Integrating culture and attachment.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
R Chao
Publications and source records attributed to R Chao.
Collagen implant for treating stress urinary incontinence in women with urethral hypermobility.
PURPOSE: We evaluated the use of collagen in women with stress urinary incontinence and urethral hypermobility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 90 patients with stress urinary incontinence and urethral hypermobility with 1 to 3 injections of Contigen implant (C. R. Bard, Inc., Covington, Georgia) between June 1996 and October 1998. Observations at 3, 6 and 12 months included continence grade, 7-day voiding diaries and quality of life questionnaires. Abdominal leak point pressure was determined at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: At the 6-month followup 68 patients remained in the study, of whom 30 (44%) were dry and 24 (35%) were improved. Of the 58 patients who reached the 12-month followup 19 (33%) were dry and 19 (33%) were improved. Considering all patients entered into the study at 6 months 30 (33%) were dry and 24 (27%) were improved. Of the original 90 patients 19 (21%) were dry and 19 (21%) were improved at 12 months. The probability of maintaining initial improvement for 12 months was 44%. The success of bulking agent therapy was not predicted by the initial incontinence grade. Improved continence grade correlated with improved leak point pressure. CONCLUSIONS: This therapy is appropriate in women with urethral hypermobility who wish to avoid surgical risks and in those in whom surgery is ill advised.
Adult↗
Transient adhesion of platelets in pump-oxygenator systems: influence of SMA and nitric oxide treatments.
We employed gamma scintigraphy to quantify the transient accumulations of platelets in pump-oxygenator systems employed in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A flat sheet microporous polypropylene membrane oxygenator (Cobe Duo) was employed, with and without siloxane/caprolactone oligomer coating (SMA) (n = 8 each). The effect of nitric oxide gas infusion on platelet deposition was also evaluated for the uncoated Cobe Duo system (n = 10 each). Scintigraphic images of radiolabelled cells were obtained and converted to numbers of all platelets, labeled and unlabeled, adhering to the pump and oxygenator surfaces. These numbers were compared, by study group, for a 90-min period of normothermic CPB in the adult pig, employing standard prime and anticoagulation regimens. Platelets adhered in large numbers to control oxygenators, reaching maxima (> 20% of the circulating platelet mass) 30 min following institution of CPB, and decreasing for the duration of CPB. SMA treatment significantly decreased platelet adhesion following a 5-10-min transient accumulation period. Nitric oxide infusion significantly reduced platelet adhesion throughout the CPB period. Platelet accumulations on the high fluid shear centrifugal pump surfaces increased monotonically to maxima at about the same time as for the oxygenators, but did not decrease thereafter. Higher platelet surface densities were observed on the centrifugal pump surfaces than on the oxygenator surfaces. CPB with the untreated circuit tended to reduce circulating platelet counts vs theoretical values based on hemodilution alone. In contrast, SMA significantly increased the circulating platelet count versus the untreated control group. These results indicate that platelet adherence to the foreign surfaces of CPB equipment are influenced in characteristic ways by time and fluid shear. SMA treatment and nitric oxide infusion both reduce platelet adhesion to oxygenator surfaces. SMA treatment spares these cells for the circulation.
Animals↗
[Alkaloid production of cultured coptis cells by two-stage suspension-culture].
In this study the asexual cell line H292 induced and selected from Coptis gulinensis had rapid growth rate and could stably produce alkaloids. By the one-stage method, after the cell suspensions were cultured on the same medium for six weeks, the increased dry and fresh weights of the cells were 20.96 g/L and 174.92 g/L respectively. The content of the total alkaloids in the cells was 14.79 mg/g cell dw. Per litter liquid medium could provide 323 mg alkaloid. In contrast, the cells were cultured by two-stage method. After having been cultured on the medium which contributed to the growth of the cells for three weeks, the cells were transferred to the medium which contributed to the production of the alkaloid and cultured for three weeks. Six weeks later, the dry and fresh weights of the cells were 16.72 g/L and 127.44 g/L, respectively. The biomass was lower than that by one-stage method, but the content of the total alkaloids was as high as 31.76 mg/g cell dw, which was much more than that by one-stage method. In addition, the content of the alkaloid in the medium was 25.31 mg/L. Per litter liquid medium could provide 556 mg alkaloid. The total yield of alkaloid obtained by two-stage method was 1.72 times than that by one-stage method.
Alkaloids↗
[Determination of maesopsin in shengdeng (Rhamnella gilgitica Mansf. et Melch) by HPLC].
A reversed-phase HPLC method was developed for the determination of maesopsin, a fliavonoid, in the xylem parts of the traditional Tibetan medicinal herb Shengdeng (Rhamnella gilgitica). An ODS column was used and the mobile phase was methanol-water (28:27) with 0.05 mol/L KH2PO4 (pH4). The detection wavelength was UV 290 nm. The recovery was 98.9% (RSD = 2.1%, n = 6) and the content of maesopsin in Shengdeng was 1.02% (RSD = 0.52%, n = 3).
Benzofurans↗
Immunogenicity and relative attenuation of different vaccinia-rabies virus recombinants.
Immunogenicity and relative attenuation were examined for the following Tian Tan strain vaccinia-rabies recombinant viruses: 1) NGc-1, which coexpresses the glycoprotein (G) and nucleocapsid protein (N) of the rabies virus Challenge Virus Standard (CVS) strain; 2) Nc-1, which expresses the CVS N; 3) Gc-2, Gc-3, Gc-4, and Gc-5, which express CVS G via promoters from different vaccinia strains or from different vaccinia genome loci; 4) Ga-1, which expresses the G of rabies virus strain aG; and 5) Gas-1; which expresses the carboxyltruncated G ectodomain (Gs) of strain aG. All but Nc-1 and Gas-1 induced rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) and protected groups of mice at very high frequencies from intramuscular (IM) or intracranial (IC) challenge with CVS or SW1 Shanghai dog street rabies virus (SRV); Nc-1 and Gas-1 were partly protective, more frequently against IM challenge. NGc-1 and Gc-5 appeared to induce high levels of VNAs sooner after immunization than the other constructs in mice. Relative attenuation assessed by IM infection of neonatal mice, IC infection of adult mice, and intradermal infection of rabbits with varying doses was best for NGc-1. All the recombinants were at least 100-fold more attenuated than the parent, Tian Tan vaccinia virus. Gc-2, Gc-3, Gc-4, Gc-5, and NGc-1 induced VNAs after immunization of dogs, and a subset of VNA-positive animals vaccinated with NGc-1 or Gc-3 were protected against an otherwise lethal IM injection of SRV at 21 days after vaccination.
Animals↗
[Callus induction of Coptis species and generation of alkaloids].
Callus induction and tissue culture of six medicinal Coptis species have been carried out and a comparative analysis of berberine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, palmatine and epiberberine in calli and crude drugs have been made by TLC and HPLC.
Berberine↗
Stereoselectivity of induction of the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) dephosphorylation by D-erythro-sphingosine supports a role for pRb in growth suppression by sphingosine.
Sphingosine has been shown to inhibit cell growth in many cell lines although the mechanism of this effect remains obscure. More recently, D-erythro-sphingosine has been shown to act as an early inducer of dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) in the lymphoblastic leukemia cell line MOLT-4 [Chao, R., Khan, W., & Hannun, Y.A. (1992) J. Biol. Chem., 267, 23459-23462]. In the current study, the role of the natural D-erythro-sphingosine in regulation of cell growth and pRb dephosphorylation was evaluated using chemically synthesized pure isomers of sphingosine. Of the four possible stereoisomers of sphingosine, D-erythro-sphingosine was most active in inducing dephosphorylation of pRb protein with an EC50% of 0.6 microM whereas its enantiomer L-erythro-sphingosine was 8-fold less potent with an EC50% of 5 microM. The dose responses for inhibition of cell growth were nearly identical to the EC50% for pRb dephosphorylation with D-erythro-sphingosine causing 50% inhibition at 0.6 microM whereas L-erythro-sphingosine was 5-6-fold less potent. All of the stereoisomers were taken up by the cells, and the greater potency of D-erythro-sphingosine was not due to differences in cellular uptake. The metabolism of D-erythro-sphingosine was also studied to evaluate the possible role of sphingosine metabolites on regulation of retinoblastoma protein. Evidence is provided against a role for ceramide or sphingosine 1-phosphate as mediators of the effects of sphingosine on pRb dephosphorylation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cell Death↗
Incontinence after radical prostatectomy: detrusor or sphincter causes.
PURPOSE: Prospective studies have shown a high prevalence of decreased compliance immediately after radical prostatectomy, which may be a temporary phenomenon in men in whom incontinence persists for more than 1 year. We examined the video urodynamic records of 74 consecutive men referred to our urodynamic laboratory with incontinence as the predominant symptom following radical prostatectomy to evaluate voiding parameters and bladder function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The urodynamic assessment was made an average of 3.8 years postoperatively. All men presented with persistent post-prostatectomy incontinence, and 64 underwent radical retropubic and 10 radical perineal prostatectomy. RESULTS: A total of 42 men (57%) had sphincter weakness alone, 29 (39%) had detrusor instability and/or decreased compliance combined with sphincter weakness and only 3 (4%) had detrusor instability alone. Of 29 men with a combination of factors 8 had decreased compliance, with 3 also having detrusor instability. Anastomotic strictures occurred in 24% of the patients. A total of 31 patients voided by straining without demonstrable detrusor contraction (42% overall). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased compliance is an infrequent finding after radical prostatectomy. Detrusor abnormalities in general are rarely the sole cause of incontinence, with sphincter weakness being present in the majority of patients.
Aged↗
Simple urodynamic catheter placement.
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Catheters, Indwelling↗
Experience with intracavernosal tri-mixture for the management of neurogenic erectile dysfunction.
Using papaverine, papaverine/phentolamine, or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), intracavernosal pharmacotherapy has been successful in treating erectile dysfunction. The limiting factor of using these medicines is intracorporeal fibrosis with the first two and a high cost with PGE1. Our experience with intracavernosal therapy in patients with impotence secondary to neurogenic disease has included 35 men, 30 of whom are spinal cord injured, 3 after radical prostatectomy, 1 with multiple sclerosis, and 1 with lower extremity weakness after surgery. Patients ranged in age from 22 to 59 years, with an average of 36.3 years; mean follow-up was 13.8 months. Intracavernosal therapy has been performed with a tri-mixture of papaverine hydrochloride (smooth muscle relaxant), phentolamine mesylate (alpha-adrenergic blocking agent) and alprostadil (PGE1- a vasodilator and smooth muscle relaxant). Of the patient population, all 35 patients were able to have adequate erections for sexual relations with minimal complications. Acting synergistically, the ingredients promote erectile activity using small doses and without a significant incidence of priapism or fibrosis. Techniques of injection, dosing and followup are discussed.
Adult↗
Long-term urodynamic follow up in pediatric spinal cord injury.
Less than 5% of all spinal cord injuries occur in children under 16 years of age. We have followed up 40 children with spinal cord injury at our medical center. The patients have an average age at presentation of 9.0 years (range newborn to 17 years) and have a mean follow up of 46.1 months (range 1 to 240 months). Twenty-two patients have cervical injuries, 13 thoracic and five have lumbar injuries. Bladder management in this group includes 11 patients with reflex voiding and 29 patients combining anticholinergic medication with intermittent catheterization. Twenty-eight patients have a follow up for more than 1 year. Review of the video urodynamics in this group has shown good function and preservation of the urinary tract in 25 of 28 patients. Treatment failures can be attributed to noncompliance with recommended voiding regimens. Upper tract surveillance using intravenous pyelogram or renal ultrasound has shown preservation of the upper tracts in all patients with anatomically normal lower tracts. We recommend aggressive follow up in this group of patients with yearly renal ultrasound and video urodynamics every 1-2 years to monitor urinary tract function.
Adolescent↗
Fate of upper urinary tracts in patients with indwelling catheters after spinal cord injury.
Several modes of urinary tract drainage exist for the spinal cord-injured (SCI) patient, but the use of an indwelling catheter is discouraged. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of our traumatic SCI patients followed twenty years or more since initial injury to compare urinary tract preservation and the incidence of urologic complications in patients with neurogenic bladders voiding spontaneously with those using long-term indwelling catheters. Eighty-one patients with long-term injuries were identified; 73 of them fit the study criteria. Forty-one patients voided spontaneously having a balanced bladder or performing intermittent catheterization or have undergone sphincterotomy or vesicostomy, and 32 had indwelling suprapubic or Foley catheters. Renal function measured by creatinine clearance was similar in both groups: 81.3 +/- 20.2 mL/min for spontaneous voiders and 83.7 +/- 24.9 mL/min for catheterized patients. Review of urinary tract imaging and incidence of complications in both groups was very comparable, with the exception that the catheterized group had a higher prevalence of scarring and calicectasis on radiologic imaging of the upper urinary tracts which was statistically significant. Of the remaining population, in 6 of 81 patients, bladder cancer developed, and they underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion and 2 had proximal diversion alone. Of the 6 patients with bladder cancer, 2 were spontaneous voiders with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) developing. Three of the 6 patients had indwelling catheters: in 1 patient TCC developed, in 1 adenocarcinoma, and in 1 squamous cell carcinoma. In 1 patient TCC developed in a defunctionalized bladder after ileal conduit formation. Based on this study, we can conclude that in select groups of SCI patients, the choice of an indwelling catheter may be made if other methods fail, provided patients undergo regular upper urinary tract imaging and cystoscopy.
Adult↗
Continent urinary diversion and diverting colostomy in the therapy of non-healing pressure sores in paraplegic patients.
Immobilization and subsequent sacral decubitus or pressure sore formation is a danger faced by the paraplegic. We report on 4 patients treated with non-healing pressure sores. Three male patients had decubiti eroding into the posterior urethra and bladder neck area. One female patient had bladder neck and urethral loss secondary to Foley catheter erosion and a sacral pressure sore. All 4 had non-healing decubiti secondary to urinary contamination and, in addition, gross fecal contamination in the male patients. All patients failed previous muscular flaps and urinary diversion per suprapubic tube. In the male patients, suprapubic continent urinary diversion included bladder neck mobilization, closure of the distal urethra by oversewing and patching with bovine dura, and augmentation of the bladder with a Miami pouch. Fecal diversion was provided with a sigmoid colostomy. In the female patient, continent diversion was performed by forming a Miami pouch. Total diversion allowed healing of the pressure sores and provided a simpler method of personal hygiene. Details of the diversion and case studies will be presented.
Adult↗
Bladder neck closure with continent augmentation or suprapubic catheter in patients with neurogenic bladders.
Twenty-four patients, with various combinations of non-healing decubitus ulcers, urethral fistulae, incontinence, and penile skin breakdown were candidates for proximal urinary diversion, having failed intermittent, external, and indwelling catheterization combined with pharmacologic therapy. Seventeen patients underwent bladder neck closure, including seven with multiple sclerosis and ten with spinal cord injury, and because they were unable or unwilling to do catheterization, had their urine diverted by suprapubic catheter. Seven patients, including four with spinal cord injury, underwent bladder neck closure and continent augmentation with formation of a catheterizable cutaneous stoma on the anterior abdominal wall, using right colon and right colon/ileum configurations. When ureteral reflux and obstruction are absent, the patient's bladder was used which spared the added risk of ureteral implantation and possible ureteral stricture while increasing total bladder capacity. In a select group of patients with intractable incontinence, perineal and penile skin breakdown, or urethral fistulae, bladder neck closure and urinary diversion by suprapubic catheter or continent augmentation has proven to be a reliable and effective alternative to an ileal conduit.
Catheterization↗
Sequence elements required for transcriptional activity of the human myoglobin promoter in intact myocardium.
To define sequence elements required for myoglobin gene transcription in the intact heart, we examined the expression of a reporter gene under the control of a 380-bp upstream segment (-373 to +7) from the human myoglobin gene in transgenic mouse embryos and after gene transfer into left ventricular myocardium of adult rats. This proximal upstream region was sufficient to direct expression of luciferase selectively in cardiac and skeletal muscle of mouse embryos and to recapitulate the pattern of expression of the endogenous mouse myoglobin gene. This same upstream region was transcriptionally active after injection of plasmid DNA into the left ventricular wall of adult rats. Point mutations within two evolutionarily conserved sequence elements--a cytosine-rich (CCAC-box) motif and an A+T-rich (A/T) motif--severely impaired transcription within the intact heart. Nuclear extracts from neonatal cardiomyocytes contain protein factors that bind to each of these elements in a sequence-specific manner. We conclude that combinatorial interactions between the cognate DNA binding factors that recognize these motifs are necessary for transcriptional activity of the myoglobin upstream region in cardiac muscle.
Animals↗
Retinoblastoma protein dephosphorylation induced by D-erythro-sphingosine.
The retinoblastoma gene product (Rb), a nuclear phosphoprotein, functions as a tumor suppressor that is inactivated in retinoblastoma and other malignancies. The hypophosphorylated forms of Rb are observed in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, whereas the hyperphosphorylated forms predominate in S and G2/M phases, suggesting that phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of Rb may regulate progression through the growth cycle. However, little is known about the intracellular signals that regulate phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of Rb. We show that D-erythro-sphingosine potently induces early dephosphorylation of Rb. Initial dephosphorylation was observed as early as 1 h after treatment of hematopoietic cells with sphingosine, whereas complete shift to the dephosphorylated form was seen 4 h after treatment. These effects occurred at concentrations of sphingosine as low as 100-500 nM, with maximal effects observed at 1-2.5 microM. These effects were specific to sphingosine, inasmuch as other lipids, amphiphiles, and long chain amino bases, as well as structural analogs of sphingosine, failed to induce dephosphorylation of Rb. Also, activation of second messenger systems including protein kinase C, cAMP-dependent kinases, and calcium ionophores, as well as inhibition of serine/threonine protein phosphatases, failed to induce dephosphorylation of Rb. Induction of Rb dephosphorylation by sphingosine preceded inhibition of growth and a specific arrest in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. These studies, for the first time, identify an intracellular activator of Rb.
1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗
[Determination of bendazac lysine by RP-HPLC].
Bendazac (BD) was separated on a CLC-ODS column, 150 x 6 mm id (Shimadzu), using methanol acetic acid 0.1 mol/L (67:33) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and the detection wavelength, 254 nm. The detection limit of BD was 0.1 ng (R/N, 3:1), which was determined by the peak area measurement using an external standard method. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 5-10 micrograms (r = 0. 9998). The average recovery of BDL was 99.46 +/- 0.59% (n = 9). This method has been applied satisfactorily to the determination of BDL samples.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗