Patterns of genetic variation and QTLs controlling grain traits in a collection of global wheat germplasm revealed by high-quality SNP markers

BACKGROUND

Establish a molecular breeding program involved assembling a diverse germplasm collection and generating accurate genotypes to characterize their genetic potential and associate them with agronomic traits. In this study, we acquired over eight hundred wheat accessions from international gene banks and assessed their genetic relatedness using high-quality SNP genotypes. Understanding the scope of genomic variation in this collection allows the breeders to utilize the genetic resources efficiently while improving wheat yield and quality.

RESULTS

A wheat diversity panel comprising 39 durum wheat, 60 spelt wheat, and 765 bread wheat accessions was genotyped on iSelect 90 K wheat SNP arrays. A total of 57,398 SNP markers were mapped to IWGSC RefSeq v2.1 assembly, over 30,000 polymorphic SNPs in the A, B, D genomes were used to analyze population structure and diversity, the results revealed the separation of the three species and the differentiation of CIMMYT improved breeding lines and landraces or widely grown cultivars. In addition, several chromosomal regions under selection were detected. A subset of 280 bread wheat accessions was evaluated for grain traits, including grain length, width, surface area, and color. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) revealed that several chromosomal regions were significantly linked to known quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling grain-related traits. One of the SNP peaks at the end of chromosome 7A was in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) with WAPO-A1, a gene that governs yield components.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, the most updated and accurate physical positions of SNPs on 90 K genotyping array are provided for the first time. The diverse germplasm collection and associated genotypes are available for the wheat researchers to use in their molecular breeding program. We expect these resources to broaden the genetic basis of original breeding and pre-breeding materials and ultimately identify molecular markers associated with important agronomic traits which are evaluated in diverse environmental conditions.

[The distribution of peripheral anterior synechiae in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma]

Objective: To describe the distribution and characteristics of peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods: Retrospective case study. A total of 285 PACG patients (406 eyes) diagnosed in the Eye Hospital, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University from January 2017 to August 2019 were included. They were 102 males and 183 females, with a median age of 67 years old (range, 21 to 95 years old). The PAS range was detected by gonioscopy examination, and the frequency distribution of PAS at 12 clock points was counted by clockwise. The PAS distribution at the middle point of PAS with continuous distribution and ≤6 clock points was assessed. Results: In all cases, PAS of the right eye was concentrated at 11:00 to 4:00 regions [range, 62.0% (129/208) to 78.8% (164/208)]. PAS of the left eye was concentrated at 7:00 to 1:00 regions [range, 50.0% (99/198) to 75.8% (150/198)]. When the PAS range of the atrial angle was ≤6 clock regions, it was mainly at 12:00 to 3:00 [range, 58.3% (74/127) to 67.7% (86/127)] in the right eye and at 10:00 to 12:00 [range, 54.8% (68/124) to 66.1% (82/124)] in the left eye. Among 121 cases (242 eyes) with both eyes involved, the PAS region was at 11:00 to 5:00 [range, 52.1% (63/121) to 79.3% (96/121)] in the right eye and at 8:00 to 1:00 [range, 50.4% (61/121) to 76.9% (93/121)] in the left eye. When the PAS range of the atrial angle was ≤6 clock regions, it was mainly at 12:00 to 4:00 [range, 53.2% (41/77) to 71.4% (55/77)] in the right eye and at 10:00 to 12:00 [range, 50.6% (39/77) to 64.9% (50/77)] in the left eye. In all cases, there were 171 cases of right eyes and 175 cases of left eyes with continuous angle PAS. The central PAS clock position of the right eye was mainly at 11:00 to 3:00 [range, 15.2% (26/171) to 24.0% (41/171)], and that of the left eye was mainly at 8:00 to 12:00 [range, 15.4% (27/175) to 20.6% (36/175)]. Among cases with both eyes involved, there were 98 cases of right eyes and 104 cases of left eyes with continuous angle PAS. The clock distribution of the middle position of the right eye angle PAS was concentrated at 11:00 to 3:00 [range, 17.3% (17/98) to 26.5% (26/98)], and that of the left eye was concentrated at 8:00 to 12:00 [range, 13.5% (14/104) to 20.2% (21/104)]. Conclusions: The PAS of PACG patients is mainly located in the upper and nasal sides, and the closer to the temporal side, the smaller the PAS frequency, showing a gradual downward trend. The PAS distribution of binocular angles is of obvious mirror symmetry. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 666-671).

[The 484th case:asthma, limb numbness, diplopia, headache]

A 47-year-old female who had a history of asthma and sinusitis in the past was admitted to hospital with limbs numbness and pain for ten days. The symptoms were aggravated for eight hours. On admission, significant peripheral eosinophilia was noted. Paranasal sinusitis and transient bronchiolitis were found by CT scan.Electromyogram demonstrated multiple mononeuropathy. Eosinophilia was indicated by bone marrow biopsy. The diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatous polyangiitis(EGPA) was determined. The patient got better after applying glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide.Later she developed abdominal pain and partial oculomotor nerve palsy, while her condition improved after continued immunosuppression and anticoagulant therapy. She was hospitalized for the third time because of headache. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was diagnosed after lumber puncture and cranial MRI+MRA+MRV and other examinations. She was relieved after conservative treatment. Subarachnoid hemorrhage with EGPA is rare. This case may improve physicians' understanding of EGPA complicated with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

[A multicenter, large-sample, randomized clinical trial on improving the median survival time of advanced non-small cell lung cancer by combination of Ginseng Rg3 and chemotherapy]

Objective: To observe the efficacy of the combination of chemotherapy and Ginseng Rg3 on advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods: In the multi-center, large-sample, randomized, double blind trial, 414 patients with Ⅲ-Ⅳ NSCLC were enrolled.199 were in the experimental group and 215 the control group. The patients in the experimental group were treated with the standard first-line chemotherapy combined with Ginseng Rg3. The patients in the control group were treated with the same chemotherapy combined with placebo. Median overall survival (OS), Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) symptoms score and side effects of two groups were observed as main indexes. Results: The median OS were 12.03 months in the experimental group, which was significantly better than that in the control group (8.46 months, P<0.05). Hemoglobin and white blood cells were decreased after the first and second cycle of treatment in both groups. Both adverse events were significantly milder in the treatment group (P<0.05). In addition, after two courses of treatment, the KPS of patients was 78.95±9.14 in the experimental group and 76.77±9.15 in the control group, while the TCM symptoms score was 2.45±1.73 in the experimental group and 2.92±2.06 in the control group, with significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusions: Combination of TCM with Western medicine such as chemotherapy could prolong the survival of patients with advanced NSCLC. The combined therapy improved patients' symptoms and reduced chemotherapy induced myelosuppression.

Baseline Vulnerability and Inpatient Frailty Status in Relation to Adverse Outcomes in a Surgical Cohort

This study aimed to derive measures of baseline vulnerability and inpatient frailty in elderly surgical patients and to study their association with adverse post-operative outcomes. Data from comprehensive geriatric assessment of 208 general surgical and orthopaedic patients aged 70 and over admitted to four acute hospitals in Queensland, Australia, were analysed to derive a baseline and inpatient Frailty Index (FI). The association of these indices with adverse outcomes was examined in logistic regression. The mean (SD) baseline FI was 0.19 (0.09) compared to 0.26 (0.12) on admission, with a predominant increase in domains related to functional status. Both baseline and inpatient FI were significant predictors of one year mortality, inpatient delirium, and a composite adverse outcome, after adjusting for age, sex and acuity of surgery. In summary, detecting baseline frailty pre-hospitalisation may be useful to trigger the implementation of supportive and preventative measures in hospital.

Association of TLR2 and TLR4 non-missense single nucleotide polymorphisms with type 2 diabetes risk in a southern Chinese population: a case-control study

Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the triggers of the innate and adaptive immune responses, are involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several studies have investigated the effects of genetic polymorphisms in TLR4 and TLR2, but they have yielded limited results. We investigated whether non-missense genetic polymorphisms in the regulatory regions of TLR4 and TLR2 were related to T2DM in a southern Chinese population. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLR4 (rs1927911, rs11536889, rs1927907, rs1927906, rs1927914, rs7873784, and rs2149356) and TLR2 (rs1898830, rs3804099, rs4696480, and rs3804100) were genotyped in 552 T2DM and 552 unrelated age- and gender-matched controls by SNaPShot Multiplex assay. Genotypes GG (OR = 0.09, 95%CI = 0.01- 0.83, P = 0.03) and CG (OR = 0.08, 95%CI = 0.01-0.74, P = 0.03) of the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) SNP rs7873784 in TLR4, and genotype AG (OR = 0.67, 95%CI = 0.46-0.97, P = 0.04) and allele G (OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.79-0.97, P = 0.01) of the intron SNP rs1898830 in TLR2 were identified as protective against the development of T2DM in southern Chinese people. In contrast, a meta-analysis of rs1927911 and rs1927914 showed no association. Haplotypes AGTT (OR = 0.34, 95%CI = 0.15-0.77, P = 0.01) and AATT (OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.01- 1.44, P = 0.05) in TLR2 were significantly associated with susceptibility to T2DM. Our results suggest that the effects of non-missense polymorphisms located in the regulatory regions of TLR4 and TLR2 should not be neglected in T2DM association analysis.

An exploration of life insurance among the elderly in Taiwan

The burgeoning of the life insurance industry in Taiwan cannot be attributed solely to a rise in incomes, but also to increasing urbanization and industrialization, aggressive marketing strategies introduced by U.S. life insurance companies, and important changes in values that make it increasingly acceptable to own life insurance. The growing use of life insurance can be considered part of a transition from informal, familial care of the elderly to formal market mechanisms to protect the financial security of loved ones, including a widowed spouse, and as one component of the pattern of intergenerational relations. We use data from the 1991-92 Telephone Followup to the 1989 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan to explore the extent to which familial resources and socioeconomic/demographic characteristics influence the propensity of elderly persons to own life insurance. We also consider motivations for and against the ownership of insurance, and if insurance is currently held, the relationship of the beneficiary to the respondent. We conclude with suggestions for additional data that can help resolve a number of issues raised in this exploratory study.

Co-morbidities in psoriasis: a hospital-based case-control study

BACKGROUND

Recent researches show that psoriasis is frequently associated with systemic co-morbidities.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify possible associated co-morbidities in psoriatic patients stratified by age and sex.

METHODS

In this retrospective hospital-based case-control study, patients diagnosed as psoriasis at the Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan between January 2008 and December 2009 were enrolled as cases and classified into severe and mild based on their use of systemic therapy. The controls were the patients without psoriasis matched the cases in 1 : 1 ratio with same birth year, sex and calendar date. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from the conditional logistic regression method were used to assess the risk of co-morbidities between psoriatic and non-psoriatic patients.

RESULTS

A total of 447 cases and 447 matched controls, with mean age of 51.3 ± 18.3 years and male-to-female ratio of 2.17 : 1 were enrolled. The ratio of mild-to-severe was 3.5 : 1. Compared with non-psoriatic patients, psoriatic patients had significantly higher OR of hypertension (1.85), diabetes mellitus (2.88) and obesity (1.66). Among those aged ≥51 years old, there was significant risk in male psoriatic patients with ischaemic and hypertensive heart disease (IHHD) (OR = 2.167) after eliminating female IHHD psoriatic patients (OR = 0.125). Psoriasis was significantly negatively associated with cancers (OR = 0.267). Psoriasis patients often had the usual drinking habit (OR = 2.23) and seldom had an occasional drinking habit (OR = 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

Psoriasis is strongly associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity. The association between psoriasis and IHHD, stroke, cancers, smoking and alcohol habits warrant more investigation.

Urbanization, non-familial work, education, and fertility in Taiwan

Abstract It is well known, that there is a relationship between the level of development of a society and its level offertility.(1) However, it is not clear which of the complex ofvariables associated with development are primarily associated with the reduction of fertility. Urbanization, female labour force participation and education are three of the variables most commonly cited as bearing a causal relationship to fertility. Urbanization implies a change of environment of a substantial portion of the population which may result in a change in the value placed on large families. This is particularly true when urban mortality is lower than rural, so that more children survive.(2) However, it has also been argued that urbanization results in a change in family structure from the extended to the nuclear family with a concomitant reduction in the value placed on having many children.(3) Additional changes in family patterns which are sometimes said to explain fertility reduction due to urbanization are increases in the proportion of women never marrying and increases in the age at marriage.

Serotonin transporter gene promoter polymorphism is associated with body mass index and obesity in non-elderly stroke patients

BACKGROUND

The serotonergic system is involved in the complex behavioral and physiological process in maintaining energy balance. Genetic factors regulating serotonergic function may have links with the development of obesity.

AIM

To investigate whether the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene is associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity in stroke patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study included 376 patients (65.3+/-11.3 yr; male, 61.7%) with stroke. Associations between the 5-HTTLPR and BMI and obesity (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) were examined in all subjects. In order to test age-dependent effects of the genetic variant, the association was also examined in the non-elderly subgroup (<65 yr) and the elderly subgroup (> or =65 yr) respectively.

RESULTS

For non-elderly subjects, the SS genotype was independently associated with increased BMI level (beta=1.84, p=0.037) and obesity (odds ratio 4.17, 95% CI 1.25-14.0, p=0.021) when the LL genotype was used as the reference. The association was not found for all patients or in the elderly subgroup. The LS genotype was not different from the LL genotype in BMI level or risk of obesity, either for all subjects or with regard to the non-elderly and elderly subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The SS genotype of 5-HTTLPR is an independent determinant of increased BMI level and obesity in non-elderly stroke patients but not in elderly patients. An age-dependent modification for the effect of the 5-HTTLPR on development of obesity is considered.

Role of parents and peers in influencing the smoking status of high school students in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

To assess parental influence on smoking behaviour by high school students in an Asian culture and to compare the relative importance of parental and peer influence.

METHODS

A 5% nationally representative sample, including 44 976 high school students in 10th to 12th grade (aged 15-18 years) in Taiwan, were surveyed in 1995. Each completed a long self administered questionnaire. Parental influence was measured by examining both parental behaviour (smoking status) and attitudes (perceived "tender loving care" (TLC) by adolescents). Changes in smoking status were used to determine peer influence, defined as the increase in the likelihood of smoking from grade 10 to 12 in a steady state environment. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for parental and peer influence, using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Adolescents of smoking parents with low TLC had the highest smoking rates and those of non-smoking parents with high TLC had the lowest. The difference was more than twofold in boys and more than fourfold in girls. When either parental smoking status or TLC alone was considered, parental influence was similar to peer influence in boys, but larger than peer influence in girls. However, when smoking status and TLC were considered jointly, it became larger than peer influence for both groups (OR 2.8 v 1.8 for boys and OR 3.9 v 1.3 for girls).

CONCLUSION

When parental influence is taken as parental behaviour and attitude together, it plays a more important role than peer influence in smoking among high school students in Taiwan. This study, characterising such relationships among Asian populations for the first time, implies that future prevention programmes should direct more efforts toward the parental smoking and parent-child relationships, and not aim exclusively at adolescents in schools.

HLA-B60 and B61 are strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis in HLA-B27-negative Taiwan Chinese patients

OBJECTIVES

Carriage of HLA-B60 has been shown to increase the risk of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in B27-positive Caucasian patients, but the association in B27-negative cases is less certain. This study assessed HLA class I gene associations in Chinese HLA-B27-negative AS patients.

METHODS

Forty-one Chinese HLA-B27-negative AS patients fulfilling the modified New York diagnostic criteria for AS were recruited, and 11 383 HLA-B27-negative blood donors were used for comparison. HLA-A and -B typing was done with the microlymphocytotoxicity assay.

RESULTS

Among the B27-negative AS patients, 21 were male and 20 were female. Of HLA-B alleles, only B60 and B61 significantly increased susceptibility to AS in HLA-B27-negative patients (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In Taiwan Chinese, carriage of B60 is increased in HLA-B27-negative AS patients. The association between B61 and HLA-B27-negative AS patients has not been reported previously. Whether the gene involved is HLA-B60 or B61 or another gene in linkage disequilibrium with these genes is unknown.

Outcome Analysis for Stage IE and IIE Thyroid Lymphoma

Previous reports have revealed modest results in the management of thyroid lymphoma with radiotherapy alone. This retrospective report evaluates the outcome of patients treated for thyroid lymphoma with radiotherapy alone and with combined modality therapy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) at a single institution. Twenty-seven patients with stages IE and IIE non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the thyroid gland were treated between 1960 and 1998 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, of which 14 patients were stage IE and 13 patients were stage IIE. The median age at diagnosis was 67 years, and there were 21 females and 6 males evaluated. The median follow-up time was 38 months (range: 3-279 months). All patients had histologically proven non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, of which 22 patients (81%) were intermediate grade. Treatment consisted of radiotherapy alone in 19 patients and a combined modality therapy in 8 patients. The median radiation dose to the thyroid bed was 44 Gy, and most patients received a doxorubicin-containing regimen administered prior to radiotherapy. Patient, tumor, and treatment-related characteristics were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. Local-regional tumor control, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Four patients had local relapse in this series, with a crude local tumor control rate of 85%. No factor was determined to be significant for local tumor control. The actuarial 5-year DFS and OS for the entire cohort were 57%, and 56%, respectively. In terms of DFS, both age and stage were statistically significant. The 5-year actuarial DFS for patients less than age 65 years was 83% versus 37% for those more than this age (p = 0.024). Furthermore, the 5-year actuarial DFS for patients with stage I and II disease was 69% and 45%, respectively (p = 0.022). In multivariate analysis, age continued to be significant for DFS (p = 0.049). Overall survival analysis revealed age, local tumor control, and stage to be significant in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was further carried out using Cox proportional hazard model, and it revealed age (p = 0.006) and local tumor control (p = 0.007) to be significant. Primary thyroid gland lymphomas have a favorable outcome with appropriate therapy, but prognosis depends on both clinical stage and age at presentation. Because of the risk of both local-regional and distant failure, combined modality approaches that use chemotherapy with radiotherapy are warranted for intermediate- and high grade thyroid lymphoma.

Impact of complementary mistletoe extract treatment on quality of life in breast, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer patients. A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial

Standardized aqueous mistletoe extracts have been applied to cancer patients for several decades as complementary medicine. A multicentric, randomized, open, prospective clinical trial was conducted in three oncological centers in the People's Republic of China in Bejing, Shenyang and Tianjin. Following the guidelines of "Good Clinical Practice" (GCP) this study was performed to get information on efficacy safety and side-effects of the standardized mistletoe extract (sME). Two hundred and thirty-three patients with breast (n=68), ovarian (n=71) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; n=94) were enrolled into this study. Two hundred and twenty-four patients fulfilled the requirements for final analysis (n=115 treated with sME HELIXOR A; n=109 comprising the control group being treated with the approved immunomodulating phytopharmacon Lentinan). All patients were provided with standard tumor-destructive treatment schedules and complementarily treated with sME or Lentinan during chemotherapy according to treatment protocol. Biometrically, the patients of the control and sME treatment group were comparable regarding distribution, clinical classification (WHO) and treatment protocols. Analysis was performed according to the "Intention to treat principle". Quality of life (QoL) was significantly (p<0.05) improved for patients who were complementarily treated with sME, as determined by the questionnaires FLIC (Functional Living Index-Cancer), TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine Index) and the KPI (Karnofsky Performance Index) in comparison to the control group. Additionally, the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) was less frequent in the sME than in the control group (total number of AEs 52 versus 90 and number of serious AEs 5 versus 10 in study and control group, most of them due to chemotherapy). Only one serious AE was allocated to complementary treatment in each group (1 angioedema in sME group). All other side-effects of the sME (7 harmless local inflammatory reactions at subcutaneous injection site, 4 cases with fever) were self-limiting and did not demand therapeutic intervention. This study showed that complementary treatment with sME can beneficially reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients and thus improve quality of life.

Low-dose (550 cGy), single-exposure total body irradiation and cyclophosphamide: consistent, durable engraftment of related-donor peripheral blood stem cells with low treatment-related mortality and fatal organ toxicity

On the basis of observations of dog models and from earlier studies with humans, we hypothesized that a low-dose (550 cGy) TBI-based conditioning regimen would result in sustained engraftment of HLA-matched sibling peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) with low treatment-related mortality (TRM) and low serious organ toxicity if the TBI was given as a single dose and at a high dose rate. The regimen included 550 cGy TBI administered as a single dose at 30 cGy/min and cyclophosphamide. Cyclosporine was given as GVHD prophylaxis. Twenty-seven good-risk (acute leukemia in first remission and chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia) and 53 poor-risk (other) patients were accrued. Complete donor engraftment occurred in 93% to 100% of evaluable patients at each scheduled assessment and was durable through 4 years. Mixed chimerism (50% to 98% donor) was observed in 9 patients (11%). Without further intervention, all patients had complete donor engraftment on subsequent assessments. Graft failure did not occur. TRM through at least 2 years was 7% in the good-risk and 19% in the poor-risk diagnostic groups. Grade 4 (fatal) organ toxicity occurred in only 2 patients (2.5%). Other causes of TRM included infection and GVHD. Median follow-up for the surviving patients was 1234 days (range, 780-1632 days). Current status includes 39 patients (49%) alive and in complete remission, 2 alive in relapse, and 39 dead. Relapse occurred in 15% of the good-risk group and 45% of the poor-risk group. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of 3-year disease-free and overall survival of the good-risk group were 77% and 85%, respectively, and of the poor-risk group were 34% and 36%, respectively. Low-dose (550 cGy), single-exposure TBI given at a high dose rate with cyclophosphamide resulted in consistent durable engraftment of HLA-matched sibling PBSC with a low risk of fatal organ toxicity and TRM.

Low incidence of transplantation-related acute complications in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation with a low-dose (550 cGy) total body irradiation conditioning regimen

Although allogeneic transplantation is a curative therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), treatment-related mortality is still a major cause of posttransplantation mortality, especially for patients older than 40 years. We investigated, in a phase II trial, the role of a low-dose (550 cGy) high-dose rate (35 cGy/min) single-exposure total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning regimen for allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation in patients with CML. Between June 1997 and August 2000, 30 adult patients with CML underwent cytokine-mobilized allogeneic PBSC transplantation from HLA-matched siblings following administration of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg per day intravenously on days -2 and -1) and single-dose TBI (550 cGy delivered at 30 cGy/min on day 0). Cyclosporine A alone was administered for prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Median patient age was 47 years (range, 21-63 years), with 23 patients (77%) older than 40 years. The preparative regimen was well tolerated. Grade 4 toxicities and oral mucositis were not observed. Graft failure did not occur. Severe acute GVHD was observed in 5 patients (17%). The median follow-up was 23 months (range, 6-39 months). Cytogenetic or hematologic relapse was detected in 3 patients (10%), 2 of whom subsequently entered remission following a taper of immunosuppression. Nonrelapse mortality occurred in 5 patients (17%), and the Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival at 2 years was 83% (95% confidence interval, 70%-97%). In summary, this low-dose TBI-based preparative regimen resulted in uniform donor engraftment, with markedly reduced organ toxicity and nonrelapse mortality, in this relatively older cohort of patients with CML.

Effects of Tamm-Horsfall protein and albumin on the inhibition of free radicals

INTRODUCTION

Oxalate in urine can cause tubular cellular damage by the production of free radicals. Then, cell death and cellular debris may promote the retention of calcium oxalate crystals and finally the formation of stones. The two most abundant urinary proteins, Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) and albumin, were tested for the effects of antioxidants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

By using xanthine-xanthine oxidase reaction, purified THP and albumin were tested for the inhibitory effect. OD(295) was used as a spectrophotometric method to measure the production of uric acid during the reaction.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Both proteins can inhibit the reaction of xanthine oxidase on xanthine, although the effect was decreased after enzymatic deglycosylation of sialic acid. Albumin has an IC(50) of 10.7 nM in native condition and 11.9 nM after deglycosylation, whereas THP has 69.6 nM in native condition and 102.0 nM in deglycosylated condition. The data indicates that THP and albumin have an antioxidant effect. Sialic acid in THP has partly an inhibitory effect and is associated with calcium oxalate formation. Studies have indicated that further investigation of the role of free radicals in the formation of urolithiasis and of sialic acid in protein function is needed.

Effects of Tamm-Horsfall protein and albumin on calcium oxalate crystallization and importance of sialic acids

BACKGROUND

Tamm-Horsfall protein and human serum albumin are common urinary proteins that show uncertain inhibitory action on the crystallization of calcium oxalate monohydrate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Batch experiments on crystal nucleation, growth, and aggregation were performed using purified Tamm-Horsfall protein and albumin before and after enzymatic removal of sialic acids from the proteins.

RESULTS

At a concentration of 100 nM, both Tamm-Horsfall protein and albumin promoted the time of crystal nucleation by 18.4% and 8.9%, respectively, relative to the control. However, both of the proteins exerted an inhibitory effect on crystal growth, with the IC(50) being 7.27 nM for Tamm-Horsfall protein and 37.5 nM for albumin. The inhibition of crystal aggregation was 81.82% by Tamm-Horsfall protein 100 nM but only 54.55% at 50 nM after enzymatic removal of the sialic acid. Instead of increasing the inhibition, the effect was changed to promotion after an increase in the concentration of Tamm-Horsfall protein to more than 500 nM for native protein and to more than 100 nM for the enzymatic digest. Albumin showed little change after enzymatic treatment and maintained a maximal inhibitory effect of 72.73% on crystal aggregation when the concentration reached to 100 nM.

CONCLUSION

Because the promotion of nucleation could lessen the subsequent saturation of a calcium oxalate solution, it is concluded that Tamm-Horsfall protein and albumin show an overall effect of inhibition on crystallization in vitro. The inhibitory effect of Tamm-Horsfall protein is partly related to sialic acid.

Pharmacokinetic study of all-trans-retinoyl-beta-D-glucuronide in Sprague-Dawley rats after single and multiple intravenous administration(s)

All-trans-retinoyl-beta-D-glucuronide (RAG) is an endogenous active metabolite of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). In the present study, the pharmacokinetics of RAG was examined after the administration of a single intravenous does (5, 10, or 15 micromol/kg) and of multiple daily intravenous doses (5 micromol/kg) to rats for 8 days. The plasma concentrations of RAG and ATRA were measured by a reverse-phase HPLC method. A rapid distribution phase of approximately 1 h was observed in all of the rats after single or multiple doses. Thereafter, RAG was eliminated through a first-order process, in accord with a typical two-compartment first order pharmacokinetic profile. After single intravenous doses, the AUC of RAG increased proportionally with the dose and the clearance remained unchanged within the tested doses. There was no statistical significant difference in distribution rate constants from central compartment to peripheral compartment (K(12)) and from peripheral compartment to central compartment (K(21)) between different doses. However, as the dose increased from 5 micromol/kg to 10 micromol/kg, the volume of distribution at the steady state (V(ss)) and the volume of peripheral compartment (V(p)) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 1.290 +/- 0.269, 0.928 +/- 0.232. L/kg to 0.961 +/- 0.149, 0.647 +/- 0.107 L/kg, respectively. V(ss) and V(p) at a dose of 15 micromol/kg (0.924 +/- 0.187, 0.698 +/- 0.165 L/kg) were not significantly different from that at 10 micromol/kg. Thus, RAG might saturate the tissue-binding sites at higher doses. ATRA was detected as a metabolite of RAG at low levels (usually < 0.05 microM) only in the first 2 h after intravenous administration. RAG clearly was not extensively hydrolyzed to ATRA in our study. After multiple daily intravenous administration of RAG, the clearance (Cl) and the elimination rate constant (K(10)) remained unchanged (p > 0.05), indicating that long-term daily administration of RAG did not induce its accelerated metabolism. However, K(12), V(p), and V(ss) declined significantly (p < 0.05) from 1.67 +/- 0.54 h(-1), 0.928 +/- 0.232 L/kg, and 1.290 +/- 0.269 L/kg to 0.96 +/- 0.48 h(-1), 0.494 +/- 0.147 L/kg, and 0.818 +/- 0.187 L/kg, respectively. Therefore, long-term daily dosing of RAG seemed to decrease its distribution profile. Although the AUC of RAG did not change significantly after multiple dosing, the AUC of ATRA after RAG dosing significantly declined (p < 0.05) from 0.032 +/- 0.019 microM x h to 0.010 +/- 0.006 microM x h. The decline in the AUC of ATRA might reflect an increase in its uptake by tissue and/or in its metabolism. Because enhanced clearance is not associated with RAG after multiple administrations, RAG could be considered as an alternate to ATRA in appropriate clinical applications.

[Studies of the integration and expression of exogenes in transgenic rice obtained via particle bombardment transformation]

Various integration events from simple to complex have been found in transgenic elite rice varieties, which were co-transformed with bar and cecropin B gene by particle bombardment after system studies of the structure and expression of the transgene. It was displayed that there were one to seven insertion loci and one to ten copies of transgene in different transformants. No absolute correlation was found between the numbers of transgene copies and the gene expression. Different level expression of transgenes with similar insertion mode was also discovered. The expression cassette integrity and transcription frequency of selectable bar gene were more than non-selectable cecropin B gene, whereas gene silence in plants integrated with intact bar gene was found and higher expression level of cecropin B gene with 0.6 kb fragments degraded in terminator was deduced.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy: strategies for prevention and management of complications

OBJECTIVE

The placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes is within the realm of the head and neck surgeon because most are proficient in the use of rigid and flexible esophagoscopes. The ability to provide comprehensive care for the patient with head and neck cancer provides further incentive for the head and neck surgeon to adopt this technique. Although it is a technically simple procedure, the surgeon must be aware of the range of complications that can occur with PEG. We review our experience with PEG focusing on the complications as well as strategies for the prevention and management of these complications.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the records of patients who underwent PEG at Stanford University by the Head and Neck Surgery Service between July 1992 and December 1998 was conducted. A total of 103 patients were identified, of which 84 (82%) were patients with head and neck cancers. Complications associated with PEG were identified. All PEGs were performed using the pull technique.

RESULTS

There was no mortality associated with the procedure. Minor complications occurred in 11 cases (10.7%). These included cellulitis (4), ileus (3), tube extrusion (1), clogged lumen (1), and peristomal leakage (2). The only major complication was a single case of PEG site metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The review of our experience with PEG tube placement revealed a low complication rate. Safe PEG placement was achieved by transillumination of the abdominal wall and confirmation by ballottement. In addition, appropriate patient selection, use of perioperative antibiotics, as well as meticulous post-procedure care contributed to the low rate of complications. For the patients with head and neck cancer, a barrier should be placed between the tumor and the instrumentation at the time of tube placement.

Immediate and long-term outcomes of stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery disease

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is now uniformly treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, some patients with LMCA disease do not receive CABG because of high operative risks. The advent of stent implantation has permitted a non-operative improvement in myocardial blood flow in many patients with single- and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. However, the outcomes of stent implantation for unprotected LMCA disease are still unclear. Stent implantation was performed for unprotected LMCA disease in 13 patients; eight patients had high operative risk and five patients had refused CABG. The primary success rate was 100% (13/13 patients). One patient (8%) developed a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction after LMCA stenting. Repeat angiography was obtained in five patients (38%) with recurrent angina, and three patients (23%) received repeated percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for LMCA restenosis. In the follow-up period of 18+/-3 months, 12 patients (92%) remained in satisfactory condition with no further need for surgical intervention. One patient (8%) ultimately required CABG, and she died after CABG at 3 months after LMCA stenting. In conclusion, although CABG remains the standard treatment for LMCA disease, the present study demonstrates that stent implantation is a safe and clinically beneficial revascularization procedure for unprotected LMCA disease in patients who have high operative risk as well as those who refuse CABG.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma arising in the upper posterior triangle of the neck

We describe the case of a 59-year-old man who came to us with a right neck mass of 4 to 5 months' duration. A histologic diagnosis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma was made, and the patient underwent wide local excision and neck dissection followed by postoperative radiation therapy. We briefly discuss the characteristics and treatment of this rare entity.

[The relationships among stress, physio-psycho-social status, coping behaviors and personality traits of nursing students during first time clinical practice]

First-time clinical practice is stressful. However, every person's perception of stress, responses to stress and coping methods are different. It is important to examine the relationships between these phenomena and personality traits. The subjects of this study were 280 nursing students who had undertaken their first clinical practice. This study used Clinical Practice Stress Scale, Clinical Practice Physio-psycho-social Response Scale, Coping Behavior Inventory of Clinical Practice and Chi test to examine the following four questions for the students: (1) the type and frequency of stressors occurring during their first clinical practice, (2) physio-psycho-social status; (3) the coping behaviors utilized by the students; (4) the relationship among perception of stress, coping behaviors, physio-psycho-social status and personality traits. The results of this study showed that the most common stressors were lack of professional knowledge and skill, and taking care of patients. The most common response of the students was social behavioral response, followed by emotional response. Physical response rarely occur. The most common coping behavior utilized by the students was keeping optimistic, followed by transferring and problem solving. Avoidance behaviors were least one. In addition, the results of this study show that the perception of stress, coping behaviors and psychosocial status are significantly related to personality characteristics, including introversion-extroversion, social adaptiveness, and emotional stability. These results may help nurses to better understand the phenomena of stress, coping and adaptation. They may also help nursing educators understand the difficulties of nursing students and, based on individual difference, assist them individually in order to promote the quality of clinical practice.

The reappraisal of nephrocalcin--its role in the inhibition of calcium oxalate crystal growth and interaction with divalent metal ions

Nephrocalcin (NC) is a potent crystal growth inhibitor of calcium oxalate monohydrate. However, the sequence is undefined owing to its multiple glycosylations. Although there have been many biochemical studies of the binding capacity of calcium, the study of the function of the domain is still deferred. By using S-200 gel filtration and Mono Q ion-exchange chromatographic procedures, NC can be purified without further treatment for the removal of urobilirubin. The kinetic study of crystal growth in calcium oxalate monohydrate is performed using a seed slurry system. NC was cut into two peptides through interaction with copper ion and ascorbic acid. The interaction site of the copper ion is presumed to be located between 8 and 6 kDa of molecular weight in NC. The data suggest that divalent metal ions may be involved in the calcium oxalate crystallization through interaction with NC. The role of ascorbic acid in the formation of urinary stones should be reappraised for its association in the redox reaction, with resultant protein digestion in the presence of copper ions.

Fullerenes as a new class of radioprotectors

PURPOSE

To evaluate the radioprotective activity of C3, a regioisomer of water-soluble carboxyfullerene and a potent free radical scavenger, on both normal and tumour cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The murine committed bone-marrow stem cells for both granulocytes and monocytes (GM-CFC) were used to represent normal cells. For tumour cells, murine Ehrlich ascites tumour cells grown in regular tissue culture (EAT-T) and in the peritoneal cavity of CD1 mice (EAT-PC) and human HeLa cells were used. Cells were preexposed to varying concentrations (1-100 microg/ml) of C3 at 37 degrees C for 30 min before they were irradiated. Clonogenic assays were used to determine survival. The protection factor (PF), defined as the ratio of survival with and without C3, was then determined.

RESULTS

C3 protected GM-CFC in a concentration-dependent manner up to 50 microg/ml, and no additional protection was seen at 100 microg/ml. The PF was 1.77 when bone-marrow cells were pre-exposed to 50 microg/ml of C3 before they were irradiated with 2 Gy. The value of PF increased to 2.38 when 4 Gy was used. In sharp contrast, C3 exerted less radioprotective effect on tumour cells. The PF values were 1.07, 1.43 and 1.07 for EAT-T, EAT-PC, and HeLa cells, respectively, when 2 Gy was given in the presence of 50 microg/ml of C3. These values increased to 1.40, 1.75 and 1.27, respectively, when 4Gy was given. The dose-modifying factors at 10% survival were 1.37 and 1.15 for GM-CFC and EAT-PC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

C3 exhibits a radioprotective effect on a class of normal haemopoietic progenitor cells. It also protects tumour cells, but to a lesser degree. It appears that C3 and other water-soluble fullerenes have a potential to be a new class of cytoprotectors.

A cross-national examination of the determinants of self-assessed health

Self-assessed health measures are often utilized in surveys of older adults, and these have been found to be powerful predictors of other health indicators and future health. However, there is still much that is puzzling about the measure. Few studies use comparative techniques to ascertain the determinants of self-assessed health across diverse settings. Using recent data from the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand, the current study tests whether determinants of self-assessed health are similar across samples and whether there are distinct country effects acting upon the association. Ordered probit models reveal that, on the one hand, the determinants of self-assessed health are relatively similar across the three countries, while, on the other, the overall probabilities of reporting favorable self-assessed health remain differentiated even when controlling for a broad series of determinants. The results suggest that cultural variation in the interpretation of health may be a factor and that more subtle measures should be included in future studies of this nature.

Follicular variant of papillary carcinoma: the diagnostic limitations of preoperative fine-needle aspiration and intraoperative frozen section evaluation

OBJECTIVE

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and frozen section (FS) have been widely reported in the literature as having high sensitivity in the diagnosis of papillary carcinoma. With the increased recognition of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), several reports have pointed out the difficulty in diagnosing this variant of papillary carcinoma owing to its overlapping cytomorphological features with benign and malignant follicular lesions. We undertook this study to determine the sensitivity of FNA and FS in the diagnosis of FVPTC.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients who underwent thyroidectomy from June 1994 to June 1999. Of the 63 patients found with a final pathological diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, only 47 had an adequate FNA and FS and were included in the study. These patients were divided into two groups, the usual type (n = 23) and the follicular variant (n = 24) of papillary carcinoma. Sensitivities of FNA and FS for these two groups of papillary carcinoma were then determined.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of the FNA was 25% and of the FS was 29% for the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. This is in contrast to the sensitivity of FNA and FS for the usual papillary carcinoma, which were 74% and 87%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

FNA and FS have low sensitivity in the diagnosis of the FVPTC. High degree of suspicion may increase the accuracy in the diagnosis of this variant of papillary carcinoma before or during surgery. However, the thyroid surgeon needs to realize that, like follicular carcinoma, FVPTC is often diagnosed only on final pathological examination.

2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin increases aqueous solubility and photostability of all-trans-retinoic acid

BACKGROUND

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA, vitamin A acid or tretinoin) is effective in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). Unfortunately, the oral absorption of ATRA is highly variable. Its poor aqueous solubility also makes it difficult to be formulated into parenteral formulation. To date, there is no parenteral formulation of ATRA available commercially.

OBJECTIVE

To undertake the preformulation work necessary for developing such a product.

METHOD

We investigated the solubility and stability profile of ATRA in various formulations.

RESULTS

The aqueous solubility of ATRA could be greatly increased by the inclusion of ATRA in 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). Adjusting the pH value further improved the water solubility of ATRA. The photostability of HP-beta-CD-based formulation of ATRA was evaluated and it was found that inclusion ATRA into HP-beta-CD did improve the photostability of ATRA.

CONCLUSION

These results showed that it is possible to develop a parenteral formulation and/or an aqueous oral formulation of all-trans-retinoic acid by using 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin. However, the biopharmaceutical properties of such a formulation would be necessary before its use.

Diamino benzo[b]thiophene derivatives as a novel class of active site directed thrombin inhibitors. Part 6: further focus on the contracted C4'-side chain analogues

Novel benzo[b]thiophene diamine thrombin inhibitors were investigated, focusing on a contracted C4'-side chain series. SAR studies identified compounds with either a pyrrolidino or morpholino group as potent, active site directed thrombin inhibitors when the amino group was connected to the C3-phenyl ring with a methylene linker at the C4' position of the phenyl ring.

Diamino benzo[b]thiophene derivatives as a novel class of active site directed thrombin inhibitors. 5. Potency, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic properties of modified C-3 side chain derivatives

A systematic investigation of the structure-activity relationships of the C-3 side chain of the screening hit 1a led to the identification of the potent thrombin inhibitors 23c, 28c, and 31c. Their activities (1240, 903, and 1271 x 10(6) L/mol, respectively) represent 2200- and 2900-fold increases in potency over the starting lead 1a. This activity enhancement was accomplished with an increase of thrombin selectivity. The in vitro anticoagulant profiles of derivatives 28c and 31c were determined, and they compare favorably with the clinical agent H-R-1-[4aS, 8aS]perhydroisoquinolyl-prolyl-arginyl aldehyde (D-Piq-Pro-Arg-H; 32). The more potent members of this series have been studied in an arterial/venous shunt (AV shunt) model of thrombosis and were found to be efficacious in reducing clot formation. However, their efficacy is currently limited by their rapid and extensive distribution following administration.

Antioxidant activity in fruits and leaves of blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry varies with cultivar and developmental stage

Fruits and leaves from different cultivars of thornless blackberry (Rubus sp.), red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.), and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa D.) plants were analyzed for total antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity, ORAC) and total phenolic content. In addition, fruits were analyzed for total anthocyanin content. Blackberries and strawberries had the highest ORAC values during the green stages, whereas red raspberries had the highest ORAC activity at the ripe stage. Total anthocyanin content increased with maturity for all three species of fruits. Compared with fruits, leaves were found to have higher ORAC values. In fruits, ORAC values ranged from 7.8 to 33.7 micromol of Trolox equivalents (TE)/g of fresh berries (35. 0-162.1 micromol of TE/g of dry matter), whereas in leaves, ORAC values ranged from 69.7 to 182.2 micromol of TE/g of fresh leaves (205.0-728.8 micromol of TE/g of dry matter). As the leaves become older, the ORAC values and total phenolic contents decreased. The results showed a linear correlation between total phenolic content and ORAC activity for fruits and leaves. For ripe berries, a linear relationship existed between ORAC values and anthocyanin content. Of the ripe fruits tested, on the basis of wet weight of fruit, cv. Jewel black raspberry and blackberries may be the richest source for antioxidants. On the basis of the dry weight of fruit, strawberries had the highest ORAC activity followed by black raspberries (cv. Jewel), blackberries, and red raspberries.

Kinetic study of a 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin-based formulation of all-trans-retinoic acid in Sprague-Dawley rats after oral or intravenous administration

all-trans-Retinoic acid (ATRA, vitamin A acid, or tretinoin) is a potent chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Its poor aqueous solubility not only affects its oral absorption but also prevents it from forming an aqueous parenteral formulation. Recently, we developed a water-soluble formulation of ATRA with 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD). In present study, this formulation was tested in Sprague-Dawley rats. Kinetic study of ATRA was carried out after oral or intravenous administration. Though there were no statistical differences in any of the estimated pharmacokinetic parameters between ATRA sodium salt and HPbetaCD-based ATRA after intravenous administration, inclusion of ATRA into HPbetaCD was found to greatly improve the oral absorption of ATRA.

Intergenerational influence in Singapore and Taiwan: the role of the elderly in family decisions

This research examines intergenerational decision-making in Singapore and Taiwan. The focus is on elderly individuals and the extent to which they report being involved in influencing important family matters. The data used in the analysis were collected in focus group interviews and household-level surveys of the elderly (defined as ages 60 and over) in Singapore and Taiwan. Both survey samples were national probability samples. Everything else being equal, the extent to which seniors are consulted in family decisions declines with age and failing health in both countries. Whether they live in rural or urban places within Taiwan is also significant, and depending upon the context, socioeconomic variables such as home-ownership, employment status, and education further help predict to what degree the elderly are consulted in family decisions.

Synthesis and in vitro biological activity of 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3alpha,12 alpha-diol, a 12alpha-hydroxyl analog of 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3alpha-ol: the latter is a potent activator of the low-density lipoprotein receptor promoter

4alpha-(2-Propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3alpha-ol (3) was shown recently in a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-based low-density lipoprotein receptor/luciferase (LDLR/Luc) assay to be a potent transcriptional activator of the LDL receptor promoter in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol. Because of the involvement of 12alpha-hydroxylation in the metabolism of cholesterol, we are interested in investigating the effect of introducing a 12alpha-hydroxyl group to 3 on the transcriptional activity of the LDL receptor promoter. Thus 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3alpha,12a lpha-diol (14), a 12alpha-hydroxyl analog of 3, was synthesized from deoxycholic acid via the formation of 12alpha-[[(tertbutyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy]-4alpha-( 2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3-one (11). Test results show that 14 is inactive at concentrations of up to 20 microg/ml, compared to 3 with an EC30 value of 2.6 microM, in the CHO cell-based LDLR/Luc assay. Apparently introduction of a 12alpha-hydroxyl group abolishes the capability of 3alpha-sterol 14 to activate the transcription of the LDL receptor promoter. However, in the [1-14C-acetate]cholesterol biosynthesis inhibition assay in CHO cells, 14 at 10 microg/ml (23 microM) is shown to inhibit the cholesterol biosynthesis by 51% relative to the control cells. Our previous studies indicated that 3 showed a 38% inhibition, but 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholestan-3alpha-ol (1) exhibited no inhibition in the same assay at 10 microg/ml. In summary the results indicate that, in addition to the 24,25-unsaturation, the 12alpha-hydroxyl group in 14 has also conferred an inhibitory effect on cholesterol biosynthesis in CHO cells; however, the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis by 14 does not lead to the transcriptional activation of the LDL receptor promoter.

Stress, social relations, and old age mortality in Taiwan

The research analyzed the relationships among stress, social relations, and mortality in a probability sample of 4,049 Taiwanese adults, aged 60 and over. The baseline survey was conducted in 1989 and the survival status of the respondents was ascertained during the subsequent 4 years. Death of a spouse or a child was found to increase the risk of dying directly and indirectly, whereas major financial difficulty during the past 5 years and current financial strain influenced mortality indirectly through their effects on self-rated health disability. In addition to their direct effect on mortality, martial status and work status lowered the probability of dying through decreased disability and subjective ill health. Finally, no buffering effects of social support were substantiated.

A comparison of correlates of cognitive functioning in older persons in Taiwan and the United States

OBJECTIVES

This article compares patterns of association between cognitive functioning and a number of sociodemographic and health correlates among older persons in Taiwan and the United States.

METHODS

The study uses data from the 1993 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan and the 1993 Study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old in the United States. Separate multivariate regression models are employed for each country to examine the effects of sociodemographic and health factors on cognitive functioning, and to examine the marginal impact of cognitive functioning on activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) functioning.

RESULTS

Results of the multivariate analyses show similar patterns of association across the two countries and replicate findings from previous studies. Increasing age, female gender, lower education, depression, and selected health conditions are associated with lower cognitive functioning. In addition, although a significant predictor of both ADL and IADL impairments, cognitive functioning is more powerful with respect to explaining IADL impairments.

DISCUSSION

Study findings suggest that the cognitive measures are capturing similar dimensions in Taiwan and the United States, and that factors associated with cognitive functioning and its consequences with respect to physical functioning are similar in the two countries.

Surgical management of thyroid masses: assessing the need for frozen section evaluation

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

To determine the need for intraoperative frozen section to guide the extent of thyroid surgery in the presence of an adequate preoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) finding.

METHODS

Charts of patients who presented from 1995 to 1998 to the two senior authors were reviewed. A total of 82 patients were found who satisfied the inclusion criteria of having both an adequate FNA and frozen section. The extent of surgery was based on the frozen section finding for all the patients in this study. The authors looked at the number of cases in which the surgical management would be changed if the frozen section was not obtained and the surgical decision was based only on preoperative FNA and intraoperative findings.

RESULTS

FNA revealed papillary carcinoma in 18 patients that was confirmed by intraoperative frozen section and final pathology. In the remaining 64 patients, the FNA diagnosis was either benign or suspicious. When routine frozen section was done, 61 of these 64 patients were found to have either benign pathology or pathological diagnosis that was deferred to permanent section. Only three patients were found to have malignancy on frozen section that was missed by FNA. Of these three patients, two had obvious findings of malignancy at the time of surgery. This leaves only one patient with carcinoma that was missed by FNA and intraoperative findings but detected by the intraoperative frozen section.

CONCLUSION

Of the 82 patients in this study, only one extra case of malignancy would be missed by elimination of the routine use of intraoperative frozen section. The authors conclude that the routine use of intraoperative frozen section may be unnecessary. The use of an adequate preoperative FNA together with sound clinical judgment at time of surgery can adequately guide the extent of surgical resection.

Dibasic benzo[b]thiophene derivatives as a novel class of active site directed thrombin inhibitors: 2. Sidechain optimization and demonstration of in vivo efficacy

Potent, subnanomolar thrombin inhibitors 4, 5, and 6 are developed through side chain optimization of novel, benzo[b]thiophene-based small organic entities 2 and 3 and through SAR additivity studies of the new structural elements identified. X-ray crystallographic studies of 4b-thrombin complex revealed a hydrophobic and an electrostatic interaction of these new elements with thrombin at the S2 and S3 binding sites. In vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies showed that 4, 5, and 6 are potent anticoagulants in human plasma with demonstrated antithrombotic efficacy in a rat model of thrombosis.

Synthesis and in vitro biological activity of 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3alpha-ol: a 24,25-dehydro analog of the hypocholesterolemic agent 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholestan-3alpha-ol

4Alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholestan-3alpha-ol (LY295427) was previously identified from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-based low density lipoprotein receptor/luciferase (LDLR/Luc) assay to be a potent transcriptional activator of the LDL receptor promoter in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol. To investigate the effect of the 24,25-unsaturation in the D-ring side chain (desmosterol D-ring side chain) on antagonizing the repressing effect of 25-hydroxycholesterol, 4alpha-(2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholest-24-en-3alpha-ol (17), a 24,25-dehydro analog of LY295427, was thus synthesized from lithocholic acid via the formation of 3alpha-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy]-4alpha- (2-propenyl)-5alpha-cholan-24-al (15). Test results showed that 17 had an EC30 value of 2.6 microM, comparable to 2.9 microM of LY295427, in the CHO cell-based LDLR/Luc assay in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol. Apparently, the built-in 24,25-unsaturation in the D-ring side chain of 17 had added little effect to antagonizing the repressing effect of 25-hydroxycholesterol. In the [1-14C-acetate]cholesterol biosynthesis inhibition assay, 17 at 10 microg/ml (23 microM) has been shown to inhibit the cholesterol biosynthesis in CHO cells by 38% relative to the vehicle control; whereas LY295427 showed no inhibition in the same assay in our previous studies. In contrast to LY295427, the built-in 24,25-unsaturation in the D-ring side chain of 17 has conferred an inhibitory effect on cholesterol biosynthesis in CHO cells. In summary, the observed LDL receptor promoter activity of 17 is related to its ability to prevent 25-hydroxycholesterol from exerting the repressing effect via an undetermined mechanism and, in part, to inhibit the cholesterol biosynthesis.

Synthesis of 4 alpha-(2-propenyl)-5,6-secocholestan-3 alpha-ol, a novel B-ring seco analog of the hypocholesterolemic agent 4 alpha-(2-propenyl)-5 alpha-cholestan-3 alpha-ol

4 alpha-(2-Propenyl)-5 alpha-cholestan-3 alpha-ol (LY295427) was previously identified from a CHO cell-based assay to be a potent LDL receptor up-regulator and had demonstrated to be an effective agent in lowering plasma cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. In order to investigate the effect of flexibility of the 3 alpha-hydroxy-bearing A-ring on the activity, 4 alpha-(2-propenyl)-5,6-secocholestan-3 alpha-ol (11), a B-ring seco analog of LY295427, is thus synthesized from cholest-4-en-3-one. Test results indicate that 11 is not active in the CHO cell-based LDL receptor/luciferase assay at concentrations up to 20 micrograms/mL. The result underlines the importance of maintaining the A-B-C-D ring rigidity of the 3 alpha-sterols in terms of binding to the putative oxysterol receptor.

Direct shoot regeneration from excised leaf explants of in vitro grown seedlings of Alstroemeria L

A two-step protocol for the induction of shoots from Alstroemeria leaf explants has been developed. Leaf explants with stem node tissue attached were incubated on shoot induction medium for 10 days, and then transferred to regeneration medium. Shoots from the area adjacent to the region between the leaf base and node tissue regenerated within 3 weeks after transfer to the regeneration medium, without a callus phase. The best induction was obtained with Murashige and Skoog medium containing 10 µM thidiazuron and 0.5 µM indole butyric acid. The regeneration medium contained 2.2 µM 6-benzylaminopurine. After several subcultures of the leaf explants with induced shoots, normal plantlets with rhizome were formed. In Alstroemeria, the percentage of responding leaf explants is more important than the number of shoots regenerated per leaf explant, because rhizome formation is the most important factor for micropropagation. The effect of other compounds in the induction medium, including glucose, sucrose, silver nitrate, and ancymidol, on regeneration was also investigated.

Relationship between endothelial cell turnover and permeability to horseradish peroxidase

The quantitative relations between cell turnover (cell mitosis and death) and macromolecular leakage were studied at the level of individual endothelial cells (ECs) in the thoracic aortae of 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. The experiments were performed on en face preparations of aortic specimens obtained 1, 3, 5 or 10 min after the intravenous administration of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Mitotic ECs were identified by hematoxylin nuclear staining; dying or dead ECs containing cytoplasmic immunoglobulin G were detected by indirect immunocytochemistry and endothelial leakages to HRP were visualized by light microscopy. The number and size of HRP spots increased with time and the spots fused to form large brown areas in 10 min. Quantitative data on the contributions of EC mitosis and EC death to the transendothelial leakages of HRP were obtained in the same animals. Although mitotic ECs (0.01%) and dying ECs (0.1%) were infrequent in occurrence, the great majority (over 90%) of these ECs were associated with focal HRP uptake. These mitotic and dying ECs, however, accounted for only 17% of the total leakage sites indicating that significant leakage of the 4-5 nm HRP also occurs in normal ECs not morphologically identified as being in mitosis or death. The percentages of leaky spots attributable to mitosis or cell death were greater for the 6 nm albumin and the 22 nm low density lipoprotein (LDL) which probably cannot traverse the normal junctions and use the leaky junctions during cell turnover as the major pathway.

Immunocytochemical demonstration of a lipid droplet-specific capsule in cultured Leydig cells of the golden hamsters

In this report, we provide direct evidence for the presence of a lipid droplet-associated capsule in hamster steroidogenic Leydig cells by using a monoclonal antibody A2. Leydig cells are characterized by containing many lipid droplets and having 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. Immunofluorescence staining with this antibody demonstrated a rim or capsule surrounding the lipid droplets in Leydig cells, a pattern not seen with anti-vimentin antibody. Immunogold labelling confirmed ultrastructurally that antibody binding was distributed on the lipid droplet surface. In order to investigate the possible function of the capsule, we examined the morphological changes induced in the capsule following stimulation with LH or dibutyryl cAMP; the fluorescent intensity of the capsule was seen to gradually decrease, accompanied by a decrease in number and size of lipid droplets, and the response to both reagents was time- and concentration-dependent. We thus conclude that hormonal stimulation resulting in the detachment of certain capsular proteins from the surface of lipid droplets is mediated via the cAMP signaling pathway and may allow cholesterol ester hydrolytic enzyme direct access to its substrate in the lipid droplet.

Adaptation: a new concept in radiation biology and oncology and its clinical relevance

A new concept of adaptation and cross-resistance in radiation biology and oncology is introduced. It explains the apparent difference in the radiosensitivity of cells of the same type (both normal and tumor) that are located in different parts of the body. Oxygen tension, which varies considerably from one part of the human body to another, ranges from 20 mmHg to 159 mmHg (2.7-21%). When cells are adapted to live in areas with high physiologic oxygen tension (high normoxic) such as the epidermis and upper and lower airways, they develop better antioxidant mechanisms, which include free radical scavengers and DNA repair, than cells that live in lower physiologic oxygen tension (low normoxic). Because the mechanisms of cell-damaging effects of ionizing radiation are similar to those of oxygen, the cell that is resistant to oxygen toxicity also becomes resistant to ionizing radiation (and certain cancer chemotherapeutic agents). Based on this concept, it could be expected that some human tumors such as primary cutaneous malignant melanoma and lung cancers contain cells that are relatively resistant to ionizing radiation as a consequence of living in a high normoxic condition and the treatment of these tumors may require different strategies.

[A study of multiple factors related to Enterobius vermicularis infection among pre-school children in Ta-Liao district of Kaohsiung County]

In order to study the factors related to Enterobius vermicularis infection among pre-school children in Ta-Liao District of Kaohsiung County, a questionnaire was designed to interview parents of preschool children selected by random sampling from 7 kindergartens in Ta-Liao District. Enterobius infections in the children were then examined by using two-consecutive-day adhesive cellophane paper perianal swabs. The effective sample numbered 555 children. Variables causing the infection among infected and non-infected children were analyzed by chi-square test and point-biserial correlation. The results indicated that there were significant relationship between infection and the follow items: having snacks; sucking fingers; size of house; ways of cleaning house; place of activities; parent's cognizing that anus is the polluted source of eggs; recognition of the cause-and-effect relationship between eating in the bedroom and being reinfected with Enterobius; recognition of preventing reinfection of Enterobius by taking a shower; and educational background of father. Through logistic regression analysis with backward selection, the authors constructed a predicting model which can predict the infection rate of E. vermicularis among pre-school children according to the habit of having snacks, the habit of sucking fingers, size of house, parent's recognizing that taking a shower can prevent people from reinfection, and the educational background of father.

Prognostic factors of primary aldosteronism

BACKGROUND

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a rare but potentially curable cause of hypertension. Between October 1982 and November 1994, 30 patients of PA received unilateral adrenalectomy with a long-term follow up (mean:60.3 months). Nineteen (63.3%) cases were cured (Group 1); 11(36.7%) cases were improved (Group 2). The purpose of this study was to determine prognostic factors after surgery in patients with PA.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed regarding age and sex of the patients, duration of hypertension, family history of hypertension, preoperative blood pressure, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), plasma renin activity (PRA) and efficacy of spironolactone on blood pressure between both groups. End-organs (including kidney, heart, retina and brain) involvement was evaluated and compared. Adrenalectomy and renal biopsy specimen for pathology were similarly evaluated.

RESULTS

The duration of hypertension was longer in Group 2 than in Group 1 (8.18 +/- 4.94 vs 5.21 +/- 4.24 years). The efficacy of spironolactone on blood pressure (BP) was positive in 81.8% of Group 1 and 16.7% of Group 2. Adrenal cortical adenoma in 24 cases with a cure rate of 70.8% (17/24) and adrenal cortical macronodular hyperplasia in 6 cases with a cure rate of 33.3% (2/6) were noted. Group 2 had more end-organs involvement than Group 1. The severity of histopathological change of the renal biopsy was similar.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that preoperative response of blood pressure to spironolactone administration predicts the postoperative prognosis of hypertension in patient with PA. Long duration of hypertension and involvement of two or more end-organs were poor prognostic factors. Excellent results can be achieved by unilateral adrenalectomy in adrenal cortical adenoma and fair results, in adrenal cortical macronodular hyperplasia.