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Biomedical subjects

Y H Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Y H Lin.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Hepatoprotective effects of Taiwan folk medicine: Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nak. on experimental liver injuries.

The hepatoprotective effects of Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nak. were studied on acute hepatitis induced in mice by a single dose of carbon tetrachloride (31.25 microliters/kg, ip) or acetaminophen (600 mg/kg, ip), and in rats by a single dose of beta-D-galactosamine (188 mg/kg, ip). Hepatoprotective activity was monitored by estimating the serum transaminases (SGOT and SGPT) levels and histopathological changes in the livers of experimental animals. The Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nak. extracts significantly inhibited the acute elevation of serum transaminases. Histopathologically, the crude I. chinensis extract significantly ameliorated hepatotoxin-induced histopathological changes in the livers of experimental animals. All pharmacological and histopathological effects of Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nak. were compared with Bupleurum chinense DC., which has been previously reported as a treatment herb for hepatitis.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Fetal sex and maternal alpha-fetoprotein concentration at late normal singleton pregnancies.

The aim of this study is to investigate maternal and fetal clinical parameters on maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MAFP) levels at late pregnancies. The studied subjects were 36 to 40 weeks pregnant. The pregnancies were singletons without any medical or gynecologic disease. Delivery followed within three days after blood sampling. A total of 192 subjects were included. The MAFP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. The results showed the average MAFP was 108.2 ng/ml (SE 4.8 ng/ml). Male-fetus-bearers had higher MAFP (mean 121.4, SE 8.2 ng/ml, n = 84) than female-fetus-bearers (mean 97.9, SE 5.43 ng/ml, n = 108) (p = 0.014). MAFP did not have significant correlation with fetal weight (p > 0.05) regardless of whether the fetus was a male (p > 0.05) or female (p > 0.05). By stepwise multiple regression, fetal sex was revealed to be the only factor that can affect MAFP (p = 0.0071). MAFP did not correlate with maternal age, gravidity, parity, maternal weight, total weight gain during pregnancy, gestational weeks, or fetal weight (all p > 0.05). Since fetal sex is the only factor that influences MAFP levels at uncomplicated late pregnancies, MAFP values should be interpreted with caution.

Female↗

[4-Aminopyridine-induced licking response and histamine liberation in mice].

4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) 1 mg.kg-1 sc at the scruff induced a licking response in mice. H1 receptor blockaders, such as diphenhydramine HCl (1, 10 mg.kg-1, sc at the scruff or 40 mg.kg-1, i.p.), chlorphenamine maleate (20 mg.kg-1, i.p.), and astemizole (2 mg.kg-1, i.g.), inhibited the licking response caused by 4-AP. Repeated injections of 4-AP (1 mg.kg-1) reduced the times of lick and the histamine content in the skin of injected site. 4-AP also promoted histamine release from incubated mouse peritoneal mast cells (PMC) in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that the licking response may originate from the histamine liberation of mast cells.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Evaluation of immunosuppressive acidic protein in human ovarian cancer.

This study was conducted to determine the levels of serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) in Chinese female controls and patients with ovarian tumors; and to examine the usefulness of serum IAP as an additional diagnostic test for ovarian cancer. Serum IAP was determined by a single radial immunodiffusion method. Blood samples were collected prior to surgery from patients with ovarian tumors and from female controls. A histologic diagnosis was made, and staging was performed on the basis of the FIGO staging system for ovarian cancer. The studied subjects included 33 healthy controls, 33 patients with benign ovarian tumors and 32 patients with ovarian cancer (stage I-III, and recurrent). The data were analyzed by Student's t test, Fisher's exact test and the one-way ANOVA test. The mean (+/- SD) level of serum IAP in controls was 330 +/- 61 micrograms/ml. The calculated normal upper limit (mean plus 2 SD) was 452 micrograms/ml. The mean value (867 +/- 392 micrograms/ml) in ovarian cancer was significantly higher than the controls (p < 0.001) or the benign ovarian tumors (333 +/- 95 micrograms/ml) (p < 0.001). Five (15.6%) of 32 patients with ovarian cancer had false-negative results. Three (9.1%) of 33 patients with benign ovarian tumors showed false-positive IAP levels. The pathologic diagnosis of these three patients revealed that two had endometrioma and one had mucinous cystadenoma with hemorrhagic necrosis. Three of four patients with epithelial ovarian cancer of borderline malignancy had IAP levels only slightly higher than the cut-off point of 452 micrograms/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Protective effect of sodium ferulate on damage of the rat liver mitochondria induced by oxygen free radicals].

This paper reports the protective effect of sodium ferulate (SF) on mitochondrial morphology and functions. Sodium ferulate was found to significantly inhibit the mitochondria abnormal swelling and TBA reaction induced by Fe2+/Vit C system. This compound was also shown to modulate the uncoupling effect of malondialdehyde (MDA) on oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria. Respiratory control rate for blank, MDA and MDA+SF were 4.75, 3.64 and 4.50 respectively. SF was shown to inhibit the cross reaction of MDA with biological macromolecules of rat liver mitochondria assayed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results suggest that the injury action of oxygen free radicals to rat liver mitochondria can be prevented by SF.

Animals↗

Muscular recovery around the hip joint after total hip arthroplasty.

A prospective study was conducted to quantitatively measure the relative muscle torque strengths in 20 consecutive women with unilateral osteoarthritic hips and 20 consecutive men with unilateral osteonecrotic hips before and after primary cementless total hip arthroplasty. Maximal isometric torque strengths in the muscles of flexion, extension, and abduction around the hip joint were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at six months and one year, using a Cybex 340 dynamometer. The results showed improved muscle function after total hip arthroplasty in both diseased and healthy hips. In the diseased hips, all muscle groups improved significantly, from 150 to 250% of the preoperative levels, at six months and one year postoperatively, except in the osteoarthritic women, in whom the improvement at six months was minimal. Preoperatively, all muscle groups in the diseased hips were weaker than those in the uninvolved hips, especially in the osteonecrotic men (51-79% of healthy side). In both groups, however, the torques strengths of the diseased hips had not caught up to the healthy hips in the one-year follow-up period (84-89% in the osteonecrotic male group, and 79-81% in the osteoarthritic female group). The authors recommended that muscle strengthening exercises for the hip should be continued for at least one year, and perhaps longer, after total hip arthroplasty.

Adult↗

Characterization of a glial associated antigen GA-1 by monoclonal antibody.

A glial antigen (GA-1) was identified by monoclonal antibodies (MAb) raised against C6 rat glioma cells. MAb-7D3 (IgG2a kappa) revealed GA-1 as a single protein band with a Rf value of 0.09 by the use of basic-PAGE Western blot. SDS-PAGE Western blot and radioimmunoprecipitation (RIP) further resolved GA-1 into two subunits with a molecular weight of 200 and 78 kDa respectively. Subcellular localization by immunocytochemical staining revealed its cytosolic presence with a punctate pattern perinuclearly. Significant expression of GA-1 may be detected in 4 glioma or glial cell lines derived from rat brain. However, no expression may be detected in the rest of the 18 mammalian cell lines or primary neural cell cultures examined. All of the above data thereby suggest that GA-1 may be glial specific whereas the epitope of GA-1 defined by MAb-7D3 is species (rat) specific.

Animals↗

Mutations affecting RNA polymerase I-stimulated exchange and rDNA recombination in yeast.

HOT1 is a cis-acting recombination-stimulatory sequence isolated from the rDNA repeat unit of yeast. The ability of HOT1 to stimulate mitotic exchange appears to depend on its ability to promote high levels of RNA polymerase I transcription. A qualitative colony color sectoring assay was developed to screen for trans-acting mutations that alter the activity of HOT1. Both hypo-recombination and hyper-recombination mutants were isolated. Genetic analysis of seven HOT1 recombination mutants (hrm) that decrease HOT1 activity shows that they behave as recessive nuclear mutations and belong to five linkage groups. Three of these mutations, hrm1, hrm2, and hrm3, also decrease rDNA exchange but do not alter recombination in the absence of HOT1. Another mutation, hrm4, decreases HOT1-stimulated recombination but does not affect rDNA recombination or exchange in the absence of HOT1. Two new alleles of RAD52 were also isolated using this screen. With regard to HOT1 activity, rad52 is epistatic to all four hrm mutations indicating that the products of the HRM genes and of RAD52 mediate steps in the same recombination pathway. Finding mutations that decrease both the activity of HOT1 and exchange in the rDNA supports the hypothesis that HOT1 plays a role in rDNA recombination.

Base Sequence↗

Solubilization, characterization, and partial purification of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid-, quisqualate-, kainate-sensitive L-glutamate binding sites from porcine brain synaptic junctions.

L-[3H]Glutamate binding sites were solubilized from porcine brain synaptic junctions by Triton X-114 in the presence of KCl. The solubilized binding sites bound L-[3H]glutamate reversibly with KD and Bmax values of 1.48 +/- 0.18 microM and 178.2 +/- 15.9 pmol/mg of protein, respectively. These binding sites appeared to be integral membrane glycoproteins, with sugar moieties recognized by wheat germ agglutinin. A 49.3-fold purification of these binding sites was achieved by Triton X-114 solubilization, anion-exchange chromatography, and affinity chromatography using wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose. The apparent molecular mass of the partially purified binding sites was 620 +/- 50 kDa. L-[3H]Glutamate bound to the solubilized preparation could be effectively displaced by agonists of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) L-glutamate receptors but not by NMDA or alpha-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate. The rank order for the competitive ligands in displacing L-[3H]glutamate was: quisqualate greater than alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid greater than L-glutamate greater than kainate.

Animals↗

Prenatal diagnosis of intracardiac rhabdomyoma: a case report.

We report on a case of intracardiac rhabdomyoma diagnosed prenatally from two-dimensional echocardiograms. The tumor was diagnosed by intrauterine echocardiography at the 38th week of gestation. Autopsy proved that the intracardiac tumor was a rhabdomyoma. Tuberous sclerosis spots in the brain tissue were also found.

Adult↗

Genetic control of RNA polymerase I-stimulated recombination in yeast.

We examined the genetic control of the activity of HOT1, a cis-acting recombination-stimulatory sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutations in RAD1 and RAD52 decrease the ability of HOT1 to stimulate intrachromosomal recombination while mutations in RAD4 and RAD50 do not affect HOT1 activity. In rad1 delta strains, the stimulation of excisive recombination by HOT1 is decreased while the rate of gene replacement is not affected. In rad52-8 strains the ability of HOT1 to stimulate both excisive recombination and gene replacement is decreased. All of the recombinants in the rad52-8 strains that would be categorized as gene replacements based on their phenotype are diploids apparently derived by endomitosis and excisive recombination. Studies on rad1 delta rad52-8 strains show that these mutations interact synergistically in the presence or absence of HOT1, resulting in low levels of recombination. The rate of gene replacement but not excisive recombination is stimulated by HOT1 in rad1 delta rad52-8 strains. Taken together, the results show that HOT1 stimulates exchange using multiple recombination pathways. Some of the activity of HOT1 is RAD1-dependent, some is RAD52-dependent, and some requires either RAD1 or RAD52 as suggested by the synergistic interaction found in double mutant strains. There is also a component of HOT1 activity that is independent of both RAD1 and RAD52.

Blotting, Southern↗

DNA measurements in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

It has been documented that chronic hepatitis may progress to cirrhosis and then develop hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To test whether abnormal cellular DNA increases along this line of development, liver tissues from 48 patients with chronic hepatitis, 17 with cirrhosis, and 8 with HCC were investigated for cellular DNA content with a scanning microdensitometer. Seven of 8 HCCs and 2 cirrhotic livers adjacent to HCC had abnormally increased cellular DNA content. Only 4 livers from patients with chronic liver diseases other than HCC had abnormal cellular DNA content. The cellular DNA content in livers not accompanying HCC was not related to the patient's age, histological diagnosis, and hepatitis inflammatory activity. The results confirmed the increase of cellular DNA content in HCC, but did not provide evidence of a progressively increasing DNA content from chronic hepatitis to liver cirrhosis. However, cirrhotic livers with abnormal hepatocytic DNA content deserve careful follow-up for the early detection of HCC.

Adult↗

Purification and characterization of tonoplast ATPase from etiolated mung bean seedlings.

The tonoplast ATPase from etiolated seedlings of Vigna radiata L. (mung bean) was isolated using a two-step detergent solubilization modified from Mandala and Taiz (S Mandala, L Taiz [1985] Plant Physiol 78: 327-333). After ultracentrifugation on 10 to 28% sucrose gradient, the ATPase showed a 31.6-fold purification over the initial specific activity of the starting tonoplast-enriched membranes. The purified ATPase used Mg(2+)-ATP as the preferred substrate. The tonoplast ATPase was isolated in a form with characteristics similar to that on its native membrane environment. Analysis by SDS-PAGE revealed two prominent bands with molecular weights of 78,000 (alpha subunit) and 64,000 (beta subunit). The intensity of Coomassie blue staining showed a 1:1 stoichiometry for alpha and beta subunits. The amino acid composition of alpha and beta subunits also confirmed the suggested stoichiometry of the subunit composition of the tonoplast ATPase. Moreover, radiation inactivation analysis yielded a functional size of 414 +/- 24 and 405 +/- 25 kilodaltons for soluble and membrane bound tonoplast ATPases, respectively. It is possible that the functioning tonoplast ATPase may be in a form of alphabeta-heteromultimer.

Journal Article↗

[Some factors influencing the determination of the softening point of plaster].

A study has been carried out on the factors influencing the softening point of plaster, such as the de-coherence, the fusing time, the cooling time, the point of constant temperature and the rate of rise in temperature. It seems feasible to determine the softening point by a mixture of vaseline and beeswax as the de-coherence when the temperature is kept at 3 degrees C/min.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal↗