Showing papers by "Taipei Veterans General Hospital published in 1990"
TL;DR: The relationship between high serum IgE levels in NS patients and the incidence of allergic diseases showed that one third to one fourth of either IgMN or MCNS patients developed allergic diseases, suggesting that NS patients had a higher allergic disease incidence.
49 citations
TL;DR: Complementary DNA of a rat brain glucose transporter gene was used to examine the expression of glucose‐transporter messenger RNA in paired human hepatocellular carcinomas and adjacent nontumorous liver tissues, as well as in human hepatoma cell lines and human fetal liver samples.
38 citations
TL;DR: The data suggest that neurons that contain SP may participate in central cardiovascular control by tonically enhancing the sensitivity of the BRR response, possibly via an action on the NTS.
35 citations
TL;DR: Results of the inhibition and protection studies indicated that the reagent and substrate could combine with the enzyme simultaneously and an induced hydrophobic region is proposed for the substrate-binding site for human placental alkaline phosphatase.
Abstract: Oxidation of 1,N6-ethenoadenosine monophosphate (epsilon AMP) with periodate cleaved the cis-diol of the ribose ring and resulted in the formation of a dialdehyde derivative (epsilon AMP-dial). At room temperature epsilon AMP-dial was unstable and underwent beta-elimination to give 4',5'-anhydro-1,N6-ethenoadenosine dialdehyde acetal (A epsilon Ado-dial). These nucleotide analogues were found to inactivate human placental alkaline phosphatase in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. epsilon AMP-dial was shown to be an affinity label for the enzyme on the basis of the following criteria. (a) Kinetics of the enzyme activity loss over a wide range of epsilon AMP-dial concentration showed a saturating phenomenon. Removal of the phosphate group made the reagent (A epsilon Ado-dial) become a general chemical modifying reagent. (b) The artificial substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate gave substantial protection of the enzyme against inactivation. (c) epsilon AMP-dial was a substrate and a partial mixed-type inhibitor for the enzyme. Results of the inhibition and protection studies indicated that the reagent and substrate could combine with the enzyme simultaneously. Besides the phosphate-binding domain, an induced hydrophobic region is proposed for the substrate-binding site for human placental alkaline phosphatase.
34 citations
TL;DR: Although triglycyllysine vasopressin significantly reduced portal pressure in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, it produced untoward systemic haemodynamic changes similar to those seen with vasoppressin.
30 citations
TL;DR: This study shows that in human the intron inclusion can occur through a naturally occurring point mutation, and all these abnormally spliced RNAs resulted in a protein reading frame shift.
28 citations
TL;DR: A sonographic feature mimicking “space occupying lesions” was identified in 41 cases with focal fatty liver, which led to the recognition of four sonographic patterns that were confusing to inexperienced sonographers but properly interpreted by experienced sonographers.
Abstract: Focal hepatic fatty infiltration may be mistaken for hepatic neoplasm on ultrasonography. A sonographic feature mimicking "space occupying lesions" was identified in 41 cases with focal fatty liver, which led to the recognition of four sonographic patterns: (1) Ten patients in whom the livers were characterized by irregular configurations of hyperechoic and hypoechoic areas. Although confusing to inexperienced sonographers, all of them were properly interpreted by experienced sonographers. (2) One patient in whom the hepatic sonography revealed a hyperechoic nodule, but which was correctly diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scan. (3) Six patients in whom the livers were characterized by multiple confluent hyperechoic lesions, which were all misinterpreted by sonographers and misinterpreted following CT scans in 4 cases and angiography in 3 cases. (4) Twenty-four patients in whom the livers revealed focal spared areas, which was misdiagnosed by sonographers in 14 cases, but correctly diagnosed by CT scan in all 24 cases.
23 citations
TL;DR: Intracavernosal injection of metaraminol into corpus cavernosum successfully achieved detumescence in all patients and is most useful when urogenital operation would be delayed by penile tumescence.
Abstract: Four patients developed penile erection when regional anaesthesia was induced with spinal block. In another patient, penile erection developed during fentanyl-induced general anaesthesia. Injection of metaraminol into corpus cavernosum successfully achieved detumescence in all these patients. The dose of metaraminol ranged from 10 to 25 micrograms, much less than that required for the treatment of vasodilator-induced priapism. Intracavernosal injection of metaraminol is a simple, effective and safe method for immediate relief of intraoperative penile erection. It is most useful when urogenital operation would be delayed by penile tumescence.
23 citations
TL;DR: Findings indicate that iron overload is common in adult patients with Hb H disease; such patients should abstain from alcohol and be considered for treatment with an iron chelating agent before irreversible organ damage occurs.
Abstract: We examined the iron status of 23 adult patients with hemoglobin H (Hb H) disease. None of them had received multiple blood transfusions or prolonged iron therapy. Studies included serum iron and ferritin concentrations, transferrin saturation, a desferrioxamine test, computed tomography (CT) scan of the liver, and liver biopsy. Iron overload was found in 17 patients (73.9%), especially in males and in patients with splenomegaly (92.9% and 100%, respectively). Four patients with excessive alcohol consumption had clinical manifestations of severe iron overload. Idiopathic hemochromatosis associated HLA antigens, i.e., HLA-A3, -B7, or -B14, were not found in any of the 15 patients tested. These findings indicate that iron overload is common in adult patients with Hb H disease; such patients should abstain from alcohol and be considered for treatment with an iron chelating agent before irreversible organ damage occurs.
22 citations
TL;DR: D markedly elevated FDP was found to be associated with high risk of bleeding complication and careful monitoring of the coagulation tests and close observation of clinical bleeding signs up to 48 hr are necessary in patients treated with tPA.
22 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that serum IL-2 andIL-2R markers might be helpful in analyzing allergic states associated with immune activation and in evaluating the therapeutic effects of hyposensitization.
Abstract: In this study, we used the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate the changes of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and suppressor/cytotoxicity factor (CD8) in house dust-sensitive asthmatic children during hyposensitization. Patients before immunotherapy presented significantly higher serum levels of IL-2 and IL-2R than normal subjects (p 0.05). This study suggests that serum IL-2 and IL-2R markers might be helpful in analyzing allergic states associated with immune activation and in evaluating the therapeutic effects of hyposensitization.
TL;DR: Findings suggest that angiotensin III may interact with the alpha 2-adrenoceptors located in the NRGC that are involved in central cardiovascular regulation.
TL;DR: The results of analysis demonstrate that the mutation in Chinese haplotype 44 is a single-base substitution corresponding to the mutation associated with haplotype 2 in Caucasians, whereas the mutations of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in haplotypes 4, 7, 11 and 28 among Chinese do not correlate with either of the two mutations identified in northern-European Caucasians.
Abstract: DNA amplification with the polymerase chain reaction was employed to identify the phenylketonuria (PKU) mutation in Chinese PKU families. The amplified DNA was hybridized with oligonucleotides corresponding to the two most common mutant alleles, i.e., mutations associated with PKU haplotype 2 and 3 among Caucasians of northern-European ancestry. The results of analysis demonstrate that the mutation in Chinese haplotype 44 is a single-base substitution corresponding to the mutation associated with haplotype 2 in Caucasians, whereas the mutations of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in haplotypes 4, 7, 11 and 28 among Chinese do not correlate with either of the two mutations identified in northern-European Caucasians.
TL;DR: Preliminary studies suggest that GDF is distinct from a panel of different lymphokines and monokines in antigenicity and biochemical and functional characteristics, and is possibly a novel cytokine that can alter the pattern of DNA synthesis and growth characteristics of certain hematopoietic cells.
TL;DR: The ELISA test may be helpful in screening specific IgE antibodies, diagnosing allergic disease, and evaluating therapeutic effects of hyposensitization in asthmatic children after immunotherapy.
Abstract: In this study, we used the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate the changes of IgE antibody titer against Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus) or Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) in asthmatic children after immunotherapy. According to ELISA analysis, a significantly higher mean level of IgE antibody titer to D. pteronyssinus (or D. farinae) was found in nonhyposensitized asthmatic children than in the pediatric control group (p less than 0.001), but there was no significant difference between the group receiving short course (one year or less) immunotherapy and the group without immunotherapy (p greater than 0.05). We also noted the significant reduction of specific IgE antibody to D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus in the hyposensitized group after long-term immunotherapy; namely, 1.5 and 3 years, respectively, compared with the nontreated group (p less than 0.01). Although D. pteronyssinus-specific IgE antibody decreased less rapidly than D. farinae-specific IgE antibody, both kept decreasing throughout the period of immunotherapy. This study also indicates that the ELISA test may be helpful in screening specific IgE antibodies, diagnosing allergic disease, and evaluating therapeutic effects of hyposensitization.
TL;DR: Clinical improvements after PGE1 therapy are probably related to the modulation of macrophage T-B cell interaction, enhancement of reticuloendothelial system function, and increased glomerular capillary flow.
Abstract: From January 1986 to December 1988, 8 patients with lupus nephritis did not respond to the administration of two courses of methylprednisolone pulse therapy and cyclophosphamide treatment for 56 days.
TL;DR: The differential effects of LV in these lung carcinoma lines contrasts with a quantitatively similar enhancement of cytotoxicity between FUra and FUdR in colon cancer lines previously reported from the laboratory, suggesting that the metabolism of F Ura may be different inThese lung cancer cell lines.
Abstract: Reduced folates have been shown to increase the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) by stabilizing the fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate:thymidylate synthase complex, thus increasing the block in the DNA synthetic pathway. Using an in vitro tetrazolium colorimetric (MTT) cytotoxic assay, we tested the effects of FUra and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) with and without leucovorin (LV) on a panel of 7 human lung cancer cell lines. LV at a concentration of 20 microM enhanced the cytotoxicity of FUra and of FUdR in all of the cell lines. Quantitatively, LV had a higher degree of enhancement on FUdR than on FUra cytotoxicity in 6 cell lines. There was equivalent enhancement in the only remaining line. The differential effects of LV on the cytotoxicity of FUra vs. FUdR in these lung carcinoma lines contrasts with a quantitatively similar enhancement of cytotoxicity between FUra and FUdR in colon cancer lines previously reported from our laboratory. This suggests that the metabolism of FUra may be different in these lung cancer cell lines.
TL;DR: 99mTc-pertechnetate salivary scintigraphy with vitamin C stimulation may provide a useful tool in differentiating unilateral parotitis from Warthin's tumor.
Abstract: Of the nine patients included in this study, five with proven unilateral parotitis initially had diffuse high uptake of99mTc-pertechnetate in the affected glands with adequate washout following vitamin C stimulation. Of four patients with proven Warthin's tumor, two had focal high uptake in the parotid masses and two had diffuse high uptake on baseline images. All tumors were clearly delineated after stimulation.99mTc-pertechnetate salivary scintigraphy with vitamin C stimulation may provide a useful tool in differentiating unilateral parotitis from Warthin's tumor.
TL;DR: Although nifedipine may be helpful in some selected patients, it cannot be regarded as a first-line drug in terms of cost/benefit.
Abstract: A double-blind cross-over study was conducted to compare the responses of 22 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria to treatment with nifedipine 10 mg four times daily and with chlorpheniramine 4mg four times daily. Eighteen patients completed the study. Partial or total control of the pruritus and hives was noted in 39% of the patients receiving nifedipine and in 28% of the patients receiving chlorpheniramine. Nifedipine was not superior to chlorpheniramine in controlling chronic urticaria (0.05 < p < 0.1). Although nifedipine may be helpful in some selected patients, it cannot be regarded as a first-line drug in terms of cost/benefit.
TL;DR: Treatment of melanocytoma cells of goldfish origin with dexamethasone leads to rapid morphological changes, flattening of cell body and extension of dendrites, indicating that it is a "tropic effect" distinct from the typical "trophic effects" of steroid hormones that involve de novo protein synthesis.
01 Apr 1990
TL;DR: This study has further isolated and characterized the second component of the antigen, designated as BG-60b, which is of glycoprotein nature with a pI of 10.0 and exhibits IgE-binding activity and shows cross-reactivity to antigen BG- 60a in double diffusion.
Abstract: Our earlier studies have shown that the pollen of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)-pollen contain at least 12 IgE-binding proteins which can be analyzed by the immunoblot technique. One of the highly active components was found to be a basic protein with a molecular weight of 60,000 daltons, designated as BG-60. This component was showed to consist of a group of proteins. One of them, BG-60a (pI 9.7), has been isolated and characterized. In this study, we have further isolated and characterized the second component of the antigen, designated as BG-60b. Its purity was demonstrated by gel electrophoresis experiment and antigen-antibody precipitation studies. The antigen is of glycoprotein nature with a pI of 10.0. It exhibits IgE-binding activity and shows cross-reactivity to antigen BG-60a in double diffusion. Its chemical and physical properties are similar to antigen BG-60a.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: A rare case of solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the sternum in a 5-year-old boy who presented anterior chest pain and a nodular, somewhat tender mass over the sternal angle is reported.
Abstract: A rare case of solitary eosinophilic granuloma of the sternum in a 5-year-old boy is reported. He presented anterior chest pain and a nodular, somewhat tender mass over the sternum. Chest x-ray, tomography, CT scanning of the sternum and total body Gallium scanning revealed an isolated lytic lesion 5 cm below the sternal angle. An excisional biopsy of the mass showed the typical histologic appearance of eosinophilic granuloma. An isolated eosinophilic granuloma of sternum is rarely reported in the English literature. The differential diagnosis of sternal tumors and a review of eosinophilic granuloma of sternum is discussed.
TL;DR: The results suggest that the specific target cell of GM-EA is the pre-CFU-GM, and thatGM-EA acts on these cells as a growth/maturation factor, but on the day 7 and day 14 CF U-GM as a synergistic growth factor.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the mean serum PGI level of NUD patients, while affected by sex, age, smoker status and the body size, is lower than that of the healthy controls.
Abstract: In order to understand whether the serum pepsinogen I (PGI) levels of non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) patients differed from those of healthy controls and which kinds of factors might influence these levels of the former, serum PGI levels were determined by radio-immunoassay in 120 healthy controls and 361 NUD patients. The mean serum PGI level was significantly lower in NUD patients than in the controls (75.8 +/- 38.2 ng/mL versus 95.9 +/- 39.3 ng/mL; P less than 0.0001); in NUD patients, it was significantly higher in males than in females (79.6 +/- 40.4 ng/mL versus 63.2 +/- 26.4 ng/mL; P less than 0.001). However, corrected serum PGI levels according to the lean body mass disclosed no sex difference. Nevertheless, there was a weak correlation between the ages of patients and serum PGI levels (r = 0.403). The serum PGI levels in blood groups A, B, AB and O did not differ significantly. Smoking might be a decisive factor, for the mean serum PGI level was significantly higher among the smokers than among the non-smokers (86.7 +/- 44.6 ng/mL versus 70.6 +/- 33.7 ng/mL; P less than 0.001). It is concluded that the mean serum PGI level of NUD patients, while affected by sex, age, smoker status and the body size, is lower than that of the healthy controls. Without endoscopy, assay of serum PGI level has no place in the diagnosis of dyspepsia because of the wide overlapping of serum PGI levels between NUD patients and patients with other common gastric lesions.
TL;DR: It is found that the lyophilized powder of oxidized 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide phosphate can be stored at -50 degrees C for several months with minimum decomposition, and hydrolysis could be prevented by storing the sample as lyophILized powder, while beta-elimination was diminished by lowering the storage temperature.
TL;DR: Dolichocolon (redundant colon) is the term used to describe the condition in which the colon is so long that it undergoes reduplication.
Abstract: Dolichocolon (redundant colon) is the term used to describe the condition in which the colon is so long that it undergoes reduplication. A case of dolichocolon incidentally found with gallium scintigraphy is reported.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It seems that increased iron absorption in Hemoglobin H disease is not genetically associated with idiopathic hemochromatosis and certain HLA antigen expressions, and may have a protective effect.
Abstract: HLA-A,B antigens were typed in 15 patients with Hemoglobin H disease; 10 of them had iron overloading. No significant HLA antigen specificity was identified to be at risk as compared with 170 controls. However, HLA-A11 was suggested to have significant negative risk, and may have a protective effect. (RR = 0.1, p = 0.0015). It seems that increased iron absorption in Hemoglobin H disease is not genetically associated with idiopathic hemochromatosis and certain HLA antigen expressions.