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Biomedical subjects

Y S Lu

Publications and source records attributed to Y S Lu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Phase II study of weekly vinorelbine and 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin as first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer.

We prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of combining weekly vinorelbine (VNB) with weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC). Vinorelbine 25 mg m(-2) 30-min intravenous infusion, and high-dose 5-FU 2600 mg m(-2) plus LV 300 mg m(-2) 24-h intravenous infusion (HDFL regimen) were given on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks. Between June 1999 and April 2003, 40 patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic breast cancer were enrolled with a median age of 49 years (range: 36-68). A total of 25 patients had recurrent ABC, and 15 patients had primary metastatic diseases. The overall response rate for the intent-to-treat group was 70.0% (95% CI: 54-84%) with eight complete responses and 20 partial responses. All 40 patients were evaluated for survival and toxicities. Among a total of 316 cycles of VNB-HDFL given (average: 7.9: range: 4-14 cycles per patient), the main toxicity was Gr3/4 leucopenia and Gr3/4 neutropenia in 57 (18.0%) and 120 (38.0%) cycles, respectively. Gr1/2 infection and Gr1/2 stomatitis were noted in five (1.6%) and 59 (18.7%) cycles, respectively. None of the patients developed Gr3/4 stomatitis or Gr3/4 infection. Gr2/3 and Gr1 hand-foot syndrome was noted in two (5.0%) and 23 (57.5%) patients, respectively. Gr1 sensory neuropathy developed in three patients. The median time to progression was 8.0 months (range: 3-25.5 months), and the median overall survival was 25.0 months with a follow-up of 5.5 to 45+ months. This VNB-HDFL regimen is a highly active yet well-tolerated first-line treatment for ABC.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Detection of Myxobolus rotundus (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in skin mucus of crucian carp Carassius auratus auratus using a monoclonal antibody.

Diagnosis of myxosporean Myxobolus rotundus infection was conducted by examining skin mucus from the infected crucian carp Carassius auratus auratus with a monoclonal antibody, MAb 2D12, raised previously against the parasite. A positive reaction was observed in skin mucus collected from infected fish, and spores and pre-spore stages of the parasite were identified by the MAb 2D12. It was also demonstrated that M. rotundus infection can be successfully detected by a simple method, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and that skin mucus collected from infected fish skin had a significantly higher optical density (OD) value than that from uninfected fish.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

A study of admission criteria and early management of adult patients with acute asthma.

We studied the admission criteria and first 24-hour management of 62 asthmatic patients admitted from Accident and Emergency (A&E) department of a state hospital. Data was collected prospectively over a 6-month period from the doctors' medical records with reference to recommendations of the Malaysian Thoracic Society (MTS) on management of acute asthma. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) records were present in only 14.5% of the A&E notes and 54.8% of the ward notes. Most of these readings were below 75% of predicted normal values. Over half of the patients had records on ability to speak full sentences, and respiratory and pulse rates. Based on other records on criteria for life-threatening features (including arterial blood gases), 42% of patients studied had life threatening asthma exacerbations. Most received appropriate treatment as recommended by the MTS. We conclude that while most patients were admitted and treated appropriately, medical documentation regarding acute asthma assessment were inadequate in some.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

[Application of differential wavelet in detecting QRS complexes of ECG signal].

An algorithm based on wavelet transforms (WT'S) has been developed for detecting QRS complexes of ECG signal. In this paper, we use Mallat algorithm to calculate dyadic Marr wavelet transforms, analyse the relationship between singularity of the signal (the peak of R wave) and local maximal value of WT's from the view of equivalent wavelet filter, discuss the performance distinction between quadratic differential wavelet and single differential wavelet for singularity detection. Some other tactics are also applied to improve the anti-interference performance of the algorithm and to increase the correct detection rate of QRS complexes. Verified by the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, the correct detection rate of QRS complexes is 99.8%.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2000

Single primer polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting for Pasteurella multocida isolates from laboratory rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting technique for discriminating among Pasteurella multocida isolates from laboratory rabbits. SAMPLE POPULATION: 33 P multocida isolates from rabbits with clinical pasteurellosis. PROCEDURE: PCR assays were conducted with 2 minisatellites (core sequence and modified core sequence of phage M13) and 2 microsatellites ([GTG]5 and [GACA]4). Each bacterium was assigned to a PCR type for each of the primers used. Boiled bacterial extracts and purified genomic DNA were compared by use of PCR assays for phage M13 and (GACA)4. Plasmids were isolated from each bacterium, and their influence on PCR fingerprint was determined, using boiled extracts as a DNA source. RESULTS: M13 core sequence and M13 modified core sequence yielded 5 and 8 PCR types, respectively. The microsatellites (GTG)5 and (GACA)4 yielded 4 and 9 PCR fingerprint types, respectively. Fingerprint patterns obtained by use of isolated DNA differed from those obtained by use of boiled extracts, although discrimination among P multocida isolates was similar. The presence or absence of plasmids did not affect PCR fingerprints. CONCLUSION: Single primer PCR fingerprinting with minisatellite and microsatellite primers is an efficient and reproducible method for the discrimination of P multocida isolates from rabbits and can be performed directly, using boiled bacterial extracts as a source of template, although more bands were obtained from pure genomic DNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Long-term outcome of adult patients with minimal urinary abnormalities and normal renal function.

AIM: To define the long-term outcome of patients with minimal urinary abnormalities (defined by the presence of microscopic hematuria with no or less than 1 gm/day proteinuria), and normal renal function (defined by a serum creatinine < 1.3 mg/dl), we retrospectively studied patients who fulfilled the above criteria and had a kidney biopsy done before the year of 1992 (i.e. at least followed up for 5 years), with a definite pathological diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 41 cases among 719 cases of primary glomerulonephritis (5.7%) were enrolled into the study. There were 19 males and 22 females with a mean age of 35.4+/-14.7 years at biopsy. The duration of renal disease was 116.0+/-60.5 months and the duration of follow-up post biopsy was 100.2+/-38.1 months. The pathological diagnosis was: IgA nephropathy (21 cases), focal glomerulosclerosis (9 cases), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (8 cases), membranous glomerulonephritis (2 cases) and acute glomerulonephritis (1 case). RESULTS: At the end of follow-up, 8 cases (19.5%) had a certain degree of renal insufficiency including 2 (4.9%) in end-stage renal disease. The other cases were either in complete remission (6 cases) or stable condition (27 cases) with persistent microscopic hematuria and normal renal function. The long-term outcome was not correlated with any of the following parameters: age, sex, disease duration, serum creatinine at presentation, daily protein loss at presentation, degree of glomerular change and degree of interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. However, a poor long-term outcome was correlated with tubular atrophy (p < 0.05) and interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that a minimal urinary abnormality with normal renal function at presentation does not necessarily imply a favorable long-term outcome in certain patients. Tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis but not glomerular change correlates with a worse prognosis. This further emphasizes the importance of renal biopsy in such cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Characterization of rabbit Pasteurella multocida isolates by use of whole-cell, outer-membrane, and polymerase chain reaction typing.

PURPOSE: To characterize Pasteurella multocida isolates from laboratory rabbits using serotyping, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of whole-cell proteins (WCPs) and outer-membrane proteins (OMPs), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting. METHODS: Fifty isolates were obtained from five sources: ATCC (1), Oklahoma (4), Michigan (9), Minnesota (7), and Texas (29). The PCR fingerprinting was conducted using two minisatellite probes for M13 and a modified M13 core sequence and two microsatellite probes--(GTG)5 and (GACA)4. RESULTS: Forty-five isolates were serogroup A, and five were serogroup D. Ten WCP patterns (W1-W10) with one variation (W1a) and 10 OMP (OM1-OM10) patterns were found. Primers M13 phage, modified M13 phage, (GTG)5, and (GACA)4 generated 7, 9, 5, and 9 fingerprint types, respectively. Combination of WCP, OMP, and PCR fingerprint results yielded 39 groups with a discrimination index of 0.98. The PCR fingerprint results generally indicated clonal association among isolates within geographic locations except for the isolates from Texas, which varied markedly in PCR fingerprint types. CONCLUSION: Single primer PCR fingerprinting provided a simple and rapid means of typing P. multocida isolates from laboratory rabbits. Combinations of conventional and molecular typing enhanced differentiation among P. multocida isolated from rabbits with pasteurellosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Soluble interleukin 2 receptor in dialyzed patients.

Azotemic patients are usually characterized by a state of so-called preactivation resulting in excessive expression of interleukin 2 receptors (IL-2R) on T lymphocytes. The etiological mechanism of this preactivation is, however, still speculative. We studied the serum level of the soluble form of IL-2R (sIL-2R) in azotemic patients on either hemodialysis (HD) (n = 49) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) (n = 45). Both patient groups had significantly higher sIL-2R levels (1,750+/-664 U/ml in the HD group and 1,769+/-647 U/ml in the CAPD group, respectively) p < 0.00001 as compared to the normal control group (511+/-436 U/ml). However, there was no significant difference between the levels of the HD and CAPD group patients. When clinical parameters were studied for their influence on sIL-2R levels, none of the following caused any significant changes: blood transfusion, type of dialyzer used, type of dialysis fluid used, treatment with erythropoietin, hepatitis B infection, or liver function profile. We conclude that chronic renal failure per se is the major cause of the preactivation of T lymphocytes. The modes of treatment and various clinical variables in these patients have no significant influence on sIL-2R levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Therapeutic effect of DNA immunization of genetically susceptible mice infected with virulent Mycoplasma pulmonis.

Genetically susceptible BALB/c mice were immunized i.m. with DNA for one or two Mycoplasma pulmonis Ags (A7-1, A8-1) beginning either 1 wk before (vaccination) or 1 wk after (treatment) intranasal infection with 5 x 10(4) CFU virulent M. pulmonis organisms. Immunization of mice by this method induced both humoral and cellular immunity to M. pulmonis, largely prevented infection (vaccination), and cleared an ongoing pneumonia over time (treatment). Only one Ag gene was required. Thus, DNA immunization is a potential treatment for infections and may be useful in instances when drug therapy may not be available or effective.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Epizootic of Chlamydia psittaci infection in goats in Taiwan.

Epizootic abortion in goats has been frequently reported in Taiwan since 1993. The outbroken flocks were found in most of districts in Taiwan. No apparent clinical signs were found in aborted doe. The typical abortion occurred in the last two months of pregnancy. The incidence of abortion was from 10% to 87% in outbroken farms in 1993, and a total of 976 out of 2130 pregnancies (46%) were found abortion in our investigation. Gross lesions in aborted fetuses included generalized haemorrhage and swollen liver. Chlamydia psittaci was isolated from tissues of aborted fetuses and from vaginal swabs of aborted does. Chlamydial antibodies were detected among 67% to 100% of aborted does from epizootic flocks. The C. psittaci was diagnosed as the causal agent in enzootic abortion. This is the first report on chlamydial isolation and antibody surveys in epizootic abortion in goats in Taiwan.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1996

The isolation of Akabane virus (Iriki strain) from calves in Taiwan.

Nonsuppurative encephalitis in calves aged 4-12 months, cow abortion and fetal deformities were endemic in dairy farms in Taiwan in recent years. A virological investigation emphasizing on Arthpodborn virus (Arbovirus) was conducted. Total of 11 strains of Akabane virus were isolated from endemic districts between June and July of 1992. Among them, seven viruses were isolated from blood samples of 15 calves showing nervous signs. Another 4 Akabane viruses were isolated from clinically healthy calves from three of six dairy farms investigated. All the six investigated farms had a recent history of abortion and fetal deformities. The isolates caused prominent cytopathic effects in HmLu-1 cells and could reach a high virus titers (5 x 10(6) TCID50/ml). As demonstrated by a cross neutralization test, the isolates had identical antigenicity to Iriki strain of Akabane virus, but were antigenically more distant to JaGar-39 and OBE-1 strain of Akabane virus. This is the first report on the isolation of Akabane virus in Taiwan, and also the second report on the isolation of Iriki virus in the world.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Long-term clinical and morphological evaluation of primary membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is a relatively rare primary glomerulonephritis (GN). Its incidence has decreased progressively in the past two decades. To improve knowledge of this rare GN, a retrospective review of 22 patients during a 12-year period was undertaken. METHODS: From November 1982 to December 1994, from a total 814 cases of primary GN, 22 patients with primary MPGN were diagnosed. Clinical data, medical records, renal pathology and outcome were reviewed. RESULTS: Patients included 15 male and 7 females, aged from 11 to 67 years. The average follow-up period was 46.3 months, with a range of 1 to 140 months. Tissue was available for electromicroscopic study in 11 cases; of which 9 cases fulfilled morphologic criteria of Type I MPGN; the other 2 cases were Type II MPGN. The clinical presentations at diagnosis included nephrotic syndrome (86.4%), impaired renal function (63.6%), microhematuria (50%), gross hematuria (31.8%) and hypertension (50%). Low serum C3 was found in 40.9% cases, 44.4% in Type I and 50% in Type III MPGN. The positive rate of hepatitis B virus infection was 22.7% with 33.3% in Type I and none in Type III MPGN. All 22 patients received various combined antihypertensive agents, immunosuppressant, anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents at diagnosis, but 17 had progressive disease, 4 maintained normal renal function with proteinuria and only 1 had complete remission. Fifteen patients, including six Type I and no Type III MPGN, progressed to end-stage renal failure. Both patients with Type III MPGN maintained normal renal function and responded to treatment. The 5 and 10 year actuarial renal survival rates were 33.3% and 16.7% respectively. The median kidney survival time was 51.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of cases with MPGN presenting with impaired renal function (86.7%) and hypertension (85%) at diagnosis progressed to end-stage renal failure. Delayed diagnosis and poor compliance were possible reasons for compared with for worse prognosis previous reports. But two patients with Type III MPGN had favorable prognosis previously described. Treatments generally failed to halt disease progression. Since at least five cases (22.7%) maintained normal renal function after treatments, a course of immunosuppressant is probably indicated if there is no contraindication. Further study with a larger population is warranted to clarify this issue.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Variation of plasma cholesterol levels in rats fed trans fatty acids or cis fatty acids.

To investigate the effect of dietary trans fatty acids on plasma and liver lipids, 16 Sprague Dawley male rats fed the hydrogenated soybean oil (Trans fat) or Cis fat from olive oil with two similar dietary fatty acid ratios for 9 weeks were studied. Higher plasma total cholesterol and LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels were observed in rats fed trans fat diet when compared with rats fed the cis fat diet after 2 weeks of feeding. However, no significant changes in plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were found in rats of both dietary groups at 4-weeks of feeding. Rats fed trans fatty acids had lower plasma total cholesterol, LDL and VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels at the end of the experimental period. Although significantly (p < 0.05) lower liver triacylglycerol contents were found in rats fed trans fat diet, no significant (p > 0.05) changes in liver cholesterol and phospholipids contents were observed in rats after trans fatty acids treatment. It is interesting that lower saturated to polyunsaturated ratios in fatty acid composition of plasma VLDL total lipids were found in rats fed trans fat diet. Results from this study suggest that the changes in plasma lipoprotein cholesterol in rats fed trans fatty acids might be related to the long or the short term study, and dietary trans fatty acids may alter the plasma lipoprotein metabolism in rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Seroepidemiological survey of feline retrovirus infections in cats in Taiwan in 1993 and 1994.

In order to investigate the prevalence of infections with three feline retroviruses feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline syncytial virus (FSV) in Taiwan, we collected a total of 75 blood samples from cats from veterinary hospitals, a breeding cattery and a homeless shelter in 1993 and 1994. We examined the presences of anti-FIV and FSV antibodies and FeLV-p27 antigen in these samples by the indirect immunofluorescence and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. All of the serum samples positive for FIV were obtained from homeless cats and the overall FIV positive rate was 4%. The overall positive rates of FSV and FeLV were 28% and 1.3%, respectively. From these results, together with previous seroepidemiological surveys by others, it was revealed that the prevalence of FIV and FeLV infections appeared to be lower in Taiwan than in the United States or Japan. In contrast, the prevalence of FSV infection in Taiwan was as high as that in Japan.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Experimental studies on the application of a porcelain-light-cured resin matrix system to the porcelain margin of metal-ceramic crowns.

Application of a light-cured porcelain margin is a technique which has been developed recently. In this study, we compared the porcelain margin properties of the porcelain-light-cured resin matrix system and the traditional porcelain-water system, in terms of volumetric shrinkage, density, compressive strength, surface characteristics, internal porosity, separability of the condensed porcelain from the stone die, and the marginal integrity. The experimental resin matrix was composed of BDMA or EGDMA as a base monomer, CQ as a photoinitiator, DEAEMA as a polymerization accelerator, and TEGDMA as a diluent. Compared with the conventional system, the porcelain of the resin matrix system tended to show a larger volumetric shrinkage, a smaller density and a lower compressive strength. The experimental groups containing the diluent and the traditional control group demonstrated smoother surfaces and less internal porosity than those without the diluent. The photoinitiator was thought to play an important role on the separability from the stone die and the marginal integrity; the higher the ratio of the photoinitiator (1.0 wt%), the better the separability and the fit.

Compressive Strength↗