Biomedical subjects

C Asuncion

Publications and source records attributed to C Asuncion.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Evaluation of the cone biopsy excisor compared with the large loop for electrosurgical excision of cervical lesions.

Data incorporated from August 1994 to July 30, 1997.Objective: To compare a newly designed triangular electrode, the Cone Biopsy Excisor to the loop electrode with respect to the margin evaluation, fragmentation, and thermal damage of the conization specimen.Methods: After approval by the Institutional Review Boards of Hartford Hospital, St. Francis Hospital, and New Britain General Hospital/University of Connecticut, patients were randomly assigned to undergo conization with the Cone Biopsy Excisor or with the large loop. Inclusion criteria included biopsy proven CIN II, CIN III, inadequate colposcopy, positive endocervical curettage, or cytohistological discrepancy. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, undiagnosed uterine bleeding, and invasive carcinoma. The procedures were performed by senior residents on clinic patients at the respective institutions. In addition, after FDA approval November 18, 1996, private OB/GYN practitioners performed cases and added those results to the study. Seventy-eight patients were randomized to the Cone Biopsy Excisor, while 77 patients were randomized to the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). To obtain the surgical specimen, Force 2 Valley Lab generators were used with wattage ranging from 35 to 50 according to the size of the instrument chosen, 40/60 blend of coagulation, and cutting current.Pathology reports were reviewed to determine the amount of fragmentation that occurred during the procedure and for tissue diagnosis. Specimens were then evaluated by two gynecologic pathologists blinded to the instrument used. The specimens were analyzed for the ability to evaluate the margins and for degree of thermal damage. A thermal damage score was assigned to each specimen. The scoring system results in 4 levels of thermal damage, from one (minimal thermal damage) to four (heavy thermal damage). Follow-up data was obtained from the patients' medical and pathology records.Results: Seventy-two of 78 (92%) Cone Biopsy Excisor cases vs 10 of 77 (13%) LEEP cases submitted one specimen to pathology, P <.001 based on a chi(2) test. Mean number of specimens submitted to pathology per case in the Cone Biopsy Excisor group was 1.1 +/- 0.5 vs 2.2 +/- 0.8 in the LEEP group, P <.001 based on a t test. Margins were unable to be interpreted because of thermal damage in 2 of 78 (3%) in the Cone Biopsy Excisor group vs 14 of 77 (18%) in the LEEP group, P <.003 based on a chi(2) test.Conclusion: The Cone Biopsy Excisor provided a cervical specimen that had less fragmentation and less thermal damage with margins that were less likely to be indeterminate than those obtained with the large loop electrosurgical procedure.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

The in vitro anti-HIV efficacy of negatively charged human serum albumin is antagonized by heparin.

Succinylated human serum albumin (Suc-HSA) was synthesized by treating human serum albumin with succinic anhydride. Among similar proteins and neo(glyco)proteins tested, Suc-HSA exhibits a pronounced net negative charge, a feature that largely contributes to its efficacy against replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). To assess further the antiviral effect of Suc-HSA, the effect on HIV-1 replication was studied in the presence of whole human plasma. Pretreatment of MT2 cells with Suc-HSA was more efficacious than direct Suc-HSA treatment of HIV prior to addition to the cells. No changes in the antiviral effect of Suc-HSA were observed in tissue culture medium, 30% plasma, or whole plasma when CPDA-1 (citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine 1) was used as the anticoagulant. However, a dramatic decrease (greater than 99%) in the antiviral activity was observed when these experiments were performed in plasma prepared from blood using heparin as anticoagulant. The antagonistic effect by heparin was observed both in the case that heparin was added prior to or after addition of Suc-HSA to the test system. In the present study we demonstrate that heparin largely reduces Suc-HSA activity on HIV replication in the same concentration in which if affects binding of Suc-HSA to the envelope protein gp120 and in particular its V3 domain. In the same concentration range, heparin reduced binding of Suc-HSA to MT4 cells, another HTLV-I-transformed cell line. It is concluded that heparin can displace Suc-HSA from its binding sites on hybrid lymphoid cells as well as on HIV-1 particles. Therefore, we conclude that both the binding to cells and to virus contribute to the potent anti-HIV-1 effect. The fact that heparin and heparin degradation products antagonize Suc-HSA without having a significant anti-HIV-1 effect indicates that the anticoagulant acts as a relatively weak partial inhibitor.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed1992

Simultaneous primary lung sarcoma and carcinoma.

Synchronous primary lung tumors are uncommon, and primary lung sarcomas are especially rare. We report an unusual case of a poorly differentiated carcinoma and a primary sarcoma of the lung. The surgical approach to patients with synchronous primary lung tumors should be aggressive.

Aged↗

PubMed1992

The effect of combinations of ampligen and zidovudine or dideoxyinosine against human immunodeficiency viruses in vitro.

The combinations of ampligen and zidovudine at ratios of 100:1, 25:1, 10:1, and 1:50 acted synergistically to reduce cytopathology caused by HIV in MT-2 cell cultures. Combination indices were less than 1 at all of these ratios representing different combinations of concentrations and at 3 effective doses (ED30, ED50, ED70). Combination of drugs which show synergism at a wide range of ratios of combinations suggest that they may be useful clinically, and that the antiviral efficacy of ZDV may be increased in combination with ampligen. Synergism was also found between ampligen and zidovudine by reduction of HIV-produced plaques in a HeLa cell line expressing CD-4 receptors. However the combination of ampligen and dideoxyinosine against HIV in MT-2 cells was only additive and not synergistic.

Antiviral Agents↗