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Biomedical subjects

H C Wang

Publications and source records attributed to H C Wang.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Can the hormonal receptor status of primary breast cancer be altered by neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

In order to know whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy would change the hormonal receptor status of primary breast cancer, 10 patients with locally advanced breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant CEF (endoxan, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil) were studied. Tissue was obtained by incisional biopsy before chemotherapy and by mastectomy after three courses of treatment. All the specimens were subjected to histology study and the tests of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptors. The results revealed that the only hormonal status of one out of 10 tumors was altered. Among the 10 tumors, 2 out of 10 ER and 3 out of 10 PgR were changed after neoadjuvant CEF. From our results together with other findings, it is concluded that neoadjuvant CEF dose not significantly change the hormonal receptor status of primary breast cancer. The hormonal receptor assay is unnecessary before chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Comparison of resectable and unresectable periampullary carcinomas.

Two hundred and fifty-eight patients with pathologically proved periampullary carcinomas who underwent surgical treatment between the years 1965 and 1992 were evaluated. Comparison was carried out between the resectable and unresectable groups. Carcinoma of the pancreatic head occurred in less than one-half (47 percent) of the patients, and only 23 percent were resectable. In contrast, carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater had a similar rate of occurrence, but a much higher resectable rate (86 percent). Thus, carcinoma of the pancreatic head was the minor group (19 percent) in the resectable patients we studied. The main clinical presentations and durations of symptoms before diagnosis did not differ in the resectable and unresectable groups, so it was impossible to predict the resectability by symptoms. Incidences of diabetes mellitus and diarrhea increased twofold in the unresectable group. Preoperative biopsy was difficult to perform for those with carcinoma of the pancreatic head. Comparing pancreatoduodenectomy and palliative operation, pancreatoduodenectomy resulted in a higher complication rate (43 versus 13 percent), a higher surgical mortality rate (17 versus 9 percent) and a longer hospitalization period (31 versus 20 days), but there was no statistical difference in the median survival time between the resectable and unresectable carcinomas of the pancreatic head (seven and one-half versus five months). Most of the patients (81 percent in the resectable group and 70 percent in the unresectable group) we studied died of cachexia with tumor recurrence. Although the advantage of pancreatoduodenectomy for resectable carcinoma of the pancreatic head was questioned, we still recommend this procedure for all periampullary carcinomas to avoid depriving the occasional patients with pancreatic carcinomas of long term survival and forfeiting the chance of cure for some misdiagnosed patients with other more favorable periampullary carcinomas.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1994

Thyroid cancer in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer in children and adolescents has rarely been reported in Taiwan. The purpose of this study is to realize the characteristics of thyroid cancer of children and adolescents. METHODS: From 1971 to 1992, a total of 726 patients with cancer of thyroid were treated at Veterans General Hospital-Taipei. Of these, 37 were below the age of 21, and were followed 1 to 21 years with an average of 7.4 years. RESULTS: Only one patient with thyroid cancer had the history of previous radiation therapy for head and neck tumor. Neck mass was the most common mode of presentation and 36% had associated cervical adenopathy. Histologically, papillary cancer was found in 29 patients, follicular cancer in 7 and medullary cancer in 1. There was no undifferentiated cancer. Twenty-three patients had lymph node metastases. Eight patients developed distant metastases, especially to the lung, and most of them were male. Recurrence after initial surgical treatment was found in 12 patients, without significant association with the surgical procedure. The major operative complication was hypoparathyroidism. Disease-related mortality occurred in only one case (2.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Well-differentiated carcinomas of the thyroid in children and young adults are rare in Taiwan and are mostly papillary carcinomas not related to previous neck irradiation. Before the age of puberty, boys were predominant in this series. The rate of distant metastasis was higher in males. The prognosis after surgical treatment is excellent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of urinary pseudouridine as a tumor marker in lung cancer.

The urinary concentration of pseudouridine, primarily a breakdown product of tRNA, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in 33 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), 18 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 18 patients with benign pulmonary diseases (eg, TB, COPD), and 16 healthy controls. The mean urinary pseudouridine concentration levels of the patients with SCLC, NSCLC, benign pulmonary disease and the healthy controls were 22.7 +/- 11.8, 15.6 +/- 6.0, 13.4 +/- 3.6, 12.1 +/- 3.2 nmol/mumol creatinine (mean +/- SD), respectively. The mean urinary pseudouridine concentration was significantly higher in patients with SCLC than that in patients with NSCLC, benign pulmonary disease and in the healthy controls. There was no significant difference in the urinary pseudouridine levels of patients with NSCLC and healthy controls or patients with benign pulmonary disease. Urinary pseudouridine levels above 18.5 nmol/mumol creatinine (mean value +/- 2SD for healthy controls) were noted in 54.5% of patients with SCLC, including 11 of 17 (64.7%) in extensive stage and seven of 16 (43.8%) in limited stage, and 27.8% of the patients with NSCLC. Of the 12 patients with SCLC who had follow-up urinary samples taken in series during chemotherapy courses, there was considerable urinary pseudouridine level change which paralleled the change in clinical response. Although urinary pseudouridine is not a specific marker for SCLC, it represents the tumor burden and reflects the clinical status. These findings indicate that urinary pseudouridine may be a useful tumor marker in patients with SCLC.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

DNA flow cytometric analysis of primary breast cancer in Chinese women: the relationship of DNA aneuploidy to clinical characteristics.

One-hundred-and-forty fresh frozen breast tissue samples from Chinese patients collected from May 1991 to October 1992 were evaluated for DNA content by flow cytometric analysis. None of the 12 benign tumors displayed aneuploidy. One-hundred-and-twenty-eight of the 140 specimens were histologically proven to be malignant. Ploidy was compared to the clinical characteristics which included age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, menopausal status, steroid receptor status, histological grading and pathological staging. After univariate and multivariate analyses, aneuploidy was more frequently identified in progesterone receptor negative and high grade tumors. This study suggests that an aneuploid DNA content in a breast cancer specimen may indicate more aggressive cancer.

Asian People↗
PubMed1994

[Analgesic effect and toxicity of 3,15-diacetylbenzoylaconine and comparison with its analogues].

3, 15-Diacetylbenzoylaconine (Dia) is a new aconite alkaloid derivative. The analgesic ED50 (95% confidence limit) of sc Dia measured with the HAc-induced writhing method, hot-plate method and electric stimulation method in mice were 2.76 (2.34-3.26), 3.50 (2.69-4.54), and 4.20 (3.72-4.73) mg.kg-1, respectively. With the hot-plate method and tail flick method in rats, the analgesic ED50 of ip Dia were 2.75 (2.28-3.31) and 5.24 (4.35-6.31) mg.kg-1, respectively. The LD50 of sc Dia in mice and ip Dia in rats were 21.68 (17.25-27.25) and 10.96 (8.24-14.56) mg.kg-1, respectively. The magnitude of the analgesic therapeutic indices of Dia, 3-acetylaconitine (Ace) and aconitine (Aco) in all the above-mentioned algo-model were in the order of Dia > Ace > Aco. When they were injected iv at 0.1 ml.min-1 in rats, the doses of Dia, Ace, and Aco producing arrythmia were 3.3, 0.8, and 0.5 times as large as those producing analgesia while those of Dia, Ace, and Aco inducing respiratory inhibition were 3.9, 0.5 and 0.3 times, respectively. The magnitudes of the oil/water distribution coefficients with two method and the quotient ED50 icv/ED50 sc of Dia and Ace were > Aco.

Aconitine↗
PubMed1994

Breast cancer and pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer developing during pregnancy or lactation is such an infrequent problem that, when it occurs, physicians are confronted with ethical and therapeutic challenges. Moreover, there are very few references to compare or discuss breast cancer in pregnant women in Taiwan. We hope that data from this review will add to our understanding of such difficult problem as well as help improve the treatment of our patients. METHODS: Between 1979 and 1988 the charts of 21 women, who were pregnant or postpartum within one year of the breast cancer diagnosis, were analyzed retrospectively. All of the patients were followed until Dec. 1990. Patients with pregnancy-associated breast cancer were compared with nonpregnant women (199 cases) of similar age who were treated at the same hospital and during the same period. RESULTS: We found no statistical differences in the overall 5-year survival rate between pregnant (57.1%) and nonpregnant (69.6%) groups. It is noteworthy that the time lag was significantly longer in the pregnant group than in the nonpregnant group. A stage-by-stage comparison showed equivalent survival rates between pregnant and nonpregnant patients. The pregnant patients at stage II had a somewhat lower survival rate; however, there was no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The rule of cancer treatment, "early diagnosis followed by aggressive management," is still a key principle to improve the treatment in pregnant women with breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Sites of analgesic action of 3,15-diacetylbenzoylaconine].

In the rat hot plate test, vocalization induced by electric stimulation, tail flick test, and the mouse acetic acid writhing test, 3, 15-diacetylbenzoylaconine (DABA) ip exhibited a dose-dependent analgesic activity. Intrathecally (ith) administered DABA (527, 1186 micrograms.kg-1) had no analgesic action. Microinjection of DABA 35-75 micrograms.kg-1 or 20 micrograms into the cerebral ventricle (icv) or the periaqueductal gray (PAG) exerted a remarkable analgesic activity, which was abolished after bilateral lesions of locus coeruleus (LC). Microinjection of DABA (20 micrograms) into LC failed to produce apparent analgesic action. These results suggested that the sites of analgesia of DABA were mainly at the central supraspinal structures, and PAG was one of the primary sites, while LC was one of the intermediate links.

Aconitine↗
PubMed1993

Pharmacy practice and education in the People's Republic of China.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the pharmacy profession and the education programs available to train pharmacists in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The practice of pharmacy in the hospital setting and the current development of clinical services are also described. BACKGROUND: There are two streams of medical practices in the PRC: traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. Hospital and community pharmacies are responsible for the dispensing of medicinals used for both streams of medical practices. Forty-two colleges of pharmacy offer pharmacy education, half of which provide a Western medicine approach and the other half traditional Chinese medicine. Both types of colleges offer a four-year curriculum with options for specialization. Opportunities for graduate study are also available. Most of the graduates work in hospital pharmacies. Hospital pharmacies participate in the bulk manufacture of drugs and parenteral fluids. A bulk dispensing system is used by some hospitals; individual patient doses are dispensed in others. Recently, the need to develop clinical pharmacy services in PRC was recognized and training courses were begun. Curricula with specialization in clinical pharmacy are being considered by colleges of pharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: It is anticipated that through increased awareness of the potential contribution of pharmacists in the PRC healthcare system, more opportunities for educating pharmacists will be made available to satisfy the vast need of the country. Development of clinical pharmacy services also will be expected to improve the quality of care provided.

China↗
PubMed1993

Regional blood flow redistribution due to acetate.

There is little information about the effects of acetate on regional blood flow in unanesthetized animals. Isosmolal sodium acetate or saline was infused at a rate of 250 mumol/kg.min into conscious rats such that, in the acetate group, plasma acetate levels averaged 2.06 +/- 0.23 mM. Sequential injections of tracer-tagged microspheres were used to determine the effect of acetate infusion on cardiac output, total peripheral vascular resistance, and various organ blood flow rates. At this infusion level, acetate had no discernible effect on either central hemodynamics or arterial blood gases. However, there was marked alteration of regional organ perfusion. After 5 min of infusion, acetate (relative to control) increased blood flow markedly to the splanchnic bed (+40 +/- 6.1%), including all individual splanchnic organs except for the stomach. Acetate also increased blood flow to the heart (+33 +/- 5.2%) and kidneys (+29 +/- 5.4%); all P < 0.05. Acetate had no specific effect on total cerebral blood flow or on regional brain circulations. Acetate had no effect on flow to skeletal muscle (-30 +/- 11%; P = not significant) or fat (-5 +/- 6.3%; P = 0.097), although flow to muscle tended to decrease. These data suggest that low plasma levels of acetate, which do not alter total peripheral resistance, cause a marked redistribution of blood flow to the splanchnic organs and to the kidneys. Brain blood flow is unaffected.

Acetates↗
PubMed1993

A new influenza virus A/H3N2 variant of Taiwan origin.

A clinical isolate of influenza virus A/H3N2 from a one-year-old boy with pharyngitis was examined by using RNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification of viral cDNA and subsequent DNA sequencing with asymmetric PCR. Since antigenic drift has been found in recent A/H3N2 isolates, this strain was compared with A/Shanghai/24/90 and other A/H3N2 strains, collected at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA, USA. It was found that the steady changes of amino acid at location 190 and 262 of HA1 region were very similar to some recent isolates. This 1989 isolate may be the origin of a new influenza virus A/H3N2 variant.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

[Effect of splenectomy on disorder of cellular immunoregulation in patients with advanced schistosomiasis].

The peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cell activity, the percentage of E-CabR rosettes, phagocytosis of neutrophil and lymphocyte blastogenesis were studied to assess the cellular immunoregulation in patients with advanced schistosomiasis. The results showed that the NK cell activity and the percentage of E-CabR rosettes were significantly lower in patients with splenomegaly than in patients who had undergone splenectomy and in normal subjects. The phagocytic index of neutrophil and lymphocyte blastogenesis was reduced in patients with advanced schistosomiasis, but no significant difference was found between the patients with and without splenectomy. These results suggested that splenectomy not only reduce the portal hypertension but also improve the regulatory functions of cellular immunity which may enhance the patient's resistance against pathogens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Changes of T cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with Schistosomiasis japonica and their relation to interleukin-1.

T cell subsets in peripheral blood were phenotyped in 56 patients with different stages of Schistosomiasis japonica, including 17 with acute, 14 with chronic and 25 with advanced infection. The activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1) produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro was simultaneously detected in these three groups of patients. It was found that the percentages of CD3+ (total T cell), CD4+ (helper/inducer T cell) and CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic T cell) T cell and the level of IL-1 were significantly increased in the group of acute Schistosomiasis japonica. In the groups of chronic and advanced Schistosomiasis japonica, the proportion of CD3+ T cell, the ratio of CD3+/CD4+ and the level of IL-1 were remarkably reduced, and the percentage of CD8+ T cell was increased. The rate of CD4+ T cell was obviously decreased in cases patients with advanced Schistosomiasis japonica. The percentage of CD4+ T cell was positively correlated to the level of IL-1 in the three groups of patients. These results indicate that T cell subsets and IL-1 may play an important role in the immunoregulation of Schistosomiasis japonica.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

DNA analysis and persistent hypercalcitoninemia in medullary thyroid carcinoma.

The clinical data of 20 patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) treated in Veterans General Hospital (VGH)-Taipei from 1970 to 1991 were reviewed. DNA content of the MTC and postoperative serum calcitonin (CT) were compared to evaluate patients' survival. All three patients with stage IV disease had aneuploid DNA and died within 7 months. The average survival was 4 months. The other 17 patients were all alive at the time of study and the mean follow up was 86 months. Three (3/7) patients had less than total thyroidectomy while only 2 (2/13) of the total thyoidectomized patients needed reoperation because of tumor recurrence. Of the 15 patients with available calcitonin data 11 had persistent post-operative hypercalcitoninemia. Among these 11 patients 5 out of the 6 patients with demonstrable lesions received reoperation; the other five (5/11) without demonstrable lesions were not operated and lived well in spite of persistent hypercalcitoninemia. One in 4 diploid patients and 9 in 12 aneuploid patients had metastatic lesions. No statistical significant correlation was found between the DNA content and survival, metastases or hypercalcitoninemia, although aneuploid MTC tended to be more advanced. We therefore concluded that total thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for MTC. Persistent postoperative hypercalcitoninemia without clinical demonstrable lesions can be treated conservatively and DNA aneuploidy cannot be used as a reliable indicator of the grade of malignancy for MTC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of the potential role of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.

The serodiagnosis of tuberculosis was evaluated by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of IgG antibody to mycobacterial antigen 60. The study population consisted of 63 patients with active tuberculosis comprising 43 pulmonary tuberculosis, 15 tuberculosis pleurisy, four miliary tuberculosis, and one tuberculous lymphadenitis. The control group consisted of 48 patients embracing 8 cases of inactive pulmonary tuberculosis, 31 cases of pulmonary disorders other than tuberculosis, and nine normal persons. There was a significant difference in antibody titers of sera between patients of active tuberculosis and control group (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of the test for active pulmonary tuberculosis was 81.4% and the specificity was 85.4% (cutoff value 300 units). The sensitivity for all active tuberculosis was 61.9%. There was positive correlation between serum titer of active pulmonary tuberculosis and the extent of disease on chest radiography (r = 0.4, P < 0.01). A positive correlation was found between the titers of pleural fluids, and the corresponding sera in 15 patients (eleven tuberculous pleurisy and four nontuberculous controls) (r = 0.85, P < 0.001). Whether serum or pleural fluid, the positive rate of the assay for tuberculous pleurisy was relatively low. In conclusion, the A60 IgG ELISA test may be useful in serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and assessment of the disease extent, although it might not yield a high sensitivity for tuberculous pleurisy.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1993

[Synthesis of N-substituted polymethylene dicarboxamides as inducers of differentiation].

N-Alkyl polymethylene dicarboxamides are known potent inducers of erythroid differentiation in murine erythroleukemia cells. The most active inducer N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1, 6-hexane-dicarboxamide has the same effectiveness as HMBA which has entered clinical trials as a differentiating agent. These compounds also have inducing activity in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. In this paper, the synthesis of a series of N,N'-bis[2-(2-thiazolinyl)], N,N'-bis[5-(1-methyl-2-pyridonyl)], N,N'-bis[3-(1-phenyl-5-pyrazolonyl)] polymethylene dicarboxamides and 3,3'-(polymethylene dicarbonyl)bis(1-methyl-2-imidazolidine-thiones) is reported. The inducing activities of the compounds were evaluated in vitro with HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line. Among them, N,N'-bis[2-(2-thiazolinyl)]-1,8-octamethylene- dicarboxamide (I4) and N,N'-bis[5-(1-methyl-2-pyridonyl)]-1,6-hexamethylenedicarboxami de (II3) were shown to be relatively effective inducers of differentiation.

Animals↗