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Ching Tzao

Publications and source records attributed to Ching Tzao.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Enhanced detectability in proteome studies.

The discovery of candidate biomarkers from biological materials coupled with the development of detection methods holds both incredible clinical potential as well as significant challenges. However, the proteomic techniques still provide the low dynamic range of protein detection at lower abundances. This review describes the current development of potential methods to enhance the detection and quantification in proteome studies. It also includes the bioinformatics tools that are helpfully used for data mining of protein ontology. Therefore, we believe that this review provided many proteomic approaches, which would be very potent and useful for proteome studies and for further diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed2006

Acute concomitant pulmonary artery and aortic dissection with rupture.

Pulmonary artery (PA) dissection is uncommon and may lead to rupture and sudden death if encountered. A 63-year-old man presented to our emergency room with episodic left chest pain radiating to the back followed by shortness of breath. A 64-row multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed ruptured dissection of the PA and the aorta with hemopericardium, hemomediastinum, and prominent extravasated blood along the central bronchovascular bundles of both lungs. The patient experienced cardiogenic shock immediately following CT study and died after resuscitation. Concomitant PA and aortic dissection with rupture is extremely rare with the pathogenesis remaining investigated. MDCT proves to be a powerful tool in its diagnosis for a timely surgical repair if the patient could survive to have the operation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Reduced acetylated histone H4 is associated with promoter methylation of the fragile histidine triad gene in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Promoter methylation inactivates expression of some important tumor suppressor genes and may be associated with histone modification. The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is considered a tumor suppressor gene in different human epithelial cancers. We investigated whether FHIT methylation is associated with aberrant expression of Fhit protein and acetylated histone, and whether aberrant expression of Fhit protein and acetylated histone are related to prognosis after resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer. METHODS: We analyzed FHIT methylation using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and Fhit protein and acetylated histone H4 using immunohistochemistry in 60 resected tumor specimens. Concordance analysis was performed between FHIT methylation and expression of Fhit as well as H4. RESULTS: The FHIT methylation was observed in 33(55%) specimens, and the aberrant expression of Fhit and acetylated H4 was found in 42 (70%) and 40 (67%) specimens, respectively. Expression of aberrant Fhit correlated positively with tumor staging (p < 0.017) and nodal involvement (p = 0.004). Aberrant expression of acetylated H4 correlated positively with tumor staging (p < 0.001), nodal involvement (p < 0.001), and metastasis (p = 0.004). Concordance rates of 75% and 81.7% were present between promoter methylation of FHIT and expression of Fhit (p = 0.035) and acetylated H4 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant expression of Fhit and acetylated histone H4 are frequently associated with the presence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and they are potential prognostic predictors for patients after resection of the tumor.

Acetylation↗
PubMed2006

An unusual case of thymic carcinoma with endobronchial metastases manifesting as centrilobular opacities.

We report a case of a 75-year-old man having unusual manifestation of thymic carcinoma associated with endobronchial metastases. To our knowledge, endobronchial metastases secondary to thymic carcinoma has not been reported in the literature. On high-resolution computed tomograms, the tree-in-bud centrilobular opacities caused by metastatic cells accumulating within the small bronchioles is indistinguishable from that caused by inflammatory process. Thus, in patients with thymic carcinoma and persistent tree-in-bud centrilobular opacities, endobronchial metastatic disease should be considered.

Bronchial Neoplasms↗
PubMed2006

Pulmonary cryptococcosis: comparison of clinical and radiographic characteristics in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We compared the clinical characteristics and imaging findings between immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients in whom pulmonary cryptococcosis had been diagnosed to define the role of serum cryptococcal antigen (sCRAG) and radiographs during a follow-up period of up to 1 year. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: The clinical records, chest radiographs, and CT scan findings of 13 immunocompetent and 16 immunocompromised patients with a diagnosis based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, sCRAG titers, and cytologic or histologic confirmation of the presence of pulmonary cryptococcosis were reviewed during the course of the study. Two thoracic radiologists reviewed chest radiographs and CT scans for morphologic characteristics and the distribution of parenchymal abnormalities, and a final reading was reached by consensus. The correlation between serial radiographs and sCRAG titers was examined in 9 immunocompetent and 10 immunocompromised patients. MEASUREMENTS: Serum or CSF cryptococcal antigen. RESULTS: The most common clinical symptom was cough, which was present in 24 patients (82.8%). Pulmonary nodules were the most frequent radiologic abnormality. Cavitation within nodules and parenchymal consolidation were significantly less common in immunocompetent patients compared to immunocompromised patients (p = 0.02 and p = 0.05, respectively). Immunocompromised patients tended to have a larger extent of pulmonary involvement than immunocompetent patients, the changes seen on their serial radiographs were more variable, and their corresponding sCRAG titers were higher (> 1:256). In the immunocompetent patients, the radiographic characteristics of lesions usually improved with a corresponding decrease in sCRAG titers over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that pulmonary cryptococcosis usually follows a benign clinical course in immunocompetent patients. Immunocompromised patients often undergo an evolution to cavitary lesions that represent a more aggressive disease nature. Serial radiographic changes and changes in sCRAG titers reliably reflect disease progression and the response to therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm from the aorta to the left common carotid artery presenting as widened mediastinum.

Diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm of the aorta or its main branches is a challenge in patients with blunt chest trauma. Computed tomography helps to demonstrate intrathoracic hemorrhage and suspected great vascular injury when a chest radiograph reveals widening of the mediastinum. Aortic angiography remains the gold standard in the determination of the site, and severity of vascular injury for definitive surgical intervention. Timing of surgical repair is controversial. Delayed repair of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the aorta after primary control of associate injuries decreases mortality significantly, thus improving prognosis. We report a case of successful repair of a traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch with extension to the left common carotid artery in an 18-year-old female patient. The diagnosis, surgical approaches, and timing of operation are discussed along with case presentation.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2005

Promoter methylation of the hMLH1 gene and protein expression of human mutL homolog 1 and human mutS homolog 2 in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Aberrant expression of mismatch repair genes, such as human mutL homolog 1 (hMLH1) and human mutS homolog 2 (hMSH2), are common in some human cancers, and promoter methylation is believed to inactivate expression of hMLH1. We investigated whether promoter methylation is involved in loss of hMLH1 protein and whether aberrant expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein is related to prognosis after resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer. METHODS: We analyzed promoter methylation of hMLH1 using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein by using immunohistochemistry in 60 resected tumor specimens. The Pearson chi2 test was used to compare expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein among patients with different clinicopathologic parameters. Concordance analysis was performed between hMLH1 methylation and its protein expression. RESULTS: Loss of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein was found in 43 (72%) and 39 (65%, P = .06) of 60 resected specimens, respectively. hMLH1 protein correlated well with tumor staging (P < .0001), depth of tumor invasion (P = .008), and nodal involvement (P < .0001) but not with distant metastasis, whereas hMSH2 did not show correlation with any of these parameters. A concordance rate of 83.3% was present between expression of hMLH1 protein and its promoter methylation (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Aberrant expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein is frequently associated with the presence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and expression of hMLH1 protein is a better prognostic predictor than is expression of hMSH2 protein. Promoter methylation is one of the mechanisms responsible for loss of hMLH1 protein in esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2005

Isolated endobronchial metastasis of Wilms' tumor.

Isolated endobronchial metastasis from extrapulmonary solid organ was rarely reported in previous literature. We report an isolated endobronchial metastasis of Wilms' tumor in a 4-year-old boy. He underwent right nephrectomy on account of Wilms' tumor at the age of 3 years. We performed a wedge resection of a metastasis to the right lower lobe of the lung a year later, followed by chemotherapy and irradiation of the involved lung over a period of 30 weeks. One and a half years later, he developed obstructive pneumonitis of the left lung. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy identified a tumor at the left main bronchus with near total bronchial obstruction, compatible with findings on a computed tomographic scan. Rigid bronchoscopy was performed to core out the obstructing tumor. It was reported as a metastatic Wilms' tumor. Successful reexpansion of the left upper lobe was achieved and he was discharged uneventfully, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.

Bronchoscopy↗
PubMed2005

Zinc chloride (smoke bomb) inhalation lung injury: clinical presentations, high-resolution CT findings, and pulmonary function test results.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Zinc chloride smoke inhalation injury (ZCSII) is uncommon and has been rarely described in previous studies. We hypothesized that structural changes of the lung might correlate with pulmonary function. To answer this question, we correlated findings from high-resolution CT (HRCT) scan and the results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with ZCSII. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty patients who had been hospitalized with ZCSII-related conditions. MEASUREMENTS: The study included HRCT scan scores (0 to 100), static and dynamic lung volumes, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D(LCO)). RESULTS: HRCT scans and PFTs were performed initially after injury (range, 3 to 21 days) in all patients and during the follow-up period (range, 27 to 66 days) in 10 patients. The predominant CT scan findings were patchy or diffuse ground-glass opacities with or without consolidation. The majority of patients showed a significant reduction of FVC, FEV1, total lung capacity, and D(LCO), but normal FEV1/FVC ratio values. Changes of functional parameters correlated well with HRCT scan scores. Substantial improvements in CT scan abnormalities and pulmonary function were observed at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of our patients with ZCSII presented with a predominant parenchymal injury of the lung that was consistent with a restrictive type of functional impairment and a reduction in Dlco rather than with obstructive disease. Our results suggest that HRCT scanning and pulmonary function testing may reliably predict the severity of ZCSII.

Aerosols↗
PubMed2004

Isolated cryptococcal thoracic empyema with osteomyelitis of the rib in an immunocompetent host.

Cryptococcal thoracic empyema is extremely rare and has been described almost always in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary or disseminated cryptococcosis. To our knowledge, isolated cryptococcal thoracic empyema with rib osteomyelitis has never been reported in an immunocompetent patient. We herein present such a case. Computed tomographic (CT) scan suggested the diagnosis of thoracic empyema in association with adjacent rib osteomyelitis, confirmed by postoperative histological examination. Surgical debridement followed by appropriate antifungal therapy achieved a complete eradication of the infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Anti-proliferative activity of Bupleurum scrozonerifolium in A549 human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Nan-Chai-Hu, the root of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium, is a traditional Chinese herb used in treatment of liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. We recently reported that the acetone extract of B. scorzonerifolium (BS-AE) could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells. We further examined its anti-proliferative mechanisms and in vivo anticancer effect. Our results showed that BS-AE had the ability to cause cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, inducing tubulin polymerization, and activating caspase-3 and -9 in A549 cells. BS-AE-induced apoptosis could be blocked by the broad caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk in majority. The result of in vivo study showed that BS-AE could suppress growth in A549 subcutaneous xenograft tumors. These results indicate that BS-AE exerts antiproliferative effects on A549 cells in vitro and in vivo, and prompted us to further evaluate and elucidate the chemical composition profile of BS-AE.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

5'CpG island hypermethylation and aberrant transcript splicing both contribute to the inactivation of the FHIT gene in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

The relative contribution of promoter hypermethylation and aberrant splicing to the inactivation of the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene is unclear. Using genetic and epigenetic analyses, the current investigation examines the loss of protein and mRNA expression, and 5'CpG hypermethylation and allelic imbalance of the FHIT gene in a series of 129 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples, in parallel with clinicopathological analyses. We found that 50% of NSCLC patients had aberrant protein expression, which was more frequent in squamous cell carcinomas (SQ) (69%) than in adenocarcinomas (AD) (28%) (P < 0.0001). 5'CpG hypermethylation of FHIT was identified in 31% of patients. Abnormally-sized FHIT transcripts were also observed in 24% of patients and were attributed to various exonic deletions, mainly in the region of exons 4-8. Allelic imbalance of the FHIT locus and its correlation with the status of Fhit expression, 5'CpG hypermethylation, and aberrant splicing, indicated that biallelic inactivation of Fhit expression could be induced by 5'CpG hypermethylation of one allele and alternative splicing in the other allele. Moreover, an 83% concordance in the methylation status of FHIT was demonstrated between 12 samples of bronchial precancerous lesions taken before surgery and their matched resected tumours. Our data suggest that FHIT 5'CpG hypermethylation and splicing alterations are both predominant mechanisms involved in the aberrant expression of the FHIT gene, and that FHIT 5'CpG methylation may be potentially used as a supplemental detection marker for NSCLC.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗
PubMed2004

Correlation of high-resolution CT, symptoms, and pulmonary function in patients during recovery from severe acute respiratory syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Little is known of the nature of the recovery period after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection. We hypothesized that structural changes of the lung might correlate with symptoms and pulmonary function. To answer this question, we correlate findings of high-resolution CT (HRCT) with dyspnea scores and results of pulmonary function tests in patients during recovery from SARS. DESIGN: Retrospective follow-up cohort study. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients who recovered from SARS-related hospitalization. MEASUREMENTS: The study included HRCT scores (0 to 100), dyspnea scores (1 to 4), static and dynamic lung volumes, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO). RESULTS: The interval between hospital discharge and HRCT study or functional assessment was 31.2 +/- 4.8 days (range, 25 to 38 days) [mean +/- SD]. All patients had HRCT abnormalities and were assigned to two groups: ground-glass opacity (GGO) only (n = 7, 36.8%) and GGO with fibrosis (GGO+F) [n = 12, 63.2%]. Most patients (16 of 19, 84.2%) had no zonal predominance. HRCT scores correlated well with dyspnea scores (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) and with a variety of pulmonary functional variables, with DLCO being the most significant (r = - 0.923, p < 0.001). Compared with the GGO group, the GGO+F group showed significantly lower FEV(1), FVC, total lung capacity, residual volume, and DLCO. CONCLUSIONS: HRCT findings correlate well with functional studies and clinical symptoms during recovery from SARS. Longer-term follow-up studies in a larger cohort of patients should be performed to investigate the clinical outcome of recovered SARS patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Paracrine role of soluble guanylate cyclase and type III nitric oxide synthase in ovine fetal pulmonary circulation: a double labeling immunohistochemical study.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) or NOS-III in the endothelium catalyzes production of nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide diffuses freely into vascular smooth muscle, where it activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to produce guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and causes vasorelaxation. The NO/cGMP pathway is an important signaling pathway in the control of perinatal pulmonary circulation. An exact colocalization of NOS-III in the pulmonary endothelium and sGC in the vascular smooth muscle was demonstrated using a double immunolabeling technique. The sGC immunoreactivity was higher in resistant pulmonary vessels and veins than in conduit arteries, whereas NOS-III immunoreactivity was higher in conduit arteries than in veins. These results demonstrated anatomically in situ a paracrine role of NOS-III and sGC in the regulation of fetal pulmonary circulation and suggested a heterogeneous distribution of NOS-III and sGC within fetal ovine pulmonary vasculature. Our results provided an anatomic basis that supported previous functional studies on perinatal control of pulmonary circulation.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Type I nitric oxide synthase is decreased in the fetal pulmonary circulation of hypertensive lambs.

The nitric oxide (NO)/guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays an essential role in mediating pulmonary vasodilatation during transition of the pulmonary circulation at birth. We used immunoblot analysis (Western) and semiquantitative immunohistochemistry to study the presence, distribution, and relative amounts of type I nitric oxide synthase (NOS-I). Immunoblots were performed on normal fetal sheep lungs, whereas immunohistochemistry for NOS-I was compared between lungs from normal fetal lambs vs. fetal lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) induced by ligation of the ductus arteriosus. Western blot analysis using a polyclonal antibody detected NOS-I protein in homogenates of normal fetal sheep lungs. Abundant NOS-I immunoreactivity was observed exclusively in the precapillary resistance vessels, i.e., terminal bronchiole-associated arteries (TA) and respiratory bronchiole-associated arteries (RA) in normal fetal lung. In marked contrast, immunoreactivity for NOS-I was significantly reduced in the TA and RA of hypertensive lungs. We conclude that there is a heterogeneous distribution of NOS-I in the normal fetal sheep lung, but that NOS-I staining is significantly reduced in lambs with PPHN.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison between video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy and transternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (analysis of 82 cases).

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) provides a new approach to thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG). We compared the results of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (VATT) and transternal thymectomy (TT) in Taiwanese people with MG. From January 1997 to August 2002, we enrolled a total of 82 patients with MG who underwent TT and anterior mediastinal adipose tissue removal in our study. Of those, 51 patients underwent VATT, and 31 patients underwent TT. The men-to-women ratios were 18:33 and 15:16 in the VATT and TT groups, respectively. The mean age was 37.9 +/- 17.56 years in the VATT group and 35.6 +/- 16.8 years in the TT group (P = 0.55). Preoperative Osserman's classification revealed the following: class I: 11 (21.6%), 13 (41.9%); class IIA: 18 (35.3%), 11 (35.5%); class IIB: 18 (35.3%), 5 (16.1%); class III: 2 (3.9%), 0; and class IV: 2 (3.9%), 2 (6.5%), respectively, in the two groups (P = 0.06). During VATT, all but two patients were placed supine in the 45 degrees left lateral decubitus position under double-lumen intubated anesthesia. Usually three 1-cm incision wounds over anterior axillary line at the third, fifth, and sixth intercostal spaces were necessary. A total of 82 patients (51 with VATT and 31 with TT) were studied. There were no statistical differences between the two groups of patients in terms of sex, age, and severity of MG. In VATT and TT groups, postoperative hospital stays were 6.1 +/- 3.3 and 26.9 +/- 14.1 days, respectively (P = 0.001). Intensive care unit stays were 1.5 +/- 1.1 and 3.2 +/- 2.3 days, respectively (P = 0.018). Operative times were 180.0 +/- 53.4 and 248.2 +/- 71.9 minutes, respectively (P = 0.004). Thymus weights were 43.7 +/- 22.5 and 52.2 +/- 29.6 g, respectively (P = 0.141). Fifty-one VATT procedures were performed through a right-side approach without conversion. Most patients were extubated in the operating room or recovery room. The harvested thymus glands had an average weight of 49.4 g (range, 21.4-90 g). There were no surgical mortality cases. There was no statistically significant difference (P = 0.574) in the postoperative improvement classification between the two groups, with a mean of 4 years of follow-up. In the VATT group, 14 (27.5%) patients had complete remission without any medication, 14 (27.5%) patients were in class II, 21 (41.1%) patients were in class III, 2 (3.9%) patients were in class IV, and 0 (0%) patients were in class V, according to postoperative classification of DeFilippi et al. We concluded that VATT is technically feasible and safe and is associated with a favorable postoperative outcome compared with the transsternal approach.

Adult↗