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Biomedical subjects

C Li

Publications and source records attributed to C Li.

1,256 records · Page 70Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Prognostic significance of TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 3 in human breast carcinoma.

Transforming growth factor beta s (TGF beta s) are multifunctional growth factors which show differential expression both temporally and spatially and exert pleiotropic effects during carcinogenesis. Although all three mammalian isoforms of TGF beta share considerable sequence similarity, they appear to have distinct functions in health and disease, such as embryogenesis, wound healing and tumourigenesis. Much of our knowledge about the relationship between TGF beta s and breast cancer is based on publications on TGF beta 1 but the role of TGF beta 3 in the progression of breast cancer has not been well documented. In the present study, the expression of TGF beta 1 and TGF beta 3 was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Of the 153 invasive breast cancer tissues, TGF beta 1 was expressed strongly in 25 and moderately in 98 cases. The immunoreactivity of TGF beta 3 was comparable with TGF beta 1, which was expressed strongly in 21 and moderately in 104 cases. The two isoforms were coexpressed in 111 (72.5%) tumours and were absent in 16 cases (10%). Immunostaining for TGFb3 but not TGF beta 1 was inversely correlated with overall survival (p = 0.0204). When combined with lymph node involvement, TGFb3 became an even more significant prognostic factor for overall survival (p = 0.0003), i.e. patients with node metastasis and positive TGFb3 expression had a worse prognosis: the risk of death for these patients was thirteen-fold greater than those who had no node involvement. The fact that it has been reported previously that high TGF beta 3 plasma levels in patients with untreated early stage breast cancer were correlated with subsequent lymph node metastasis and it was observed in the present study too, that TGF beta 3 expression in breast tumours was an independent predictor of overall survival, led us to suggest that the simultaneous measurement of TGF beta 3 in plasma and its expression in resected tumour tissues in the same cohort of patients may prove to be an important parameter in assessing tumour progression.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Potential treatment for clubfeet based on growth factor blockade.

Select soft tissues in clubfeet are contracted, resulting in stiffness. These contracted tissues share ultrastructural characteristics with palmar fibromatosis (Dupuytren contracture), in which the growth factors transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) are expressed and play a role in regulating cell behavior. More contracted tissue (medial side of the foot) and less contracted tissue (lateral side of the foot) from 20 clubfeet were studied using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western analysis for expression of TGF-beta and PDGF (along with collagen type I and type III). Cell cultures were established from the more contracted tissues to determine the effect of blockade of these factors with neutralizing antibodies on proliferation, chemotaxis, and collagen expression. Both growth factors were expressed at higher levels by the contracted tissues, and blockade led to decreased collagen expression, proliferation, and chemotaxis. Growth factor blockade has the potential to change the behavior of these cells in a way that would lessen the severity of the contractures, perhaps improving the outcome of clubfoot treatment.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Concurrence of sarcoidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus in three patients.

We present three cases of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and sarcoidosis. Although both of these conditions are thought to involve autoimmune mechanisms they occur together only rarely. Our cases suggest that their concurrence may be more common than previously thought, and raise issues regarding the management of patients with SLE. We discuss the possibility that these two diseases are either causally or mechanistically related.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alteration in platelet function in patients with early breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to examine our hypothesis that platelets of patients with breast cancer were functionally altered compared to healthy controls. The results have shown that the platelets from women with early breast cancer released significantly more vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) when stimulated with thrombin, tissue factor, clotting, or over a period of time. Similarly, release of thrombospondin (TSP) with thrombin and tissue factor was higher, but failed to reach a significant level. Thus, the observed differences in platelet response support our hypothesis, but warrant further work to determine the reason underlying the observed difference and potential clinical relevance of our findings.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pilot study on the relationship between male stomach and liver cancer death and mutagenicity of drinking water in the Huangpu River area.

A quasi-historical cohort study method was used to collect the data of male stomach and liver cancer death from 1984 to 1988 in male residents (> or = 30 years old) of three tap-water-drinking communities at the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Huangpu River. Total person-years observed are 184,645. The result shows that the world standard population standardized cut-off mortalities (> or = 30 years old) of male stomach and liver cancer increase gradually from the upper to lower reaches. The mortalities from the upper to the lower reaches are 62.7, 86.2 and 146.0/100,000 person-years for male stomach cancer and 56.9, 67.7 and 81.3/100,000 person-years for male liver cancer, respectively. This trend is consistent with the change of the rate of positive Ames Test results of drinking water from the upper to lower reaches (0, 70, 100%). It suggests that a causal correlation may exist between the two. The distribution of other possible risk factors in the three communities is also described.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of drinking water from the lower reaches of the Huangpu River on the risk of male stomach and liver cancer death.

A quasi-historical cohort study method was used to collect the data of male stomach and liver cancer death and the data of exposure to relevant risk factors from 1984 to 1988 in male tap-water- and raw-water-drinking cohorts (> or = 30 years old) at both the upper and lower reaches of the Huangpu River. Total person-years observed are 172,448. The Odds Ratios of drinking water from the lower reaches for male stomach cancer and liver cancer death are 2.021 (p < 0.01) and 1.851 (p < 0.01), respectively, in unconditional logistic regression analysis after controlling possible confounding factors. The result shows that drinking water from the lower reaches of the Huangpu River is one of the important risk factors for male stomach and liver cancer death in local areas.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pulmonary artery counterpulsation with a skeletal muscle power source.

We evaluated the feasibility of using skeletal muscle (SM) to provide pulmonary artery (PA) counterpulsation in an acute pulmonary hypertension (PHT) model. PA counterpulsation was achieved in six dogs with a dual chambered pump powered by the latissimus dorsi muscle. A rate-responsive stimulator was used to make the muscle contract in counterpulsation. Graded PHT was induced by infusing 150 microns glass beads into the PA, while RV and PA pressures were monitored. With PA pressures ranging from 19/10 to 115/62 mmHg, effective counterpulsation was observed. The degree of counterpulsation was influenced by the extent of PHT induced, with the amount of RV tension-time index (TTI) unloading correlated with the level of PA systole (r = 0.92). Therefore, results were divided into two groups (Group 1: PA systole less than or equal to 40 mmHg, and Group 2: PA systole greater than 40 mmHg). In Group 1, RV TTI decreased from 11.29 +/- 0.76 to 9.99 +/- 0.72 mmHg.sec, PA diastole increased from 20 +/- 2.3 to 31 +/- 3.0 mmHg, and PA mean increased from 24 +/- 2.2 to 2.9 +/- 2.2 mmHg (all p less than 0.05). In Group 2, RV TT1 decreased from 15.12 +/- 1.83 to 10.99 +/- 0.90 mmHg.sec, PA diastole increased from 41 +/- 3.5 to 64 +/- 6.2 mmHg, and PA mean increased from 49 +/- 4.8 to 55 +/- 5.7 mmHg (all p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Olfactory neuroblastoma: MR evaluation.

PURPOSE: To evaluate MR in the diagnosis and staging of olfactory neuroblastoma. METHODS: Five patients with histologically proved olfactory neuroblastomas were studied by MR. Four also had CT scans. RESULTS: The extent of disease delineated by MR agreed with surgical findings and surgical staging of the tumor in all five patients. All cases of olfactory neuroblastomas originated in the nasal cavity and involved the ethmoid sinuses. In three of the five cases, the tumors extended to the anterior skull base. In one case MR correctly suggested skull base involvement missed on CT. Lesions were isointense to hyperintense with muscle on T1-weighted scans. Compared with fat on T2-weighted scans, olfactory neuroblastomas were variable in signal intensity. Enhancement was minimal to moderate in all cases. CONCLUSION: In the evaluation of olfactory neuroblastoma, MR is most useful in delineating the extent of the tumor and may be more accurate than CT. However, the signal intensity characteristics of olfactory neuroblastomas may overlap other tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Kallmann syndrome: MR evaluation of olfactory system.

PURPOSE: To describe the MR appearance of the olfactory bulbs and tracts and temporal lobes in patients with Kallmann syndrome, a disorder characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia. METHODS: High-resolution MR scans with a surface coil placed over the nasion were performed in two patients with Kallmann syndrome. Coronal 3-mm thick contiguous sections were obtained through the olfactory bulbs and tracts. MR scans included volumetric analysis of the bulbs, tracts, temporal lobes, and hippocampi. RESULTS: No olfactory bulbs or tracts could be identified in patients with Kallmann syndrome. In comparison, the olfactory bulbs and tracts were identifiable in seven healthy volunteers. The temporal lobe and hippocampal volumes were comparable between control subjects and Kallmann patients. CONCLUSIONS: High-resolution surface-coil MR can identify the absence of olfactory bulbs and tracts in patients with Kallmann syndrome. Normal olfactory bulbs and tracts are easily discerned with surface-coil imaging.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of Egr-1 protein induction in murine peritoneal macrophages treated with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

Transcription of early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) is required for macrophage differentiation. Since granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induces macrophage proliferation as well as the transcription of Egr-1 mRNA, we characterized the induction of Egr-1 protein in murine peritoneal macrophages following treatment with GM-CSF. As determined by Western blot analysis, the concentration of GM-CSF required to induce detectable Egr-1 protein in macrophages was 50 units/ml, and the inducible Egr-1 protein species was 80 kDa. Following stimulation of macrophages with GM-CSF, Egr-1 protein was detected within 25 min and reached maximum level at 70 min. The concentration of GM-CSF that was required to induce Egr-1 protein in macrophages was similar to that required to induce macrophage proliferation. A similar concentration has been detected previously in mouse serum exposed to bacterial endotoxin in vivo, suggesting that the 80 kDa Egr-1 protein may be induced in macrophages under the physiologic circumstances of pathogen invasion. Thus, our data support further study on the role of Egr-1 protein in mediating GM-CSF induction of macrophage proliferation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of two urothelium cancer cell lines derived from a blackfoot disease endemic area in Taiwan.

Established cancer cell lines with distinct characteristics are valuable in many aspects of in vitro study pertaining to tumor biology, as well as the possible geographic significance. Two long-term cell lines, BFTC905 and BFTC909, were established from primary transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of patients from a blackfoot disease endemic area in Taiwan, where the prevalence and standard mortality rates of this cancer are unusually high. BFTC905 derived from a grade III TCC of urinary bladder has an epitheloid morphology, and BFTC909 derived from the sarcomatoid component of a grade III TCC of renal pelvis exhibits a fibroblastic growth pattern. They share similar morphological and immunocytochemical characteristics with the tumors of origin, have multiple chromosomal aberrations, and are tumorigenic in nude mice. BFTC905 reveals a unique homogeneously staining region at 11q13, the amplification of which has been detected in 20% of transitional cell carcinoma. In addition to the rarity of renal pelvic origin, the vimentin expression associated with an aggressive clinical behavior and a relatively high tumorigenicity as demonstrated by BFTC909 cells has also rarely been mentioned in TCC cell lines, but has been well documented in vivo and in vitro in renal cell carcinoma and breast cancer.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A clinical intervention for children exposed to alcohol in utero.

This study describes a statewide system of delivering special services to children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and investigates the usefulness of this system as part of a statewide fetal alcohol syndrome surveillance system. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services administered seven clinics in four of the five largest cities in Alaska during 1992-1995. Among the 74 children selected to be evaluated for fetal alcohol syndrome, 70 had one or more central nervous system abnormalities. Four children were assigned the diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome. Recommendations made to parents of the evaluated children included parent support group follow-up (38%), referral to a psychologist (35%), and further school testing and planning (27%). Clinics for alcohol-exposed children provide health officials an opportunity to deliver appropriate services to children exposed to alcohol in utero and to their families. Further studies are necessary to improve the delivery of services to birth mothers of alcohol-exposed children who attend the clinic. State-wide fetal alcohol syndrome surveillance can be accomplished by linking these clinics with other state data sources.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paclitaxel and water-soluble poly (L-glutamic acid)-paclitaxel, induce direct chromosomal abnormalities and cell death in a murine metastatic melanoma cell line.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of paclitaxel and water-soluble poly (L-glutamic acid)-paclitaxel (PG-TXL), on chromosome morphology, telomeric associations, and induction of cell death in a murine melanoma cell line (K-1735 clone X-21). Murine melanoma cells were treated with various concentrations (0.1 microgram, 1.0 microgram, 4.0 micrograms, and 8.0 micrograms/ml) of paclitaxel alone, PG alone, or PG-TXL for 2 hr and 4 hr and harvested immediately without recovery. We found that: (1) the frequency of metaphases with telomeric associations increased, (2) metaphases had clumped and distorted chromosome morphology, (3) cells accumulated in metaphase (mitotic arrest), and (4) cell death had been induced. Cells treated with PG-TXL showed more such abnormalities than did cells treated with either paclitaxel or PG alone. Our preliminary results indicate that PG-TXL may be superior to paclitaxel alone in inducing cytotoxic effects, and these effects could be mediated by various chromosomal abnormalities in cancer cells.

Animals↗