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Biomedical subjects

E Chang

Publications and source records attributed to E Chang.

144 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Recovery from deep-plane rhytidectomy following unilateral wound treatment with autologous platelet gel: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of treatment with autologous platelet-rich plasma mixed with thrombin and calcium chloride to form an autologous platelet gel (APG) on postoperative recovery from deep-plane rhytidectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled pilot study. SETTING: An accredited ambulatory facial plastic surgery center. PATIENTS: Healthy volunteer women (N = 8) undergoing rhytidectomy. INTERVENTION: Unilateral autologous platelet-rich plasma wound treatment during standard deep-plane rhytidectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Staged postoperative facial photographs were graded in a blinded fashion by 3 facial plastic surgeon reviewers for postoperative ecchymosis and edema. Each facial side treated with APG that demonstrated less edema or ecchymosis than the non-APG-treated side was designated a positive response; otherwise, the response was equal (no difference) or negative (untreated side had less edema or ecchymosis). RESULTS: Twenty-one positive and 21 equal responses were observed compared with 8 negative ones. Of 20 unanimous observations, 15 were positive, only 3 equal, and 1 negative. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with APG may prevent or improve edema or ecchymosis after deep-plane rhytidectomy. This trend is more apparent for ecchymosis than for edema, and is chiefly demonstrable in the early phases of recovery. These observations are consistent with previous reports of cell tissue culture and wound response to concentrated platelet product.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative gene mapping in the domestic cat (Felis catus).

The genetic map of the domestic cat has been developed as a model for studying both feline analogues of human genetic disease and comparative genome organization of mammals. We present here the results of syntenic mapping of 35 genes based upon concordant occurrence of feline gene homologues with feline chromosomes and previously mapped loci in a panel of 41 rodent x cat somatic cell hybrids. These somatic cell hybrids retain rodent chromosomes and segregate feline chromosomes, but in different combinations in each hybrid cell line. Thirty-three of the 35 new locus assignments extend and reaffirm conserved chromosome segment homologies between the human and cat genomes previously recognized by comparative mapping and zoo-FISH. These results demonstrate the extensive syntenic conservation between the human and feline genomes and extend the feline gene map to include 105 assigned loci.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patients with melanoma metastases at cutaneous and subcutaneous sites are highly susceptible to interleukin-2-based therapy.

The authors evaluated the records of 371 patients with metastatic melanoma who received treatment with high-dose bolus interleukin-2. Patients with metastases only at cutaneous or subcutaneous sites had a higher objective response rate (50%) than did patients with metastases at these sites plus visceral sites (14%) or patients with metastases at visceral sites only (13%) (p<0.0001). Five patients with disease at cutaneous or subcutaneous sites plus visceral sites experienced regression only at the cutaneous or subcutaneous sites with progression at the visceral sites. Therefore, in the presence of visceral disease, the response rate at cutaneous or subcutaneous sites was only 17% compared with 50% when disease was at the latter sites only (p<0.001). These data suggest that melanoma lesions at cutaneous or subcutaneous sites are highly susceptible targets to interleukin-2-based therapies, but the presence of visceral disease is associated with a significant inhibition of response at cutaneous or subcutaneous sites.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful treatment of infantile hemangiomas with interferon-alpha-2b.

PURPOSE: Hemangiomas are benign tumors occurring in 10% of infants. A small percentage are complicated by blockage of vital structures, consumptive coagulopathy, or heart failure, resulting in a mortality of -20% of patients with complications. Here, we describe four infants with complicated hemangiomas responding to interferon-alpha-2b therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four children with hemangiomas were treated with interferon-alpha-2b for complicating heart failure (1), visual impairment (2), or coagulopathy (1). Patients received interferon-alpha-2b alone or in conjunction with corticosteroid therapy over 2 to 9 months. Imaging studies and urinary basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels were used to monitor treatment response. RESULTS: Three of four patients demonstrated involution of the hemangiomas with improvement in their coagulopathy or visual impairment. The fourth patient expired due to cardiac complications despite radiologic evidence of hemangioma involution. Side effects associated with interferon-alpha-2b treatment included elevated transaminases (2) and leukocytosis (2), which resolved upon completion of therapy. One patient developed mild gross motor delay (1), which improved after cessation of therapy. Decreased urinary bFGF levels correlated with hemangioma involution. CONCLUSION: Interferon-alpha-2b therapy is an effective, well-tolerated treatment for complicated hemangiomas. Measurement of urinary bFGF levels may provide an objective method for monitoring treatment response.

Exophthalmos↗
PubMedDate not supplied

PET FDG studies of Wilms tumors.

PURPOSE: Wilms tumor is the most common renal neoplasm in children. The diagnosis is usually suggested by anatomic imaging and established by biopsy or resection. The principal roles of functional imaging have been the search for skeletal metastases and evaluation of renal function. We hypothesized that, like many tumors, Wilms tumors could concentrate 18F-FDG and that evaluation of the metabolic activity of these neoplasms might prove clinically useful. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients with known or suspected Wilms tumors underwent positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) scanning (four scans). A patient with a single Wilms tumor was studied once at the time of diagnosis. The two patients with bilateral Wilms tumors were studied during therapy. RESULTS: Uptake of FDG was present in the Wilms tumor studied at diagnosis, and in one of the tumors in each of the patients with bilateral disease studied during therapy. In all three cases, the results of the PET scans influenced therapeutic decisions. CONCLUSION: PET FDG scanning may be useful for the management of selected patients with Wilms tumors.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Program factors and treatment outcomes in drug dependence treatment: an examination using meta-analysis.

In comparison with studies of client characteristics and treatment processes, limited research has been conducted on how program features of drug dependence treatment programs may affect client outcomes. Of particular interest are those characteristics of programs that may have a clinically significant impact on outcomes and that are amenable to change within programs. This study examines the impact of various program factors on client outcomes using data from a meta-analysis of drug dependence effectiveness studies (n = 143). Because of heterogeneity among studies, the data are analyzed in terms of type of outcome variable (drug use and crime), type of design (single-group and treatment-comparison group), and type of treatment (methadone maintenance, therapeutic communities, outpatient drug free, and detoxification). For the more valid treatment-comparison group studies, the weighted mean effect size was 0.29 for drug use outcomes and 0.17 for crime outcomes. Program factors found to be significantly correlated with effect size in one or more modalities were decade of treatment, researcher involvement in treatment delivery, maturity of the program, counselor/client ratio, treatment implementation, treatment exposure, and methadone dosage.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Modulation of oncogene expression by epidermal growth factor and gamma-interferon in A431 squamous carcinoma cells.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) acts, in a dose dependent manner, as both a mitogen and an inhibitor of growth of the A431 squamous carcinoma cell line. gamma-interferon (IFN) also inhibits A431 cell growth. The dual effects of EGF on A431 growth and expression of the oncogenes, EGF receptor (EGFR) and Ha-ras, were evaluated with or without gamma-IFN. A mitogenic level (10pM) of EGF had no effect on expression of EGFR 10 kb mRNA or protein. gamma-IFN combined with 10pM EGF caused an initial drop in EGFR mRNA not reflected at the protein level; at 72 hours, the level of EGFR 10kb mRNA rose and inhibition of cell growth was observed. Treatment with a cytostatic amount (10nM) of EGF resulted in decreased expression of EGFR 10kb mRNA and protein within 24 hours; combined treatment with gamma-IFN caused rapid cell death. Expression of Ha-ras mRNA paralleled that of EGFR mRNA upon treatment with 10pM EGF and/or gamma-IFN, but differed with 10nM EGF.

Blotting, Northern↗