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Biomedical subjects

M Y Yu

Publications and source records attributed to M Y Yu.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Expression of apoptotic regulators and their significance in cervical cancer.

Insufficient apoptosis is implicated in many human cancers, including cervical carcinoma. The objectives of this study were to explore changes of apoptosis-regulating gene expression and their clinical significance in cervical cancer. The expression of apoptosis-regulating genes, including five Bcl-2 family and two caspase family members, was evaluated in 43 cervical invasive squamous cell carcinomas, using immunohistochemistry. Specimens in which >or=10% of the neoplastic cells showed cytosolic immunoreactivity were considered to be immunopositive. Results were correlated with clinico-pathologic characteristics of the subjects. All seven apoptotic regulators examined were positive in a proportion of the tumors. The percentage of cases expressing Bax was higher in the patients without evidence of disease after treatment than in the patients alive with disease or who died of disease (P<0.05). A significant difference in disease-free survival was detected between Bax-positive and -negative groups (P<0.05), and in overall survival between Mcl-1-positive and -negative groups (P<0.05). Significant association between the seven markers tested was only found for caspase 3 and Bak immunoreactivity in cervical carcinoma (P<0.05). The results demonstrate expression of multiple apoptosis-modulating proteins in cervical cancer. There appears to be complex regulation of apoptosis protein levels in association with clinical behavior of cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2002

Parameters and equilibrium profiles for large-area surface-wave sustained plasmas.

The equilibrium profiles of the plasma parameters of large-area rf discharges in a finite-length metal-shielded dielectric cylinder are computed using a two-dimensional fluid code. The rf power is coupled to the plasma through edge-localized surface waves traveling in the azimuthal direction along the plasma edge. It is shown that self-consistent accounting for axial plasma diffusion and radial nonuniformity of the electron temperature can explain the frequently reported deviations of experimentally measured radial density profiles from that of the conventional linear diffusion models. The simulation results are in a good agreement with existing experimental data obtained from surface-wave sustained large-diameter plasmas.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Non-neutral plasma column in an asymmetric trapping field.

A non-neutral plasma column in an asymmetric trapping field is considered in this paper. It is shown that nonlinearly interacting bulk plasma oscillations and quadrupole surface waves allow an exact analytical description. The absence of symmetry leads to nonintegrability and other nonlinear phenomena, such as passage through different resonances and phase locking. These phenomena should be observable in experiments involving elliptical traps and rotating walls and can affect the latters' applications.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Modulational instability of short-wavelength ion waves in strongly coupled dusty plasmas.

Modulational instability of electrostatic short-wavelength ion waves in plasmas containing strongly coupled dusts with variable charge is considered. The evolution equations for the ion waves modulated by slow dust motion are obtained. The instability behavior differs considerably from that of plasmas with weakly coupled dust grains and depends strongly on the Coulomb coupling parameter as well as the dust-charge relaxation rate.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Mechanical model for the plasma maser effect.

A Fermi-like pinball model is proposed for the nonlinear plasma maser effect, or turbulent bremsstrahlung, in the nonlinear interaction of plasma particles and waves. The model consists of a system of many noninteracting particles bouncing elastically between two oscillating walls. The walls act as energy and momentum sources and sinks for the particles, analogous to the wave fields in a weakly turbulent plasma. The oscillation amplitudes and frequencies of the walls determine the dynamics and distribution of the particles. The resulting asymptotic velocity distributions agree qualitatively with existing weak turbulence theories. It is also found that the second wall, which simulates the effect of the nonresonant wave-particle interaction, can destroy correlations in the particle dynamics and lead to the formation of a high-energy tail in the velocity distribution.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Catalytic growth and characterization of gallium nitride nanowires.

The preparation of high-purity and -quality gallium nitride nanowires is accomplished by a catalytic growth using gallium and ammonium. A series of catalysts and different reaction parameters were applied to systematically optimize and control the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of the nanowires. The resulting nanowires show predominantly wurtzite phase; they were up to several micrometers in length, typically with diameters of 10-50 nm. A minimum nanowire diameter of 6 nm has been achieved. Temperature dependence of photoluminescence spectra of the nanowires revealed that the emission mainly comes from wurtzite GaN with little contribution from the cubic phase. Moreover, the thermal quenching of photoluminescence was much reduced in the GaN nanowires. The Raman spectra showed five first-order phonon modes. The frequencies of these peaks were close to those of the bulk GaN, but the modes were significantly broadened, which is indicative of the phonon confinement effects associated with the nanoscale dimensions of the system. Additional Raman modes, not observed in the bulk GaN, were found in the nanowires. The field emission study showing notable emission current with low turn-on field suggests potential of the GaN nanowires in field emission applications. This work opens a wide route toward detailed studies of the fundamental properties and potential applications of semiconductor nanowires.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Effect of an internal rotating current on low-frequency inductively coupled plasmas.

The effect of an internal low-frequency rotating current on inductively coupled plasmas in cylindrical chambers is studied. The electromagnetic field structure, power density distribution, the plasma density, and the operating regimes of the discharge are investigated using electrodynamic, power, and particle balance equations. It is shown that the rotating current sheet can dramatically improve the uniformity of the electromagnetic fields and the power transferred to the plasma electrons from that of conventional low-frequency inductively coupled plasma sources with external flat spiral inductive coils.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Building international partnerships.

Health is a global concern. Although nursing is a global profession, most schools of nursing concentrate on teaching health exclusively within the context of their own nation. Sister-school partnerships that cross national boundaries are one way of extending the learning opportunities of faculties and students. An example of a 5-year partnership is described and analysed.

China↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of extraction methods from paraffin wax embedded tissues for PCR amplification of human and viral DNA.

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of phenol/chloroform, microwave, and Qiagen spin column based DNA extractions from paraffin wax embedded tissue for use in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, to assess the reliability of amplifying a housekeeping gene to indicate successful viral DNA extraction. METHODS: DNA samples extracted from 20 blocks of cervical carcinoma tissues using the three methods were subjected to PCRs targeting 509 bp and 355 bp of the beta globin gene, and 450 bp and 150 bp of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. RESULTS: Microwave extraction showed the highest positive rate for beta globin PCR, whereas the spin column method was the most efficient for HPV DNA extraction. When the 509 bp beta globin and 450 bp HPV PCR results were correlated, two of 10, eight of 12, and nine of 10 beta globin positive extractions prepared by means of the phenol/chloroform, microwave, and spin column methods, respectively, yielded HPV DNA of the expected size. For the beta globin negative samples, HPV was detected in three of 10, two of eight, and four of 10 samples. CONCLUSIONS: HPV DNA extraction was most efficient using the Qiagen spin column and had the highest positive predictive value when a housekeeping gene was used as an indicator of successful viral DNA extraction; the phenol/chloroform method was the least efficient. The potential drawbacks of some extraction methods when using a human housekeeping gene to assess the quality of viral DNA extraction need to be considered.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2001

Microsatellite instability, expression of hMSH2 and hMLH1 and HPV infection in cervical cancer and their clinico-pathological association.

Infection with specific genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) has been strongly implicated in cervical carcinogenesis. However, HPV infection alone is insufficient for malignant transformation of the cervical epithelium. An alteration of microsatellite repeats is the result of slippage owing to strand misalignment during DNA replication and is referred to as microsatellite instability (MSI). These defects in DNA repair pathways have been related to human carcinogenesis; however, the role of MSI in the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer remains unclear. The clinical and pathological features of cervical cancers which are MSI-positive have also not been fully characterized. This study investigated the prevalence of MSI in cervical cancer and its relationship to clinico-pathological characteristics and HPV infection. Polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite assay combined with tissue microdissection was used to examine for MSI in 50 cervical squamous cell carcinomas in Hong Kong women. In addition, the immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the expression of major DNA mismatch repair genes, hMSH2 and hMLH1. Six cases (12%) displayed a low frequency of MSI (MSL-L) showing MSI at one locus only in 5 loci examined. Seven cases (14%) showed a high frequency of MSI (MSI-H) having MSI at 2 or more loci. Grouping MSI-L and MSI-H cases together as MSI-positive, statistical analysis of HPV infection, tumor grade, clinical stage and clinical status failed to disclose differences between MSI-positive and MSI-negative cases (p > 0.05). However, MSI-H correlated with advanced stage of disease (p < 0.05). Individuals with MSI-H tumors appeared to have reduced overall survival compared to individuals with MSI-L and MSI-negative tumors, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.059). An absence of either MSH2 or MLH1 expression was observed in 2 MSI-L and 4 MSI-H cases, respectively. The results suggest that MSI is present in a subgroup of cervical squamous cell carcinomas, and defects resulting in MSI may be related to tumor progression and possibly poor prognosis in cervical cancer.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2000

Electron acceleration by a short relativistic laser pulse at the front of solid targets.

Acceleration of electrons in a low-density plasma in front of a solid target by a propagating short ultraintense laser pulse is studied. When the laser is reflected at the target surface the accelerated electrons, with energy scaling as the laser intensity, continue to move forward inertially and thus escape from the pulse. Electrons accelerated backwards by the reflected light can attain even higher energies due to their longer acceleration length and their high initial momentum from a relativistic return current.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Loss of heterozygosity at the short arm of chromosome 3 in microdissected cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is a common genetic finding in many human neoplasms, including cervical cancer. The detection of LOH at specific loci in the precursor of cervical cancer, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) may help in elucidating the evolution of this cancer, which has a clearly defined histological premalignant phase. However, molecular genetic investigation of CIN is difficult because many of the lesions are very small and sometimes ill defined topographically. In this study we analyzed eighteen polymorphic microsatellite repeats on chromosome 3p in CINs using a method of primer extension pre-amplification (PEP) for whole genome amplification combined with microdissection. These markers encompass chromosome region 3pter-3p12. LOH at one or more loci was detected in five (33%) out of the 15 informative cases with low grade CIN (CIN 1), while 22 (92%) out of 24 cases with high grade CIN (CIN 2 and 3) (P<0.01). The highest incidence (41%) of LOH was detected at locus D3S1038 (3p26.1-3p25.2). Frequent LOH (more than 20%) was also found at other loci including D3S1110 (3p25.3-3p25.1) (31%), D3S656 (3p25.1) (24%), D3S1076 (3p21.2-3p21.1) (29%), D3S1300 (3p21.1-3p14.2) (24%), D3S1600 (3p14.2-3p14.1) (24%), and D3S1079 (3p13) (25%). The results from this study taken together with others indicate that the genetic alterations on chromosome 3p are common in high grade of CIN and are probably early events in cervical carcinogenesis. Tumor suppressor gene(s) that play a role in cervical neoplasm may be located on the short arm of chromosome 3, likely at or near 3p26.1-25.1, 3p21.2-21.1, and 3p14.2-13.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of dynamic helical CT and dynamic MR imaging in the evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares dynamic helical CT with dynamic MR imaging in the evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in cervical carcinoma. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Women with biopsy-proven cervical carcinoma prospectively underwent dynamic helical CT and MR imaging before surgery. A metastatic node on CT and MR imaging was defined as a rounded soft-tissue structure greater than 10 mm in maximal axial diameter or a node with central necrosis. Imaging results were compared with pathology, and receiver operating characteristic curves for size and shape were plotted on a hemipelvis basis. Nodal density and signal intensity on CT and MR images, respectively, were reviewed for differences between benign and malignant disease. RESULTS: A total of 949 lymph nodes were found at pathology in 76 hemipelves in 43 women, of which 69 lymph nodes (7%) in 17 hemipelves (22%) were metastatic. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of helical CT and MR imaging in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis on a hemipelvis basis was 64.7%, 96.6%, 84.6%, 90.5%, and 89.5% and 70.6%, 89.8%, 66. 7%, 91.4%, and 85.5%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curves for helical CT and MR imaging gave cutoff values of 9 and 12 mm in maximal axial diameter, respectively, in the prediction of metastasis. Central necrosis had a positive predictive value of 100% in the diagnosis of metastasis. Signal intensity on MR imaging and density-enhancement pattern on CT in patients with metastatic nodes did not differ from those in patients with negative nodes. CONCLUSION: Helical CT and MR imaging show similar accuracy in the evaluation of pelvic lymph nodes in patients with cervical carcinoma. Central necrosis is useful in the diagnosis of metastasis in pelvic lymph nodes in cervical cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Combining qualitative with quantitative approaches to study contraceptive pill use.

According to large-scale studies, oral contraceptive users become pregnant at rates that exceed ideal use failure rates. It is thought that a major cause is missed pills, but current research on consistent contraceptive pill taking is characterized by inadequate measures and a failure to investigate women's thinking about their own patterns of use. The purpose of this study was to gain some understanding about women's interpretations of consistency in their own pill taking through combining qualitative with quantitative data. The study was conducted in China, where contraception is free and widely available. Five urban and five rural oral contraceptive users were followed for up to three pill-taking cycles during 1996 for a total of 759 person-days. Consistency of pill taking was measured with electronic data obtained from a new blister package made by Anderson Clinical Technologies (Elmhurst, IL). Data from these devices were reviewed and interpreted by the study participants during in-depth private interviews. The users' reasons for missing pills included disruptions in their daily routines, their husband's absence, spotting, and trouble implementing the family planning program's instructions to take one pill per day for 22 days and start the next cycle on the fifth day of menses. One user gave these reasons for two cycles but denied missing numerous pills in her third cycle. Data from a series of four questionnaires showed that most demographic, psychosocial, and service system characteristics were not related to missed pills. However, results suggested that the daily routines of rural living may make consistent use more likely and that instructions for taking the pill may be associated with prolonged pill-free intervals and skipping pills during episodes of spotting. Three of the 10 women were at increased risk of pregnancy during the study period because of their pill-taking pattern. We concluded that the combination of qualitative with quantitative data enhances understanding of contraceptive use. Women themselves offer plausible reasons for their use behaviors. Listening to women could be useful in improving programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Nonlinear electrostatic waves in a magnetized plasma.

The modulational interaction of finite-amplitude high-frequency electrostatic waves propagating at an arbitrary angle to an external magnetic field with slow plasma motion is considered. A set of nonlinear evolution equations describing the interaction is obtained. New types of solitary waves propagating at near sonic speeds are found.

Journal Article↗