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Biomedical subjects

C F Lin

Publications and source records attributed to C F Lin.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Comparison of the number and type of dental functional units in geriatric populations with diverse medical backgrounds.

Elderly subjects (N 430) from four convenience populations that represented different levels of medical health--independent living (Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs), nursing home, and hospitalized acute care--were given dental examinations. The independent living groups had significantly higher numbers of functional units (opposing natural or prosthetic tooth pairs) and of contiguous functional units compared with the nursing home and hospitalized groups. There was a shift from functional units that consisted of natural teeth to functional units that consisted of prosthetic teeth in the nursing home and hospitalized groups. Numbers of functional units were negatively correlated to plaque index, papillary bleeding scores, and minor salivary gland output. This study suggests a strong relationship between functional integrity of the dentition and general health.

Acute Disease↗

Mechanical strain induces monocyte chemotactic protein-1 gene expression in endothelial cells. Effects of mechanical strain on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells.

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), a potent monocyte chemoattractant secreted by endothelial cells (ECs), is believed to play a key role in the early events of atherogenesis. Since vascular ECs are constantly subjected to mechanical stresses, we examined how cyclic strain affects the expression of the MCP-1 gene in human ECs grown on a flexible membrane base deformed by sinusoidal negative pressure (peak level, -16 kPa at 60 cycles per minute). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the MCP-1 mRNA levels in ECs subjected to strain for 1, 5, or 24 hours were double those in control ECs (P < .05). This strain-induced increase was mainly serum independent, and MCP-1 mRNA level returned to its control basal level 3 hours after release of strain. Culture media from strained ECs contained approximately twice the MCP-1 concentration and more than twice the monocyte chemotactic activity of media from control ECs (P < .05). Pretreatment of collected media with anti-MCP-1 antibody suppressed such activity. Monocyte adhesion to ECs subjected to strain for 12 hours was 1.8-fold greater than adhesion to unstrained control ECs (P < .05). A protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin C, abolished the strain-induced MCP-1 gene expression. In addition, cAMP- or cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitors (KT5720 and KT5823, respectively) partially inhibited such expression. Pretreatment with EGTA or the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA/AM strongly suppressed the strain-induced MCP-1 mRNA. Verapamil, a Ca2+ channel blocker, greatly reduced MCP-1 mRNA levels in both strained and unstrained ECs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Purification and properties of alpha-amylase from Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 76080.

An alpha-amylase was purified from the solid cultural extract of Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 76080 by sequential steps of amylopectin affinity adsorption, DEAE-Sepharose ion-exchange chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 HR gel filtration. By these steps, the purity of the enzyme increased by 16 fold and recovery of the enzyme activity was 45%. The purified enzyme had an optimal pH between 4 to 5, optimal temperature at 50 degrees C and a Km value of 0.22% for hydrolysis of starch. About 80% of the enzyme activity was lost after incubation at 50 degrees C for 30 min. The heat denaturation constant at 50 degrees C was 0.024 min-1. The molecular weight was 52 kDa as determined by gel filtration. Mercuric ion (0.3 mM), DNFB# (6 mM), NBSI (6 mM) and NAI (6 mM) inhibited the activity of the enzyme. The main products for hydrolysis of maltoheptaose by the enzyme were maltotriose and maltotetraose.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Purification and properties of beta-fructofuranosidase from Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 76080.

A fructooligosaccharide-producing beta-fructofuranosidase was purified from the crude extract of Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 76080 through successive steps of ultrafiltration, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B ion-exchange chromatography, preparative isoelectric focusing electrophoresis and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. The purified enzyme had an optimal pH of 5-6, an optimal temperature of 50 degrees C, a Km value of 0.53 M for catalyzing selftransfer reaction from sucrose. The molecular weight was 87 kDa by gel filtration. Mercuric ion (0.25 mM), p-hydroxymercuribenzoate (0.25 mM) and N-bromosuccinimide (0.5 mM), significantly inhibited the enzyme activity. The enzyme showed both transfructosylation and hydrolytic action in 0.5 to 50% sucrose. The transfructosylation ratio increased as the sucrose concentration increased and it was 88.5% at 50% sucrose. The main fructooligosaccharides produced from sucrose were 1-kestose and nystose.

Aspergillus oryzae↗

Comparison of sublingual captopril, nifedipine and prazosin in hypertensive emergencies during hemodialysis.

Hypertensive emergencies in hemodialysis require immediate therapy, usually by parenteral drug administration; however, sublingual medications may have potential in this special condition. Sublingual captopril (25 mg), nifedipine (10 mg) and prazosin (2 mg) were prescribed to determine the effectiveness and safety of each medication in the treatment of hypertensive emergencies during hemodialysis. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured continuously up to 120 min postdose. The response rates were 83% for captopril, 90% for nifedipine and 11% for prazosin. The significant hypotensive effects of both sublingual captopril and nifedipine occurred at 10 min and continued up to 120 min. The reduction of systolic blood pressure occurred earlier in nifedipine than captopril (10 vs. 15 min). No significant difference in heart rate between them was noted. There were no side effects in the captopril group but flushing, tachycardia and headache were observed in 4 patients of the nifedipine group. We concluded that sublingual captopril and nifedipine were effective but captopril seemed to have less side effects than nifedipine and may be an excellent alternative to sublingual nifedipine in the urgent treatment of hypertensive emergencies in hemodialysis. Prazosin was not recommended because of its low response rate.

Administration, Sublingual↗

[Intrathecal meperidine attenuates shivering induced by spinal anesthesia].

Shivering is a common and complex phenomenon that occurs in many patients during spinal anesthesia. Shivering can increase oxygen consumption up to 500 per cent which may be detrimental to patients with decreased myocardial reserve. The metabolic costs and cardiorespiratory consequences of shivering are important particularly for patients with anemia, coronary arterial disease, cardiopulmonary insufficient, debilitated status or are elderly. We studied whether intrathecal meperidine could prevent shivering after spinal anesthesia. 60 patients with ASA class I-II were divided into intrathecal meperidine group (Group I) (n = 30) and control group (Group II) (n = 30). Group I received spinal tetracaine 12-16 mg with meperidine 0.2 mg/kg and Group II received spinal tetracaine 12-16 mg without meperidine. During operation the highest level of spinal anesthesia, ambient and rectal temperatures, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), presence or absence of shivering, intensity of shivering in both groups were recorded. Close observation for side effects was given post-operatively. There was a significant reduction (p < .005) in incidence of shivering in group I patients (16.7%) when compared with group II (56.7%). There was no or less side effects observed with other neuraxial opioids except nausea. We concluded that intrathecal meperidine could suppress shivering induced by spinal anesthesia.

Adult↗

[Nifedipine in preeclampsia for cesarean section].

The patients with preeclampsia undergoing emergent cesarean section is always a challenge to an anesthesiologist, because severe hypertensive response after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation may result in life-threatening complication such as cerebral hemorrhage. Most of these patients receive magnesium sulfate for the prevention of convulsion. An ideal anti-hypertensive drug for preeclampsia should be effective, limited fall in blood pressure, rapid onset, maintaining uteroplacental blood flow, and less maternal and fetal side effects. We studied the efficacy of 10 mg sublingual nifedipine in attenuating the pressor response to intubation. We were also concerned about whether this calcium antagonist may inhibit uterine contraction and increase intra and postpartum hemorrhage when it is used with magnesium sulfate and general anesthesia. There were thirty-three patients in our study (16 in nifedipine group and 17 in control group). This study revealed that nifedipine attenuate the hypertensive response effectively. Uterine contraction response to oxytocic drugs was quite well in both groups. There was no significant difference in blood loss between nifedipine and control group. And no severe maternal and fetal adverse effect.

Adult↗

Influence of oxidised dietary oil and antioxidant supplementation on membrane-bound lipid stability in broiler meat.

1. The effects of oxidised oil, dietary alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT-supplementation on the fatty acid composition of mitochondrial, microsomal and soluble protein fractions of broiler muscles, and on their lability to metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide-catalysed peroxidation were investigated. 2. Oxidised oil in the broiler diets induced rapid oxidation of the membrane-bound lipids and decreased their stability towards metmyoglobin-hydrogen peroxide-catalysed peroxidation. 3. Supplementation of the broiler diets with alpha-tocopherol increased the alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the microsomal and soluble protein fractions of the dark meat as well as the soluble protein fraction of the white meat. This, in turn, stabilised the membrane-bound lipids against metmyoglobin/hydrogen peroxide-initiated peroxidative changes.

Animals↗

Effects of oxidised dietary oil and antioxidant supplementation on broiler growth and meat stability.

1. Broilers were fed on diets containing oxidised sunflower oil, sunflower oil and sunflower oil supplemented with alpha-tocopherol, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). 2. Oxidised oil caused a significant reduction in broiler body and carcase weights, whereas alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT supplementation improved growth. 3. Meat samples from these broilers were stored at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C and their oxidative stability evaluated. Feeding oxidised oil to broilers resulted in meat that underwent rapid oxidative changes during refrigerated and frozen storage. 4. On the other hand, dietary alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT supplementation increased alpha-tocopherol and BHA/BHT concentrations in meat and significantly (P less than 0.05) improved the oxidative stability of meat during refrigerated and frozen storage.

Animals↗

Production, Purification, and Characterization of alpha-Galactosidase from Monascus pilosus.

A Monascus pilosus strain was selected for production of intracellular alpha-galactosidase. Optimum conditions for mycelial growth and enzyme induction were determined. Galactose was one of the best enzyme inducers. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography and was demonstrated to be homogeneous by slab gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of this enzyme, estimated by gel filtration, was about 150,000. The optimum conditions for the enzyme reaction was pH 4.5 to 5.0 at 55 degrees C. The purified enzyme was stable at 55 degrees C or below and in buffer at pH 3 to 8. The activity was inhibited by mercury, silver, and copper ions. The kinetics of this enzyme, with p-nitrophenyl-alpha-d-galactoside as substrate, was determined: K(m) was about 0.8 mM, and V(max) was 39 mumol/min per mg of protein. Enzymatic hydrolysis of melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose was analyzed by thin-layer chromatography.

Journal Article↗

Production of Extracellular Pigment by a Mutant of Monascus kaoliang sp. nov.

A hyperpigment-producing mutant, R-10847, was derived from Monascus kaoliang F-2 (ATCC 26264) through a series of mutagenesis steps. The mutant produced a large quantity of Monascus pigment when grown in mantou (steamed bread) by solid culture. The mutant produced pigments extracellularly by extruding the pigments outside the cell in a lump together with some viscous substances. The productivity of pigment was about 100-fold greater than that of the wild type. The mutant lost the capability of spore formation, the growth rate decreased, and both the size and quantity of conidia were reduced. The color of the pigment produced by the mutant changed from orange to deep red.

Journal Article↗

Characterization of a cellulase producing mold, Trichoderma sp. W-10 isolated from infected mushroom spawn.

A potent cellulase producing mold, Tichoderma sp. W-10 suitable for enzyme production with solid state culture was isolated from infected mushroom spawn, its characteristics and taxonomic studies were carried out. As a result, this mold was identified as Trichoderma koningii (Oudemans) according to the keys of Gilman and Rifai's classification system and the morphological features described by Komatsu. Meanwhile, a detail survey of physiological, cultural and biochemical characteristics were also described.

Basidiomycota↗

Studies on the Monascus isolated from the startor of Kaoliang Brandy.

Seven strains of Monascus spp. were isolated from the startors of Kaoliang Brandy in Taiwan and Kinmen. Their morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics were examined. Shape of colony, length of conidial chain, production of pigment and tolerance to NaCl were considered to be suitable keys to the classification of these isolates. It was found that there were at least 6 species of Monascus in the startors of Kaoliang Brandy, 2 from Kinmen and 4 from Taiwan.

Ascomycota↗