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Chang WT, Huang PS, Su LW, Liao CT, Siong Toh H, Chen YC, Ho CH, Chen ZC, Hsu PC, Hong CS. Utility of the ACD-GENE-CLI Score in Asian Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia Undergoing Endovascular Interventions. J Atheroscler Thromb 2024; 31:572-586. [PMID: 38092392 DOI: 10.5551/jat.64326] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is an emerging public health threat and lacks a reliable score for predicting the outcomes. The Age, Body Mass Index, Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, and Genotyping (ABCD-GENE) risk score helps identify patients with coronary artery disease who have cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) polymorphism-related drug resistance and are at risk for cardiovascular adverse events. However, its application to CLI remains unknown. In this study, we aim to validate a modified ACD-GENE-CLI score to improve the prediction of major adverse limb events (MALEs) in patients with CLI receiving clopidogrel. METHODS Patients with CLI receiving clopidogrel post-endovascular intervention were enrolled prospectively in two medical centers. Amputation and revascularization as MALEs were regarded as the outcomes. RESULTS A total of 473 patients were recruited, with a mean follow-up duration of 25 months. Except for obesity, old age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and CYP2C19 polymorphisms were significantly associated with MALEs. Using bootstrap regression analysis, we established a modified risk score (ACD-GENE-CLI) that included old age (≥ 65 years), diabetes, CKD, and CYP2C19 polymorphisms. At a cutoff value of 8, the ACD-GENE-CLI score was superior to the CYP2C19 deficiency only, and the conventional ABCD-GENE score in predicting MALEs (area under the curve: 0.69 vs. 0.59 vs. 0.67, p=0.01). The diagnostic ability of the ACD-GENE-CLI score was consistent in the external validation. Also, Kaplan-Meier curves showed that in CYP2C19 deficiency, the ABCD-GENE and ACD-GENE-CLI scores could all differentiate patients with CLI who are free from MALEs. CONCLUSIONS The modified ACD-GENE-CLI score could differentiate patients with CLI receiving clopidogrel who are at risk of MALEs. Further studies are required to generalize the utility of the score.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- School of Medicine and Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medicine and Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-sen University
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center
| | - Po-Sen Huang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center
| | - Li-Wei Su
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center
| | - Chia-Te Liao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University
- Studies Coordinating Centre, Research Unit Hypertension and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, KU Leuven Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven
| | - Han Siong Toh
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Centre
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science
| | - Yi-Chen Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center
- Department of Information Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University
| | - Po-Chao Hsu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science
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Park YI, Choi SH, Hong CS, Cho MS, Son J, Han MC, Kim J, Kim H, Kim DW, Kim JS. A Photograph-Based Visualization and Prediction Framework for Radiation-Induced Dermatitis. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 117:e480-e481. [PMID: 37785522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.06.1701] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) This study aimed to suggest a photograph-based prediction system for acute radiation-induced dermatitis (RID), which can be applied to notify patients about the risk of the development of skin discomfort during radiotherapy. MATERIALS/METHODS The proposed system compared the spatial dose distribution with the RID region using the following methods. Skin photographs of patients were taken using an RGB-depth camera to acquire the shape information of RID. The skin surface data measured from the camera was registered with the shape of the external body contour using an iterative closest point algorithm. Spatial dose distribution of skin was extracted from the external body contour to a depth of 2 mm and projected onto the plane of the skin photograph using a transformation matrix for skin depth data. To compare the spatial distribution of skin dose with the shape of RID, the region of RID in patients' skin was delineated on photographs into three toxicity symptoms referring to the CTCAE criteria grade 1 (skin redness), grade 2 (dry desquamation), and grade 3 (moist desquamation). The degree of overlap between the shape of each RID and skin dose distribution was evaluated using the dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Threshold doses for predicting RID occurrence were estimated by skin isodose lines with the highest DSC. The developed system was validated using data from 19 patients who received volumetric modulated arc therapy for head-neck cancer at a single institution. RESULTS Threshold doses for RID grades 1, 2, and 3 were estimated using 18, 18, and 2 individual RID labels delineated on skin photographs, respectively. Isodose lines with the highest DSC for RID grades 1, 2, and 3 were calculated as 26.0 Gy, 36.5 Gy, and 54.0 Gy, respectively. A strong overlap (average DSC > 0.6) was observed between isodose skin lines and the shape of RID labels in all RID grades. CONCLUSION Assessing the spatial information of skin dose can be helpful in predicting acute RID. The region of RID shows a strong similarity with the skin dose distribution in head-neck patients. Visualization of skin dose on the patient photograph is potent to patient education for preparing the cosmetic discomfort during radiotherapy, which may lead to the improvement of the patient satisfaction in treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y I Park
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - S H Choi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - C S Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - M S Cho
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - J Son
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - M C Han
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - J Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - H Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - D W Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
| | - J S Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea; Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South) Korea
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Lee WC, Chang WT, Hong CS, Liao CT, Huang PS, Huang SC, Lin CH, Chiang CY, Chen ZC, Shih JY. Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors First Strategy Improve Decongestion in Patients with Symptomatic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction When Compared to Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor First Strategy. FRONT BIOSCI-LANDMRK 2023; 28:81. [PMID: 37114551 DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2804081] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) are emerging medical treatments for decompensated heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. In clinical practice, the combination of ARNI and SGLT2i cannot be administered owing to the poor hemodynamic status in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study aimed to compare different strategies of HF management for ARNI first or SGLT2i first in such a population. METHODS From January 2016 to December 2021, 165 patients were diagnosed with HFrEF and New York Heart Association functional class ≥II and already received optimal medical treatment. Ninety-five patients received the ARNI-first strategy, and 70 patients received the SGLT2i-first strategy according to the physician's choice. Age, sex, hemodynamic condition, etiologies of HF, comorbidities, serum creatinine, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), echocardiographic parameters, and clinical outcomes were compared between the ARNI and SGLT2i-first strategy groups. RESULTS In the SGLT2i-first group, the median interval between the addition of the second medication was longer (ARNI-first vs. SGLT2i-first; 74 [49-100] days vs. 112 [86-138] days; p = 0.044). Improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), change in left atrial dimension, and change in left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (LVESV) did not differ between the two groups. The incidence of HF hospitalization, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality did not differ between the two groups. A non-significant trend of lower NT-proBNP levels (ARNI-first vs. SGLT2i-first; 1383 [319-2507] pg/mL vs. 570 [206-1314] pg/mL; p = 0.055) and significantly higher discontinuation rate of diuretic agents (ARNI-first vs. SGLT2i- first; 6.8% vs. 17.5%; p = 0.039) were noted in the SGLT2i-first group. When early combination (≤14D) compared to late combination (>14D), better positive remodeling of LVESV presented significantly in early combination subgroups. CONCLUSIONS In patients with symptomatic HFrEF, SGLT2i-first strategy may provide a higher possibility of discontinuing diuretic agents than the ARNI-first strategy. Changes in LV performance, progression of renal function, and clinical outcomes did not differ between the two groups. Early combination (≤14D) provided better LV remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chieh Lee
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 70101 Tainan, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, 80424 Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Chang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 70101 Tainan, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Te Liao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Sen Huang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Chung Huang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsien Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yen Chiang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, 80424 Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 71004 Tainan, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, 80424 Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Chang WT, Hong CS, Hsieh KL, Chen YC, Ho C, Shih JY, Kan WC, Chen ZC, Lin YC. Regular use of aspirin is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk in prostate cancer patients receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone therapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:952370. [PMID: 36172150 PMCID: PMC9511956 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.952370] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy has been known to increase risks of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). Herein, we aim to estimate whether regular use of aspirin attenuates risks of MACCEs in prostate cancer patients receiving GnRHs. Using Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we identified 7719 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer who were either aspirin-naïve, received irregular or regular aspirin from 2008 to 2015. Through a multivariable logistic regression model, we investigated the impact of aspirin on MACCEs. Compared with nonusers and irregular users, most patients receiving regular aspirin were older and had more comorbidities. The crude incidence of one-year MACCEs was lowest in aspirin nonusers but highest in irregular users of aspirin compared with regular users of aspirin (2.65% vs. 4.41% vs. 2.85%, p=0.0099). After adjusting for age, cancer stage and comorbidities, irregular aspirin users had a higher risk of one-year MACCEs (adjusted OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.93-1.90, p=0.1139) than aspirin nonusers, but conversely, there was a trend of reducing the risk of MACCEs among those who received regular aspirin (adjusted OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.44-1.42, p=0.4256). In the subgroup analysis, there were age- and cancer stage-independent higher risks of MACCEs in patients who took aspirin irregularly compared to those in patients who did not take aspirin. The risks were attenuated in patients receiving regular aspirin. Collectively, regular use of aspirin presented a trend of reducing risks of MACCEs in prostate cancer patients receiving GnRHs. However, irregular use of aspirin diminished the benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Lin Hsieh
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Chen
- Department of Medical Research , Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung−Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research , Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition , Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chih Kan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - You-Cheng Lin
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: You-Cheng Lin,
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Chang WT, Lin YW, Huang PS, Lin YC, Tseng SY, Chao TH, Chen ZC, Shih JY, Hong CS. Deletion of MicroRNA-21 Impairs Neovascularization Following Limb Ischemia: From Bedside to Bench. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:826478. [PMID: 35557515 PMCID: PMC9086398 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.826478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
With an increasing prevalence, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), cause by atherosclerosis is a new threat to public health beyond coronary artery disease and involves aberrant vascular endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis. The degree of vascular remodeling is influenced by the processes described. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) has been found to play a critical role in cellular functions, including angiogenesis. Nevertheless, the effect of miR-21 on endothelial cells in response to hypoxia is largely unknown. Using wild-type C57BL/6J and miR-21–/– mice, we compared the capability of angiogenesis in response to hindlimb hypoxic/ischemia. In an in vitro study, we further studied whether overexpression of miR-21 mitigates hypoxia-induced apoptosis and impaired angiogenesis. Also, we prospectively collected the sera of patients with limb ischemia and followed the clinical information, including major adverse limb events (MALEs). Using laser Doppler perfusion imaging and CD31 staining, compared with miR-21–/– mice, wild-type mice expressed a significantly higher capability of angiogenesis and less apoptosis following 28 days of hindlimb hypoxic/ischemic surgery. In our in vitro study, after 24 h of hypoxia, proliferation, migration, and tube formation were significantly impaired in cells treated with the miR-21 inhibitor but rescued by the miR-21 mimic. Mechanistically, by suppressing PTEN/PI3K/AKT, miR-21 promoted angiogenesis and suppressed apoptosis in endothelial cells post hypoxia. In patients with limb ischemia, the high expression of circulating miR-21 was associated with less subsequent MALE. Collectively, miR-21 could be a biomarker associated with the endogenous ability of angiogenesis and reflect subsequent MALE in patients. Additionally, abolishing miR-21 impairs angiogenesis and promotes apoptosis post limb ischemia. Further studies are required to elucidate the clinical applications of miR-21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Sen Huang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - You-Cheng Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ya Tseng
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Hsing Chao
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
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Chang WT, Shih JY, Lin YW, Chen ZC, Kan WC, Lin TH, Hong CS. Dapagliflozin protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by restoring STAT3. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2021-2032. [PMID: 35438302 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03298-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (Dox), an effective therapy in different types of cancer, is known to exhibit cardiotoxic effects. Despite previous studies indicating the benefits of dapagliflozin (DAPA) in patients experiencing heart failure, it remains uncertain whether DAPA exerts a protective effect on Dox-induced cardiac dysfunction. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) participates in various mechanisms of cardioprotection. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of DAPA on Dox-induced cardiotoxicity and the role of STAT3. Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with oral DAPA for 6 weeks followed by Dox for 4 weeks. Sequential echocardiography was applied to assess cardiac function. For in vitro analysis, cardiomyocytes were treated with 10 μM DAPA and subsequently exposed to 1 μM Dox. The expression of reactive oxygen species- and apoptosis-related proteins was measured. Using STAT3 siRNA, we further examined the effects of STAT3 effect on DAPA-associated protection against Dox-induced apoptosis. In rats treated with Dox, DAPA significantly reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac function and hemodynamics. Additionally, DAPA effectively inhibited Dox-induced apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, we showed that DAPA decreased cardiac expression of Bax and cleaved caspase 3 but increased Bcl-2 expression. DAPA also significantly rescued Dox-suppressed STAT3 expression. Conversely, knocking down STAT3 in cardiomyocytes reversed the DAPA-related protective effects on Dox-induced cell apoptosis and ROS. Collectively, our findings indicate that DAPA could be useful for preventing Dox-induced cardiotoxicity by restoring STAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chih Kan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, 901, Zhonghua Road, Yongkang District, Tainan, Taiwan ROC.
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Tsung-Hsien Lin
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
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Hong CS, Chen YC, Ho CH, Hsieh KL, Chen M, Shih JY, Chiang CY, Chen ZC, Chang WT. Association of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Therapies With Venous Thromboembolic Events in Patients With Prostate Cancer: A National Cohort Study. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:794310. [PMID: 35369325 PMCID: PMC8966087 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.794310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Although androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been proposed to be associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolisms (VTEs), whether gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRHs), such as both agonists and antagonists, are also associated with VTEs remain unclear. Using the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) linked with the National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified patients diagnosed with prostate cancer from 2008 to 2015. Patients who received GnRH were 1:1 propensity score matched with non-GnRH users by age and cancer stage at diagnosis and clinical stage. Cox regression analysis was applied to estimate the incidences of VTEs with death as a competing event at the 5-year follow-up. The VTE incidence among GnRH users was 1.13% compared with 0.98% among non-users. After adjusting with potential confounding factors, the risk of VTEs showed borderline statistical significance among GnRH users and non-users. Notably, in the subgroup analysis among patients receiving GnRH therapy, those younger than 70 years old or at an earlier stage (stage I/II) were at a higher risk of VTEs. Different from previous studies, our findings highlighted critical concerns regarding the cardiac safety of GnRH therapies in prostate cancer patients at a relatively younger age or at an earlier stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Information Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Lin Hsieh
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Michael Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yen Chiang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Optometry, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- *Correspondence: Wei-Ting Chang
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Chang WT, Shih JY, Hong CS, Lin YW, Chen YC, Ho CH, Chen ZC, Roan JN, Hsu CH. Right ventricular expression of NT-proBNP adds predictive value to REVEAL score in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. ESC Heart Fail 2021; 8:3082-3092. [PMID: 33955184 PMCID: PMC8318442 DOI: 10.1002/ehf2.13410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims The Registry to Evaluate Early and Long‐Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL) risk scores differentiate survivals in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, measurements of N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) in the peripheral blood may not adequately reflect early‐stage decompensated heart failure (HF). Given that right heart catheterization (RHC) can facilitate measurements of intracardiac NT‐proBNP, in this study our aim was to evaluate the predictive role of right ventricular (RV) NT‐proBNP measurements in patients with PAH. Methods and results We prospectively collected intracardiac blood samples for NT‐proBNP measurements from patients diagnosed with World Health Organization Group I PAH during RHC. Clinical information including the aetiology of PAH (idiopathic, connective tissue disease, or congenital heart disease) and REVEAL scores were recorded. The primary endpoint was hospitalization for decompensated HF; median duration of follow‐up was 28 months. Among the 62 patients evaluated, 12 reached the designated endpoint. REVEAL risk scores were higher among patients hospitalized for HF. We detected no significant differences in plasma NT‐proBNP levels in peripheral circulation, in the right atrium, or in pulmonary arterial blood; however, significantly higher levels of NT‐proBNP were detected in the RV in patients diagnosed with PAH. RV NT‐proBNP was a sensitive predictor (cut‐off value 1500 pg/mL) of subsequent hospitalization for HF. Our findings indicate that RV NT‐proBNP levels add predictive value to REVEAL scores with respect to future hospitalization due to HF. Conclusions Right ventricular NT‐proBNP levels combined with REVEAL 2.0 could predict the development of subsequent HF in patients with PAH and may be a potential biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jun-Neng Roan
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsin Hsu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Douliu, Taiwan.,Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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9
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Shih JY, Lin YW, Fisch S, Cheng JT, Kang NW, Hong CS, Chen ZC, Chang WT. Dapagliflozin Suppresses ER Stress and Improves Subclinical Myocardial Function in Diabetes: From Bedside to Bench. Diabetes 2021; 70:262-267. [PMID: 33115828 DOI: 10.2337/db20-0840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Dapagliflozin (DAPA), a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, is approved for treatments of patients with diabetes. The DAPA-HF (Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure) trial disclosed DAPA's benefits in symptomatic heart failure, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. In this longitudinal and prospective study, we investigated changes of left ventricular functions including speckle tracking in patients with diabetes who were free from symptomatic heart failure post-DAPA treatment. Using a rat model with streptozotocin-induced diabetes, we measured the effects of DAPA on myocardial function. In patients with diabetes, following 6 months of DAPA treatment, despite no significant changes in left ventricular ejection fraction, the diastolic function and longitudinal strain improved. Likewise, compared with control, the diabetic rat heart developed pronounced fibrosis and a decline in strain and overall hemodynamics, all of which were mitigated by DAPA treatment. In contrast, despite insulin exerting a glucose-lowering effect, it failed to improve myocardial function and fibrosis. In our in vitro study, under high glucose cardiomyocytes showed significant activations of apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated proteins, which were attenuated by the coincubation of DAPA. Mechanistically, DAPA suppressed ER stress, reduced myocardial fibrosis, and improved overall function. The results can lead to further improvement in management of left ventricular function in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Wen Lin
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Sudeshna Fisch
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Juei-Tang Cheng
- Department of Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Wen Kang
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
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10
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Chiang CY, Huang SC, Chen M, Shih JY, Hong CS, Wu NC, Ho CH, Wu CC, Chen ZC, Chang WT. Effects of renal impairment on cardiac remodeling and clinical outcomes after myocardial infarction. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:2842-2848. [PMID: 34220312 PMCID: PMC8241772 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.61891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
How renal function influences post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) cardiac remodeling and outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of levels of renal impairment on drug therapy, echocardiographic parameters, and outcomes in patients with AMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 611 patients diagnosed with AMI underwent successful PCI, and two echocardiographic examinations were performed within 1 year after AMI. Patients were categorized according to Group 1: severely impaired estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<30, Group 2: mildly impaired 30≤eGFR<60, Group 3: potentially at risk 60≤eGFR<90 and normal eGFR≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2. During the 5-year follow-up period, the primary endpoints were cardiovascular mortality and outcomes. Patients with worse renal function (eGFR<30) were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, but relatively few were smokers or had hyperlipidemia. Despite more patients with lesions of the left anterior descending artery, those with worse renal function received suboptimal guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). Notably, patients with worse renal function presented with worse left ventricular function at baseline and subsequent follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed increased cardiovascular death, development of heart failure, recurrent AMI and revascularization in patients with worse renal function. Notably, as focusing on patients with ST elevation MI, the similar findings were observed. In multivariable Cox regression, impaired renal function showed the most significant hazard ratio in cardiovascular death. Collectively, in AMI patients receiving PCI, outcome differences are renal function dependent. We found that patients with worse renal function received less GDMT and presented with worse cardiovascular outcomes. These patients require more attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yen Chiang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan.,Department of Optometry, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Rende District, Tainan
| | - Sheng-Chung Huang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan
| | - Michael Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan.,Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan
| | - Nan-Chun Wu
- Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan.,Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan.,Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan
| | - Chia Chun Wu
- Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan.,Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan
| | - Wei-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan.,Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan
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11
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Chang WT, Lin CH, Hong CS, Liao CT, Liu YW, Chen ZC, Shih JY. The predictive value of global longitudinal strain in patients with heart failure mid-range ejection fraction. J Cardiol 2020; 77:509-516. [PMID: 33234403 DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) is defined as HF with a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) of 41-49%. However, the change in LV function and the subsequent prognosis in these patients remain unclear. We aimed to investigate whether LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) could differentiate the changes in LVEF and predict the clinical outcomes in patients with HFmrEF. METHODS According to the changes in LVEF on follow-up echocardiography, 273 outpatients with HFmrEF were divided into 3 groups: HFwEF (HF with worse EF: <40%), HFsEF (HF with similar EF: 40-49%), and HFrecEF (HF with recovered EF: >50%). Further, the LV GLS at diagnosis was evaluated. RESULTS The average follow-up duration was 31 months. Among patients with HFmrEF, the more impaired the LV GLS at baseline, the higher probability of HFwEF development. In comparison with patients with HFwEF and HFsEF, those with HFrecEF had a lower risk of hospitalization for HF. At a cut-off value of -11%, LV GLS differentiated the subsequent risk of cardiovascular death in patients with HFmrEF. In Cox regression, patients with LV GLS >-11% had a high risk of cardiovascular death. CONCLUSION In patients with HFmrEF, LV GLS is associated with LVEF changes and subsequent cardiovascular death. Patients with HFrecEF had a lower risk of hospitalization for HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih Hsien Lin
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Te Liao
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Wen Liu
- Department of Cardiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
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12
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Abstract
Radial artery occlusion (RAO) occurs in 2% to 18% of patients after transradial access (TRA) cardiac catheterization. Using a kaolin-filled pad (QuikClot) reduces compression time during TRA and might reduce RAO. We examined the RAO risk with the kaolin-filled pad after TRA cardiac catheterization.This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 260 patients who underwent TRA cardiac catheterization in a cardiac ward of a Medical Center from 2012 to 2016. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the case group (n = 130) was postoperatively treated with a kaolin-filled pad, and the control group (n = 130) was treated with conventional hemostasis. Color duplex ultrasound was used to evaluate the 24-hour and 1-month postoperative radial artery flow velocity, diameter, patency, and RAO risk.RAO risk was not significantly different between the case and control groups after 24 hours (4.6% vs 5.4%, P = .776) or after 1 month (5.4% vs 6.1%, P = .789), regardless of whether it was a first TRA cardiac catheterization (after 24 hours [P = .153] or after 1month [P = .617], respectively) or a repeated TRA cardiac catheterization (after 24 hours [P = .754] or after 1month [P = .753], respectively).Using a kaolin-filled pad after TRA cardiac catheterization did not significantly reduce RAO risk compared with conventional hemostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yen Chiang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
- Department of Optometry, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Rende District
| | - Weng-Ting Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
- Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
| | - Jhih-Yuan Shih
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
| | - Wen-Shiann Wu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
| | - Ming-Ting Chou
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong-Kang District
- Department of Recreation and Healthcare Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Rende District, Tainan City, Taiwan
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13
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Abstract
Background Patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) are at an increased risk of mortality, but whether their cardiovascular risks also increase remains to be determined. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with overall mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with unprovoked VTE. Methods and Results We identified 2154 patients newly diagnosed with unprovoked VTE from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database between 2000 and 2013, excluding those with reversible etiologies, underlying cancer, or autoimmune diseases. These patients with VTE were compared with an age‐, sex‐, and cardiovascular risk‐matched cohort of 4308 controls. The risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with VTE was 2.23 (CI, 1.93–2.57; P<0.0001) and 1.86 (CI, 1.65–2.09; P<0.0001) times, respectively, higher than that of the conditions in controls. These events mostly occurred during the first year after the diagnosis of unprovoked VTE. Among patients with VTE, advanced age, male sex, and comorbid diabetes mellitus indicated a higher incidence of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events. Conversely, comorbid hyperlipidemia attenuated these risks. Conclusions This nation‐wide cohort study revealed that patients with unprovoked VTE, particularly older males with diabetes mellitus, had an elevated risk of both mortality and cardiovascular events. Risk of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events were highest within the first year after diagnosis and persisted during the 10 years of follow‐up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ting Chang
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Li Chang
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Healthcare Administration and Medical Informatics, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chon-Seng Hong
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jhi-Joung Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zhih-Cherng Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan .,Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
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14
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Hong CS, Chung KM, Huang PC, Wang JJ, Yang CM, Chu CC, Chio CC, Chang FL, Chien CC. Epidemiology and mortality of liver abscess in end-stage renal disease dialysis patients: Taiwan national cohort study. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88078. [PMID: 24551077 PMCID: PMC3925100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence rates and mortality of liver abscess in ESRD patients on dialysis. DESIGN SETTING PARTICIPANTS & MEASUREMENTS Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we collected data from all ESRD patients who initiated dialysis between 2000 and 2006. Patients were followed until death, end of dialysis, or December 31, 2008. Predictors of liver abscess and mortality were identified using Cox models. RESULTS Of the 53,249 incident dialysis patients identified, 447 were diagnosed as having liver abscesses during the follow-up period (224/100,000 person-years). The cumulative incidence rate of liver abscess was 0.3%, 1.1%, and 1.5% at 1 year, 5 years, and 7 years, respectively. Elderly patients and patients on peritoneal dialysis had higher incidence rates. The baseline comorbidities of diabetes mellitus, polycystic kidney disease, malignancy, chronic liver disease, biliary tract disease, or alcoholism predicted development of liver abscess. Overall in-hospital mortality was 10.1%. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of liver abscess is high among ESRD dialysis patients. In addition to the well known risk factors of liver abscess, two other important risk factors, peritoneal dialysis and polycystic kidney disease, were found to predict liver abscess in ESRD dialysis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chon-Seng Hong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Ming Chung
- Department of General Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chang Huang
- Department of Orthopedics Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Taiwan
| | - Jhi-Joung Wang
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ming Yang
- Department of Neurology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chen Chu
- Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Ching Chio
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Lin Chang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chiang Chien
- Department of Nephrology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Food Nutrition, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
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15
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Jeong KY, Han IS, Choi SY, Lee JH, Lee JS, Hong CS, Park JW. Allergenicity of recombinant profilins from Japanese hop, Humulus japonicus. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2013; 23:345-350. [PMID: 24260980] [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] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Pollen from Japanese hop, Humulusjaponicus, is a major cause of pollinosis in Korea. Profilin (15 kDa) from Humulus scandens has been associated with strong allergenicity in allergic Chinese patients. Profilin has also been detected in pollen extract from Korean Japanese hop by proteomic analysis and immunoglobulin (Ig) E immunoblotting. However, the allergenicity of allergens isolated from Japanese hop has not been investigated in Korean individuals. This study was undertaken to produce recombinant profilin from Japanese hop and evaluate its allergenicity. METHODS Complementary DNA sequences encoding 2 isoallergens were cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and their recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli. The IgE-binding reactivities of the recombinant allergens were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS The deduced amino acid sequences of the H. japonicus profilins were 68.7% to 80.2% homologous with profilins from mugwort (Art v 4), ragweed (Amb a 14), and birch (Bet v 2). Two isoallergens of profilin from H. japonicus were 78.2% identical. Notably, the cDNA sequences of these 2 isoallergens were 98.5% (AY268422) and 98.7% (AY268424) identical to those of H. scandens. Serum samples from Japanese hop-sensitized individuals showed 12.9% IgE reactivity to both of the recombinant profilin isoallergens from H. japonicus, indicating that profilin may not be an allergenically dominant component of Japanese hop pollen. The recombinant profilins showed only 0% to 9.3% inhibition of the crude extract. CONCLUSIONS Two isoallergens of profilin that are highly conserved with those of mugwort, ragweed, and birch were identified in H. japonicus. Profilins from Japanese hop pollen may play a minor role in the pathogenesis of pollinosis in Koreans.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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16
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Lee JH, Park KH, Park JW, Hong CS. YKL-40 in induced sputum after allergen bronchial provocation in atopic asthma. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2012; 22:501-507. [PMID: 23397672] [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] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum chitinase-like proteins such as YKL-40 in asthmatic patients are known to positively correlate with disease severity but controversy remains regarding their role. The allergen bronchial provocation test (ABPT) can induce allergic airway inflammation in individuals with atopic asthma. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the induction and kinetics of YKL-40 during allergen-induced airway inflammation in atopic asthmatics. METHODS Thirteen patients were enrolled from May to November 2008. They all underwent ABPT with Dermatophagoides farinae crude extract. Induced sputums (IS) and serum were collected 3 times: 7 days before ABPT (baseline), 7 hours after ABPT, and 24 hours after ABPT. We examined the cytology of induced sputum (IS) and measured levels of YKL-40, interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in IS and/or serum. RESULTS Following ABPT, total inflammatory cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils increased in a time-dependent manner in IS. YKL-40 levels were increased in IS but not in serum at 7 or 24 hours after ABPT (P=.011 and P=.006, respectively). Similarly to YKL-40, IL-5 and ECP levels were also increased in IS at 7 and 24 hours after ABPT (P=.011 for IL-5 and P=.006 for ECP). Overall, YKL-40 levels were well correlated with ECP levels in IS (p=0.576, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS YKL-40 levels increased immediately in IS but not in the serum of atopic asthmatics. The correlation between YKL-40 levels and ECP in IS suggests that YKL-40 may play a pathophysiologic role in human atopic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Lee
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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17
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Lee JH, Lee YW, Shin YS, Jung YH, Hong CS, Park JW. Exercise-induced airway obstruction in young asthmatics measured by impulse oscillometry. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2010; 20:575-581. [PMID: 21313998] [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: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a good method for measuring airway resistance. It does not require special breathing skills and it can reflect different aspects of airway obstruction to those revealed by spirometry, which is an effort-dependent maneuver. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the characteristics of airway obstruction in young asthmatics after an exercise bronchial provocation test (EBPT) using IOS. METHODS Forty-seven young adults were enrolled in the study. All the participants underwent a methacholine bronchial provocation test (MBPT) and an EBPT for the evaluation of their asthma. IOS and spirometric parameters were collected at baseline and at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-EBPT.The participants were divided into 2 groups according to MBPT positivity: an airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) group and a no-AHR group. RESULTS There were differences in the percent decrease in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) between the 2 groups at 5, 10, and 20 minutes after exercise. Resistance at 5 Hz (R5) increased in the AHR group but not in the no-AHR group at 5 and 10 minutes after exercise. Integration of reactance from 5 Hz to resonance frequency (area of reactance, AX) was also increased in the AHR group at only 5 and 10 minutes post-EBPT. Delta R5 and delta AX at 5 and 10 minutes post-exercise were well correlated with the percent decrease in FEV1. CONCLUSIONS IOS parameters, especially delta R5 and delta AX, may be useful for performing objective evaluations and improving our understanding of exercise-induced airway obstruction in young asthmatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Lee
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Lee BK, Yoo JE, Jang YS, Kim JY, Hong CS, Ro JY. Allergen-specific immunosuppression by ovalbumin fused with diphtheria toxin in mice sensitized with albumins of different origin. Clin Exp Allergy 2005; 34:1642-8. [PMID: 15479282 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2004.02077.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously reported that ovalbumin-diphtheria toxin (OVA-DT) fusion protein eliminates mast cells bearing OVA-specific IgE and protects OVA-sensitized mice from fatal anaphylaxis induced by OVA challenge. OBJECTIVE To prove the specificity of therapeutic effect of OVA-DT to allergy induced by OVA only and not by other allergens such as human serum albumin (HSA), and to examine the cytotoxic effect of OVA-DT on B cells bearing OVA-specific IgE. METHODS Mice were sensitized with two different antigens, OVA and HSA, and then treated with OVA-DT. The therapeutic effect of OVA-DT on the allergy response to each of allergen was evaluated by anaphylactic test. The effect of OVA-DT on the production of allergen-specific Ig isotypes of the sensitized mice and the cytotoxic effect of OVA-DT on B cells expressing OVA-specific IgE were examined. RESULTS OVA-DT suppressed only OVA-induced allergy but not HSA-induced allergy in mice sensitized with a mixture of OVA and HSA. The suppression was prolonged even to the mice boosted with the same allergen 14 days after last treatment of OVA-DT. In addition, when the sensitized mice were boosted with the same allergens 14 days after last treatment of OVA-DT, the mice showed to increase the production of OVA-specific IgG2a/IgG3 and decreased that of OVA-specific IgE. OVA-DT targeted B cells bearing OVA-specific IgE, and killed them by DT-mediated cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION The therapeutic effect of OVA-DT was specific to OVA-induced allergy and the suppression of OVA-induced allergy was continuously shown in the mice boosted with the same allergens. This is considered to be caused by the increase of OVA-specific IgG2a and IgG3, and because of the decrease of OVA-specific IgE by killing of B cells bearing OVA-specific IgE.
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Affiliation(s)
- B K Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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19
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Abstract
The temperature and magnetic field dependence of ultrafast photoinduced spin and quasiparticle relaxation dynamics is reported in La(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3) and LaMnO(3) single crystals and thin films. Both manganites reveal an unusually slow ( approximately 10 micros) carrier relaxation process attributed to the spin-lattice relaxation in localized states. The quasiparticle dynamics is governed by the temperature- and magnetic field-dependent pseudogap in La(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3), and by the temperature-independent Jahn-Teller gap in LaMnO(3). The loss of spectral weight near the Fermi level in La(0.67)Ca(0.33)MnO(3) strongy affects the quasiparticle relaxation dynamics as temperature increases from below T(C). Our results show that the coupled dynamics of charge, spin and lattice is strongly correlated with the distinct gap structures in these manganites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y H Ren
- Applied Science, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187, USA
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Kannan K, Battula S, Loganathan BG, Hong CS, Lam WH, Villeneuve DL, Sajwan K, Giesy JP, Aldous KM. Trace organic contaminants, including toxaphene and trifluralin, in cotton field soils from Georgia and South Carolina, USA. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2003; 45:30-36. [PMID: 12948170 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-002-0267-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Residues of organic contaminants--including toxaphene, DDT, trifluralin, hexachlorocyclohexanes, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nonylphenol--were measured in 32 cotton field soils collected from South Carolina and Georgia in 1999. Toxaphene, trifluralin, DDT and PAHs were the major contaminants found in these soils. The maximum concentration of toxaphene measured was 2,500 ng/g dry weight. Trifluralin was detected in all the soils at concentrations ranging from 1 to 548 ng/g dry weight. Pesticide residues were not proportional to soil organic carbon content, indicating that their concentrations were a reflection of application history and dissipation rates rather than air-soil equilibrium. Soil extracts were also subjected to in vitro bioassays to assess dioxinlike, estrogenic, and androgenic/glucocorticoid potencies. Relatively more polar fractions of the soils elicited estrogenic and androgenic/glucocorticoid activities, but the magnitude of response was much less than those found in coastal marine sediments from industrialized locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kannan
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12201-0509, USA.
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21
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Jeong KY, Jin HS, Oh SH, Hong CS, Lee IY, Ree HI, Yong TS. Monoclonal antibodies to recombinant Der f 2 and development of a two-site ELISA sensitive to major Der f 2 isoallergen in Korea. Allergy 2002; 57:29-34. [PMID: 11991285] [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: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Der f 2 is a major sensitizing allergen in patients allergic to house dust mites worldwide. Isoforms of Der f 2 have been reported and are known to have different antigenicities. The aim of this study was to facilitate antigenic analysis and to develop an improved method for the detection of Der f 2 isoallergen, which is prevalent in Korea. METHODS A two-site ELISA was developed with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which were produced against recombinant Der f 2 (rDer f 2) and applied to assess Der f 2 in bedding samples. RESULTS A major isoform of Der f 2, found in Korea, was found to have amino acid variations especially at position 100 from lysine to glutamic acid, which is known to reduce significantly the binding affinity of mAbs when used to assess group 2 allergens. The detection limit of the developed two-site ELISA was determined to be about 8 ng/ml with rDer f 2 and 1 microg/ml with Derntatophagoides farinae crude extract. The average amount of Der f 2 in dust obtained from bedding samples from 89 homes in Seoul was estimated to be 25.61+/-10.70 microg/g dust. CONCLUSIONS Assays using mAbs for rDer f 2 could be useful for the assessment of environmental allergen exposure and mAbs could be used to further characterize the isoallergens of Der f 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Jeong
- Department of Parasitology and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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22
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Abstract
Junctate is a newly identified integral ER/SR membrane calcium binding protein, which is an alternative splicing form of the same gene generating aspartyl beta-hydroxylase and junctin. Screening a mouse heart cDNA library using canine junctin cDNA as a probe yielded three complete mouse heart cDNAs. One of the cDNAs is homologous to the previously reported human junctate. The three mouse junctate proteins are composed of 270, 259, and 215 amino acids (we named them junctate-1, -2, and -3). The apparent molecular masses of the mouse junctates in SDS-PAGE were in the range between 40 and 53 kDa. Northern and Western blot analyses indicate that mouse junctates are expressed in heart, brain, spleen, lung, liver, kidney, and stomach, but not in skeletal muscle. The apparent molecular weights of junctates from heart and brain were somewhat different from those from the other tissues tested, suggesting that there are tissue-specific expression patterns of the different junctate isoforms. Immunohistochemical studies showed that junctates were expressed both in ventricular and atrial tissues. This is the first study that shows the presence of 3 distinct cardiac junctate isoforms expressed in various mammalian tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Hong
- Department of Life Science, Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Kwangju, 500-712, Korea
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23
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Park JW, Kang DB, Choi SY, Kim CW, Kim KS, Hong CS. Heterogeneity of IgE epitopes of vinyl sulphone reactive dye: human serum albumin that react with IgE. Clin Exp Allergy 2001; 31:1779-86. [PMID: 11696055 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2001.01194.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vinyl sulphone reactive dye (vRD), which consists of vinyl sulphone reactive groups and a chromogen, can elicit IgE-mediated occupational asthma (OA) by haptenation. Human serum albumin (HSA) is known as the most reliable carrier protein for the vRD, the IgE epitopes of vRD-HSA are not well characterized. In this study we evaluated the epitope of vRD-HAS-specific IgE. METHODS Two vRD (Remazole Black-GR and Remazole Orange-3R), Procion Red-MX-5B, which has a dichlorotriazine reactive group, and vinyl sulphone (VS), were haptenated to HSA, respectively. vRD-HSA was denatured by heat or mercaptoethanol treatment and the allergenicities of denatured and non-denatured vRD-HSA were compared by ELISA and IgE immunoblotting using the sera of six vRD-OA patients. vRD-HSA-specific, Procion Red-MX-5B (pRD)-HSA-specific and VS-HAS-specific IgE were also measured with ELISA and the cross-reactivity between them was evaluated with ELISA inhibition. RESULTS Denaturation of vRD-HSA by heat affected its allergenicity markedly in five of six sera of RD-OA. When vRD was conjugated to the pre-heated HSA, its allergenicity also disappeared or was markedly attenuated compared with the vRD-HSA in five of six sera. Mercaptoethanol treatment markedly affected the allergenicity of the RD-HSA in all six RD-OA sera. Immunoblotting from non-denatured PAGE showed strong IgE affinity to vRD-HSA but immunoblotting from denatured SDS PAGE did not show IgE affinity. Among six RD-OA patients, five and four patients had pRD-HSA-specific and VS-HSA-specific IgE, respectively. However, the vRD-HSA-specific IgE was neither inhibited by pRD-HSA nor VS-HSA CONCLUSION: We considered that the conformational structure of HSA would be critical for the IgE epitopes during the haptenation process and both of the chromogen and reactive groups of the vRD would contribute to the formation of IgE epitope. Our results also confirmed the heterogeneity of IgE epitopes in the RD-HSA complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Institute of Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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24
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Abstract
Triadin is a ryanodine receptor and calsequestrin binding protein located in junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum of striated muscles. In the present study, mouse cardiac triadin cDNAs have been identified by cDNA library screening and RT-PCR. The deduced aa sequences show that the three isoforms consist of 277, 293 and 305 aa giving rise to the molecular weights of approximately 31,414, 33,066, and 34,328, respectively. The isoforms have identical 262 aa N-terminal sequences, whereas they have distinct C-terminal sequences. Northern blot analysis using a cDNA probe representing the N-terminal common region of triadin revealed that the mouse triadins were present both in heart and skeletal muscles. The estimated sizes of the transcripts were approximately 1.3, 4.3 and 5 kb in heart and 5, 5.5 and 7 kb in skeletal muscle. Endo H treatment and Western blot analysis of isolated mouse cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and in vitro translation products indicate that there are three distinct mouse cardiac triadin isoforms having molecular weights of 35, 35.5 and 40 kDa. We termed those three isoforms as mouse cardiac triadin 1, mouse cardiac triadin 2 and mouse cardiac triadin 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Hong
- Department of Life Science, Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 1 Oryong-dong, Puk-gu, Kwangju 500-712, South Korea
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25
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Abstract
Two new one-dimensional single azide-bridged metal(II) compounds [[M(5-methylpyrazole)4(N3)]n](ClO4)n(H2O)n [M = Co (1a), Ni (2a)] were prepared by treating an M(II) ion with stoichiometric amount of sodium azide in the presence of four equivalents of the 3(5)-methylpyrazole ligand. The isostructural compounds 1a and 2a crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n. The azide bridging ligands have a unique end-to-end coordination mode that brings two neighboring metal centers into a cis-position with respect to the azide unit to form single end-to-end azide-bridged cobalt(II) and nickel(II) chains. The two neighboring metal atoms at inversion centers adopt octahedral environments with four equatorial 3(5)-methylpyrazole ligands and two axial azide bridges. Two adjacent equatorial least-squares planes form dihedral angles of 60.5 degrees and 60.6 degrees for Co and Ni, respectively. In addition, the metal-azide-metal units form large M-N3-M torsion angles, which are magnetically important geometrical parameters, of 71.6 degrees for M=Co and 75.7 degrees for M=Ni. It should also be noted that the M-N-N angles associated with end-to-end azide group, another magnetically important structural parameter, fall into the experimentally observed range of 120-140 degrees as 128.3(3) and 147.8(3) degrees for cobalt species and 128.4(2) and 146.1(3) degrees for nickel species; these values deviate from the theoretical value of around 164 degrees at which the incidental orthogonality is achieved under the torsion angle of 0 degrees. The compounds 1a and 2a have unique magnetic properties of ferromagnetism, zero-field splitting, and spin canting. The MO calculations indicate that the quasiorthogonality between the magnetic orbitals of metal ions and the p atomic orbitals of the bridging azide is possible in the observed structures and leads to the ferromagnetism. The spin canting related to the perturbation of ferromagnetism arises from the magnetic anisotropy and antisymmetric interactions judged by the structural parameters of the zero-field splitting and the tilted MN4 planes in a chain. The enhancement of magnetic interactions was accomplished by dehydrating the chain compounds to afford two soft magnets with critical temperature T(C) and coercive field of 2 K and 35 G for 1b and 2.3 K and 20 G for 2b, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Hong
- Department of Chemistry, School of Molecular Science and Center for Molecular Design and Synthesis, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon
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26
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Abstract
Formaldehyde is a low molecular weight chemical and can elicit acute and chronic health related problems. Most of the inhaled formaldehyde is retained in the upper respiratory tract due to its extraordinary solubility. Therefore, cases of formaldehyde-induced occupational asthma are sporadic despite its widespread use in industrial processes. We herein report upon a case of occupational asthma due to formaldehyde, which was confirmed by workplace challenge including working environmental assessments, and by formaldehyde inhalation challenge using a specially designed closed-circuit apparatus. To investigate the possible involvement of an IgE-mediated mechanism, both in vitro and in vivo tests were done. IgE antibody specific for formaldehyde-human serum albumin conjugate (F-HSA) was not detected by ELISA, and no specific cutaneous reactivity to F-HSA was noted by either skin prick or intradermal test. The patient was diagnosed with formaldehyde-induced occupational asthma not associated with an IgE mediated mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Kim
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, C.P.O. Box 8044, Seoul 120-752, Korea
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27
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McKee BD, Hong CS, Das S. On the roles of heterochromatin and euchromatin in meiosis in drosophila: mapping chromosomal pairing sites and testing candidate mutations for effects on X-Y nondisjunction and meiotic drive in male meiosis. Genetica 2001; 109:77-93. [PMID: 11293799 DOI: 10.1023/a:1026536200594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Mapping of pairing sites involved in meiotic homolog disjunction in Drosophila has led to conflicting hypotheses about the nature of such sites and the role of heterochromatin in meiotic pairing. In the female-specific distributive system, pairing regions appear to be exclusively heterochromatic and map to broad regions encompassing many different sequences. In male meiosis, autosomal pairing sites appear to be distributed broadly within euchromatin but to be absent from heterochromatin, whereas the X-pairing site maps in the centric heterochromatin. The X site has been shown to coincide with the intergenic spacer (IGS) repeats within the rDNA arrays shared between the X and Y. It has not been clear whether the heterochromatic location of this pairing site has any significance. A novel assay for genic modifiers of X-Y chromosome pairing was developed based on the intermediate nondisjunction levels observed in males whose X chromosome lacks the native pairing site but contains two transgenic insertions of single rDNA genes. This assay was used to test several mutations in Su(var) (Suppressor of position effect variegation), PcG (Polycomb-Group) recombination defective, and repair-defective genes. No strong effects on disjunction were seen. However, the tests did uncover several mutations that suppress or enhance the meiotic drive (distorted X-Y recovery ratio) that accompanies X-Y pairing failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- B D McKee
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-0840, USA.
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28
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Rattner BA, McGowan PC, Hatfield JS, Hong CS, Chu SG. Organochlorine contaminant exposure and reproductive success of black-crowned night-herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) nesting in Baltimore harbor, Maryland. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2001; 41:73-82. [PMID: 11385592 DOI: 10.1007/s002440010222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2000] [Accepted: 01/09/2001] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The declining size of the Baltimore Harbor black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) colony has been hypothesized to be linked to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure. In 1998, a "sample egg" was collected from 65 black-crowned night-heron nests (each containing > or = three eggs) for contaminant analysis, and the remaining eggs in these 65 nests, plus four two-egg nests, were monitored for hatching and fledging success. Eggs were also collected from 12 nests at Holland Island, a reference site in southern Chesapeake Bay. Samples were analyzed for 26 organochlorine pesticides and metabolities and 145 PCB congeners. Pesticide and metabolite concentrations, including p,p'-DDE, were well below thresholds associated with adverse reproductive effects at both sites. Average concentration of total PCBs, 12 Ah receptor-active PCB congeners, and toxic equivalents in eggs from Baltimore Harbor were greater (up to 35-fold) than that observed in Holland Island samples. Overall nest success at the Baltimore Harbor heronry was estimated by the Mayfield method to be 0.74, and the mean number of young fledged/hen was 2.05, which is within published productivity estimates for maintaining a stable black-crowned night-heron population. Using logistic regression, no significant relationships were found between organochlorine contaminant concentrations in sample eggs and hatching, fledging, or overall reproductive success. Processes other than poor reproduction (e.g., low postfledging survival, emigration, habitat degradation) may be responsible for the declining size of the Baltimore Harbor colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Rattner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12011 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708-4041, USA.
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Park JW, Kim CW, Kim KS, Choi SY, Kang DB, Ko SH, Won JU, Yang JY, Hong CS. Role of skin prick test and serological measurement of specific IgE in the diagnosis of occupational asthma resulting from exposure to vinyl sulphone reactive dyes. Occup Environ Med 2001; 58:411-6. [PMID: 11351058 PMCID: PMC1740145 DOI: 10.1136/oem.58.6.411] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Some patients with occupational asthma resulting from exposure to reactive dyes have skin reactivity to the causative dyes and specific IgE to reactive dyes have been found in these patients. However, the usefulness of skin prick tests (SPTs) and serological measurement of specific IgE in screening, diagnosis, and monitoring the occupational asthma resulting from exposure to reactive dyes have not yet been assessed. In this study, the clinical validation of SPTs and measurement of specific IgE to vinyl sulphone reactive dyes by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated. METHODS 42 Patients with occupational asthma from reactive dyes (true positive group) were enrolled. In these the causative reactive dye was confirmed by bronchial challenge test. 93 Asymptomatic factory workers with negative challenge to the reactive dye (true negative group) and 16 unexposed controls with negative challenge to the reactive dye were also enrolled. Skin prick tests were done with 10 mg/ml reactive dye in 0.4% phenol/0.9% saline. IgE specific to reactive dye conjugated to human serum albumin (HSA) was measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). RESULTS None of the unexposed controls had a positive response to SPTs. The sensitivity (76.2% v 53.7%), specificity (91.4% v 86.0%), positive predictive value (80.0% v 62.9%), and negative predictive value (89.5% v 80.8%) of SPTs were higher than those of ELISAs. The mean weal size of reaction to reactive dye was weakly correlated with the ELISA optical density of IgE to reactive dye conjugate in patients with occupational asthma from reactive dyes (n=41, r=0.337, p<0.05). In four patients with occupational asthma from reactive dyes and eight control subjects exposed to reactive dye, IgE specific to reactive dye conjugated to HSA was detected with ELISA even though they showed negative skin reactivity. Six patients completely avoided the reactive dye for a mean (SD) 27.8 (10.3) months, IgE specific to reactive dyes decreased in all six patients (p<0.05) during this time. CONCLUSIONS Both SPTs and detection of IgE specific to reactive dye in serum samples could be valuable for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring occupational asthma resulting from exposure to reactive dyes. These two tests would complement each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, CPO Box 8044, Seoul, Korea
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30
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Forced oscillation technique (FOT) is a method to characterize the mechanical properties of the respiratory system over a wide range of frequencies. Its most important advantage is to require minimal cooperation from the subject. This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the FOT applications in patients with bronchial asthma by estimating the associations between asthma severity and FOT parameters, and the relationships between FOT and spirometry parameters. METHODS 216 patients with asthma were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified into 3 different groups according to their symptoms and pulmonary functions. Respiratory impedance, resistance (at 5 Hz, 20 Hz, 35 Hz) and resonant frequency were measured by FOT. FEV1, FVC and MMEF were measured with conventional spirometry. RESULTS There were significant differences of resonant frequency, resistance at 5 Hz and 20 Hz, resistance difference at 5 Hz and 20 Hz according to asthma severity (p < 0.05, respectively). Resonant frequency, resistance at 5 Hz, and impedance were significantly correlated with FEV1 (r = -0.55, -0.48, -0.49, p < 0.05, respectively), and with MMEF in patients with normal pulmonary function (r = -0.37, -0.35, -0.34, p < 0.05, respectively). Resistance at 5 Hz had similar reproducibility compared to FEV1 (resistance at 5 Hz, r = 0.78 vs FEV1, r = 0.79). CONCLUSION FOT is a useful and alternative method to evaluate the clinical status of bronchial asthma. Further studies will be needed to clarify its value for a wide range of clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Yun YY, KO SH, Park JW, Lee IY, Ree HI, Hong CS. Comparison of allergenic components between German cockroach whole body and fecal extracts. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2001; 86:551-6. [PMID: 11379807 DOI: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62904-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [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: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cockroaches have been demonstrated to be an etiologic factor in allergic diseases. Further, sensitivity to cockroach places patients with asthma at risk for exacerbations that require emergency medical care. OBJECTIVE This study compared the differences in allergenic components between German cockroach whole body and German cockroach fecal extracts (GWBE and GFE). METHODS Patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis were skin prick tested with German cockroach extract (Bayer Corporation, West Haven, CT). Serum specimens from these patients, 25 with positive skin tests and 8 with negative tests, were used for the ELISA and immunoblot experiments. RESULTS By ELISA, 72% (18 of 25) and 60% (15 of 25) of positive responders' sera showed IgE antibodies to GWBE and GFE, respectively, and the IgE levels to GWBE were highly correlated with those to GFE (r = .84, P < .01). In inhibition ELISA experiments, extensive cross-reactivity was observed between GWBE and GFE, slight cross-reactivity between GWBE and Dermatophagoides farinae, and no cross-reactivity between GFE and D. farinae. The two-site monoclonal antibody ELISA detected more of the German cockroach major allergens in GFE compared with GWBE; 6.2 times (2420 vs 390 U/mL) for Bla g 1 and 3 times (15.32 vs 5.07 microg/mL) for Bla g 2. In the immunoblot comparison of patients' sera, the IgE antibodies binding to GWBE were apparently different from those binding to GFE in all the positive responders' sera; eg, 50% or more of the 25 positive responders' sera reacted to 43- to 67-kDa proteins in GWBE and to 28- to 30-kDa proteins in GFE, respectively. No IgE antibodies bound to components in GWBE and GFE in the 8 negative responders' sera. CONCLUSIONS There are major differences between the allergenic components of GWBE and GFE. Based on the amounts of major allergens (Bla g 1, Bla g 2), German cockroach feces are a more important source of allergen than the whole body in respiratory allergic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Yun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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32
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Abstract
For those with allergy, vaccination with a specific allergen has often been used as a major therapeutic measure. However, the universal application of this technique in clinics have been restricted due to its low success rates and the risk of active systemic anaphylactic shock (ASAS). In this regard, we constructed a fusion protein (OVA-DT), ovalbumin (OVA) fused with diphtheria toxin protein (DT), which may exert a specific cytotoxicity to cells bearing OVA-specific IgE. Its therapeutic effect was evaluated in mice (BALB/c) sensitized with OVA (Os-mice). OVA challenges to the OVA-sensitized mice (Os-mice) caused ASAS to death within 30 min, but OVA-DT treatment afforded mice complete protection. When OVA-DT was treated to the Os-mice, none showed the signs of ASAS when re-challenged 48 h after the treatment. OVA-DT itself was not found to be toxic or allergenic in normal mice. The effect of OVA-DT on the biological functions of mast cells was also studied. Binding of OVA-DT to OVA-specific IgE bearing mast cells and the inhibition of histamine release from these cells were observed. In addition, OVA-DT treatment inhibited the proliferation of OVA-specific B cells in mice. In Os-mice treated with OVA-DT, levels of anti-OVA IgG2a in serum and the production of IFN-gamma by splenic lymphocytes were found to increase, but the production of IL-4 by these cells decreased. Re-direction of cytokine profiles from OVA-specific Th2 to OVA-specific Thl is suggested. These results indicate that OVA-DT can protect Os-mice from ASAS due to OVA challenge, because it inactivates OVA-specific IgE-expressing cells, including mast cells and B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- B K Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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33
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Abstract
Allergen injection therapy may improve nonallergic bronchial hyperresponsiveness, but results at the moment are less than convincing. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of immunotherapy on the degree of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with allergic bronchial asthma (BA) and/or allergic rhinitis (AR). Methacholine challenge bronchial provocation test, allergic skin test, serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were performed before and after 12 months or more of immunotherapy. The improved group, as determined by a shift of at least two doubling concentrations of methacholine, was 75% of AR (n=16), 41.7% of BA (n=24) and 53.8% of BA+ AR (n=13). The geometric mean of the methacholine provocational concentration (PC20) changed from 3.40 to 14.36 mg/ml (P <0.05) in AR, from 0.73 to 1.04 mg/ml in BA (not significant), and from 1.43 to 5.07 mg/ml (P <0.05) in BA+ AR. In conclusion, nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness was improved by immunotherapy in three quarters of the allergic rhinitis cases and in about a half of the allergic bronchial asthma patients, which suggests that immunotherapy might be helpful at preventing the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in allergic rhinitis patients, and that it does not improve bronchial hyperresponsiveness in about a half of allergic bronchial asthma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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34
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Buckwheat (BW) has been recognized as a common food allergen in Korea, Japan, and other countries. Until now, serologic findings of BW food-allergic patients and its major allergenic components have not been clarified. In this study, we analyzed the serologic findings of BW food allergy and characterized its major allergenic components. METHODS Nineteen BW-allergic subjects with symptoms after BW ingestion and 15 asymptomatic control subjects with positive skin prick test to BW were recruited. BW-specific IgE was measured with the Pharmacia CAP kit. Allergenic components of BW were analyzed by IgE immunoblotting, periodate oxidation, two-dimensonal PAGE, and sequencing of N-terminal amino acids. RESULTS From the BW-allergic patients and asymptomatic controls, the sensitivity (100%), specificity (53%), and negative (100%) and positive predictive values (73%) of Pharmacia CAP specific IgE for diagnosis were estimated. The prevalence of IgE binding to 24-kDa (pI 8.3), 16-kDa (pI 5.6), and 9-kDa (pI 5.0/ 6.0) allergens was higher than 50% in BW-allergic and asymptomatic subjects. However, the specific IgE to split 19-kDa (pI 6.5/7.0) allergens were more specifically found in BW-allergic patients than in asymptomatic subjects (78% vs 7%). N-terminal amino-acid sequences of 19-kDa and 16-kDa allergens showed moderate and weak homology to the 19-kDa globulin protein of rice and alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitor of millet, respectively. The N-terminus of the 9-kDa isoallergens were not different from each other and were identified as the reported trypsin inhibitors of BW. Attenuation of the IgE binding to the 9-kDa allergen was found with periodate oxidation. CONCLUSIONS The allergens of 24, 19, 16, and 9 kDa are strong candidates to be major allergens, and the 19-kDa allergen was relatively specific for BW-allergic patients. Moreover, measurement of BW-specific IgE and the features of immunoblotting should be very useful tools in the diagnosis of BW allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Institute of Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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35
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.) continues to be planted as a shade tree in preference to other species in Seoul, Korea. The proportion of ginkgo to total shade trees was 43.2% in 1998, but the allergenic characteristics of ginkgo pollen has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVES This study was undertaken to obtain information regarding the skin reactivity rate to ginkgo pollen in a population of Korean subjects with respiratory allergy. Possible ginkgo pollen allergens and the cross-reactivity of ginkgo pollen with other prevalent pollens were also examined. METHODS Four hundred and forty-seven patients with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis were skin prick tested with extract of ginkgo pollen (1:20 wt/vol). Of these patients, positive skin responders (A/H ratio > or =2+) were selected for ELISA and immunoblot experiments. RESULTS A total of 21 patients (4.7%) showed skin reactivity (A/H ratio > or =2+) to ginkgo pollen in the skin prick test. They were also cosensitized to many other tree, grass, and weed pollens. Sixteen (76%) of the 21 positive skin responders showed specific IgE responses to ginkgo pollen in ELISA. In inhibitory ELISA, IgE binding to ginkgo pollen was inhibited by more than 80% by oak, ryegrass, mugwort, and ragweed; and 34% by hop Japanese; and 10% by rBet v 2 at 10 microg/mL. In immunoblot, 10 out of 21 sera (48%) reacted to the 15-kD protein of ginkgo pollen, 9 (43%) to 33-35 kD, and 8 (38%) to 36-38 kD. In inhibitory immunoblot, IgE binding to ginkgo pollen proteins was almost completely inhibited by oak, ryegrass, mugwort and ragweed, but only partially by hop Japanese and rBet v 2. CONCLUSION The skin reactivity rate to ginkgo pollen is approximately 4.7% in a population of Korean subjects with respiratory allergy. Since ginkgo pollen has a high cross-reactivity with other prevalent pollens, it could cause clinical symptoms during its pollen season by cross-reacting with the IgE produced in response to other pollens in patients sensitized to multiple pollens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Yun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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36
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Abstract
Junctin is a calsequestrin binding protein detected in junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum of striated muscles. In the present study, the human cardiac junctin cDNA has been cloned by human heart cDNA library screening and RT-PCR, and the cDNA sequence has been determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of human junctin (210 aa) has 84% sequence identity to that of canine junctin identified previously. A human junctin isoform (isoform 1, 225 aa) was also identified and characterized. The isoform 1 has a 15 aa insertion at the amino acid residue 55 of the human junctin. Northern blot analysis revealed that the human junctin was present both in cardiac and skeletal muscles, and the sizes of the transcripts were approximately 3.0 and 4.2kb. Amino acid residues 6-78 of human junctin and 35-107 of human aspartyl beta-hydroxylase (hAspH) overlapped perfectly. The gene copy number of human junctin and hASPH was investigated by genomic Southern blot analysis using various restriction enzymes and a common DNA probe. The result showing a single hybridized DNA band at each restriction enzyme suggests that the same genomic region codes both junctin and hASPH.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Calcium-Binding Proteins
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/chemistry
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Humans
- Membrane Proteins
- Mixed Function Oxygenases
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Muscle Proteins/genetics
- Myocardium/chemistry
- Protein Biosynthesis
- Protein Isoforms/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Alignment
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Tissue Distribution
- Transcription, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Lim
- Department of Life Science, Kwangju Institute of Science and Technology (K-JIST), 1 Oryong-dong, Puk-gu, 500-712, Kwangju, South Korea
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37
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Abstract
Titanium dioxide-mediated photodegradation of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil/aqueous systems with added fluorinated surfactant was investigated. PCBs can bind tightly to organic matter in the soil, especially in aged, contaminated soil. Experiments showed an effective PCB photocatalytic degradation in mixed systems of soil/clay with anionic fluorinated surfactant FC-143 and TiO2. The FC-143 surfactant is stable in this photochemical process. PCB degradation rates in samples followed the order: spiked clay > spiked soil > Hudson River bank soil. The results suggest that anionic fluorinated surfactant may form semimicelles and/or admicelles on the surface of positively charged TiO2. The hydrophobic surface of TiO2 can provide a nonpolar phase that acts as a partioning medium for hydrophobic PCBs. Therefore, PCBs in soil can be released to the semimicelle and/or admicelle on the TiO2 surface and are effectively photodegraded in a dispersion containing anionic fluorinated surfactant. The combination of surfactant extraction and photooxidation forms the basis for a novel two-stage process for the removal and destruction of PCBs from soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Huang
- Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany 12201-0509, USA
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Park GM, Lee SM, Lee IY, Ree HI, Kim KS, Hong CS, Yong TS. Localization of a major allergen, Der p 2, in the gut and faecal pellets of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Clin Exp Allergy 2000; 30:1293-7. [PMID: 10971476 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00883.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The house dust mite Dermatophagoides ptronyssinus is one of the most significant indoor sensitizing agents of allergy. Allergen localization may indicate the importance of secreted materials, faeces, and nonexcreted mite body components as allergen sources. OBJECTIVE This study attempted to localize the sites and concentrations of Der p 2 in the cryostat sections of D. pteronyssinus using antirecombinant Der p 2 monoclonal antibody. METHODS Male and female mites and mite faeces collected separately from both sexes were used. Live mites were embedded and serial cryostat sections for light microscopy were performed. Anti-recombinant Der p 2 monoclonal antibody previously produced by the authors was used. For immunoprobing, mite cryostat sections were incubated in the following antibody-containing solutions: monoclonal antibody against Der p 2 was initially applied to the sections and fluorescent isothiocyanate conjugated antimouse immunoglobulin G was reacted as the secondary antibody. The faecal pellets were treated the same as described above. RESULTS Immunofluorescent probing of cryostat sections with the monoclonal antibody showed labelling of the gut lining, gut contents and defecated faecal pellets. No other internal organs were identified as positively labelled. CONCLUSION This study suggested that a major allergen, Der p 2, found in the house dust mite D. pteronyssinus is derived from the digestive tract and concentrated in the faeces.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Park
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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39
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Byun MW, Kim JH, Lee JW, Park JW, Hong CS, Kang IJ. Effects of gamma radiation on the conformational and antigenic properties of a heat-stable major allergen in brown shrimp. J Food Prot 2000; 63:940-4. [PMID: 10914665 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-63.7.940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate the application of food irradiation technology as a method for reducing shrimp allergy without adverse effects. Shrimp heat-stable protein (HSP) was isolated and gamma irradiated at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 kGy in the condition of solution (1 mg/ml), and fresh shrimp was also irradiated. Conformational change of irradiated HSP was monitored by means of spectrometric measures, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with mouse monoclonal antibody, or human patients' sera and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ability of the immunoglobulin E of patients allergic to shrimp to bind to irradiated HSP was dose dependently reduced. The amount of intact HSP in an irradiated solution was reduced by gamma irradiation, depending on the dose. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the main band disappeared and the traces induced from coagulation appeared at a higher molecular weight zone. The binding ability of immunoglobulin E to allergens in the extracts from irradiated shrimp decreased, depending on the dose. The results provide a new method so that food irradiation technology can be applied to reduce allergenicity of shrimp.
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Affiliation(s)
- M W Byun
- The Team for Radiation Food Science and Biotechnology, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Yusong, Taejon.
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40
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Park JW, Ko SH, Yong TS, Ree HI, Jeoung BJ, Hong CS. Cross-reactivity of Tyrophagus putrescentiae with Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in urban areas. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1999; 83:533-9. [PMID: 10619345 DOI: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62865-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tyrophagus putrescentiae (TP) have cohabited with D. pteronys-sinus (DP) and D. farinae (DF) in more than 25% of houses in urban areas of Korea, and many atopic subjects have also been cosensitized to TP and Dermatophagoides species. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the cross-reactivity of TP with DF and DP in atopic subjects of urban inhabitants. METHODS The cross-reactivity was evaluated with inhibition ELISA and immunoblotting. Allergenic components of TP were evaluated with IgE immunoblotting of the sera from 25 individual atopics. All enrolled subjects lived in urban areas. RESULTS In ELISA inhibition with pooled sera, all TP, DP, and DF extract inhibited TP-specific IgE by more than 90%, and the 50% inhibitory concentrations of TP, DP, and DF extract were 0.4 microg/mL, 0.8 microg/mL and 0.8 microg/mL, respectively. The maximum inhibition, however, of DP-specific and DF-specific IgE by TP extracts was 32% and 29%, respectively. With six individual sera, the TP-specific IgE was also inhibited by more than 88% with DF extract in all cases. In inhibition immunoblotting, all of the TP, DP, and DF extracts completely inhibited the TP-specific IgE bands at a concentration of 2.0 microg/mL. Fifteen allergenic components in TP were found. Among them, the 16-kD allergen was most prevalent (52%) and its IgE binding was completely inhibited by 0.1 microg/mL of purified Der f2 and it also bound with 2 different monoclonal antibodies to the group 2 allergen of Dermatophagoides species. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested considerable cross-reactivity between TP and the two Dermatophagoides species in urban areas where TP and Dermatophagoides species cohabit. The 16-kD allergen, which shared common epitopes with the group 2 allergen of Dermatophagoides, is one of the most prevalent allergens of TP.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Abstract
BACKGROUND In the southeastern United States, imported fire ants have caused systemic reactions with a high incidence. On the contrary, in Korea Pachycondyla species ants (P chinensis and P solitaria), and the family Formicidae, which are in the genus Pachycondyla and the subfamily Ponerinae, have only occasionally caused systemic reactions. OBJECTIVE We sought to assess whether commercially available imported fire ant extract would be useful in treating patients with anaphylaxis induced by venom from a Pachycondyla species ant. METHODS Serum samples were collected from 2 women who had anaphylaxis induced by Pachycondyla species ant venom and from 6 volunteers with no history of having been stung. Specific IgE to Pachycondyla species ant extracts was measured by means of ELISA and possible allergenic components by immunoblot. Cross-reactivity between Pachycondyla chinensis, P solitaria, and imported fire ant extracts was also measured by inhibitory ELISA. RESULTS Skin prick test responses were strongly positive to the extract of P chinensis (1:20 wt/vol) in the patient. Ten healthy volunteers exhibited negative responses. The 2 patients' sera exhibited high ELISA values, with absorbencies of 0.78 and 0.61 for P chinensis and 0.83 and 0.68 for P solitaria, respectively, and negative ELISA values for the extract of imported fire ants (absorbency <0.01). Imported fire ants showed no inhibition of the IgE binding to P chinensis or P solitaria. Possible allergenic components of Pachycondyla species ant extracts are 29- and 27-kd proteins and, less frequently, 16 kd proteins. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that patients who have had an anaphylactic reaction to a Pachycondyla species ant might not benefit from immunotherapy with an imported fire ant extract. Immunotherapy with the extract of Pachycondyla species ants is expected to be highly effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Y Yun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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42
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Yong TS, Lee JS, Lee IY, Park SJ, Park GM, Ree HI, Park JW, Hong CS, Park HS. Identification of Chironomus kiiensis allergens, a dominant species of non-biting midges in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 1999; 37:171-9. [PMID: 10507225 PMCID: PMC2733147 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.1999.37.3.171] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Non-biting midges are known to contain potent inhalant allergens. IgE antibody responses to the crude extract of Chironomus kiiensis adults, a dominant chironomid species in Korea, were examined. With the IgE-ELISA or passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reactions, increased levels of chironomid-specific IgE were detected in the skin test positive human sera, or immunized BALB/c mouse sera with the crude extract adsorbed to alum. IgE-immunoblot analysis showed major IgE-reacting protein band patterns, which reacted with more than 50% of the skin test positive human sera, at 110, 80, 73, 46, 40, 37, 34, and 31 kDa. The reactive band patterns were largely similar between skin test positive humans and immune BALB/c mice. However, the bands of 55, 31, 27, 26, 24, and 23 kDa were found only in sensitized humans, but not in immunized mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Yong
- Department of Parasitology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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43
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Yong TS, Lee SM, Park GM, Lee IY, Ree HI, Kim KS, Oh SH, Park JW, Hong CS. Monoclonal antibodies to recombinant Der p 2, a major house dust mite allergen: specificity, epitope analysis and development of two-site capture ELISA. Korean J Parasitol 1999; 37:163-9. [PMID: 10507224 PMCID: PMC2733146 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.1999.37.3.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
House dust mite allergens have been well established as sensitizing agents that are important in the induction of allergic diseases. In order to analyze epitopes of the allergen and to develop a quantitative method of the allergen exposure, monoclonal antibodies against a recombinant Der p 2 (rDer p 2), one of the major allergens of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, were produced. Four monoclonal antibodies produced were species-specific and did not cross-react to the D. farinae crude extract. Two of the monoclonal antibodies were found to be IgG1 and the others were IgM. For the analysis of epitopes, a Der p 2 cDNA encoding 126 amino acids (aa) was dissected into three fragments with several overlapping peptides. A (aa residues 1-49), B (44-93), and C fragment (84-126). Three monoclonal antibodies showed reactivities to the recombinant B fragment and to the full-length rDer p 2, but one monoclonal antibody reacted only with the full-length rDer p 2. Two-site capture ELISA was developed using two different monoclonal antibodies for quantitating Der p 2 in house dust. The sensitivity limit was 4 ng/ml with rDer p 2 and 8 micrograms/ml with the D. pteronyssinus crude extract. The result suggested that the assay using monoclonal antibodies against rDer p 2 could be useful for the environmental studies and for the standardization of mite allergen extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Yong
- Department of Parasitology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Park JW, Ko SH, Kim CW, Bae SW, Hong CS. Seminal plasma anaphylaxis: successful pregnancy after intravaginal desensitization and immunodetection of allergens. Allergy 1999; 54:990-3. [PMID: 10505464 DOI: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.1999.00129.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Pollen of Humulus japonicus has been known as one of the important causes of pollinosis in Korea and China. To date, the major allergen of H. japonicus has not been determined. OBJECTIVE To identify the major allergen of H. japonicus pollen and characterize its biochemical properties. METHODS With the sera of 29 patients reactive to H. japonicus, the major allergen of H. japonicus was determined from the results of IgE immunoblotting and ELISA inhibition. The biochemical properties of the major allergen of H. japonicus were evaluated by lectin blotting assay and 2-dimensional PAGE blot. N-terminal amino acid sequences were determined by the Edman degradation method. The suggested major allergen was purified by DEAE anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. RESULTS Twenty-nine sera contained IgE bound to the 10, 16, 20, 29 and 42 kDa proteins of H. japonicus in immunoblot analysis. A protein of 10 kDa was the most prevalent allergen in the sera of H. japonicus-reactive patients (72%). The ELISA optical density of H. japonicus-specific IgE was not inhibited by pollen extracts of birch, oak, rye grass and mugwort. The 10-kDa allergen was neither stained with PAS nor bound with ConA and five other lectins. The isoelectric point of the 10-kDa allergen was approximately pH 5.1. We sequenced the N-terminal amino acids of the 10-kDa allergen, which was not homologous with any previously characterized allergen. The 10-kDa allergen could be purified with DEAE anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Maximum inhibitions of H. japonicus-specific IgE ELISA by whole extract of H. japonicus and purified 10-kDa allergen were more than 97 and 88%, respectively, while the 50% inhibitory concentration of the whole extract of H. japonicus and purified 10 kDa were 38 and 20 ng/mL, respectively. CONCLUSION The 10-kDa peptide could be a major allergen of H. japonicus. Its isoelectric point was 5.1 and it did not bind with lectins. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 10-kDa major allergen was also determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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Hong CS, Caromile L, Nomata Y, Mori H, Bredesen DE, Koo EH. Contrasting role of presenilin-1 and presenilin-2 in neuronal differentiation in vitro. J Neurosci 1999; 19:637-43. [PMID: 9880584 PMCID: PMC6782201] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Presenilin-1 (PS1) and presenilin-2 (PS2), the major genes of familial Alzheimer's disease, are homologous to sel-12, a Caenorhabditis elegans gene involved in cell fate decision during development. Recently, wild-type and mutant presenilins have been associated also with apoptotic cell death. By using stable transfection of antisense cDNAs, we studied the functions of PS1 and PS2 during neuronal differentiation in the NTera2 human teratocarcinoma (NT2) cell line. Expression of antisense PS1 resulted in a failure of the clones to differentiate into neurons after retinoic acid induction, whereas cells transfected with antisense PS2 differentiated normally. Concomitantly, antisense PS1 clones were associated with increased apoptosis both under basal conditions and during the early period of neuronal differentiation after retinoic acid treatment. Overexpression of bcl-2 in antisense PS1 clones reduced cell death and resulted in a recovery of neuronal differentiation. These studies suggest that PS1 plays a role in differentiation and cell death and that PS1 and PS2 have differing physiological roles in this experimental paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Hong
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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Nahm DH, Park HS, Kim CW, Park JW, Hong CS. Seasonal variation of IgG subclass antibodies to house dust mite in sera from mite-sensitive asthmatic patients. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1998; 80:411-5. [PMID: 9609612 DOI: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)62993-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND House dust mite is an important cause of bronchial asthma. Seasonal variation of environmental house dust mite allergen levels and the specific IgE antibody to house dust mite have been reported. OBJECTIVE We studied the changes in IgG subclass antibodies to house dust mite associated with seasonal variation of house dust mite allergen levels in houses of mite-sensitive asthmatic patients. METHODS In 14 mite-sensitive asthmatic patients, house dust mite allergen (Der f 1) contents in bedding were measured monthly, and IgG subclass antibodies to house dust mite, Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) every 3 months from July to December. RESULTS The concentration of Der f 1 in dust from bedding reached maximum levels in August and September, and significantly decreased in November and December compared with August and September (P < .05). Levels of D. farinae-specific IgG4 antibodies significantly decreased in December compared with September (P < .05) with no statistically significant change between September and June (P > .05). Levels of D. farinae-specific IgG2 antibodies decreased significantly in December compared with June (P < .05). The levels of IgG1 and IgG3 antibodies to D. farinae showed no significant differences during the study period. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that seasonal changes in natural exposure to house dust mite allergen might lead to concurrent changes in specific IgG4 antibodies to house dust mite in mite-sensitive asthmatic patients and each IgG subclass antibodies to house dust mite might have a different kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Nahm
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
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Munhbayarlah S, Park JW, Ko SH, Ree HI, Hong CS. Identification of Tyrophagus putrescentiae allergens and evaluation of cross-reactivity with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Yonsei Med J 1998; 39:109-15. [PMID: 9587250 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.1998.39.2.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
House dust mites are the most common cause of allergic sensitization in respiratory allergic patients in the world. Tyrophagus putrescentiae (TP), which was followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), has been reported as the third most common house mite in Korea. We previously reported that many respiratory allergic patients had become concomitantly sensitized to DP, DF and TP. The aims of this study were to identify the allergic components of TP and to evaluate the cross-reactivity between TP and DP. The allergenic components of TP and DP extracts were determined with SDS-PAGE and IgE immunoblotting analysis. The cross-reactivity as evaluated by ELISA inhibition and inhibitory immunoblotting experiments. According the SDS-PAGE, the protein components of the two extracts were somewhat different, although a few components displayed identical molecular weights. The 18 kD protein of TP was the most prevalent allergen in the sera of patients sensitized to TP and DP. Both of the maximum inhibition percentages of optic densities of TP-specific IgE in ELISA with TP and DP extract were 100%, respectively and the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) of TP extract and DP extract were 0.01 micrograms/ml and 0.02 micrograms/ml, respectively. Maximum inhibition of optic densities of DP-specific IgE in ELISA with TP and DP extracts were 29% and 100%, respectively and the ID50 of DP extract was 0.007 micrograms/ml. On inhibitory immunoblotting of DP specific IgE, 5 micrograms/ml of TP extract completely inhibited 16 kD without inhibiting the other allergic component. Whereas, on inhibitory immunoblotting of TP-specific IgE, 5 micrograms/ml of DP extract completely inhibited all the IgE binding components of TP. These results suggested that the major allergen of TP may be the 18 kD component and we also concluded that TP allergens have a strong cross-reactivity with DP extracts, but that DP allergens only have partial cross-reactivity with TP extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Munhbayarlah
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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49
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Park JW, Whang YW, Kim CW, Park YB, Hong CS. Eosinophil count and eosinophil cationic protein concentration of induced sputum in the diagnosis and assessment of airway inflammation in bronchial asthma. Allergy Asthma Proc 1998; 19:61-7. [PMID: 9578913 DOI: 10.2500/108854188778607255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Measurement of eosinophil percentages and ECP concentration in induced sputum may be useful in the diagnosis and assessment of the variability of airway inflammation in bronchial asthma (BA). To evaluate the usefulness of sputum eosinophil counts and ECP concentrations in the diagnosis of BA, we measured these parameters in 68 patients with respiratory complaints. In addition, we followed-up 14 BA patients with variable airflow limitation for 45.4 +/- 10.4 days. The BA group (n = 41) showed a higher percentage of sputum eosinophilia (24.5 +/- 7.6 vs. 2.2 +/- 2.9%, p < 0.001) and a higher level of sputum ECP (198.2 vs. 90.6 micrograms/L, p < 0.05) than those in the nonasthmatic group (NBA, n = 27). The sensitivity and specificity of sputum eosinophilia (> or = 5%) for the diagnosis of BA were 85.4% and 92.6%, respectively, which were better than the sensitivity (68.3%) and specificity (55.5%) of the increased level of sputum ECP (> or = 100 micrograms/L). Patients with moderate-to-severe persistent BA had a higher percentage of sputum eosinophil (n = 23, 34.6 +/- 10.6%) than those of mild persistent BA (n = 18, 10.7 +/- 5.2%, p < 0.01), but we could not find significant difference in ECP levels between mild persistent and moderate-to-severe persistent asthma. The percentages of sputum eosinophilia showed a moderate correlation with ECP (r = 0.4358, p < 0.01) and with the peak expiratory flow rate (PFR, r = -0.4746, p < 0.01) but sputum ECP did not correlate with PFR. In 14 BA patients who were followed, there was a relationship between changes of PFR and the percentage of sputum eosinophil (r = -0.7238, p < 0.01), but the change of PFR did not correlate with the change of sputum ECP levels. These results suggest that the sputum eosinophil count and sputum ECP level could be helpful in the diagnosis of BA, but that sputum ECP is not satisfactory for the assessment of variability of airway eosinophilic inflammation during the initial anti-inflammatory management of BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Allergy, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
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Hong CS, Xiao J, Bush B, Shaw SD. Environmental occurrence and potential toxicity of planar, mono-, and di-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls in the biota. Chemosphere 1998; 36:1637-1651. [PMID: 9503581 DOI: 10.1016/s0045-6535(97)10039-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Four non-ortho-, eight mono-ortho-, and two di-ortho-chlorinated congeners have been determined in fresh water and salt water mussels, fish, snapping turtles, mallard, seals, and in human milk and adipose tissue. The planar PCB congeners are separated from the remainder of PCBs by activated carbon chromatography or HPLC on porous graphitic carbon followed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. PCB toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) recommended by WHO [1] for 3 non-ortho, 8 mono-ortho, and 2 di-ortho PCBs and a TEF for congener 81 suggested by Harris et al. [2] were used for calculation of the contribution to dioxin-like toxicity to each life form. In all the biota examined, PCB congener IUPAC number 126 was the major contributor to PCB toxic equivalents. Congeners IUPAC number 118, 114, 105, 156, 157, 77, 81, and 170 also contributed significantly to PCB toxic equivalents. The ability to separate out planar PCBs from the majority of PCBs has allowed the use of TCDD toxicity equivalence to compare the relative dioxin-like potency of PCB residues in various species from different locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Hong
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, USA.
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