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Biomedical subjects

H Lin

Publications and source records attributed to H Lin.

519 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of sildenafil on subjective and physiologic parameters of the female sexual response in women with sexual arousal disorder.

Sexual dysfunction is a complaint of 30-50% of American women. Aside from hormone replacement therapy, there are no current FDA-approved medical treatments for female sexual complaints. The goal of this pilot study was to determine safety and efficacy of sildenafil for use in women with sexual arousal disorder (SAD). Evaluations were completed on 48 women with complaints of SAD. Physiologic measurements, including genital blood flow, vaginal lubrication, intravaginal pressure-volume changes, and genital sensation were recorded pre- and postsexual stimulation at baseline and following 100 mg sildenafil. Subjective sexual function was assessed using a validated sexual function inventory at baseline and following 6 weeks of home use of sildenafil. At termination of the study patients also completed an intervention efficacy index (FIEI). Following sildenafil, poststimulation physiologic measurements improved significantly compared to baseline. Baseline subjective sexual function complaints, including low arousal, low desire, low sexual satisfaction, difficulty achieving orgasm, decreased vaginal lubrication, and dyspareunia also improved significantly following 6 weeks home use of sildenafil. Sildenafil appears to significantly improve both subjective and physiologic parameters of the female sexual response. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are currently in progress to further determine efficacy of this medication for treatment of female sexual dysfunction complaints in different populations of women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early-onset sigmoid colon perforation during concurrent chemoradiation in a patient with cervical cancer.

Radiation-induced colon perforation is a rare adverse effect caused by vascular and connective tissue injury to the rectosigmoid colon. It usually occurs a few months to years after radiotherapy for gynecological cancer. Herein, we present a patient who developed sigmoid colon perforation during concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer. The patient was a 64-year-old clinical stage IIB woman who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy as a standard treatment. The chemotherapeutic protocol was cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) and 5-fluorouracil 4000 mg, starting together with radiotherapy. After the completion of external beam radiation for 4500 cGy, the patient developed sigmoid colon perforation presenting with fecal peritoneum and sepsis. An emergency end ileostomy with resection of entire sigmoid colon was performed and the patient was discharged 3 months later in good condition. Clinicians must be highly suspicious of serious bowel perforation, even if the full dose of radiation has not been completed. Whether or not the chemotherapy was the trigger factor is in need of further clarification.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prediction of disease persistence after conization for microinvasive cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3.

We attempted to determine the significant variables and to predict the probability of disease persistence after conization for microinvasive cervical carcinoma and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3). We analyzed 133 patients from 2001 to 2002 who had a subsequent hysterectomy after conization. The histological findings of the cone specimens, together with the clinical parameters, were correlated with the presence of residual dysplasia in the hysterectomy specimen. The probability of having residual dysplasia was calculated based on the function of the significant variables obtained by logistic regression analysis. Of the 133 patients, 42 (31.6%) had residual disease in their hysterectomy specimens. Using multivariate analysis only for the postmenopausal state, positive endocervical curettage, positive margin, and microinvasive carcinoma were predictive of residual dysplasia. The probabilities of having residual dysplasia were about 0.99, 0.84, 0.4, 0.07, and 0.01 in patients with a presence of all four, any three, any two, any one, and no risk factors, respectively. The best cutoff probability determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.32, yielding a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 88%. Based on these results, patients with the presence of any two or more of the risk factors mentioned above should be considered as a high-risk group for having disease persistence after conization for the treatment of CIN3 and microinvasive carcinoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Extrauterine müllerian adenosarcoma associated with endometriosis and rectal villotubular adenoma: report of a case and review of the literature.

Extrauterine mullerian adenosarcoma is rare and is thought to arise from endometriotic deposits or pluripotent mesothelial and mesenchymal cells of the pelvic cavity. Concomitant colon-rectal neoplasm was reported but the relationship between extrauterine adenosarcoma and colon tumor was not studied. We describe an extrauterine adenosarcoma with a concomitant rectal tubulovillous adenoma. The patient had a long-term history of endometriosis and unopposed estrogen therapy. Immunohistochemical study was performed to investigate the origin and nature of the adenosarcoma. Immunostaining provided the evidence to distinguish between rectal tumor and adenosarcoma. Extrauterine adenosarcoma may arise from endometriosis, and hormone replacement therapy may have some role in the malignant transformation process. Adenosarcoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a new pelvic tumor in a patient with a history of endometriosis.

Adenoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Successful term pregnancy after selective embolization of a large postmolar uterine arteriovenous malformation.

Uterine arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are very uncommon disorders. Successful conservative treatment with subsequently conceived is rarely reported. We describe a 31-year-old woman with a complex and large postmolar AVM; she was successfully treated with transarterial selective embolization for a long history of repeated excessive vaginal bleeding and anemia. She resumed normal menstrual periods soon after treatment, and she subsequently conceived about 2 years later. A healthy male baby was delivered at 39 weeks of gestation via vaginal route. Selective embolization of a complex and large uterine AVM seems to be feasible for the treatment of uterine bleeding and preservation of reproductive capability.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A simple intraductal aspiration method for cytodiagnosis in nipple discharge.

OBJECTIVE: To increase cytodiagnostic accuracy for women with spontaneous nipple discharge using a simple intraductal aspiration method. STUDY DESIGN: We compared the cytodiagnostic accuracy of the conventional squeezing collection method and intraductal aspiration by intravenous catheter in a total of 146 women with spontaneous nipple discharge in a single duct without a mass; they had been pathologically identified at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. RESULTS: Adequate specimens were collected in 96.6% (141/146 cases) of the sample by the intraductal aspiration method as compared to 76.0% collected by the conventional squeezing method (P < .05). An adequate specimen should consist, at a minimum, of six cohesive clusters of well-preserved epithelial cells, with each cluster composed of at least five cells other than foam cells. The cytologic diagnosis was divided into five categories: positive in 9 cases, suspicious in 10, negative with atypical findings in 59, negative in 33 and inadequate specimens in 35 cases that employed the squeezing method. These results were less satisfactory than with the intraductal aspiration method: the smears were positive in 17 cases, suspicious in 14, negative with atypical findings in 78, negative in 32 and inadequate specimens in 5. Our results showed a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 93.9% for the intraductal aspiration method as compared to a sensitivity of 52.9% and specificity of 89.3% for the squeezing method. Among the 27 cancers in this series, correct cytodiagnosis, including suspicious cases, was made in 24 cases by intraductal aspiration, with an accuracy of 88.9%, as compared to the 33.3% (9/27) accuracy of the squeezing method (P < 0.5). CONCLUSION: For patients with spontaneous nipple discharge, the intraductal aspiration method provides much more accurate cytodiagnosis than does the conventional squeezing method.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two novel phenylacetoxylated p-terphenyls from Thelephora ganbajun Zang.

Two novel phenylacetoxylated p-terphenyl derivatives, namely ganbajunin F (6'-methoxy-2'-phenylacetoxy-3', 4, 4", 5'-tetrahydroxy- p-terphenyl), and ganbajunin G (5'-methoxy-2'-phenylacetoxy-3', 4, 4", 6'-tetrahydroxy-p-terphenyl), together with a known compound cycloleucomelone were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Thelephora ganbajun Zang. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral (MS, IR, NMR, HMBC, HMQC measurement) and chemical evidence.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Monitoring of bacterial morphology for controlling filamentous overgrowth in an ultracompact biofilm reactor.

This research was part of a study of filamentous growth and control in an ultracompact biofilm reactor (UCBR). Morphologies of biofilm and filamentous bacteria in the UCBR were investigated. Ethanol was used as a substrate and sodium hypochlorite was applied as a toxicant to control filamentous growth. The results indicated that factors such as chemical oxygen demand, surface loading rate, pH, and dissolved oxygen could initiate filamentous overgrowth in the UCBR. Different biofilm and filamentous morphologies in the UCBR were observed under different operational conditions. Chlorination was an effective approach to control filamentous growth during and after biofilm formation. Proper chlorine dosing had no effect on biofilm, but killed filaments. Overdose of chlorine damaged biofilm and caused adverse effects such as low treatment efficiency, media clogging and washout, and biofilm color change in the reactor. Frequent monitoring of the morphologies of filaments and biofilm was needed during chlorination to prevent chlorine overdose.

Bacteria↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunohistochemical study of Muc1, Muc2 and human gastric mucin in breast carcinoma: relationship with prognostic factors.

We investigated the expression of mucin core proteins, Muc1, Muc2, and human gastric mucin (HGM) immunohistochemically in 5 non-invasive, 62 invasive ductal carcinomas and 3 mucinous carcinomas of the breast and statistically examined the relationship with prognostic factors. Muc1 was expressed in almost all breast carcinomas and there was a reverse correlation with tumor size (r = -0.25). However, Muc1 was not significantly correlated with the other tumor characteristics such as lymphocytic infiltration, axillary lymph node metastasis, TNM and plasma levels of CA153. Muc2 and HGM were expressed in 5 cases each in invasive ductal carcinomas, 0 and 3 in non-invasive ductal carcinomas, and 2 and 1 in mucinous carcinomas, respectively. Muc 2 expression correlated with lymph node metastasis. HGM was found in the tumors without lymph node metastasis and lower levels of serum CA153.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Concanavalin A (NSC-143504): its action on experimental tumor cells and possible use in cancer chemotherapy.

Concanavalin A administered to mice kills KHT fibrosarcoma tumor cells and, less markedly, AKR lymphoma cells at doses where it has no effect on numbers of normal hematopoietic colony-forming cells. Concanavalin A in vitro agglutinates suspensions of cells prepared from murine and human tumors but does not agglutinate suspensions prepared from most normal mouse tissues. In spite of its selective action against tumor cells at the cellular level, the possibilities for using concanavalin A therapeutically are limited by its unusual toxicity, a generalized vasculitis that is seen in the mouse, monkey, and pig at approximately the same dose level.

Agglutination↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antibodies against tumor necrosis factor prolong cardiac allograft survival in the rat.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has significant biologic actions in many circumstances, such as infectious diseases, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Based on the hypothesis that manipulation of TNF can play an important role in treatment of heart transplant rejection, the objective of this study was to determine whether anti-TNF antibodies could prolong cardiac allograft survival. Hearts from brown rats were transplanted to the necks of recipient Lewis rats. Graft survival was determined by direct palpation of the heart; complete graft rejection was defined by cessation of contraction. In untreated rats, the hearts were rejected 6.8 +/- 0.6 days (n = 10; mean +/- SEM) after transplantation. The mononuclear cell infiltrate in the transplanted hearts stained intensely for TNF by immunohistochemistry, indicating that TNF was present within the inflammatory cells associated with the rejection process. In rats receiving a single injection of anti-TNF antibody at the time of transplantation (n = 6), however, graft survival was nearly doubled (12.7 +/- 1.4 days; p less than 0.001 vs controls). Prolonged cardiac graft survival was also evident if the anti-TNF treatment was delayed until 1 day (n = 5; rejection at 16.2 +/- 2.4 days; p less than 0.001 vs controls) or even 3 days after transplantation (n = 5; rejection at 11.4 +/- 2.3 days; p less than 0.005 vs controls). Treatment at 5 days after transplantation, however, was not effective (n = 3; rejection at 7.7 +/- 0.6 days; p, not significant vs controls). The data indicate that a single bolus of anti-TNF antibodies can delay heart transplant rejection, even when administered up to 3 days after implantation, supporting the potential utility of anti-TNF therapy for treatment of heart transplant rejection.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Local cyclosporine immunotherapy of heart transplants in rats enhances survival.

High-dose systemic cyclosporine (CyA) administration frequently results in severe side effects. To evaluate a means of limiting the adverse effects of CyA, we implanted CyA-collagen matrices (0.2 or 1 mg/kg/day released) around the cardiac homografts at the time of rat heterotopic (neck) heart transplantation. Control animals received empty collagen (nondrug) matrix implants. A fourth group received CyA matrix (1 mg/kg/day released), implanted in a distal subdermal leg pouch at the time of heart transplantation. Rejection was determined by the absence of contraction in the transplanted heart. No animal received any other immunosuppression. Parallel groups of animals had whole blood, heart, and kidney CyA levels measured on the sixth posttransplant day. Local immunosuppression with high-dose CyA in a controlled-release matrix resulted in a significant survival advantage (mean survival time, 17.1 days; control, 6.9 days; p less than 0.001). The lower dose of CyA also demonstrated significant survival benefits (10.1 days), with clinically negligible blood CyA levels and very low kidney CyA levels. Both doses of epicardial local release CyA were well absorbed locally, resulting in very high CyA levels in cardiac tissue. Local immunotherapy of transplanted hearts with CyA was shown to be an effective means of preventing rejection. If this technology can be developed, this approach may prove advantageous clinically, both in extending transplantation and in minimizing systemic side effects of immunosuppression.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Experimental heterotopic heart transplantation without ischemia or reperfusion.

Current experimental models of heart transplantation include a period of ischemia after donor harvest, resulting in rhythm disturbances, myocardial distention, and reperfusion injury on implantation. A model of cervical heterotopic heart transplantation that avoids ischemia by using retrograde perfusion was developed. More than 100 consecutive successful transplantations have been performed both as control protocols and as a part of experimental protocols. The advantages of this technique include: avoidance of ischemia and reperfusion injury, prevention of myocardial damage caused by overdistention, and potential evaluation of pretreatment regimens for transplanted hearts.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparable proximal and distal severity of intimal thickening and size of epicardial coronary arteries in transplant arteriopathy of human cardiac allografts.

Previous angiographic observations have characterized transplant atherosclerosis as a generally diffuse and more distally severe disease with obliteration of secondary branches. However, it has not been firmly established that the disease is structurally and biologically more severe distally. We evaluated this hypothesis with computer-based digitization of subserial segments of the entire perfusion-fixed left anterior descending coronary artery (100 mm Hg for 1 hour with 10% formaldehyde solution) in 25 allografts at autopsy or explant (19 male and 6 female patients; mean age = 50 years, range 16 to 66; mean implant duration = 490 days, range 3 to 1610). The area, thickness, circumference of the intima and media, and the relative and absolute luminal narrowing were evaluated in a mean of 10 left anterior descending coronary artery sections per allograft. The percentage of luminal narrowing (intimal area/[intimal area + luminal area] x 100) was similar between proximal and distal segments of the left anterior descending coronary artery (45% versus 41%, p > 0.05), and the mean absolute intimal thicknesses (in millimeters) of proximal and distal segments of the left anterior descending coronary artery also were not different (0.32 versus 0.22, p > 0.05). In addition, the 95% confidence intervals for intimal thicknesses of proximal and distal segments were comparable. Because the absolute arterial size of proximal segments is naturally larger than that of distal segments (external diameter 9.37 versus 6.79, p < 0.0001), an appearance of progressive tapering may be visualized angiographically, even though the biologic severity of the disease is geographically uniform. Similarly, observations of obliterated secondary branches in distal segments may result from naturally smaller distal luminal areas which may be occluded by less intimal thickening than would be required proximally. These data emphasize that transplant atherosclerosis is biologically uniform from proximal to distal locations. Etiologic and pathogenetic studies on proximal or distal segments should be equally informative.

Adolescent↗