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Biomedical subjects

C Chung

Publications and source records attributed to C Chung.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Inhibition of the induction of the inducible nitric oxide synthase in murine brain microglial cells by sodium salicylate.

The induction of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been proposed to play a role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Sodium salicylate (NaSal) is the most commonly used anti-inflammatory agent. We investigated whether NaSal can diminish the induction of iNOS in murine brain microglial cells. In primary cultures, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) separately did not stimulate nitric oxide (NO) production, whereas IFN-gamma combined with LPS synergistically induced iNOS. NaSal inhibited both the production of NO and expression of iNOS in microglial cells. Synergy between IFN-gamma and LPS was mainly dependent on tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion as the increase of the induction of the iNOS by IFN-gamma plus LPS was associated with the increase of TNF-alpha secretion and IFN-gamma plus LPS-induced TNF-alpha secretion by microglial cells was decreased by the treatment with NaSal. These results suggest a possible use of NaSal in managing inflammation of the central nervous system through inhibition of the iNOS induction.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Antimicrobial activity of magnolol and honokiol against periodontopathic microorganisms.

Magnolol (1) and honokiol (2), main compounds from the stem bark of Magnolia obovata Thunb., were evaluated for an antimicrobial activity against periodontopathic microorganisms, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, and Veillonella disper, and a cytotoxicity against human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Our results indicate that magnolol and honokiol, although less potent than chlorhexidine, show a significant antimicrobial activity against these microorganisms, and a relatively low cytotoxic effect on human gingival cells. Thus, it is suggested that magnolol and honokiol may have a potential therapeutic use as a safe oral antiseptic for the prevention and the treatment of periodontal disease.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans↗
PubMed1998

Multiinstitutional phase II trial of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Combined modality therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has produced promising results. A multiinstitutional phase II clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the activity and toxicity of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and concurrent radiation therapy on patients with locally advanced NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty previously untreated patients with inoperable locally advanced NSCLC entered onto a phase II study from March 1995 to December 1996. On an outpatient basis for 7 weeks, patients received paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 weekly over 1 hour; carboplatin at (area under the curve) AUC 2 weekly; and radiation therapy of 66 Gy in 33 fractions. After chemoradiation therapy, patients received an additional two cycles of paclitaxel 200 mg/m2 over 3 hours and carboplatin at AUC 6 every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients were eligible for the study. The survival rates at 12 months were 56.3%, and at 24 months, 38.3%, with a median overall survival of 20.5 months. The progression-free survival rates at 12 months were 43.6%, and at 24 months, 34.7%, with a median progression-free survival of 9.0 months. Two patients did not receive more than 2 weeks of concurrent chemoradiotherapy and were not assessable for toxicity and response. The overall response rate (partial plus complete response) of 37 assessable patients was 75.7%. The major toxicity was esophagitis. Seventeen patients (46%) developed grade 3 or 4 esophagitis. However, only two patients developed late esophageal toxicity with stricture at 3 and 6 months posttreatment. CONCLUSION: Combined modality therapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation is a promising treatment for locally advanced NSCLC that has a high response rate and acceptable toxicity and survival rates. A randomized trial will be necessary to fully evaluate the usefulness of these findings.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Acupuncture utilization in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of acupuncture utilization in Taiwan by people over 20 years of age. METHODS: Stratified cluster sampling was used to randomly select 20 villages and neighborhoods (townships), a total of 8,280 people, from northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information during home visits. A total of 5,805 questionnaires were valid for use in the study. RESULTS: The complete rate of home visits was 70.1%; 73.2% of those interviewed recognized acupuncture as one of the common therapeutic methods used in traditional Chinese medicine, whereas only 12.4% had received acupuncture treatment. Typical interviewees who had received acupuncture treatment were generally ethnic from southern Fukien and aged from 30-39 years; 58.3% of the 716 interviewees had received acupuncture treatment from licensed practitioners, while the remainder were treated by non-licensed practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: The response rate to the questionnaire was high (70.1%). However, the percentage of people who had received acupuncture treatment was only 12.4%, while many people (73.2%) were familiar with it. Approximately 40% of those who received acupuncture treatment did so from non-licensed practitioners. This may reveal either a lack of awareness by the public or a lack of public protection of health and safety.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1998

Prognosis and treatment of bile duct carcinoma.

Bile duct carcinomas present a therapeutic challenge because of different histologies, tumor locations, and resectabilities. The goal of our study was to identify prognostic factors to better delineate therapeutic options. Forty patients (30 males and 10 females) diagnosed with bile duct cancer, treated between 1985 and 1996, at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Los Angeles were retrospectively reviewed. Three prognostically significant variables were identified: tumor histology, tumor location, and resection. Papillary histology was the most significant determinant of long-term survival. Of six patients with papillary adenocarcinoma, four patients (67%) underwent resection, with all four achieving long-term survival. Lower-third lesions also demonstrated a survival advantage. Four out of 12 (33%) lower-third tumors were resected, with a median survival of 36 months. Irrespective of tumor histology or tumor location, tumor resection always afforded longer survival times than did palliative treatments. A prognostic classification system based on weighted values of significant variables is presented that accurately predicted long-term survival. In conclusion, bile duct tumors in general are incurable, except perhaps for a small subset of patients with papillary adenocarcinoma. Papillary histology is the most significant determinant of ultimate survival and cure. A multifunctional prognostic classification system can be helpful for this perplexing disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of T cell-mediated responses in nonhealing and healing Leishmania major infections in the absence of endogenous IL-4.

IL-4 drives polarized Th2 responses, and differentiating Th2 cells down-regulate their sensitivity to IL-12. Therefore, the failure of BALB/c mice to heal Leishmania major infection could be due to an IL-4-dependent biased Th2 response or to a reduced capacity of Leishmania-specific Th cells to respond to IL-12. We examined the ability of CD4+ Th cells from L. major-infected wild-type and IL-4-deficient BALB/c mice to respond to IL-12. We show that the inability of normal and IL-4-deficient BALB/c mice to heal L. major infections is due to their inability to generate effective Th1 responses and not to persistent IL-4-dominated Th2 responses. Redirection of immune responses in vivo by administration of IL-12 or anti-CD4 mAb treatment in the early phase of infection (+/-12 days) allows both normal and IL-4-deficient BALB/c mice to heal their lesions by allowing them to develop an efficient Th1 response regardless of the presence or the absence of IL-4. Finally, on a population level, Ag-specific Th cells from infected animals induced to heal display a strongly elevated response to IL-12.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1997

Susceptibility to apoptosis is enhanced in immature cortical neurons.

The susceptibility of cortical neurons to two forms of apoptotic death was compared with susceptibility to excitotoxic death during development in vitro (DIV 4-21). Murine cortical cultures were exposed for 48 h to the phosphatase inhibitor cyclosporine, the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine or the excitotoxin N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA). Susceptibility to apoptosis induced by staurosporine or cyclosporine was maximal between DIV 4-10 and declined from DIV 10 through 18. The opposite pattern was observed with susceptibility to NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxic necrosis, which was minimal at DIV 6 and progressively increased through DIV 21.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Gorham syndrome of the thorax and cervical spine: CT and MRI findings.

Gorham syndrome is a rare disorder that is characterized by local osseous invasion and surrounding soft tissues by an angiomatous mass, eventually causing lysis of the affected bone. To date, only four cases have reported the MR imaging appearance of this disease and the findings have been variable. We present a case involving the cervical and thoracic spine and part of the osseous hemithorax with attention to the MR findings.

Angiomatosis↗
PubMed1997

MR imaging of tophaceous gout.

OBJECTIVE: MR imaging is not routinely used for evaluation of tophaceous gout. However, gout may present clinically in an atypical, unusual, or confusing manner. A gouty tophus occasionally mimics an infectious or neoplastic process, and MR imaging may be obtained under these circumstances. The purpose of this study was to determine the MR imaging characteristics of intraosseous and soft-tissue tophi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 13 MR imaging examinations performed during a 27-month period on nine patients with gouty arthritis. All were men 42-70 years old. T1-, proton density-, and T2-weighted spin-echo MR images were obtained for all the examinations. Nine examinations included contrast-enhanced MR images. The findings were then evaluated, as were the corresponding radiographs. RESULTS: Five patients presented with articular involvement, three patients with an isolated soft-tissue mass, and one patient with persistent soft-tissue swelling. The duration of symptoms ranged from 3 months to more than 20 years. Nearly all the tophi were of intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images. On T2-weighted images, three sites revealed an overall increase in the signal intensity of the tophi, whereas 10 studies showed a heterogeneous decrease in signal intensity. All but one tophus showed homogeneous enhancement. Erosion of adjacent bone, synovial pannus, joint effusion, soft-tissue edema, and bone marrow edema were common associated findings. CONCLUSION: The MR appearance of tophi in patients with tophaceous gout is constant on T1- but quite variable on T2-weighted images. This variability in signal intensity could be related to calcium within a tophus. Tophaceous gout should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a mass reveals heterogeneously low to intermediate signal intensity, particularly if the adjacent bone shows typical erosive changes or if other joints are involved. When faced with this situation, radiologists may find it helpful to obtain a further clinical history and recommend evaluating the patient's serum urate level.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Blood dyscrasias and leg ulcers.

Despite a seemingly increased knowledge about the underlying causes of chronic leg ulcers, their management remains a challenge. Though some ulcers respond to various local treatment options appropriately, others seem to remain unresolved or with a chronic recurrent theme over months to years. The failure to heal these ulcers can be related to the underlying disease process, sometimes lack of patient compliance, and possibly, less than optimal treatment. Even when the exact diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment instituted, many ulcers may, nonetheless, require months of intervention. Certainly, the nonresponsive ulcer is best managed by an appropriate wound biopsy and culture, including a colony count.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Science and early development of mental health nursing.

Until very recently, the history of mental health care received little critical investigation. This paper seeks to explore how the western scientific tradition shaped mental health nursing and investigates the pivotal influences which affected its early development, emphasising the role played by mid-19th century asylum care.

History, 18th Century↗
PubMed1996

Tissue potassium, selenium, and iron levels associated with gastric cancer progression.

The contents of 10 minor and trace elements in histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinomas and their corresponding normal gastric mucosal tissues obtained from 39 patients at the time of gastric resection were simultaneously determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Specimens were irradiated by reactor neutrons and subsequently subject to direct analysis using a high-resolution HPGe gamma-spectrometer. Univariate analysis revealed that gastric cancer tissues had significantly higher concentrations of Fe, K, Mg, Na, Rb, Se, and Zn than normal gastric mucosal tissues. However, multivariate analysis found that Fe, K, and Se were independent elements that associated with gastric cancer. Upon further evaluation of their clinical significance, we found a high tissue K level was related to lymphatic duct metastasis. High Se tissue levels were linked to intestinal type adenocarcinoma. A positive correlation was found between high Fe levels and vascular involvement. These findings suggest that Fe and K are associated with gastric cancer progression. Se is involved in carcinogenesis of stomach in high-risk areas. The mechanisms that underlie the corresponding pathohistological features deserve further study.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1996

Racial differences in home ownership and home equity among preretirement-aged households.

This article measures the racial disparities in home ownership and home equity among preretirement-aged households. It computes the proportion of the racial gap explained by discrimination in housing and credit markets. Maximum likelihood and nonlinear least squares estimates are obtained for models of home ownership probabilities and home equity, conditional on home ownership, yielding computations for expected home equity for black and white households. The results reveal an average discriminatory gap in expected home equity as a percent of the actual gap of 55%. In the top third of the family income distribution, the measured discriminatory gap is 82%; in the middle third it is 83%; in the lowest third it is 62%.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1996

Concurrent Paclitaxel and Radiation Therapy for Solid Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Combination radiation and chemotherapy has an intuitive appeal for improving cancer treatment. Experimental results suggest that paclitaxel plus radiation might produce additive or synergistic effects. METHODS: A series of phase I and II trials to test tolerance and begin to evaluate effectiveness were performed on patients with non-small cell lung cancer, high-grade astrocytic brain tumors, and pancreatic and gastric cancers. RESULTS: Tolerance of the combined drug and radiation programs was generally good. Esophagitis was dose-limiting for the intrathoracic tumors. Hematologic toxicity was mild, but peripheral neuritis and cutaneous reactions were common. CONCLUSIONS: These trials show that paclitaxel plus concurrent radiation is feasible at the dose levels and schedules tested. Antitumor responses have been observed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Simultaneous correction of malrotation and gastroesophageal reflux in infants.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is often associated with gastrointestinal malrotation in infants. Primary correction of the malrotation, reserving a secondary antireflux procedure for those patients with persistent symptoms of GER, is most commonly practiced. This decision is based on the notion that an antireflux procedure may be unnecessary and is associated with added morbidity. We retrospectively reviewed 12 infants with GER and malrotation. All infants had symptoms attributed to GER and/or malrotation. A control group of seven infants with malrotation only was included for comparison of operative duration and postoperative recovery. Infants who received concurrent Ladd and Nissen procedures (Group 1, n=8) had immediate resolution of symptoms. Infants treated by Ladd procedure alone (Group 2, n=4), had persistent symptoms, despite postoperative medical therapy. A subsequent antireflux procedure was necessary. Comparison of operative times showed that a simultaneous procedure added, on average, 35 minutes to the Ladd procedure. Postoperative feeding and hospital stay were comparable between Group 1 and the control group. In contrast, Group 2 patients had longer hospitalizations due to ineffective medical therapy for persistent GER. No significant morbidity was noted. We recommend comprehensive surgical treatment with concurrent Ladd and Nissen procedures. This approach provides expedient and effective treatment of GER and malrotation, with minimal increase in operative time and no increase in morbidity .

Digestive System Abnormalities↗