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Biomedical subjects

R Liang

Publications and source records attributed to R Liang.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Chemotherapy for relapsed and resistant acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia. Effect of ATA, an amsacrine-containing regime.

Twenty-nine evaluable patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), either in relapse or resistant to initial induction therapy (ara C, daunorubicin + etoposide), received the ATA regime consisting of 100 mg/m2 per day Ara C by i.v. infusion for 4-5 days, 100 mg/m2 per day thioguanine orally for 4-5 days, and 100 mg/m2 per day amsacrine i.v. for 2-5 days. Each patient received 1-6 courses (median, 2) of the regime. There were 7 (24%) complete responders, and their duration of responses were 2, 2, 2, 5, 9+, 19, and 24+ months. The complete remission (CR) rate of patients who had a previous CR beyond 6 months (6/13, 46%) was significantly better (X2 = 4.25, p less than 0.05) than that of those who had previously relapsed within 6 months or were refractory to primary induction chemotherapy (1/16, 6%). The two groups of patients had similar patterns of treatment failure. Myelosuppression was the major toxic side effect, and nonhematological toxicities were mild and acceptable.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

Phase II trial of idarubicin in patients with advanced lymphoma.

A phase II trial of idarubicin was performed in 24 patients with advanced lymphoma. The drug was administered in a dose of 10-15 mg/m2 i.v. or 15-70 mg/m2 p.o. (single dose) every 3 weeks. There were four partial responses and four minor responses. All but one of the responders had received prior doxorubicin therapy. The toxicities were myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia. Two patients with compromised cardiac function were observed to have further deterioration in the ejection fraction as measured by gated cardiac scan after idarubicin therapy. Further assessment of the activity of idarubicin against lymphoma is recommended in less heavily pretreated patients. The cardiac toxicity should be carefully monitored in future studies.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗
PubMed1988

Imipenem/cilastatin as initial therapy for febrile neutropenic patients.

Imipenem 2 g daily was administered intravenously to 40 evaluable patients with neutropenia and fever. Twenty-three patients had acute leukaemia and 17 malignant lymphoma. The overall response rate was 70.0%. Of the 14 patients with documented infection, 9 (64.3%) responded. Poorer responses were observed in patients with pneumonia (40%) or pseudomonal infection (50%). The response rate was significantly higher among patients with increasing neutrophil counts during therapy (P less than 0.02). Fungal infection was a common cause of treatment failure. Gastrointestinal side effects and skin rashes were occasionally seen. No patient developed central nervous system toxicity. Imipenem is a practical alternative to antibiotic combinations for management of neutropenic infection. However, careful monitoring is essential in the subgroups of patients with pneumonia or pseudomonal infections, who may require modifications of therapy.

Agranulocytosis↗
PubMed1988

Thrombocytopenia associated with etretinate therapy.

A case of thrombocytopenia following etretinate therapy for psoriasis is presented. Etretinate appeared to be the cause of thrombocytopenia. Patients on etretinate are recommended to have their platelet count monitored.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Superior vena cava syndrome: a rare presenting feature of acute myeloid leukemia.

The mediastinum is seldom involved by granulocytic sarcoma and superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction is an even rarer presentation. Some radiologists advocate to treat SVC obstruction as a semimedical emergency regardless of the underlying pathology. This policy has been criticized. We describe a patient with severe SVC obstruction preceding the development of frank acute myeloblastic leukemia and granulocytic sarcoma in breasts. Review of the literature yields 11 patients with prominent mediastinal granulocytic sarcoma complicating myeloid leukemia; 3 of them presented with superior vena cava syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Hb Duan [alpha 75(EF4)Asp----Ala], Hb Westmead [alpha 122(H5)His----Gln], and alpha-thalassemia-2 (-4.2 Kb deletion) in a Chinese family.

Detailed data are presented concerning the relative amounts of Hb A and two alpha chain variants (Hb Duan with alpha 75 Asp----Ala, and Hb Westmead with alpha 122 His----Gln), and the occurrence of an alpha-thalassemia-2 heterozygosity in five members of a small Chinese family. The three children who have the three abnormalities inherited the alpha-Duan and alpha-thalassemia-2 heterozygosities from their father, and the alpha-Westmead heterozygosity from their mother. The base substitution which leads to the synthesis of the alpha-Duan chain occurred at codon 75 of the alpha 1 globin gene of the chromosome which also carried the alpha-thalassemia-2 deletion; the concentration of alpha-Duan (37% of total alpha) is similar to that observed for other alpha chain variants, linked to an alpha-thalassemia-2 condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of lectin binding by Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains grown on nitrocellulose filters using peroxidase-labeled lectin.

A procedure was developed to assess the ability of wild-type and mutant strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum to bind soybean lectin. The lectin-binding ability of bacteria grown on nitrocellulose filters was determined using peroxidase-labeled soybean lectin. The assay produced clear differences between strains known to be unable to bind soybean lectin and those which can. The assay gave results identical to those of the fluorescein isothiocyanate-soybean lectin-binding assay of T. V. Bhuvaneswari, S. G. Pueppke, and W. D. Bauer (1977, Plant Physiol. 60, 486-491) with regard both to the ability of particular B. japonicum strains to bind lectin and to the inhibition caused by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. The method was used to screen Tn5-induced mutants of B. japonicum 2143 for their inability to bind soybean lectin. The procedure provides a sensitive and convenient method to screen Bradyrhizobium strains for the ability to bind soybean lectin.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1987

Pharmacokinetics of idarubicin (4-demethoxydaunorubicin; IMI-30; NSC 256439) following intravenous and oral administration in patients with advanced cancer.

The plasma pharmacokinetics of idarubicin (4-demethoxydaunorubicin) were studied in 20 patients with advanced malignant disease after intravenous (21 occasions) and oral (14 occasions) administration. Idarubicin plasma concentrations were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Pharmacokinetic parameters calculated for the intravenous plasma drug concentration, time data revealed a terminal half-life of 12.9 +/- 6.0 h (mean +/- s.d.), clearance 98.7 +/- 47.3 1 h-1 m-2 and volume of distribution 1533 +/- 536 1 m-2. A bi-exponential equation corresponding to a two compartment open model best fitted the data. Half-life and clearance were not significantly different following oral administration. Bioavailability of oral idarubicin was 0.29 +/- 0.20 (mean +/- s.d.). There was a wide range of bioavailability between and within subjects. Plasma concentrations of idarubicinol (the only metabolite detected) rapidly exceeded those of the parent drug, and exposure to this metabolite was greater than to the parent drug. The mean half-life of idarubicinol was not significantly different after i.v. (63.1 +/- 28.2 h) and oral (45.8 +/- 16.0 h) administration. Much larger amounts of this metabolite were formed following the oral route of administration. This may have implications for the clinical use of this drug as idarubicinol may have appreciable cytotoxic activity.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Peripheral T cell lymphoma.

Thirty-one Chinese patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) were reviewed. Using the modified Japanese Lymphoma Group classification, there were nine (29%) of the pleomorphic type, 16 (52%) immunoblastic lymphadenopathy (IBL)-like, two (7%) T-zone lymphoma, and one (3%) Lennert's lymphoepithelioid type. Three (9%) were not classifiable. All were positive for T11 (E rosette receptor antigen). Fifty-four percent (15 of 28) were positive predominantly for T4 (helper T cell) and 46% (13/28) for T8 (suppressor T cell). The median age of the patients was 57 years. They usually presented with advanced disease, and while extranodal involvement was common, CNS disease was not seen. The IBL-like type was associated with a positive Coombs' test and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Five of the nine pleomorphic type were checked for antibody to HTLV-I virus and all were negative. PTCL was associated with poor prognosis, which was not influenced by the histologic subtypes and the T4/T8 phenotypes. The complete response rate of 13 consecutive patients who received the BACOP (bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) L17M regimen was significantly better than the 16 historic controls who received other less-intensive regiments, 84% v 19% (P less than .01). The relapse rate was also significantly lower, 9% v 100% (P less than .001). There appeared to be an improvement in the disease-free survival (DFS) (80% v 0% at 18 months), as well as the overall survival (60% v 36% at 18 months), but the differences did not reach statistical significance due to small sample sizes.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Bioavailability and pharmacological effects of two slow-release theophylline preparations: intrasubject tablet-to-tablet variability.

The bioavailability and pharmacological effects of slow-release preparations oxtriphylline (Choledyl SA) and anhydrous theophylline (Theo-Dur) were compared in a single-blind, randomized, crossover study in 10 normal men. Subjects were administered three doses from the same lot of each preparation at weekly intervals. Plasma concentration of theophylline was measured at timed intervals for 33 hr by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that Choledyl SA peaked earlier (4.7 +/- 1.0 hr) than did Theo-Dur (9.6 +/- 8.2 hr), with higher peak concentrations, 6.4 +/- 0.7 micrograms/ml versus 4.1 +/- 0.5 micrograms/ml for Theo-Dur, and greater are under the curve, 102.4 +/- 15.7 micrograms/ml X hr versus 75.3 +/- 9.1 micrograms/ml X hr for Theo-Dur. 88% absorption was achieved in 6 hr with Choledyl SA versus 10 hr with Theo-Dur. Wide intra- and intersubject variations were observed with both preparations. Likewise, variable effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse were observed with both preparations. The effects of both theophylline preparations on urine flow, osmolar clearance, and glomerular filtration rate were compared. Osmotic diuresis without detectable changes in the glomerular filtration rate was observed in subjects who received Choledyl SA versus Theo-Dur. Differences in the bioavailability and renal effects were observed between Choledyl SA and Theo-Dur. Wide intra- and intersubject tablet-to-tablet variability were observed with both preparations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

A transient species of poly(A)+ RNA detected by a myosin heavy chain cDNA probe in muscle cell culture during terminal differentiation.

Primary cell cultures were prepared from breast muscles of 11 day 4 hour-embryonic chicks. Cytoplasmic RNAs were isolated from the cultured cells at various time intervals from day 3 to day 8. A [P32] DNA probe complementary to messenger RNA of myosin heavy chain was used to hybridize with the RNAs after gel electrophoresis. A transient species of polyadenylated RNA with a decreased mobility in electrophoresis was detected during a period of time when contractions of syncytial fibers were first observed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Gastrointestinal lymphoma in Chinese: a retrospective analysis.

Eighty-four Chinese patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma were reviewed. There were 45 gastric and 39 intestinal lymphomas. The median age was 45 years and the male to female ratio 1.14:1. Diffuse histiocytic (60 per cent) or diffuse large cell (53.5 per cent) lymphoma comprised a majority of the cases. A high incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding at presentation was observed in our patients. According to a modified staging classification, a larger proportion of patients with intestinal lymphoma had advanced disease (Stage III and IV) than those with gastric lymphoma (82 per cent versus 55 per cent, p less than 0.02) and gastric lymphoma carried a better prognosis. The modified staging classification used in this study appeared to stratify better the patients into 2 sub-groups of localized (Stage I and II) and advanced (Stage III and IV) disease, which correlated very well with the prognosis. Good treatment results were obtained following intensive therapy in our patients with localized disease (Stage I and II). The poorer treatment results of patients with advanced disease (Stage III and IV) call for better chemotherapy regimens and earlier diagnosis. Surgical resection of the primary gastrointestinal lesion is recommended to prevent haemorrhage and perforation following chemotherapy, which occurred in 38 per cent of our patients whose gastrointestinal lesions were not resected.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of stage I-II diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring: combined modality therapy versus radiotherapy alone.

Twenty five patients with stage I and II diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring were reviewed. There were 19 patients with diffuse histiocytic, 4 diffuse lymphocytic poorly differentiated and 2 diffuse mixed lymphoma. Their median age was 51 years. There were 12 males and 13 females. Eight patients had stage I, and 17 had stage II disease. There was a significantly higher incidence of involvement of the left side of the Waldeyer's ring compared to the right (p = 0.0251). Fifteen patients received radiotherapy alone, and ten had radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The median durations of follow-up were 42 (range 8-162) and 44 (range 8-97) months respectively. All patients had complete remission but 9 patients (36 per cent) subsequently had relapse of their lymphomas. Stomach was the commonest site of relapse (44 per cent). The disease free survival and overall survival at 5 years were 59 per cent and 57 per cent respectively. Higher relapse rate was observed in the radiotherapy alone group (60 per cent) as compared to the combined modality therapy group (0 per cent). Patients who received combined modality therapy had significantly superior 5 years disease free survival (100 per cent versus 32 per cent, p less than 0.01) and overall survival (81 per cent versus 40 per cent, p less than 0.05). After radiotherapy alone, patients with stage II disease appeared to have a high relapse rate than those with stage I disease (70 per cent versus 40 per cent) but the difference did not reach statistical significance due to small sample sizes. The histological subtypes did not appear to affect their prognosis. All patients with stage I and II diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the Waldeyer's ring should have gastrointestinal barium studies at initial staging, and a prospective randomised study on these patients comparing radiotherapy alone and combined modality therapy should be performed.

Adolescent↗