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Biomedical subjects

H C Hsu

Publications and source records attributed to H C Hsu.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Effect of gemfibrozil on the composition and oxidation properties of very-low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Recent studies suggest that both oxidized very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and oxidized high-density lipoprotein (HDL) may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Gemfibrozil is widely used and is reported to decrease VLDL levels and increase HDL levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of gemfibrozil on the chemical composition and oxidative susceptibility of VLDL and HDL and their relationship with atherosclerosis. Twenty patients with hypertriglyceridemia were treated with 300 mg gemfibrozil, 3 times daily, for 12 weeks. Venous blood samples were collected before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Gemfibrozil effectively lowered concentrations of plasma lipid, apolipoprotein (apo) B, and apo E. The lipid and protein content of VLDL were also decreased, but not by the same extent. The surface-to-core ratio and apo E/apo B ratio of VLDL particles were increased after gemfibrozil treatment. HDL(2) cholesteryl ester and HDL(3) apo A-II content were also increased. Gemfibrozil treatment lowered levels of lipid peroxides in both VLDL and HDL particles. The susceptibility of VLDL to oxidation was unchanged, whereas maximal peroxide production was decreased. The oxidative susceptibility of both HDL(2) and HDL(3) decreased with gemfibrozil treatment. These results indicate that after gemfibrozil treatment, VLDL and HDL particles in patients with hypertriglyceridemia are less atherogenic, which may explain why gemfibrozil treatment is beneficial in terms of coronary heart disease in hypertriglyceridemia.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Age, period, and cohort effects on the attitude toward supporting parents in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: Using the perspectives of age, period, and cohort (APC) effects, this study explored the changes in attitudes toward supporting parents in Taiwan. DESIGN AND METHODS: Population-representative cross-sectional data taken at 1984, 1990, and 1995 from the Social Change Survey in Taiwan were synthesized. Cohort tables and multi-nominal logistic regression were used to analyze the APC effects. RESULTS: Period and age effects were found in the change in attitudes toward supporting parents. Agreement on living with sons or children has slowly decreased. Younger persons agree more than older ones in attitudes toward parents living with their married son or children. There was a reduction in the differences among cohorts across periods. There was no demonstration of cohort effect in this study. IMPLICATIONS: The results indicate that for married children, living with parents is no longer popular in Taiwan society. Social policy should address the unmet needs of elderly people in assistance with daily living.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma: an Epstein-Barr virus-associated tumor.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to carcinomas of several body sites, especially of the nasopharynx, salivary gland, lung, and stomach. We present five cases of lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma, including one that had been previously reported. Two patients were men and three were women. Their ages ranged from 42 to 66 years. Histologically, all five tumors were composed of variable proportions of undifferentiated epithelial cells and glandular components in a lymphocyte-rich stroma. EBV was detected in all five tumors by in situ hybridization for EBER-1 in both lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) and glandular parts, but not in 36 cases of cholangiocarcinoma without the LELC component. Taken together, these observations indicate that lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma is strongly linked to EBV. The LELC type of cholangiocarcinoma, like LELC of other body sites, may be more common in areas with endemic EBV infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Relationships between quality of sleep and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants in the Seattle area.

The risk factors related to quality of sleep in elderly adults, such as life-style events, physical illness, psychological factors, and gender have been well identified by several studies. However, information regarding the relationship between quality of sleep and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants is not available in recent sleep literature. The purposes of this study were to explore the quality of sleep and discover the relationships between sleep quality and its related factors among elderly Chinese immigrants people in the Seattle area. Pearson's correlation and descriptive statistics were used to analyze data. Eighty community-dwelling Chinese elderly people, aged from 66 to 93, were recruited from the Chinese Senior Day Care Center, local Chinese churches, elderly Chinese individuals' private homes, and Chinese retirement apartments within the Seattle area. Three questionnaires were utilized to collect data, and personal interviews were used to facilitate the subjects in completing the questionnaires. The findings of this study showed that (1) 55% (n = 44) of the participants were identified as poor sleepers and 45% (n = 36) as good sleepers. (2) depression and the number of current diseases experienced by the subjects were in statistically significant correlation with quality of sleep, with r = .477, p = .00 and r = .221, p = .049 respectively. (3) daytime napping did not affect nighttime sleep in this study' population. The findings of this study can provide information regarding sleep problems among elderly Chinese immigrants to improve the elderly's quality of sleep.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Attenuation of radiation dose by the skull base bone in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma: clinical importance.

PURPOSE: To measure the degree of attenuation of radiation dose by the skull base bone in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to study its clinical importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isodose distribution in 11 patients with NPC who received bilaterally opposed large-field irradiation (1.8 Gy per fraction) was studied with a three-dimensional treatment planning system with tissue inhomogeneity correction. Also studied were the sites of local tumor recurrence in 37 patients with NPC and skull base destruction (>/=0.5 cm) or intracranial invasion treated with radiation therapy from January 1989 to December 1992. Regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: In the dosimetric study, the low-dose areas (<1.65 Gy) were located at the level of the skull base in all 11 patients. A significantly positive correlation between the maximum width of the skull base bone and the low-dose volume (<1.65 Gy) was demonstrated (P =.003, linear regression). In the clinical study, local tumor recurrence was noted in 18 patients (49%). The sites of local recurrence included skull base in 16 patients (43%) and nasopharynx in six patients (16%). Wider skull base bone was a significant predictor of skull base recurrence after radiation therapy (P =.03, logistic regression). CONCLUSION: Herein demonstrated is the inadequacy of the radiation dose over the skull base due to attenuation by the skull base bone. The relationship between width of skull base bone and skull base tumor recurrence also is established.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The activity in ex vivo expansion of cord blood myeloid progenitor cells before and after cryopreservation.

A total of 50 human umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples were studied. The hematopoietic stem/progenitor (CD34+) populations were isolated from UCB mononuclear cells (MNC) by means of immunomagnetic separation. Double immunofluorescent staining of UCB CD34+ cells revealed that there was a high proportion (82.33 +/- 4.47%) of CD34+ cells co-expressing CD13, while the percentage of CD34+ CD33+ cells was much lower (22.17 +/- 3.35%). In contrast, for co-expressing lymphoid differentiation antigens, the proportion of CD34+CD38+ cells (38.34 +/- 6.09%) was relatively higher than that of CD34+CD10+ cells (11.52 +/- 1.24%) or CD34+CD2+ cells (9.84 +/- 2.30%). For stimulating the ex vivo expansion of UCB progenitor cells, no single hematopoietic growth factor (HGF) was efficacious when used alone, while combination of 4 HGFs, such as GM-CSF, G-CSF, IL-3, and SCF could induce a 55-fold increase in the myeloid progenitor cells, day-14 CFU-GM, in a short term of 7 days' liquid culture. Cryopreservation of UCB as MNC preparations at -196 degrees C could satisfactorily retain the number and activity of CD34+ cells. After thawing, a high recovery rate of about 80% CD34+ cells was obtained. When suspended in liquid cultures containing a combination of 4 HGFs, as shown above, the frozen cord blood progenitor cells could be well expanded, reaching a >50-fold increase in day-14 CFU-GM, which was very similar to that of the fresh UCB samples. In addition, a similar result was also seen in CFU-GEMM, indicating that after cryopreservation the recovered UCB progenitor cells retain an intact clonogeneic ability capable of efficiently responding to hematopoietic growth factors for ex vivo expansion.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMed2001

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis with high gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase levels in Taiwanese infants: role of MDR3 gene defect?

MDR3 P-glycoprotein mediates canalicular phospholipid transport in hepatocytes. Defects in the MDR3 gene have been found to cause a subtype of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) with high gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) levels. Affected children develop proliferation of biliary epithelium, portal inflammation, and biliary cirrhosis. The frequency of MDR3 mutations in patients with high GGT-PFIC is unclear. There have been no Asian patients reported to carry MDR3 mutations. To determine the role of MDR3 defects in chronic cholestatic patients, we studied six Taiwanese children from five families who presented high GGT-PFIC among 47 patients with infantile onset chronic intrahepatic cholestasis. Sequence analysis of MDR3 cDNA from liver tissues was performed. Only one patient had mutation in the MDR3 gene. This patient had a homozygous 719-bp deletion (nucleotide 287 to 1005) of liver cDNA encompassing exon 5 to 9 and leading to protein truncation. The onset age was 1 y in contrast with the other five patients who presented neonatal cholestasis. Four patients without mutation, including one sibling pair, exhibited histologic features of prominent portal fibrosis leading to advanced biliary cirrhosis that were indistinguishable from the case of MDR3 mutation. We concluded that mutations in MDR3 accounted for approximately 2% (1/47) of infantile onset chronic cholestasis in Taiwan. Those patients presenting high GGT-PFIC with early onset cholestasis but without MDR3 mutation probably had inheritable disorders remaining to be clarified.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗
PubMed2001

Studies on anthracenes. 3. Synthesis, lipid peroxidation and cytotoxic evaluation of 10-substituted 1,5-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenone derivatives.

The synthesis of a series of 1,5-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenones bearing O-linked and N-linked substituents in the 10-position are described. Previous studies have shown that 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracenes and 9-acyloxy 1,8-dichloroanthracenes displayed a potential cytotoxic effect. These results have encouraged us in further investigation of potential anthracenone derivatives. Therefore, a series of 10-substituted 1,8-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenone derivatives were synthesized. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of human oral epidermoid carcinoma cells (KB cell line), human cervical carcinoma cells of ME 180 (GBM 8401) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, respectively. Compounds 3c and 4c of this series compare favorably in the KB cellular assay with mitoxantrone. Compound 4c showed combined inhibitory action against KB, GBM and CHO cell growth, respectively. In addition, redox property of the compounds for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in model membranes was determined. Compounds 4b and 4d exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than ascorbic acid, (+)-alpha-tocopherol and mitoxantrone, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Studies on anthracenes. 1. Human telomerase inhibition and lipid peroxidation of 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene derivatives.

The synthetically useful approaches to 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene derivatives are reported. The system selectively reduces the carbonyl group flanked by the peri substituents of the anthracenediones to give the corresponding 1,5-dichloro-9(10H)-anthracenone. Simple regioselective acylation of anthracenone is applied with appropriate acyl chlorides in CH2Cl2 with catalytic amount of pyridine to give the novel 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene derivatives. Considerable interest has developed in the mechanism of how anthracenone achieves this desirable selectivity. In an attempt to understand the mechanism of this reaction, solid-state structures of anthracene derivatives have been obtained. In addition, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation in model membranes was determined as was their ability to inhibit the telomere-addition function of the human telomerase enzyme together with their inhibition of the Taq polymerase enzyme. In contrast to (+)-alpha-tocopherol, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3g, and 3i do not enhance lipid peroxidation in model membranes. Implications for 9-acyloxy 1,5-dichloroanthracene analogues as potential anticancer agents are discussed.

Acylation↗
PubMed2001

Further characterization of apolipoprotein B genetic variations in Taiwanese.

Apolipoprotein B (apoB, protein; APOB, gene) is the main protein component of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and plays an important role in blood lipid metabolism. Previously, we have reported four APOB coding regions, 5' signal peptide, and 3' repeat sequence polymorphisms in our population. In this report, we further characterize other APOB genetic variations. The results illustrate that the mutation frequencies for Arg3500Gln (1/846 alleles), Arg4019Trp (2/786 alleles), -265 C/T promoter region (0/264 alleles), and intron 2 A/G (0/450 alleles) are very low. Our population showed a frequency of 68.9% for the B4311 Ser allele. The B4311 Asn allele was associated with a higher apoB level than the Ser group (p < 0.05) in normal controls. In the normal controls, a higher B4311 Asn/Asn genotype frequency was found in the group with total cholesterol (TC) > 200 mg/dL and apoB concentration > 85 mg/dL than in the group with a TC < 200 mg/dL and apoB < 85 mg/dL (p = 0.03 for TC comparison).

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Titanium casting: the surface reaction layer of castings obtained using ultra-low-temperature molds.

To examine whether the surface reaction layer of titanium castings can be reduced by lowering the mold temperature during casting, we cast titanium at three mold temperatures, including an ultra-low temperature produced by cooling the mold with liquid nitrogen, then measured the tensile strength and elongation of the castings. The titanium was cast using a centrifugal casting machine, and the molds were incinerated according to the manufacturers' instructions. Castings were then made with the molds at 200 degrees C, 600 degrees C, and an ultra-low temperature (-196 degrees C). The castability of titanium cast in the mold at the ultra-low temperature was good. The Vickers hardness near the surface layer of castings decreased as the mold temperature decreased.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed2001

Image evaluation of suprazygomatic masticator space lesions.

In order to understand lesions involving the suprazygomatic masticator space (SZMS) demonstrated on computered tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) images, we collected 45 cases of lesions in SZMS. There were hematomas in 26 cases, tumors in 16 cases, and abscesses in 3 cases. The location of these lesions in compartments of the SZMS and adjacent structures was analyzed. Most commonly hematoma was found in the deep loose connective tissue (80.8%), followed by the superficial dense connective tissue (61.5%). Only 2 SZMS hematoma involved the superficial fat pad. Five patients had air accumulation in the SZMS, and all were in the deep fat pad and with maxillary sinus fracture. Of the sixteen cases which were tumors, 12 were extended from adjacent structures, and four were primary tumor. In cases of tumor, compartments of SZMS involved most frequently were temporal muscles (15 of 16 cases), followed by deep fat pad (8 of 16 cases). The connective tissue layer of SZMS is a communication pathway for superficial spread of infection, hematoma, or tumor invasion to or from the scalp and face. Compartments of deep fat pad and temporal muscle are also pathways for the spread of disease to or from the face, intracranium and orbit. The primary tumors in infratemporal fossa and SZMS are rare. Malignant tumors in SZMS usually come from surrounding spaces.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Hypertension status is the major determinant of carotid atherosclerosis: a community-based study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Extracranial carotid artery (ECCA) atherosclerosis has been associated with hypertension-related stroke. The present study was aimed at investigating the determinants of ECCA atherosclerosis in patients with hypertension in Taiwan. METHODS: The extent and severity of ECCA atherosclerosis were measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography and expressed as maximal intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery, ECCA plaque score, and carotid stenosis >/=50%. From July through December 1996, 263 hypertensive patients (146 with hypertension and 117 with borderline hypertension) and 270 normotensive adults from the Chin-Shan Community Cardiovascular Cohort participated in this study. Risk factors and ECCA atherosclerosis were stratified by the blood pressure status. RESULTS: A significant dose-response relationship was found between the status of hypertension and the severity of carotid atherosclerosis. Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that hypertension (including borderline), male gender, smoking, and age >/=65 years significantly increased the risk of thicker IMT. The risk of ECCA plaque score >6 increased significantly in conjunction with hypertension, age >/=65 years, left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG, and smoking. However, hypertension and smoking were the 2 evident determinants of carotid stenosis >/=50% after adjustment for other covariates. Compared with the normotensive subjects, the ORs (and 95% CIs) for the hypertensive patients to develop carotid atherosclerosis were 5.0 (3.0 to 8.4) indexed by maximal common carotid artery IMT >/=75th percentile, 3.7 (1.8 to 7.9) by ECCA score >6, and 4.8 (1.4 to 16.5) by carotid stenosis >/=50%. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension strongly influence carotid atherosclerosis. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that hypertension has a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Components of insulin resistance syndrome in a community-based population assessed by log-linear models.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the clustering of insulin resistance syndrome with hyperinsulinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, hypertension, and obesity, we conducted this cross-sectional study and analyzed the patterns of conditional independence among these five elements. METHODS: Fasting insulin, lipid profiles, blood pressure, and anthropometric data from 2165 Taiwanese older than 35 years in the Chin-Shan community were examined. The cut-off points of these five factors (all binary variables) were defined. The hierarchical log-linear regression with nested effects model was applied to fit this higher-order contingency table of five variables, and likelihood ratio (chi2) statistics were used to test the goodness of fit. RESULTS: Hyperinsulinemia was independently correlated with obesity (odds ratio [OR] 5.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5-7.3), low HDL (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.8-2.9), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2). Hypertriglyceridemia was significantly associated with low HDL (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.7-4.8), and non-significantly associated with hypertension (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.9-1.7) and obesity (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8-1.6). In persons with normal triglyceride levels, hypertension was positively associated with obesity (OR 2.8, 95% CI 2.1-3.7) and low HDL (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.5-2.8). Analyses from forward and backward selection methods gave similar results. Graphical models with conditional independence relationships among these five variables were demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The components of insulin resistance syndrome have intricate relationships. Hyperinsulinemia was most related to obesity, and hypertriglyceridemia was most related to low HDL.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with myocardial infarction using APACHE II system.

BACKGROUND: The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) scoring system has been validated in many different patient populations, however, patients with myocardial infarction (MI) were not included in the original data base. To evaluate the ability of APACHE scoring system in predicting in-hospital mortality, 694 patients with MI were studied. METHODS: Data had been collected prospectively in an ICU computer database in the past 3 years. Patients admitted in coronary care unit with acute MI or acute coronary syndrome who had previous history of MI were all included. Patients were divided into survivor and non-survivor data sets. Multiple logistic regression analysis was evaluated on the variables of APACHE II score to determine which variables could predict in-hospital mortality. A logistic regression model was used to study the mortality curves. The differences of APACHE II scores between survivors and non-survivors were compared. Correlation between observed and predicted mortality was also assessed. RESULTS: According to the statistical analysis, the non-survivors tended to have significantly greater APACHE II scores than those of survivors. The APACHE II values of non-survivors and survivors were 23.64 +/- 9.41 versus 13.35 +/- 7.14 (p < 0.001), respectively. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we found that age, creatinine, coma scale, sodium and APACHE II score were capable of predicting the in-hospital mortality (p < 0.05). With use of the logistic model, a good correlation of predicted mortality rate to observed mortality rate was found (r = 0.992). This study demonstrated that lower APACHE II scores predicted survival while high scores predicted mortality. Mortality rate increased significantly when APACHE II score was > 25. An APACHE II score greater than 28.25 predicted a more than 50% in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the APACHE II scoring system is capable of predicting mortality in patients with MI, which makes this modality more applicable in the busy intensive care unit.

APACHE↗
PubMed2000

Hematopoietic stem cells express Tie-2 receptor in the murine fetal liver.

Tie-2 receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in endothelial and hematopoietic cells is believed to play a role in both angiogenesis and hematopoiesis during development of the mouse embryo. This article addressed whether Tie-2 is expressed on fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) at day 14 of gestation. With the use of anti-Tie-2 monoclonal antibody, its expression was detected in approximately 7% of an HSC population of Kit-positive, Sca-1-positive, lineage-negative or -low, and AA4.1-positive (KSLA) cells. These Tie-2-positive KSLA (T(+) KSLA) cells represent 0.01% to 0.02% of fetal liver cells. In vitro colony and in vivo competitive repopulation assays were performed for T(+) KSLA cells and Tie-2-negative KSLA (T(-) KSLA) cells. In the presence of stem cell factor, interleukin-3, and erythropoietin, 80% of T(+) KSLA cells formed colonies in vitro, compared with 40% of T(-) KSLA cells. Long-term multilineage repopulating cells were detected in T(+) KSLA cells, but not in T(-) KSLA cells. An in vivo limiting dilution analysis revealed that at least 1 of 8 T(+) KSLA cells were such repopulating cells. The successful secondary transplantation initiated with a limited number of T(+) KSLA cells suggests that these cells have self-renewal potential. In addition, engraftment of T(+) KSLA cells in conditioned newborn mice indicates that these HSCs can be adapted equally by the adult and newborn hematopoietic environments. The data suggest that T(+) KSLA cells represent HSCs in the murine fetal liver. (Blood. 2000;96:3757-3762)

Animals↗