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Biomedical subjects

M T Liu

Publications and source records attributed to M T Liu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix shows favorable response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Primary malignant lymphoma localized in the uterine cervix is a rare condition for which radiation therapy, surgery, or chemotherapy either alone or in combination have been the mainstay of treatment. The effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for this condition, however, has not been evaluated. We experienced one case of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix, stage IIa according to FIGO, and IEA according to the Ann Arbor staging system for extranodal lymphomas, which was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The patient first underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, vinblastine, epirubicin, bleomycin, procarbazin, and oncovin (COP-BLAM) to reduce the size of the tumor. This was followed by an extended total hysterectomy, left salpingo-oophorectomy, and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy given before surgery resulted in a remarkable reduction in the tumor size which made the subsequent surgery technically easy. In addition, it is possible that intraoperative micrometastasis of the tumor cells could be better prevented. The patient received additional chemotherapy with COP-BLAM schedules postoperatively. No evidence of recurrent lymphoma has been observed in 2 years after the treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be an effective treatment modality for primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Prevalence of Taiwan variant of Epstein-Barr virus in throat washings from patients with head and neck tumors in Taiwan.

The prevalence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Taiwan variant was investigated in the throat washing (TW) samples from patients with head and neck tumors, persons with nonmalignant diseases, and healthy adults in Taiwan. By using the EBV (BNLF-1 gene)-specific primers and PCR, the EBV latent membrane protein gene BNLF-1 was detected in 91 (61%) of the 150 TW samples from patients with tumors, including 25 (78%) of 32 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 66 (56%) of 118 other patients with head and neck tumors. The TW samples from the 26 patients with nonmalignant tumors and 53 healthy adults were also examined. Approximately 47% of these samples were positive for the EBV gene. The PCR products of the BNLF-1 gene were then subjected to XhoI digestion. Sixty-eight of 91 PCR products (75%) showed the loss of the XhoI site, which indicated the presence of a Taiwan strain of EBV in patients with tumors. The DNA sequence of the BNLF-1 gene of the Taiwan variant revealed that the loss of the XhoI site was due to a nucleotide change from a G to a T at position 169,426 in comparison with the sequence of prototype EBV B95-8 cells. Furthermore, the Taiwan strain appeared significantly more frequently in the TWs and tissue samples from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (88%; P < 0.001) and laryngeal carcinoma (80%; P < 0.02) than in those samples from healthy adults (about 40%). These data indicate that a Taiwan variant of EBV may be closely associated with head and neck tumors and suggest that this variant may be important in the pathogenesis of head and neck tumors.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Prurigo pigmentosa.

Prurigo pigmentosa is a rare dermatosis with unknown etiology. It is characterized clinically by severe pruritic red papules and reticulate pigmentation thought to be an entity occurring more commonly in Japan where nearly 200 cases have been reported [1]. Outside Japan, only 7 cases have been described [2-7]. In Taiwan, though geographically close to Japan, no single case of this peculiar disorder has been reported. We herein describe a typical case in a Chinese and review the literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Detection of the 5-HT1A receptor and 5-HT1A receptor mRNA in the rat bowel and pancreas: comparison with 5-HT1P receptors.

We tested the hypothesis that the rat bowel and pancreas contain 5-HT1A receptors. 3H-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (3H-8-OH-DPAT) was used as a radioligand. Binding of 3H-8-OH-DPAT to membranes derived from the myenteric plexus and the pancreas was investigated by rapid filtration. Alternatively, radioautography was employed to locate 3H-8-OH-DPAT binding sites in frozen sections of unfixed bowel or pancreas. An excess of 5-HT (10 microM) was used to define nonspecific binding. Saturable, high affinity binding of 3H-8-OH-DPAT to enteric (Kd = 2.8 +/- 1.1 nM; Bmax = 83.8 +/- 4.3 fmol/mg protein) and pancreatic (Kd = 6.6 +/- 1.3 nM; Bmax = 44 +/- 2.2 fmol/mg protein) membranes was found. The binding of 3H-8-OH-DPAT to enteric and pancreatic membranes was inhibited by 8-OH-DPAT, NAN-190, and spiperone. In contrast, the binding of 3H-8-OH-DPAT to enteric and pancreatic membranes was not inhibited by 5-carboxyamidotryptamine, or by a variety of compounds known to bind to other subtypes of 5-HT receptor. Digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotides were found to detect mRNA encoding the 5-HT1A receptor in a subset of neurons in myenteric and submucosal ganglia. In contrast, 5-HT1A mRNA was not found in the pancreas. Radioautography revealed that the highest density of 3H-8-OH-DPAT binding sites was found in the stomach. These sites were especially numerous in the lamina propria adjacent to gastric glands, and in myenteric ganglia. Pancreatic 5-HT1A receptors were located on nerves, lymphoid tissue (especially the capsule of nodes), and on cells scattered in the pancreatic parenchyma. The concentration of 3H-8-OH-DPAT binding sites in the rat bowel and pancreas was less than that of 3H-5-HT binding sites; however, the distribution of 3H-8-OH-DPAT binding sites was similar to that of sites that bind 3H-5-HT. It is concluded that the rat gut and its extension in the pancreas contains 5-HT1A receptors. Many, if not all, of the nerve cells and processes that express 5-HT1A receptors express 5-HT1P receptors as well. The function of these receptors in the physiology of the entero-pancreatic innervation remains to be determined.

8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin↗
PubMed1993

High-dose-rate afterloading brachytherapy in carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

High-dose-rate (HDR) afterloading brachytherapy has been used at Mackay Memorial Hospital since 1984 for the treatment of gynecological malignancies. From October 1984 to October 1990, a total of 321 previously untreated patients with biopsy proven uterine cervical cancer were treated with radiation therapy with curative intent. According to FIGO staging, the patients were grouped into stage I (19 patients), stage IIA (13 patients), stage IIB (96 patients), stage III (158 patients) and stage IVA (35 patients). All patients received a combination of external beam irradiation plus intracavitary brachytherapy using the Buchler Remote Afterloading (RAL) system. For most cases, external beam irradiation using a Co-60 or Clinac 1800 photon beam (6 MV or 15 MV) of 3,060 cGy to 3,960 cGy was given to the whole pelvis (180 cGy/day, five days/week), followed by a midline shield after RAL. The total dose to the pelvic sidewall was 5,040 cGy to 5,400 cGy. The overall actuarial five-year survival rate was 55%. The total complication rate in a follow-up of two to eight years was 1% to 4%, and a good correlation existed between rectal complications and the calculated rectal dose. We conclude that fractionated HDR intracavitary therapy concurrent with teletherapy can achieve a high regional control rate with few complications, and can reduce the cost of hospitalization and the risk of anesthesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Bronchogenic carcinoma accompanied with gynecomastia. A case report].

A case of bronchogenic carcinoma accompanied with gynecomastia was reported. The enlargement of bilateral breasts was discovered for 3 months before admission with continuous low grade fever, dyspnea and weight loss. The patient was a heavy smoker and had chronic bronchitis. Physical examination revealed bilateral enlargement of breasts, the diameter of each breast was 12 cm and the height was 6 cm. Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) was > 2000 miu/ml, prolactin (PRL) 41.5 ng/ml, luteinizing hormone (LH) > 200 miu/ml. The chest X-ray film showed scattered nodular shadows in both lung fields. Tumor cells were found in the lung tissue obtained by biopsy after death suggesting of adenocarcinoma. The pathogenesis of gynecomastia was discussed.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Primary malignant lymphoma of the breast: report of two cases with literature review.

We report two cases of malignant lymphoma of the breast. Extensive investigation on both, demonstrated only a neoplastic lesion confined within the breast. One was managed by local excision, systemic chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy; the other was managed by a modified radical mastectomy, adjuvant radiotherapy and therapeutic chemotherapy. Both of them achieved complete remission 3 years and 1.5 years respectively after management.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Identification and localization of 5-HT1P receptors in the guinea pig pancreas.

Enteropancreatic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-immunoreactive nerve fibers have recently been described. To test the hypothesis that pancreas contains 5-HT receptors similar to those that characterize the enteric nervous system, binding of 5-[3H]HT to pancreatic membranes was investigated. Membranes were prepared by differential centrifugation from guinea pig pancreas, and binding of 5-[3H]HT was measured by use of a rapid filtration assay. Alternatively, 5-[3H]HT-binding sites were analyzed and located by radioautography on frozen sections of unfixed pancreas. The 5-HT1P receptor-specific antagonist, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl-5-hydroxytryptophan amide (5-HTP-DP), was used to define nonspecific binding in all assays. High-affinity reversible binding of 5-[3H]HT to pancreatic membranes was found. Good agreement was observed when Kd was determined from saturation isotherms (Kd = 2.1 +/- 0.4 nM; Bmax = 0.6 +/- 0.07 pmol/mg protein) or from the ratio of association and dissociation constants (2.7 +/- 0.04 nM). As is true of 5-[3H]HT binding to enteric 5-HT1P receptors, binding of 5-[3H]HT to pancreatic membranes was inhibited by 5-HTP-DP, 5- and 6-hydroxyindalpine (agonists at 5-HT1P receptors), and guanine nucleotides. In contrast, binding of 5-[3H]HT to pancreatic membranes was not inhibited by a variety of compounds known to bind to other types of 5-HT receptor, to the neuronal 5-HT transporter, to alpha- or beta-adrenoceptors, or to dopamine receptors. We concluded that pancreas contains 5-HT1P receptors with properties similar to those of bowel. Radioautography and immunocytochemistry with an anti-idiotypic antibody that recognizes 5-HT receptors revealed that pancreatic 5-HT1P receptors (identified with appropriate inhibitors of 5-[3H]HT or antibody binding) were concentrated in ganglia, nerves, and unidentified cells in both exocrine and endocrine pancreas. These observations suggest that future studies of 5-HT's role in pancreatic physiology should concentrate on enteropancreatic innervation and 5-HT1P receptors.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

Seventy-two patients' experience with an implantable drug delivery system for chemotherapy or total parenteral nutrition.

An implantable drug delivery system will play an important role for patients who need chemotherapy or prolonged total parenteral nutrition in the future. We implanted 72 injection capsules in 74 patients who were undergoing aggressive chemotherapy or total parenteral nutrition programs. These capsules were implanted in different positions, including central access in 67 cases, peritoneal cavity in 1, hepatic artery in 2, portal vein in 1 and intrathecal space in 1. The actual median functional survival of the injection capsules was 12.3 months (range, 2 months to 4 years). The total cumulative puncture numbers were 1651 (range, 5 to 153; median 23). There was no unsuccessful instance in infusion or injection. To date, 27 patients still survive. The complication rate was about 7% including 1 sepsis, 1 skin infection, 1 catheter thrombosis, 1 dislodgement of reservoir and 1 catheter-reservoir disengagement, which were all corrected by a secondary operation without mortality. Patency of the Port-A-Cath system was maintained using a regular flushing schedule once every 30 days. The results of this study suggest that the implantable drug delivery system can provide a safe and reliable method for venous access or even arterious access in patients requiring intermittent or prolonged intravenous therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Radiotherapy for postoperative recurrent uterine cervical carcinoma.

From January 1980 to December 1985, a total of 110 patients with postoperative recurrent uterine cervical carcinoma were treated with radiotherapy. The mean age was 53 years. Ten patients were excluded due to incomplete treatment. The population was grouped according to the classification by Ciatto et al. into patients with central recurrence (n = 48), with peripheral limited recurrence (n = 43), and with peripheral massive recurrence (n = 9). The midpelvic dose given to patients with central recurrence was 40 to 45 Gy, followed by a boost given either by perineal teletherapy with 30 Gy or brachytherapy with 30 Gy at 0.5 cm. beneath the vaginal mucosa. For the peripheral group, the midpelvic dose was 50 Gy followed by a boost of 10 Gy through reduced portals. Further boost to the vaginal mucosa was given by either of the two methods mentioned above. The overall 5-year survival rate was 28%. In the group with central recurrence, it was 42% and in the group with peripheral recurrence 15%. Sixteen patients had persistent local tumor and 15 patients developed distant metastasis. Complications noted were proctitis (5%), cystitis (2%), vesicovaginal fistula (2%) and rectovaginal fistula (2%). Our data clearly indicate that radiotherapy was effective in controlling central recurrence, but for peripheral recurrence, control rate and prognosis were less favorable.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Results of postoperative radiotherapy for clinical stage Ib uterine cervical carcinoma with evidence of microscopic involvement of surgical margin, parametrium and/or lymph node metastasis.

From January 1979 to September 1985, a total of 125 patients preoperatively staged as International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Ib uterine cervical carcinoma were proven to have either microscopic involvement of the surgical margin, parametrium and/or regional lymph node metastasis histopathologically after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. All of these patients were treated postoperatively with radiotherapy because of the above indications. Based on indications of postoperative radiotherapy, patients were divided into 3 major subgroups according to the microscopic involvement: group A patients (50) with microscopic evidence of regional lymph node metastasis only; group B patients (59) with microscopic evidence of parametrial involvement; and group C patients (16) with microscopic infiltration of the surgical margin involving the vaginal cuff. All patients were treated with external irradiation using a Cobalt-60 teletherapy machine. The overall actuarial 5-year survival rate was 62% with a 77% 5-year survival rate for group A, a 50% rate for group B and a 75% rate for group C. Further analysis of the prognostic factors revealed that those with regional lymph node involvement of 4 or less had a better chance of survival than those with lymph node involvement of more than 4. Also those with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma had a lower 5-year survival rate than those with moderately or well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Univariate analysis revealed that hemoglobin values, age, and the time interval from surgery to radiotherapy were not significant prognostic factors.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

The relationship of IgE, skin-test, eosinophilia, eosinophil cationic protein and tumor necrosis factor production in allergic rhinitis.

One hundred and twelve patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) were selected for this study. Sixty-one percent of the patients had elevated levels of total serum IgE (> 210 IU/ml) whereas 55% of them had eosinophilia. Skin-test reactivities to house dust mite and fungi allergens were positive in 86% of the patients, but this was correlated neither to levels of eosinophils and specific IgE to Dermatophagoides ptronyssinus (Dpt) and D. farinae (Df), nor with the levels of total IgE except in the skin-test highest-reactive group; they had significantly higher IgE level than the normal controls. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) was 66% in those patients with high IgE levels and the major allergens were further identified by Quidel Allergen Screen assay as Dpt and Df. Serum ECP level was correlated with high, but not low, blood eosinophil numbers in patients with AR. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells culture by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was suppressed in patients with AR with eosinophilia when compared with that of the normal controls. The symptom-triggering factors in patients with AR were primarily cold air, temperature change and the common cold. This suggests that factors other than the specific IgE response to house dust mite, skin-test reactivity and eosinophilia may also be important in the development of AR.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Palliative radiotherapy of cerebral metastasis from lung cancer.

Cerebral metastasis is a common manifestation of lung cancer. Presenting signs and symptoms are often grave, and consequently often result in patients being debilitated for the rest of their lives. Radiotherapy has been used to treat a majority of these cases, and is considered as the treatment of choice. At Mackay Memorial Hospital, we collected from 1982 to 1985, the records of 42 lung cancer patients with brain metastasis. All the cases had a histological diagnosis of primary lung cancer; most of them were squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma; only two cases were small cell carcinoma. The diagnosis of brain metastasis was established by computed tomographic scans of the brain and radioisotopic brain scans. Of the 42 cases, 22 received palliative radiotherapy from a cobalt-60 teletherapy machine to the whole brain for a total dose of 30 Gray (Gy) in 10-15 fractions over a time span of 2 to 3 weeks, while the remaining patients only received medical treatment (e.g. cranial decompression with mannitol, steroids, etc.). Most of the patients have already died. In our study, those who received radiotherapy attained considerable palliation of their symptoms and signs, including improvement of their general performance status and neurological function. Although the treatment did not prolong the patient's survival, it did decrease considerably the disability caused by the metastatic disease.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Radiotherapy for locally recurrent breast cancer.

A total of 43 breast cancer patients were treated at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Mackay Memorial Hospital from January 1978 to December 1987 for postoperative local-regional recurrence. Twenty-six patients developed local recurrence within 12 months after surgery and 17 patients developed local recurrence after 12 months. The mean age for this group of patients was 52 years (range: 27-82). There were 26 postmenopausal and 17 premenopausal patients. Twenty-four patients had received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil (CMF) regimen. Four patients were excluded from this study due to incompletion of radiotherapy. Sites of local recurrence in the remaining 39 patients included: chest wall, single (8) and multiple (4); axilla (7); supraclavicular area (5); chest wall with regional node (11); and multiple regional nodes (4). All were free of distant metastasis at the initiation of radiotherapy. A mean tumor dose of 5000 cGy in 28 fractions was given over a 6-week period to the chest wall and draining lymphatics, using an AECL Theratron 80 or a CGR Alcyon MEV Cobalt-60 unit. The overall local control rate was 72%, and the 5-year local control rate was 59%. Nine patients experienced a second local recurrence, with a median interval of 8 months after radiotherapy. Four of them (4/9) also showed evidence of systemic disease at the same time. Distant metastasis, the major cause of mortality, appeared in 49% of the patients with a median interval of 22.8 months after radiotherapy. The three leading sites of distant metastasis were the bones (42%), lungs (37%) and liver (16%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Transfer of chicken anti-human IgG factors from hen to chicks and inheritance of human serum reactivities toward the factors].

Chin (1983) first reported the content of IgM anti-human IgG factor in chicken sera. He investigated the differences in agglutinability between latex particles coated with heat-aggregated IgG from individual specimen sera. No association was found between the potencies of serum reactivities toward the chicken anti-human gamma globulin factor (CAHGF) and the classification of known blood- and serum-groups. This article describes two problems regarding the CAHGF and serum reactivities toward CAHGF. 1) Transfer of CAHGF from chickens to chicks The presence in egg yolk of CAHGF was proved by the agglutination of latex particles coated with heat-aggregated human IgG. Its content, however, was not clearly indicated, because egg white nonspecifically agglutinates latex particles. After the 13-day storage of eggs in an incubator, the CAHGF in the yolk disappeared, and instead, 2 in 4 serum specimens of embryo chicks were shown to contain it. Three of six serum specimens from newly hatched chicks also contained CAHGF. These above results strongly suggest the transfer of CAHGF from the hens' serum to the chicks via the egg yolk. 2) Dot immunoassay of serum reactivities toward CAHGF and its application to genetic studies A dot immunoassay method was developed for quantitating serum reactivities toward CAHGF. In this method, the specimen serum was heated for 60 minutes at 56 degrees C, and serially diluted with glycine buffered saline (GBS). Then three microliters of each dilution was applied to a 10 x 68 mm strip of nitrocellulose membrane (pore size 5 microns).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Collagen autoimmunity to rheumatoid arthritis.

In this study, 26 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 10 with gout, 8 with scleroderma and 10 healthy volunteers were included. Antibodies to native and denatured human collagen types I, II and III were measured by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequencies of antibodies to native collagen type II were 19% in the sera of 26 patients with RA. These antibodies were also cross-reacted with collagen types I and III and generally, their activities to collagen in synovial fluids were higher than that in the serum. Only one in 8 patients with scleroderma showed high serum antibodies to these collagens. However, levels of collagen antibodies in patients with RA were not correlated with levels of rheumatoid factor, IgG, IgM and IgA. There was no different in the interleukin (IL)-1 production by synovial cells stimulated by collagens from patients with either RA or gout. The correlation between anti-collagen antibodies and HLA-DR4 antigen was poor, though the presence of DR4 was common in patients with RA. These evidences suggest that collagen antibodies were important to joint pathology only in some of the patients with RA. Thus, collagen autoimmunity warrants further investigation.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1990

[Blood group hemagglutinins in hens' eggs. 1. Quantity of hemagglutinins to human erythrocytes after immunization with OSe saliva].

The titers of hemagglutinins to human erythrocytes were investigated using sera and eggs from hens immunized by a single intraperitoneal injection of crude blood group substance from OSe saliva mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant. Elevation of the hemagglutinin titer in egg yolk followed the increase of serum hemagglutinin with 1- to 2-week time-lag. The maximum hemagglutinin titer of egg yolk was 1/2 to 1/8 of the serum hemagglutinin titer. The total hemagglutinin quantity in egg yolk exceeded the serum quantities of the antibody in sacrificed hens. Egg-white transiently contained a very low titer of hemagglutinin. The yolk hemagglutinin scarcely migrated at all to the white after storage of the egg for 3 months at 5 degrees C. These results indicate that egg yolk from hens immunized with blood group substances is an appropriate source of blood group hemagglutinins.

ABO Blood-Group System↗