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Biomedical subjects

Y L Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Y L Lin.

150 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Stabilization of blood glucose by cooling with ice: an effective procedure for preservation of samples from adults and newborns.

Glycolysis causes a considerable decrease in blood glucose when whole blood is kept at room temperature without preservative. The most commonly used preservative, NaF, makes analysis of other serum constituents such as sodium and calcium and urea difficult or impossible, an especially serious limitation when sample size must be restricted. In samples at room temperature without preservative, plasma glucose decreased 36 mg/liter per hour in blood from adults and 60 mg/liter per hour in blood from newborns. Cooling on ice slowed these rates to 3.9 and 11, respectively. Plasma potassium increased 0.3 mmol/liter per hour in cooled specimens from both adults and newborns. Sodium, calcium, chloride and urea values were unaffected. We conclude that cooling effectively stabilizes plasma glucose for 4 h in samples from both adults and newborns and that potassium may be measured with negligible change for as long as 1 h and other constituents for the entire period.

Adult↗

Synthetic peptide-based vaccine and diagnostic system for effective control of FMD.

We have designed synthetic peptides corresponding to two different regions of the genome of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) that are effective as (a) a vaccine or (b) a diagnostic reagent which differentiates convalescent from vaccinated animals, respectively. The peptide vaccine is based on a sequence from the prominent G-H loop of VP1, one of the four capsid proteins. The sequence was optimized by the inclusion of a cyclic constraint and adjoining sequences, and broader immunogenicity was obtained by the incorporation of consensus residues at hypervariable positions. The peptide also included a promiscuous T-helper epitope for effective immunogenicity in outbred populations of large animals.The diagnostic reagent, a peptide based on non-structural (NS) protein 3B, is used in immuno-assays for the detection of antibodies. Antibodies to this NS protein are present in the sera of infected animals but not in the sera of vaccinated animals. The VP1 peptide can be used in complementary immuno-assays for confirmation of NS test results and to monitor for vaccination. This system for differential diagnosis is important to establish the disease-free status of a country.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Newcastle disease virus isolated from recent outbreaks in Taiwan phylogenetically related to viruses (genotype VII) from recent outbreaks in western Europe.

Three major outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) occurred in Taiwan in the last three decades (in 1969, 1984, and 1995). Newcastle disease viruses (NDVs) isolated in the three outbreaks, together with those isolated in 1998, were sequenced between nucleotides 47 and 435 of the fusion gene. A phylogenetic tree based on sequences obtained showed that the NDV isolated in 1969 was similar to the genotype III viruses. In contrast, all isolates in 1984 and seven of the eight isolates in 1995, together with all isolates in 1998, fell into the genotype VII. These results suggest that the 1969 outbreak of ND in Taiwan was caused by the genotype III virus, whereas the 1984 and 1995 outbreaks were caused by the genotype VII viruses. To date, the genotype VII viruses have caused many outbreaks in east Asia and western Europe. We suspect that these outbreaks have constituted the fourth panzootic of ND, which is distinct from the third panzootic caused by the "pigeon PMV-1 viruses." NDV isolated in Taiwan in 1984 was the earliest isolation of the genotype VII virus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Suppression of the TPA-induced expression of nuclear-protooncogenes in mouse epidermis by crocetin via antioxidant activity.

Crocetin, a major component of the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, was investigated for its antitumor promoting effect on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-promoted mouse skin carcinogenesis. Topical application of 5 nmol TPA to CD-1 mice once daily for 5 days caused epidermal hyperplasia, and increases in the levels of c-Fos, c-Jun and c-Myc in the suprabasal layer of epidermis and the muscle layer of dermis. Immunocytolochemical examination showed that pretreatment of 1 mumol crocetin repressed the TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia and the expressions of c-Jun, c-Fos and c-Myc to the extent of 47, 44 and 45% respectively. Crocetin of 3.0 mumol exhibited stronger inhibition on the induced hyperplasia and the oncoproteins levels (by 60, 53 and 55% respectively). Western blotting analysis confirmed this inhibitory effect of crocetin. Pretreatment of crocetin also repressed the TPA-induced H2O2 production and myeloperoxidase activity. These data indicate that crocetin suppresses the TPA-induced skin carcinogenesis maybe via its antioxidant property which, in turn, leads to a reduction in the TPA-induced expressions of c-Jun, c-Fos and c-Myc in mouse epidermis.

Animals↗

Phenotypic and functional analysis of natural killer cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) manifested with multiple autoantibodies production and glomerulonephritis, is the best example of systemic autoimmune diseases. To further elucidate the role of cytokines and the potential involvement of natural killer cells (NK cells) in the pathogenesis of lupus, phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), NK cells cytotoxicity and cytokines production pattern of SLE patients and normal controls were examined. In addition, the effect of a variety of cytokines on anti-dsDNA antibodies production was also investigated. Our results showed that: (a) there was an increased percentage of memory T cells and decreased percentage of NK cells in SLE patients when compared to normal controls (p < 0.05); (b) a decreased production of cytokines like gamma-IFN in mitogen-stimulated PBMCs was also noted in SLE patients; (c) cytolytic activity of NK cells was markedly reduced in SLE patients (p < 0.05); (d) spontaneous secretion of IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies by B cells isolated from SLE patients could be inhibited by gamma-IFN, but not by IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5. These data suggested that decreased functions of NK cells and related type 1 T helper cells be closely related to the immune dysregulation and autoantibodies production in SLE.

Adolescent↗

Inhibitory effect of crocetin on benzo(a)pyrene genotoxicity and neoplastic transformation in C3H10T1/2 cells.

Crocetin is a major component in the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, a Chinese herbal medicine. In the work, we investigate the protective action and mechanism against benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced genotoxicity and neoplastic transformation with a non-toxic dose of crocetin (0.01-0.10 mM) for 1 hour prior to the administration of 0.1 mM B(a)P. B(a)P genotoxicity was inhibited significantly by crocetin in a dose responsive manner. Pretreating C3H10T1/2 cells with crocetin (0.1 mM) also caused a decrease in the covalent binding of B(a)P-diol-epoxide to DNA, to about half that of cells without crocetin treatment. Crocetin also inhibited B(a)P-induced transformations. When the culture was treated with crocetin (0.01, 0.05 and 0.10 mM) for 7 days, the transformation frequencies were lower than that of the culture without crocetin treatment. Furthermore, pretreating cells with crocetin (0.01-0.10 mM) also caused an increase in the activity of GSH S-transferase (GST) to 18-71% that of the cells without crocetin treatment. These results suggest that the inhibition by crocetin of B(a)P-induced genotoxicity and neoplastic transformation in C3H10T1/2 cells is due to a mechanism that increases the activity of GST and decreases the formation of a B(a)P-DNA adduct.

Anticarcinogenic Agents↗