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Biomedical subjects

J Lang

Publications and source records attributed to J Lang.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Transcription activation by a variety of AraC/XylS family activators does not depend on the class II-specific activation determinant in the N-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit.

The N-terminal domain of the RNA polymerase alpha subunit (alpha-NTD) was tested for a role in transcription activation by a variety of AraC/XylS family members. Based on substitutions at residues 162 to 165 and an extensive genetic screen we conclude that alpha-NTD is not an activation target for these activators.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Intrapartum maternal fever and neonatal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: Much of fever during term labor may not be infectious but rather a consequence of the use of epidural analgesia. Therefore, we investigated the association of elevated maternal intrapartum temperature with neonatal outcome when the infant does not develop an infection. METHODS: We studied 1218 nulliparous women with singleton, term pregnancies in a vertex presentation and spontaneous labor. Women were excluded if their temperature was >99.5 degrees F at admission for delivery, if they were diabetic or had an active genital herpes infection or if their infant developed a neonatal infection, had a congenital infection, or had a major malformation. Maximum intrapartum temperature was categorized as: </=100.4 degrees F (afebrile), 100.5 degrees F to 101 degrees F, and >101 degrees F. RESULTS: During labor, 123 women (10.1%) developed a fever >100.4 degrees F; 62 (5.1%) women had a maximum temperature of 100.5 degrees F to 101 degrees F and 61 (5.0%) women had a maximum temperature >101 degrees F. Of febrile women, 97.6% had received epidural analgesia for pain relief. Infants of women developing a fever >100.4 degrees F were more likely to have a 1-minute Apgar score <7 (22.8% for >100.4 degrees F vs 8.0% for afebrile) and to be hypotonic after delivery (4.8% for >100.4 degrees F vs.5% for afebrile). Compared with infants of afebrile women, infants whose mothers' maximum temperature was >101 degrees F were more likely to require bag and mask resuscitation (11.5% vs 3.0%) and to be given oxygen therapy in the nursery (8.2% vs 1.3%). We also found a higher rate of neonatal seizure with fever (3.3% vs.2%), but the number of infants with seizure was small (n = 4). All associations remained essentially the same after controlling for confounding in logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Intrapartum maternal fever, particularly if >101 degrees F, was associated with a number of apparently transient adverse effects in the newborn. Larger studies are needed to investigate the association of intrapartum fever with neonatal seizures and to determine whether any lasting injury to the fetus may occur.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Nitric oxide metabolite production in the cranial cruciate ligament, synovial membrane, and articular cartilage of dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVE: To measure concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite-nitrate [NOt]) in cartilage, synovial membrane, and cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs and evaluate associations with osteoarthritis in dogs with CCL rupture. ANIMALS: 46 dogs with CCL rupture and 54 control dogs without joint disease. PROCEDURE: Tissue specimens for histologic examination and explant culture were harvested during surgery in the CCL group or immediately after euthanasia in the control group; NOt concentrations were measured in supernatant of explant cultures and compared among dogs with various degrees of osteoarthritis and between dogs with and without CCL rupture. RESULTS: Osteoarthritic cartilage had significantly higher NOt concentration (1,171.6 nmol/g) than did healthy cartilage (491.0 nmol/g); NOt concentration was associated with severity of macroscopic and microscopic lesions. Synovial membrane NOt concentration did not differ between dogs with and without CCL rupture. Ruptured CCL produced less NOt than did intact ligaments. In control dogs, NOt concentrations were similar for intact ligaments (568.1 nmol/g) and articular cartilage (491.0 nmol/g). Synthesis of NOt was inhibited substantially by coincubation with inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that NOt in canine joint tissues originates from the inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway. Nitric oxide metabolite production in cartilage was greater in dogs with osteoarthritis than in healthy dogs and was associated with lesion severity, suggesting that nitric oxide inhibitors may be considered as a treatment for osteoarthritis. The CCL produces substantial concentrations of NOt; the importance of this finding is unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Radiation therapy in two cats with pituitary tumors].

Two cats with large pituitary neoplasms (adenoma and adenocarcinoma) were treated with fractionated radiation therapy. Total doses of 40 Gy, respectively 36 Gy, were applied in 10 fractions of 4 Gy, and 3.6 Gy respectively. Side effects were minimal and transient. Anesthesia was well tolerated. Improvement of clinical signs could be observed during radiation therapy in both cats. One cat had a complete, the other a partial tumor response. One cat (suspicion of adenoma) was euthanized 1 3/4 years after therapy due to unrelated disease. No tumor was found on histopathology, however a small focal necrosis of brain tissue in the irradiated field was observed. The second animal with a pituitary adenocarcinoma was euthanized because of tumor recurrence 1 1/2 years after therapy. Radiation therapy was effective, despite the low total doses of radiation applied.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Immunogenicity and safety of purified Vero-cell rabies vaccine in severely rabies-exposed patients in China.

The immunogenicity and safety of a purified Vero-cell rabies vaccine (PVRV, VERORAB; Aventis Pasteur, France) were evaluated in 171 patients treated for severe exposure to rabies (WHO category III contacts) at the Shandong Provincial Antiepidemic Station in Jinan and an EPI center in Ping Yin, China. Post-exposure treatment consisted of a single dose of equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG, 40 IU/kg body weight) on Day (D) 0, and intra-muscular administration of PVRV on D 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28. Antirabies antibody levels were evaluated on D 0, 7, 14, 28, 90 and 180 using the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test. By D 14 all subjects had seroconverted (> or = 0.5 IU/ml), with a geometric mean titer of 50.3 IU/ml. Antibody titers remained above the seroprotection threshold in all patients for 3 months, and in 98.2% of subjects for 6 months. All patients were still alive 6 months after the start of treatment. PVRV and ERIG were shown to be well tolerated and no serious adverse events were observed. Following PVRV administration, 12 patients (7.0%) had at least one local reaction (mostly pruritus, erythematous rash and pain). Fourteen patients (8.2%) developed local reactions at the site of ERIG administration. Twelve patients (7.0%) developed systemic reactions following post-exposure treatment, the most frequent of which were pruritus, rash and vertigo. This study demonstrates that PVRV is immunogenic and safe in Chinese patients treated according to WHO recommendations for severe rabies exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Influence of estrogen on the epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of 17-beta estradiol on the growth of the epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines in vitro. METHODS: The proliferative capacity of the ovarian carcinoma cell lines CAOV3 and OVCAR3 in the culture medium with 17-beta estradiol was evaluated by the means of the mircoculture tetrazolium assay (MTT) and cell kinetics was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The expression of estrogen receptor (ER) of the two cell lines was examined by the immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The growth of both two epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines was slightly inhibited by 17-beta estradiol (0.25-5.00 nmol/L), and the inhibitive rate was 6.3%-36.0%. FCM showed that the kinetics of the two cell lines were obviously changed. Comparing with the kinetics of CAOV3 without estradiol, the cell rate of Stage G0/G1 of CAOV3 with estradiol decreased from 55.0% to 19.0%-30.0%, cell rate of Stage S increased from 30.0% to 52.0%, cell rate of Stage G2/M increased from 14.0% to 17.0%-28.0%; In OVCAR3, cell rate of Stage C2/M decreased from 37% to 22.0%-30.0%, cell rate of Stage S increased from 31.0% to 38.0%-51.0%, cell rate of Stage C0/G1 did not changed much (cell rate without estradiol was 32.0%, while cell rate with estradiol 29.0%-31.0%). Estrogen receptors of the two cell lines were positive and not changed after cultured in the medium with 17-beta estradiol. CONCLUSION: The proliferate capacity of the two epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines CAOV3 and OVCAR3 can be inhibited by the estrogen (0.25-5.00 nmol/L), possibly through the change of the tumor cell kinetics.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed2000

[Microsatellite instability in endometrial neoplasms correlation with clinicopathologic parameters and estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor status].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of microsatellite instability in a series of endometrial carcinomas as well as to define the clinicopathologic features and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status associated with microsatellite instability (MI). METHODS: We examined 40 cases for replication error (RER) using polymerase chain reaction, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain at 8 microsatellite loci. Immunohistochemical staining of 27 paraffin sections was performed using antibodies to ER and PR. Finally, MI was compared with the clinicopathologic characteristics as well as ER and PR status. RESULTS: MI was observed in 9 (23%) at two or more loci, which is defined as RER positive phenotype. The 9 RER positive cases were all endometrioid type. Four non-endometrioid tumors failed to show MI in any locus. RER positive phenotype was more frequent in poorly differentiated (50%) than in well differentiated tumors (15%). We found no significant correlation of RER with stage and depth of invasion. Of 27 carcinomas, 19 (70%) showed homogeneous positive staining for ER and PR. ER and PR positive staining occured more frequently in RER negative endometrioid cancers than in RER positive cases. CONCLUSIONS: MI is one of the molecular mechanisms of a subset of endometrial carcinomas. Its frequency is associated with tumor grade, histological type and ER or PR status.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Treatment and prognostic factors for stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of surgical debulking and chemotherapy on survival in patients with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Medical records and follow-up sheets were retrospectively reviewed for all women with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer treated between January, 1982 and December, 1997 in our hospital. Survival analysis and comparison were performed using Kaplan-Meier method and t-test. The COX proportional hazards regression model was used to identify independent variables associated with survival improvement. RESULTS: Twenty-five women with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer were available. Median age was 51 years (range 33-72 years). Papillary serous histology was found in 12/75 patients (48%). Thirteen patients (52%) had grade 3 tumors. Metastases by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) criteria were found in 7 cases in supraclavicular lymph node (28%), 6 cases in liver (24%) and 4 cases with malignant pleural effusion. All patients received surgical debulking with 9 cases (36%) having in optimal cytoreduction. Overall median survival of 15.0 months was achieved, while optimal debulked patients' median survival was 28.4 months compared to 14.7 months for the patients with bulky residual disease (P < 0.01). Median survival for the patients with 6 or more courses of chemotherapy postoperatively was 28.5 months, compared to 6.5 months for the patients with less than 6 courses (P < 0.01). Optimal debulking surgery and courses of chemotherapy retained significance as indepent predictors of survival based on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Optimal surgical debulking and active postoperative chemotherapy appear to improve the prognosis of the patients with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer under the premise of keeping quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Effects of human interleukin-2 gene transfer on the immunity of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene transfer on the immunity of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3. METHODS: The expression of main histologic complex (MHC) molecular HLA-ABC, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ of SKOV3, SKOV3/Neo and SKOV3/IL-2 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The 51Cr-4 hr releasing test was employed to detect the killing effects of natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Meanwhile, the tumor cell and lymphocyte co-culture was performed. RESULTS: The expression of HLA-ABC, HLA-DR and HLA-DQ molecular of hIL-2 gene modified cells was upregulated markedly. The 51Cr-4 hr releasing test showed that the parental and gene modified cells were markedly resistant to NK cells, but the IL-2 gene modified cells was more sensitive to LAK cells. There were significant differences between them (P < 0.01). The "cross-talk" of tumor cell with lymphocyte was observed when the hIL-2 gene modified SKOV3 cells were cocultured with lymphocyte. CONCLUSION: IL-2 gene transfer can enhance the immunity of ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3.

Cytotoxicity, Immunologic↗
PubMed2000

[Surgical treatment and prognostic analysis of 39 cases invasive vulvar cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the procedure of operations and evaluate the prognostic factors in the invasive vulvar cancer. METHODS: Thirty nine cases with invasive vulvar cancer admitted in our hospital from 1979 to 1997 were retrospectively analyzed. Three kinds of operations were used: 5 by local excision, 13 by modified radical vulvectomy and 21 by radical vulvectomy. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to compare the different strategy of operation and analyze the prognostic factors. RESULTS: Thirty three patients (84.6%) had squamous cell carcinoma and 26 of them (78.8%) were well differentiated and 2 poorly differentiated. Seven cases (17.9%) were in FIGO stage I; 17 (43.6%) in stage II; 13 (33.3%) in stage III, and 2(5.1%) in stage IV, 58.3% of tumor in stage I and II were lateral while 73.3% of tumor in stage III and IV were median type. Hospitalization time for local excision, modified radical vulvectomy and radical vulvectomy (separated and en-bloc incision) were 9.1, 20.6, 41.2 and 62.2 days (P < 0.01) and the incision infection rate were 0%, 30.8%, 66.7% and 88.9% (P < 0.01) respectively. Median survival time for stage I, II, II and IV were 132.0, 121.5, 67.5 and 21.5 months (P = 0.01) and the 5-year survival rates of them were 85.7%, 70.6%, 46.2% and 0.0% (P < 0.05) respectively. Median survival time for patients with or without lymph nodes involvement were 66.0 and 121.5 months (P < 0.01) and the 5-year survival rates were 30.0% and 71.5% (P < 0.05) respectively. Median survival time for well or poor differentiation were 97.0 and 64.0 months (P > 0.05) and the 5-year survival rates were 62.0% and 43.0% (P > 0.05) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The important prognostic factors for invasive vulvar cancer were sites(lateral/median), stage, differentiation and lymph nodes involvement. Individualized treatment should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[BRCA1 gene mutations in early-onset breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To detect BRCA1 gene mutations in early-onset breast cancer. METHODS: We use polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (PCR-SSCP) to examine the mutation at BRCA1 gene exon 2, 11 and 20 in 10 patients with early-onset breast cancer. RESULTS: Mutation was found in one cases (24 years old at diagnosis) at nucleotide 3 732, the substitution of a "G" to a "C" in codon 1 205 changed a Gly to a Arg. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that BRCA1 may have effect on early-onset breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I), and its binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) correlated with fetal development].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relations between IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and human fetal growth. METHODS: The blood samples of maternal serum (MS) and umbilical cord serum (UCS) from 81 cases with singleton term pregnancy including 38 cases of normal pregnancy (NP), 20 cases of gestational diabetic mellitus (GDM), 23 cases of macrosomia of non-diabetic pregnancy (MNDP) were examined for IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels by immunoassay kit from DSL, USA. RESULTS: IGF-I in MS of NP and MNDP showed a positive correlation with birth weight (BW) (r = 0.653 and r = 0.640 respectively, both P < 0.01). IGF-I of MS in MNDP was higher than that in NP (P < 0.05). IGF-I of MS and UCS in GDM were higher than that in NP (P < 0.05). IGF-I and IGFBP-3 of UCS in these three groups were significantly lower than that of MS (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Detection of IGF-I in MS can assess fetal intra-uterus growth, birth weight and has certain value of predicting macrosomia. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 play important roles for human fetal growth.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[The diagnostic and prognostic values of assay of serum vascular endothelial growth factor in epithelial ovarian cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the level of the preoperative serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, and to evaluate the correlation between preoperative serum VEGF level and prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Forty-one patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), 10 patients with borderline ovarian tumor (BOT), and 25 women with benign ovarian tumor (BET) were included as three study groups, while 20 healthy women were selected as a control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to measure the serum VEGF level. RESULTS: The serum VEGF levels in patients with EOC were higher than those in patients with BOT, or with BET, or those in healthy women. The median and ranges of serum VEGF levels were as follows: EOC: median 415.0 pg/ml, range 110-2,120 pg/ml; BOT: median 312.5 pg/ml, range 100-1,250 pg/ml; BET: median 170 pg/ml, range 70-925 pg/ml; healthy women: median 165 pg/ml, range 100-735 pg/ml. When median preoperative serum VEGF levels were grouped by tumor stages, histological grade of tumor cells, histological type of the tumor, lymph node involvement, and omentum involvement, significant correlations between serum levels of VEGF and histological grade, lymph node involvement and omentum involvement were found. The patients with high serum VEGF appeared to be accompanied with poor 3-year survival. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum VEGF levels seemed to be correlated with the malignant behavior of ovarian cancer, which might provide some prognostic value.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[Papanicolaou test in pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the necessity, safety and acceptability of routine Papanicolaou (Pap) smear in pregnant women and cytological characteristics of the smears during pregnancy. METHODS: Pap smear were performed in 954 pregnant women, 1,053 normal controls and 1,908 gynecological out-patients. The cytological preparations were analyzed by using PAPNET method and following Bethesda (TBS-NCI) diagnostic criteria. Quality control was carried out by following TBS-NCI standard. RESULTS: Abnormal epithelial change was found in 89 women (89/954, 9.3%) of pregnant group, which was quite similar to normal controls group and gynecological group. Occurrence rate of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) was the lowest in pregnant group (0.94%, 9 in 954 cases), comparing with control group (2.75%) and gynecological group (6.23%). However, pregnant group had the highest infection rate (89.9%), as compared to gynecological group (64.5%), and normal controls group (69.1%) (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Cervical Pap smear test is necessary, safety and acceptable for routine prenatal tests. Any pregnant women with infections must be treated as nonpregnant one.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Complications in laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate retrospectively the complications and associated factors of gynecolgical laparoscopies. METHODS: 1 769 laparoscopic surgeries were carried out from January 1994 to October 1999 at our department. The procedures included 1421 surgeries of ovary and tube, 52 myomectomies and 296 cases of laproscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). A total of 312 patients had a history of prior laparotomy (17.6%). RESULTS: Complications occured in 34 cases, the overall complication rate was 1.92%. Unintended laparotomies occured in 6 cases (0.34%). 12 complications were associated with insertion of Veresse needle or trocar and creation of pneumoperitoneum, including 5 severe emphysema and 7 vascular injuries, this figure represents 35.3% of all complications of this series. Five intraoperative complications (14.7%) occured during the laparoscopic surgery (3 severe bleedings, one bladder injury and one skin burn of leg caused by damaged electrode plate), laparotomy was required in four of these cases. Seventeen complications occured during postoperative stage: 2 intraperitoneal hemorrhages needing laparotomy, 2 bowel injuries, 4 nerve paresis and 9 febrile morbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Operative gynecologic laparoscopy is associated with acceptable morbidity rate, but can not be overlooked. Complication rate seems to be higher in advanced procedures such as LAVH.

Female↗