cardiac patients.

To determine the clinical usefulness of the thromboelastogram in the prediction of postoperative hemorrhage in cardiac patients, we related the results of routine coagulation tests (RCTs) and thromboelastography with the amount of chest tube drainage postoperatively in 101 patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Our data indicated that there was no correlation between RCT results and thromboelastographic variables. No single variable of RCTs and thromboelastography correlated well with the amount of chest tube drainage postoperatively. Before the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass, the most frequent abnormalities detected by thromboelastograms were fibrinolysis and hypocoagulability resulting from factor deficiency. Hypercoagulability detected by thromboelastograms occurred in 13% of patients after cardiopulmonary bypass and usually was not detected by RCTs. The incidence of false-negative thromboelastograms and RCT results in patients who had excessive hemorrhage of unknown cause was 46% and 52%, respectively. The incidence of fibrinolysis as detected by thromboelastograms was similar before and after bypass, but only 2 of the 18 patients with fibrinolysis had excessive hemorrhage postoperatively. Our results indicate that neither RCTs nor thromboelastography predicts the likelihood of excessive hemorrhage in patients after cardiopulmonary bypass. The thromboelastographic results should be interpreted cautiously because of the high rate of unreliable results.

Blood Coagulation Tests↗

Experimental infection of Philippine Taenia in domestic animals.

In the present study, six 34-44-day-old Small-Ear-Miniature pigs and one 14-day-old Holstein calf were each fed 10,000 Philippine Taenia eggs and sacrificed 27-43 days after inoculation. The infection rate was 100% for both pigs and calf with cysticerci recovery rates of 11 and 6%, respectively. A total of 6431 cysticerci were recovered only from the livers of the six pigs and 597 only from the liver of the calf; more occurred in the parenchyma (pigs 75%, calf 83%) than on the surface (pigs 25%, calf 17%). Mature cysticerci were found in four of the six pigs. A total of 317 cysticerci recovered from the pig livers were mature and the rest were either immature (926), degenerate or calcified (5188). All 597 cysticerci recovered from the liver of the calf were degenerate or calcified. Measurements of length, width, diameter of protoscolex, rostellum, and sucker and hooklet pattern indicated that Philippine Taenia is very similar to Taenia from Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia and Thailand and very different from classical T. saginata and T. solium.

Animals↗

Amplification of viral RNA for the detection of dengue types 1 and 2 virus.

In vitro DNA amplification by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify dengue types 1 and 2 viral genomes in cultured cells and in the serum of persons infected with dengue virus. Results of the present investigation suggest that the PCR method is type-specific in detecting dengue virus and has a detection sensitivity of less than 100 plaque-forming units (pfu) for both serotypes of the virus. The PCR method may be useful for detecting and typing dengue virus in clinical and epidemiological specimens.

Base Sequence↗

Oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion of Penaeus chinensis juveniles exposed to ambient ammonia at different salinity levels.

1. Oxygen consumption rate (O2 mg/g/hr) and ammonia-N (un-ionized plus ionized ammonia as nitrogen) excretion rate (microgram/g/hr) of Penaeus chinensis juveniles (0.54 +/- 0.11 g) decreased with increase of salinity among 10, 20 and 30 ppt. 2. Oxygen consumption rate increased with increase of ambient ammonia-N at three salinity levels. 3. Ammonia-N excretion rate was highest (204 micrograms/g/hr) in P. chinensis exposed to 0.985 mg/l ammonia-N at 10 ppt, and lowest (-416 micrograms/g/hr) in that exposed to 9.897 mg/l ammonia-N at 30 ppt. 4. In the prawns exposed to 9.921 mg/l ammonia-N at 20 ppt, and to 5.087 and 9.897 mg/l ammonia-N at 30 ppt, ammonia-N excretion was heavily depressed and ammonia-N influx occurred (ammonia-N uptake was much higher than ammonia-N excretion).

Ammonia↗

Normal N-acetylglutamate concentration measured in liver from a new patient with N-acetylglutamate synthetase deficiency: physiologic and biochemical implications.

N-Acetyl-L-glutamate synthetase (NAG synthetase) is a mitochondrial matrix enzyme which catalyzes the synthesis of N-acetyl-Lglutamate (NAG), a physiologic activator of the urea cycle enzyme carbamylphosphate synthetase I. Deficiency of NAG synthetase in humans has been reported only three times previously. Two cases presented with uncontrolable neonatal hyperammonemia leading to death, while a third child presented with hyperammonemia and a neurodegenerative picture at 15 months of age after previously being healthy. We report here a new case of NAG synthetase deficiency who presented at 4 years, 10 months of age with an episode of hyperammonemia. Diagnosis was made at age 5 years, 6 months when a liver biopsy showed 9.7% of normal activity. Urine orotic acid was low, and total NAG content in liver was normal. Liver pathology revealed micro- and macrovesicular fat and mitochondria of irregular size and shape with intracristae crystallizations. NAG content in liver in patients with NAG synthetase deficiency has not previously been reported. Its normal value in the face of NAG synthetase deficiency suggests an abnormal localization of NAG to the cytoplasm and the likelihood of aberrant cytoplasmic synthesis of this compound. Additional physiologic implications of this speculative abnormal compartmentalization are discussed.

Acetyltransferases↗