26
|
Chen TW, Tsai CH, Chou SJ, Yu CY, Shih ML, Yu JC, Hsieh CB. Intrapericardial isolation of the inferior vena cava through a transdiaphragmatic pericardial window for tumor resection without sternotomy or thoracotomy. Eur J Surg Oncol 2007; 33:239-42. [PMID: 17174512 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2006.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2006] [Accepted: 11/09/2006] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS The prognosis for patients with advanced tumors invading the inferior vena cava (IVC) is dismal and surgical treatments for these tumors are challenging. A surgical approach that avoids sternotomy and thoracotomy for tumors invading the IVC even to the level of the hepatocaval junction would be extremely helpful. METHODS The intrapericardial IVC was isolated via a transdiaphragmatic pericardial window using a transabdominal approach. Hepatectomy was then applied via an anterior approach until the IVC was seen. Total hepatic vascular exclusion was achieved by clamping the portal triad, intrapericardial IVC and infrahepatic IVC. We removed the primary tumor, the liver portion involved and the tumor thrombi, with segmental resection of the IVC. Vascular continuity was reestablished using a 20-mm-diameter polytetrafluoroethylene graft. RESULTS Four patients with tumors invading the IVC were treated with this method. All underwent gross en-bloc tumor resections and all survived. CONCLUSION This method for the resection of IVC tumors could avoid emboli dislodging from the tumor thrombi, prevent the complications of sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass and shorten operative times.
Collapse
|
27
|
Peng CT, Wu KH, Lan SJ, Tsai JJP, Tsai FJ, Tsai CH. Amino acid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. Eur J Cancer 2005; 41:1158-63. [PMID: 15911239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2005.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2004] [Revised: 01/27/2005] [Accepted: 02/17/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amino acid concentrations were measured in 45 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Central nervous system (CNS) disease was absent in 34 and present in 11 (Groups L and M, respectively) at diagnosis. Thirty-two otherwise healthy children with febrile convulsions were studied for comparison. Results from this study show that glutamine levels at Day 0 were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Patients in Group M had elevated glutamine levels compared to Group L. In comparison, at Day 14, concentrations of glutamine and asparagine decreased, while glutamic acid amounts increased significantly in Group L. Glutamine levels fell at Day 42 in Group M, which may have resulted from more intensive treatment. From this study we hypothesise that higher baseline glutamine levels are indicative of a greater risk for CNS leukemia. Large-scale prospective trials are required to confirm increased baseline CSF glutamine levels in ALL patients, to identify glutamine as a marker for CNS disease and to clarify underlying mechanisms regulating glutamine in ALL.
Collapse
|
28
|
Christie PE, Jonas M, Tsai CH, Chi EY, Henderson WR. Increase in laminin expression in allergic airway remodelling and decrease by dexamethasone. Eur Respir J 2005; 24:107-15. [PMID: 15293612 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.04.00013303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Lung expression of the extracellular matrix protein, laminin, and its receptor, laminin-1 receptor, were examined in a mouse model of asthma with airway remodelling. Ovalbumin (OVA) was administered to BALB/c mice, intraperitoneally on days 0 and 14, and intranasally periodically between days 14 and 75. The mice developed airway eosinophil and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis. On day 76, a marked increase in total laminin was seen in the airways of OVA-treated mice compared to controls by Western blot analysis. The increased laminin expression was detected immunocytochemically in the thickened subepithelial basement membrane and around airways and blood vessels. The OVA-treated mice showed increased expression of the alpha1, beta1, and gamma1 chains of the laminin-1 isoform in monocytes, macrophages and eosinophils infiltrating the airways. Laminin-1 receptor expression was increased in inflammatory and endothelial cells in the lungs of OVA-treated mice compared to controls. Treatment of OVA-sensitised/challenged mice with dexamethasone reduced airway expression of laminin and laminin-1 receptor in OVA-treated mice but not airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. Laminin deposition may be an important component of the airway remodelling observed in chronic allergic lung inflammation and is a process modulated by corticosteroids.
Collapse
|
29
|
Wu CI, Changlai SP, Huang WS, Tsai CH, Lee CC, Kao CH. Usefulness of 99mTc ethyl cysteinate dimer brain SPECT to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow in patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Nucl Med Commun 2005; 24:1185-8. [PMID: 14569173 DOI: 10.1097/00006231-200311000-00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
99mTc ethyl cysteinate dimer (99mTc-ECD) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Ten patients with acute CO poisoning and no past histories of psychoneurological disorders were enrolled in this study. After oxygen treatment, all of the 10 patients were investigated using 99mTc-ECD brain SPECT and brain computed tomography (CT) scan. Brain CT scan findings were normal in all of the 10 patients. 99mTc-ECD brain SPECT showed the hypoperfusion lesions of the basal ganglia and brain cortex in five and seven patients, respectively. Only three of the 10 patients had normal 99mTc-ECD brain SPECT findings. This study suggests that, in comparison with brain CT scan, 99mTc-ECD brain SPECT is a better tool for the early detection of hypoperfusion brain lesions in acute CO poisoning in patients with normal brain CT findings.
Collapse
|
30
|
Lin HC, Tsai FJ, Tsai CH, Hsieh YY, Hsu CM. Cytokine polymorphisms and chronic lung disease in small preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2005; 90:F93-4. [PMID: 15613592 PMCID: PMC1721810 DOI: 10.1136/adc.2004.061713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
31
|
Lo SF, Huang CM, Tsai CH, Chen ML, Tsai FJ. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism in Taiwanese patients with gout. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2005; 23:85-8. [PMID: 15789892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine whether interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene polymorphism is a marker of susceptibility to or of the clinical characteristics of gout in Taiwanese patients. METHODS 196 Taiwanese patients with gout and 103 unrelated normal healthy control subjects living in central Taiwan were studied. Polymorphism of the gene for IL-1Ra was typed from genomic DNA. Allelic frequencies and carriage rates were compared between gout patients and control subjects. The relationship between IL-1Ra genotypes and the clinical characteristics of gout was also evaluated. RESULTS No significant differences were observed in genetic and allelic frequencies of the IL-1Ra gene polymorphism between patients with gout and healthy control subjects. Furthermore, we did not detect any association of IL-1Ra genotype with the clinical and laboratory profiles in patients with gout. CONCLUSION The results from the present study suggest that the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism is not a genetic marker of susceptibility to gout for Taiwanese. Furthermore, our study also suggests that the IL-1Ra gene polymorphism is unrelated to the clinical characteristics of gout.
Collapse
|
32
|
Tsai CH, Chang FC, Su YC, Tsai FJ, Lu MK, Lee CC, Kuo CC, Yang YW, Lu CS. Two novel mutations of the glycine receptor gene in a Taiwanese hyperekplexia family. Neurology 2004; 63:893-6. [PMID: 15365143 DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000138566.65519.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The authors report a Taiwanese family with autosomal recessive hyperekplexia. Two novel mutations, W96C (from the paternal allele) and R344X (from the maternal allele), which are located in exon 4 and exon 7 of the GLRA1 gene, were identified in this family. A series of electrophysiologic investigations were conducted in one of the probands, and the results suggest that the "startle center" is located subcortically.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Acoustic Stimulation
- Adult
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Brain/physiopathology
- DNA Mutational Analysis
- Electromyography
- Evoked Potentials, Motor
- Female
- Genes, Recessive
- Humans
- Magnetics
- Mutation, Missense
- Pedigree
- Physical Stimulation
- Point Mutation
- Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
- Receptors, Glycine/genetics
- Reflex, Abnormal/genetics
- Reflex, Startle/genetics
- Reflex, Startle/physiology
- Reflex, Stretch/genetics
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Taiwan/epidemiology
Collapse
|
33
|
Liu FY, Shiau YC, Kao A, Hsu WH, Wang JJ, Tsai CH. Comparison of quantitative 99mTc-HMPAO and 67Ga citrate lung scans in patients with active diffuse infiltrative lung disease. Nucl Med Commun 2004; 24:1243-6. [PMID: 14627851 DOI: 10.1097/00006231-200312000-00007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Diffuse infiltrative lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of disorders that predominantly affect the lung parenchyma and spare the airway. To objectively assess the degree of pulmonary vascular endothelium damage in active ILD, lung/liver uptake ratios (L/L ratios) on 99mTc hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) lung scans were determined in 21 patients with active ILD. Meanwhile, the 67Ga citrate uptake index (GUI) on 67Ga lung scans was measured in order to evaluate the severity of lung inflammation in active ILD. The results show there were statistically significant differences between normal controls and patients with active ILD, as shown in the L/L ratio and GUI. However, when the patients were divided into two groups: (1) eight patients with normal chest X-ray findings, and (2) 13 patients with abnormal X-ray findings, there was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 for the results of L/L ratio and GUI. In addition, no correlation between the degree of damage to the pulmonary vascular endothelium and the severity of lung inflammation was found. In conclusion, L/L ratios on 99mTc-HMPAO lung scans and GUI on 67Ga lung scans are different to the findings of chest X-rays and have the potential to objectively detect the degree of damage to the pulmonary vascular endothelium and the severity of lung inflammation in active IDL. However, the relationship between L/L ratio and GUI in active ILD is not significant.
Collapse
|
34
|
Tsai YY, Tsai YY, Cheng YW, Lee H, Tseng SH, Tsai CH, Tsai FJ. No association of p53 codon 72 and p21 codon 31 polymorphisms in Taiwan Chinese patients with pterygium. Br J Ophthalmol 2004; 88:975-6. [PMID: 15205257 PMCID: PMC1772236 DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2003.040428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
35
|
Chou IC, Tsai CH, Hsieh YY, Peng CT, Tsai FJ. Association between polymorphism of interleukin-1beta-511 promoter and susceptibility to febrile convulsions in Taiwanese children. ACTA PAEDIATRICA (OSLO, NORWAY : 1992) 2004; 92:1356. [PMID: 14696863 DOI: 10.1080/08035250310006133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2022]
|
36
|
Huang CM, Chen CL, Tsai JJP, Tsai CH, Tsai FJ. Association between urokinase gene 3'-UTR T/C polymorphism and Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2004; 22:219-22. [PMID: 15083890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism is a marker of susceptibility to or severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese patients. METHODS A total of 145 RA patients and 134 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. We identified the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene, which is mapped on the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) on chromosome 10 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS There were significant differences in the distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism frequency between RA patients and subjects in the control group. However, we did not detect an, association between the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism and rheumatoid factor (RF), extraarticular involvement or bone erosion in RA patients. CONCLUSION The urokinase gene 3'-UTR "T" allele was associated with RA in Chinese patients in Taiwan.
Collapse
|
37
|
Chen AC, Tsai FJ, Tsai CH, Lin CC, Lee CC, Kao CH. Simultaneously evaluating the effects of one-week fluticasone propionate inhalation therapy on lung ventilation and permeability in children with asthma. Lung 2004; 181:283-9. [PMID: 14705772 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-003-1032-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of fluticasone propionate inhalation therapy on lung ventilation and alveolar permeability by quantitative Tc-99m DTPA radioaerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy in 15 children with asthma. Lung ventilation was evaluated as the distribution percentage (D%) of Tc-99m DTPA radioaerosols in the central, intermediate and peripheral regions of the right lung. Alveolar permeability was measured by the rate of Tc-99m DTPA radioaerosol clearance curve from the peripheral alveoli of the right lung and represented as slope. The D% and slopes were calculated before and after one-week inhalation therapy (100 microg fluticasone propionate two times daily for one-week) to evaluate the effects of inhalation therapy on lung ventilation and alveolar permeability. The preliminary results revealed statistically significantly improved lung ventilation but no significant change of alveolar permeability in the right lung after one-week fluticasone propionate inhalation therapy in children with asthma. We suggest that the widely available and noninvasive Tc-99m DTPA radioaerosol inhalation lung scintigraphy can simultaneously evaluate lung ventilation and alveolar permeability in one study and should contribute to any disorder involving both alveoli and airways.
Collapse
|
38
|
Wu KH, Chang JS, Tsai CH, Peng CT. Combined therapy with deferiprone and desferrioxamine successfully regresses severe heart failure in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Ann Hematol 2003; 83:471-3. [PMID: 14658011 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-003-0820-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2003] [Accepted: 10/22/2003] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac complications caused by iron deposition are major causes of death in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Deferiprone (L1) was found to have greater efficacy at depleting myocardial iron than desferrioxamine (DFX). Furthermore, combined therapy with L1 and DFX produced an additive or synergistic iron chelating effect. We report the successful treatment of severe heart failure in two patients with beta-thalassemia major with the combined therapy. Magnetic resonance images showed a marked recovery of signal intensity in the heart, indicating a significant reduction of iron load in the heart. No significant adverse effects were noted. Therefore, combined therapy with L1 and DFX should be considered in patients with beta-thalassemia major and cardiac complications.
Collapse
|
39
|
Tsai PC, Chang FC, Tsai CH, Jang FR, Shen AN, Huang YT, Lai SC, Yeh TH, Lu MK, Lu CS. Focal hand myoclonus caused by a small hematoma underneath the cerebral motor cortex. Eur Neurol 2003; 50:114-7. [PMID: 12944720 DOI: 10.1159/000072512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
40
|
Huang YJ, Tsai CH, Liaw BJ. In situ XANES study of electrokinetic remediation of cadmium-contaminated soils. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2003; 71:682-688. [PMID: 14672119 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-003-0187-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
|
41
|
Huang WS, Chiu PY, Kao A, Tsai CH, Lee CC. Detecting abnormal regional cerebral blood flow in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome by technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer single photon emission computed tomography of the brain--a preliminary report. Rheumatol Int 2003; 23:174-7. [PMID: 12856142 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-002-0272-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2002] [Accepted: 09/26/2002] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 32 female patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) showing definite neuropsychiatric symptoms/signs and normal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. It demonstrated hypoperfusion brain lesions in 18 (56.3%) of the patients, most frequently in the parietal lobes, and appears to be a sensitive tool for this clinical application.
Collapse
|
42
|
Tsai CH, Graw SL, McGavran L. 8p23 duplication reconsidered: is it a true euchromatic variant with no clinical manifestation? J Med Genet 2002; 39:769-74. [PMID: 12362038 PMCID: PMC1734989 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.39.10.769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
|
43
|
Wu KH, Chang JG, Lin M, Shih MC, Lin HC, Lee CC, Peng CT, Tsai CH. Hydrops foetalis caused by anti-Mur in first pregnancy--a case report. Transfus Med 2002; 12:325-7. [PMID: 12383339 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3148.2002.00394.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Anti-'Mia' is the most common alloantibody of potential clinical significance in the Taiwanese population. The Mi.III phenotype is rare among Caucasians but has a high incidence in various Oriental populations. We describe a nulliparous woman with no history of transfusions, who had hydrops foetalis at 28 weeks gestation. Foetal haemoglobin was 4.4 g dL-1, and a positive direct antiglobulin test was positive in the foetal blood. Intrauterine intravascular transfusion was given, and the baby was discharged healthy. Anti-'Mia' was identified in the maternal serum, the cord blood serum and the eluate from red cells of the cord blood. Anti-'Mia' in the maternal serum was confirmed to be anti-Mur. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method confirmed that both the baby and her father had the Mi.III gene. Therefore, our report documents that anti-Mur has the potential to cause hydrops foetalis.
Collapse
|
44
|
Huang WS, Chiu PY, Tsai CH, Kao A, Lee CC. Objective evidence of abnormal regional cerebral blood flow in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus on Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT. Rheumatol Int 2002; 22:178-81. [PMID: 12215861 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-002-0224-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2002] [Accepted: 06/09/2002] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was used to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 78 SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations. These patients were separated into two subgroups: group 1 including 48 cases with definite neuropsychiatric symptoms/signs and group 2 with 30 cases having no neuropsychiatric symptoms/signs. Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT demonstrated hypoperfusion brain lesions in 90% and 20% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In both groups, parietal lobe and cerebellum are the most and least common areas with hypoperfusion lesions, respectively. This study suggests that Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT may provide objective information for detection of hypoperfusion brain lesions in SLE patients.
Collapse
|
45
|
Tsai CH, Lo SK, See LC, Chen HZ, Chen RS, Weng YH, Chang FC, Lu CS. Environmental risk factors of young onset Parkinson's disease: a case-control study. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2002; 104:328-33. [PMID: 12140099 DOI: 10.1016/s0303-8467(02)00027-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
While the cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unknown, recent evidence suggests certain environmental factors, such as well water drinking, herbicides and pesticides exposure, and neurotoxins, may trigger the chain of oxidative reactions culminating in the death of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra to cause parkinsonism. Most studies to date focused on PD with old age onset. However, there is a peculiar group of parkinsonian patients, the young onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD), in whom the age of onset is before 40. It is intriguing to know whether earlier exposure to the putative neurotoxin(s) may contribute to the earlier onset. We therefore conducted this case-control study in which 60 PD patients, 30 YOPD patients and the same number of age- and sex-matched young controls were included. Using logistic regression, we found well water drinking and head injury were risk factors for the development of YOPD. When YOPD patients were compared with PD, we found head injury and exercise were the significant predictors. Keeping all other variables constant, head injury was a risk factor and exercise appeared to be a protective factor. We conclude early exposure to well water drinking and head trauma may trigger and expedite the appearance of parkinsonian features, but such acceleration may be prevented through regular exercise.
Collapse
|
46
|
Yeh HI, Lai YJ, Lee SH, Lee YN, Ko YS, Chen SA, Severs NJ, Tsai CH. Heterogeneity of myocardial sleeve morphology and gap junctions in canine superior vena cava. Circulation 2001; 104:3152-7. [PMID: 11748116 DOI: 10.1161/hc5001.100836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The myocardial sleeve of the superior vena cava (SVC) has been identified as a potential initiating focus in atrial fibrillation, but information on cell-to-cell linkage at this site is lacking. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined the SVC in 8 dogs by immunoconfocal and electron microscopy. Cardiomyocytes outlined with vinculin and bearing striations positive for alpha-actinin are found in the proximal segment of the SVC. These cells, grouped in bundles of various orientations according to location, extend cephalically as far as 3 cm from the right atrium (RA)-SVC junction. Comparison between the junctional level and the level 2 cm distal shows that the myocardial layer in the latter is thinner and not as compact and is composed of longer cells (87.3+/-15.7 versus 71.6+/-14.4 micrometer, P<0.01). Gap junctions made of connexin43 (Cx43), Cx40, and Cx45 are aggregated mainly at the intercalated disks, and colocalization of connexins is a common feature throughout the myocardial sleeve. Areas of atypical expression exist, however, characterized by a center of abundant Cx43 labels surrounded by a periphery of scattered tiny Cx40-labeled spots. Although in the ventral subluminal compact myocardial layer, individual cells at both levels are surrounded by similar numbers of cells, the number of aggregation of labeled gap junctions at the distal level is less (2.3+/-0.6 versus 3.7+/-0.9, P<0.01). In addition, electron-microscopic examination demonstrates that the gap junctions at the distal level are smaller in size (0.37+/-0.30 versus 0.55+/-0.34 micrometer, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS The myocardial sleeve in the canine SVC is a heterogeneous structure, which could potentially form a substrate for heterogeneity of electrical coupling.
Collapse
|
47
|
Chen HY, Chen WC, Hsu CD, Tsai FJ, Tsai CH, Li CW. Relation of BsmI vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism to bone mineral density and occurrence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Chinese women in Taiwan. Osteoporos Int 2001; 12:1036-41. [PMID: 11846330 DOI: 10.1007/s001980170014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a common disorder with a strong genetic component. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation of the vitamin D receptor gene intron 8 BsmI polymorphism with bone mineral density (BMD) and their relationship to osteoporosis. We determined the vitamin D receptor gene intron 8 BsmI polymorphfsm using polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis in 171 postmenopausal Chinese women in Taiwan. The polymorphism was detected using the restriction enzyme BsmI, where the B allele indicated absence of the cuttable site and the b allele its presence. BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The allelic frequencies for postmenopausal Chinese women in Taiwan were 12.3% for B and 87.7% for b in BsmI restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The prevalence of each genotype in the study population was: 6.4% BB, 11.7% Bb and 81.9% bb. The three genotypic groups differed significantly in BMD at the lumbar spine and the femoral neck. These differences corresponded to significant gene-dose effects at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (p<0.001 for both sites). The relative risk for the development of osteoporosis was about 2-3 times as great as that predicted by the differences between genotypes in BMD, and remained significant even after adjustment for age, height and weight. The vitamin D receptor gene intron 8 BsmI polymorphism is associated with reduced BMD and predisposes women to osteoporosis.
Collapse
|
48
|
Lu CC, Bates E, Hung D, Tzeng O, Hsu J, Tsai CH, Roe K. Syntactic priming of nouns and verbs in Chinese. LANGUAGE AND SPEECH 2001; 44:437-471. [PMID: 12162694 DOI: 10.1177/00238309010440040201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Syntactic priming of Chinese nouns and verbs was investigated in word recognition (cued shadowing of auditory targets) and production (picture naming). Disyllabic compound words were presented after syntactically congruent, incongruent, or neutral auditory contexts, with a zero delay between offset of the context and onset of the target. Significant priming was observed in both tasks, including facilitation as well as inhibition. Post hoc analyses showed that reaction times were also affected by sublexical variables that are especially relevant for Chinese, including syllable density (number of word types and tokens in the language with the same first or second syllable) and semantic transparency (whether the meaning of the whole word is predictable from the separate meanings of the two syllables within the compound). These patterns suggest competitive effects at the sublexical level. Implications for interactive models of lexical access are discussed.
Collapse
|
49
|
Lin WD, Wu JY, Hsu HB, Tsai FJ, Lee CC, Tsai CH. Mutation analysis of a family with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia associated with hepatic arteriovenous malformation. J Formos Med Assoc 2001; 100:817-9. [PMID: 11802521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multisystemic vascular dysplasia. Two related genes, endoglin and activin receptor-like kinase (ALK-1), have been mapped to chromosomes 9q34 and 12q13, respectively. We describe a Taiwanese HHT family with hepatic arteriovenous malformation. Clinical and molecular evaluations were performed in eight members of this family, and HHT symptoms were found in three adults. Short tandem repeat markers were used to perform linkage analysis, and this family was classified as HHT type 2 (ALK-1 gene). The exons of ALK-1 were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct DNA sequencing. The mutation causing the disease was located at ALK-1 codon 411, causing an arginine to glutamine substitution. Five members of this family carried the mutated ALK-1 gene. This investigation successfully used linkage and sequencing techniques to perform molecular diagnosis of HHT.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Activin Receptors, Type I/genetics
- Activin Receptors, Type II
- Aged
- Amino Acid Substitution
- Antigens, CD
- Arteriovenous Malformations/complications
- Arteriovenous Malformations/genetics
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9
- Endoglin
- Hepatic Artery/abnormalities
- Hepatic Veins/abnormalities
- Humans
- Male
- Mutation, Missense
- Pedigree
- Receptors, Cell Surface
- Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/complications
- Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/genetics
- Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/genetics
Collapse
|
50
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND A recent study shows that a C1019T polymorphism of the gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin37 contributes to the genesis of atherosclerotic plaques in human carotid artery. However, whether such a polymorphism can be used as a prognostic marker in atherosclerotic disease of other arterial sites, such as coronary artery disease, is not known. METHODS We analyzed the allelic status in 177 subjects with coronary artery disease (age, 61+/-11 years; male/female, 120/57) and 102 controls (60+/-11 years; male/female, 70/32). Both groups were matched, before genotype analysis, for a variety of other traditional risk factors, including body mass index, smoking status, levels of blood pressure, sugar, creatinine, and lipid profiles, in addition to age and sex. RESULTS The T allele was less frequently seen in the control group, compared to the disease group (10.7 vs. 20.1%, TT+TC vs. CC, P<0.01). Subsequent analysis demonstrated that a significant difference existed in the male (9.2 vs. 22.8%, TT+TC vs. CC, P<0.005), but not in the female. Another finding was that the T allele frequency in all participants was less than 15%, markedly lower than that reported in non-Taiwanese. CONCLUSIONS The observation indicates that the polymorphism in the connexin37 gene potentially plays a role in the manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis in Taiwan.
Collapse
|