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Biomedical subjects

S M Lin

Publications and source records attributed to S M Lin.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Determination of trace elements in human whole blood by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

The trace element composition of whole blood has been investigated by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The blood samples of 80 individuals of adult population in Taiwan were analyzed. The samples were lyophilized, irradiated together with synthetic standards, and determined gamma-spectrometrically. The concentrations of 7 elements, Cr, Co, Fe, Rb, Sc, Se and Zn were simultaneously determined. The reliability of the analysis was checked with NBS bovine liver reference standard material. The frequency distributions of all the elements measured are presented and the results are compared with available data.

Activation Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arsenic, selenium, and zinc in patients with Blackfoot disease.

Blackfoot disease is a peripheral vascular disease resulting in gangrene of the lower extremities. Extensive epidemiological study implicates that high arsenic content in artesian well water is the responsible causal factor of the disease. In the present study the concentrations of arsenic, selenium, and zinc in the body fluids and hair of patients with Blackfoot disease, in comparison to age- and sex-matched normal controls, are investigated. Two analytical techniques that include atomic absorption spectrometry and neutron activation analysis were used for the analysis of urine, serum, hair, and whole blood. The analytical results indicate that hair arsenic of the patients is significantly higher than that of the controls, but still below the critical value of 1 microgram/g. In addition, the patients showed significantly lower concentrations of Se and Zn in the urine and blood than the normal controls. The possible connection of these elements with the etiology of the disease is discussed.

Arsenic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of laparoscopy in the evaluation of ascites of unknown origin.

The role of laparoscopy in the diagnostic evaluation of ascites of unknown origin was studied in 129 patients. Laparoscopic results were as follows: (1) Carcinomatosis peritonei in 78 (60.5%). Peritoneal biopsies in 76 of these cases revealed malignancy in 67 (adenocarcinoma 62, lymphoma 4, mesothelioma 1) and tuberculosis in 5; specimens were inadequate for diagnosis in 4. (2) Tuberculous peritonitis in 26 (20.2%). Peritoneal biopsies in 24 of these cases revealed tuberculosis in 22 and non-specific chronic peritonitis in 2. (3) Cirrhosis in 7 (5.4%). (4) No gross abnormality in 18 (14.0%). Of the latter, causes of ascites had already been identified in 13 (72.2%), including chronic renal failure in 7, systemic lupus erythematosus in 2, constrictive pericarditis in 2, chronic pancreatitis with chylous ascites in 1, and retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis with chylous ascites in 1. Thus, laparoscopic observation in combination with biopsy established the cause of ascites of unknown origin in 111 (86.0%) of 129 patients. Most of the 18 patients without gross laparoscopic abnormality had underlying disease identified as a cause of ascites; laparoscopy was indicated in these cases to exclude other processes that may also cause ascites.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Regression of orthotopic brain tumors by cytokine-assisted tumor vaccines primed in the brain.

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of a rat glioma cell line, C6, that was engineered to secrete mouse GM-CSF (mGM-CSF) on intracerebral (i.c.) brain tumors. Significant antitumor immunity was induced in rats when the live or irradiated mGM-CSF-secreting tumor vaccine was implanted i.c. The antitumor activity was effective on small tumors and, to a lesser extent, on large tumors or tumors existing in vivo for a longer duration. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed cellular infiltrates (granulocytes, macrophages, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells) at both the vaccine site and the tumor site, indicating that immune responses were similarly activated when tumor vaccine was inoculated in the brain, as at the subcutis. Additional studies demonstrated that the therapeutic effects of tumor vaccines on the large tumors or the long-existing tumors were enhanced by strategies such as increasing the dosage of tumor vaccines, using combined vaccines consisting of mGM-CSF and human interleukin-2, or combining tumor vaccine with herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir treatment. All of the modified strategies yielded synergistic therapeutic effects on the large tumor burdens. The data presented herein suggest that cytokine gene therapy is highly promising for the treatment of i.c. gliomas.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytologic changes in hepatocellular carcinoma after percutaneous acetic acid injection. Correlation with helical computed tomography findings.

OBJECTIVE: To illustrate the cytologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after percutaneous acetic acid injection (PAI) and to correlate the cytologic findings with helical computed tomography (CT) findings. STUDY DESIGN: The study included 30 patients with 37 HCC who had undergone PAI. Baseline cytomorphology of HCC was evaluated by needle aspiration in all cases. PAI under ultrasound guidance was done every three to seven days. Upon completion of PAI, fine needle aspiration cytology was performed and followed by helical CT within two weeks. The degeneration of HCC after PAI was classified into two grades. Grade 1 showed incomplete degeneration (99% of nuclear area); grade 2 showed complete degeneration or severe degeneration with cell debris or amorphous material only. The specimens were stained with Riu's method (Romanowsky system). RESULTS: The cytologic changes after PAI included decreased cell number, reduced cellular aggregation, degeneration of cytoplasm and nucleus, and eosinophilic or basophilic background in all tumors. In all the 37 tumors without enhancement on helical CT, grade 2 degeneration was detected. CONCLUSION: Our results reveal that grade 2 degeneration alone, demonstrated cytologically, could indicate almost complete necrosis of HCC after PAI, probably implying no need for booster PAI.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Low-dose dopamine infusion in cirrhosis with refractory ascites.

To investigate the effect of dopamine on the renal blood flow, five cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites but no hepatorenal syndrome were allocated to this study. Low-dose dopamine infusion at a rate of 2 micrograms/kg/min was undertaken at least for 24 hours. Effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured by computerised nuclear scanning before and after dopamine infusion. The results revealed no difference in the changes of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, creatinine clearance, blood pressure, pulse rate, serum sodium, serum aldosterone and GFR despite insignificant increases in urine output and urinary sodium excretion after dopamine infusion. However, ERBF values before and after dopamine infusion were 288-311, 208-267, 418-442, 246-270 and 262-396 ml/min in these five patients respectively and showed significant increase (p < 0.01). Our study revealed that low-dose dopamine infusion could increase ERPF in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites.

Adult↗