Biomedical subjects

F J Lu

Publications and source records attributed to F J Lu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Arsenic as a promoter in the effect of humic substances on plasma prothrombin time in vitro.

Protocatechuic acid can be oxidized and polymerized to from humic substances (humic acid and fulvic acid). Should AS2O3 occur in the process of oxidative polymerization, humic acid output can increase by 1.5 - 2.3 times and, in the case of fulvic acid, at least 10 times. After protocatechuic acid is oxidized and polymerized, the resultant humic and fulvic acids both exhibit the ability to shorten the prothrombin time of human pool plasma in vitro. This ability becomes more apparent when AS2O3 serves as a promoter in the course of oxidative polymerization as described above. However, AS2O3 or protocatechuic acid alone is unable to shorten the prothrombin time of human pool plasma.

Arsenic↗

PubMed1990

The effect of fluorescent humic substances existing in the well water of Blackfoot disease endemic areas in Taiwan on prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in vitro.

Fluorescent humic substances (FHS) in well water of Blackfoot disease endemic areas were purified and fractionated by Sephadex G-25 column chromatography. Four fractions of the purified FHS were isolated. The purified FHS and their fractions were then added to normal human pool plasma in vitro separately to detect the abilities of the effects on prothrombin time (PT) and activated thromboplastin time (APTT). Results showed that all of the four fractions of the purified FHS prolonged both PT and APTT in the higher concentration ranges (10 mg/ml - 20 mg/ml), but shortened both PT and APTT in the lower concentration ranges (0.5 mg/ml - 5 mg/ml). Among the four fractions of the FHS, the fraction 1, the humic substance with the highest molecular weight among all the four FHS, showed the most obvious effects. Owing to the effects of the FHS on PT and APTT values, we supposed that there is a close relationship between the FHS and the cause of Blackfoot disease.

Arsenic↗

PubMed1990

Serum macro creatine kinase type 2 as a tumor marker in lung cancer: comparison with carcinoembryonic antigen.

Macro creatine kinase type 2 (MCK-2), an atypical cathodically migrating creatine kinase isoenzyme, was first detected in the serum of a breast cancer patient in 1978. In recent years, MCK-2 was also found in the sera of several malignancies and has been proposed as a potential tumor marker. Forty two patients with lung cancer. The rates of MCK-2 presence in serum were 56.8%, 29.6%, and 0%, respectively, for primary lung cancer, inflammatory lung disease and normal controls. In primary lung cancer, the rate of presence of MCK-2 was higher than CEA (40.0%), and appeared more frequently in epidermoid cancer (71.3%) and in stages 3 and 4 (65.4%). Serial examinations postoperatively showed that MCK-2 became negative after resection. Carcinoembryonic antigen, MCK-2 or a combination of both was evaluated as a diagnostic aid in 37 patients with a peripheral pulmonary nodule. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 32.0%, 90.9%, 50.0%, 36.4%, 93.3%, 59.5%; 43.8%, 90.5%, 70.3%, respectively, for CEA, MCK-2, and CEA plus MCK-2. It is concluded that MCK-2 is comparable to CEA as a tumor marker in lung cancer. The combination of MCK-2 and CEA is of value as a diagnostic aid in patients with a peripheral pulmonary nodule.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed1990

Serum immunosuppressive acidic protein levels in blackfoot disease patients and cancer patients.

Immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) was first found in the ascitic fluids of cancer patients. Its biochemical properties are significantly different from those of acidic protein in the serum of normal persons. Previous studies have indicated that the serum IAP concentration increases in most cancer patients and decreases to a normal level as such patients are cured. Therefore, it has been suggested as a useful marker for follow-up in operated cancer patients. In this study, analyses and comparisons of serum IAP concentrations have been made among 53 normal persons in Blackfoot disease endemic areas, 25 patients with diabetes, cataracts, hypertension and cardiovascular disease in Blackfoot disease endemic areas, 50 breast cancer patients, 13 colorectal cancer patients, and 18 Blackfoot disease patients. Serum IAP concentrations were found as follows: 454 +/- 138 micrograms/ml for normal subjects and 499 +/- 132 micrograms/ml for disease patients in Blackfoot disease endemic areas; 520 +/- 149 micrograms/ml for breast cancer patients; 864 +/- 341 micrograms/ml for colorectal cancer patients and 950 +/- 368 micrograms/ml for Blackfoot disease patients. Serum IAP concentrations were much higher in Blackfoot disease patients, than in normal persons in Blackfoot disease endemic areas (p less than 0.001), and as high as in colorectal cancer patients. In Blackfoot disease patients, the mean serum IAP concentration of 6 patients coming from the Blackfoot disease endemic areas was as high as 1,238 +/- 404 micrograms/ml, showing a positive rate of 100% to IAP (i.e. IAP concentration exceeds 500 micrograms/ml). We conclude that serum IAP assay of Blackfoot disease patients may be useful for prognosis and therapeutic monitoring.

Adult↗

PubMed1988