Biomedical subjects

T Y Tai

Publications and source records attributed to T Y Tai.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Lack of binding effect of insulin on RNA synthesis to isolated nuclei.

Insulin stimulates RNA synthesis in the human hepatoma cell line J5. The mechanisms of insulin action on nuclear functions are not fully understood. To assess the possible action of nuclear insulin binding on RNA synthesis, we studied the insulin action by an in vitro transcription system using the nuclei isolated from control cells and insulin-stimulated J5 cells. Insulin binding was done by ligand binding assay. RNA synthesis was also studied in the nuclei treated with insulin in vitro. We found that a large pool of low-affinity binding sites existed in the isolated nuclei preparation without site-to-site interactions. These data suggest that the majority of nuclear insulin binding sites are located inside the nuclear envelope. Nuclear RNA synthesis was stimulated by the insulin (about a 4-fold increase when compared to the control) added to intact cells but not to isolated nuclei. We conclude that insulin stimulates nuclear RNA synthesis via interaction with plasma membrane receptors.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1991

Effect of treatment of borderline hypertension on microalbuminuria in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The advantage of treatment for borderline hypertension has been a debate. We studied two of the commonly used antihypertensive drugs, i.e., trichlormethiazide (Fluitran 2 mg/tab) and enalapril (Renitec 5 mg/tab) on urinary albumin excretion in seven NIDDM subjects with borderline hypertension, who had never been treated with antihypertensive drugs before entry into this study. The observation period was 2 months, and the treatment period was 6 months. Trichlormethiazide (1 tab qd) or enalapril (1 tab qd) were randomly assigned for the first 3 months and then patients were switched to the other drug for the following 3 months. During the treatment period, blood pressure, body weight, blood chemistry including renal function tests, and urinary albumin excretion rate were regularly followed up every 1 to 3 months. The results showed that both of the regimens significantly lowered blood pressure and the urinary albumin excretion rate [12.72 (2.56-25.95) micrograms/min at baseline, to 5.11 (3.0-13.73) micrograms/min during trichlormethiazide treatment and 4.96 (1.38-11.14) micrograms/min during enalapril treatment, p less than 0.008]. However, no significant difference was noted between the two drugs. The magnitude of change in the urinary albumin excretion rate did not correlate with the changes in blood pressure. Renal function, glycemic control, and lipid profiles did not change significantly during the treatment period. In conclusion, both trichlormethiazide and enalapril are effective in lowering the urinary albumin excretion rate in NIDDM subjects with borderline hypertension.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients.

In 1978, an epidemiological survey for adult diabetes was conducted in Taipei City. A total of 219 Chinese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients were discovered and 217 of them were examined for retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. Among the 110 men and 107 women studied, 63.1% were free of complications and the prevalences for retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy were 24.0%, 12.9% and 23.5%, respectively. The clinical and biochemical data of the patients were compared. For those with and those without complications, the diabetic duration (8.2 +/- 6.7 vs 4.1 +/- 2.7, years), percentage of insulin treatment (8.8% +/- 0.7%), percentage of hypertension (42.5% vs 26.3%), and the fasting plasma glucose (182.8 +/- 63.6 vs 135.0 +/- 44.6, mg/dl) were significantly different. Diabetic duration and glycemic control consistently correlated with retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. Hypertension and insulin treatment were also associated positively with the complications. The more complications the diabetic patients had, the poorer the glycemic control, the longer the diabetic duration, a higher percentage of insulin treatment and hypertension were found.

Blood Glucose↗

PubMed1991

Bioelectrical impedance analysis of nutritional status in uremic patients on regular hemodialysis.

The body composition of uremic patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) therapy was studied using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technique. The accuracy of BIA in estimating fluid loss during HD was also studied. Thirty-five uremic patients (28 men and 7 women), regularly treated by hemodialysis (HD), were enrolled. The uremic patients had lower serum albumin levels and a marginally lower arm muscle circumference (AMC; p = 0.06) than 107 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects (86 men and 21 women). Before HD, the uremic patients presented with a similar percentage of body fat (BF), fat-free mass (FFM) and total body water (TBW) as normal controls, but they possessed a lower percentage of TBW and FFM, and a higher percentage of BF after HD. When BIA was applied to estimate the fluid loss during HD, overestimation usually occurred. A good correlation between the body fluid loss estimated by the BIA method (BIAL) and that estimated by the body weighing method (BWL) was noted. An equation of BWL = 0.452 BIAL + 0.844 (n = 35, R = 0.85, SEE = 0.58, p less than 0.0001) was derived following linear regression analysis. The weight of BF estimated by BIA before and after HD demonstrated a good correlation (n = 35, R = 0.98, p less than 0.0001). In conclusion, uremic patients on regular HD therapy seem to have decreased serum albumin levels and decreased AMC in anthropometry. After HD, they possess a lower percentage of FFM and TBW than normal controls. The results suggest that accelerated protein catabolism is a common problem in uremic patients on regular HD therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Microalbuminuria and diabetic complications in Chinese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients: a prospective study.

Urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) was monitored for periods of up to 3 years and 8 months with an ELISA method in 63 non-insulin-dependent diabetic Chinese subjects and was compared with 50 normal subjects. AER was 3.15 +/- 0.25 micrograms/min (M +/- SE) with a range of 0.27-8.40 micrograms/min for the normal subjects and 7.11 +/- 0.50 (2.11-19.45) micrograms/min for the diabetic subjects. The latter had significantly higher AER (P less than 0.0005). Age, sex, duration of diabetes, HbA1c and BMI did not correlate with AER in the diabetics. The presence of hypertension was found to be accompanied by an accelerated elevation of AER (5.96 +/- 1.58 vs 10.16 +/- 2.17 micrograms/min, at the beginning and at the end of the observation, respectively). Once hypertension became evident, control of blood pressure to a level comparable to that of the non-hypertensive group was not sufficient to halt the deterioration of urinary albumin excretion.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1990

Risk factors for gallstones among Chinese in Taiwan. A community sonographic survey.

A health survey of adults aged 30 years or more was carried out in southwest Taiwan to determine the prevalence of gallstones and to study risk factors associated with gallstones. Blood samples were collected and abdominal sonographic examination and anthropometric measurements were performed on a total of 923 people. The 40 gallstone cases detected resulted in a prevalence of 4.3%. The risk factors explored included age, sex, hepatitis, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Age and DM were the only significant factors associated with gallstones in our study. With a reference group of 30-39-year-olds as a comparison, multiple logistic regression analysis showed a trend effect with odds ratios of 1.73, 3.74, and 6.32 for age groups of 40-49, 50-59, and 60 or above, respectively. The odds ratio for DM was as high as 2.59. However, sex, body weight index, chronic hepatitis B, and hyperlipidemia were not significantly associated with gallstones.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

A comparison of newly and previously diagnosed diabetics in Taiwan.

Between 1985 and 1986, during a population survey of diabetes in 1 urban and 5 rural areas of Taiwan, a total of 11,478 adults aged 40 or older were screened. Capillary whole blood glucose was determined with a glucometer (Ames Co.) The diabetic criteria followed the WHO designations. From this survey, a comparison of 225 newly diagnosed and 383 previously diagnosed diabetics was conducted. Multiple regression analysis revealed a highly significant correlation for all diabetics with regard to age, body mass index, family history and hypertension, but no specific correlation to habitat. Mean fasting glucose levels in previously and newly diagnosed diabetics were 172 and 158 (males 158 vs 147 and females 184 vs 165) mg/dl, respectively, which suggest that treatment is apparently inadequate in this population. The prevalent rate (%) of retinopathy for previously and newly diagnosed diabetics was 45.2 and 28.3 (males 42.8 vs 33.3 and females 47.5 vs 24.8), respectively. The prevalence is as common as those reported in western countries. In conclusion, previously diagnosed diabetics had higher fasting glucose concentrations and prevalent rates of retinopathy than newly diagnosed diabetics, and these findings were particularly prominent in females.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Continuous blood glucose monitoring with feedback-controlled glucose infusion during surgical management of insulinoma: report of a case.

Perioperative management of insulinoma may be facilitated by the use of a glucose-controlled insulin infusion system (GCIIS; Biostator System, Miles Laboratories Inc., Elkhart, Ind.). We monitored the blood glucose levels and glucose infusion rates before, during and after surgery in a 35-year-old woman with insulinoma. After an overnight fast, glucose was infused according to a preset program and maintained the blood glucose level at around 50 mg/dl. Depression of the blood glucose level and simultaneous elevation of the glucose infusion rate were noted when the tumor was massaged. A sharp decrease in the glucose infusion rate occurred almost immediately after removal of the tumor. It took about 4 minutes for the blood glucose to go up to a level of 90 mg/dl. These results demonstrate the usefulness of GCIIS not only in maintaining stationary blood glucose, but also in localizing the tumor and in providing evidence of complete removal of the tumor. When the infusion system is programmed appropriately, the glucose infusion rate, as compared to the blood glucose level, reacts more quickly and sensitively to sudden changes in insulin levels.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

A comparison of diabetic control status between urban and rural diabetic patients in Taiwan.

Between 1985 and 1987, in two urban and five rural areas in Taiwan, a total of 16,636 subjects aged 40 or over were screened for diabetes mellitus according to the WHO criteria. Four hundred and fifty-two previously diagnosed patients and 274 newly diagnosed patients were found. All were non-insulin-dependent diabetics. The blood glucose control status was compared between the urban and rural previously diagnosed diabetics. Those living in the rural areas were found to have better control with a higher percentage under regular treatment. Stepwise multiple regression failed to discover a significant correlation between control status and any of the following factors: sex, age, body mass index (BMI), diabetic duration, treatment regularity, exercise, occupation, education, family income and the presence of hypertension or large vessel diseases. About 30% of the patients in rural areas and 40% in urban areas were poorly controlled. This indicates that our diabetic control program should be strengthened.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Polymorphic locus in the 5'-flanking region of human insulin gene and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The etiology of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is still unclear, but appears to involve some genetic factors. There have been disputes over the association between DNA sequences flanking the insulin gene and NIDDM. In order to characterize insulin gene polymorphism in the Chinese population and elucidate its association with NIDDM, 100 unrelated Chinese subjects living in Taiwan were observed for polymorphism of this hypervariable region. Most of them were descendants of immigrants from the southern part of mainland China. Among them, 52 were nondiabetic controls, and 48 were subjects with NIDDM. Insulin gene polymorphism was classified into classes 1, 2 and 3 alleles according to Bell et al. Neither the class 2 allele nor the genotype for the homozygous class 3 allele was not observed in this study. The allelic frequencies of class 1 and 3 genes were 97% and 3% in the nondiabetic subjects, and 99% and 1% in the NIDDM group, respectively. The frequencies of genotypes 1/1 and 1/3 were 94% and 6% in nondiabetics and 98% and 2% in the NIDDM group, respectively. No significant association was found between insulin gene polymorphism and NIDDM. It is concluded that DNA marker flanking the insulin gene may not be associated with the development of NIDDM in Chinese subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Relation between body composition, anthropometry, and glucose tolerance.

Based upon the results of a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, 305 subjects (157 men and 148 women), who were admitted to the National Cheng Kung University Hospital for health check-up, were divided into diabetic (n = 47, 25 men and 22 women), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (n = 53, 27 men and 26 women) and normal (n = 205, 105 men an 100 women) groups. All diabetics were of non-insulin-dependent diabetics. Body composition and anthropometries including body mass index (BMI), thickness of triceps skinfold (TSF), arm muscle circumference (AMC), and blood pressure were compared among these three groups. Body composition (percentage of fat, lean mass and total body water) was significantly correlated to BMI, TSF, AMC, blood pressure, blood glucose, hemoglobin Alc (HbAlc) and cholesterol. BMI was significantly correlated to blood pressure, blood glucose, HbAlc, triglyceride and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) levels. TSF and AMC were not correlated to blood pressure, blood glucose, HbAlc or blood lipids. However, in defining adiposity, TSF seems more sensitive than BMI. The data of the IGT group did not show a significant difference from those of the normal group except for a higher systolic pressure and a 2-hour plasma glucose level after a 75 g oral glucose loading. The diabetic group showed significantly higher BMI, systolic pressure, triglyceride, and SGPT levels than both the IGT and normal groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Treatment of typhoid fever with ofloxacin.

Ofloxacin, 300 mg 12-hourly, was given orally to 64 patients with typhoid fever, all with positive blood cultures. Almost 80% of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole, but sensitive to ofloxacin and norfloxacin. Fever subsided within five days in most patients (mean 3.2 +/- 1.1), rates of clinical effectiveness and bacteriological cure both being 100%. Thirty patients were followed for 1-3 months after the completion of therapy with no occurrence of relapse.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

Erythrocyte deformability in diabetes mellitus.

Erythrocyte filterability was measured on 34 diabetic patients and 43 normal subjects. Filterability index (FI) was expressed as FI = 10 x ratio of flow rate of suspension to buffer. Mean FI (mean +/- SE) of diabetics was significantly lower than that of the control group (3.47 +/- 0.09 vs 4.03 +/- 0.07, p less than 0.0001). Values of blood urea nitrogen, triglycerides, fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, HbAlc, white blood cell counts (WBC), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were higher in diabetics. However, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of diabetics was lower than that of the control group (90.1 +/- 0.6 vs 93.4 +/- 0.6 fl, p less than 0.001), and MCV was positively correlated with FI in both groups. Blood urea nitrogen, triglycerides, fasting and postprandial plasma glucose, HbAlc, MCHC, WBC were correlated inversely with FI. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed FI = -0.00266 (fasting plasma glucose) -0.00164 (triglyceride) -0.00041 (blood urea nitrogen) +5.07 (n = 77, R = 0.61, p less than 0.05). Diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications had lower FI and MCV values; however they had higher triglyceride values than those without cardiovascular complications. In summary, RBC filterability of diabetic patients was lower than that of normal subjects. The defect could be due to myriads of metabolic derangement.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Induction of an Alu-sequence containing transcript by insulin in human hepatoma cells.

A cDNA clone, designated AF19-1, was isolated from a cDNA library derived from insulin-stimulated hepatoma cells. The nucleotide sequences of AF19-1 showed 83% homology to Alu consensus sequence. It contained a full-length 300-bp Alu family sequence followed in direct tandem by a partial sequence of Alu left monomer. Primer extension analysis confirmed that this Alu transcript was induced even in short-term insulin stimulation. The increase in Alu-transcripts in the early phase of insulin stimulation in hepatoma cells suggests that the Alu sequences may play some important regulatory roles in gene expression.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1988