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Biomedical subjects

S F Tsai

Publications and source records attributed to S F Tsai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in bullous pemphigoid in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune bullous disease mostly associated with autoantibodies to the hemidesmosomal BP autoantigens BP180 and BP230. High levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma have been detected in skin lesions or sera of patients with BP. Cytokine gene polymorphisms may affect cytokine production and contribute to susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Until now, no cytokine gene polymorphism study has been conducted on patients with BP. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether the genetic polymorphisms of the cytokine genes might influence the development of BP. METHODS: DNA samples were obtained from 96 BP patients and 174 control subjects. Using direct sequencing and microsatellite genotyping, we examined 23 polymorphisms in 11 cytokine genes including the IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-4 receptor, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma genes. RESULTS: Although the BP patients were more likely to carry the -511T and -31C alleles of the IL-1beta gene (P = 0.04), the significance disappeared after correction for multiple testing (Pc). There was complete linkage disequilibrium between the -511T and -31C alleles of the IL-1beta gene. In female patients with BP, the associations with IL-1beta (-511T) and (-31C) alleles were much stronger (68% vs. 40.6%, odds ratio = 3.11, Pc = 0.006). No significantly different allelic and genotypic distributions of other cytokine gene polymorphisms could be found between the patients with BP and controls. Moreover, no association with the extent of disease involvement (localized or generalized) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The IL-1beta (-511) and (-31) polymorphisms were significantly associated with BP in women. The other genetic polymorphisms of cytokine genes that we analysed do not appear to be associated with BP susceptibility in our Chinese population.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Psoriasis vulgaris in Chinese individuals is associated with PSORS1C3 and CDSN genes.

BACKGROUND: Besides the HLA-Cw*0602 allele, the psoriasis susceptibility 1 candidate 3 (PSORS1C3) and corneodesmosin (CDSN) genes are two probable psoriasis susceptibility genes in the PSORS1 locus. The -79C, -26C and +246A alleles of the PSORS1C3 gene, the CDSN*971T allele, CDSN*TTC (619T-1236T-1243C) and CDSN*5 (619T-1240G-1243C) are strongly associated with psoriasis in the caucasian population. Until now, no haplotype study of the PSORS1C3 and CDSN genes has been documented in Chinese patients with psoriasis vulgaris. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of the PSORS1C3 and CDSN genes were associated with an increased risk of psoriasis vulgaris in Chinese patients in Taiwan. METHODS: We investigated the PSORS1C3 and CDSN genes for disease association by direct sequencing in 178 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 203 control subjects. Genotyping for HLA-Cw*0602, alpha-helix coiled-coil rod homologue (HCR) gene and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) n.9 was also carried out using a sequence-based typing method. RESULTS: The PSORS1C3*582A allele, an SNP in the 3'-untranslated region of the PSORS1C3 gene, was a major psoriasis vulgaris susceptibility allele in the Chinese population, and the association was much stronger in patients with early-onset psoriasis vulgaris (22.3% vs. 6.9%, odds ratio = 3.87, P(c) =0.0000072). The frequencies of CDSN*TTC and CDSN*971T were also significantly increased in patients with early-onset psoriasis vulgaris. Moreover, PSORS1C3*582A, SNP n.9*C, Cw*0602 and HCR*WWCC were in near complete linkage disequilibrium (LD) with each other; in contrast, the LD with the CDSN gene was not so strong. SNP n.9*C-Cw*0602-PSORS1C3*582A-HCR*WWCC was a major susceptibility haplotype in patients with early-onset psoriasis vulgaris (P < 10(-7)) and this risk haplotype also carried CDSN*TTC and CDSN*971T. CONCLUSIONS: The PSORS1C3 and CDSN genes are important psoriasis susceptibility genes in Chinese patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

No association of cytokine gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronically relapsing skin disease associated with the activation of T-helper 2 cells. Recent studies have shown that polymorphisms in the genes for interleukin (IL)-4, the IL-4 receptor, IL-13, and signal transducer and activator 6 (STAT6) may contribute to susceptibility of AD. To date, no cytokine gene polymorphism study has been conducted on Chinese patients with AD. AIMS: To determine whether genetic polymorphisms of the cytokine genes might influence the development of AD. METHODS: DNA samples were obtained from 94 patients and 186 control subjects. Using direct sequencing and microsatellite genotyping, we examined 22 polymorphisms in eight cytokine genes including the genes for IL-4, -10, -12B and -13, the IL-4 receptor, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, STAT6, and interferon (IFN)-gamma. RESULTS: No significantly different allelic and genotypic distributions of the cytokine gene polymorphisms could be found between patients and controls. Moreover, no association was observed with disease onset, gender, the presence of elevated serum total IgE level or blood eosinophilia. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the analysed genetic polymorphisms of cytokine genes do not appear to be associated with AD susceptibility in our Chinese population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Three-dimensional analysis for radio-frequency ablation of liver tumor with blood perfusion effect.

Increase of temperature above 50 approximately 60 degrees C for few minutes by the emitted radio-frequency (RF) energy has been shown to be able to denaturate the intracellular proteins and destruct membranes of tumor cells. To improve the efficacy of this thermal therapy, it is important to investigate factors that may affect the RF heating characteristics for the hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver tumors. In order to make sure the applied RF energy is adequate to ablate the target tumor, a 3D thermoelectric analysis for the system consisting of liver, liver arteries and 4 mm diameter tumor is conducted. The effect of blood perfusion is addressed in this study.

Catheter Ablation↗
PubMed2005

A study of PSORS1C1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Although genetic analyses have identified the HLA-Cw*0602 allele as the major risk allele for chronic plaque psoriasis in various ethnic groups, it has been proposed that the association of Cw*0602 is due to linkage disequilibrium and that other nearby genes are involved in susceptibility to psoriasis. The psoriasis susceptibility 1 candidate 1 (PSORS1C1, formerly SEEK1) gene, located 127 kb telomeric to the HLA-C locus, is considered to be one of the potential candidate genes of psoriasis. Up to the present, no association study of the PSORS1C1 gene has been conducted on Chinese patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether the genetic polymorphisms of the PSORS1C1 gene were associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in Chinese patients. METHODS: We investigated the PSORS1C1 gene for disease association by direct sequencing of the PSORS1C1 gene in 143 Chinese patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and 188 control subjects. Genotyping for HLA-Cw*0602 and the alpha-helix coiled-coil rod homologue (C6orf18, formerly HCR) gene was also carried out using a sequence-based typing method. RESULTS: We identified 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the PSORS1C1 gene in our subjects; four of these SNPs cause amino acid change. We also detected poly(C) repeat variants from nucleotide positions 386-392 (poly(C)6-8). The poly(C) repeat polymorphisms cause a frame shift mutation. Another poly(C) repeat variant was also found at nucleotide positions 748-751. No significantly different allelic distributions of the PSORS1C1 SNPs or poly(C) repeat polymorphisms could be found between the patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and controls after correction for multiple testing. However, a significant increase of the Cw*0602 allele and tryptophan-tryptophan allele of the C6orf18 gene (HCR*WW) was found in patients with early onset psoriasis (21.9% vs. 4.8%, P < 10(-7)). Haplotype-based association analysis also showed a susceptibility haplotype carrying Cw*0602 and HCR*WW alleles in early onset Chinese patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the PSORS1C1 gene might not play an important role in the causation of chronic plaque psoriasis in Chinese people.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A study of cytokeratin profiles in localized cutaneous amyloids.

The major component of localized cutaneous amyloids may be derived from cytokeratin (CK). However, the CK profiles of primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) and secondary cutaneous amyloidosis (SCA) remain obscure. Paraffin-embedded sections of skin tissue from 64 patients with PCA, 111 with SCA and 3 with systemic amyloidosis were analyzed immunohistochemically using 12 different polyclonal or monoclonal anti-CK antibodies (34betaE12, MNF116, LP34, AE1/AE3, anti-CK1, CK5, CK6, CK7, CK10, CK14, CK16 and CK17). In addition, frozen skin tissues from 12 patients with PCA were analyzed for comparison with the paraffin-embedded tissue. In all 64 PCA paraffin sections, the amyloid deposits were immunopositive for anti-CK5 antibody and 34betaE12. In all 12 frozen sections of PCA, the amyloid deposits were immunopositive for anti-CK5 antibody, 34betaE12, MNF116 and LP34, and seven (58.3%), three (25%) and one (8.3%) were immunopositive for anti-CK1, CK14, and CK10 antibodies, respectively. In all SCA sections, the amyloid deposits were immunopositive for CK5 and 34betaE12. In addition, MNF116 immunolabeled amyloids of all sections from patients with basal cell carcinoma and trichoepithelioma, and MNF116 and LP34 immunolabeled amyloids of sections from patients with porokeratosis. Our results indicate that CK5 is the major CK present in the amyloid deposits of PCA and SCA, and "amyloid-K" is mainly derived from basal keratinocytes.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Genetic polymorphisms of the HCR gene and a genomic segment in close proximity to HLA-C are associated with patients with psoriasis in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Although psoriasis vulgaris (PV) is strongly associated with HLA-Cw*0602, it has been proposed that the association of Cw*0602 is due to linkage disequilibrium and that other nearby genes are involved in PV susceptibility. The alpha-helix coiled-coil rod homologue (HCR) gene, located 110 kb telomeric to the HLA-C locus, is presumed to be one of the PV candidate genes. Recently, a 10-kb genomic segment, centromeric to HLA-C, defined by two new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) n.7*A and n.9*C, was found to have a stronger association with psoriasis than the HCR gene. Until now, no study of the association of the HCR gene, SNPs n.7, and n.9 has been conducted on Chinese patients with psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether the genetic polymorphisms of the HCR gene, SNPs n.7*A, and n.9*C were associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in Chinese patients. METHODS: Using direct sequencing of the HCR gene and the genomic region containing SNPs n.7 and n.9, we investigated the HCR gene, SNPs n.7, and n.9 for disease association in 115 Chinese patients with psoriasis and 103 control subjects. The HCR SNPs were confirmed by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography. Genotyping for HLA-Cw*0602 was also carried out using sequence-based typing. RESULTS: We observed a different allelic distribution between patient and control groups at nucleotide positions 386, 404, 1802 and 2406 of the HCR gene, and SNPs n.7, and n.9. The associations were much stronger in early onset PV patients (for HCR-386*T and HCR-404*T, odds ratio = 5.63, Pc < 0.0001). The HLA-Cw*0602 also displayed a similar association with PV (odds ratio = 5.4, Pc < 0.0001). Moreover, SNP n.7*A, SNP n.9*C, Cw*0602, HCR-386*T, HCR-404*T and HCR-1802*T were in linkage disequilibrium with each other. Haplotype-based association analysis showed SNP n.7*A-SNP n.9*C-Cw*0602-HCR-386*T-HCR-404*T-HCR-1802*T-HCR-2406*G as a major susceptibility haplotype in this Chinese population (for early onset patients, odds ratio = 5.15, Pc < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the HCR gene, SNP n.7*A, and SNP n.9*C as well as Cw*0602 are major susceptibility markers for psoriasis in Chinese patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

SPR1 gene near HLA-C is unlikely to be a psoriasis susceptibility gene.

Although genetics analyses have identified the HLA-Cw6 allele to be the major risk allele for psoriasis vulgaris (PV) in many racial groups, it has been proposed that other putative genes near the HLA-C locus are involved in PV susceptibility and that the association of Cw6 is a result of linkage disequilibrium. The SPR1 gene, a predicted gene located 128 kb telomeric to the HLA-C locus, is considered to be one potential candidate gene of PV. Until now, no association study of the SPR1 gene has been conducted on psoriasis patients. We investigated the SPR1 gene for disease association by direct sequencing of the SPR1 gene in 116 Chinese patients with PV and 116 normal subjects. Genotyping for HLA-Cw6 was also carried out using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism. Significant increase of the HLA-Cw6 allele was found in psoriasis patients (32.8% vs. 13.8%, P = 0.001). We found that the SPR1 gene is a highly polymorphic gene containing 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), two of which have not been previously reported, and four SNPs cause amino acid change. No significantly different allelic distribution of 13 SPR1 SNPs could be found between the patients with PV and controls after correction for multiple testing. If the frequencies of SPR1 SNPs were compared between the early onset psoriatics and control subjects, early onset patients were more likely to have G allele at position 988 (60% vs. 35.3%, P = 0.001). However, the significance disappeared upon stratification for the Cw6 status. Haplotype-based association analysis showed two susceptibility haplotypes (types 8 and 19) in early onset psoriasis patients. Nonetheless, the significance also disappeared after stratification of the Cw6 status. Our results suggest that HLA-Cw6 remains the major risk allele in Chinese psoriatics, and that the SPR1 gene might not play an important role in the causation of PV.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A study of candidate genes for psoriasis near HLA-C in Chinese patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Genetic analyses have identified the HLA-Cw6 allele as the major risk allele for psoriasis in many racial groups. However, by serological typing, HLA-Cw6 is not considered a risk factor in Chinese psoriatics. There are several susceptibility genes for psoriasis residing in chromosome 6p near the HLA-C locus, including the corneodesmosin (CDSN) gene, the octamer transcription factor-3 (POU5F1) gene, the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA), and the gene for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. However, the information about their role in psoriasis in Chinese patients is limited. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether Cw6 and the genetic polymorphism of the CDSN gene, POU5F1 gene, MICA gene and the gene for TNF-alpha promoter region were associated with an increased risk of psoriasis in Chinese patients. METHODS: We conducted a case-control association study in 105 Chinese patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 160 control subjects of similar ages. Genotypes of Cw6, the CDSN gene, the POU5F1 gene, and the gene for the TNF-alpha promoter region were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction enzyme digestion. Genotyping of MICA was determined by PCR combined with fluorescent-based automated fragment detection technology. Results The allele frequencies showed no differences between patients and controls for the POU5F1 gene, MICA gene and the gene for TNF-alpha promoter region. The frequency of the HLA-Cw6 allele in the psoriasis group was significantly higher than that in the control group (18.6% vs. 6.56%, P < 0.00005). For the CDSN gene, patients were more likely to have C allele at position +619 (P = 0.006) and C allele at position +1243 (P = 0.007), but the significance disappeared after correction for multiple testing (Pc > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HLA-Cw6 remains the most significant susceptibility gene in Chinese patients with psoriasis. However, the role of the CDSN gene in the pathogenesis of psoriasis deserves further scrutiny.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Identification and characterization of a SET/NAP protein encoded by a brain-specific gene, MB20.

A new member of the NAP/SET gene family, named MB20, was isolated from a mouse brain cDNA library by virtue of its CAG trinucleotide repetitive sequence and a brain-specific gene expression pattern. The complementary DNA sequence predicted an open reading frame of 545 amino acids, with four copies of an 11-amino-acid direct repeat. The consensus sequence for these repeats, PKE-P--K-EE, is present in the largest subunit of murine neurofilament (NF-H). The MB20 protein sequence is homologous to nucleosome assembly proteins of several species, and its C-terminus is homologous to SET proteins. Immunoblot analysis revealed that MB20 protein is expressed in the brain. Transient transfection and immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that MB20 is distributed in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. Deletion of the N-terminal end imparts the complete localization of MB20 protein to the nucleus. The ability of MB20 to bind histone proteins was analyzed by sucrose gradient sedimentation and by retention of histone proteins by immobilized MB20 protein. On the basis of its expression pattern, predicted sequence, and protein properties, we propose that MB20 plays a unique role in modulating nucleosome structure and gene expression during brain development.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Preparation of pentachlorophenol derivatives and development of a microparticle-based on-site immunoassay for the detection of PCP in soil samples.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is used as a herbicide in agriculture and as an insecticide for termite control. Because of the apparent hazard associated with its usage, there is a need for an efficient and economic on-site screening method. A 5-min on-site test has been developed for the detection of PCP based on the OnTrak format, a successful Roche on-site test format for drugs of abuse, utilizing the principle of latex agglutination immunoassay. The test detects 1 ppm of PCP in soil samples.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2001

The SNRPN promoter is not required for genomic imprinting of the Prader-Willi/Angelman domain in mice.

In mice and humans, the locus encoding the gene for small nuclear ribonucleoprotein N (SNRPN/Snrpn), as well as other loci in the region are subject to genomic imprinting. The SNRPN promoter is embedded in a maternally methylated CpG island, is expressed only from the paternal chromosome and lies within an imprinting center that is required for switching to and/or maintenance of the paternal epigenotype. We show here that a 0.9-kb deletion of exon 1 of mouse Snrpn did not disrupt imprinting or elicit any obvious phenotype, although it did allow the detection of previously unknown upstream exons. In contrast, a larger, overlapping 4.8-kb deletion caused a partial or mosaic imprinting defect and perinatal lethality when paternally inherited.

Angelman Syndrome↗
PubMed2001

A study of apolipoproteins E and A-I in cutaneous amyloids.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is present in a variety of biochemically different amyloid deposits, including Alzheimer's disease, systemic amyloidosis and primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA). Among the three closely related alleleic forms of apoE, the epsilon4 allele is linked to Alzheimer's disease. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), another apolipoprotein, is also found in senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease and in amyloid of aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Furthermore, apoA-I has recently been found to be associated with hereditary cutaneous and cardiac amyloidosis. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the apoE epsilon4 allele is associated with increased risk of PCA and whether apoE and apoA-I are present in PCA and common secondary cutaneous amyloidosis (SCA) (i.e. basal cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and seborrhoeic keratosis). METHODS: We examined the apoE genotype in 57 Chinese patients with PCA and 58 normal healthy control subjects of similar age. In addition, immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the localization of apoE and apoA-I in skin tissues from 15 patients with SCA and 15 with PCA. RESULTS: The frequency of the epsilon4 allele in the PCA group was not significantly higher than that in the control group (8.8% vs. 6.9%, P > 0.05). ApoE was present in amyloid deposits in both PCA and SCA, but apoA-I was not detected in these cutaneous amyloid deposits. CONCLUSIONS: ApoE is also a component of amyloid deposits in SCA. Although the genetic susceptibility of certain apoE isoforms may not be a crucial factor in the development of PCA and, although apoA-I is not associated with amyloid deposits of PCA and SCA, the role of apolipoproteins in amyloidogenesis deserves further scrutiny.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Chromosomal changes and clonality relationship between primary and recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly malignant and prone to recur after surgical treatment. Differentiation between a true relapse of HCC and a second primary tumor is of clinical importance. However, no convenient method is currently available. METHODS: Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to analyze 31 pairs of initial and recurrent HCC samples obtained from patients undergoing 2 consecutive surgeries. The resulting chromosomal aberration profiles were used as genomic fingerprints to determine tumor clonalities and their relationships. RESULTS: Eleven recurrent tumors with high clonal relationship (CR) values (>0.95) were found to be relapsed HCCs, and 11 tumors with CR values close to 0 were found to be second primary HCCs. The other 9 paired samples had inconclusive CR values between 0.95 and 0.4. Two were confirmed by hepatitis B virus integration and X chromosome inactivation analysis to be de novo cancers (CR values, 0.35 and 0. 23, respectively). Initial HCCs that subsequently relapsed accumulated more chromosomal aberration events than those that developed de novo HCC (mean, 16.1 +/- 4.5 vs. 5.4 +/- 4.8 events; P < 0.01). Also, they more frequently showed gains on chromosome arms 3q, 6p, 8q, and 17q and losses on 4q and 16p. CONCLUSIONS: CGH is useful for chromosomal aberration study and tumor clonality analysis. More and characteristic genomic changes in the initial HCC suggest that subsequent tumor recurrence is a true relapse.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of cartap on isolated mouse phrenic nerve diaphragm and its related mechanism.

Cartap, a nereistoxin analogue pesticide, is reported to have no irritation to eyes in rabbits. However, we have demonstrated recently that cartap could actually cause acute death in rabbits via ocular exposure. Our preliminary study with isolated mouse phrenic nerve diaphragms has shown that instead of neuromuscular blockade, cartap caused muscular contracture. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of cartap on the neuromuscular junction in more detail and to investigate its possible underlying mechanism with isolated mouse phrenic nerve diaphragms and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles. Cartap or nereistoxin at various concentrations was added in the organ bath with isolated mouse phrenic nerve diaphragm and both nerve- and muscle-evoked twitches were recorded. Instead of blocking the neuromuscular transmission as nereistoxin did, cartap caused contracture in stimulated or quiescent isolated mouse phrenic nerve diaphragm. Both the cartap-induced muscular contracture force and the time interval to initiate the contracture were dose-dependent. The contracture induced by cartap was not affected by the pretreatment of the diaphragm with the acetylcholine receptor blocker alpha-bungarotoxin; the Na(+) channel blocker tetrodotoxin; or various Ca(2+) channel blockers, NiCl(2), verapamil, and nifedipine. On the contrary, the contracture was significantly inhibited when the diaphragm was pretreated with ryanodine or EGTA containing Ca(2+)-free Krebs solution or in combination. This suggested that both internal and extracellular Ca(2+) might participate in cartap-induced skeletal muscle contracture. Moreover, cartap inhibited the [(3)H]-ryanodine binding to the Ca(2+) release channel of SR in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, cartap could induce a significant reduction in Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of SR vesicles at a relatively high dose. The results suggested that cartap might cause the influx of extracellular Ca(2+) and the release of internal Ca(2+), with subsequent induction of muscular contracture in the isolated mouse phrenic nerve diaphragm. Based on these findings, we propose that the acute death of rabbits following ocular exposure to cartap might have resulted from respiratory failure secondary to diaphragm contracture.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Impact of human genome research on medicine--the initial Taiwan experience.

The human genome contains at least 80,000 genes, and each carries out its unique biologic function in the human body. Gene mutation and variation may result in hereditary disease, cancer, hypertension, and even susceptibility to infectious diseases. A complete compilation of all human genes (the human genome) should allow a better understanding of the role of specific genes in diseases and, consequently, better design of effective treatments. The human genome project (HGP) is scheduled to be completed in 2003. This article reviews the novel technology used in the HGP and the new information that will be generated. The results will influence medical practice greatly. Indeed, as in the forthcoming era of genomic medicine, a battery of gene tests is likely to be as routine as blood chemistry tests are today. The impacts are to be felt soon and medical professionals should be ready to grasp and apply new knowledge as it becomes available to better serve their patients. We also describe how the findings from the HGP might be used to solve locally important medical problems, using the examples of genomic research in liver and nasopharyngeal cancers. Finally, because the HGP has raised many new ethical, legal, and social challenges that should often take precedence over the problems of technology, an overview of these issues is also provided.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed1999

An epidemic of enterovirus 71 infection in Taiwan. Taiwan Enterovirus Epidemic Working Group.

BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses can cause outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (characterized by vesicular lesions on the hands, feet, and oral mucosa) or herpangina, usually without life-threatening manifestations. In 1998 an epidemic of enterovirus 71 infection caused hand-foot-and-mouth disease and herpangina in thousands of people in Taiwan, some of whom died. METHODS: We assessed the epidemiologic aspects of this outbreak. Cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina in ambulatory patients were reported to the Taiwan Department of Health by a mean of 818 sentinel physicians. Severe cases in hospitalized patients were reported by 40 medical centers and regional hospitals. Viruses were isolated by 10 hospital laboratories and the department of health. RESULTS: The sentinel physicians reported 129,106 cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina in two waves of the epidemic, which probably represents less than 10 percent of the estimated total number of cases. There were 405 patients with severe disease, most of whom were five years old or younger; severe disease was seen in all regions of the island. Complications included encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, pulmonary edema or hemorrhage, acute flaccid paralysis, and myocarditis. Seventy-eight patients died, 71 of whom (91 percent) were five years of age or younger. Of the patients who died, 65 (83 percent) had pulmonary edema or pulmonary hemorrhage. Among patients from whom a virus was isolated, enterovirus 71 was present in 48.7 percent of outpatients with uncomplicated hand-foot-and-mouth disease or herpangina, 75 percent of hospitalized patients who survived, and 92 percent of patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: Although several enteroviruses were circulating in Taiwan during the 1998 epidemic, enterovirus 71 infection was associated with most of the serious clinical manifestations and with nearly all the deaths. Most of those who died were young, and the majority died of pulmonary edema and pulmonary hemorrhage.

Child, Preschool↗