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Biomedical subjects

Y Jin

Publications and source records attributed to Y Jin.

At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources

Evidence for a high prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsial infections in diverse ecologic zones of Inner Mongolia.

A 3-year study of spotted fever group rickettsial ecology in Inner Mongolia revealed that nearly half of the human population tested had antibodies to Rickettsia sibirica detected by complement fixation test. Infected persons, ticks and a high proportion of seropositive livestock and wild rodents were found in all five vegetation zones (desert, steppe, forest, forest-grassland and grassland).

Animals↗

Gene frequencies of the five major human platelet antigens in African American, white, and Korean populations.

BACKGROUND: The study of the immunogenetics of the human platelet antigens is important to the improvement of diagnosis and genetic counseling and to the development of screening programs for women at risk of having babies with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. Description of the immunogenetics of the human platelet antigens in some racial groups has been incomplete. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A reverse dot blot technique employing polymerase chain reaction-amplified genomic DNA was applied in genotyping the five major human platelet antigens in the following populations: 100 African American and 100 white women admitted to the obstetric unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, MD) and 100 inpatients at Yonsei University (Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: The gene frequencies of HPA-2b (Koa) and HPA-5b (Bra) in African Americans were twice those in whites (African Americans: 0.18 and 0.21, respectively; whites: 0.09 and 0.11, respectively). There is a very low gene frequency of the HPA-1b (PIA2) allele in Koreans (0.005). No significant differences were found in the gene frequencies of the human platelet antigens in whites in this series and those in published European studies. CONCLUSION: These studies indicate a higher potential risk for alloimmunization to HPA-2 (Ko) and HPA-5 (Br) antigens in African Americans than in whites. In addition, the low gene frequency of HPA-1b (PIA2) in African Americans and Koreans suggests that alloimmunization to HPA-1a (PIA1) would be very unusual in these populations. These data may provide the basis for planning neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia screening programs in certain ethnic populations.

Antigens, Human Platelet↗

Non-random deletions at the dihydrofolate reductase locus of Chinese hamster ovary cells induced by alpha-particles simulating radon.

This study presents the physical characterization of mutants induced in mammalian cells by high linear energy transfer alpha-particle radiation that simulates exposure to radon daughters. Alpha-Particles from accelerated 4He at 150 keV/microns were used to induce 20 Chinese hamster ovary mutants that are deficient in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity. Parental cells were the hemizygous UA21 line. Cell survival decreased exponentially in response to radiation dose from 0.25 to 1.75 Gy. Mutants were obtained at 1.0 (17/20) and 1.25 Gy (3/20); treatments at 1.50 Gy failed to yield mutants. The induced frequency of mutation was 2.3 x 10(-6) at the 1.0 Gy dose, approximately 18-fold greater than the spontaneous mutation rate at this locus. DNA of the 20 confirmed null mutants were examined for alterations in the 25 kb DHFR gene by Southern blotting using a mixed probe that scans a continuous 34 kb of sequence. Deletions were the most prevalent induced change (18/20). Of the two point mutants, DNA sequencing showed that one carries a T:A-->G:C base substitution that changed Val135 to Gly in exon 5; carcinogen-induced reversion to a DHFR+ phenotype at a frequency of 3 x 10(-6) confirmed that the other also carried a single base change. The distribution of deletion break sites in the DHFR locus was non-random. In half of the mutants deletion break sites were clustered within a single 9.4 kb DHFR intron. Fine mapping within the gene of 14 mutants by Southern blotting localized 10 distinct break sites to small restriction fragments (< 2 kb). Results of this mapping indicated that three unequivocally independent mutants apparently arose by the same deletion and that others shared single break sites. Deletion sizes in these mutants were determined by Southern analysis using six cosmids and two plasmid probes that together span approximately 500 kb of sequence in the region of the DHFR locus. Probing blots with the cosmids defined a maximal deletion size in 15/17 mutants and confirmed that deletions extended < 150 kb in 11, a qualitatively different result from that previously obtained after a similar analysis of gamma-ray-induced DHFR- mutants. Since deletions were non-randomly distributed, typically less than replicon size and spared regions containing matrix attachment sites, the results suggest a model whereby alpha-particles induce double-strand breaks in accessible chromatin loops.

Alpha Particles↗

Clozapine increases EEG photic driving in clinical responders.

Photically driven electroencephalography was tested in 17 chronic schizophrenia patients who were treated with clozapine for 5 weeks. Eight of the 17 patients showed clinical improvement on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (delta BPRS > 30%) while the other 9 patients remained unchanged (delta BPRS < 15%). In comparison with the nonresponders, clozapine responders had a significantly greater increase in photic driving in the electroencephalogram (EEG), primarily in the low-frequency range of alpha band (7.2 hertz [Hz], 8.3 Hz, 9.0 Hz, and 9.6 Hz, but not 12.0 Hz). The difference in the resting EEG between the responders and nonresponders did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggested that EEG photic driving might be more sensitive than the resting EEG in detecting the central nervous system drug effect. Further analysis revealed that the increase of EEG photic driving was positively correlated with patients' clinical improvement. Combined with our previous observation in the drug-free schizophrenia patients who had lower EEG photic driving, present results supported the hypothesis that the amount of EEG alpha activity, particularly its synchronization to the external stimuli, could reflect the thalamic function in sensory information processing in schizophrenia.

Adult↗

A monoclonal antibody (SZ21) specific for platelet GPIIIa distinguishes P1A1 from P1A2.

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NATP) and post-transfusion purpura (PTP) are acquired bleeding disorders caused by alloimmune thrombocytopenia. In most cases, the thrombocytopenia is due to an alloantibody directed against the platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa) complex. During the course of routine studies on the role of GPIIb-IIIa in inherited and acquired bleeding and thrombotic disorders, we unexpectedly identified an individual whose platelets reacted by non-reduced Western blot analysis with anti-GPIIIa polyclonal antisera, but did not react with a commercially available monoclonal antibody (SZ21) specific for GPIIIa. We screened all 14 GPIIIa exons for possible nucleotide changes which might alter amino acids and found variations in only exons 3 and 10. Nucleotide sequencing revealed that only the exon 3 alteration changed the predicted amino acid sequence. This variation was caused by homozygosity for the uncommon P1A2 allele of the GPIIIa gene. Platelets from two additional unrelated normal individuals known to be homozygous for P1A2 also lacked reactivity with SZ21 by Western blot. Using flow cytometry with intact platelets, we observed a markedly reduced binding of SZ21 to platelets with the P1A2 genotype. Scatchard analyses indicated that SZ21 bound to P1A1/A1 platelets with a Kd of approximately 8.26 x 10(-10) M, and to P1A2/A2 platelets with a Kd of approximately 5.58 x 10(-9) M. Thus, we have characterized a readily available monoclonal antibody able to distinguish between the two P1A alleles of the GPIIIa gene. Because incompatibility for this platelet polymorphism is the most common cause of neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and posttransfusion purpura, and because platelet immunophenotyping reagents lack specificity and are not easily available, this monoclonal antibody could facilitate the management of patients with these disorders.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Preliminary assessment of the epithelial nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and nuclear volume density in human palatal lesions.

We have analysed both the nuclear-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio and nuclear volume densities (VVN) in defined strata from human hard palate lesions with and without malignant potential to determine the prognostic reliability and/or validity of this parameter. Measurements of cellular and nuclear areas of basal and spinous cells from normal (N) and pathological palatal epithelium were made on histological sections using an image analyser. The lesions comprised fibrous hyperplasia (FH), traumatic inflammation (INF), benign hyperkeratosis (HK), squamous cell papilloma (PP), dysplastic epithelium adjacent to invasive carcinoma (CE) and islands of invasive squamous cell carcinoma (CI). In basal cells, no significant differences were detected in comparisons of N/C and VVN between all pathological groups and the N control group. The mean value for CE was lower than that obtained for N. In spinous cells, the only statistically significant comparison was between IF and FH for both N/C and VVN. Both parameters were lower in CE than in N. Of all groups analysed except CI, the CE group is the only one likely to possess an increased malignant potential. The N/C ratio therefore seems to be of no value as a predictor of malignancy in palatal epithelial lesions.

Carcinoma↗

Prevention of diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice with glycated albumin antagonists. A novel treatment strategy.

Accelerated protein glycation in diabetes has been mechanistically linked to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Because glycated albumin induces abnormalities in cultured mesangial cells that resemble those characterizing the glomerular mesangium in diabetes, and monoclonal antibodies (A717) specific for Amadori-modified glycated albumin prevent these abnormalities, we postulated that in vivo administration of A717 could retard the progression of diabetic nephropathy. To test this hypothesis, diabetic db/db mice and their nondiabetic db/m littermates were treated with eight consecutive weekly injections of 150 micrograms of A717 (Fab fragments) to reduce the elevated plasma glycated albumin concentration, or with irrelevant murine IgG (MIg). Relative to nondiabetics, diabetic mice (MIg treated) manifested proteinuria (3.35 +/- 0.15 vs 0.87 +/- 0.1 mg albumin/mg creatinine), 3.8-fold increase in mesangial matrix fraction, and renal cortical overexpression of mRNAs encoding alpha 1(IV) collagen (2.6-fold increase) and fibronectin (3.8-fold increase). Treatment of db/db mice with A717 significantly reduced the proteinuria (1.52 +/- 0.3 mg/mg creatinine), inhibited mesangial matrix expansion, and attenuated overexpression of matrix mRNAs. The nephropathic protective effects of A717 were independent of any change in blood glucose concentrations. Antibodies unreactive with glycated albumin did not duplicate the beneficial effects of A717. Thus, abrogating the biologic effects of increased glycated albumin with A717 has a salutary influence on the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy and has novel therapeutic potential in its management.

Albuminuria↗

Topographic analysis of EEG photic driving in normal and schizophrenic subjects.

In a 19-channel EEG photic driving paradigm the steady-state evoked response was studied in schizophrenic patients and normal controls. Seventeen drug-free patients and 15 normal controls were compared. Schizophrenic patients had lower EEG photic driving in the alpha range, particularly in the high alpha frequency band (p = 0.08). Topographic analysis revealed that the group differences were primarily located in the mid-frontal, central and parietal areas (p < 0.05). Temporal and lateral frontal lobe alpha remained the same in the two groups. Separate analysis of eye movement (EM) showed an opposite effect on the alpha-frequency photic driving as compared to that on the resting alpha EEG. EM decreased the resting alpha EEG and increased the photic driving. This finding suggested that the lower EEG photic driving in the schizophrenic patients could not be explained by the eye movement artifact. We hypothesize that the 10 Hz range photic driving that reflects the intrinsic EEG spindle generation in the thalamus may play an important role in the psychophysiology of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

An analysis on follow-up results of photoreactive keratectomy for treatment of myopia.

A prospective study of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was performed with the aim of correcting a range of myopic errors between -1.00 and -10.00 diopters on 422 myopic eyes that were followed for more than one year. At postoperative one year, 91.4% of the eyes had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better, and 97.4% were within +/- 1.00 diopter of the desired emmetropia, and the corneal haze disappeared in most of the eyes. Elevated intraocular pressures were observed in 20.4% of the eyes. The decrease of one line of the best corrected visual acuity occurred in 7.6% and of two lines in 0.5% of the eyes. We think that the excimer laser PRK is a very predictable, safe, stable, and effective method to correct myopia up to -10.00 D, and longer follow-up will be necessary.

Adult↗

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia in China. A report of 750 eyes with a 6-month follow-up.

A total of 750 six-month follow-up records of myopia treated with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) were analyzed. By 6 months, in group 1 (up to -6.00D, 587 eyes), uncorrected visual acuity was improved to 20/20 or better in 86.7% of treated eyes and 95.4% fell into the range of refraction of +/- 1.00D. In group 2 (-6.25D to -11.00D, 163 eyes), 74.5% of treated eyes had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 89.4% of the eyes were within +/- 1.00D. The designed predictability of the two groups was the same (P > 0.1). The refractive stability from 3 to 6 months between the two groups was not statistically different, and no severe complications were observed in these two groups. The excimer laser PRK for correcting myopia up to -11.00D appears to be effective, predictable, stable and safe in this study. The ideal outcome may result from the precise ablation quality of excimer laser, its computerized surgical manipulation and an appropriate postoperative management including detection of refractive indices by corneal topography and modulation by steroid.

Adult↗

[A study on the relationship between in-door air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Xuanwei County].

A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the relationship between in-door air pollution caused by different fuels for domestic use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in local population. A total population of 10892 were sampled and analyzed. Results showed in-door air pollution caused by coal-burning was the major risk factor for COPD in Xuanwei County. The risk of residents using soft coal and anthracite to suffer from COPD was 4.36 and 1.55 times, respectively, higher than in those using fire wood.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

Pre-exposure of mice to low dose or low dose rate ionizing radiation reduces chromosome aberrations induced by subsequent exposure to high dose of radiation or mitomycin C.

The phenomenon of cytogenetic adaptive and cross-adaptive response induced by low dose irradiation and chemical mutagen in mice is described. We found, firstly, that adaptation can be induced by acute low dose X-irradiation (0-100 mGy). Secondly, a cross-adaptation can occur between X-irradiation and mitomycin C (MMC). And finally, mice pre-exposed to chronic low dose rate 60Co-Gamma irradiation (0-226.0 mGy/day) are less susceptible to chromosome aberration induced by subsequent acute higher X-irradiation. Therefore, our data suggest that radioadaptive response depends on dose, dose rate and time interval. Possible mechanisms are also discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[Genetic epidemiological studies on male lung cancer].

Data of nuclear families of 194 male proband with lung cancer and 176 controls were analyzed to study its genetic etiology in Xuanwei County of Yunnan Province. Results showed risk of lung cancer in the relatives (parents and siblings) of the proband was 1.78 times as of controls, with a statistically significant difference, and risks in parents and female relatives of the proband were 2.90 and 2.43 times as in controls, respectively, both with a statistically significant difference. Heritability of male lung cancer was 24.68%. It indicated genetic susceptibility to lung cancer in females was higher than that in males and played an important role in the etiology of lung cancer.

Adult↗

A comparison of the effects of the propofol versus midazolam during total intravenous anesthesia for gynecological surgery procedures.

The effects of propofol and midazolam as an intravenous anesthetic were compared in 40 ASA I-II patients undergoing gynecological surgery during total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA). They were divided into propofol group (P n = 20) and midazolam group (M n = 20) randomly. The anesthesia was designed for each group respectively. Here, we discuss the experimental method and the results, which indicate that propofol is not only an effective anesthetic but also has more rapid and head-clear recovery properties than midazolam.

Adult↗

Rapid genotyping of the five major platelet alloantigens by reverse dot-blot hybridization.

Amino acid substitutions in platelet membrane glycoproteins result in alloantigens. Identifying these polymorphisms is important in alloimmune-mediated platelet disorders. Immunophenotyping platelet antigens can be limited by the unavailability of specific antisera. The goal of this work was to identify human platelet antigen genotypes in individuals using a technique that would circumvent the limitations of immunophenotyping and be clinically applicable. We have successfully applied the reverse dot-blot (RDB) technique to the genotyping of the five major human platelet alloantigen systems. Allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASOs) representing each allele of these alloantigens were covalently linked to a filter. Biotinylated oligonucleotides flanking the polymorphic sequences in genomic DNA were used to amplify genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and these products were hybridized to the filters containing the ASOs. Reactivity was detected with a chromogenic substrate. This nonradioactive methodology identifies all 15 possible genotypes in a well-defined control group of individuals and requires only two PCR reactions per patient sample. RDB analysis was used to successfully genotype women and family members with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia and with posttransfusion purpura and to prenatally genotype the amniocytes from a fetus at risk for thrombocytopenia. The RDB methodology is specific, sensitive, and rapid and should enhance our ability to accurately diagnose disorders of alloimmune platelet destruction.

Alleles↗