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T Liaw

Publications and source records attributed to T Liaw.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Expression and regulation of a molecular marker, SPR1, in multistep bronchial carcinogenesis.

A small proline-rich protein, SPR1, is overexpressed in squamous metaplasia of bronchial epithelium. We studied the expression and regulation of SPR1 in a series of human bronchial epithelial cell lines representing a model of multistep bronchial carcinogenesis. These cell lines included a primary culture of tracheobronchial epithelial cells (HTBE), a papilloma virus-transformed tracheobronchial epithelial cell line (HBE1), a cell line selected from HBE1 by a tobacco carcinogen and a phorbol ester (HBE1-C), a simian virus-transformed bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B), and a lung carcinoma cell line (H460). Different tumorigenic potentials of these cell lines were indicated by graded levels of telomerase activity. Concomitant with squamous transformation, there was an increase in SPR1 expression in HTBE, HBE1, and HBE1-C that was reversible by vitamin A. With progression of tumorigenicity, there was a marked reduction in SPR1 expression in BEAS-2B and a total loss of expression in H460. In these latter cell lines representing advanced malignant transformation, there was a loss of up- and downregulation, respectively, by the phorbol ester and vitamin A. Transfection study with chimeric constructs of the SPR1 promoter and a reporter gene showed that the dysregulation of SPR1 expression in malignant transformation was a result of perturbation of the basal and enhancer elements of the first 162 nucleotides in the 5'-flanking promoter region of the SPR1 gene. These findings suggest an association of transcriptional dysregulation of the SPR1 gene with multistep bronchial carcinogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Depression in general practice.

Depression is the most common, serious psychological disability presenting to general practitioners. Its prevalence varies from 0.6 to 36% of GP encounters depending on the method of diagnosis. Apart from methodological differences, some of this variability relates to barriers in the diagnostic process. These include 'doctor barriers' both personal and professional, 'consultation barriers', and real or perceived 'patient barriers'. Education and training of GPs to recognise and manage depression in all its guises is only one way of overcoming these barriers. Other ways include raising community awareness through public health campaigns and raising patient and doctor awareness by screening for depression in the course of seemingly unrelated consultations in 'at risk patients'. As 95% of depression is capable of being managed in general practice, GPs will need to be more active in this field to reduce the considerable burden of morbidity and mortality attributed to this condition.

Australia↗
PubMed1996

The effect of a computer-generated patient-held medical record summary and/or a written personal health record on patients' attitudes, knowledge and behaviour concerning health promotion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a computer-generated patient-held medical record summary (CHR) and/or a written personal health record (PHR) on patients' attitudes, knowledge and behaviour concerning health promotion. METHOD: It was conducted in five general practices in Oxfordshire. Patients aged 25-65 years in each practice were randomly assigned to receive either a CHR plus PHR, CHR only, PHR only, or no personal record. Patients were recruited by mail (one practice) or opportunistically by nurses (four practices). Health checks were carried out using the randomly assigned record, which the patient retained. Attitudes to patient-held records, and pre- and post-intervention knowledge and behaviour concerning health promotion, were assessed using questionnaires. Only those who responded to 'before' and 'after' questionnaires were included in the analysis. RESULTS: A sample of 261 patients was obtained from mail recruitment and 103 from opportunistic nurse recruitment. Patients receiving a CHR as part of mail recruitment were significantly more likely to attend for a health check (P = 0.016). Those receiving both PHR and CHR were more likely to keep (P = 0.014) and use (P = 0.029) the record. Those receiving PHR as part of the package improved their knowledge of health promotion and became more aware of and more likely to change their life-style (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of a computer-generated patient-held health summary and an explanatory booklet together is greater than either separately in changing patients' knowledge attitudes and behaviour concerning health promotion.

Adult↗