Biomedical subjects

H C Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to H C Hsu.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Naphthoquinone esters from the root of Rhinacanthus nasutus.

Reinvestigation of the root of Rhinacanthus nasutus afforded, in addition to rhinacanthin-A to -D reported previously, two new dimethyldihydropyranonaphthoquinone esters (5, 6) and eight new 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone esters (7-14) were isolated. The stereochemistry of rhinacanthin-A was determined as the R configuration. Compounds rhinacanthin-G to -N, belong to a class of 2-hydroxy-3-(3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone esters, and so far have been isolated only in this plant. Their biosynthesis is also discussed.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

PubMed1998

Total skin electron beam irradiation in scleromyxoedema.

We report a 44-year-old male with generalized progressive scleromyxoedema treated by total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) which produced a marked improvement in the skin lesion. TSEBT can provide effective treatment for patients with widespread skin involvement in scleromyxoedema.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Immunoglobulin D multiple myeloma: a case report.

Immunoglobulin D (IgD) multiple myeloma is a rare disorder with a poor prognosis. We herein report a case of IgD myeloma presenting with renal failure and bicytopenia. A bone marrow biopsy specimen showed infiltration of homogeneous plasma cells, which stained positively for IgD and light chains. We review the literature and discuss the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment strategy for this rare tumor.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Os supratrochlear dorsale of the elbow: a report of two cases.

The os supratrochlear dorsale, an accessory ossicle of the elbow, has rarely been described in the literature. Rather than being caused by trauma, it is subject to trauma by elbow extension with secondary chondrometaplasia, resulting symptomatology. The aim of this report is to remind readers that its presence is crucial for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Arthroscopic removal may be required to relieve persistent pain, catching and limited range of motion.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Cloning and expression of a developmentally regulated transcript MXR7 in hepatocellular carcinoma: biological significance and temporospatial distribution.

Using the differential display method to analyze mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and nontumor livers, we cloned a full-length cDNA of 2263 bp, which was designated GTR2-2 and was identical with MXR7. The MXR7 mRNA was detected in 143 of 191 (74.8%) primary and recurrent HCCs taken from 154 patients but only in 5 (3.2%) nontumor livers. MXR7 mRNA was detected in one of two hepatoblastomas but not in hepatocellular adenoma, cholangiocarcinoma, or metastatic carcinomas to the liver. In human cancer of other anatomical sites, MXR7 mRNA was detected in low levels in one Wilms' tumor and in 4 of 40 gastric adenocarcinomas but not in several other types of cancer and 21 nonhepatocellular human tumor cell lines examined. MXR7 mRNA was expressed in high levels in the placenta, fetal liver, lung, and kidney, but it was undetectable in adult liver and was expressed in very low levels in adult lung and kidney. Our observations suggest that the MXR7 gene is regulated developmentally and expressed preferentially in HCC. To study its potential biological significance, we selected 113 patients who had unicentric primary HCC and had been followed for more than 4 years for further analysis. The MXR7 mRNA expression correlated closely with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (88 versus 55%; P = 0.0001) and with expression of AFP mRNA (87 versus 55%; P = 0.005) and CD24 mRNA in HCC (80 versus 50%; P < 0.04), high tumor grade (76 versus 56%; P = 0.05), and tumor invasion (76 versus 55%; P < 0.05), but not with patient outcome. In HCC < or =3 cm, the frequency (77%) of MXR7 mRNA expression was significantly higher than that of elevated serum AFP (43%; P < 0.007) and AFP mRNA expression in HCC (41%; P < 0.004). Thus, MXR7 may serve as a sensitive early tumor marker for HCC and warrants more study to better understand its biological function.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Increased acute-phase response and renal amyloidosis in aged CD2-fas-transgenic mice.

We previously demonstrated that increased Fas expression in T cells of aged CD2-fas transgenic (Fas-Tg) CD-1 mice results in an increased immune response and T cell apoptosis. Surprisingly, despite prevention of T cell immune senescence, the average life span of Fas-Tg mice is comparable with that of nontransgenic (non-Tg) mice. Histopathologic evaluation of tissue sections showed that nearly 50% of the aged (>18-mo-old) Fas-Tg mice developed renal amyloid A amyloidosis, whereas no amyloid deposition was observed in aged non-Tg mice. The amyloid A deposition was observed primarily in glomeruli by using immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy. The full-length amino acid coding sequence of serum amyloid A2 cDNA in CD-1 mice was identical to that of amyloid A amyloidosis-susceptible BALB/c mice. Although there was no significant difference in steady-state serum amyloid A level in the serum of aged non-Tg and Fas-Tg mice, challenging mice with staphylococcal enterotoxin B resulted in significantly higher serum levels of serum amyloid A on day 2 and IL-6 on days 1 and 2 and a higher magnitude of weight loss on day 7 in aged Fas-Tg mice compared with young mice. These parameters, at the indicated time points, were equivalent between young and aged non-Tg mice. Taken together, our data suggest that prevention of T cell senescence in Fas-Tg mice may be a factor in induction of an excessive acute-phase response triggered by T cell activation. The Fas-Tg mice are a novel model for understanding the immunologic mechanisms leading to secondary amyloidosis.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

PubMed1997

Fip-vvo, a new fungal immunomodulatory protein isolated from Volvariella volvacea.

A new fungal immunomodulatory protein (Fip) has been purified from the edible mushroom, Volvariella volvacea, and designated Fip-vvo. Analysis of the purified protein by SDS/PAGE followed by Coomassie Blue staining demonstrated that Fip-vvo is a single polypeptide with an apparent molecular mass of 15 kDa. Periodic acid/Schiff staining showed that this single polypeptide lacks carbohydrates. Using an in vitro bioassay measuring blast-formation stimulatory activity, Fip-vvo was shown to stimulate the maximum proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes at a concentration of 5 microg/ml. Fip-vvo was capable of agglutinating rat red blood cells. Neither haemagglutination nor mitogenic activities were inhibited by mono- or dimeric sugars. In vivo, repeat administration of Fip-vvo greatly reduced the production of BSA-induced Arthus reaction in mice, whereas little effect was observed on the prevention of systemic anaphylaxis reactions. The selectively enhanced transcriptional expression of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, interferon-gamma, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, lymphotoxin and IL-2 receptor by Fip-vvo was also demonstrated by reverse transcriptase-PCR. This finding suggests that Fip-vvo exerts its immunomodulatory effects via cytokine regulation. In addition, the complete amino acid sequence of Fip-vvo was obtained by direct protein sequencing. This protein consists of 112 amino acid residues with a blocked N-terminal end and has a calculated molecular mass of 12667 Da not including the N-terminal blocking group. By gel filtration analysis, Fip-vvo exhibited a molecular mass of 26 kDa for the native molecules in PBS. This result indicates that native Fip-vvo is most likely a non-covalently associated homodimeric molecule.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1997

The anti-tumor effect of Ganoderma lucidum is mediated by cytokines released from activated macrophages and T lymphocytes.

The present study was to ascertain the immunomodulating and anti-tumor effects of Ganoderma (G.) lucidum. Polysaccharides (PS) from fresh fruiting bodies of G. lucidum (PS-G) were isolated and used to potentiate cytokine production by human monocytes-macrophages and T lymphocytes. Our results had shown that the levels of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha, and IL-6 in macrophage cultures treated with PS-G (100 micrograms/ml) were 5.1-, 9.8- and 29-fold higher, respectively, than those of untreated controls. In addition, the release of interferon (IFN)- gamma from T lymphocytes was also greatly promoted in the presence of PS-G (25-100 micrograms/ml). Furthermore, these cytokine-containing mononuclear cell-conditioned media (PSG-MNC-CM) were found to suppress the proliferation and clonogenicity of both the HL-60 and the U937 leukemic cell lines. DNA labeling and gel electrophoresis showed that treatment with PSG-MNC-CM markedly induced leukemic-cell apoptosis. Flow-cytometric analysis revealed that few (2.3 +/- 0.8%) apoptotic cells were seen in the control cultures, while PSG-MNC-CM treatment resulted in a significant increase in the apoptotic population both in the HL-60 (38.3 +/- 4.5%) and in the U937 (44.5 +/- 3.8%) cells. In addition, 40 to 45% of the treated leukemic cells were triggered to differentiate into mature monocytic cells expressing CD14 and CD68 surface antigens. However, PS-G alone had no such effects even at a higher dose of 400 micrograms/ml. Since untreated macrophages and T lymphocytes produced little or no cytokine, and normal MNC-CM did not suppress leukemic cell growth, it was suggestive that the anti-tumor activity of PSG-MNC-CM was derived from the elevated levels of cytokines. Antibody-neutralization studies further revealed that the anti-tumor cytokines in the PSG-MNC-CM were mainly of TNF- alpha and IFN- gamma, and these 2 cytokines acted synergistically on the inhibition of leukemic-cell growth.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1997

Concordance of positive and negative symptoms in coaffected sib-pairs with schizophrenia.

Positive and negative symptom (NGS) dimensions were examined for their concordance in 46 coaffected schizophrenic sib-pairs. Results showed that the symptom dimensions of negative symptoms (NGS), delusion-hallucination (DHS), and thought disorganization (TDS) could be formulated. Discrete genetic endowment of these three symptom dimensions was not found as shown by the low concordance in sib pair analysis (kappa = 0.20-0.30). Thirty-seven pairs (80.4%) and 21 pairs (45.7%) had liability, defined by the presence of NGS in any one member of the coaffected sib-pairs, of NGS of "any degree", and of "severe degree" in 46 sib-pairs, respectively. Both groups had high prevalence (59.1-81.0%) of positive symptoms. Another 9 (19.6%) and 25 (54.3%) pairs had no liability of NGS of "any degree" or of "severe degree" out of 46 sib-pairs, respectively. These two groups had high concordance (kappa = 0.45-1.00) of TDS or DHS between coaffected sib-pairs. Based on the results, it is hypothesized that schizophrenia, as defined by DSM-III-R, may consist of two subtypes: one has liability of NGS and a high prevalence of positive symptoms, while the other has only positive symptoms.

Delusions↗

PubMed1997

Primary transplantation of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell for severe aplastic anemia.

Primary allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) has not been previously described in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA). We report a patient with SAA who underwent primary allo-PBSCT with cells from her HLA-identical sibling and achieved rapid bone marrow reconstitution. The patient has been in complete remission with normal blood counts for 9 months following allo-PBSCT. This suggests that primary allo-PBSCT is a safe and effective alternative in the treatment of SAA.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Increased apoptosis of CD45RO- T cells with aging.

Increasing susceptibility to infectious and autoimmune phenomena have long been recognized to accompany advancing age in otherwise healthy individuals. Recently animal models of aging have suggested that age-associated immune dysfunction may correlate with defects in T cell apoptosis. We have examined activation-induced apoptosis defects in human peripheral T cells from young individuals (mean age = 31 +/- 3 years old) compared to aged individuals (mean age = 67 +/- 8 years old). Following in vitro activation of T cells with PHA and IL-2, apoptosis was measured in T cell subsets using 7-amino actinomycin D (7-AAD) staining and analysis via three colour flow cytometry. There was no significant difference in apoptosis of the total CD3+ T cell population at early and late time points. Interestingly, increased apoptosis in the CD3+ CD45RO- T cell population of older adults was observed by culture day 6. While the total number of CD3+ CD45RO- cells was not different between young (< 33 years) and old (> 65 years) individuals, 32% of these cells did not undergo apoptosis in younger individuals while only 10% of these cells avoided this fate in older individuals. These results suggest that accumulation of CD45RO+ T cells may occur in aged subjects due in part to preferential elimination of CD45RO- cells with activation. Furthermore, as new or continued immune response requires differentiation of CD45RO+ T cells to CD45RO+ T cells after activation, increased apoptosis instead of survival in aged individuals could lead to observed T cell immune deficiency.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Influence of lateral release on patellar tracking and patellofemoral contact characteristics after total knee arthroplasty.

The influence of lateral release of retinaculum on patellofemoral kinematics and contact characteristics after total knee arthroplasty was investigated in vitro. Lateral release altered the patellar tracking in patellar flexion, rotation, tilting, and translation. The contact force was decreased at high flexion angles. The contact area was slightly decreased and the contact region shifted laterally on the patellar button and medially on the femoral component at most of the flexion angles. The results suggest that the lateral release in total knee arthroplasty can change some patellar tracking and patellofemoral joint contact characteristics.

Cadaver↗

PubMed1997

Short-term treatment with low-dose pravastatin attenuates oxidative susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein in hypercholesterolemic patients.

The effects of treatment with low-dose 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor pravastatin on the changes of chemical composition and in vitro oxidative susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were studied in 20 type Ila hyperlipidemic patients with a plasma total cholesterol level > 240 mg/dL at the end of a diet control period for 3 months using the American Heart Association recommended step I diet. Treatment with pravastatin in a dose of 5 mg twice daily for 4 weeks resulted in lowering plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels by 17.0% and 22.9%, respectively. There was no further decline in plasma lipid thereafter. Chemical composition analysis showed that LDL particles did not contain significantly less cholesterol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) until the end of 8 weeks (130.6 +/- 17.8 vs. 106.6 +/- 37.1 mg/mg protein, P < 0.05 and 0.16 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein, P < 0.005, respectively). Vitamin E, phospholipid, and triglyceride contents remained at the same levels throughout the study. In terms of oxidative kinetics, lag time and time to maximal diene concentration were not prolonged during the treatment period for 12 weeks, while total diene concentration and reaction rate were not significantly reduced until 8 weeks of treatment. Plasma enzyme activity of glutathione reductase and peroxidase, as well as the whole blood level of reduced and oxidized glutathione, remained similar during the study. In conclusion, pravastatin, at the low dose of 5 mg twice daily, produced a significant decline in plasma lipid levels to a steady-state range by 4 weeks; however, 8-weeks treatment is necessary to reduce the cholesterol and TBARS content, as well as to attenuate the oxidative susceptibility of LDL. These effects are not related to the antioxidant glutathione.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

On confidence limits associated with Chow and Shao's joint confidence region approach for assessment of bioequivalence.

Confidence limits associated with Chow and Shao's 90% joint confidence region method (C&S CR limits) were derived to assess the bioequivalence (BE) of drug products. The C&S CR method provides three conditions that must be simultaneously satisfied to conclude BE, which is applicable only for raw scale data. The C&S CR limits method extends its applicability to both raw scale and log-transformed data. In addition, it is easy to interpret. The quantitative limits provide information, such as how much the test product deviates from the reference product in bioavailability. The data sets of peak plasma concentration (C(max)) and area under plasma concentration curve (AUC) of 13 BE studies involving 10 drugs were used to compare the performances of classic confidence interval (classic CI), C&S CR, and C&S CR limits methods. The results indicate that the same BE conclusion can be reached for C&S CR and C&S CR limits methods. The C&S CR and its limits method offered a distinctive advantage in terms of percentage passing the BE criteria by taking account of the correlation and variability of sample means. Similar BE conclusion was observed for C&S CR limits method by using raw and log-transformed data in this study.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed1997

Bile duct hamartomas. A report of two cases.

Bile duct hamartomas (von Meyenburg's complexes) of the liver are usually detected at laparotomy or autopsy as an incidental finding, and usually they are multiple. We report two cases of proved bile duct hamartomas of the liver. The first was in a 65-year-old man whose initial sepsis and many hepatic lesions were interpreted as microabscess of the liver. The second patient was a 39-year-old man, a hepatitis B surface antigen carrier, in whom an incidental hepatic tumor was found. We suggest that liver biopsy be done in hepatic lesions with uncertain clinical features, because the histologic findings may change the treatment plan.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Case report: primary cystic keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the liver in a patient with treated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver is very rare; only 18 cases have been recorded. In the present report we document an additional case who had a unique history of stage III non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with a full course of radiotherapy in July 1993. Two small hypoechoic cyst-like lesions in the left hepatic lobe were identified at the same time. In July 1995 the 50-year-old patient reported to be suffering from abdominal fullness and tenderness. A large hypodense tumour was demonstrated in the left hepatic lobe by abdominal echography. The patient was diagnosed as having metastatic carcinoma and received two courses of pre-operative chemotherapy followed by left lobectomy of the liver and resection of adherent tissues on 9 August 1995. Pathological study demonstrated a larger hepatic cystic keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma, which most likely arose from a solitary hepatic cyst. Tumour seedings, probably secondary to tumour rupture, were also revealed on the omentum, peritoneum and diaphragm. However, regional lymph nodes were fee of tumour. Systemic work-up failed to demonstrate evidence of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, metastatic lesion or any second primary tumour site.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

PubMed1997

Expression of P-glycoprotein and p53 in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated by single agent chemotherapy: clinical correlation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a chemoresistant tumour, is the most common fatal cancer in Taiwan. Hepatocellular carcinoma frequently expresses a high level of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is a specific phenotype of a multidrug-resistance gene, and harbours mutations of the tumour suppressor gene p53. A modulatory relationship between p53 and P-gp has been reported. In this study, we analysed the expression of P-gp in relation to chemotherapeutic response and p5353 protein expression in advanced HCC. Prechemotherapeutic tumour samples were obtained from 25 patients with HCC which had been treated with either etoposide (VP-16) or doxorubicin. P-glycoprotein and p53 in HCC were visualized by immunohistochemical staining using the monoclonal antibodies JSB-1 and DO1, respectively. We investigated the correlation of P-gp expression with chemotherapeutic responses, clinicopathological features and p53 protein expression. In our study, seven cases achieved partial remission, and the remaining 18 cases had a poor response to chemotherapy. Expression of P-gp was observed in 13 tumours (52%). Positive P-gp protein expression was significantly associated with non-responders (8% or 1/13 vs 50% or 6/12, P = 0.03). Thus, P-gp expression inversely correlated with chemotherapeutic response. Expression of p53 protein was seen in 12 cases and did not correlate with chemosensitivity or P-gp expression. In summary, P-gp expression correlates with the chemosensitivity of HCC that has been treated with VP-16 or doxorubicin and p 53 mutations do not appear to be a major determinant of P-gp expression in advanced HCC.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1997

Cell death and longevity: implications of Fas-mediated apoptosis in T-cell senescence.

Two prominent features of immune senescence are altered T-cell phenotype and reduced T-cell response. We have previously shown that T-cell senescence is greatly reduced in CD2-fas transgenic mice, in which the Fas apoptosis molecule is constantly expressed on T cells. Using a different experimental approach, the relationship between T-cell senescence and apoptosis was analyzed on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The results indicate that there was increased apoptosis of CD45RO- (CD45RA+) T cells upon activation. We propose that this could account for the increase in CD45RO+ "memory" T cells with aging in humans. T-cell responsiveness remained high in CD2-fas transgenic aged mice, but there was no increase in overall life span of these mice. Increased T-cell responsiveness was associated with an increased acute-phase response and serum amyloid A deposition in the glomerulus of aged CD2-fas transgenic mice. Therefore, restoration of the T-cell immune function using a CD2-fas transgene produced undesirable side-effects to aged transgenic mice. In addition to its role in activation-induced cell death, Fas-mediated apoptosis may be important in deleting T cells in response to DNA damage. It may also inhibit cell-cycle progression by cleaving various kinases and DNA repair enzymes. We observed that cell lines derived from human premature aging diseases have a higher sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis. The implications of these observations are discussed.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗