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Biomedical subjects

Ming Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Ming Lin.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Australia's notifiable diseases status, 2001: annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

In 2001 there were 104,187 notifications of communicable diseases in Australia reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). The number of notifications in 2001 was an increase of 16 per cent of those reported in 2000 (89,740) and the largest annual total since the NNDSS commenced in 1991. In 2001, nine new diseases were added to the list of diseases reported to NNDSS and four diseases were removed. The new diseases were cryptosporidiosis, laboratory-confirmed influenza, invasive pneumococcal disease, Japanese encephalitis, Kunjin virus infection, Murray Valley encephalitis virus infection, anthrax, Australian bat lyssavirus, and other lyssaviruses (not elsewhere classified). Bloodborne virus infections remained the most frequently notified disease (29,057 reports, 27.9% of total), followed by sexually transmitted infections (27,647, 26.5%), gastrointestinal diseases (26,086, 25%), vaccine preventable diseases (13,030 (12.5%), vectorborne diseases (5,294, 5.1%), other bacterial infections (1,978, 1.9%), zoonotic infections (1,091, 1%) and four cases of quarantinable diseases. In 2001 there were increases in the number of notifications of incident hepatitis C, chlamydial infections, pertussis, Barmah Forest virus infection and ornithosis. There were decreases in the number of notifications of hepatitis A, Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, measles, rubella, Ross River virus infections and brucellosis. This report also summarises data on communicable diseases from other surveillance systems including the Laboratory Virology and Serology Reporting Scheme and sentinel general practitioner schemes. In addition, this report comments on other important developments in communicable disease control in Australia in 2001.

Australia↗
PubMed2003

Expression of a novel bHLH-Zip gene in human testis.

AIM: To identify specifically expressed genes in the adult and fetal testes. METHODS: A human testis cDNA microarray was established. Then the mRNA of adult and fetal testis was purified and probes were prepared by a reverse transcription reaction with the testis mRNA as template. The microarray was hybridized with probes of adult and fetal testes. The nucleic sequences of differentially expressed genes were determined and homologies were searched in the databases of the GenBank. RESULTS: When hybridized with adult or fetal testis probes, the positive clones were 96.8 % and 95.4 %, respectively. Among these genes, one was a new testis-specific gene, which was named TSP1. TSP1 was highly expressed in human adult testis. The cDNA of TSP1 was 1,484 bp in length. The cDNA sequence of this clone was deposited in the Genbank (AF333098). TSP1 was also determined as Interim Gen Symbol (Unigene, No. Hs.98266). Protein analysis showed that TSP1 contained two functional domains: an N-terminal basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and a C-terminal leucine zipper (Zip). Homologous analysis showed that the 430 amino acid sequences deduced from the 1293 bp open reading frame (ORF) had a homology with the human gene FLJ2509 (AK098575). TSP1 had also a sequence homology with Spz 1 protein of mouse. Expression profiles showed that TSP1 was specifically and strongly expressed in the testis. CONCLUSION: TSP1 is a gene highly expressed in adult testis. It may play an important role in spermatogenesis in the humans.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Cooperation of mixed culturing bacteria in the hydrogen production by fermentation].

In order to discuss the cooperation of H2-producing fermentation bacteria (HPFB) in mixed culture, a batch test fed with glucose and complex organic substance (starch, beef, PEP and peptone) respectively, was conducted to investigate the effects of mixed culture on H2-producing ability. For the systemic and accurate analysis, three kinds of the mixed culture were use to this batch test. It included that the mixed culture with five strains of HPFB (B49, H1, LM12, LM11 and B51), B49 and three stains of non-HPFB (L10, Bacteroide 3-2, Sporobacterl), and B49 and hydrogen producing sludge. The results showed that the cooperation of mixed culturing bacteria was conditional on the substrates. When fed with glucose, which were easily utilized by HPB, the H2-producing ability of HPB was restrained because of the competition on the co-substrate between HPB and other fermentation bacteria, and it was quite difficult for the cooperation of mixed culturing bacteria to be performed. When fed with complex organic substance, the H2-producing ability of HPB was enhanced via the cooperation of mixed culturing bacteria. Furthermore, a strategy was put forward, that is, different kind of HPB cultures could be adopted according to the difference of substrates.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2003

[Identification and characterization of LAPTM4B encoded by a human hepatocellular carcinoma-associated novel gene].

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize the novel proteins encoded by a HCC-associated novel gene, LAPTM4B (lysosomeassociated protein transmembrane 4 beta). METHODS: The novel proteins was identified by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and 2D electrophoresis; the molecular interactions were studied by co-immunoprecipitation. RESULTS: LAPTM4B encoded two isoforms of proteins with molecular weight 35 x 10(3) and 24 x 10(3) and pI 9.07 and 4.65, respectively. The expression levels of LAPTM4B proteins in HCC tissues and cell lines were upregulated and related to differentiation, and most dramatically raised for 35 x 10(3) one. It was demonstrated that LAPTM4B--integrin alpha 6 and LAPTM4B--EGFR signaling complexes were formed when BEL-7402 cells were seeded on laminin substrate. CONCLUSION: The LAPTM4B-35 protein is overexpressed in human HCC tissues and cell lines and may involve in signal transduction triggered by extracellular matrix via interaction with integrin alpha 6 and EGFR on cell surface.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2002

Role of acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase (ACS) is a plastidic enzyme that forms acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) from acetate and coenzyme A using the energy from ATP. Traditionally it has been thought to be the major source for the production of acetyl-CoA destined for fatty acid formation. Recent work suggested that the accumulation of lipids in developing Arabidopsis seeds was more closely correlated with the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex than with the expression of ACS, suggesting that most of the carbon for fatty acid formation in the plastids of seeds comes from pyruvate rather than from acetate. To explore the role of this enzyme, Arabidopsis plants with altered amounts of ACS were generated by overexpressing its cDNA in either the sense or the antisense configuration. The resulting plants had in vitro enzyme activities that ranged from about 5% to over 400% of wild-type levels. The rate of [1-14C]acetate conversion into fatty acids was closely related to the in vitro ACS activity, showing that the amount of enzyme clearly limited the capacity of leaves to convert exogenous acetate to fatty acids. There was, however, no relationship between the ACS level and the capacity of the plants to incorporate 14CO2 into 14C-labeled fatty acids. These data strongly support the idea that, although plants can convert acetate into fatty acids, relatively little carbon moves through this pathway under normal conditions.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2002

The normal difference in bilateral indirect blood pressure recordings in hypertensive individuals.

OBJECTIVE: If there is a significant dichotomy between bilateral systolic blood pressure determinations in both arms in hypertensive individuals, it is often taken as a sign of underlying pathology. The primary objective was to determine what the normal variation might be for a significant difference between blood pressures in both arms. A clinically significant difference was chosen as a systolic blood pressure value greater than 10 mm Hg between the upper extremities, as is commonly quoted at the bedside and in the literature. METHODS: Bilateral indirect blood pressure determinations were obtained in 100 subjects with hypertension in the sitting position. The blood pressure was obtained by two observers, one the recorder and the other who obtained the blood pressure but was blinded to the actual values taken. The order of blood pressure determination in the first arm was determined prior to the study from a table of random numbers. The coefficient of variation in obtaining the blood pressure in each arm was determined in 5 of the 100 subjects. The age, sex, and handedness of each individual were recorded as demographic variables. RESULTS: The average left and right systolic blood pressures were 139 +/- 22 and 141 +/- 22 mm Hg, respectively. The average left and right diastolic blood pressures were 78 +/- 12 and 79 +/- 13 mm Hg, respectively. There was no significant difference between left minus right systolic or diastolic differences (paired t-test). There was no significant difference between systolic or diastolic blood pressures between gender or between left- and right-handed individuals (nonpaired t-test). The average coefficients of variation for taking right and left arm systolic pressures were 2.90% and 1.32%, respectively. Eighteen subjects (18%) had differences in systolic blood pressure between both arms exceeding 10 mm Hg (10% to 26%, 95% confidence interval). CONCLUSIONS: Differences of more than 10 mm Hg in indirect systolic blood pressure recordings between arms are frequent in asymptomatic hypertensive individuals and do not per se indicate any pathologic condition. In the right clinical situation, differences that are noted should be repeated and should be added to the total clinical picture when used to determine whether a pathologic condition is present. Assuming no significant aortic or subclavian disease in the population tested, the specificity of the bilateral blood pressure test was 82%.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Australia's notifiable diseases status, 2000. Annual report of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

In 2000, there were 89,740 notifications of communicable diseases in Australia collected by the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). The number of notifications in 2000 was an increase of 5.9 per cent over those reported in 1999 (84,743) and the largest reporting year since the NNDSS commenced in 1991. Notifications in 2000 consisted of 28,341 bloodborne infections (32% of total), 24,319 sexually transmitted infections (27%), 21,303 gastrointestinal infections (24%), 6,617 vaccine preventable infections (7%), 6,069 vectorborne infections (7%), 2,121 other bacterial infections (legionellosis, meningococcal infection, leprosy and tuberculosis) (2%), 969 zoonotic infections (1%) and only one case of a quarantinable infection. Steep declines in some childhood vaccine preventable diseases such as Haemophilus influenzae type b, measles, mumps and rubella, continued in 2000. In contrast, notifications of pertussis and legionellosis increased sharply in the year. Notifications of bloodborne viral diseases (particularly hepatitis B and hepatitis C) and some sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, continue to increase in Australia. This report also summarises data on communicable diseases from other surveillance systems including the Laboratory Virology and Serology Surveillance Scheme (LabVISE) and sentinel general practitioner schemes. In addition this report comments on other important developments in communicable disease control in Australia in 2000.

Australia↗
PubMed2002

Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2000.

Australia has one of the lowest incidences of tuberculosis (TB) in the world. The annual incidence rate has remained stable at between 5 and 6 per 100,000 population, since 1991. In 2000, there were 1,060 TB notifications in Australia, of which 1,004 were newly diagnosed cases and 56 were relapse cases. The corresponding incidence rate for new and relapsed TB was 5.2 and 0.3 cases per 100,000 population, respectively. The highest incidence of TB disease in Australia continues to be among the overseas-born (18.0 per 100,000 population) and Indigenous Australians (15.3 per 100,000 population). By contrast, the incidence of disease in the non-indigenous Australian-born population remains low (1.2 per 100,000 population).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Tuberculosis notifications in Australia, 2001.

In 2001, there were 997 cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, of which, 967 were new cases of TB and 30 cases were relapses. The incidence rate of TB in Australia in 2001 was 5.1 cases per 100,000 population. The highest incidence of TB was reported in people born overseas (19.3 cases per 100,000 population), followed by Indigenous Australians (9.8 cases per 100,000 population). In contrast, the incidence rate of TB in the non-Indigenous Australian-born population was 1.0 cases per 100,000 population. This pattern of TB incidence rates amongst the sub-populations of Australia has been observed for over 10 years. Eighty-six per cent of TB cases completed treatment in 2001. Treatment was unsuccessful in 7 cases and only 22 cases defaulted. The National Tuberculosis Advisory Committee has published a National Strategic Plan with performance indicators to ensure that this enviable record of TB control is maintained and improved.

Adult↗