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Biomedical subjects

M Lin

Publications and source records attributed to M Lin.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[The use of measuring serum soluble IL-2 receptor levels in cyclosporine-A treated lupus nephritis].

Twenty-one patients with Lupus Nephritis (LN) were treated with cyclosporine-A (CsA) for three months. Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptors (SIL-2R) were measured before and after treatment and correlated prospectively with serologic findings of LN activity. The patients had significantly higher IL-2R level before treatment (during LN flare) than after treatment (disease remission). A significant positive correlation was present between serum SIL-2R and proteinuria, and ANA as well, whereas the SIL-2R levels in LN patients were inversely correlated with serum levels of C3 and CH50. These observations suggest that serum SIL-2R level is an useful marker of disease activity in LN and may serve as a helpful adjunct in the management of this disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[A study on behavioural characteristics of staying on the mountain and its relationship with malaria infection in Li and Miao minorities in Hainan Province].

A study of sociology combined with epidemiology was conducted in Li Minority's two villages and Miao Minority's two villages nearby the foot of mountain in a historically malaria hyperendemic area, Nanqiao Township of Wanning County in August, 1993. The results showed that malaria infection was closely correlated to the behaviour of staying overnight on the mountain of Li and Miao Minorities during farming seasons. Most of Li people stayed overnight on the mountain for planting areca were adults, accounting for 21.6% of the whole population, the duration of stay was about half a year; Miao people stayed overnight on the mountain planting and harvesting upland rice, always with their family member, so the percentage of people who had stayed on the mountain was as high as 82.1%, the duration of stay was about one and half a month. Blood smear examination showed that the malaria parasite rates in both Li and Miao villages were 11.1% and 24.1%, respectively, the positive rate of P. falciparum was 1.0% and 9.1%, respectively, the positive rate of IFA (titer >or= 1 : 40) was 31.2% and 46.5%, respectively. It is indicated that both the rate of parasitaemia and the P. falciparum infection were much higher in Miao Minority than those in Li Minority (P < 0.001). A cohort analysis showed that the malaria parasite rate of population who having not stayed, having ever stayed and being stayed on the mountain was 6.5%, 27.4% and 42.1%, respectively, of them the rate of P. falciparum infection was 0.5%, 8.8% and 18.4%, respectively. The results suggest that malaria acquired from mountainous forest referring to "up-mountain infection" is a major source of malaria infection and a significant risk factor in determining the prevalence of malaria (especially falciparum malaria) in Hainan Province. This behavioural risk factor has become the main obstacle for malaria control in Hainan Province. Therefore, controlling "up-mountain infection" and adopting appropriate anti-malaria measures to protect the risk population who have to work and stay on the mountain should be strengthened in the malaria control program.

China↗
PubMed1995

Effect of age on left ventricular geometric patterns in hypertensive patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of age on left ventricular structure and geometry in hypertensive patients, we studied the relationship between age and echocardiographic variables in patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We divided 168 patients with hypertension into three groups according to age: young (<40 years), middle-aged (40-59 years) and an elderly group (> or = 60 years). They were further categorized according to relative wall thickness and the left ventricular mass index. We then evaluated the prevalence of left ventricular geometric patterns in these patients according to age. RESULTS: The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension decreased with age, both in normotensive control subjects and in hypertensive patients. The magnitude of this decrease was similar for both. The relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index were greater in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive control subjects, and these increased with age both in the controls and the hypertensives. The differences between normotensives and hypertensives in these variables remained unchanged with age. The prevalence of a normal left ventricle (normal relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index) in the hypertensive patients decreased with age. Conversely, the prevalence of concentric remodeling (increased relative wall thickness with normal left ventricular mass index) and concentric hypertrophy (increased relative wall thickness and left ventricular mass index) increased with age. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that age significantly affects left ventricular structure both in normotensive control subjects and in hypertensive patients. Thus, the differences in left ventricular geometric patterns with age may have important implications in assessing left ventricular structure and geometric patterns in hypertensive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Enhanced separation and detection of serum bilirubin species by capillary electrophoresis using a mixed anionic surfactant-protein buffer system with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

The four major bilirubin species in serum are separated by capillary electrophoresis and detected using laser-induced fluorescence detection. The optimum buffer system consists of 40 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-0.012 mM bovine serum albumin (BSA). The use of the SDS-BSA mixture in the mobile phase allows for the separation of four major bilirubin species at physiological pH with untreated capillaries. The results show that the use of BSA as a run buffer modifier in SDS solution improves separation efficiency and increases sample solubility via pH changes of the run buffer. The limits of detection for the bilirubin species using laser-induced fluorescence are between 30 and 150 nM, depending on the bilirubin species; not only is this approximately two orders of magnitude lower than with visible-light absorption methods, it allows the bilirubin species in normal sera to be quantitatively measured without sample pretreatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Antibody-antigen binding constants determined in solution-phase with the threshold membrane-capture system: binding constants for anti-fluorescein, anti-saxitoxin, and anti-ricin antibodies.

Affinities of various monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies for fluorescein-containing antigens, saxitoxin and ricin, were determined by using a light addressable potentiometric sensor-based system (Threshold). The dissociation constants, determined from Scatchard plots, ranged from 2 x 10(-7) to approximately 3 x 10(-12) M. Dissociation constants for fluorescein and saxitoxin were compared with values determined by independent means. This technique was found to be quick, simple, reproducible, and accurate.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1994

High-grade stereo acuity after early surgery for congenital esotropia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of very early surgery for establishing straight eyes and sensory fusion in patients with congenital esotropia. DESIGN: A review of consecutive patients with congenital esotropia who underwent surgery between 13 and 19 weeks of age. SETTING: A children's hospital with a teaching affiliation. PATIENTS: Seven patients who had surgery between 13 and 19 weeks of age. INTERVENTION: A bilateral medial rectus recession through a fornix incision with recessions ranging from 5.75 to 6.5 mm in infants younger than 6 months of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensory fusion as measured by stereo acuity and Worth four-dot testing and motor alignment within 8 prism diopters. RESULTS: Five of the seven patients achieved essentially straight eyes with tropias of less than 8 prism diopters after one horizontal surgery. Five patients cooperated with sensory testing, and all showed stereo acuities that ranged from 400 to 40 seconds of arc. Three children had evidence of high-grade stereo acuity by showing stereopsis on random dot stereograms (Randot, Stereo Optical Co, Chicago, Ill) and by fusing the Worth four-dot test at distance and near range. Two of the patients with high-grade stereo acuity achieved a stereo acuity of 40 seconds of arc by Titmus testing; however, one had a late reduction of stereo acuity to 70 seconds of arc. CONCLUSION: Very early surgery can result in excellent motor alignment and high-grade stereo acuity in some patients with congenital esotropia.

Depth Perception↗
PubMed1994

Imaging myelinated nerve fibres by confocal fluorescence microscopy: individual fibres in whole nerve trunks traced through multiple consecutive internodes.

Current methods of morphological analysis do not permit detailed imaging of individual myelinated fibres over substantial lengths without disruption of neighbouring, potentially significant, cellular and extracellular relationships. We report a new method which overcomes this limitation by combining aldehyde-induced fluorescence with confocal microscopy. Myelin fluorescence was intense relative to that from other tissue components, enabling individual myelinated nerve fibres to be traced for distances of many millimeters in whole PNS nerve trunks. Image obtained with a Bio-Rad MRC-600 confocal laser scanning microscope clearly displayed features of PNS and CNS myelinated fibres including nodes of Ranvier; fibre diameter; sheath thickness and contour; branch points at nodes; as well as (in the PNS) Schmidt-Lanterman incisures and the position of Schwann cell nuclei. Direct comparisons using the same specimens (whole nerve trunks; also teased fibres) showed confocal imaging to be markedly superior to conventional fluorescence microscopy in terms of contrast, apparent resolution and resistance to photobleaching. Development of the fluorophore was examined systemically in sciatic nerves of young adult rats. In separate experiments, animals were perfused systemically using (1) 5% glutaraldehyde; (2) Karnovsky's solution; (3) 4% paraformaldehyde; buffered with either 0.1 M sodium phosphate or sodium cacodylate (pH 7.4). The concentration of glutaraldehyde in the fixative solution was the principal determinant of fluorescence intensity. Confocal imaging was achieved immediately following perfusion with 5% glutaraldehyde or Karnovsky's. Fluorescence intensity increased markedly during overnight storage in these fixatives and continued to increase during subsequent storage in buffer alone. The fluorophore was stable and resistant to fading during storage (15 months at least), enabling data collection over extended periods. To demonstrate application of the method in neuropathology, individual fibres in transected sciatic nerve trunks were traced through multiple successive internodes: Classical features of Wallerian degeneration (axonal swelling and debris; ovoid formation and incisure changes; variation among fibres in the extent of degeneration) were displayed. The method is compatible with subsequent ultrastructural examination and will complement existing methods of investigation of myelinated fibre anatomy and pathology, particularly where preservation of 3-dimensional relationships or elucidation of spatial gradients are required.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Vasodilator therapy in chronic asymptomatic aortic regurgitation: enalapril versus hydralazine therapy.

OBJECTIVES: This study attempted to evaluate the long-term efficacy of enalapril versus hydralazine therapy on left ventricular volume, mass and function as well as on the renin-angiotensin system in chronic asymptomatic aortic regurgitation. BACKGROUND: We tested the hypothesis that early administration of a vasodilator drug might be able to reduce left ventricular dilation and mass expansion. Because the renin-angiotensin system may be activated in chronic aortic regurgitation, early enalapril therapy might be beneficial. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1993, 76 asymptomatic nonrheumatic patients with mild to severe chronic aortic regurgitation were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind trial comparing enalapril with hydralazine. All patients underwent serial noninvasive studies. Seventy patients completed the 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: At 1 year, patients receiving enalapril had a significant reduction in left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indexes (124 +/- 15 vs. 108 +/- 17 ml/m2, p < 0.01; 50 +/- 12 vs. 40 +/- 14 ml/m2, p < 0.01, respectively) and mass index (131 +/- 16 vs. 113 +/- 19 g/m2, p < 0.01), whereas hydralazine therapy showed no significant changes. Both regimens not only had a significant reduction in left ventricular mean wall stress but also had a mild increase in exercise duration. Only enalapril therapy achieved a significant inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system, in contrast to hydralazine therapy. Moreover, the multiple r2 value from the analysis for end-diastolic volume index using the two variables of age and treatment drugs was 72.1% (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both regimens decrease left ventricular mean wall stress. Enalapril therapy achieves significant left ventricular mass regression, left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume index reduction and renin-angiotensin system suppression. These findings suggest that early unloading enalapril therapy has the potential to favorably influence the natural history of chronic aortic regurgitation.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

The incidence and significance of anti-"Mia" in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of the Mill phenotype among Chinese blood donors in Taiwan is 7.3 percent. Anti-"Mia" is the most frequently occurring alloantibody of potential clinical significance encountered among Chinese patients in Taiwan, with a frequency of 0.28 percent. CASE REPORTS: A case of hemolytic disease of the newborn and a transfusion reaction due to anti-"Mia" are described. CONCLUSION: It may be important to include the Mill phenotype in the antibody screening of sera from Chinese patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Glucose intolerance exaggerates left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction in essential hypertension.

The influence of glucose intolerance, the preclinical stage of diabetes mellitus, on the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular dysfunction in essential hypertension, was assessed with two-dimensional M-mode echocardiography in age- and sex-matched essential hypertensive patients with (n = 28) or without (n = 44) glucose intolerance, and normotensive control subjects (n = 29). Left ventricular mass index in hypertensive patients with glucose intolerance was significantly higher than that in hypertensive patients without glucose intolerance (mean +/- SD, 115.6 +/- 28.2 v 102.1 +/- 22.1 g/m2; P < .05). Left ventricular diastolic function as reflected by peak lengthening rate was reduced in glucose-intolerant hypertensive patients than in hypertensive patients without glucose intolerance (2.68 +/- 0.71 v 3.16 +/- 0.82/sec; P < .05). End-systolic wall stress/left ventricular end-systolic volume index, an index of left ventricular contractility, was reduced more in glucose-intolerant hypertensive patients than in hypertensive patients without glucose intolerance (2.75 +/- 0.55 v 3.13 +/- 0.55 10(3) dyn.m2/cm2.mL-1; P < .01). These findings suggest that glucose intolerance accelerates progression of left ventricular hypertrophy and deteriorates left ventricular diastolic function and contractility in essential hypertension.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1994

Postnatal development of red cell Le(a) and Le(b) antigens in Chinese infants.

Lewis phenotyping of 487 blood samples from Chinese newborn infants and young children, revealed that 50% of cord cells were Le(a-b+) and 50% Le(a-b-). The weak Leb antigen of Le(a-b+) cord cells is most likely produced by the newborn infant rather than of maternal origin and it appears that these infants eventually develop by way of an intermediate Le(a+b+) stage into the adult Le(a-b+) phenotype. Most infants with Le(a-b-) cord cells, but not all, appear to develop through a transitional Le(a+b-) stage, into Le (a+b+) by about 1 month of age, most likely continuing as such into adulthood. This development of Le(a-b-) cord cells into the adult Le(a+b+) phenotype is postulated to be the result of the weak secretor gene Se omega. Those infants with Le(a-b-) cord cells that do not convert to Le(a+b+) during the first month of life, most likely remain as such into adulthood. The blood of 120 adult voluntary blood donors, used as controls, reconfirmed adult Chinese phenotypic frequencies of approximately 70% Le(a-b+), 22% Le(a+b+) and 8% Le(a-b-).

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Transfusion-associated respiratory distress in Taiwan.

Transfusion-associated respiratory distress occurred more often in the past in Taiwan but recently only very rarely. From the results of our studies it would appear that the former cases did not represent immune reactions involving red blood cells, serum proteins (especially IgA), HLA or granulocyte-specific antigens. Other causes, such as improper handling of the blood units may have been involved, but further study is also needed to investigate the possibility of the role of cytokine release from leukocytes or other factors. In addition, it appears that both plasma and serum obtained by recalcification of plasma may cause false-positive reactions in the granulocyte microagglutination test.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Modification of standard Western pretransfusion testing procedures for Taiwan.

Due to significant differences in blood group antigen and antibody frequencies between Taiwanese and Caucasians, standard Western pretransfusion testing procedures have been modified for use in Taiwan. Pretransfusion testing consists simply of ABO grouping and antibody screening/major cross-matching using the manual Polybrene method without any antiglobulin phase. The manual Polybrene method is preformed using regents prepared in house and is rapid (about 3 min), inexpensive and easy to perform. Rh(D) typing of patients is unnecessary as the frequency of D in Taiwanes is 99.67% and the occurrence of anti-D in patients (or in haemolytic disease of the newborn) is uncommon. Great reductions in both cost and labour have resulted from these modifications, and it is suggested that other countries may consider similar modifications.

ABO Blood-Group System↗