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Biomedical subjects

K L Chang

Publications and source records attributed to K L Chang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Primary extrauterine endometrial stromal neoplasms: a clinicopathologic study of 20 cases and a review of the literature.

We present the results of a clinicopathologic study of 20 patients with primary extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). The sites of the primary neoplasm and the number of patients with sufficient follow-up for survival analysis are as follows: ovary (three of four), fallopian tube (one of one), pelvic cavity (six of eight), abdominal cavity (five of six), and retroperitoneum (one of one). Evaluation of all patients included the mitotic index (MI) and cytologic atypia. Thirteen of the sixteen patients eligible for survival analysis had tumors with an MI < 10 and would be classified as low-grade stromal sarcomas in the Norris and Taylor scheme. Eight (62%) of the 13 had one or more relapses; of these, three died of disease at 35, 108, and 120 months, respectively, and another patient was alive with disease at 96 months. The other four patients who were treated after a relapse showed no evidence of disease after relapse at 36, 57, 63, and 146 months, respectively. Two of the 13 patients had tumor considered unresectable at the time of diagnosis; both died of disease at 5 and 10 months, respectively. Neither MI nor cytologic atypia were predictive of tumor recurrence or death from tumor. We also extracted clinical and morphologic data from all previous reports of primary extrauterine ESS, combined them with our 20 patients, and then compared the combined group with 17 cases of primary high-stage uterine ESS we presented in an earlier report. Not surprisingly, the behavior of the primary extrauterine ESS was more reminiscent of high-stage primary uterine ESS than low-stage primary uterine ESS.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗

Chemical modification of amino groups in cardiotoxin III from Taiwan cobra Naja naja atra) venom.

Cardiotoxin III (CTX III), a major cardiotoxin analogue isolated from the Taiwan cobra (Naja naja atra) venom was modified, either with trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) or 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzoate (CDNB). Under the conditions of limited reagent availability, three mono-TNP derivatives modified at Lys-5, 12, or 44, and three mono-CDNP derivatives at Lys-12, 23, or 44 were isolated, respectively. The biological activities of CTX III were more or less affected after each of these reactive amino groups were modified. In particular, the hemolytic activity to human erythrocytes and cytotoxicity on NS-1 cells of CTX III decreased to 31% and 50%, respectively, when Lys-12 was trinitrophenylated. More pronounced alteration in these activities was observed as this amino group was carboxydinitrophenylated. A good correlation between the hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity was found. These results indicate that epsilon-amino group at Lys-12 is most closely related to the hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of CTX III. The antigenicity of modified derivatives still remained intact as measured by ELISA.

Animals↗

Probing the functional sites in Naja naja atra (Taiwan cobra) cardiotoxin III with monoclonal antibody.

One monoclonal antibody (mAb) against Naja naja atra cardiotoxin III was prepared by using the hybridoma technique. The cytotoxic activity of cardiotoxin III which inhibited human lymphocyte proliferation was effectively neutralized by the mAb at a molar ratio of antibody to toxin of 1:2. On the contrary, the mAb did not exert a significant inhibition on the hemolytic activity of cardiotoxin III. These results suggest that the functional site responsible for the cytotoxicity might be different from that for the hemolytic activity of cardiotoxin III.

Animals↗

High prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in the Reed-Sternberg cells of HIV-associated Hodgkin's disease.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin's disease, with an frequency of 15 to 50% in the immunocompetent host. We studied 12 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cases of Hodgkin's disease occurring in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals to determine the frequency of EBV in Hodgkin's disease from this population. EBV DNA-RNA in situ hybridization was performed using a 30-base biotinylated anti-sense oligonucleotide complementary to the EBER1 gene of EBV. EBV RNA was found in the Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in 11 of 12 cases. Double-labeling studies confirmed the presence of EBV RNA in CD15-expressing Hodgkin's cells in all 11 cases, although rare B lymphocytes coexpressing EBV RNA and CD20 were also noted in these cases. The Hodgkin's cells in all 11 EBER-positive cases expressed latent membrane protein. The one case negative for EBV RNA showed the histology of nodular, lymphocyte predominance, a subtype thought to be distinct from other types of Hodgkin's disease.

Adult↗

Brain lymphomas of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients: study of the association with Epstein-Barr virus.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been described in association with lymphomas of the central nervous system. To test if the association between EBV and central nervous system lymphomas was limited to patients with immunosuppression or whether the association also held for patients who were immunocompetent and to determine the true prevalence of any association, we studied 37 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cases of central nervous system lymphomas occurring in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. EBV DNA-RNA in situ hybridization was performed using a 30-base biotinylated antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the EBER1 gene of EBV. Immunohistochemistry was also performed, using a monoclonal antibody to the latent membrane protein of EBV. The most common histologic subtypes of lymphoma were high grade immunoblastic (57%), diffuse large cell (22%), and small, noncleaved, non-Burkitt's (11%). Eighty-six percent of all tumors in our series were of B-cell lineage, as confirmed by CD20 expression, but only 37% of the primary tumors showed restricted CD20 expression. EBV RNA was identified in all or virtually all of the malignant lymphoid cells in 11 of the 37 cases (30%), including 10 primary brain lymphomas and one metastasis from systemic disease. Latent membrane protein expression was identified in 64% of the EBER1-positive cases. All 10 patients who had a history of immunosuppression had tumors that expressed EBV RNA. We confirm the strong association of EBV with brain lymphomas occurring in immunocompromised patients, whether due to AIDS or to the immunosuppression associated with organ transplantation. Our findings also demonstrate a low rate of EBV-positivity in immunocompetent patients.

Adolescent↗

Alterations of mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells by arsenic in arsenical skin cancers.

We have studied the endemic occurrence of chronic arsenism in a limited area on the southwest coast of Taiwan. The effects of arsenic on the mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells (MNC) derived from patients with arsenical skin cancers in that area were evaluated. The subjects enrolled in this study included patients with 1) Bowen's disease, 2) arsenical skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), 3) non-arsenical skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), 4) nasopharyngeal cancer and 5) healthy controls from endemic and non-endemic areas. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in MNC in all groups except the arsenical skin cancer group. However, when a low concentration of As2O3 (2.5 x 10(-7) M) was added to PHA-stimulated MNC, a tremendous amplification of the uptake of [3H]thymidine was noticed in patients with arsenical skin cancer. In this study, this phenomenon did not occur in cancers not related to arsenic. This result shows that arsenical carcinomas are hyperreactive to its specific etiology--arsenic. Arsenic seems to play a role as a co-stimulant of PHA similar to interleukin-1.

Arsenic↗

Detection of enteroviral RNA in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and other human cardiac tissues.

Enteroviruses have been considered to be a possible cause of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. We used a polymerase chain reaction methodology for the identification of enteroviral RNA in an attempt to provide evidence of a role for enteroviruses in the pathogenesis of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The methodology was shown to identify a wide variety of enteroviruses with a sensitivity up to 0.1-1 plaque-forming units/gram of tissue. 5 of 11 cases (45%) of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as 9 of 24 cases (38%) of a wide variety of other cardiac conditions (including normal heart), were positive for enteroviral nucleic acid sequences; all eight control cases of breast carcinoma tested were negative. These results suggest that both the normal and abnormal heart may represent a site of latent or low-grade persistent enteroviral infection, and that the mere presence of enteroviral nucleic acid sequences is not specifically associated with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy, Dilated↗

Molecular biologic studies of Hodgkin's disease.

There has been intense interest in applying the techniques of molecular biology to further our understanding of Hodgkin's disease. Numerous studies of the status of lymphocyte antigen receptor genes have been performed, with conflicting results. There is more uniformity in the results of Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) studies; evidence of EBV can be identified in the Reed-Sternberg cells of approximately 40% to 50% of cases. There is no consensus on whether the t(14;18) is present in tissues involved by Hodgkin's disease.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14↗

Description of an in situ hybridization methodology for detection of Epstein-Barr virus RNA in paraffin-embedded tissues, with a survey of normal and neoplastic tissues.

The authors describe a highly sensitive and practical in situ hybridization method using an oligonucleotide probe for EBER1 RNA for the detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Paraffin-embedded tissues from 793 cases of normal and neoplastic tissues were studied. Nuclear staining for EBV RNA was uniformly present in all or virtually all neoplastic cells in a variety of known EBV-positive tumors. We also demonstrate rare EBV-infected cells in normal lymphoid tissues. RNAase predigestion, competitive inhibition, and control probe studies confirmed the specificity of the staining. In addition, cross-reactivity of EBV RNA staining with other viruses was not present. Additionally, the distribution of EBV in a wide variety of other normal and neoplastic tissues is reported.

Base Sequence↗

Alterations of skin-associated lymphoid tissue in the carcinogenesis of arsenical skin cancer.

We investigated the skin-associated lymphoid tissue in arsenical skin cancers, including 14 Bowen's disease, 6 basal cell carcinoma and 6 squamous cell carcinoma patients from an endemic area by immunohistochemical and morphometric methods. There was a progressive decrease of Langerhans cells in the order of normal skin, normal appearing edge and arsenical cancers. A disruption of the uniform Langerhans cell dendrites was also noticed. The Langerhans cell density in arsenical tumors did not correlate with the peritumoral infiltrates. The prominent infiltrated cells in the peritumoral area had T cell markers. The number of peritumoral T lymphocytes in squamous cell carcinoma was significantly less than that of Bowen's disease and basal cell carcinoma. Peritumoral mononuclear infiltrates in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma showed a higher helper/suppressor T cell ratio than that in basal cell carcinoma. This may be accounted for by a selective increased recruitment of helper T cells to the tumor infiltrates in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma.

Arsenic Poisoning↗

Primary uterine endometrial stromal neoplasms. A clinicopathologic study of 117 cases.

We present the results of a clinicopathologic study of 109 patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma and eight patients with endometrial stromal nodule. Of the 109 patients with endometrial stromal sarcoma, follow-up was obtained on 93 (85%). The stage distribution of the patients with stromal sarcoma and the number of patients with follow-up (numerator) compared to the total number of patients in each stage (denominator) are: Stage 1, 73/85; Stage II, 3/6; Stage III, 11/11; Stage IV, 6/7. Stage II patients are considered separately in the analysis. Thirty-six percent of the Stage I patients experienced one or more relapses. Of these, six (23%) died of disease from 11 to 360 months from diagnosis (median, 79 months). Nine (35%) were alive with disease. Of the eleven Stage III patients, eight had one or more relapses and of these, six died of disease. Of the six Stage IV patients, five had one or more relapses and of these, three died of disease. The outcome differences between Stages I, III, and IV are statistically significant (p less than .01). Microscopic features evaluated included the mitotic index (MI = number of mitoses/10 high-power fields) and cytologic atypia. Forty-five percent of Stage I patients who had both rare mitotic figures and minimal atypia had one or more relapses and of these, two (13%) died of disease at 85 and 360 months, respectively. Thus, neither MI nor cytologic atypia were predictive of tumor recurrence for patients with Stage I tumors.

Adult↗

Characterization of murine liver-derived inhibitory protein.

Murine liver-derived inhibitory protein (LIP) capable of inhibiting human lymphocyte proliferation was highly purified from liver extract. Its molecular weight determined by gel filtration and SDS-PAGE was 105,000 and 38,400 respectively. LIP moved electrophoretically at the gamma-globulin region. Its activity in inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation was temperature-stable up to 60 degrees C, and pH-stable between 4 and 11. It was not cytotoxic to lymphocytes as shown in 51Cr-release experiments. The purified LIP possessed arginase activity.

Animals↗

Extralobar pulmonary sequestration of the left retroperitoneum.

This paper presents an extralobar pulmonary sequestration in the left retroperitoneum in an eight year old girl. The clinical and diagnostic features included abdominal pain, an abdominal mass, elevated VMA, and radiological manifestations simulating a left adrenal mass. A laparatomy was performed. Extralobar pulmonary sequestration of the left retroperitoneum is fairly uncommon. An eight year old girl was admitted with abdominal pain, elevated urinary VMA and an abdominal mass. The radiological manifestations simulated a left adrenal mass. At surgery an extralobar pulmonary sequestration was detected.

Bronchopulmonary Sequestration↗

Content of glucocorticoid receptor and arginase in gastric cancer and normal gastric mucosal tissues.

The content of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and arginase in human gastric cancer and the corresponding normal gastric mucosal tissues was determined. Among the 25 patients studied, the GR content in gastric cancer tissues was 33.2 +/- 10.2 fmol/mg protein versus 7.6 +/- 3.4 fmol/mg protein in gastric mucosal tissues. This difference is statistically significant (P less than 0.005). Of the 25 paired samples, 19 cancer tissues contained GR, whereas only seven of the normal mucosal tissues had GR. The level of arginase in gastric cancer tissues in 19 patients was assayed, it was 26.6 +/- 4.2 ng/mg protein which is also significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosal tissues (13.5 +/- 1.8 ng/mg protein) (P less than 0.005). Since glucocorticoids and arginase are potent immune suppressive agents, the increased level of GR and arginase in gastric cancer tissue suggest that these glucocorticoid-related factors in gastric cancer tissue may play a partial role in regulating cellular immunity.

Aged↗

Biological effects of lipopolysaccharide from Achromobacter stenohalis on lymphocytes and macrophages.

The immunopotentiating activities of lipopolysaccharide from Achromobacter stenohalis (A-LPS) were examined. A-LPS was structurally atypical and gave no endotoxin shock in A-LPS-inoculated mice. Analysis in vitro showed that A-LPS was a potent activator of both macrophages and B-lymphocytes. After macrophage stimulation with A-LPS, interleukin-1 (IL-1) secretion, interferon (IFN) production and chemiluminescence (CL) response were induced. A-LPS was a potent mitogen for spleen lymphocytes. However, induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion in T lymphocytes was not observed. These activities of A-LPS were similar to or higher than that of enterobacterial LPS.

Alcaligenes↗

Alteration of mitogenic responses of mononuclear cells by anti-ds DNA antibodies resembling immune disorders in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies (anti-DNA) purified from pooled active SLE sera by lambda phage DNA-affinity chromatography was found to affect phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and pokeweek mitogen (PWM)-induced responses of normal mononuclear cells. Anti-DNA at a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml (equivalent to 21 units/ml of DNA binding activity) significantly suppressed the PHA-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation of mononuclear cells in 3 days of culture but had no effect on 5-day and 7-day cultures. In contrast, a biphasic effect of anti-DNA on PWM response was found such that early phase (3-day culture) was inhibited whereas late phase (from 5 days to 9 days of culture) was enhanced by the antibodies. Anti-DNA also increased the immunoglobulin synthesis by PWM-stimulated B cells. The inhibition of PHA response in 3-day culture by anti-DNA is not due to changes in T cell subpopulations. Because interleukin 1 (10 units/ml) could restore the PHA response, it appears that anti-DNA suppressed the IL-1 production by monocyte/macrophage. The biphasic effect of anti-DNA on PWM response is the result of monocyte impairment and B cell stimulation by the antibodies. In the early phase (on day 3) the inhibition would seem to be due to impairment of accessory cell function by anti-DNA, though in late phase (after day 5) the anti-DNA may stimulate B lymphocytes to incorporate more thymidine in the presence of PWM. These biological effects of anti-DNA in vitro resemble the in vivo immunologic disorders in patients with SLE, in that impaired cell-mediated immunity and B cell hyperactivity are frequently observed.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗