Biomedical subjects

J-J Tsai

Publications and source records attributed to J-J Tsai.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The different expression patterns of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN or IL-1Ra) is a natural antagonist of IL-1-beta. Using IL1RN as a possible marker in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we evaluated whether uIL1RN single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with the pathogenesis of SLE in Taiwanese, and specifically whether IL1RN (rs315952) was significantly associated with end-stage renal disease. We examined IL1RN isoform expression patterns in patients with SLE to determine whether the expressions play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE. Both case-control and family-based association studies were used. For the case-control study, 104 patients with SLE and 97 normal controls were recruited, and for the family-based study, 11 families with SLE without renal disorder were recruited from the 104 patients with SLE. Eight IL1RN SNPs (rs2234678, rs2234679, rs315951, rs315952, rs419598, rs432014, rs447713, and rs451578) were selected for the family-based study. Reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the expression pattern of each isoform. Our results showed that IL1RN (rs315952) was significantly associated with SLE in patients without renal disorder in the family-based study, after disease stratification, but was not significantly associated with SLE in the case-control study. In the family-based study, the haplotype of IL1RN (AGCCTTAG) was significantly associated with SLE (chi2 = 11.714, P < 0.001). Using RT-PCR to determine the expression pattern of the IL1RN isoforms, we found different expression patterns between normal controls and patients with SLE, with an addition of IL1RN isoform4 or the low expression of IL1RN isoform1. We concluded that IL1RN and its isoforms were involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Cognitive performance in cryptogenic epilepsy.

Cognitive impairment in epilepsy has begun to gain more attention in clinical practice. There is now a considerable amount of research relating to memory functioning in epilepsy, however, few studies specifically focused on cryptogenic epilepsy. We investigated the cognitive performance in cryptogenic epilepsy patients with the aid of cognitive ability screening instrument (CASI), based on cross-sectional and longitudinal aspects. A total of 100 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of cryptogenic epilepsy were recruited from a national university hospital. The patients with normal CASI scores were compared with those with abnormal ones. We also compared the follow-up CASI score after 3 years with the previous score in all cryptogenic epilepsy patients. Thirty-six per cent of cryptogenic epilepsy patients showed cognitive impairment. The variables correlated with higher risks of cognitive impairment were lower educational status, number of seizure types, duration of seizure and polytherapy, especially in the lower educational status. The correlation between CASI and the Mini-Mental State Examination was excellent. In the follow-up study, the abnormal group showed significant improvement in total CASI score. The normal group showed no significant change. We suggest that in cryptogenic epilepsy, lower educational status remains the most important factor in determining cognitive performance. Adequate treatment with antiepileptic drugs can improve cognitive performance in previously cognitively impaired patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Effect of ingestion of cow's milk hydrolysed formulas on whey protein-specific Th2 immune responses in naïve and sensitized mice.

BACKGROUND: For genetically predisposed atopic infants, cow's milk protein hydrolysed formulas have been widely used. OBJECTIVE: Whether hydrolysed formulas can induce oral tolerance to whey proteins will be extensively studied in naïve and sensitized mice. METHODS: Antigenicity of hydrolysed formulas was first studied using immunoblotting. Naïve mice fed hydrolysed formulas for 1-4 weeks were sensitized with whey allergens. In contrast, mice sensitized with whey allergens were fed hydrolysed formulas continually for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Whey allergens were found in Nan and Neoangelac FL. Large whey peptides with antigenicity were found in Nan-HA. Profound suppression of IgE, IgG1 and IgG responses to whey allergens were induced in those fed Nan for 1 week, or Nan-HA for 4 weeks. IgE responses to whey allergens were suppressed in those fed Neoangelac FL for 4 weeks, or Nan-HA for 1-2 weeks. In contrast, those fed extensively hydrolysed formulas for 1-4 weeks failed to show decreased responses. On the other hand, IgE responses to beta-lactoglobulin, but not to bovine serum albumin or alpha-lactalbumin, were decreased in sensitized mice fed Nan for 12 weeks. There was no suppression in sensitized mice fed hydrolysed formulas. CONCLUSION: Suppression of IgE responses to whey proteins was readily induced in naïve mice fed Nan or Nan-HA for 1 week. In contrast, it was hardly induced in sensitized mice even after prolonged feeding of Nan for 12 weeks, let alone hydrolysed formulas.

Animals↗