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Biomedical subjects

J Y Lin

Publications and source records attributed to J Y Lin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Pigmentary disorders in Asian skin: treatment with laser and intense pulsed light sources.

The development of selective photothermolysis has enabled removal of targets such as melanin. Both lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources have been used in the treatment of pigmented lesions, however careful selection is important to ensure success. This is especially true in darker skinned individuals where the risk of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is high. The advent of the Q-switched laser, IPL, and now fractional photothermolysis (Fraxel, Reliant Technologies) offers a variety of ways to treat epidermal and dermal pigmentary disorders.

Asian People↗
PubMed2005

Integron-associated imipenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from a regional hospital in Taiwan.

We investigated the genetic properties of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii collected from a regional hospital in Taiwan. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the isolates were genetically diverse. Polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and DNA-DNA hybridisation showed that the bla(IMP-1) gene resided as a cassette in a plasmid-borne class 1 integron in two isolates. The majority of the resistant isolates were plasmid-less and carried no bla(IMP), bla(VIM) or bla(CFI) genes, indicating that other uncharacterised metallo-beta-lactamases or mechanisms other than enzyme production are involved in carbapenem resistance in this group of A. baumannii. We conclude that multidrug resistance of A. baumannii was a combined effect of lateral gene transfer and clonal spread of multiple resistant clones. Strict measures should be implemented to control the further spread of resistance.

Acinetobacter baumannii↗
PubMed2005

Effect of thermal treatment on carbon-doped silicon oxide low dielectric constant materials.

Carbon-doped silicon oxide (SiOCH) low dielectric constant (low-k) material is a good candidate for advanced interconnect technology. Good thermal stability of the dielectric is required due to the many thermal processes involved during IC fabrication. The thermal stability of tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS) based plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) carbon doped low-k material with annealing temperature from 400 to 800 degrees C in N2 was studied. The thermal stability temperature of TMCTS based carbon doped low-k material is 600 degrees C. Above 600 degrees C annealing, the thermal energy can break Si-CH3, Si-C, Si-H, and C-H bonds leading to outgasing, which results in film composition change, weight loss, and thickness shrinkage. Film composition changes, especially carbon loss and oxygen incorporation, can degrade its reliability extremely. Carbon is desorbed in the form of CH4, CO, and other hydrocarbon.

Carbon↗
PubMed2003

Oral administration of an edible-mushroom-derived protein inhibits the development of food-allergic reactions in mice.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is a common disease without effective treatment. Since strict elimination of food allergens may be difficult, strategies for effective intervention are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the prophylactic use of orally administrated FIP-fve, an immunomodulatory protein isolated from the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes, in a murine model of food allergy. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized twice intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA), at an interval of 2 weeks. Before and during each period of immunization, FIP-fve (200 microg per mouse) or phosphate-buffered saline was given orally every other day with a total of five doses. Then OVA-specific antibodies and cytokine profiles were determined. Subsequently, the mice were orally challenged with OVA. Symptoms of anaphylaxis, levels of plasma histamine, and histology of intestines were examined. RESULTS: Mice receiving oral FIP-fve treatment during sensitization to OVA had an impaired OVA-specific IgE response with a Th1-predominant cytokine profile. These mice were protected from systemic anaphylaxis-like symptoms induced by subsequent oral challenge with OVA. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of FIP-fve has a Th1-skewing effect on the development of the allergen-specific immune response, and may serve the purpose of immunoprophylaxis for food allergy and other allergic diseases.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Exogenous nitric oxide induces apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites via a calcium signal transduction pathway.

The mechanism by which nitric oxide (NO)-dependent cytotoxicity acts against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites is poorly understood. An NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was used to induce death in T. gondii tachyzoites in vitro as a model for investigating (i) whether NO is capable of inducing apoptosis-like death in tachyzoites and (ii) whether a calcium signal transduction pathway is involved. Exposure to 2 mM SNP resulted in a pattern of tachyzoite death that shares many features with metazoan apoptosis and it may involve a calcium signal transduction pathway. Motility and cell survival in these parasites showed a gradual decline with increasing levels of SNP. Features common to metazoan apoptosis are observed after exposure to 2 mM SNP. Ethylene glycol bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid (EGTA), Verapamil and bis-(o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetra-acetic acid/acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM) partially increased the cell survival concomitant with decreased [Ca2+]i in cells exposed to SNP. An NO scavenger (N-acetylcysteine), the analogue of SNP (devoid of NO), inhibited the rate of apoptosis after SNP treatment compared with SNP treatment without scavenger, but alone did not induce apoptosis. Taken together, the results indicate that SNP is capable of inducing apoptosis in T. gondii tachyzoites via a calcium signal transduction pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Effects of SCH23390 and raclopride on a run-climb-run behavioral task in rats.

The present study was designed to compare the putative differential behavioral consequences of treatment with SCH23390 (a selective dopamine D1 receptor blocker) and raclopride (a selective dopamine D2 receptor blocker) by employing a run-climb-run (RCR) behavioral task of different lengths. Rats were trained to traverse an uncovered floor alleyway (150 cm), climb a vertical rope (70 or 130 cm), and run across an upper board (100 cm) to access water for the reinforcement. At doses of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally 60 min before the behavioral session, both SCH23390 and raclopride significantly increased the total time to complete the tasks in a dose-related fashion. Microstructural analysis on the RCR behavioral performance revealed that the most apparent impairment induced by either drug was observed as the subject shifted motion from the end of the floor alleyway to the rope when hopping or to initiate climbing. However, the motion shift from climbing to running on the upper board was significantly impaired by raclopride, but not by SCH23390. Surprisingly, neither SCH23390 nor raclopride affected the climbing response itself. Running responses on the floor alleyway board were significantly disrupted by raclopride, whereas those on the upper board were significantly disrupted by SCH23390. Deficits induced by both drugs were more profound for the longer compared to the shorter rope, and were most notably shown at the transition area from running to climbing. These data indicate that both dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are involved in the RCR behavior performance. The results also suggest that the cost of motoric demand for behavioral performance is important for evaluating of the effects of drugs blocking dopamine receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Cloning, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of a shrimp white spot syndrome virus gene that encodes a protein kinase.

An open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 715-amino-acid polypeptide was found in an 8421-bp EcoRI fragment of the shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome. The polypeptide shows significant homology to eukaryotic serine/threonine protein kinase (PK) and contains the major conserved subdomains for eukaryotic protein kinases. Coupled in vitro transcription and translation generated a protein having an apparent molecular mass of about 87 kDa according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For transcriptional analysis of the pk gene, total RNA was isolated from WSSV-infected shrimp at different times after infection. Northern blot analysis with pk-specific riboprobe found a major and a minor transcript of 2.7 and 5.7 kb, respectively. Rapid amplification of the 5' cDNA ends of the major 2.7-kb pk transcript showed that there were two transcriptional initiation sites located at nucleotide residues -38(G) and -39(G) relative to the ATG translational start codon. Temporal expression analysis by RT-PCR indicated that the transcription of the pk gene started 2 h after infection and continued for at least 60 h. Phylogenetic analysis showed that WSSV protein kinase does not have any close relatives and does not fall into any of the major protein kinase groups.

3' Untranslated Regions↗
PubMed2001

Order parameter of MgB(2): a fully gapped superconductor.

We have measured the low-temperature specific heat C(T) for polycrystalline MgB(2) prepared by high pressure synthesis. C(T) below 10 K vanishes exponentially, which unambiguously indicates a fully opened superconducting energy gap. However, this gap is found to be too small to account for T(c) of MgB(2). Together with the small specific heat jump Delta C/gamma(n)T(c) = 1.09, scenarios such as anisotropic s-wave or multicomponent order parameter are called for. The magnetic field dependence of gamma(H) is neither linear for a fully gapped s-wave superconductor nor H(1/2) for nodal order parameter. It seems that this intriguing behavior of gamma(H) is associated with the intrinsic electronic properties other than flux pinning.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Carbohydrate specificity of a toxic lectin, abrin A, from the seeds of Abrus precatorius (jequirity bean).

To elucidate of the mechanism of intoxication, the affinity of a toxic lectin, abrin A, from the seeds of Abrus precatorius for mammalian carbohydrate ligands, was studied by enzyme linked lectinosorbent assay and by inhibition of abrin A-glycan interaction. From the results, it is concluded that: (1) abrin A reacted well with Gal beta1-->4GlcNAc (II), Gal alpha1-->4Gal (E), and Gal beta1-->3GalNAc (T) containing glycoproteins. But it reacted weakly with sialylated gps and human blood group A,B,H active glycoproteins (gps); (2) the combining site of abrin A lectin should be of a shallow groove type as this lectin is able to recognize from monosaccharides with specific configuration at C-3, C-4, and deoxy C-6 of the (D)Fuc pyranose ring to penta-saccharides and probably internal Gal alpha,beta-->; and (3) its binding affinity toward mammalian structural features can be ranked in decreasing order as follows: cluster forms of II, T, B/E (Gal alpha1-->3/4Gal) > monomeric T > monomeric II > monomeric B/E, Gal > GalNAc > monomeric I >> Man and Glc (inactive). These active glycotopes can be used to explain the possible structural requirements for abrin A toxin attachment.

Abrin↗
PubMed2001

Abrin triggers cell death by inactivating a thiol-specific antioxidant protein.

Abrin A-chain (ABRA) inhibits protein synthesis by its N-glycosidase activity as well as induces apoptosis, but the molecular mechanism of ABRA-induced cell death has been obscure. Using an ABRA mutant that lacks N-glycosidase activity as bait in a yeast two-hybrid system, a 30-kDa antioxidant protein-1 (AOP-1) was found to be an ABRA(E164Q)-interacting protein. The interaction was further confirmed in vitro by a glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay. The colocalization of endogenous AOP-1 and exogenous ABR proteins in the cell was demonstrated by confocal immunofluorescence. We also demonstrated that ABRA attenuates AOP-1 antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increases in ABR-treated cells. Moreover, ROS scavengers N-acetylcysteine and 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl delayed programmed cell death. This indicates that ROS are important mediators of ABR-induced apoptosis. When ectopically expressed, AOP-1 blocked the release of cytochrome c and prevented apoptosis in ABR-treated cells. These findings suggest that the binding of ABRA to AOP-1 promotes apoptosis by inhibiting the mitochondrial antioxidant protein AOP-1, resulting in the increase of intracellular ROS and the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol, which activates caspase-9 and caspase-3.

Abrin↗
PubMed2001

Incarcerated hernia in a 5-mm cannula wound.

Laparoscopic suturing and repairing of the fascial opening at 10- to 12-mm cannula puncture sites is well established; however, closing a 5-mm cannula wound is not well documented. We often leave the wound open without suture and cover it with gauze after removing the surgical drainage tube. An unusual early postoperative complication of laparoscopic surgery was an incarcerated hernia in a 5-mm cannula site. The 9-year-old girl underwent laparoscopic surgery due to an 8-cm ovarian mature teratoma. After 7 days, she came to our hospital because of a protruding mass in the left cannula wound. The mass was excised, and incarcerated fallopian tube torsion with necrotic change was diagnosed.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Experience of tumescent liposuction in the treatment of osmidrosis.

BACKGROUND: Tumescent liposuction is a safe procedure for removal of subcutaneous fat tissue. Because apocrine glands are located deep in the fat, surgical removal of these glands by nontumescent liposuction has been utilized for treating osmidrosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tumescent liposuction in the treatment of osmidrosis and to compare the efficacy of simple tumescent liposuction and combined tumescent liposuction and curettage. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with osmidrosis (all female, age 16-44 years) were included in this study. Ten patients were treated by simple tumescent liposuction, the other 10 patients were treated by tumescent liposuction combined with curettage. The aspirates were sent for pathologic examination. At a follow-up visit, the improvement of symptoms was graded by the patient as satisfied when the odor decreased> 75%, partially satisfied when it decreased >/=50% to </=75%, and dissatisfied when it decreased <50%. RESULTS: Among the 10 patients treated with simple tumescent liposuction, 10% were satisfied, 70% were partially satisfied, and 20% were dissatisfied. Eighty percent of patients treated with a combination of tumescent liposuction and curettage were satisfied, while 20% were partially satisfied. No major complications were noted following the procedure except mild ecchymosis and swelling. CONCLUSION: Tumescent liposuction is a simple and safe procedure in the treatment of osmidrosis. Tumescent liposuction combined with curettage is better than simple tumescent liposuction alone. The effect of tumescent liposuction combined with curettage in the treatment of osmidrosis is compatible with traditional surgery or neurosurgery but offers fewer complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons express functional nmda receptors in postnatal rats.

Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the Substantia Nigra zona compacta (SNc) may determine the degree of physiological apoptosis during the early postnatal period. However, the expression of these receptors during this stage of development is uncertain, as a recent study failed to detect responses to NMDA in unidentified SNc neurons isolated from 2-wk-old rats. Using conventional or perforated-patch whole cell recordings, we examined the presence of NMDA-evoked responses in SNc neurons acutely dissociated from P4 to P16 rats, applying strict criteria for identification of these neurons as nigrostriatal and dopaminergic. The SNc neurons were identified by retrograde labeling after striatal injection of Fluoro-Gold; the presence of I(h) current; and the inhibition of firing by dopamine (50 microM). NMDA (100 microM, V(hold) = -60 mV) evoked inward, APV-sensitive currents (56.4 +/- 8.6 pA) in all tested neurons (n = 29). Strong depolarizing responses were observed under current-clamp. These results indicate that NMDA receptors play a functional role in SNc neurons during the first two postnatal weeks.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗
PubMed2001

The in vitro inhibitory effect of tannin derivatives on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase on vero cells.

Coronary heart disease is still the major cause of death in industrialized countries. Multiple primary or secondary interventional trials to lower serum cholesterol in humans have resulted in significant reduction of coronary events and death, one of the major reasons attributed to developing a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor such as pravastatin. Developing new inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis is still common in the pharmaceutical industry. Tannin comprises a large group of natural polyphenolic compounds possessing antioxidant effects. The methods for analysis of specific inhibitors of mevalonate biosynthesis have already been well established by using Vero cells, a cell line obtained from kidneys of African green monkeys. Tannin derivatives isolated from different traditional Chinese herbs were dissolved in DMSO and incubated with Vero cells with or without the addition of 1 mmol/l mevalonate or 5 mmol/l sodium acetate for 24 h in order to observe cell growth. Pravastatin, a specific HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, was used as positive control which could inhibit Vero cells growth effectively and cell growth inhibition was reversible after adding 1 mmol/l mevalonate. More than 50 tannin derivatives were used for the study, but only two compounds - proanthrocyanidin A-2 (belonging to the flavan-3-ol group) and 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (belonging to the gallotannin group) - showed significant growth inhibition of Vero cells. This study showed that some isolated tannin derivatives from traditional herbs were effective HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors which might be developed into new hypocholesterolemic agents.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗
PubMed2001

Virulence and potential pathogenicity of coccoid Helicobacter pylori induced by antibiotics.

AIM: To explore the virulence and the potential pathogenicity of coccoid Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) transformed from spiral form by exposure to antibiotic. METHODS: Three strains of H. pylori, isolated from gastric biopsy specimens of confirmed peptic ulcer, were converted from spiral into coccoid from by exposure to metronidazole. Both spiral and coccoid form of H. pylori were tested for the urease activity, the adherence to Hep-2 cells and the vacuolating cytotoxicity to Hela cells, and the differences of the protein were analysed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The mutation of the genes including ureA, ureB,hpaA, vacA and cagA, related with virulence, was detected by means of PCR and PCR-SSCP. RESULTS: In the coccoid H. pylori,the urease activity, the adherence to Hep-2 cells and the vacuolating cytotoxicity to Hela cells all decreased. In strain F44, the rate and index of adherence reduced from 70.0% +/- 5.3% to 33% +/- 5.1% and from 2.6 +/- 0.4 to 0.96 +/- 0.3 (P < 0.01), respectively. The invasion of coccoid H. pylori into Hep-2 cell could be seen under electronmicroscope. SDS-PAGE showed that the content of the protein with the molecular weight over Mr 74000 decreased, and the hybriditional signal in band M(r) 125000 weakened, while the band M(r)110000 and M(r)63000 strengthened in coccoid H.pylori as shown in Western blot. The results of PCR were all positive, and PCR-SSCP indicated that there may exist the point mutation in gene hpaA or vacA. CONCLUSION: The virulence and the proteins with molecular weight over M(r)74000 in coccoid H.pylori decrease, but no deletion exists in amplification fragments from ureA, ureB, hpaA, vacA and cagA genes, suggesting that coccoid H.pylori may have potential pathogenicity.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed2001

Estrogen receptor expression in an endometrial stromal sarcoma after tamoxifen therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Several cases of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas in women with breast cancer have been reported to be associated with tamoxifen therapy. Estrogen receptor expression has been used to characterize the partial estrogenic action of tamoxifen on the endometrium and has been found in tamoxifen-associated endometrial pathologies. CASE: A low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma in a woman with a history of breast cancer treated with adjuvant tamoxifen is presented. Steroid receptor studies performed on the tumor were negative for estrogen and positive for progesterone. CONCLUSION: The absence of estrogen receptor expression suggests that endometrial stromal sarcomas are not necessarily caused by the estrogenic properties of tamoxifen.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Exogenous nitric oxide induces apoptosis in tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether NO is able to induce apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. METHODS: Apoptosis induced by NO in T. gondii tachyzoites was investigated by TUNEL (terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d-UTP nick end labeling) method, electron microscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), was found to induce apoptosis in Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in a time- and dose-dependent manner by TUNEL detection. N-acetylcysteine, a NO scavenger, could inhibit SNP-induced apoptosis in the tachyzoites while potassium ferricyanide could not induce apoptosis in the tachyzoite. Electron macroscopy showed that SNP-treated tachyzoites possessed typical morphological features of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation below the nuclear membrane, nuclear pyknosis, and formation of apoptotic body. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed that SNP-treated tachyzoite DNA fragment exhibited characteristic "DNA ladder" after 15 to 20 h. CONCLUSION: SNP, NO donor, might induce apoptosis in T. gondii tachyzoites in terms of characteristic morphological and biochemical features.

Acetylcysteine↗