Biomedical subjects

Y-F Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Y-F Huang.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Preliminary investigations on the standardisation and quality control for the determination of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity in seminal plasma.

The present study was designed to assess the effects of centrifugation velocity, standing time after dilution, freezing-thawing and chymotrypsin on the determination of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) activities in seminal plasma, and to establish an instruction for the standardisation and quality control for the determination of gamma-GT within the same laboratory and among different laboratories. The gamma-GT level and sperm concentration of each of 72 samples of seminal plasma obtained by centrifugation at 1000 g for 10 min or 3000 g for 15 min were assayed. In addition, gamma-GT activities in diluted seminal plasma with different standing time and in samples with or without chymotrypsin were measured. The results showed that there was a significant difference of gamma-GT levels in seminal plasma obtained by centrifugation at different velocities (P < 0.001), and that gamma-GT activities in seminal plasma measured after standing for 30 min after dilution were notably lower than those measured immediately after dilution (P < 0.001). However, the data indicated that both chymotrypsin and freezing-thawing had no apparent effect on the determination of seminal gamma-GT. In conclusion, standing time after dilution and centrifugation velocity should be standardised, and frozen seminal plasma could serve as quality control products for the determination of gamma-GT activity among different laboratories.

Centrifugation↗

PubMed2006

Mandibular phenotype of p20C/EBPbeta transgenic mice: Reduced alveolar bone mass and site-specific dentin dysplasia.

CCAAT enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) comprise a family of basic-leucine zipper transcription factors that regulate cellular differentiation and function. To determine the role of C/EBP transcription factors in osteoblasts and odontoblasts, we generated a transgenic (TG) mouse model with Co1a1 (pOBCol3.6) promoter-targeted expression of a FLAG-tagged dominant negative C/EBP isoform, p20C/EBPbeta (previously LIP). Two of the four transgenic lines presented with abnormalities in the developing incisors, including breakage, overgrowth, and malocclusion. Histological examination revealed that the amount of alveolar bone was reduced in TG compared to wild-type (WT) mice. By microcomputed tomography (microCT), the bone volume fraction of the mandible was reduced at the level of the first and third molars, demonstrating a severe mandibular osteopenia. The lingual dentin morphology of TG incisors differed dramatically from WT. Labial dentin (enamel side) showed normal thickness and tubular dentin structure, whereas the lingual dentin was thinner (25-30% of WT at the alveolar crest) with an amorphous globular structure characteristic of dentin dysplasia. FLAG immunostaining was seen in both lingual and labial odontoblasts, indicating that the site-specific defect was not due to a lack of labial transgene expression. Northern blot analysis demonstrated reduced osteocalcin expression in TG mandibles, while bone sialoprotein was increased, consistent with prior results in calvariae and long bones. Dental sialophosphoprotein, a marker of the odontoblast lineage whose absence causes dentin dysplasia, was modestly reduced in TG mice by Northern blot and in situ hybridization analysis. By fluorescence microscopy, pOBCol2.3-GFP, a marker of the odontoblast lineage, was expressed in both labial and lingual odontoblasts, although GFP-marked lingual odontoblasts were more flattened than WT cells. Moreover, GFP-positive processes in the lingual dentin tubules were truncated and less organized than those in WT dentin. MicroCT analysis showed reduced tissue density in the lingual dentin. These data suggest that C/EBP transcription factors may be involved in the regulation of odontoblast polarization and dentin matrix production.

Alveolar Bone Loss↗

PubMed2006

Effect of tacrolimus and cyclosporine A on suppression of albumin secretion induced by inflammatory cytokines in cultured human hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To investigate the effect of tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine A (CSA) on albumin secretion and on the IL-6 -induced suppression of albumin synthesis in cultured human hepatocytes. METHODS: HepG2 cells were cultured separately with IL-6, IL-10 (0-10 ng/ml) and FK506, CSA (0-100 ng/ml) for 48 h. In another experiment, HepG2 cells were incubated with different amounts of FK506 and CSA (0-10 ng/ml) in the presence of IL-6 (5 ng/ml). The albumin levels in these groups of hepatic cultures were measured by radioimmunoassay. The concentration of LDH secreted by cells stimulated with FK506 and CSA was detected by spectrophotometry. RESULTS: IL-6 decreased the levels of albumin in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01), maximal inhibition was observed at 5 ng/ml. Neither IL-10 nor FK506 modulated albumin production. However, FK506 decreased LDH levels in the supernatant of cells (P < 0.05) and prevented the IL-6-induced suppression of albumin synthesis (P < 0.01) in a dose dependent manner. In contrast, CSA caused only a slight decrease in albumin levels (P < 0.05). In addition, CSA slightly increased the amount of LDH in HepG2 cells and did not interfere with the IL-6-induced decrease in albumin synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that IL-6, but not IL- 10, may play an important role in the suppression of hepatic albumin secretion. FK506 but not CSA protects against the suppression of hepatic albumin synthesis caused by IL-6.

Albumins↗

PubMed2006

Two new compounds from marine Streptomyces sp. FX-58.

Two new compounds, 5-carboxymethyl-2-propylchromone (1) and 1,6-dihydroxy-8-propylanthraquinone (2), together with a known anthraquinone, 3,8-dihydroxy-1-propylanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (3), were isolated from the mycelium of an actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. FX-58, which was separated from a marine plant collected in Qingdao. Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR spectral analysis.

Carbon-Carbon Double Bond Isomerases↗

PubMed2006

The synergistic effects of the IL-9 gene and environmental exposures on asthmatic Taiwanese families as determined by the transmission/disequilibrium test.

Asthma occurs in genetically susceptible individuals in the presence of environmental factors. The interleukin-9 (IL-9) gene, one of the cytokine genes located on chromosome 5q31, plays an important role in the development of asthmatic syndrome by enhancing both T-cell and mast-cell function. This study investigated GT repeat polymorphism of the IL-9 gene and the gene-environment interactions, which may predispose individuals to asthma and atopy pathogenesis. In this study, we used the transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) to investigate the relationship between asthma and the IL-9 gene by studying 123 parent-offspring trios and 91 siblings. For allele-specific TDT chi-squared test, allele 122 of the IL-9 gene showed significant association with asthmatics with specific IgE against house dust (HD) (P = 0.038). The additions of covariates to TDT to conduct the synergistic effects between the IL-9 gene and environmental factors into account were estimated by conditional logistic regression models. The odds ratio for transmission of allele 122 of the IL-9 gene was 1.23 (P = 0.28) for all asthmatic probands. There was slight increased interaction effect on asthma between transmission of allele 122 of IL-9 gene to offspring and who were exposed to the fur of pets (OR = 3.33, P = 0.047). We also detected elevated odds of transmission of allele 122 to atopic asthmatic probands (OR = 2.08, P = 0.03) and offspring with very high levels of serum IgE (> or = 800 IU mL(-1)). In conclusion, this study has found that the IL-9 gene was slightly associated with asthmatics who have positive specific IgE against Der p (or Der f) and house dust, when information on environmental factors was incorporated as effect modifiers.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Identification of novel cAMP responsive element modulator (CREM) isoforms expressed by osteoblasts.

CREM, the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsive element modulator, belongs to a multigene family of cAMP-responsive transcription factors. CREM encodes a variety of different isoforms by utilizing four promoters and a complex pattern of alternative messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) splicing. We showed previously that parathyroid hormone induces the CREM P2 promoter products known as ICER (inducible cAMP early repressor) in osteoblasts. Herein we report that osteoblasts also express at least 15 CREM transcripts initiated from the P1 promoter, including 7 novel transcripts that result from alternative splicing. It is of interest that we found that CREM-X contains both exon theta1, previously identified only in P3 promoter products, and a new exon termed L, which is located upstream of exon theta1.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2003

Expression of inducible cAMP early repressor is coupled to the cAMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway in osteoblasts.

We previously showed that parathyroid hormone (PTH) induces inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) in osteoblastic cells and mouse calvariae. PTH signaling in osteoblastic cells is transduced by PTH receptor 1, which is coupled to cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), and calcium signaling pathways. In the present study, we examined the role of these pathways in mediating PTH-induced ICER mRNA and protein expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Using RT-PCR, we found that PTH(1-34), forskolin (FSK), and 8-bromo-cAMP (8Br-cAMP) induced ICER expression, while phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), ionomycin, and PTH(3-34) did not. Similar results were found for the induction of ICER protein. PKA inhibition by H89 markedly reduced PTH- and FSK-induced ICER expression, while PKC depletion by PMA had little effect. We also tested ICER induction by other osteotropic signaling agonists. Other cAMP-PKA pathway activators, such as PTH-related protein (PTHrP), induced ICER expression, while agents that signal through other pathways did not. PTHrP maximally induced ICER mRNA at 2-4 h, which then returned to baseline by 10 h. Finally, PTH, FSK, and PTHrP induced ICER in cultured mouse calvariae and osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8, UMR-106, and Pyla cells. We conclude that ICER expression in osteoblasts requires activation of the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed2003

Cardiac troponin I: a reliable marker and early myocardial involvement with meningoencephalitis after fatal enterovirus-71 infection.

OBJECTIVES: A major outbreak of enterovirus 71 (EV71) in Taiwan in 1998 caused many severe cases and 78 deaths. Our purpose was to find reliable markers and early indicators of fatal EV71 central nervous system (CNS) infection. METHODS: From June 2000 to November 2001, 21 patients with hand foot mouth disease or herpangina with CNS infection were admitted to Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. All 21 had culture-confirmed EV71 infection or were EV71 IgM positive. Patients were divided into two groups: group I included the five fatalities at our institution and group II, the 16 surviving patients. RESULTS: Of the 21 infants and children with EV71 infection with CNS involvement, MR imaging studies were completed on 17, and 15 showed hyperintensity in the posterior portions of brain stem. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 1 g/day for two days and supportive care. Five patients rapidly deteriorated owing to irreversible hypotension and died. The other 16 patients recovered completely without sequel. In group I patients, the decrease of cardiac ejection function is significant and laboratory findings showed lower platelet count (P=0.0192). The mean of initial cTnI level for groups I and II was 10.6+/-11.6 and 0.48+/-0.55 ng/dl, respectively, higher in group I than in II (P=0.0019). CONCLUSION: We hypothesized that like patients with severe burns, those with severe EV-71 CNS meningoencephalitis have varying degrees of non-ischemic cardiac injury, manifesting as leakage of cTnI from myocytes into the circulation. EV-71 CNS meningoencephalitis likely to die with an early myocardial involvement evidenced by reduced ejection fraction and release of cTnI. We conclude that fatal EV71 CNS infection quickly leads to death due to severe encephalopathy associated with cardiomyopathy.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2003

Rapid prototyping strategy for a surgical data warehouse.

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare processes typically generate an enormous volume of patient information. This information largely represents unexploited knowledge, since current hospital operational systems (e.g., HIS, RIS) are not suitable for knowledge exploitation. Data warehousing provides an attractive method for solving these problems, but the process is very complicated. This study presents a novel strategy for effectively implementing a healthcare data warehouse. METHODS: This study adopted the rapid prototyping (RP) method, which involves intensive interactions. System developers and users were closely linked throughout the life cycle of the system development. The presence of iterative RP loops meant that the system requirements were increasingly integrated and problems were gradually solved, such that the prototype system evolved into the final operational system. RESULTS: The results were analyzed by monitoring the series of iterative RP loops. First a definite workflow for ensuring data completeness was established, taking a patient-oriented viewpoint when collecting the data. Subsequently the system architecture was determined for data retrieval, storage, and manipulation. This architecture also clarifies the relationships among the novel system and legacy systems. Finally, a graphic user interface for data presentation was implemented. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly demonstrate the potential for adopting an RP strategy in the successful establishment of a healthcare data warehouse. The strategy can be modified and expanded to provide new services or support new application domains. The design patterns and modular architecture used in the framework will be useful in solving problems in different healthcare domains.

Colorectal Surgery↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of chymotrypsin on the determination of total alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma and the correlation between alpha-glucosidase level and semen parameters.

To evaluate the effect of chymotrypsin on the examination of alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma, thirty-nine samples of fresh liquefied semen with or without chymotrypsin and forty-eight samples of fresh un-liquefied semen with chymotrypsin were determined for the total alpha-glucosidase activity in seminal plasma. The total alpha-glucosidase level of each sample was assayed by the method of glucose oxidase. The correlations between alpha-glucosidase level and semen parameters, including semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, grade a and b motility and total motility, were analyzed with SPSS 11.0 software. The results showed that chymotrypsin had no effect on seminal alpha-glucosidase activity determination. Chymotrypsin could improve the liquefaction for un-liquefied semen, and there was no significant difference of alpha-glucosidase activity between liquefied and un-liquefied semen samples. There were significantly positive correlations between seminal alpha-glucosidase activity (U/ml) and sperm concentration (r = 0.338, p = 0.015) and between total alpha-glucosidase activity (U/ejaculate) and semen volume (r = 0.677, p = 0.000). However, there was no significant correlation between alpha-glucosidase level (U/ml) and semen volume, pH, sperm motility or grade a and b motility (r = -0.234 approximately 0.077, p = 0.099 approximately 0.993). The data indicated that chymotrypsin could be added into the un-liquefied semen samples for alpha-glucosidase activity determination, and there were different correlations between seminal alpha-glucosidase level and various semen parameters.

Chymotrypsin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Standardization and quality control for the determination of alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma.

We attempted to provide an instruction for the standardization of alpha-glucosidase level determination and quality controls within the same laboratory and among different laboratories. Each of 51 semen samples was divided into two aliquots, centrifuging at 1000 g for 10 min or 3000 g for 15 min. The alpha-glucosidase level and sperm concentration of each sample were assayed. The alpha-glucosidase level in seminal plasma obtained at 3000 g for 15 min centrifugation was significantly lower than that at 1000 g for 10 min (p = 0.001). An additional 6 samples of seminal plasma with or without phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), obtained at 3000 g for 15 min centrifugation, were frozen for 20 days, and each of 6 samples was determined for their alpha-glucosidase levels after thawing every other day. There was no significant difference between alpha-glucosidase levels in seminal plasma regardless of the presence of PMSF. The alpha-glucosidase level increased with the length of abstinence period. In conclusion, centrifugal velocity and abstinence time should be standardized in the alpha-glucosidase determination. Frozen seminal plasma may serve as the sample for quality control among clinical laboratories.

Centrifugation↗