Biomedical subjects

J Kang

Publications and source records attributed to J Kang.

308 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Controlled-release of doxorubicin from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres significantly enhances cytotoxicity against cultured AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma cells.

Subsequent to the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there has been a reduction in HIV viral titers and a concomitant decrease in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. However, as failure rates of HAART approach 30%, concerns arise regarding resurgence in AIDS-KS. Current AIDS-KS therapies fail to provide sustained remissions and yet also result in significant morbidity. Although partially effective, systemic chemotherapy is particularly debilitating to AIDS patients. In this report, we examined the co-incubation of AIDS-KS cells with doxorubicin which was slowly delivered from biodegradable, locally injectable, controlled-release poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres. Local drug delivery systems such as PLGA microspheres can sustain therapeutic intralesional concentrations while minimizing deleterious systemic side effects, providing a pharmacologic advantage at the treatment site. Our data show that controlled release from PLGA microspheres augments doxorubicin cytotoxicity towards AIDS-KS cells without increasing toxicity in nonlesional cells from the AIDS-KS donors. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that PLGA microspheres possess a strong affinity for cell membranes, facilitating doxorubicin delivery to redox-sensitive cell membrane sites. Consistent with their speculated endothelial cell lineage, some of the AIDS-KS cells appeared to engulf microspheres via phagocytosis. Our results suggest that PLGA controlled-release doxorubicin microspheres have potential clinical applicability in management of AIDS-KS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A preliminary study to assess the value of the DNA chips SpectralChip to detect subtle constitutional chromosome imbalances].

Comparative genomic hybridization on a microarray (microarray-CGH) allows to detect genomic chromosome imbalances. In order to assess its value to detect small chromosome imbalances observed in a clinical setting, using a DNA chip available commercially (Spectral Genomics, Houston, Texas, USA), we studied the DNA of 9 patients carrying a well characterized chromosome imbalance and the DNA of 11 patients where cytogenetic techniques such as high resolution banding karyotype, FISH using subtelomeric probes and comparative genomic hybridization on metaphase chromosomes conclude to a normal and/or balanced karyotype. A result was obtained for 19/20 patients. Failure of hybridization was observed for one patient. For all the other cases the sex of patients was correctly identified. Microarray-CGH was able to correctly diagnose the chromosome imbalance in 6/8 patients carrying such a defect i.e 9/11 imbalances (deletion or duplication) were detected. No chromosome imbalance was observed in 11 patients considered normal and/or balanced using cytogenetic techniques. Several clones were found to be polymorphic and required FISH studies to eliminate duplication or deletion. In conclusion, we think that this commercially available DNA chip might be useful to screen for chromosome imbalances. However, technical improvements are still necessary before using it in a clinical setting. Also, further studies are necessary to assess its sensitivity and specificity.

Chromosome Aberrations↗