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Biomedical subjects

M Y Wu

Publications and source records attributed to M Y Wu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Mouse embryo toxicity of IL-6 in peritoneal fluids from women with or without endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: To determine whether there is a factor (or factors) in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis patients that impairs embryo growth and embryo implantation. METHODS: Growth and development of two-cell mouse embryos which were cultured in media with peritoneal fluid from women with or without endometriosis and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in conditioned media were measured. RESULTS: The blastocyst rate in the non-endometriosis group was 46.4 +/- 31.1%, and that of the endometriosis group was 54.6 +/- 28.7%. Logistic regression analysis using the criteria of blastocyst development in 454 embryos, showed that the peritoneal fluid from endometriosis could promote (p=0.015) but IL-6 could arrest embryo growth to blastocyst (p=0.025). IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels had no significant effect on blastocyst formation. CONCLUSION: Peritoneal fluid from women with endometriosis was not toxic to mouse embryo development. However, IL-6 in the peritoneal fluid deteriorated the growth and development of mouse embryos.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Hormone replacement therapy reverses the decrease in natural killer cytotoxicity but does not reverse the decreases in the T-cell subpopulation or interferon-gamma production in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunologic deviations of postmenopausal women before and after hormone replacement therapy (HRT). DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Seventeen postmenopausal women (study group) and 17 women of reproductive age (control group). INTERVENTION(S): Continuous usage of E(2) valerate 2 mg/d and medroxyprogesterone acetate 5 mg/d in postmenopausal women in the study group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Immunophenotyping with flow cytometry, cytokine production with and without mitogen stimulation of the peripheral mononuclear cells, and a natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity test against K562 target cells by the (51)Cr-release assay were performed in the control group and in the study group before, 1 month after, and 6 months after HRT. RESULT(S): NK cytotoxicity, interferon-gamma production, and the T-cell subpopulation were significantly decreased, and the subpopulations of CD3(+)CD25(+) and CD3(+)HLA-DR(+) were increased in the study group before HRT when compared with those in the control group. After HRT was given for 6 months, however, the NK cytotoxicity increased significantly in the postmenopausal women to a value similar to that of the control group. CONCLUSION(S): Women after menopause are prone to impaired immune responses. Nevertheless, some of the impairment can be restored after HRT.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Increase in the expression of killer cell inhibitory receptors on peritoneal natural killer cells in women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: Malfunction of peritoneal natural killer cells (NK) may result in endometriosis. The present study was designed to determine whether the decrease in NK cytotoxicity occurs at early and advanced stages of endometriosis and is due to the increase in the NK inhibition receptors. DESIGN: A case control study. SETTING: A tertiary-care infertility center . PATIENT(S): A total of 44 women (controls, n = 11; women with early-stage endometriosis, n = 11; and women with advanced-stage endometriosis, n = 22) were included in this study. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): NK cytotoxicity was determined by assay of (51)Cr release against K562 cells, and the expression of killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR, including NKB1, GL183, and EB6) in NK cells was examined by flow cytometry. RESULT(S): Women with endometriosis showed a decrease in peritoneal NK cytotoxicities against K562 at early and advanced stages of endometriosis. The expression of KIR (NKB1 and EB6) was significantly elevated in the peritoneal NK cells of women with advanced-stage endometriosis compared with controls. KIR (NKB1) was also significantly increased in peritoneal NK cells of women with advanced-stage endometriosis, compared with those of women with early-stage endometriosis. CONCLUSION(S): The results of this study suggest that the decrease in peritoneal NK cytotoxicities against K562 is observed and that this disease may be partially due to the increased expression of KIR on these NK cells.

Ascitic Fluid↗
PubMed2000

Relationships of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and vascular endothelial growth factor with liver dysfunction in severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

The aims of this study were to determine if differences in serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and clinical pregnancy rate, could be observed in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in those who did and did not have liver dysfunction. Twenty-nine in-vitro fertilization patients with severe OHSS were included. The patients were divided into the normal liver function tests (LFT) group (n = 14) and the abnormal LFT group (n = 15) according to the LFT on day of admission. Periodic measurements of serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), VEGF, oestradiol, progesterone concentrations, and LFT were performed during hospitalization. Concentrations of IL-6 in the active phase of OHSS were significantly higher in the abnormal LFT group than in the normal LFT group (19.7 +/- 15.7 versus 8.1 +/- 7.0 pg/ml, respectively). The severity of liver dysfunction was not correlated with concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone, haematocrit, white blood cell counts, or any studied cytokine. The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly lower in the abnormal LFT group (46.7%) than in the normal LFT group (85.7%). These results suggest that IL-6 cytokine system may play a role in the pathogenesis of liver dysfunction in severe OHSS. Abnormal LFT were associated with lower clinical pregnancy rates.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Cardiac troponin I: a marker for post-burn cardiac injury.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay following burn injury. Thirty patients [total body surface area (TBSA) of burn 15-98%] were included in this study and each had four to six blood samples collected at 2-day intervals between the 5th and 14th days post-burn. All patients were found to have increased cTnI on two or more occasions. The mean cTnI concentration was significantly higher in patients with TBSA of burn > 30% (0.34 microg/L compared with 0.09 microg/L, P<0.001) and in those with obvious burn wound exudation (0.32 microg/L compared with 0.12 microg/L, P<0.01). cTnI concentrations peaked at the time when there was obvious burn wound exudation or spontaneous separation of eschar, then decreased after surgical excision. Two patients with persistently high cTnI concentrations developed tachycardia. We conclude that burned patients have varying degrees of non-ischaemic cardiac injury, manifesting as leakage of cTnI from myocytes into the circulation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Assessment of nutritional status in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients: a comparison of bioelectric impedance and conventional methods.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional status is an important factor in long term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) prognoses. Conventionally, serum albumin is an indicator of nutritional status. More recently, protein catabolic rate and lean body mass have been calculated during peritoneal equilibrium testing to assess nutritional status. These have the advantage of providing an early indication of malnutrition before the serum albumin decreases. Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) of nutrition has the advantage of being the simplest procedure among all nutritional assessments. Standard nutritional assessments was compared with the BIA method. METHODS: The protein catabolic rate and lean body mass was measured by the Keshaviah method. At the same time BIA was used to assess lean body mass, fat mass and fixed percentage of fat in 27 long-term CAPD patients, with and without peritoneal fluids. RESULTS: Among the 27 patients, the protein catabolic rate was 0.95+/-0.5 g/kg/day and lean body mass was 37.4+/-0.5 kg measured by the conventional method. Using BIA, the lean body mass was 37.8+/-11.0 kg with peritoneal dialysate, which was strongly correlated with the conventional method (p<0.001). BIA of lean body mass was 37.4+/-9.2 kg without peritoneal dialysate, which was also significantly correlated to the conventional method (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: BIA nutritional assessment of lean body mass was comparable to the conventional method of nutritional assessment. The presence or absence of peritoneal dialysate did not influence the BIA method for detection of lean body mass. BIA has the advantage of being a more simple procedure and can be used for the long-term assessment of nutritional status in CAPD patients.

Blood Urea Nitrogen↗
PubMed1999

The cytoplasmic domain of the lymphotoxin-beta receptor mediates cell death in HeLa cells.

Activation of lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LT-betaR) by conjugation with heterotrimeric lymphotoxin, LT-alpha1/beta2, or by cross-linking with anti-LT-betaR antibodies can trigger apoptosis. We have observed that overexpression of either LT-betaR or the cytoplasmic domain of LT-betaR (LT-betaR(CD)) also induces apoptosis, which may be attributed to the tendency of LT-betaR(CD) to self-associate. The self-association domain of LT-betaR(CD) was mapped to amino acids 324-377, a region of the protein that is also essential for LT-betaR-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we have shown that LT-betaR(CD)-induced apoptosis could be inhibited by a TRAF3 dominant negative mutant and by the caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK, DEVD-FMK, and CrmA. The ligand-independent apoptosis induced by LT-betaR(CD) will help us to further dissect LT-betaR signaling pathway.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1999

Prognostic importance of serial cytokine changes in ascites and pleural effusion in women with severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of various cytokine levels in ascites and pleural effusion during the evolution of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). DESIGN: A longitudinal study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty patients with severe OHSS who required either paracentesis or thoracentesis or both from whom ascites (n = 56) or pleural effusion (n = 12) samples were obtained. Control peritoneal fluid was obtained from 20 patients undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Abdominal paracentesis for tense ascites and thoracentesis for massive pleural effusion. Control peritoneal fluid was obtained before oocyte retrieval. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E2, and progesterone concentrations in ascites and pleural effusion. RESULT(S): Levels of VEGF and IL-6 in ascites dropped significantly during the course of OHSS and were not correlated with E2 concentrations. Levels of VEGF were significantly correlated with levels of IL-1 beta, IL-8, and TNF-alpha, as well as progesterone concentrations, hematocrit, and white blood cell counts. None of the cytokine levels measured in pleural effusion were correlated with the course of OHSS. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that local cytokines might be involved in the evolution of severe OHSS and possibly serve as prognostic markers for this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The expression of killer cell inhibitory receptors on natural killer cells and activation status of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the decidua of normal and abnormal early pregnancies.

The establishment of the human placenta in early pregnancy is characterized by the presence of large numbers of natural killer cells within the maternal decidua. These NK cells have an unusual phenotype, CD3- CD16- CD56(bright), distinguishing them from peripheral blood NK cells. They may control trophoblast migration and placentation. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies to several members of the KIR family and flow cytometry, we found that KIRs are expressed on decidual NK cells. There is variation in both the percentage of cells expressing a particular receptor and the density of receptor expression between decidual NK cells from different individuals. In anembryonic pregnancy, the proportions of decidual NK cells with a particular KIRs (GL183 and EB6) decreased significantly when compared with normal pregnancy (p = 0.01 and 0.01, respectively), raising the possibility that these NK receptors may be involved in recognition of the allogeneic fetus by the mother at the implantation site. In the decidua, more CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressed CD69 and HLA-DR than in blood, indicating that T cells are regionally activated during early pregnancy. When compared with normal pregnancy, decidual HLA-DR+CD4+CD3+, CD69+CD8+CD3+ and HLA-DR+CD8+CD3+ T lymphocytes are significantly increased in anembryonic pregnancy. The over-activation of decidual T cells during anembryonic pregnancy may thus contribute to the increased NK cytotoxicity activity.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1999

Association of endometrial blood flow as determined by a modified colour Doppler technique with subsequent outcome of in-vitro fertilization.

An endometrial thickness of 10 mm or more has been reported to be favourable for embryo implantation. Nevertheless, many women participating in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programmes have adequate endometrial thickness but do not achieve satisfactory implantation. With the aid of power Doppler sonography, we examined the association between intra-endometrial vascularity and reproductive outcome. For this study, we enrolled only women with endometrial thickness >/=ISOdia>/=10 mm and excluded those with apparent endometrial pathologies. Of 95 women undergoing IVF cycles, there resulted 37 intrauterine pregnancies. The women were of similar age, body mass index, peak oestradiol concentration and endometrial thickness, and a similar number of embryos were transferred. Those women with an intra-endometrial power Doppler area (EPDA) <5 mm2 achieved a significantly lower pregnancy rate (23. 5 versus 47.5%, P = 0.021) and implantation rate (8.1 versus 20.2%, P = 0.003) than those with an EPDA >/=ISOdia>/=5 mm2. We conclude that, in addition to endometrial thickness, EPDA may serve as a factor indicative of endometrial receptivity. Women with adequate endometrial thickness but a small EPDA tended to have an unfavourable reproductive outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Increase in the production of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and interleukin-12 by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages from women with endometriosis.

PROBLEM: To verify whether the peritoneal macrophage (PM) is activated in endometriosis. METHOD OF STUDY: We examined the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-12 by cultured PMs, which were either unstimulated or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), from women with endometriosis (early, n = 12; advanced, n = 11) or without endometriosis (n = 13). RESULTS: After stimulation with 2 ng/mL LPS for 24 hr, PMs from women with early-stage endometriosis secreted more NO, IL-6, and IL-10 than the controls. Higher IL-12 levels were noted in women with advanced endometriosis when compared with the controls. After 2 ng/mL-LPS stimulation for 24 hr, we also detected higher total antioxidant levels in the advanced-endometriosis group than those in the early-endometriosis group. CONCLUSION: The increased production of IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 by stimulated PMs confirmed previous observations that the PM is the principle source of these cytokines in peritoneal fluid.

Endometriosis↗
PubMed1999

Monitoring of cardiac troponin I in patients with acute heart failure.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) were measured in the plasma of 37 patients with acute heart failure. Elevated plasma cTnI concentrations were found in 89% of acute heart failure patients (P < 0.001 compared with a normal population), while plasma CK-MB showed no significant difference (P = 0.09). During follow-up, serial measurements of cTnI and CK-MB were performed. In acute heart failure patients, improvement of the clinical profile was associated with declining cTnI concentrations, while deterioration of heart function was closely related to increasing cTnI. Plasma CK-MB activities remained within the normal range throughout the observation period. This preliminary study provides evidence of cardiac damage to functionally overloaded myocytes. cTnI may be a sensitive marker both for early detection of myocyte damage and for monitoring of function in patients with acute heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

T lymphocytes and cytokine production in ascitic fluid of ovarian malignancies.

The activation status of T lymphocytes and the presence of various cytokines in ascitic fluid were examined to test peritoneal immunity in women with ovarian malignancies. Peripheral blood and peritoneal fluid were collected from 12 patients with primary ovarian cancer with ascites and 27 normal control subjects during laparoscopic examination. Lymphocyte subpopulations and the expression of activation markers on T lymphocytes were analyzed by dual-color flow cytometry. The concentrations of various cytokines and soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor-alpha were measured. CD8 T lymphocytes were the main component of peritoneal lymphocytes. CD69 and HLA-DR, but not CD25, were highly expressed on peritoneal T lymphocytes compared to those in peripheral blood. In ascitic fluid of ovarian malignancies, CD4 T lymphocyte concentrations were further decreased, resulting in a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio. Decreased expression of CD69 and CD25 was also noted on T lymphocytes from ascites compared with T lymphocytes in normal peritoneal fluid. IL-1b, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha concentrations were increased significantly in the ascitic fluid of women with ovarian cancer. The decrease in activation markers on T lymphocytes is suggestive of an immunosuppressive state, despite the presence of abundant stimulatory cytokines. The immunosuppression may be multifactorial, attributed, in part, to the increased concentrations of soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha and other inhibitors.

Ascitic Fluid↗
PubMed1999

STR HUMARA locus gene and genotype frequencies in Han and Bei populations in China.

For the purpose of the population genetics study of the HUMARA locus, the allele, and genotype frequencies were determined in two Chinese population samples (Han-101, Bei-113) using PCR, PAGE, and silver staining. Fourteen alleles were found. The size of amplified fragments were 258 bp-315 bp. The observed heterozygosities were 0.83 in the Han population and 0.73 in the Bei population respectively. The expected heterozygosities were 0.91 in the Han population and 0.97 in the Bei population respectively. Both populations meet Hardy-Weinberg expectation, Han population x2 = 17.7206, df = 11, p > 0.05; Bei population x2 = 7.4268, df = 10, p > 0.05. The discrimination power were 0.95 in females and 0.89 in males in the Han population, 0.94 in females and 0.88 in males in the Bei population. Thus, the allelic frequency data can be used in the personal identification and parentage testing in the forensic science practice. The PCR test established in this study is robust and reproducible.

Alleles↗
PubMed1999

Monitoring human chorionic gonadotrophin level: evaluation of urine as an alternative specimen type.

Although urine has been used widely for the qualitative detection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), serum is chosen conventionally for the serial quantification of the hormone to monitor trophoblastic activity. In response to requests from both clinicians and patients regarding the use of urine as an alternative specimen type, we designed this comparative study to evaluate the possibility, taking into account both laboratory technique and the distribution of hCG within different body fluids. Using the Access Chemiluminescent Immunoassay System, total beta-hCG was measured in serum and urine (n = 30) collected from patients hospitalised for first-trimester abnormal pregnancy. Results obtained with normalised urine (corrected with urinary creatinine) and serum total beta-hCG correlated well (r = 0.98, P < 0.001), and we concluded that urine could be used as an alternative specimen type for the serial quantitation of hCG to monitor trophoblastic activity. However, the assay used must detect the common beta 2 epitope.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1998

The simplified two-pipette technique is more efficient than the conventional three-pipette method for blastomere biopsy in human embryos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of a simplified two-pipette technique in comparison to the conventional three-pipette method; in the two-pipette method, a single, larger drilling/biopsy pipette is used to perform zona pellucida (ZP) drilling and blastomere aspiration for embryo biopsy. DESIGN: A preclinical, prospective, randomized, in vitro experiment. SETTING: The reproductive unit of a university teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Ninety-five excess embryos at the two- to four-cell stage were obtained from 35 patients undergoing IVF. INTERVENTION(S): At the six- to eight-cell stage, 88 embryos were allocated randomly to three groups: group I for the conventional method (n = 29), group II for the simplified technique (n = 30), and group III for controls (n = 29). The embryos then were cultured in vitro. The retrieved blastomeres were fixed and examined with fluorescence in situ hybridization using X and Y probes simultaneously. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Biopsy time, successful retrieval of a blastomere, fixation of the cell, signals developed from fluorescence in situ hybridization, and growth potential and hatching capacity of the biopsied embryos were evaluated. RESULT(S): The mean time (+/- SD) for biopsy of each embryo in group I (435 +/- 137 seconds) was significantly longer than that in group II (126 +/- 32 seconds). The success rates for obtaining an intact blastomere were not different between group I (93%) and group II (97%). The growth capacity to the blastocyst stage was similar among the three groups (34%, 37%, and 38%, respectively). However, the ZP-drilled and biopsied embryos of groups I and II had higher percentages of hatching (34% and 37%, respectively) and complete hatching (17% and 20%, respectively) than did those of group III (10% and 0, respectively). The blastomeres obtained by biopsy in groups I and II were equally fixed (90% vs. 90%, respectively) and shown in fluorescence in situ hybridization (79% vs. 80%, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): Compared with the conventional method, the simplified technique is more efficient and equally efficacious for blastomere biopsy in preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Biopsy↗