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Biomedical subjects

H Duong

Publications and source records attributed to H Duong.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Urgent endovascular revascularization for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular revascularization for intracranial atherosclerotic stenoses is being increasingly performed at major medical centers and has been reported to be technically feasible and safe. The authors report their experience with patients who underwent such a procedure for impending stroke and neurologic instability. METHOD: All 18 patients (21 intracranial lesions) treated between 1997 and 2002 at the authors' institution with endovascular revascularization were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient had failed maximal medical therapy and was thought to be at high risk for an imminent stroke. RESULTS: Endovascular revascularization was performed on eight distal internal carotid artery lesions, six middle cerebral artery lesions, four intracranial vertebral artery lesions, and three basilar artery lesions. Recanalization was complete in 5 arteries (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] Grade III), partial in 14 arteries (TIMI Grade II), and complete occlusion (TIMI 0) developed in 1 artery. In a patient with a tight basilar stenosis, no angioplasty could be performed because of the inability to cross the stenosis with the guidewire. Major periprocedural complications occurred in 9 (50%) patients: intracranial hemorrhage in 3 (17%), disabling ischemic stroke in 2 (11%), and major extracranial hemorrhage in 4 (22%). Three patients died: one from intracerebral hemorrhage and two from cardiorespiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular revascularization of intracranial vessels is technically feasible and may be performed successfully. However, periprocedural complication and fatality rates in neurologically unstable patients are high. The results suggest that patient selection, procedure timing, and periprocedural medical management are critical factors to reduce periprocedural morbidity and mortality.

Adult↗

SUB1, an Arabidopsis Ca2+-binding protein involved in cryptochrome and phytochrome coaction.

Cryptochromes and phytochromes are the major photosensory receptors in plants and often regulate similar photomorphogenic responses. The molecular mechanisms underlying functional interactions of cryptochromes and phytochromes remain largely unclear. We have identified an Arabidopsis photomorphogenic mutant, sub1, which exhibits hypersensitive responses to blue light and far-red light. Genetic analyses indicate that SUB1 functions as a component of a cryptochrome signaling pathway and as a modulator of a phytochrome signaling pathway. The SUB1 gene encodes a Ca2+-binding protein that suppresses light-dependent accumulation of the transcription factor HY5.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Radiographic evidence and surgical confirmation of a saccular aneurysm on a hypoplastic duplicated A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: True duplication of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery is extremely rare, as is finding a true A1 segment saccular aneurysm. We report the angiographic and surgical findings of such a case with the additional association of a hypoplastic ipsilateral M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old man presented with a Hunt and Hess Grade II subarachnoid hemorrhage and symptoms of headache, nuchal rigidity, and facial paresis. INTERVENTION: Angiographic evaluation with superselective exploration revealed a small ruptured aneurysm located on a duplicated hypoplastic A1 segment of the left anterior cerebral artery with associated middle cerebral artery stenosis and secondary early moyamoya changes. Surgical clipping of the aneurysm was performed successfully while sparing the hypoplastic A1 segment. CONCLUSION: A1 aneurysms occurring on a duplicated anterior cerebral artery segment probably develop from a congenital weakness of the parent vessel and increased local shear stress. Superselective angiography was helpful in the preoperative planning and facilitated the decision to treat with surgical clipping instead of embolization.

Aged↗

Direct sequencing of RAPD fragments using 3'-extended oligonucleotide primers and dye terminator cycle-sequencing.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers are used widely to develop high resolution genetic maps and for genome fingerprinting. Typically, single oligomers of approximately 10 nucleotides are used to PCR amplify characteristic RAPD marker fragments. We describe an efficient method for the direct end-sequencing of gel-purified RAPD fragments using one primer from a set of four 3'-terminal extended (A, T, C or G) oligonucleotides, identical to the RAPD primer but for the single nucleotide extension. Strand-specific DNA sequence could be independently read from each of the RAPD fragments without recourse to strand separation or fragment cloning. Informative RAPD fragments could be readily converted into mapped STS or SCAR loci using this technology. The 3'-extended primers may also be used to amplify independent genomic RAPD markers.

Chromosome Mapping↗

The Arabidopsis blue light receptor cryptochrome 2 is a nuclear protein regulated by a blue light-dependent post-transcriptional mechanism.

Cryptochrome 2 is a flavin-type blue light receptor mediating floral induction in response to photoperiod and a blue light-induced hypocotyl growth inhibition. cry2 is required for the elevated expression of the flowering-time gene CO in response to long-day photoperiods, but the molecular mechanism underlying the function of cry2 is not clear. The carboxyl domain of cry2 bears a basic bipartite nuclear localization signal, and the cry2 protein was co-fractionated with the nucleus. Analysis of transgenic plants expressing a fusion protein of CRY2 and the reporter enzyme GUS (GUS-CRY2) indicated that the GUS-CRY2 fusion protein accumulated in the nucleus of transgenic plants grown in dark or light. The C-terminal domain of cry2 that contains the basic bipartite nuclear localization signal was sufficient to confer nuclear localization of the fusion protein. Phenotypic analysis of transgenic plants expressing the fusion protein GUS-CRY2 demonstrated that GUS-CRY2 acts as a functional photoreceptor in vivo, mediating the blue light-induced inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. These results strongly suggest that cry2 is a nuclear protein. Although no obvious light regulation was found for the nuclear compartmentation of GUS-CRY2 fusion protein, the abundance of GUS-CRY2 was regulated by blue light in a way similar to that of cry2.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Recurrent abrupt occlusion after transluminal angioplasty for basilar artery stenosis: case report.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Angioplasty for basilar artery stenosis is often complicated by recurrent abrupt vessel closure. The clinical results can be catastrophic. In this case report, we assess the effects of intra-arterial papaverine (American Regent Laboratories Inc., Shirley, NJ) on rebound occlusion. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: The patient presented with crescendo transient ischemic attacks from atherosclerotic narrowing of the midbasilar artery despite maximal medical treatment. INTERVENTION: Angioplasty of the midbasilar artery was performed with serial balloon inflations. The patient was treated successfully with intra-arterial papaverine and achieved a nearly full recovery, with only mild dysarthria, by the time of the 7-month follow-up examination. CONCLUSION: Using intra-arterial papaverine, we were able to reverse the effects of this potentially life-threatening complication of basilar artery angioplasty.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Adenosine-induced cardiac pause for endovascular embolization of cerebral arteriovenous malformations: technical case report.

OBJECTIVE: Extremely high flow through arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) may limit the safety and effectiveness of endovascular glue therapy. To achieve a more controlled deposition of glue, we used transient but profound systemic hypotension afforded by an intravenously administered bolus of adenosine to induce rapidly reversible high-degree atrioventricular block. METHODS AND CASE REPORT: A patient with a large high-flow occipital AVM fed primarily by the posterior cerebral artery underwent n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue embolization. Nitroprusside-induced systemic hypotension did not adequately reduce flow through the nidus, as determined by contrast injection in the feeding artery. In a dose-escalation fashion, boluses of adenosine were administered to optimize the dose and verify that there was no flow reversal in the AVM and no other unexpected hemodynamic abnormalities by arterial pressure measurements and transcranial Doppler monitoring of the posterior cerebral artery feeding the AVM. Thereafter, 64 mg of adenosine was rapidly injected as a bolus to provide 10 to 15 seconds of systemic hypotension (approximately 20 mm Hg). Although there were conducted beats and some residual forward flow through the AVM during this time, the mean systemic and feeding artery pressures were roughly similar and remained relatively constant. A slow controlled injection of n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue was then performed, with excellent filling of the nidus. CONCLUSION: Adenosine-induced cardiac pause may be a viable method of partial flow arrest in the treatment of cerebral AVMs. Safe, deep, and complete embolization with a permanent agent may increase the likelihood of endovascular therapy's being curative or may further improve the safety of microsurgical resection.

Adenosine↗

Antagonistic actions of Arabidopsis cryptochromes and phytochrome B in the regulation of floral induction.

The Arabidopsis photoreceptors cry1, cry2 and phyB are known to play roles in the regulation of flowering time, for which the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We have previously hypothesized that phyB mediates a red-light inhibition of floral initiation and cry2 mediates a blue-light inhibition of the phyB function. Studies of the cry2/phyB double mutant provide direct evidence in support of this hypothesis. The function of cryptochromes in floral induction was further investigated using the cry2/cry1 double mutants. The cry2/cry1 double mutants showed delayed flowering in monochromatic blue light, whereas neither monogenic cry1 nor cry2 mutant exhibited late flowering in blue light. This result suggests that, in addition to the phyB-dependent function, cry2 also acts redundantly with cry1 to promote floral initiation in a phyB-independent manner. To understand how photoreceptors regulate the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development, we examined the effect of sequential illumination by blue light and red light on the flowering time of plants. We found that there was a light-quality-sensitive phase of plant development, during which the quality of light exerts a profound influence on flowering time. After this developmental stage, which is between approximately day-1 to day-7 post germination, plants are committed to floral initiation and the quality of light has little effect on the flowering time. Mutations in either the PHYB gene or both the CRY1 and CRY2 genes resulted in the loss of the light-quality-sensitive phase manifested during floral development. The commitment time of floral transition, defined by a plant's sensitivity to light quality, coincides with the commitment time of inflorescence development revealed previously by a plant's sensitivity to light quantity - the photoperiod. Therefore, the developmental mechanism resulting in the commitment to flowering appears to be the direct target of the antagonistic actions of the photoreceptors.

Arabidopsis↗

Risk of spontaneous haemorrhage after diagnosis of cerebral arteriovenous malformation.

BACKGROUND: A small proportion of strokes are caused by cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVM). Treatment to prevent intracranial haemorrhage itself carries risks, and untreated AVM may in many cases have a good prognosis. We investigated the risk of subsequent symptomatic bleeding in the clinical course of AVM in patients with and without an initial haemorrhage. METHODS: 281 unselected, consecutive, prospectively enrolled patients with cerebral AVM were grouped according to their initial clinical presentation--142 presented with and 139 without haemorrhage. The frequency of AVM haemorrhages during the subsequent clinical course (before the start of endovascular, surgical, or radiation treatment) in the two groups was compared by means of Kaplan-Meier life-tables, log-rank test, and multivariate proportional-hazards regression models. Haemorrhage was defined as a clinically symptomatic event with signs of acute bleeding on computed tomography or magnetic resonance brain imaging. FINDINGS: During mean follow-up of 8.5 months for the haemorrhage group and 11.9 months for the non-haemorrhage group, haemorrhages occurred in 18 (13%) of the former patients and in three (2%) of the latter (p=0.0002). The annual risk of haemorrhage was 17.8% and 2.2%, respectively. In the multivariate regression model, the adjusted hazard ratio for haemorrhage at initial presentation was 13.9 (95% CI 2.6-73.8; p=0.002). Deep venous drainage (hazard ratio 4.1 [1.2-14.9], p=0.029) and male sex (9.2 [2.1-41.3], p=0.004) were also significantly associated with subsequent haemorrhage, but no significant association was found for age or AVM size. The annual rate of spontaneous haemorrhage was 32.6% for men and 10.4% for women in the haemorrhage group compared with 3.3% for men and 1.3% for women in the non-haemorrhage group. Among patients with haemorrhage at initial presentation, the risk of haemorrhage fell from 32.9% in year 1 to 11.3% in subsequent years (34.2% to 31.0% in men; 31.1% to 5.5% in women). INTERPRETATION: In AVM, patients initially presenting with haemorrhage have a higher risk of subsequent bleeding than those presenting with other symptoms. The risk is higher in men than in women.

Adult↗

Treatment of inoperable carotid aneurysms with endovascular carotid occlusion after extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Hunterian ligation of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is an accepted treatment for inoperable carotid aneurysms. Preliminary extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery is required in some patients. The reported incidence of thromboembolic and ischemic complications remains significant for these patients, despite a variety of advocated management strategies. We present our treatment paradigm. METHODS: Between April 1992 and March 1997, nine patients with inoperable ICA aneurysms were treated using EC-IC bypass surgery and then permanent endovascular ICA occlusion. All of the patients except one had been selected for bypass surgery on the basis of failing results of the ICA test occlusion with hypotensive challenge. ICA occlusion was performed by endovascular means and was delayed after bypass surgery was performed by a mean of 6 days (range, 2-20 d). All patients were managed in the intensive care unit after ICA occlusion. RESULTS: Clinical improvement was noted in all patients (mean follow-up, 21 mo; range, 3-42 mo). There were no major complications. Aneurysmal thrombosis was confirmed in all patients. Although ICA occlusion was delayed after bypass surgery, only one bypass was noted to be occluded. The occluded bypass occurred in a patient who subsequently underwent successful ICA occlusion. This patient was thought to have been improperly selected for bypass surgery. CONCLUSION: Certain carotid aneurysms can be effectively managed with hunterian ICA ligation. After preliminary identification of patients with borderline cerebrovascular reserve as candidates for EC-IC bypass surgery, close attention to the following points may help enhance clinical outcome: 1) excellence in surgical technique for EC-IC bypass surgery, 2) occlusion of the parent vessel as close to the aneurysm neck as possible by endovascular means, and 3) judicious postoperative combination of anticoagulation, fluid, and pressure management.

Adult↗

Cerebral arteriovenous malformation feeding artery aneurysms: a theoretical model of intravascular pressure changes after treatment.

OBJECTIVE: A quantitative model may be used to estimate the magnitude of expected pressure changes along the vascular tree with shunt ablation and may provide information to assess the hemodynamic risk of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) treatment. METHODS: A computer model of the cerebral circulation was applied to estimate the changes in intravascular pressure, velocity, biomechanical stress, and shear stress that might be expected from either endovascular or surgical ablation of AVMs. Two AVM sizes and two feeding artery constellations were simulated. The effect of different shunt flows on vascular pressure was modeled. In each simulation, AVMs were occluded in a stepwise fashion. The effects of systemic hypertension and hypotension in various vascular zones were also simulated. RESULTS: As large (1000 ml/min) AVMs were occluded, the mean feeding arterial pressure increased from 18 to 68 mm Hg; the percent-occlusion at half-maximal pressure increase was 92%. For medium (500 ml/min) AVMs, feeding arterial pressure increased from 37 to 66 mm Hg; the percent-occlusion at half-maximal pressure increase was 71%. During manipulation of systemic pressure, hemodynamic changes in the circulation close to the nidus were proportionally less than changes in systemic pressure; the degree of proportionality depended on the magnitude of AVM shunt flow. CONCLUSION: In this simulation, shunt obliteration increased pressure in the nidus and feeding arteries with little effect on the proximal circulation. The shunt provided a "buffering" effect, i.e., higher flow fistulas were exposed to smaller variations in intravascular pressure in feeding artery and nidal pressures during manipulation of systemic pressure.

Adult↗

Intra-arterial nitrovasodilators do not increase cerebral blood flow in angiographically normal territories of arteriovenous malformation patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The mechanism of adaptation to chronic cerebral hypotension in normal brain adjacent to cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is unknown. To clarify these mechanisms, we performed cerebral blood flow (CBF) studies in structurally and functionally normal vascular territories during 53 distal cerebral angiographic procedures in 37 patients with AVMs. METHODS: CBF was measured using the superselective intra-arterial 133Xe method before and after a 3-minute infusion of either verapamil (1 mg.min-1, n = 23), acetylcholine (1.33 micrograms.kg-1.min-1, n = 7), nitroprusside (0.5 microgram.kg-1.min-1, n = 16) or nitroglycerin (0.5 microgram.kg-1.min-1, n = 7). RESULTS: Mean +/- SD systemic (76 +/- 13 mm Hg) and distal cerebral arterial (55 +/- 16 mm Hg; range, 20 to 97 mm Hg) pressures were not different among groups. Verapamil increased CBF (45 +/- 12 to 65 +/- 21 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P < .001). There was no effect of acetylcholine (no change [46 +/- 9 to 46 +/- 9 mL.100 g-1.min-1], NS) or nitroglycerin (36 +/- 14 to 36 +/- 13 mL.100 g-1.min-1, NS). Nitroprusside decreased CBF (40 +/- 12 to 31 +/- 11 mL.100 g-1.min-1, P < .001). The percent change in CBF after drug administration was proportional to cerebral arterial pressure for verapamil only (r = .57, P = .0051). CONCLUSIONS: When infused intra-arterially in clinically relevant doses in both hypotensive and normotensive normal vascular territories remote from an AVM nidus, calcium channel blockade caused vasodilation, but there was an absence of response to nitric oxide-mediated vasodilators. These data suggest that (1) the nitric oxide pathway probably is not involved in the adaptation to chronic cerebral hypotension in AVM patients and (2) if our findings in vessels remote from or contralateral to the AVM are applicable to vessels of patients with other forms of cerebrovascular disease, clinically relevant doses of intra-arterial nitrovasodilators may not be useful in the manipulation of cerebrovascular resistance.

Acetylcholine↗

The negative angiogram in subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Our purpose was to review the incidence of negative cerebral panangiography in acute nontraumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH); to document the amount and distribution of subarachnoid blood on CT and determine its relationship to findings on repeat angiography; and to study the outcome of these patients from the time of presentation to hospital discharge. From 1983 to 1992, 295 patients underwent cerebral angiography for acute SAH at our institution. The CT, angiographic and MRI findings and clinical course of patients with initially negative angiograms were reviewed retrospectively. The overall incidence of negative cerebral panangiography was 31% (92/295). An aneurysm was disclosed on a second angiogram in 4 cases, and on a third angiogram in 1, giving a total false negative rate of 5%. In 55% of cases, only a small amount of SAH was present on CT. The distribution of the subarachnoid blood was nonspecific and resembled the pattern seen in aneurysmal SAH. Ninety-four percent of the patients presented in Hunt-Hess grades I and II. The complications of conservative treatment were few: a rebleed rate of 4%, delayed cerebral ischemia in 4%, cerebral infarcts in 8% and hydrocephalus requiring shunting in 3%. On discharge, 93% of patients had recovered completely and the others were left with moderate disability. There were two deaths related to massive rebleeding. Patients with perimesencephalic SAH (35%) fared particularly well; none developed complications during their hospital stay and repeat angiograms never revealed an underlying aneurysm. In such cases, further angiographic investigations do not seem warranted.

Angiography, Digital Subtraction↗

Strain differences in tissue repair response to 1,2-dichlorobenzene.

Fischer 344 (F344) rats are reportedly 75-fold more sensitive than Sprague Dawley (S-D) rats to 1,2-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) hepatotoxicity. Lethality studies were conducted since no information was available regarding the ultimate consequence of this sensitivity in terms of animal survival in the two strains. LD50S for o-DCB (1.66 ml/kg and 1.76 ml/kg in male F344 and S-D rats, respectively) did not differ. Several studies have shown the importance of tissue repair on animal survival following exposure to toxic chemicals. The objective of this study was to investigate if differential rates of cell division and tissue repair might explain the lack of difference in LD50 dose between the two strains despite higher hepatotoxic injury in F344 rats. Age-matched male S-D and F344 rats were administered o-DCB (0.2, 0.6, 1.2 ml/kg, i.p.); injury and tissue repair occurring as two dynamic but opposing events were measured over time. Liver injury was assessed by measuring plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) activities and by liver histopathology. Higher plasma ALT elevations were observed in F344 rats following administration of 0.2 and 0.6 ml o-DCB/kg. Using SDH as a marker of liver injury, the strain difference was evident only at 0.2 ml o-DCB/kg. Liver regeneration was estimated by 3H-thymidine incorporation into hepatonuclear DNA and via proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) assay. Prompt and significantly higher hepatocellular regeneration beginning at 36 h was evident in F344 rats following administration of 0.2 and 0.6 ml o-DCB/kg. The significantly higher depletion of hepatic glycogen observed in F344 rats following administration of 0.2 and 0.6 ml o-DCB/kg occurred without significant changes in plasma glucose and is consistent with highly stimulated tissue repair seen in these rats at the corresponding doses. However, increasing the dose further to 1.2 ml o-DCB/kg results in a delayed (S-phase synthesis begins at 48 h) and diminished response to o-DCB. These findings suggest that a significantly higher rate of tissue repair in F344 rats helps them overcome higher liver injury inflicted by o-DCB. This differential in tissue repair in the two strains may play a vital role in equalizing the ultimate outcome of toxicity in the two strains.

Animals↗

Varicella-zoster virus DNA in CSF and arteries in delayed contralateral hemiplegia: evidence for viral invasion of cerebral arteries.

A 78-year-old woman presented with a right basal ganglia infarct 6 weeks after a left herpes zoster ophthalmicus. MR angiography showed focal segmental stenosis of the proximal segments of the anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries. Varicella DNA was detected in the CSF by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Treated with dexamethasone and acyclovir without improvement, she died 1 month later. There was focal endarteritis in the left anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries at autopsy. Varicella DNA was detected by PCR of extracts from these vessels but not from the arteries on the right side. This study provides further evidence that the vasculopathy after herpes zoster ophthalmicus results from direct viral invasion of the vessel wall.

Aged↗

A learned odor evokes an enhanced Fos-like glomerular response in the olfactory bulb of young rats.

Young rats exposed to peppermint odor and reinforcing tactile stimulation from postnatal days (PND) 1-18 increase their preference for that odor relative to controls. This early olfactory memory is accompanied by an 80% increase in the density of glomerular-layer cells displaying Fos-like immunoreactivity in response to the learned odor on PND 19. The difference is observed in midlateral portions of the olfactory bulb that align with foci of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake in adjacent sections. Trained and control animals are not different in the Fos-like response of juxtaglomerular cells within ventrolateral 2-DG foci. Ratios of midlateral/ventrolateral response differ significantly between trained and control animals and include differences among cells of three staining intensities. These ratios are correlated with ratios of 2-DG uptake (midlateral/ventrolateral foci), which also differ significantly between trained and control rats. Juxtaglomerular cells associated with 2-DG foci also express Egr-1-like immunoreactivity. However, the midlateral Egr-1 response does not differ between trained and control rats. These results show that early memories can be associated with an increased Fos-like response in a primary sensory area of the CNS. They also suggest that only specific regions within the olfactory bulb are modified following the learning of a given odor in early life.

Animals↗

Intramedullary schwannoma.

OBJECTIVE: To present the imaging findings for two cases of intramedullary schwannoma involving the thoracic cord and the conus medullaris. PATIENTS AND METHODS: a 34-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman presented with symptoms of weakness and pain in the lower limbs. Myelography and magnetic resonance imaging as well as other examinations, were performed. RESULTS: The imaging failed to indicate the correct diagnosis in either patient. However, intramedullary schwannoma was confirmed pathologically in both patients. Subtotal excision resulted in local tumour recurrence at 5 and 3 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intramedullary schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord tumours. The importance of accurate diagnosis from frozen sections at surgical biopsy is emphasized .

Adult↗