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Biomedical subjects

K Win

Publications and source records attributed to K Win.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Correlation of viral RNA, alanine aminotransferase, and histopathology in hepatitis C virus-associated hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is usually monitored by the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histopathological changes in liver biopsy specimens. However, accumulating data indicate these parameters are not always correlated with disease progression or the response of HCV infection to therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using the Amplicor PCR Monitor Test Kit (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Branchburg, NJ), HCV RNA level was measured in 38 patients with positive anti-HCV antibodies and in 21 of those patients after interferon treatment. The grade and stage of histological changes on hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of liver biopsy specimens were evaluated on a scale of 1 to 4. In each case, the HCV RNA level was compared with the histological grade or stage and level of ALT and statistically analyzed by Student's t-test. RESULTS: ALT level did not correlate with pretreatment and posttreatment levels of HCV RNA or histopathological changes. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between HCV RNA and histological grade (P,.05). CONCLUSION: HCV RNA measurement is a better means of determining and monitoring HCV infection than either ALT level or histopathological characteristics and may provide insight into hepatic injury caused by HCV infection even without an invasive liver biopsy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Russell's viper venom fractions and nephrotoxicity.

Apparently healthy Wistar rats of body weight 250-300 g were chosen for the experiments. A group of 6 rats were assigned for each fraction. The dose of Russell's viper venom (RVV) fraction used for in vivo experiments was 0.75 microgram/g body weight. Of each batch of 6 rats 3 were sacrificed on the third day and the remaining 3 on the fifth day after the administration of test venom fractions. Daily urine output with proteinuria and serum creatinine were determined on the day they were sacrificed. Kidneys from the rats were also examined under light microscopy after hematoxylin and eosin staining. In the in vitro experiment, kidney slices (1 mm thickness) from normal rat was incubated with RVV fractions of 5 mg/ml concentration. The predominant renal lesions observed in both sets of animal experiments were tubular degeneration and necrosis. The changes were mostly confined to proximal tubules. Glomerular changes were mild. Similar tubulotoxic effects were produced by whole RVV as well as single fractions. Therefore, it is possible that RVV contains a common nephrotoxic (protein) component which is present in all fractions of the venom. The renal damage caused by RVV seemed to be due to both systemic effects (mainly DIC and renal ischemia) and direct tubulotoxic effects of the venom.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Human vascular endothelial cell adhesion receptors for Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes: roles for endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.

The clinical complications associated with severe and cerebral malaria occur as a result of the intravascular mechanical obstruction of erythrocytes infected with the asexual stages of the parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. We now report that a primary P. falciparum-infected erythrocyte (parasitized red blood cell [PRBC]) isolate from a patient with severe complicated malaria binds to cytokine-induced human vascular endothelial cells, and that this adhesion is in part mediated by endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 (ELAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). PRBC binding to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-activated human vascular endothelial cells is partially inhibited by antibodies to ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 and the inhibitory effects of these antibodies is additive. PRBCs selected in vitro by sequential panning on purified adhesion molecules bind concurrently to recombinant soluble ELAM-1 and VCAM-1, and to two previously identified endothelial cell receptors for PRBCs, ICAM-1, and CD36. Post-mortem brain tissue from patients who died from cerebral malaria expressed multiple cell adhesion molecules including ELAM-1 and VCAM-1 on cerebral microvascular endothelium not expressed in brains of individuals who died from other causes. These results ascribe novel pathological functions for both ELAM-1 and VCAM-1 and may help delineate alternative adhesion pathways PRBCs use to modify malaria pathology.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Comparison of combinations of parenteral artemisinin derivatives plus oral mefloquine with intravenous quinine plus oral tetracycline for treating cerebral malaria.

A total of 141 cases of strictly defined cerebral malaria were studied in a controlled trial of three regimens: (1) intramuscular artemether plus oral mefloquine, (2) intravenous artesunate plus oral mefloquine, and (3) intravenous quinine (with or without an initial loading dose) plus oral tetracycline. The overall mortalities in each group were 14%, 8.3% and 34.3% respectively. The average parasite clearance time was 27.30 +/- 19.62 hours in regimen 1, 41.84 +/- 17.55 hours in regimen 2, and 47.30 +/- 21.95 hours in regimen 3. No recrudescence was observed in regimens 1 and 2, but 12.1% recrudesced in the third.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Antitranspirant-induced increases in leaf water potential increase tuber calcium and decrease tuber necrosis in water-stressed potato plants.

Experiments were undertaken with field-grown potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants to test the hypothesis that altering leaf:tuber water potential gradients within a plant subjected to low soil moisture will allow greater Ca accumulation in tubers and reverse Ca deficiency-related tuber necrosis. Antitranspirant formulations containing a wax emulsion and a spreader/sticker surfactant increased leaf water potential during a drought episode, significantly reducing the potential gradient that develops between leaf and tuber during a period of stress. Increased leaf water potential in treated plants was associated with decreased leaf Ca and increased tuber Ca. Tuber necrosis was found to be reduced in treated plants, thus increasing tuber quality.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IgE deposition in brain microvessels and on parasitized erythrocytes from cerebral malaria patients.

Postmortem brain tissues of 21 cerebral malaria cases were obtained in Myanmar and Vietnam. The tissues were examined by light microscopy and by an immunohistochemical method. Brain microvessels (capillaries and venules) were examined for the presence of immunoglobulins IgE and IgG, Plasmodium falciparum antigen, and parasitized erythrocytes (PRBC). Deposition of IgE, IgG, and P. falciparum antigen was observed in the microvessels from all specimens examined. Sequestered PRBC in the microvessels were positive for IgG in all 21 cases and for IgE in six cases. In the latter cases, the percentage of microvessels with sequestered PRBC was > 50%, with the frequency of IgE-positive cells ranging from 42% to 52%. In contrast, in five cases that were only weakly positive for IgE, the percentage of microvessels with sequestered PRBC was remarkably low (< 1%). These data indicate that the degree of deposition of IgE in microvessels and on PRBC from cerebral malaria patients correlated with that of PRBC sequestration. As IgE-containing immune complexes are known to induce local overproduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a major pathogenic factor in cerebral malaria, IgE may contribute to the pathogenesis of this severe disease.

Adolescent↗