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Mao YT, Lu CH, Zhou P, Yin SW, Gao HP. [Analysis of 14 cases of melanosis caused by 1, 8-dinitronaphthalene and 1, 8-diaminonaphthalene]. Zhonghua Lao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi 2023; 41:299-301. [PMID: 37248185 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20220307-00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
14 workers in the 1, 8-diaminonaphthalene workshop of a chemical company in Nantong City had symptoms or signs of varying degrees of pruritus and pigmentation of the face, neck and waist. Pathological examination of skin biopsies showed hyperkeratosis, the basal cells were liquefied and denatured. Seven workers were eventually diagnosed with occupational melanosis. To explore the causes of occupational melanosis caused by exposure to 1, 8-dinitronaphthalene and 1, 8-diaminonaphthalene, and to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of occupational melanosis in the future, this paper reported 14 cases of melanosis in the skin of workers in chemical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y T Mao
- Nantong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Disease Prevention and Control, Nantong 226000, China
| | - C H Lu
- Nantong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Disease Prevention and Control, Nantong 226000, China
| | - P Zhou
- Nantong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Disease Prevention and Control, Nantong 226000, China
| | - S W Yin
- Nantong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Disease Prevention and Control, Nantong 226000, China
| | - H P Gao
- Nantong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Labor Hygiene and Occupational Disease Prevention and Control, Nantong 226000, China
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Juang CF, Lu CH, Huang CA. Navigation of Three Cooperative Object-Transportation Robots Using a Multistage Evolutionary Fuzzy Control Approach. IEEE Trans Cybern 2022; 52:3606-3619. [PMID: 32915759 DOI: 10.1109/tcyb.2020.3015960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This article proposes a new multistage evolutionary fuzzy control configuration and navigation of three-wheeled robots cooperatively carrying an overhead object in unknown environments. Based on the divide-and-conquer technique, this article proposes a stage-by-stage evolutionary obstacle boundary following (OBF) fuzzy control of each of the three robots through multiobjective continuous ant colony optimization. In the first stage, a set of evolutionary nondominated fuzzy controllers (FCs) for a single robot (a leader robot) in the execution of the OBF behavior is learned. In the second stage, a follower robot is controlled by two evolutionary FCs in combination with a switched compensation FC so that the leader and follower robots can cooperatively transport an object while executing the OBF behavior along obstacles containing corners with right angles. In the third stage, the third robot functions as an accompanying robot and is learned to enter into a predicted triangular formation with the leader-follower robots to transport a larger object while executing the OBF behavior. In the navigation of the three object-transportation robots, a new cooperative behavior supervisor is proposed to coordinate the learned OBF behavior and a target seeking behavior. Successful navigations in simulations and experiments verify the effectiveness of the multistage evolutionary fuzzy control approach and navigation scheme.
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Yang CH, Lin YS, Ou YC, Weng WC, Huang LH, Lu CH, Hsu CY, Tung MC. Short-term stretched penile length analysis for subsequent erectile dysfunction after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy with bilateral neurovascular bundle preservation. J Sex Med 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2022.03.360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Chen CT, Su YC, Lu CH, Lien CI, Hung SF, Hsu CW, Agarwal R, Modala R, Tseng HM, Tseng PX, Fujii R, Kawashima K, Mori S. Enantioselective Radical Type, 1,2-Oxytrifluoromethylation of Olefins Catalyzed by Chiral Vanadyl Complexes: Importance of Noncovalent Interactions. ACS Catal 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c01813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Tien Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Cheng Su
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chia-Hao Lu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chien-I Lien
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shiang-Fu Hung
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chan-Wei Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Rachit Agarwal
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ramuasagar Modala
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Min Tseng
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Pin-Xuan Tseng
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ryoma Fujii
- Institute of Quantum Beam Science, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kyohei Kawashima
- Institute of Quantum Beam Science, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Seiji Mori
- Institute of Quantum Beam Science, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
- Frontier Research Center for Applied Atomic Sciences, 162-1 Shirakata, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
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Chen CT, Chen YP, Tsai BY, Liao YY, Su YC, Chen TC, Lu CH, Fujii R, Kawashima K, Mori S. Vanadyl Species Catalyzed 1,2-Oxidative Trifluoromethylation of Unactivated Olefins. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Tien Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Ya-Pei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Bang-You Tsai
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Yi-Ya Liao
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Yu-Cheng Su
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Tsung-Cheng Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Chia-Hao Lu
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan ROC
| | - Ryoma Fujii
- Institute of Quantum Beam Science, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8512, Japan
| | - Kyohei Kawashima
- Institute of Quantum Beam Science, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8512, Japan
| | - Seiji Mori
- Institute of Quantum Beam Science, Ibaraki University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Mito, Ibaraki 310-8512, Japan
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Cheng CF, Huang YM, Lu CH, Hsieh SC, Li KJ. Prednisolone dose during treatment of tuberculosis might be a risk factor for mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a hospital-based cohort study. Lupus 2019; 28:1699-1704. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203319882759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at high risk of tuberculosis (TB) because of their immunocompromised status and the use of immunosuppressive drugs. In endemic regions, TB complicates the diagnosis and treatment of SLE, but the risk factors of mortality in these patients have not been investigated. In this study, we reviewed medical records during 2006–2016. Patients who fulfilled the 1997 American College of Rheumatology SLE criteria and presented with definite TB were enrolled. The primary outcome was mortality during TB treatment. There were 5388 SLE patients screened, and 30 patients were enrolled. Seven patients died during follow-up. Compared with the survival group, patients in the mortality group had significantly more central nervous system involvement of TB, higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 scores and more cyclophosphamide use before TB, and higher prednisolone dose before and during TB treatment. Cox regression showed that prednisolone dose during TB treatment was an independent risk factor for mortality (per 10 mg/day increase, hazard ratio (HR) 1.61, p = .019). For SLE patients, prednisolone dose during TB treatment is an independent risk factor for mortality. Keeping prednisolone dose at less than 25 mg per day during TB treatment might be a reasonable strategy in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C F Cheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin County, Taiwan
| | - Y M Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Yun-Lin County, Taiwan
| | - C H Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - S C Hsieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - K J Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Guo ZR, Li F, Tu HX, Gao GZ, Cui XL, Zhang B, Lu CH, Zhang P. [Initiation, development, and achievements of burn rehabilitation therapy in China]. Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi 2019; 34:835-839. [PMID: 30585042 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Burn rehabilitation in China started from compression therapy in the mid-1970s, which showed the dual effects of prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars. It not only promoted functional rehabilitation but also strengthened the confidence of patients in rehabilitation treatment. Thereafter, more therapies were brought into practice, such as intra-scar injection of triamcinolone acetonide, application of plastic splints, hydrotherapy, exercises with equipment, skin care, local therapeutic massage, active and passive exercises, as well as external use of drugs for inhibiting scars and pigments. Since the beginning of the 21st century, rehabilitation therapies have been gradually increasing. Psychological rehabilitation, occupational therapy, external use of silicone gel, wax therapy and sound, light, electricity, and radiation therapy have been carried out. Many hospitals have established foundations and held summer camps for children. As far as the whole country is concerned, compared with the huge demand, we still face a number of problems such as shortage of working staff, limited working space, capital chain rupture, lack of multi-disciplinary cooperation, untimely treatment, and incomplete rehabilitation. Nowadays, with increasing knowledge of burn rehabilitation and number of practitioners, improvement of equipment and economic situation, the pace of rehabilitation has accelerated, and the overall implementation of burn rehabilitation therapy has shown great vitality. Patients with burn injury involving over 80% total burn surface area (TBSA) of total burn area or full-thickness burn over 60% TBSA were cured and recovered in different levels of hospitals nationwide, which not only reflects the superb level of burn treatment in China but also reflects the overall improvement of rehabilitation level of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z R Guo
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Fourth Medical Centre of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China
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Hao S, Lu CH, Lin CC, Chen HY, Li L, Wang YB, Feng MX, He Y. [The role and mechanism of 2-deoxyglucose in reversing osimertinib-acquired resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cell line]. Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2019; 42:198-205. [PMID: 30845397 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1001-0939.2019.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of 2-deoxyglucose (2-dg) in reversing osimertinib- acquired resistance of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)cell line. Methods: The NSCLC line H1975 (purchased from the American Type Culture Collection) was conducted by induction method in vitro to construct the osimertinib-resistance NSCLC cell line H1975-OR. The osimertinib-resistance of H1975-OR cell line was examined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony-formation assay, Ki67 incorporation assay and the expression of apoptosis-related protein. The glycolysis level was assayed by the lactic acid production measured in the culture medium supernatant of H1975 and H1975-OR. The expression of glycolysis key enzymes (HK2, GLUT1, P-PKM2) and apoptosis-related protein (BIM, Bcl-2) were detected by Western blot. The cells were divided into control group, 2-deoxyglucose (4 mmol/L) monotherapy group, osimertinib (3 μmol/L) monotherapy group and 2-deoxyglucose (4 mmol/L)+ osimertinib (3 μmol/L) combination therapy group, then the apoptosis rate of cells was measured by flow cytometry to evaluate the pro-apoptotic ability of drugs. Date were analyzed by Independent-Samples t-test using SPSS 16.0 statistical software. Results: The glycolysis level of osimertinib-sensitive cell line H1975 was lower than that of osimertinib-resistance cell line H1975-OR [the yield of lactic acid, respectively, was (21.0±0.9) and (26.5±2.8) mmol·L(-1)·10(4)cells(-1), P<0.05]. The osimertinib- acquired resistance of H1975-OR could be reversed by 4 mmol/L 2-deoxyglucose(the IC(50) value of osimertinib in H1975-OR cell line decreased from (7.0±1.9) μmol/L to (1.4±0.1) μmol/L, which was close to the IC(50) value of osimertinib in H1975 cell line (1.0±0.2) μmol/L. The apoptosis rate of H1975-OR was significantly higher in 2-deoxyglucose + osimertinib combination therapy group (26.7±2.4)%, compared to control group (5.1±0.7)%, 2-deoxyglucose monotherapy group (6.1±2.5)% and osimertinib monotherapy group (11.4±2.7)%(all P<0.05). The expression of pro-apoptotic protein BIM in H1975-OR was significantly higher in 2-deoxyglucose+ osimertinib combination therapy group (177.8±28.1)% and the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in H1975-OR was significantly lower in 2-deoxyglucose+ osimertinib combination therapy group (24.6±5.2)%, compared to control group (100±0)%, all P<0.05. Conclusion: 2-deoxyglucose can reverse the acquired resistance of NSCLC cell line to osimertinib, which may be related to the inhibition of cell glycolysis and the induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hao
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Daping Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
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Ding MY, Hou JJ, Yuan YJ, Bai WF, Lu CH, Xi JH, Ji ZG, Chen DQ. Nd 3+/Yb 3+ cascade-sensitized single-band red upconversion emission in active-core/active-shell nanocrystals. Nanotechnology 2018; 29:345704. [PMID: 29869998 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aaca76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Lanthanide-doped upconversion nanomaterials (UCNMs) have promoted extensive interest for its biological research and biomedical applications, benefiting from low autofluorescence background, deep light penetration depth, and minimal photo-damage to biological tissues. However, owing to the 980 nm laser-induced overheating issue and the attenuation effect associated with conventional multi-peak emissions, the usage of UCNMs as fluorescent bioprobes is still limited. To address these issues, an effective strategy has been proposed to tune both the excitation and emission peaks of UCNMs into the first biological window (650 ∼ 900 nm), where the light absorption by water and hemoglobin in biological tissues is minimal. Based on the Nd3+/Yb3+ cascade-sensitized upconversion process and efficient exchange-energy transfer between Mn2+ and Er3+ in conjunction with the active-core@active-shell nanostructured design, we have developed a new class of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) that exhibit strong single-band red emission upon excitation of an 808 nm near-infrared laser. Hopefully, the well-designed KMnF3:Yb/Er/Nd@ KMnF3:Yb/Nd core-shell nanocrystals will be considered a promising alternative to conventionally used UCNPs for biolabeling applications without the concern of the overheating issue and the attenuation constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Y Ding
- College of Materials & Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Inorganic Function Composites, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Lin CC, Lu CH, Pan YH, Jiao L, Chen HY, Li L, He Y. [Effect and mechanism of silibinin on the inhibition of ALK positive NSCLC cells by sensitizing crizotinib]. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 2017; 39:650-656. [PMID: 28926892 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-3766.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To explore the synergistic effect of silibinin combined with crizotinib on anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive (ALK+ ) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and its mechanism. Methods: H2228 and H3122 cells were treated with silibinin, crizotinib alone or in combination. Cell proliferation was measured by 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and colony formation assay. Migration or invasion ability was tested by wound healing assay or transwell assay, respectively. Expressions of E-Cadherin and vimentin protein were examined by immunofluorescence staining. The protein expressions of ALK, p-ALK, E-Cadherin and Vimentin were detected by western blotting.The anti-cancer effect of silibinin combined with crizotinib in vivo was determined by subcutaneously injecting 2×10(6) H2228 cells into immunodeficient nude mice. Results: The result of MTT assay showed that the cell viability of H2228 or H3122 treated with 100 μmol/L silibinin was (88.38±4.10)% or (72.27±3.62)%, respectively, marginally decreased compared with that of the control. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of H2228 cells treated with crizotinib alone or combined with 100 μmol/L silibinin was (917.10±7.75) nmol/L or (238.73±7.67) nmol/L, respectively. The IC(50) of H3122 cells treated with crizotinib alone or combined with 100 μmol/L silibinin was (472.50±15.70) nmol/L or (206.10±12.01) nmol/L, respectively. The IC(50s) of H2228 and H3122 cells were significantly decreased by combined treatment of crizotinib and silibinin compared to crizotinib treatment alone (P<0.01). When compared with the control group, colony forming ratios of H2228 cells were (83.34±2.72)% in 100 μmol/L silibinin treatment group, (69.42±3.06)% in 400 nmol/L crizotinib treatment group and (27.32±1.42)% in combined treatment group. When compared with the control group, colony forming ratios of H3122 cells were (84.45±5.67)% in 100 μmol/L silibinin treatment group, (45.02±5.83)% in 400 nmol/L crizotinib treatment group and (17.43±3.83)% in combined treatment group. Silibinin combined with crizotinib treatment significantly inhibited the colony formation ability of H2228 and H3122 cells (P<0.01). Migration and invasion results showed that combined treatment of crizotinib and silibinin markedly inhibited the migration and invasion ability of H2228 cells (P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that treated with silibinin alone or in combination of crozitinib for 48 hours, the protein level of E-cadherin in H2228 cells was upregulated, while the expressions of p-ALK and vimentin were downregulated, without obvious alteration of ALK protein expression. In the xenograft model, the mean tumor weight was (9.40±2.58)g in crizotinib treatment group and (4.58±1.07)g in the combined treatment group. The inhibitory effect of tumor growth in vivo of combined treatment was significantly superior to that of crizotinib treatment alone (P<0.05). Conclusion: Silibinin enhances the inhibitory effect of crizotinib on ALK positive NSCLC cells, which may be associated with suppression of ALK activity and mesenchymal-epithelial transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Lin
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - C H Lu
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Y H Pan
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - L Jiao
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - H Y Chen
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - L Li
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Y He
- Department of Respiratory, Daping Hospital, the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China
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Liu DM, Li J, Wan BN, Lu Z, Wang LS, Jiang L, Lu CH, Huang J. Performance of current measurement system in poloidal field power supply for Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. Rev Sci Instrum 2016; 87:11D842. [PMID: 27910616 DOI: 10.1063/1.4963868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
As one of the core subsystems of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), the poloidal field power system supplies energy to EAST's superconducting coils. To measure the converter current in the poloidal field power system, a current measurement system has been designed. The proposed measurement system is composed of a Rogowski coil and a newly designed integrator. The results of the resistor-inductor-capacitor discharge test and the converter equal current test show that the current measurement system provides good reliability and stability, and the maximum error of the proposed system is less than 1%.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Liu
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - J Li
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - B N Wan
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Z Lu
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - L S Wang
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - L Jiang
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - C H Lu
- School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
| | - J Huang
- Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
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Jiang S, Li QS, Sheng XG, Song QQ, Lu CH, Pan CX. Schwannomas of female genitalia from a gynaecologist's perspective: report of two cases and review of the literature. EUR J GYNAECOL ONCOL 2016; 37:254-257. [PMID: 27172756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pelvic schwannomas are extremely rare. However, when located in the pelvic cavity, schwannomas are often encountered by a gynaecologist, not a general surgeon, and are misdiagnosed as gynaecologic masses. CASE REPORT Here, the authors present two cases of pelvic schwannomas that were preoperatively misdiagnosed as broad ligament fibroid. One schwannoma occurred completely in the left broad ligament and was resected by laparoscopy without any complications. The other lesion was located in the retroperitoneum and had densely adhered to the surrounding tissues; this lesion was excised by laparotomy with considerable blood loss. CONCLUSIONS Schwannomas of female genitalia are very scarce and difficulty to diagnose preoperatively. Literature review revealed 63 schwannomas arising from the female genital tract in total, 73.02% (46 cases) were located in the lower genital tract, and 26.98% (17 cases) were located in upper genital tract. The treatment modality is unique depending on the location of the tumor. Complete excision is benefical for diagnosis and treatment. The procedure can be performed safely under laparoscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Jiang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong Academy of Medical Science
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Lu CH, Chao TY, Chiu YF, Tseng SY, Hsu HC. Enhanced optical confinement and lasing characteristics of individual urchin-like ZnO microstructures prepared by oxidation of metallic Zn. Nanoscale Res Lett 2014; 9:178. [PMID: 24725330 PMCID: PMC3990232 DOI: 10.1186/1556-276x-9-178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We prepared urchin-like micron-sized ZnO cavities with high optical quality by oxidizing metallic Zn and proposed the mechanism that resulted in the growth of the urchin-like microstructures. The photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO microstructures had a predominant excitonic emission at room temperature. The lasing properties of the urchin-like ZnO microstructures were investigated systematically through excitation power- and size-dependent photoluminescence measurements. The results showed that a low lasing threshold with high quality factors could be achieved because of the high reflectivity of the optical reflectors formed by the tapered nanowires. The unique optical characteristics may facilitate the development of high-efficiency random lasers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hao Lu
- Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yang Chao
- Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Feng Chiu
- Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Shuo-Yen Tseng
- Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Advanced Optoelectronic Technology Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Cheng Hsu
- Department of Photonics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
- Advanced Optoelectronic Technology Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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Aman JE, Abosch A, Bebler M, Lu CH, Konczak J. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation improves somatosensory function in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 2013; 29:221-8. [PMID: 24243788 DOI: 10.1002/mds.25731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 10/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
An established treatment for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) is deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Mounting evidence suggests that PD is also associated with somatosensory deficits, yet the effect of STN-DBS on somatosensory processing is largely unknown. This study investigated whether STN-DBS affects somatosensory processing, specifically the processing of tactile and proprioceptive cues, by systematically examining the accuracy of haptic perception of object size. (Haptic perception refers to one's ability to extract object features such as shape and size by active touch.) Without vision, 13 PD patients with implanted STN-DBS and 13 healthy controls haptically explored the heights of 2 successively presented 3-dimensional (3D) blocks using a precision grip. Participants verbally indicated which block was taller and then used their nonprobing hand to motorically match the perceived size of the comparison block. Patients were tested during ON and OFF stimulation, following a 12-hour medication washout period. First, when compared to controls, the PD group's haptic discrimination threshold during OFF stimulation was elevated by 192% and mean hand aperture error was increased by 105%. Second, DBS lowered the haptic discrimination threshold by 26% and aperture error decreased by 20%. Third, during DBS ON, probing with the motorically more affected hand decreased haptic precision compared to probing with the less affected hand. This study offers the first evidence that STN-DBS improves haptic precision, further indicating that somatosensory function is improved by STN-DBS. We conclude that DBS-related improvements are not explained by improvements in motor function alone, but rather by enhanced somatosensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua E Aman
- Human Sensorimotor Control Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Center for Clinical Movement Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Zhang XX, Li H, Tian D, He X, Lu CH. Enhancement of thermal aging performance and oil resistance of acrylic rubber vulcanisates by adding devulcanised ground fluoroelastomer ultrafine powder as functional filler. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1179/1433075x11y.0000000035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- X X Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringPolymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - H Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringPolymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - D Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringPolymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - X He
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringPolymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - C H Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials EngineeringPolymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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Zhao GS, Li SR, Wang YY, Hao HL, Shen YM, Lu CH. 16,17-dihydroxycyclooctatin, a new diterpene from Streptomyces sp. LZ35. Drug Discov Ther 2013; 7:185-188. [PMID: 24270382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Genome sequence analysis of Streptomyces sp. LZ35 has revealed a large number of secondary metabolite pathways, including a complete gene cluster for the biosynthesis of cyclooctatin. This cluster contains four genes, cotB1-4, located in a 5-kb region. Optimization of fermentation medium for LZ35Δheng (SR107) led to the identification of cyclooctatin (1) and 16,17-dihydroxycyclooctatin (2), a new diterpene. The structures of these substances were elucidated on the basis of 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRESIMS data. Cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 and A549 cell lines was also evaluated. Results demonstrated that gene cluster and pathway analysis are key to guided isolation of new natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- G S Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
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Lu CH, Li YY, Wang HX, Wang BM, Shen YM. A new phenoxazine derivative isolated from marine sediment actinomycetes, Nocardiopsis sp. 236. Drug Discov Ther 2013; 7:101-104. [PMID: 23917857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
During screening of marine actinomycetes for anti-mycobacterial activity, a new phenoxazine derivative (1) was isolated, along with 6-phenazinediol (2), 6-methoxy-1-phenazinol (3), nocardamin (4), and 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (5), from a culture of Nocardiopsis sp. 236 collected from the west Pacific. The chemical structure of 1 was established on the basis of 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRQ-TOF MS data. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-mycobacterial activity in vitro, and only compounds 2 and 3 exhibited weak activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
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Lu CH, Li YY, Li LJ, Liang LY, Shen YM. Anti-inflammatory activities of fractions from Geranium nepalense and related polyphenols. Drug Discov Ther 2012; 6:194-197. [PMID: 23006989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Geranium nepalense Sweet is a common Chinese herbal medicine and has been used as influenza, dysentery, antiphlogistic and analgesic tonic, hemostatic, stomachic, and antidiabetic drugs. The anti-inflammatory effects of G. nepalense on tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema were studied in this work. The results showed that ethyl acetate fraction of the water extract of G. nepalense possessed significant activity at 2.5 g/kg (p < 0.01) with aspirin as a positive control (0.6 g/kg). Six polyphenolic compounds, including three flavonoids, i.e. kaempferol, kaempferol-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and quercetin-7-O-α-rhamnopyranoside, and two tannins, i.e. pyrogallol and gallic acid, and one lignin, i.e. epipinoresinol, were isolated and characterized from ethyl acetate fraction. The isolation of polyphenols provides a clue for beneficial effects of G. nepalense in the demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Ji'nan, Shandong, China
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Xue H, Lu CH, Wu XB. Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the endangered Chinese yew Taxus chinensis var. mairei (Taxaceae). Genet Mol Res 2012; 11:1296-9. [PMID: 22614358 DOI: 10.4238/2012.may.14.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
We isolated and characterized 11 microsatellite loci for the Chinese yew, Taxus chinensis var. mairei, an endangered tree species in China, by constructing a (CA)(12)-enriched library. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 10. The observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.2500 to 0.8333 and the expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.5196 to 0.8680. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected at these loci. However, four loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The null alleles were found to be present at locus Tach9 and locus Tach11 by the Micro-checker test (P < 0.001). These polymorphic loci could be employed in research of gene flow and spatial genetic patterns of T. chinensis var. mairei.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Xue
- College of Forest Resources and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
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Song HJ, Jin X, Fu M, Zhang H, Huang XJ, Lu CH, Cheng Y. Adenomyosis completely encapsulated by muscle-like cavity in the mesorectum: a case report. CLIN EXP OBSTET GYN 2012; 39:409-411. [PMID: 23157061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A case of adenomyosis, completely encapsulated and located in the mesentery between the sigmoid colon and rectum, was admitted our hospital. We have reported the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the present case.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Song
- Gynecology Department, Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Huang CR, Lu CH, Chuang YC, Tsai NW, Chang CC, Chen SF, Wang HC, Chien CC, Chang WN. Adult Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis: high incidence of underlying medical and/or postneurosurgical conditions and high mortality rate. Jpn J Infect Dis 2007; 60:397-399. [PMID: 18032844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We analyzed the clinical and laboratory characteristics, therapeutic outcome and prognostic factors of 25 cases of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture-proven Pseudomonas aeruginosa adult bacterial meningitis (ABM). Twelve P. aeruginosa strains, isolated from clinical CSF specimens, were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. The 25 cases included 17 men and 8 women, aged 17 to 86 years (median=51). Of the 25 cases of P. aeruginosa ABM, 18 were the result of postneurosurgical infection and the other 7 were spontaneous infections. The latter 7 cases had serious underlying medical conditions. The antibiotic susceptibility rates of the 12 strains were as follows: ceftriaxone 16.7% (2/12), ceftazidime 91.7% (11/12), cefepime 83.3% (10/12), imipenem 83.3% (10/12), meropenem 83.3% (10/12) and ciprofloxacin 66.7% (8/12). The therapeutic results showed an overall mortality rate of 40% (10/25). The emergence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant P. aeruginosa strains cultured from clinical CSF specimens in recent years has resulted in a therapeutic challenge in the treatment of ABM.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Lu CH, Jalbout AF, Adamowicz L, Wang Y, Yin CS. Prediction of gas chromatographic retention indices of benzene dicarboxylic diesters using novel topological indices. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2006; 77:793-8. [PMID: 17219296 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-006-1213-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2006] [Accepted: 11/16/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
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Huang CR, Lu CH, Chien CC, Lee PY, Chang WN. High incidence of gram-negative bacillary infection and high mortality in adult patients with bacterial meningitis and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2003; 22:509-11. [PMID: 12884063 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-003-0965-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C R Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan
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Chang WN, Lu CH, Wu JJ, Lei CB, Huang CR. Community-acquired spontaneous Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis in adult cirrhotic patients with and without diabetes. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2003; 22:271-3. [PMID: 12687413 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-002-0878-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W N Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Huang CR, Lu CH, Chang HW, Lee PY, Lin MW, Chang WN. Community-acquired spontaneous bacterial meningitis in adult diabetic patients: an analysis of clinical characteristics and prognostic factors. Infection 2002; 30:346-50. [PMID: 12478323 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-002-3010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We analyzed the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of community-acquired spontaneous bacterial meningitis (CASBM) in adult diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Over a period of 15 years, 47 adult diabetic patients with CASBM were identified. The clinical characteristics, laboratory data and therapeutic outcome of these 47 patients were statistically analyzed. RESULTS The 47 patients were 31 men and 16 women, aged 22 to 79 years, and they accounted for 38.5% (47/122) of our adult patients with culture-proven CASBM. The most common causative pathogen was Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 32), followed by pathogens of the streptococcal species (n = 6). Besides classic manifestations of bacterial meningitis, bacteremia and focal suppuration, especially liver abscess, were common features in this group of patients. Liver cirrhosis and/or alcoholism were the other frequent underlying conditions. 27 patients survived in the course of therapy. The prognostic factors with statistical significance were glucose ratio and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell (WBC) count. CONCLUSION This study showed the high incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among the adult patients with CASBM in Taiwan. K. pneumoniae was the most frequent causative pathogen. Bacteremia and focal suppuration, especially liver abscess, were common findings. The values of glucose ratio and CSF WBC count had a statistically significant influence on the prognosis of our patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Huang
- Dept. of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien 833, Taiwan
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Chang WN, Wu JJ, Huang CR, Tsai YC, Chien CC, Lu CH. Identification of viridans streptococcal species causing bacterial meningitis in adults in Taiwan. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2002; 21:393-6. [PMID: 12072926 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-002-0727-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In order to determine the species responsible for viridans-group streptococcal meningitis in adults in Taiwan, seven cases of culture-proven meningitis due to these organisms were studied. The cases were all identified at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung over a period of 3 years, and they accounted for 9% (7/78) of all cases of culture-proven bacterial meningitis occurring in adults during this period. Of the seven viridans streptococci isolates recovered, Streptococcus constellatus accounted for four, Streptococcus anginosus for two, and Streptococcus oralis for one. Thus, it appears that streptococci of the milleri group are the most common species causing bacterial meningitis in adults in Taiwan. The tendency for these organisms to cause invasive central nervous system infections in adults should not be overlooked when these species are recovered from cerebrospinal fluid specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- W N Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, 123 Ta Pei Road, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan
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Wang JW, Su W, Law YP, Lu CH, Chen YC, Wang JL, Chang HJ, Chen WC, Jan CR. Mechanism of bradykinin-induced Ca(2+) mobilization in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells. Horm Res Paediatr 2002; 55:265-70. [PMID: 11805429 DOI: 10.1159/000050011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of bradykinin on intracellular free Ca(2+) levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells was explored using fura-2 as a Ca(2+) dye. METHODS/RESULTS Bradykinin (0.1 nM-1 microM) increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC(50) value of 0.5 nM. The [Ca(2+)](i) signal comprised an initial peak and a fast decay which returned to baseline in 2 min. Extracellular Ca(2+) removal inhibited the peak [Ca(2+)](i )signals by 35 +/- 3%. Bradykinin (1 nM) failed to increase [Ca(2+)](i) in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+ )after cells were pretreated with thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor; 1 microM). Bradykinin (1 nM)-induced intracellular Ca(2+) release was nearly abolished by inhibiting phospholipase C with 2 microM 1-(6-((17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122). The [Ca(2+)](i )increase induced by 1 nM bradykinin in Ca(2+)- free medium was abolished by 1 nM HOE 140 (a B2 bradykinin receptor antagonist) but was not altered by 100 nM Des-Arg-HOE 140 (a B1 bradykinin receptor antagonist). Pretreatment with 1 pM pertussis toxin for 5 h in Ca(2+) medium inhibited 30 +/- 3% of 1 nM bradykinin-induced peak [Ca(2+)](i) increase. CONCLUSIONS Together, this study shows that bradykinin induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases in a concentration-dependent manner, by stimulating B2 bradykinin receptors leading to mobilization of Ca(2+) from the thapsigargin-sensitive stores in a manner dependent on inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate, and also by inducing extracellular Ca(2+) influx. The bradykinin response was partly coupled to a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Taipei, Taiwan
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Sheu GC, Wo YY, Yao SM, Chou FY, Hsu TC, Ju CL, Cheng Y, Chang SN, Lu CH. Characteristics and potency of an acellular pertussis vaccine composed of pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2001; 34:243-51. [PMID: 11825003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
In an attempt to develop a safer pertussis vaccine, we successfully purified 3 pertussis protective antigens-pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin, and a 69-kDa outer membrane protein (also named pertactin), from Bordetella pertussis strain ATCC 9340. The toxicity of pertussis toxin could be effectively reduced by the treatment with formaldehyde 0.07% while preserving of a high degree of immunogenicity. By mixing purified pertussis antigens with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DT), we have formulated a DT acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. Toxicity studies on body-weight gain in mouse, histamine sensitization, lymphocyte promoting, and Chinese hamster ovary cell clustering tests suggested that this DTaP vaccine is safer than a whole cell vaccine produced in France (DTP[F]). The formulated vaccine elicited high levels of anti-pertussis toxin antibodies in both mice and monkeys. In mice, a 2-fold neutralization of anti-pertussis toxin antibodies was produced by DTaP compared with DTP(F) vaccine and an acellular vaccine manufactured in Japan (DTaP[J]). More importantly, in intracerebral challenge assay in mouse, this vaccine also provided a better protection than DTaP(J).
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Sheu
- Vaccine Development Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Abstract
BACKGROUND We analyzed the clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of adults with meningitis caused by viridans streptococci. PATIENTS AND METHODS 12 adult patients with meningitis caused by viridans streptococci were enrolled in this study. Clinical data were collected over a period of 15 years. RESULTS Of the 12 patients, 11 patients had community-acquired meningitis, while one had nosocomially acquired meningitis. 11 contracted the spontaneous form and one contracted the postneurosurgical form. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin. The portals of entry of infection were determined in all 12 patients; five patients had otopharyngeal infections with or without their being spread hematogenously. The infections in six patients were spread hematogenously, but one of them was spread hematogenously with endocarditis. One patient became infected after a craniotomy. The patients infected by viridans streptococci had a high incidence of focal suppuration and cerebral vasculitis but no deaths occurred. CONCLUSION Adult bacterial meningitis caused by viridans streptococci is not uncommon and otopharyngeal infection appears to be an important portal of entry. Clinical manifestations varied according to the different underlying conditions. The results of this study also demonstrate the high incidence of intracranial focal suppuration and cerebral vasculitis concomitant with meningitis. Penicillin remains the treatment of choice for patients with meningitis caused by viridans streptococci. Therapeutic outcome is favorable for patients who receive prompt treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Dept. of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Our aim was to analyze the prognostic factors and therapeutic outcomes of adult tuberculous meningitis (TBM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Clinical data of 36 patients with adult TBM were retrospectively identified at our institution over a period of 5 years. RESULTS 36 adult TBM patients, 23 males and 13 females, aged 16-83 years, were included in this study. The 36 patients were also divided into three groups (stages I, II and III) according to the severity of TBM on admission. Therapeutic outcomes at 3 months were determined using a modified Barthel Index (BI). For the purpose of statistical analysis, the patients were divided into two groups: good outcome (BI > or = 12) and poor outcome (BI < 12). Positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture was found in 47% (17/36) of patients and isoniazid-resistant strains were found in 18% (3/17) of culture-proven TBM. We statistically compared clinical manifestations, CSF features and therapeutic results of the two patient groups. Significant prognostic factors included severity of TBM at the time of admission, the presence of headache, fever, hydrocephalus, high CSF protein concentration and high CSF lactate concentration. In stepwise logistic regression analysis, only the presence of hydrocephalus and severity of TBM on admission were strongly associated with therapeutic failure even after adjusting for other potentially confounding factors. CONCLUSION In Taiwan, TBM is an important public health issue and the emergence of resistant strains of this disease in recent years presents a therapeutic challenge. Because delay in diagnosis is directly related to poor outcome, early diagnosis and early treatment are essential for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Dept. of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
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Lo YK, Tang KY, Chang WN, Lu CH, Cheng JS, Lee KC, Chou KJ, Liu CP, Chen WC, Su W, Law YP, Jan CR. Effect of oleamide on Ca(2+) signaling in human bladder cancer cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2001; 62:1363-9. [PMID: 11709196 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(01)00772-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The effect of oleamide, a sleep-inducing endogenous lipid in animal models, on intracellular free levels of Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) in non-excitable and excitable cells was examined by using fura-2 as a fluorescent dye. [Ca(2+)](i) in pheochromocytoma cells, renal tubular cells, osteoblast-like cells, and bladder cancer cells were increased on stimulation of 50 microM oleamide. The response in human bladder cancer cells (T24) was the greatest and was further explored. Oleamide (10-100 microM) increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent fashion with an EC(50) of 50 microM. The [Ca(2+)](i) signal comprised an initial rise and a sustained plateau and was reduced by removing extracellular Ca(2+) by 85 +/- 5%. After pre-treatment with 10-100 microM oleamide in Ca(2+)-free medium, addition of 3 mM Ca(2+) increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a manner dependent on the concentration of oleamide. The [Ca(2+)](i) increase induced by 50 microM oleamide was reduced by 100 microM La(3+) by 40%, but was not altered by 10 microM nifedipine, 10 microM verapamil, and 50 microM Ni(2+). In Ca(2+)-free medium, pre-treatment with thapsigargin (1 microM), an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump inhibitor, abolished 50 microM oleamide-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases; conversely, pretreatment with 50 microM oleamide reduced 1 microM thapsigargin-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases by 50 +/- 3%. Suppression of the activity of phospholipase C with 2 microM U73122 failed to alter 50 microM oleamide-induced Ca(2+) release. Linoleamide (10-100 microM), another sleep-inducing lipid with a structure similar to that of oleamide, also induced an increase in [Ca(2+)](i). Together, it was shown that oleamide induced significant [Ca(2+)](i) increases in cells by a phospholipase C-independent release of Ca(2+) from thapsigargin-sensitive stores and by inducing Ca(2+) entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y K Lo
- Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Liu FS, Chen JT, Dong JT, Hsieh YT, Lin AJ, Ho ES, Hung MJ, Lu CH. KAI1 metastasis suppressor gene is frequently down-regulated in cervical carcinoma. The American Journal of Pathology 2001; 159:1629-34. [PMID: 11696423 PMCID: PMC1867068 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)63009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
KAI1 is a metastasis suppressor gene located on human chromosome 11p11.2. It belongs to a structurally distinct family of cell surface glycoproteins. Decreased KAI1 expression has been observed in several common solid epithelial tumors, including prostatic, pancreatic, lung, hepatic, colorectal, ovarian, and esophageal cancers. A recent study also observed frequent loss of KAI1 expression in a number of squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix by immunohistochemical technique. To further confirm whether this gene is altered in this malignancy, we analyzed KAI1 expression in various stages of cervical carcinoma by a molecular method. Total cellular RNA was extracted from 84 primary invasive cervical carcinomas and 6 metastatic or recurrent lesions. cDNA was synthesized and was used for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. The level of KAI1 expression was obtained as the value of threshold cycle (Ct) and was quantitated with a comparative Ct method. In addition, paraffin blocks of the tumors were selected and prepared for immunohistochemical study with an anti-KAI1 polyclonal antibody, C-16. Both the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction method and immunohistochemical study revealed a frequent decrease in KAI1 expression in invasive cervical cancers and metastatic or recurrent lesions. However, the reduction in KAI1 was not related to progression of the disease. When tumor cell differentiation was analyzed, poorly differentiated tumors showed a greater decrease in KAI1 expression than well or moderately differentiated tumors (P < 0.001). Histologically, KAI1 loss was observed equally in both squamous cell carcinoma and adeno-/adenosquamous carcinoma. Since down-regulation of KAI1 occurs in both early and late stages of cervical cancer, we suggest that its involvement in the progression of this malignancy is an early event.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Liu
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Abstract
Thirty-eight patients with streptococcal meningitis, aged 17-75 years, have been identified over a period of 13.5 years. Among these 38 patients, 35 had community-acquired infections, and the other three had nosocomial infections. Twelve of the 38 patients were found to have postneurosurgical forms and 26 to have spontaneous forms. These 38 cases of streptococci included Streptococcus (S.) pneumoniae in 19 cases, viridans group streptococci in 13, non-A, non-B, and non-D streptococci in three, Group D streptococci in one, and Group B streptococci (S. agalactiae) in two. Although one case was found to have penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae PRSP in 1994, multi-antibiotic resistant strains were rare in this study. Therapeutic outcomes varied according to the different species of streptococci. In this study, the overall mortality rate was 34%. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, only initial consciousness level and the presence of seizure were strongly associated with the mortality rate even after other potentially confounding factors were adjusted for. Early diagnosis and the use of appropriate antibiotics are essential for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, 123, Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan, ROC.
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Huang CR, Lu CH, Chien CC, Chang WN. Protean infectious types and frequent association with neurosurgical procedures in adult Serratia marcescens CNS infections: report of two cases and review of the literature. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2001; 103:171-4. [PMID: 11532558 DOI: 10.1016/s0303-8467(01)00138-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Serratia marcescens is a rare pathogen of adult central nervous system (CNS) infection. We report on the clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of two adult patients with such infections. The clinical characteristics of 13 other reported adult cases are also included for analysis. The 15 cases were nine males and six females, aged 19-83 years, in whom, underlying post-neurosurgical states and ear operation were noted in 93% (14/15). Fever and conscious disturbance were the most common clinical manifestations of these 15 cases, followed by hydrocephalus, seizures, and wound infections. The manifestation types were protean, including meningitis and focal suppurations such as brain abscess, cranial and spinal epidural abscess, cranial subdural abscess, and infected lumbar pseudomeningocele. One case of S. marcescens CNS infection was diagnosed postmortem; the other 14 were diagnosed by the positive culture from CSF or pus. Antibiotic therapy with or without neurosurgical intervention was the management strategy in 14/15 cases. The therapeutic results showed a high mortality rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, 123, Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Hsien, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
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Chang WN, Lu CH, Wu JJ, Chang HW, Tsai YC, Chen FT, Chien CC. Staphylococcus aureus meningitis in adults: a clinical comparison of infections caused by methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive strains. Infection 2001; 29:245-50. [PMID: 11688900 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-001-1092-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to compare the clinical characteristics of adult methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) meningitis and adult methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) meningitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS The clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of 19 adult patients with S. aureus meningitis, including eight with MSSA infections and 11 with MRSA infections, were analyzed. A comparison was made between the clinical data of the patients with MSSA infections and those with MRSA infections. RESULTS Before the end of 1995, MSSA infection was involved in all the adult patients with S. aureus meningitis but thereafter, MRSA infection was involved in 79% of the cases. The clinical characteristics found in patients with MSSA infection included underlying medical disorders (75%), community-acquired infection (75%) and mortality rate (13%). The clinical characteristics found in patients with MRSA infection included post-neurosurgical states (91%), nosocomial infections (100%), men outnumbering women (8:3), hydrocephalus (36%) and mortality rate (56%). Comparative study between the patient groups (hematogenous and post-neurosurgical) showed that only the mode of acquisition of infection had statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS This study showed an increase in MRSA infections in adult S. aureus meningitis in recent years. The clinical characteristics of patients with MSSA and MRSA meningitis were different. Community-acquired infection was common in hematogenous S. aureus meningitis, while nosocomial infection was common in post-neurosurgical S. aureus meningitis. Vancomycin should be considered as one of the drugs of choice for initial therapy of adult bacterial meningitis, especially in post-neurosurgical patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- W N Chang
- Dept. of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
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Su TM, Lin YC, Lu CH, Chang WN, Liliang PP, Rau CS, Liang CL, Tsai YD, Lee TJ, Chen HJ. Streptococcal brain abscess: analysis of clinical features in 20 patients. Surg Neurol 2001; 56:189-94. [PMID: 11597651 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-3019(01)00551-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of brain abscess caused by streptococci. METHODS Twenty patients, 18 males and 2 females, aged 3 to 76 years, collected over a 14-year period, have been identified at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. RESULTS Among these 20 patients, 13 had viridans streptococci infection alone, one had non-A, non-B, and non-D streptococci infection alone, and the other 6 had mixed infections each including streptococci. The locations of all of the abscesses were supratentorial. Among these patients, 18 had a single abscess and 2 had multiple abscesses. Underlying conditions were common in our patients, including head trauma, heart disease, otopharyngeal infection, and medical procedures. Nineteen patients were treated surgically and 1 was treated with antibiotics alone. Nineteen survived and 1 died, with an overall mortality rate of 5%. CONCLUSION The clinical presentations and underlying conditions varied according to the different streptococcal species. Streptococcal brain abscesses accounted for 17% of our cases with brain abscesses, and 30% of our streptococcal infections had polymicrobial infections. Although streptococcal brain abscesses were commonly associated with otopharyngeal infections or infectious endocarditis, they also appeared to be often related to neurosurgical events or medical procedures in recent years. Based on our study, prognosis is favorable with early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M Su
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Lin CS, Wang TK, Tsai JL, Ho SI, Lee CL, Lu CH. Molecular subtyping of Shigella flexneri 3a isolates by plasmid profile analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2001; 34:103-8. [PMID: 11456354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Twenty-two clinical isolates of Shigella flexneri 3a that were obtained from stool specimens from seven outbreaks of infection in northern Taiwan were subtyped and compared using plasmid profile analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Among 32 isolates, three distinct patterns were found by plasmid profile analysis and six by PFGE, with three different restriction enzymes, XbaI, SfiI, or NotI. Seven PFGE patterns were observed in a comparative analysis using a combination of these three enzymes. Isolates collected from the same outbreaks had the same PFGE combination patterns and were distinguishable from those obtained during other outbreaks. These findings suggest that PFGE may be the most powerful method of genotyping S. flexneri 3a in epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Lin
- Center for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Lee KC, Tseng LL, Chen YC, Wang JW, Lu CH, Cheng JS, Wang JL, Lo YK, Jan CR. Mechanisms of histamine-induced intracellular Ca 2+ release and extracellular Ca 2+ entry in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells 1 1Abbreviations: [Ca2+]i; Cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration; and IP3, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Biochem Pharmacol 2001; 61:1537-41. [PMID: 11377383 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(01)00622-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The effect of histamine on intracellular free Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+](i)) in MG63 human osteosarcoma cells was explored using fura-2 as a Ca2+ dye. Histamine increased ([Ca2+](i)) in a concentration-dependent fashion with an EC(50) value of 0.5 microM. Extracellular Ca2+ removal inhibited the ([Ca2+](i)) signals. Histamine failed to increase ([Ca2+](i)) in Ca2+-free medium after cells were pretreated with thapsigargin (an endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor). Addition of Ca2+ induced concentration-dependent ([Ca2+](i)) increases after preincubation with histamine in Ca2+-free medium. Histamine-induced intracellular Ca2+ release was abolished by inhibiting phospholipase C with 1-(6-((17beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl)amino)hexyl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (U73122). The ([Ca2+](i)) increase induced by histamine in Ca2+ medium was abolished by cimetidine, but was not altered by pyrilamine, nifedipine, verapamil, and La(3+). Together, this study shows that histamine increased in ([Ca2+](i)) in osteosarcoma cells by stimulating H2 histamine receptors. The Ca2+ signal was caused by Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum in a phospholipase C-dependent manner. The Ca2+ release was accompanied by Ca(2+) influx.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386 Ta Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Liliang PC, Liang CL, Lu CH, Chang HW, Cheng CH, Lee TC, Chen HJ. Hypertensive caudate hemorrhage prognostic predictor, outcome, and role of external ventricular drainage. Stroke 2001; 32:1195-200. [PMID: 11340233 DOI: 10.1161/01.str.32.5.1195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of the present study was to analyze the outcome and outcome predictors of caudate hemorrhage and role of external ventricular drainage in acute hydrocephalus. METHODS Clinical data from 36 consecutive patients with hypertensive caudate hemorrhage was used in the present study. Age, gender, volume of parenchymal hematoma, hematoma in the internal capsule, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), hydrocephalus, severity of intraventricular hemorrhage, and hemorrhagic dilatation of the fourth ventricle were analyzed for effect on outcome. Effect of external ventricle drainage for hydrocephalus was evaluated by comparing preoperative and postoperative GCS scores. RESULTS By univariate analyses, poor outcome was associated with a poor initial GCS score (P=0.016), hydrocephalus (P<0.001), intraventricular hemorrhage severity (P<0.01), and hemorrhagic dilatation of the fourth ventricle (P=0.02). By multivariate analysis, stepwise logistic regression revealed that hydrocephalus was the only independent prognostic factor for poor outcome (P<0.001). Postoperative 48-hour GCS score was better than the preoperative score by use of paired-sample t test (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Hydrocephalus is the most important predictor of poor outcome. External ventricular drainage response for hydrocephalus was good in the present study, whereas an early decision should be made regarding preoperative neurological condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Liliang
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Niaosung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan
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Abstract
Twenty-eight patients with cerebral infarction secondary to chronic meningitis were retrospectively identified at our institution over a period of 5 years. They accounted for 47% (17/36) of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and 32% (11/34) of cryptococcal meningitis cases. Single infarctions were found in 15 patients and multiple infarctions in 13. The distribution of single infarctions was: basal ganglia 7; internal capsule 3; thalamus 1; cerebellum 1; and cortical infarct 3. Therapeutic outcomes at 3 months were determined using a modified Barthel INDEX: At follow-up of 3 months or more, 10 had good outcomes while the other 18 had poor outcomes. The 18 with poor outcomes included six who died, and 12 who had severe neurological sequelae. TBM and cryptococcal meningitis shared similar clinical features, both being frequently associated with other neurological complications, including hydrocephalus, cranial nerve palsy, and seizures in our patients. However, extracranial involvement, such as spinal and pulmonary involvement, was more commonly found in TBM patients. Cerebral infarction can occur in both the acute stage and later stages of treatment. Mortality and morbidity are high, and early diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial treatment are essential. If hydrocephalus is demonstrated, early ventricular decompression is needed to prevent further cerebral ischaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S H Lan
- Departments of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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42
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Abstract
Intraluminal meconium calcification of unknown mechanism is reported in three neonates who did not have distal intestinal obstruction. The condition was benign in all three cases and did not require surgical intervention. This new form of intra-abdominal calcification should be differentiated from other forms that invariably are due to surgical disorders.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The independent predictors of aphasia outcome for patients with left basal ganglia hemorrhage were evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS We included 140 patients of 1,036 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to our hospital from January 1993 through December 1997. Aphasia was assessed using the aphasia scale of the Scandinavian stroke scale. Univariate and step-wise logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relationships between the initial aphasia score, age, gender, blood volume, locations of hematoma and aphasia outcome. RESULTS Step-wise logistic regression analysis revealed that the following two factors were independently associated with the final aphasia outcome: initial aphasia score (P < 0.0001) and location of hematoma involving the posterior limb of the internal capsule (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS A particularly high likelihood of poor aphasia outcomes of patients with left basal ganglia hemorrhage are predicted in those who have poor initial aphasia score and whose brain computed tomography shows the hematoma involves the posterior limb of the internal capsule.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan
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Abstract
BACKGROUND We analyzed the clinical manifestations and therapeutic outcomes of Klebsiella brain abscesses. PATIENTS AND METHODS The clinical data of 15 patients with Klebsiella brain abscesses, retrospectively collected over a 14-year period, were studied. RESULTS The 15 patients included 13 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and two cases of Klebsiella oxytoca. All but one case were community-acquired infections. Locations of all of these abscesses were supratentorial. 12 cases involved a single abscess, and three involved multiple abscesses. Gas formation was also found in two cases (13%). Common predisposing factors included metastatic spread, chronic otitis media and neurosurgical procedures. Among these 15 patients, 11 were treated surgically and four received antibiotics alone. In total, 11 patients survived and four died, with an overall mortality rate of 26.7%. CONCLUSION The clinical presentations and therapeutic outcomes varied according to the different Klebsiella species. While debilitating diseases were common in K. pneumoniae infections, they were not common in K. oxytoca infection. And while metastatic septic abscess is a well-known, devastating complication of K. pneumoniae septicemia, usually seen as a brain abscess with a gas-forming appearance, all of these K. oxytoca infections had both otogenic infections and more favorable outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C Liliang
- Dept of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan
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Huang CR, Lu CH, Chang WN. Adult Enterobacter meningitis: a high incidence of coinfection with other pathogens and frequent association with neurosurgical procedures. Infection 2001; 29:75-9. [PMID: 11339479 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-001-0087-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical characteristics of Enterobacter infection in adult bacterial meningitis were defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS The clinical manifestations and therapeutic outcomes of ten adult patients with Enterobacter infections in acute bacterial meningitis were analyzed. RESULTS Enterobacter infection was found in 4.5% (10/223) of our adult patients with culture-proven bacterial meningitis. The ten patients comprised seven men and three women aged between 16-69 years (mean 47 years). Coinfections with other pathogens were found in 50% of the cases, the most common pathogen being Klebsiella pneumoniae. Nine of the ten patients had a history of neurosurgery, and seven patients contracted the infection nosocomially. Multiple antibiotic-resistant strains, including resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, were found in three patients with polymicrobial infections. These three patients received iv imipenem/cilastin therapy. The therapeutic results showed that two of the ten patients died; five of the eight surviving patients had neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION The predominant coinfection with Enterobacteriaceae in adult Enterobacter meningitis may reflect the fact that most of the cases of polymicrobial Enterobacter infections have a potential gastrointestinal source. A postneurosurgical state was the most important predisposing factor for the development of Enterobacter infection in adult bacterial meningitis in our patients. The strains of the Enterobacter species in adult polymicrobial Enterobacter meningitis were commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics, including third-generation cephalosporins. In light of the high incidence of multiple antibiotic-resistant Enterobacter strains in adult polymicrobial Enterobacter meningitis, the choice of initial empiric antibiotics may include carbapenem (imipenem/cilastin or meropenem). Although the mortality rate was not high in this group of patients, most survivors suffered neurological sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Huang
- Dept of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung-Hsien, Taiwan
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Lu CH, Proctor RW. Influence of irrelevant information on human performance: effects of S-R association strength and relative timing. Q J Exp Psychol A 2001; 54:95-136. [PMID: 11216323 DOI: 10.1080/02724980042000048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Six experiments examined effects of stimulus-response (S-R) association strength and relative timing on the magnitude of consistency effects for irrelevant information in Stroop-like tasks. Keypresses were made to two-dimensional stimuli (a colour or location word surrounded by a coloured rectangle or arrow), with the irrelevant information presented simultaneously with or prior to the relevant information. With simultaneous presentation, irrelevant information affected performance regardless of whether its S-R association was weak or strong, if the relevant S-R association was weak (e.g., colour word to keypress). However, a weak irrelevant S-R association (location word to keypress) had little effect when paired with a strong relevant S-R association (arrow direction to keypress), except when the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between the irrelevant and relevant information was 300 ms. When the relevant information was colour, the effect of an irrelevant colour word persisted at a 500-ms SOA but that of an irrelevant physical colour did not, reflecting different decay functions for irrelevant verbal and non-verbal information. The persisting effect of an irrelevant colour word was reduced by articulatory suppression and eliminated at extended SOAs of 3 s. The results indicate that whether the consistency effect patterns are symmetric or asymmetric is determined by the relative strengths of the relevant and irrelevant S-R associations, as specified by the criteria of conceptual and mode similarity. The magnitude of the consistency effect is also a function of the temporal overlap of the resulting response activation, which is determined primarily by mode similarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Providence University, Taiwan, R.O.C
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47
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Abstract
In two investigative phases over a 13.5-year study period (January 1986-June 1999), 202 adult patients with culture-proven bacterial meningitis were enrolled in this study. In order to determine the epidemiologic trend, prognostic factors and therapeutic results for this disease. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the three most commonly revealed pathogens, accounting for about 48% of the episodes. Although there was a change in relative frequency for the pathogens, K. pneumoniae remained the most prevalent during the two periods studied (January 1986-December 1992 and January 1993-June 1999). Multiantibiotic resistant strains have been in evidence since their appearance in 1994, with most of our patients acquiring their infection nosocomially. The overall mortality rates during the two periods were 40% and 34%, respectively. In stepwise logistic regression analysis, only initial conscious level, appropriate antibiotic therapy and septic shock were independently associated with mortality, after adjustment for other potentially confounding factors. Initial empirical antibiotics with both third-generation cephalosporin and penicillin G, should be considered for the majority of meningitis cases resulting from infection with Gram-negative bacilli and streptococcal species. Besides the evolution of newer pathogens, there has been increasing incidence for nosocomially acquired bacterial meningitis for patients postneurosurgery, with the emergence of resistant strains presenting a therapeutic challenge in recent years. Vancomycin and imipenem/cilastatin should be considered as the initial empirical antibiotics of choice for the treatment of this special group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Here we describe and compare the expression patterns of the murine genes Lhx2 and Msx1 and their Drosophila orthologues apterous (ap) and muscle-segment homeobox (msh). We find that Lhx2 and Msx1 show complementary patterns of expression in most tissues including the neural and cranial epithelium, pituitary gland, olfactory organs, and neural tube; in contrast, Lhx2 and Msx1 are coexpressed in the developing limbs. Strikingly, the spatial relationship between ap and msh expression in Drosophila is very reminiscent of the expression of their murine orthologues. ap and msh show complementary expression in the leg and antennal imaginal discs, brain and ventral ganglion of the central nervous system (CNS), but both are coexpressed in the wing imaginal disc. These observations suggest conservation in the regulation of these genes between Drosophila and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine predictive factors for post-cone residual disease in subsequent hysterectomy for CIN III. METHODS From June 1994 to June 1999, 120 patients with CIN III who received hysterectomy within 6 months of conization regardless of marginal status were identified from 1450 conization cases. The demographic features and pathologic parameters were analyzed for the predictive rate of post-cone residual disease. RESULTS Age >==50 years and parity >==5 were significant factors associated with residual disease. The incidence of residual disease was 56.5 and 29. 3% in patients >==50 and <50 years, respectively, and 61.8 and 36.0% in patients with parity >==5 and <5. Post-cone endocervical curettage (ECC) and multiple-quadrant disease were the only pathologic predictive factors identified. The incidence of residual disease was 64.6 and 29.2% in patients with positive ECC and negative ECC, respectively, and 48.4 and 25.9% in patient with multiple-quadrant disease and one- or two-quadrant disease. Other pathologic parameters, including endocervical margins, ectocervical margins, endocervical gland involvement, and depth of conization, were not predictive of residual disease. When ECC was combined individually with age, endocervical margins, or multiple-quadrant disease, there was no increase of positive predictive rate. CONCLUSIONS (1) Age 50 years or more and parity >==5 were two demographic features that predicted post-cone residual disease. (2) ECC and multiple-quadrant disease were the only pathologic parameters that predicted post-cone residual disease. (3) With the appropriate application of the predictive factors, post-cone hysterectomy may be further decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, 40705, Republic of China
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Abstract
Community-acquired Acinetobacter meningitis in adults is an extremely rare infection of the central nervous system (CNS). Here we report one adult case of this rare CNS infection and review the clinical data of another seven cases reported in the English language literature. In total, eight patients (six men and two women) aged between 19 and 63 years were studied. The causative pathogen in our patient was Acinetobacter baumannii; in the other reported cases they were most likely Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Acinetobacter johnsonii, Acinetobacter junii, a genomic species 3 or 6. No underlying disease was found in seven of the eight cases and six of the eight patients acquired the infections before the age of 30 years. Fever and consciousness disturbance were the most common clinical manifestations. Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (WFS) was found in two cases. Unlike the Acinetobacter strains found in nosocomial infections, the strain of Acinetobacter meningitis in the community-acquired case did not show multiple antibiotic resistance. Most adult patients with community-acquired Acinetobacter meningitis can be saved by timely therapy with appropriate antibiotics before deterioration of the systemic condition and impairment of consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- W N Chang
- Dept. of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Niao Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan
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