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Biomedical subjects

C H Liu

Publications and source records attributed to C H Liu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Consistent presence of isochromosome 7q in hepatosplenic T gamma/delta lymphoma: a new cytogenetic-clinicopathologic entity.

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTL), which is characterized by hepatosplenic presentation and the gamma/delta T-cell receptor (TCR) phenotype on the malignant cells, is a rare but distinct subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Little is known about the chromosomal changes in these lymphomas. We report the cytogenetic analysis of three patients who had neoplastic proliferation of T gamma/delta cells in the spleen, bone marrow, and liver, but not in lymph nodes or skin. Isochromosome 7q and trisomy 8 were observed in all three patients. Isochromosome 7q as the sole abnormality has been previously reported in one patient with similar clinicopathologic features. It is suggested that i(7q) is a primary, nonrandom chromosomal abnormality in hepatosplenic T gamma/delta PTL.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Sources of triacylglycerol accumulation in livers of rats fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet.

The source of free fatty acids (FFA) and the pathways contributing to the accumulation of neutral fats in livers of rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet were investigated in this report. Supplementation with 1% cholesterol in the diet for four weeks resulted in hepatomegaly in the rats. The contents of cholesterol and triacylglycerols (TG) per gram liver measured in rats fasted overnight increased by 48 mg (approximately tenfold) and 66 mg (approximately fourfold), respectively. The activities of glycerophosphate acyltransferase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase, the two key enzymes for TG synthesis in liver microsomes, were found to increase by 23 and 19%, respectively, in the cholesterol-fed rats. The secretion of plasma TG present predominantly in very low density lipoprotein was found to decrease by approximately 30%. The incorporation of tritium from tritiated water in liver FFA increased by twofold in rats fed the cholesterol-supplemented diet, whereas the activity of CPT I in liver mitochondria decreased by 23%. The uptake of plasma FFA in vivo in livers of fasted rats maintained on the cholesterol-supplemented diet decreased by 60%. Our data thus indicate that the excess TG accumulated in livers of rats fed the cholesterol-enriched diet resulted from increased synthesis and decreased secretion of TG. To meet the demand of fatty acids for this purpose, de novo lipogenesis increased, whereas beta-oxidation decreased. Although difference in the uptake of extrahepatic FFA may be discounted, a difference in the uptake of chylomicron remnants between the control and cholesterol-fed rats may not be ruled out.

Acyltransferases↗
PubMed1995

Pelvic abscess induced by a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from haematogenous spread via the CVP line in a burn patient.

A 38-year-old female patients was found accidentally to have a positive culture of MRSA from a routine CVP catheter tip culture 1 week after she had complete wound closure. She was recovering from a partial skin thickness burn covering 42 per cent TBSA on the trunk and extremities. Fever and hip pain developed abruptly 1 week later when she was ready for discharge from hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis disclosed an intramuscular abscess. Open drainage was performed and pus culture yielded a MRSA with the same sensitivity profile as the previous CVP tip culture. Vancomycin 500 mg every 6 h was used for 3 weeks until the drain culture disclosed a negative result, and a follow-up MRI indicated a loss of the abscess space. Follow-up at an outpatient clinic 3 months later showed that the patient remained symptom free. In this patient haematogenous dissemination was the most likely route of pelvic abscess formation. It should be remembered that MRSA infection is not always only a local problem, especially in the immunocompromised condition of burn injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

In-vitro and in-vivo studies of the diclofenac sodium controlled-release matrix tablets.

Controlled release matrix tablets for diclofenac sodium were developed in this study. Five matrix-tablet formulations were prepared by granulating two viscosity grades of HPMC (hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose) in varying ratios with water in the planetary mixer. The in-vitro dissolution tests indicate that all five matrix formulations prolong the release of diclofenac sodium. The main factors controlling drug release were the HPMC viscosity grade and the amount of HPMC used. The larger the amount of high viscosity grade HPMC used, the slower the resultant release rate of diclofenac sodium. There was no significant degradation of diclofenac sodium or change in drug release rate in any of the five formulations during a three-month period of stability testing. The sustained release ability of four formulations was further demonstrated in an in-vivo study in six healthy subjects. There were in-vitro/in-vivo correlations between Cmax, AUC0-14, and the time for 50 or 80% drug to be released.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Studies on the in-vitro percutaneous penetration of indomethacin from gel systems in hairless mice.

The influence of co-solvents on the in-vitro percutaneous penetration of indomethacin from gel systems was studied using a simplex lattice experimental design. Gel formulations were prepared by gelling the vehicle mixture of water, either alcohol or isopropanol and either propylene glycol or PEG 400 with 1% w/w Carbomer 940. Hairless mouse skin was employed as the barrier in a Franz-type diffusion cell. The penetration rates at steady state for seven formulations were fitted to a polynomial equation based on this simple lattice method and a three-dimensional plot was constructed. The formulation having the maximal penetration rate was determined to be the vehicle with a solvent ratio of water: alcohol: propylene glycol equal to 15:33:52, and which possessed a solubility parameter of 15 and a drug solubility of around 10 mg mL-1. When the solubility parameter of the vehicle was > 15, the drug solubility increased. However, the penetration rate decreased with an increasing solubility parameter. For those vehicles with a solubility parameter < 15, both the drug solubility and the penetration rate decreased with a decrease in the solubility parameter. There was shown to be an approximately 20-fold increase in the relative enhancement factor when using both alcohol and isopropanol, but only a threefold increase for both propylene glycol and PEG 400, when compared with water.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1995

Priming reversal of profound atracurium blockade by edrophonium and neostigmine.

Accelerated reversal of moderate neuromuscular blockade has been reported to be effective by giving anticholinesterase in divided doses (priming reversal). To evaluate its effectiveness in profound blockade, forty ASA physical status I or II patients were studied. After receiving 0.5mg/kg of atracurium during N2O-O2-halothane anesthesia, they were reversed at 5% spontaneous recovery of first twitch height (T1) measured by train-of-four (TOF) stimulation. Edrophonium 1mg/kg was administered intravenously either in a single bolus dose (Group I, n = 10) or in an initial priming dose of 0.2mg/kg followed one minute later by 0.8mg/kg (Group II, n = 10). Neostigmine 0.05mg/kg was administered in a single bolus dose (Group III, n = 10) or in divided priming dose of 0.01 mg/kg followed one minute later by 0.04mg/kg (Group IV, n = 10). The recovery time from the first injection of the reversal agents until the TOF ratio reached 75% was significantly longer (p < 0.05) in Group III (681.5 +/- 77.5 sec) compared to Groups I, II, and IV (451.3 +/- 72.3 sec, 470.6 +/- 39.8 sec, and 448.1 +/- 42.5 sec, respectively; no statistical difference among these three groups). It is concluded that priming reversal by neostigmine, but not edrophonium, produced a significantly faster recovery of profound atracurium blockade. Using the priming method, neostigmine may reach a similar recovery time as edrophonium in profound blockade under equipotent doses.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Raman, fluorescence, and time-resolved light scattering as optical diagnostic techniques to separate diseased and normal biomedical media.

Studies of Raman scattering, fluorescence and time-resolved light scattering were conducted on cancer and normal biomedical media. Fourier transform Raman spectroscopic measurements were performed on human normal, benign and cancerous tissues from gynecological (GYN) tracts. A comparison of the intensity differences between various Raman modes as well as the number of Raman lines, enables one to distinguish normal GYN tissues from diseased tissues. Fluorescence spectroscopic measurements on human breast tissues show that the ratio of fluorescence intensity at 340 nm to that at 440 nm can be used to distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues. Separate studies on normal and cancerous breast cell lines show spectral differences. The measurements of back-scattered ultrafast laser pulses from human breast tissues show differences in the scattered pulse profiles for different tissues. These studies show that various optical techniques have the potential to be used in medical diagnostic applications.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma containing Reed-Sternberg-like giant cells in Taiwan. A clinicopathologic analysis of 50 cases.

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is uncommon in Taiwan. In reviewing the clinicopathologic features of 50 cases, the authors found that the diagnosis of HD was complicated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Fourteen cases were reclassified as NHL containing Reed-Sternberg (RS) giant cells, mostly peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTL), and 34 cases as classic HD, which included 8 cases of lymphocyte predominance, 10 of nodular sclerosis, 12 of mixed cellularity, and 4 of lymphocyte depletion. For cases of HD, there was a bimodal age-incidence distribution with peaks at the third and fifth decades; 61.8% manifested Stage B symptoms and 80.6% had Stage III/IV disease. The group of patients with NHL, compared with those with classic HD, was found to be older (mean age, 41.4 years versus 33.1 years; P less than 0.05), to have more extranodal disease (35.7% versus 8.8%, P less than 0.05), less complete remission rate (25% versus 67.9%, P less than 0.05), and shorter median survival (29 months versus 90 months). Most of the NHL patients originally were diagnosed as having atypical or unclassified HD. Thus, the authors conclude that the previous observation of a predominance of mixed cellularity HD in Asian regions may be attributable to the inclusion of PTL, which may mimic HD in histology. Because there is a marked difference in clinical behavior and prognosis, it is important to distinguish between HD and NHL containing RS giant cells in an area with a high incidence of PTL.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The primary application of three-dimensional ultrasonography in obstetrics.

To date, no report of three-dimensional ultrasonography in obstetrics has been available in the literature. In this study we describe the primary experience with three-dimensional ultrasonography for the prenatal evaluation of nine fetuses between 21 and 33 weeks of gestation. We found that it provides more information for clinical diagnosis than the traditional two-dimensional ultrasonography. The following advantages are notable: (1) the anatomic area of interest can be located first with the conventional real-time two-dimensional mode, then switched to reveal three-dimensional images, instantly; (2) three images are exhibited concurrently; (3) each of the three images can be arrayed separately and scrolled to search for the area of interest within the scanned volume; (4) the three-dimensional ultrasonography can be equipped with Doppler color flow mapping for the study of the fetal cardiovascular system. In conclusion, we believe that three-dimensional ultrasonography can greatly strengthen diagnostic potential, which deserves obstetricians' attention.

Cardiovascular System↗
PubMed1992

Pelvic actinomycosis with colo-ileo-vesical fistula formation: report of a case.

Pelvic actinomycosis with multiple fistular formation is rarely reported in the literature. We herein present a case of pelvic actinomycosis with sigmoid colo-ileovesical fistulae in a 36-year-old intrauterine device (IUD) user. She was admitted to the hospital because of general malaise, weight loss and bilateral palpable adnexal masses. Sonography showed bilateral adnexal masses which contained many echolucent spots. A barium enema examination revealed sigmoid colo-ileo-vesical fistulae. A computed tomographic scan showed bilateral cystic adnexal masses, bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Preoperatively, pelvic malignancy was suspected. An exploratory laparotomy was performed. Bilateral tubo-ovarian abscesses with extensive adhesions were found. Pathologic examination of the operative specimen revealed pelvic actinomycosis. The patient was treated with penicillin for 14 weeks and had a stable clinical course.

Actinomycosis↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of umbilical blood gas and acid-base status of small-for-date and normal Chinese newborns.

A prospective study of umbilical arterial blood gas in appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) babies was performed at our hospital from August 1989 to July 1990. A total of of 512 cases were included, 432 cases in the AGA group and 80 cases in the SGA group, with gestational ages ranging from 26 to 42 weeks. Umbilical arterial blood was collected immediately after delivery of the newborns. Comparisons of maternal age, gestational age, birth body weight and body length of infants. Apgar scores at one minute and five minutes, cord arterial blood pH, pO2, pCO2, base excess, bicarbonate, total CO2, O2 saturation and O2 content between the AGA and SGA groups were taken into account. Our results demonstrated significant differences in birth body weight, birth body length, Apgar scores at one minute and five minutes and gestational age in the SGA group compared with those in the AGA group. The parameters of cord arterial blood gas were not correlated with gestational age in either group. The mean pH value in the AGA group (7.30 +/- 0.05) was higher than that in the SGA group (7.28 +/- 0.08). The same trend of difference was also noted between the AGA (7.30 +/- 0.04) and SGA (7.27 +/- 0.07) babies who were delivered by Cesarean section (p < 0.05). The latter results imply a more academic state in SGA babies which is independent of labor. Prepartum asphyxia plays an important role in determining the prognosis of SGA babies. We suggest routine umbilical cord blood gas and acid-base analysis at delivery to assess fetal asphyxia.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1992

Tubal embryo transfer for the treatment of infertility.

The outcome of treatment for male factor infertility with either gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) or in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET) has been unsatisfactory. A better approach may be tubal embryo transfer (TET). In our medical center, from November 1989 to December 1990, 80 couples (male factor, n = 35, non-male factor, n = 45) entered our program for TET. Superovulation was conducted with either human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a, buserelin)/hMG. Ovum retrieval (OR) was possible in 73 patients and successful fertilization after insemination occurred in 64 of them. TET was performed only when there was at least one grade III-V embryo. The mean number of embryos transferred was 3.92 +/- 0.13 (range 1-5). There were 35 pregnancies out of 55 TET (64% per TET, 48% per OR). In the group with male factor infertility, OR occurred in 32, and 24 achieved fertilization. Ten pregnancies were achieved after 19 TET (53% per TET, 31% per OR). In comparison, the group with non-male factor infertility had a higher pregnancy rate (69% per TET and 61% per OR). There have been 15 live births, 14 ongoing pregnancies (eight sets of twins and 21 singletons), five abortions and one ectopic pregnancy. Our results indicate that: 1) TET is a valuable treatment for non-tubal factor infertility; and 2) in the group with male factor infertility, it has the advantages of demonstrating fertilization in vitro and preventing unrewarding laparoscopies.

Embryo Transfer↗
PubMed1992

Pregnancy after transfer of frozen-thawed human embryos.

Cryopreservation of human embryos has been successfully applied in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer (ET) programs at the National Taiwan University Hospital since 1988. Our preliminary results with 120 frozen-thawed embryos in 31 transfer cycles showed that the survival rate of frozen embryos was 66%. Following transfer, the implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were 6.5% and 13%, respectively. Four clinical pregnancies and one preclinical pregnancy following a frozen-thawed embryo transfer were achieved. Two normal male babies have been delivered and another pregnancy is progressing without any problem.* Unfortunately, one pregnancy was terminated due to intrauterine fetal death discovered at the 10th week of gestation; chromosome abnormality (47, XX, +5) of the fetus was found. The single preclinical pregnancy showed an elevation of serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels for three consecutive weeks following ET, but no definite gestational sac was visualized by transvaginal ultrasound.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mosaic ring chromosome 13 analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization: report of a case.

A five-year-old boy with psychomotor retardation, microcephaly, bilateral cataracts, hearing impairment and hypospadia with microphallus was found to have multiple cell lines from peripheral blood: 46,XY/46,XY, -13,+r(13)/46, Xy, -13, +dic r(13) in the ratio of 35%/61%/4% by trypsin-Giemsa, and C-bandings. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with biotin-labeled alpha-satellite probe (D21Z1/D13Z1) and fluorescence staining (FITC), we confirmed that the ring originated from chromosome 13. To elucidate changes in the chromosome ends in the ring originated from chromosome 13. To elucidate changes in the chromosome ends in the ring formation, we used human telomere-specific probes for FISH study; it showed an absence of telomeres on the ring chromosome, although Ag-NOR staining was positive. These findings yielded different breaking points on the ends of both the short and long arms of chromosome 13 from those reported in the literature.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1992

Changes in hemorrheology in urticaria.

Hemorrheology was studied in 41 cases of urticaria, and platelet aggregation function in 37 cases. The whole blood viscosity in low shearing stress, plasma viscosity, fibrinogen level and platelet aggregation were found to be markedly increased (P less than 0.05 - P less than 0.005). The cause of high blood viscosity is discussed. It is considered as the results of high plasma viscosity and increased RBC aggregation. The hemorrheological changes coincided with the hemodynamic changes seen in cutaneous microcirculation: slow granular blood stream, and aggregation of erythrocytes.

Adult↗