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Biomedical subjects

C Y Lin

Publications and source records attributed to C Y Lin.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

Serial peritoneal macrophage function studies in new and established continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Peritoneal macrophages (PM) perform first-line defense activity against peritonitis, the most important complication in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) therapy. Our longitudinal study has compared the PM function in 20 uremic patients during periods free of peritonitis since they started CAPD therapy in January 1987. The results showed that at the initiation of CAPD, there was a higher bactericidal activity, phagocytosis index, H2O2 production and interleukin-1 (IL-1), gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production ability and MHC expression. As time went on, these progressively decreased, and by 9 months after CAPD therapy had started they were significantly lower than at the beginning. During the 1.5-year follow-up period, there was a significantly increased peritonitis rate in the period 6 months after the beginning of CAPD than in the period before the 6th month (88.3 vs. 11.7% respectively; p less than 0.001). These results indicate that PM of new CAPD patients have a more active function than those of established patients. The established patients had a greater risk of peritonitis. A comparison of the immunological profiles of PM from patients who had a peritonitis history shows that phagocytosis index, bactericidal activity and IL-1 and TNF production of PM were significantly decreased during the period free of peritonitis. This result suggests that these parameters may serve as an indicator in developing peritonitis.

Blood Bactericidal Activity↗

Hepatitis B virus-associated membraneous nephropathy: clinical features, immunological profiles and outcome.

To evaluate the clinical features, immunological profiles and the prognosis of hepatitis B virus-associated membraneous nephropathy (HBVMN), 34 patients (25 boys and 9 girls) were studied from April 1981 to November 1987. With Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was detected in the glomerular deposits from 30 cases (88.2%) and in the sera from 32 cases (94.1%). These results suggest that HBeAg plays an important role in the development of HBVMN. In addition, clinical trials of 32 cases demonstrate a relatively poor response to the steroid therapy with persistent heavy proteinuria (32.4%) or a high frequent relapse rate (38.2%); only 1 case (3.1%) had early response. In 4 cases follow-up renal biopsy was performed, progressive sclerosis with interstitial fibrosis being noted in each instance. The stage of membraneous nephropathy examined under the light microscope, had progressed from stage I or II to stage III. One had impaired renal function. Therefore, HBVMN does not always take a benign course. In the immunological profiles, significant hypocomplementemia with low C3, C4 and properdin factor B levels were found during the initial 6 months after the onset of disease. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) circulating immune complexes (CIC) were also significantly higher. However, the levels of HBsAg CIC did not correlate with the degree of proteinuria or hematuria. In patients with persistent HBaAg carriage, serum HBeAg status alone did not correlate with remission rate, and remission occurred usually before the HBeAg seroconversion to anti-HBe. These results suggest that factors other than HBeAg play important roles in HBVMN.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Improvement in steroid and immunosuppressive drug resistant lupus nephritis by intravenous prostaglandin E1 therapy.

From January 1986 to December 1988, 8 patients with lupus nephritis did not respond to the administration of two courses of methylprednisolone pulse therapy and cyclophosphamide treatment for 56 days. These cases then received intravenous prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) for 3 weeks. All of them had a good response with decreased proteinuria and azotemia; serum C3 and C4 levels and creatinine clearance also increased. Both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells increased, and the OKT4/OKT8 ratio was almost normal. The macrophage functions included increased production of interleukin 1 and gamma-interferon. The capacity to synthesize immunoglobulin after pokeweed mitogen stimulation was reduced, the circulating immune complexes lowered, and glomerular IgG deposits decreased in the two class IV follow-up biopsy cases after PGE1 therapy. These clinical improvements after PGE1 therapy are probably related to the modulation of macrophage T-B cell interaction, enhancement of reticuloendothelial system function, and increased glomerular capillary flow.

Adolescent↗

A study of the relationship between childhood nephrotic syndrome and allergic diseases.

The incidence of atopic diseases in 206 children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) was studied. Boys with NS had three times higher incidence of bronchial asthma than the general population. There was no difference in the girls. Both boys and girls with NS had about three times more allergic rhinitis and ten times more atopic dermatitis than the general population. In NS patients with associated allergic disease, skin test and allergen-specific IgE antibodies by radioallergosorbent test (RAST) were performed. Most of the patients with dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae), egg white, or cow's milk protein-specific antibodies had positive skin tests. One hundred of the 206 children with NS received renal biopsies and serum IgE levels were measured. During the acute nephrotic phase the geometric mean serum IgE levels in minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), IgM mesangial nephropathy (IgMN), hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy, and treatment-responsive focal segmental glomerular sclerosis patients were all significantly elevated, in descending order of significance. These high serum IgE levels decreased in remission of NS and elevated again during relapse. The relationship between high serum IgE levels in NS patients and the incidence of allergic diseases showed that one third to one fourth of either IgMN or MCNS patients developed allergic diseases. These results suggest that NS patients had a higher allergic disease incidence. Serum IgE level may serve as one of the prognostic factors. However, an increase in the IgE level may be a reflection of body immunoregulatory imbalance that plays a direct pathogenic role in the occurrence of NS and proteinuria.

Child↗

Transformation of multitrait to unitrait mixed model analysis of data with multiple random effects.

An algorithm for transforming a multitrait into a unitrait analysis was presented for a mixed model that has equal design matrices for t traits and contains more than one random classification. The class of models was restricted to those in which the covariance matrices for all random effects including the residual can be diagonalized simultaneously. A variation of this assumption was called the common principal component by Flury. As a result of the transformation, setting up and solving the laborious t trait mixed model equations becomes a simple matter of setting up and solving the unitrait mixed model equations separately for each of the t transformed traits. The present procedure would not only simplify computer programming but more importantly it would drastically reduce central processing unit time and computer space requirements. A numerical example was given to illustrate this procedure of indirect multitrait analysis in comparison with direct multitrait analysis.

Algorithms↗

Serial peritoneal macrophage function studies in CAPD patients with peritonitis.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, peritoneal macrophage, IL-1, IFN-r, TNF, phagocytosis. Peritoneal macrophages (PM) perform first-line defense activity against peritonitis, the most important complication in CAPD therapy. Our longitudinal study compared the PM function in 14 patients in a low peritonitis occurrence group (LPOG) and 6 in a high peritonitis occurrence group (HPOG) before and during peritonitis; all started CAPD therapy after January 1988. The results show that at the onset of peritonitis, PM function including bactericidal killing (BA) activity, phagocytosis index (PI), H2O2 release, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion can increase rapidly in the LPOG. However, this was absent in the HPOG. Both groups had a decrease of PM immunological function in the initial 7 to 10 days after onset of peritonitis, then PM functions began to return toward their pre-peritonitis state. However, in the HPOG, the recovery of PM function was very slow, resulting in significantly lower PM functions. In vitro, when normal PM were put into peritonitis dialysate, IL-1, TNF production and PI, BA activity of PM were decreased. This suppressor activity was absent in the peritonitis-free dialysate. These results suggest a suppressor factor(s) in the HPOG peritoneal dialysate may decrease the function of PM rather than cause easy peritonitis development.

Bacterial Infections↗

[Renal effect of isoflurane].

Isoflurane is a pentafluorinated methyl ether and can be metabolized to inorganic fluoride in man. Nephrotoxicity may be developed after it's administration. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of isoflurane on renal hemodynamic and excretory function in 15 patients. The systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure and renal function were measured before, during and after induction of anesthesia by isoflurane. Renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were estimated by the clearances of paraaminohippuric acid and inulin, respectively. The results showed that a slight reduction in systolic pressure but no significant change in diastolic and mean blood pressures were found during anesthesia. There were 30% and 50% reductions in RPF and GFR, respectively. The filtration fraction increased significantly. Simultaneous decreases in urine flow, absolute and fractional excretions of sodium, absolute excretion of potassium, osmolar clearance and free water reabsorption rate were observed during isoflurane anesthesia. However, the blood pressure and renal function returned to pre-anesthesia levels 30-60 minutes after termination of anesthesia. These data suggest that isoflurane induces renal depressive effect which is reversible and temporary.

Adult↗

Efficacy of niclosamide against aboriginal taeniasis in Taiwan.

The present field trial attempts to test the efficacy of niclosamide by a modified chemotherapeutic schedule to collect the purged stool samples consecutively to search expelled worms. Nineteen patients with taeniasis were given 1 gm of niclosmaide with 3 gm sodium bicarbonate twice at 30-minute interval, then purgative was administered. The patients were allowed only fluid meal or fruit juice before treatment. In all, 33 worms (11 with scolex, 22 without), 17 strobilae and 247 segments were collected from consecutive purged stools. The scolex recovery rate was 33%. After taking the purgative, 5 female patients showed side-reactions (nausea, vomiting and dizziness) which were mild and transient. Two months after the treatment, 14 patients were still passing strobilae and/or proglottides in the stools but 5 were not. Four months after the treatment, only 3 cases were still passing strobilae and/or segments in the stools showing a cure rate of 84.2%. The results indicate that niclosamide is a good taenicide but with a slow effect.

Adult↗

Prevalence of taeniasis and enterobiasis among aboriginal children in mountainous areas of Taiwan.

Children numbering 6,197 were tested for taeniasis. Those children were examined from May, 1981 to July, 1989. Sixty one primary schools, in eight mountainous districts provided the test group of children. The method used in these tests was the Scotch tape perianal swab. The overall infection rate of taeniasis was 1%. A total of 6,667 children were also examined for enterobiasis and the infection rate was 10%. There was no significant difference in the rate of taeniasis and enterobiasis by sex. The infection of taeniasis was highest in Tatung District (3%), Ilan County. However, there was no significant difference among the rates by district. The prevalence of enterobiasis was highest in Jenai District (17%), Nantou County and lowest in Lanyu District (2%), Taitung County. Taeniasis was not found among non-aboriginal school children, while 3% of aboriginal school children were infected with Taenia. However, the infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis among non-aborigines (39%) was much higher than that among aboriginal children (5%). These findings indicate that aboriginal children still eat raw meat and viscera of wild animals and acquire Taenia infection.

Child↗

Mumps associated with nephritis.

During an endemic of mumps in 1987, urinalysis was performed in 124 children with the symptoms of mumps during the acute phase of the disease, 36 children (29.0%) with microscopic hematuria and 8 children (6.4%) with proteinuria were studied. In the children with abnormal urinalysis, whose creatinine clearance was within the normal range, an urine culture for mumps virus was also performed. Nine specimens (20.4%) were positive, 8 (88.8%) of them during the first 5 days of illness. Renal biopsy, performed in a girl with persistent hematuria, revealed a mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with deposition of immunoglobulins A and M, C3, and mumps virus antigen in the glomerulus, suggesting an immune complex deposition. Electron microscopy demonstrated a moderate number of granular electron-dense deposits in the paramesangial regions. The relationship between the development of mumps and the onset of nephritis and the immunofluorescent demonstration of mumps antigen in the glomeruli suggested that the mesangial nephropathy may have developed after the mumps infection. Therefore, in our cases, the clinical course was benign.

Child, Preschool↗

Studies of taeniasis in Taiwan. XII. Prevalence of taeniasis among Atayal aborigines in Wufeng District, Hsinchu County, northwest Taiwan.

In order to determine the prevalence of taeniasis in the Wufeng District of Hsinchu County, 341 school children from 2 primary schools and 748 Atayal aborigines from 4 villages were examined with a scotch tape perianal swab and by questionnaire and demonstration of proglottides. The infection rates of taeniasis and enterobiasis among the school children were 1% and 8%, respectively. The overall infection rate of taeniasis among the Atayal aborigines was 6%, and 189 previously treated and cured persons were also discovered. The highest rate was found at Taoshan Village (9%) and the lowest at Chulin Village (3%). The infection increased with age from less than 1% among those under 10 years of age to a peak of 11% for those over 50 years. The infection rate in males (7%) was similar to that in females (6%). Fourteen percent (43/305) of the families were found with one (91%) or two (9%) infected members. The infected persons had been eating raw meat and viscera of wild boar (70%), flying squirrel (65%), muntjac (58%), wild goat (56%) and the raw meat of other 6 kinds of wild animals. Passing proglottides in the feces (100%) and pruritus ani (91%) were the two most important clinical manifestations. One-third (33%) of the patients had passed proglottides for 21-30 years.

Adolescent↗

In vitro B-lymphocyte switch disturbance from IgM into IgG in IgM mesangial nephropathy.

In vitro immunoglobulin (Ig) synthesis using a co-culture technique after activation of lymphocytes with pokeweed mitogen, T-cell subsets and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production was studied in 10 children who suffered from IgM mesangial nephropathy (IgMN), 10 children who suffered from minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) with hypercellularity and 6 children who suffered from MCNS with normal cellularity during the acute nephrotic phase. Reduced in vitro IgG production was found in the presence of OKT8 cells from all groups of patients. However, in vitro IgM production was increased only in OKT8 cells from IgMN and MCNS patients with hypercellularity. In vitro Tac expression on the OKT8 cells, IL-2 production, T-cell subsets including Leu2a+15+ (suppressor T-cells), Leu2a+DR+ (activated suppressor T-cells) and Leu3a+8+ (suppressor T-cell inducer) were all increased in IgMN and MCNS patients with hypercellularity. There was a significant correlation between in vitro IgM production by co-culture technique and IL-2 production. These results strongly suggest the hyperfunction of isotype-specific suppressor T-cells which may affect the switch of IgM B-cells to IgG B-cells in IgMN and MCNS patients with hypercellularity and may be used to explain in part the clinical findings of lower serum IgG and increased IgM in those patients.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Experimental infection of Indonesia Taenia (Samosir strain) in domestic animals.

Three 58-day old Small-Ear-Miniature (SEM) pigs, six 36-day old Landrace-Small-Ear-Miniature (L-SEM) pigs, and two 5-day old Holstein calves were each fed 3000 or 30,000 Indonesia Taenia (Samosir strain) eggs and sacrificed 27-195 days after inoculation. A total of 4922 cysticerci were recovered only from the livers of the three SEM pigs (1977 cysticerci) and six L-SEM pigs (2945 cysticerci). The infection rate in pigs was 100%. Cysticerci recovery rates of SEM and L-SEM pigs were 22.0% and 1.6%, respectively. Calves were not susceptible to Indonesia Taenia. More cysticerci were found in the liver parenchyma (L-SEM, 66.4%; SEM, 76.2%) than on the liver surface (L-SEM, 33.6%; SEM, 23.8%) of the infected animals. Most (99.86%) of the cysticerci recovered from the livers of L-SEM pigs were degenerated or calcified but 77.9% of those in the livers of SEM pigs were mature and only 22.1% were degenerated or calcified. Measurements of length, width, diameters of protoscolex, rostellum, and sucker and hooklet pattern indicated that Indonesia Taenia is very similar to Taiwan Taenia and very different from Taenia saginata and Taenia solium. The present findings indicate that Indonesia Taenia and Taiwan Taenia may be the same new species.

Animals↗

Amino acid uptake and incorporation not cell-specific peptides and evidence for intracellular peptide pools in Aplysia neurons R3-R14.

1. Relationships between intracellular amino acid concentrations and uptake rates and their utilization in synthesis of cell-specific peptides in neurons R3-R14 in the Aplysia parietovisceral ganglion are explored. 2. The uptake rates and intracellular concentrations of most amino acids are positively correlated and inversely related to their degree of incorporation into the peptides. 3. The bulk cellular pool of arginine is probably utilized in the synthesis of R3-R14 peptides, but much of the glycine taken up appears not to be readily available for protein synthesis. 4. There are rapidly and slowly turning over pools of the peptides, and portions of the peptides stay in the cell bodies for days.

Amino Acids↗

Membranous nephropathy in 52 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier children in Taiwan.

To elucidate the prognosis and the causative viral antigens of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated childhood membranous nephropathy (MN), the clinical course and glomerular HBV antigens were studied in 52 HBsAg carrier children with MN (40 boys, 12 girls). With Fab fragments of monoclonal antibodies, hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) was detected in the glomerular deposits in 41 (95%) of 43 cases but HBsAg and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) in none. HBeAg was detected in sera from 43 (93%) of 46 children examined. These results suggest that HBeAg plays an important role in the development of MN in HBsAg carrier children. During the follow-up period (mean, 4 years), complete remission was found in 64% and 92% of the patients followed for one and seven years, respectively; only one child had mild renal function impairment. These findings suggest a favorable outcome of HBsAg-associated childhood MN. The patient's age, disease duration, amount of glomerular deposit, focal sclerosis and disease stage appeared to affect the clinical course. HBsAg seroconversion to HBsAg-negative occurred in seven cases, and all (100%) had quick remission in two years. In patients with persistent HBsAg carriage, serum HBeAg status alone did not correlate with remission rate and remission occurred usually before the HBeAg seroconversion to anti-HBe. These findings, together with the predominant horizontal infection in these children in contrast to the frequent vertical (perinatal) transmission from HBsAg carrier mothers in HBsAg carriers in Taiwan, suggest that factors other than HBeAg per se may also play important roles.

Carrier State↗

Experimental studies of Korea Taenia (Cheju strain) infection in domestic animals.

In the present study, one DYL pig (five-day old), four L-SEM pigs (37-day old), three SEM pigs (44-day old), one Holstein calf (eight-day old) and two Sannean goats (five-day old) were each fed 1000, 30,000, or 380,000 eggs of the Korea Taenia (Cheju strain) and were sacrificed 16-105 days after inoculation. All DYL, L-SEM, and SEM pigs and the Holstein calf were susceptible to Korea Taenia, and one of the two Sannean goats became infected. The cysticerci recovery rates for L-SEM, SEM and DYL pigs, Holstein calf, and Sannean goat were 5.6, 1.7, 0.06, 0.03 and 0.02% respectively. Cysticerci were recovered only from the livers of the infected animals, and more cysticerci were found in the parenchyma (51%) than on the surface of the liver (49%). Immature cysticerci were first observed on day 16 after infection, mature ones on day 29, and degenerated or calcified cysticerci on day 30. Inoculation of a huge number (380,000) of Korea Taenia eggs lead to early degeneration or calcification of the cysticerci. The length, the width, and the diameters of protoscolex, rostellum, and sucker of the cysticerci were largely proportional to the period of inoculation. The measurements and patterns of the hooklets indicate that Korea Taenia is very similar to Taiwan Taenia but is different from T. saginata and T. solium. The results of the present study provide evidence that Korea Taenia and Taiwan Taenia may be of the same species.

Animals↗

Serum amylase, isoamylase, and lipase in the acute abdomen. Their diagnostic value for acute pancreatitis.

We evaluated the diagnostic value of serum amylase, isoamylase, and lipase for the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis from sera of patients with acute abdominal pain. Comparison was first made in condition A between 32 patients with image-proven pancreatitis and 414 patients with nonpancreatic acute abdomen (the control group), then in condition B, between 62 pancreatitis patients with or without image proof and the control group. We found (a) that patients with image-proven pancreatitis suffer a more severe clinical course than those without; (b) that the sensitivity, positive predictive value, and accuracy in condition B are higher than in condition A at any cutoff level; (c) that none of the enzyme assays is specific at the upper reference limit, but their diagnostic yields are much improved by raising cutoff levels to about three or four times the upper limit; and (d) that at these selected cutoff levels, amylase had a diagnostic value similar to p-isoamylase or lipase in both conditions (sensitivity 84% and 92% for amylase in conditions A and B, respectively; specificity 98% and 98%; positive predictive value 75% and 90%; negative predictive value 99% and 99%; accuracy 91% and 97%). In conclusion, at an appropriately selected cutoff level, amylase can be effectively used as the first-line test and isoamylase or lipase as adjunct tests for acute abdominal conditions.

Abdomen, Acute↗