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Biomedical subjects

G T Liu

Publications and source records attributed to G T Liu.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Primary Sjögren's syndrome in men.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical expression of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in men, focusing on extraglandular manifestations (EGM) and serological markers of disease. METHODS: In a cross sectional and comparative study, adult men with primary SS were identified from a cohort study on SS, and 26 age matched adult women with primary SS were selected as a control group. All patients met the European classification criteria for SS. They were compared for demographic, clinical and laboratory findings. RESULTS: Thirteen men with primary SS were identified. Mean age at onset was 39 (SEM 4) years and mean duration of disease was 7.8 (1) years. Sicca complex or parotitis was the presenting feature in eight patients (61.5%), and an EGM in five (38.5%). During the course of the disease, EGM were present in 12 patients (92%), polyarthralgias and lymphopenia being the most frequent (38.5% each). Rheumatoid factor was positive in 73% of patients, antinuclear antibodies in 85%, anti-(SS-A) in 62%, and anti-(SS-B) in 46%. No statistical differences in the frequency of EGM or in the presence of autoantibodies were observed between men and women. However, men patients were more likely to have EGM. CONCLUSION: Primary SS in men is an uncommon condition with clinical and serological characteristics similar to those observed in women. Sex hormones may be incriminated in the pathogenesis of SS. However, it remains poorly understood whether sex hormones play a major role in the severity of disease and have any importance with regard to treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Brainstem tumors in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: a distinct clinical entity.

The natural history and the clinical and neuroimaging features of brainstem tumors in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are poorly understood. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been useful in NF1 in detecting intracranial abnormalities, especially of the brainstem. Brainstem tumors in NF1 have been confused clinically with non-NF1 brainstem tumors and radiographically with the increased T2 signal abnormalities, also known as "unidentified bright objects" (UBOs), which are common in NF1 and often located in the brainstem. This study, which evaluated 17 NF1 patients with brainstem tumors, is the largest series to date. Fifteen of 17 patients (88%) had neurologic signs and symptoms referable to brainstem dysfunction, including dysarthria, cranial neuropathies, and gross motor incoordination. Tumors were located primarily in the medulla in 14 of 17 NF1 patients (82%), in contrast to the pontine tumor location in the non-NF1 population. Seven NF1 patients (41%) required shunt placement for hydrocephalus at initial diagnosis, more frequent than in non-NF1 brainstem tumor patients. Six of 17 patients (35%) had evidence of radiographic tumor progression, but only three of them (18%) had correlative clinical progression. Two patients with progressive symptoms had partial surgical resection, and pathology revealed either fibrillary or anaplastic astrocytomas. Three patients were treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both, with two deaths. With a median follow-up of 52 months, 15 of 17 patients remain alive; 14 of them did not require adjuvant therapy. In our series, we describe NF1 brainstem tumors as a distinct clinical entity, much less aggressive than non-NF1 pontine tumors but more symptomatic than brainstem UBOs in NF1.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Persistent positive visual phenomena in migraine.

Ten patients with migraine developed persistent positive visual phenomena lasting months to years. The complaints were similar in their simplicity and involvement of the entire visual field and usually consisted of diffuse small particles such as TV static, snow, lines of ants, dots, and rain. Neurologic and ophthalmologic examinations were normal, and EEGs were normal in eight of eight patients tested. MRI was normal in all patients except one who had nonspecific biparietal white matter lesions and another with a small venous angioma. Treatment of this unusual complication of migraine was unsuccessful.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Protective effect of the fulvotomentosides on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice].

Fulvotomentoside alpha-hederin (H) and sapindoside B (S) are two components of the fulvotomentosides reported to decrease the toxicity of a number of hepatotoxins in mice. We studied the effects of the mixture of alpha-hederin and sapindoside B (HS) on paracetamol (Par)-induced liver injury. HS (20 mg.kg-1 sc twice) was shown to decrease the mortality produced by Par. The liver injury produced by Par was remarkably decreased as indicated by decrease of sGPT and by histopathological examination. Additionally, HS mitigated the hepatic GSH depletion caused by Par. Par excretion into urine was increased following HS.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1995

Effect of schisanhenol on function and surface shape of rat neutrophils.

AIM: To study the regulatory effect of Schisanhenol (Sal) on function of rat neutrophils. RESULTS: It was found that Sal (1, 10, and 100 mumol.L(-1)) inhibited neutrophil activities such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and superoxide anion production in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Changes of surface morphology of neutrophils were observed by scanning electron microscopy, showing that the ruffles and pseudopods on neutrophil surface increased under the stimulation by chemotactic peptide N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP). When pretreated with Sal 100 mumol.L(-1), the ruffles and pseudopods disappeared and the surface became smooth. Sal 100 mumol.L(-1) decreased the cytosolic calcium concentration of neutrophils and increased the intracellular cAMP level. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that Sal could inhibit the function of rat neutrophils through affecting the cytosolic free calcium and cAMP level besides its anti-oxidant activity.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Possible mechanisms for horizontal gaze deviation and lateropulsion in the lateral medullary syndrome.

We report a patient who developed conjugate horizontal gaze deviation and ipsipulsion of saccades from a lateral medullary infarction. Recent evidence suggests that the gaze deviation may result from increased inhibition of the ipsilateral vestibular nucleus and ipsipulsion of saccades from decreased excitation of the contralateral ocular premotor areas of the brainstem reticular formation. Interruption of the olivocerebellar pathways may account for both of these ocular motor abnormalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Cyclodeviation in skew deviation.

We examined four patients with dorsolateral pontomedullary lesions and skew deviation, with ocular torsion of varying symmetry. In three patients, the hypotropic eye was excyclodeviated relative to the fellow eye. Observations of these patients, combined with recent evidence, suggest that cyclodeviation is a frequent component of skew deviation and may result from variable involvement of utricular, semicircular canal, and cerebelloocular pathways. Although cyclodeviation is a feature of trochlear-nerve palsies, its presence does not exclude skew deviation and underlying brainstem lesions.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

High-dose methylprednisolone and acetazolamide for visual loss in pseudotumor cerebri.

We treated four patients who had acute, severe visual loss associated with pseudotumor cerebri with intravenous methylprednisolone (250 mg four times per day) for five days followed by an oral taper, in combination with acetazolamide and ranitidine. In addition to high-grade disk edema, one patient had serous detachment of both maculas and lipid deposition, one had a unilateral macular star, and one had a monocular branch retinal artery occlusion. These three patients experienced rapid and lasting improvement in visual acuity, visual field, papilledema, and symptoms. Vision of the fourth patient did not improve, requiring optic nerve sheath fenestration for chronic papilledema. Transient acne developed in one patient. This regimen is a safe, effective treatment of acute, severe visual loss associated with florid papilledema of pseudotumor cerebri. Lack of immediate improvement is an indication for optic nerve sheath decompression.

Acetazolamide↗
PubMed1994

Pseudotumor cerebri associated with corticosteroid withdrawal in inflammatory bowel disease.

We treated two patients with Crohn's disease and one patient with ulcerative colitis who developed headache, papilledema, and intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) during corticosteroid withdrawal. One had four separate episodes with corticosteroid withdrawal, which suggested a causal relationship. This association between pseudotumor cerebri and corticosteroid withdrawal has been documented in children, but is rare in adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Visual morbidity in giant cell arteritis. Clinical characteristics and prognosis for vision.

PURPOSE: To characterize visual morbidity in giant cell arteritis and to assess prognosis with respect to treatment. METHODS: Record review of 185 patients with coded diagnosis of giant cell (cranial) arteritis examined at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from January 1, 1980, to January 31, 1993. RESULTS: Forty-five patients with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis had visual symptoms, and 41 individuals (63 eyes) lost vision. The visual loss was unilateral in 19 patients (46%), sequential in 15 (37%), and simultaneous in 7 (17%). Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy developed in 88% of eyes, visual acuity was 20/200 or worse in 70%, 21% had no light perception, and the majority of field defects in testable eyes, aside from central scotomas associated with loss, showed altitudinal or arcuate patterns. Six patients lost vision during corticosteroid therapy for systemic symptoms of giant cell arteritis, whereas in 39 patients visual symptoms prompted steroid treatment. For visual symptoms, 25 patients received intravenous methylprednisolone, whereas 20 received oral prednisone alone. In the 41 patients with visual loss, vision was unchanged in 20 (49%), it worsened in 7 (17%), and it improved in 14 (34%). Subsequent fellow eye involvement was observed only with oral therapy, and a greater percentage of patients (9/23 [39%] versus 5/18 [28%]) improved after intravenous treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In the authors' series, patients with visual loss due to giant cell arteritis had a 34% chance for some improvement in visual function after corticosteroid treatment. Intravenous therapy may diminish the likelihood of fellow eye involvement and was associated with a slightly better prognosis for visual improvement.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Isolated fascicular abducens nerve palsy and Lyme disease.

A patient with Lyme disease developed an isolated sixth nerve palsy at the end of a 1 month course of oral antibiotics. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed high-signal abnormality at the left pontomedullary junction, implicating involvement of the distal sixth nerve fascicle. Although facial numbness ensued during a subsequent course of intravenous antibiotics, corticosteroid therapy was associated with prompt improvement of neurologic signs, suggesting an immunologic mechanism for the central nervous system dysfunction.

Abducens Nerve↗
PubMed1993

Acute Lyme neuropathy presenting with polyradicular pain, abdominal protrusion, and cranial neuropathy.

A 53-year-old man developed multifocal radicular pain. The diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis was delayed until bifacial paresis and right lower abdominal wall weakness developed, prompting further evaluation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed aseptic meningitis. Antibodies directed against Borrelia burgdorferi were present in the serum; higher titers were present in the CSF, indicating local antibody production. Electrophysiologic studies showed both an axonal polyradiculopathy as well as demyelinative facial palsy. Ceftriaxone therapy led to marked improvement in pain and facial palsies.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1992

Spontaneous visual improvement in chiasmal gliomas.

Three untreated patients with presumed chiasmal gliomas had spontaneous visual improvement, although serial magnetic resonance imaging in two of the patients showed the lesions to be unchanged. Two patients had evidence of neurofibromatosis. Three other patients with similar disease courses have been documented in the medical literature. These cases demonstrate that conservative management of optic chiasmal gliomas may sometimes be associated with favorable outcomes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Protective action of seven natural phenolic compounds against peroxidative damage to biomembranes.

The effects of seven phenolic compounds isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza on peroxidative damage to liver microsomes, hepatocytes and erythrocytes of rats were studied. The results show that the seven compounds inhibited lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes induced by iron/cysteine and Vitamin C/NADPH. The hemolysis of rat erythrocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide was also inhibited. The degree of inhibition varied with different compounds. Among the seven compounds, the action of salvianolic acid A (Sai A) was the most potent. Therefore, the protective action of Sai A against peroxidative damage to isolated rat hepatocytes and their plasma membranes was evaluated further. Malondialdehyde (MDA) production and bleb of the surfaces of rat hepatocytes induced by iron/cysteine were prevented by Sai A. The production of MDA and the consumption of NADPH of the plasma membrane during lipid peroxidation initiated by iron/cysteine and Vitamin C/NADPH were also inhibited. The results strongly suggest that several phenolic compounds like Sai A have a protective action against peroxidative damage to biomembranes.

Animals↗