Biomedical subjects

Ben Chang

Publications and source records attributed to Ben Chang.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) in the Irish population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Irish prevalence of autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), the AIRE mutations involved and clinical features of this population. METHODS: All patients were identified through paediatricians and endocrinologists in Ireland. Patients were invited to attend a multidisciplinary clinic. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients (2-56 years), 18 female, were identified from 19 families giving an Irish prevalence of 1:130,000. Twenty-six patients had hypoparathyroidism, 21 had adrenal insufficiency (AI) and 10 of 16 had ovarian failure. Three affected patients have died. Many with hypoparathyroidism were resistant to 1-alpha-vitamin D. Two needed daily PTH injections. Mineralocorticoid deficiency as the first manifestation of AI was common. Chronic intra-oral candidiasis affected 25 patients and three had leukoplakia. Two had keratoconjuntivitis. Of 22 with AIRE gene analysis, three different mutations were identified, one of which is novel. CONCLUSION: APECED is rare in Ireland. We saw a significant amount of non-endocrine disease but no ectodermal dystrophy. AIRE gene analysis reassured many siblings and identified individuals with APECED prior to any symptoms.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Mental health histories and psychiatric medication usage among persons who sought cosmetic Surgery.

This retrospective chart review study examined the mental health histories and psychiatric medication usage of persons who sought cosmetic surgery. The medical records of 232 patients who had undergone a consultation for a cosmetic procedure were reviewed. The rates of self-reported psychiatric disorders and of psychiatric medication usage of these patients were compared with those of 200 patients who underwent noncosmetic procedures. Nineteen percent of cosmetic surgery patients reported a mental health history, significantly greater than the 4 percent of the noncosmetic patients who reported a psychiatric history. Eighteen percent of the cosmetic patients reported using a psychiatric medication at the time of their consultation, also significantly greater than the 5 percent of the noncosmetic patients who reported psychiatric medication usage. These results underscore the importance of collecting a psychiatric history from prospective cosmetic surgery patients. Recommendations for assessing patients' psychiatric history and status are provided.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Purification and molecular characterization of cGMP-dependent protein kinase from Apicomplexan parasites. A novel chemotherapeutic target.

The trisubstituted pyrrole 4-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(1-methylpiperidine-4-yl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]pyridine (Compound 1) inhibits the growth of Eimeria spp. both in vitro and in vivo. The molecular target of Compound 1 was identified as cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) using a tritiated analogue to purify a approximately 120-kDa protein from lysates of Eimeria tenella. This represents the first example of a protozoal PKG. Cloning of PKG from several Apicomplexan parasites has identified a parasite signature sequence of nearly 300 amino acids that is not found in mammalian or Drosophila PKG and which contains an additional, third cGMP-binding site. Nucleotide cofactor regulation of parasite PKG is remarkably different from mammalian enzymes. The activity of both native and recombinant E. tenella PKG is stimulated 1000-fold by cGMP, with significant cooperativity. Two isoforms of the parasite enzyme are expressed from a single copy gene. NH(2)-terminal sequence of the soluble isoform of PKG is consistent with alternative translation initiation within the open reading frame of the enzyme. A larger, membrane-associated isoform corresponds to the deduced full-length protein sequence. Compound 1 is a potent inhibitor of both soluble and membrane-associated isoforms of native PKG, as well as recombinant enzyme, with an IC(50) of <1 nm.

Amino Acid Sequence↗