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Biomedical subjects

M S Yang

Publications and source records attributed to M S Yang.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Regulation of chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymes by protein kinase C alpha.

Chondrogenesis of chick limb bud mesenchymes requires the expression and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). This study was performed to identify PKC isoform(s) involved in the regulation chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymes. Multiple PKC isoforms including alpha, epsilon, zeta and lambda/iota were expressed in mesenchymes derived from chick limb buds. Among the expressed PKC isoforms, the levels of PKC alpha and epsilon were increased during chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymes. The increase in the expression of these isoforms is more evident in the particulate membrane fraction compared with the cytosolic fraction. Chondrogenesis was blocked by either selective inhibition or down-regulation of PKC alpha. In addition, the degree of chondrogenesis was closely correlated with the expression levels of PKC alpha but not other PKC isoforms expressed in mesenchymes. Thus, the results indicate that only PKC alpha is required for the induction of chondrogenic differentiation

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Structural analogues of cumambrin B from the flower of Chrysanthemum boreale.

The structural analogues of cumambrin B (1, 2, 3, 4) were isolated from the flower of Chrysanthemum boreale Makino. The structures of compounds were determined by two-dimensional 1H-1H COSY and 13C-1H COSY spectra with the aid of homonuclear and heteronuclear double resonance experiment. The stereochemistry of compounds has been verified from single crystal X-ray diffraction of cumambrin A (2). The antimicrobial activities of these guaianolides have been studied.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence and related risk factors of licit and illicit substances use by adolescent students in southern Taiwan.

Deleterious health sequelae caused by licit and illicit substance use is a serious problem in our society. Adolescent students and particularly those who are prone to substance use are of special concern in the prevention of drug abuse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking and illicit drug use and to identify the risk factors related to these habits among adolescent students. A total of 1358 adolescent students aged 16-18 y old were recruited into this study via stratified random sampling from a vocational school in Kaohsiung city. Students were asked to complete a structured questionnaire anonymously and a 96.7% response rate was achieved. Prevalence of substances use was estimated as follows: alcohol drinking, 70.7% (boys 75.1%, girls 51.4%); tobacco smoking, 56% (boys 61.8%, girls 30.2%); illicit drug use 6.4% (boys 6.6%, girls 5.6%). Significant risk factors that emerged as common correlates with substances use were behaviour problems, non-negative attitude toward parent's substance use, and peer influence. A dose-response relationship was found between the prevalence of drinking, smoking, illicit drug use and the number of risk factors adolescents were exposed to. Prevention of adolescent substance abuse should be attempted and risk factors should be reduced. An educational approach is essential not only to gain/impart knowledge of substance abuse, but also to develop an effective program for health and social development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Acute stress causes skin ulceration in striped bass and hybrid bass (Morone).

Exposure of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and hybrid bass (M. saxatilis female x Morone chrysops male) to an acute (2-hour) confinement stress caused skin ulceration on the fins but not on the body of all confined fish. Striped bass displayed more severe lesions than did hybrid bass. Histologically, lesions had varying degrees of epithelial erosion and ulceration, which was most severe at the distal portion of the fins. Ulceration was associated with dermal and hypodermal edema and necrosis of the remaining stromal tissue and tips of bone in the fin rays. No hemorrhage or thrombosis was present to suggest any obvious vascular derangement. No evidence was found for either trauma or an infectious agent initiating the lesions. Injecting fish with epinephrine caused a similar response, although the degree of ulceration was less severe. These findings may explain why many opportunistic skin pathogens can rapidly develop into serious infections in fish.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Establishment of a transgenic tobacco cell suspension culture system for producing murine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor.

We tested if murine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) is produced as a biologically active form through plant cell culture. The mGM-CSF gene was cloned into the plant expression vector, pBI121, and Ti-plasmid mediated transformation of tobacco leaves was conducted using Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring the recombinant mGM-CSF (rmGM-CSF) gene. Cell suspension culture was established from the leaf-derived calli of transgenic tobacco plants. Northern blot analysis indicated the expression of the introduced mGM-CSF gene in both transgenic plant and cell suspension cultures. In addition, the biological activity of rmGM-CSF from plant cell culture was confirmed by measuring the proliferation of GM-CSF dependent FDC-P1 cells.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens↗
PubMed1997

Genomic fluidity of Bordetella pertussis assessed by a new method for chromosomal mapping.

The genomic organization of Bordetella pertussis strains has been examined by using a new method. This method does not depend on the prior determination of a restriction map of the bacterial chromosome but is based on the ability to measure directly the distance between two genes. This is accomplished through the integration at each gene of a suicide vector containing a cleavage site for the intron-encoded endonuclease I-SceI, which is not otherwise found in the chromosome. Integration is mediated by homologous recombination between the chromosomal and cloned plasmid copies of a gene of interest. Digestion with I-SceI gives rise to a fragment the size of which represents the distance between the two genes. Multiple pairwise determinations within a set of genes provide sufficient information to derive a map of the relative gene positions. Mapping a set of 11 to 13 genes for five strains of B. pertussis and one strain of B. parapertussis revealed extensive divergence of gene order between B. pertussis Tohama I, B. pertussis 18-323, and B. parapertussis ATCC 15311. Less extensive divergence of gene order was observed between B. pertussis Tohama I and B. pertussis Tohama III, BP165, and Wellcome 28, with most of the observed differences explainable by large inversions.

Bordetella↗
PubMed1997

[Job strain, social support and mental health: a study on the male heavy manufacturing workers].

OBJECT: The aim of this study is to explore the influence of work experience on workers' psychological function. Specifically, the researchers will examine the effect of job demand, decision latitude, job strain, and social support at worksite on the mental health status of male heavy manufacturing workers. METHOD: By purposive sampling, from October 1994 to March 1995, the present investigators implemented a self-administered questionnaire survey on the workers in southern Taiwan. The Karasek job strain model and its measure were embedded in the questionnaire to evaluate workers' perceptions of their job conditions. In addition, Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ) was utilized to evaluate the workers' status of mental health. RESULT: Totally, 1,117 workers were selected for this survey. An unviriate analysis showed the younger the workers, the lower their monthly income, and the newer their employment, were more likely to be classified as high risk in mental health status. The workers with more decision latitude and higher social support would be better in mental health status. In addition, it also showed that workers under high job strain were more likely to be in poor mental health status. Result from multivariate logistic regression showed those who served longer, had more decision automony, and had higher social support, were less likely to be in poor mental health status. Instead, those who sustained high job strain were more likely to be in poor mental health status. DISCUSSION: The implication from those findings for the implementation of health promotion program. would be raised, and the limitation of this inference would also be discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[The comparative study of the quality of life for outpatient care versus community rehabilitation program schizophrenic patients].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of demographic variables, illness factors and symptom factors on the quality of life in schizophrenic patients. Data were collected by personal interview and self-report questionnaire druing the month from February to March in 1995. A total of 155 schizophrenic patients purposefully selected from a psychiatric teaching hospital in Kaohsiung participated in the study. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The quality of life was assessed in terms the following five parameters: activity, family support, psychological well-being, physical well-being, and economic function. In addition, the work status, subjective deficits symptoms and type of treatment program were uses as predictors of the total quality of life. These parameters shared 38% of their variance in stepwise multiple regression analysis. The findings indicated that schizophrenic patients who had participated in a rehabilitation program could maintain a well quality of life than in outpatient care only.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence and related risk factors of betel quid chewing by adolescent students in southern Taiwan.

The prevalence and related risk factors of betel quid chewing among adolescent students were studied in a junior high school (group 1) and in a vocational school (group 2) in southern Taiwan. Group 1 consisted of 3548 participants (89.7% response rate) and group 2 of 1358 (97.6% response rate). The students were asked to complete a questionnaire anonymously. In the junior high school 1.9% of students including all grades (13-15 years old) and both sexes was found to be a current betel quid chewer and 14% was an ex-chewer, whereas 10.2% of vocational school students (16-18 years old) was a current chewer and 31% was an ex-chewer. The prevalence of betel chewing was significantly higher among boys than girls. A high proportion of chewers was also a smoker and alcohol drinker. A statistical analysis of sociodemographic factors showed that male students who smoked tobacco, consumed alcohol and were friends or classmates of students who were betel quid chewers, were the likeliest adolescents to chew betel quid.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Prevalences and related factors of substances use in female aborigines in southern Taiwan.

Alcohol use and betel quid chewing are common in aborigines in Taiwan. The aims of this study were to evaluate the patterns of drinking, smoking, betel quid chewing and to assess the related factors of the above substance use among female aborigines. Three hundred female Bunun aborigines aged between 17 and 50 years were recruited into this study via a stratified-random sampling. Subjects were interviewed at their homes by trained interviewers using a structured questionnaire. Prevalences of various substances use were estimated as follows: alcohol, 67.7%; betel quid chewing, 36.4%; smoking, 11.6%; and over-the-counter drugs, 8%. Related factors of substances use were analyzed by multiple logistic regression as follows. Alcohol use was significantly related to low educational level, where the spouse was a drinker and there was an attitude in favor of female drinking. Significant factors related to smoking were folk religion and where the spouse was a smoker. Significant factors related to betel chewing were low educational level, and where the spouse was a betel chewer, and poor knowledge about the adverse health effects of betel chewing. We also found women who consumed alcohol and chewed betel quid were significantly to show more external health locus control. About 80% of women recognized the adverse effects of alcohol consumption and smoking to pregnancy outcomes. Although they knew the harmful effects of substance use, only half of them stopped using these substances during their pregnancy. Health education on the harmful effects of alcohol, betel quid, and cigarettes, especially during pregnancy is essential in primary care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Job strain and drinking behavior].

The aim of this survey study was to explore the influence of work on individual's drinking behavior. From October 1994 to March 1995, the present researchers implemented a self-administered questionnaire survey on workers in the manufacturing sector in Metropolitan Kaohsiung area, southern Taiwan. Of the 1,117 subjects selected, 668 (61.8%) stated that they had had one or more drinks during the preceding month. The average daily consumption of alcohol was 0.2 +/- 0.9 drinks (with a range of 0 to 12 drinks and a median of 0.02 drinks). In addition, 188 (28.8%) of the subjects reported having experienced drinking-related problems during the preceding month, and 35 respondents (5.2%) gave escape from job stress as the reason for their drinking in the preceding month. The result of multivariate analyses showed that workers who reported less autonomy in their job were more likely to experience drinking-related problems (odds ratio [OR] = 1.3) and to drinking for psychological relief (OR = 1.2); that workers who reported more demanding job conditions were more likely to drink for escape (OR = 2.5) but had lower levels of drinking (t = -2.5, p = 0.01); and that workers who reported high levels of job strain were more likely to experience drinking-related problems and to drink for relief but had lower levels of drinking. The details and implications of this result will be discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Induction of metallothionein in the Reuber H-35 rat hepatoma cell.

The feasibility of using the Reuber H-35 rat hepatoma cell (RH-35 cells) as model for studying metallothionein induction was examined. The RH-35 cells were treated with Cd, a toxic metal which is known to induce metallothionein. The LC50 after a 3-h treatment was 70 microM. The value was significantly higher (P < 0.05) if the cells were pre-treated with a sublethal dose of CdCl2 (5 microM) for 2 days, indicating that pre-treatment with a low dose of Cd can protect against a subsequent higher dose of the same metal. Both the mRNA and the gene product metallothionein can be identified in the cells 2 days after treatment with 5 microM Cd. In addition to Cd, Zn and Cu were also able to induce the expression of metallothionein to various degrees. The results indicate that the MT gene is present in RH-35 cells and is responsive to treatment with various metals. Thus, this cell line can be used as a model to study metallothionein induction.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Analysis of plasma fibrinolysis in the patients with acute cerebral infarction.

In the present study, the plasma fibrinolytic activity in 30 cases of cortical artery territory cerebral infarction (CACI) and 32 cases of perforating artery territory cerebral infarction (PACI) within 3 days after ictus, and 30 sex- and age-matched controls without cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were evaluated by a comprehensive panel of assay, including the plasma tPA activity, PAI activity, endothelial capacity of tPA release and PAI/tPA ratio. The results showed that the plasma fibrinolysis and the endothelial potential to release tPA responding to stimulation in both subtypes of the patients were significantly lower than those in the controls, which provide the theoretical basis for carrying out the thrombolytic therapy in the ischemic stroke. And the study also suggested that increased plasma PAI activity could increase the risk of AS thrombotic events with increased serum triglyceride level.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

Uptake, depuration and subcellular distribution of cadmium in various tissues of Perna viridis.

Green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis) were collected from a local mariculture site and placed in pre-cleaned sea water tanks containing 0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.3 micrograms/ml CdCl2. The level of Cd in the gill, viscera and gonad was measured. The concentration of Cd in the 3 tissues increased linearly over 4 days' of exposure. The rate of uptake depends on the concentration of Cd in the water. In the 3 tissues studied, the maximum rate of uptake (Vmax) was highest in the gill (500 micrograms/g dry weight/day), followed by viscera (100 micrograms/g dry weight/day) and gonad (56.8 micrograms/g dry weight/day). The majority of the Cd taken up was bound to a fraction of the heat-stable proteins similar to metallothioneins. The rate of Cd depuration from the tissues was poor. There was no change in Cd concentration over 8 days' depuration in clean water.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

[Risk factors related to alcohol use among adolescents of fathers with alcoholism].

The purposes of this study were: 1) to investigate the risk factors related to alcohol use among adolescents of fathers with alcoholism. 2) to compare their drinking behaviors with the adolescents whose fathers were non-alcoholics. Sixty-one adolescents, including 29 males and 32 females, aged from 12 to 22 whose fathers were alcoholics formed the case group. 122 age and sex matched adolescents in a ratio of 1:2 whose fathers were non-alcoholics were recruited as the comparison group (normal/control). Data were collected by interview during home visits or by mailing questionnaires to patients. The prevalence rates of drinking, smoking and betel-nut chewing among the adolescents of fathers with alcoholism were 67.2%, 19.7%, 18%. There was no significant difference in drinking behavior between the two groups. Beer was the most popular drink in adolescents' drinking habits. The most popular motivation of drinking was the peer pressure by friends. The significant risk factors of alcohol use among the adolescents included male poor mental health status adolescents with behavioral problems and alcohol use amongst classmates or friends.

Adolescent↗