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Biomedical subjects

T Y Chou

Publications and source records attributed to T Y Chou.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine and cancer: messages from the glycosylation of c-Myc.

Altered protein glycosylation is known to correlate with tumorigenesis, but its role remains enigmatic. Cells transformed by altered oncogene or tumor suppressor gene expression often also show changes of carbohydrate on cell surface glycoconjugates which correlate with the potential for tumor invasion and metastasis. In recent years, many oncogene and tumor suppressor gene products, such as c-Myc, SV40 large T antigen, and p53, were shown to be modified by O-GlcNAc. O-GlcNAc is a form of protein glycosylation found almost exclusively in the nucleus and cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The known O-GlcNAc-bearing proteins are phosphoproteins and form reversible multimeric complexes. O-GlcNAc modification is dynamic and appears to have a reciprocal relationship with protein phosphorylation. The enzymes which catalyze O-GlcNAc addition and removal have been characterized and used as effective tools in O-GlcNAc studies. It is of great interest in the future to investigate the alteration of O-GlcNAc in different cancers since addition/removal of O-GlcNAc on oncoproteins, tumor suppressor proteins, and other tumor-related proteins very likely plays a key role in the pathogenesis of tumors.

Acetylglucosamine↗

Hepatocellular carcinoma with Pancoast's syndrome as an initial symptom: a case report.

Pancoast's syndrome refers to a condition consisting of Horner's syndrome and arm pain that is most commonly found in patients with a lung tumor of the superior sulcus invading the upper ribs or spine, lower brachial plexus and sympathetic chain. We report a 76-year-old female who had a thoracic inlet mass that presented as Pancoast's syndrome, showing profound pain, numbness and weakness of the left upper limb. Further evaluation revealed an increased level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (24278 ng/ml), cryptogenic liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma with protruding T3 vertebra metastasis that resulted in Pancoast's syndrome. To our knowledge, it is a rare case and only one case has been reported previously.

Aged↗

Hemodynamic effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on cirrhotic rats.

Salvia miltiorrhiza (Sm) administration has been shown to reduce hepatic fibrosis in rats. We investigated the hemodynamic effects of Sm on bile duct ligated (BDL) rats. Hemodynamic, histological, and vascular contractile studies were conducted in rats 4 weeks after bile duct ligation. An aqueous extract of Sm (0.2 g twice per day) or vehicle was administered for 4 weeks to BDL rats. Sm treatment in BDL rats significantly reduced histological grades of fibrosis and ameliorated the portal hypertensive state (including portal venous pressure, superior mesenteric artery blood flow, cardiac index, and total peripheral resistance) as compared with vehicle treatment. Moreover, Sm treatment enhanced the vascular sensitivity of mesenteric arteries to phenylephrine in BDL rats. Sm treatment had no effect on plasma biochemical profiles of either BDL or normal rats. Our results suggest that 4-week Sm treatment ameliorates the portal hypertensive state in BDL rats.

Animals↗

Transverse testicular ectopia: preoperative diagnosis by ultrasonography.

Transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) is a rare anomaly. We report the first case of TTE described in Taiwan. The physical examination, ultrasonography (US), and laparoscopy revealed both testes in the left hemiscrotum, and surgical correction was performed. This case was diagnosed preoperatively by US, which can offer an easy, safe, and convenient alternative in the preoperative diagnosis of TTE. The possible mechanism for this anomaly and the literature are reviewed.

Cryptorchidism↗

Well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung.

We describe the case of a 43-year-old woman with a tumor shadow in the upper lobe of the left lung. The tumor was initially suspected to be a carcinoid tumor, following percutaneous needle biopsy. Subsequently, a left upper lobectomy was performed, and a well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma was diagnosed histologically. Unlike the biphasic epithelial and stromal features of pulmonary blastoma, it was composed solely of malignant glands of embryonal appearance.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pulmonary alveolar-septal amyloidosis presenting as heart failure with unilateral pleural effusion: a case report.

We report a case of pulmonary alveolar-septal amyloidosis associated with chylothorax and paraproteinemia initially presenting as congestive heart failure with unilateral pleural effusion. A 72-year-old man was initially diagnosed with congestive heart failure based on the correlation of clinical manifestation and chest radiography. Concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with mild hypokinesis of the left ventricle was found on cardiac echography. Thoracocentesis was performed for right-sided pleural effusion, which persisted despite medical treatment; chylous exudate was aspirated. Because the etiology of the exudative pleural effusion was undetermined, the patient underwent a thoracotomy that showed pulmonary alveolar-septal amyloidosis. Immunoglobulin M paraproteinemia was identified by serum immunoelectrophoresis. We conclude that it is imperative to search for the cause of an undetermined exudative pleural effusion, with particular attention to chylothorax and amyloidosis as the differential diagnoses.

Aged↗

Ultrasonography for inguinal hernias in boys.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: History taking and physical examination alone no longer meet the surgeon's need in the diagnosis of inguinal hernia. Ultrasonography (US) provides a good and safe diagnostic tool for inguinal hernias in boys. METHODS: From 1995 to 1997, 244 boys with inguinal hernias (41 bilateral and 203 unilateral), received preoperative US on both groins to confirm the diagnosis. Those with positive US findings, such as viscera or fluid in inguinal canal or widening of the internal inguinal ring, underwent surgery. RESULTS: The accuracy of diagnosis with US and clinical assessment were 97.9% and 84%, respectively. More than 95% of widening of internal inguinal rings (>4 mm) proved to be hernias. There were two direct inguinal hernias and two femoral hernias, which were misdiagnosed by clinical examination, but proved to be diagnosed correctly by US. CONCLUSIONS: US serves as a noninvasive and highly accurate diagnostic tool for inguinal hernias in boys. Using 4 mm as the upper limit of the normal diameter of the internal inguinal ring, an occult inguinal hernia can be easily detected before surgery.

Adolescent↗

Squamous metaplasia of the endometrium associated with HPV 6 and 11.

Although uncommon in the endometrium, squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, and squamous carcinoma have been observed. Associated human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is also unusual, due at least in part to the fact that HPV requires specific characteristics of the target epithelium for infectivity. We report a case of extensive squamous metaplasia with focal low-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia of the endometrium coexistent with low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and an invasive squamous carcinoma of the vagina. In situ hybridization studies revealed HPV types 6 and 11 in both the cervical and endometrial lesions. This is the first report to date to demonstrate squamous epithelial metaplasia and dysplasia of the endometrium, associated with HPV DNA of viruses typically of low oncogenic potential.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Optic atrophy and cerebral infarcts caused by methanol intoxication: MRI.

We present the MRI findings of cerebral and optic pathway damage in the acute and subacute stages of methanol intoxication. In the acute stage, CT and MRI showed bilateral haemorrhagic necrosis of the corpus striatum and infarcts in the anterior and middle cerebral arterial territories. MRI in the subacute stage demonstrated atrophy of the optic chiasm and prechiasmatic optic nerves in addition to the cerebral infarcts. The patient survived, with total blindness.

Adult↗

Rapid spongiform degeneration of the cerebrum and cerebellum in Creutzfeldt-Jakob encephalitis: serial MR findings.

We report the cerebral MR imaging findings in a patient with pathologically proved Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in whom predominant gray and white matter degeneration was seen within 1 year of symptom onset. The initial MR signal abnormalities in the basal ganglia were subtle. A follow-up MR examination revealed diffuse cerebral and cerebellar atrophy and demyelination.

Atrophy↗

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in middle ear carcinoma associated with chronic otitis media.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the middle ear (MESCC) is an uncommon tumor and is associated with a history of long-term chronic otitis media (COM) in most cases. Although the human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been implicated in many human neoplasms, its role in the pathogenesis of MESCC has not been studied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using consensus primers for the detection of HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 52b, and 58 was applied in screening fourteen cases of MESCC from archival material. Further subtyping was performed by restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products and by in situ hybridization method on tissue sections. Of the fourteen cases of MESCC, eleven were found to have HPV DNA. HPV-16 was detected in all positive cases. Five cases revealed both HPV-16 and -18. A history of long-term COM (> 3 years) was found in thirteen of the cases. This is the first report to localize HPV-16/18 in MESCC on both the tissue level and the molecular level. The high prevalence of HPV in COM-associated MESCC therefore provides a good model to explain the pathogenesis of chronic-inflammation-related human malignancies.

Adult↗

Mucosal IFN-gamma gene transfer inhibits pulmonary allergic responses in mice.

Th2 cytokines are associated with the airway inflammation and hyperreactivity in allergic asthma and are potential targets for developing novel therapies. The efficacy of a mucosal cytokine-gene transfer approach was examined in a mouse model for allergic asthma. We showed first that mucosal IFN-gamma gene transfer results in a significant expression of IFN-gamma in the pulmonary epithelium. Significantly, this approach inhibits both Ag- and Th2-cell-induced pulmonary eosinophilia and airway hyperreactivity. These findings suggest that mucosal IFN-gamma gene transfer is effective in modulating pulmonary allergic responses and provides a basis for developing a novel therapeutic approach.

Animals↗

Hypoxic-ischaemic injury of the spinal cord in systemic shock: MRI.

The imaging characteristics of concurrent spinal cord injury in children with hypoxic-ischaemic injury of the brain have not been described. We present the MRI findings of hypoxic-ischaemic injury of the brain and spinal cord following hypovolaemic shock in a 2-year-old girl.

Child, Preschool↗

Inguinal hernia in children: US versus exploratory surgery and intraoperative contralateral laparoscopy.

PURPOSE: To analyze the value of ultrasound (US) in the preoperative recognition of clinically apparent and inapparent inguinal hernias (or patent processus vaginalis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred sixty children (197 boys, 63 girls), in whom a clinical diagnosis of inguinal hernia (226 unilateral hernias, 34 bilateral hernias) had been made, underwent US examination with a 7.0-MHz linear-array transducer. The contralateral internal inguinal ring was evaluated by means of intraoperative laparoscopy in 141 patients. The 197 boys were grouped together by age (< 12 months, 12-24 months, 24-48 months, 48-72 months, and > 72 months). RESULTS: In the 260 patients who underwent inguinal herniorrhaphy, 246 hernias (95%) were correctly diagnosed at US based on criteria of an internal inguinal ring width greater than 4 mm in diameter or the presence of fluid or organs in the inguinal canal at rest or during straining. A total of 473 hernias were confirmed surgically and 459 (97%) hernias were correctly detected at US. A statistically significant difference in the mean width of the internal inguinal ring of the five age groups was found between patients at rest and during straining (P < .05) in US measurement of the 197 surgically proved cases in boys. CONCLUSION: US is a noninvasive, readily available, and highly accurate (95%) method for evaluating the presence of inguinal hernia in children at risk, especially when the clinical findings are equivocal or normal. US can provide an objective measure in determining the advisability of exploratory inguinal surgery in such cases.

Adolescent↗

Pericerebral fluid collection: differentiation of enlarged subarachnoid spaces from subdural collections with color Doppler US.

PURPOSE: To determine if the cerebral cortical vain sign seen on magnetic resonance (MR) images can be used with color Doppler ultrasound (US) to differentiate enlarged subarachnoid space from subdural collection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen infants with pericerebral fluid collection were prospectively examined with color Doppler US and MR imaging. Patients were classified into two groups: group A, with positive cortical vein sign (visualization of color-coded cortical veins that cross fluid collections at cerebral convexities); and group B, without the sign. RESULTS: Positive cortical vein sign was seen at US in 12 patients (group A): nine with benign enlargement of subarachnoid spaces, two with brain atrophy, and one with meningococcal meningitis. The veins were displaced and embedded within the echogenic pia-arachnoid that surrounds the brain or were trapped in the subarachnoid spaces between the neo-membrane and cortical surface (group B, negative cortical vein sign) in four patients with meningitis, two victims of child abuse, and one patient with leukemia. Findings from subsequent MR imaging confirmed the color Doppler US findings. CONCLUSION: Color Doppler US depiction of the cortical vain sign appears to be as effective as MR imaging in differentiating enlargement of the subarachnoid fluid space from subdural effusion.

Brain↗

MR of the cerebral operculum: abnormal opercular formation in infants and children.

PURPOSE: To evaluate abnormalities of the cerebral operculum in infants and children and to propose the embryogenic basis of abnormal opercular formation as determined from MR imaging findings. METHODS: Eighty-six infants and children who had abnormally wide interopercular distances and/or distorted opercular topography seen on MR images were studied retrospectively. Clinically, patients presented with tonal abnormalities, macrocephaly, microcephaly, seizures, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, or facial dysmorphism. The abnormal opercula were compared with developing opercula at different stages of gestation. RESULTS: Among the 86 infants and children, two categories of opercular abnormalities were identified: an underdeveloped operculum (n = 64) and a malformed operculum (n = 22). The malformed operculum was further classified into three subtypes: nonformation of the operculum with lissencephaly (n = 1, 1%), abnormal opercular formation with pachygyria (n = 11, 13%), and nonformation or abnormal formation of the operculum without pachygyria or lissencephaly (n = 10, 12%). Two subtypes of the underdeveloped operculum were identified: an open operculum without a normal insula (n = 6, 7%) and an open operculum with a normal insula (n = 58, 67%). The five subtypes of abnormal opercular configuration showed a range of maturity that was comparable to the developing operculum at different ages. CONCLUSION: Opercular anomalies appear to follow sequentially predetermined normal steps in development. Arrest in opercular development or malformation may occur after an initial insult. MR imaging is the method of choice by which to identify these abnormalities.

Adolescent↗

Childhood leukemia: central nervous system abnormalities during and after treatment.

PURPOSE: To document the radiologic abnormalities seen in the central nervous system (CNS) during and after treatment of childhood leukemia. METHODS: MR images (19 patients) and CT scans (12 patients) were reviewed retrospectively in 19 children and adolescents with neurologic complications of leukemia or its treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: the first included those with disease-related complications of leukemia, such as meningeal and parenchymal leukemia, chloroma, and cerebrovascular disorders; the second included patients with treatment-related neurotoxicity and infection caused by immunocompromised states. Pathologic confirmation of the CNS lesions was obtained in eight patients. Factors that predisposed to the development of tumor-related or treatment-related complications were determined by reviewing the medical records. RESULTS: Among the 19 patients, 10 had two or more different CNS abnormalities found on CT scans or MR images. The imaging abnormalities seen in 12 patients during treatment included sinus thrombosis (n = 3), transient gray or white matter ischemia (n = 2), presumed disseminated microinfarcts (n = 1), cerebral hemorrhage or infarct (n = 3), inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (n = 1), infections (n = 4, 2 bacterial and 2 fungal), and meningeal leukemia (n = 2). After therapy, seven patients had CNS imaging abnormalities, including secondary brain tumors (2 malignant gliomas and 1 CNS lymphoma), spinal chloroma (n = 1), necrotizing leukoencephalopathy and mineralizing microangiopathy (n = 3), cerebral mucormycosis (n = 1), spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (n = 3), and spinal meningeal leukemia (n = 1). CONCLUSION: The wide spectrum of CNS abnormalities that occur during and after treatment for leukemia is related to the inherent risk of the leukemia itself, to the treatment method, and to the duration of survival. Because many neurologic complications of leukemia are treatable, early diagnosis is essential.

Adolescent↗